Hugh Roe MONTGOMERY had a daughter Nancy who is said to have been born in 1790 in Inver, County Donegal. She died in 1870 in Ireland. She had an uncle John Knox MONTGOMERY. The family was Protestant, active in politics and in the Army and Navy. Nancy MONTGOMERY married NEIL MCGROARTY (1781-1832),possibly the son of Neil and Peggy MEIGHAN MCGROARTY. Neil was born in Keelogs, Parish of Inver. Hugh Roe MONTGOMERY broke with his daughter over her marriage to Neil McGroarty (a Catholic). Nancy and Neil McGROARTY were said to have the following children: John, Hugh, Kittie, Patrick and Neil. One of the daughters married a SCANLON. Need to be able to prove that the son Neil was Cornelius Neil MCGROARTY who migrated to southwest Ohio in the 1820s.
HUGH McGROARTY, an aged and highly-respected citizen of Miners Mills, was born in the parish of Inver, County Donegal, Ireland, November 12, 1806, and is a son of Cornelius and Nancy (Montgomery) McGroarty. His mother, a very beautiful woman, who eloped with her husband, was a grandniece of Gen. Montgomery, of Quebec fame.
In his father's family there were nine children, five of whom reached majority: John, who died in Ireland May 21, 1891, at the age of eighty-seven years; Hugh, the subject of this sketch; Catherine (Mrs. Peter Scanlon), died in Newtown, Pa., in 1889, at the age of eighty years; Cornelius, who was a farmer in Plains township, and once treasurer of Luzerne county, died January 21, 1891, at the age of eighty years; Patrick, still living in Plains township. Nancy Montgomery married, for her second husband, Hugh Meehan, by whom she had six children.
Our subject came to America in 1839, and located in Summit Hill, Pa., where he worked about the mines three years, and then removed to Buck Mountain, where he followed mining twenty-five years; he was then engaged by the Coal & Iron Company, driving a tunnel at Sugar Notch three years, after which he came to Miners Mills and built the hotel now occupied by Michael Athey, which was the first house of public entertainment in the place. He carried on the hotel fifteen years and then built his present residence, where he has since lived in retirement.
Mr. McGroarty was married in January, 1834, with Miss Mary, daughter of Brien and Margaret (McLoon) McGinty; she was a lady of rare intelligence and a very benevolent character; having but a common-school education, she was a great reader and thinker, and was very familiar with Irish history, as well as with the great questions in American politics. This happy union was blessed with twelve children: Five died in childhood; Bernard died September 17, 1883, at the age of forty-seven years; Mary (Mrs. John Gallagher) died in Buck Mountain, August 6,1876, at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving four children; Bridget married Michael Farrell (deceased), by whom she has four living children; Margaret married John Murrin, a coal operator, Carbondale, Catherine married Michael McHale, engineer for the Electric Light Company, Wilkes-Barre, with residence in Miners Mills; Hugh is conductor on the Lehigh Valley Railroad, Miners Mills; and John S.
Mr. McGroarty and family are members of the Catholic Church; politically he is a Democrat. He had three cousins in an Ohio regiment in the Civil war: Gen. Stephen J. McGroarty, who was wounded eighteen times, and died in Cincinnati; Col Patrick McGroarty, who was killed at Lookout Mountain; and William B. McGroarty, whose father was drowned while in the army, and who lost both legs in the war, is still living.
The ARLINGTON JOURNAL, Arlington, Texas. 1905
Hugh McGroarty, one of the first miners in the anthracite region, is dead at Pittsburg, Pa., at the age of 102 years. He retained his faculties until the last and died of general weakness.
PATRICK McGROARTY, farmer, P. 0. Plains, was born in the Parish of Inver, County Donegal, Ireland, April 14, 1814, and is a son of Cornelius and Ann (Montgomery) McGroarty.
