Today was spent pondering the twisted Irish lines of Sullivan and Pigott. Often I redo searches online hoping to find a new information finally connect the numerous dots that are my Sullivan and Pigott Irish ancestors. Sullivan is like an Irish version of searching for Smith. Pigott is unusual but just as elusive.
Known: John Sullivan (ggg-uncle) was a Pioneer of California and according to his card on file his father was Patrick Sullivan and Mother was Mary Pigott. He states he was born in 1824 in Askeaton, Limerick, Ireland. It's also documented he immigrated with his family at age of 6 to Quebec as part of the "Frampton Irish" who journeyed far from their native shores in hopes of a better life. Several Sullivan families are shown living in to region and we know that my Sullivans joined the first outward migration west headed up by the Martin Sr. Murphy and Miller clans in 1842 to Holt Co., MO as part of the Platte River Land Grants. After several rough years here several family beloved family members died and others suffered ill health. This prompted the bold decision by Martin Murphy Sr. to head further west by wagon train to California. By this time we know Patrick and Mary-Catherine Sullivan were dead since the "Sullivan Orphans" were "adopted" by Martin Murphy Sr. and traveled with his family wagon on the journey. John and Mary (my ggg-grandmother) were about 18-20yrs old but their two younger brothers, Michael and Robert were probably no more than 10-13.
There's a Robert Sullivan baptized in Askeaton, Limerick in 1830 to parents Patrick Sullivan and Catherine Pigott so they were in Ireland until at least this year.
In several biographies of John Sullivan it's said he spent time in Quebec then Maine as a logger before migrating to Irish Grove, a typical pattern among Irish in Quebec. Young men would travel to the logging camps of Maine during the season-winter months-and return to work family farms rest of year. Generally these men worked for 2-3 seasons, long enough to earn enough money to purchase their farms. They would then work the farm 100% of the year. The boom years for Maine logging took off after statehood in 1820, accelerated starting 1830 and really peaked by Mid 1830s when the port of Bangor was the largest lumber shipping port in the world.
Many years later in San Francisco, the census (1870 or 1880?) John Sullivan had a Mary Pigott-cousin living with his family and after his death a Mary Pigott was appointed Guardian of his younger children. Obviously he kept family ties to his Irish Pigott relatives throughout his life. Upon his death he amassed a considerable estate and fortune and years later news article reported his estate was rolled into the Sullivan Estate. Until then it had been managed by his eldest son Frank J. Sullivan.
Unknown: When and why my Sullivans arrived in Frampton. Were they part of the "Robinson Irish" enticed by British government to immigrate to the wilds of Quebec? Did they come for other reasons or have other relatives already established in Quebec? Is their mother the Catherine Sullivan who died in Quebec in 1832, maybe in childbirth or along journey to Canada? Did they travel with other family members which was often the case?
Archives Data Found
Pigotts in Limerick
(1830-40s)Griffith's Valuation shows:
Michael Piggott of Ballymartin, Kilcornan
John Piggott of Rathkeale Town
James of Kiltenan S, Croagh
Catherine of Milltown
1825 Tithe Book shows:
Patrick Piggott of Pallis, Chapel Russell
Hacketts Pigott (ditto)
James Piggott of Kilcornan
Michael Pigott of Kilcornan
1851 Census Applications show:
William Pigott
Address Mr. John Gormley, Georges St., Gort, Co. Galway
Parents: James Pigott and Mary Anne Walsh
Residing: Galway, Kinvarradoorus Parish, Kinvarra
Backside notation: James and Mary (Picket) md 1842
Children: Honor(10), Mary(8 1/2), Rose(1); Dead: Rose(1), Bridget(2) and Pat (6mos)
Mary Jane Pigott
Address: Wm F. Robinson Esq, Whiteworth Rd., Dublin
Parents: Humphrey Pigott and Jane Thornton
Res. Wicklow, Ballinglass Parish, (Baltinglass), Main St.
Griffith Valuation
Aug 1848
John Pigott: Coshlea, Ballylanders, Ballyfauskeen (Lessor Lord Kingston)
Mar 1848
Catherine Pigott, Coshma, Adare, Adaree, (LessorLord Duraven)
Robert Pigott 2 enteries: (ditto)
Oct 1848
Michael Pigott: house- Upper Connello, Kilfinny, Commons
Mr. Pigott. (ditto)
Jan 1849
Patrick Pigott: (ditto)
Dec 1848
John Pigott, Upper Connello, Kilfinny Parish, Ballynakill
Michael Pigott, Upper Connello, Kilfinny, Ballymackaemore
7 entries: John Pigott, Upper Connello, Kilfinny, Commons
Marriages Limerick
1817 Feb: Patrick Pigott m. Catherine Cleary, Parish Galbally & Aherlow. witnesses: William Casey, David Piggott
1824: David Pigott m. Elizabeth (Bessy) Cussen, Parish Galbally. Witness: Frank Cussen, Pat. Piggott
Death Limerick
1868 Jan 31: David Piggott (b. 1798), Galbally Parish. Farmer
Wife Elizabeth Cussen
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