Colligan......can someone connect the dots please

[Heather Walsh]

Hello everyone, Please bear with me. Scotland census, Holytown, 1881,
Helen Colligan age 68 (head)
John Cooper age 26 (nephew)
Elizabeth Knox age 9 (grandaughter)

1871 Census
Ellen Colligan age 58 (wife)
John Colligan age 51 (head)
John Colligan age 16 (nephew)
ellen Colligan age 5 (grandaughter)

In looking at John Colligan/Cooper the nephew,  from what i can find on Ancestry, he was born to a Margaret Colligan, his father being John Cooper.  Margaret's parent were Edward Colligan and Ann Cleland......on one cesus her parents are recorded as surname Colville and it seems as on Margarets marriage to John Cooper, her surname was recorded as Colvine or Colvile.....John Cooper deserted Margaret.
My question now is, for John Colligan/Cooper to be the nephew of above said John Colligan, he would have to be Margaret's brother, right?, but Margaret's brother John, wasnt born till 1837. The John Colligan above, looks to be born 1820.
Should it be recorded as great nephew? maybe? making, Edward colligan and John Colligan brothers?
Trying to establish the relationship between Edward Colligan's family and John Colligan's family.

Any help or advice greatly appreciated.
kind regards from Heather

[scotmum]

Firstly, have you viewed the original documents at scotlandspeople, or transcripts elsewhere? If the latter, it would be worth viewing the originals to see if there might be a different relationship recorded that has just been mistranscribed..

[Heather Walsh]

oh ok, thank you

[AMBLY]

Hello    Long post - some of this you'll certainly have , but pulling all together to show:

There is indeed strong evidence to suggest John Colligan (m Helen Gardiner) and Edward Colligan (m Ann Cleland) were brothers....both sons of John Colligan and Margaret Campbell - and that both their names were often recorded as Colvile / Colvin

That is: John Cooper was the Grand Nephew of John Colligan, and his mother Margaret Colligan Cooper was John Colligan' neice.

Overview
John Colligan (~1820-1874), married ~1838,  to Hellen Gardiner (~1815 -1884)
In their Census 1871: Nephew John Colligan 16, b New Monkland (abt 1855)
In their Census 1881: (Helen is a widow), nephew, John Cooper 26, b Bothwell  (abt 1855)
John Colligan died 1874 in Sorn, Ayr (accident) age 55 ( born abt 1819) - wife listed as:  Helen Gardiner and parents informed as being: John Colligan and Margaret Colligan ms Campbell.

THE NEPHEW
BIRTH John Cooper 1855
Born 31 March 1855 Newarthill, registered Holytown
Born as 1st child of parents. He was a Twin - his twin  is Ann, registered same time,  listed as the 2nd child. For both children:   Parents married 1854 Newarthill, and:
Mother:  Margaret Colvin age 23, born Auldstone near Shotts Iron Works (Abt 1832)
Father: John Cooper age 25 , Coal Miner, b Grangemouth (abt 1830)

CENSUS 1861: at No 3 Water Engine, Shotts, Lanarkshire
John Cooper 34, Coalminer, b Grangemouth, Stirlingashire (abt 1827)
Margaret Cooper 35,  Cambusnethan, Lanarkshire  (abt 1826)
John Cooper 6, b Bothwell ( 1855)
Ann Cooper 6 b Bothwell (1855)

In 1878: Poor Law Application - Cambusnethan Parochial Board
Margaret Colligan or Cooper, aged 50, born Cambusnethan
Applied 5pm, on 2nd January 1878
No Home. Wishaw.
Married, no home, Carters wife, Partial debility, Dependants: Nil.
Her husband John Cooper from Shotts deserted her 12 years ago. Settlement Shotts. She has mostly been in the Poorhouse for the last 12 years.
Result: 2nd Jan - sent to Poorhouse.  7th Jan. Left Poorhouse

In 1890: Parochial Relief Application- Cambusnethan
Applicant: Margaret Colligan or Cooper, age abt 58, born Cambusnethan
Applied: 5pm on 11 Jun 1890
No Home, Married, Protestant, Farm Servant
Parents: Edward Colligan, Boilermaker & Ann Cleland. Both Dead
Husband: John Cooper, Carter, b Shotts (thinks), deserted her 20 years ago
Result: Sent to Poorhouse per bus 11 June. Left Poorhouse 12 June.

part 2 next

[AMBLY]

part 2

This is the COLLIGAN-GARDINER  trail - the name "Colvin" as opposed to Colligan (Var) pops up here also.[/b]

