4. Patrick Stephen Corvan

Patrick Stephen Corvan was the third of four sons born to Patrick and Ann Corvan. English Census returns from 1841, 1851, 1861 and 1871 have Patrick's year of birth as 1821, 1813, 1812 and 1817 respectively,and his age at death in 1873 was stated as 63 years, giving a different birth year again of 1810.
Similarly, his birthplace was given as both Ireland and London...the former in the census returns of 1851 and 1871, and the latter location in 1841 and 1861.The 1861 census specifies St.Giles, London, as Patrick's birthplace, and the 1871 states Longford, Ireland. I favour Ireland as his true birth place...the London Irish had such a terrible reputation in the 19th century that it would be feasible for a man to contemplate saying he was a Londoner born and bred, but seemingly no advantage to be London born and declare that he was Irish.
Patrick was probably still a young boy when his parents and siblings crossed the sea to England.His next sibling in age was Ann, and she was born in London c. 1820-21.The Corvan family established themselves in Buckeridge Street, right in the heart of London's most infamous area, the "Rookery" of St. Giles, where the population was predominantly Irish and the most common occupations thievery and prostitution.
Buckeridge Street consisted mainly of lodging houses, many of which crammed dozens of desperate lodgers into small filthy rooms and cellars. The Corvan house, Number 15 Buckeridge Street, known by one and all as "Paddy Corvan's", was different in that it contained only the Corvan family...Patrick Senior was a coal merchant, although I dare say he had his fingers in several more pies being a moderately wealthy man living in such a street.
Patrick Corvan Snr died in 1834 and his wife Ann in 1839, and the Corvan siblings remained at 15 Buckeridge Street as elder brother John Corvan took over the coal business from his father.
The 1841 census records no occupation for Patrick, although John his brother was stated as being a coal merchant, and Anthony his younger brother was a baker.When Patrick married in 1846, his occupation was 'Gentleman", and in the 1851 census he was a coal merchant. In the last two census returns he completed, those of 1861 and 1871, it is revealed that Patrick Stephen Corvan's occupation in later life was a builder.

Patrick Stephen Corvan married Celilia Burn at the Sardinian Chapel in St. Giles in the Fields on February 11, 1846. The full details provided on the marriage certificate were as follows:
“1846: Marriage solemnized in the Sardinian Chapel in the District of St. Giles In The Fields and St. George Bloomsbury in the county of Middlesex.
February 11, 1846: Patrick Stephen Corvan/ full age/ bachelor/ profession gentleman/ residence at time of marriage: 21 Church St, Soho/ Father’s name: Patrick Corvan, coal merchant
Married to
Cecilia Burn/ minor/ spinster/ residence: 28 Maynard Street/ father: Thomas Burn, painter and glazier.
Married in the Sardinian Chapel according to the Rites and Ceremonies of the Roman Catholic Church by me, John Kyne.
Witnesses: E.J. Cotter
X the mark of Emily Glover.”

The Catholic Marriages and Baptisms Index has the following entry for this marriage, incorrectly transcribed as 'Cowan':-

11/02/1846 Parish: LIF Priest: JK
G: Patrick Stephen COWAN - 21 Church St., Soho
GF: Patrick (15 Bucheridge St., St. Giles) GM: Ann
B: Cecilia BURN - 8 Lawrence St., St. Giles
BF: Thomas BM: Catherine

Note that the two addresses given for the bride differ..the marriage certificate states that she resided in Maynard Street, and the parish register that she lived at Lawrence Street.