The John Corcoran and Maria Marshall Family of Lancashire, Manchester, England: An analysis of their Migration from Ireland to Manchester, England

The earlier years of the Manchester census records rarely provide the specific County, Civil Parish or Townland in Ireland of the Irish immigrants living there, but are available in increasing frequency in later census years. Water damage to the 1851 census records further complicates tracking the Corcoran families through these records. In my analysis thus far of Lancashire and in particular Manchester, England census records, there appears to be a higher concentration of immigrants coming to the area from the Connaught areas of Mayo, Sligo and Roscommon than elsewhere in Ireland. 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 Manchester, Leeds, Huddersfield, Bradford, Liverpool and Wolverhampton, 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 and hopefully find my Corcoran connections in the process! 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.

Important Note on this page: The family in this compilation are the ancestors of Joe Corcoran who is researching his Corcoran ancestors from Boyle, Roscommon, Ireland and Manchester, England. He has done extensive research on this family, and the records collected below are a result of his hard work to uncover their origins. In an attempt to limit the download time of this page I have not extended the family information beyond the children of John Corcoran and Maria Marshall; however, I feel it may open the door to other descendents by documenting whom their children married. A brief synopsis follows: James Joseph Corcoran married Mary Ann Mathews nee Fahey, a widow on August 17, 1895 in Ardwick, Christopher Alexander married Mary Ann McLoughlin, a Spinster on October 18, 1884 in Cheetham and Joseph Corcoran married Ann Jane Barratt a Spinster on January 1, 1890 in Ancoats.

Please contact us if you feel that you may be descendents of this line (or if your Corcoran connection was from the Boyle, Roscommon or the Manchester area in the mid 18th to 19th century) so that we can try to link this Corcoran line and others together; in so doing possibly identify their specific origins in Ireland.

John Corcoran's Siblings and Parents: The marriage record for John and Maria Corcoran documented John's father as being James Corcoran, a Tanner. His burial marker (which Joe captured a picture of) states that his brother is James Joseph Corcoran (and James' wife was Mary Veronica). An 1861 Census record for James Joseph shows a brother Michael and sister Bridget living with him in Lancashire, Chorlton Upon Medlock.

