Memorial Day - Honoring & Remembering

 “May we never forget our fallen comrades. Freedom isn’t free.” –Sgt. Maj. Bill Paxton

Decoration Day was officially proclaimed in May of 1868 to honor the soldiers who died in the American Civil War. On the first Decoration Day 5,000 people gathered to decorate the graves of 20,000 Union and Confederate Soldiers buried at Arlington National Cemetery.

Today we know Decoration Day as Memorial Day. In 1971 Memorial Day was declared a National Holiday. As you enjoy your time with family and friends - please take a moment to honor the members of our family who died in service to our country:

American Civil War

Private Andrew Haggerty served in the Civil War. He died at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863. At this time we are unsure if Private Andrew Haggerty is the son of Robert Haggerty and Rebecca Easly or is from a different Haggerty Family. To learn more about Andrew Haggerty view Private Andrew J. Haggerty - Civil War, Pennsylvania Infantry, 148th Regiment, Company I.

John Loll, my 4h great uncle, was born in Marcholsheim, Alsace, France on 08 Oct 1843. He is the son of Antoine Loll and Mary Ann Jehl, my 4th great grandparents. He arrived in the United States on 07 Oct 1852 at the Port of New York when he was 9 years old with his family. At the age of 18 he would serve in the Union Army. In February of 1862 he would be wounded in battle and would die as a casualty of war on June 10, 1862 in a hospital in Washington, D.C.

Private John McDonald, my 4th great uncle and brother of James McDonald, also served in the civil war. He enlisted as a private on February 25, 1864 at approximately age 28 with Company F, 63rd Regiment.  He was transferred to Company H, the 105th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers. He died October 16, 1864 in Beverly, New Jersey. He is buried in Beverly National Cemetery in Beverly, Burlington County, New Jersey. His grave marker references Company H, 105 PA. Inf. To view his  his grave marker visit this link. To learn more about John McDonald view The Mystery of Pvt John McDonald - Civil War Solider.

World War II

Second Lieutenant Raymond Loll, my 2nd cousin 3x removed, was born in 1922 the son of Francis G. Loll, my 2nd cousin 3x removed, and Elizabeth Hartle. On February 20, 1943, at age 21, Raymond enlisted with the Air Corps in Miami Beach, Florida. Raymond was trained as a B-29 pilot and assigned to the 43rd Bomber Squadron and the 29th Bomber Group designated 'Very Heavy'. On April 14, 1945 Raymond's plane was lost and the crew perished on a Mission to Tokyo. Raymond was recorded as Missing in Action or Buried at Sea. Raymond was 23 years old at the time of his death. He was awarded a Purple Heart and an Air Medal for his service. He is also honored in the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific. To learn more about Raymond Loll view Raymond C. Loll - B29 Bomber Pilot.

Private First Class Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, Jr., my 1st cousin 3x removed, was born 02 Oct 1919 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, my 2nd great grand uncle and Gertrude Anna O'Neill, my 2nd great grand aunt. Ambrose Aloysius was also the brother of Virginia McDonald Geary and is a double cousin to me as we are related by the McDonald and O'Neill lines. Ambrose volunteered for military service and joined the Marine Corps. He was killed by enemy fire in Tarawa in November of 1943, at age 24, upon landing on the beach. He earned a Purple Heart for his service. In addition to being remembered at the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial in Honolulu, Hawaii he also has a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery. He now has a memorial in Arlington National Cemetery,  thanks to his sister Virginia McDonald Geary. Ambrose is featured in the blog post A Letter from Tarawa.

The gravemarker for Ambrose in Arlington National Cemetery

Staff Sergeant Christopher D. O'Neill, my 1st cousin 3x removed, was born in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania in 1919. He was the son of Owen James O'Neill and Nellie Boyles. Christopher was was a member of the 579th Bomber Squadron, 392nd Bomber Group, Heavy. He served as s a Right Waist Gunner/Assistant Engineer on the B-24 aircraft. He died on November 6, 1943 in a German Hospital in Middelburg, the Netherland after suffering injuries from jumping out his aircraft the day before. He was buried in the Ardennes American War Cemetery in Belgium. He was awarded a Purple Heart and an Air Medal for his service. To view his  his grave marker visit this link.

