The family history has been compiled based on research undertaken in the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1871, 1881, 1891, and 1901 UK Census, the church records of St. Mary’s Burnley up to 1872 and oral evidence received from Thomas (Hugh) Gallagher.
It should be remembered that census and church records contain inconsistencies both in spelling of names, ages and dates particularly for the early census since they are written records based on oral information as our ancestors not read or write. Census staff and others wrote their own understanding of names and transcribed from handwriting that in Church documents that could be difficult to read or decipher.
For example, the church records for Thomas and Bridget Mulrooney record children born to Thomas Mulrooney and Bridget MELLIDAY, MELADY, and MELODY. In many cases even where people are recorded across multiple census’s living at the same address with a growing family inconsistencies of age are found and often by several years. In the circumstances of the life and working environment, vanity or recording then error will occur.
I have tried to piece all the evidence available which in most cases has been relatively consistent.
However, for the Gallagher family we have only found two census records one for James Gallagher and Siscely in 1881, Michael Gallagher and a wife Anne in 1891 and Cecilia Gallagher in 1891. The fact that they were living in the same area in Burnley Park, have common lodgers (family friends) and sequences of children then it is probable they are the original Gallagher family in Burnley, but we may never be sure. As the elders and many of the children were born in Ireland, Sligo I have undertaken extensive searches of the records there. Thomas (Hugh) Gallagher also undertook searches in County Mayo which borders Sligo. We have found references to Mulrooney, Melody and Gallagher families in the area but cannot prove a link to the Burnley families.
I hope this research gives you an insight to the roots of the Gallagher family and I offer my grateful thanks to teh many sources i have researched on the interenet, Burnley library and family oral and written documents. If you have any information to add then please contact me directly or using the contact tab above.