In his father's family there were seven children, of whom he is the youngest. He came to America in 1836, remained in New York two months, and then engaged in digging coal at Summit Hill, Pa., where he remained ten years; at this time coal was obtained from the earth by stripping the surface in the winter and removing the coal in the summer. He next removed to Buck Mountain, where he remained fourteen years, mining; then went to Wilkes-Barre, where he remained four years, and in 1865 purchased a farm in Plains township and removed thereon. In 1877 Mr. McGroarty engaged in the mercantile business, which he followed for five years, and was a victim to severe losses caused by the strikes of that time. Mr. McGroarty was married, July 10, 1842 to Miss Mary, daughter of Hugh and Catharine (McCue) Sweeney, and by her he had two children, one of whom is living, Cornelius, an engineer at the Wilkes-Barre Water Works. Mrs. Mary Sweeney died July 10, 1844, and Mr. McGroarty married, for his second wife, Mrs. John McAlune, nee Rose McAlune. To their union were born five children, viz.: Anna, who married for her second husband John Mahoney, of Wilkes-Barre; Patrick; James; Hugh, and William, shop carpenter for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, at Port Bowkley.
Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is a Democrat in politics, and has held the office of supervisor.
PATRICK McGROARTY, Jr., proprietor of "McGroarty's Restaurant," Plains, was born at Buck Mountain, Schuylkill Co., Pa., March 11, 1855, and is a son of Patrick McGroarty.
Since beginning in life for himself, he has been successively engaged: in teaming, six years; mining, twelve years; as stable-boss for the Lehigh Valley Coal Company, nine years; supervisor of Plains township, two years, and engaged in his present business in 1890. Our subject was married, November 24, 1887, [ 1877? JG ] to Mary A., daughter of John and Elizabeth (Martin) McDonald. natives of County Cavan, Ireland, and they have seven children, as follows: William, born September 26, 1878; John, born December 9,1880; Patrick, born October 14, 1882; Bessie, born January 28, 1884; Rose, born April 7, 1886; May, born April 20, 1888; and Cornelius, born May 20, 1890.
Mr. McGroarty and family are members of the Catholic Church; politically he has always been identified with the Republican party.
JAMES McGROARTY, stable-boss at the Henry and Wyoming Mines, was born at Buck Mountain, Schuylkill Co. - Pa., February 18, 1856, and is a son of Patrick McGroarty.
He was educated in the common schools, and began life for himself at the age of twenty, as inside stable-boss in the Henry Mine; he has continued in this line ever since, until he has been promoted to his present position.
Mr. McGroarty was married, February 13, 1876, to Miss Kate, daughter of John and Belinda (Durgan) Howley, natives of Ireland; she came to America with an uncle, leaving her parents in Ireland. The following children are the fruits of this union: Belinda, born December 1, 1876; Anna, born September 22, 1878, died December 10, 1881; Rose, born July 23, 1880, died October 10, 1882; John, born November 22, 1883; William, born September 13, 1885; James, born September 20, 1887; and Charles, horn April 20, 1890.
Our subject and family are members of the Catholic Church; he is an indefatigable worker in the cause of Democracy, and has held the office of school director.
HUGH McGROARTY, watchman at the Enterprise Mines, Plains township, was born at Buck Mountain, Carbon Co., Pa., in 1867, and is a son of Patrick McGroarty.
Our subject began life as inside stable-boss in the Wyoming Mine, where he remained nine years; in March, 1890, he secured a position as outside stable-boss at the Enterprise Mine, which position he held until that mine shut down; and since that time he has been watchman. Mr. McGroarty was married, October 27, 1881, to Miss Josephine, daughter of Thomas and Mary (Degnan) McCormick, and they have three children: Mary, born March 19, 1883; Harry, born November 16, 1885, died June 15, 1886; and William, born October 1, 1888.
Mr. McGroarty and family are members of the Catholic Church, and politically he is a Democrat.
