James Coughlan - continuing my search.
I am looking for the birth record for James - my great grandmother's brother.
The facts I know in my search for James Coughlan….as at 20 September 2025
His parents were:-
Ellen Connell married Michael Coghlan Date – 12th November 1859
Marriage place – Gortnahoe, Ireland. Residence – Glengoole
(Source - Ancestry database – Irish Records)
Later residence listed in family history as Gurteen County Tipperary
(Grandparents – Michael Connell & Mary Welsh.
Source - Historical notes written by Mary prior to her death in 1940 in New Zealand)
Sister – Mary Coughlan Born 31 March 1861.
Baptised 2 April 1861 Residence – Glengoole Hill
Diocese – Cashel & Emly
(Source - Ancestry database – Irish Records)
(Source - Historical notes written by Mary prior to her death in 1940 in New Zealand)
Mary emigrated to New Zealand on the Hereford leaving home in 1879 and arriving in New Zealand 1 January 1880.
She married Conrad Haar on 2nd November 1887 in Christchurch, New Zealand.
They lived most of their lives in Winchester, Canterbury, N.Z.
She died on 16th April 1940 in Christchurch, N.Z.
This lady was my great grandmother.
Sister – Name unknown. Born 16th September 1866
Father Michael Cohlan, Ballanastick. Collier
Mother – Ellen Cohlan formerly Connell
SR District/Reg area – Urlingford (Source – Irish Genealogy civil records)
My sources indicated that this baby died in infancy although I have no proof.
Sister – Johanna Caughlan Born – 18th January 1859
Birth place – Kilkenny, Ireland
Father – Michael Caughlan
Mother – Ellen Connell
(Source - SR District/Reg area – Urlingford)
Johanna Coughlan emigrated to New Zealand on the Doric in 1884 with her sister Bridget.
She married James Murphy under the name of Josephine Hannah Coughlan in 1892.
She died 1952 at the age of 85 years.
Sister – Bridget Coughlan Birth date – 3 November 1870
Birth place – Ireland
Father – Michael Coughlan Mother – Ellen Connell
(Source - SR District/Reg area – Urlingford)
Bridget Coughlan emigrated to New Zealand on the Doric in 1884 with her sister Johanna.
She married Arthur John Palmer under the name of Bridget Coughlin in 1899
She died on 16th August 1920 at the age of 48 years.
Additional information that I have
I have an original letter written to Mary on 18th October 1898.
Mary was married with several children and living in Winchester N. Z. at this time. This letter was written to her by her former Mistress in Urlingford, Ireland and mentions Mary’s” brother doing well in America.”
I have a photograph of James Coughlan at the age of 21 years – in my great grandmother’s collection.
I have two original paper cuttings of Jim Coughlan being injured in an accident at the Mohawk Mine, Goldfield, Nevada, USA and also his funeral a few days later. These were sent out to my Great grandmother from the US and kept with his photo.
I have his Death Certificate (kindly located for me by kind researchers across the other side of the world a few months ago.) – stating he died on 7th October 1913 at St Mary’s Hospital in the City of Goldfield, Nevada.
I have a Funeral Record and Ledger record that states:
Additional information- Mary Haar, Winchester, Canterbury, New Zealand, sister of deceased. (Source – Family search collection – Nevada County Birth & Death Records 1871-1992)
So I have proved the connection between James and Mary but I cannot find any record of his birth.
I am 100% confident that he was born in Ireland.
I have not found any record of his parents’ deaths or burials or any information about his grandparents.
Any little bit of information would be so much appreciated.
