Tracing the Cormick Family in County Mayo through Irish Deeds: 1700-1840

Friday, January 8, 2021

Previous research¹ "Leveraging Irish Records and Histories to Establish Potential Links between the Cormick/Cormack/Cormac Family of Erris and Tirawley to John J. Barrett and John Mannion" led to an analysis of the Cormick line based upon a finding in the Ordnance Survey Letters, County Mayo, Vol I indicating a line from Dermot Cormick through to a Major Michael Cormick of Castlehill in Mayo.² The information provides two branches descending from Dermot via a Michael and Richard Cormick. A letter from Thomas Francis Barrett provides a link from his mother, Ann Cormac (Mannion) Barrett, to Elizabeth Cormac daughter of Francis Cormac of Castlehill. It should be noted that Cormick name spelling is often interchanged as Cormick, Cormac, or Cormack such that for this analysis, Cormick will be referenced going forward.

Fig.1 - Cormick line from Ordnance Survey Letters, County Mayo, Ireland.

The letter by Thomas F. Barrett notes that Francis Cormac was the owner of an estate where he lived, Castlehill. Francis Cormac was noted to have three daughters, Elizabeth, Lettie and Maggie. Furthermore, Francis was noted to have had a younger brother who had two sons, a Major and Captain in the British Army and two daughters. The connection of the families has remained elusive.

Fig.2 - Proposed Cormick relationships from Ordnance Survey Letters, County Mayo, Ireland.

Recently the Registry of Deeds Index Project Ireland has begun compiling and indexing the deeds. The website indicates:

“The purpose of this project is to provide finding aids for the records held at the Registry of Deeds in Dublin.”

There are a few types including main index, grantors index and townland index. The website goes on to further say:

“The Registry of Deeds is a rich source of genealogical information. Marriage and other settlements are particularly informative about family relationships.”

An exploration of currently indexed records was used as an initial search to try and prove the previously proposed relationships among the Cormick clan and tie in the suggested relationships from a family letter. The search gradually expanded to try and find un-indexed grantors, and then looking through lands that may be relevant, such as Castlehill and Lahardane.

A reconstruction was undertaken to prove when possible the lines of the Cormick family through the deeds starting with the later lines and working backward.

Fig.3 - Proposed Cormick lines from prior research.

1839-1801

An entry from Vol. 11, #109, in 1839 clearly states that Anne Walsh and Elizabeth Coyne were the sisters of Michael Cormick who died intestate and unmarried on 5 Sep 1835.³ A Conveyance dated in 1837, vol. 4, #12⁴ with Ann Walsh, indicated that Michael Cormick was a Major in the North May Regiment of Militia, confirming the rank from prior research sources.

Fig.4 - Memorial No. 109 Walshe to Coyne, 1839.

In 1836, a deed naming Elizabeth Coyne is noted in Vol. 12, deed 123.⁵ A review of this deed was performed since there was reference to a sister of Michael Cormick of Castlehill married to a man named Coyne. The deed states, Elizabeth Coyne “otherwise Cormick” was living in Dublin. She had lands in County Sligo that she came into when a Michael Cormick died intestate leaving Elizabeth and Ann Walsh, wife of John Walsh, as co-heirs.

Fig.5 - Memorial No. 123, 1836.

A deed from 1835 names “Ann Walsh or Cormick”, wife of John Walsh, and "Elizabeth Coyne or Cormick” as parts to the overall transfer of lands. The entry, vol. 18, deed No. 64⁶, further mentioned the personal estate of Michael Cormick. Researching further back in the “Transcripts of memorials of deeds, conveyances and wills” on FamilySearch.org, an 1825 entry for a Michael Cormick stands out in Book 804, page 211, Memorial #542546.⁷ This entry indicates that Michael of Castlehill, Mayo was the only son and heir to Charles Cormick. The record further states that Charles was deceased and identifies Charle Cormick’s wife, as Anne.