BIRTHS: to John Colligan and Helen Gardiner
Margaret Colligan - 18 Jun 1839, Old Monkland (ON SP) (died before 1847)
Nancy Colligan - 12 Aug 1841 Old Monkland (ON SP) ( aka Agnes, a common alt form)
Jess Colligan 1843 Old Monkland (ON SP)
John Colligan  abt 1845 , birth not on SP ?
Margaret Colligan b abt 1847, birth not on SP? 
Jane Colligan b abt 1850 (birth not on SP ? )

Note: son John b abt 1845 married age 23 in 1868 in Holytown, parents John Colligan (engine Keeper at coal pit) and Helen Colligan ms Gardiner. He ended up in NZ.Well documented.

Note: dau Margaret b abt 1847 married William  Knox, chd incl:  a dau Helen Gardiner Knox 1868, & a dau Elizabeth Knox abt 1872. Died 1885 age 38  as  Margaret Knox or Colligan mms Gardner.  (The marriage and the two girls births registered with Margaret as "Colvin " )

In 1841 Census: Family of John Colligan and Helen Gardiner. Not found. Possibly should be in Old Monkland where dau Nancy/Agnes was born 1841?

In 1851: CENSUS Loanhead Old Monkland Lanarkshire
Head: Helen Calven 38, married  engine workers wife born Shotts
Dau: Agness 9, b. New Monkland (abt 1842) (this is Nancy, a common alt. form of Agnes)
Son: John 5 son b. Old Monkland (abt 1846)
Dau: Margret 3  b. Cambusnethan (abt 1848)
Dau: Jane  b. Bothwell (abt 1850)
Lodger: Petter Queen, 15 Coal Miner, b Edinburgh, Midlothian
Lodger: Barbra Calven 30, unm, Houseservant, b Shotts
Lodger: Hellen Calven 17, unm, Houseservant, b Falkirk, Stirlingshire

(Note: Cambusnethan is a large village and suburb on the eastern edge of Wishaw)
(Note: Not unusual for Coal miners / pit workers to be missing off Census in these times, due to being down the pit)
(Note: Investigate the two CALVEN Lodgers - but think Barbara is not 30, and is actually the dau of Edward Colligan and Ann Cleland baptised 1833 and died 1855, see below)

In 1861: CENSUS can't find (Would be so good to find them with a chance to verify John Colligan's place of birth!

In 1871: CENSUS - 56 Watsonville, Hamilton, LNK
Head: John Colligan 51, Coal Miner, b Camprie, Cumberlandshire  (?What does original Census say?)
Wife: Ellen Colligan 58, b Shotts LNK
Visitor: Jean Higgins, 41, female, Travelling Braker (baker?) , b Ireland, (abt 1830)
Nephew: John Colligan, 16, Coal Miner, b, New Monkland, Lanarkshire  (abt 1855)
Visitor:  Henry McDonald  11,Scholar, b Rillamill, Lanarkshire  (abt 1860)
Gr-daughter: Ellen Colligan 5, b Bothwell LNK (abt 1866

Note: The SP Index for this 1871 Census, does indicate John Colligan was enumerated as age 51 (approx 7 years younger than his wife)

In 1874: DEATH  - John Colligan aged 55, died in Sorn, Ayr after falling down a flight of Stairs at an Inn. Husband of Helen Gardiner. Parents: informed as : John Colligan & Margaret Colligan, ms  Campbell.

In 1881:  CENSUS - Main Street, Holytown, Bothwell, LNK
Head: Hellen Colligan, 68, Green Grocer, b Shotts, LNK (abt 1813)
Nephew: John Cooper 26 Engine Keeper At Coal Pit, b Bothwell, LNK (abt 1855)
Gr-Daughter: Elizabeth Knox 9, b Bothwell, LNK (abt 1872)
(Note: Presuming SP actual Census confirms her status is 'widow')

In 1884 : DEATH: Helen Colligan or Gardner, mms Leishman, died 1884  - registered Holytown SP Index. 

