Family:John Coughlan and Margaret Murtagh (1)

The 1901 Burnley Census finds John and Margaret, with John 5, Francis 3 and Herbert 1, at 6 Adelphi Street, a home with four rooms. John Sr. is employed as a brewer, his age given as 31.

Finding them in the 1911 Census was altogether more exciting: they were not in Burnley, but settled in Clonakilty, Urban Cork, Ireland! And they were running a public house with eleven rooms, eight windows on the front elevation, and two outbuildings! This address was 19 George Street, Clonakilty.

Margaret's age is given as 43, and her birth year 1868, though she was actually born in May 1864!! John Senior's age is given as 41, and birth year 1870, consistent with the previous census, and his birthplace Cork. He is now a 'Licensed Victualler' and the census also reveals that he can speak Irish as well as English.

The Parish is Kilgarriffe and the Barony Carbery.

Three children were present on the census night (2 Apr 1911): John 15, Francis 13, and Thomas 8, all scholars; five children had been born to Margaret, and four were alive. So, where was Herbert?

Herbert turned out to be at the home of his uncle Daniel Coghlan, a single man whose age is given as 50, birth year 1861. Also there on April 2nd were his widowed sister Bridget Sullivan, born in 1873, and his single sister Nora Coghlan also born in 1873. All three were born in Cork. This address was at Mountain Common, Ardfield, Cork.

The family remained, and died, in Cork - see below, the photo of the memorial to them all.

1. ↑ Lancashire OnLine Parish Clerk Project.

   OPC-Marriage: 23 Apr 1895 St Mary of the Assumption, Burnley, Lancashire, England
   Joannem Coughlan -
   Margaritam Murtagh -
   Groom's Father: Joannis Coughlan
   Bride's Father: Hugonis Murtagh
   Witness: Jacobus Biggins; Margarita Gormley
   Married by: Michael Buckley
   Register: Marriages 1874 - 1905, Page 299
   Source: Original Parish Register