History of O'Carrigan ~ the First generation
Research has shown that our family name was Carrigan, with no O' prefix. English census records show Patrick in 1871as a railway porter living in Durham with the O'Neil** family (Relatives?) and with his wife Sarah Jane as Carrigan in 1881, 1891 and 1901.
The Irish Census of 1911 shows them as O'Carrigan.
They are also buried as Carrigan in Lavey Parish near Bellaghy, Sarah Jane's birth town and also the town where Patricks forebears lie.
**How did they come to be in this area?
Patrick (no middle name**) was born 22April1841 in Waterford** and in 1875** had married Sarah Jane Docherty, born 1852** Bellaghy Co.Derry. Their first child, Catherine (or Kathleen**) was born in Ireland in 1877** Patrick and family had emigrated to England to find work on the North Eastern Railway and worked hard to become a station master of Felling by 1881. Living at Brandon and Shybottles, County Durham they had 9 more surviving children and one had deceased** (see 1911 Irish Census)
Corrigan, Kerrigan and Carrigan are a common derivation of CARRAIGAN, Irish for a"small rock".
In Irish the "gh" is pronounced more "k" so you would hear it pronounced as "carricken"
The prefix "O'" means "descendant of" and was commonly dropped to anglicise an irish name.
Very few families added an O' to appear more Irish, especially during the troublesome years in the early 1900's.
CARRAIG , or "big rock" as in Carrick-a-Rede, the well known rope bridge out to a big rock near Ballintoy in the north of Ireland and the name of a local hotel that was run by Patrick and Sarah Jane and their 10 children, the original O'Carrigans between 1908 and 1927**
Carrigan Family in Durham England c 1905**
Standing at Rear... William Leo b1890; priesthood**
Patrick b1881** emigrated to australia pre July 1927..d 14 Dec 1959
Charles ** b 1885 d Newcastle UK 18 Feb 1961
Sarah Jane..b 1852** d 1 Aug 1924.. buried Lavey Parish Church Bellaghy (see photo below)
David Antony (Tony) twin to Henry b 1889**
Seated in Middle... John b 1879**
Catherine (Kathleen) b1877
Mary E (Maureen) b 1883**
Seated in Front Row Rosetta b 1896 d 1998** (nun)
Henry (J or I**) twin b.1889
Joseph b 1893**
where is Dad Patrick??
Patrick retired from the North eastern Railway 1 April 1908 on a pension of GBP123/10s, a considerable sum in those days, when the average wage was about one pound per week.
The family had retired to lands nearer their birthplace and families, and were proud of their Irish nationalism and catholicism.
Corrigan, Kerrigan and Carrigan are a common derivation of CARRAIGAN, Irish for a"small rock". In Irish the "gh" is pronounced more "k" so you would hear it pronounced as "carricken" The prefix "O'" means "descendant of" and was commonly dropped to anglicise an irish name. Very few families added an O' to appear more Irish, especially during the troublesome years in the early 1900's.
CARRAIG , or "big rock" as in Carrick-a-Rede, the well known rope bridge out to a big rock near Ballintoy in the north of Ireland and the name of a local hotel that was run by Patrick, in his retirement, and Sarah Jane and some of their 10 children, the original O'Carrigans, between 1908 and 1927**
The Coleraine Chronicle, issue 7th, 14th and 21st August 1909 relate a story of the uproar caused in English Parliament over a licence to operate a post office from a premises licensed to sell alcohol and owned by a catholic! The lengthy article casts a little light on the political, religious and social tensions of the time.
Patrick and Sarah Jane are buried at the cemetry opposite Lavey Paris Church near Bellaghy Ireland.
Below them are Patricks parents...Patrick b1783** d 27 Nov 1875 aged 92; Catherine b.1804** d. 25 July 1868 aged 64
Also Patricks older brother Michael b.1840 d. 16 may 1869 aged 29
The cemetry is extremely well maintained by the parishioners. Please see http://www.laveyparish.com
In a nearby plot lies a Michael Carricken b1754** d.5 Sept 1808 aged 54? Research may show this to be Patricks forebear.
The above school is in a district called Carrigan, County Cavan. Did we have family here?**
The oil painting is by JoCarrigan or does it read JOCarrigan?**