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To the reader:

I will try to keep this brief.  For as long as I have been working on my family genealogy, gathering and reviewing the few documents I have located, and hearing even fewer stories of my paternal grandfather, what very likely is the scientific proof, is nothing but shocking.  

The John Gorman who married my grandmother, Marguerite Harrington, in January, 1930, was not the person he put down on paper.  His marriage certificate application in the State of Connecticut, named his parents as John Gorman and Margaret Dunne, living in Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland.  He claimed a birth year of 1897 and or 1899.  

As many of you too have experience, it's in the DNA.  It is highly probable that 'my' John Gorman is in fact the son of John Gorman and Eliza Jane Webster, born in 1904 in Manchester, England.  This John Gorman was born in 1875, in Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland to Philip Gorman and Mary Fogarty.  John moved to England whereas he met and married Eliza, born in England in 1881.  Her parents were Edward Webster born in Ireland in 1854 and Elizabeth Rath also born in Ireland in1851.  

My John 1904 is included on the 1911 England census along with his younger brothers Philp and Edward.  After 1911, the family was joined by Joseph and Mary Patricia.  After that census, I can find nothing.  The one and only story about John 1904, is that he got on a ship and they never heard from him again.    

We know he came to the US sometime before 1930.  It is very possible he came and went on many occasions.  My father and his immediate family last saw him in 1942.  Obviously the man was willing to change the details of his existance but why?  In my opinion, one of the most interesting documents I have located about John 1904, is his US WWII draft card he states his birthdate to be October 5, 1897, five years older than he really was.  The card provides some physical characteristics of a person and his describes scars on his face and two bullet wounds, healed of course.  

How did he come to know that there was a John Gorman who married a Margaret Dunne?  Is he on the England or Ireland 1921 census and where?  I have not been able to bring together that John with the Gr-Grandfather John married to Eliza.  Were they cousins?  Did John 1904 go from England to family in Ireland and if so, when?  

One step forward, how many back?  If anyone has suggestions on the best way or anyway to sort out this web of deceit, I welcome your thoughts.  

Best regards,

Colleen O'Gorman

gaelicgirl131

Friday 11th Feb 2022, 09:57PM

Message Board Replies

  • https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q5MN-1156

    Is this your family? Without more details it is hard to match as you do not mention where in the us or your fathers name etc

    Eileen

    Saturday 12th Feb 2022, 12:22AM

  • Eileen,

    My apologies.  Yes.  John Gorman 1904 is my grandfather, my father's father.  My father is deceased.  His brother, my Uncle Gerald O'Gorman, took the DNA test that has helped find the match that led to John 1904.  

    If you can help me, I will be forever grateful.  

    Thank you so much,

    Colleen O'Gorman

    gaelicgirl131

    Saturday 12th Feb 2022, 01:14AM

  • Hi Coleen,

    It maybe that he was reared by a different family, the fact that they were both in Thurles.  Consider that his father John Gorman may have married twice and having been reared with the stepmother assumed she was his mother, particularly if his mother died when he was a baby.  It may not be a web of deceit but of not knowing, families often did not discuss their histories, but the neighbours alway knew!!  I had that issue with a grandaunt Catherine in 1901 census she was married to Andrew with 2 children, I could never find the children's birth certs, I had her will where she left all to her possessions to her sister, that puzzled me & then I went to find their graves, I never found hers but I found his buried alongside his first wife, then it all fell into place...

    Given his wounds etc. it appears to me that this man suffered and did all he could to survive.  

    There is no 1921 Ireland Census the UK one has just been issued on findmypast.  The next one is 1926 to be released in January 1927.  

    Regards Carmel O'Callaghan

    Bailieborough Cavan

    Friday 18th Feb 2022, 02:39PM

  • Any help from Ireland Reaching Out participants is very much appreciated.

    Colleen

    gaelicgirl131

    Wednesday 10th Aug 2022, 03:57PM

  • Hi Colleen, I think my grandfather is John's brother. My mother just saw your post.

    Her dad was Eddie Gorman, brothers, Jack , Phillip Joe and sister Mary. Eddie told my mum that Jack ran away to sea when he was 14.

    I have a photo of the 4 brothers when they were little.

    Regards

    Raquel

    Saturday 29th Jul 2023, 08:28PM

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