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Archiver > MDSTMARY > 2002-11 > 1036680472


From: "Beth Jones" <>
Subject: [MDSTMARY-L] Re: Holy Mary Baptismal records
Date: Thu, 7 Nov 2002 08:47:52 -0600
References: <003101c28620$54a88180$9944f541@caldwel>


The baptism records, I believe, begin July or August of 1806. My question
is, where wd the earlier baptismal have been recorded/stored? According to
the Holy Name of Mary Church history, Rev. Whelan was first priest in the
area, leaving in 1790. Next came Rev. de Rohan and Rev. Badin. Rev.
Michael J. C. Fournier came to KY in 1797 and was given charge of the
mission at Calvary, and built a small cabin with a chapel attached, this was
the first "church" building at the site. He died in 1803, leaving Father
Badin as the lone priest in KY. Then in 1805 Rev. Charles Nerinckx came to
KY and resided with Father Badin. In 1805 he laid the cornerstone of the
first Holy Mary Church, a log building.

My burning question is, what became of the records of the Catholic settlers
between the earliest arrival in the area, ca 1785-1788, and the baptismal
records beginning summer of 1806? Some may not have survived due to weather
and mishaps encountered during the priests' travels, but surely some of the
records would have been kept safe? The Sisters of Loretto did not establish
their Academy until 1816, could the records have been brought there at some
point? Would these records have been sent to Rome? Back East? Would the
Jesuits have them? I don't know if there is any hope of locating them, but
what a great thing it would be to be able to fill in all the blanks between
our ancestors leaving Maryland and the earliest births, marriages and deaths
in their new home at Calvary.

Beth Abel Jones

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