Sign In Sign-Up

Welcome!

Close

Would you like to make this site your homepage? It's fast and easy...

Yes, Please make this my home page!

No Thanks

  Don't show this to me again.

Close

Chapter 6 Church Records

As civil registration of births, marriages and deaths only began in 1864, (and non-Catholic Marriages in 1845) we are dependent on the various churches (denominations) for records of these events prior to these dates.

All denominations have their own parish structures and practices for recording of baptisms, marriages and (sometimes) deaths/burials. The quality and availability of records varies between these different denominations. The factors that determine when record- keeping started, and what records were kept, are fully explored in 'Irish Church Records' (Flyleaf Press, Dublin 1992).

In Mayo the major denominations are Roman Catholic (almost 97% of the population in 1861); and Church of Ireland (2.6% of the population). Other denominations represented only 0.6% of the population in that year, and few records of Presbyterian, Methodist, Baptist and other churches therefore exist. A search of neighbouring parish registers should be considered when an ancestor is proving difficult to locate.

Listed below are the surviving church records arranged by civil parish, indicating the time-frame for record availability, and the repositories in which they are held.

Roman Catholic

Roman Catholic records are recorded by parish, which are grouped into dioceses, of which there are three in Mayo, i.e. Achonry, Killala and Tham. One parish, Shrule, is within the diocese of Galway.

Mayo Catholic records are relatively sparse in comparison to many Irish counties, for a variety of reasons. The earliest surviving Baptismal register starts in 1802, and earliest Marriage register in 1791. Only three parishes recorded deaths, i.e. Kilfian, Killasser and Kilmoremoy. Most of the post-1870 marriage registers record the names of the mothers of the marrying couple, a detail omitted from civil marriage certificates.

In addition to the individual parish records, a composite index of registers of marriages (for 1821 and 1822, with additions in some parishes to 1829) in each deanery of the diocese of Tham has been published by Murphy and Reilly (Maryland, 1993). The original is at NLI Pos 4222.

Note that some Catholic parishes have alternate names, either because there were several chapels of different names, or because they had one official name, and another common name. The original records are all in their parish of origin, and may be inspected there with the permission of the parish priest. However, most have also been indexed by one of the 2 Heritage Centres that operate in the county (see P xxx); and these will conduct a search of their indexes for a fee. The records which have been indexed by these centres are indicated below. In addition, almost all of the records are available on microfilm in the NLI, and in the Mormon Family History Libraries. (SLC).

Civil Parish: Achill

Catholic Parish: Achill

Bapt: 12.1867-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1868-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 10.1867-6.1880 NLI (mf); 1867-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Addergoole

Catholic Parish: Addergoole

Bapt: 1.1840-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1840-1899 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1.1840-3.1878 NLI (mf); 1840-1 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Aghagower

Catholic Parish: Aghagower

Bapt: 4.1828-5.1836; 3.1842-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1828-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 11.1854-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1828-1900 SMFHRC (index).

Civil Parish: Aghamore

Catholic Parish: Aghamore

Bapt: 2.1864-9.1880 (Modern transcript) NLI (mf); 1864 - 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 12.1864-9.1880 NLI (mf); 1864-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Aglish

Parish Register: Castlebar, Ballyhean, Breaghwy

Bapt: 1.1838-12.1880 (in disorder to 4.1855)NLI (mf);1839- 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 6.1824-4.1843; 6.1843-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1824- 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Annagh

Catholic Parish: Annagh/Ballyhaunis

Bapt: 11.1851-12.1880 NLI (mf);1851-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 6.1852-6.1870; 11.1870-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1851- 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Ardagh

Catholic Parish: Ardagh

Bapt: 2.1870-7.1880 Nil (mf);1866-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1882-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Attymass

Catholic Parish: Attymass

Bapt: 6.1875-8.1880 NLI (mf); 1875-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 2.1874-10.1880 NLI (mf); 1874-1897 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Balla

Catholic Parish: Balla, Manulla, Drum, Roslee

Bapt: 5.1837-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1837-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 7.1837-10.1880 NU (mf); 1837-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Ballinchalla see Cong

