Brothers McCartan (Hugh)

Part 3

Hugh McCartan / McCarten (abt. 1832-1916)

In the preceding posts, I introduced three brothers (Michael, Patrick, and Hugh), and I wrote about Michael (my great-great grandfather) and Patrick (my great-great uncle).

Of the three brothers, it is Hugh whose story reveals the most valuable insights about the McCartan family’s origins in Ireland.

Like his brothers, Hugh emigrated from the family’s ancestral home in County Down. But unlike his brothers, Hugh left Ireland when he was nearly 50 years old, around 1880. By then Hugh had been married to Elizabeth Morgan for 20 years, and they had raised a large family (5 boys and 4 girls) in a sloping townland called Slievenisky, outside of Castlewellan.

As a result (and in contrast to his brothers), Hugh’s life in County Down was comparatively well documented in civil and church records. By 1881, Hugh, Elizabeth, and at least 7 of their 9 children were residing in Liverpool–with as many as 3 other McCartans who were identified as “cousins” of Hugh.

Hugh McCartan / McCarten was my great-great uncle. In this post I’ll cover some basic details about what I know about Hugh, as well as some of the big open questions about him. I’ll also discuss the evidence establishing that my great-great uncle is the [See his probate record below.]

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I’m posting these stories for two reasons. First, to record, preserve, and share what I’ve found so far. Second, in the hopes that another descendant knows more about these brothers than I do, and is willing to share.

I welcome any information, leads, or other feedback in the comments — or please feel free to contact me directly.

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What I know about Hugh

A decade ago “Hugh” was just a name in my great-great grandfather’s 1917 obituary (“a brother, Hugh, in Liverpool, England“). I knew almost nothing about my great-great uncle or his family. And as far as I know, little about Hugh’s story was passed down to Michael’s descendants in America. Here are the details about Hugh’s life that I have been able to substantiate, based on my research so far:

Circa 1832: Born in County Down, present-day Northern Ireland.

Jun. 23, 1860: Married Elizabeth “Betty” Morgan [1836 – 1911] at Castlewellan Parish Roman Catholic Church.

Church marriage record: 23 June 1860. Hugh McCartan (Roman Catholic) to Elizabeth Morgan (Roman Catholic). Husband’s witness: Edward McCartan. Wife’s witness: Ellen Murray. 0 12 6. Castlewellan Roman Catholic. Down. Kilmegan.

1861-1877: At least 9 children (5 boys, 4 girls) were born to Hugh and Betty in the townland of Slievenisky, outside of Castlewellan, County Down.

Michael McCartan (1861-1865) [d. Slievenisky, County Down, Ireland]
- Baptism Sponsors: Ellen Murray; Peter McGrady
Hugh McCartan / McCarten (1863-1950) [d. Memphis, Tennessee, USA]
- Baptism Sponsors: Owen Murray; Margaret Dornan
Patrick McCartan / McCarten (1865-1921) [d. Southampton, England]
- Civil Witness: Catherine Morgan (present at birth)
Henry McCartan (1867-unknown)
- Baptism Sponsors: John Murray; Catherine Murray
- Civil Witness: Elizabeth McCartan (mother)
Elizabeth McCartan / McCarten (1870-1888) [d. Dubuque, Iowa, USA]
- Baptism Sponsors: Hugh Murray; Susan Murray
- Civil Witness: Hugh McCartan (father)
Catherine McCartan / McCarten / Cumiskey (1871-unknown)
- Baptism Sponsors: John McCartan; Mary McCartan
- Civil Witness: Hugh McCartan (father)
Mary Ann McCartan / McCarten / Quinn (1874-unknown)
- Baptism Sponsors: Alexander McAlister; Mary Ann Murray
- Civil Witness: Hugh McCartan (father)
Ellen McCartan / McCarten / Glendining (1876-unknown)
- Civil Witness: Hugh McCartan (father)
Peter McCartan / McCarten (1878-unknown)
- Baptism Sponsors: Edward McGrady; Eleanor Loughlin

1861 – 1880: Residences and Occupations in County Down

Jun. 1861 (Michael baptism): “Sleveniskey”
Nov. 1863 (Hugh baptism): “Slevinisky”
Apr. 1865 (Michael civil death reg.): “Sleivenisky”; “Farmer”
Sep. 1865 (Patrick civil birth reg.): “Sleivinisky”; “Labourer”
Dec. 1867 (Henry civil birth reg.): “Sleivinisky”; “Farmer”
Feb. 1870 (Elizabeth civil birth reg.): “Sleivinisky”; “Farmer”
Dec. 1871 (Catherine civil birth reg.): “Sleivinisky”; “Farmer”
May 1874 (Mary Ann civil birth reg.): “Slievinisky”; Farmer”
Apr. 1876 (Ellen civil birth reg.): “Sleivinisky”; Farmer”

Circa 1880: Hugh, Betty, and their surviving children emigrate from County Down to Liverpool, England.

August 15, 1888: Hugh’s 18-year-old daughter, Lizzie McCartan / McCarten, died of typhoid fever in Dubuque, Iowa, at the home of Hugh’s brother Michael (my great-great grandfather).

Lizzie was buried in Resurrection Catholic Cemetery in Dubuque, where the inscription reads: “Lizzie Niece of Michael McCarten Born in Co. Down Ireland Died in Dubuque Aug. 15, 1888 Aged 18 Years.”

