Hi, I have a question of registering births. I'm seeking details of a Mary Mulligan whom is a new link in my ancestry chain. Basically I have researching my gt grandfather Norman Bertram Mulligan b 1893 in Clogher. His father was John Mulligan and Mother Emily Heatherington. Basically in 1909 Norman went to New York to visit his aunty Mary Mulligan b. April 1877. Problem is I can't find a Mary Mulligan born April 1877. She is still single so I assume she is John's sister. My question is was it common to wait a few months before registering a birth in 1877?
Tuesday 7th Jan 2020, 01:00AM
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If I recall this family correctly, this is John Mulligan in 1901:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Tyrone/Aghintain/Aghintain/1726552/
And in 1911:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Tyrone/Aughnacloy_Rura…
So, going by these two censuses, he was born c 1847 - 1850. The question is how likely was he to have a sister born in April 1877? (A gap of 27 to 30 years).
According to John Mulligan’s marriage certificate in 1889, his father was Adam Mulligan. I did a search on rootsireland for children born to Adam Mulligan in Tyrone 1864 – 1890. I didn’t find any. Nor did I find Adam Mulligan’s death. That indicates he probably died before 1864 (which is when statutory registration of births and deaths started in Ireland). My guess is that if Mary Mulligan is Norman’s aunt, her age in the US records that you have found (born April 1877) is not accurate. I’d suspect she was born before 1864. And that may be why you can’t find a birth certificate for her. You would probably need to check the local Presbyterian church baptism records to verify that. (There's copies in PRONI in Belfast).
Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘
Tuesday 7th Jan 2020, 02:31AM