The McGrath Family of Truxton, New York Michael F. McGraw 9108 Middlebie Drive Austin, TX 78750 [email protected] March 13, 2002 © Michael F. McGraw 2002 All rights reserved No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise), without prior written permission of the copyright owner. 2 Cover: The picture on the front cover was taken from the rear of the main lodge of the Labrador Mountain Ski Lodge facing in a northeasterly direction. It was probably taken in the last few years. The lodge itself is located across the road from a small cemetery that is marked by a cross on the 1876 map of Truxton below. The road running north and south, passing by the front of the lodge and extending left and right through the center of the picture, is the North Road. Following this road, also known as Route 91, to the right leads into the village of Truxton about 2 miles south of this location. The significance of this location is that the McGraws and many of their friends and relatives lived in this immediate area. Michael McGraw’s farm on the North Road was located one mile south and across the road from his farm was the John Casey farm. The region out in the flat area over the silo to the left was where John McGraw, Michael’s brother, was living in 1883. His neighbor moving south was Patrick Comerford, brother of his wife Ellen Comerford McGraw. Across the road from John and Patrick was the old Truxton Schoolhouse No. 2 where all the McGraw children went to school. This same schoolhouse was moved to Berry Road in Apulia Station in 1947 by John and Evelyn Casey and it is still their home today. John was the grandson of the John Casey whose farm was across from Michael McGraw’s farm. Shackham Road, where Edmond, Michael and John all lived at one time, climbs the hill on the far left of the picture. In the upper right hand corner of the picture is the northern slope of Morgan Hill where Edmond and Mary along with the Ryans, Comerfords, Lonergans and O’Briens lived in the 1860’s. For over 150 years the McGraws, their descendants and their friends have lived in or around this valley and therefore it seems appropriate to place this picture on the cover. Edmond, Michael and John McGraw’s farm from 1868 – 1874. O’Connor farm Edmond McGraw’s farm <1880 – 1892. Michael and John also lived here at one time Michael O’Brien’s farm in 1880. Also living here were Dennis John W. McGraw’s farm Carr, John <1880 – 1883. Comerford and Michael Comerford. Patrick Comerford’s farm Patrick Flaherty in 1880. was the father of Michael Flaherty who Truxton Eliza Comerford was married Anna Schoolhouse living here in 1880. Herlihy. where the McGraw children went to school. In 1947 moved to Apulia and is home to John and Evelyn Casey John Casey’s farm in 1880. He came to Truxton in 1865. Cornelius Michael and Alice O’Connor farm. McGraw’s farm John W. McGraw’s Father of John from ~1889 until farm from < 1890. O’Connor who ~1915. Purchased in 1890. ran the O’Connor Hotel in Truxton 3 Table of Contents Preface.........................................................................................................................................6 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................8 The McGrath Family in Ireland ........................................................................ 10 The Possibility of a Common McGrath Origin ...........................................................................10 The McGraths in Upperchurch...................................................................................................15 Ryans in Gleninchnaveigh .........................................................................................................15 The Griffith’s Valuation 1851 - The Kennedys and the Ryans ..................................................17 Mary Ryan McGrath’s Connection to Gleninchnaveigh.............................................................18 Ryans in Drumdiha ....................................................................................................................19 Magraths in Moyaliff Parish .......................................................................................................19 McGraths in Turraheen Lower, Parish of Clogher .....................................................................20 The Fate of Edmond and Mary McGrath’s daughter Margaret..................................................21 Surname Distribution Analysis...................................................................................................22 The Parish Records ...................................................................................................................23 Upperchurch Parish Records.....................................................................................................23 Clonoulty Parish Records - Magrath Marriages.........................................................................33 Clonoulty Parish Records – Magraths as Witnesses ................................................................35 Conclusions ...............................................................................................................................36 OPEN ISSUES...........................................................................................................................37 The Ancestors of Edmond McGrath and Mary Ryan McGrath..................................................41 Working Version of Edmond McGrath and Mary Ryan’s Family Tree.......................................41 McGraths of Upperchurch Roman Catholic Parish....................................................................43 The Banans of Ireland ...............................................................................................................48 Con Ryan of Glown, Upperchurch, Co. Tipperary .....................................................................50 Mary Ryan’s Relatives from Gleninchnaveigh...........................................................................52 Family Status in Ireland from 1841 to 1848...............................................................................57 The McGrath Family Comes to America......................................................... 59 The Voyage to America by Mary, Michael and John.................................................................59 Where did Edmund McGrath go when he first came to America? ............................................60 Records in The New York City Area..........................................................................................61 The Trail to Truxton ...................................................................................................................62 The Early Days of Cortland County ...........................................................................................64 The Final Word on the Tornado at Keeney’s Settlement ..........................................................65 The Cuyler Residence ...............................................................................................................68 The Move to the Township of Truxton – Kettlebail Road...........................................................72 Residence Locations From Census and Map Information ........................................................74 Shackham Road ........................................................................................................................75 John and Ellen McGraw.............................................................................................................83 John J. McGraw in Truxton........................................................................................................83 John J. McGraw Living on His Own...........................................................................................87 Gravestones on Shackham Road..............................................................................................88 Residence Summaries...............................................................................................................90 Alice Rooney..............................................................................................................................92 The Land Transactions of 1890-1893........................................................................................92 History of the Property on the North Road – the Old Homestead .............................................94 The Final Years of the 19th Century...........................................................................................95 Michael W. McGraw’s Schooling ...............................................................................................95 Michael W. McGraw’s Teaching Career ....................................................................................97 The Visiting Professors..............................................................................................................97 The New Century Begins...........................................................................................................98 The Grandchildren of Edmond and Mary.................................................................................100 Michael and Alice Rooney McGraw’s Children........................................................................100