The John and Mary Brennan (Brannan) Family of Wakefield, Yorkshire England: An Analysis of their Journey from County Roscommon, Ireland to Wakefield, Yorkshire England
The Connaught Counties of Galway, Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo are heavily represented in the Huddersfield, Leeds, Bradford and Wakefield England Census Records when the county names are given as a place of birth. 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 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free BMD England Birth Index- Wakefield (Possible Birth Record) | Wakefield, Yorkshire | Branan, Ann Sabina born Qtr ending June 1853 | Volume 9c; Page 29 | |||
| Free BMD England Birth Index Wakefield (Possible Birth Record) | Wakefield, Yorkshire | Bramman, Catherine born Qtr ending December 1855 | Volume 9c; Page 34 | |||
| Free BMD England Birth Index Wakefield (Possible Birth Record) | Wakefield, Yorkshire | Brannan, James born Qtr ending September 1859 | Volume 9c; Page 27 | |||
| 1861 Yorkshire, England Census- Wakefield District 8 | Salt Pie Alley | Brannin, John, Head, | 48 | Roscommon, Ireland | Farm Laborer | M |
| " | " | Brannin, Mary, Wife | 37 | Roscommon, Ireland | M | |
| " | " | Brannin, Mary, Daugther | 20 | Roscommon, Ireland | Rag Sorter | U |
| " | " | Brannin, Margaret, Daughter | 14 | Roscommon, Ireland | Rag Sorter | U |
| " | " | Brannin, Martin, Son | 16 | Roscommon, Ireland | Factory Hand- Worsted | U |
| " | " | Brannin, Sabina, Daughter | 8 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | ||
| " | " | Brannin, Catherine, Daughter | 5 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | ||
| " | " | Brannin, James, Son | 2 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | ||
| 1871 Yorkshire England Census- Wakefield District 8 | Salt Pie Alley | Brannan, John, Head | 59 | Ireland | Laborer | M |
| " | " | Brannan, Mary, Wife | 47 | Ireland | M | |
| " | " | Brannan, Martin, Son | 26 | Ireland | Laborer | U |
| " | " | Brannan, Katherine, Daughter | 15 | Wakefield, England | Factory Hand | U |
| " | " | Brannan, James, Son | 12 | Wakefield, England | ||
| " | " | Brannan, Elizabeth, Daughter | 6 | Wakefield, England | ||
| " | " | Brannan, Ann, Daughter | 1 | Wakefield, England | ||
| Free BMD England Death Index- Wakefield (This could be the Death record for John but he should have been 60 or 61 based on the census records) | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Brannan, John died Qtr ending June 1873 Wakefield | 56 | Volume 9c; Page 26 | ||
| 1881 Yorkshire England Census Wakefield District 8 (Likely the same family- ages are off and where are James and Ann?) | 2 Salt Pie Alley | Brennan, Mary, Head | 55 | Roscommon, Ireland | Housekeeper | W |
| " | " | Brennan, Martin, Son | 26 | Roscommon, Ireland | Dyer's Laborer | U |
| " | " | Brennan, Elizabeth, Daughter | 16 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Mill Hand | |
| " | " | Brennan, Anne | 11 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Mill Hand Worsted | |
| 1891 Yorkshire England Census Wakefield District 9 | 9 Salt Pie Alley | Brennan, Mary, Head | 63 | Ireland | Housekeeper | W |
| " | " | Brennan, Martin, Son | 40 | Ireland | Dyer's Laborer | U |
| " | " | Brennan, Elizabeth, Daughter | 26 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Worsted Twister | U |
| " | " | Brennan, Annie, Daughter | 22 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Worsted Twister | U |
| 1901 Yorkshire England Census- Wakefield | 4 Salt Pie Alley | Brannan, Mary, Head | 76 | Ireland | W | |
| " | " | Brannan, Martin, Son | 56 | Ireland | General Laborer Worker | U |
| " | " | Brannan, Anne, Daughter | 30 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Worsted Spinner | U |
| 1911 Yorkshire, England Census Wakefield | 4 Salt Pie Alley | Brennan, Mary, Head | 84 | County Roscommon, Ireland | Housekeeper | W |
| " | " | Brennan, Martin, Son | 62 | County Roscommon, Ireland | Dyer Laborer Worsted Mill | U |
| " | " | Brennan, Ann, Daughter | 38 | Wakefield, Yorkshire, England | Worsted Spinner Worsted Mill Worker | U |