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McGoughs and McGues in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the 1800s by Hugh McGough

My great-grandfather John McGough was born in county Monaghan, Ireland; according to family tradition, in 1824. He emigrated to the United States in about 1851. He married Catherine Fitzpatrick at Pottsville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1855. He and Catherine moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, no later than the end of 1856. Their first son, James H. McGough, was born in Eau Claire in the latter part of 1856 or in 1857. John McGough was naturalized in Eau Claire on December 23, 1857. This required him to have had at least one year's residence in Wisconsin. He died when he fell through the ice in the Eau Claire River on December 23, 1869. My grandfather, Hugh McGough, was four years old when his father died. See McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906.

Other than the record of his marriage to Catherine Fitzpatrick on May 20, 1855, I have found no records relating to John McGough in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. Terence and Andrew McGough had been long-time residents of Schuylkill county from the late 1830s. Several of their children followed John McGough to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in the decades following the move there by my great-grandfather. On the theory that John McGough probably had some relatives in Schuylkill county when he moved there from Ireland, I examine here the history of Terence and Andrew McGough. My hope is that the histories of these families will reveal a clue to the townland within county Monaghan from which John McGough had come—and thus provide a key to our family history in Ireland.

Patrick and Margaret McGran Fitzpatrick, the parents of my great-great grandmother, followed their daughter, Catherine Fitzpatrick McGough, to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in 1861, along with several of their children. Ann McGough, daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough of Schuylkill county, married Daniel McManus in Schuylkill county in about 1858; and moved to Eau Claire in late 1865 or early 1866. Anna (or Anne) McGough, daughter of Terence and Ann (Nancy) McGough of Schuylkill county, married Frank Toner in about 1863 and moved from Schuylkill county to Eau Claire in 1867 or 1868. Anna McGough Toner's older brother, Michael, married Mary Ann Lynch in Pottsville, Schuylkill county, on January 1, 1876, and followed his sister to Eau Claire in 1881 or 1882. The records relating to these families in both Schuylkill county and Eau Claire are on my page: McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906.

What Brought John McGough to Schuylkill County?

Family lore is that my great-grandfather, John McGough, was born in 1824, in county Monaghan, Ireland. According to the Wisconsin census of 1860, he was born in 1829 or 1830. (Ages in federal censuses are unreliable.) According to Ancestry.com, most McGough immigrants (39) came to the US in 1851, and this is the likely year of my great-grandfather's immigration. I have not identified the ship on which John McGough came from Ireland to the United States, but several possibilities are listed in the last section of ths paper under Ship Lists. The best candidate is John McGough, a 28 year old farmer who arrived, unaccompanied by any other McGough, on May 16, 1851, in New York from Liverpool, aboard the David Cannon.

Also arriving in New York on the David Cannon on May 16, 1851, was a 34 year-old laborer, Pat Fitzpatrick. The Patrick Fitzpatrick who was my great-great grandfather was born in Ireland around 1813. He and his wife, Margaret McGran, had been married in about 1835, probably in New York, and had resided in Norwegian township in Schuylkill county since 1840. There is the faintest of possibilities that the Pat Fitzpatrick on the David Cannon was returning to the US after a visit to Ireland, but I have found no evidence to support this hypothesis, or that this Patrick Fitzpatrick was related to my great-great grandfather, Patrick Fitzpatrick.

John McGough may have been invited to the Pottsville area by another McGough or a related family from county Monaghan, Ireland. Several families with the name McGough live today in the south central and southeastern part of Pennsylvania, but I have not been able to make a direct connection between any of them and our family. John McGough, my great-grandfather, probably arrived in the Pottsville area in 1851. The families of Terence and Andrew McGough (McGue) had been residents of Schuylkill county, in St. Clair, near Pottsville, since at least July, 1838. The year 1838 is chosen because it is 2 years before July 28, 1840 when Terence and Andrew filed in Pottsville their declarations of intention to become US citizens; and more than 5 years before they were naturalized on March 19, 1844. The filing of the declarations required at least 2 years residence in the state, and the filing of the petitions for naturalization required at least 5 years residence in the state.

The McGoughs may have come to the area before 1830. The 1850 census of Norwegian township, Schuylkill county, says that Terence's 20 year old son, James, was born in Pennsylvania; and that his 22 year old son, Andrew, was born in New York. Later censuses say that both sons, James and Andrew, were born in Pennsylvania. If the census information is correct, the McGoughs arrived in Norwegian township by 1830—based on the age and place of birth of Terence's second son, James, who was born in Pennsylvania, and who was shown as 20 years old by the 1850 census. These McGough families may have attracted John McGough to the hard-coal mining area of Schuylkill county. For a listing of the families of Terence and Andrew McGough as shown in the federal censuses of 1840, 1850, 1860, and 1870, see the section on Schuylkill county in my web page: Inconsistent Census Reporting.

Terence McGough and Andrew McGough are both names found in the Catholic parish of Aughnamullen West in county Monaghan in the 1800s. My great-grandfather, John McGough, may have moved from that part of county Monaghan to Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in 1851 or thereabouts. See my web page: McGoughs, McGeoughs, and McGeoghs in the Civil Parish of Aghnamullen. These Terence and Andrew McGoughs may be relatives of the Terence and Andrew McGoughs who settled in Schuylkill county in 1830 or earlier:

Andrew McGeogh (214) is shown as renting 3 acres of land at £2/17s/3d in Carnaveagh in 1829 by the Tithe Applotment Books.

Terence McGeough (269) is shown as a holder of property in Lisgillan in 1829 by the Tithe Applotment Books.

The townland of Carnaveagh (H714 163) is about 5 1/2 kilometers (3 1/2 miles) southeast of the townland of Lisgillan (H673 198) and five kilometers (3 miles) south of the town of Ballybay. Lisgillan is about 4 1/2 kilometers west by southwest of Ballybay, and 3 kilometers east by northeast of Rockcorry. A John McGough of Lisgillan, patriarch of a large family, died there on September 20, 1856, at age 56. See gravestone #4 in McGough and McGeough Gravestone Inscriptions in County Monaghan. The Tithe Applotment Books for 1829 showed four pieces of property held by a John McGough in Lisgillan. See lines #265–268 in my table: McGoughs, McGeoughs, and McGeoghs in Ireland in the 1820–30s and 1850–60s: By County, Parish, and Townland. There are several listings of properties held by a Hugh McGough in the immediate area. Other Terence McGoughs are shown to have been in this area by Griffith's Valuation of 1858:

Terence McGough (216) is shown as leasing 4 acres of land at £2/10s/ from Thomas Hamilton in Carrickaldragh in 1858 by Griffith's. Terence McGough Sr. (234) and Terence McGough Jr. (233) are also shown in Cortaghart in 1858 by Griffith's. Cortaghart joins Carrickaldragh to the east, so the same person may well have held lands in the adjoining townlands.

Terence McGough, Jr. (233) is shown as leasing a house, offices and 8 acres of land from Mary Campbell in Cortaghart in 1858 by Griffith's. Terence McGough (216) is also shown in Carrickaldragh in 1858 by Griffith's. Carrickaldragh joins Cortaghart to the west, so the persons listed may be the same.

Terence McGough Sr. (234) is shown as leasing a house, office, and 8 acres of land from Mary Campbell in Cortaghart in 1858 by Griffith's. Terence McGough (216) is also shown in Carrickaldragh in 1858 by Griffith's. Carrickaldragh joins Cortaghart to the west, so the persons listed may be the same.

County Monaghan, where my great-grandfather was born in 1824 (or 1830/1), is in south Ulster and is one of three counties of Ulster that became part of the Republic of Ireland in 1922. Many men from county Monaghan had moved from Ireland to Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, in the 1820s through 1850s and some of them brought with them the traditions and attitudes of the Ribbonmen and Molly Maguires of county Monaghan. See Making Sense of the Molly Maguires (Oxford University Press 1998) by Kevin Kenny, which is discussed in more detail in McGough Irish Origins.

Maps of Schuylkill County and Other Sources

The Historical Society of Schuylkill County has a website and a good library of local materials. Schuylkill County PAGenWeb is a good source, as is Schuylkill County Genealogy Ties.

The History of Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania With Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of its Prominent men and Pioneers (New York: W.W. Munsell & Co. 1881) is available on the Internet.

A map of the counties of Pennsylvania shows Schuylkill county in the east central part of the state. See the township map on Schuylkill County PAGenWeb. There is also a 1984 map of St. Clair Borough on this site. The property acquired in 1845 by Terence and Andrew McGough in St. Clair can be located on this map— between 3rd and 4th Streets, and about half way between Hancock and Caroll Streets, just east of the St. Clair Shaft Colliery, and near Walker's Hall. A good topographical map is published with other USGS Topological Maps on the Payer Page. Much of the history of St. Clair will be found on the website: Saint Clair then and now . . . , the website of the Saint Clair Community and Historical Society.

There is an Outline Map of Schuylkill County, showing the townships, on the Schuylkill County PAGenWeb site (Part of the USGenWeb Project). There is also a 1984 map of St. Clair Borough on this site. The property acquired in 1845 by Terence and Andrew McGough in St. Clair can be located on this map— between 3rd and 4th Streets, and about half way between Hancock and Caroll Strees, just east of the St. Clair Shaft Colliery, and near Walker's Hall.

The Railroad Maps Collection, in the American Memory Collection in the Library of Congress, contains innumerable railroad maps from 1826 to 1900. The maps have a great zoom-in/out feature. On the website, the maps are indexed under the name of the railroad and the name of the creator of the map. The Philadelphia and Reading Railroad ran through Pottsville as early as 1838. The Topographical Plan & Profile of the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road by R. B. (Richard Boyce) Osborne, which is dated 1838, is a topographic strip map of part of Pennsylvania from Mahanoy Mountain along Schuylkill River to Philadelphia. The railroad line was chartered on December 5, 1833, and was completed in 1839. The entire line was opened on July 13, 1842. The map shows Pottsville, and the surrounding towns of Minersville to the due west, Port Carbon to the east, and Schuylkill Haven to the southeast. This cluster of towns is west of the entry of the railroad into the mountainous area on the left of the chart, about a third of the way to the west across the mountains. Pottsville is immediately west of the south end of the Sharp Mountains, and just north of where Tumbling Run joins the Schuylkill River. Another way to find the area is to go to the town of Reading and follow the track of the railroad north and west. To get to the town of Reading, move left the width of about three letter from the P in Philadelphia, and follow the vertical line, that can be seen by zooming in on the map, down to the railroad line. The same vertical line is at the bottom of the map, just to the left of the b in "Printed by G. E. Lewis."

