Eagans in the Annals of Connacht

Today's post is the entries for the Eagans found in the Annals of Connacht. The entire annals can be found at CELT - Corpus of Electronic Texts at University College Cork. John O'Hart in his Irish Pedigrees describes the Annals of Connacht thus:

The Annals of Connaught, another ancient manuscript, often quoted, was in the possession of Dr. Charles O'Conor. A copy is in the Library of the Royal Irish Academy. It contains chiefly the history of Connaught, from the thirteenth to the sixteenth century; and is considered to have been compiled chiefly by the O'Maolconrys as Historiagraphers of Connaught. A beautiful manuscript on vellum, folio size, now deposited in the Bodleian Library at Oxford, and containing partly in poetry, and partly in prose, the history of Fionn MacCumhail [Finn MacCoole] and the celebrated Fenian heroes of Ireland in the third century, and some of the poems ascribed to Oisin, was composed by one of the O'Maolconrys, about the fourteenth century. Dr. Drummond in his Prize Essay on the poems of Oision, states that MacPherson, the celebrated author of "Ossian's Poems," on visiting Oxford, was shown the above memtioned Irish manuscript, as containing the Poems of Oisin, a single word of which he was unable to read.

You will notice in the Annals of Connacht the Eagan/Egan/MacEgan is written as 'Mac Aedacain.'

The entries after the jump.


1225 - Tadc O Finnachta, an officer of Aed son of Ruaidri [O Conchobair] was killed by Mac Aedacan's men on a plundering raid in this same year.

1235 - An Gilla Suasanach (the Mop-haired Lad) Mac Aedacain died this year.

1249 - When Jordan [D'Exeter] and the Galls saw this they issued from the town against the princes. Mary wrought a miracle then; for when the princes and their followers saw the horsemen in arms and armour making towards them, horror and dread seized them and they were put to flight. Aed son of Aed O Conchobair was kilked there, and Diarmait Ruad son of Cormac O Mailsechlainn, O Cellaig's two sons, Brian of the Wood son of Magnus, Carrach Insiubail son of Niall O Conchobair, Baethgalach Mac Aedacain, Mathgamain son of Tadc son of Diarmait Bachlach O Conchobair, Lochlainn O Conchobair's two sons, Domnall son of Cormac Mac Diarmata, Finadanach Mac Branain, Cu Muman Mac Casurlaig, and many others.

1273 - Jordan D'Exeter raided the Corann, and a few of the Connacht princes came up with his party; but they were incited to an unwise move by an evil (?) man, so that Domnall son of of Donnchad son of Magnus [O Conchobair] and Magnus son of Art and Oirechtach Mac Aedacain and Aed O Birn and many others were killed.

1309 - Aed son of Eogan son of Ruaidri son of Aed son of Cathal Croberg, king of Connacht and eligible for his nobility, valour, generosity, form and feature for the kingship of Ireland, was killed by Aed Brefnech son of Cathal Ruad O Conchobair at Coill in Chlachain in the territory of Brefne. Many of the great men of Connacht were killed with him, such as Conchobair Mac Diarmata, Diarmait Ruad son of Tadc son of Andrias O Conchobair, Diarmait son of Cathal Carrach Mac Diarmata and Aed son of Muirchertach son of Tadc son of Maelruanaid [Mac Diarmata]. And of the Eastern party there fell on that same day Diarmait Oc O hElide, a noble loyal princely yeoman, Maeldomnaig the Gallowglass, Gilla na Naem Mac Aedacain, ollav of Connacht in Law and a universal master equally skilled in all arts, Fagurtach O Dobailein of the household of Mac Donnchada and many others besides these. The losses on both sides were not less than a hundred. Aed Brefnech came into the country afterwards and the Three Tuatha submitted to him.

1316 - But on hearing that William Burke had come into Connacht from Scotland, Feidlim called upon his subjects to assemble an army to expel him; and the army was assembled from all the region between Assaroe and Aughty. Moreover Donnchad O Briain, king of Thomond, came with his assembled host, and O Maelsechlainn, king of Meath, O Ruairc, king of Brefne, O Fergail, king of Conmaicne, Tadc O Cellaig, king of Ui Maine, and many more of the kings' and chieftains' sons of Ireland assembled to him. And they all marched to Athenry to oppose William Burke, Mac Feorais, and the other Connacht Galls, and joined battle with them in fron of the town. The Gaels were defeated and Feidlim O Conchobair, who was king of Connacht and entitled to become King of Ireland without opposition, was killed there and Tadc O Cellaig, king of Ui Maine fell with him, together with twenty-eight men who were entitled to succeed to the kingship of Ui Maine. Magnus son of Domnall O Conchobair, tanist of Connacht, was killed, as were Art O hEgra, king of Leyney, Maelschlainn Carrach O Dubda, Muirchertach son of Conchobair O Dubda, Conchobair Oc O Dubda, Diarmait Mac Diarmata, an eligible prince of Moylurg, Muirchertach son of Taichlech Mac Diarmata, Muirchertach son of Diarmait son of Fergal [Mac Diarmaita], Maelsechlainn Oc Mac Magnusa, Sean son of Murchad O Matadain, Domnall son of Aed O Con Chenainn, king of the Ui Diarmata, and Muirchertach his brother, Murchad O Matadain, Domnall O Baigill, Donnchad O Mailmuaid and his followers, the son of Murchad Mag Mathgamma and a hundred of his men, Niall Sinnach, king of Tethba, and his followers, Fergal son of Seoan Gallda O Fergail, Uillial son of Aed Oc O Fergail, Tomas son of Amlaib O Fergail. Five of the Clann Donnchaid fell there, viz. Tomaltach son of Gilla Crist Mac Donnchaid, Murchad, Mac Donnchaid, Conchobair son of Tadc, Muirchertach and Maelsechlainn Mac Donnchaid. Eoin Mac Aedacain, brehon to O Conchobair, Gilla na Naem son of Dail re Docair O Dobailein, the standard-bearer, and Tomas O Conallain fell around their lord. Moreover it is hard to say how many of the men of Munster and Meath and of Ireland generally were killed there; in the words of the poet: 'Many of the men of all Ireland [lay dead] about that great field; many a king's son, whom I name not, of the Meath and Munster hosts was killed in that great rout; my heart rues the fight.' These deeds were done on the day of St. Lawrence Martyr. Fedlimid was a man of twenty-three when he was killed, and he reigned for five years till Ruairdi son of Cathal usurped the kingship from him for half a year, and he reigned again for half a year after Ruaidri's death till he was slain in this battle of Athenry.

1317 - Mael Isa Ruad Mac Aedacain, a master Brehon in the ancient law, died.

1320 - An important meeting between Cathal O Conchobair and Maelruanaid Mac Diarmata, where they mad a wise and friendly peace. Afterwards Mac Diarmata came [back] into the country and this Cathal acted treacherously towards him and he was captured at Mullach Doramnach and his wife, Graine daughter of Mac Magnusa, at Rockingham. The countryside was then ravaged and Mael Isa Donn Mac Aedacain and his son and Tomaltech Mac Donnchada, lord of Tirerril, were also captured.

1327 - Sadb daughter of Mac Aedacain died.

1355 - Tadc Mac Aedacain died.

1359 - Aed son of Conchobar Mac Aedacain died this year.

1390 - Brian Mac Aedacain, ollav-brehon of Brefne, died.

1390 - Sean Mac Aedacain the Official, the best man in his post in his time, was killed four nights before Christmas and I do not know who killed him.

1399 - Gilla na Naem Mac Aedacain, ollav of Eastern Munster in Law, and Baethgalach Mac Aedacain, ollav in Law of the Ui Fiachrach and the Ui Amalgaid, died.

1401 - Gilla na Naem Mac Aedacain, judge-ollav of the Ui Failgi and the Cenel Fiachnach, rested.

1409 - Muirchertach Mac Aedacain, law-ollave of Teffia, died.

1411 - Magnus son of Baethgalach Mac Aedacain, prior of Sligo, died.

1422 - The sons of O Mailsechlainn made an attack on Ardnurcher. Mag Eochacan was in the castle with a few men at that time, having with him also Cosnamach Oc Mac Aedacain, law-ollav of the Cenel Fiachach and the Ui Failgi. The brehon mounted his horse and rode after them, thinking them to be the sons of Muirchertach Oc Mac Eochacain, who were in rebellion against Mac Eochacain at that time, he himself having [come to the castle] to make settlement between the parties.
He followed the band westwards out of the town to Topar Brigte. Here the sons of O Mailsechlainn were waiting (?) and at the noise (?) of the rider they discharged the arrows which were ready in their bows and Cosnamach Oc was killed without delay by an arrow shot.

1437 - Gormlaith daughter of Dauid O Duibgennain, wife of Brian Mac Aedacain, and ultimately an anchorite, entered into rest in the monastery of the Trinity on Loch Key.

1438 - Conchobair Mac Aedacain, ollav of Macwilliam of Clanrickard, died.

1443 - Gilla na Naem Mac Aedacain, the teacher of Ireland in his own art, ollav of Ormond, died.

1473 - Mac Aedacain of Ormond, that is Gilla na Naem, died the year after.

1473 - Brian son of Roiberd Mac Aedacain, law-ollav to O Conchobair Don and O hAinlige, [died.]

1473 - Gilla na Naem son of Donnchad Mac Aedacain died.

1474 - Gilla Find Mac Aedacain, ollav to O Conchobair Failgi, died.

1487 - Sean son of Conchobair Mac Aedacain died.

1528 - Magnus son of Domnall Mac Aedacain died.

1529 - Cosnamaid son of Fergal son of Dub Mac Aedacain, a man preminent in Brehon Law and in Poetry, died as was buried at Elpin.

1529 - Mac Aedacain of Ormond, Domnall son of Aed son of Domnall, head of the learning and wisdom of Leth Moght, died.

Hanleys in the Irish Annals

Earlier I added entries relating to the Eagans in the Annals of the Four Masters. Today I am adding entries relating to the Hanleys, a prominent family in Roscommon and the chiefs of Cinel Dobhtha.

Entries after the jump.

1133 - A battle was gained by the men of Teathbha over the Sil-Muireadhaigh, wherein fell Amhlaeibh, grandson of Aireachtach Ua Roduibu, chief of Clann-Tomaltaigh, and Mac-an-leastair O'Hanly, chief of the Cinel-Dobhtha, was taken prisoner, and many slain.

1151 - The commencement of the erection of the daimhliag of Cluain-Coirpthe, by Cucaille, son of Mac Scolaighi, and Gillacoimhdhe, the grandson of Leaster O'Hanly, chief of Cinel-Dobhtha.

