O'ROURKE, Francis younger, (DNA Link) ²

   Other names for Francis were OROURKE, Frank ⁴ and ROURKE, Francis.

  General Notes:

"Church Baptism Record

Name:Francis O'Rourke
Date of Birth:
Date of Baptism:02-Sep-1848
Address:
Parish/District:DUNGANNON
Gender:Unknown
County:TYRONE
Father:Francis O'Rourke
Mother:Margt Campbell
Occupation:
Sponsor 1 /Informant 1:Patrick
Sponsor 2 /Informant 2:Ann Hughes
Notes:/ /

© Copyright Irish World Heritage Centre (Tyrone + Fermanagh)"

from www.rootsireland.ie

In the Church Baptism Record transcribed (above) and made available by the Irish Family History Foundation, Francis O'Rourke was recorded as having been baptised on 2 September 1848 in the RC parish of Dungannon in County Tyrone, Ireland. His parents were Francis O'Rourke and Margt Campbell. No address was noted. The two sponsors were recorded as: sponsor one, 'Patrick', and sponsor two 'Ann Hughes'.

The 1861 census recorded Francis aged 13 years, a scholar, living at 73 Omoa Square in the parish of Shotts, with his parents, many brothers and sisters, his grandfather and a lodger.

The 1871 census recorded him living at number 50 'Houses south of Edinburgh Rd', Clarkston, New Monkland. He was aged 22 years, unmarried and a coal miner.

In 1881 the census for New Monkland parish recorded Francis O'Rourke, his wife and four children, plus one boarder, Edward Pinkman, living in Browns Land, Clarkston. Francis, head of the household, was a 30 year old married man who worked as a coal miner. He had been born in Ireland. His boarder too was Irish-born, aged 28 years, and worked as a general labourer.

Margaret Rourke's son, Francis O'Rourke of Clarkston, gave notice of his mother's death before the registrar. Thomas R. Watt, at New Monkland parish on 14 April 1881, and signed the register.

Francis O'Rourke, of Clarkston, gave notice of his brother Edward's sudden death, before the registrar, William Potter, at Hamilton on 21 December 1881.

The 1900 US Federal Census for Osceola Mills, Clearfield County, Pennsylvania, recorded Frank Orourke and his seven children, five daughters and two sons, living in Elizabeth Street. Frank Orourke was recorded as a 51 year old white male, having been born in August 1848. Although Frank's wife had in fact died the previous year, the census recorded him as a married man, not a widower, of 25 years standing. He and both of his parents had been born in Ireland. He had immigrated to the US in 1883, 17 years previously, and was a naturalised American citizen. By occupation he was a 'Mine Boss' and had not been unemployed in the previous twelve months. He could read and write and he spoke English. He rented his house. ^{2 4 5 6}

  Research Notes:

THANK YOU

I am grateful to J. Boswell for the information from the marriage certificate of Francis and Margaret O'Rourke, and for drawing my attention to the FamilySearch entries that indicate a Pennsylvania connection. Also to R. McDonough for most useful information on the O'Rourke extended family. This family is still being researched.

At present more can be found at

http://www.webspawner.com/users/macdonoughgaudet/index.html

  Noted events in his life were:

1. Emigration: to the USA, 1883, Scotland. Francis' mother died in 1881, and his father in April 1883. Two of his children probably died around then as well.
His brother Edward died suddenly in December 1881 and Francis was the informant of his death.
These factors may have had a part in the decision to leave Scotland for the New World.

Francis married Margaret O'FLAHERTY, daughter of Edward FLAHERTY and Margaret McGOWAN, on 21 September 1874 in St Margaret's RC Church, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland.¹ (Margaret O'FLAHERTY was born in 1853 in County Donegal, Ireland,^{3 7} died on 30 August 1899 in Osceola Mills, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, USA ³ and was buried in Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Osceola Mills, Clearfield, Pennsylvania, USA.)

  Marriage Notes:

Francis O'Rourke was a coal miner. He was unmarried and recorded as aged 25 years when he married. He lived at Charleton, New Monkland parish.

Margaret O'Flaherty, who made her X mark, was a paper mill worker. She was unmarried and recorded as aged 21 years. Her address was Airdrie Mill Square, New Monkland parish. Her mother was deceased.

The witnesses were Janet McGowan, who made her X mark, and Ellen Quin, who made her X mark. ⁷