Carrick on Shannon Workhouse

Hi Geraldine

Many thanks for your reply. I emailed the Leitrim library yesterday as I believe they hold the Union minute books etc. If I have no success there then I will give the Heritage centre in Carrick on Shannon a try.

 

Kevin

Hi Kevin,

Welcome to the Ireland XO Roscommon Community!

Odds are high that your Owen was either from the Roscommon side of Carrick-on-Shannon (RC parish of Croghan, Civil parish of Tumna) or slightly further north near Cootehall  (RC parish of Cootehall/ Ardcarne, Civil parish of Ardcarn) ...

 

PARISH OF ORIGIN

If James Moraghan was born in Co. Roscommon and the son of a man whose district workhouse was Carrick ...  then you can narrow down your search to north-west Co. Roscommon, and those civil parishes (or part of) that fell under Carrick-on-Shannon PLU on the Roscommon side:

• Ardcarn (south-east)
• Tumna (south)
• Killukin (west)
• Creeve (west)
• Killummod
• Aughrim
• Kilmore (north). 
• For a full list of townlands covered by the Carrick-on-Shannon PLU ... click here.

If your James was not the son of the Carrick Workhouse Morahan, then you have a few more parishes to consider. 

However, in 1833, the only Owen Morahan/Morans were recorded in the civil parish of TUMNA. 

 

LAND RECORDS

Now, the reference "farmer" on James' marriage search suggests his father, Owen, had land to his name (ie. he was a tenant farmer, not a cottier or labourer) and this was a title to be proud of. Therefore we should expect Owen to appear on Tithe Records (1833) and, if still alive, on Griffiths Valuation (1857). 

For "Owen Moraghan" see:

TUMNA

• Cloonbrislane 1851 (Court Rentals)
• Cleaheen 1853 (Petty Sessions) 1857 (Griffiths)
• Annaghmona 1857 (Griffiths)
• Foxhill m. Brigid Muldowney, Owen Jr. inherited the family farm
• Tumna (townland) 1867 (Petty Sessions) 

KILLUKIN

• Fortland 1853 (Petty Sessions) 

 

Moraghan strongholds (in Carrick PLU): 

• ARDCARN:  Cloongreaghan(1857); Foxhill (1833 & 1857)
• TUMNA: Cleaheen (1833 & 1857); Cloongownagh (1833); Cloonskeeveen (1833); Cloonmaan (1857); Drumlahard (1833) Emla (1833); Meera (1833); Maigh (1833)
• KILLUKIN (Boyle): Cortober  (1857)
• KILMORE: Tooloscan (1857)

 

CHURCH RECORDS

Note that "Owen" was often recorded as "Eugene" in RC parish records in this district (Gaelic first names were Latinized) and consider both options in your research. 

As for the surname ... consider all spelling variations of Ó Murcháin here. I would also consider the possibility of error and include Moran and Monaghan. Owen Moraghan of Drumlahard 1833 was recorded Moran in 1857.

That James' death record was recorded as "Moore" suggests the "gh/k" was soft. See: 

• James Moran bap. 27-Jan-1833 BOYLE  son of Eugene Moran & Brigid Conway.  
• James Morahan bap. 05-Mar-1844 CROGHAN son of  Eugene Morahan & Margaret Ganly

"Owen Moraghan" isn't turning up, but a "Eugene Moraghan/ Morahan" is turning up in the following RC parishes:

CROGHAN RC (Civil Parishes of Killukin, Killummod and part of Creeve and Tumna)

• Eugene Moraghen & Mary Owens m. 1829
• Eugene Moraghan & Margaret Ganly  bap. 1838-46
• Eugene Morahan & Elizabeth Flynn bap. 1853 

 

ARDCARN /COOTEHALL

• Eugene Moraghan & Mary Gildea (bap. 1843 only
• Eugene aka Owen Moraghan & Brigid Muldowney of Foxhill, Cootehall (Census1851; bap. 1843 - 1860) 
• Eugene Moraghan & Mary Kielty (bap. 1846 only )

 

I recommend you create an Ancestor Chronicle post for both Owen and James (fill any details and source links you have to date) and link them to the IrelandXO Tumna, Kiltoghert, and Ardcarn civil parishes to see what help turns up. 

Best of luck!

Hi Rua

Many thanks for your detailed reply. I will take a look at what you have written and get back to the message board when I am a bit clearer about the various 'options'.

