The Edward and Margaret Gorman Family of South Bend, Indiana: An Analysis of this Irish Family's Migration from Ireland, brief stay in South Bend Indiana and onward to Montgomery County, Iowa in Census and other Records
Edward Gorman and his wife Margret were present in South Bend, Indiana when the 1860 US census was conducted. According to that census, all of their children except daughter Anna were born in Ireland. Their ages would seem to indicate that they came over from Ireland sometime after 1848 (son Joseph was born in Ireland around 1848. Their daughter Anna was born around 1855 in Indiana, although I have yet to find them in the 1850 census. I have not found evidence of them thus far in the Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame or St Joseph Church, South Bend records. They appear to have left South Bend and migrated to Montgomery County, , Sherman Township, Iowa by the time the 1870 US Census was conducted. The names match the 1860 census but there are several conflicting bits of information clouding the picture: daughter Annie 15 was born in Illinois and not Indiana, but daughters Margaret (21) and Mary Catherine (6) were born in Indiana. Edward is a successful Barman with $6000 in real estate and $900 in personal estate. Of interest, there was an Edward Gorman who appeared in the "Naturalization Records in pre 1907 Order Books of Indiana County Courts." There were three Edward Gormans in this compilation, 2 in Cass County Indiana Circuit Court and one in St Joseph County Circuit Court which would seem to be the most likely choice. There is no way to know for sure without pursuing this record.
The objective of this compilation is to try to establish the earliest possible evidence of this family in the United States through all available resources. I would love to hear from anyone who believes that they may be a descendent of this family so that we can work together to find their origins in Ireland and migration trail to the U.S. This will most definitely be a work in progress and all findings I speculate on would have to be proven for accuracy with Ireland and U.S. marriage records, church baptismal records and death records among other genealogical resources. 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.
| Census, Church or other Record | Date Born, Baptized, Married | Father/ Husband | Mother/ Wife | Child | Occupation; Misc. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1860 US Census for South Bend, St Joseph County, Indiana | June 15, 1860 Census conducted | Gorman, Ed, age50 born in Ireland | Gorman, Margret, age 42 born in Ireland | Gorman, Mary, age 18, born in Ireland | Ed is a Laborer with $200 Real Estate; Daughter Mary is a Domestic |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Patrick, age 16 born in Ireland | Laborer |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Joseph, age 12 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Anna, age 5 born in Indiana | |
| 1870 US Census for Sherman Township, Montgomery County, Iowa (Red Oak Junction Post Office) | Census Conducted July 15, 1870 | Gorman, Edward, age 75 born in Ireland | Gorman, Margart, 51 born in Ireland | Gorman, Mary, age 26 born in Ireland | Edward is a Barman with $6000 real estate and $900 Personal Estate |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Patrick J, age 24 born in Ireland | Patrick is a Barman |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Joseph, age 21 born in Illinois | at home |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Annie, age 15 born in Illinois | at home |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Margaret A, age 24 born in Indiana | school |
| " | " | " | " | Gorman, Mary Catherine, age 6 born in Indiana | School; |