JOHN McGROARTY, now living at No. 641 South East street, Indianapolis, became a resident of this city in 1868, though his residence herein has not been continuous. He was born in the parish of Bainburg, county Donegal, Ireland, and arrived in the United States May 11, 1863. For many years Mr. McGroarty traveled through several of the states selling goods, among the states thus visited being New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio and Indiana. As before stated, he located in Indianapolis in 1868, where for some time he was a member of the police force. In 1875 he went to the gold fields of Australia, returning in June, 1886, having succeeded fairly well in his search for the precious metal, and learning many things about that interesting but distant part of the world that he could not possibly have learned in any other way.
On January 7, 1897, he was married to Mrs. Anna Ryan, daughter of Peter and Mary Greenen, and widow of Martin V. C. Ryan, the latter of whom removed from Ohio to Indianapolis. For many years he was connected with the P., C., C. & St. L. R. R., and was one of the most efficient, faithful and popular conductors on that road. On the 27th of October, 1890, he was instantly killed by his own train at Knightstown, Ind., his death being greatly deplored by all that knew him, especially by those familiar with him as a passenger conductor, and by his family and immediate friends. As a testimonial of their esteem a beautiful memorial, consisting of resolutions expressive of their appreciation of his many manly qualities, was prepared by the passenger trainmen of the road with which he had been connected, and presented, by Rev. Father O'Donaghue, to the bereaved widow and children, and a beautiful clock, presented to the widow by the men of the road, was another expression of their esteem and respect. Mr. Ryan was a devoted Catholic and an honored member of the Catholic Knights of America. He left his wife with three daughters, viz: Lavenia, Alvirney and Martenia.
(2nd para relates entirely to Martin Ryan - a bit confusing - JG)
Your McGROARTY family is quite lucky!!! It appears that you have evidence of the actual birthdates of several family members, including Cornelius. It is highly unusual, but the birth dates of Cornelius (born on 10 June 1847), and his family members who resided with him at the time, were recorded in the 1900 Census. If you look at the name of the census enumerator for the page, you will see that it was Charles J. McGROARTY, who also appears with Cornelius as his son on the page. Since the enumerator was apparently his son, I would presume that his recording of the exact birth dates should be considered fairly reliable evidence (much more so than an unrelated census taker's reporting of ages).
One quick note regarding this census - I believe Henrietta is the second wife of Cornelius McGROARTY. Sources report that:
Cornelius McGROARTY married to Bridgett SHERIDAN on 16 Sep 1874 (Marion County, IN, Book 159, p. 13).
Bridget McGroarty died on 17 June 1891, at 40 years of age. (Marion County, Indiana Book H-4, p. 81) and
Harriet Townsend married to Cornelius McGROARTY on 19 Nov 1895 in Marion County, Indiana (Book: 199, p. 27)
It appears that the above Harriet (Henrietta) who appears with Cornelius in the 1900 Census is most likely his second wife - Bridget having died prior to 1900.
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This was sent to me by Catherine Riley Billups.
As far as we know this is Catherine's GGF - one of many McGroartys called Cornelius - but which one?
The inscription says
630 South Meridian Street
Indianapolis
Indiana
(from Indianapolis Star
May16, 1923)
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I found evidence of Cornelius and a John who appears to be possibly his brother. Your Cornelius McGROARTY had a son named Charles J. McGROARTY, born 14 June 1875. I wonder if John McGROARTY's middle name may have been John.
Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota - The town was named by John McGroarty, the name Inver Grove being given in recollection of a place in Ireland from which many of the settlers came.
John, William and Charles McGroarty came to Inver Grove, MN in 1852. They were originally from Keelogs, Inver. William served in the Minnesota Legislature in 1858 and later served in the Civil War, but he drowned crossing the Mississippi River while returning to his regiment. John was active in local politics in the early years, and is credited with naming Inver Grove, for the many families who settled there from that area. All have descendants in the area.