Furthermore, the deed indicates Charles Cormick was nephew to a Michael Cormick of Mullenmore (or Mullinmore, both spellings were observed), also deceased. Charles was a devisee named in the last will and testament of Michael Cormick of Mullenmore. The record further states that Michael Cormick was nephew and heir to Bridget Dillon (Cormick) a daughter and co-heiress of the deceased Michael Cormick of Mullenmore. Bridget is noted to be deceased in the record and was married to Edward Dillon and “had issue one son”, Edward Dillon, who died in 1801.

Additionally, it is noted that Anne Foster, a Cormick, was the widow of Charles Sullivan Foster. She is stated to be another daughter and co-heiress of Michael of Mullenmore. Prior to marrying Charles Foster, Anne was the “widow and relict” of Charles Cormick and mother to Michael of Castlehill. A third daughter is identified, Mary Mahon, wife to Theobald Mahon. Together they had a son, Richard Mahon who is a party in this deed.

Michael Cormick of Mullenmore named his three daughter in his will and died Aug 1779. He also named his son-in-law, Charles, previously noted to be his nephew in his estate as executor.

Fig.6 - Memorial No. 542,546, 1825.

The memorial, #502,600, book 737 from 1819 refers to Anne, Elizabeth and Michael as siblings and their father as Charles.⁸

So from the prior research on the Cormick line, the deeds indicate Charles Cormick married Anne Cormick. Anne was the daughter of Michael Cormick of Mullinmore. Anne and Charles of Castlehill had three identified children as follows:

Michael of Castlerhill died Sep 1835 and was in the North Mayo Militia, moving from rank of Captain to Major
Anne married John Walsh who came to own Castlehill in Mayo
Elizabeth who married Edmond Coyne

Michael Cormick of Mullinmore had three daughters:

Anne who married Charles Cormick of Castlehill (she also wed Charles Sullivan Foster)
Bridget who married Edward Dillon, one issue Edward Dillon died in 1801
Mary who married Theobald Mahon, one issue Richard Mahon died 1825

It is possible that Thomas Francis Barrett’s letter might have confused the fact that Michael Cormick was a Captain and then promoted to Major, as no other brother was identified in the records.

Shifting further back to an 1801, Memorial 351581⁹ Michael Cormick was noted to be of Castle Hill, County Mayo, and eldest son and heir at law of Charles Cormick of Castle Hill, esquire, deceased. Michael’s mother was Anne Sullivan Foster. It was noted that Charles became indebted to John Keogh. The deed notes lands near Lahardane, Tubbernavine, and other areas known to Barrett, Cormick and Mannion lines were sold or rented to make up for the debt.

Fig.7 - Cormick to Keough, Memorial No. 351,581, 1801.

1799-1700

In 1783, memorial No. 235176 between Charles Cormick and John Keogh¹⁰ indicates Richard Cormick formerly of Mullinmore likely lost lands and put others in a trust as a provision for Thomas Cormick, the third son of Richard. After Richard’s death, money came to Richard’s eldest son, Michael. The memorial indicates Thomas Cormick died and Charles was his executor. Further, it is stated that Michael died without male issue, and that Charles, under the will of Richard Cormick, his grandfather, and due to the intermarriage of became entitled to the estate. Apparently the holdings were in Mayo, Roscommon and Westmeath.

It is interesting to note from the earlier research, Charles’ grandfather was reported to be Richard, and that his father was Thomas. This record references Michael and Thomas as sons of Richard and includes the “intermarriage” in how Charles inherited land. Thus, one may conclude from the available date that Richard had at least two sons, the said Thomas and Michael. Following this, Charles may be descended from Thomas and married his first cousin, Anne Cormick, daughter of Michael.

Fig.8 - Cormick to Keough, Memorial No. 235,176, 1783.

A memorial in 1775, book 307, page 549, No. 205501 Cormick to Plaistow¹¹ details conveying land to Plaistow excluding land of Patrick Barrett and either Wm. Francis or Mrs. Francis Cormick of Ely likely from Michael Cormick, but his brother Thomas is also mentioned. In 1771, book 291, page 15, No. 189070, also Cormick to Plaistow has similar exclusions.

Fig.9 - Cormick to Plaistow, Memorial No. 189,070, 1771.

