This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: corcoran, stranahan, brown Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/an/IMJ.2ACEB/2353.1 Message Board Post: Here is what I could find for you. Census records indicate that both Edward and Ella were bron in New York, not Ireland. 1900 Census Burlington, Chittenden, VT Corcoran Family Edward Apr 1841 (59) NY IRE IRE Day Laborer (Earlier records indicate he was born in 1849) Ella Sep 1854 (45) NY NY NY Harriet Jul 1885 (14) NY Agnes Oct 1888 (11) NY Francis Jan 1893 (7) NY J. Mary Sep 1895 (4) VT Arthur Apr 1897 (3) VT This census indicates Edward and Ella had been married for 20 years and Ella had given birth to 8 children with 6 living. As you can see they were born in NY and only Edward's parents were born in Ireland, so with that information I did a little backtracking for you. 1850 Chesterfield, Essex, NY Corcoran Family (Indexed as Calkins) James 30 IRE (This age is not consistent with later census records) Julia 30 IRE John 7 CAN James 5 NY Edward 1 NY It is possible that James and Julia were married in Canada. I know that this Edward's age is way off from later census records, but I cannot place any other in the vicinity of Ella and her parents. In 1910 an 1920 Edward gives an age that would place his birth in 1845. He seems uncertain of when he was born, not all that unusual back then. Julia's parents may be Dennis <1795> and Ann <1798> Brown lsited after them in every census. Both were born in Ireland with a son Dennis, younger than Julia, born abt 1839 in Canada. Stranahan Family (Indexed as Shanahan) John 61 NY Farmer (Ella's grandfather) Julia 63 NY (Ella's grandmother) John 35 NY (Ella's father) Emily 14 NY (Ella's mother) James 83 NY (Ella's great grandfather) 1860 Chesterfield, Essex, NY Corcoran Family James 47 IRE Laborer Julia 38 IRE John 17 CAN James 13 NY Edward 11 NY Bridget 8 NY Stranahan Family John 71 NY Farmer John 43 NY Julia Allen 18 NY (I believe this an orphaned relative, perhaps a niece of one of the elder Stranahans) Emeline 24 NY (Ella's mother, listed as Emily in 1850) John 6 NY (listed as Frank in 1870) Sam 3 NY (listed as Saul in 1870) Ella 4 NY Erastus 2 NY As you can see, Ella's age seems to be off too, but this is the only Ella who fits later census records. 1870 Chesterfield, Essex, NY Corcoran Family James 53 IRE Julia 53 IRE Bridget 19 NY John 25 NY (This is the only time he is listed as born in NY. Other times it is always Canada) James 22 NY I cannot locate Edward in this census. He may have mistakenly been listed under another name, or just missed. Stranahan Family John 55 NY Laborer Julia 33 NY ( I do not know if this is a new wife. This may be a middle name, or even a mistake.) Ella 14 NY John 10 NY Stephen 5 NY William 3 NY Frank 17 NY Saul 14 NY I cannot locate either Edward or Ella in 1880. Skip back to Vermont. 1910 Burlington, Chittenden, VT Corcoran Family Edward 65 NY IRE IRE Ella 56 NY NY NY Patrick F. 17 NY Arthur 13 VT Mary 15 VT Ella 5 VT 1920 Burlington, Chittenden, VT Corcoran Family 1 Edward 75 NY IRE IRE Mary 23 VT Arthur 22 VT Harriet Newell 6 VT NY NY (listed as granddaughter) Corcoran Family 2 Frank P. 26 NY NY NY Florence 19 VT VT CAN Arthur 2 mos VT Marion 2 yrs 9 mos VT 1930 Burlington, Chittenden, VT Corcoran Family Frank P. 37 NY NY NY Florence E. 32 VT NY CAN Marion B. 13 VT (This does not seem at all consistent with your grandmother's name being Agnes Jessie) Marjorie L. 9 VT George E. 3 VT Josephine A. 9 mos VT I can't be certain that the Edward and Ella I traced for you are the right ones, but it seems likely. Francis Patrick was born in Keeseville, which is in Essex Co., NY, so it puts them in the right vicinity and their birthplaces and parent's birthplaces add up. Ella obviously died in Burlington between 1910 and 1920, so getting her death certificate may tell you more. You should try to find one for Edward as well after 1920. Best I can do. I hope it helps. Debby