FAYETTEVILLE is on the east fork of the Little Miami, 36 miles from Cincinnati. It has 1 Methodist and 1 Catholic church, and in 1880, 390 inhabitants. The site of the village was bought in 1818 by Cornelius McGROARTY, a native of Ireland, and father of the heroic Colonel Stephen McGROARTY, of the Ohio volunteers in the rebellion.
[Something wrong here - Stephen (later General) McGroarty was born in Ireland in 1830. The Cornelius who was his father did not go to America until 1833, I believe - JG]
[From "History of Dakota County and the City of Hastings, including the Explorers and Pioneers of Minnesota , and Outlines of the History of Minnesota". By Rev. Edward D. Neill and J. Fletcher Williams. Published in Minneapolis by North Star Publishing Company, 1881.]
John McGroarty was born in Inver parish, Ireland, in 1824. Came to America in 1848 and landed at New York, where he purchased a stock of Irish linen and peddled from that city to Minnesota, which occupied his time until 1853. During the spring of that year he arrived at St. Paul, and in August came to Inver Grove, making a claim of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has since lived. He is the oldest living settler in the township on which he bestowed the name of Inver, in honour of his native place. In 1844, in Ireland, he married Miss Bridget McNellis, by whom he had one son, Barnard. He is working his father's farm in partnership; was married in 1879 to Miss Ellen Dalton, a native of this state; John is their only son.
[In other records the son is shown as Bryan. Bryan (or Brian) and Bernard seem to be interchangeable to some degree in parts of Ireland. "Barnard" as spelt here would not be widely recognised as a First Name. - JG]
1897.98 LAIN'S DIRECTORY Brooklyn
McGROARTY Chas. broker h 949 Pacific
McGROARTY Dennis fireman h 106 B'klyn av
McGROARTY Jas. clk h 949 Pacific
McGROARTY Jas. cooper h 19 Sherman
McGROARTY Jas. elec h 106 B'klyn av
McGROARTY John billiards bowling & café 196 Montague h 721 Dean
McGROARTY John lab h 20 Hudson av
McGROARTY Patrick lineman h 34 Ashland pl
Irish Democrat, June/July 1994
May Day in Waterford
Waterford City chose to mark the Irish Republic's first ever May Day Bank Holiday by honouring its heroes of the Spanish Civil War. A plaque bearing the names of the 10 Waterford men who fought in the Connolly Column of the International Brigade was unveiled by Peter O'Connor, their last surviving member, at an event organised by Waterford Trades Council.
The unveiling was preceded by a march along the route taken by the returning men of the Connolly Column, from the railway station along the Quay to Henrietta Street, where they had been welcomed and entertained by ex-members of the IRA and Cumann na mBan.
International Brigadier Peter O'Connor told the packed meeting, including relatives of his comrades: "The great lesson of Spain was that of unity, where comrades of every religion and none united in a common cause to defeat Franco fascism. We need to strive for that unity today if we are to be successful in gaining the freedom of our country. I believe we cannot be successful in that task unless we join forces with the British working class. We must make common cause with our comrades across the water. Our enemy is not the British people, but the system of British Imperialism and monopoly capitalism which is the enemy of all peoples struggling to be free."
With some emotion he thanked his wife, Biddy, a staunch Catholic, for standing by him "through all the vile propaganda about the Reds in Spain burning churches, murdering priests and digging up the skeletons of nuns." Other speakers included Michael O'Riordan, former secretary of the Communist Party of Ireland, who pointed out that two of the first Irishmen to be killed in Spain were a Protestant minister from Belfast, Rev. Bob Hilliard, and a Christian Brother, Eamon McGroarty. [Eamon McGrotty, CC].
Pausing in Henrietta Street, Waterford Trades Council spokesman Jim Kelly told the marchers: "The men who fought in Spain did not enlist against a background of popular support. They went against a background of reaction and despair. The Irish anti-fascist fighters lucky enough to survive the carnage in Spain came home to an atmosphere poisoned by anti-communist hysteria and witch-hunting. With the re-emergence and rise of neo-fascists throughout Europe we should remember the lessons of the 1930s. Fascism cannot be confined - it must be smashed wherever it raises its ugly head."
