The Michael Smith and Margaret Brannan Family of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois: An Analysis of Their Migration from Kings County, Ireland (Michael) and County Roscommon, Ireland (Margaret), to Wakefield, Yorkshire, England and on to Chicago, Cook County, Illinois

Margaret Brannon, the daughter of John and Mary Brannan, married Michael Smith in Wakefield, Yorkshire in the Quarter Ending March 1866. They appear to be living next to her parents and siblings on Salt Pie Alley when the 1871 Wakefield Census was conducted. At this time, they had three children born in Wakefield: John (4), Ann (2) and James (1). They are still living on Salt Pie Alley when the 1881 Wakefield Census was conducted with five children (John 14, Anne 12, James 10, Thomas 8, William 4, Martin 2). They appear to have crossed the pond sometime after this census was conducted and before the 1900 U.S. Census can be conducted, Margaret appears to die at the age of 44 on February 23, 1892 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Michael appears as a widow in the 30th Ward of District 0904 Cook County, Illinois in 1900 with 6 children, 6 living. According to this census, he had been in the U.S. 20 years, hadn't naturalized and was employed as a Laborer in the S. Yards. Five of his children were living with him: Martin (20, born October 1879 England, Horse Shoe), Annie (28, born October 1871 England) James (27, born England March 1873 Hog Butcher), Thomas (25, born July 1875 England Lab S. Yards), Willie (23, born June 1877 England, Lab S Yards). By 1910, Michael is a 66 year old widow, naturalized and still employed as a laborer in the Stock Yards. His children Anne (38), William (31, Lather Buildings), Grandaughter Margaret and two cousins Maria and Thomas Murray live with him. Michael Smith appears to die June 17, 1918 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois and was buried in Mount Olivet according to the Cook County Death Index.

Michael Smith's origins in Kings County, Ireland are documented in both the 1881 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Census as well as in the compilation "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916-1947" with the death of Thomas A. Smith, his son on July 15, 1935. His mother's maiden name of Brannan is confirmed in this marriage record as well.

Margaret Brannan's origins in County Roscommon, Ireland are documented in the 1861 Wakefield, Yorshire, England Census where she resides with her parents John and Mary Brannin and in the 1881 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Census where she lives with her husband and five children. Her maiden name is documented in the deaths of her three children, Annie Smith and James H Smith (Margaret Brennan) and Thoams A Smith (Margaret Brannan).

I have recently heard from two different genealogists researching this line. If enough of us put our Brennan information together maybe we will make some headway in taking the lines back further in Ireland. My research indicates that there is a shared migration trail from the Mayo/Roscommon border area to the Yorkshire, England area around Wakefield, Hudderfield and Leeds etc. I have checked the County Roscommon records I have viewed thus far in Boyle, Ballaghaderreen, Loughglynn and Castlerea and have yet to find a baptismal record for Margaret, daughter of John and Mary Brannan. I have only scratched the surface in the Roscommon microfilm; however, and my focus has been on Brennans (Brannans), Corcorans, Coffeys and Gahagans along this Mayo/Roscommon area. Diedre, a descendant of this line has indicated that the witnesses at Michael Smith and Margaret Brannon's wedding were Martin Brannon and Mary Brannon. My second great grandparents Martin Brannon and Catherine Corcoran were married nearby in Huddersfield in 1849 and their marriage record indicates a County Roscommon origin of my 3rd GGP's Michael Brannon and Biddy Coffee so I am very interested in seeing if there was any connection between these Brannan families. I would love to hear from you if you feel you are descended from this Brannan/Brennan family so that we might be able to work together to narrow down their Roscommon origins.

My objective in this research is to analyze the Brennan Families in the Yorkshire (West Riding) area (the Parishes of Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford, Wakefield in particular) where I have found significant concentrations of Brennans with Mayo and Roscommon origins. I hope to study 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 Brennans that I am identifying in the Catholic Church Records in both County Mayo and County Roscommon Ireland. Lofty aspirations I know, but this might provide greatest probability of finding my Brennan family. I welcome the contributions and feedback from others who have Brennan ancestors from Mayo and Roscommon. Working together may be our greatest chance to expand our family trees and take our lines back further than we would just focusing on our own individual Great Grand Parents. 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.

