There are several Kiernans (or Kernans, as the name was frequently spelled) living in the Hazleton area in the mid-19th century that we believe are related. They are:
- Mary Kiernan, the wife of Hugh McGeehan;
- Margaret Kiernan, who served as a sponsor at the baptism of Mary and Hugh’s son Hugh;
- Michael Kernan, who lived in Mary and Hugh’s household in 1860 and who served as a baptismal sponsor for their daughter Mary; and
- Hugh Kernan, who also lived in Mary and Hugh’s home in 1860 and who served as a baptismal sponsor for their daughter Anna.
Quite often, relatives served as baptismal sponsors for their close family members, so it is reasonable to believe that these four individual are related somehow, quite possibly as siblings, given their age ranges.
We know that Margaret Kiernan was born in County Longford; her tombstone specifically identifies that county as her birthplace. And while no document created during Margaret’s lifetime (that we are aware) identifies her last name as Kernan, the death certificates for several of her children identify that as her surname.
Our early research has located a Michael Kernan who was born in 1837 (as was the Michael Kernan in Hugh and Mary McGeehan’s 1860 household) in County Longford. On 18 June 1837, Michael Kernan’s baptism was recorded in the town of Killashee, parish of Ardagh, County Longford, with parents identified as Michael Kernan and Bridget Farrell (baptismal sponsors were Michael Hanly and Bridgid Houghton).
While we continue to research our Kernans, we are putting all four of them into a family group headed by Michael Kernan and Bridget Farrell. This is hypothetical, of course, but it helps us cluster these four potential siblings until we can uncover more sources that either confirm or disconfirm their connections. (For instance, Hugh Kernan’s death certificate lists his father as James Kernan; is this Hugh the same one who lived with Mary Kernan McGeehan in 1860 or a different one?)
Michael Kernan (b. ca. 1805, probably County Longford, Ireland — d. after 1840, place unknown)
m. about 1828, probably County Longford, Ireland
Bridget Farrell (b. ca. 1807, probably County Longford, Ireland – d. after 1840, place unknown)
Possible children:
i. Mary Kernan (b. 1830, probably County Longford, Ireland — d. 27 Aug 1898, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); m. Hugh McGeehan
ii. Margaret Kernan (b. 1832, County Longford, Ireland — d. 10 Jan 1890, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); m. John Lynch
iii. Michael Kernan (b. ca. 18 Jun 1837, County Longford, Ireland — d. after 1861, place unknown); marital status unknown
iv. Hugh Kernan (b. Jun 1838, probably County Longford, Ireland — d. 13 Jun 1912, Mahanoy City, Schuylkill, PA); m. Bridget McGraw
Mary Kiernan (b. 1830, Ireland — d. 27 Aug 1898, Hazleton, PA), wife of Hugh McGeehan and whose children Hugh, Mary, and Anna were sponsored at baptism by Margaret, Michael, and Hugh Kiernan, respectively. Mary’s tombstone, obituary, and death certificate give no indication who her parents were or what her county of origin was.
Margaret Kiernan (b. 1832, Co. Longford, Ireland — d. 10 Jan 1890, Hazleton, PA), baptismal sponsor of Hugh and Mary (Kiernan) McGeehan’s son Hugh, born in 1867. Margaret’s tombstone specifically identifies her birthplace as County Longford, Ireland.
Michael Kiernan/Kernan (born 1837, Ireland — d. after 1861), lived with Hugh and Mary McGeehan in the 1860 census enumeration. Also served as the baptismal sponsor for Hugh and Mary’s daughter, Mary, in 1861 at St. Gabriel’s church. Parish records in County Longford identify Michael Kiernan and Bridget Farrell as the parents of a son, Michael, born in 1837.
Hugh Kiernan/Kernan (born 1839, Ireland — d. possibly 1912, Mahoning City, Schuylkill, PA), also lived with Hugh and Mary in 1860 and baptismal sponsor for their daughter Anna in 1865 (records listed him as Hugh Kornan).
Sources:
- Hugh McGeehan to Mary Kernan, Marriage Record, St. Gabriel’s Church, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 20 Jan 1859, Bernard Crossin and Johanna Laughlin, witnesses;, Fr. P.J. Nunan, presider.
- Mary Kiernan McGeehin obituary,” “Hazleton Plain Speaker,” 29 Aug 1898.
- Hugh McGeigen household, 1860 US census of population, Luzerne Co PA, Hazle Township, page 480, dwelling #135, family #132, ll. 12-16, Ancestry digital images, accessed 30 Jan 2011.
- Hugh McGeehan, son of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 25 Jul 1867, baptized 28 Jul 1867, Daniel McGeehan and Margaret Kernan, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Records, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA
- Mary McGeehan, daughter of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 4 Jul 1861, baptized 4 Jul 1861, Michael Kernan and Rose McGeehan, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Register, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA.
- Anne McGeehan, daughter of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 15 Aug 1865, baptized 20 Aug 1865, Hugh Korman (Kernan?) and Bridget McGrath, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Records, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA
- Michael Kernan, son of Michael Kernan and Bridgid Farrell, baptized 18 Jun 1837, Killashee, Diocese of Ardagh, County Longford, sponsors Michael Hanly and Bridged Houghton, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915 Ancestry online