In 1749, Edward Synge (1691-1762), Protestant Bishop of Elphin, was anxious to know the proportion of Protestants to "Papists" (a name he used to refer to Catholics) in Ireland. So, he arranged to have a census of population undertaken throughout his diocese. The census covers 69 parishes, and the major towns of Sligo, Roscommon, Boyle. There were three Geraghty families in St Peters parish, Athlone, Roscommon.
James Geraghty,
Jon Geraghty and
Willm Geraghty.
One of these men is presumably the father of Michael, one of the four heads of Geraghty families who appear in the parish register when records become available (1789). The other three being John, Patrick, and Thomas Geraghty.
Michael's son, also named Michael, was one of three Geraghtys from Kooska, in Athlone, who are listed in the 1833 Tithe Applotment Books. They appear to be related, for their names are grouped together as entries:
# 482 - Michael Geraghty - four acres - Proposed line of decent:
William Geraghty (from the 1749 census)
His proposed son Michael whose last child, Thomas, was christening the year the parish register starts (1789)
His proposed son Michael, named after his father, whose children were christened at St Peters between 1810 and 23. I suspect this is the man who leased item #482.
# 483 - Thomas Geraghty - four acres - a cousin? uncle? nephew?
# 484 - Thomas Geraghty - eight acres - Another s/o Michael Geritey & N Naghten, christened when the register starts up in Jan 1789?
There are only two other Geraghty entries from St Peters, both from the nearby townland of Monksland. I assume one of them:
#349 - Thomas Geraghty - one of six partners on 21 acres. One of the others was the "Widow Naughten." As Irish wives usually kept their maiden name in the parish register, I wonder if she Thomas. mother. Proposed descent:
John Geraghty (from the 1749 census)
His proposed son Thomas Geraghty & Francesca Naghten were still christening their children in the 1790s.
His proposed son Thomas Geraghty married Beth Lennon on Nov 20, 1809. So Thomas was presumably born about 1785.
#382 - Thomas Geraghty - less than an acre - ?