In 1885  : DEATH:   Margaret Knox or Colligan mms Gardner died 1885 Holytown age 38 (b abt 1847). SP Index. The daughter of John Colligan and Helen Gardiner, wife of William Knox

In 1904: Lanarkshire Poor Relief - the daughter Helen Gardiner Knox, of Margaret Colligan and William Knox:
8 Sep 1904 ( dating back to 14 January 1904), Admitted Bothwell
Helen Knox Campbell aged 35 , b Slamannan, widow of Hugh Campbell (died 13 Aug 1904 in Hartwood Asylum)
Partially disabled, Partially destitute, 5 children (Maggie, John, William, Hugh, Elizabeth)
Parents: William Knox, Miner, Holytown - and  Margaret Colvin (deceased)
Remarried: 27 Mar 1907

part 3  next

[AMBLY]

Part 3

The COLLIGAN-CLELAND trail

1841: Stone, Cambusnethan , Lanarkshire - all born Lanarkshire
Edward Colligan 32, Boilermaker
Ann Colligan 40,
Margaret 12 (b abt 1829)
Barbra 9 (b abt 1832)
Robert 8 (b abt 1833)
John (b abt 1837)
Robert Cleland 30, Shoemaker
Agnes Cleland 25
Margaret Hill 2

1851: At Mrs Pettiggrew Road ,  Chapel Hall, Bothwell, Lanarkshire
Edward Colville 43,  Engineer, b Shotts (abt 1808)
Ann Collville 52, b Bothwell (abt 1799)
Margaret 23 (b abt 1828) b Bothwell
Barbara 17   (b abt 1834) b Cambusnethan
Isabella 13 (b abt 1833 )b Falkirk

Children: Per SP, they had all in Lanarkshire
Margaret 1829
Thomas 1830 (died?)
Barbara 1833
Robert 1834
Agnas 1835 (probably twin)
Ann 1835 (probably twin)
Thomas 1839
(Can't find index entry for Isabella b Falkirk)

The daughter named Barbara Colligan - She died 1855 in Shotts age 21, unmarried. Parents Edward Colligan, Boiler Maker and Agnes Colligan ms Cleland. Informant: Robert Colligan, brother.  Neither parent is listed as deceased ( and being an 1855 cert, I would tend to believe this is correct as opposed to an omission).  I think - she is very likely the same Barbra Calven age 30 enumerated in the 1851 household above with Helen Gardiner Calven, age wrongly enumerated.

"Agnes" is also seen as "Ann", as well as "Nancy" (I have multiple verified examples in my Scottish lines)

Also - it looks like from SP Index, that Edward Colligan and Ann Cleland had a set of twins - Agnas and Ann, baptised Nov 1835, registered Cambusnethan.  Twins tend to run in families, and their daughter Margaret Colligan Cooper had twins in 1855, John and Ann.

Finally: I couldn't find a death for Edward Colligan (var) in Lanarkshire - then found this:
DEATH 1863 - Gourock, Renfrewshire
Edward Colvin 52, Boiler Maker, Single
Died 3 March 1863 at 3pm  at Poorhouse Gourock.
Father: John Colvin, Labourer, deceased
Mother: Margaret Colvin MS Campbell, deceased
Informant: Poorhouse Governor.

Pretty sure this will be him - even though states single. The age is right (b abt 1808) and the parents names echo:
Edward Colvin b abt 1808 - died 1863. Parents:  John Colvin & Margaret Colvin , ms  Campbell
John Colligan b abt 1820 - died 1874. Parents :  John Colligan & Margaret Colligan, ms  Campbell

Cheers
AMBLY

[Heather Walsh]

How fantastic are you !!!!!!!!!   I cant thank you enough, its a miracle..........Thank you so much,

so many kind regards from Heather.

PS this could be Helen Colligan (garner, john's wife) in 1841

helen colligan age 29
catherine colligan age 9
betsy colligan age 3
margaret colligan age21



again, thank you so much.  many kind regards from Heather

[Forfarian]

(Note: Cambusnethan is a large village and suburb on the eastern edge of Wishaw)

Cambusnethan is a parish in Lanarkshire in which are most of the town of Wishaw and several smaller settlements including the eponymous village of Cambusnethan.

Historical births/baptisms/banns/marriages/deaths occurring in Wishaw are registered in Cambusnethan.

[Lodger]

(Note: Cambusnethan is a large village and suburb on the eastern edge of Wishaw)

Cambusnethan is a parish in Lanarkshire in which are most of the town of Wishaw and several smaller settlements including the eponymous village of Cambusnethan.

Historical births/baptisms/banns/marriages/deaths occurring in Wishaw are registered in Cambusnethan.

Thank you Forfarian, this is perfectly correct.

Also, if it helps in any way, there is this record of interment at Cambusnethan cemetery.

MARGARET COOPER, Motherwell Poorhouse, aged 2 years & 6 months,
Parents - John Cooper & Margaret Colligan.
Interred in common ground on 10th September 1867.