The Meagher/Maher/Mahar family of Oswego, New York

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Origins of the Mahar family in Ireland


Thomas Mahar of Oswego

Thomas Mahar is the earliest ancestor that can be established at this time. He probably came to the United States as an emigrant from the Great Famine in Ireland and left little in the way of detailed records to help us trace his lineage back to Ireland. He settled in Oswego, New York, married twice and raised a large family. Up to this time there has been little interest in the family history of Thomas and his wives. Consequently, there is nearly no oral family history as to the family's emigration or about Thomas himself.

Several Mahar, Maher, and Meagher families settled in Oswego in the 19th century. Therefore, it is important to make the correct identification of Thomas and Ellen among the records, especially since the surname may very in written records. There are some variations in the writing of Thomas Mahar's name among the Oswego records. The present use of the spelling "Mahar" is strongly associated with this family, but church records do show some variations and it is not found standardized as "Mahar" until the late 19th century. The records that have been surveyed, do not indicate if Thomas chose this particular spelling himself or whether it was accepted out of convenience. Records and Census show Thomas Mahar with the spelling of 'Maher' and 'Meagher', as do the baptism records for his children. However, most of the spellings use Mahar. Mahar appears to be the phonetic spelling of the name Meagher, which is more commonly transcribed into English as Maher. The use of Thomas' initial "P." appears first in the 1872 Oswego City Directory, to distinguish him from a Thomas F. Mahar; his son. Earlier directories suggest that Thomas Mahar was the only adult Thomas Mahar in Oswego. Thomas' first wife Ellen is identified by the death certificate of their eldest son James Mahar who died in Syracuse, New York. This is the only record found to date that records her name in full. In Oswego records, her name is consistently found in as "Ellen", except for the 1865 State Census which lists her as "Anna". Ellen's proper name may have been Helena, but shown in the more commonly used diminutive of "Ellen". One of the earliest record for Thomas is his naturalization record. Not all emigrants were naturalized upon arrival and many waited years to register. Thomas was naturalized in Oswego, New York on the 21st of January 1863, but states his year of arrival as 1855. Census records corroborate his residency in New York State by 1855 [re: certificate 2277 & NY State Census 1855]. Witnessing this certificate are John Donnelly and Daniel Mahoney. His naturalization certificates also states that he was born in Queen County, Ireland, now known as Leix (Laois). The 1900 Census, which appears to be accurate in other information, places Thomas' arrival in 1855 and confirming his nativity in Ireland in 1834. Though his place of birth has never been corroborated by any other records, his birth date is found recorded in full on the 1900 Census. The State Census for 1855, lists an unmarried Irish man, Thomas Mahar, age 24, as a boarder in the household of Dennis and Mary Neland; however, this entry is not proof that this is the same man, only that "a Thomas Mahar" was listed in Oswego in 1855. Dennis Neland is listed as an Irish carpenter with a large frame house in the Third Ward, containing six boarders besides his own family. Thomas Mahar is shown as a native of Ireland, a laborer, and as having lived in Oswego for one year, but is still an alien [re: NY Census, 23 June 1855, pg. 328 #268]. The Oswego City Directory for 1854-5, also lists one Thomas Mahar, a laborer living on West Fifth and Cayuga [re: pg. 86]. Thomas is not found in an earlier directory dated 1852-3. It is important to note that the 1857 date of Thomas' emigration record may merely date his official naturalization, rather than date of arrival.

