NY and VT Irish Baptisms Recorded in Quebec
Canadian Missionaries Served Catholics both Sides of the Border
May 25, 2009
Family history buffs often struggle to fit into a proper family tree those first Irish Catholic ancestors in the United States. The record trail just vanishes! More than 20 years ago, Virginia E. DeMarce extracted entries for Irish Catholics in the U. S. from an unusual set of records in Quebec. No researcher descending from these New York and Vermont Irish families could have guessed that the records were in Canada.
The St-Jean-Chrysostome Parish Records
Early Parish Registers for St-Jean-Chrysostome in Chateauguay Co., Quebec, begin with baptisms performed by missionaries who traveled across the border into nearby Vermont and New York. Most of the families served were French Canadians, but some were Irish Catholics. Family researchers may wish to first read an introduction to the records.
Baptisms of Irish Catholics in the United States
The following entries give the mother’s maiden name instead of her husband’s surname. Names in parentheses are the Godparents.
June 19, 1838, baptized Laurence, age 4 days, son of Patrick McCormick, laborer in Franklin Co., NY, and Ellen Colwell. (William and Bridget O’Reily)
June 19, 1838, bpt Eliza, born June 7th, daughter of Richard Murphy, farmer in Franklin Co., NY, and Eliza Carr. (William O’Reily and Ellen Donnelly)
June 19, 1838, bpt Mary Jane, age 1 day, daughter of Patrick Lahey, farmer in Franklin Co., NY, and Anne Farley. (Edward and Anne Flinn)
Oct. 19, 1838, bpt Catharine, age 5 weeks, daughter of Philip Rock, farmer in Franklin Co., NY, and Bridget O’Connel. (Farrel Smyth and Anne Smyth)
Oct. 29, 1838, bpt Timothy, age 3 mo., son of Patrick Sheilds, farmer at Chateauguay, NY, and Mary O’Leary. (Michael O’Leary and Mary Kavanaugh)
Oct. 29, 1838, bpt. James, age 2 weeks, son of David Noonan, farmer at Chateauguay, NY, and Margaret Quin. (William Fahee and Bridget Fahee)
March 15, 1839, bpt Sarah, age 1 week, daughter of Barnaby McCann, farmer at Chateauguay, NY, and Eliza Lindin. (Charles McCrory and Mary Gray)
March 17, 1839, bpt John, age 8 days, son of John Kennedy, farmer at Chateauguay, NY, and Margaret Johnston. (William Boner and Mary Cody)
May 15, 1839, bpt at Farnham, NY, Elizabeth Jane, 16, born in Plattsburg to Steven William Fosberry and Mary Bartlow. Note: The father was absent. (Mary Dorothea Jewel, represented by Mary Murphy, and James Murphy)
May 26, 1839, bpt Ellen, 2 months, daughter of Thomas McDonaugh, farm laborer in Vermont, and Eliza Means. (Patrick Hanly and Mary Kilkelly)
Oct. 4, 1839, bpt Maryanne Downey, 22, daughter of William Downey and Martha Shepperd of Vermont. (John Mullens and Mary McCullough). Note: Maryanne was married the same day to John Meloney, son of Denis Meloney and Elin Lindon of Vermont.
Oct. 29, 1839, bpt Elizabeth, age 3 months, daughter of Felix McLindon, farmer, and Margaret Watson of New York (James McLindon and Anne McGinnis)
Oct. 29, 1839, bpt Anne, age 10 days, daughter of William McCormack, farmer, and Bridgit Reynolds of New York. (Felix McCormack and Mary McMall/McCall)
Oct. 29, 1839, bpt Henry, age 2 weeks, son of Patrick Hughes of New York and Jane Magee. (William Heany and Catherine Duffin)
Oct. 29, 1839, bpt James, age 7 weeks, son of Arthur Quin of New York and Sarah Hughes. (James McElindon and Elizabeth Hughes)
Oct. 31, 1839, bpt Anne, age 2 months, daughter of Patrick McSweeney, farmer in New York, and Jane Spelman. (Edmond D’Arcy and Mary Boaz)
Nov. 5, 1839, bpt William, age 2 months, son of Patrick O’Riley, farmer in New York, and Mary Riley. (Charles and Anne O’Riley)
Continued with the 1840 baptisms.
Source:
Lost in Canada, Vol. 14, No. 3 (August, 1988)
