The Michael and Martha Corcoran Family of Huddersfield England: An Analysis of their Huddersfield England Census Records and Possible Origins
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 of findings: There are many different variations of the Corcoran surname in the Huddersfield Census as well as the Free BMD index that makes following this line more challenging! (Surnames Corcoran, Cocran, Corkram, Corchran, Corceran, Corkeran, Corkeram, Corcaran and Corcaren).
Wendy and John Corcoran of North Carolina have done extensive research on this family and have a family tree on ancestry.com. They have found links with this family to Leeds (only about 14 miles from Huddersfield) that sound promising, and they have an amazing picture of a John Edward Corcoran and his sister Emma Corcoran that certainly appears to be a link to this family. The information compiled below needs to be proven or ruled out by obtaining GRO and church records. This is a challenging tree. I can't be sure one way or the other about the earlier years presented below. I present the following only as data to evaluate- food for thought so that all possibilities are on the table.
I have compiled the following information based solely on what I believe appears to be this family's paper trail through the Huddersfield Census records based on my census record research. There are some obvious contradictions between my findings and their research (such as the possible marriage record, 1861 census, etc) There is a possibility that the Michael (I have listed in the 1841 census on Duke Street below), may have died and not be the future head of the Michael and Martha Corcoran family at all (however, the only death record in the Free BMD death index for a Michael in Huddersfield between 1840 and 1851 that I could find was a Michael with unknown surname in December 1847). See my web page on his parents under Thomas and Margaret Corcoran family of Huddersfield. Thomas and Margaret's Michael would have only been 13 in the 1851 census and is clearly absent. . It is indeed puzzling.
May 2012 update on this family based on new findings: Michael Corkran appears to have married Martha Gledhill on April 23, 1860 in the Parish Church Kirkheaton, Yorkshire, England. He is listed as the son of Thomas Corcoran and she of Wm Gledhill. He appears to die according to the discovery of a nonconformist burial record that Wendy Corcoran uncovered. Another Record they captured shows his Son Harry married Lucy Steel and he appears to travel alone aboard the Baltic to Hagerstown Maryland in 1907. His family is still listed without him in 1911.
There are numerous marriage records for Michael Corcorans in West Yorkshire during this time frame, but I was able to only find two for this time frame in Huddersfield and only one that appears to have married a Martha. That marriage record is listed below, but I am less than certain about it being the correct Michael. Ancestry provides the name Martha Airy as a possible tie to this family; however, it seems odd if this is true that the marriage record is from July/Aug/Sept of 1865, 5 years after the birth of son Thomas William. That would make Thomas William illegitimate. The only way to prove which marriage record is correct would be by obtaining it from the GRO in England or the church in which they were married, likely St Patrick's Church in Huddersfield. If you request a record from the GRO be sure to double check the volume and page number to ascertain that I didn't make any typos. It seems certain that this family resided on Duke Street for the majority of their time in Huddersfield, but Swallow Street was documented immediately after Duke Street in the 1841 census so it is in close proximity that makes the 1861 census record I noted a possibility. The ages, occupation (cordwainer) , all seem to match the later census years except the Head of the Household is Martin Corkin and not Michael Corcoran. I am currently documenting all of the Irish families in the 1851 Huddersfield, Huddersfield Sub registration District (a long process) and have yet to come across this family in my research or by a rudimentary search. I am certain they are in there, and will add them as I come across the record. I have followed the Timothy and Bridget Corcoran family from Huddersfield in the census years; they have a son, Michael that was 9 (born about 1842) in the 1851 census, but he was born in County Roscommon Ireland. Michael the son of Thomas and Margaret Corcoran who were living on Duke Street, (age 3 in 1841), disappears from their family in the 1851 census and beyond.
I welcome any and all feedback, corrections- they benefit us all. If you believe that your family might be related to any of the families that I have identified in these census records please contact me so that we can try to connect the Corcorans in Huddersfield!