In 1770, a memorial Cormick to Cormick was found, book 287, page 210, memorial No. 186567¹² that relates Cormick family of Thomas. The memorial indicates Thomas of Castle was father to Charles, eldest son, of Castlehill. Thomas provided land, payment to Charles, further more Thomas’ eldest daughter is identified as Bridget Cormick, whiles his second daughter was noted to be Letitia Cormick. A second son, Richard Cormick, is also named in the record. The memorial indicates that Thomas’ brother was Michael Cormick. The witnesses included an Edward (or Edmond) Cormick of Tobernaveen and Lewis O’Donnell of Castlehill.

A memorial from 1768, No. 170082 between a Wallace and Blake¹³ adds more to the Cormick lines identifying a Michael Cormick of Mullinmore and his father Richard. In addition, Michael appears to have set by, to and in trust for Francis Cormick, his uncle.

Francis Cormick is identified as the uncle of Michael Cormick of Mullinmore, County Mayo, while Richard Cormick is identified as Michael’s father. There is reference to land in Lahardane. It also refers that Michael Cormick be “decreed as a protestant Discoverer” to claim land.

Fig.10 - Wallace to Blake, Memorial No. 170,082, 1768.

In 1748, memorial No. 94570 between Cormick and Palmer¹⁴ discusses the marriage of Michael Cormick, late of Mullinmore, but now in Tubber, Dublin, marrying Mary Blake daughter of Xaverius Blake. Additionally, mentioned are Thomas and Francis. The long memorial then identifies Michael’s mother as Bridget Cormick and later indicates that Thomas and Francis were his brothers.

Thus we might create a line from Richard Cormick of Mullinmore who married a woman named Bridget as follows:

Michael of Mullinmore, eldest son, married Mary Blake and had three daughters previously outlined
Francis
Thomas

In addition, Richard had a brother named Francis Cormick.

A 1746 memorial, No. 83212 Lyster to Besnard¹⁵, finds both Michael and Francis Cormick party to the undertaking. Michael is listed from Mullinmore. The lands include payment from Richard Cormick of Mullinmore and his estate, known by the name of Ballykieran.

Fig.11 - Lyster to Besnard, Memorial No. 83,212, 1746.

The next indexed record is dated 1 March 1735¹⁶ and references a purchase of land by Richard Cormick. It was witnessed by a Michael Cormick, though no relationships can be discerned from the record. The lands span a few areas though the deed was made in County Mayo.

The next deed, dated 3rd day of March, 1713¹⁷ is a deed from Earle of Clanricard to Richard Cormick of Mullinmore, Mayo. The deed states for the sum consideration of sixteen hundred pounds sterling, Richard was granted lands such as the farm of Aghnanire consisting of Divers Town and more. The deed is No. 4833. There was no additional information on the Cormick family other than the reference to Richard being of Mullinmore.

A search of the currently indexed deeds for Cormick associated with County Mayo led to a No. 1708 Deed of Morgan to Cormick.¹⁸ In the deed dated 13 Dec 1708, the first reference calls out Francis Cormick of Newtown, Mayo with the designee of esquire. In addition, he is identified as the eldest son and heir of Michael Cormick of Inver, Mayo, also an esquire. Michael is noted to be deceased as of 1708. It is critical to note that the actual deed identifies Francis yet the index record improperly references a Charles Cormick, yet there is no reference to Charles within the image. On 20 June 1700 a tripartite deed was signed by Michael Cormick, suggesting he died between 1700 and 1708. The prior research has two potential Michaels, one of Castlehill who died about 1835 and is obviously ruled out. The other Michael Cormick is Michael Roe, son of a Richard. Thus, Francis may be a son not previously identified.

An earlier deed, No. 202 from 1708 between Lord Bophin and a Burke¹⁹ references a Francis Cormick and his wife Ellen. The link is that half the lands are in Mayo, the Barony of Irrus where many Cormick references have been made. There is no other reference to any Cormicks within the 1708 deed, No. 202.

