Re: James & Maria ( Sullivan ) Fitzgibbon married-Bulgaden Limerick 13 Feb 1841
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In reply to:
Re: James & Maria ( Sullivan ) Fitzgibbon married-Bulgaden Limerick 13 Feb 1841
jan webb 4/03/09
Witnesses/informants weren't necessarily related: often just friends. If I remember correctly from your post, the baby was on time, but the wedding was late. The sponsors could have been the enforcers.
Sponsors on the other hand can be the "godparents" or other relatives. With the fragility and uncertainty of life in pre 20th cent. Ireland, godparents were a primitive form of life insurance for the children.
I'm not Catholic, but have looked at lots of posts.