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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: Tara-Leigh on Sunday 04 March 18 01:13 GMT (UK)

Title: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: Tara-Leigh on Sunday 04 March 18 01:13 GMT (UK)
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
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: crisane on Sunday 04 March 18 03:25 GMT (UK)
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
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: Tara-Leigh on Sunday 04 March 18 03:49 GMT (UK)
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.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: crisane on Sunday 04 March 18 04:03 GMT (UK)
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 ;D
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: crisane on Sunday 04 March 18 04:24 GMT (UK)
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
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: Tara-Leigh on Sunday 04 March 18 23:23 GMT (UK)
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
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: crisane on Monday 05 March 18 03:05 GMT (UK)
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.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 05 March 18 14:35 GMT (UK)
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.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: shellyesq on Monday 05 March 18 21:02 GMT (UK)
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.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: Tara-Leigh on Tuesday 06 March 18 04:04 GMT (UK)
Thanks so much Shelly...I now have two documents that say Ann Cunningham died before Patrick and yet the census shows she's alive after his passing...

Anyway to confirm they were married when he died or anything else regarding them before 1910 and after 1900???

Again a thousand thank you's ! :)

Tara
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 06 March 18 07:49 GMT (UK)
Hello,

Ancestry Irish Catholic Parish indexes show this marriage and there is a link.
The names are in Latin form and have been transcribed thus:

17th September 1859 Shrule, Longford
Patritio Mergin and Anna Cunningham

You should be able to view the records here https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0148 but the page doesn’t seem to be there. :-\
Sometimes, they are out of order so you could search through however there are no other details just the two names. 
It could be a possibility.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 06 March 18 11:58 GMT (UK)
Thanks so much Shelly...I now have two documents that say Ann Cunningham died before Patrick and yet the census shows she's alive after his passing..

Where was she in the census in 1910?  What other document aside from the death certificate do you have?  It may not be the right Patrick in the death certificate.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 06 March 18 12:09 GMT (UK)
If this is Patrick married to Ann in 1900, he is a Glass Worker.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3WC-VDN

That death certificate shows him as a Miner.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 06 March 18 12:11 GMT (UK)
This Patrick is a Miner. He is the one married to a Katherine so presumably not your Patrick but may be the one who died.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M37R-L9W
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: RJ137 on Tuesday 06 March 18 16:16 GMT (UK)
Here's what I'm seeing and I believe Anna died after Patrick (d.1907?) in 1918.

1880 census for reference: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWJJ-87L

Patrick Merrigan   50
Ann Merrigan   45
William Merrigan   20
Mary Merrigan   18
Theressa Merrigan   15 <---------------
Edward Merrigan   13
Annie Merrigan   11 <------------------
Robert Merrigan   8
Kate Merrigan   4 <-------------------
John Merrigan   1/12

==================
Daughter Thressa died in 1924

Married Roderick J Ryan in 1904.

Marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJ4-4HKQ

1910 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGCJ-F9J

Name:    Thressa Ryan
[Thressa Merrigan]
Age:    55
Birth Date:    abt 1869
Birth Place:    Phila, Pennsylvania
Death Date:    15 Oct 1924
Death Place:    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Father:    Patrick Merrigan
Mother:    Ann Cunningham <--------------------

=====

Daughter Annie died in 1945.

Anna Agnes Haughey
[Anna Agnes Merrigan]
Age:    76
Birth Date:    3 Jun 1869
Birth Place:    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Death Date:    14 Oct 1945
Father:    Patrick Merrigan
Mother:    Anna Cunningham <-------------------
Spouse:    Thomas J

=====================================

Daughter Kate/Catherine married August Bose in 1899

Marriage: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKJW-47WF

In the 1910/1920 census Catherine & August are living at 2500 Clearfield St.

1910 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MGCX-GSV

1920 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXMJ-795

=====

I belive this to be Anna's death record in 1918, though the age is off I'm sure it's her. All other info matches known information.

Her address on the death certificate is 2500 Clearfield St. The informant is listed as Annie Bose of the same address. I think "Annie" may have been daughter Catherine's middle name or an error?


DC: Name:    Mrs Anna Merrigan
[Mrs Anna Cunningham]
Age:    70
Birth Date:    abt 1848
Birth Place:    Ireland
Death Date:    10 Dec 1918
Death Place:    Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Father:    Patrick Cunningham
Mother:    Bridget Shea
---------

The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thursday, December 12, 1918 - Page 18

MERRIGAN---Dec. 10. ANN, widow of Patrick Merrigan. Relatives and friends are invited to attend funeral. Fri.. at 7.30 A. M .. from the residence of her son-in-law, August Bose. 250O E. Clearfield st. Solemn requiem mass at Church of the Nativity, at. S A. M. Int. at Holy Cross Cem.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: RJ137 on Tuesday 06 March 18 16:32 GMT (UK)
Another tidbit to make connections


The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Tuesday, April 03, 1900 - Page 12

BOSE. On the 2d Inst.. Edward A., only child cf August and Catharine Bose. and grnndchiild of Patrick and Ann Merrigan. aged 7 weeks. The relatives and friends of the family are respectfully Invited to attend the funeral, on Tuesday afternoon, at 1.30 o'clock, from the parents' residence. No. 2147 Monmouth street. Interment private, at St. Mary's Cemetery.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: RJ137 on Tuesday 06 March 18 16:52 GMT (UK)
More connections. The son Robert (b.1872) died in 1905

In 1900 census the son Edward (b.1867) is married and living at 3085 Chatham St.

1900 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M3WC-LZJ

The Philadelphia Inquirer
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Thursday, August 31, 1905 - Page 7

 MERRIGAN --August 28, ROBERT. husband of Mary Merrigan and son of Patrick and Ann Merrigan. Relatives and friends invited to attend funeral. Saturday. 8.30 A M. from residence of brother, Edward Merrigan, 3085 Chatham st. Requiem mass the Church of the Nativity. 10 A M. interment Holy Cross.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 06 March 18 17:25 GMT (UK)
Very comprehensive family details there.

I am not sure if you think the 1907 death for Patrick already mentioned is him.
As I wrote earlier, that Patrick was a Miner.

I think this is Patrick’s death in 1910.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTR9-WX?i=389&cc=1320976
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: Cwellan CoDown on Tuesday 06 March 18 18:27 GMT (UK)
Searching for Cunninghams or Merrigans in Shrule (Parish - also called Ballymahon) in Longford in the 1901 census - just in case some are related

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Ballymahon/Creevagh_Beg/1547525/.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Ballymahon/Rathmore/1547543/

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Ballymahon/Rathmore/1547548/

I can't find any Merrigans - the closest I can find in Megann's
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Longford/Ballymahon/Creevaghmore/1547489/

Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: shellyesq on Tuesday 06 March 18 18:36 GMT (UK)
I think this is Patrick’s death in 1910.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DTR9-WX?i=389&cc=1320976

It looks like his former or usual residence was listed as House of Correction.  Maybe there's a story there.
Title: Re: Trying to back trace Patrick Merrigan b.1833 approx Ireland
Post by: heywood on Tuesday 06 March 18 18:56 GMT (UK)
I noticed that but was unsure of its meaning. :-\