Legal Cases

A legal record appears in the English Reports: House of Lords (1677-1865) Volumes 3-4²⁰ Cormick v Trapaud. The report provides further evidence of Richard Cormick having sons, Michael, Francis and Thomas. Richard died about 1737-1738 and the lands passed to Michael. Michael “on or about the 6th day of March, 1743, intermarried with Mary Blake . . .” and over time was in debt. There was exchange of money and land and Michael remained in debt to Richard Plaistow. The record indicates that in August 1779, Michael died without any male issue, during Michael’s life with his brothers Francis and Thomas also died. Francis died without issue, while Thomas “left issue one son, Charles Cormick, who entered into all the said lands; and the said Charles Cormick having died, leaving Michael Cormick his eldest son and heir at law . . “ All aligns with the deeds.

Fig.12 - Cormick v Trapaud, English Repors: House of Lords (1677-1865).

Another legal matter was published in Doe dem. MANNION and another v. Bingham.²¹ This record from 1840 discusses the estate Ardelly of one Francis Cormack. It states in 1796 that he had to lease out to Bingham for 31 years and that if yearly rent was not paid, it appears the land should revert to Francis’ heirs. Francis was noted to have died in 1803 “leaving several sons and daughters” and as of 1825 the surviving sons died without issue and”…his two sisters, the lessors of the plaintiff, became entitled to the reversion.” Bingham claims deed of conveyance executed in 1805 by the sisters, Not all the deeds are indexed and some of the research was fortuitous findings. There is likely more to pull from the grantor indexes. This research did not dig into the land or place name indices yet, but will be an avenue to continue to explore relative to the Cormick line. The most likely tree is shown and the dashed lines indicate best conclusion to date with the limited information on the line.

There are still connections to be made in the deeds and the letter from Thomas F. Barrett dated 1 Sep 1903. Thomas indicated that in approximately 1803, a Francis Cormac owned a large estate and married an Elizabeth Cormac, who had a large estate of her own. He had three daughters, Elizabeth, Lettie and Maggie and a younger brother. Thomas Barrett indicates the younger brother had two sons, a Major and Captain and two daughter, Mrs. Coyne and Mrs. Walsh. This likely represents Charles Cormick of Castlehill and his son Michael who was a Captain then Major, and his sisters Anne and Elizabeth.

Thomas Barrett identifies estates in the Baronies of Erris and Tearaly (likely Tyrawley). The estate in Tyrawley consisted of lan in Castle Hill, Lahardane, Tubbernavine, Masbrook, and Terry. The estate in Erris was land in Cetric and also Elly, possibly Binghams Castle or land around it. Thomas Barrett discusses Francis Cormac incurring debt secured through land for a period of time and dying before paying the debt to likely Charles Cormick who passed possession to his children.

The deeds have not identified a Francis, but the name Letitia in one deed may suggest that Thomas was off by a generation and some names and that the “brothers” were Charles and Richard. Additional research may further connect these names.

Fig.13 - Thomas Francis Barrett letter, 1903.