References:

1. Memorial Day - http://www.usmemorialday.org/&nbsp

Clarion County Historical Society: The Families of Clarion County, Pennsylvania

I am bound to them, though I cannot look into their eyes or hear their voices. 
I honor their history. I cherish their lives. 

I will tell their story. I will remember them.

~Author Unknown

The Clarion County Historical Society is publishing a new book The Families of Clarion County, Pennsylvania in commemoration with the 60th anniversary of the society.  

The Clarion Historical Society Website indicates that the book will include the history and stories of Clarion County families, communities, churches, schools, businesses, farms, clubs, memorials, tributes, organizations, and much more.

The Clarion County Historical Society is encouraging family historians to submit family histories. The historical book will only be available for purchase on a Pre-Sale basis. The book will be hard backed with gold lettering and is anticipated to be between 200-300 pages. To learn more or order a copy visit the website. 

Submissions and purchases must be made prior to December 7, 2015. 

To ensure our Clarion County ancestors are included in the history book I will be preparing submissions for the following families. Submissions that will include photographs are noted with a P.

The McDonald Family:

• Generation 1: David McDonald & Bridget Dunn
• Generation 2: James M. McDonald & Bridget Moran, P
• Generation 2: Mary Ann McDonald & William Kelly
• Generation 2: John McDonald
• Generation 2: Michael McDonald & Anna Haggerty, P
• Generation 2: Andrew McDonald & Anna Sharrow, P
• Generation 2: Bridget McDonald & Thomas C. Haggerty
• Generation 2: David F. McDonald & Hannah E. McCloskey
• Generation 2: Peter McDonald
• Generation 3: Robert Alphonsus McDonald & Winifred Agnes O'Neill, P

The Haggerty Family:

• Robert H. Haggerty & Rebecca M. Easly, P

The Loll Family:

• Antoine Loll

The Guth Family:

• Leopold Guth & Theresa Loll, P

The Selker Family: 

• Joseph William Selker & Frances Philomena Guth, P

The publication of Our Ancestors The Book: Volume 2: The Bukowski Family History may be impacted due to the submission deadline for The Families of Clarion County, Pennsylvania.

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.

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 

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.

Family Photo - The Haggerty Farm

Robert H. Haggerty (1805- 25 June 1880) and his wife Rebecca M. Easly (1806 - 1881) were some of the earlier settlers to arrive in Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania.  They are mentioned in the History of Farmington County, Chapter LIII History of Farmington Township Page 515:

"In 1831 the solitude of the wilderness in the northeastern portion of the township was broken by James Black, who came from Sugar Creek, Armstrong county, and settled on the homestead near North Pine Grove. The country abounded in game of all sorts, deer, bears, wolves[,] panthers, wild cats, wild turkeys, and pigeons, besides the smaller species. The streams were alive with trout. Within a year or two came his brothers, John and Patrick Black; Thomas Meagher, Charles and Dennis Boyle, David McDonald, Thomas Walley, Robert and Archibald Haggerty, David Griffin, Henry McNairney; soon after these, William Wilkinson and Arthur McCloskey; the latter, with his family, came from Philadelphia in 1835. These settlers were all Catholics, the majority of them from Butler and lower Armstrong counties"

They arrived along with Archibald Haggerty, Robert’s brother.  The family relocated to Farmington from Sugar Creek, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania. For more information on the location of the farm please view the blog post 1877 - Farmington Township,Clarion, Pennsylvania.

Robert Haggerty and Rebecca Easly had five children:

1. Andrew Haggerty – (1839 – 2 July 1863)
2. Thomas C. Haggerty – (11 February 1841 – 27 October 1920)
3. James Hagety – (21 October 1842 – 24 June 1908) 
4. Anna Haggerty – (May 1845 – 30 September 1927)
5. Elizabeth Haggerty – (25 January 1847 – 21 January 1914)

[Note James used the spelling Hagerty in place of Haggerty]

This photograph shows great barn at the Haggerty Farm in Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Robert's sons Thomas C. and James are believed to be shown in the photograph. The Haggerty family was known for raising draft horses shown in the photograph. 

Left to Right:

• Estimated on the left is Thomas Haggerty.  
• The children are believed to be Thomas C. Haggerty and Bridget McDonald's children. Robert Haggerty (1865-1938), John B. Haggerty (1866-1881) and Andrew J. Haggerty (1868-1918).
• James Hagerty is shown on the right with the two draft horses. James would take over the farm and would build the farmhouse that stands to this day. 

