Hello all, thank you so much,
It would be useful if you could supply the childrens names in birth order, including the names of those who may have died as infants.
John and Catharine Curley/Corless's children in birth order are Catharine, John, James, Mary, Ellen, Richard, Fanny, Esther, Joseph, Edward and George (I haven't found any more in baptisms etc.). It seems they were quite loose about the naming pattern.
Under the parents scenario perhaps John came over with his parents earlier than the date of 1874 shortly before the birth of the first child in 1874 with Catharine Roach/Roche. In fact the couple may have married in march quarter 1871 and appear in the 1871 census in 1871. (see heywood's research) I would ponder that there may be earlier children than 1874. I would ponder that if Thomas and Bridget are the parents of John that he may have come with them to England as a small boy before the birth of Patrick or possibly that even that he was also born in England?
Finding out the relationship between Thomas and Bridget to John might yield more results initially
I have looked into the parents scenario and have found a Thomas and Bridget Curley (transcribed as Carley) born in Ireland, in the 1861 census aged 30 and 31 as visitors in Clay Lane, Derbyshire (seems to be a very Irish area) with children John (7), who was born in Ireland, Thomas (4), born in Derbyshire and Patrick (1 mo), also born in Derbyshire. (2525/90/8)
They fit everything, except that in the 1881 census heywood found, Patrick was listed as born in Oldham.
Thanks again for your time and research

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SapereAude