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Brick Wall! Help
My gg-grandfather, Jeremiah Horrigan (Harrigan) and immigrant from Ireland married Mary Green, also from Ireland in 1867 at St. Patrick's Church, in Toledo, OH. In 1868 they had a son, James Horrigan. They are found in the 1870 census (under the name Harricken).... that census was taken in June. Six weeks later their son James is placed in an orphanage (St. Anthony's in Toledo OH) at the age of 2. He is there for two years, until Samuel Laginess from LaSalle Michigan takes him.
We had always heard the story of my g-grandfather being orphaned on the way to America, then raised by a French family in Michigan. Well it took me 10 years of searching to discover the facts above. Now we have hit the annoying brick wall. We can't find any evidence of either Jeremiah Horrigan or Mary Green before their marriage in 1867 and we can not find any information of their deaths in 1870, that is IF they actually died then. The census in 1870 says they owned their home, we're hoping to get to Toledo to see if we can dig up any records of what happend to that house... hopefully it will provide clue. Because of my g-grandfather's circumstances he didn't use his birth name until after he was married in the 1890s and a couple of the records we do have his name looks as if it may be Harrigan and not Horrigan. I don't think he ever really new the truth about his parents.
ANYWAYS! Can anyone give me any advice as to what I can do next?
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Nora Galvin on
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Barbara, I agree with you that looking at land records in Toledo is the first step. You should also look at probate records. If they died while owning property, the property had to be disposed of some way. There might also be some information in probate records about bankruptcy or insolvency for the parents or guardianship for James (depends on whether this kind of thing is covered by probate court in Ohio). For that matter there might be something in probate records in LaSalle, Michigan, if there was a legal agreement about James being adopted or having a guardianship there (also depends on laws in Michigan).
I assume you have looked for records of the orphanage. Congratulations on what you have found so far, and good luck! -
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Permalink Reply by Susan J. Barretta on
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I saw your plea for help and it doesn't surprise me that it took 10 years to come up with what you did - I can feel your pain. I wish I had some answers and I don't, but thought I would ask...
Do you have an image of their marriage record, and if not, do you know the name of the church parish that St. Patrick's Church is in Toledo diocese.
Second, Toledo is in Lucas County, which has a rather volatile history. There was a "low bloodshed" war between the state of Ohio and the territory of Michigan over a strip of land that includes Toledo. Have you extended your search into the counties and church parishes of southern Michigan. -
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Permalink Reply by Rachel Vienneau Doherty on
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Hi there, this may come late and may not be useful to you at alll, but here goes. I'm from Dalhousie, Prov. of New Brunswick, Canada. It is located on the Bay Chaleur, across the Gaspé Peninsula...a real nice Papermill Town till the 1990;s.
On our street, Barberie St. down the hill, on the corner with Victoria St., lived a Harrigan family. Not sure where they came from but there was lots of Irish immigrants to New Brunswick, especially in the 1800's onward, in the middle of the province, and along the Miramichi River....The Harrigans have passed on leaving behind one daughter Marilyn Harrigan(probably married) don't know her whereabouts...no other Harrigans around that area at all...one son not sure if he still lives...gorgeous looking young man who got hurt in car accidents early '60's.
Good luck
Rachel
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