Civil Parish: Ballinrobe

Catholic Parish: Ballinrobe

Bapt: 8.1843-4.1856; 1.1861-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1853-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 10.1850-4.1856.1.1861-11.1880 NLI (mf); 1847-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Ballintober

Catholic Parish: Burriscarra & Ballintober

Bapt: 9.1839-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1839-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.1839-3.1880 NLI (mf); 1839-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Ballyhean see Aglish

Civil Parish: Ballynahaglish ;

Catholic Parish: Backs: Rathduff:

Bapt: 8.1848-12.1859& 1.1861-9.1879 NLI(mf);

Marr: 12.1848-4.1860 & 1.1865-12.1869 & 2.1874-9.1879 -NLI(mf);

Knockmore:

Bapt: 10.1854-10.1856.3.1858-8.1879 NLI (mf); 1825-1900MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.18W-11.1861. 1.1869-7.1879 NLI (mf); 1815-1894 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Ballyovey

Catholic Parish: Partry

Bapt: 10.1869-7.1878 NLI (mf); 1869-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 1.1870-7.1878 NLI (mf); 1847-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Tourmakeady :

Bapt: 8. 1869-12.1880NLI(mf);

Marr: 1869-9. 1880 NLI (mf) (Modern transcript)

Civil Parish: Ballysakeery

Catholic Parish: Ballysakeery

Bapt: 11.1843-12. 1880 NLI (mf); 1844-1881 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 10.1843-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1843-1881 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Bekan

Catholic Parish: Bekan

Bapt: 8.1832-2.1844 & 12.1844-5.1871 NLI (mf); 1832- 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 5.1832-5.1872 NLI (mf)(pages missing);1832-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Bohola

Catholic Parish: Bohola

Bapt: 10.1857-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1857-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 10.1857-5.1880 NLI (mf); 1857-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Breaghwy see Aglish

Civil Parish: Burriscarra see Ballintober

Civil Parish: Burrishoole

Catholic Parish: Burrishoole Newport

Bapt: 1872-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1.1872-11.1880 NLI (mf); 1872-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Castlemore see Kilcoleman (Costello)

Civil Parish: Cong

Catholic Parish: Cong & The Neale

Bapt: 2.1870-12.1880 (Modem transcript)NLI (mf); 1870-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 1870-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Crossboyne

Catholic Parish: Crossboyne & Tagheen

Bapt: 7.1862-2.1877 (Modem transcript) 5.1877-12.1880

NLI (mf); 1835-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 1.1877-7.1880 NLI (mf); 1791-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Crossmolina

Catholic Parish: Crossmolina

Bapt: 81831-8.1841,4.1845-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1831- 1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 11.1832-2.1841,3.1846-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1832- 1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Doonfeeny

Catholic Parish: Ballycastle

Bapt: 8.1864-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1853-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1.1869-9.1880 NLI (mf); 1869-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Drum see Balla

Civil Parish: Innisboffin

Catholic Parish: Innishboffin

Bapt: 10.1867-12.1880 NU (mf);

Marr: 11.1867-10.1880 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: lslandeady

Catholic Parish: Islandeady

Rapt: 9.1839-5.1876 NLI (mf); 1839-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.1839-9.1880 NLI (mf); 1839-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilbeagh

Catholic Parish: Kilbeagh

Bapt: 1.1855-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1847-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 5.1845-31866, 1.1855-9.1880 (different records) NLI (mf); 1844-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Carracastle

Bapt: 1.1853-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1863-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 7.1847-11.1880 NLI (mf);1847-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilbelfad see Ballynahaglish

Civil Parish: Kilbride see Doonfeeny

Civil Parish: Kilcolman (Bo. Clanmorris)

Catholic Parish: Kilcolman/Claremorris

Bapt: 4.1835-1.1838,3.1839-5.1873 NLI (mf); 1835-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 6.1806-2.1830, 1.1835-3. 1836, 12.1838-6.1871 NLI (mf); 1805-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilcolman (Bo. Costello)

Catholic Parish: Castlemore & Kilcolman

Bapt: 11.1851-12.1880,1861 and 1864-1872 (Modem transcript) NLI (mf);

Marr: 8.1830-10.1867,2.1868-11.1880 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: Kilcommon (Bo. Erris)

