Hugh McGeehan & Mary Kiernan

Hugh McGeehan left Ireland during the potato famine, apparently 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, which is consistent with his sister Susan’s obituary that put her birthplace as Derrylconnell in County Donegal.  We believe his parents were Edward (or John) and Ann (or Mary) Boyle of County Donegal though are still searching for additional documentation to confirm that.

Hugh was enumerated in the 1850 census in Ransom Township, Luzerne County, PA, in the household of Lawrence Gaffney; about 26 other single Irish laborers also lived in the same residence, suggesting they worked for Gaffney in some kind of dormitory or barracks-type living arrangement.

On 20 Jan 1859,  Hugh married Mary Kernan at St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church.  We aren’t entirely sure when Mary arrived in America or on what ship.  Her obituary indicated that she had arrived about 1851, but there are several Mary Kernans (or Kiernans) and it has been hard to distinguish which one is our Mary.

Hugh and Mary were enumerated in the 1860 census in Hazle township along with their small son, Edward. Their household also included Michael Canan (23) and Hugh Canan (21), both born in Ireland.  It is possible that they actually were Michael and Hugh Kernan; spelling was fluid at that time, and census takers wrote the names they heard phonetically.  Baptismal records at St. Gabriel’s indicate that Michael Kernan and Hugh Kernan both were baptismal sponsors for two of Hugh and Mary’s children, as was a Margaret Kernan, suggesting that all three were quite possibly Mary’s siblings.

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 previous 12 months. In 1900, he described himself as a “capitalist” (my personal favorite!).

It’s unclear when Hugh purchased “The Homestead,” the tavern he and his sons ran in West Hazleton for years, and the obituaries for both Hugh and sister Susan mention the establishment.  Hugh and Mary’s eldest son, Edward J., became a doctor; Edwards’s younger sister Anna (who married John Gough) named one of her sons Edward, after her brother, and this Edward also became a doctor, following his uncle’s footsteps.

Hugh McGeehan (b. Apr 1826, County Donegal, Ireland — d. 17 Apr 1903, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA)
m. 20 Jan 1859, 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 Agnes Breslin
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. 2 Jul 1924, Harrison, Hudson Co, NJ); m. Mary Ann O’Donnel
iv. Anna E. McGeehan (b. 15 Aug 1865, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA – d. 14 Aug 1944, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); m. John J. Gough
v.  Hugh McGeehan (b. 25 Jul 1867, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 29 Jun 1936, Wilkes-Barre, PA); m. Catherine Fallon
vi. James E. McGeehan (b. 8 Nov 1869, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 29 Aug 1931, West Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); m. Ellen Mary McHugh
vii. Margaret Helen McGeehan (b. 25 Jul 1875, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA — d. 30 Jul 1929, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA); never married

Sources:

