Sunday, May 24, 2015

Private Andrew J. Haggerty - Civil War, Pennsylvania Infantry, 148th Regiment, Company I

Andrew J. Haggerty was likely born 1839 in Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Robert H. Haggerty and Rebecca M. Easly. Between 1832 and 1833 Robert and Rebecca relocated from Sugar Creek, Butler County, Pennsylvania to Farmington. The couple lived out their life on the family farm in in Farmington.

The family was enumerated in the 1850 United States Federal Census for Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. The household included Robert, Rebecca, Andrew, Thomas, James, Ann and Elizabeth. Andrew was recorded as age 11 in the census, placing his birth year around 1839.

When the 1860 United States Federal census was recorded in June of 1860 Andrew was not enumerated in his parents household in Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Andrew would have been around age 21 based on the 1839 birth date. After searching the 1860 census - it appears that Andrew may not have been enumerated. There are no obvious hits for Andrew even after searching a variety of name variations.

It is plausible that Andrew was working in a remote logging camp. Farmington borders the vast Allegheny National Forest. Logging was a way of life for many residents of the Farmington community. Andrew's sister married into the McDonald family which were known loggers and river pilots. In the 1860's Farmington would have been very remote. Any logging camps located deep into the forest may not have been enumerated. If Andrew was working at a logging camp it is possible be could have been away from camp or traveling when/if the camp was enumerated.

Andrew's location remains unknown until the early 1860's. One of the stories passed down through the Haggerty family is that Andrew Haggerty fought and died in the Civil War. This was noted in the Easley-Rooker Family History, Second Draft, page 40: "Andrew Hagerty was killed in action during the Civil War." The well written Easly-Rooker family history left a clue to Andrew's involvement in the Civil War but no specific records were listed in the sources.

Recently Ancestry.com released a new database - Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869. This database includes copies of the original muster out rolls for Pennsylvania Soldiers. There is an Andrew J. Haggerty referenced under deaths on line 12 a member of the Infantry, 148th Regiment, Company I. The Muster Roll records Andrew's birth date as approximately 1844.

The Muster Roll records several dates for Andrew J. Haggerty:

  • August 15, 1862 - Enlistment date recorded in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania.  
  • September 7, 1862  - Muster date recorded in Harrisburg, Dauphin County, Pennsylvania.
  • July 2, 1863 - Died in Action at the Battle of Gettysburg.

Michelle M. Murosky: Historical Records &emdash; Civil War Pennsylvania Infantry, 148th Regiment, Company I Michelle M. Murosky: Historical Records &emdash; Civil War Pennsylvania Infantry, 148th Regiment, Company I
Except from Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869 
Infantry, 148th Pennsylvania, Company I

Except of the Muster Roll recording Andrew's death on line 12.
Transcription: 12 Killed July 2, 1863 at Battle of Gettysburg 
Michelle M. Murosky: Historical Records &emdash; Civil War Pennsylvania Infantry, 148th Regiment, Company I
Except from Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869 
Infantry, 148th Pennsylvania, Company I

After reviewing the details it is plausible that the Andrew Haggerty and Andrew J. Haggerty are the same man. There are some theories to explain the differences in birth date. Andrew was recorded as the oldest son in the family in the 1850 United States Federal Census. His age recorded in the census would put his birth date around 1839. The information given to the census taker would have been first hand - likely by one of his parents who would have known his age. 

Additionally the birth date of  next child born to Robert and Recbecca is known. Thomas C. Haggerty's death certificate indicates he was born February 11, 1841.  If Thomas was born full term Andrew's birth at a minimum would need to be before May of 1840. 

It is not exactly known who provided the information recorded in the Muster Roll. In the 1860's people were not as diligent with recording birth details. Andrew could have guessed his birth year as 1844 making him 18 or purposefully provided 1844 so they would not realize he was actually 23. By 1862 several members of the Farmington community were already serving in the Union Army. Another scenario is that if the date on the muster roll could have been entered wrong or muster roll was recopied and the date was recorded incorrectly or estimated. 

The Muster Roll indicates that Andrew enlisted in Brookville, Jefferson County, Pennsylvania. Brookville was approximately 28 miles from Farmington. Given that other members of the Farmington community lived close to the same area their whole life - it is plausible Andrew was living in the general area or traveled with other men to enlist. The muster roll indicates many men enlisted in Brookeville. 

Given the location of muster, the death details and the stories passed down through the family it seems plausible that the Andew J. Haggerty referenced in the muster roll is Andrew Haggerty son of Robert H. Haggerty and Rebecca M. Easly. Andrew would  have been 24 when he died at the Battle of Gettysburg. 

Andrew J. Haggerty is my 4th great uncle. Robert H. Haggerty and Rebecca M. Easly are my 4th great grandparents. Their daughter Anna Haggerty married Michael McDonald. 

References:
  1. A. J. Davis, History of Clarion County, Pennsylvania with Illustrations and Biographical Sketches of Some of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers (Clarion County Historical Society, 1887), Clarion County Historical Society, Chapter 35 History of Farmington Township. Chapter LIII History of Farmington Township. Page 515
  2. 1850 United States Federal Census.Year: 1850; Census Place: Farmington, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Roll: M432_767; Page: 194B; Image: 394. Record for Robert Hagerty
  3. 1860 United States Federal Census.Year: 1860; Census Place: Farmington, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1095; Page: 145; Image: 149; Family History Library Film: 805095.Record for Robert Hagerty 
  4. J. F. Easley, Easley-Rooker Family History, Second Draft (, June 1987), Page 40
  5. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Civil War Muster Rolls, 1860-1869 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Infantry, 148th Pennsylvania, Company I
  6. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1963, Ancestry.com, Haggerty, Thomas C.
  7. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Record for Thomas C. Haggerty.

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