Traditional Irish Baptismal Sponsors
For wedding witnesses, first cousins or even close friends may have been chosen, but baptismal sponsors were most frequently chosen from a sibling or the spouse of a sibling.
Luckily for figuring out relationships, women's maiden names were used for these records even if they were married.
In January 1818, Margaret Sweeney, not yet married to Richard Allen, was a baptismal sponsor for Thomas McCann, the son of Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCann of Umberstown. Pat Sweeney was the other baptismal sponsor. So it is likely that both Margaret Sweeney and Pat Sweeney were siblings of Mary Sweeney (McCann.)
Mary Sweeney and Thomas McCann had been married in Dangan on March 27, 1815. Their wedding witnesses were
Thomas Reilly and Hugh Sweeney. So it is likely that Hugh Sweeney was a brother of Mary Sweeney.
Source: Ancestry.com: Ireland, Select Catholic Marriage Registers 1775-1942, Meath, Summerhill 1812-1854, page 5
In April, 1833, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor of Margaret Sweeney, daughter of Catherine "Kathy" Sweeney and Andrew Fitzsimons of Dangan. So it is likely that Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) was also a sibling of Margaret Sweeney.
Source: Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers 1763-1917, Meath, Summerhill, 1812-1854 p 72
In January 1841, Richard Allen was a baptismal sponsor for Luke and John Sweeney, the twin sons of Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall/McCan. So again, it is likely that Patrick Sweeney was the brother of Richard's wife Margaret Sweeney.
Patrick Sweeney and Mary McCall had been married on May 6, 1827. Peter Allen and Mary Young were their witnesses. (Peter Allen and Mary Young would also marry in March 1829!)
So- These records show that Margaret Sweeney's siblings likely included:
Mary Sweeney (McCann) of Umberstown
Catherine Sweeney (Fitzsimons) of Dangan
Patrick Sweeney of Umberstown
Hugh Sweeney
See next post- about these families, Margaret's presumed siblings.
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