The Corless's of Galway

Patrick Corless was a laborer who in 1855 rented land on Galway Road in the Townland of Killaloonty in Tuam, County Galway, Ireland. His ancestors were likely of the Ui Maine. Early known as MacCoirleasa and later MacCathail and Mac Carluis. Cathal is equated to Charles (The Surnames of Ireland By Edward MacLysaght). So perhaps they were descendents of – sons of – Charles. In the records, the spelling of the last name varied from sibling to sibling since it was often spelled not by the person – who did not know how – but by the recorder. It appears as Corless, Corles, Corliss, Corlis, etc. In Ireland today, the spelling seems to have been standardized as Corless. In Massachusetts and New Hampshire in the United States, two spellings survive: Corliss and Corless. There are also a Protestant clan of Corless’s who hale from England.

In the early 1870s Patick’s son Michael, also a laborer was living at Fishmarket in the town of Galway. He met Bridget Delia Fox a spinster (unemployed woman). The Daughter of John Fox, a laborer, she was ten years younger than Michael. She lived with her family on Sikeen Lane, Townland of South Parks, Parish of St. Nicholas, Galway, County Galway.

On September 28, 1875, Michael, 33, and Delia, 23, were married. Their first child, Delia, was baptized nine months later on June 29, 1876, in St. Nicholas Parish. The couple went on to have eight more children – all baptized in the Arch Diocese of Tuam, from Galway road.

At the end of the century things were not good for the family, Michael, now 58 was without an occupation. Their youngest daughter Mary-Kate died at the age of eight in the Workhouse in Tuam. The 1901 census, lists Delia, now a Fish Dealer, as the householder in Killaloonty with 3 children still at home: 12 year old James (born July 3, 1889), 15 year old John (born February 17, 1887) and 17 year old Honor (born June 11, 1883). I child born in 1885 was baptized but no name was recorded – it is assumed that the child died and birth or very shortly thereafter.

In approximately 1910, James Corliss, left Ireland and ended up settling in Lawrence, Massachusetts, USA. It is not known if any of his siblings also immigrated.