Check the Map of the Mine Hill & Schuylkill Haven R. R. & Branches (1857) by P. S. Duval & Co. (Pottsville is along the right edge of the map, a little more than half way down.) Zooming in on parts of this map and moving around will provide a good tour of the area. See also Topographical Map of the Mine Hill and Schuylkill-Haven Rail Road with its branches and extension to Ashland (1854) by Henry W. (Henry Ward) Poole. (Pottsville is just below the centerline at the right edge of this map.)

See: Unearthing Your Pennsylvania Coal Miner Relatives at the Pennsylvania State Archives.

For a list of libraries in Schuylkill county and other resources, see: E Podunk—Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania

Marriage of John McGough and Catherine Fitzpatrick

My great grandfather, John McGough, married Catherine Fitzpatrick in St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, Pennsylvania, on May 20, 1855. His name appears in the church records as John McGeoy. The officiating priest was Father Joseph O'Keefe, who had been apointed pastor of St. Patrick's in 1852. Witnesses to the marriage were Edward Money (Mooney?) and Bridget McGran. Although the marriage is registered at St. Patrick's Church in Pottsville, the marriage ceremony was not necessarily performed there. In the 1850s, priests stationed at the church served as circuit riders, and performed marriages elsewhere in the county.

Catherine Fitzpatrick was the daughter of Patrick Fitzpatrick and Margaret Fitzpatrick, who are listed in the 1850 census of Norwegian township, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania:

(1850) Patrick Fitzpatrick, age 38, miner, born in Ireland (roll 827, page 432).

Margaret Fitzpatrick, age 30, born in Ireland, who could not read or write. [Margaret McGran]

Catharine Fitzpatrick, age 14, born in Pennsylvania.

Philip Fitzpatrick, age 12, born in Pennsylvania.

Rosannah Fitzpatrick, age 10, born in Pennsylvania.

Hugh Fitzpatrick, age 5, born in Pennsylvania.

James Fitzpatrick, age 3, born in Pennsylvania.

John Fitzpatrick, age 3 months, born in Pennsylvania.

Michael McGran, laborer, age 20, born in Ireland.

Margaret Fitzparick's maiden name was McGran, and the Michael McGran living with her was probably her brother. Bridget McGran was a witness to the marriage of John McGough and Catherine Fitzpatrick, and was probably Catherine Fitzpatrick's aunt (or sister-in-law; a Michael McGrann, age 45, a pedlar, born in Ireland, is listed in the 1880 census of Reading, Berks county, Pennsylvania, with his wife, Bridget McGrann, age 40, born in Ireland, and 5 children; roll 1101, page 40.)

The 1860 federal census, as of July 13, 1860, of Reilly township (roll 1181, page 741), Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, shows the Fitzpatrick family still in Pennsylvania. Reilly township is west of the town of Pottsville, not far from Norwegian township. Reilly township is on the western border of Cass township. Norwegian township is on the southern border of Cass township. Here is the family as it is listed in the 1860 census:

(1860) Patrick Fitzpatrick, age 40, miner, born in Ireland (To be consistent with the 1850 census, the age should be 47 or 48.)

Margaret Fitzpatrick age 39, born in Ireland. [Margaret McGran]

Catherine Fitzpatrick, age 23, domestic, born in New York. [This listing is a mystery. The daughter Catherine had married John McGough in 1855, and was living in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, by the end of 1856. The daughter's place of birth in the 1850 census was listed as Pennsylvania.]

Philip Fitzpatrick, age 21, miner, born in Pennsylvania.

Rosean Fitzpatrick, age 19, born in Pennsylvania. [Her name was spelled Rosannah in the 1850 census.]

Hugh Fitzpatrick age 15, born in Pennsylvania [No notation that he attended school within the year.]

James Fitzpatrick, age 13, born in Pennsylvania [No notation that he attended school within the year.]

John Fitzpatrick, age 10, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Patt Fitzpatrick age 8, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Margaret Fitzpatrick, age 5, born in Pennsylvania, attended school within the year.

Michael Fitzpatrick, age 1, born in Pennsylvania

Shortly after their marriage, John and Catherine Fitzpatrick McGough moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin, where John McGough was naturalized on December 23, 1857 (which means he had been in Wisconsin at least a year). Their first child, James McGough, was born in Eau Claire in 1857, and was listed as 3 years old (under McGue) in the 1860 census of Eau Claire. Catherine Fitzpatrick McGough's parents and brothers and sisters followed her from Pottsville to Eau Claire in 1861. See my page: McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906.

Families of Terence and Andrew McGough in Records of Schuylkill County

Terence McGough was born in Ireland about 1800, and died in the borough of St. Clair in Schuylkill county on March 28, 1874. Andrew McGough was born in Ireland about 1805, and died in the borough of St. Clair in Schuylkill county shortly before June 28, 1897. They were probably brothers. They emigrated from Ireland to New York, probably together, no later than 1838, and possibly as early as 1827. They moved to Pennsylvania by 1838, and possibly before 1830. On the same day, July 28, 1840, in Pottsville, Pennsylvania, they both filed declarations of their intention to become a citizen of the United States. The applications give Terence's age as 40, and Andrew's as 35. Both applications spell the surname McGough, and both are signed by an "X his mark." The documents give no place of origin more specific than Ireland. They were both naturalized on March 19, 1844. Terence's wife was Ann, also known as Nancy, who was born in Ireland in 1804. Andrews' wife Elizabeth was born in Ireland about 1818. The brothers resided next door to each other in Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, for over forty years. Each family grew large. Andrew's wife Elizabeth died on May 15, 1896, at age 78 of kidney trouble, in St. Clair, Pennsylvania .

Terence's name is spelled Terance, Terence, Terrance, and Terrence in the records. I have changed to a standard Terence except when I have enclosed the name within quotation marks. Likewise, I use Catherine—even though Catharine was more commonly used in the older records. I did not change the spelling of the names as they appeared in the census records. McGough is sometimes spelled McGeough, and in the census records (but not elsewhere) McGue. I have tried to preserve the spellings of the surname, and have spelled the surname in accordance with signatures on documents, which were usually McGough, even though the texts of the same documents often say McGeough.

The modern name Terence may be a form of Torlogh, which derives from the Gaelic Toirdhealbhach (or Toirdhealbach):

"Toirdhealbach [torlogh] is derived from tor, a tower, and dealbhach, shape or form: signifying 'a man of tower-like stature.' This name has been anglicised Terence, Terrie, Terry, etc." Ancient Irish Proper Names (from Irish Pedigrees; or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, by John O'Hart, 5th Edition, 1892).

"Terrance—1. Irish: Anglicized (‘translated’) form of Gaelic Mac Toirdhealbhaigh (see Turley). Terence was sometimes used as an English equivalent of the Gaelic personal name Toirdhealbach." Dictionary of American Family Names, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-508137-4.

Several Torlogh McGoughs are listed in the records of Ireland in the 1600s through 1800s.

Real estate records of Schuylkill county show a deed of lot 100 "Bounded in the front by Third Street and the rear by Fourth Street" in the town of St. Clair to "Andrew McGough and Terance McGough" on February 19, 1845. The deed was recorded on October 31, 1845. On October 4, 1849, part of the nearby lot 97 in the town of St. Clair, "Bounded in front by ... Third Street and in the rear by Fourth Street," was deeded to Andrew McGough by Abraham Hart, a Philadelphia bookseller, and others. The index shows a deed of part of lot 97 by Andrew McGough to Ransloe Boone on April 18, 1884. "R. Boone" was the biggest creditor of the estate of Terence McGough. When he died in 1874, Terence owed Boone $110.92 (plus another $80.66 to "R. Boone for Hetherington"). Andrew McGough lived on lot 100 when he signed his will on August 14, 1889. The deed to Ransloe Boone says that the property had been deeded to Andrew McGough on October 4, 1849.

Andrew McGough signed his will on August 14, 1889, at which time he said he was in failing health. The will was filed on June 28, 1897, shortly after the death of Andrew's wife, Elizabeth McGough, on May 15, 1896. Because this Andrew McGough was not listed in an 1890 directory of Schuylkill county, and because his will said he was in bad health, I assume that he died shortly after signing the will, and that it was not filed until after the death of his widow about eight years later. Here is a copy of the will as recorded in the probate records of Schuylkill county: (Schuylkill County Will Book, volume 10, page 245). In the heading of the will and signature line, the surname is spelled McGough, but throughout the body of the will it appears as McGeough.

Last Will of Andrew McGough, deceased.

I, Andrew McGeough, or the Borough of St. Clair, County of Schuylkill, State of Pennsylvania, being aware of the uncertainty of life, and in failing health, but of sound mine and memory do make and declare this to be my last will and testament in manner following, to wit, -

First, I give devise and bequeath unto my son John McGeough the property that I now reside in it being all that certain one fourth lot or piece of ground situate on Third Street in the borough of St. Clair, aforesaid, containing in front on Third Street thirty (30) feet and in depth one hundred (100) feet together with all the buildings and improvements thereon erected. Bounded in front by Third Street in the rear by other part of lot No 100 of which this is a part, on the north by lot of William Price Estate and on the south by part of said lot No 100, now owned by my son James McGeough. I also give to my son John McGeough all my household goods, furniture, etc, etc, and all other personal property except that which I shall give to my daughter Rosa Heenan. –

Second, I give devise and bequeath unto my daughter, Rosa Heenan all that certain lot or piece of ground situate on Fourth Street in the borough of St. Clair aforesaid, with the improvements +c. thereon erected said one fourth lot or piece of ground containing in front on Fourth Street (30) thirty feet and in depth one hundered (100) feet. Bounded in front by Fourth Street in the rear by other part of the said lot No.100 this day willed to my son John McGeough, on the north by lot of William Price Estate and on the south by other section of said lot No.100. I also give to my daughter Rosa Heenan whatever money I may have remaining in the Safe Deposit Bank of Pottsville or elsewhere if any, after my death. She to pay my funeral expenses and lawful debts if any.

