Updated December 14, 2023 to include additional details.
Michael Eagan* was born in 1849 in Waterford, Waterford, Ireland, the son of Patrick Eagan and Brigid (or Bridget) (nee O’Brien) (1815-1867).
(*note: the name Eagan is spelled both Eagan and Egan in multiple records. For completeness and given future generations seem to have settled on the spelling “Eagan,” this is the name I’ll be using.)
According to historian John Mannion (1973), approximately 90% of all Irish immigrants to Canada came from within a 40-mile radius of Waterford city, a major port for vessels crossing the Atlantic. Census records suggest that Michael emigrated to the US in 1872, at the age of 23. He settled in Rhode Island. Four years after his arrival, Michael married Catherine Trainor on July 17, 1876, in Newport, Rhode Island.
When Catherine Trainor was born in March 1850 in Rhode Island, her father, John Trainor (1821-1904), was 28, and her mother, Alice (nee Mulholland) (1822-1859), was 28.
They had seven children over ten years:
- Patrick Joseph Eagan (1877-1932) married Mary Ellen Duffield (1880-1943)
- John Charles Eagan (1878-1895)
- Michael Stephen Eagan (1880-1897)
- Mary Eagan (1882-1882)
- Thomas Francis Eagan (1884-1885)
- Alice J. Eagan (1886-1941) married Francois (John) Baptiste Hebert (1884-1930)
- Mary Agnes Eagan (1888-1889)
Patrick Joseph Eagan (who was known as Joseph) was born on May 7, 1877. You’ll note that the registration does not include the extra “a” – he’s Patrick Egan.
John Charles Eagan was born on October 2, 1878. John Charles and brother Michael are recorded as Eagan.
Michael Stephen Eagan was born on May 17, 1880. At the time of the birth registration, his father’s occupation is “laborer.” The family lives on Shove Street in Providence.
The 1880 Federal Census is taken just a couple of weeks after the younger Michael’s birth. The record shows the couple and all of their children living at 16 Shove Street. The older Michael’s occupation is listed as “laborer.”
Mary is born on March 26, 1882. She dies at the age of four months on July 26, 1882.
Thomas Francis is born on December 17, 1884, and dies at the age of seven months in 1885, coincidentally also on July 26th.
Alice J. Eagan was born on July 7, 1886. I haven’t identified any records that tell me what the “J” is for, but if I had to guess, it’s likely Josephine (as Joseph is a family name).
The couple names their final child Mary as well: Mary Agnes Eagan is born on March 15, 1888. She dies at the age of 11 months on February 5, 1889.
All of the girls are recorded with the name “Egan” in the birth index. Alice appears to be listed twice, as both Egan and Eagan, and Thomas is only listed as “Eagan.”
The same goes for the death records. Both children named “Mary” are recorded as Egan and Thomas is Eagan.
There appear to be no further children born to the couple after Mary Agnes. Most of the 1890 federal census was destroyed in a fire at the Commerce Department in Washington DC in January 1921. The Rhode Island records were among those destroyed.
John Charles Eagan died of tubercular meningitis on November 30, 1895. The death notice in the Providence Journal reads:
EAGAN – In this city, on the 30th ult., John C., the son of Michael and Catherine Eagan, aged 17 years and 6 months. Funeral from his parent’s residence, No. 47 Laurimer avenue on Monday, Dec 2d at 8:30 a.m. Relatives and friends invited to attend. Newport papers please copy.
Michael Stephen Eagan died of tuberculous peritonitis on February 2, 1897. The death notice in the Providence Journal reads:
EAGAN – In this city; 2d inst., Michael S. son of Michael and Catherine Eagan, aged 16 years, Funeral from his parent’s residence, No 47 Lorimer avenue, Friday, 5th inst., at 8:30 a.m. Relatives and friends are invited to attend. Newport papers please copy.It’s sad that of the couple’s seven children, only two (Joseph and Alice) survived into adulthood.
At the time of the 1900 US Federal Census, the family is still living on Lorimer Avenue. Michael’s occupation is “Fireman” at a screw mill. The document suggests that he became a citizen in 1875. Joseph is working at the same mill as an operator. Alice, only 13, is at school.
Catherine died on August 28, 1907, in Providence, Rhode Island, at the age of 57. The family is still living on Lorimer Avenue. The cause of death is noted as diabetes. Her death notice reads:
EAGAN – In this city, on the 28th inst., Catherine Eagan (nee Trainor): wife of Michael Eagan. Funeral from her husband’s residence, 47 Lorimer Ave. Friday the 30th inst. at 8:30 a.m. Requiem mass at Holy Name Church, Camp Street. at 9:00. Funeral strictly private.In 1910, Alice and Michael have moved in with Joseph and his new wife Mary Ellen (nee Duffield) at a residence on Stockton Street. This document suggests that Michael emigrated in 1872. Joseph is still working at the screw factory but it appears that Michael has retired.
I lost track of Michael after 1910. There are a couple of men named Michael Egan or Eagan in the subsequent state censuses in 1915 and 1925, but further research is required to identify which one is the right one as none of them are living with a family member or at a previously known address.
In around 1922, Michael moved in with his son Joseph’s family (and he may have been the original owner of the home at 9 Cluny Avenue.) Michael died on October 19, 1930, in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, at the age of 81. He is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery. His obituary in the Hamilton Spectator reads:
Michael Eagan, a former resident of Providence, RI, passed away in his home, 9 Cluny Avenue, yesterday at the age of 81 years. For the past eight years he has made this home is city. Left to mourn his death are one son, Joseph, of this city, with whom he resided, and a daughter, Mrs. Alice Hebert, of Buffalo. The funeral will take place on Wednesday morning from the above address to St. Ann’s church, thence to Holy Sepulchre Cemetery.
Michael is buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, but I haven’t been able to identify the site/memorial at this time.
