Michael HANRAN 

Michael Hanran and His Wife Ellen (Dawson)

Until only very recently, Michael's life had been a great mystery. Our best efforts to discover his whereabouts have always been hampered by insufficient knowledge and an inconsistency in the spelling of his surname in official records. Today the surname "Hanran" seems simple to understand, but over the years it has caused much confusion and once the family became world travellers, many variations have been encountered.

But that has all changed now—our elusive ancestor has at last surfaced after closer scrutiny of the records of Victoria which reveal the spelling of Hannoran. In earlier chapters we have touched on the spelling issue so that will come as no surprise.

After making this discovery in April 2012 we are happy to report that all five of Francis and Bridget (Hanrahan) Hanran's children can now be accounted for. We have known for some considerable time that Bridget was mother to three sons and two daughters as is evidenced by her 1865 death certificate, such information having been supplied by "PF" Patrick Francis, the informant. Information on Michael's early departure from this life (at age 33) in 1855 in Victoria has disclosed that he was born in Limerick, Ireland, something that he had in common with his parents who were married there, it also being the birthplace of his brother "PF". The actual date of Michael's birth is not so clear but we can confidently speculate that it occurred circa 1821 or 1822, with Michael being the first of five siblings with John, Patrick Francis (PF), Ellen and Catherine Caroline to follow.

Arrived on a Convict Ship

Michael is believed to have accompanied his parents to New South Wales when his father Francis was assigned to the guard to escort the convict transport Norfolk which arrived in the colony of New South Wales in 1835. Not a great deal is known about him between then and 1848 when there is evidence to suggest that he may have still been in New South Wales. A year later John, his younger brother, who was by this time living in Ipswich, Queensland, and working as a bootmaker, may have been the catalyst for Michael's venturing northwards to join him and his family. By 1850 Michael was before the Ipswich courts appearing before Colin Mackenzie JP in May charged with drunkenness and use of bad language. Michael escaped a stint in the lockup when bail of £10 was paid by John Hanran and one other, each paying £5. On a charge of assault, a warrant was issued for Michael's arrest but there is no further record of evidence and the case runs cold. 

HANRAHAN/HANRAN | HANRAHAN, FRANCIS | HANRAN, MICHAEL | HANRAN, JOHN  | HANRAN, PATRICK FRANCIS "PF" | HANRAN, ELLEN | HANRAN, CATHERINE CAROLINE