January 12, 2017

Update 6/1/2017

Update 1/10/2019

Update 09/02/2020

Our Irish ancestors immigrated to the United States sometime from the 1850’s to the 1860’s.  The dates that I have are figured from ages on records found: i.e. death records, Federal and New York State Census and may be close but not necessarily totally accurate as ages listed on the census records vary from year to year.   We are certain that the name was originally O’Regan and at some point changed to REgan and then to REAgan.   I do have a copy of the 1863 marriage record at a local church here in the Syracuse area for our GGrandfather Patrick which lists his name as O’Regan.  My father told us that Patrick was from County Cork and his wife Bridget Gilvey was from County Mayo.    Our cousin Jim Reagan had sent you a link to a gravestone for a John Regan which was inscribed that he was from “Garryduff near Mallow, County Cork, Ireland”.  Because of that, I was concentrating in the Mallow area but I have not been able to connect that John Regan to our family.  Since the church records in Ireland went online last year, I was able to find marriage records that I believe are our family in County Limerick: in Rathkeale for our GGGrandfather Thomas and in Croagh for his son Thomas.  Names and dates appear to fit correctly in our puzzle.  

Our family settled in the villages of Marcellus, Skaneateles, and Skaneateles Falls.  These towns are about 30 miles to the west of Syracuse and are green rolling hills which I am told are similar to the landscape of Ireland.  It is rich farmland and Skaneateles is on a large lake.  There are several creeks and streams that run through this area which gave way to the establishment of many water powered paper and weaving mills to provide jobs.  

Attached is a listing of the Irish Immigrant family that has been found.

REAGAN NAME:   I have found it in all forms – O’Regan, Regan, Reagan

Our Great Grandfather Patrick is listed as O’Regan on 1863 marriage record at St. Francis Church, Marcellus, New York ; as Patrick REgan  on the 1871 deed to purchase the farm  and as REAgan on the cemetery headstone.   And then you have his sister Catherine Re(a)gan who married James Re(a)gan.  The only instance of O’Regan found is Patrick’s marriage record. 

Thomas Reagan and Margaret Sheehan

Based on ages on census records,

 Thomas was born  1804 and

Margaret was born 1807-1816

1865 Census – Margaret was mother of 10 children  - we only know of 6 listed below who were all born in Ireland

Church Marriage Record found on rootsireland.ie: Parish Rathkeale, County Limerick on

18-Apr-1826 Thomas Regan and Margaret Sheahan

CHILDREN OF THOMAS REAGAN AND MARGARET SHEEHAN

Jeremiah Regan maried Ellen Flynn

He was 25 on 1865 census = DOB  about 1840

Probably married in Ireland as their son Jeremiah was born in Ireland about 1863 which means they came here in 1863-1865

Thomas Regan married Julia McCarthy

Thomas born 1829 – 1832

Immigrated in 1857

In 1900 they were married 45 years(1856) but in the US 43 years(1857) so they were married in Ireland

First child listed on census  born in Cayuga County, New York  About 1860

Patrick Regan married Bridget Gilvey

Patrick was born about 1831

Mary Reagan married John Radford

1900 census  lists DOB as 1847

1905 census  lists age as 60 years and in US 54 years

1910 census lists immig. Date as 1859

Catherine Regan married James Reagan

Catherine born about 1849

Immigrated 1865

Daniel Regan

Died at age 50 in 1906

Very little found about him.  No record of ever being married.

6-1-2017 Update

Found Johannes (John)Regan  Baptism record

12 May 1827

Ballingarry, Limerick, Ireland

Diocese Limerick

Father – Thomas Regan   Mother – Marga Sheehan

This individual would fit in the family as their oldest son.  Thomas and Margaret were married in 1826 in Rathkeale not far from Ballingarry

1/10/2019 Update:

Found on rootsireland.ie: John Regan and Eliz Lane – parents of our Thomas Regan

                I believe this is correct as it fits in the correct time frame and the correct location in Ireland.  Also, Irish naming tradition is they name the oldest son after the father of the father and Thomas named his first son John.  (see John above)

Church Baptism Record:

            Thomas Regan   Date of Bap.    Oct-11-1804      St. Mary’s        Co. Limerick

            Father:  John Regan    Mother: Eliz Lane

Also found three other sons with same parents:

            William Regan Date of Baptism Jan-17-1794    St. Michael’s   Co. Limerick

            John Regan                                    Dec-16-1800   St. Mary’s        Co. Limerick

            Michael Regan                              Oct-4-1808      St. Mary’s        Co. Limerick

            Ann Regan        Date of Baptism  Jul-1-1787 St. Mary’s              Co. Limerick

           

AUGUST 4 - 5, 2012

REAGAN FAMILY REUNION

On this day in 2012, the Reagan Family cousins came together for the first time in maybe 50 years for a fun weekend of love, laughter and memories.  Saturday night we enjoyed a dinner at the Braeloch Restaurant in Cazenovia , NY.  In attendance were Mary Whelan Walsh and her son Micheal and his wife Carla, Tom Reagan and wife Shawn, Paul Reagan  from Texas, Joe Reagan and wife Debbie and Joe's life long friend Jeff Altman, Bernard Reagan and wife Margaret and son David from Michigan, John Reagan from California,  Jim Reagan and fiancee Lorraine from Vermont, Ed Regan and his son Jamie, and Judi Reagan Durling and husband John.
Greg, Anne and Julia Reagan, children of Joe and Debbie stopped to say hello.