| Census Yr/District | Address | Name | Age | Born | Occupation | Marital Status and Misc. Info. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1841 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 11 (this census record is definitely in question!) | Duke Street | Cocran, Thomas (ancestry indexed as Coeran) | 30 | Ireland | Lab. | |
| 1841 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 11 | Duke Street | Cocran, Margaret | 35 | Ireland | ||
| 1841 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 11 | Duke Street | Cocran, Patrick | 14 | Ireland | ||
| 1841 Huddersfield Civi Parish, District 11 | Duke Street | Cocran, William | 6 | Yorkshire, England | ||
| 1841 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 11 | Duke Street | Cocran, Michael | 3 | Yorkshire, England | ||
| 1841 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 11 | Duke Street | Cocran, John | 1 | Yorkshire, England | ||
| Free BMD Marriage Index Huddersfield June 1860 (possible marriage record?) | Corkram, Michael and Martha Gledhill, Huddersfield | Volume 9a, Page 396 | ||||
| West Yorkshire England Marriages and Banns 1813-1935, Ancestry.com | Corkran, Michael married Martha Gledhill at the Parish Church of Kirkheaton, Yorkshire April 23, 1860 | Michael is 21; Martha is 20 | Michael is a Cordwainer son of Thos Corkran a Hawker; Martha is the daughter of Wm Gledhill a Brewer; both are from Dalton? | |||
| Free BMD Birth Index Huddersfield December 1860 (possible) | Corcaren, Thomas William | Huddersfield, England | Volume 9a, page 237? | |||
| 1861Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 9 (possible) | 19 Swallow Street | Corkin, Martin, Head (could this be Michael??) | 23 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Cordwainer | M |
| 1861 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield SUb Registration District 9 | 19 Swallow Street | Corkin, Martha, Wife | 21 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Cotton Winder | M |
| 1861 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 9 | 19 Swallow Street | Corkin, Thomas Wm, Son | 6 mos | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | ||
| Free BMD England Birth Index - Huddersfield December 1868 (possible) | Corcaren, John Edward | Huddersfield, England | Vol 9a, page 334 | |||
| West Yorkshire England Births and Baptisms 1813-1910 | Duke Street | Corcoran, John Edward son of Michael and Martha Corcoran baptized April 27, 1869. | Huddersfield, England | Michael is listed as a Shoemaker | ||
| 1871 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Michael, Head (lodger Smith a cotton operative from Yorkshire lives with them) | 33 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Cordwainer | M |
| 1871 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Martha, Wife | 31 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | M | |
| 1871 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Thomas W, Son | 10 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | ||
| 1871 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, John Edward, Son | 2 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | ||
| 1871 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Robert P, Son | 2 mos | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | ||
| Free BMD England Birth Index- Huddersfield, December 1872 (possible) | Corceran, Henry | Huddersfield, England | Vol 9a, page 374 | |||
| Free BMD England Birth Index- Huddersfield, June 1875 (possible) | Corceran, Joe | Huddersfield, England | Vol. 9a, page 381 | |||
| West Yorkshire England Births and Baptisms 1813-1910 | Duke Street, Huddersfield | Corcoran, Joe (son of Martha and Michael Corcoran) Baptized June 6, 1875 | Huddersfield, England | |||
| Free BMD England Birth Index- Huddersfield, September 1878 (possible) | Corcoran, Emma | Huddersfield, England | Vol 9a, page 361 | |||
| West Yorkshire England Births and Baptisms 1813-1910 Ancestry.com | Duke Street, Parish of St Thomas, Huddersfield, England | Corcoran, Emma, daughter of Michael and Martha Corkoran was baptized August 18, 1878 | Huddersfield, England | Her father was a Cordwainer | ||
| 1881 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson?, Michael, Head | 45 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Bootmaker | M |
| 1881 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson?, Martha, Wife | 41 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | M | |
| 1881 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson?, Thomas, Son | 20 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Organ Builder | ? |
| 1881 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson?, John Wm, Son | 12 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Scholar | |
| 1881 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson, Harry, Son | 8 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Scholar | |
| 1881 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson, Joe, Son | 6 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Scholar | |
| 1881 Hudderfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Cockson, Emma, Daughter | 2 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | ||
