Thomas McGonagle
1803-1860
Thomas McGonagle was born about 1803 in Pennsylvania. He appears to be the son of Thomas McGonagle and Elizabeth Moore. Positive proof of his parentage has not been found. Thomas is thought to be one of eight sons.
In 1815 Thomas’s presumed father Thomas McGonagle died and in the 1820 Census for Cadiz, Harrison County Ohio we find Elizabeth McGonagle with an older woman or daughter and eight boys in her family. The possible brothers are Robert (1800-1855), Alexander (1801-1878), John (1805-1859), James (1807-1857), Joseph (1809-1889), McCaslin (1811-1864), also a possible Charles (1806-1888). (In the will of John McGonagle he leaves $1 to each of his seven brothers.)
On Mar 19, 1830 or 1831 Samuel Meek of Brook County, Virginia sold 160 acres and all the buildings, in South west quarter, section 5, township 11, range 5, in Rumley Township, Harrison County, Ohio to Thomas McGonagle and Robert McGonagle of Harrison County, Ohio for $960. This transaction was recorded on December 3, 1832.
Thomas McGonagle married Mary Thompson on December 12, 1833 in Harrison County, Ohio. They were married by the Rev. John McArthur V.D.M. He was the pastor of the Ridge Presbyterian Church in Archer Township, Harrison County, Ohio. Mary Thompson had just arrived in the area in about 1831 or 32, with her widowed mother and her family from Armagh County, Ireland.
Thomas and Mary had eight children, three girls and five boys. They are as follows: Sarah Jane born 12 Oct 1835, Thompson born 27 Apr 1837, Wilson born 9 Aug 1838, Elizabeth born 12 Feb 1841, Mary Martha born 27 Oct 1843, Samuel Hitchcock born 28 Nov 1845, Infant son born 1848 died 28 Jan 1848 buried Deersville Cemetery, Deersville Harrison County, Ohio, William Carr born 22 Oct 1851.
Thomas McGonagle was listed as living in Rumley Township in 1840 Census, but in the 1850 Census he was as living in Franklin Township. I couldn’t find Thomas's possible brother Robert in the 1840 Census, but do find him in the 1850 Census in Wooster, Wayne county, Ohio. The land is Rumley township is sold at Sheriffs auction. Their infant son is buried in Deersville which is in Franklin Township in 1848. Sometime before 1848 they moved to Franklin Township.
Their oldest daughter Sarah Jane died on 27 Jul 1851, She was 15 years 9 months 15 days old. She died but three months before their last child was born. She is buried in the Deersville Cemetery.
Their oldest son Thompson married Asenath Vickers in 1857 and settled in Franklin Township.
In September 1857 we find Thomas McGonagle listed as one of 13 male members of the Presbyterian Church of Deersville who do call the Rev. Samuel Patterson to be their pastor.
Thomas died on the 23 Jun 1860, and was buried in the Deersville Cemetery, Deersville, Harrison County, Ohio.
Their son Wilson served in the Civil War (the war began in April 1861) he was in the 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry, Company 8 and was awarded a Congressional Medal of Honor for being in the Volunteer Storming Party at the Siege of Vicksburg, Mississippi on May 22, 1863.
Thomas's widow Mary married Samuel Hitchcock a widower with 10 grown children, on September 2, 1862. Rev. Samuel Patterson preformed the ceremony. Samuel Hitchcock appears to have a long standing relationship with the family. He was married to Margaret Turner McGonagle, the widow of James McGonagle. This James McGonagle is the possible brother of Thomas McGonagle. Also they named a son Samuel Hitchcock.
Taken from Irish Creek Cousin's Newsletter 1983, census, land records, death records, marriage records, cemetery records.