Third, I give to my sons James McGeough and John McGeough and daughter Ann the sum of one dollar each.

Fourth, Should my beloved wife Elizabeth survive me it is hereby further provided that she shall have full possession of all my estate real and personal until her death and after her death the property to be divided as set forth in this will.

Signed, sealed and delivered by Andrew McGeough)
As and for his last will and testament in the presence)
Of us who at his request and in his presence and in the) Andrew McGough (seal)
Presence of each other have subscribed out names here-)
Unto as witness thereof this, 14 day of August A.D. 1889)

Wm. W. Lewis)
James W. Thomas) Witness

A web page called Early Statistics of St Clair that is part of the Saint Clair Then and Now . . . website lays out the development of streets and residential lots in St. Clair, and mentions the early purchase of land in St. Clair by Andrew and Terrence McGough (echoing A Workingman's Town, which is Chapter III of St Clair—A Nineteenth Century Coal Town's Experience with a Disaster-Prone Industry by Anthony F. C. Wallace (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1987). Here is an excerpt from page 124:

"All the lots fronting on Second Street were sold either by Nichols before 1835 or by the Careys before 1846. The lots on Third Street south of Hancock were less desirable, for they were closer to the noise and dirt of the mines and the railroad, which ran up Fourth Street at the western edge of town. A number of these lots were purchased in 1846 by immigrant Irish families. The brothers Andrew and Terence McGough, mine laborers aged forty and forty-five, bought a lot together in 1845, built a single and a double house (for rental) apiece, and lived there next door to each other for the rest of their lives; Andrew also invested in another house down the block. Irish brothers Thomas and Patrick Igo* took the lot next door but one, and Evan Evans,* a Welsh mine laborer, the lot in between. By the end of 1847 all the residential lots on Third Street had been sold. Most of the remaining lots east of Front Street were sold off between 1847 and 1854.

"The lots were not small. The street blocks measured approximately 480 feet in length and 200 in depth (approximately 2.2. acres); each block was divided into six, seven, or eight lots, depending on the value of the location. Thus individual lots were two hundred feet deep and from sixty to eighty feer in width, and they fronted on two streets. Lots of this size could be and were, quickly subdivided by their owners into as many as six smaller lots, and stores or houses were built to occupy the smaller locations and to yield rentals."

*In the 1850 census of New Castle township, Schuylkill county, these heads of families are listed in this order: Evan Evans, age 34, miner, real estate $500, born in Wales; Thomas Igo, age 40, laborer, born in Ireland; "Terrance McGue," age 50, laborer, real estate, $1500, born in Ireland; Andrew McGue, age 47, laborer, real estate $500, born in Ireland. Thomas Igo was also listed near Terence and Andrew McGue in the 1840 census of Norwegian township, Schuylkill county. Patrick Igo, age 32, a laborer, born in Ireland, is listed in the 1850 census of Norwegian township. Several related Igo families migrated from county Roscommon, Ireland, to St. Clair, around 1840. See the Igo Family Genealogy Forum (and word search for Schuylkill); see also page 151 of Wallace's book. (See also: Igo; an Irish family's history & genealogy (1937) by Joseph Michael Igo (1937–). Available at the Family History Library. FHL FAM HIST Book 929.273 Ig6i. "Notes Author taken from Introduction. Patrick Igo (1837–1916) and Mary Nanry (b. 1841) lived in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He received his naturalization in 1856. They had come from Ireland." Also on microfilm. Salt Lake City: Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 2001. on 1 microfilm reel ; 35 mm. FHL US/CAN Film 1425398 Item 1.)

The same website previously told us about the early growth of St. Clair:

"Growth

"During 1845 eighty new buildings were constructed with the plans in 1846 for an additional 130 miners' homes.  A private census in 1845 gave Saint Clair the population of 605;  131 homes,  3 stores, 2 taverns, males - 342, females - 263.

"By 1850 the population grew to  2,217.   At this time there were 10 steam engines, 5 major collieries, the Patterson furnace, 2 sawmills, a half dozen blacksmiths, carpenters, stonemasons, physician, publicans, 46 cows (kept by households), a store or tavern on nearly every street, tailors, butchers, bakers, shoemakers, 3 English churches, a cemetery, and a  meeting place." 

Indexes of Schuylkill county real estate records show that, on October 23, 1875, the "Terrence McGough Estate" conveyed the interest of Terence McGough in property in St. Clair to James McGeough (sic). The deed is signed by Michael McGough as the administrator of the estate of "Terrence McGeough." James McGough purchased the property at auction ordered on August 23, 1875, in the probate of the estate of Terence McGough, since Terence's estate was insufficient to pay his debts. The natural assumption would be that the purchaser was the James who was the son of Terence and Nancy McGough and who was born in Pennsylvania in 1829 or 1830. The will of Andrew McGough, however, says that his son James (Terence's nephew), who was born about 1841, owned and resided upon the south part of lot 100, which was the property conveyed to James McGough by the administrator of the estate of Terence McGough. In another place in the index, the grantee of this property is indexed under the name James McGough, instead of McGeough. On the same day, October 23, 1875, James McGough executed a deed to Michael McGough, administrator. The deeds were not recorded until July 31, 1886. Michael was probably Terence's son, who was born in 1841 or 1842. Andrew McGough executed his will on August 14, 1889, and it was filed on June 28, 1897.

By a deed dated October 16, 1875 (and signed by the Toners of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on October 24, 1875), the heirs of Terence McGough conveyed two contiguous half lots in the borough of St. Clair to Andrew Greenbak. The land transferred consisted of the rear halves of lots 28 and 29 in the Hughes subdivision in St. Clair. Grantors who signed the deed were: Andrew McGeough, Michael McGeough, John Moran and his wife Kate (McGeough) Moran, and Frank Toner and his wife Ann (McGeough) Toner. Frank and Ann Toner signed the deed in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, on October 24, 1875. The other grantors all signed in Schuylkill county on October 16, 1875. Andrew, Michael, Kate, and Ann were four of the five children of Terence and Ann (Nancy) McGough as shown by the federal censuses set out below.

The deed last mentioned shows that, before the death of her father on March 28, 1874, the daughter of Terence and Ann McGough, Anna McGough, had married Frank Toner and moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Federal census information on Eau Claire, Wisconsin, of 1880, shows Anna McGough married Frank Toner in Pennsylvania in about 1863; that their two older sons, James and Michael, were born in Pennsylvania about 1864 and 1867, respectively; and that their later children, beginning with Katta in 1869, were born in Wisconsin. They probably moved, therefore, from Schuylkill county to Eau Claire in 1867 or 1868.

Anna McGough Toner's older brother, Michael, married Mary Ann Lynch in Pottsville on January 1,1876, and, with his family, followed his sister to Eau Claire in 1881 or 1882, about 14 years after she moved there. The St. Patrick's Parish tracking marriage records shows the marriage of Michael McGeough of St. Clair and Mary Ann Lynch of Pottsville, on January 1, 1876. Witnesses were James McGeough and Bridget O'Neill. Their first three children were born in Pennsylvania and their second three in Wisconsin. For more details on the Toner-McGough and McGough-Lynch families, see my web page McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906 under the headings Frank Toner and Anna McGough Toner and Michael and Mary Ann McGough.

The 1900 census of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, Gilberton borough (East Ward), lists Andrew McGough, age 54, born in Pennsylvania in March of 1846, a coal miner whose parents were born in "England," living with his wife of 25 years, Mary, age 52, born in Pennsylvania in December of 1847, with these children, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania: John, age 23, born in June, 1877, a mine laborer; Thomas, age 21, born in December, 1878, a mine laborer; Lizzie, age 17, born in July, 1882, a dress maker; Andrew, age 15, born in September, 1884, a mine laborer; and Agnes, age 10, born in July, 1889, at school. This Andrew McGough is probably the son of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough (McGue).

On January 18, 1905, and May 10, 1905, James and John McGough, probably the sons of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough, signed deeds to property in the town of St. Clair to William S. Thomas. (James S. Thomas had been a witness to the will of Andrew McGough.)

The Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Vital Records—Genealogical and Historical Miscellany collected and compiled by Phillip A. Rice and Jean A. Dellock (Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, Laughlintown, Pennsylvania, 1992) volume 3, at page 415, lists these burials at Holy Rosary/Frackville Cemetery: Andrew J. McGough, died June 30, 1920, 74 years old; Andrew F. McGough, died October 8, 1918, 34 years old; and Mary McGough, died January 8, 1929.

There is on file in Schuylkill county a will of an Andrew McGeough, spelled thusly, from Gilberton. The will was signed at "Mahaney City, Penna." on March 1, 1913, and filed for probate on August 6, 1920. In the will, Andrew names his wife Mary, and children John, Thomas, Elizabeth Barry, Andrew Jr. and Agnes McGeough. This is the Andrew McGough who was shown as age 54 in the census of Gilberton in 1900, and probably the Andrew McGue (a mining laborer born in Pennsylvania) who is shown in the 1860 census of Schuylkill county as the 16 year old son of Andrew and Elizabeth McGue; and in the 1850 census as their 6 year old son. This is the Andrew J. McGough who is shown as having died on June 30, 1920, at age 74, and is buried at Holy Rosary/St. Joseph's Cemetery, Frackville, Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania. In his will, he directs that he "be buried in St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Cemetery, at Frackville, Penna." The will and probate records use the spelling McGeough, but the cemetery records use McGough.

Here is an obituary from the Pottsville Republican of January 8, 1929: "Mrs. Mary McGough—Of Gilberton Died After Two Weeks Illness. Mrs. Mary McGough died at the family home on Tuesday morning following an illness of two weeks. She was a life long resident of that section and was a member of the Holy Rosary Church of Mahanoy Plane. She leaves the following survivors, Thos., of Frackville; John of Gilberton, and two daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Barry of Gilberton, and Mrs. Wm. Cantwell of N. J. The funeral will be held from her late home on Saturday morning. Undertaker Fitzpatrick of Mahanoy Plane will be funeral director."