1155 - Maelruanaidh O'Hanly, noble priest of Cluain-Coirpthe, died.

1176 - A ballybetagh was granted in perpetuity by Roderic O'Conor, King of Ireland, viz. the townland of Toomaghy to God and St. Berach. The following were the sureties of that perpetual gift: Keyly Catholicus O'Duffy, Archbishop of Tuam; Aireaghtagh O'Rodiv; Flann O'Finnaghty; Hugh O'Flynn; Rourke O'Mulrenin; Ignatius O'Monahan; Gilla-an-choimhdhe Mac-an-leastair O'Hanly; and Conor Mac Dermot; who were to guarantee that this townland was to remain for ever the property of God and St. Berach, from O'Conor and his representative.

1275 - Rory, son of Turlough O'Conor, was taken prisoner by the O'Conor (Teige, son of Turlough, his brother). Rory afterwards made his escape, and Conor O'Hanley took him with him; but they were pursued, and overtaken, and Conor O'Hanley was killed.

1287 - Adam Cusack, Benmumhan, daughter of O'Kane, and Donnell O'Hanly, Chief of Kenel-Dofa in the county of Roscommon, died.

1297 - Manus O'Hanly, Chief of Kinel-Dofa, died.

1306 - A great war broke out between Hugh, son of Owen O'Conor, King of Connaught, assisted by the chiefs of the Sil-Murray and Hugh, son of Cathal O'Conor, joined by some of the sons of the chieftains of Connaught, and the chieftains and tribes of Breifny. They the two armies were for the space of four months encamped at both sides of the Shannon. Some of Hugh's people encamped in the Tuathas, where they committed great depredations. Flann, son of Fiachra O'Flynn, heir presumptive of Sil-Maelruain, and Brian, son of Donough Reagh O'Conor, together with many others, were slain by the O'Hanlys, who were in pursuit of them for their prey. The most distinguished of those who made this incursion were Rory, son of Cathal O'Conor; Donough, son of Conor of the Cup, the son of Farrell Mac Dermot, heir presumptive to the lordship of Moylurg, by reason of his prosperity and hospitality up to that day. Howbeit, these chieftains marched on with their spoil, and as many of their people as had survived, until they arrived at O'Conor's fortress. They then burned the palace of the King of Connaught. Hugh, the son of Owen, overtook them after they had burned the royal residence, and immediately deprived them of the prey, killed Donough, son of Conor of the Cup, and some of his people around him.

1311 - Teige O'Hanly was slain by Jordan de Exeter.

1358 - Conor O'Hanly, Chief of the Race of Dofa, son of Aengus, died, after gaining victory over the world and the Devil.

1360 - Sir Robert Savadge and Dermot O'Hanly died.

1369 - Melaghlin Mac Mahon, heir to the lordship of Oriel; Brian, the son of Murtough O'Conor; John, the son of Edward Mac Hubert; Donough O'Beirne, Chief of Tir-Briuin; Randal O'Hanly; Cormac O'Hanly; also John Mac Egan, and Gilbert O'Bardan, two accomplished young harpers of Conmaicne, died.

1381 - Cathal, son of Rory O'Conor, was afterwards valiantly and triumphantly taken prisoner by Brian Ballagh O'Conor, at Bel-an-tachair, and many good men along with him, among whom were Brian O'Beirne and Loughlin O'Hanly, who were taken as they were returning from Conmaicne of Dunmore. Brian detained Cathal in prison, until he obtained his own terms from him for his ransom; and they then made peace.

1382 - Some of the chiefs of Connaught were taken prisoners by Rory O'Conor, at a meeting of his own, namely, O'Hanly, O'Beirne, and Mac Keherny, because he had obtained intelligence that they were forming a friendship with the grandsons of Felim against him.

1383 - Ivor O'Hanly, heir to the chieftainship of Kinel-Dofa, was slain by his own tribe.

1396 - The victory of Creag was gained by O'Conor Roe and his kinsmen over O'Conor Don, Hugh O'Conor, Conn Mac Branan, and Hugh O'Hanly, Chief of Kinel-Dofa. In the conflict were slain Con Mac Branan, Chief of Corcachlann, John O'Teige, the son of John O'Hanly, and many others besides.

1405 - Hugh O'Hanly, Chief of Kinel-Dofa, died, and was interred in Cluain Coirpthe. [Note: Cluain Coirpthe was reportedly the location of a monastery built by St. Bereach at the end of the sixth century. But, natives of the area point out that St. Berach's great monastery was in O'Hanly's country in the townland of Kilbarry, near the brink of the Shannon.]

1408 - Conor, the son of Ivor O'Hanly, was slain by the people of Corco-Achlann and the Kinel-Dofa themselves, on the bog of Cluain na-g-Cailleach, on Lá na-m-Bruach-n-Dubh (and that was a hard day to the sons of Ivor O'Hanly, and to Cathal Duv O'Conor), and was interred at Roscommon.

1415 - Tomaltagh, the son of Teige O'Beirne, was slain by Farrell, the son of Dermot Mac Rannall, in a nocturnal attack at Cluain Sithe, in Baile Ella, in the house of Mac an-Donnanaigh; and the daughter of Loughlin O'Hanly was burned there also, on the sixth of the Ides of January.

1452 - Gilla-na-naev, the son of Hugh O'Hanly, Lord of Kinel-Dofa, died at Cluain Coirpthe, where he had been blind for a long time, after having resigned his lordship.

1452 - Loughlin Oge O'Hanly, Chief of Kinel-Dofa, was treacherously slain in the crannog of Lough Leise by the son of Murrough, son of Gilla-na-naev O'Hanly, and the son of Owney, son of Gilla-na-naev, having been betrayed to them by his own people, namely, by Donnell Carragh O'Maelbrighde, and his son, and by Thomas, the son of Gilla-Crossagh O'Maelbrighde. Rory Boy, the son of Gilla-na-naev, was then elected Chieftain; and he hanged, for their evil deeds, these three stewards of his own people, who had acted treacherously towards Loughlin.

1468 - Conor, son of Edmond, who was son of Melaghlin O'Hanly, died on Low Saturday.

1469 - Hugh, son of Owney O'Hanly, and Teige, the son of Murtough, grandson of Tomaltagh O'Hanly, died; and Teige, the son of Brian, son of Tomaltagh, assumed the chieftainship.

1472 - Murtough, the son of Tomaltagh, son of Ivor O'Hanly, died.

1473 - Brian, the son of Robert Mac Egan, ollav to O'Conor Don and O'Hanly, died.

1475 - Edmond, the son of Melaghlin O'Hanly, worthy of being Chief of the three Tuathas, died the fourteenth day before the festival of St. Michael, the day of the week being Thursday.

1478 - Edmond, the son of Teige, son of Loughlin O'Hanly, was slain by his own tribe.

1482 - Dermot, the son of Loughlin Oge O'Hanly, heir to the chieftainship of Kinel-Dofa, was treacherously slain by his kinsmen, the descendants of Gilla-na-naev O'Hanly, in violation of a treaty entered into before the relics of Connaught, and of the guarantees of some of its chieftains.

1482 - Rory Boy O'Hanly, Chief of Kinel-Dofa, died at a venerable old age; and Teige, his kinsman, took his place.

1482 - An army was led by Rory Mac Dermot, Lord of Moylurg, and Teige Mac Rannall, Lord of Conmaicne of Moy -Rein, against Kinel-Dofa, to take revenge of them for having violated their guarantees, and they burned the house of O'Hanly, and slew Donough, the son of Siacus Carragh, and the son of O'Conor, grandson of Cormac. They were however routed by the inhabi- tants of the territory and pursued as far as Bel-an-atha-fada, whither Felim Finn O'Conor came to check the pursuers and stopped the flight.

1484 - Rory Oge, the son of Rory Boy O'Hanly, died.

1486 - Loughlin, the son of Gilla-claen O'Hanly, died.

1489 - Felim Oge, the son of Felim, son of Farrell, son of Thomas, son of Mahon, son of Gilla-Isa Roe O'Reilly; Donnell, the son of Torna O'Mulconry, intended Ollav of Sil-Murray; Donnell Cananach i. e the Canon, the son of Teige O'Birn; Cormac O'Conolly, head of the gallowglasses of O'Conor's rear guard; Ineen-duv, the daughter of O'Conor, i.e. Donough the black-eyed; Hugh Boy and Donnell Caech, two sons of O'Hanly; Rury Glas, the son of Rory, son of Mac Hugh; Mac Donough Reagh, i.e. Hugh; and Finola, the daughter of Mac Dermot Roe, all died of the plague.

1489 - The descendants of Laoighseach, the son of Rossa O'Farrell, plundered Cluain-tuaiscirt-na-Sinna; in revenge of which the O'Hanlys triumphantly plundered Tir-Licin upon the descendants of Laoighseach.

1490 - Dermot Boy, the son of O'Hanly, was slain by Fergus, the son of Edmond, at Coill-na-Cloiche; and O'Hanly, his father, i.e. Teige, the son of Gilla-na-naev, lost his sight through grief for him. Murtough, the son of Owny O'Hanly, was called the O'Hanly in his place.

1492 - O'Hanly, i.e. Gilla-na-naev, the son of Donnell, Chief of Kinel-Dofa, was slain by his own tribe.

1495 - Manus, the son of Owen Roe Mac Manus of Tir-Tuathail-Maoilgairbh, and Murtough, the son of Owny O'Hanly, Chief of the race of Dofa, the son of Aengus, died; and Donnell, the son of Rory Boy, assumed the chieftainship in his place.

1536 - An army was led by O'Conor Sligo; Brian, the son of O'Rourke; and by the son of Cathal Oge O'Conor, at the instance of Mac Dermot and the sons of Teige Mac Dermot, against Turlough Roe, the son of Teige Boy, son of Cathal Roe O'Conor. They desolated the Cluainte, as well ecclesiastical as lay possessions. From thence they marched into the Tuathas, where the O'Hanlys gave them pledges and hostages in behalf of their country ; and from thence they passed into Hy-Many, where they spoiled and completely plundered every one who was the friend of O'Conor Roe, save only those whom the son of O'Rourke protected, for it was not to destroy that O'Rourke had gone thither, but to establish a peace between Mac Dermot and his kindred on the one side, and O'Conor Roe and all his allies on the other. These troops took the castle of Turraic, and demolished it. Donough, the son of Edmond O'Kelly, came and surrendered himself as a hostage, lest they should destroy his country. These troops then returned, having accomplished their expedition as was pleasing to them; and they took with them to Sligo those hostages, namely, the son of O'Kelly and the son of O'Hanly; and they also carried with them the variegated door of the castle which they had taken, in order to place it as a door to the castle of Sligo.

