Eagans in County Cork, Ireland

My great-grandfather Patrick M. Eagan's death was noted in the Rochester, NY Democrat & Chronicle. The obituary noted that he was born in Cork, Ireland in 1828 and came to Albion, NY about 1840. Unfortunately, this does not specify where in County Cork he was born - in Cork City or somewhere in the county.

There are Irish census records available for only 1901 and 1911, about sixty years after he left Ireland. The closest we have as a census for an earlier period is Griffith's Valuation, a survey of Ireland for tax purposes. This survey taken for County Cork was done between 1851 and 1853 about ten years after Patrick left. I have looked at Griffith's Valuation in Cork for Eagans by that spelling and find only two, a Thomas Eagan and Michael Eagan. (In addition, there are about one hundred and ninety with the name spelled 'Egan.')  Is it possible that either Thomas or Michael are relatives of my great-grandfather?

Thomas Eagan occupied land in the Town of Youghal in the Parish of Youghal and had a house and small garden on South Cross Lane (just off Friar Street). The house and land was leased from the representatives of Joshua H. Bull who may be a member of the Bull family in Knockrea, Cork.

Michael Eagan occupied land in the Village of Clashavodig in the Parish of Little Island and on that land he had a house and garden. The land was leased from John Cantillon.

I wish this helped me but right now it is just a set of facts to be filed.

Stephen Eagan in Springfield, MA

This morning I looked at the Springfield, MA City Directories to see where the Stephen Eagan (my grandfather) family lived in Springfield from about 1904 to 1906. Prior to 1904 the Eagans lived in New Haven, CT. In the entries for 1904 and 1905 Stephen Eagan was listed as a blacksmith and lived at 134 Walnut. Today this location is (or next to) a Kentucky Fried Chicken place. The 1906 entry notes that he "rem[oved] to Rochester, N Y" and we know that the 1906 Rochester City Directory lists Stephen back in Rochester working at Camera Works. In Springfield he probably worked as a carriage blacksmith but I don't know what carriage or automobile company he worked at.

Deeds for Property Purchased by Patrick M. Eagan

In the New York Land Records mentioned in a previous post, I have found actual deeds for two pieces of property purchased by my great-grandfather, Patrick M. Eagan, in 1871 and 1872. Both pieces of property were in Rochester's 3rd Ward in the Atkinson Street area.

The first piece of property was purchased in 1871 from the estate of John D. Lyons and the property described as lots 141 and 142 of the Gurber Tract was at the northeast corner of Adams and Prospect Streets.  Note in the deed that Patrick purchased the two lots for $2,700.

Deed for lots purchased in 1871

The other property was purchased in 1872 from Elizabeth Thomas and the property was I believe located at the northeast corner of Atkinson and Prospect Streets. This property was purchased for $4,700.

Deed for lots purchased in 1872

UPDATE: The description for the second piece of property is incorrect. From the deed we see that it is Lots 44 and 45 in the Babbitt Tract. From the Rochester Plat Book we find that these two lots are numbers 108 and 110 Atkinson Street, residences of the Eagans.

  

Deeds for Austin and Mary Eagan

Recently the Family Search genealogy web site provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Days Saints, also known as the Mormon Church, added  New York Land Records from 1630 to 1975.  The records for Monroe County consists of Deeds and Deed Indexes. There are two records among the indexes for the two houses in Rochester for Austin and Mary Eagan.

The first is for their house on Flint Street which was purchased in 1942. Prior to that they (along with me and two of my sisters) were living for a short period with my grandparents on Greig Street.  The house of Flint Street was located at #484 and was Lot 2 in the John Erion Subdivision shown on the Plat Book for Rochester - Volume 2 Plate 23. This subdivision is very small consisting of only four lots - two on Flint Street (the Eagans at 484 and the Dipples at 488) and two lots on Hawley Street. This is the Deed Index for the Flint Street house.

Deed Index 1942 for 484 Flint St., Rochester, NY

The other Deed Index was for the house on Trafalgar Street, purchased in 1950.  This property was located at #15 Trafalgar and was Lot 127 of the Hiram Sibley Estate Subdivision shown on the Plat Book for Rochester - Volume 2 Plate 24. Here is the Deed Index for the Trafalgar Street house.

Deed Index 1950 for 15 Trafalgar St., Rochester, NY

Marriage Records - Eagan, Clarke and Donnelly

 Here are the State of Ohio Marriage Records for both my grandfather, Stephen Eagan, and great-grandfather, William Clarke. Both marriages took place in Cincinnati, Hamilton Co., Ohio. This first is the marriage of my grandparents, Stephen Eagan and Elizabeth Clarke, which took place on February 16, 1885 at St. Xavier's Church.

