The Timothy and Bridget Corcoran Family of Huddersfield England: An Analysis of their Possible Migration from Roscommon, Ireland to 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.

My objective in this research is to analyze the Corcoran 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 Corcorans 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.

Analysis: If these two census records are the same family then Timothy Corcoran would have had to have died sometime after the 1851 and before the 1861 Census. The ages look pretty accurate for Bridget and Thomas. Obtaining a death record could help prove this (Check BMD index). In regard to the whereabouts of son Michael, special kudos are in order to Johanna, a Genealogist who is a descendent of this line who just enlightened me on what likely became of Michael! According to Johanna, Michael Corcoran and his family (in District 22 of the 1871 Huddersfield Census) and his family continue their migration trail to Keighley, West Yorkshire sometime between 1871 and 1880. Michael, son of Timothy is most likely not the 29 yr old Rag Dealer listed as being in the Huddersfield Jail in District 4 of the 1871 census. This scenerio is much more probable especially seeing that Michael was born in Castlerea, Roscommon. There is a BMD death index record for a Michael Corcoran born abt 1837 (this Michael looks like he was born abt 1842 in the 1851 census) who died in Oct-Nov-Dec quarter of 1888 in Huddersfield, Yorkshire West Riding (Volume 9a, pg 244) that is worth pursuing but it may be the Michael who spent time in Huddersfield Jail as an inmate.

I welcome any and all feedback, corrections- they benefit us all. If you believe that your ancestors might be related to this family please contact me!

Census Yr/District Address Name Age Born Occupation Marital Status
1851/ District 20 5 O'Connor's Yard Corcoran, Timothy, Head 52 Roscommon, Ireland Mason's Lab M
1851/ District 20 5 O'Connor's Yard Corcoran, Bridget, Wife 40 Roscommon, Ireland   M
1851/ District 20 5 O'Connor's Yard Corcoran, Michael, Son 9 Roscommon, Ireland    
1851/ District 20 5 O'Connor's Yard Corcoran, Thomas, Son 7 Roscommon, Ireland    
1861/ District 17 Castlegate Corcoran, Bridget, Head 50 Ireland Hawker W
1861/ District 17 Castlegate Corcoran, Thomas, Son 18 Ireland Hawker U
1871/ District 22 Spivey or Spring? Yard Corcoran, Michael, Head (probable son of Timothy) 30 Castle Ray, Ireland (Castlerea, Roscommon per Johanna!) Glazier M
1871/District 22 Spivey Yard Corcoran, Catherine, Wife 29 Castle Ray (Castlerea), Ireland   M
1871 District 22 Spivey Yard Corcoran, John, Son 11 Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England    
1871 District 22 Spivey Yard Corcoran, Ann, Daughter 6 Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England    
1871 District 22 Spivey Yard Corcoran, Timothy, Son 3 Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England