The John Brannan and Mary Ann Byrnes (Burns) Family of Bradford and Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England: An Analysis of John's migration from Ireland and his Family's Presence in both Bradford and Huddersfield England
The Connaught Counties of Galway, Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo are heavily represented in the Huddersfield England Census Records when the county names are given as a place of birth. The amazing research compiled on the Irish in England by great authors like Donald Macraid, Roger Swift, Donald E Jordan Junior, Sheridan Gilley, Kevin O'Connor, John Belchem, Frank Boyce and L. W. Brady among others seems to support repeated migration trails from certain counties in Ireland to certain places in England. I have identified and traced 17 Brennan families through the Huddersfield census records thus far. Two of them are from Roscommon (one specifically from Castlerea), one from Sligo, one with one spouse from Galway and the other from Sligo, one with Mayo/Roscommon connections and 3 families of unknown origins in Ireland. There appears to be a significant concentration of Brennans in Bradford Civil Parish as well. I plan to thoroughly research Bradford census records for other Brennan families at a later date.
My objective in this research is to analyze the Brannan (Brennan) Families in Huddersfield England Census records over the years to see migration pattern trends from certain counties, possible Civil Parishes in Ireland and even with families of the surname itself. I hope to eventually connect them to the Brannans that I am identifying in the Catholic Church Records in both County Mayo and County Roscommon Ireland. This will most definitely be a work in progress and all findings I speculate on would have to be proven for accuracy with GRO of England marriage records, church baptismal records and death records among other genealogical records. Please use this information with that caveat in mind so that nothing is assumed and no stones are left unturned to assure it's your family and the connection is accurate.
Research Observations:
There are some obvious discrepancies that need to be clarified with this family. I believe it is highly likely that the March 1868 Bradford Marriage record is correct. James, their son appears to be living with her father (Charles Burns) in the 1871 census. I have found the Charles Burn family in the 1861 District 21 Bradford Census Record which includes his daughter Mary Ann (future Mrs John Brennan), age 16 a factory worker. Of interest, is that her father Charles is listed as being born in County Sligo, Ireland in this record. The 1881 census lists Mary Ann Brannan with children James, Ann, Catherine and Thomas in Huddersfield (all appear to match except for the fact that she is listed as a widow). I think this may be an error as as I believe I have found the family with husband John in the District 7 Huddersfield Census. The children James, Anne and Thomas appear to match (with the addition of Mary K, an infant daughter and Margaret A, a niece. Catherine (who would have been 16) is missing from this record. Mary A is once again listed as a charwoman. Again, in 1901 Mary is listed without John, as the head of the family with children Thomas and Kate.
This is a work in progress.
I would love to hear from anyone who feels they may be connected to this family or the others I have identified. I welcome any and all feedback, corrections- they benefit us all.
| Census Year/ District | Address | Name | Age | Born | Occupation and other Misc. Info. | Marital Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free BMD Marriage Index- England (possible) | Brannan, John and Byrnes, Mary Ann Bradford, Yorkshire, England; March 1868 | Volume 9b; page 209 | ||||
| 1871 Yorkshire, Bradford Civil Parish, Bradford West End Sub Registration District 23 | 7 Knightly Street | Brannan, John, Head | 28 | Ireland | Mason's Laborer | M |
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 7 Knightly Street | Brannan, Mary Ann, Wife | 27 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | M | |
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 7 Knightly Street | Brannan, Hannah, Daughter | 1 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | ||
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish, Bradford West End Sub Registration District 18 | 40 Loughcroft Place | Burns, Charles, Head (is this Mary Ann's father?) | 51 | Ireland | Stone Mason's Laborer | W
|
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 40 Loughcroft Place | Burns, Bridget, Daughter | 24 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Weaver Worsted | U |
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 40 Loughcroft Place | Burns, James, Son | 19 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Stone Mason's Apprentice | U |
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 40 Loughcroft Place | Burns, Patrick, Son | 17 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Wood Turner | U |
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 40 Loughcroft Place | Burns, Catherine, Daughter | 15 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Worsted Spinner | U |
| 1871 Yorkshire Bradford Civil Parish | 40 Loughcroft Place | Brannan, James, Grandson (I think this may be John and Mary Ann's son) | 3 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | ||
| 1881 Yorkshire Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 5 | 81a Upperhead Row | Brannan, Mary Ann, Head (Thomas Giblin from Ire and Catherine Glblin from Mayo is living with them) | 35 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Charwoman | W? (I think this may be in error) |
| 1881 Yorkshire Huddersfield Civil Parish | 81a Upperhead Row | Brannan, James, Son | 12 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Scholar | |
| 1881 Yorkshire Huddersfield Civil Parish | 81a Upperhead Row | Brannan, Ann, Daughter (is this Hannah?) | 9 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Scholar | |
| 1881 Yorkshire Huddersfield Civil Parish | 81a Upperhead Row | Brannan, Catherine, Daughter | 6 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Scholar | |
| 1881 Yorkshire Huddersfield, England | 81a Upperhead Row | Brannan, Thomas, Son | 4 mos. | Huddersfield, England | ||
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St | Brennan, John, Head | 47 | Ireland | Slater | M |
| 1891 Huddersfield, Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St | Brennan, Mary A, Wife | 46 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Charwoman | M |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St | Brennan, James, Son | 22 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Railway Captain Man | U |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St. | Brennan, Annie, Daughter | 19 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Woolen Rug Weaver | U |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St. | Brennan, Thomas, Son | 10 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield England | Scholar | |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St. | Brennan, Mary K, | Infant | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | ||
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 7 | 22b Manchester St. | Brennan, Margaret A, Niece | 14 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Woolen Weaver | |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 24 | 8 Bottomley Yard, Upperhead Row | Brennan, Mary A, Head | 55 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Charwoman | M |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 24 | 8 Bottomley Yard, Upperhead Row | Brennan, Thomas, Son | 20 | Yorkshire, Bradford, England | Railway servant Captain ? Man | U |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 24 | 8 Bottomley Yard, Upperhead Row | Brennan, Kate, Daughter | 12 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | U |