Marriage of Stephen Eagan and Elizabeth Clarke

This next is the marriage of my great-grandparents, William Clarke and Anna Donnelly, which took place on January 27, 1861 in Cincinnati although the particular church there is included in the record.  

Marriage of William Clarke and Anna Donnelly

Marriage of Edward O'Brien and Mary (Mae) Eagan

This is the marriage record for my Uncle and Aunt, Edward J. O'Brien and Mary (Mae) Eagan in 1918. I guess I never knew that my Uncle Eddy's mother came from Germany.

Marriage of Edward O'Brien and Mary (Mae) Eagan

Marriage of Anne Eagan and Elmer Hamiliton

Here is another NY marriage record from New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935 at Family Search . This one is for my Aunt Anne - always called Aunt Nanna. Quite a while ago when I was in Rochester I went through the Catholic Diocese of Rochester records on microfilm at Nazareth College but did not come across a record for Aunt Nanna. I didn't find it there because her marriage to Elmer Hamiliton  took place at St. Luke's Episcopal Church by the Rev. R. R. Converse, the rector at St. Luke's at that time. St. Luke's was one of the earlier churches and in 1914 it was located at 132 S. Fitzhugh Street but today it has been replaced by St. Luke and St. Simon Cyrene at 17 S. Fitzhugh St.

My Father's Middle Name

My father always went by the name of Austin Edward Eagan but he mentioned on a number of occasions that his middle name at birth was really 'Flint.'  The 'Flint' came from the doctor who delivered him but he said that he didn't like it so he took his confirmation name of 'Edward' as his middle name. I have a copy of my father's birth certificate and the doctor on this record is Dr. F. N. Sperry and not a Dr. Flint. I just imagined that it was a tall tale.

This morning doing something else I happened to look at the census record for 1910 and I noticed that my father's name is listed as 'Austin F. Eagan.'  Maybe he was right and maybe the doctor's first name was 'Flint.' Here is the census record.

Maybe after while I may find out that my Aunt Nana really did marry a Pete Nitney at one time!

Mary (Tierney) Eagan in the 1915 NY State Census

Here is the 1915 NY State Census record for my great-grandmother, Mary Tierney Eagan, and my grand-aunt, Sarah Eagan. (Line 31 on the second page.) They are living at the Eagan home at 108 Atkinson Street. There is also a border living there a George L. Carlton, a 42 year old cigar salesman.  There is also an additional individual, George F. Eagan, a 40 year old butcher. I don't have a clue as to who he really is. He is listed as a "brother" of the head of household, i.e., a brother of my great-grandmother. If he is her brother shouldn't be named "George F. Tierney?" Also he is 46 years younger than my great-grandmother - not impossible but not very likely. I am pretty sure he is not a "brother" of any of the Eagan siblings. It is almost impossible to determine which individual provided the information to the census taker.

Just one other piece of information in the record.  My great-grandmother's entry notes that she had been in the United States for 60 years. That is obviously an approximation as we know that she had been in the United States for at least for 62 years as her oldest daughter, Catherine, was born in 1853 in Medina, NY.

Mary Tierney Eagan in the 1915 NY State Census

1925 NY State Census - Eagans and Maloneys

Here is the 1925 NY State Census showing my father, Austin Eagan, living at 191 Raeburn Ave. with my Uncle Eddie and Aunt Mae, the O'Briens. Also there are my cousins, Eileen and Jack,

1925 NY State Census - Eagan and O'Brien

And here is the 1925 NY State Census for the Maloney family living at 54 Greig Street.

1925 NY State Census - Maloney

Obituary for Patrick M. Eagan

In searching the Fulton NY Post Card site (which has old newspapers in addition to old post cards) I came across the obituary in the June 2, 1903 Rochester, NY Democrat & Chronicle for my great-grandfather, Patrick M. Eagan. Here is the obit:

Obituary for Patrick M. Eagan

A couple of things noted in the obituary are new to me. 

• It notes that he was born in  Cork, Ireland. Whether this means Co. Cork or Cork City remains to be seen. Up to this point I had no idea where in Ireland my great-grandfather came from. When I was young I asked my father where his family came from and he told me that he thought it was Co. Kerry but he was not sure.
• It also notes that he left Ireland at the age 12 meaning he came here about 1840. I wonder if he came by himself or with other members of his family?
• It notes that before he came to Rochester he was in Albion, NY. Albion is in Orleans County as is Medina, the baptismal site for Patrick and Mary Eagan's first child, Catherine Jane Eagan.