Catholic Parish: Gweesalia

Bapt: 1883-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1886-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Kiltane

Bapt: 8.1860-12. 1880 NLI (mf); 1860-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.1860-3.1880 NU (mf); 1860-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Kilcommon.Erris

Bapt: 1883-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1843-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Belmullet

Bapt: 2.1841-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1841-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1.1836-5.1845,8.1857-11.1880 NLI (mf); 1836-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Ballycroy

Bapt: 1885-1900MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1890-1900MNFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Bangor/Aughoose

Bapt: 1853-1861 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1854-1860 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilcommon (Bo, Kilmaine)

Catholic Parish: Kilcommon & Robeen

Bapt: 10.1857-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1857-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 10.1857-6.1880 NLI (mf); 1857-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Kilcommon/Roundfort

Bapt: 12.1865-12.1880 NLI (mf):

Marr: 11.1865-4.1880 NLI (mf):

Civil Parish: Kilconduff

Catholic Parish: Kilconduff and Meelick

Bapt: 3.1822-6.1826. 5.1841-12.1900 NLI (mf); 1822-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 6.1808-3.1878,4.1878-11.1915 NLI (mf); 1808- 1878 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilcummin see Lackan

Civil Parish: Kildacommoge

Catholic Parish: Keelogues

Bapt: 8.1847-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1847-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 8.1847-9.1880 NLI (mf); 1847-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilfian

Catholic Parish: Kilfian

Bapt: 10.1826-4.1836 NLI (mf); 1826-1836 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 7.1826-10.1844 NLI(Int); 1826-1836 MNl'HRC (index)

Death: 10.1826-2.1832 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: Kilgarvan

Catholic Parish: Kilgarvan

Bapt: 3.1870-12.1880 NLI (mf): 1870-1900 MNRIRC (index)

MARR: 11.1844-5.1880 NLI(Int); 1897-1900MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilgeever

Catholic Parish: Kilgeever/Louisburgh

Bapt: 2.1850-3.1869 (Modern transcript), 8.1872-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1850-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 1850-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Clare Island

Bapt: 10.1851-11.1880 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: Killala

Catholic Parish: Killala

Bapt: 4.1852-8.1873,9.1873-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1852-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 12.1873-11.1880 NLI (mf); 1873-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Killasser

Catholic Parish: Killasser

Bapt: 11.1847-12.1880 NLI(mf);1848-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 12.1847-6.1880 NLI (mf); 1847-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Death: 11.1847-6.1848 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: Killedan

Catholic Parish: Killedan/Kiltimagh

Bapt: 2.1861-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1861-1900 SMFHRC Marr: 11.1861-8.1880 NLI (mf); 1834-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilmaclasser see Kilmeena

Civil Parish: Kilmainbeg see Kilmainemore

Civil Parish: Kilmainemore

Catholic Parish: Kilmaine

Bapt: 6.1854-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1854-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 5.1855-10.1877 NLI (mf); 1854-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilmeena

Catholic Parish: Kilmeena

Bapt: none held on Inf.

Civil Parish: Kilmolara see Cong

Civil Parish: Kilmore

Catholic Parish: Kilmore-Erris

Bapt: 6.1860-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1859-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.1860-11.1880 NLI (mf); 1860-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilmoremoy

Catholic Parish: Kilmoremoy

Bapt: 5.1823-10.1836,5.1849-7.1849,7.1851-9.1867, 2.1868-2.1879 NLI (mf); 1823-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 5.1823-10.1842,10.1850-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1823- 1900MNFHRC (index)

Death: 4.1823-8.1836, 9.1840-5.1844 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: Kilmovee

Catholic Parish: Kilmovee

Bapt: 2.1854-12.1880,6.1854-12.1880 NLI (mf)(not same records): 1824-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 11.1824-8.1848,10.1854-5.1880 NLl (mf); 1854- 1900SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Kilturra

Catholic Parish: Kilshalvey, Kilturra & Cloonoghill

Bapt: 1.1842-12.1877 NLI(mf)(somegapspre-1852)

Marr: 4.1833-4.1876 NLI (mf)

Civil Parish: Kilvine see Crossboyne

Civil Parish: Knock

Catholic Parish: Knock

Bapt: 12.1868-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1868-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.1875-12.1880 NLl (mf); 1874-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Lackan