Here is an obituary fron the Pottsville Republican of February 25, 1909, of Margaret McGough, who was probably the wife of Andrew McGough's son, Thomas:

"DIED ... McGough. At Gilberton on February 29, 1909, Margaret, wife of Thomas McGough, aged 24 years. Funeral will be held on Saturday morning, leaving the residence at 8:45 sharp. High mass at the Holy Rosary church, Mahanoy Plane, at 9:30 o'clock. Interment at St. Joseph's cemetery, Frackville. going by carriages. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend."

The Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Vital Records—Genealogical and Historical Miscellany collected and compiled by Phillip A. Rice and Jean A. Dellock (Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, Laughlintown, Pennsylvania, 1992) volume 3, at page 418, lists these burials at Holy Rosary/Frackville Cemetery: Margaret E. McGough, born February 14, 1889; died February 24, 1909; Mary C. McGough, died January 29, 1941, daughter; Thmas McGough, died October 29, 1944, son.

Thomas McGough, a widower with no children, age 31, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania, a bartender in a saloon, is listed in the 1910 census of Mahanoy borough (3rd ward), Schuylkill county. He was a boarder with Elizabeth Schrader, age 31, born in Pennsylvania.

The federal censuses of Schuylkill county each spell the surname McGough phonetically in 1840, 1850, and 1860: McGue. In the census reports of 1870, the spelling of the surnames of both families was McGough. In 1860, the hand-written census forms make the name look like McGee, and the major index of the 1860 census of eastern Pennsylvania lists the surname of both Terence and Andrew as McGee.

Census of 1840—Norwegian Township

The federal census of 1840 shows families headed by Terence McGue and Andrew McGue living nearby each other in Norwegian township (page 192), Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania.

Terence is shown as a male, at least 40 and under 50, and engaged in mining. His wife is shown as a female, at least 30 and under 40. Three other males were living in the house, two of whom were at least 10 and under 15, and one of whom was under 5. There were a total of five persons in the household, 4 males and one female: Andrew, age 40; Ann (Nancy), age 36; and 3 sons, Andrew, age 12; James, age 10; and probably a third son who had died before 1850..

Andrew, who was 37, is shown as a male, at least 30 and under 40, engaged in manufacturing and the trades. His wife, Elizabeth, who was 22, is shown at least 20 and under 30. One female child, under 5, is shown in the household. This was probably the new-born Ann. Also residing in the household is another male, at least 20 and under 30, whom I have not been able to identify. There were a total of four persons in the household, 2 males and 2 females.

To make a census-to-census comparison easier, I have put the information from later censuses on the two families side-by-side in tables.

Census of 1850—New Castle Township (St. Clair Borough)

The federal census of 1850 shows families headed by Terrance McGue and Andrew McGue living side by side in New Castle township (page 156), Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania:

*Andrew McGough married Mary Ann McCabe, the daughter of William and Catharine McCabe, apparently before 1856. In 1859, Mary Ann (McCabe) McGough's mother, Catharine McCabe, had acquired ownership of a two story house on second street in St. Clair. The 1860 federal census of St. Clair borough, Schuylkill county, shows Mary McGue, age 28, born in Pennsylvania, living with her parents, William (Wm) McCabe (age 50, day laborer, born in Ireland) and Catherine McCabe (age 49, born in Ireland); and two children, Catherine McGue, age 3, and William McGue, age 5 months, both born in Pennsylvania. Catharine died on November 28, 1866 (or 1867?). On January 2, 1867, Andrew and Mary Ann McGough (nee McCabe) executed a deed of their interest in the two-story house in St. Clair to Mary Ann's unmarried sister, Sarah Catharine McCabe. Other grantors on the same deed included Mary Ann's father, William McCabe, and her brother-in-law and sister, Thomas Regan and Theresa (McCabe) Regan. The 1870 census of Schuylkill county, borough of St. Clair (North Ward), lists Andrew J. McGough, a blacksmith, age 40, born in Pennsylvania, living with Elizabeth Martin, age 52, born in Ireland, who was keeping house; and these children, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania: Kate, age 13; William, age 10; and Mary, age 6. The mother of the three children was foreign-born. This is probably the widower son of Terence and Nancy McGough (McGue).

•The St. Patrick's Parish Tracking Marriage Record shows a marriage of James McGeough and Anne McKeenen on December 7, 1867, in the Pottsville area. Witnesses to the marriage were Thomas McKeenen and Margaret Clancy. The marriage was performed by N. J. Walsh.

»Michael McGeough of St. Clair married Mary Ann Lynch of Pottsville on January 1, 1876, according to the St, Patrick's Parish Tracking Marriage Record. The person officiating at the marriage was D. J. McDermott. Witnesses were James McGeough and Bridget O'Neill. The three older children of Michael and Mary Ann were born in Pennsylvania: Terrance, born in December of 1876; Anna, born in 1878; and Michael, born in 1880. They moved to Eau Claire, Wisconsin in 1881 or 1882. Three more children were born in Eau Claire: James, born in 1883; Mary, born in 1886; and John, born in 1889. Their gravestone at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Eau Claire shows Michael McGough, 1844–1904, buried with Mary Ann McGough, 1844–1923. For more on this family, see my page: McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906.

†Anne (or Anna) McGough (daughter of Terence and Nancy) married Frank Toner in Pennsylvania in about 1863. Their two older sons, James and Michael, were born in Pennsylvania in about 1864 and 1867, respectively. Their later children, beginning with Katta in 1869, were born in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. They probably moved, therefore, from Schuylkill county to Eau Claire in 1867 or 1868. Anna McGough Toner's older brother, Michael, married Mary Ann Lynch in Pottsville on January 1, 1876, and, with his family, followed his sister to Eau Claire in 1881 or 1882, about 14 years after she moved there.

±Anne McGough (daughter of Andrew and Elizabeth) married Daniel McManus (sometimes spelled McMannus) in about 1858. Daniel and Ann McGough McManus moved, with their children, from Pennsylvania to Wisconsin shortly after the end of the Civil War, in late 1865 or 1866. Ann's father, Andrew McGough, probably accompanied them on the trip. More information on the McManus family is on my page: McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906.

‡The 1880 census of Schuylkill county, Mahanoy township (North Mahanoy Creek), lists an Andrew McGoff, age 34. born in Pennsylvania, to parents born in Ireland, a carpenter, with his wife, Mary, age 34, born in Pennsylvania (who could neither read nor write), and their two children, both born in Pennsylvania: I. John, age 4, and Thomas, age 1. The 1900 census of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, Gilberton borough (East Ward), lists Andrew McGough, age 54, born in Pennsylvania in March of 1846, a coal miner, whose parents were born in England, living with his wife of 25 years, Mary, age 52, born in Pennsylvania in December of 1847, with these children, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania: John, age 23, born in June, 1877, a mine laborer; Thomas, age 21, born in December, 1878, a mine laborer; Lizzie, age 17,* born in July, 1882, a dress maker; Andrew, age 15, born in September, 1884, a mine laborer; and Agnes, age 10, born in July, 1889, at school. This Andrew McGoff/McGough is probably the son of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough (McGue).

*Here is part of an email I received from Laura Barry on September 11, 2011:

"In your link for the McGoughs and McGues in Schuylkill County, you refer to the McGough family from Gilberton borough/East Ward---specifically Andrew and Mary McGough and their children, John, Thomas, Lizzie, Andrew, and Agnes. My husband's grandmother was Lizzie McGough, who married Thomas Barry. Lizzie and Thomas Barry had 4 children: Patrick (died at age 2), Mary, Rose, and Francis---Francis was my husband's father. My husband is John Barry--we live in New Jersey. Many of the descendants of Agnes McGough (who married William Cantwell) live near us--actually, I just spoke with one of them today about your information."

 

Census of 1860—St. Clair Borough (North Ward)

The borough of St. Clair in New Castle township was incorporated in 1850.

Census of 1870—Middle Ward Borough, St. Clair

The 1870 census of Schuylkill county, Middle Ward Borough, St. Clair (page 297), lists these same families as McGoughs, living side-by-side.

*The two younger children of Andrew are probably the John and Mary McGough, brother and sister, ages 53 and 44 respectively, both single, who are listed by the 1910 census of the Middle ward of St. Clair borough, Schuylkill county. They were both born in Pennsylvania, and both of their parents were born in Ireland. John was a laborer at odd jobs. Mary's occupation was listed as "none." Here is an obituary from the Pottsville Republican of October 13, 1916:

"DIED. .... McGue — At St. Clair, on Wednesday, October 11, 1916. John McGue. Funeral will be held on Saturday morning from his late home on N. Fourth St. Funeral leaves at nine o'clock. Requiem high mass at St. Mary's church at 9:30 o'clock. Interment in parish cemetery. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend."

Census of 1880—Middle Ward, St. Clair

The 1880 census index for Middle Ward, St. Clair, Schuylkill county, as published in the Family History Research File, on CD-ROM by the FamilySearch project of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (film 1192, page 75C), shows Andrew McGough, age 70, general laborer, born in Ireland; Elizabeth McGough, age 65, born in Ireland, keeping house; James McGough, their son, age 25, single, born in Pennsylvania, "Works At Coal Breaker"; John McGough, their son, age 20, single, born in Pennsylvania, "Works At Coal Mine"; and Mary McGough, granddaughter, age 14, whose father and mother were both born in Pennsylvania.

This census also shows another Andrew McGough family in the Middle Ward of St. Clair: the family of Andrew McGough, age 47, born in New York, a blacksmith, whose father and mother were born in Ireland; Andrew J. McGough, his son, age 18, a blacksmith's helper; Mary Ann McGough, his daughter, age 16, keeping house. The father and mother of the children are both shown as having been born in New York. The mother is not listed in the census. This Andrew McGough was probably the widower son of Andrew McGough, senior, and his wife, Eliazabeth, who was born in about 1844. The wife of this Andrew McGough, Catharine McCabe McGough had died on November 28, 1867 (or possibly 1866).

