Lawrence O’Hara was born in Ireland in around 1770 and had four surviving children, John, Elizabeth, Amelia and George in India between 1808 and 1823.
This video shows where their descendants migrated to and where they were born over the following 250 years using birth records.
Commentary
1800-1840
The first children of Lawrence were born in 1808 (John), 1805 (Elizabeth), Amelia (1818) in Madras and George (1820) in Mauritius, by 1840, John and Elizabeth had 5 and 3 children respectively all around their birthplace.
1840-1860
From 1840 to 1860, they mostly remained in and around Madras, with marriages of their children also leading to movement to Bombay, Bangalore, Calcutta and on Amelia’s second marriage moving to Penang (Malaysia).
1860-1880
By 1880, John’s family remained in Madras, George’s either in Madras, Bangalore with some movement to Burma. Elizabeth’s family had essentially left Madras, either to Calcutta and most notably to Tasmania. Amelia’s family was also putting down roots in Penang and establishing in Philadelphia and Scotland.
1880-1900
By 1900, John’s family remained primarily in Madras, George’s in Madras or Bangalore, Amelia’ family whilst still also in South India, was establishing themselves in Penang and Philadelphia. Elizabeth’s family whilst retaining a foothold in South India, were now mostly in Tasmania.
1900-1920
By the end of WW1, Both John and George’s family were mostly divided between Madras and Burma, Amelia’s family were still dispersed between South India, Malaysia and Philadelphia.Elizabeth’s were now spread across India and in Tasmania.
1920-1940
By the beginning of WW2, John’s family were still split between Madras and Burma, mostly around Rangoon, George’s family although still overwhelmingly in either Bangalore or spread out across Burma, had started to move to New Zealand and to the UK. Amelia’s family had now almost entirely left India and were living on the East coast of the USA, Scotland and Malaysia. Elizabeth’s family had retained a significant presence numbers in India, as well as continuing to live in Malaysia or Tasmania.
1940-1960
The second World War had a significant impact on the O’Hara’s especially for those living in Burma, the lucky ones either leaving in the run up to 1942 when the Japanese swept through the country, were evacuated or the fate of many, interned in prisoner-of-war camps. Though some remained, or returned with many unable to leave when the military took power in 1962. In the majority of cases those surviving ended up back in India, where the newly independent India posed new challenges. Most of John’s descendants remained in Madras, George’s also in Bangalore whilst establishing new homes in New Zealand, Western Australia and the UK. Amelia’s almost entirely in Philadelphia or those that had escaped Malaysia ended up in the Netherlands. Elizabeth’s family continued in India with some further dispersal to the UK and New Zealand whilst continuing to predominantly live in Tasmania.
1960-1980
From 1960 to 1980, there were few O’Hara’s descended from Lawrence on the India sub-continent. With rights they migrated to the UK and then onwards to Australia, New Zealand or the USA to join previous generations who had gone before them.
1980-2000
In the run up to the new millennium, the migration’s had come to an halt. Additional records that have come to light over the last few months, particularly on the Amelia and Elizabeth lines USA and Australia show that these lines continue to flourish there. so there are descendant of Lawrence O’Hara’s still being born and growing up in Philadelphia, Tasmania, Australia and New Zealand.
2000-2020
New births since the millennium show a partial picture, as records from outside of the UK are difficult to access
1800-2020
This map shows all the known births of the 1400+ descendants of Lawrence O’Hara over 250 years.
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