It is not clear if Thomas married in America or Ireland, but census records suggest that Thomas probably married his first wife in New York. It is known that both Thomas Mahar and his wife Ellen McCarthy were natives of Ireland. If Thomas Mahar is the same man found on the 1855 Census, as unmarried, then their marriage must have taken place in America; probably Oswego. City marriage records are not complete for the City of Oswego. Generally, Catholic records are the primary sources used in Irish research in the area. St. Mary's Catholic Church in Oswego has record of several baptisms for Thomas and Ellen's; except for their eldest son, James. St. Mary's also does not have record of Thomas and Ellen's marriage. This indicates that St. Mary's would not have Thomas and Ellen's marriage certificate, even though it appeared that the couple attended St. Mary's during the probably time of their marriage. All of Thomas' children were born in Oswego, which also suggests that the couple may have married in America, about 1858-9. The earliest record that can be truly ascribed to Thomas Mahar is his enumeration in the 1860 U.S. Federal Census. The coupling of him with Ellen, as his wife, helps secure his identification. In 1860, he appears to be the only adult Thomas Mahar in Oswego allowing for his identification in the Oswego Directory of that period. The Mahars are found residing in the Third Ward of Oswego, an area of the city with many laborers and craftsmen; most of Irish descent. The Third Ward was also the home of the Oswego Starch Factory, the largest producer of starch in the world. Established in 1848 by Thomas Kingsford, the factory it produced 6,000 tons of starch in 1862 and employed 500 workers. Kingsford was an Englishman and inventor who developed an innovative process to make starch. Thomas Mahar is listed on the Census as a worker in the starch factory, though city directories list his occupation as "laborer". The City of Oswego was originally founded as a military outpost. The name comes from a Native American word for "pouring out water". During the era of Thomas Mahar's emigration to the New World, Oswego was a much more important port than it is today. Located as the eastern most port on Lake Ontario, it served as an important transportation center for goods in and out of New York State in the first half of the 19th century. Several early Mahar/Maher/Meagher men found in Oswego are shown in occupation connected to shipping. The building of the Erie Canal prevented Oswego from even developing into a major port and until the Oswego Canal connecting the city to the Erie Canal rejuvenated the city's economic climate. One of the great problems with researching in Oswego has been that most people left the city for larger urban hubs, like Syracuse or Rochester. The devastating economic problems of present day New York has caused and even further decay in the city's stability. All these factors have caused most of the descendants of the Mahar family to leave the area. Very little local interest in history or genealogy seems to exist in this town. The 1860 Census shows Thomas with his wife, Ellen, in the household of James Farrell a 50 year old Irish born single laborer. A James Farrell is found as early as 1857, working as a policeman and living on East Seneca between 9th and 10th [re: Oswego City Directory]. In 1859, James Farrell is living at 100 East Seneca and is listed as a "mason". Michael Farrell who lived nearby at 96 East Seneca, is also listed with the occupation of mason and is probably kin to James. A James Farrell is also a witness to the naturalization record of Patrick McCarthy dated the 14th of February 1866, so that the Farrell connection may be associated with Ellen [re: certificate #2587]. Another Farrell appears later in 1904, when a Patrick Farrell posts bond for Thomas Lee in the probate of Rosa Mahar Lee's estate. It is unclear whether James Farrell is a kinsman or merely a landlord. Traditional Irish naming patterns would find the two eldest sons named after the paternal, then maternal grandfathers and the same would apply to first born daughters being given the names of their grandmothers. Naming of a first born son after James Farrell, would suggest that Farrell played an important role in the lives of this emigrant couple. The date of the 1860 Census record is the 19th of June, just three months prior to the birth of their first son; James Mahar. Vital statistics on the 1860 Census show that Thomas was 23 years old; giving him a birth year of 1837. The 1900 Census is the most specific, recording his birth as the 04th of October 1834. The 1860 Census places Ellen's birth in 1835. Both are shown with nativity in Ireland. Their house was probably at 100 East Seneca; the address Farrell is listed at in the 1859 Directory. Thomas and Ellen owned no real estate in 1860, but did own $150.00 of person property, which could have been anything from savings to a horse and cart. The small amount of property indicates their modest wealth holdings, but unlike many other laborers in the community shown with no property of any kind, they