Patrick Finnigan

Patrick is my 4th great-grandfather.

Date of birth unknown ~ Death circa 1847

Very little is known about Patrick. His wife was born in 1797, so he likely was born around the same time.

St. Stephen and St. John's Church in Castleisland.

While I do not know where he was born, Patrick and Hanora were married in St. Stephen and St. John's Church in Castleisland*, Ireland. It is reasonable to assume that he grew up there, as well.

I also do not know when he married Hanora. However, his first child, Michael, was born in 1818. Because they were 19th century Irish Catholics, it is probable that that they were married sometime before Michael's birth.

Patrick and Hanora had a total of 11 children: Michael, James, Jeremiah, John, Hanna, Timothy, Thomas and four more unknown children. Since there are no records of the other four children, It is conceivable that they did not survive past infancy.

Patrick died in Castleisland just after his son Thomas passed away, circa 1847.

Supposition: 

Patrick and his son Timothy's death occurred during the height of the Potato Famine when people were literally starving to death. Over one million people died either from starvation, or from typhus and other diseases caused as a result of the famine. While I don't know for certain how either of them died, it is a feasible explanation that it may have related to the famine. Over two million people emigrated from Ireland during this time, including his entire family who left after Patrick and Timothy passed away.

The Meaning of His Names:

Personal Name Meaning: Patrick ~ An Irish baby name meaning patrician; noble. Roman society was divided into plebeians: (commoners) and patricians: (aristocrats). Saint Patrick was also the patron saint of Ireland.

Surname Meaning: Finnigan ~ Irish origin. Anglicization of the Gaelic "O'Fionnagain" - meaning the descendant(s) of Fionnagan, an Old Irish personal name derived from the word "fionn," which means white, fair-headed.

* Castleisland is one word.