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Francis Foran O'Brien

ClareKilmurry Ibrickan (Clare)

Hello. My grandfather, Francis O'Brien, was born on July 16, 1896 in Quilty. His mother was Ellen Foran and he was baptized with her name only and no father listed on the birth certificate. Ellen Foran married Cornelius O'Brien 4 years later in October of 1900. They had three more children, Mary, who apparently died as a baby or child, Patrick and John. Cornelius O'Brien drowned on October 17, 1906 and Francis came to the United States in July of 1908. Ellen, Patrick and John O'Brien came to the United States in 1921.

Ellen Foran's parents were James Foran and Honor Shanahan.

We are trying to determine whether or not Cornelius was my grandfather, Francis', father. If not, does anyone know of a way to find out who it might be? I know this was over 100 years ago, so the only way would probably be some sort of DNA testing, but I don't know if this type of testing exists.

Also, my grandfather is not listed on the 1901 census. Can anyone explain why this would be?

Any further information on the Foran or O'Brien families would be appreciated. Thank you.

IrelandXO member

5 replies

Hi,

I couldn't find Francis' birth but there was an Ellen Foran born on 6th July 1896 to Ellen Foran of Glascloune. The fathers name is left blank.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

This appears to be the two Ellen's in 1901.

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Clare/Killard/Glascloo…

This is the 1901 census for Cornelius O'Brien and an Ellen Foran that were maried in 1900.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_retur…

If the above is correct you will need to check your information and also if Francis went to the US on his own in 1906 he would only have been 12.

       

 

 

Jim VaughanIrelandXO Volunteer

Hi, thanks for your reply.  Francis did come to the U.S. at the age of 12.  He had an uncle, Michael Foran, who came a few years earlier and he lived with him in Binghamton, New York.  My grandfather did not die until 1969 when my father was 23 years old.  My father also knew his grandmother, Ellen Foran O'Brien, and his Uncles, Pat and John.  The only thing we didn't know, because my grandfather never talked about it, was the fact that he was born before his parents' marriage.  We found his birth certificate and his parents' marriage certificate after his death.  Now we are thinking Cornelius O'Brien was not his birth father.  We also do not have any information about Cornelius O'Brien's family except that his father's name was John and they were from Tromra  (?).  Anyway, thank you again!

IrelandXO member

Hi again,

I enclose what appears to be - Cornelius birth cert with mother Mary Crehan. Also enclosed is a possible birth cert for his sister Mary (who you referred to) and her death cert aged 3 I believe - this listed her mother as Eliza Crehan. Also enclosed is marriage cert of John O'Brien widower to Eliza Crehan. It would appear that Cornelius' mother died sometime between 1877 and 1880 and John O'Brien remarried in 1880 - were Mary and Eliza related?

Would it be possible for you to upload the birth record you have for Francis.

   

Jim VaughanIrelandXO Volunteer

Actually, it seems that the birth record I have was written out by the priest in 1988 when my brother was in Ireland.  He must have copied it from records they had.  I will try to attach it.  I looked up the other information you gave me and it looks like John O'Brien probably did marry an Elizabeth Crehan seven years after Mary.  Looking at birth records compared to the 1901 census, it looks like the children of both mothers were living together in 1901 (at least most of them) without the parents, who I assume may have died.  There are so many O'Briens in Ireland that it is difficult to know which ones are my family and which are not.  Thank you for all the information you gave me.  I think there are enough links in the records to show a probable relation here.

IrelandXO member

Hello There,

I would love to talk to you on the Family of the Foran's, o Briens and the   Crehans 

My family is from the village of Quilty and were friends with the  Crehans 

Regards with  Thanks 

Patrick 

 

 

patrickmcgannon

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