Ireland Map Circa 650 AD

http://www.irelandstory.com/

Michael Hannon - Biography

Michael Hannon, Biography
Porter County biographical sketches . . . .
Transcribed biography of Michael Hannon

MICHAEL HANNON was born in Ireland October, 1814; he was the youngest of a family of thirteen children born to Matthew and Mary Hannon. Our subject was married in Ireland in the spring of 1842, to Ella Mulehon, who was born in the year 1812. In the year 1843, Mr. Hannon moved to La Porte County, Ind., remaining about four years; he then moved to Porter County, Ind., and, in 1850, purchased the farm where he now lives; he now owns 489 acres of land. Has a family of five children - Matthew, Mary, David, John and Thomas. He and wife are members of the Catholic Church.

Source: Goodspeed, Weston A., and Charles Blanchard. 1882. Counties of Porter and Lake, Indiana: Historical and Biographical, Illustrated. Chicago, Illinois: F. A. Battey & Company. 771 p.
Page(s): 376

The biographies appearing on this website have been transcribed exactly as they were originally published in the source. Please note that we do not provide photocopies or digital scans of biographies appearing on this website.

Biography transcribed by Steven R. Shook
http://ingenweb.org/inporter/Data/Biographies/Hannon324.html

From Whence We Came

Mary and John Hannon

One of my cousins -- and I hardly have any -- asked me why our ancestors came to this country. I have some information on why, but as with all things in research, the more information the better on that front. The family she was asking about came to the United States in 1842, slightly ahead of the massive 1845 potato failure. Perhaps they had insight or perhaps they were just lucky.





I still see in my extended family a sense of loyalty that may not be visible on the surface, but exists in ways that surprise many. We come together for events and occasions, and especially those surrounding births, marriages and deaths. This is something that I imagine comes down to us from the boggy western Ireland countryside that much of the family came from.





In Ireland, where our ancestors are from, the majority of young men would have been farmers. By the age of about seven, these youngsters would have learned how to dig trenches for potatoes and a few years later they would have been involved in sowing the fields. The young men would have been working with their fathers. The young girls would have been working alongside their mothers feeding chickens and pigs, tending to the fire and making the noon meal for the men and boys as they returned from the fields.





Every family member would have been participating and all ages would contribute to the cultivating the soil and developing a bond with each other and the land. That bond with family and land continues today.





1845 - Ireland
As most people are aware, the potato in Ireland failed. The potato blight in 1845 caused four successive crop failures. This meant that 1 in 6 peasants died of starvation and that about 25% of the Irish population emigrated.

The potato blight was caused by a fungus that can be treated by spraying a copper compound, however when it first appeared in the fall of 1845, there was no understanding of how to stop the fungus. Weather also factored into the potato blight with unusual warmth in January and February and an unusually wet Spring in 1846. The additional moisture forced farmers to leave potato shoots in the ground longer which then formed millions of new spores. These spores spread through the underground canals which caused rampant spreading from field to field until all the healthy plants had becoming decomposing, blackened, useless, stinking and rotting plants.



The first major exodus from Ireland took place in 1846 and 1847 when the Irish were fleeing the famine and fever. They found their way onto the "coffin ships" to escape a land that they now thought was cursed. The ships were aptly named because of the great numbers of people that died on board.



In family lore, there are stories about Michael Hannon and Mary Ann (Fitzgerald) Hannon being related to our Hannon family. They arrived somewhere around 1848 to 1849 with James Fitzgerald and moved into the small farming community of Acton which is about 25-miles west of Boston. Interestingly, there are also Heffernan families connected to both this family and ours.

Irish Homes
What was a family home like? For the home my mother grew up in, there was a door into the kitchen and that progressed into the main house. The kitchen, however, was the main focus of the house and was the room where most people congregated and most of the entertaining took place. The old house has a steep staircase that leads to the upstairs where there were bedrooms for the children. In her family, there were seven that lived to adulthood.

There was a parlor where other activities occurred. She recalls wakes being held there, piano lessons and Christmas. Seems that this was a special room that was not really utilized for day-to-day activities.

That old house still stands in Indiana and is in the family.

Irish Baptisms

John Florence Hannon

So there I was sitting in the big comfy chair while it is -25 outside and thinking about the various baptisms I have attended over the years. (Yes, I now know that I am addicted to family history.) In our family, there have been some really interesting ones. One of my personal favorites was in Kouts, Porter, Indiana.





