Leitrim-Roscommon

I am trying to find out if my g,g,g,grandfather, Joseph Brennan, had any siblings. Joseph Brennan was born c. 1802 in Bumlin civil parish, Strokestown. I have his father's name, Patrick Brennan, but no mother's name. Patrick was listed as a schoolteacher. Joseph Brennan immigrated to New Zealand in 1847 after retiring from the British army. I am hoping to visit Strokestown within the next year and have a lot of questions regarding locating information ahead of time or while I'm there. I'm hoping that somebody can help me with some answers. Here goes:

1. Are there church (birth/baptism) records still available that go back that far (c. 1802)? If so, where would they be kept?
2. How would I find out how many Catholic churches/parishes there were in Bumlin civil parish in 1802?
3. Would there be any listing or record of schoolteachers from that time? I was hoping that that little bit of extra information may help, especially in determining (if I find anything) that it's the correct Patrick and/or Joseph Brennan I've found? (I imagine there were quite a few Patrick and Joseph Brennans in those parts.)

My goal is to locate a birth/baptism record for Joseph Brennan with both father's and mother's names on it, so that I may then search for other birth/baptism records, with the same parents listed, in order to discover if Joseph Brennan had any siblings.

Thanks in advance for any assistance you may provide. Rosemary

Bumlin Civil parish is split between the Catholic parishes of Strokestown and Tarmonbarry.

The map of Bumlin Civil parish at
http://www.leitrim-roscommon.com/MAPS/bumlin.html

is not accurate. In general terms townlands 3, 5, 6, 10, 16, 20 and 24 are in Strokestown Catholic parish and the remainder in Tarmonbarry Catholic parish.

I suggest you check the 1825 Tithe Applotment records for Bumlin Civil parish, readily available at major public libraries - see LDS film 256576 and National Library Ireland film 88-25/26. With luck you will find the entry for Patrick Brennan.

There are numerous entries for Brennan at the 1857 Griffith’s Valuation of Bumlin Civil parish
Brennan Luke Bumlin Ballyfeeny
Brennan Patrick Bumlin Culliagh Lower
Brennan Eliza Bumlin Lisroyne. Strokestown Town (part of). Church Street
Brennan William Bumlin Lisroyne. Strokestown Town (part of). Elphin Street
Brennan Luke Bumlin Pollymount
see LDS film 844992 (1857),

John

Baptims records for Strokestown begin in 1830.

The Report of the Commissioners of Irish Education Inquiry, 1825 has an appendix listing information about all schools active in 1824 - so called "hedge schools". There is one listed for Elphin Street, Strokestown, Bumlin parish with William Brennan, a Protestant, as the school-master. The school was located in his own house. There were 40 pupils - 19 Protestants and 21 Catholics made up of 29 boys and 11 girls. He had an annual income of 12 pounds - 8 pounds from the parish and 4 pounds from the rector. Scripture was read by the Protestant pupils.

There is no other Brennan listed as a teacher in the surrounding area.

Good luck with your search

Mike Lennon

Mike and John, thanks so much for the information. Just as I thought, 1802 is a bit too early for baptism records.

It's disappointing to learn that what I thought was a good piece of additional information - Joseph's father listed as a school teacher - doesn't seem to help. Perhaps he'd died by 1824, left the area, immigrated.....who knows. I know that Joseph was educated, however, because I have a copy of a letter of thanks that he wrote to the captain of the ship that took him and his family to New Zealand. So, it made sense to me that, especially in those times, his father was a school teacher. Oh, well! With this additional information, I'll keep on searching.

Thanks again. Rosemary