#52Ancestors: My 2nd Great Grandfather, Irish-Born Patrick Flanagan ( d. 1925)

My 11th week in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” family history blogging challenge.

The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor.

I’m a few weeks behind in this series. Just been very busy. But I’m determined to chronicle at least 52 Ancestors this year, so I’m playing catch-up.

---

This week’s ancestor is my 2nd great grandfather, Patrick Flanagan (d. 1925). This Patrick is supposedly my first Flanagan ancestor to immigrate to the United States. He is the father of my great grandfather Patrick Thomas Flanagan ( – 1928), and the grandfather of my own infant-orphaned grandfather, Michael John Flanagan (1927-1997).

I know very little about Patrick Flanagan, despite him having many living grandchildren and great grandchildren still living in the Bellaire, Ohio area, where Patrick and his wife Mary Bridget “Bridget” Lynch made their permanent and final home in the United States.

Death & Birth Dates & Locations

During my trip to RootsTech and the Family History Library this past February, I did come across the transcription for Patrick’s death record, verifying that he died 27 January 1925 in Belmont County, Ohio. This record lists his birth date and location as 02 February 1869 in Ireland, but since death records are not primary source evidence for birth records, I cannot claim this as fact for Patrick, just a lead. This same death record provides secondary evidence identifying the name of Patrick’s father, Michael.

This death record, and Find A Grave, both indicate he is buried in Mount Calvary Cemetery in Bellaire, Ohio.

Residences & Occupations

The only other records I have for Patrick are the 1910 and 1920 U.S. Census, providing evidence of his places of residence for these particular dates.

The 1910 U.S. Census

Patrick, his wife Mary Bridget (“Bridget”) were enumerated on 25 April 1910, while living at 20 Baker Street, in Wheeling, West Virginia. All six of their children were living with them at this time: Michael, Patrick Thomas (my great grandfather), Mary Bridget, Thomas Joseph, Margaret, and John Joseph.

1910 U.S. Census, courtesy of Ancestry.com. Click on the image for a larger view.

Patrick is listed as 47 years old, in his first marriage (married 28 years), able to read and write English, renting his home, employed as a railroad laborer, born in Ireland, with both parents born in Ireland.

The 1920 U.S. Census

Patrick and his wife Bridget were enumerated on February 5th or 6th, 1920 in Bellaire, Ohio (I cannot read the street name, but the street number is 3512). They are now across the Ohio River, southwest of Wheeling. All six children are living with them still.

Patrick is listed as 55 years old, now employed as a laborer at a bottle house, still renting his home.

1920 U.S. Census, courtesy of Ancestry.com. Click image for a larger view.

Immigration & Naturalization

Patrick’s death record, burial record, and both census records indicate that he was born in Ireland. However I have been unable to find his actual immigration or naturalization records. And there is a bit of a discrepancy with his actual arrival date. The 1910 Census indicates that he arrived in the U.S. in 1888 and that he was a naturalized citizen. The 1920 Census indicates that he arrived in 1885 and was naturalized in 1890.

---

The most difficult thing in tracing Patrick’s history, as well as his entire line’s history, is that my Flanagan ancestors kept naming their boys Patrick, Michael, and Thomas. It’s like searching for a needle in a haystack.