The Patrick and Elizabeth (nee Doney or Downey) Mulligan Family of South Bend, St Joseph County, Indiana: An Analysis of their Migration from Ireland to Pennsylvania, Berrien County, Michigan and South Bend, Indiana
Patrick and Elizabeth Mulligan were most likely married in Ireland some time before 1836, the year son Owen was born, and most probably migrated to the United States sometime after 1843 but before 1846 (the year their daughter Eliza was born in Pennsylvania). Son Joseph was born in Pennsylvania about 1848; the next evidence I have of them is in the 1850 Berrien County, Michigan Census. The town of Niles in Berrien County, Michigan is right next to the Indiana border; Notre Dame is very close to this border area and in the early years many parishioners hailed from neighboring areas in lower Michigan. This family moves to Clay Township, St Joseph County, Indiana sometime before the 1860 US Census was conducted and the core of the family remains there through at least 1883. The only evidence I have found of Elizabeth's maiden name are two Sacred Heart Marriage records. One for daughter Maria Mulligan to Henricus Peashway on April 22, 1862. That marriage record clearly indicates her parents to be Patricii Mulligan and Elizabeth Doney of this parish. The marriage record for son Joseph Mulligan to Helena Haney on May 27, 1884 indicated that his parents were Patricii Mulligan and Elizabeth Downey. I have seen a lot of phonetic variations on the Irish surnames in the Sacred Heart Church Records. Obtaining marriage applications from the county archives might be a key way to clarify her maiden name. Indiana Death records appear to indicate that both Patrick Mulligan and his wife Elizabeth might have died in Clay Township, St Joseph County, Indiana in April 1883 and buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery at Notre Dame. Of special interest is a find a grave memorial that indicates that Patrick Mulligan who died April 1, 1883 at the age of 82 was born in County Cavan, Ireland as was his wife Elizabeth who died on April 23. Granted, these markers could have been placed in a later era (my family's markers at Cedar Grove are no longer existent). I think it is unlikely that a death record would be available in St Joseph Couny, Indiana this early (1883) but it might be worth an inquiry. I have seen online family trees indicating Patrick Mulligan's origins in Tawnagh, County Sligo but a I haven't seen any evidence of that at this point.
Research Observations: There were two Mulligan Families in Clay Township, St Joseph County, Indiana in 1860, The Patrick and Elizabeth Mulligan Family and the Edward and Mary Mulligan Family. The Patrick S Mulligan and Margarett Ann Barrett Family appear in the German Township, St Joseph County, Indiana Census around 1910 (they were married in Marshall County, Indiana in 1869, lived in Tippeconoe Township, Marshall County in 1880, Rochester Township, Fulton County, Indiana in 1900 and finally German Township, St Joseph County, Indiana in 1910 and 1920). I have not idea at this point if these three families are related.
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.
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. Please contact me if you feel that you are descended from this South Bend Indiana Irish family so that we can share information, see if there were common migration trails followed and delve further back into their origins in Ireland!
The following is a brief summary of what I have discovered about their children thus far:
- The Owen Mulligan and Mary A Tinley (or Finley?) Family: Owen Mulligan, son of Patrick and Elizabeth appears to marry Mary Ann Finley on January 1, 1860 in St Joseph County, Indiana. They clearly have children Patrick J, Joseph and Mary Elizabeth, but by the time the 1880 census is conducted, the family appears to have moved to Shell Creek, Colfax, Nebraska, and Owen appears to have remarried a Martha and had 3 children born in Michigan before their departure: William (born abt 1875), Mary Ann (born 1878) and Edward (born 1879). It would appear that something happens to first wife Mary Ann between July 21, 1870 and Spetember 22, 1877. I have not found a death record for her yet. There is a marriage record for an Owen Mulligan age 33 born 1844 in Pennsylvania, who married a Martha Ross born 1855 Medina, OH on February 13, 1877 Berrien County, Michigan. Obtaining this marriage record could confirm the names of his parents and if this was his second marriage.
- Patrick Mulligan: There was a Patrick Mulligan born May 1835 in Ireland who married a Margarett Ann Barrett in Marshall County, Indiana on April 27, 1869. I am unsure if this is the same Patrick, son of Patrick and Elizabeth. This family moves from Marshall County, Tippecanoe Township, Indiana in 1880 to Rochester Twp, Fulton County, Indiana in 1900 to German Township, St Joseph County, Indiana in 1910 and 1920.