1595 - O'Donnell, on his way to Coillte-Chonchobhair, ordered his troops to halt, to be drawn out in array, and reviewed. This they accordingly did, and the number he had there was not great, being only four hundred men fit for valor and action; for no other forces joined his muster besides the Kinel-Connell, except a few from the province of Olnegmacht, who acted as spies and guides in pointing out the way to him, under the conduct of Conor Oge Mac Dermot, and Con, the son of Dubhaltach, son of Tuathal O'Conor. This host, after having been reviewed, marched on until they arrived at the River Boyle, and crossed it at the bridge of Cnoc-an-Bhiocara early in the evening. From thence they proceeded through Moylurg and Moy-Nai, and next morning, by break of day, arrived at Rathcroghan. Here, as he O'Donnell had instructed them before they arrived at that place, marauding parties were detached and sent forth; far and wide did these heroic bands disperse from each other, for one party of them proceeded to the country of O'Conor Roe and O'Hanly, another to the bridge of Bel-atha-Mogha, on the River Suck, and a third party west-wards, beyond Caislen-riabhach. The dense cloud of vapour and smoke which spread in every place where these forces passed, all around Rathcroghan, was enough to conceal their numbers. The party that had gone to Ath-Mogha Ballimoe, and those who had gone to Airteach and Clann-Keherny, returned to Rathcroghan before mid-day, though it was difficult for them to return in regular order, by reason of the immensity of their preys and spoils; and they could have procured more, if they had been but able to carry or drive them. O'Donnell and these went on with their preys to Elphin, and remained there for some time, awaiting the party who had gone to the country of O'Conor Roe and O'Hanly. He afterwards proceeded on from Elphin, keeping Ath-slisean on the right, until he arrived in Hy-Briuin, where he remained that night, until all his people had come to him with their spoils. None of the Irish had for a long time before collected (by one day's plundering) so much booty as he had there.

1597 - O'Conor Don (Hugh, the son of Dermot, son of Carbry), who had been for a long time imprisoned by O'Donnell, was set at liberty by him on the 4th of December, after he O'Conor had given him his full demand; and he solemnly bound himself to be for ever obedient to O'Donnell, by guarantees and oaths of God and the Church; and he also delivered up to him, as hostages for the fulfilment of this, namely, his own two sons, the heir of O'Beirne, the eldest son of O'Hanly, and the heir of O'Flynn, &c.

Our New Camera

I have to try out our new camera. Handles both photos and videos. Isn't Kodak just great. A photo and video after the jump.

And a video.

Lorentz Philip Harter (c. 1755 - 1843)

My 4th great-grandfather, Lorentz Philip Harter, was among those Mohawk River Valley residents that participated in the American Revolution. As with others of his neighbors he was captured at Little Falls, NY and taken to Canada where he was kept until the end of the war. In 1854 his children petitioned the Federal government for his pension. This was not granted but the petition and associated papers are in his file at the National Archives in Washington. In 1996 I requested and received a copy of the file.

The file follows after the jump.


Pension Number - R.4701
State of New York
County of Onondaga

On this 4th day of April A. D. one thousand eight hundred and fifty three personally appeared before me the undersigned a Judge in and for the county aforesaid, Lawrence Herder, a credible person aged seventy years a resident of Kirkville in said county who is the child and one of the legitimate heirs at law of Lorens Herder and Barbara Herder, both deceased and who being duly sworn according to law makes oath to the following declaration in order to obtain the benefits of the 3rd section of the act of Congress passed the 4th day of July 1836.

That Lorens Herter (his said father) was a resident of the Town of Manheim in the County of Montgomery and state aforesaid. When in the year 1779 he was drafted as a private in a company of New York Militia in the Revolutionary War for the term of nine months commanded by Captain Crisler and Henry Herter. That afterwards he was drafted twice for nine months and in the 4th Regiment commanded by Colonel Peter Bellinger and served each draft thus making a full time of 29 months that at the expiration of the last draft he returned home at Little Falls in the Town of Menham (Manheim?) aforesaid when he was taken prisoner and kept by the British until the close of said war. After he was released, and he therefore became entitled to a pension under the act of Congress passed 18th March 1818. That in the year 1818 or after the passage of that law his said father made a declaration before Judge Waddle and proved his service by three credible witnesses who names were George Edick, John Helmer and General Campbell who were that said Lorens was a soldier in the said war. That Judge Waddle kept the said papers in his possession and in a week or two thereafter he died and what became of the papers this declarant is unable to set forth.

That his said father died at Manlius in the County of Onondaga and state first above written on the nineteenth (19) day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty-three (1843) in the 98 year of his age, that said Barbara died anterior to that time, to wit, on the 13th day of March 1828, at the place, town and county aforesaid, that said Louren Herder and Barbara were married he believes by the Rev. Abraham Rosencrantz a Presbyterian clergyman on the day of ____177__, and always co-habited together as husband and wife until the death of said Barbara and as such raised a large family of children to wit: Charity, Philip, Peggy, Lawrence, Betsey, Barbara, Conrad, Lany, Caty and Henry all of whom are now dead except Charity (Miller), Lawrence (this declarant) Barbara Shoemaker and Henry Herter.

That his said father did not receive a pension in his lifetime, to which he was entitled under said act of 18th March 1818 and this declarant therefore makes the application for the arrears which were due him and unapplied for by as aforesaid from 18 March 1818 up to the time of his death for himself and the other remaining children of the said Loren and Barbara Herder with deceased.

(Signed) Lawrence Harter

State of New York
County of Onondaga

Be it remembered that on this third day of July A.D. 1854 personally appeared before the said county court of said county, Lawrence Harter a resident of Sullivan in the County of Madison and State of New York who being duly sworn according to law doth on his oath make the following declaration viz:

That he is the son and one of the heirs at law in for Lawrence P. Harter, deceased, late of the Town of Manlius in the County of Onondaga and state aforesaid.

That he has heard his father the said Lawrence P. Harter often say that he was married to his deceased mother Barbary Harter before the War of the Revolution and that his mother’s name before her said marriage was Barbary Delany.

That his said father has often told him that he had been a soldier in the War of the Revolution, that he served three towers [tours] of nine months each that he served eighteen months under Captain Hendrick or Henry Harter and nine months under Captain Christler in Rome (then Fort Stanwix) and that he was afterwards taken prisoner at Little Falls at the time the British burnt the mills at that place and was a prisoner about seven months and until the end of the war.

That his mother Barbary died in Manlius on the 13th day of March 1823 and that his said father Lawrence P. Harter died on the 19th day of October 1833 in the Tow of Manlius aforesaid and that he left no widow, him survived.

That his said father has often told him that while he was a prisoner with the British the enemy killed his horses and drove away all of his cattle and that he was sold to a Frenchman and taken to Montreal and kept there until the peace was declared when he was sent to Halifax and then to Boston from whence he returned home.

And this deponent further says that his said father made a declaration of the facts in this case under the first act granting pensions to the soldiers of the Revolution which declaration as put into the hands of J.O Walters Esq. then of Manlius Onondaga County and is supposed to have been filed by him in the office of the Commissioner of Pensions in the City of Washington D.C., which will now fully appear by the papers herewith presented and by the proof filed by my said father or his agent J.O. Walters Esq. for the purpose of obtaining a pension under any former acts of Congress and reference [sic] will be had to all legal and reliable proof or papers hereto been filed by any person or persons for the purposes above mentioned and this deponent further says that his father, the said Lawrence P. Harter died leaving five children, him surviving to wit: Charity Miller, Lawrence Harter, Barbary Shoemaker, Catharine Reals and Henry Harter which was all of the children, him surviving and said claimant is now 73 years of age and it is understood and believed that there is now arrears of pension and other claims due from the United States for services rendered by the said Lawrence P. Harter deceased in the War of the Revolution.

Now therefore the true intent of all of this is to qualify and appoint and in power Albert Cook of Pompey in the County of Onondaga and state aforesaid my true and lawfull attorney with power of substitution to investigate substantiate demand and receive the avails of said claim or claims and to say and do all things therein as amply as I might do hereby ratifying all things said or done by said attorney or his substitute in vertinture [?] of also revoking all powers of attorney or other authority heretofore given for any such purposes. In witness whereof I have hereto set my hand and seal the day and year first above written. Lawrence Herter

Attest. Israel Spencer Chas. S. Wick.

The following letter is part of the pension application folder for Lorens Harter.



June 30, 1930

Mr. M. G. Bronner
Suite 404 Burrell Building
Little Falls, New York

Dear Sir:
I advise you from the papers in the Revolutionary War pension claim, R.4701, it appears that Lawrence (Lorens) Philip Harter, Herter or Herder, married before the War of the Revolution, no specific date stated, Barbara Delaney, daughter of Peter Delaney.

She died March 13, 1823 or 1828, at Manlius, New York and he died there October 19, 1833 or 1843.

Their children were: Charity, Philip, Peggy, Lawrence, Betsey, Barbara, Conrad, Taney or Laney, Caty or Catherine, and Henry.

Catherine Reals died prior to 1853. Charity Miller, Barbara Shoemaker, Lawrence and Henry applied in 1853 for the pension that might have been due their father and it was alleged that he served three tours of nine months each as a private in the New York Militia, under Captains Crisler, Henry Herder, Frederick Frank, Starring, Helmer and Small, in Colonel Peter Bellinger’s Regiment, and was taken prisoner June 21, 1782 and held until December 14, 1782.

The claim was not allowed as he failed to furnish satisfactory proof of six months service.

Very truly yours,
E. W. Morgan
Acting Commissioner..

Eagans in the Irish Annals

The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland, or the Annals of the Four Masters as they are more commonly called, were compiled between 1632 and 1636 under the direction of Michael O'Clery, a Franciscan brother in Donegal. They are yearly chronicles of major (and sometimes minor) occurrances in Ireland from the Year of the Deluge (2242 A.M. - that is, 2242 years from the creation of the earth) until 1616 A.D. From 1235 A.D until 1601 A.D. there are numerous references to the Eagans (or Egans, MacEgans, etc.) as they were one of the most noted families of brehons - lawyers and judges.

More after the break.