MILDE, ROSE EILEEN (NEE MCGROARTY)
Published: November 18, 2000 New York Times
MILDE-Rose Eileen (nee McGroarty). On Thursday, November 16, 2000. Beloved wife of Edward. Loving mother of Michael and his wife Maureen of Succasunna, NJ; Jim and his wife Marybeth of Succasunna, NJ; Joseph and his wife Susan of Mendham, NJ and Mary Homa and her husband Michael of Baltimore, MD. Predeceased by four brothers; Judge J. Courtney McGroarty; William McGroarty; Frank McGroarty; and Rev. Joseph G. McGroarty. A funeral Liturgy will be held at St. Patrick's RC Church, 85 Washington Ave, Chatham, NJ on Monday, November 20th at 11am. Friends may call at the Wm A. Bradley & Son Funeral Home, 345 Main Street (Rt 124), Chatham on Saturday from 7-9pm and Sunday 2-4 and 7-9pm.
W. B. McGroarty is William Buckner McGroarty who was a prolific genealogy writer with major articles on the Chamoe, Taliaferro, Buckner, Battaille etc. families. He is not always correct, but is generally reliable. In 1934 he published a huge Taliaferro genealogy chart. William Buckner McGroarty was the son of Elizabeth Jane Buckner and Patrick McGroarty, a lawyer from Ireland.
[ It doesn't seem as though he did any work on the McGroartys. I wonder why?- JG]
from sunny Florida
Was wondering if anyone has information on McGroarty's. One was previously mentioned as head of household in 1857 in Donegal Town. My grandfather, Patrick McGroarty b:16 Dec 1864 came to the US in 1886 or 1887. His parents were Michael McGroarty b:1845 d:5 Apr 1936 in Sallows, Mount Charles, Donegal, and Bridget McGroarty (maiden name) b: 1848 d:9 Apr 1921 in Shallows. Michael's parents were James McGroarty b:1811 d:13 Apr 1881 in Sallows, Mountcharles, and Biddy (maiden name unknown) b:1801 d: 11 Jan 1871 in Salasis, Mountcharles. Not sure of difference between Sallows and Salasis. Bridget McGroarty's father was John - no other info.
My grandfather was born c1867 in Scotland, but I know from oral family history they were orig. from Donegal. My grandfather was Joseph, he married an Agnes McAree in Pittsburgh Pa. My father was the youngest of nine children, and he was born July 4,1910 and passed away in 1974. I have a cousin in Pittsburgh that has some of the family history written down but I can't seem to get him to get it to me. My mother would have said "typical male McGroarty, they do things when they want" As far as some history, my cousin, Pat, steered the first nuclear submarine and was in Life Magazine. There was a shop in Dublin, Helen McGroarty knitting shop, now closed. She told me if you are a McGroarty you are a McGroarty and you come from Donegal.
The McGroarty name is a Donegal name and we suspect all the McGroarty names in America are descendants from Ireland in the potato famine. The O'Donnell clan and the McGroartys would be the mixed most important clan in Donegal, and they were responsible for holding the kathac (which was an O'Donnell heirloom) and also responsible for safety and maintenance. All this information I have just presented to you was passed on by my granddad who was born in Donegal town in the year 1920, and whose father was born in the town land of Seliaces in the parish of Dramaorne. My granddad is now living in Newry, County Down, Northern Ireland. We would like any information you have, including the extent of the McGroarty influence in America. inc politics business and major contributions to the American society in general. We know of the poet John Steven McGroarty.
[From my cousin, Bernard McGroarty, now living (2008) in Co. Cork]
I have had the enclosed letter since I was at school.
I kept it to try and find out what a Cathach was. I don't know if it would be of any interest to you.
There is a McGroarty with an art web site he paints only submarines, I wonder has he anything to do with the first nuc. submarine mentioned on your site.