- Mary Mulligan and Henry Peashway Family: Mary Mulligan appears to marry Henry Peashway on April 24, 1862 at Sacred Heart Church, St Joseph County, Indiana. The Sacred Heart Church record indicates that she was the daughter of Patricii Mulligan and Elizabeth Doney of this parish.
- Ann Mulligan: There was an Anna Mulligan who married a James McCartney on November 5, 1869, but I believe this was Mary Ann the daughter of Edward and Mary Mulligan not Patrick and Elizabeth.
- Joseph Mulligan and Ellen Haney Family: Joseph E Mulligan married Ellen Haney on May 27, 1884 in Sacred Heart Church in St Joseph County, Indiana. The church record indicates that Joseph's parents were Patricii Mulligan and Elizabeth Downey and Helena's Patricii Haney and Elizabeth Stipes. They appear in the 1900 US Census in Clay Township, St Joseph County, Indiana with their 6 kids, Joseph E, Edward, Bessie, Leo, Mary and Paul and remain in Clay Township through the 1930 Census in which Joseph E is listed as being a 78 yr old widow. His two sons Joseph E (44) and Paul A (33), both of which are single, live with him. His wife Ellen appears to have died sometime between April 1910 and 1920; most likely January 9, 1913 according to a Find A Grave memorial for Ellen M Mulligan who was born April 28, 1862. According to that entry she was the spouse of Joseph E Mulligan and was buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery with him. He died in 1932.
- Elizabeth T Mulligan: I believe that she never remarried. She lived with her father through the 1880 South Bend, Indiana Census. I later found her living on 716 E Jefferson Blvd. She is listed as single with $4000 in Home value; she has a house guest Iva Ashby and a roomer living with her.
- Margaret Mulligan: I don't believe that Margaret ever married either. She was living with her sister Elizabeth and niece Lizzie in 1900 on E Jefferson Street in South Bend. Margaret was listed as being born September 1844 in Pennsylvania; age 56 and single.
| Census, Church or other Record | Date Born, Baptized, Married, Died, Buried or other Reference Date | Father/ Husband | Mother/ Wife | Child; other | Occupation; Misc. Info. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 US Census fro Berrien County, Michigan Division 10 | Census conducted on August 29, 1850 | Mulligan, Patrick 44 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Elizabeth 35 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Owen 14 born in Ireland | Patrick was a Farmer; they lived with the Elijah Egbert Family from Pennsylvania |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Patrick 12 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Ann 11 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Margaret 9 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Mary 7 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Eliza 4 born in Pennsylvania | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Joseph 2 born in Pennsylvania | |
| 1860 US Census for St Joseph County, Indiana | Census Conducted on | Mulligan, Owen 24 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Mary 20 born in Ireland | ||
| 1860 US Census Clay Township, St Joseph County, Indiana; South Bend Post Office | Census Conducted on June 16, 1860 | Mulligan, Patrick 52 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Elizabeth 47 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Margaret 16 born in Ireland | Patrick is a Farmer with $3000 Real Estate and $200 Personal Property; Margaret is a Domestic |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Patrick 22, born in Ireland | Patrick was a Farmer |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Elizabeth 12, born in Pennsylvania | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Joseph 11 born in Pennsylvania | |
| Marriage Records St Joseph County, Indiana | January 1, 1860 | Mulligan, Owen (likely the son of Patrick and Elizabeth) | Tinley?, Mary Ann (record looks like Tinley not Finley) | Thomas Carroll CSC; Volume IV, 1855-1861 | |
| Sacred Heart Marriage Record for Maria Mulligan (possible daughter of Patrick/Elizabeth?) | April 22, 1862 | Piashway?, Henricus, son of Joannis and Maria Anna Bennat of this parish | Mulligan, Maria, daughter of Patricii and Elizabeth Doney of this parish | ||
| Indiana Marriage Collection 180-1941 for St Joseph County, Indiana (probable marriage record for Mary Mulligan, dtr of Patrick and Elizabeth) | April 24, 1862 | Peashway, Henry | Mulligan, Mary | ||