Census of 1890—Middle Ward, St. Clair

The 1890 census returns were destroyed as a result of a fire in 1921, but there is a rough substitute for Schuylkill county. A Directory of the eleventh census of the population of Schuylkill County : giving the names and ages of males and females on Ancestry.com contains this entry at page 782, under the heading St. Clair, Middle Ward: "McGough, Andrew, 52, blacksmith. Elizabeth, John, 28, miner, Rose, Mary." No ages are given for Elizabeth, Rose, and Mary. This is an alphabetical directory prepared from the 1890 census returns in the hands of the Schuylkill county commissioners, with much advertising from local merchants. Family names are listed alphabetically under the township or borough where the family was located, but no street addresses are given for the North and Middle Wards of the borough of St. Clair. Streets upon which residences were located are given for a majority of the persons listed in the South Ward. If families with the same surname are living in separate residences in the same political subdivision, there are usually given separate listings. An original of the directory is in the Sutro Branch of the California State Library and in the library of the Schuylkill County Historical Society.

The short title of the book is: 1890 Census, A Directory of the Eleventh Census of Schuylkill Co. (originally. published 1891, Lebanon, PA, E.E. Schartel, Publisher; published 2000, Windmill Publications, Inc., 6628 Uebelhack Rd., Mt. Vernon, IN 47620, sponsored by the Schuylkill County Historical Society, 14 N. Third St., Pottsville, PA 17901).

My guess is that Andrew McGough, senior, who was born in Ireland, died shortly after he signed his will in 1889—even though the will was not filed until 1897, shortly after the death of his wife, Elizabeth. The senior Andrew McGough would have been about 83 in 1890, and had never been listed as a blacksmith. The persons represented by this listing are probably Elizabeth, the wife of the senior Andrew McGough, who was about 71, and her daughters Rose, about age 42, and Mary, about age 25. The Andrew McGough, age 52, a blacksmith, was probably the widower son of Terence and Nancy McGough who was born in about 1828, and would have been 62 years old. This Andrew was a blacksmith. This Andrew was listed in the 1880 census (above) of the Middle Ward of St. Clair as age 47, born in New York, a blacksmith, whose father and mother were born in Ireland.

Also listed in this directory in the North Ward of St. Clair Borough, at page 774, is Thomas McGue, age 36, miner, and Mary E. McGue.

Census of 1900—St. Clair Borough

Although the ages do not match exactly, my guess is that that these three McGoughs were the daughters and son of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough who were living in the house Andrew McGough left to his son John when Andrew died in 1897. Andrew's wife, Elizabeth, had died at age 78 of kidney trouble in St. Clair, Pennsylvania, on May 15, 1896.

(1900) Rose McGough (head), age 48, married, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Ireland, in June of 1851, mother of 0 children, could not read or write. No occupation listed. [Her married name was Heenan, but apparently she never used it. See the section called The Heenan Connection, below.]

John McGough (brother), age 40, single, born in February, 1860, in Pennsylvania to parents born in Ireland, a mine laborer, who owned the house free of a mortgage.

Mary McGough (sister), age 30, single, born in March, 1870, in Pensylvania to parents born in Ireland, who could not read or write. No occupation listed.

Neighbors of Andrew and Terence McGue in 1850 and 1875

The property that Andrew and Terence McGough bought in 1845 in the borough of St. Clair formed part of an "Irish Row" between 3rd Avenue and 4th Avenue, and between Hancock Street and Carroll Street. (Enoch McGinness began sinking the "St. Clair" shaft in 1853, and completed it in 1854. "The shaft was located on the west side of town, on a hillside just beyond the railroad tracks at the end of Caroll Street." Anthony F. Wallace, St. Clair: A Nineteenth Century Coal Town's Experience with a Disaster Prone Industry, Cornell University Press 1981, page 106.)

Here is a list of residents on this block (and in the vicinity) from the 1850 census of the borough of St. Clair in New Castle township. In parenthesis after the family surname, I have inserted the name of the Irish county where the surname is shown by Irish Ancestors to have been most common in the second half of the nineteenth century.

Patrick McAlte (McAtee? - Monaghan), age 28, laborer, born in Ireland; wife, Mary, age 26, born in Ireland (who could not read and write), and 2 children, both born in Pennsylvania: Edward, age 2; and Mary, age 7 months; Mary McCalla (Down - rare), age 64, born in Ireland, could not read and write.

Charles Caroll (Cork/Louth), age 25, born in Ireland; wife, Mary, age 24, born in Ireland; neither of whom could read or write; daughter, Hannah, age 1, born in Pennsylvania; Catherine Jordon, age 10, born in Pennsylvania.

Patrick Mullin (Galway), age 23, laborer, born in Ireland; his wife Mary, age 23, born in Ireland, who could not read and write; daughter Ellen, age 2, born in Pennsylvania.

Humphrey Lewis, age 44, born in England, miner, with real estate worth $700, who could not read and write; his wife, Anne, age 31, born in England; his daughters, Elizabeth, age 15, Anne, age 14, and Hester, age 11, all born in Pennsylvania.

Evan Evans, age 30, miner, born in Wales with real estate worth $500, who could not read and write; his daughter, Sarah, age 8, and son, John age 5, both born in Pennsylvania; Margaret Thomas, age 20, born in Wales, who could not read and write.

Thomas Igo (Roscommon), age 40, laborer, born in Ireland, who could not read and write: his wife, Ellen, age 40, born in Ireland, who could not read and write; his daughters, Maria, age 16, Rosanna, age 13, and Ellen, age 2, all born in Pennsylvania. [By 1870, Thomas Igo had died and (I surmise) his daughter, Ellen, shown as Ellen Fox, age 22, in the 1870 census, had married James Fox, age 26, laborer, born in Ireland, with personal property worth $100, who was listed as head of this household. In the household, and shown as owner of real estate worth $800, was Thomas Igo's widow, Ellen Igo, age 57, born in Ireland; and two children of James and Ellen Fox, Rosanna age 3, and Michael, age 6 months, born in January, 1870. Both the children were born in Pennsylvania. An 1875 atlas of St. Clair shows this house as owned by "Mrs. Fox," with the lot owned by Andrew and Terence McGough immediately to the north, and another lot owned by Terence McGough, one lot (owned by Anthony Erwin, an English-born stage driver) to the south. The 1880 census shows Ellen Fox, age 32, a widow, head of the household, born in Pennsylvania, with her daughter, Rosannah, age 12, and son, Michael, age 10, both born in Pennsylvania (film T9-1192, page 75C).

Terrance McGue (family as listed above) (McGough - Monaghan)

Andrew McGue (family as listed above) (McGough - Monaghan)

David Scoby, age 35, merchant, born in Ireland.

Jonathan Price, age 37, peddler, born in Wales; his wife, Elizabeth, age 34, born in Wales, who could not read and write; his daughter, Anna, age 15, born in Wales; his son, David, age 12, born in Wales; His daughter, Mary, age 10, born in Wales; his daughter, Hannah, age 9, born in Wales; his daughter, Elizabeth, age 7, born in Wales; his son, Jonathan, age 4, born in Wales; his son, William, age 2, born in Wales.

Peter Beck, age 52, miner, born in Germany; his wife, Catharine, age 48, born in Germany.

Frances Duffy (Monaghan), age 28, laborer , born in Ireland; his wife, Mary, age 23, born in Ireland; neither of whom could read and write.

Henry Knaub, age 34, laborer, born in Germany; his wife, Elizabeth, age 40, born in Germany, who could not read and write; Rosetta, age 13, born in Germany.

Edward O'Donnell (Donegal), age 43, laborer, born in Ireland; his wife, Bridget, age 40, born in Ireland, who could not read and write; son, Patrick, age 20, born in Ireland, who could not read and write; son, Hugh O'Donnell, age 18, laborer, born in Ireland, who could not read and write; daughter Anna, age 18, born in Ireland; Michael, age 16, laborer, born in Ireland; Mary, age 14, born in Ireland.

John Kelly (Galway), age 30, laborer, born in Ireland; his wife, Mary, age 25, born in Ireland, son, Luke, age 8, born in Ireland; Patrick, age 5, born in Ireland; Michael, age 4, born in Ireland; Mary Ann, age 3, born in Pennsylvania; John, age 5 months, born in Pennsylvania.

Bridget McGary (McGarry - Roscommon), age 52, born in Ireland; William, age 25, laborer, born in Ireland.

Patrick Ryan (Tipperary), age 52, laborer, born in Ireland; Bridget, 30, born in Ireland.

George Wilkes, age 42, miner, born in England, could not read and write; Susanne, age 43, born in England, could not read and write; George, age 19, born in England; Charlotte, age 15, born in England; Eliza, age 12, born in England; Thomas, age 8, born in England; Fanny, age 4, born in England; James, age 4.born in England; Job, age, born in England; John, age 2, born in England.

Joseph H. Zerby lists, in the History of Pottsville and Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, 1934 (volume 2, page 707), these residents of St. Clair in 1875 on "Third Street—Second Street" between Hancock and Carroll: Mrs. R. Price, A. McGough, Mrs. Fox, A. Erwin, T. McGough, W. I. Potts, [beginning here, on the east side of Third Street and west side of Second Street] D. Walker, Mrs. A. Millington, T. Kerns, D. Schoener, R. H. Irwin, Dr. R. H. Coryell, C. Short, Mr. M. Reilly, Mrs. Hussey, C. Beaumont, C. A. Bretz. This list is reproduced on the website: St. Clair Then and Now....... under Saint Clair people of the 19th & 20th Century.

By 1870, in the next block to the south on Third Street, between Carroll and Lawton, was a boarding house operated by Peter Hall. "Virtually in the shadow of the breaker at the St. Clair Shaft. ... Hall was an Irish-born miner in his mid-forties who had migrated to St. Clair in about 1852 after a brief stay in Scotland. He had prospered and (in 1870) owned a large house valued at $2500." The house gained notoriety because, in 1873 and 1874, it became the base of operations of P. M. Cumming, one of Hall's boarders, who in 1873 was sent by the Pinkerton Detective Agency to St. Clair to penetrate the Workmen's Benevolent Association. Anthony F. C. Wallace, St. Clair: A Nineteenth Century Coal Towns' Experience with a Disaster Prone Industry (1981), pages 336–338. The 1860 census of St. Clair (roll 1179, page 750) lists Peter Hall, age 35, a coal miner, born in Ireland, with real estate worth $600, who could not read and write; with his wife, Bridgit, age 29, born in Ireland, who could not read and write; and children: Susan, age 7, born in Scotland; James, age 6, born in Pennsylvania; Mary A., age 4, born in Pennsylvania; and Eliza, age 1, born in Pennsylvania. The 1870 census lists Peter as age 42, and still lists his occupation as coal miner. His wife, Bridget, is listed as age 40, and her occupation as "keeping boarding house." They have one additional child, Margaret, age 7. and five boarders are listed, all of whom were born in Ireland, and all of whom were working either as coal miners or laborers in the coal mines.