SVG Family Tree TreeCormickID

1 Barrett, Bill. "Leveraging Irish Records and Histories to Establish Potential Links between the Cormick/Cormack/Cormac Family of Erris and Tirawley to John J. Barrett and John Mannion." The Times of Their Lives (blog). Entry posted March 2015. Accessed December 23, 2020. https://thetimesoftheirlives.blogspot.com/2015/03/leveraging-irish-records-and-histories.html. ^↩
2 John O'Donovan. Ordnance Survey Letters, Mayo Vol. I and Vol. II. (1838).^↩
3 Ireland. Vol. 11, Walshe to Coyne, Deed 109, 1839. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 . https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-5TLR, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
4 Ireland. Vol. 4, Walshe to Bourke, Deed 12, 1837. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 . https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-SPDK, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
5 Ireland. Vol. 12, Coyne to Coyne, Deed 123, 1836. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-Z9Q6, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
6 Ireland. Vol. 18, Walsh to Childe, Deed 64, 1835. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-LKJR, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
7 Ireland. Vol. 804, Ellis to Castlemaine, Deed 542546, page 211, 1825. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ7-9S1V-3, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
8 Ireland. Vol. 737, Coyne to Cormick, Deed 502600, page 464, 1819. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-S4MG-R, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
9 Ireland. Vol. 531, Cormick to Keough, Deed 351581, page 400, 1801. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ4-9V44, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
10 Ireland. Vol. 349, Cormick to Keough, Deed 235176, page 421, 1783. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-S9MG-B, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
11 Ireland. Vol. 307, Cormick to Plaistow, Deed 205501, page 549, 1775. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-J9FG-N , Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
12 Ireland. Vol. 287, Cormick to Cormick, Deed 186567, page 210, 1770. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJW-4Y6B, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
13 Ireland. Vol. 268, Wallace to Blake, Deed 170082, page 296, 1768. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSNH-H7BK, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
14 Ireland. Vol. 139, Cormick to Palmer, Deed 94570, page 372, 1748. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSJ4-KSNR, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
15 Ireland. Vol. 120, Lyster to Bernard, Deed 83212, page 445, 1746. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-SSZ4-2, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
16 Ireland. Vol. 81, Browne to Cormick, Deed 58507, page 505, 1735. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHS-G982-D, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
17 Ireland. Vol. 11, Earle of Clanricard to Cormick, Deed 4833, page 399, 1713. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSH3-M9TC-F, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
18 Ireland. Vol. 1, Morgan to Cormick, Deed 220, page 364, 1708. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHX-X912-B, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
19 Ireland. Vol. 1, Lord Bophin to Burke, Deed 202, page 314, 1708. Memorial Deeds, Conveyances and Wills. Registry of Deeds, Henrietta Street, Dublin, Ireland. FHL microfilm, 008093792 .https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CSHX-X915-4, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah.^↩
20 The English Reports: House of Lords (1677-1865). United Kingdom: W. Green, 1901.^↩
21 Irish Law Reports: Particularly of Points of Practice, Argued and Determined in the Courts of Queen's Bench, Common Pleas, and Exchequer, in Ireland .... Ireland: Printed and published for Robert Carrick, 1841.^↩
© William C. Barrett 2020

The Identification of the Parents for John J. Barrett and AdditionalSiblings – the Power of Collateral Searching and a Bit of Luck

Saturday, March 14, 2015

Posted by Bill Barrett

The identification of a townland in Irish research is critical to determining what records exist for the area as well as using the land records from Griffith's Valuation or the Tithe Applotment. When luck enough to have stories or old letters, research into the claims made through records and historical articles can piece together families in the absence of census records. The evidence may represent a reasonable conclusion since unfortunately so many records have been lost over the year.

An earlier attempt was made to establish the lineage of John J. Barrett and/or Anne Cormac Mannion. An old family “letter” provided some names with large gaps in the history. The letter led to research in various old books such as Mac Furbis', The genealogies, tribes, and customs of Hy-Fiachrach, commonly called O'Dowda's country, to records such as the Ordnance Survey Letters of County Mayo, and then early land record notations from historical articles found through JSTOR. The information allowed for a potential lineage to be drawn for the Cormac (Cormick/Cormack is often used) family with additional evidence compiled from the Tithe Applotment and Griffith’s Valuation.

Research did not however result in any reasonable evidence for John J. Barrett's parents or lineage. Obituaries for both John J. Barrett and Anne Cormac Mannion Barrett indicated that they and all but one child, Michael, immigrated from County Mayo, Ireland in the early 1870s¹,². Furthermore, John J. was apparently born in Ballycastle, Mayo while Anne was born in Castlehill, Mayo. The current information allowed for the creation of the following Barrett tree (spouses for the children are included):

Descendants of John J. Barrett and Anne Cormac Mannion

The Petition for naturalization for Charles J. Barrett, was located, having been filed 21 May 1889. Charles stated provided his date of entry or arrival into New York as 24 April 1871.

Petition for Naturalization of Charles J. Barrett

A search of immigration records online resulted in no records for that date. However, broadening the search dates resulted in a record for a Chas Barrett arriving 31 March 1871 to New York on the S.S. Erin³.

