A new book, Irregular Marriages in Dublin Before 1837, will be launched this weekend.
Compiled by Henry (Harry) McDowell, a well-renowed genealogist of many years standing and a Fellow of Accredited Genealogists Ireland (AGI), the book contains an indexed version of the Schulze Registers of 'irregular' marriages. Harry has confirmed this morning that some 6,500 marriages (c13,000 brides and grooms) are recorded.
He was one of several 'couple beggars' conducting clandestine marriages in Dublin in the early 1800s. While the records for some 30,000 marriages performed by these clergymen were lost in the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office, Schulze's register survived. You can find out more about the Lutheran Reverend JGF Schulze in this week's Irish Roots column by John Grenham in the Irish Times, where you can also note details of the launch venue and times.
Published by DĂșn Dealgan Press, the book will be available for purchase at the launch event.