Obituary for Elizabeth Clarke Eagan

This is the obituary of my paternal grandmother, Eizabeth Clarke Eagan, from the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle of Wednesday, March 10, 1937.

Because it is a bit difficult to read, this is what it says:

EAGAN - Entered into rest on Tuesday, Mar. 9, 1937, Mrs. Elizabeth Eagan, wwidow of the late Steven Eagan.  She is survived by two daughters, Mrs. Edward J. O'Brien, Rochester; Mrs. Ann Murphy of Chicago, Ill.; one son, Austin Eagan; three sisters, Mrs. George Stoffel, Cincinnati, O., Mrs. Anton Baler of Dayton, O., Mrs. Ann Denny of Chicago, Ill.; two grandchildren.

- Funeral from the home, 2360 Clinton Ave. North, Friday morning at 8.30 and St. Margaret Mary Church at 9 o'clock. Interment at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.

A couple of notes. The two grandchildren were Eileen and Jack O'Brien. The Clinton Ave. N. address is probably the home of the O'Briens.

Your's Truly in the 1940 Federal Census

I have finally found myself in the 1940 Federal Census. The 1940 Rochester City Directory had the Eagan family on Alexander Street but I was not able to find them there in the 1940 census. Now that the entire 1940 Federal Census for New York I find that at the time of the census we were living at 195 Hazelwood Terr.  Your's truly can be found at line 14.

Eagans in the 1940 Federal Census for Rochester, NY

My mother had always told me that Arleigh Hill, a Seneca Indian and lacrosse player, lived on the same street as we did. I assumed she was referring to Alexander St. but apparently she was referring to Hazelwood Terrace. Note that Hill lived next door to the Eagans at number 201. Arleigh Hill played professional lacrosse in Rochester and among his team mates was Harry Smith. You never heard of Harry Smith? It turns out Harry Smith changed his name to Jay Silverheels for his acting career. That's right, he was Tonto - the Lone Ranger's "faithful Indian companion." 

Here is a picture of the house at 195 Hazelwood Terrace in Rochester.

The Edward O'Briens in the 1940 Census

In the ongoing hunt for my Mother and Father (and I) in the 1940 Federal Census I thought I would look for my Uncle Eddie and Aunt Mae, the O'Briens, in the off chance that they were with them. My Aunt Mae was my father's sister. In the Rochester City Directory for 1940 the O'Brien family is listed at 2360 N. Clinton Ave in Irondequoit. No sight of them in the Enumeration District that would contain that address. In the Rochester Suburban Directory (also at the Rochester-Monroe County Public Library web site), which includes Irondequoit, the O'Briens are listed at 16 Burwell Road. They are shown below at line 56. The family includes my Uncle Eddie, my Aunt Mae and my cousin Jack.

O'Briens in 1940 Federal Census in Irondequoit, NY

Sarah L. Eagan in the 1940 Federal Census

My grandfather Stephen Eagan's sister, Sarah, is listed in the 1940 Federal Census at the St. Ann's Home on Lake Avenue. Sarah never married and worked for many years at the City Clerk's Office. She died in 1944 and is buried in the Eagan plot in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester.  She is found at line 61.

Sarah Eagan in 1940 Federal Census in Rochester, NY

1940 Rochester, NY City Directory

The Rochester-Monroe County Public Library has recently added the 1940 City Directory to its list of online documents.  Here are the information in the directory for the Eagan, Maloney and Hanley families.


Eagan, Austin (Mary) service man Monroe Calculating Mach Co. 196 Chestnut r 93 Alexander


Maloney, Fredk G (Mary) h 54 Greig
Maloney, Jos T Rev asst rector St John The Evangelist Church r 548 Humboldt
Maloney, Katherine E sten r 54 Greig
Maloney, Leo P receiving clrk r 54 Greig


Hanley, Eileen P r 77 Oriole
Hanley, Jos M msngr Defender Photo Supply Co Inc 666 Driving pk av r 77 Oriole
Hanley, Katherine M married Chester Baker
Hanley, Michael J (Eliz M) bkpr Fahy Market 25 Front h 77 Oriole
Hanley, Richard J lab 860 Maple r 77 Oriole
Hanley, Thomas R (M Josephine) stock clrk h 524 Columbia av


Just a few notes. A "h" prior to the address stands for house and it means that person is the home owner. A "r" stands for resident.