S.S. Erin Manifest for 31 March 1871 into New York.

The record shows a Barrett family with Ann, Thos., Chas, Maria and Edwd. arriving from England. John J. Barrett, his son John E. and daughter Catharine were not found in the records.

Possible record for Barrett family immigrating to the United States on S.S. Erin: Ann, Thos., Maria, Chas., Edwd Barrett.

The heading “the country to which they severally belong” indicates England which aligns with a biographical sketch for John E. Barrett⁴ suggesting that the Barrett family left Ireland for England before leaving for the United States.

The 1900 U.S. census record for Catharine⁵ indicated she potentially married in Ireland and immigrated to the U.S. after her husband, Martin Burke, in 1875. Michael, the only son to not have immigrated to the U.S. lived in England according to the obituary of John J. Barrett. The immigration ship list for John J. and his son John E. have not been found, however naturalization records for John E. Barrett indicate that he immigrated in March 1871. The ship list has not been located for John E. Barrett.

As previously mentioned, the obituary for John J. Barrett identified his siblings, Edward in St. Louis and Thomas G. a doctor in the Scranton area. There was no mention of John J.'s parents. A search for records associated with Thomas G. identified his wife and children through U.S. Census records⁶,⁷ and a notice of his death⁸, with little historical information to elucidate the parents of Thomas G. and John J.

The path for identifying the parents of John J. Barrett and his siblings was running cold. A collateral search was started yet again, looking first to John J. Barrett's children, specifically, his daughter Catharine, who married Martin Burke and appeared to stay in Ireland or England until 1875 as noted previously. Thus, a search was undertaken to try and find any records in Ireland for John J. Barrett's daughter, Catherine (Barrett) Burke. A bit of luck shined during a Google search for Catherine Burke Barrett. A biography for Thomas G. Barrett, MD in “Portrait and Biographical Record of Lackawanna County”, was discovered in a free digitized book⁹. It was determined that this Thomas G. Barrett was the brother of John J. Barrett, and within the entry, the names of John J. and Thomas G.'s parents were listed, a Professor Michael Barrett and Catherine (Burke) Barrett.

This was not the Catharine of the intended search but paying attention to collateral lines was critical to at least stop on the search result and review the record. The biographical sketch list the parents and identifies his brother John by name, location and occupation. In addition, the information indicates two brothers, the previously identified Edward in St. Louis, and a fourth brother, Dominick who was noted to have died in Illinois and was a teacher.

Included is a wealth information about Thomas G.’s life in the British Army and that there were eleven children of Michael Barrett and Catherine Burke, seven of whom were no longer living. Further information from the sketch noted that in addition to the immigration of John J., Thomas G., Edward (of St. Louis) and Dominick, both Professor Michael Barrett and his wife, Catherine immigrated to the United States, settling in the mid-west. The biography indicated Catherine died and was buried in Jacksonville, Illinois, while Michael lived a long life before dying in St. Louis.

It is often said regarding genealogical research to ensure time is spent on collateral lines. In this instance, while attempting to focus on a sibling of the the ancestor of focus, luck played a part in the identification of a different Catherine (Burke) Barrett, turning out to be my 4great-grandmother married to Professor Michael Barrett. They resided in Mayo until their immigration with much of the family.

Employing a well known technique in genealogical research combined with some additional luck resulted in the identification of the parents for John J. Barrett, Professor Michael Barrett and Catharine (Burke) Barrett, adding an additional branch to the Barrett Family tree:

1The Scranton Republican (Scranton, Pennsylvania) · Thu, Apr 27, 1899 · Page 10 http://www.newspapers.com/clip/248907/the_scranton_republican_27_april_1899

2 The Scranton Republican (Scranton, Pennsylvania) · Tue, Dec 26, 1893 · Page 8 http://www.newspapers.com/clip/248943/the_scranton_republican_26_dec_1893The Scranton

3Year: 1871; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 340; Line: 3; List Number: 241 Ancestry.com. New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

4Derby, George, and James T. White. "The National Cyclopedia of American Biography ... V.1-." Google Books. J. T. White, 2 Feb. 2009. Web. 14 Mar. 2015. <https://books.google.com/books?id=q-c-AAAAYAAJ&pg=PA93&lpg=PA93&dq=John%2BErigena%2BBarrett%2BNational%2Bcyclopaedia%2Bof%2Bamerican%2Bbiography&source=bl&ots=CHKt-Idqlm&sig=Ip_5PXfvRL0mwyzWrc9DsjOu82s&hl=en&sa=X&ei=eVAEVf7YEIvFgwSWjYCABQ&ved=0CCEQ6AEwAQ#v=onepage&q&f=false>.