I welcome any and all feedback, corrections- they benefit us all. If you believe that your ancestors might be related to this family or other Brennans in the Wakefield, Yorkshire area please contact me!

Type of Record- Census, Church, other Address Name Age Born Occupation Marital Status and other Miscellaneous Information
1861 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Census District 8 Salt Pie Alley Brannin, John, Head 48 Roscommon, Ireland Farm Laborer M
" " Brannin, Mary, WIfe 37 Roscommon, Ireland   M
" " Brannin, Margaret, Daughter 20 Roscommon, Ireland   U; I believe this is future wife of Michael Smith
" " Brannin, Martin, Son 16 Roscommon, Ireland   U
" " Brannin, Sabina, Daughter 8 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England    
" " Brannin, Catherine, Daughter 5 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England    
Free BMD England Marriage Index for Wakefield, England   Smith, Michael married Margaret Brannon Quarter ending March 1866 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England       Volume 9c, Page 73
1881 Wakefield England Census, District 8 Salt Pie Alley Smith, Michael, Head 36 Kings County, Ireland General Lab M
" " Smith, Margaret, Wife 34 Roscommon, Ireland   M
" " Smith, John, Son 14 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Mill Hand  
" " Smith, Anne, Daughter 12 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Mill Hand  
" " Smith, James, Son 10 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Scholar  
" " Smith, Thomas, Son 8 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England Scholar  
" " Smith, William, Son 4 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England    
" " Smith, Martin, Son 2 Wakefield, Yorkshire, England    
Cook County Death Index 1878-1922   Smith, Margaret died February 2, 1892 (wife of Michael) 44 Cook County, Illinois   Burial Mt Olivet; she was a Housekeeper
1900 US Census for Chicago, Ward 30, District 0904   Smith, Michael, Head 44 Ireland; parents born in Ireland Lab S. Yards Widow; in U.S. 20 yrs immigration 1880; 6 children, 6 living;
" " Smith, Annie, Daughter born October 1871 28 England; parents born in Ireland   immigration in 1882; here 18 yrs
" " Smith, James, Son born March 1873 27 England; parents born in Ireland Hog Butcher immigration to US in 1882; here 18 yrs
" " Smith, Thomas, Son born July 1875 25 England; parents born in Ireland Lab S Yards immigration 1882; here 18 yrs
" " Smith, Willie, son born June 1877 23 England; parents born in Ireland Lab S Yards immigration 1882; here 18 yrs.
" " Smith, Martin, Son born October 1879 23 England, Parents born in Ireland Lab S Yards immmigation 1882; here 18 yrs.
1910 US Census for Cook County, Chicago, Illinois District 1309   Smith, Michael, Head 66 Ireland Lab Stock Yard W;1886 arrival; naturalized? plus two Murray cousins from England live with them.
" " Smith, Anna, Daughter 38 England   U; arrival 1887?
" " Smith, William, Son 31 England Lather Buildings U; arrival 1887?
" " Smith, Margaret, Grand Daughter   Illinois; dad born in England, mom in Illinois    
Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916-1947 Database on familysearch.org Residence at time of his death was in Chicago, Illinois Smith, Thomas A. died July 15, 1935 Crete, Will, Illinois (I believe this is the son of Michael Smith and Margaret Brennan) 60 born Wakefield Yorkshire, England on July 12, 1875 Groom Race Track His father was Michael Smith (born Kings County, Ireland and his mother was Margaret Brannan. He was buried in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois on July 17, 1935-
Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916-1947 Database on familysearch.org Residence at time of death was Chicago, Cook Illinois Smith, James H. (husband of Sabina) died on May 2, 1947 in Chicago, Cook, Illinois. I believe this may have been Sabina Monaghan and that this is the son of Michael Smith and Margaret Brennan 75 born abt 1872 Yorkshire, England Laborer He was the son of Michael Smith and Margaret Brennan of Ireland. He was buried May 5, 1947 at Mt Olivet, Worth, Cook, Illinois.
Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths 1916-1947 Database on familysearch.org Residence at time of death was Chicago, Cook, Illinois Smith, Annie died November 14, 1945 Chicago, Cook, Illinois. I believe this is the daughter of Michael Smith and Margaret Brennan 76 born October 21, 1869 Cook She was the daughter of Michael Smith and Margaret Brennan of Ireland. She was buried at Mt Olivet in Worth, Cook, Illinois