Kevin

Geraldine and others who are interested

I contacted the Leitrim library and they wrote back to say ...

I have searched the Minutes of the Board of Guardians for 1867 but found no mention of Owen.  The Minutes are mainly concerned with financial transactions and the running of the workhouse though occasionally names are noted in relation to sickness or emigration.  Unfortunately the admissions registers were not preserved for the majority of the Irish workhouses including Carrick On Shannon.  I searched an index to early Leitrim Newspapers for Owen’s name but found nothing of relevance.  I also checked our Local Studies index for information without success.

Kevin

In reply to Rua (and others who are interested)

I have quite a bit of the information you have very kindly supplied so far and will further research those bits of information that I have not seen before. You (Rua) wrote that

James' death record was recorded as "Moore" suggests the "gh/k" was soft

is something that I, and others who I have corresponded with, would agree with. The following information (rather a lot I am afraid) is why I prefer Moraghan/Morahan though rather than Moran etc. I would be very interested to hear what people think as I have a lot of information on Owen (Eugenii) Moraghan (Morahan) from Roscommon – particularly from Cleaheen, Annaghmona and Foxhill.

Background

James Moraghan was married to Ann McLoughlin on the 28th April 1850 at St Chad’s Cathedral, Birmingham, England. The marriage certificate gives the following information:

James Moraghan (18) of John Street, Birmingham, married Ann McLoughlin (19) also of John Street, Birmingham. James’ father is given as Owen Moraghan, farmer and Ann’s father is given as John McLoughlin, Stroker (?).

On the 1851 census James and Ann are living at Court 6, House 4, John Street, Birmingham. Their names have been transcribed as Morgan and their place of birth as Phillips Town, Ireland. Why Phillips Town was given is anybody’s guess as later census’ state James’ place of birth being County Roscommon and Ann’s as County Mayo.

James and Ann had 9 children and the following information gives the official GRO record information and the baptismal records from St. Peters, Broad Street, Birmingham.

Henry 1854
GRO Records: Henry Morican mother Ann Mc Locklan
Baptismal Records: none

John 1858
GRO Records: John Moore mother Ann Mack
Baptismal Records: Joannis Moraghan filius Jacobi and Anna Moraghan olim McLoughlin

Elizabeth 1860
GRO Records: none
Baptismal Records: Elizabeth Moraghan fili Jacobi and Anna Moraghan olim McLoughlin

James 1863
GRO Records: James Moore mother Ann McGloughlin
Baptismal Records: Jacobus Moore filius Jacobi and Anna Moore olim McLoughlin

Andrew 1865
GRO Records: Andrew Moore mother Ann Mack
Baptismal Records: Andreas Moriken filius Jacobi and Anna Moriken olim McLoughlin

Samuel 1867
GRO Records: Samuel Moore mother Ann Mack
Baptismal Records: Samuel Moore filius Jacobi and Anna Moore olim McLoughlin

(Patrick) James 1870 (Patrick was never used other than on the baptismal record)
GRO Records: James Moore mother Ann Mack
Baptismal Records: Patritius Jacobus Moore filius Jacobi and Anna Moore olim McLoughlin

Francis 1872
GRO Records: Francis Moore mother Ann Mack
Baptismal Records: Franciscus Moore filius Jacobi and Anna Moore olim McLoughlin

William 1875
GRO Records: William Moore mother Ann Mack
Baptismal Records: Gulielmus Moor filius Jacobi and Anna Moor olim McLaughlan

As previously mentioned, some census records state that James was from County Roscommon and Ann was from County Mayo. James was born about 1832 and Ann about 1831.

On the 1851 census (and when James and Ann were married in 1850) they lived at Court 6, House 4, John Street, Birmingham. Looking further into the 1851 census I found living next door to James and Ann at  Court 6, House 5, John Street, Birmingham was Roger Morgan from Balsall Common, Catherine Morgan from County Galway and their four children. I thought it was strange for somebody from Balsall Common to marry someone from County Galway in the early 1800s in Birmingham so I looked at the original records (rather than the transcribed ones) and found that Roger Morgan was actually from County Roscommon. Looking back ten years (to the 1841 census) I found that they were, again, living at John Street, Birmingham with three of their children. I now began to wonder whether Roger and Catherine were actually Moraghan rather than Morgan and if that was the case was Roger a relative of James (uncle/cousin/brother)? On further investigation I found that Catherine Morgan was born Catherine Burke and she was from County Galway. Their children were …

