The Michael Lawrence family home page.:Information about Michael Sullivan

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Michael Sullivan (b. 1841, d. date unknown)

Michael Sullivan was born 1841 in Skibbereen, Co.Cork, Ireland, and died date unknown. He married Anna Harrington on 17 Sep 1857 in St Patrick's Church, North Street, Skibbereen, Co.Cork, Ireland, daughter of Dan Harrington and Eliza.

Notes for Michael Sullivan:
According to the St Patrick's Church records, Michael and Anne lived in New Road, Skibbereen at the time of the birth of their first child, Mary which was probably about 1858. New Road was later renamed Townsend Street. Pictures of Townsend Street from our visit in August 2003 & August 2005 are attached as is a copy of their Certificate of Marriage. At the birth of Catherine & John, its look like they moved to a township called Lissanuhig. I have been unable to locate this township.

After November 1863, the next we hear of the Sullivans is from the 1871 Census when we find them now living in Stepney, London.

From 1846 onwards, upwards of 2,000,000 Irish people emigrated to England, America and Australia. Fleeing from post-famine conditions which at its peak took some 250,000 lives per year.

"To those who have never watched the progress of protracted hunger, it might be proper to say, that persons will live for months, and pass through different stages, and life will struggle on to maintain her lawful hold, if occasional scanty supplies are given, till the walking skeleton becomes in a state of inanity - he sees you not, he heeds you not, neither does he beg. The first stage is somewhat clamorous - will not easily be put off; the next is patient, passive stupidity; and the last is idiocy. In the second stage, they will stand at a window for hours, without asking charity, giving a vacant stare, and not until peremptorily driven away will they move. In the last state, the head bends forward, and they walk with long strides, and pss you unheedingly."

"...a cabin was seen closed one day a little out of the town, when a man had the curiosity to open it, and in a dark corner he found a family of the father, mother, and two children, lying in close compact. The father was considerably decomposed; the mother, it appeared, had died last, and probably fastened the door, to get into the darkest corner and die, where passers-by could not see them. Such family scenes were quite common, and the cabin was generally pulled down upon them for a grave."

Asenath Nicholson, Lights ans Shades of Ireland.
She was an American Woman who travelled throughout Ireland distributing Bibles.

From a population of 8,175,000 in 1841, in just thirty years it dropped to 4,412,000. Under such a backdrop, Michael and Anna Sullivan took what steps others had taken and sometime between 1864 and 1870 left their homeland. I cannot be sure of the route the travelled other than to exclude Cobh, that great Cork town which was the last port to see the Titanic and New Ross, Co.Waterford which was the original home of the famous Kennedy clan, one of America's first families. However, I cannot discount Rosslaire od Dublin.

In the 1871 Census we find Michael (32) and Anna (27) living at 12 Perrywinkle Street, Ratcliff, Stepney, London. Michael's occupation was a Labourer. Living with them were:-
Catherine Sullivan, their daughter aged 9.
John Sullivan, their son aged 7.
Elizabeth Sullivan, their daughter aged 6 months, who was born in England.
Elizabeth Sullivan a visitor aged 18 whose occupation was servant, also from Cork.

There is no mention of their first born daughter Mary whom I can only assume died before reaching England. Elizabeth Sullivan aged 18 was possibly a relation to Michael, maybe a neice, possible even a Sister.

In the 1881 Census, we are told that the family now live at 1 George Place, Ratcliffe, Stepney, London. Living with Michael (40) and Ann (38) (notice the change of name) were the following:-
Daughter aged 19 Catherine Sullivan.
Son aged 17 John Sullivan.
Daughter aged 10 Elizabeth Sullivan.
Son aged 7 William Sullivan.

When Catherine got married in 1883, the certificate was signed by her brother and mother possibly indicating that Michael may have died by then. His name was not included on the 1891 Census. His occupation as shown on the Marriage Certificate was Pavior.

More About Michael Sullivan and Anna Harrington:
Marriage: 17 Sep 1857, St Patrick's Church, North Street, Skibbereen, Co.Cork, Ireland.

Children of Michael Sullivan and Anna Harrington are:

Mary Sullivan, b. 1858, Skibbereen, Co.Cork, Ireland, d. date unknown.
+Catherine Sullivan, b. 1861, Skibbereen, Co.Cork, Ireland, d. 11 Oct 1937, Hoxton, London.
+John Sullivan, b. 1863, Skibbereen, Co.Cork, Ireland, d. date unknown.
Elizabeth Sullivan, b. 1870, Ratcliff, Stepney, London, d. date unknown.
William Sullivan, b. 1875, Ratcliff, Stepney, London, d. date unknown.