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