This is likely the only photographs of John B Haggerty. He died at a young age during the November 1881 Diphtheria Outbreak.

The original photo was found in a crawl space below the farmhouse. Benjamin Patrick Norris, Robert's descendant, had the opportunity to visit the farm earlier this year and was shown this photograph. The current owner of the farm has the original and graciously shared a copy with the descendants. The original image was damaged but was able to be digitally restored by Michelle M. Murosky.

References:

1. Father Peter Helbron's Greensburg, PA Registers – Baptisms
2. Davis, A. J., History of Clarion County Pennsylvania; Chapter LIII History of Farmington Township Page 515
3. 1840 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Venango, Farmington, 1840 United Sates Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Robert Haggerty
4. 1850 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Farmington, 1850 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Robert Haggerty
5. 1860 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Farmington, 1860 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Robert Haggerty
6.  1870 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Farmington, 1870 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Robert Haggerty
7. 1880 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Farmington, 1880 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Robert Haggerty
8. 1870 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Farmington, 1870 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Thomas Haggerty
9. 1880 U.S. Census, Pennsylvania, Clarion, Farmington, 1880 United States Federal Census Schedule; Online Images, Record for Thomas Haggerty
10. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 – Haggerty, Elizabeth
11. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 – Hagerty, James
12. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1924 – Haggerty, Thomas
13. McDonald Family Bible

St. Mary's Cemetery: Crown, PA - McDonald Direct & Indirect Ancestors

On July 2, 2012 I visited the St. Mary's Cemetery in Crown, PA with my father and my aunt.  The Cemetery is adjacent to St. Mary's Church. On July 9, 2013 I visited the cemetery a second time with my Benjamin Norris, my 3rd cousin 2x removed. Benjamin was an excellent tour guide - providing family stories and history during our tour.

St. Mary's Cemetery is the final resting place for many direct ancestors, their siblings and their children. The older section of the cemetery is directly behind the church, to the left in the above photo.

The final resting place of my third great uncle, James McDonald. James served as a Corporal in the Civil War. Learn more about his military service in this blog post Military Veterans and Civil War Veterans.

The final resting place of my 3rd great grandparents, Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty. Anna was the daughter of Robert H. Haggerty and Rebecca M. Easly. You can read Michael's obituary at this blog post: Michael McDonald Obituary

The final resting place of my third great uncle, Andrew McDonald. Andrew served as a in the Civil War. Learn more about his military service in this blog post Military Veterans and Civil War Veterans.

Michael McDonald and Anna Haggerty tragically lost two sons during the diphtheria outbreak of 1881. Andrew McDonald was 16 and James Augustine McDonald was age 10. Michael's sister Bridget McDonald who married Anna Haggerty's brother Thomas C. Haggerty also lost two sons - John B. Haggerty age 15 and Thomas C. Haggerty age 5.

James McDonald son of Peter McDonald and Mary Ann McAvoy died on December 26, 1876 at age 4. This small child is an example of a family member that was only discovered by visiting the cemetery. He was born and died between census years. Peter McDonald is my 3rd great grand uncle and is the brother of Michael McDonald my 4rd great grandfather.

The Easly Line - Blasius Easly Immigrant

During the summer of 2013 I learned about the Easly line. This line starts with Rebecca M. Easly, my 4^th great grandmother, and wife of Robert H. Haggerty. The oldest ancestor in this line is Blasius Easly, my 6^th great grandfather, born in 1711.

To make more sense out of this - the line looks like this:

1. me
2. My father
3. My grandmother - Mary Eugina McDonald (1922 - 1998)
4. My great grandfather - Loraine Anthony McDonald (1897 - 1967)
5. My 2nd great grandfather - Robert Alphonsus McDonald (1869 - 1959)
6. My 3rd great grandmother - Anna Haggerty (1845 - 1927)
7. My 4th great grandmother - Rebecca M. Easly (~1801 - 1881)
8. My 5th great grandfather - Andrew Easly (1762 - ??) 
9. My 6th great grandfather - Blasius Easly 

The oldest known member of the family Blasius Easly arrived in the Port of Philadelphia September 9, 1751 aboard the ship Patience. The ship sailed from England to Philadelphia which was a British colony.