Census Year, District or other Record Address Name Age Born Occupation Marital Status and other Misc. Info.
England GRO Marriage Record, Manchester, England   John Corcoran married Maria Marshall July 5, 1856 St Joseph's Roman Catholic Chapel, Goulden Street, Ancoats John was 23; Maria was 20     John's Father was James, a Tanner; Maria's was Alexander, a Shoemaker; Free BMD shows this marriage record to be September Quarter 1856; Volume 8d, Page 559.
Free BMD Births, Manchester, England   John Thomas Corcoran born Manchester December Quarter 1858 Manchester       Volume 8d, Page 227
Birth Certificate Manchester, England   John Thomas Corcoran born September 22, 1858 St. George's District       Born at 75 Thompson Street; father is John a Journeyman Baker and mother Mary formerly Marshall
St. Augustine's Church, Granby Row, Manchester England Baptismal Record   Corcoran, Michael baptized August 26, 1860 St Augustine Church       Godparents: Alexander Marshall and Eliza Gannon; Born August 25, 1860 according to Baptismal Record
Free BMD Death Index England (Chorlton, Lancashire)   Corcoran, Michael died March Quarter, Chorlton 1861       Volume 8c, Page 342
1861 Lancashire, Chorlton Upon Medlock Census District 1 (April 7) 3 Davies Street, Manchester, Lancashire St Lukes Municipal Ward Corcoran, John, Head 28 Ireland Carter M
1861 Lancashire, Chorlton Upon Medlock District 1 3 Davies Street Corcoran, Maria, Wife 28 Ireland   M
1861 Lancashire, Chorlton Upon Medlock District 1 3 Davies Street Corcoran, John T., Son 2 Manchester, Lancashire, England    
Birth Certificate Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester   Corcoran, James Joseph born March 20, 1862 at 3 Davies Street, Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester       Father John was a Carter
Baptismal Record St. Augustine's Granby Row, Manchester, England   Corcoran, James Joseph Baptized March 23, 1862 St. Augustine's Church       Godparents: John Marshall and Catherine McNulty;
Birth Certificate, Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester   Corcoran, Christopher Alexander born December 20, 1863 at 56 Clarendon Street, Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester       Father John was a Carter
Baptismal Record St. Wilfred's Church, Bedford Street, Hulme   Corcoran, Christopher Alexander baptized January 3, 1864 at St. Wilfred's Church, Hulme       Godparents: Patrick Sharkey and Bridget Sharkey;
Baptismal Record St. Wilfred's Hume.   Corcoran, William baptized February 25, 1866       Godparents: Peter Reynolds and Margarita McNulty (MLFHS transcription)
Free BMD England Death Index   Corcoran, William died second qtr 1866 age 0       Volume 8c, Page 371
Birth Certificate Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester   Corcoran, Joseph born January 12, 1867 at 56 Clarendon Street, Chorlton Upon Medlock, Manchester, England       His Father John was a Journeyman Baker
Baptismal Record, St. Augustine's Church, Granby Row, Manchester, England   Corcoran, Joseph baptized January 20, 1867 at St Augustine's Church, Manchester       Godparents: Michael Corcoran and Bridget Reynolds nee Corcoran (his paternal aunt and uncle)
Free BMD Birth Index Lancashire, England (Possible birth record?)   Corcoran, Maria born September Quarter 1868 Chorlton (she is listed as age 1 in the 1871 census however)       Volume 8c; Page 656
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, St. George, District 33 (April 2) 26 Lower Tebbutt Street, St. Michael's Municipal Ward Corcoran, John, Head 30 Ireland Carter M
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, District 33 26 Lower Tebbutt Street Corcoran, Maria, Wife 34 Ireland   M
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, District 33 26 Lower Tebbutt Street Corcoran, John, Son 13 Manchester, Lancashire, England    
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, District 33 26 Lower Tebbutt Street Corcoran, James, Son 9 Manchester, Lancashire, England    
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, District 33 26 Lower Tebbutt Street Corcoran, Christopher, Son 7 Manchester, Lancashire, England    
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, District 33 26 Lower Tebbutt Street Corcoran, Joseph, Son 4 Manchester, Lancashire, England    
1871 Lancashire, Manchester, District 33 26 Lower Tebbutt Street Corcoran, Maria 1 Manchester, Lancashire, England    
Baptismal Record St Patrick's, Livesey Street   Corcoran, Charles baptized October 8, 1871 St Patrick's Livesey Street       Godparents: James McNulty and Ellen Fallon; he was born September 27, 1871
Birth Certificate, Manchester, Lancashire   Corcoran, Hannah Maria born March 20, 1873 at 26 Lower Tebbutt Street, Manchester       Father John was a Carter
Baptismal Record St Patrick's, Livesey Street   Corcoran, Hannah Maria baptized April 6, 1873 St Patrick's Church, Livesey Street       Godparents: James Farrell and Anne Scallon
Birth Certificate, Manchester, Lancashire, England   Corcoran, Herbert born March 13, 1875 at 26 Lower Tebbutt Street, Manchester, England       Father John was a Carter
Baptismal Record St. Patrick's Church, Livesey Street   Corcoran, Herbert baptized April 4, 1875 at St Patrick's Livesey Street       Godparents: Alex Marshall (maternal grandfather) and Mary A Carron
Birth Certificate, Manchester, Lancashire, England   Corcoran, Edward born December 26, 1877 at 55 Heyrod Street, Manchester       Father John was a Fish Curer.
Baptismal Record St. Patrick's Livesey Street   Corcoran, Elizabeth Jane baptized December 28, 1879 St. Patrick's Livesey Street       Born December 22, 1879; Godparents: Sarah Ann Scallon
Free BMD Death Index, Manchester, England   Corcoran, Eliza Jane died 2nd qtr 1880 Manchester, England       Volume 8d, Page 186
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, St. George, District 39 (April 3) 9 Zinc Street, St. Michael's Municipal Ward Corcoran, John, Head 46 Ireland Herring Curer M
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, Maria, Wife 44 Ireland   M
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, James, Son 19 Lancashire, Hulme, England Carter U
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, Christopher, Son 17 Lancashire, Hulme, England Bass Dresser U
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, Joseph, Son 14 Lancashire, Hulme, England Office Boy U
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, Maria, Daughter 8 Lancashire, Hulme, England Scholar  
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, Herbert, Son 6 Lancashire, Hulme, England Scholar  
1881 Lancashire, Manchester, District 39 9 Zinc Street Corcoran, Edward, Son 3 Lancashire, Hulme, England    
Death Certificate, Manchester, England   Corcoran, Maria (nee Marshall - wife of John) died June 8, 1882 of Breast Carcinoma age 40 at 9 Zinc Street        
Marriage Record St Chad, Cheetham Hill Road, Cheetham   Corcoran, Christopher Alexander married Mary Ann McLoughlin October 18, 1884 St Chad, Cheetham       Witnesses: Henry Malkley and Sarah McDermot
Death Certificate, Manchester, England   Corcoran, John died August 25, 1889 at age 51 Manchester Royal Infirmary.       John was a Fish Curer of 28, Tebbutt Street, Rochdale Road. He died of Osteitis of the Tibia, Pyoria and Pneumonia
Burial Marker St Joseph's Cemetery, Moston, Manchester, England   John Corcoran burial marker shows he died August 25, 1889, Manchester, England Age of 52     Burial Marker says he was 52 yrs of age at the time of his death
Marriage Record St. Michael's George Leight Street, Ancoals   Corcoran, Joseph married Ann Jane Barratt January 1, 1890 St. Michael's George Leigh Street, Ancoals       Witnesses: Charles Henry Green and Mary Ellen Green nee Barratt, Ann Jane's twin and her husband
Marriage Record, St Aloysius Church, Palfrey Road, Ardwick   Corcoran, James Joseph married Mary Ann Mathews nee Fahey, a widow August 17, 1895 St. Aloysius, Ardwick       Witnesses: Joseph Faye (Fahey) and Helena Green. Free BMD record 3rd Quarter Chorlton, Lancashire 1895
Death Certificate, St George, Manchester, England   Corcoran, Christopher Alexander died June 11, 1902 at 29 Pilling Street, Manchester, St George       Additional note on Christopher: he was buried at St Joseph's Cemetery Moston in Public Grave J 1107
Free BMD Death Index Manchester, England   Corcoran, James Joseph died the 4th Quarter 1903 at the age of 41 Manchester, England       Volume 8d, Page 142
Death Certificate, Blackburn   Corcoran, Edward died January 12, 1910 at 27 Coddington Street, Blackburn        
Death Certificate, Manchester, England   Corcoran, Joseph died May 22, 1941 at Ancoats Hospital, New Cross, Manchester       additional note on Joseph: he was bured May 27, 1941 at St. Joseph's Cemetery, Moston in Private Grave A 1782
Death Certificate, Blakeley, Manchester   Corcoran, Herbert died October 16, 1944 at 61 Grange Drive, Blakeley, Manchester       additional note: Buried October 19, 1944 St. Joseph's Cemetery, Moston In Private Grave A 1782