Molly Maguires

At the time my great-grandfather was growing up in county Monaghan, a secret oath-bound society called the Ribbon Organization was widespread among Catholics in the area—even though condemned by the Catholic Church. The Ribbonmen were a response to the well organized Orangemen. Denis Carolan Rushe comments: "Carleton [William Carleton, the author; Rushe calls him an "unfortunate genius"], who was in close touch with the events in Tyrone and Monaghan, says that it was impossible for the Catholic young men to avoid becoming Ribbonmen." History of Monaghan for Two Hundred Years 1660–1860 (Clogher Historical Society 1996, originally published in 1921), pages 277–8. Rushe says that the Ancient order of Hibernian's and the Molly Maguires grew out of splits in the Ribbon Society:

"Molly Maguires were another secession, the name being given in derision by their rivals, after a crazy old woman in County Fermanagh, who imagined she had great armies and organisations of men under her control." (page 278)

Pottsville is on the southern edge of the anthracite coal fields of Pennsylvania. Kevin Kenny tells the history of Irish settlement in the area in his book, Making Sense of the Molly Maguires (Oxford Press 1998). Kenny points out, at page 161 of his book, that the Irish built Catholic churches wherever they settled in the anthracite region, and an Irish Catholic church was built in Pottsville in 1828, followed by a cathedral dedicated in 1838, and a German Catholic church in 1840. (I believe 1824 is the correct year for the construction.) St. Patrick's Church in Pottsville is where the marriage of my great-grandparents, John McGough (under the name John McGeoy) and Catherine Fitzpatrick on May 20, 1855, is recorded.

One of the first divisions in the United States of the Ancient Order of Hibernian's was organized in Schuylkill county in 1838. According to the official history of the American Ancient Order of Hibernians, "It was the Ribbonmen who carried the Order across the Atlantic." (Kenney, page 17.) In his best selling book, Realities of Irish Life (1868; London, 1966), W. Steuart Trench said that he first came across a tenant organization called the Molly Maguires in county Monaghan in 1843, and that he encountered the secret society a second time time in 1851 when he was appointed a land agent on the Bath estate in county Monaghan. This time he learned that he had been sentenced to death by "the leaders of the Ribbon Association." (Kenney, page 14).

This sketch from Views of the Famine bears the caption: "A Monaghan landlord tries to explain to his tenants why he cannot afford to reduce their rents." The same sketch is published in The Shirley Papers, a web page by The Public Record Office of North Ireland with the title: "W. S. Trench addressing tenants on the Shirley estate." Here is the text that accompanies the sketch:

"W. S. Trench. Mitchell's successor, William Steuart Trench, was the agent alternately of the Shirley and Bath estates in the 1840s and 1850s. He was the instigator of the assisted emigration schemes [see D/3531/P]. In 1843, the rent realising commodities of the farmer were sold at very low prices. This made the payment of Shirley's increased rent, coupled with the exorbitant bog rent, almost impossible. Under the circumstances, the tenants petitioned their landlord for a reduction of rent. Eventually Shirley arranged to meet them on Monday, 3 April, 1843, at the rent-office in Carrickmacross. With great expectations raised, the tenants arrived in their thousands. However, Shirley at the last minute decided to stay out of the way, leaving Trench to face the tenants with the bad news that the landlord was not going to meet them and furthermore that no abatement was on offer.

"Trench himself further exacerbated matters by announcing that 'he would collect the rents at the point of the bayonet if necessary'. At this, the disappointed tenants rushed towards Trench and carried him off to Lough Fea to get them an interview with Shirley. The landlord in fact was concealed in Shirley House opposite the rent office. On the way to Lough Fea, Trench was considerably manhandled and feared for his life. It was at this stage that Father Keelaghan CC arrived, and by his considerable influence and exertions dispersed the crowd and escorted Trench safely to Lough Fea."

The sketch represents an engraving based on a drawing by J. Townsend Trench, a son of W. Steuart Trench. The engraving was originally published in Realities of Irish Life at page 72 with the caption: "Down on your knees boys!" shouted the same voice, "we will ask him one more time upon our knees." Trench says in the text: "and to my horror and amazement the vast crowd, almost all at least who were in my immediate vicinity, dropped suddenly on their knees, and another dead silence ensued. ... 'We ask you upon our knees, for God's sake to get us a reduction of our rents!' again the same voice cried aloud.'"

The Ancient Order of Hibernians provided a monetary stipend to immigrants who arrived in the United States as members in good standing from the Irish Order, and they assisted Irish immigrants in obtaining jobs and social services.

The heaviest concentration of Irish immigrants in Schuylkill county was in Cass Township, about five miles north of the town of Pottsville. (Kenney, pages 80 and 85). In that area, there was a concentration of Irish immigrant workers from south and west Ulster, including county Monaghan. The Ancient Order of Hibernians was active there in the 1850s, some of whom were also Schuylkill county Molly Maguires—who had roots in the Molly Maguires and Ribbonmen of county Monaghan.

"In 1836, the first charter for the Ancient Order of Hibernians in America (AOH) was granted. The first Division was formed in New York City with its large Irish immigrant population; the second in Heckersville, Schuylkill County, Pa., where a large Irish settlement had arisen around the rich coal deposits." The Ancient Order of Hibernians and Its Link to the Coal Regions; The Molly Maguires and the AOH by Walter Boyle.

For several additional articles and links, see Coal Mining, Mine Fires, & The Molly Maguires.

That the Molly Maguire organization was part of the reason my great-grandfather decided to move from county Monaghan to Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, is a possibility. I have not, however, found any evidence to support this hypothesis.

See the excellent on-line exhibit of the American Philosophical Society entitled Old Country in the New World: Saint Clair, a 19th Century Coal Community. See also: Undermining the Molly MacGuires, an article from American History Magazine.

The Heenan Connection

Rose (or Roseanne or Rosa) McGough was the fifth child of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough—born in St. Clair in about 1848. In her father's will that he signed on August 14, 1889, he refers to her as Rosa Heenan. In the 1900 census of St. Clair, nevertheless, she is listed as Rose McGough, age 48, married with no children. In 1900, she was living with a brother, John McGough, age 40, and a sister, Mary McGough, age 30. Was Rose's husband the James Heenan who was associated with the Molly Maguires?

A James Heenan is on a list of nine members of the Ancient Order of Hibernians in St. Clair in 1874. The list is set out at pages 337–8 of St. Clair: A Nineteenth Cenury Coal Town's Experience with a Disaster-Prone Industry by Anthony F. C. Wallace (Cornell University Press 1981). The authority cited is Eleutherian Mills Historical Library (now known as The Hagley Library and Museum) Reading Collection, Molly Maguire Papers, Box 252. He is also on the list of Known "Mollie Maguires" (AOH) Membership List Mentioned in Trial Transcripts [PDF]. (The nine St. Clair members of the AOH, including James Heenan, are also listed at the end of this web page.)

Only four of the St. Clair members of the AOH were "implicated in the crimes of the Molly Maguires." One of the four so implicated was James Heenan. (Wallace, page 342.) In discussing a plot to kill Gomer James, Wallace says (at page 349):

"Actually. St. Clair men had been involved in the prior plot, for James Heenan, one of the St. Clair company of militia, had offered to lend his unform to an assassin so that he could 'get a chance at James without being suspected.' The offer was declined."

I have found nothing to indicate that James Heenan was arrested or charged with a crime. He may have fled the jurisdiction to avoid the possibility, or to avoid giving testimony in trials other than his own. Martin Bergan had fled to Canada, and James Heenan may have done the same.

One of the twenty Molly Maguires executed as a result of the series of trials was Martin Bergan (sometimes spelled as Bergin or Bergen). In 1878 in Pottsville, Bergan was convicted of the April 15, 1870, murder of Patrick Burns, a mine foreman. Bergan was executed on January 16, 1879, in Pottsville. "Bergan was tracked down in Canada, brought back, tried in 1878 and executed in Jan 1879 at Pottsville. According to the newspaper, he was buried at Shenandoah." Molly Maguires—Discussions about Pennsylvania Coal Region History (from: skyelawr.date: Wed Mar 1, 2000.)

Martin Bergan was married to Margaret Heenan, daughter of Catherine Heenan. Catherine Heenan is listed in the 1880 census of the Middle Ward of St. Clair as 50 years old, born in Ireland, living with her son, Thomas Heenan, age 20, born in Ireland, and son, Patrick Heenan, age 18, born in Ireland. Also living with her was were widowed daughter, Margaret (Heenan) Bergan, age 29, born in Ireland; and two grandchildren, Mary Ellen Bergan, age 11, born in Pennsylvania (in St. Clair on May 19, 1969, according to OneWorldTree, which says she married James J. Walsh on September 5, 1895, in St. Clair); and Patrick Bergan, age 9, born in Pennsylvania. (FHL Film 1255192 National Archives Film T9-1192 Page 74A). They were living close to Andrew McGough, age 47, born in New York, blacksmith, who was almost certainly the brother of Rose McGough (Heenan); Andrew's son, Andrew J. McGough, age 18, blacksmith's helper, born in Pennsylvania; and his daughter, Mary Ann McGough, age 16, born in Pennsylvania, keeping house. (FHL Film 1255192 National Archives Film T9-1192 Page 74B).