Mary Morican born 8th August 1833
According to baptismal record her parents were Roger Moraghan and Catherine Moraghan (olim Burke)

Nan(?) Moreghan baptised 9th July 1837 at St Chad’s Cathedral to Roger Moreghan and Catherine Durke

Owen Morican b. 1839 (baptismal Owen Morikan)

John Morican b. 1841 (baptismal John Moraghan)

Sarah Morican b. 1843 (baptised Sarah Moraghan)

Henry Morican b. 1846 (baptised Henry Morohan)

Catherine Morican b. 1849 (baptised Catherine Morahan)

As mentioned above, on the 1841 census the family is transcribed as Morgan, then, on the 1851 census as Morgan, 1861 census as Morogan, 1871 census as Morrison. Roger died on the 29th December 1871 and the name on his death certificate was Roger Moroghan. Roger was born about 1809 in County Roscommon and Catherine Burke about 1811 in County Galway.

I was wondering whether James, when he was in his teens (1845 – 1850 - i.e. the time of the Great Famine), was sent away to stay with a relative (Roger Moraghan) in Birmingham, England  where business in the metalwork trades was booming and there was plenty of employment?

What do people think about James' name being Moraghan/Morahan rather than Morgan and the Roger Moraghan relationship?

Kevin

Phillips Town ... plenty of them about but none in Co Roscommon or Co Mayo.

As for  James' name being Moraghan/Morahan rather than Morgan/ Morghan and Roger Moraghan being related ...  I think you are on the right track there.

There were only about 4 Morgan landholders recorded in Co. Roscommon in Griffith's 1857 Valuation vs. 40+ Morahan/ Moraghans.  

Fascinating how many ways the spelling of that surname was transcribed. You did a great job in identifying them though!

 

After a break from the Moraghan side of the family after spending a bit more time on my mother's side, the Kelly family (much more complex), I have come back with a few more questions.

I know that Owen Moraghan appears on the Tithe Applotments for Foxhill in 1833 as well as for Cleheen. On the Griffith evaluations for 1858 Owen Moraghan is shown as leasing land from Thos. Johnston Barton at Cleaheen and at Foxhill. I know from the records that Owen Moraghan of Cleaheen was born about 1800 and died in 1870. I know that Owen Moraghan in Foxhill was born about 1818 and died on the 11th July 1904. I suspect (I have no real evidence for this at the moment) that Owen Moraghan of Foxhill is actually the son of Owen Moraghan of Cleaheen and he took over some the land from his father (Cleaheen and Foxhill are less than 4 miles apart and Owen jnr would have only been about 15 years old when the Tithe Applotments Books were printed)).

Rua, very kindly, gave me some possible links to other possible members of the Moraghan family and after much investigation I thought I had found a VERY possible link with one of Rua's suggestions ...

Eugene Moraghan & Mary Kielty (bap. 1846 only)

12th July 1846 (baptism of) Mariam daughter of Eugenii Moraghan and Maria Kielty, The sponsors being Thomas and Bridget Moraghan.

On the 1851 Landed Estates Court Records, a John Keelty and Owen Moraghan are tenants in Cloonbrislane.

I went through all the possible marriages for a Mary Mora(g)han from 1864 onwards and eventually came upon a February 16th 1874 marriage between Patrick Collins aged 25 and Mary Morahan aged 21. Mary's father is Owen Morahan, farmer of Cleeheen.

Now the '$64 000' question/s.

1.    Owen Morahan of Cleaheen died in 1870 - the marriage certificate of 1874 does not say anything about him being dead! Could this be an oversight? Also, Mary is shown as being 21 which would mean she was born about 1853. I have been through all the Church records, Ancestry and findmypast for any possible birth but, so far, I have been unable to find any.
2.    It could well be that Mary Morahan born in 1846 may have died early and Owen and Maria may have had a second child in 1853 but, as mentioned before,  I have been unable to find any records that would fit in with that. Also Maria Morahan would have been into her 50s when Mary was born.
3.    Does anyone know if any records exist of Thos. Johnston and Barton's ledgers from this period? I know that on the 10th October 1851 Thos. Barton & Johnston were selling by auction over 1013 acres of land which included the Moraghan and Keelty tenancies.

Thanks for your patience.

Kevin