Re: HURST family name
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In reply to:
Re: HURST family name
6/03/01
Lorraine, Unless there was a specific County for the particular HURST family it is very hard to know were to begin. That is what I have been trying to help people with but yours is difficult to say the least.If they were Catholic Irish - the majority - they did not legally exist under English Law until 1869. If they were Protestant it could be a little easier but even they only go back to 1845 - I believe - unless they were part of the Protestant Ascendancy. The Catholic priests under pain of imprisonment and their life moved among the Irish Families and baptised and recorded the children when they could and hid the records under rocks or other similar hiding places for fear of them being found on them. Some of these have been found since and those in Co. Clare go back to 1816. These are available from the Clare Heritage Centre Corofin Co. Clare who have a posting on the Internet also under -IRISH - in another forum. Most of the other Counties also now have Heritage centres and there would be Church of Ireland / Church of England Protestant records going back someway if they were Protestant. There may also be a HURST Family forum in this Genforum or you could contact a Hurst family member in Ireland by phone just to try and get the ball rolling. I have felt what you are feeling in regard to your ancestor and I know how frustrating it can be. 800 years of oppression, removal of all rights and land ownership and denial of education has brought us to this position.