  1. Hugh McGeehin household, 1900 US census of population, West Hazleton township, First Ward, Luzerne Co PA, ED 145, sheet 9; enumeration date 6 Jun 1900; 118 E. Broad Street, dwelling #151, family #164
  2. Hugh McGeehean, 1880 US census of population, Luzerne Co PA, 11 Jun 1880, ED 158, page 13, dwelling #116, family #116, #115 (West Broad?)
  3. Hugh McGehin household, 1870 US census of population, Hazle township, Luzerne Co PA, p 51; enumeration date 30 Jun 1870, dwelling #346, family #345
  4. Hugh McGeigen household, 1860 US census of population, Luzerne Co PA, Hazle Township, page 480, dwelling #135, family #132, ll. 12-16, Ancestry digital images, accessed 30 Jan 2011
  5. Hugh McGeehin record, age 78, born Ireland; resided Hazleton; died 17 Apr 1903; buried 20 April; parents John and Mary; Luzerne Co PA Deaths, 1900-1905, page 341, image 395 (FHC #960582)
  6. Hugh McGeehin will, signed 9 Apr 1903, names daughter Margaret McGeehin, son John J. McGeehin, son Hugh McGeehin, son James McGeehin, son Edward McGeehin, daughters Mary Burns, Annie Gough, Will Book W, pp 42-44, images 29-30, Luzerne County Will Books, FHL #959191
  7. Hugh McGeehan obituary, names County Donegal, late wife Mary Kiernan, surviving children and siblings, Hazleton PA, Hazleton Daily Standard, 18 Apr 1903, p 5
  8. Hugh McGeehan to Mary Kernan, Marriage Record, St. Gabriel’s Church, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 20 Jan 1859, Bernard Crossin and Johanna Laughlin, witnesses;, Fr. P.J. Nunan, presider
  9. Mary Kiernan McGeehin obituary, Hazleton, Plain Speaker, 29 Aug 1898, p 4; names no surviving siblings
  10. Edward J. McGeehin, certificate of death, Pennsylvania Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file #5219, died 24 Jan 1926, aged 67, Hugh McGeehan, Mary Kernan, parents (both born Ireland), sister, Margaret McGeehin, widower of Bridget Breslin; profession, medical doctor
  11. Mary McGeehan, daughter of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 4 Jul 1861, baptized 4 Jul 1861, Michael Kernan and Rose McGeehan, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Register, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA
  12. Mary Burns, certificate of death, PA Dept of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file #114546, died 7 Nov 1916, 58 years old, born PA, parents Hugh McGeehan, Mary Kernan, William Burns, informant, PA Death Certificates 1906-1967 (Ancestry online
  13. John Burns to Mary McGeehan, Marriage Record, St. Gabriel’s Church, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 14 May 1885, Eugene McCabe and Mary Loughlin, Fr. J.J. Cumminsky
  14. John Mcgeehin household, 1900 US census of population, West Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 6 Jun 1900, ED 145, SD 6, sheet 9A, dwelling #152, family #165, 116 East Broad Street, ll 25ff, Ancestry.com
  15. John J. McGeehan obituary, died 2 Jul 1924, parents not named, surviving siblings Hugh, Dr. Edward, and James McGeehan, Miss Margaret McGeehan, Mrs. John Gough listed, Wilkes-Barre PA, Wilkes-Barre Record, 4 Jul 1924, Friday, p 5
  16. John J. McGeehan to Mary A. O’Donnel, Marriage Record, St. Gabriel’s Church, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 2 Nov 1888, John Gough and Bridget Fallon, Fr. J.J. Comminsky
  17. Anne McGeehan, daughter of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 15 Aug 1865, baptized 20 Aug 1865, Hugh Kernan and Bridget McGrath, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Records, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA
  18. Anna (McGeehin) Gough, death certificate, PA Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file #72709, date of death, 14 Aug 1944, Hazleton, PA, Hugh McGeehan, father; Mary Kiernan, mother, informant Susan Gough
  19. John J. Gough to Annie E. McGeehan, Marriage Record, St. Gabriel’s Church, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 21 Dec 1894 (license #16948), Philip Clark and Margaret Lockman, Fr. Peter J. Gough.
  20. Hugh McGeehan, son of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 25 Jul 1867, baptized 28 Jul 1867, Daniel McGeehan and Margaret Kernan, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Records, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA.
  21. Hugh McGeehan obituary, died 29 Jun 1936, father Hugh McGeehan Sr, surviving siblings include Mrs. John Gough, Hazleton, Plain Speaker, 29 Jun 1936, p 16
  22. .Hugh McGeehan to Catherine Fallon, Marriage Record, St. Gabriel’s Church, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA, 24 Dec 1896 (licence #20459), Patrick O’Donnel and Ellen Ellwood, Fr. J.W. Fitzmaurice
  23. James McGeehan, son of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 8 Nov 1869, baptized 8 Nov 1869, Philip Lynch and Mary Lynch, sponsors, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Records, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA
  24. James McGeehan obituary, died 29 Aug 1931, parents not named, sister Mrs. John Gough and brother Hugh McGeehan, Hazleton, Plain Speaker, 29 Aug 1931, p 12.
  25. James McGeehan, certificate of death, PA Dept of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file #79896, filed 31 Aug 1931, died 29 Aug 1931, 58 years old, West Hazleton, parents Hugh McGeehan, Mary McKiernan, Mrs. Ellen McGeehan, informant, PA death certificates 1906-1967, Ancestry online
  26. Margaret McGeehan, daughter of Hugh McGeehan and Mary Kernan, born 25 Jul 1875, baptized 26 Jul 1875, Thomas McLaughlin and Rose Agnes McLaughlin, St. Gabriel’s Church, Baptismal Register, Hazleton, Luzerne, PA
  27. Margaret McGeehin, certificate of death, PA Dept of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, file #75824, filed 31 Jul 1929, died 30 Jul 1929, 55 years old, Hazleton, parents Hugh McGeehan, Mary Kernan, Mrs Jno Gough, informant, PA death certificates 1906-1967, Ancestry online
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