The native Irish law, or Brehon Law, was that great body of civil, military and criminal law used until the beginning of the seventeenth century. It regulated the Irish society from kings to slaves and enumerated the rights and privileges of all. A very complex and detailed law, it was interpreted by a group of hereditary masters called brehons—from breth, the Irish word for 'judgement.' Among the major hereditary brehon families, the Mac Aodhagáins (MacEgans) were, without a doubt, the most prominent. They are mentioned more often as brehons than any other family in the Irish annals. Fergus Kelly notes that between the fourteenth and sixteenth centuries the MacEgans acted as brehons to most of the ruling families of western and central Ireland including Mac Carthy Mor of Desmond, Butler of Ormond, O'Keenedy of Ormond, Burke of Clanricard, O'Connor of Offaly, Mageoghagan of Keneleagh, O'Farrell of Annaly, O'Connor Roe, O'Conor Don, O'Rourke of Brefny, O'Connor Sligo, O'Dowd of Tireragh, and Barret of Tirawley.

The Mac Egan family is described by Joseph and Mary Joan Egan in their History of the Clan Egan, and by Conor Mac Hale in his Annals of the Clan Egan. Both works provide a wealth of information concerning this hereditary Irish brehon family, including extracts of some of the Mac Egan entries from the Irish Annals. This work documents all known references to this family from three of the major annals where they are found.

The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland—or more commonly called The Annals of the Four Masters—were compiled four lay Franciscan brothers in County Donegal. (Hence, it is also sometimes referred to as The Annals of Donegal.) The chief compiler of the Annals was Michael O'Clery, along with Conary (Michael's brother) and Cugogry O'Clery (a third cousin of Michael and Conary) and Ferfeasa O'Mulconry.

Michael O'Clery spent fifteen years in collecting manuscripts from various parts of Ireland. The Annals begin at the earliest part of the Irish history and are carried down to the year 1616 A. D. Upon completion of their work Brother O'Clery sought comments from those whom he thought were among the most learned men in Ireland. As a result, a number of comments on the work of the Four Masters are found prefixed to the copy in the Library of Trinity College, Dublin. Two are significant to members of the Egan family; one by Flann Mac Egan, of Ballymacegan, and another by Boetius MacEgan, bishop of Elphin. Following is an English translation of the letter by Flann Mac Egan, and Bishop Mac Egan's letter in Latin. (I must apologize that even with my four years of Latin at Aquinas Institute in the late 1950s it would be futile to attempt a complete translation Bishop MacEgan's letter. Suffice to say, he approved of it.)

Whereas the poor friar, Michael O'Clery (in obedience to his superior, Father Joseph Everard, Provincial of the Order of St. Francis in Ireland) came to me to shew me this book,—I, Flann, son of Cairbre Mac Aedhagain, of Baile-Mhic-Aedhagain, in the county of Tibrat-Arann, do testify that,—though many were the books of history of the old books of Ireland which I saw, and though numerous the uncertain number of ancient and modern books which I saw written and being transcribed in the school of John, son of Torna Ua Maelchonaire, the tutor of the men of Ireland in general in history and chronology, and who had all that were in Ireland learning that science under his tuition,—I have not seen among them all any book of better order, more general, more copious, or more to be approved of, as a book of history and annals, than this book. I think also that no intelligent person whatever, of the laity or clergy, or of the professions, who shall read it, can possibly find fault with it. In attestation of which thing aforesaid, I here put my name on this, at Baile-Mhic-Aedhagain aforesaid, the 2nd of November, 1636.
FLANN MAC AODHAGAIN.

Visis testimoniis, et authenticis peritorum approbationibus, do hoc opere, per Fr. Michaelem Clery Ordinis Laicum fratrem collecto, libenter illud approbamus, ut in publicum lucem edatur.
Datum Ros-rield, 27 Novemb. 1636
FR. BOETIUS EGAN, Eps.

In 1851 the Annals were translated and edited, along with comments, by John O'Donovan, and published in seven volumes (the seventh volume being an index). It is O'Donovan's translation that is used for this work.

Annals of the Four Masters

1225 A.D. - Flann, the son of Auliffe O'Fallon, Chief of Clann-Uadagh, was slain by Felim, the son of Cathal Crovderg, in this war; and Teige O'Finaghty, one of the officers Aes graidh of Hugh, the son of Roderic, was slain by the people of Mac Egan during the same war.

1249 A.D. - An army was led by the Roydamnas heirs presumptive of Connaught, namely, Turlough and Hugh, two sons of Hugh, the son of Cathal Crovderg, to Athenry, on Lady Day in mid-autumn, to burn and plunder it. The sheriff of Connaught was in the town before them, with a great number of the English. The English demanded a truce for that day from the sons of the King of Connaught, in honour of the Blessed virgin Mary, it being her festival day; but this they did not obtain from them; and although Turlough forbade his troops to assault the town, the chiefs of the army would not consent, but determined to make the attack, in spite of him. When Jordan and the English saw this, they marched out of the town, armed and clad in mail, against the Irish army. The youths of the latter army, on seeing them drawn up in battle array, were seized with fear and dismay, so that they were routed; and this was through the miracles of the Blessed Virgin Mary, on whose festival they had refused to grant the truce demanded from them. Of their chiefs were here killed Hugh, son of Hugh O'Conor; Dermot Roe, son of Cormac O'Melaghlin, the two sons of O'Kelly; Brian an Doire, the son of Manus; Carragh Inshiubhail, son of Niall O'Conor; Boethius Mac Egan; the two sons of Loughlin O'Conor; Donnell, son of Cormac Mac Dermot; Finnanach Mac Branan; Cumumhan Mac Cassarly, and others besides.

1273 A.D. - A depredation was committed by Jordan d'Exeter in Corran. A few of the young princes of Connaught overtook him; but these having adopted an imprudent plan, suggested by some of the common people, it fell out that Donnell, son of Donough, Manus, son of Art O'Conor, Aireaghtagh Mac Egan, Hugh O'Beirne, and many others, were slain.

1309 A.D. - Hugh, the son of Owen, son of Rory, son of Hugh, son of Cathal Crovderg, King of Connaught, and worthy heir to the monarchy of Ireland, the most hospitable and expert at arms of all the Irish born in his time, was slain by Hugh Breifneach, the son of Cathal O'Conor, at Coill-an-clochain, together with many of the chiefs of his people about him. Among these were Conor Mac Dermot; Dermot Roe, son of Teige O'Conor; Dermot, son of Cathal Carragh Mac Dermot; Hugh, son of Murtough, son of Teige, son of Mulrony; and Dermot O'Healy, a princely brughaidh, the best of his time. On the other side fell Gilla-na-naev Mac Egan, Chief Brehon of Connaught, and the most illustrious of the Brehons of his time; Faghartach O'Devlin, and others not mentioned. The Sil-Murray then conferred the lordship upon Rory,the son of Cathal O'Conor. Rory O'Conor and O'Flynn afterwards led a troop of cavalry to the Plain, and slew Mac Feorais Bermingham.

1316 A.D. - A very great army was mustered by Felim O'Conor and the chiefs of the province of Connaught. In this battle were slain John Mac Egan, O'Conor's Brehon.

1317 A.D. - Maelisa Roe Mac Egan, the most learned man in Ireland in law and judicature, died.

1320 A.D. - A meeting and conference took place between Cathal O'Conor and Mulrony Mac Dermot: a kindly and amicable peace was concluded between them, and Mac Dermot then returned to his own country. Cathal, however, afterwards violated the conditions of this peace, for he made a prisoner of Mac Dermot at Mullagh Doramhnach, and also of his wife, the daughter of Mac Manus, at Port-na-Cairrge. Maelisa Don Mac Egan and his son, and Tomaltagh Mac Donough, Lord of Tirerrill, were also made prisoners, and the country was entirely plundered.

1327 A.D. - Farrell, son of Ualgarg O'Rourke, Cuilen O'Dempsey, and Sabia, daughter of Mac Egan, died.

1329 A.D. - Maelisa Donn Mac Egan, Chief Ollav of Connaught, died.

1353 A.D. - Saerbhreathach, son of Maelisa Donn Mac Egan, Ollave of Conmaicne, died on Inis Cloghrann.

1355 A.D. - Murrough, the son of Cathal O'Farrell; Dervorgilla, the daughter of O'Farrell; and Teige Mac Egan, a man learned in the Fenechas, died.

1359 A.D. - Manus O'Dowda, son of the Lord of Hy Fiachrach, and Hugh, the son of Conor Mac Egan, the choicest of the Brehons of Ireland, died.

1362 A.D. - Auliffe Mac Firbis, intended Ollav of Tireragh; Farrell, the son of Teige Mac Egan, a learned Brehon; John, son of Donough Mac Firbis, intended Ollav of Tireragh; Dermot, son of Mac Carthy; Conor, son of Melaghlin Carragh O'Dowda, and Murtough, his son, all died.

1369 A.D. - Melaghlin Mac Mahon, heir to the lordship of Oriel; Brian, the son of Murtough O'Conor; John, the son of Edward Mac Hubert; Donough O'Beirne, Chief of Tir-Briuin; Randal O'Hanly; Cormac O'Hanly; also John Mac Egan, and Gilbert O'Bardan, two accomplished young harpers of Conmaicne, died.

1378 A.D. - Teige Mac Egan, Chief Brehon of Lower Connaught, a sage without contention or reproach, who kept a house of general hospitality for all comers, died.

1390 A.D. - Brian Mac Egan, Ollav of Breifny in judicature, died; and John (i.e. the Official Mac Egan),successor to this Brian, was slain four nights before Christmas Day.

1399 A.D. - Boethius Mac Egan, a man extensively skilled in the Fenechus law, and in music, and who had kept a celebrated house of hospitality; and Gilla-na-naev, the son of Conor Mac Egan, Arch-Ollav of the Fenechus Law, died.

1404 A.D. - Taichleach, the son of Donough O'Dowda; Tuathal, the son of Melaghlin O'Donnellan, intended ollav of Sil-Murray in poetry ; and Teige, the son of Boethius Mac Egan, intended ollav of Lower Connaught in law,---the three died.

1409 A.D. - Murtough Mac Egan, Chief Brehon of Teffia, a learned and profound adept in his own profession, died.

1413 A.D. - Colla, the son of Teige O'Kelly, heir to the lordship of Hy-Many; Melaghin, the son of Manus Mac Donnell; O'Meagher, Chief of Hy-Cairin; and Mac Egan of Ormond, a man learned in the Fenechus, all died.

1422 A.D. - Cosnamhach Oge Mac Egan, Ollav of the Kinel-Fiachach, and of O'Conor Faly in judicature, was slain, in a mistake, by the sons of O'Melaghlin, with one cast of a javelin.

1430 A.D. - Farrell, the son of Boethius, son of Teige Mac Egan, Ollav of Lower Connaught in Law, universally learned in every art, and who kept a house of hospitality for all who came to visit him, died, after a good life.

