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

Memorial Day - Honoring & Remembering

"There is nothing nobler than risking your life for your country." – Nick Lampson

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

A 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

Memorial Day - Honoring the Fallen

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.

“Today is the day we put aside to remember fallen heroes and to pray that no heroes will ever have to die for us again. It's a day of thanks for the valor of others, a day to remember the splendor of America and those of her children who rest in this cemetery and others. It's a day to be with the family and remember. 

I was thinking this morning that across the country children and their parents will be going to the town parade and the young ones will sit on the sidewalks and wave their flags as the band goes by. Later, maybe, they'll have a cookout or a day at the beach. And that's good, because today is a day to be with the family and to remember."

-Ronald Reagan, 1986 Memorial Day Speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

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, my 4h great uncle, was the son of Robert Haggerty and Rebecca Easly. He was born in 1839 and served in the Civil War. He died at Gettysburg on July 2, 1863.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

Memorial Wall, Honolulu, HI

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.

Ambrose Aloysius McDonald, Jr.

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

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.