1881-1916: Residences and Occupations in Liverpool; Extended Family

1881 Census: 30 Bostock Street, Bootle cum Linacre, Lancashire; general laborer; three “cousins” of Hugh resided at the same address:
- Peter McCarten (b. 1831 Ireland) (unmarried; platelayer) [“Cousin Peter“]
- James McCarten (b. 1858 Ireland) (unmarried; platelayer) [“Cousin James“]
- Michael McCarten (b. 1863 Ireland) (unmarried; general laborer) [“Cousin Michael“]
1891 Census: 22 Milton Street, Bootle, Lancashire; dock laborer; two cousins of Hugh resided at the same address:
- Cousin Peter (b. 1828 Ireland) (single; dock laborer)
- Cousin James (b. 1861 Ireland) (single; dock laborer)
1901 Census: 36 Brasenose [Road], Bootle, Lancashire; dock laborer; one cousin of Hugh resided at the same address:
- Cousin Peter (b. 1839 Ireland) (single; dock laborer)
1911 Census: 21 Bianca Street, Bootle, Lancashire; “was labourer now unable”
1916 Probate Record: 21 Bianca Street, Bootle, Lancashire; “retired dock board labourer”

1906-1910: In April 1906, Hugh’s brother-in-law, Hugh Morgan (1844-1906), passed away in Memphis, Tennessee. The administration of the estate played out in courts over the next several years, first in Tennessee and then in Iowa.

In the preceding post, I discussed how Hugh Morgan was a bridge between the three McCartan brothers. I’ll discuss more in a subsequent post, Hugh Morgan’s probate records are a genealogical gold mine.
Beneficiaries of Hugh Morgan’s estate included: (i) his siblings, Betty Morgan / McCarten and Patrick Morgan, both then of Liverpool; (ii) certain children of Michael McCartan / McCarten; (iii) certain children of Hugh McCartan / McCarten.
At the request of Lizzie McCarten (1860-1913), Michael’s daughter, the District Court in Dubuque County, Iowa appointed a guardian ad litem to represent Betty’s and Patrick’s interests. According to Lizzie’s petition:
- “Both of said legatees are old and in feeble health and in poor financial circumstances and are not much accustomed to transacting business.”
In 1910, the Iowa court distributed the residual shares of the estate to Hugh Morgan’s two surviving siblings, Betty Morgan / McCarten and Patrick Morgan. Each was to receive 114 pounds 13 shillings and 9 pence.

May 13, 1911: Elizabeth “Betty” Morgan / McCarten, then aged approximately 75 years, passed away at home (21 Bianca Street, Bootle, Lancashire). She was buried at Ford Cemetery in Liverpool.

Feb. 27, 1916: Hugh, then aged approximately 83 years, passed away at home (21 Bianca Street, Bootle, Lancashire). Hugh was buried at Ford Cemetery in Liverpool.

Mar. – Apr. 1916: According to probate records (shown below), Hugh’s effects were valued at GBP 412. “Administration Liverpool 14 March [1916] to Mary [McCartan /] Quinn (wife of John Quinn) of 62 Keble Road Bootle … the natural and lawful daughter and one of the next of kin of” Hugh.

(Some of) The Big Open Questions

In the two preceding posts, I noted some basic open questions about Hugh’s brothers Michael and Patrick. All of the same questions obtain to Hugh, plus a few others:

When exactly was Hugh born?

Available information suggests Hugh may have been around two or three years older than Michael (born 1835), and possibly two or three years younger than Patrick (born around 1830).
- 1881 Census – indicates Hugh was born in 1833
- 1891 Census – indicates Hugh was born in 1831 (n.b. the 1891 census-taker appears to have mistakenly confused Hugh and his cousin Peter McCarten)
- 1901 Census – indicates Hugh was born in 1839
- 1911 Census – indicates Hugh was born in 1831
- 1916 Civil Death Registration – indicates Hugh was born in 1836

Where exactly was Hugh born?

As with Patrick, and unlike Michael, no birth or baptism records appear to exist for Hugh. Michael’s 1835 baptism was recorded in Kilcoo R.C. Parish, but no townland was specified.

Who are the “McCartan cousins” who were living with Hugh in Liverpool in the 1881 and 1891 Censuses?

The three “McCartan cousins” who lived with Hugh, Betty, and the children in Liverpool are probably the most promising leads for future research. The three are:
- Cousin Peter (b. circa 1830 in Ireland): resided with Hugh in 1881, 1891, and 1901
- Cousin James (b. circa 1858 in Ireland): resided with Hugh in 1881 and 1891
- Cousin Michael (b. circa 1863 in Ireland): resided with Hugh in 1881
On the assumptions that (i) these three were Hugh’s first cousins, and (ii) James and Michael were not sons of Peter (who was unmarried at approx. 70 years old, according to censuses):
- Cousin Peter would have been the son of Hugh’s paternal uncle (i.e. the brother of my great-great-great grandfather, Michael McCartan [circa 1800 – unknown]).
- Cousin James and Cousin Michael could have been the children of Cousin Peter‘s brother(s).
Using Irish and English records, I’ve tried to identify each of these “cousins” with a goal of identifying parents, siblings, etc. — anything that might shed light on other branches of the McCartan family in County Down. So far I have a few candidates, but nothing definitive.

What is the nature of Hugh’s connection to Slievenisky?

When Hugh and Betty were living in Slievenisky during the 1860s and 1870s, it is not clear whether they were they living on the McCartans’ land or on the Morgans’ land.
Both McCartans and Morgans are identified on land records for Slievenisky, both before and after Hugh married Betty in June 1860.
The land records (chiefly, Valuation Revision Books and Irish property deeds) illuminate family connections and socioeconomic circumstances, among many other things. I plan to address those in a future post.

Was there an event that triggered the entire family’s migration from County Down to Liverpool?

By the 1881 Census, Hugh, Betty, and at least 7 children were living in Liverpool. It isn’t obvious whether a specific event triggered the entire family’s migration. At the same time, newspapers in the late 1870s and early 1880s reported disputes between Earl Annesley and tenants, including in Slievenisky.