COMER/HIGGINS - County Galway

[Lark]

I am trying to find information in Count Galway regarding Michael Comer, born ca 1828 in County Gallway.  Married Mary Ann Higgins, probably in Ireland, about 1853 and relocated to Sheffield, Yorkshire, England shortly thereafter.  He first appears in Sheffield on the 1861 census and at that time has a 7 year old son who was born in Sheffield.  His occupation was listed as bricklayer

Based on the census records he may have gone to Yorkshire with a John and Ellen Comer who also appear in Sheffield at about the same time.

-Carol-

[Christopher]

Hello Carol,

There are three items you require when searching for Irish ancestors.

1. Denomination.
2. Parish
3. Townland. 

You'll have to rely on Church records as civil registration in Ireland was not introduced until 1864. Non Catholic marriages were registered from 1845 onwards. When registration for BDMS started in 1864 some people didn't bother with the registration for a few years after that date. Keep your fingers crossed that church records still exist.

There were Comer and Higgins families in the same Galway parish when Griffith's Valuations took place in the county in 1855. The Valuations are on John Hayes failteromhat.com website. 

Christopher 

[sjc204]

Hi Carol,

Your story is very interesting, but it could be coincidence. 

I am looking for Michael Comer born around 1864 in Co Galway.  He relocated to Sheffield, Yorkshire where he married in 1895.  He was a bricklayer's labourer at one point.

I am fairly sure from family tradition that his parents were John and Ellen Comer.  I don't know if they ever went to Sheffield.

Keen to share info if you are still working on this.


PS I've looked for your Michael Comer in Sheffield in 1861 but I can't find him - can you supply details?  There only seems to be a James Comer.

Steve

[Gibbo7000]

Fascinating.

John and Ellen Comer were my great grandparents.

Michael was their third son born in 1864 and was a bricklayers labourer. He married Margaret Raftery in 1895 and both are buried in Sheffield (I have all references if needed. They had a number of children in Sheffield, Stephen 1897, John ?, Nora 1902, Mary 1901, Thomas 1901, Catherine 1910. His wife Margaret died in Sheffield in 1911 and Michael remarried Ann and they had a son * in 1923. Hope this is of use.

I have most details on John and Ellen Comers family but havent anything further back. Love to find out.

Moderator's Comment: name of possible living person removed in accordance with Rootschat policy

[alpinecottage]

Dear Steve and Gibbo

I too have Comer blood in my veins, my grandfather was James Comer born about 1882 and "from Galway".  According to his wedding certificate, his father was James Comer deceased by 1914 and a farmer.  As far as I know there was no Sheffield connection but I've posted for two reasons.  Firstly, Carol "Lark" hasn't been online since 2008, so is perhaps unlikely to see these posts.  Secondly, there are a few Comer families in Galway all using the same first names and I've made no progress in sorting out which were "mine", but circumstancial evidence suggests they may have been from Glenamaddy, which is in the NE corner of Co Galway.

The website Irish-roots seems to be under active development at the moment so I'm hoping more info will emerge fairly soon.  I'll keep an eye on this thread...who knows what may turn up.

[Gibbo7000]

I see there is a James Comer listed in the 1911 census in Raheen, Co. Galway. Not sure if this is of use. Bridget is listed as the head of family so may not be right.

[alpinecottage]

Thank you for looking - this is the James who may be mine.  In 1901 he was not in Ireland and I may have found him with his brother in Stoke on Trent.  I know he did do some toing and froing as he went back to Galway during WWI, even though he was married then with a child, and came back to Manchester about 1919 after which my mother was born.  His age given on different documents doesn't quite tie up - a year out here and there and I can't identify his birth registration for sure.  It's tantalising because I feel I need just one more bit of info to tie him down.  I never knew him and both my mother and her brother are long dead, so there's no one to ask.  However, I remain optimistic because in the last 12 months, I've made good progress on my grandmother's side, finding relatives I never knew I had and getting copies of photos I'd never seen before, including one of James Comer.

It only takes someone to read this thread, then....who knows?

[Gibbo7000]

Well good luck with the search. If I come across anything Ill let you know.

[alpinecottage]

Thank you