Blasius married Mary Magdelan Rooker. There are eight children that have been documented in various historical records.

1. Mary Easly b. 1752
2. Barbara Easly
3. Christina Easly
4. Casper Easly b. 1760
5. Andrew Easly b. 1762 (my ancestor)
6. Ferdinand Easly b. 1768
7. Magdalen Easly
8. Rebecca Easly

A very detailed history about the Easly family was prepared by J. F. Easly. The write up includes very specific details and references to many court records. The records document both land, wills and other proceedings. The original author did future generations an amazing service as this research was done before the internet and the search engines that are available today. If you are interested in research - it is highly recommended to read this work.

To view the research by J. F. Easly

Military Veterans

To properly honor the military veterans in the family the original post has been relocated to the Military Veterans page.  

1877 - Farmington Township, Clarion, Pennsylvania

Farmington township plays an important role in my family history as two of my direct ancestors David McDonald and  Robert Haggerty, both my 4th great grandfathers, were among the founding families who came to this area in 1831.

"In 1831 the solitude of the wilderness in the northeastern portion of the township was broken by James Black, who came from Sugar Creek, Armstrong county, and settled on the homestead near North Pine Grove. The country abounded in game of all sorts, deer, bears, wolves[,] panthers, wild cats, wild turkeys, and pigeons, besides the smaller species. The streams were alive with trout. Within a year or two came his brothers, John and Patrick Black; Thomas Meagher, Charles and Dennis Boyle, David McDonald, Thomas Walley, Robert and Archibald Haggerty, David Griffin, Henry McNairney; soon after these, William Wilkinson and Arthur McCloskey; the latter, with his family, came from Philadelphia in 1835. These settlers were all Catholics, the majority of them from Butler and lower Armstrong counties" (See Reference 1)

The Caldwell's Illustrated Combination Atlas of Clarion County, Pennsylvania was produced in 1877 from actual surveys by and under the direction of Henry Cring. The Atlas identifies both the towns, main roads and landowners at the time. Today the information is helpful to understand the relationships between founding families and to assist the researcher when attempting to locate the original family homesteads.

Vowinckel is in the upper right hand corner. Vowinckel over a century later has many similarities to the map below. Wild game including bears and mountain lions have been witnessed by those who reside in this area today. The upper portion of the original map is shown below - key sites have been colored in red.

Farmington Township - 1883

Reference 3323

Farmington Township - 3323

• McDonald farmland is highlighted
• The McAvoy land is noted. Peter McDonald's first wife was Mary Ann McAvoy. Peter was the son of David McDonald and Bridget Lynam  my 3rd great grand uncle.
• The McAvoy school house is noted and the red brick building still stands today. Many of the McDonald and Haggerty children would have attended the school house in their youth

Reference 3324

Farmington Township - 3324

• At the four corners of Blood Road (today State Route 66 and McDonald Drive) is the homestead of two McDonald's. The Vowinckel Hotel originally operated by Michael McDonald and Anne Haggerty still stands at this intersection.
• The James Haggerty farm is shown - the land originally settled by Robert Haggerty and Rebecca Easly (my 4th great grand parents). The land is still farmed today although it was sold over time the boundaries of the farm match the original land parcel.

Reference 3325

Farmington Township - 3325

• The local Catholic Church - St. Mary's Crown is shown on the map. This was once the main route between Tylersburg and North Pine Grove.

Reference 3337

Farmington Township - 3327

• The land of Thomas Haggerty, son of Robert Haggerty and Rebecca Easly (my 4th great grand parents), is noted. Thomas is the brother of James Haggerty and Anne Haggerty. Thomas married Bridget McDonald, daughter of David McDonald and Bridget Lynam (my 4th great grand parents). Bridget is the sister of Michael McDonald. Michael McDonald married Anne Haggerty (my 3rd great grandparents) - thus a McDonald brother and sister married a Haggerty brother and sister.

Reference 3686

Farmington Township - 3686

• The McCloskey land is shown. David McDonald and Bridget Lynam's  (my 4th great grand parents) son David married Hannah E. McCloskey, daughter of Bernard McCloskey.

