Patrick Corrigan Timeline 1870-1880

It’s been one of those mornings. My noggin is swirling with Corrigans, hoping to find that one clue – that would create no question about who is related to whom in Hartford.

These are the streets in which I find Patrick Carrigans/Corrigans/Kerrigans living in Hartford, CT, between the years 1870 and 1880, according to Geer's Hartford City Directories (I will search prior to 1870 tomorrow).

Again, the directories cover July of the first year to July of the second year. There is no data for August 1871 to June 1873, and July 1874 to June 1875.

July 1870-1871: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. Howard st.

July 1873-July 1874: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. 20 Flower (William Carrigan lived at 22 Flower)

July 1875-July 1876: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. 8 Flower
July 1876-July 1877: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. 8 Flower
July 1877-July 1878: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. 8 Flower
July 1878-July 1879: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. 8 Flower
July 1879-July 1880: CORRIGAN, Patrick, laborer, h. 8 Flower
July 1880-July 1881: CORRIGAN, Mrs. Patrick, h. 12 Flower (Patrick Corrigan, age 40, residing at 12 Flower, died 1 Dec 1879)

July 1880-July 1881: Kerrigan, Patrick, laborer, h. 88 Walnut (Peter Corrigan lived here and Mary Corrigan died 20 April 1880 while living here)

There is only one Patrick per directory until 1880-1881. I’m interested in the Patrick who lived at 88 Walnut, but here are a couple of interesting items to note:

1. The Patrick at 20 Flower in 1873-1874 lived next to my William Carrigan, who lived at 22 Flower.

2. According to Town of Hartford death registrations, a Patrick Corrigan died 1 Dec 1879. His residence was 12 Flower. He was 40 years old, married, born in Ireland, and the names of his parents were: Bernard and Mary.

The parents of the Mary who died while living at 88 Walnut were Patrick and Mary. It would have been nice to have the names of their parents match, but they don’t. I feel the door at 12 Flower closing, with me outside whining to Mrs. Patrick, “but couldn’t they have been cousins?”

A few things to remember: that the Patrick at 12 Flower and the Patrick at 88 Walnut may be two different individuals, and also that there may be other Patricks living in Hartford who weren’t even listed.

I need to remember how Elizabeth Shown Mills opens Evidence Explained -- with a quote by Lawrence of Arabia: “All sources lie.”

I’m going to put my letter to Mount St. Benedict Cemetery in Bloomfield, CT in the mail now, even though the mail carrier won’t be here for hours.