| Sacred Heart Church, St Joseph County, Indiana Marriage Record | April 22, 1862 | Peashway, Henricus (son of Joannis and Mary Anna Bennat of this parish) | Mulligan, Mariam (dtr of Patricii and Elizabeth Doney of this parish) | ||
| US Civil War Draft Reg. Records 1863-1865 Berrien County, Niles, Michigan | June 1863 | Mulligan, Owen 27 born in Ireland (likely the son of Patrick and Elizabeth) | Owen was a Farmer | ||
| 1870 US Census for Niles Twp, Berrien Co, MI | July 21, 1870 | Mulligan, Owen, 33 born in Ireland (son of Patrick and Elizabeth) | Mulligan, Mary A, 32 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Patrick J, 10 born in Indiana | Owen was a Farmer with $4000 Real Estate; $500 Personal estate |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Joseph 7 born in Michigan | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Mary E, 5 born in Michigan | |
| 1870 US Census for Clay Township, St Joseph County, Indiana | 1870 | Mulligan, Patrick 62 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Elizabeth 57 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Margaret 26 born in Ireland | Patrick was a Farmer (multiple RR laborers from various countries live with them) |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Elizabeth 22 born in Ireland | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Joseph 20 born in Pennsylvania | Farm Laborer |
| Michigan Births and Christenings Index 1867-1911 (possible child of Owen and his wife- is this Mary or a second wife) | Born on September 22, 1877 in Niles, Berrien, Michigan | Mulligan, Owen | mother Martha? | Mulligan, Mary Ann | |
| 1880 US Census for Shell Creek, Colfax, Nebraska | Mulligan, Owen 39 born in Ireland | Mulligan, Martha Ann 26 born in OH (dad in Canada, mom in France) | Mulligan, Mary Elizabeth 14 born in MI, parents in Ireland | ** what became of Mary Ann, Owen's first wife?? this is clearly her daughter but William, Mary Ann and Edward are not) | |
| " | " | " | Mulligan, William 5 born in MI, dad in Ireland, mom in OH | ||
| " | " | " | Mulligan, Mary Ann 2 born in MI, dad in Ireland, mom in OH | ||
| " | " | " | Mulligan, Edward, 1 born in MI, dad in Ireland, mom in OH | ||
| 1880 US Census for Clay Township, District 157, St Joseph County, IN | Census Conducted on June 1, 1880 | Mulligan, Patrick 74 born in Ireland; parents born in Ireland | Mulligan, Elizabeth 71 wife,born in Ireland; parents born in Ireland | Mulligan, Joseph 28 yr old single son born in Pennsylvania; parents born in Ireland | Patrick was a Farmer; Elizabeth keeps house; (a widowed Mary with children Joseph and Catherine live next door to them) |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Margaret 35 yr old single daughter born in Ireland as were her parents | |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Elizabeth T, 32 yr old single daughter born in Pennsylvania, parents born in Ireland | |
| Indiana Deaths 1882-1920 for Clay Township, St Joseph County, IN ancestry.com (possible death record for Patrick) | April 4, 1883 | Mulligan, Patrick | H16; Page 16 | ||
| Indiana Deaths 1882-1920 for Clay Township, St Joseph County, IN ancestry.com (possible death record for Elizabeth) | April 26, 1883 | Mulligan, Mrs Patrick | H16; page 16 | ||
| Find a Grave Website Index 1800-2012 for Patrick and Elizabeth Mulligan - burial markers at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Notre Dame; possible burial records for Patrick and Elizabeth | Patrick died April 1, 1883 at the age of 82 and Elizabeth died April 23, 1883 | Mulligan, Patrick | "his wife Elizabeth" | both are listed as having born in County Cavan, Ireland | |
| Indiana Marriages 1811-1959 for St Joseph County, Indiana | May 27, 1884 | Mulligan, Joseph E | Haney, Ellen | ||
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, IN Marriage Record | May 27, 1884 | Mulligan, Josephine son of Patricii Mulligan and Elizabeth Downey of this parish | Haney Helena, daughter of Patricii Haney and Elizabeth Stipes of this parish | A Granger CSC; Joanne Haney and Elizabeth Mulligan Witnesses | |
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend Baptismal Record | Born March 13, 1885, Baptized March 29, 1885 | Mulligan, Josepho | Haney, Helena | Mulligan, Josephii | Joannes Piashaw? and Margaret Mulligan Sp; Granger CSC |
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, IN Baptismal Record | Born December 13, 1886, baptized December 26, 1886 | Mulligan, Joseph (son of Patrick and Elizabeth) | Haney, Helena | Mulligan, Edwardis Emmet | Granger CSC; Joannes Haney and Elizabeth Mulligan of Hibernia Sp |