| Free BMD England Death Index online (www.freebmd.org.uk) Huddersfield, England Quarter ending December 1888 (possible) | Corcoran, Michael | 51 | Huddersfield, England | Vol 9a, page 244 | ||
| West Yorkshire Non Conformist Records 1646-1985 (Burials) | Corcoran, Michael died November 15, 1888 | 51 | Huddersfield Cemetery burial ceremony by a Roman Catholic Priest on November 19, 1888 (Wendy Corcoran's crew located this record) | |||
| West Yorkshire England Marriages and Banns 1813-1935 Ancestry.com (Probable Marriage Record for Thomas, son of Michael and Martha Corcoran) | Corcoran, Thomas William married Eliza Crowther on May 3, 1890 in The Parish Church, Huddersfield, Yorkshire | Thomas was 29 and Eliza 24; | Record 368. Thomas William was the son of Michael Corcoran a deceased Shoe Maker; Eliza was the Daughter of Henry Crowther an Iron Worker; Thomas was an Organ Builder living on 18 Duke Street and Eliza at 26 Beast Market. | |||
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Martha, Head | 51 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Living by her own means | W |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, John E, Son | 22 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Dyer's Lab | U |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Harry, Son | 18 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Organ Builder's App | U |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Joe, Son | 15 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Worsted Warp Sizer | U |
| 1891 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 9 | Duke Street | Corcoran, Emma, Daughter | 23 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Scholar | U |
| West Yorkshire England Marriages and Banns on Ancestry.com 1813-1935 | Corcoran, Harry married Lucy Steel in St Thomas Church, Parish of Huddersfield on December 17, 1924 | Harry was 22; Lucy 21 | Harry was an Organ Pipe Maker who lived at 18 Duke Street adn Lucy a Dom Svt who lived at 1 West Hill Street. Harry was son of Michael Corcoran a Shoe Maker and Lucy of Mark Steel an Engineer Sponsors Thomas William and Emma Corcoran | |||
| 1901 South Manchester, Hulme Census Record; | 11 Sheffield Street | Corcoran, Harry, Head (son of Michael) | 28 | Huddersfield, England | Organ Pipe Maker | M |
| 1901 South Manchester, Hulme Census Record | 11 Sheffield Street | Corcoran, Lucy, Wife | 27 | Ardsley, Yorkshire, England | M | |
| 1901 South Manchester, Hulme Census Record | 11 Sheffield Street | Corcoran, John E, Son | 5 | Huddersfield, Yorkshire, England | ||
| 1901 South Manchester, Hulme Census Record | 11 Sheffield Street | Corcoran, Leonard, Son | 4 | Bramley, Yorkshire, England | ||
| 1901 South Manchester, Hulme Census Record | 11 Sheffield Street | Corcoran, Edith, Daughter | 2 | Cheshire, Birkenhead, England | ||
| Ancestry.com New York Passenger Lists 1820-1957 The Baltic Liverpool to New York | Corcoran, Harry | 34 | Manchester, England- Gotha St, Ardwick?? | Organ Maker | M; wife is listed as Lucie Corcoran; his destination is Hagerstown, Maryland; he is traveling without his family | |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, Huddersfield Sub Registration District 24 | 18 Duke Street | Corcoran, Martha, Head | 61 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | W | |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 24 | 18 Duke Street | Corcoran, John, Son | 32 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Dyer's Laborer | U |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 24 | 18 Duke Street | Corcoran, Joe, Son | 25 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Cloth Weaver?? | U |
| 1901 Huddersfield Civil Parish, District 24 | 18 Duke Street | Corcoran, Emma, Daughter | 22 | Yorkshire, Huddersfield, England | Tailoress | U |
| West Yorkshire Marriages and Banns 1813-1935 (Probable marriage record for Joseph son of Michael and Martha Corcoran) | Corcoran ,Joe married Eunice Goodall on August 3, 1908 St. Thomas Church, Huddersfield | Joe was 33 and Eliza 29 | Record 368 Joe was a Weaver living on 18 Duke Street the son of Michael Corcoran (a deceased Boot and Shoe Maker) Eliza was a Rug Weaver living on 43 Manchester Rd. daughter of Alfred Goodall a Stoker. | |||
| Free BMD Death Index England- Huddersfield March 1910 (possible) | Corcoran, Martha | 70 | Huddersfield, England | Vol 9a, page 240 | ||
| 1911 South Manchester, Chorlton Upon Medlock UK Census | Cranworth St, Chorlton Upon Medlock | Corcoran, Lucy, Wife Head (visitor Annie Joyce a Barmaid from Halifax lives with them) | 36 | Ardsley, Yorkshire, England | Dressmaker at Home | M 16 years, 3 children, 3 living |
| 1911 South Manchester, Chorlton Upon Medlock | Cranworth Street | Corcoran, John E, Son | 15 | Huddersfield, England | French Polisher Furniture | U |
| 1911 South Manchester, Chorlton Upon Medlock | Cranworth Street | Corcoran, Leonard, Son | 14 | Bramley, Yorkshire, England | Errand Boy Stationers | |
| 1911 South Manchester, Chorlton Upton Medlock | Cranworth Street | Corcoran, Edith, Daughter | 12 | Cheshire, Birkenhead, England | School | |