GORMAN: Wigan, Lancashire - Back to Ireland?

[BILLDORGAN]

I am trying to trace my GORMAN family back to Ireland  from Wigan, Lancashire England.

The last known GORMAN that I have information about is my GGGrandfather, MICHAEL GORMAN. He died on 6 MAR 1878 at the Wigan Workhouse, Wigan, Lancashire, England at the age of 25. This means MICHAEL GORMAN was born ±1853. But where was he born? Family Lore says Michael was born in Wigan, Lancashire, England, but there is no record of his birth in or around Wigan ± 5 years either side of 1853.

MICHAEL GORMAN married MARGARET DORAN in the last Q of 1875 at the Wigan Register. They had one child: STEPHEN GORMAN, born 20 JUN 1879. After MICHAEL GORMAN died in 1878, MARY DORAN-GORMAN married THOMAS DOYLE in 1882 at the Wigan Register. MARY DORAN-GORMAN-DOYLE died at Wigan in 1914.

Now you don't have to be a rocket scientist to figure out that if MICHAEL GORMAN died on 6 MAR 1878 and his son STEPHEN GORMAN was born on 20 JUN 1879 ... then there is 15 months between the death of the father and the birth of the son!

What perplexes me is the birthdate of STEPHEN GORMAN. I found this date: 20 JUN 1878 in his obituary, but I can't find it ANYWHERE in the official records for the Wigan area ± 5 Years either side of 1878.

QUESTIONS:

Can someone find these records:

1.  birth record of MICHAEL GORMAN ± 5 years either side of 1853.

2.  birth record of his son STEPHEN GORMAN in or around Wigan ± 5 years either side of 20 JUN 1878.

3.  Can this family be traced back to Ireland with this information?

Here is further information about STEPHEN GORMAN:

STEPHEN GORMAN
b. 20 JUN 1878 (?), Wigan, Lancashire, England
d. 30 AUG 1930, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
Married ANNIE POMFRET, DEC 1899, St. Thomas & St. James, Poolstock, Lancashire, England
b. 20 JUL 1877, Wigan, Lancashire, England
d. 18 FEB 1965, East Providence, Rhode Island

Thanks in advance!

BILL DORGAN

[suzard]

Do you have the marriage certificate of Michael Gorman/Margaret Doran?

That would give his father's name and occupation (unless, of course, he was illegit!)-this would narrow the search don.
Also witnesses sometimes hold a clue (often members of family).

Stephen Gorman must have been born before 1881, as he appears (age 2 ) with grandparents and mother on 1881 census. His maternal Grandfather was b. Ireland, and maternal Grandmother was born Ireland 1841-61 census (looks like her), then changes her p.ob.to Wigan!

Possibly Margaret went to Ireland to have Stephen?
Possibly Stephen was b. Wigan, but not registered?

One of my ancestors (b. abt the same time) was born a couple of years after his "father" had died and his birth wasn't registered -but he was baptised when he was 4 years old -naming his mother's husband as the father!

maybe to put a post requesting a baptism look up in Wigan may bring forth further information???

Suz

[BILLDORGAN]

SUZ:

EXCELLENT SUGGESTIONS! Thanks! I just broke down and ordered the marriage cert for MICHAEL GORMAN and MARGARET DORAN.

Thanks for helping me!

Bill Dorgan

[jackie ogorman]

Hi I to have the names gorman/doran in my family tree,did you ever get the marriage cert of these people my gormans father was john gorman then going back another generation a peter gorman,I know the first family of gormans lived in aharney tullamore co offaly.If anything sounds similar please get back to me.best wishes jeanie

[BILLDORGAN]

Since I last posted I have uploaded a GORMAN Website.  Please visit and sign the guestbook. You can also leave a message for me there: www.gormanfamilytree.com

Thanks,

Bill Dorgan