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My husband's 3x great grandmother was believed to be born in County Cork around 1843.  Here are her details:

Honora "Nora" Horgan

1843–1929

BIRTH 1843 • County Cork, Ireland

DEATH 24 OCT 1929 • York, Ontario, Canada

Honora married Henry Harrison, likely in England.  Henry was in the military and he and Nora spent time stationed at the Curragh Camp in County Kildare. Thanks to a response to my post in the Kildare message board, I now have a few records that indicate Nora's maiden name was  "Horgan", her marriage records and the birth record of her daughter Margaret in England.  I'm in the process of following up with those hints.   I've found DNA matches with Ancesters in Cork with that surname as well which is encouraging.  The clues, including family stories, all seem to point to Cork as her place of birth.  

Nora's death certificate in Canada states that her parents were "Cornelius Horrigan" and "Nora Callaghan", Nora likely short for Honora.  In my research with trees for DNA matches in this family group there appears to be several "Horgans"  marrying into "Callaghan" families in Cork.  Helpful indicator that these families were known to each other but not helpful trying to identify who belongs to whom!  In records from Cork, some birth records appear to be in Latin and the names are modified as such, and the handwriting is terrible, which is complicating matters.  I found one record for a "Demitri Horgan" and "Margaret Callaghan" (the record has the mother's name transcribed a lttle differently than the original.  The record says McAuliff but the original looks like Callaghan).  Not sure about all of the ways in which they ascribed Latin spellings to Irish names. 

It would also be great to find a marriage record between Nora's parents Cornelius and Nora, I remain hopeful but skeptical.

I also find it interesting that she married in England.  I assume she may have emigrated to England to find work and met her husband Henry there, who was a British soldier.  I tried to find travel records to no avail.  I am looking to find military records to see if I can obtain more info about the family.

I would appreciate any assitance in finding a record for Nora's birth or some info about naming conventions to help in my own search.  I feel so close but yet so far...
 

Karen Mc16

Monday 20th Jul 2020, 03:59PM

Message Board Replies

  • Karen:

    Welcome to Ireland Reaching Out!

    On the subscription site Roots Ireland I located a marriage record for a Cornelius Horgan and a Mary Callaghan in Coachford in 1839 See below. I know the wife is Mary and not Honora or Nora but I thought I would share the record.

    This couple had at least five children Ellen 1839 John 1842 Mary 1847 Patrick 1851 Timothy 1855 Here is a link https://registers.nli.ie/parishes/0002  where you can scan the parish register to see if the record for Honora was missed in the transcription process.

    Let me know if you have questions.

    Roger McDonnell

    Date of Marriage:12-Feb-1839
    Parish / District:COACHFORD
    County:Co. Cork
    Husband  CorneliusHorgan
    Wife   MaryCallaghan

    Witness 1
    Witness 2Name:TimothyCallaghan
    MargaretMurphy
     

    Castlemore Roscommon, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘

    Monday 20th Jul 2020, 05:13PM

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