The Murrin and Haggerty Brothers

Belvidere and Alabama connections

Often you run into roadblocks when tracing Irish ancestors; however, sometimes the answer comes from pure dumb luck.  A while ago I was looking online for any information about John Haggarty (or Haggerty) who lived in Belvidere, Illinois, many years ago.  The following appeared after clicking one web link:

"Missing Friends"; The Boston Pilot; Boston, Massachusetts; November 10, 1866

"OF JAMES and MICHAEL HAGGERTY, natives of the townland of Croughlin, parish of Killybegs, county Donegal, the former came to this country (USA) in 1850, the latter in 1856. When last heard from they were in the Confederate Army; at the close of the war heard they were in Selma, Alabama. Any information of them will be thankfully received by their brother, PATRICK MURRIN, care of Messrs Cunningham & Campbell, No. 105 Maine Street, Cincinnati, OH".

Unbelievable!  Here was valuable information about our Murrin branch and their ancestry.  This information was not passed down to our current generation.  First generation American Irish by and large were not interested in knowing where their parents lived or anything about the old sod.  However, in 1866 Patrick Murrin (Jr.) of Belvidere sought his two brothers (James and Michael Haggerty) who fought with the Confederate Army.  After the Civil War ended, the South suffered through years of destitution and chaos.  Patrick knew his half-brothers last lived in or near Selma, Alabama.

 

The map on the left shows Upper Killybegs Civil Parish, County Donegal, Ireland.  Croughlin Townland’s location is #14 on this map.  To your right is a close- up view of Croughlin Townland.  Who lived in this Townland circa mid-nineteenth century?  Census records do not exist; however, we can gather clues from the Primary Valuation of Ireland, more commonly known as Griffith's Valuation Survey.  This survey was conducted between 1847 and 1864.

From Griffith's we learn the following Murrins leased land in Croughlin - Thomas and James.  James Murrin leased acres in land parcel #3.  Thomas Murrin leased acres in land parcel #5.  Land parcel #6 was co-leased by James Murrin, Hugh McIntire and Michael McCloskey.

For the Patrick Murrin descendants this is good news.  However, it may also be good news for us who identify our ancestors as James Murrin and Bridget (McCloskey) Murrin.  It is likely our James Murrin and Patrick Murrin Sr. were brothers. (Patrick Murrin Sr.’s son, Patrick Murrin Jr., placed the advertisement in the Boston Pilot.) Perhaps our own ancestry is connected to this Townland.  Northwest and adjacent to Croaghlin Townland is Drumbarity Townland.  In the mid-19th century a Peter McGonigle family lived in Drumbarity; however, this Peter McGonigle was near the same age as our ancestor, Frank McGonigle.  Perhaps he was a cousin.

Who is the other brother, Michael Haggarty?

No one knows for sure.  While living in New Orleans, James Haggerty enlisted in the Confederate Army.  Also living in New Orleans was a man named Michael R. Haggarty.  Although both men were similar ages it is likely they were not related.  This Michael Haggerty was living in New Orleans as early as 1842.  So this is another mystery which needs to be resolved at a later time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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