My sister and I were up stairs -- they were really steep stairs too -- visiting our Aunt Mary and Uncle Bud with our mother. I recall the day starting with a gentle breeze carrying the scents of earth, crops, and country into the room. The animals were content in their early morning routines and you could hear them talking and eating. Beautiful bird songs floated into the room as I hear my sister yell, "Shut up out there!"





Now this is not someone who is "hung" or generally not a morning person. Today was just a day where my sister had one of those worst headaches ever mornings. We proceeded to get moving and head to the big farm kitchen and eat a quick snack so we would still be able to take communion at St. Mary's church. The group progressed up to the local church and we filed in for mass and then the baptism to follow immediately.





It is always interesting to be in a small town church that is heavily populated with your own family. This is an interesting dynamic and often was the first time people would see us as we arrived for our various and sundry visits over the years. Our mother was the first of the family to head off the farm and well out of the community. This offered us a bit of celebrity status as children -- perhaps it offered some egos too, that should be determined by the remaining family members.





Sitting in the church, we arrive about half-way through the mass when my sister suddenly goes stiff as a board and tips over. Yes, there were many hands grabbing toward her and that did protect her from the potential head injury from hard wooden pews, metal and wood kneelers and the wooden floor. Again, good to have lots of relatives right around you if you are going down for the count.





From that point, one of our cousins raced out to get his car so she could be carried back to the house and checked out by the local doctor. Yes, it was that small of a town. As our young, single cousin roars up to the front of the church, there is that moment of looking at stiffened young girl and Datsun 280Z. These are not the most compatible of things when someone is stiff and their mother is going with them. At this point, her body was starting to soften and the instant rigor from the mid-mass performance yielded enough to allow her to be folded into a sports car.





Off they raced to the farm house as the rest of us returned for the mass completion. After that excitement, the baptism seemed like something that would be somewhat more subdued. This is true, although we were provided with a good chuckle when the young girl was referred to as "Abe-be" rather than "Ab-Be" by the priest. Many lame jokes followed after the congregation shouted out the correct pronunciation of Abbey.





This family loves the liturgical events as it gives us an opportunity to share stories about learning to swim in the baptismal font, being drunk on wine at first communion, being slapped off our knees at confirmation and the list goes on.





Anyway, sister is fine and "Abe" is now a doctor so that worked out all right.







Irish Baptism Traditions
We'll be looking at John Florence Hannon today and how his baptism would have looked.

Baptism is the introduction of a new child into the Church community. Some in our family also have used the Christening garment made of pure Irish linen. Often there are prayers and blessings spoken over the child on that day. Baptism allows the child into the life of God. The water represents both the new life of the child and the new spiritual life. Most Baptisms I have attended are fairly informal. The participants are guided by the priest and there has never been any need for memorizing passages or responses.





Salt of the Earth
This is a tradition that some people have not seen in a long time. When the name of the child is announced, John Florence in this case, the priest puts a grain of blessed salt into the mouth of the infant. This ancient ceremony, reflecting the Biblical saying, "the salt of the earth," the child was admonished "to procure and maintain in his soul true wisdom and prudence, for which salt is an emblem inasmuch as it seasons and gives a relish to all things."



After that, the priest would cast out from the soul the Devil under whose power all humans were born by original sin. "I exorcise thee...in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

These initial ceremonies (hearken back to the mid 1800's here) were performed in the entry of the church to signify that the infant was not worthy to enter God's place of worship until the Devil had been cast out of him. After the prayer for exorcism, the priest would place the end of the baptismal stole on the child and would then bring him into the church saying, "John Florence, come unto the temple of God, that thou mayest have part with Christ unto life everlasting. Amen."



The child is then anointed with holy oil on the breast and between the shoulders while at the baptismal font. This anointed the soul by divine grace, fortifying him against his passions and sexual desires. Then with the godparents holding their godchild, the priest would pour water on the baby's head in the shape of a cross three times, simultaneously saying, "John Florence Hannon, I baptize thee in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost."

The ceremony is then recorded in the church's baptismal book. If you are fortunate and there were no natural disasters the information for your family is available in a local church too.













A Gaelic Christening Blessing
Dearest Father in Heaven,
Bless this child and bless this day
Of new beginnings.Smile upon this child
And surround this child, Lord,
With the soft mantle of your love.
Teach this child to follow in your footsteps,
And to live life in the ways of
Love, faith, hope and charity.