World Family Tree on Ancestry.com says that Catherine Heenan was married to Patrick Henighan who was born in 1841 in Pollavaddy, Balla, Mayo, Ireland, and who died on November 22, 1901, in Home Clark, Cleveland, Ohio, but the information is garbled and probably mistaken. The same source says that Margaret Heenan Bergan married a second husband in about 1883, Theodore Ruffing, who was born in 1852 (should be 1834) in Germany, and that Margaret died in St. Clair on December 11, 1912. The 1870 census of the Middle Ward of St. Clair lists a Theobald Ruffing, age 38, a justice of the peace, born in Bavaria, with a wife, Sarah, age 31, and 4 children, ranging in age from 16 to 3. The 1880 census of thd middle ward of St. Clair lists Theobald Ruffing, age 49, a shoemaker, born in Bavaria, with his wife Sarah, and three children. The 1900 census of St. Clair lists Theobald Ruffing, age 65, born in Germany in November, 1834, married 17 years, who emigrated in 1853, had been in the US 46 years, and was a naturalized citizen, a laborer on the railroad, who owned his home free of a mortage; with his wife, Margaret M. Ruffing, age 46, born in November, 1853, in Ireland, mother of 5 children, 3 of whom were living, married 17 years, who emigrated in 1862 and had been in the US for 38 years; and a daughter, Margaret M. Ruffing, age 15, born in May, 1855, in Pennsylvania, to a father born in Germany and a mother born in Ireland, attending school.

Also in St. Clair (district 207) in the 1880 census were John Heenan, age 24, a laborer, born in Ireland, who could read but not write; his wife, Johannah Heenan, age 22, keeping house, born in New York to parents born in Ireland; and their 2 month old daughter, Mary, born in April, 1880, in Pennsylvania. (FHL Film 1255192 National Archives Film T9-1192 Page 107A). John Heenan was the younger brother of Margaret Heenan who married Martin Bergan.* This family is listed in the 1900 census of St. Clair: John Heenan, age 45, born in March, 1855, in Ireland, married 21 years, emigrated in 1861, 39 years in the US, coal miner, could read but not write; his wife, Hannah E. Heenan, age 41, born in 1858 in New York, to parents born in Ireland, mother of 11 children, 7 living; and 7 children, all born in Pennsylvania and all single: Patrick F. Heenan, age 18, born in September 1881, a laborer in a coal mine; Thomas J. Heenan, age 16, born in July, 1883, a slate picker; John C. Heenan, age 13, born in December, 1886, a slate picker (who died in a mine accident in 1915*); Joseph Heenan, age 9, born in August, 1891, at school; Catherine Heenan, age 7, born in June, 1892, at school (who died in 1915, possibly in child birth, three weeks before her older brother, John; Mary Heenan, age 6, born in January, 1894, at school; Margaret Heenan, age 4, born in December, 1895. Both the parents, John and Hannah, died in 1902.* Their sons Thomas, John, and Joseph, moved in with an uncle, Thomas Heenan. The 1910 census of New Castle township, Schuylkill county, lists them as nephews living in the home of Thomas Heenan, age 50, married 14 years (to Ellen), born in Ireland, emigrated in 1862, with no occupation listed. Thomas owned his home free of a mortgage.

*The asterisked items are from the history of this Heenan family on the websites: Schuylkill County Cemetery Traipsing, September 22/23, 2001 and A trip to Pottsville, Jan. 13–14, 2001. More of the Heenan family hisory will be found there. On the latter site is an obituary of James J. Walsh, husband of Mary Ellen Bergan, who died at age 75 in Pottsville on June 21, 1937. He had been a mine foreman and an organizer of the United Mine Workers of America in lower Schuylkill county.

Other McGoughs in Schuylkill County

A James McGeough is shown by the St. Patrick's Church tracking record to have married Ann McKeenen on December 7, 1867. Witnesses were Thomas McKeenen and Margaret Clancy. This James was not the son of Andrew and Elizabeth McGough, who was born about 1851, was only about 16 at the time of the marriage, and was shown as 9 years old in the 1860 census; 18 years old and living at home with his parents in the census of 1870; and as age 25 and as living at home with his parents in 1880. The groom may have been the James McGough who was the son of Terence and Nancy McGough, who was born about 1830; but another candidate is James, the son of Eliza McGough, whom the 1850 census of Cass township shows to be 20 years old and living with his mother.

The 1840 census of Schuylkill county shows a James McGue, 20 to 29 years old, as the head of a family in Branch township. In the same residence was a female, presumably his wife, in the same age bracket, and a young male, presumably his son, under 5 years of age. James may have been a brother or other relative of John McGough. McGoughs in Schuylkill county were often listed as McGues. I did not find James in the 1850 census, however. He may also have been a younger brother or nephew of Terence and Andrew McGue.

The 1850 federal census of Schuylkill county, Pennsylvania, shows a John McGue in Cass township (page 64). He was 35 years of age, and born in Ireland. His wife was Bridget McGue (looks like McCue on the census sheet), age 17, to whom he had been married within the year. She was also born in Ireland. The census notes that John McGue could not read or write. This John McGue does not appear to have been my great-grandfather. The traditional date we have for his birth in Ireland is 1824, and the date indicated by the Wisconsin federal census of 1860, where he is shown as 29 years old, is 1830/31. If the age stated in the 1850 Pennsylvania census is correct, the John McGue listed there would have been born in 1815. Ages stated in the censuses of those years, however, were unreliable, especially when describing persons who did not read or write the English language. The spelling of the surname as McGue is a phonetic spelling of McGough, and was commonly used in census records and directories at this time—not only in Schuylkill county, but in Wisconsin and other places. See my pages on Inconsistent Census Reporting and Spelling of McGough.

The 1850 census of Schuylkill county shows a William McGue, age 25, born in Ireland, a laborer, living in East Norwegian township in the home of Michael Fox and his family. Michael was 28 years old and born in Ireland. Ancestry.com indexes this surname as Mc gire. A William McGough (or McGeough), age 23, born in Ireland, filed on December 4, 1848, a declaration of intention to become a US citizen in the Court of Common Pleas at Orwigsburg in Schuylkill county. (Schuylkill county’s first courthouse was erected in the borough of Orwigsburg in 1815 and Orwigsburg served as the county seat until 1851, when the seat was moved to Pottsville.) He was naturalized as William McGough in the Court of Common Pleas of Schuylkill county in Pottsville on September 6, 1852. Witness to his residency in the US for 5 years and in Pennsylvania for 1 year was Dennis Welsh. There is a Dennis Welsh, age 27, born in Ireland, a conductor, listed with his family in the 1850 census of Schuylkill county in the township of North Manheim, Schuylkill county. (Roll: M432_826; Page: 326). The town of Port Carbon is on the north boundary of North Manheim.

Daniel McGue, age 21, is shown by the 1850 federal census of Schuylkill county, as residing in New Castle township (page 160) with his wife Catherine and their 11 month old daughter, Ellen.

Eliza McGue, age 68, born in Ireland, who could neither read nor write, is shown by the 1850 federal census of Schuylkill county as residing in Cass township (page 88), with her children, Patrick, 28; James, 20; Francis, 18; Bridget, 15; Margaret, 13; and Ann, 10.

A Patrick McGough, age 26, born in Ireland, filed in Schuylkill county a declaration of intention to become a US citizen on June 5, 1865. He was naturalized on June 17, 1867. John McKenna was a witness to his residence in the US for 5 years and Pennsylvania for 1 year.

The 1860 census of Schuylkill county shows a Mary McGue, age 28, in St. Clair. She was born in Pennsylvania and living with whom I assume to be a daughter and son: Catherine, age 3, and William, 5 months. They were living in the home of William McCabe, age 50, a day laborer born in Ireland; his wife, Catherine, age 49, born in Ireland; and their daughter, Sarah, age 16, a milliner born in Pennsylvania.

Luzerne county is immediately north of Schuylkill county. The 1860 census of Luzerne county, Pennsylvania, Hyde Park Borough (page 203) shows an Andrew McGue, age 50, a laborer, born in Ireland; his wife, Ellen, age 50, born in Ireland; and three children, all born in Pennsylvania: Margaret, age 5; Anthony, age 2; and Richard, age 7 months.

The 1850 census of East Norwegian township, Schuylkill county (page 214), listed Lawrence McGeg age 27, born in Ireland, a miner; and Catharine McGeg, age 16, born in Ireland, who attended school within the year, who were married within the year.

In the 1910 census of Gilberton Borough (District 27), Schuylkill county, is listed this family: John McGeough, age 30, born in Pennsylvania, to parents born in Pennsylvania; married 4 years; coal miner, renting a house; his wife, Stella, age 24, born in Pennsylvania, to parents born in Pennsylvania; mother of 4 children, 3 living; and three sons, all born in Pennsylvania: James, age 4; Francis, age 3; John, age 1. The Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Vital Records—Genealogical and Historical Miscellany collected and compiled by Phillip A. Rice and Jean A. Dellock (Southwest Pennsylvania Genealogical Services, Laughlintown, Pennsylvania, 1992) volume 3, at page 415, lists these burials at Holy Rosary/Frackville Cemetery: Stella C. McGeough, widow of John, born September 19, 1884; died October 5, 1916; and John McGeough (doubtless the son of John and Stella who was 1 year old in 1910), died November 6, 1945. His death in 1945 is listed at page 446 of Schuylkill County Pennsylvania Vital Records, cited earlier in this paragraph: John McGeough, Gilberton, November 6.

Born in Italy—Thomas McGeough

Here is a McGough/McGeough family in St. Clair that I have not been able to connect to any of the others.

The 1900 census of the borough of St. Clair (North Ward), Schuylkill county, lists this family:

(1900) Thomas McGough (head) (white), age 40, born in February, 1860, in Italy, to parents born in Italy, married 16 years, emigrated in 1874, 26 years in the US, naturalized, coal mine laborer, who could neither read nor write, on North Second Street.

Mary McGough (wife) (black), age 39, born in April, 1861, to parents born in Pennsylvania, mother of no children, who could both read and write.

The 1910 census of the borough of St. Clair, Schuylkill county, lists this family:

(1910) Thomas McGeough (head), age 45, in his first marriage, married 22 years; born in Italy to parents born in Italy, emigrated in 1879, naturalized, a laborer in a coal mine.

Mary McGeough (wife) (black), age 44, in her second marriage, married 23 years, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pensylvania, mother of 8 children, 1 living, laundress, "own work" (?).

William McCarthy (step-son) (black), age 27, single, born in Pennsylvania, to parents born in Pennsylvania, a laborer in a steel mill.

The 1920 census of the borough of Schuylkill Haven Schuylkill county, lists this family:

(1920) Thomas McGough (head) (white), age 55, born in Italy, to parents born in Italy, year of immigration, 1887, naturalized 1900, laborer in a railroad car shop, who could neither read nor write.

