CULLEN/COLEMAN Crumlin Dublin

[cheekysweep]

Hello, I only started tracing my family tree two weeks ago.

Completely at random, I googled "Cullen / Coleman" (the surnames of my great-grandfather and great-grandmother) and your post on the RootsChat Forum appeared.  I have now registered an account here.

I hope it's not too late to reply to your original post.  I suspect my great-grandparents and yours have a very close connection.  Cullen / Coleman / Crumlin / Liverpool / same era - the similarities are striking!

I'm new here so would appreciate any advice about how to proceed.  Do I post the details of my great-grandparents here or message you directly?

Best wishes,
cheekysweep

[aghadowey]

Welcome to Rootschat  Popsie58 who started this thread hasn't been online since 2011.

[cheekysweep]

Hi aghadowey,
I appreciate your reply.
Yea, I realise it was a bit of a long shot, but thought I'd take a chance.
I was so excited to have made a discovery!
Cheers,
cheeksweep

[popsie58]

Hi.  My Grandfather was Michael Thomas Cullen 1853 who married Margaret Jane Maulkin on  the 19th Sept. 1906.  My Mum Veronica Theresa was one of approx 12 kids.  Margaret Jane was C of E which as you can imagine did not go down well.  Mum and her sisters Lucy and Ada were sent to an orphanage
on the early death of their parents.  Let me know if you want info. and I will see if I can help.     Gerry
PS. I do have a copy of the marriage of Patrick and Kate in 1875

[cheekysweep]

Hi popsie58,
Thank you so much for you reply.

I've been busy at the library most days since I started this.  Copying Certificates & Censuses etc., trying to unravel all the names & dates surrounding the Cullens.

It looks like your grandfather Michael Thomas Cullen (b.1885?) and my grandfather John Joseph Cullen (b. 25.10.1887 in Toxteth), were first cousins.

My GGF John Cullen (b. 1854? in Ireland) and your GGF Patrick Cullen (b. 1853 in Ireland?) were brothers.

They each married sisters - John married Ellen Coleman on 13.02.1877, and Patrick married Catherine Coleman on 10.01.1875. The fathers are shown as James Cullen & William Coleman on both certificates.

John and Ellen Cullen went on to have at least 10 children.  The two eldest were born in Ireland and the others in Toxteth, Liverpool.

One of John and Ellen's children, Thomas was born in 1888.  Your GG parents Patrick and Catherine also had a son called Thomas and he too was born in 1888. (Also cousins).

I couldn't find 'my' Thomas on the 1901 census, nor was there any record of his death.  I eventually found him in a Reformatory School in Essex. (I wonder what he'd done?)  Happily, he was back home in Toxteth by the time of the 1911 Census and was working as a Coal porter.

Sadly, GGF John Cullen must have died since the 1901 Census as Ellen is shown as a widow. Also, I've just noticed that she declared "14 children born alive, 8 still living and 6 have died."

The early death of your grandparents was a tragedy, leaving all those children orphaned.  How traumatic for your mother and her sisters to be sent to an orphanage. Unbearably sad.

Do you have any information about the birth date and/or death date of my GGF John Cullen.  I only have '1854' for birth, and anytime between 1901-1911 for his death.
Also, do you know if James Cullen and Catherine Quaid had any other children (brothers and sisters to John and Patrick)?  Thanks.

If you think I might have any information you'd find useful, I'll be happy to help.

I'm hoping to take a trip to our main city library tomorrow to do a bit more research.

Cheers and best wishes,
cheekysweep