Nighan

In the current spelling of the name, Nighan there are not a lot of records available but spelled Nihan there are quite a lot in the Griffiths valuation of Ireland living in Cork

A Michael at the address Gortnagrough, Skull, county Cork and a Michael Nihan in Kilgarrif County Cork, spelled Nyhan. Year 1851.

The Tithe applotments books also show 3 Nihan families in Cork

Do you know if Michael Nighan naturalised in the USA, this might give more information on his parents and birth place if you can look up his naturalisation record

Lots of Nyhans in Cork, especially West Cork. The family originates from there. I'd start looking at parish records there. I know (being a Nyhan) that Nihan is a  variant. Nighan probably is too, just by saying them all aloud, you can see how it would happen.

Can't really say there's a more correct version as it's an anglicisation of an Irish surname anyway.

Hello Cousin:

Your Michael Nighan is my great-grandfather's (James Nighan) brother.  We've had several Michaels in the family and I'm the current one.   By the way, as far as we can tell, Michael's grandfather who stayed in Ireland was another Michael.  Not a very imaginative family! 

Your Michael died in Spencerport, NY 10/10/1933, the victim of a car accident.  He was married twice, fathered three daughters and a son Fred,  but we've lost track of his/your branch. 

Let me know if you get this and I'll provide what else I can find.

Michael James Nighan

Rochester, NY

Hi Michael, 

Sorry this has taken me so long to respond, I just got your message!

I would love any information you have on the Nighan family, I am not have much luck getting any information outside of the U.S.

Thank you!

Nicole

Nicole:

Actually, there isn’t much information in Ireland that we can directly connect to our Nighan clan.   All I’ve been able to locate so far is:

1) the marriage record for John Nighan (spelling in the record is “Nihane”) and Ellen Sullivan.   They were married Feb. 24, 1846 in the parish of East Schull.  Witnesses were Michael Nihane (assumedly John’s father), and James Sullivan (assumedly Ellen’s father).  

2) the baptism record for my great-great-grandfather, James Nihane.  He was baptized March 29, 1847, also in East Schull.  His sponsors were James and Julia Sullivan, assumedly his maternal grandparents.

3) the baptism record for your Michael Nihane.  He was baptized Oct. 14, 1853, also in East Schull.  His sponsors were William Hurley and Catherine Barry.  I suspect they are somehow related to us but I have no further information on them.

Lastly, I believe (though the information is sketchy) that the family arriuved in the US at Castle Garden in NYC on Sept. 16, 1854 on the ship “Dewitt Clinton” out of Liverpool.  The passenger manifest lists John Nihan (28), Ellen Nighan (23) and a son Thomas (7 mo.).   Although no other children are listed, and we have no record of a Thomas in the family, and  John’s and Ellen’s ages are wrong, these are the only emigrants  in the Castle Garden records with any spelling variation of Nighan that have the correct first names and who arrived after 1853 (after Michael’s birth).

By the way, how are you descended from Michael?

Michael

Hi Michael!

Thank you so much for your reply and the information!

Would you happen to know where Michael was buried? I can't seem to find any record of that.  In fact I couldn't even find any record of his death till you told me.

Also, you said Michael was married twice. I can only find one marriage record with Veronica Merkel.  Do you know who the other wife was?

I am descended from Michael through his daughter Elizabeth A. Nighan who married Herbert Brasser, through their son Herbert Brasser who married Rosalie Eve, through their daugher Rosemary Brasser who married Raymond Fregoe, through their daughter Robin Fregoe who married Anthony DeRose, who are my parents.  I believe Michael would be my great-great-great grandfather. 

Thank you so much!

Nicole

Hi Michael, 

Your message has intriged me! I never had any record of Michael's first wife, Ellen Driscoll, and only knew of Veronica Merkel, so I always assumed that I Michael's daughter Elizabeth (Brasser) was Veronica's daugher.   As a descendent of Elizabeth, I have dived back into research for Ellen Driscoll, but have not found out much about her or any dates.  I assume Michael remarried because Ellen died, do you have her death date? 

Also you said that Michael and Veronica's daughter Sophia was born in 1885, but Michael and Veronica were not married until 1890.  Did they have Sophia before they were married? 

Lastly, do you know why the Nighans immigrated to the United States?

If it would be easier you could send me an email.  My email is nederose@gmail.com. 

Thank you so much for the information! It is so interesting to me!

Nicole