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List of Letters: The table provides a Chronological List with names mentioned in and summaries of all preserved 19th-century letters written by the Coogan family immigrants and their relatives and friends, with dates, residences of writers and recipients, links to the posted text files of the transcribed letters, summaries, and names of persons mentioned in each letter.Below, these letters are organized into three groups of letters:
from IrelandSequences of Letters
Letters from Ireland:
Mathew in Ballyloughan to His Immigrant Daughter Mary in Harlem, 13 Apr. 1851 Written a few months after Patrick left for NYC and his family had not heard of his safe arrivalMathew in Ballyloughan to His Immigrant Son Patrick in Harlem, 12 Nov. 1854 The father, with his family still suffering the effects of the Great Famine, seeks help from his immigrant childrenMichael in Ballyloughan to His Brother James in Illinois, 19 July 1860 Michael informs James of their father's deathMichael at Mt. Melleray to His Mother in Ballyloughan, 1 Apr. 1863 Michael as a novice in the Mt. Melleray Guesthouse write home to his mother and siblingsMichael at Mt. Melleray to His Mother in Ballyloughan, 7th Apr. 1863 Michael's news from Mt. MellerayMichael at Mt. Melleray to His Mother, Brothers & Sisters, 13 Apr. 1863 Michael's news from Mt. MellerayMichael at Mt. Melleray to His Mother, Brothers & Sisters, 27 Apr. 1863 Michael expresses surprise at "so many" emigratingMichael to His Mother in Ballyloughan, 22 Dec. 1864 Michael's news from Mt. MellerayMichael at Mt. Melleray to His Immigrant Mother in Harlem, 7 Aug. 1867 Michael gives thanks to God for the safe arrival of his mother, his brother Hugh, and his niece Mary Meany in NYCMargaret Coogan Doyle in County Carlow to Her Brother William, 10 Aug. 1868 William has arrived in America and visited family membersMargaret Coogan Doyle in County Carlow to Her Mother in Harlem, 1868 Margaret expresses her desire to join her immigrant brothers and sisters in AmericaMichael to His Sister Margaret Before Her Immigration Sorrowful at the departure of his sister Margaret, his last close relative in Ireland, Michael wishes her and her family a safe voyageMichael to His Sister Margaret after Her Immigration Michael, Brother Declan, is at this time the only member of the clan still in IrelandMichael to His Brother William in Harlem, 7 Dec. 1875 (A) "Painful ordeals" for the family in Harlem--real estate problems plague Matt and DenisMichael at Mount Saint Joseph Monastery to His Brother William in Harlem, 1 Aug. 1878 Michael has been sent to help establish a new Cistercian Abbey at RoscreaMichael to William & Other Harlem Brothers, 26 Oct. 1883 Michael expresses his grief over his mother's deathBridget Joyce in Bagenalstown to Her Cousin Hugh in Harlem, 28 Jan. 1879 Bridget asks Hugh to send information about her immigrant uncles in America, and she sends much news from homeBridget Joyce in Bagenalstown to Her Cousin William in Harlem, 29 Mar. 1880 Bridget sends more news about neighbors and relatives in County CarlowPostcard from Ireland A hand-painted, embossed postcard depicting Kilkenny Castle, mailed to James Coogan in 1918, the year of his deathLetters from New York City:Mathew in Harlem to His Brother James in Illinois, 16 Aug. 1864 Matt tells James of the NYC draft riots and asks whether James is subject to the draftMathew in Harlem to His Brother James in Illinois, May 1878 Matt makes arrangements for the visit of Tom Townsend, James' nephew, to NYC and asks James to visit his family in NYC along with the young manWilliam to Michael __?