The William Corcoran and Bridget Flynn Family of Leeds, Yorkshire, England: An Analysis of Their Migration from County Mayo, Ireland to Leeds, Yorkshire, England
William Corcoran, son of William Corcoran married Bridget Flynn, daughter of Hugh Flynn on February 2, 1857 in the Parish Church, Leeds, Yorkshire, England. At the time of their marriage they were both living on Wellington Yard. Based on this morsel of information, I believe that William was living with his parents William Corkran (a 60 year old Laborer) and Dolly Corkran (60) and his siblings Patrick, Michael, Catharine, John, Mary, a grand daughter Mary and cousin Ann, Mary Nallin and Michael Slate at 42 Wellington Yard in District 1d of Leeds, North Leeds when the 1851 census was conducted. I have traced William and his wife Bridget Flynn through the 1881 Leeds, North Leeds census in which Bridget (widowed Market Woman) was living with children Martin (14, Sarah 12, William 8 and two boarders Patrick Haney and Mary Flynn. I believe that William died sometime after the 1871 Leeds Census was conducted and that Bridget may have died at the age of 52 in Leeds (quarter ending December 1892). I have yet to find her in the 1891 census.
I am in the process of tracing numerous Corcoran families from the Leeds, Huddersfield and surrounding areas. It is becomming evident from my research that the Irish followed common migration trails from Mayo and Roscommon to this part of Yorkshire. The following compilation is our best assessment of this family's pattern of migration after their arrival in England. Please contact me if you feel your Corcorans may be related or could have passed through this area of Yorkshire from County Mayo. 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. This compilation will be added to over time as I uncover more information. All feedback, suggestions and corrections are most welcome.
| Census Yr/District/ Other Record | Address | Name | Age | Born/ Baptized | Occupation | Marital Status/ Misc Info. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1851 Leeds North Leeds, Yorkshire England Census, District 1d | 42 Wellington Yard | Corkran, William, Head | 60 | Ireland | Laborer | M |
| " | " | Corkran, Dolly, Wife | 60 | Ireland | M | |
| " | " | Corkran, Patrick, Son | 30? | Ireland | Laborer | |
| " | " | Corkran, Michael | 22? | Ireland | Laborer | |
| " | " | Corkran, Catharine, Daughter | 18 | Ireland | M | |
| " | " | Corkran, William, Son | 26 | Ireland | Laborer | |
| " | " | Corkran, Mary, Daughter | 26 | Ireland | M | |
| " | " | Corkran, Mary, Grand Daughter | 5 | Ireland | ||
| West Yorkshire England Marriages and Banns 1813-1935 ancestry.com database on line; Parish Church Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Both resided at Wellington Yard | Corcoran, William married Bridget Flynn February 2, 1857 Parish Church, Leeds | William 21, Bridget 20 | William was a Laborer Bachelor and Bridget was a Spinster | William, son of William Corcoran a Laborer; Bridget, daughter of Hugh Flynn a Laborer; Patrick Kearney and Mary Gaughan witnesses | |
| 1861 Leeds, North Leeds, Yorkshire, England Census, District 5 Ancestry.com Database | 138 Hemingway Yard | Corcoran, William, Head | 24 | Ireland | Brick Layer's Laborer | M |
| " | " | Corcoran, Bridget, Wife | 23 | Ireland | M | |
| " | " | Corcoran, Mary, Daughter | 3 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | ||
| " | " | Corcoran, Michael, Son | 1 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | ||
| 1861 Leeds, North Leeds, Yorkshire England Census, District 5 ancestry.com database (possible census for William's father William Corcoran) | Hemingway Yard | Corcoran, Wm, Head (Blute family, lodgers live with them) | 70 | Ireland | Brick Layer's Laborer | M |
| " | " | Corcoran, Sarah, Wife (could this be Dolly?? by any chance) | 68 | Ireland | M | |
| 1871 Leeds, North Leeds, Yorkshire, England Census Dsitrict 4 Ancestry.com Database | 55 Wellington Yard | Corceran, William, Head | 34 | Mayo, Ireland | Hackler | M |
| " | " | Corceran, Bridget, Wife | 33 | Mayo, Ireland | Factory Hand | M |
| " | " | Corceran, Michael, Son | 10 | Leeds, Yorkshrie, England | Scholar | |
| " | " | Corceran, Martin, Son | 5 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Scholar | |
| " | " | Corceran, Sarah, Daughter | 2 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Scholar | |
| Free BMD England Death Index (Possible death record for William Corcoran) | Corcoran, William died age of 42 Leeds, Yorkshire West Riding quarter ending March 1880 | 42 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Volume 9b; Page 296 | ||
| 1881 Leeds North Leeds Yorkshire, England Census District 23 | 6 Somerset Street | Corcoran, Bridget, Head (Patrick Haney and Mary Flynn Boarders live with them) | 41 | Ireland | Market Woman | Widow |
| " | " | Corcoran, Martin, Son | 14 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Cloth Dresser | U |
| " | " | Corcoran, Sarah, Daughter | 12 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Machinist | |
| " | " | Corcoran, William, Son | 8 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Scholar | |
| Free BMD England Death Index (Possible Death record for Bridget Corcoran) | Corcoran, Bridget age 52 died in Leeds, Yorkshire, England quarter ending December 1892 | 52 | Leeds, Yorkshire, England | Volume 9b; Page 315 | ||