Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland

[Tara-Leigh]

Hello All -
I'm trying to find out more about an ancestor Patrick Merrigan of Philadelphia, PA immigrated around 1861 with wife Ann (pregnant with oldest child William).  We have a lot of info on the family that pretty much all stayed in PA, but were looking for where the family started and more of their lives in PA. We know his occupations were coal trimmer and glass blower. We also show the family on the 1870 census (child william is absent on this one), 1880 census, 1900 census. Most of the other documentation was lost in a fire in 1921...so any assistance would be greatly appreciated as I've been at this brick wall about 5 years now...
Thank you
Tara

[crisane]

Information deleted because wrong person named.

This is the coverage of civil records on Irish Genealogy.ie
Births: 1864 to 1916
Marriages: 1870* to 1941
Deaths: 1878* to 1966

So you will be looking at their Parish records for a marriage

In the 1880 US census his parents have William Merrigan as born in Pennsylvania

[Tara-Leigh]

Hello
First thank you for a quick response. Secondly do we have a date of death for Edward as I do not. Also, does it mention where he was buried?

I do have an Anne Cunyiham but married to Andrew Dec.27 1830??? but no children named Edward born to them.

I'm specifically looking for the couple that moved and stayed in Philadelphia PA.

Sorry, this all gets so confusing hence the need for help.
Thank you again.

[crisane]

Hi
you were quick off the mark because I was hoping to delete the information about edward as he was born 1882 and the Edward son of Patrick and Ann was born circa 1867.
I also see that William is down as born c1860 in Pennsylvania in the 1880 US census.

I will take another look now that people have stopped requiring my attention on domestic matters

[crisane]

Ah this looks better
Their son John Merrigan 1 month old in the US 1880 census married a Katie Clark in 1904 but on his death certificate (John Lawrence Merrigan) 17 Apr 1937 she is Catherine Merrigan. On this certificate his parents are given as Patrick Merrigan and Ann Cunningham both born Ireland. John L also served in WW1 where it gives his date of birth as 17 May 1880

[Tara-Leigh]

Many Thanks...this all confirms what we have here in the states...is there a way to go backwards regarding their immigration or lives in Ireland?

It's funny there is so much info on them and their lives in America but nothing before that...

Many thanks for your assistance.  The lead on Ann Cunningham will be helpful...
If you come across anything else please forward...I'm on the hunt again!
Tara

[crisane]

Hi
I have been in hospital for an operation so had completely forgotten about this.
I did take a look on https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/ but couldn't see a marriage for a Patrick Merrigan to an Ann Cunningham

I'll have another look around but Irish research is notoriously difficult.

[shellyesq]

It can be hard to go backwards for people who came in the 19th century.  The passenger lists and naturalization records don't really give much detail as far as town/city they're from until the 20th century or maybe late 19th century.  Sometimes, a marriage or death record will give parents' names, but it can be hard to match them up with people in Ireland unless they're unusual names.  Occasionally, an obituary will mention a location in Ireland where they came from.

John L also served in WW1 where it gives his date of birth as 17 May 1880

I see a draft registration card dated Sept. 1918, so if he did actually serve, it wasn't very long.

[shellyesq]

This may be Patrick's death certificate:  https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-D1FQ-7B9?i=96&cc=1320976  Unfortunately, no parents' names included.