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, IN Baptismal Record | Born January 22, 1888 and Baptized on February 12, 1888 | Molligan, Joseph | Haney, Helena | Mulligan, Elizabeth | Sponsors Robertum Young and Maria McCaffrey |
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, IN Baptismal Record | Born March 4, 1890; Baptized March 23, 1890 | Mulligan, Joseph | Haney, Helena | Mulligan, Leo (Leonir) | Spillard CSC; Joannes Haney and Brigitta Haney SP |
| Sacred Heart Church, Notre Dame, South Bend, IN Baptismal Record | Born and Baptized on April 3, 1892 | Mulligan, Joseph | Haney, Helena | Mulligan, Thoma Georgins? | Jacobus McCarty and Elizabeth Mulligan Sp; Connor? CSC |
| 1900 US Census for South Bend, St Joseph County, IN District 0126 | Census conducted on June 5, 1900 | Mulligan, Elizabeth, Head 50 yr old born February 1850 in PA; parents born in Ireland (I think this is the dtr of Patrick and Elizabeth Mulligan) | Mulligan, Margret, 56 yr single sister old born September 1844 in PA, parents born in Ireland | Both sisters were Housekeepers | |
| " | " | " | Mulligan, Lizzie, 29 yr old single niece born February 1871 in Michigan, parents born in Ireland | Dress Maker | |
| 1900 US Census for Clay Township, St Joseph County, IN | Census Conducted June 25, 1900 | Mulligan, Joseph E, Head 48 born August 1851 in PA; parents born in IR (likely the son of Patrick and Elizabeth Doney) | Mulligan, Ellen M, wife 38 born April 1862 in Illinois, dad born in IR, mom in IL; married 16 yrs with 7 children, 6 living | Mulligan, Joseph E, 15 yr old son born March 1885 in Indiana, dad in PA, mom in IL | Joseph E Sr was a Farmer- owned a farm free of mortgage; Married 16 yrs |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Edward 13 yr old son born December 1886 in Indiana, dad in PA, mom in IL | School |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Bessie 12 yr old daughter born January 1888 in IN, dad in PA, mom in IL | School |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Leo, 10 yr old daughter born March 1890 in IN, dad in PA, mom in IL | School |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Mary 6 yr old born July 1893 in IN, dad in PA, mom in IL | School |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Paul 4 yr old born in IN, dad in PA, mom in IN | |
| 1910 US Census for Clay Twp, St Joseph County, IN District 0134 | Census conducted on April 15, 1910 | Mulligan, Joseph E, Hed 58 born in Illinois, parents born in Ireland (son of Patrick and Elizabeth Mulligan) | Mulligan, Ellen 49 yr old wife born in Illinois, dad in IR, mom in IL; 8 children?- 5 living | Mulligan, Joseph 25 yr old son born in IN, dad in IL, mom in IL | Joseph E Sr was a Farmer on a General Farm; It was their first marriage- married 26 yrs; |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Edward, 23 yr old son born in IN, parents in IL | Farm Lab- own farm |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Leo 19 yr old son born in IN, parents in IL | None |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Mary 17 yr old daughter born in IN, parents born in IL | None |
| " | " | " | " | Mulligan, Paul 13 yr old son born in IN, parents born in IL | None |
| 1920 US Census for Clay Twp, St Joseph County, IN District 0189 | Census Conducted on February 4 and 5, 1920 | Mulligan, Joseph Sr, H 68 widow born in PA, parents born in IR | Mulligan, Joseph Jr, 33 yr old son born in IN, dad in PA, mom in IL | Joseph was a Farmer on a General Farm | |
| " | " | " | Mulligan, Mary 25 yr old daughter born in IN, dad born in PA, mom in IL | None | |
| " | " | " | Mulligan, Paul 23 yr old son born in IN, dad in PA, mom in IL | Farmer at home | |
| " | " | Haney, Helen, 16 yr old single niece bonr in IL, dad in IL, mom in IN | None | ||
| 1930 US Census for Clay Twp, St Joseph County, IN District 4; Residence on Dixie Highway | Census Conducted on April 4, 1930 | Mulligan, Joseph E, 78 yr old widow, married at age 33, born in PA, parents in Ireland | Mulligan, Joseph E, 44 yr old single son born in IN, dad in PA, mom in IL | Joseph E Sr was a Farmer | |
| " | " | " | Mulligan, Paul A, 33 yr old son born in IN, dad born in PA, mom in IL | Paul was an Electrician | |
| 1930 US Census for South Bend, Indiana District 53; residence at 716 E Jefferson Blvd | Mulligan, Elizabeth, Head 80 yr old single born in PA; parents in Irish Free State (likely the dtr of Patrick and Elizabeth Mullligan) | none |