5Year: 1900; Census Place: Pittston, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1433; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 0110; FHL microfilm: 1241433. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

6Year: 1900; Census Place: Hughestown, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1432; Page: 6B; Enumeration District: 0071; FHL microfilm: 1241432

7Year: 1880; Census Place: Hughestown, Luzerne, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1150; Family History Film: 1255150; Page: 289A; Enumeration District: 139; Image: 0585

8Pittston Gazette, (Pittston, Pennsylvania), 26 Apr 1904, Tue • Page 3

9Chapman Publishing Co. Portrait and Biographical Record of Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania. New York, NY: Chapman Publishing Company, 1897. Original from the University of Wisconsin - Madison. DigitizedFeb 10, 2012

Analyzing Photos and Images for Clues

Thursday, December 18, 2014

Posted by Bill Barrett

Which Brothers Do You See?

An Analysis of Photo Identities Using Additional Resources

The thrill of finding an ancestor's photo, painting, or image is something all genealogists appreciate. The ability to finally put a face to the names and dates and more importantly to the life story is one where you truly see your ancestor in a different way.

Yet, we all have the the inevitable issue that not all our ancestor's were thoughtful enough to place names and dates on the backs of photos. Recently, cousin Lara Beth shared 4 photos discovered in great-great grandmother Mary (nee Aldrich) Barrett's home after she passed away.

Mary was born Sophia Aldrich approximately May 1859 in Dayton, Cattaraugus, New York¹ to Luther Tisdale Aldrich and Christiann Howell. She had four brothers, Loren, Lumen (or Lurman), Byron and Martin and the photos were only numbered 1-4 and originally attributed to her brothers, using an estimate of the apparent ages of each man in the photo.

The Four Photos thought to be the Aldrich Brothers.

Sophia (Mary) Aldrich changed her name to Mary when she married Thomas Francis Barrett about 1879 in Bradford, McKean, Pennsylvania². After spending time in the Bradford, McKean, PA followed by time in Bolivar, Allegany, NY the family then settled in the Scranton area. The rest of Thomas Francis' family had settled in the Scranton, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston area of Pennsylvania after immigrating from Ireland.

Thomas Francis Barrett was born to John J. Barrett and Anne Cormac Mannion in County Mayo, Ireland about June 1852³,⁴,⁵. John J. and Anne had 5 sons, Michael, John Erigena, Thomas Francis, Charles J., and Edward M. (the M is thought to stand for Mannion). All but Michael immigrated to the United States while it is believed Michael immigrated to England⁶,⁷.

Recently, during some re-organization of family research and information, something we are all familiar with doing, I came across some newspaper images of Thomas Francis' brothers, John E. and Edward M. Barrett. John E. Barrett was the editor of The Scranton Truth and a prominent citizen in Scranton, while Edward M. Barrett became an Alderman for the city of Pittston. The newspaper images created one of those moments where you begin to think the mind is playing tricks and you say, "I know I have seen that face before."

I took the newspaper images and began to review the four photos originally attributed to the Aldrich brothers. The two newspaper images for Edward M. Barrett were compared to the middle image (one of the four photos) leading to a first guess that the original photos might not be the Aldrich brothers, but actually, four of the five Barrett brothers.

