Rose was first identified in the probate records of her son, Michael Sullivan, who died in Chicago on January 15, 1915. In those records, it lists his mother as Rose, with no maiden name, and that she had predeceased him. However, there are three other separate documents which provide clues to her maiden name, albeit, three different last names.
On her son Philip Sullivan's death certificate it lists his mother's maiden name as McCabe. Philip died on May 26, 1915.
On her son Michael Sullivan's death certificate #17076 in 1915, it states that his mother's maiden name was Rose Corcoran, born in Ireland.
In Chicago Irish Families, 1875-1925, there is a quote from two newspapers relating a story on Michael Sullivan, real estate owner and at one time Alderman of the old 15th ward. It states "he was born in Co. Cavan in 1829, one of thirteen children of Patrick and Rose Sullivan, nee Leddy." May 28, 1904 Source: The New World and The Chicago Citizen.
So, which one was her maiden name?
Fortunately, much of the 1821 Irish Census still exists for County Cavan. Knowing Rose's husband Patrick Soraghan was from the Civil Parish of Denn and armed with three last names, I went through the entire census looking for a Rose, last name either McCabe, Leddy or Corcoran, of an appropriate age to marry Patrick c 1827-1828. The estimate marriage date is based on the birth year of their oldest child.
There turned out to be very few Roses, and only one which met the age criteria: Rose Corcoran. A Rose Corcoran was located in Drumbarry, Civil Parish of Denn, age 16 in 1921. That would make her about 22 or 23 when she married in 1827-28.
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| 1821 Irish Census, Drumbarry, Denn, County Cavan, page 33. |
On the 1821 Irish Census, it lists the Corcorans living on parcel number 16 in the Townland of Drumbarry. The household includes:
Michael Corcoran, age 60, farmer
Ann Corcoran, wife, age 50
Michael Corcoran, son, age 20, weaver
Rose Corcoran, daughter, age 16, flax spinner (giving her a birth year of c 1804 or 1805)
Mary Corcoran, daughter, age 10
Anne Corcoran, daughter, age 7
Bridget Corcoran, daughter, age 2
John Corcoran, son, age 2
The Griffith's Valuation for County Cavan was completed in June 25, 1857. The page for the townland of Drumbarry, Civil Parish of Denn lists a Thomas and a Michael Corcoran in parcel 15. It is believed that Michael Corcoran is the same Michael as listed as the son, age 20 in the 1821 Irish Census, therefore, most likely the brother of Rose Corcoran Soraghan.
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| Griffith's Valuation, Drumbarry, Denn Parish, Co. Cavan |
In another post on this blog, Rose Soraghan's death registration is provided. She is reported as being 70 years old at the time of death, giving her a birth year of c1804. This ties out with the Rose Corcoran in the 1821 Irish Census. Also, on the death registration, it shows the person who reported her death in 1874 as Michael McEvoy. It is curious that a James McEvoy and later a John McEvoy were the owners of the same parcel 15 in Drumbarry. How the McEvoys are related, if at all, is not known.
Given the evidence, i.e., Michael Sullivan's death certificate, Rose Soraghan's death registration and the 1821 Irish Census of Drumbarry, it is very likely that Rose Soraghan's maiden name is Corcoran.
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