did have something. Still without children to care for, Thomas and Ellen's situation may not have been, as bleak, as one might expect to find among a young emigrant couple who had recently fled a famine in what was then one of the poorest nations on Earth. The 1860 Census indicates that James Farrell is illiterate, but surprisingly the census indicates that Thomas and Ellen could read and write. By the 1870 Census, Thomas Mahar is found in the 5th Ward along with his wife Ellen and children: James, Ellen, Rosa, John, Mary and a newborn Thomas. Both Thomas and Ellen are shown as natives of Ireland with ages 35 and 34 respectively. Thomas' occupation is listed as a laborer, probably still working for the starch factory. What the 1870 does supply is his wealth holdings, which lists him with real estate worth $600.00 and $100.00 of personal property. The six hundred dollars of real estate, probably indicates ownership of a house, but the amount seems high for the type of house it is expected Thomas to have lived in. The New York State Census corroborates this by showing Thomas as owning a plank house valued at $300.00 in 1865 [re: pg. 147]. Plank houses were common in the area and a regional and cheaper version of a frame house, the latter often having two floors. The 1880 Census provides little in addition to the other Census records, although it does provide a full list of Thomas' children, the fact that they attended school and notes that Ellen had died by that time. Ellen's death may be linked with the birth of her last child, which would have been Kitty whose birth is calculated as either 1876 or 1877, depending on the Census referenced. A family story survives and is told by a descendant of Thomas and Ellen's son Thomas F. Mahar's, who recalls that Ellen died from lockjaw, contracted from a rusty nail that punctured her skin while hanging out the laundry [re interview, Thomas P. Mahar (5/94)]. Though the informant could not name Ellen or positively identify the story to her, it appears plausible. The story of Ellen's death is told in conjunction with another story relating the tensions felt by Ellen's children towards their step-mother Catherine "Kitty" Dunne, who Thomas married about 1880 [re: ibid]. Thomas F. Mahar is said to have run away from home at age eleven, resentful of his step-mother; however, this story is not confirmed by evidence in Oswego of Thomas reaching manhood and marrying in Oswego, before moving to New York City in 1900/01. In 1880, the only other missing child from the household of Thomas Mahar is his eldest daughter, Helena "Ellen", who had either married or died young. In 1880, the Maher family is found living in house number 179 on 5th Street; however, house numbers were not consistent, being changed, as seen fit by the city planners. It is likely that by 1880, Thomas had settled into 263 Fifth Street, where he continued to live until his death. New York State Census records survive documenting the City of Oswego every ten years on the mid-decade. The 1855 Census does identify an unmarried man named Thomas Mahar, a recent emigrant from Ireland [re: 23 Jun 1855, 3rd Ward, pg 328, #268, line 14]. Other boarders in the household are Irish laborers: Philip Hogan, James Valentine, Michael Kane, John Price and Hugh Conway. The 1865 Census clearly shows Thomas, his wife Anna (sic) and children: James, Ellen, Rosa and John all in the 3rd Ward. Excepting the name of his wife, the information is consistent with church records and other census data. In the 1865 State Census, Thomas is shown living in the same neighborhood as William and Nora Magher (sic) and Cornelius Dunn, father of Thomas' future second wife. There is little evidence connecting Thomas with other Mahar families or with any McCarthy family. The census records for 1875, 1885 and 1895 have not been searched, but may provide many personal details on the Mahar family. Often these State Census records provide greater detail concerning land ownership, naturalization and date of arrival in America. "Brigham's Oswego Directory" for 1862-3 and for 1866 provides a further resource in tracking and identifying Thomas and his family. The earliest directories do show that there was only one Thomas Mahar; however he was not the only Mahar in Oswego. Numerous entries are found under Maher and Meagher and only a handful are found using "Mahar" spelling, which is the spelling most associated with Thomas. St. Mary's church records indicate the presence of Anna and Mary Mahar as godmothers to Thomas' children, suggesting that perhaps Thomas did not emigrate alone, but had kin, probably sisters in the New World. Thomas' listing in the city directories are as follows: . The 1900 Census provides us with an unusual record where the full birth dates were entered in the Census instead of just the month and year. The 1900 Census shows Thomas P. Mahar as having been born on the 04th of October 1834 in Ireland. In 1900 he was living at 263 West 5th Street and Thomas owned this house free of mortgage. A deed is found dated 1863 between Thomas Mahar and John Kew [re: Book 230, pg. 310]. This may