Thomas Regan and Margaret Sheehan - Our First Irish Immigrants

 Thomas O'Regan/Regan/Reagan and Margaret Sheehan are the oldest of our ancestors that I have been able to document.  Born in County Cork, Ireland, Thomas and Margaret are our oldest ancestors to have come to America.  In the New York State Census records of 1865 and 1875 and the 1880 Federal Census, they were found to be living in the home of their son Jeremiah and his wife Ellen in the Town of Skaneateles, New York.  As is the case, ages were often not listed correctly so we estimate the birth year for Thomas to be somewhere around 1807.  I have no record of the death of Thomas.  A death certificate filed in Onondaga County for Margaret Regan states that Margaret died on July 26, 1884 and was 67 years 7 months and 1 day old.  Given that, she was born on December 25, 1817.  This is likely incorrect and that she was 77 years old at death due to ages stated on the census records and the birth dates calculated for their children.  It also listed that she is married and was buried in Skaneateles, NY.

It is thought that they settled in the Skaneateles and Marcellus areas due to the topographical similarity to their homeland of Ireland.  Both communities have small waterways through them which provided water power for the many woolen mills and paper mills.  It is shown in census records that many of their descendants worked in these mills.  

Several of of ancestors are buried in St. Mary's Cemetery on Jordan Street Road in Skaneateles, NY.  In Section 6 is the head stone of Ellen Reagan, wife of Jeremiah and there are 5 foot-stones with simple engravings - one engraved  Father and one  Mother.  Could this be where Thomas and Margaret are buried?   We will never know as St. Mary of the Lake Church which housed the cemetery records had two fires and many records were destroyed.

 Thomas and Margaret had 6 children known to us that were all born in Ireland and also immigrated to America. The children are:


Thomas                born  abt.1830
Jeremiah               born   abt.1832
Patrick Thomas    born   abt.1835
Mary                     born  abt.1845
Catherine              born   abt.1849
Daniel                   born   abt.1856

A new page will be created for each of these individuals.