Hugh and Mary
(Kiernan) McGeehan
Immigrant ancestor
Hugh
McGeehan came to the US during the
potato famine, probably arriving in New York City on 10
April 1848 aboard the Ambassadress
that had embarked
from Cork. Hugh's obituary reported that he had been
born in County Donegal, but we do not know which parish
or town he was from. Hugh married Mary
Kiernan, whose own obituary indicated she had emigrated
around 1851 when she was about 20; we do not know,
however, if she came alone or with other family members.
Hugh was the son of John and Mary McGeehan.
A Hugh McGee (aged 27) is enumerated in the 1850 census in
Ransom Township, Luzerne Co, PA, in the household of
Lawrence Gaffney; about 26 other single Irish laborers also
are listed in the same residence, suggesting they worked
for Gaffney in some kind of dormitory or barracks-type
living arrangement. No other listing for a Hugh McGeehan
under any spelling can be found, either in Pennsylvania or
in any other state.
By 1860, Hugh was married and lived in Hazle township with
his wife Mary and small son, Edward. (That year, their
household also included Michael Canan [23] and Hugh Canan
[21], both born in Ireland; it is possible that they were
actually Michael and Hugh Kiernan -- census takers were
notoriously poor spellers -- but we have no further data at
this point to confirm this possibility.) Hugh never learned
to read or write, according to census records, although
Mary could. He was identified in the 1850, 1860, 1870, and
1880 censuses as a "laborer," although his work was not
always constant; in 1880, for instance, he told the census
enumerator that he had been unemployed for 7 of the past 12
months. In 1900, he described himself as a "capitalist."
It's unclear when he purchased "The Homestead," the tavern
that he and his sons ran in Hazleton for years. We're still
looking into records on that purchase. Hugh and Mary's
eldest son, Edward J., became a doctor; Edward's sister
Anna (who married John J. Gough) named one of her sons
Edward John -- and this Edward also became a doctor, in
honor of his uncle.
Hugh
McGeehin (b. Apr 1826, Co Donegal, Ireland - d. 17 Apr
1903, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA)
m.
20 Jan 1859, in Hazleton, Luzerne,
PA
Mary Kiernan (b. 1830, Ireland - d. 28 Aug 1898, West
Hazleton, Luzerne, PA)
Children:
i. Edward J.
McGeehan (b.
Nov 1859, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA - d. 24 Jan 1926, McAdoo,
Luzerne, PA); m. Bridget
ii. Mary McGeehan (b. 4 Jul 1861, Hazleton,
Luzerne, PA - d. 7 Nov 1916, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA),
m. John James
Burns
iii. John J. McGeehan (b. Apr 1863, Hazleton,
Luzerne, PA - d. 1924); m. Mary Ann
O'Donnell
iv. Anna
McGeehan (b.
15 Aug 1865, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA - d. 14 Aug 1944,
Hazleton, Luzerne, PA), m. John J. Gough
v. Hugh McGeehan (b. 26 Jul 1867, Hazleton,
Luzerne, PA - d. aft Aug 1930); m. Catherine
Fallon
vi. James E. McGeehan (b. Nov 1869, Hazleton,
Luzerne, PA - d. aft 1910); m. Ellen C. [last name
unknown]
vii. Margaret
McGeehan (b.
25 Jul 1875, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA - d. 1929, Hazleton,
Luzerne, PA); never married