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.
2. Joseph A. Caldwell, Caldwell's Illustrated historical combination atlas of Clarion County, Pennsylvania / from actual surveys by & under the directions of Henry Cring ; assisted by C.T. Arms ... [et al.]. (Condit, Ohio, J.A. Caldwell, 1877), Library of Congress Geography and Map Division, Washington, D.C. 20540-4650 USA, 

Two Common Ancestors: Richard McDonald & Robert Haggerty

Three Common Ancestors: Lynam, Richard McDonald Robert & Haggerty

[June 27, 2014 Update] Two Common Ancestors:  Richard McDonald & Robert Haggerty

This is a great example of how these connections started with family stories. The release of the Pennsylvania Death certificates was extremely valuable. The certificates showed one connection was false, verified a second and located a potential third.

Over the last year I had the opportunity to connect with Benjamin Patrick Norris my 3rd cousin 2x removed.

What makes the connection with Benjamin so unique is that we share three two common ancestors which are discussed below. Over the last several months Benjamin has been able to provide additional details about the Lynam, McDonald and Haggerty families.

Common Ancestor 1: Unknown Lynam 

Benjamin and I both descend from the children of an unknown Lynam who was born in Ireland.

• Bejamin descends from Edward Lynam, his 2nd great grandfather. 
• I descend from Bridget Lynam, my 4th great grandmother. 

[June 27, 2014 Update]
The release of the Pennsylvania death certificates has disproved the my connection. My 4th great grandmother is Bridget Dunn. Her name was recorded on the death certificate for her son Michael McDonald.

A new research connection Cary Christopher had also researched the McDonald family. He discovered David McDonald and Bridget Dunn's marriage record in Dunbyrne, Kildare, Ireland:

"David McDonald to Brit (Bridget) Dunn on 7 May 1825 at village of Dunbyrn, witnesses Michael and Margaret Dunn"

Cary also located the baptism records for two of David and Bridget's children in Kildare, Ireland:

Richard McDonal, parents Davy and Biddy, sponsors John Kene(sic) and Nel McDonald, residence (of parents) Grange
Baptism: 29 January 1826

August 6, 1827:  James McDonald, parents David and Biddy, sponsors William & Nelly Dunn, residence (of parents) Grange

Common Ancestor 1: Richard McDonald

Benjamin and I both descend from Richard McDonald born in Ireland.

• Benjamin descends from Ellen McDonald, his 2nd great grandmother.
• I descend from David McDonald (1803-1880), my 4th great grandfather. 

[June 27, 2014 Update]
Benjamin's 2nd great grandfather Edward Lynam married Ellen McDonald. Family tradition has it that the Lynam and McDonald families may have traveled together from Ireland. Richard McDonald settled in Farmington, Clarion County, Pennsylvania with his son and David. The release of the Pennsylvania death certificates verified this link. Ellen is recorded as Ellen McDonald on the death certificate of her son Edward Lynam.

Common Ancestor 2: Robert Haggerty

Our second common ancestor and our closest ancestor is Robert H. Haggerty (1805-1880).  Robert was born in Sugar Creek, Pennsylvania, the son of Thomas H. Haggerty and Anna McElroy. Robert married Rebecca M. Easly (1801-1881)

• Benjamin descends from Robert Haggerty's son James, (1842-1843) his great grand father who was born in Farmington, Clarion, Pennsylvania 
• I descend from Robert's daughter Anna (1845-1927) who married Michael McDonald (1839-1923) (my 3rd great grandparents), son of Bridget Lynam and David McDonald.

[June 27, 2014 Update]

Common Ancestor 3:  Dunn????

The story that Benjamin had was that two siblings from one family married two siblings of another family - making him a descendant of both families. This connection was originally thought to be Lynam and McDonald. As explained above Lynam is no longer plausible. However the Pennsylvania Death Certificates provided another clue - Richard's great grandmother was Anna Rafferty. She married Richard Lynam. Anna's mother is recorded as Elizabeth Dunn born in Ireland. Perhaps with more research we will be able to determine if Elizabeth Dunn is a sister of Bridget Dunn.

References:

1. Benjamin Patrick Norris
2. Cary Christopher
3. Ancestry.com. Ireland, Select Catholic Birth and Baptism Registers, 1763-1912 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
4. Ancestry.com. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1944 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.