I had prepared a slide show of all the old photos of the Reagan family and some new ones and everyone enjoyed seeing our ancestors and sometimes themselves in these photos.  Lively "discussions" and laughter filled the room.

 On Sunday a barbeque was hosted by Ed and Loy Reagan at their home in Skaneateles and the weather held off long enough for us to have  another fun day.  "Discussions" and memories continued to fill the day including a debate on mileage!

Echos of "we need to do this again" were heard and I hope that we do!

Bernard, Paul, Ed, John, Joe and David

 Our youngest family member to attend the party - Kira Mallory

Thanks to David Reagan for sending these  photos. Remember, you can click on any photo to enlarge it.

PATRICK THOMAS REAGAN AND BRIDGET GILVEY

PATRICK THOMAS REAGAN the son of Thomas Reagan and Margaret Sheehan was born in 1835 in County Cork, Ireland. He died on 10 Sep 1899 in Marcellus, NY. He married Bridget Gilvey, daughter of Patrick Ryan and Bridget on 15 Feb 1863 in St. Joseph's Church, Camillus. She was born in Jan 1835 in County Mayo, Ireland. She died on 28 Apr 1905 in Marcellus, NY.

This is the record of the marriage of Patrick O'REGAN to Bridget GILVEY from the record book of St. Francis Church, Marcellus, NY on February 15, 1863.  Witnesses were Michael Cunnan and Cath. Kennedy.
 (Note from Mr. John Curtain, Marcellus, NY 4/5/1997 - "I might add here that St. Francis Xavier Church was a mission church, first of St. Joseph's in Camillus and then of St. Mary's of the Lake Church in Skaneateles. The result is that records have been scattered throughout all three churches.  It wasn't until 1874 that SFX became a church unto itself. "

The first census record that  I have of them as a family is the 1865 New York State Census. They are living in the Town of Skaneateles, Onondaga County, New York.  Patrick and Bridget RAGAN are both listed as 25 years old with one son Thomas who is 4.

The 1870 Federal Census now shows Patrick and Bridget REAGAN living in the Town of Onondaga, Post Office of Navarino. They now have 4 children: Thomas, John, BERNARD, and Jeremiah.

The 1880 Federal Census shows Patrick and Bridget REGAN still in the Town of Onondaga now with 6 children: Thomas, John, BURNETT, Jeremiah, William, Mary J.

Patrick died in 1899 and the 1900 Federal Census shows Bridget REGAN as the head of the house with sons Jerry and William H. 









This is the deed between Thomas Kelly and Patrick Regan to purchase the property in Navarino for $450.00 dated June 14, 1871

Below are the Death Certificates for Patrick Reagan and Bridget Reagan as filed at the Onondaga County Office of Vital Statistics.  No obituaries were found.

Patrick Thomas Reagan and Bridget Gilvey had the following children:

THOMAS REAGAN was born on 27 Dec 1863. He died in 1927.  Thomas was a patient at St. Lawrence State Hospital, Ogdensbrg, NY where he died.   Thomas never married.

JOHN REAGAN was born on 08 Sep 1865. He died on 10 Jun 1933 in Syracuse NY. He married Margaret Nolan on 12 Apr 1893 in Skaneateles, NY. She died on 23 Jun 1945 in Syracuse NY.

Reagan-Nolan At. St. Mary's Church, Skaneateles. by Rev. F.J. Purcell Wednesday April 12, 1893
John Reagan of Navarino and Miss Margaret Nolan of Skaneateles
Source: Marcellus Observer, April 22, 1893

John Reagan and Margaret Nolan had the following children:

 GILVEY AGNES REAGAN was born on 13 Mar 1894. She died on 08 Jul 1982.

