Understanding the Mystery of Ellen Egan: A Case Study in Genealogy Research
- Karlee Twiner
- May 3
- 4 min read
Updated: May 12
The Journey of Family Research
Have you ever been so excited to find someone that you just automatically accept a record? It's easy to get caught up in the thrill of the chase. However, it is important to take a second and ensure that the research you are doing is solid.
When I worked at the Irish Family History Centre in Dublin, I had the incredible opportunity to collaborate with Fiona Fitzsimons. She hosts a weekly Facebook Live, where people can ask her questions about their research. One question that arose was about Ellen Egan. Was the Ellen Egan married in Canada the same person who was in the Workhouse in County Galway? Fiona assigned me the task of researching and answering this question.
The Misidentification of the Ellens
It didn’t take long to conclude that these two were not the same person. During my research, I stumbled upon another Ellen attached to this duo, but she was buried elsewhere. What was going on?
Family history websites typically provide indexed records. Unfortunately, not all information is indexed. Indexing is time-consuming and costly. Thus, websites focus on the most critical details. This is how the two Ellens ended up being mixed up.
I decided to search on Ancestry for an Ellen Egan married to William Parker in Canada, based on the information provided by the woman who originally posed the question. Upon starting my research, I located a record that fit everything mentioned in the original inquiry. This had to be the marriage record they were looking for.
The Marriage Record
Interestingly, the Ellen Egan from County Galway was born around 1838 in Castleblakeney, Galway, Ireland. She was admitted to the workhouse around 1847, during the worst year of the Great Famine, when she was just nine years old. The governors of the Mountbellew Workhouse sent her, along with 49 other young women, to Canada to become house servants on the ship, Primrose.
Based on this information, the marriage record seemed to be an excellent fit. It features Ellen Egan in Canada. The marriage year aligns with the timeline, and it took place in a Catholic church. How could this possibly not be her?
Thankfully, the record also has an image, which provides further insight into the situation. Many may struggle to read this image, so I’ll transcribe some crucial parts:
"The nineteenth day of May one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two,...the publication of the third of the banns has been made at the prove of our parish mass between William Parker, farmer, of this parish, son of age of William Parker, farmer, and Catharine Singleton, of Mallow, County Cork, Ireland, on the one part, and Ellen Egan, also of this parish, daughter of age of James Egan, and of Mary Donovan, County Cork, Ireland, on the other part...."
Notice that this Ellen Egan is from County Cork, Ireland. Cork and Galway are quite distant from one another. It is improbable that someone would migrate from Cork to Galway. Galway is in the West of Ireland, where the land isn't ideal for farming. People generally moved from Galway to Cork, not the other way around.
Another notable point is that this Ellen provided both of her parents' names. When Ellen was 15, she was an orphan. Although the records do not explicitly state this, the absence of documentation implies that she likely had no family. The workhouse would need permission from her parents for her transportation, but there’s no record of this.
It is also worth noting that Ellen was admitted during the famine year of 1847. This suggests she was likely an orphan when first admitted to the workhouse. The Western counties suffered immensely during this period, with numerous people perishing or emigrating. Since she was only nine years old when she entered the workhouse, it is improbable that she would remember both of her parents' full names.
Common Names Can Deceive
If the name Ellen Egan were uncommon, there might be room for consideration. However, if you visit johngrenham.com and search for the last name “Egan,” you will find it is quite common in Ireland, and not specific to a particular region. Similarly, Ellen is a popular first name among Irish girls. This information reinforces the idea that these are likely not the same women.
The Final Ellen
The last Ellen we encounter is not Ellen Egan but Ellen Parker. She is already one step removed from the original Ellen Egan we were investigating. Ellen Parker was married to William Parker and died in Guelph, Wellington, Ontario, Canada. According to FindAGrave, she was born around 1838 in Ireland. Familiar, isn't it? However, a closer examination reveals that this Ellen Parker was not an Egan before her marriage; her maiden name was Doyle. Thus, these are not the same individuals at all.
The Ongoing Research
Ellen Egan from County Galway's narrative is not finished yet. I am still conducting research and aim to uncover her real story.
If you ever find yourself on a roll, constantly adding records based solely on indexed information, remember Ellen Egan. Each of these women deserves their apposite stories to be told. This is crucial as we delve into original records rather than relying solely on easily accessible indexes. In the world of genealogy, every detail matters, and understanding the nuances can make a significant difference.
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