be the deed to his house on Fifth Street, In 1900, Thomas' wife is listed as Kathryn, born the 07th of June 1846, a native of Oswego, New York. Kathryn is obviously his second wife, whose death certificate identifies her as Catherine Dunn. Children Fred, Joe, Kittie and Frank are all listed in the household showing his younger children by his first marriage, as well as two children born to his second wife [re: 1900 NY Census vo.l 209; e.d. 129; sheet 5; line 91]. In 1900, Thomas' sons Fred was a laundryman, Joe was a barber, Kittie was a housekeeper and Frank was a grocery clerk. Later Oswego directories suggest that the children sold the house after the death of Katherine Mahar in 1905, since many of Thomas' children are shown boarding at 235 W. 4th. The 1906 Directory for Oswego notes that a Thomas Mahar died on the 21st of October 1904; providing another important vital statistic for Thomas. Thomas' obituary is found in the "Oswego Daily Palladium" of the 22nd of October 1904 which announces, "MAHAR - In this city, October 21st, 1904, Thomas Mahar. Funeral from his late home, No. 263 West Fifth street, Monday at 9 a.m. and from St. John's church at 9:30 a.m. friends are invited." Thomas P. Mahar's death certificate confirms the date of his death as the 21st and notes he died of typhoid fever. The informant for the certificate was his son Frank Mahar. Unfortunately, Frank did not provide Thomas' parents name, his exact birth date or exact place of birth other than 'Ireland'. By 1906 there are several Mahar families, most who are not easily identified as kin. The registry of St. Paul's Catholic cemetery does not provide any information on Thomas or his wife; however, there records do not appear to be well enough organized to conclude that they were not buried there. The registry does show that there are three Mahar family plots. None of these families have been proved to be related to Thomas. Thomas' death certificate indicates he was buried in St. Paul's Cemetery and his second wife Katherine's death certificate shows her internment at St. Peter's. Several of Thomas' children, such as Frank and Molly are said to be buried in St. Peter's. The Lee family is buried in the center section of St. Paul's Cemetery. Located in the Third Ward is St. Mary's Catholic Church which though originally founded by French Catholics, is generally known as the Irish church in that Ward. Requests for Mahar family records in the church have been successful. St. Mary's clerk recorded both the birth and baptism of several of Thomas' children between 1862 and 1867; however, show no record for James nor does it contain the marriage record of Thomas and his first wife Ellen. Fortunately, St. Mary's clerk recorded both the father's and mother's full names, including the mother's maiden name. Having a death certificate for James Mahar listing both parent's full names, there is little doubt that the Thomas and Ellen (McCarthy) Mahar of St. Mary's Parish and of the 1860 and 1870 Census in Oswego are the same people. St. Mary's provides a record in the variations of the spelling 'Mahar', showing that the parish priest used the spelling Mahar. One entry does use the traditional spelling 'Meagher', which clearly acknowledges that it is the same name. St. Mary's does not list the youngest of Thomas' children born after 1867, but who are recorded in his household in the 1880 Census; however baptisms for the younger children are found at St. John's. The 1900 Census indicates that Thomas Mahar remarried in 1880 to Catherine "Kittie" Dunn, as she is listed in the State Census. Records at St. John the Evangelist show that Thomas Mahar and Catherine Dunn married on the 16th of February 1881; Peter and Mary Dolen signed as witnesses [re: St. John's Marriages, Vol. 1, pg. 40]. Unfortunately, St. John's records do not provide any further information on the couple, such as age, place of birth, or parent's name. Catherine's full birth date is found on the Census, as the 07th of June 1845 with her nativity in Oswego, New York. Both her parents are listed on Catherine's death certificates as Irish emigrants Cornelius & Betsy (Kelly) Dunn. Catherine and her two unmarried sisters Mary and Margaret, are found on the 1865 State Census living with their widowed father Cornelius in a frame house worth $1500. Catherine is listed with the occupation of "tailoress" and her sister Mary is a "dressmaker". Catherine died on the 8th of April 1905. An obituary is found in the "Oswego Daily Palladium" announcing under deaths, "MAHAR - In this City, April 8th, 1905. Catherine, wife of the late Thomas Mahar aged 60 years. Funeral from her late home, No. 263 West Fifth street, Monday at 9 a.m. and from St. John's church at 9:30 a.m. Friends are invited." Catherine's death certificate confirms her death on the 8th, noting she died of dropsey and heart failure. She is buried at St. Peter's cemetery.

Thomas had the following children by his first wife Helen "Ellen" McCarthy: James; Helena; John; Rose; By his second wife Catherine Dunn, Thomas Mahar had two sons: Frederick and Joseph.

© 1998 mahard@sfcep.corp.ge.com