Image of Alderman
Edward M. Barrett from
The Scranton Republican
June 30, 1919, Page 5

Comparison of One Photo to Two Newspaper Images of Edward M. Barrett

Image of Edward M. Barrett
from Piston Gazette, March 17, 1913 compared to original photo

A separate newspaper image of John E. Barrett was then examined relative to another of the four original photos:

Comparison of John E. Barrett Newspaper Image to One of Original Four Photos

Image of John E. Barrett from

The Scranton Republican

April 28, 1934, Page 16

One of the original
four photos

I shared my thoughts with both cousin Lara Beth and cousin Marilyn. As cousin Marilyn indicated, they are "wearing the same style of clothing". I then received what I thought was a much more critical analysis from my son in regards to the John E. Barrett comparison, "They’re both chubby, they have a mustache and the hair goes the same way." No need for fancy software or facial recognition from his point of view. However as Marilyn and my son pointed out, using style of clothes, hair and unique features is the start of identifying particulars of photos. In this instance, the comparison is quite accurate which lead us to believe we are looking at John E. Barrett and the other is of Edward M. Barrett. The potential conclusion is that the images are likely the Barrett brothers from County Mayo, Ireland.

We were now left with two unidentified images from the original four. Unfortunately, no image of Thomas Francis Barrett in a newspaper or other journal has been found. A sketch of Dr. Charles J. Barrett was located in a newspaper and the three images are compared below:

Comparison of Dr. Charles J. Barrett to Two Unidentified Original Photos

Image from The Scranton Truth
January 18, 1905, Page 8

It is thought that Thomas Francis was older than Charles J. Barrett from multiple census records, but only Charles was found to have a baptismal record from Ireland in 1858⁸.

Therefore it is inconclusive at the moment to which photo might represent Charles and which is Thomas. A clue might be the groomed mustache of the man in the photo on the right similar to the mustache in the sketch of Charles J. Barrett, but it is difficult to conclude much more.

One additional clue that gives further evidence to the identification that these are the Barrett brothers comes from information on the back of each image, in which it identifies Henry Frey as the photographer with an address in Scranton, PA. Henry Frey was located in City Directories⁹ to have a photographic studio in Scranton where John E. Barrett and Thomas F. Barrett resided, the other brothers were in nearby Pittston. The Aldrich brothers lived in the Cattaraugus County area of New York state and no evidence has been found indicating they visited or lived in Scranton.

There is an image number on the back of at least one photo, thus if any original material survives from the Henry Frey studio, perhaps associated identification information could be found.

The continued improvement in software perhaps to utilize facial recognition from the newspapers to the photos would provide greater impartiality to the photo identification process. In addition as newspapers continued to be digitized, perhaps additional images of Thomas F. and Charles J. will become available to aid in identifying the remaining images.

Thus, the current evidence allows my first glance at two photos, one of which is likely my great-great grandfather, Thomas Francis Barrett, an immigrant from County Mayo, Ireland and the feeling of that connection is something all genealogists remember.

Note: Kind thanks to Lara Beth Woelkers for sharing the photographs and humoring a cousin's constant questions about the photos.

1Ancestry.com, New York, State Census, 1875 (Provo, Utah, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013)

2Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006), Year: 1910; Census Place: Scranton Ward 20, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1360; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0132; FHL microfilm: 1375373

3Ancestry.com, 1910 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2006), Year: 1910; Census Place: Scranton Ward 20, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1360; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0132; FHL microfilm: 1375373

4Ancestry.com, 1900 United States Federal Census (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2004), Year: 1900; Census Place: Scranton Ward 20, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; Roll: T623_31077_4115108; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0113; FHL microfilm: 1241422

5Ancestry.com, 1880 United Statess Federal Censys (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations Inc., 2010), Year: 1880; Census Place: Bradford, McKean, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1154; Page: 10A; Enumeration District: 0132; FHL microfilm: 1255154; Page 177C; Enumeration District: 082; Image: 0063.

6The Pittston Gazette (Pittston, Pennsylvania) Friday, April 28, 1899, Page 3.

7The Scranton Republican at Newspapers.com, The Scranton Republican (Scranton, Pennsylvania) Thursday, April 27, 1899, Page 10.

8Ancestry.com, Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1912 (Provo, UT, USA, Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014).

9Scranton, Pennsylvania, City Directory, 1901, Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

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