Dianna, I think you've a bit more work to do or you've failed to include all you know. There's a few red herrings in there. But your original question about Irish migration to England c1865 is quite valid, although I think you probably know all the children. Hugh Haney looks to have married Margaret c1855 in Ireland. Census indicates they had John 1856, William 1859 and James 1862 in Ireland, before migrating to England, where Hugh is born c1865. I can't find this on FreeBMD. You say father Hugh died in 1867. It looks like Margaret then married John Cosgrove. Then it gets tricky. I can't find the marriage. Then there is a son Francis born c1868. I can't find the birth registration. Just who is the father might be in question. Was Margaret pregnant to Hugh when he died, or is her new husband John the father. In 1871, they are living at Whitworth in Durham. The first four children are shown as Heaney, and Francis aged 2 is shown as Cosgrove. Then it twists again. Two more children Alice 1872 and Joseph 1875 are born. But in 1881, the husband is shown as John Cormick and all seven children are listed as Heaney. By 1891, the surname is back to Cosgrove. Only Alice and Joseph are still with parents and shown as Cosgrove. It shows the benefits of checking more than one census year and cross checking census data with FreeBMD. Unfortunately, in all that, there is no indication of which county in Ireland they originated from. For the possibility of that information I refer you to the IFHF pay website http://www.irish-roots.ie/ Alternatively, if you can find the second marriage of Margaret or any of the birth registrations of the children born in England, it may show her origins. But you run the risk of it simply being shown as Ireland. You could also see if anything shows in 1901 or 1911 if she was still alive. Peter

Hi Peter Thanks for that, it's a confusing lot isn't it. When you say Census indicates they had John in 1865 which census is it you are referring to and how can I view this thanks. I couldn't find a marriage for Margaret, I looked under Heany etc which is both her maiden name and married name. Why the name goes from Cormick, Cosgrove the only thing I can suggest is that John anglisced his name don't know only guessing. And seeing as some of the kids were called Heaney even after Hugh died I think it may have been a mistake and assumption perhaps by the person taking down the particulars?? Again only a stab in the dark. I tried to find births census etc. on Freebdm for Cosgrove, Cormick, McCormick for the children but had no luck of . It makes things very difficult with all these variants of names etc. I even looked for the Heaney's/Haneys on FreeCen and nothing came up and I know they were there because someone else kindly sent me that information. So I'm here still scratching my head and hoping someone can give me a bit more information from Spennymoor where Hugh senior died. Anyway thanks again Dianna

Hi again Peter Have found one Cosgrove birth of Alice Jane in Auckland 1872 that seems to fit but I don't think Margaret and John Cosgrove were married though by the looks of it. Dianna