Updated Family Tree at World Connect

I have updated my family tree file at the World Connect site.

Updated family tree file - search to see new names and families
My pedigree - See my direct ancestors

World Connect is a part of Rootsweb and offers free space for researchers to upload family trees. To protect living individuals, rootsweb removes the data from any individual who has been marked as living

Updates in this version include:

1. Updated information on the McDonald families
2. Updated information on the Haggerty families
3. Updated information the Lynam families
4. References to United States Federal Census Records
5. Data extracted from the St. Mary's Church Cemetery in Crown, Pennsylvania
6. Last Will & Testament of David McDonald
7. Information as provided by Benjamin Patrick Norris
8. Individuals with a ** leading their name require further research

Historical References:

1. Davis, A. J. (1887). History of Clarion County Pennsylvania. Syracuse, NY: D. Mason & Co. Available here to download: http://archive.org/details/historyofclarion00davi  
2. Sheffer, George P. (1933) True Tales of the Clarion River, Volume 1. Clarion, PA: The Clarion Republican Newspaper Co. Available for purchase here: http://stores.homestead.com/mechlingbooks2/-strse-254/TRUE-TALES-OF-THE/Detail.bok  
3. (1883) History of Butler County Pennsylvania. Chicago, IL: Waterman, Watkins & Co Available here to download: http://archive.org/details/historyofbutlerc00wate

Information that has not been entered at this time:

1. Additional known research about the Easly family
2. Additional known research on the Lynam family
3. Additional cemetery records from St. Mary's Church Cemetery in Crown, Pennsylvania

Research Update – The McDonald’s and Other Ancestors

I realize it has been quite some time since I last posted a research update. Over the last year I had several positives when starting to research the McDonald family.

Census Records

Once I knew exactly where the McDonald’s were living in Pennsylvania, thanks in part to Virginia Geary McDonald, I was able to dig in and pull census records for the family. I was able to locate David McDonald, my 4^th great grandfather, as far back as 1840 and several of his children including – Michael McDonald [my 3rd great grandfather] and his brothers, my 3^rd great-grand uncles James McDonald, Andrew McDonald, David McDonald, and Peter McDonald.

Locating the census records provided insights to the wives and children of Michael McDonald’s brothers.

The Haggerty family was also located in the census records. I was able to locate Robert Haggerty, my 4th great grandfather, as far back as 1850 and his sons - Thomas and James Haggerty, my 3^rd great-grand uncles.

Visit to St. Mary’s Church – Crown, Pennsylvania

Last July I took a day to visit Clarion, Pennsylvania with my father and my aunt. We were able to visit the cemetery of St. Mary’s Church. At the cemetery we located several graves of our ancestors including Michael McDonald & Anne Haggerty, my 3rd great grandparents as well as several other family members. In future blog posts I will include provide more details from this visit.

A New Connection

By publishing this family tree blog I came connected with another cousin, Benjamin Norris, who is related through the Haggerty side. He has a lot of firsthand knowledge of McDonald and Haggerty ancestors. He also has a lot of knowledge of Vowinckel and Farmington Township.  The information that Benjamin has been able to provide has filled in holes in my research and added details that previously would have been unknown.

New Lines in the Family Tree

Through some family trees located at Rootsweb and information provided by Benjamin Norris I was able to locate two new family tree lines that extend from the Haggerty Line. The research on these lines is preliminary but promising. These lines include:

• The Easly line extends back  9 generations. This line starts with Rebecca M. Easly, my 4^th great grandmother, and wife of Robert H. Haggerty. The oldest ancestor in this line is Blasius Easly, my 6^th great grandfather, born in 1711.


• The Kuhn line extends back 12 generations. This line starts with Elizbeth Kuhn, my 5^th great grandmother, and wife of Andrew Easly. The oldest ancestor in this line is John Kuhn, my 9^th great grandfather.


• The Adam line is currently a minor line that extends back 13 generations. This line starts with Anna Barbara Adam my 8^th great grandmother. The oldest ancestor in this line is Christian A. Adam, my 10^th great grandfather born about 1650 married to an unknown Christina born approximately February 1674/1675.

The definition I have used for generations starts with the children of my cousins, our families youngest generation, to the oldest known generation. If this preliminary research is accurate these lines are the oldest in the Murosky family tree to date.