Hello, brand new to this site. I'm trying to find where one of my wife's ancestors came from in Ireland and who his parents were. I've seen his last name spelled Branam, Branan, Branham, etc. and it's very frustrating!
According to family legend, he came over to the United States in 1852 when he was 16 years old by stowing away, alone, on a cattle boat and lived in Northern Ireland previously.
According to his Death Certificate, he was Mathew Branan, born Sept. 29, 1837, no parents or birthplace (other than Ireland) listed. He died Jan 16, 1908 in Rush County, Indiana, United States. He was a farmer.
Although his death certificate said Branan, his tombstone says Branam, his descendents all used Branam.
At least one of his children was Presbyterian.
That's about it. I sure hope someone can help!!!
Mike
Monday 1st Apr 2013, 04:44PM
Message Board Replies
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Hi Mike,
Just to make sure I am looking for the correct Matthew Branan, was he married to Perlina Hodge and did they have a daughter Samantha who married Willie S.Hiner ?
Mallow Cork
Tuesday 2nd Apr 2013, 01:11PM -
Hello Mallow-
Yep, that's the right Mathew. I have a copy of his Marriage Certificate, even it has mistakes in the spelling. It says Matthew Brenner and Caroline J Hodges. Crazy, huh. I have a copy of his Death Certificate, censuses, everything I can find over here, but none of it mentions his parents' names. It's enough to drive you nuts, as many different spellings as there are!
Anyway, thanks for getting back to me so quick!
Mike
Tuesday 2nd Apr 2013, 02:10PM -
www.castlegarden.org has a passenger record :
Matthew BRENNAN
Age : 16
Date of arival in New York : 5 November 1851
Country of Birth : Ireland
Ship : Columbia
Port of departure: Liverpool
Occupation : farmer
Sounds like a 'maybe'
Mallow Cork
Tuesday 2nd Apr 2013, 08:07PM