Mary E. McGough (wife) (black), age 53, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania, laundress, private (?) families, who could both read and write.

William Stansbury (step-son) (black), age 38, widower, born in Pennsylvania to parents born in Pennsylvania, laborer, railway track.

I haven't been able to connect this family with any of the other McGough/McGeoughs in St. Clair.

McGoffs

As the anthracite coal industry grew in the mid- and late 1800's, small communities called patches sprouted around Saint Clair, and elsewhere in Schuylkill county. Patches were small communities built beside breakers and collieries, usually by coal companies, to house miners and their families close to their work site, thus affording miners a short walk to work. Patches—Communities Near the Coal lists the patch of Crow Hollow that adjoined the Rainbow Colliery. The Rainbow Colliery operated from 1836 to 1868. The McGoffs are listed as an early family of miners living in Crow Hollow.

The history of East Norwegian township, part of the 1881 Mansell History of Schuylkill County, notes:

"Mining is the absorbing interest in the township. Sillyman & Evans opened a drift on the Mammoth in 1831, at Crow Hollow."

A Michael McGoff is listed in Branch township of Schuylkill county in the federal census of 1850. The census return shows him as a miner, in a community of miners, age 37, born in Ireland. His wife Joanna was 31 and also born in Ireland. Their children, all born in Pennsylvania, were: Maria, 7; Joanna, 5; John 4; and Michael, 1. Branch township was formed out of a portion of Norwegian township in 1836, and lies on the westerly edge of Norwegian township. The borough of St. Clair is on the east edge of Norwegian township. Cass township is to the north of Branch township..

McGeoys

My great-grandparents were married as John McGeoy and Catherine Fitzpatrick on May 20, 1855, in Schuylkill county. Their marriage is registered at St. Patrick's Church in Pottsville. That the marriage is in the records of this church does not necessarily mean that the marriage ceremony was performed there. In the 1850s, priests stationed at the church served as circuit riders, and performed marriages elsewhere in the county.

The use of the surname McGeoy instead of McGough was probably a mistake. My great-grandfather's native language was Irish and he knew little English. There were at the time of his marriage, however, McGeoy families in nearby Schuylkill Haven, just a few miles south of Pottsville. The use of the surname McGeoy in the church records of my great-grandfather's marriage requires a look at the McGeoy/McGoey/McGouey families who originated in county Longford, Ireland, some of whom migrated to and were longtime settlers in Schuylkill county. I have not been able to make a connection. This subject is covered in a separate page on this website, McGeoy/McGoey/McGouey.

Ship Lists

Ann McGeough Harney has published a list of Irish Famine Emigrants and some later emigrants who arrived on ships in New York City. Most Irish immigrants to the United States in these years passed through Liverpool. See also: CastleGarden.org, which offers free access to a database of information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. These lists show several John McGoughs. The best candidate for my great-grandfather is John McGough, a 28 year old farmer who arrived, unaccompanied by any other McGough, on May 16, 1851, in New York from Liverpool aboard the David Cannon. Also arriving in New York on the David Cannon on May 16, 1851, was a 34 year-old laborer, Pat Fitzpatrick. In May of 1856, my great-grandfather, John McGough, married Catherine Fitzpatrick in or near Pottsville, Pennsylvania. Catherine's father was Patrick Fitzpatrick, a coal miner. She had a younger brother who was also named Patrick Fitzpatrick. The Patrick Fitzpatrick aboard the David Cannon may have been a cousin or other relative of my great-grandmother, Catherine Fitzpatrick McGough. In December of 1857, a Patrick Fitzpatrick was a witness in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, in support of John McGough's naturalization, affirming John McGough's residence in the United States for at least five years and in Wisconsin for at least one year. See McGoughs and McGues in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, 1856–1906.

John McGough, age 19, a farmer, arrived from Ireland at New Orleans, Louisiana, on April 27, 1850, aboard the Harriett Augusta. With him was Hugh McGough, also age 19 and also a farmer. John McGow, age 25, arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Rockaway on July 15, 1850. John McGoe, a laborer, arrived in Boston aboard the Tennessee on January 27, 1847.

Other John McGoughs who arrived in New York at roughly the right age to be my great-grandfather were: John McGough, a 26 year-old laborer, who arrived unaccompanied by any other McGough on February 20, 1851, in New York from Liverpool on the ship New World; John McGough, age 24, a laborer, who arrived unaccompanied by any other McGough on the Esmeralda from Liverpool on Juy 22, 1851; and John McGough, a 23 year-old laborer, who arrived on May 31, 1848, in New York from Belfast on the ship Alpine. Also aboard the Alpine were John's parents, Patrick McGough, a 46 year old laborer, and Mary McGough, also a 46 year old laborer, his brother Morgon McGough, a 12 year old laborer, and his sister Margaret McGough, age 6.

John McGeough, a 23 year old laborer, arrived from Liverpool in New York on March 26, 1851, aboard the James Wright. Also aboard were Bernard McGrough, a 22 year old laborer, and Patt McGeough, a 21 year old laborer, probably John's brothers. John and Patt are listed together on the ship's manifest.

John McGeugh, age 22, arrived in New York from Belfast aboard the Bark Armandale on April 30, 1851. He was not accompanied by anyone else with a similar surname.

A John McGough, an 18 year-old laborer, arrived in New York from Liverpool on February 4, 1851, aboard the ship Roscius, accompanied by 15 year old Michael McGaugh.

John McGough, age 21, arrived in New York from Liverpool on December 13, 1847, aboard the Lancashire. [This may be the John McGough, age 43, a laborer, listed by the 1870 census of Pawtucket, Rhode Island. He was born in Ireland. He was living with his wife, Bridget, also born in Ireland, and 5 children, all of whom were born in Rhode Island: James, 22; Andy, 20; John, 15; Peter, 13; and Mary A, 6.]

John McGough, age 30, a native of Ireland, arrived in New York on July 5, 1853, aboard the Harmonia from Glasgow. He had left Glasgow with Wm (?) McGough (could be Mary, but the manifest indicates that this person is a male), age 36, John McGough, age 2, and Patrick McGough, age 4 months, but the latter 3 left the ship in Greenock.

John McGough, age 20, arrived in New York from Liverpool on April 8, 1840, aboard the Gov Woup.

John McGough, age 22, a laborer, traveling alone, arrived in New York from Liverpool on July 23, 1852, aboard the Albert Gallatin.

John McGeogh, age 30, arrived in New York from Liverpool aboard the Columbus on February 26, 1849. 

John McGough, age 20, arrived in Baltimore from Liverpool aboard the Scotia on July 11, 1848.

John McGough, age 30, born in Ireland, arrived in New York  aboard the Harmonai from Glasgow on July 5, 1853.     

John McGow, age 25, from Ireland arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Rockaway on July 15, 1851.

John McGough, a laborer, age 26, accompanied by Ann McGough, age 24, arrived in Philadelphia on October 24, 1854, aboard Neptunes Favorite.

John McGoe, age 21, a laborer, arrived from Ireland in Boston aboard the Tennessee on January 27, 1847.

John McGuey, no age given, arrived in New York 1851, according to volume 5, page 46, of the Naturalization Papers of Fulton and Bedford Counties, Pennsylvania, published by the Fulton County Historical Society, McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, in 1983.

John McGue, no age given, arrived in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, in 1838, according to the Western Pennsylvania Genealogical Society, Pittsburgh compilers, volume 1, page 59, of a List of Immigrants Who Applied for Naturalization Papers in the District Courts of Allegheny County, Pennsylvania—Pittsburgh (1978).

Since his first known residence in the United States was in Pennsylvania, the John McGough who was my great-grandfather may have entered the United States at Philadelphia.

John McGough, on September 25, 1850, filed a declaration of intent to become a US citizen in the Quarter Sessions Court at Philadelphia. [Index to Records of Aliens' Declarations of Intention and/or Oaths of Allegiance, 1789-1880, in United States Circuit Court, United States District Court, Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, Quarter Sessions Court, Court of Common Pleas, Philadelphia. Compiled by W.P.A., Project No. 20837. [Harrisburg:] Pennsylvania Historical Commission, [1940]. 25 volumes in 11. Volume 7. Letter M, pp. 1-350; volume 8. Letter M, pp. 351-674. Source annotation: Called Section II, Alphabetical Index of Naturalization Records, 1794-1880, Maritime Records, Port of Philadelphia. Republished in one volume by Gale Research Co. as Philadelphia Naturalization Records, no. 2041.]

It may be worth noting that John McGough, age 36 in June of 1860 according to the census of the 2d district, 6th ward, of New York City, was born in Ireland in 1824. In 1860, he was living with his wife, Anne, age 37, also born in Ireland, and 6 children, all of whom were born in New York: Mary A., age 14; Delia, 13; James, 12; Edward, 6; and Frank, 3, born in New York. Also living with the family was James McGough, age 76, born in Ireland, probably John's father. The older James could not read or write.

Also living in New York City in 1860, according to the census of 1860 of the 17th ward, 10th district, was John McGough, age 59, a laborer, with four sons: Thomas, age 27, a blacksmith; John, 25, a plasterer; Michael, 23, a laborer; and Peter, 21, a carman. Father and sons were born in Ireland.

In the 1870 census of Philadelphia, 6th ward, 17th district, John McGough, age 56, a grocer's clerk born in Ireland in about 1814, is listed as a US citizen living with his wife, Mary, also born in Ireland, and these children, all of whom were born in Pennsylvania: James, 25, and John, 25, apparently twins, both employed as newspaper clerks; Andrew, 21; Richard, 19, employed as a newspaper clerk; and Charles, 13, who "works for roofers." Also in the house was Elizabeth McCormack, age 22, probably a daughter; John McCormack, age 5; and Joseph Campbell, age 29, a tin roofer.

Andrew Gough, age 24, a laborer, arrived in Philadelphia on April 24, 1826, aboard the Marmion from Liverpool. Index to Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Philadelphia, 1800-1906.

McGoughs and McGues in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, in the 1800s <http://www.magoo.com/hugh/schuylkill.html> Updated May 19, 2013		Feedback » Site Search & Directory » © 1999–2013 Hugh McGough »