Holahan Brick Wall

[Pholahan]

I have been researching my family tree for over 30 years and my biggest brick wall is my great grandfather, George Richard Holahan. His father was James Holahan who was born in Ireland around 1833 and his mother was Ellen Howard who was born in Clonaslee, Queens County, Ireland around 1835. Family lore indicates that George was born in Manchester, Lancashire and I have found birth dates from 1858 to 1862 indicated in various records in the US. I have searched Freebmd.org.uk, Freereg.org.uk, and Find My Past and have not found any records related to George. I have looked at alternate spelling of the last name, again with no luck. The family emigrated to the US between 1866 and 1868. Are there any additional resources that would help me locate the birth/Baptismal records for George, or any hints to help me in my search? Any information would be much appreciated. Thank you! Peter Holahan

 

[gibbo]

Do you have a marriage for James and Ellen? I haven't been able to find a birth for George neither and wondering if he might be under Howard if his parents weren't married. Just a thought.
Just posting the below for anyone else who might want to have a search.

Name George R. Holahan
Age 87
Residence Place Brooklyn, Kings, New York
Address 319 St. John's Pl
Burial Date 2 Jan 1945
Death Date 30 Dec 1944
Death Place Brooklyn, Kings, New York, United States
Birth Date 22 Jun 1857
Birthplace England
Marital Status Widowed
Occupation Police Dept.
Race White
Father's Name James
Father's Birthplace Ireland
Mother's Name Ellen Howard
Mother's Birthplace Ireland
Spouse's Name Annie E.
Event Type DeathCertificate Number cn 50
Cemetery Holy Cross Cemetery

 

[Pholahan]

I have been unable to find a marriage certificate for James and Ellen, nor have I found and baptismal records for them. Ellen’s birthplace was noted in her obituary. I hadn’t thought of the possibility that they weren’t married, so never searched using the Howard surname. I’ll do that now, thank you!

 

[gibbo]

Have you found them on any US census?

 

[gibbo]

1880 census definitely says he was born England, im assuming that would be correct as his parents readily say they were born in Ireland so if he had been they would have said Ireland. birth approx 1858.
Have you got them on a passenger list arriving in USA?

 

[Pholahan]

I haven't found them listed on passenger lists, however the 1900 US Census states James immigrated in 1866 and Ellen in 1868. The 1930 US Census states George Immigrated in 1868. Also, US Census' from 1870 t0 1840 indicate a birth year from 1858 to 1862 and his death cert indicated his birth date as 22 Jun 1857.

 

[gibbo]

Im sorry, im just not finding a birth reg for George.

 

[gibbo]

Posting just so i don't lose it

Name George R Hoolahan
Age 26
Birth Year (Estimated) 1859
Father's Name James
Mother's Name Ellen Howard
Spouse's Name Anne Ennis
Spouse's Age 24
Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated) 1861
Spouse's Father's Name Owen
Spouse's Mother's Name Mary Doyle
Marriage Date 5 May 1885Marriage Place Kings, New York, United States
Event Type Marriage
Source Details 1544

 

[Pholahan]

I find it very frustrating that I am unable to find any record of his birth/baptism, nor of James and Ellen's marriage. I've been researching them since the 1980's, using many genealogical resources, and I keep coming up empty handed!

 

[gibbo]

It is frustrating at times. I have one i still can't find in the UK when all his Australian records states his place of birth and year of birth, yet can't find his baptism and can't even find his parents yet their information is clearly stated on his aussie records.

Has George, Ellen or James been found in the 1861 census in the UK? I had a look under the Holahan and Howard names and didn't come across any that appeared to be them.

 

[gibbo]

Probably going to confuse things with but could be another avenue to think about.

Could George R have been born under another surnname??? What if Ellen had married and had George and left. Met James and George used his surname, might explain why no marriage for James and Ellen can be found, maybe they didn't marry as she was still married.

 

[Pholahan]

Probably going to confuse things with but could be another avenue to think about.

Could George R have been born under another surnname??? What if Ellen had married and had George and left. Met James and George used his surname, might explain why no marriage for James and Ellen can be found, maybe they didn't marry as she was still married.

Those are interesting possibilities that I never considered, all of which would make it even more difficult yo solve this puzzle!

 

[gibbo]

Was George an only child? So going by ages in the 1880 uk census Ellen was aged 46 and George 11 which would make Ellen around 35 [approx] when she had him.

Do you have them in 1870 census?

 

[Pholahan]

Was George an only child? So going by ages in the 1880 uk census Ellen was aged 46 and George 11 which would make Ellen around 35 [approx] when she had him.

Do you have them in 1870 census?

I have all the US census' from 1870. The 1900 census indicates Ellen had 3 children of which 1 was living. Also, most of the census' indicate different ages for everyone. For example, the 1870 census lists both James and Ellen as 40 and George as 11, 1880 census lists James as 49, Ellen as 46, and George as 22. The 1892 NY Census lists George's age as 32. There is not an1890 US census due to most of it being destroyed in a fire. Given that both James and Ellen were illiterate, much of the information that was provided to the census takers can be considered inaccurate.

 

[Pholahan]

I'd like to freshen this thread for anyone who is new to the Forum by reposting something I posted to the British Genealogy website.
My great grandfather, George Richard Holahan, was said to have been born in Manchester around 1859 +/- 3 years. After much searching through all the records I can think of and using many sites such as Ancestry, Family Search, Find My Past, UK BMD, etc., I have been unable to find any record relating to George. His parents, James Holahan and Ellen Howard, were Irish immigrants who must have come to the Liverpool/Manchester area from Ireland before coming to the U.S. in 1866 and 1868 respectively. Is it possible that his birth or baptism (they were R.C.) was not recorded and, if so, was that a common occurrence among immigrants during that time. This is a major brickwall of mine that would open the door to many things if I could break through it.

 

[Pholahan]

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