OBIT: G. Agnes Reagan
G. Agnes Ragan, formerly of Centennial Garden Apts., died yesterday in a local nursing home after a long illness. She was a supervisor of the primary grades and a teacher in the Syracuse School District many years and retired in 1960.
Miss Reagan was born in Marcellus and lived in Syracuse most of her life. She graduated from the former Syracuse Normal School and Syracuse University. She also continued her education with study at Columbia University in New York City. She was a member of the Catholic Women's Club and the New York State Retired Teachers Association. She was a communicant of S. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church. Surviving are several nieces and nephews. Services will be Monday at 8:30 a.m. at Whelan Bros. Funeral Home, and at 9 at St. Anthony of Padua Church. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Marcellus.
Calling hours ar 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday.
Source: Herald Journal 7/9/1982

 JAMES P. REAGAN was born on 03 Jan 1896. He died on 21 Jan 1975. He married
M. IRENE EGLOFF. She died on 03 Jan 1992 in Syracuse NY.  James and Irene did not have any children.  They are buried at St. Francis Cemetery, Marcellus, NY

 EDWARD J. REAGAN was born on 02 May 1902. He died on 07 Dec 1981. He married
M. LUCILLE. Ed and Lucille did not have any children. They are buried at St. Francis Ceemtery, Marecellus, N






BURNETT REAGAN was born on 26 Jun 1867 in Navarino, NY. He died on 16 Oct 1951 in Syracuse, NY. He married Cora Francis Fyler, daughter of Oren William Fyler and Lovina Overton on 23 Apr 1895 in St. Francis Church, Marcellus, NY. She was born on 14 Feb 1873 in Split Rock, NY. She died on 23 Apr 1957 in Marcy, NY.


JERERMIAH REAGAN was born on 14 Jun 1869. He died on 27 Jun 1940. He married FLORENCE ?.

Jerry is found in the 1890 Federal Census living with his mother Bridget and listed as a farm laborer.  At one time according to George B. Reagan, he worked on the railroad between Syracuse and Buffalo firing boilers.  It was on one of these trips that he brought back his wife Florence whom no one was aware of.  He later had a farm in DeRuyter, Madison County, New York where he died in 1940.

WILLIAM HENRY REAGAN was born on 29 Mar 1871. He died on 12 Sep 1925 at The St. Lawrence State Hospital in Ogsdenburg where he was a patient for 20 years 9 months and 28 days. That calculates to being admitted on 11/15/1904; 6 months before his mothers death.  My father, George B. Reagan stated that "William raised up in a schoolhouse and a nail in the roof went in his head and got epilepsy and ended up at St. Lawrence.  He never married.

MARY JANE REAGAN was born on 26 Sep 1876 in Navarino, NY. She died on 07 May 1957 in Lowell, Mass.

From Jim Reagan:

"Mary Jane is the youngest child of Bridget and Patrick Reagan, and therefore a sister to Burnett. She never married and moved to Lowell, Massachusetts to train as a Registered Nurse at Lowell General Hospital, as one of the first hospital trained nurses. She lived in Lowell except when she served in the Army Nurse Corp in France during World War I. As a result of that service, she received a disability pension, and her case was reviewed every five years by the War Department, so we know more about Mary Jane than other siblings of Burnett.
In 1932 Mary Jane went to Ireland and we have her passport, with her picture.
When Judi and I started collecting family information, I contacted Sue Reagan to get information about her children. She volunteered to send me crazy quilt that Mary Jane and friends had made in 1886. It is hard to see all the detail from the picture, but the hand embroidery was done by as many as seven friends. There are silk playbill pages from New York City, as well as ribbons from fireman’s parades in Syracuse. It really is her life as a work of art.
There is family story about Mary Jane returning to Syracuse to take care of Bridget in the last six months of her life. Burnett was the executor of Patrick and Bridget’s estate. His brother Gerry argued that Mary Jane was doing her daughterly duty, in taking care of her mother. Burnett felt that she should be paid for her services, at her regular rate, and then the balance of the estate divided among their children.Burnett carried the day. "

Trained as a nurse at Lowell General Hospital, Lowell, Mass and was employed by same.
Trained at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota
Enlisted in Army Nurse Corps on October 9, 1918 and served as a nurse with the Base Hospital 69 in Savenay France during World War I
Honorable Discharge August 8, 1919 at New York City, NY
Physical Description Gray eyes, brown hair 5' 7" in height

Died May 7, 1957 in Lowell, Mass.

OBIT:
"Miss Reagan, 83, Oldest Nursing Graduate, Dies"
Miss Mary J. Reagan, 83, a native of Marcellus and the oldest graduate nurse of Lowell(Mass.) General Hospital, died yestereday at that hospital. An 1898 graduate of the Lowell Hospital, Miss Reagan was also a graduate specialized nurse of the Mayo Clinic at Rochester, Minn. She served as a field hospital nurse during World War I.
Miss Reagan was born in Marcellus, a daughter of the late Patrick and Bridget Gilvey Reagan. She had resided in Lowell 60 years.
Surviving are two nieces, Miss Agnes Reagan and Mrs Frank Whelan; five nephews, James P., Edward J., George B., Oren A., and Bernard F. Reagan.
Services will be at 9 a.m. Friday at the P.A.O'Neill Funeral Home, Syracuse and
9:30 a.m. in St. Francis Xavier Church, Marcellus. Burial will be in St. Francis Xavier Cemetery, Marcellus.
Friends may call at the funeral home 7 to 9 p.m. today and 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.
tomorrow.
Source: Post Standard 8/8/1957