An Irish Blessing
For Your Baptism Day
May God grant you always
A sunbeam to warm you
A moonbeam to charm you
A sheltering angel so nothing can harm you
Laughter to cheer you
Faithful friends near you
And whenever you pray
Heaven to hear you.



An Irish Blessing
For Your Baptism Day
May the road rise to meet you,
may the wind be always at your back,
may the sun shine warm upon your face,
the rains fall soft upon your fields and,
until we meet again,
may God hold you in the palm of His hand.


Mol an óige agus tiocfaidh sí.
Gaelic to English: Praise the young and they will blossom.











Links:


http://www.irishcelticjewels.com/irish_baptism_traditions.htm Blessing

Irish Family History - Naming Patterns

As I look through records and try to figure out who belongs where, I found this tidbit on Irish naming patterns from the mid-1800's. Does it follow precisely, no. Is is potentially helpful, yes.

Now in the Irish folks I am always trying to locate more information about, this pattern is not always that helpful, but it does offer options on what potential names to look for.

In addition to patterns, many Irish owned and used Butler's Lives of the Saints. A book that is still in my parent's home. This book was used to assist in the serious task of selecting the correct name since the child would develop the characteristics of the particular Saint they are named for.


NAMING PATTERNS common in Ireland in the mid-1800's
If you test it against the names of your ancestors AND they followed it...the probability that the prior generation might have is enough for me to look for that first name I would expect the prior generations would have-when I have no other leads to follow.


The 1st son was usually named after the father's father
The 1st daughter was usually named after the mother's mother

The 2nd son was usually named after the mother's father
The 2nd daughter was usually named after the father's mother

The 3rd son was usually named after the father
The 3rd daughter was usually named after the mother

The 4th son was usually named after the father's eldest brother
The 4th daughter was usually named after the mother's eldest sister

The 5th son was usually named after the mother's eldest brother
The 5th daughter was usually named after the father's eldest sister.


Naturally this pattern could not be followed exactly, but many families would try and keep to it.


There are also a number of Irish names that have nicknames and variations because we wouldn't want these ancestors to be too simple to locate.


Terry Egan tegan@inform.com.au compiled the following information. Please send him additions to include in his list.

What's in a name?
The following name variations have been compiled from information supplied by participants on the GENIRE-L. Many other nicknames were submitted, however I was interested mainly in name substitutes that became a 'traditional' alternative to the baptismal name. In other words, family nicknames or simple name-shortening have not made it to this list. Also, substitutes that are still common today are not included (e.g. Bill, Bob, etc). Some likely derivations have also been included, however this author can not warrant the accuracy of the information. Items marked '*' may be family nicknames as only one source has submitted them.

>Bridget Delia
>Bridget Delene*
>Julia Judith
>Thadeus Timothy, Teague*
>Jeremiah Derby
>Jeremiah Dermot because Diarmuid in Irish sounds more like Jairmud.
>Mona Nonie
>Peter Pierce
>Patrick Peter (interchangeable)*
>Patrick Patsy or Packy*
>Deborah Abigail*
>Joanna Susan*
>Mary Mayme
>Mary Polly
>Mary Ann Polly
>Clara* Polly
>Sarah Sally
>Sarah Sadie
>William Wit
>Honora Nora, Onnie
>Owen Eugene 'Eoghan' Gaelic, 'Eugenius' Latin, hence Eugene.
>Ann Nancy (still common)
>Winifred Una*
>Margaret Peg or Peggy Margaret means 'Pearl' and in Gaelic'Peigi' means 'Pearl'.
> However another alternative proposes that the Greek word for 'Pearl' was borrowed by the Latin 'Margarita' which was subsequently borrowed by the Gaelic.
>Margaret Madge (still fairly common)

If you have other substitutes that were common in the past in Ireland, but cause nightmares for Genealogists today, I will be pleased to add them to the list.

Thanks to all who participated. Terry Egan tegan@inform.com.au


After seeing that, I am intrigued by my maternal grandmother who was called "Peg" by her family, but had the given name Bernadette. Perhaps for the "Pearl" reference? Too bad we will never know for sure.

Gannon - Frank and Bridget

Here are siblings, Frank and Bridget Gannon from Roscommon Ireland. This photo is from Illinois after they arrived in the United States. These two married siblings from the Kelly family. Frank's daughter Mary Bridget "Mame" Gannon married Patrick Dunne and they lived in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, Ohio with Mame's sister, Agatha Gannon.