1436 A.D. - Gilla-Isa Mac Egan, Ollav to Mac Wattin in law, a pious, charitable, and humane man, and the superintendent of schools of jurisprudence and poetry, died.

1438 A.D. - Donough, the son of Siry O'Cuirnin, a learned historian; O'Daly of Breifny, Chief Poet to O'Reilly; and Conor Mac Egan, Ollav of Clanrickard in law, died.

1443 A.D. - Mac Egan of Ormond, i.e. Gilla-na-naev, the son of Gilla-na-naev, son of Hugh, Ollav of Munster in law, a man generally skilled in each art, and who kept a house of public hospitality for all, died.

1443 A.D. - Hugh Mac Egan, the son of Farrell, son of Boethius, died, in the springtide of his prosperity. He was the most fluent and eloquent of the Irish of his times. He was Ollav of Lower Connaught in law.

1447 A.D. - Gilla-na-naev, the son of Aireachtach, who was son of Solomon Mac Egan, the most learned Brehon and Professor of Laws in Ireland, died.

1473 A.D. - Brian, the son of Robert Mac Egan, ollav to O'Conor Don and O'Hanly, died.

1474 A.D. - Gilla-Finn Mac Egan, Ollav to O'Conor Faly, and Thomas, the son of Donnell O'Coffey, died.

1486 A.D. - Teige Mac Egan, Ollav of Annaly, was slain in an abominable manner by the descendants of Irial O'Farrell.

1487 A.D. - John, the son of Conor Mac Egan, Ollav of Clanrickard, and Hugh, the son of Brian, son of Farrel Roe O'Higgin, died.

1529 A.D. - Cosnamhach, the son of Farrell, son of Donough Duv Mac Egan, the most distinguished adept in the Fenechas, poetry, and lay Brehonship, in all the Irish territories, died, and was interred at Elphin.

1529 A.D. - Mac Egan of Ormond (Donnell, the son of Hugh, son of Donnell), head of the learned of Leath-Mhogha in Feneachus and poetry, died.

1601 A.D. - After they had come together at one place, they pitched and arranged a camp before Kinsale, and from this they faced Rinn-Corrain; and they allowed them the garrison there neither quiet, rest, sleep, nor repose, for a long time and they gave each other violent conflicts and manly onsets, until the warders after all the hardships they encountered, were forced to come out unarmed, and surrender at the mercy of the Lord Justice, leaving their ordnance and their ammunition behind them. The Lord Justice billeted these throughout the towns of Munster, until he should see what would be the result of his contest with the other party who were at Kinsale. It was on this occasion that Carbry Oge, the son of Carbry Mac Egan, who was ensign to the son of the Earl of Ormond, was slain.

1602 A.D. - O'Sullivan, after being deprived of this castle, went with his cows, herds, and people, and all his moveables, behind his rugged-topped hills, into the wilds and recesses of his country. The Earl of Thomond and his army, and O'Sullivan and his forces, continued shooting and attacking each other until the Christmas times. The two armies were entrenched and encamped face to face in Gleann-garbh, which glen was one of O'Sullivan's most impregnable retreats. His people now began to separate from O'Sullivan secretly without asking his leave. First of all Captain Tyrrell went away from him, and he was obliged himself to depart in the Christmas holidays, without the knowledge of, and unperceived by the Earl. In the first day's march he went from Gleann-garbh to Baile-Muirne; on the second night he arrived on the borders of the territories of O'Keeffe and Mac Auliffe; on the third night he arrived at Ardpatrick; on the fourth night, at Sulchoid; on the fifth and sixth nights he remained at Baile-na-Coille; on the seventh night at Leatharach; and on the eighth at Baile-Achaidh-caoin. He was not a day or night during this period without a battle, or being vehemently and vindictively pursued, all which he sustained and responded to with manliness and vigour. Having arrived on the ninth night at a wood called Coill-fhinne, where they remained for two nights, Donough, the son of Carbry Mac Egan, who lived in their vicinity, began boldly to attack and fire upon O'Sullivan and his people, so that at length he was obliged to be slain, as he would not desist from his attacks, by the advice of O'Sullivan. Not finding cots or boats in readiness, they killed their horses, in order to eat and carry with them their flesh, and to place their hides on frame-works of pliant and elastic osiers, to make curraghs for conveying themselves across the green-streamed Shannon, which they crossed at Ath-Coille-ruaidhe, without loss or danger, and landed on the other side in Sil-Anmchadha. From thence they passed on, and on the eleventh night they arrived at Aughrim-Hy-Many. Upon their arrival there the inhabitants of the lands and the tribes in their vicinity collected behind and before them, and shouted in every direction around them. Among the gentlemen who came up with them on this occasion were the son of the Earl of Clanrickard (Thomas, the son of Ulick, son of Richard Saxonagh); Mac Coghlan (John Oge, the son of John, son of Art); O'Madden (Donnell, the son of John, son of Breasal), and his son, Anmchaidh; some active parties of the O'Kellys, and many others not enumerated, with all their forces along with them.

RIT and the Super Bowl

As a former Rochesterian (as in Rochester, NY), I read the online version of the Democrat & Chronicle a couple of times a week. Generally I spend more time there reading the Irish Sports Page (a/k/a the obituaries) than the news but two articles in the D&C the last two days were interesting. Both dealt with the Super Bowl and Rochester Institute of Rochester.

More after the break . . .

The first article, "Super Bowl ad sports local twist," describes a Pepsi commercial to be aired during the Super Bowl programming this afternoon/evening. The commercial is silent with two deaf guys trying to find a friend's house. One of the guys in the car and one of the commedcial's production assistant is a graduate of RIT's National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID). When I works in IBM's branch office in Rochester, the NTID was one of my customers and they had an IBM 1502 Computer Instruction System for deaf students.

The other article in this morning's D&C, "Hard work takes Coughlin from RIT to Super Bowl," is about the New York Giants head coach Tom Coughlin. The article notes that Coughlin was the football coach at RIT during the 1971-73 seasons. And I didn't even know that they had a football team!

Rochester, NY's 54th Infantry Regiment

For some time now I have been researching the 19th century New York National Guard units in Rochester, NY. From 1863 until 1870 my great-grandfather, Francis Maloney, was a member of the 54th Infantry Regiment as Commanding Officer of I Company and later as the Regimental Major. The following is an overview of the 54th Regiment up until 1863. Later items will cover periods of the regiment's life until it was disbanded in about 1881.


Rochester's local militia units predate even the city itself, as the Rochester Historical Society's archives contain references in Col. Nathaniel Rochester's "day book" for military items as early as 1797. In 1848, Rochester was the home of five independent military organizations. These were: the Union Grays commanded by Major Lansing B. Swan; the Williams Light Infantry commanded by Major John Williams; the City Cadets under the command of Lieutenant C. W. Warren; the German Grenadiers commanded by Captain Frederick C. Lauer; and the Irish Volunteers commanded by Captain Garret Barry.

The Union Grays were organized on December 11, 1838, replacing two prior companies, the Washington Guards and the Pioneer Rifles, and, in 1839, adopted the name the Rochester Union Grays in honor of the city's founder, Colonel Nathaniel Rochester. Members of the old Pioneer Rifles and the City Cadets founded the Williams Light Infantry, also organized in 1838. It was organized in September 1839 and served for a time as a part of the Williams Light Infantry. The German Grenadiers were organized in 1840. Finally, the Irish Volunteers, the oldest of the five were organized in November 1827.

Immediately after the Mexican War a major New York statewide reorganization was made of all local militia units, creating sixty-four eight-company regiments distributed among eight divisions of four brigades each. Following this reorganization, the Rochester units became units of General William E. Lathrop's Fourteenth Brigade and were parts of the 49th and 50th Infantry Regiments, with the 49th composed of companies west of the Genesee River and the 50th composed of companies east of the river. In 1849, General Lathrop's brigade was re-designated the Twenty-fifth Brigade and the 49th was changed to the 54th, and the 50th was changed to the 53rd. In October of that year, the Rochester Union Grays gave up their identity as an independent organization and became Company A of the 54th. Later the name was used by Batteries A and B of the 1st Independent Battalion.

In 1853 the 54th was under the command of Colonel Harrison Fairchild and consisted of six companies: Company A, the Rochester Union Grays, Captain John G. Gray; Company B, the German Grenadiers, transferred from the 53rd Regiment, Captain Frederick C. Miller; Company C, Rochester Light Guards, Captain Scott W. Updike; Company D, German Union Guards, also transferred from the 53rd, Captain George Siebert; Company E, Citizens' Corps, Captain Gilbert S. Jennings; and Company F, the City Dragoons, Captain James Brackett.

The start of the Civil War in 1861 almost saw the demise of the 54th as patriotic members of that organization transferred to active duty regiments. It lost its colonel, Harrison Fairchild, when he resigned his commissioned in the 54th and accepted a colonelcy in the 89th New York Volunteers. Captain Louis Ernst, the regimental adjutant, left and became a lieutenant-colonel in the 140th New York Volunteers, a local infantry regiment under Colonel Patrick O'Rourke reorganized as an artillery unit and gained fame at Gettysburg. Captain Ernst was replaced by G. W. Stebbins. In addition to losses in the officer ranks, Company A, the Union Grays, sent 192 men to the mobilization camp at Elmira to organize as an artillery unit. The remaining members of the Grays remained in Rochester to build-up a two battery battalion of field artillery to become Batteries A and B of the 1st Independent Battalion Light Infantry, under Major William M. Lewis. When this artillery battalion was formed under Major Lewis there were two batteries, commanded by Captains Michael Heavy and Michael Quinn.

As a result of transfers out of the regiment into active duty units, the 54th found itself at the end of 1861 under the command of its senior captain, Captain Miller, of the German Grenadiers. Company E went out of existence as its members joined other active duty units, and the City Dragoons, then Company L, enrolled almost as a unit as Company G, 13th New York Volunteers.

By 1863, now almost depleted, the 54th began to reform as a home guard unit under Colonel Charles H. Clark. Colonel Clark and his field officers, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Miller and Major N. Thompson, began the task began of filling up the ranks of the regiment under Captains Lewis Spoor, Lawrence Sellinger, Warner Westcott, Libbeus Brown, Isaac Hobbie and Lieutenant Joseph Eichorn. On October 1 of that year the Union & Advertiser noted the formation of Company I with my great grandfather, Francis Gallery Maloney, as the company commander.

