Brennan/Brannan family

Hello Scharri,

Based on your information, I found a copy of the original death record for Hugh “Brannon,” who died in Upper Ballyholland on 11 May 1877; and for Hugh “Brannen,” who died on February 6, 1890. The death records were found at the free irishgenealogy.ie website.

Perhaps from the information provided in the death records you can determine conclusively, which, if either man, or neither man, is the ancestor you are looking for.

The death record for Hugh Brannon who died in Upper Ballyholland can be found at the following link. Before the death record downloads you’ll be asked to follow the prompts: https://tinyurl.com/u6hbf72r

Hugh’s death is number 175 in the register and shows he was a 77 year old widower. His occupation was “Labourer.” The cause of death was, “Age & Debility.” The person who was present at his death and who reported his death to the registrar was Eliza Brannon, of Upper Ballyholland. Unfortunately, Eliza’s relationship to Hugh is not recorded.

In your message to Ireland reaching Out, you provided the names of Hugh’s and Biddy’s children, but Eliza, or Elizabeth, or Betty, isn’t one of them. Eliza however, could have been the wife of one of Hugh’s sons who did not leave Ireland for America.

The link coming up is for the Hugh Brannen, who died in Ballinncurry on February 6, 1890: https://tinyurl.com/4bbe77c5

This record shows Hugh was an 85 year old widower. His occupation looks like, “Haruier,” but is actually, “Farmer.” The cause of death was, “Senile decay some years.” The person who was present at his death and who reported his death to the registrar was his son Patrick Brannen, of Ballincurry.

Your records show that Patrick emigrated to America before 1851 and had lived in Dubuque, Iowa.

I found the marriage transcription as well as a copy of the original marriage record for Hugh “Brennan” and Bridget McArdle, who were married in the Newry Catholic Parish on 7 September 1823, which is the date of the marriage you have for them.

I also located the Newry Catholic Parish baptisms for six of their children. The first names and years of baptisms for these children are:

Owen, 1826
John, 1829
Edward, 1831
Patrick, 1833
Mary, 1840
Edward, 1843
----

The baptism of Edward Brennan in 1843 means the Edward born in 1831 had died sometime between 1831 and 1843.

I can send you copies of the marriage and baptism records in a follow-up reply if you would like them.

I can also send you an Irish property tax record known as Griffiths Valuation, showing that the first Hugh Brennan you mentioned had leased a house and land in Ballyholland Upper, Civil Parish of Newry, County Down.

The second Hugh Brennan you mentioned is also recorded in Griffiths Valuation leasing property in Ballincurry, Civil Parish of Kilbroney, County Down.

With Kind Regards,

Dave Boylan