Do Not Believe Everything You Read!

It is important not to take everything you read at face value even if it is from a reputable source.

Humphrey Charles Minchin was my four times Great Grandfather. The Minchin family was from county Tipperary. Their family history is found in “Burke’s Irish Family Records”

According to this reference book Humphrey Charles Minchin first married Frances Catherine Sirr on 14 Jan 1775 in Dublin. Humphrey’s second marriage was to Arabella Ashworth in 1812. Above the notation to Humphrey’s second marriage is a reference to his daughter Louisa Arabella and it says she was born in 1821 and married Walter Bourne.

Hugh Montgomery-Massingberd, editor, Burke's Irish Family Records (London, U.K.: Burkes Peerage Ltd, 1976)

This information would suggest that Louisa Arabella is a daughter from Humphrey’s second marriage. How many people would take this information as it is found?

The truth about this family is that Humphrey and Frances did marry on 14 Jan 1775. They had six children before Frances died in 1810. Their last child Louisa Arabella was born circa 1800 not 1821. This is where the information needs to be unraveled.

Louisa Arabella Minchin married Walter Bourne on 6 Aug 1821 in the Parish of Taney. The record is found in the parish registers. Louisa died on 2 Jan 1882 and her death certificate says she was 82 years of age. Her first child was born on 22 Aug 1822 and baptized shortly thereafter.

Humphrey married Arabella Ashworth on 6 Jul 1812 in the parish of St. Peter’s in Dublin. A reference to this marriage was found in the parish register at the Representative Church Body Library for the Church of Ireland.

The notation of b is probably a typo and should read m.

Please remember not to believe everything you read. Reference books are a great resource but please research further to verify the accuracy of the information.

©2011 – Blair Archival Research All Rights Reserved

3 thoughts on “Do Not Believe Everything You Read!”

  1. wrt Don’t believe everything you read:
    I was quite excited when I first read Burke’s Landed Gentry for Ireland and found my grandfather William Scott Minchin. However I noticed a number of errors. One great uncle, Robert Scott, had a totally different wife. Another Francis was supposed to be a boxer in the USA however he had actually gone to Boston USA and was never a pugalist but a photographer. William’s daughters were mainly listed as died unmarried no issue. You can imagine my surprise to find my mother Agnes Patricia Minchin in that list!At the time still very much alive. Yes, always check.

  2. Penelope Minchin born : 1794,died .August 31st 1864, daughter of Charles and Ann. She was born in Co Tipperary, Ireland. She died in Donneybrook, Valentia Island, Kerry. She married Thomas Smith (from Valentia) 0n January 4th 1819. Thomas was the son of Joseph Smith and Tryphena (no maiden name) Their son George Minchin Smith (Attorney at Law) born 1820- died 1869 was my Great – great Grandfather. He married twice and I am the Great Grandaughter of Catherine Tryphena one of his children. Penelope is buried on Valentia Island . I have seen her tomb, which was erected by her fond brother Captain George Minchin.

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