ANOTHER COMPANY FOR THE 54TH -- The last company to complete the 54th Regiment was organized last evening by Col. Clark. It is to be know as Company I, and has elected the following officers: Captain, F. G. Maloney; 1st Lieutenant, K. H. C. Griffin; 2d Lieutenant, C. E. Sabin; 1st Sergeant, W. J. Winfield; 2d Sergeant, M. J. Maloney; 3d Sergeant, R. Lavis; 4th Sergeant, G. M. Carmichael; 5th Sergeant, M. D. Whipple; 1st Corporal, H. Mathis; 2d Corporal, Wm. Forkel; 3d Corporal, P. Griffin; 4th Corporal, F. Maloney.

My First Motor Scooter Fill-Up

The gas gauge on my motor scooter was somewhat low and I didn't know how far down I could go without running out so I filled it up. I looks like I am getting about 73 miles per gallon. Not bad. Here's the receipt.

Hanley Emigration - Part IV

Previously I had descbibed the details of my maternal grandmother and some of her siblings. This forth portion describes the emigration of Timothy Hanley in 1912. On the same ship was and traveling with him was a Mary A. Fitzgerald.

Timothy J. Hanley

Timothy left from Queenstown on the 22nt of September 1912 on the SS Mauretania and arrived in the Port of New York on the 30th. The ship's manifest lists him as a 29 year old, single, male and his occupation was T_____ Conductor. (The first word is difficult to read and it may be 'Train' or 'Trolley.') He was able to both read and write, his nationality was British and his race was Irish. His last permanent address was Ardagh, Ireland, his nearest relative in Ireland was his mother, Catherine Hanly, in Ardagh, and his destination was Rochester, NY. He had a ticket to his final destination which he paid for himself and he had $100 with himself. He had never previously been in the U.S. He was to join his brother, Thos. Hanly at 136 Bartlett St. in Rochester. Timothy answered the regular questions concerning polygamy, anarchy, crippled, etc. in the negative and he said that his health was good. He was 5ft. 9in. tall, was described as dark complected with dark hair, grey eyes and had no identifiable marks. Finally, he noted that he was born in Ardagh, Ireland.

Mary A. Fitzgerald

Mary was described as a 25 year old, single, female and her occupation was as a maid. She was able to both read and write, her nationalality was British and race was Irish. Her permanent address was Rochester, USA and stamped over this was, "NON-IMMIGRANT ALIEN." Her nearest relative was her father, Mr. Fitzgerald of Upper Athea in Co. Limerick. Upper Athea is a townland in the parish of Athea in Co. Limerick and Athea and Ardagh are adjoining parishes. Mary stated that she had been in the US since 1894 and she was also going to 136 Bartlett St. in Rochester. In the same area of the form is written, "Cousin Thos. Ahern, 127 Cum______ St." Mary answered 'No' to the polygamy, anarchy, etc. questions and stated that her health was good. She was 5ft. 6in. tall, had fair complexion, fair hair and her eyes were Brown. Finally she stated that she was born in Athea, Ireland.

I have not been able to find a Thomas Ahern in the Rochester City Directory for this time period. However, in the 1920 Federal Census for Rochester, Michael and Catherine O'Connor were living at the 136 Bartlett St. address (along with their son Richard). Living (renting) at 142 Bartlett St. was 65 year old Mary Fitzgerald (who came from Ireland in 1873). Also living with her was her son, Thomas F. Fitzgerald, and his wife, Mary. This is not the same Mary Fitzgerald that accompanied Tim Hanley ans this Mary was 40 years old in 1920 and was born in New York. However, I believe that this family is somehow related to the Hanleys. At least the Aherns are.

When Thomas Hanly and Catherine O'Connell were married in August 1871, the witnesses for the marriage were Thomas Ahern and Helen Ahern. Aherns were sponsors for a number of Hanley children in Ardagh.

• Mary in 1872 - Daniel Hanley & Johanna Ahern
• Bridget in 1874 - Michael Ahern & Helen Ahern
• Hanora in 1875 - John Sheehy & Mary Ahern
• Daniel in 1878 - John Ahern & Margaret Hanley
• Joseph in 1880 - Timothy Connell & Mary Ahern
• Michael in 1882 - Johanna Ahern (this Michael died young)
• Michael in 1884 - Timothy Mulcahy & Mary O'Connor
• Margaret in 1887 - Thomas & Catherine Ahern
• Thomas in 1889 - Daniel Connell & Margaret Ahern
• Elizabeth in 1893 - Joseph & Hanora Hanley

A number of Aherns are listed in the 1911 Census of Ireland for Glensharrold. The 'House and Building Return' associated with the 1911 Census lists the occupants and owners of the houses in the area where the Hanleys lived. These are the 10 houses in that area with the Occupant's Name, No. of Rooms, Number of Family Members, and Owner's Name.

• Thomas Ahern, 3, 4, Thomas Ahern
• Mrs. Hanora Fitzgerald, 3, 6, Hanora Fitzgerald
• John Sheehy, 2, 7, John Sheehy
• Michael Mangan, 3, 4, Michael Mangan
• Morgan Lane, 3, 4, Morgan Lane
• Mrs. Catherine Hanly, 4, 4, Catherine Hanly
• Michael Ahern, 3, 3, William Ahern
• William Ahern, 4, 5, William Ahern
• Mrs. Margaret Windke, 3, 6, Margaret Windle
• Edmond O'Connor, 1, 6, William Ahern

Hanley Emigration - Part III

This part of the emigration of some of the Hanleys from County Limerick, Ireland deals with my grandmother's brother, Thomas, and her sister, Margaret. These two came to this country in 1910.

More after the jump.

Thomas and Margaret left Queenstown on October 23, 1910 aboard the SS Caronia and arrived in the Port of New York on October 30. (Just as an aside, my wife and I sailed Cunard's Caronia through the Panama Canal in 2002 or 2003. Of course, it was not the same ship.) The two were listed in order on the ship's manifest as Thomas Hanly and Margaret Hanly.

Thomas Hanley

Thomas was listed as a 20 year old, single, male and his occupation was Bookkeeper. He could both read and write, his nationality was Irish and his race was Irish. His last permanent residence was Ardagh, Ireland and the name and address of his nearest relative in Ireland was his mother, Catherine Hanly, of Ardagh, Co. Limerick. His final destination was Rochester, NY. In answer to the question as to whether he had a ticket to his final destination it was originally 'Yes' and then crossed out and entered 'No.' This is somewhat confusing because in answer to the question as to who paid for the ticket he answered 'Self.' The next item was, did he have $50 and he answered, he did. He stated that he had never been in the U.S. before and he was joining his brother, Michael, at 149 Champlain St. in Rochester, NY. He stated that he had never been in prison and was neither a polygamist nor an anarchist. His health was good and was neither crippled nor deformed. He was 5ft. 11in. tall, was dark complected with dark hair and had brown eyes with no identifiable marks. Finally, he stated that he was born in Ardagh, Ireland.

Margaret Hanley

Margaret was noted as a sister of Thomas and was listed as a 22 year old single, female and her occupation was Maid. The rest of the items were the same as her brother except that she was 5ft. 7in. tall and was born in Glensharrold, Ireland.

Next I will describe Timothy's emigration. This will be interesting as he was apparently traveling with a Mary A. Fitzgerald.

Hanley Emigration - Part II

Previously I had described when I thought my maternal grandmother and some of her siblings had come to America. These were those that left Ireland before 1900 when the Ellis Island records were sketchy. Today I will describe the emigration of those Hanley cousins of mine that came after the turn of the century. These are Michael and Catherine.

More after the break.

Michael J. Hanley
Arriving in New York on October 26, 1907 from Queenstown was the SS Campania. The manifest for the Campania lists in order were 24 year old Michael Hanly and 32 year old Catherine Hanly. I believe that Catherine had come to the US earlier and then went back to Ireland. This is reflected in the manifest. Let's first look at Michael's entry

He is listed as a 24 year old, single, male, clerk. He is able to both read and write and his occupation is clerk. His nationality is of Great Britain and race is Irish, and his last permanent address is Glensharrold, Ireland. The name and address of his nearest relative in Ireland is Mr. Thomas Hanly of Glensharrold, Co. Limerick. His final destination is Rochester, NY. He had a ticket to his final destination (ie, Rochester) and he paid for that ticket himself. He was asked whether he was in possession of $50 and, if not, how much. Initially he entered $50 and Catherine entered $10, then both entries were struck out and between the two lines was entered $100. When asked if he had ever been in the United States before he answered 'No.' He then stated that the relative he would join was his sister, Mrs. F. G. Maloney, at 54 Grieg St. in Rochester, NY. Following that were a number of questions as to whether he was a polygamist, anarchist; whether his health was good or whether he was deformed, crippled, etc. He listed his height as 5ft. 9in., complexion and hair were dark and his eyes were brown, had no marks of identification, and was born in Glensharrold, Ireland.

Catherine Hanley

Catherine is listed as a 32 year old, single, female and she could both read and write. Her occupation is listed as H. work and her nationality is of Great Britain and race is Irish. Her last permanent address is listed as Rochester, NY and over that is stamped is "NON IMMIGRANT ALIEN." For the entries for name and address of relative in Ireland and final destination has check marks. Other entries where the answer was the same as the one above it is shown as "Do," ie., "ditto." However other places a check mark is entered meaning the same as "ditto." She stated that she has a ticket to her final destination (Rochester) and she paid for it herself. As noted above, she initially listed $10 as how much money she had and this was crossed out and listed as $100 between her and her brother. When asked if she had ever been in the United States, she answered 'Yes' and that she had been in the U.S. for 16 years and had come before in 1907. The writing is difficult to read and it may not be 16 years. In addition, even though the question was to be when the individuals had originally come to the U.S., all of the other 'non immigrant aliens' shown on the same page have 1907 as the entry. Obviously, it does not mean as I had thought. Catherine says that she is going to join the same relative as her brother (ie., her sister, Bridget, in Rochester) and answered the same as to polygamy, anarchy, etc., and her health. She gave her height as 5ft. 3in., both complexion and hair as dark, and eyes are brown. Finally, she was also born in Glensharrold, Ireland.

The next part of the Hanley Emigration saga will cover Thomas and Margaret, who both arrived in New York in October, 1910.

This Year's Travel Plans

The weekend before last my wife and I attended a fund raising luncheon in Miami. It was held aboard one of the cruise ships and in addition to the luncheon, fashion show and the like there was a silent auction. We bid on a few items for one of our daughters who is expecting twins this summer. We also bid on a few 'mini-vacation' items and, as luck would have it, we won some. Later I was thinking that we have quite a full calendar with travel.

We have three days at a golf resort in Georgia. This is great! I absolutely do not play golf but we'll take our grandson and a friend. They can play golf. Then we have three days in Orlando at MGM Studios or Universal Studios. I'm really not sure which but I'm sure my wife will let me know.