UPDATE: Eagan, Sarah L r 1971 Lake Avenue (Saint Ann's Home)

Eagans in the City Directories

After posting Eagan family census records from 1860 to 1930, here are Eagan entries for the same period from the City Directories from Rochester, NY, New Haven, CT and Cincinnati, OH. There are also entries in the Springfield, MA City Directory where my grandfather, Stephen, and his family for a few years in the early 1900s. In all of those cities - Rochester, New Haven, Cincinnati and Springfield - my grandfather worked as a carriage blacksmith, working on both carriages and automobiles. The entries are in my Google Documments - Eagan - City Directory.

Eagan in the 1930 Federal Census in Rochester

In the 1930 Federal Census I have only been able to find my father, Austin, so far. It is difficult to find others because the source I use has an incomplete index. I could find more but would have to leaf through hundreds of pages in the Enumeration District I think someone may have lived in. 

In 1930 my father was living with his sister, Mary (Aunt May) Eagan O'Brien, and her family at 191 Raeburn Avenue in Rochester's 19th Ward. The family (at line 8) included Edward (Uncle Eddie), Mary (Aunt Mae), and their children Eileen and John plus my father. My Uncle Eddie's occupation is listed as accountant at "clothing factory" which I am sure was Hickey-Freeman. Hickey is still there located on North Clinton Avenue. My father's occupation is listed as meat cutter at a butcher shop. The butcher shop was Fahy's Market located on Andrew and Front Streets. 

O'Brien and Eagan in the 1930 Federal Census in Rochester

Eagans in the 1920 Federal Census in Rochester, NY

In the 1920 Federal Census for Rochester, three entries show my Eagan family in Rochester. The first is for my grandmother, Elizabeth, and my father living with my Aunt Mae's family; the second is my Uncle James with his family; and the third is my grandaunt Sarah, my grandfather's sister.

The first entry is spread over two sheets. The first at the bottom shows the family of Edward J. O'Brien, my Uncle Eddy's father.  The family was living on Campbell Street in Rochester and there was (1) my Uncle Eddy's brother, George, (2) my Uncle Eddy and Aunt Mae (Edward J. and Mary), (3) my cousin Eileen (who later became Sister John Edward, a Franciscan Nun), (4) my grandmother, Elizabeth Clarke Eagan, and (5) on the second sheet, my father, Austin E. Eagan. My father's occupation is listed as an "assembler" at an "auto factory." If I could guess as to the "auto factory" I would guess the James Cunningham Co. on Canal Street. Both his father and uncle had worked at Cunningham.

Eagans and O'Briens in 1920 Federal Census in Rochester (1)

Eagans and O'Briens in 1920 Federal Census in Rochester (2)

The next entry is for my father's brother, James, and his family which in 1920 was living at the Eagan house at 85 Prospect Street. The entry at line 34 lists James, his wife Mary and a daughter Eugena. Note that Mary and Eugena were born in Kentucky. I believe that Eugena was not James' daughter as she was born about 1910 and at that time James was in Rochester. I believe that James met and married Mary when James was in Kentucky in the Army in World War I.

James Eagan Family in 1920 Federal Census in Rochester

 

The final Eagan census record for Eagans in Rochester for 1920 is for my grandfather's sister, Sarah Eagan. She is found on line 83 as a "lodger" with a family named as either Hiles or Hiler on Plymouth Ave. South. Sarah was a clerk in the Rochester City Clerk's office. She died at St. Ann's Home in 1944.

Sarah Eagan in the 1920 Federal Census in Rochester.

Eagans in the 1910 Federal Census in Rochester, NY

The 1910 Federal Census finds my great-grandmother, Mary Tierney Eagan, at 108 Atkinson Street in Rochester and my grandmother, Elizabeth Clarke Eagan, at 85 Prospect Street. This first sheet lists my great-grandmother and my grandaunt, Sarah, at line 21. This entry notes that my great-grandmother had come to the United States in 1847. In addition, it notes that she had had 10 children but only three were alive. These three would be my grandfather, Stephen, my grandaunts, Sarah and Catherine Jane (King).

Mary Tierney Eagan in the 1910 Federal Census in Rochester

 

The next sheet shows my grandmother, Elizabeth Clarke Eagan, living at 85 Prospect Street. In addition, the three children living at home were Mary (my Aunt Mae), Anne (my Aunt Nana) and my father, Austin.  The census entry notes that my grandmother had been married for 25 years and that she had had 7 children but only 4 will still alive. These 4 would be the three living at home and my Uncle James. The Rochester City Directory noted that James had gone to Cincinnati the previously year but he would be back in 1911. My grandfather was not listed in the census for 1910 although the City Directory lists him as living with his family on Prospect Street. I believe that he was working then at the James Cunningham and Sons on Canal Street. Cunningham was a manufacturer of carriages and automobiles.

Elizabeth Clarke Eagan in the 1910 Federal Census in Rochester