Catholic Parish: Lackan

Bapt: 8.1852-11.1874 NLl (mf); 1852-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 3.1854-2.1869 NLI (mf) (Modem transcript, some pages missing); 1854-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Manulla see Balla

Civil Parish: Mayo

Catholic Parish: Mayo Abbey

Bapt: 4.1841-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1841-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 9.1841-6.1880 NLI (mf); 1841-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Meelick see Kilconduff

Civil Parish: Moorgagagh see Kilmainemore

Civil Parish: Moygownagh

Catholic Parish: Moygownagh

Bapt: 1887-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 1881-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Oughaval

Catholic Parish: Aughaval/Westport

Bapt: 7.1845-11.1858,1.1859-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1823- 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 4.1823-2.1861,1.1862-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1823- 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Catholic Parish: Drummin and Lecanvey

Bapt: 4.1872-12.1880 NLI (mf);

Civil Parish: Rathreagh see Kilfian

Civil Parish: Robeen see Kilcommon (Kilmaine)

Civil Parish: Rosslee see Balla

Civil Parish: Shrule

Catholic Parish: Shrule

Bapt: 7.1831-8.1864 NLI (mf); 1832-1900 SMFHRC (index)

Marr: 7.1831-6.1848,10.1855-5.1864 NU (mf); 1832. 1900 SMFHRC (index)

Civil Parish: Tagheen see Crossboyne

Civil Parish: Templemore

Catholic Parish: Templemore

Bapt 1888-1900

Marr: 5.1872-3.1900 (index)

Civil Parish: Templemurry see Killala

Civil Parish: Toomore

Catholic Parish: Foxford

Bapt: 12.1871-1.1880 NLI (mf); 1871-1900 MNFHRC ; (index)

Marr: 4.1833-3.1840 NLI (mf); (MF); (Modern transcript, for original see Kilturra);1.187o-12.1880 NU

(mf); 1870-1900 MNFHRC(index)

Civil Parish: Touaghty see Ballintober

Civil Parish: Turlough

Catholic Parish: Turlough

Bapt: 8.1847-12.1880 NLI (mf); 1847-1899 MNFHRC (index)

Marr: 8.1847-6.1880 NLI(mf); 1849-1900 MNFHRC (index)

Church of Ireland

The Church of Ireland dioceses are Achonry, Killala and Tham. The earliest records start in the mid 1700's. Burials were recorded for most parishes, and these augment Civil records of death which only began in 1864. A full account of the types of records kept by the C of I is given by Raymond Refausse in 'Irish Church Records' (Flyleaf Press, Dublin, 1992).

A significant number of C of I records were destroyed in a fire in the Public Record Office in 1922. However copies and abstracts of the lost registers exist for many parishes. Original (or sole copies) of Church of Ireland registers may be in one of several places. They may be in Local Custody (LC) in the parish of origin. They are usually accessible by arrangement with the local clergyman. They may also be in the Representative Church Body Library (RCBL-see P. 84), where they are accessible for research. Finally they may be in the NAI, which also has an extensive collection of abstracts of registers. There are extensive gaps in these NAI records and only the start and end date are noted below. The records, and their access, are as follows:

Presbyterian Church

There was only a tiny population of Presbyterians in Mayo at any time. According to Samuel Lewis's Topographical Dictionary (1837) only 4 parishes had Presbyterian worship. This figure increased steadily showing most records starting about the mid 1860's. Presbyterian marriages can be found in the civil registers from 1845. Burial records were rarely kept and CoI burial records should be checked. A useful source of background information is .A History of Congregations in the Presbyterian Church of Ireland, 1610- 1982 PHSI (Belfast, 1982).

Methodist Church (Wesleyan):

Methodist church records for Mayo are administered through the Enniskillen and Sligo district where the originals of extant records are stored. These are noted 'Sligo' below. They are not available for public inspection but queries may be addressed in writing to: Superintendent Minister, Methodist Manse, Ardaghowen, Co. Sligo. As there is a close connection between Methodists and Church of Ireland, the records of the latter should be also consulted. Below is a list of available Methodist records.

Return to Tracing your Mayo Ancestors