On the 6th of April we will be taking a Caribbean cruise for a week. This is a cruise that my wife won playing Bingo on our 64 day Asia, Australia and Polynesia cruise last fall. In the spring we have been taking Transatlantic cruises to Europe and spending a week there. This year it looks like it will be the Caribbean.

In July or August we will fly to Eureka, CA to visit our two newest grandchildren. Don't know yet the due date for the twins.

On around the middle of October we will be in Detroit for my father-in-law's birthday. This will be the big one. He will be 100 years old!

The week after the birthday party in Detroit we will fly to Athens, Greece and start a cruise on our favorite ship, Holland America's MS Prinsendam. This 26 day cruise will stop another of ports in the Med in addition to the Azores, Canaries and Madiera and then across the Atlantic to Fort Lauderdale.

Quite a year for travel!

Hanley Emigration

I have attempted to determine when my grandmother, Bridget Hanley, and her siblings came to this country. Ellis Island records are available online but details are sketchy for ships before about 1900. As a result, I have 'guesses' in the case of my grandmother and her sisters, Mary and Catherine because of the lack of detail information. In the case of Michael, Margaret, Thomas and Timothy their is sufficient information in the records to pin-point the correct persons.

I believe that the first of the Hanley siblings to leave Ireland and come to Rochester, NY may be Mary Frances who probably sailed from Queenstown (now Cobh), the port city for Cork, to New York in 1890. In the 1910 census for Rochester, Mary is listed as living on Grieg Street with his sister, Bridget, and her family and the year of emigration is listed as 1890. Because Ellis Island was not opened until January 1892 no record there would be found.

My grandmother, Bridget, was probably the second to emigrate. In the 1900 census for Rochester she was a servant in the home of Isaac Gibbard on West Avenue and lists her emigration year as 1892. The same is true in the 1910 census when her family was living on Grieg Street as the emigration year is 1892. I believe that she is the 19 year old Bgt. Hanley that sailed from Queenstown on the SS City of Berlin that arrived in New York on July 2, 1892. Although the manifest that she was going to New Jersey that is probably an error.

Catherine Hanley was probably the next Hanley sibling to come to Rochester. In the 1920 census, living on Bartlett Street with her husband and son, the year of emigration is listed as 1893. I have not been able to find a record at Ellis Island using multiple spellings for a Catherine Hanley in 1893. We do know that Catherine (Kate) returned to Ireland and then came back to Rochester in 1907 when her brother, Michael, came here.

This will be continued with the details of the emigration of Michael, Margaret, Thomas and Timothy.

Padraic's New Wheels

Last Fall I got rid of my 12 year old Nissan. There was something wrong with the air condition, brakes and the headliner was hanging down. Nancy and I did not really need two cars. Also I was putting more miles on my bicycle than on my car so I decided to get rid of it. Last Saturday I got my new 'wheels' (actually only two) and here it is!

Not bad, huh?

My Great-grandparents: When Did They Come Here?

Of my eight great-grandparents, seven of them were Irish. Of those that came to this country, when did they come to this country? As it turns out, I don't know. I do, however, have a idea of the approximate time.

Patrick Eagan and Mary Tierney

This set of paternal great-grandparents where in Medina, Orleans Co., NY in January 1853. This I know from the baptismal record at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Medina of their oldest child, Catherine Jane. My great-grandfather, Patrick, is not listed in the federal census for New York for 1850 but he is listed for 1860 living in Rochester, NY. The first census where persons when they came to this country was 1900 but for that year Patrick and Mary were listed on lines 99 and 100, the bottom of the page and the bottom of the page is smudged and most of the entries are unreadable. Fortunately, I do have a copy of the index card entry for them but emigration if not one of the items are not included on the card. My great-grandfather died in 1903 but by great-grandmother lived until 1917 and she is listed in the census of 1910. There the entry notes that she emigrated in 1847. If she came through New York, it would have been through Castle Garden and records from there are not as easily available as those through Ellis Island which did not open until 1892.

William Clarke and Anna Donnelly

I know even less about my other set of paternal great-grandparents. My great-grandfather is listed in the 1860 federal census for Ohio living in Cincinnati with his Mother, Elizabeth, and his twin sister, Mary. The entry notes that Elizabeth and two children were born in Ireland and, of course, no emigration questions were asked in 1860. 1860 is also the first year that any in the family were listed in the Cincinnati City Directory. Both William and his mother were apparently dead by the time of the 1900 census. Anna is listed as the head-of -family in 1900 but she was born in Ohio and I don't know who here parents were.

Francis Maloney and Sarah Weed

My great-grandmother Sarah Weed is my only non-Irish great-grandparent. Her father's ancestors where among Puritans coming to the Massachusetts Bay Colony in the 17th century. Jonas Weed, my 8th great-grandfather, came in 1630 with Governor Winthrop's fleet. Sarah's mother's ancestors were among the Palatines that came to New York's Mohawk River valley in the early 1710's.

Francis' family came from Corofin, Co. Clare, Ireland and were in Rochester, NY by at least 1854 as there is a baptismal record for Margaret Maloney, Francis' sister, for St. Patrick's Church in Rochester. She was born on 26 September in 1854 and Baptized on 1 October. In the Rochester City Directory of 1855 Anthony Maloney was listed as a grocer on State Street. Anthony's wife, Ellen, is listed as a widow in the 1870 City Directory. Francis died in 1872 in Leoni Township, MI so he is listed in no census where emigration is asked. However, two of his brother's were but unfortunately they are not much help. His brother, Michael, is listed in the 1910 federal census for New York in Rochester and there his listing notes that he emigrated in 1870 or possibly 1840. Although it may be 1840 it looks more like 1870 which is not likely. Michael died in 1914 in Greece, NY.

Francis' brother Thomas is listed in both the 1910 and 1920 census records. In 1910 it notes that he emigrated in 1865 and in 1920 it notes that he emigrated in 18_2. There is a smudge in the year! Unless not all of the children came with Anthony and Ellen Maloney came to Rochester when they were there in 1855, the 1865 date is incorrect. Keep in mind, the information in census records does not always come directly from the person listed. It may come from a neighbor or some family member.

Thomas Hanley and Catherine O'Connell

For these maternal great-grandparents the answer to the question as to when they came to this country is easy. They never did! Although seven of their children, including my grandmother Bridget Hanley, did come to this country Thomas and Catherine and four of their children never left Ireland.

I do have emigration for some of the Hanleys in Rochester and that will wait for another day.

Eagans in the Rochester, NY City Directory

The Rochester, NY City Directory lists the Eagan family from
1863 until at least 1929. (This is as far as the on-line versions
of the directories at the Monroe County Public Library web site go.)

1863      Eagan, Patrick, moulder, h. Prospect cor. Atkinson
1864-1865 Eagan, Patrick, grocer, Prospect cor. Atkinson, h. do
1866      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
1867      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
1868      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
1869      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
1870      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
1871      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
1872      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, James, clerk 14 Front, boards 55 Prospect
1873      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, James, clerk 14 Front, b. 55 Prospect
1874      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, James, clerk 14 Front, b. 131 Atkinson
1875      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, salesman, 53 E. Main, b. 55 Prospect
1876      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, salesman, 53 E. Main, bds. 55 Prospect
1877      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, 3 Canal, bds. 55 Prospect
       (3 Canal St. is the Cunningham Carriage Factory.)
1878      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, 3 Canal, bds. 55 Prospect
1879      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, 3 Canal, bds. 55 Prospect
1880      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, removed to New Haven, Conn.
1881      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, bds. 24 Jones
1882      Eagan, Patrick, grocer, 55 Prospect, h. do
       Eagan, Stephen, removed to Medina
1883      Eagan, Patrick M. (Eagan & Lamont), h. 64 Atkinson
       Eagan & Lamont (P. M. Eagan & C. A. Lamont), grocers, 55 Prospect
1884      Eagan, Patrick M., grocer, 82 Prospect, house 110 Atkinson, 64
       (House numbers changed this year.)
1885      Eagan, Patrick M., house 110 Atkinson
       [Lamont, Charles died Sep. 2, 1884, age 24]
1886      Eagan, Patrick M., house 110 Atkinson
1887      Eagan, Patrick M., house 110 Atkinson
1888      Eagan, Patrick M., house 110 Atkinson
1889      Eagan, Patrick M., house 110 Atkinson
1890      Eagan, Patrick M., house 111 Atkinson
1891      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1892      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1893      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1894      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1895      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1896      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1897      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1898      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1899      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1900      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1901      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1902      Eagan, Patrick M., house 108 Atkinson
1903      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Patrick M. died June 1, 1903, age 74
1904      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
1905      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
1906      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, camera maker, h. 85 Prospect
1907      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, camera maker, 333 State, h. 85 Prospect
       (333 State Street is Kodak – Camera Works)
1908      Eagan, James W., blacksmith, bds 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, camera maker, h. 85 Prospect
1909      Eagan, James W., remd to Cincinnati, O
       Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, h. 85 Prospect
1910      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, h. 85 Prospect
1911      Eagan, James W., auto repairer 13 Canal, bds 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith 13 Canal, h. 85 Prospect
1912      Eagan, James W., pressman 333 State, bds 234 Adams
       Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith 13 Canal, h. 85 Prospect
1913      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, May C., operator, bds 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, metal worker, 84 Anderson, h. 85 Prospect
1914      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
1915      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, h. 85 Prospect
1916      Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen, blacksmith, h. 85 Prospect
1917      Eagan, Elizabeth, wid Stephen h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, h. 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Sarah L., bds 108 Atkinson
       Eagan, Stephen died Apr 9, 1917
1918      Eagan, Elizabeth, wid Stephen h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Mary, widow Patrick, August 24, 1917
       Eagan, Sarah L., h. 153 Plymouth ave
1919      Eagan, Elizabeth, wid Stephen h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, James W. (Mae), U S A, h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Mae L., Mrs., tailoress 415 Main E, h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Sarah L., h. 153 Plymouth ave
1920      Eagan, Elizabeth, wid Stephen h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, James W. (Mae), helper, h 85 Prospect
       Eagan, Sarah L., clerk 409 Municipal bldg, h. 153 Plymouth av
1921      Eagan, James W. (Mae), helper, h 209 Pansy
       Eagan, Sarah L., clerk 409 Municipal bldg, h. 153 Plymouth av
1922      Eagan, Austin E., clerk, res 211 Pansy
       Eagan, Elizabeth, Mrs., res 211 Pansy
       (211 Pansy – O'Brien, Edward J., Jr.)
       Eagan, James W. (Mae), helper, h 209 Pansy
       Eagan, Sarah L., clerk 409 Municipal bldg, h. 153 Plymouth av
1923      Eagan, Austin E., clerk, res 211 Pansy
       Eagan, Elizabeth, Mrs., res 211 Pansy
       Eagan, James W. (Mae), helper, h 209 Pansy
       Eagan, Sarah L., clerk 409 Municipal bldg, h. 153 Plymouth av
1924      Eagan, Austin, meat cutter, res 191 Raeburn ave
       (191 Raeburn ave – O'Brien, Edward J., Jr.)
       Eagan, James W. (Mae), h 81 Reynolds
       Eagan, Sarah L., clerk 409 Municipal bldg, h. 153 Plymouth av
1925      Eagan, Austin, meat cutter, res 191 Raeburn ave
       Eagan, Elizabeth, h 81 Reynolds
       Eagan, James W. (Mary), died Mar 6, 1925
       Eagan, Sarah L., clerk 20 City Hall, h. 153 Plymouth av
1926      Eagan, Austin, meat cutter, res 191 Raeburn ave
       Eagan, Elizabeth, h 81 Reynolds
       Eagan, Sara L., clerk 20 City Hall, h. 153 Plymouth av
1927      Eagan, Austin E., clerk 37 Franklin, res 54 Ormond
       (37 Franklin – Fahy Market)
       Eagan, Sara L., clerk 24 City Hall, h. 153 Plymouth av
1928      Eagan, Austin E., clerk 68 Atlantic av, res 191 Raeburn av
       Eagan, Elizabeth, res 191 Raeburn av
       Eagan, Sarah L., h 49 Troup
1929      Eagan, Austin E., meat cutter, res 191 Raeburn av
       Eagan, Sarah L., h 49 Troup

