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John Bulger and Bridget Gallagher Bulger

Researching my great-grandparents on my father's side and hoping to discover their place of origin.  John Bulger, born in Ireland in 1839, emigrated to Ohio, USA, in 1860, where he met Bridget Gallagher, also born in Ireland in 1850 and emigrated to Ohio, USA, in 1862.  They married in 1870.  Bridget died in Ohio in 1905, and John died in Ohio in 1921.  They had six children born in Ohio--Marie, James, Katherine, Thomas, Julia and Margaret.  Margaret was my grandmother.  Any hints would be much appreciated.  

Julie 

jhackett2009@g…

8 replies

Julie,

The surname "Bugler" is associated with East County Clare. 

Inishcaltra Civil parish is in the Poor Law Union of Scariff.

The surname "Gallagher" is associated with County Donegal, but it can be found in many parts of Ireland.

Griffith's valuation records 1840 - 1860 give a good account of the location. You can access them at  www.askaboutireland.ie ; - Free Site.

Do you have the names of John and Bridget's parents?

A Bridie Gallagher was a well known singer in the USA some years ago.

Attachment:

Regards,

McCoy

Julie:

In the 19th century, the surname Bulger was found in the southeast of Ireland mainly Carlow, Kilkenny and also Dublin. If the surname was originally Bolger then Wexford and Kilkenny are the most likely locations.

Have you taken a DNA test? You might get matches to third or fourth cousins who might have more info on the origins of your family in Ireland.

Roger McDonnell

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello McCoy, 

Thank you for your reply.  However, are you saying that the name "Bulger" (the name I am researching) is the same as "Bugler"?  Were they interchangeable in 19th century Ireland? 

Thanks, 

Julie 

jhackett2009@g…

Julie,

My mistake in the reading of the name "Bulger" with "Bugler" which is a name I am familiar with.

Surnames of Ireland by Dr. Edward MacLysaght - Third Edition 1878 has the following information on "Bulger" (See Bolger).  O Bolger: From "Bolg" a belly - disputed. Chiefly noted as a medical family. Location: Wexford.

"Bugler":  This name, peculiar in Ireland to east Clare, is an English (Devonshire) toponymic not an occupational name.

Apparently there is no connection.

Apologies for the error.

Best Wishes,

McCoy

Hello Roger, 

I believe you are the same person who was helping me with my great-great-grandparents on my mother's father's side (William Clarke and Ellen Swift). 

I am also researching my great-grandparents on my father's mother's side. I don't know the names of John Bulger's parents nor the names of Bridget Gallagher's parents.  The only hint I have is that my mother used to call her mother-in-law (Bridget's daughter) a Kilkenny Cat.  A first cousin had done some research which said that Bridget GALLAHER arrived in New York in August 1864 on an Irish ship named "Great Western", which departed from Liverpool.  I'm not sure if this information is correct, as the 1900 US Census for Ohio states that Bridget arrived in the US in 1862. 

I have had my DNA tested through Ancestry DNA.  None of my cousins know the names of the parents of either John or Bridget.  On John's Certificate of Death in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio, his parents' names were marked unknown.  His death was reported by his daughter, so I'm not sure why his parents' names were not reported on this form. 

I'm not sure if you can find anything with this information. 

Thanks very much. 

Julie 

jhackett2009@g…

McCoy, 

No problem, easy mistake to make. Thanks for the other info. 

Julie

jhackett2009@g…

Julie:

I normally search on the subscription site Roots Ireland but when Co. Wexford may be involved I use the subscription site FindMyPast.ie    Roots only has about half the Wexford RC parishes including in their data base while FindMyPast.ie has all of the parishes.

The unknown with John Bulger (besides not knowing his parents names) is that we can't be sure that 1839 was his actual year of birth since many immigrants changed their age when they arrived in their new country. In any event, I located seven 1839 baptismal records which are possible leads

John baptized August 29 1839 RC parish of Bree in Wexford father James and mother Sally Doyle

John baptized December 5 1839 (born December 3)  RC parish of Wexford town father Morgan and mother Alice Murphy

John baptized September 30 1839 (born September 29) RC parish of Arklow which includes Wicklow and Wexford father John mother Margaret Brien

John baptized June 4 1839 RC parish of Mullinahone Co. Tipperary father Patrick mother Alicia Meaney

John baptized August 8 1839 RC parish of Arles Co. Laois father Daniel mother Margaret Bruder

John baptized October 25 1839 RC parish of Ballyadams Co.Laois father Michael mother Catherine Kelly

John baptized August 25 1839 RC parish of Tullagher Co. Kilkenny father John mother Ellen Kavanagh

I searched for Bridget Gallagher baptismal records from 1845-1855 in Co. Kilkenny and no records came up so not sure where to go next.

Roger

Castlemore RoscommonIrelandXO Volunteer

Hello Roger, 

Thank you very much for all your research on John Bulger, and I'm sorry I was delayed in replying to you.  I will keep all these suggestions in mind as I continue my research.  One of them just could be the right one! 

Kind regards, 

Julie 

jhackett2009@g…

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