I’m a big researcher. I’m not large. I just mean that I enjoy going off on tangents and while away the time on totally random subjects.
I was recently perusing Irish Catholic baptisms that took place in Enniscorthy, County Wexford on the hunt for some record of my elusive great-great-great grandfather Peter Cassidy’s birth. He was born in the 1820s.
Driving me batty. He married a Wicklow woman but I believe he was a Wexford man. And I know he existed. Because I do.
Many hours have been spent tracing my family history. I thoroughly enjoy it and get a rush every time I make a new discovery.
But not all my learnings have been about my own kin. I’ve learned about immigration waves, mortality rates, illnesses, disease, society, religion and so much more.
Because of the tangents and randomness.
Back to me and my scrolling through the records.
It can be tedious work when you’re looking at the same old names. Mary, Catherine, Ann, Brigid, Margaret and Elizabeth. Patrick, William, John, James and Francis.
Yawn.
One gets very excited if they happen upon a Simon or an Anastasia. Just to break up the monotony.
On this day I was plugging along. And noticed in 1794 and 1795 the word “spurious” next to a few names on the baptismal register. This was the term that was used for bastard.
That changed in the following decades-at least on these registers.
I’m scouring the year 1828 and start noticing that “spurious” no longer appears. Just “Illegitimate” or “Illeg str.” beside the names.
I figured, since most listed a mother and father, that these were the results of premarital trysts and that the parents were married at the time of birth. I did, however, think to myself, “Then why bother noting it?”
Anyway, I smile when I see twins listed. Thinking those parents would have had their hands full.
Sad face when I see “Foundling” or “Workhouse” in the register.
Started noticing quite a few “Illeg.” between the years 1828-1834.
The name Magdalen started appearing in 1829 and I assumed it was a popular girl’s name at the time. So happy to see a different name.
But I saw that most of the Magdalens had “illegitimate” next to them. Again, maybe just a name that had soaring popularity at the time and a bunch of them were illegitimate.
Then I saw a few Simons baptized who were also illegitimate.
And two illegitimate Hedwigis? Latin for Hedwig. This name surprised me. I guess because it’s my cousin’s middle name (after her German aunt Hedwig) and I would never have associated it with an Irish person.
But many folks have been named after saints so I just figured maybe they were born on or around St. Hedwig’s Feast Day.
Here is a listing of all the illegitimate births in a two-year period from that parish.
October 31st, 1827 –Simon
November 5th, 1827- Ann
March 11th, 1828- John
April 1oth, 1828-Thomas
July 4th, 1828-Brigid
July 8th, 1828-Henry
July 11th, 1828-Aidan
July 30th, 1828-Catherine
August 7th, 1828-Mary
August 11th, 1828-Clare
October 24th, 1828-Mary Lane
October 31st, 1828-Mary
November 14th, 1828-John
November 19th, 1828-Eliza
November 21st, 1828-Charles
December 31st, 1828-Catherine
January 11th, 1829-John
February 7th, 1829-no name
February 28th, 1829-Simon
February 28th, 1829-Magdalen
March 6th, 1829-Magdalen
March 13th, 1829-Ellen
March 15th, 1829-Simon
March 24th, 1829-Mary
April 4th, 1829-Magdalen
April 30th, 1829-Magdalen
May 4th, 1829-James
May 5th, 1829-Simon
May 14th, 1829-Simon
May 18th, 1829-Simon
June 11th, 1829-Magdalen
June 30th, 1829-Magdalen
August 3rd, 1829-Brigid
August 10th, 1829-William
August 17th, 1829-Charles
September 6th, 1829-Sam
September 11th, 1829-Teresa
October 21st, 1829-Hedwigis
October 27th, 1829-Robert
December 1st, 1829-Hedwigis
Interesting stuff. At least to me. I’d read that illegitimate births were quite common in different European countries at certain times. I was just a bit surprised to see so many documented in one parish. Especially an Irish one. Of course, I have no idea of the size of this parish at that time. But still.
I did some checking and St. Magdalen of Canossa worked with delinquent and abandoned girls along with the poor and sick.
St. Simon’s not adding up unless the patron saint of lost causes (St. Jude also) angle is the key.
Of course, my first question was why are most of the babies named Magdalen illegitimate. Not all but most. After Mary Magdalene? Supposedly a fallen women?
My second thought was that this had to do with the Magdalene Laundries/Asylums. Maybe the girls were sent to these places. I also wondered if these names (Simon, Magdalen and Hedwigis) had to do with orphanages.
I really do not have any idea of what it all means. Or if it means anything at all. I just thought it was a bit odd. Maybe it is just a coincidence.
Would welcome any ideas or thoughts. Yes, Auntie Maureen, I’m talking to you.
Just Being Mary 