Presidential Debates in Boca Raton

Later this month, Florida Atlantic University will host Presidential Debates for both the Republican and Democratic candidates. The debate for the Republicans will be held on the 24th and for the Democrats on the 27th. The debates will be aired by MSNBC so I certainly would like to see a Presidential Debate in person. I'm a Democrat so I'm not really interested in the Republican debate but I would like to attend a Democratic debate. However, it appears that the Democratic debate will probably not even occur. Because the Florida Legislature moved the primary up to January, the Democratic National Committee has protested the legislature's move and as a result most Democrat candidates have not campaigned in the state and will probably boycott the debate. So much for attending a Presidential Debate in Boca Raton!

Africa and South America Cruise - Fall 2006

10/14/2006 - Saturday - Home to UK

Left home at noon for Miami airport for a 5:05 PM flight for London. Arrive at MIA at 1:00 PM so we can sit for a couple of hours wondering whether or not we will get seats in First Class, Business, or Coach . . . if at all. The perils of travelling as "non-revenue" passengers. However, at the appointed time we received two boarding passes for Business Class. Food (dinner - chicken; breakfast - omelet) on flight was
terrible.

Arrived at Heathrow at 7:00 AM on Sunday (10/15). Scouted down the bus station and took the bus to Gatwick (L18 for two - age 60 is 1/2 price).

Bus (L2.50 per) from Gatwick Airport to Copthorne Hotel - very nice place. Eat in the pub watching cricket - England vs India (India won). Slept on and off all night.

10/16/2006 - Monday - UK to Lisbon

Up at 7:00 AM - breakfast and the newspaper and biding time for bus to airport for flight to Lisbon.

Check in with Monarch Air and find that can only carry one bag (of any kind) on board so we rearrange a lot of Nancy's stuff into other checked luggage. Of course we are overweight with luggage so paid for extra 17 kilograms (cost - L85). Wait in line for security check for another 45 minutes. Then wait. Now on board on the way to Lisbon. Selling scratch-off lottery tickets on board for a pound. Nancy lost.

5:00 PM - Arrived in Lisbon. Taxi to hotel and wait until 7PM for the restaurant to open for dinner. Buffet with fish and lamb! Horseshit! I ate a little of both anyhow. And so a little TV (CNN) and then to bed. I'm tired.

Tagas River leading to the Atlantic Ocean.

10/17/2006 - Tuesday - Start of Cruise in Lisbon

Up at 7:00 AM and breakfast - coffee and a ham sandwich. Then pack and hang around until checking out at 12 noon. At noon took a taxi to the ship - the MS Prinsendam - and checked in - propably an hour deal. Found our cabin on the Upper Promenade deck and out luggage came shortly. Life boat drill at 4:45PM. (Forgot, lunch on the Lido.) Now waiting to sail at 5:00PM - then I'm going to take a shower becaue I've worn essentialy the same thing since Saturday morning and this is Tuesday evening!

On deck for a "sail away" get together - chatted with a couple from Montreal - after this cruise they will go back to Montreal for Christmas holidays and then they are off to Australia for a couple of months - nice life!

Martinis at 7PM and then dinner at 8:15. Dinner mates are a couple - Reese and Diane - from Los Angeles, and Margarite from San Diego.

Cruise staff "show" in the theater with only about 45 to 50 people, To bed at 11PM - after setting the clock ahead an hour.

10/18/2006 - Wednesday - Cadiz, Spain

Up at 6AM with coffee and juice in our cabin. During the night the seas were a bit rough. Nancy said that she heard the balcont furniture moving about. The sun doesn't ris until about 8 and we don't arrive in Cadiz until 9 AM.

Arrived in Cadiz about 9:45 AM. It is overcast and finally it starts to rain.

Lunch about 1:30 PM in the Lido and then a walk around the central part of Cadiz. Took photos of Palacio de Congresso (or of the city hall - not sure), the Plaza de la Cathedral and the New Cathedral. And then back to the ship - have to get ready for the main reason for the cruise - BINGO! And the winner for game number 2 of the Bingo series and taking away $38 is P. J. Eagan.

Dinner this evening was Prime Ribs - not bad. Finished dinner about 10:15 PM so back to the cabin, read and off to bed.

10/19/2006 - Thursday - Casablanca, Morocco

In Casablanca, Morocco and to breakfast at 7:00 AM. Temperature outside is about 71 F. Waiting for a tour of the city of Casablanca.

Downtown Casablanca was very busy and very few traffic signals. Saw the Mohammed V Park and Law Courts, Royal Palace and the Church of Notre Dame of Lourdes. In the old Medina area we visited the Grand Mosque. The place is huge and in both inside and outside they accomodate between 80,000 and 100,000 people praying. Went shopping for a Fez for Nancy's father.

The Grand Mosque in Casablanca

Bingo the afternoon and as luck would have it Pat was the winner of the second game again. Fewer people playing today so he only won $36.

At 7:15 PM down to the Explorer Lounge for a couple of Martinis. Chatted with a couple in the lounge and then to dinner. To bed about 10:15 PM.

10/20/2006 - Friday - Agadir, Morocco

Awoke at 6:30 AM - temperature outside 72 F so out for a four mile walk on the deck. Just took a shower and waiting for Nancy from Mass so we can go to breakfast. We have still not reached Agadir. Should get there around 12:30 PM>

No winners at Bingo this morning among the Eagans.

At 2 PM went by bus to the Fantasia Horse Show. The Horse Show part was entertaining - men in flowing robes with exremely loud rifles charging the length of a field then discharging the rifles. Noisy as hell. In addition to these there were dancers, acrobats and a man with about six snakes.

The high point was riding a camel. I took a ride while Nancy took pictures and then I took her picture standing next to a camel. Finally she said, "What the heck. I'm going to ride the camel." And she did.

On the ride back to the ship we stopped at the "mandatory" shopping stop and then up a very narrow ride to the kasbah - a part of old Agadir - most of which was destroyed in an earthquake in 1960.

After dinner took in the show which was an Irish comedian - fairly good. And to bed at 11:30 PM.

10/21/2006 - Saturday - At Sea

Up at 7:00 AM. This will be the first full day at sea. The sea is very calm and not much breeze. The outside temperature is 69.5 F. Nice morning for a 4 mile walk around the deck.

Had breakfast and read some. Waiting for the Mariner Club (American Express) Party at 11:30 AM in the Crow's Nest. Received Mariner Club hat and pin.

After lunch, relax and read. Then Bingo - won again (second game) but split the winnings so received a grand total of $16. Such a deal!

Watched "The DaVinci Code" in the cabin and then dressed for dinner. Had martinis in the Crow's Nest and had a guest at our table for dinner - the ship's Environmental Officer. Nancy was in her glory talking about recycling and the like and then went up to the Crow's nest for after-dinner drink.

10/22/2006 - Sunday - At Sea

Up at 7:15 AM and out on the deck fir the four mile walk. Breakfast, reading and lunch before a lecture concerning Philip the Navigator and the Portuguese exploring of west Africa.

Read, dinner and show.

10/23/2006 - Monday - Dakar, Senegal

Arrive at Dakar, Senegal about 6:30 AM. Breakfast and meet American Express group for tour of Dakar. Tour through the town - very squalid, people sleeping on the ground, shanty towns, market places. In some markets it is difficult to determine if a stall is really a shop or just a pile of trash. Everyplace is littered with trash and garbage. People in the street and on the ground praying.

Stopped at the Presidential Palace and the Catholic Church (possibly a cathedral), market place and then a sand painting place - purchased a sand painting of a house for $15. Stop at seaside mosque and then lunch. After lunch an art place - dancers, acrobats, drummers and aguy on stilts. Very entertaining.

Back to the ship and a nap. Feel a cold coming on. We'll see. Nap then martinis, dinner and to bed.

10/24/2006 - Tuesday - Banjul, Gambia

Today is the day for tour by camel! After breakfast we boarded a small bu with probably 15 people. Drove for about 45 minutes (passing the site of the recent African Union Summit) to Tanji, the home of the Camel Safari. Nancy and I were introduced to our camel, Pepe, the oldest of the camels at 20 years of age.

The youngest camel was just over a year - born October 15, 2005. The camels are not native to Gambia but were purchased in Senegal.

We boarded our camels and headed for the beach. As a "caravan" we headed down the beach until it was blocked off by a hill protruding into the sea. Then headed back - probably and hour and a half to two hours in the saddle (actually a seat).

Then visited the fish market - dirty and filthy. Saw the fish being smoked. Then drove to a craft market where Nancy looked around and I watched kids play soccer across the street. One of the little kids wanted me to take his picture. I did and then all his friends wanted to see what he looked like in the camera.

Back on the bus back to the ship for lunch, relax and bingo (no Eagan winners). Before dinner Nancy played the slots and won about $84 - not bad. The "star lady" (one of the lecturers on the cruise - talked about astronomy) at our table for dinner.

10/25/2006 - Wednesday - At Sea

(to be continued)