The census record for 1881 identifies a Gallagher family living in the ‘Park’ District of Burnley at 3 Edward Street. Park District
James (50) born Sligo, Ireland General Labourer
Siscely (47) born Sligo, Ireland
Anthony (26) born Sligo Cotton Spinner
Michael (18) born Sligo Cotton Spinner
Ann (16) Cotton Spinner
Catherine (14) Cotton Spinner
Mary (13) Cotton Spinner
Bridget (9) Cotton Spinner
The record showed Boarders
Anthony Neary (24)
Winnie Neary (24)
Mary Neary (14)
Amy Neary (9)
Martin Neary (3)
These facts would indicate that James had married around 1855 in Ireland and had several children there before arriving in burnley around 1865. They also lived in the Park distrcit and as the history of the park suggest families from the same area in Ireland lived together in Burnley. So its probable that the families and children knew each other.
Unlike the Mulrooney family, no baptisms for the children can be found in St Mary’s Church records to 1871 for James and Siscely. There are several James Gallagher marriages but none to a bride named Siscely or anything similar. There are several recorded children for a James Gallagher but neither Ann, Catherine, or Mary can be found for same years as the 1881 census. This is the only reference to a Gallagher family we can find that has an appropriate aged sibling, Michael, living in circumstances that suggest a possible meeting with Ellen Anne.
Thomas (Hugh) Gallagher identified a family for a James and Ann Carty who had a son Michael born 24 Nov 1864 in County Mayo, close to the borders with Sligo. However there is no established family history or link with Burnley so we can only assume this is not the Michael Gallagher that met Ellen Anne Mulrooney.
Other searches were made in Ireland but no records could be found for a marriage of a James and Siscely Gallagher or births of Anthony and Micahel with James and siscely as parents.
The 1891 census shows the Neary family living at 10 Roper street with Anthony Gallagher a border, the same census shows a widow, Cecilia Gallagher living in the ‘Park’ district at 34 Bank Parade, just round the corner from Charles and Edward Street. The children Ann, Catherine, Mary and Bridget also match the same sequence as the 1881 Census for James and Siscely although all the ages and birthplaces do not. However I believe these may be the same families.
Henry Gallagher