__in Illinois, Oct. 24, 1886? William maintains communication between the Coogan family in Illinois and the Coogan families in NYCLetters from Illinois and Iowa:James in Illinois to His Brother William in New York, 20 Aug. 1868 James invites William to visit him and his family in Lincoln before William joins the Cistercian community in Dubuque, IowaWilliam in Dubuque to His Brother Matt in Harlem, 15 Dec. 1868 As a Cistercian lay brother, William sends news home and stays in touch with family William from Dubuque to His Brother Matt in Harlem, 8 Feb. 1869 More from the Monastery as the brothers build their churchJames in Illinois to His New York City Brothers, 1878 James sends thanks for the hospitality of his brothers and sisters during his and Tom Townsend's visit to NYCJer Maher in Chicago to William Coogan in Harlem, 24 Nov. 1879 Jeremiah Maher, a friend and relative from County Carlow now in medical school, sends William news of his adventures and exploits since they last saw each other in New Jersey Laurence O'Brien in Chicago to William Coogan in Harlem, 1 Feb. 1879 or 80 News of Laurence, Jeremiah Maher, and other relatives in the MidwestJames to His Brother William, 23 Mar. 1879 James thanks his brother for gifts sent to his children and asks for news of the NYC familyMoll Coogan in Lincoln to Tom Townsend, July 1884 Moll gives a glimpse into the life of her parents and sisters and brothers in Lincoln
Family History from Letters: A summary of the History of Coogan Family Immigration, with links to relevant passages from the letters written by the immigrants and their friends and relatives. This summary also incorporates information from other sources, such as records of births and baptisms, marriages, deaths and cemetery interments, and U.S. Census records.
Index of Names: Working List of names of family members, friends, neighbors, and relatives, both in the U.S. and in Ireland, that are mentioned in the letters. We hope that this list will lead to contacts with descendants of the immigrants and their friends and neighbors.
19th C. News: The Coogan name in newspaper extracts from New York City (historical background for the Irish Famine Immigration era)
Photos: We can identify a few individuals in this selection of 19th century family photographs, but since there were few names written on the photographs, the selection includes many whom we cannot identify with certainty. We hope that some site visitors who have copies of or information about some of these photos or about the photo shops might help identify the images.
The photos are organized into the four groups below.
Photographs Apparently Taken in Ireland:Photographs Taken in New York City:Teresa McDonald, c. 1874 Probably taken before Teresa's marriage to Matthew CooganMargaret Coogan Doyle, c. 1874? Did Margaret accompany Teresa to the photographer's studio?Mathew (1839-1918) and Teresa McDonald Coogan (1855-1924) NYC photos from 1880'sBridget (Delia) Doyle, Daughter of Margaret Coogan and James Doyle About age 25, in NYCWilliam Coogan (1844-1927) Identified by William's signature on reverseMatthew and William, Sons of William Coogan, c. 1896 William sent a copy to his brother Michael, and Michael wrote about the photoUnknown Union Soldier, NY 69th Regiment Photo of an unknown soldier in the NY "Irish" regimentKatie Dixon Coogan Wife of William CooganFamily of Patrick and Mary Ann Sheehan Coogan A collage of photos identified by similarities and handwritingOld Calvary Memorial Stone Memorial stone: Catharine Coogan, sons Denis, Hugh, William, and familiesPhotographs Taken in Illinois: Jane and James Coogan of Lincoln, Illinois Identified photosA Youthful James & Friend A photo probably taken in Ireland of James and a friend, perhaps John O' BrienMary (Moll), Daughter of James & Jane Coogan Identified photoThe Next Generations of the Coogan Family of Lincoln James Coogan II and one of his sons as WW I soldierJames Coogan's Family: Four Generations James Coogan at age 80, his son James, his grandson James, and his great-grandson JamesFather Tuohy, Pastor of St. Patrick's Church, Lincoln Pastor of Saint Patrick's Church in Lincoln, IllinoisThomas Towsend and James Coogan James and friend Thomas Townsend, who died within a year of his marriage and left an infant son, Tom, and widow, Jane McMahon Townsend, later James Coogan's wifeMr. Galvin & Tommy? See letter from Moll CooganMore Images:
Links: (Under Construction) Genealogy Resources