James Adams McGarry (1824 - 1904)

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine Hunter (Rutledge) McGarry — married 1846 in Nashville, Tennessee, U.S.A.

Descendants

Died 17 Jan 1904 at about age 80 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, USA

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Mark Shernick [send private message]

Biography

The following outline is based on the U.S. Census records, three applications for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution, and the Find A Grave Memorial cited below:

James Adams McGarry was born 1824 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. SAR applications submitted by his son, grandson and great grandson indicate he was the son of Brig. Gen. Edward McGarry and one Abigail Adams.

A simple examination of the Wikipedia article on Civil War General Edward McGarry, who was born 1820 and died 1867 in California, indicates this claim must be mistaken: the general was only four years old when James Adams McGarry was born in 1824. Gen. Edward McGarry was a brother to James Adams McGarry, not the father.

They were both the sons of William R. McGarry (1776 - 1851), who in turn was the son of an American Revolutionary War veteran, one Edward McGarry who appears clearly in census records and pension records and has a clear lineage of McGarry relatives living near Rochester, New York, in the early 1800s.

James Adams McGarry married to Catherine Hunter Rutledge in 1845 or 1846. Catherine was born 1826 in Illinois, and her family shows up very clearly on the Illinois census records for 1830, 1840 and 1850.

James and Catherine McGarry moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan, about 1846, settled there, and raised three daughters and four sons.

James Adams McGarry died at Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, on January 17, 1904. He is buried there at St. Andrew's Catholic Cemetery.

Note: The records for James Adams McGarry of Grand Rapids, Michigan are very easily confused with those of James Alford (or Alfred) McGarry of Ireland and New York, for the following reasons:

• Both James McGarrys were born ca. 1823: James Adams was born 1824 at Philadelphia, James Alfred was born in February 1822 at County Longford, Ireland
• Both had wives named Catherine. James Adams McGarry was married to Catherine Rutledge, James Alfred McGarry married to Catherine McGlynn.
• The census records for both men indicate they were born in Ireland.

However, there are records which clearly separate the two:

• James Adams McGarry was certainly Irish by heritage, but the census records are mistaken when they say he was born in Ireland: this is the main source of confusion. It leads genealogists straight to the Irish records of James Alfred McGarry. They leap to the conclusion that the two men were identical and they miss the American pedigree that was carefully traced by his son (who must be considered a primary source).

• The descendants of James Adams McGarry claim on three SAR Applications (which were presumably vetted very carefully) that he descended from a long line of McGarrys from Delaware and New York, a pedigree that stretches back to the American Revolution

• James Alfred McGarry is listed on the 1861 Census for England at a time when James Adams McGarry clearly appeared on the 1860 Census for Grand Rapids, Michigan.

• James Alfred McGarry also appears on the 1885 register for an Almshouse in New York at a time when James Adams McGarry was clearly living amongst a large and prosperous family in Grand Rapids, Michigan.

Bearing that in mind, we may therefore construct the following bare-bones biography for James Adams McGarry, discarding some of the information mistakenly contained at the Find A Grave Memorial cited below. This new outline has been modified to agree with the ancestor lists on three SAR applications which were submitted, vetted and approved between 1928 and 1969:

Spouse:

*Catherine Hunter (Rutledge) McGarry (1826 - 1906)

Children:

• Mary Ann (McGarry) Coady (1845-1918)

• Catherine Jane (McGarry) Eardley (1849-1868)

• James George McGarry (1853 - 1935)

• Thomas Francis McGarry (1857-1924)

• Patrick Henry McGarry (1860 -1935)

• Rose Ella (McGarry) Murray (1864-1929)

• William Richard (Rutledge) McGarry (1866-1942)

Burial: Saint Andrews Catholic Cemetery Grand Rapids Kent County Michigan, USA

Please note that James Adam McGarry had a son named William whose records are also conflicted: William Richard McGarry of Grand Rapids, Michigan (b. 1866) reports on the 1900 and 1910 census records that his father, James McGarry, was born in Ireland, Yet this William R. McGarry is apparently identical to the William Rutledge McGarry who later reported on his SAR applications that he was born 29 April 1872 at New York City, New York.

It is not uncommon, when tracking U.S. Census records, to find people slightly changing or altering their names, and sometimes knocking a few years off their birth dates. Deliberate misrepresentation of one's lineage on an SAR application, however, is a very different matter: it implies the source may not be trustworthy.

Bearing that caveat in mind, the following documentation has been assembled.

Sources

Baptism Record

James Alfred McGarry, the doppelganger to James Adams McGarry, appears in the Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915

• Name: James McGarry
• Baptism Age: 0
• Event Type: Baptism
• Birth Date: 1824
• Baptism Date: 5 Sep 1824
• Baptism Place: Ardagh and Moydow, Longford, Ireland
• Parish Variants: Ardagh, Moydow
• Diocese: Ardagh
• Father: Michl McGarry
• Mother: Mary Magill

Source Citation Catholic Parish Registers, The National Library of Ireland; Dublin, Ireland; Microfilm Number: Microfilm 04235 / 08

Source Information Ancestry.com. Ireland, Catholic Parish Registers, 1655-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.

Original data: Catholic Parish Registers, National Library of Ireland, Ireland. Published under the National Library of Ireland's Terms of Use of Material made available on registers.nli.ie.

Description This collection is made up of records from over 1,000 Catholic parishes across the whole of the island of Ireland.

1860 U.S. Census [Ada, Kent County, Michigan]

James Adams McGarry in the 1860 United States Federal Census

Name: James McGarry Age: 38 Birth Year: abt 1822 Gender: Male Birth Place: Ireland Home in 1860: Ada, Kent, Michigan Post Office: Ada Family Number: 1265 Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

• James McGarry 38
• Catherine McGarry 34
• Mary A McGarry 14
• Catherine J McGarry 12
• James G McGarry 8
• Theodore F McGarry 3
• Patrick H McGarry 1

Source Citation Year: 1860; Census Place: Ada, Kent, Michigan; Roll: M653_550; Page: 170; Image: 175; Family History Library Film: 803550

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: 1860 U.S. census, population schedule. NARA microfilm publication M653, 1,438 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Description This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1860 United States Federal Census, the Eighth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age as of the census day, sex, color; birthplace, occupation of males over age fifteen, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1860 Federal Census.

1861 England Census

Record of Jame McGarry of Dublin, Ireland (b. 1822) conflicts with 1860 U.S. Census in Michigan

James McGarry in the 1861 England Census

Name: James McGarry Age: 39 Estimated birth year: 1822 Relation: Head Mother's name: Mary M McGarry Gender: Male Where born: Dublin, Ireland Civil Parish: Manchester Ecclesiastical parish: St George Town: Manchester County/Island: Lancashire Country: England

Registration district: Manchester Sub-registration district: St George ED, institution, or vessel: 15a Neighbors: View others on page Household schedule number: 438 Piece: 2959 Folio: 43 Page Number: 11

Household Members:

• James McGarry 39
• Jae Joseph McGarry 14
• Mary M McGarry 66

Source Citation Class: RG 9; Piece: 2959; Folio: 43; Page: 11; GSU roll: 543056

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1861 England Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Census Returns of England and Wales, 1861. Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK (TNA): Public Record Office (PRO), 1861. Data imaged from The National Archives, London, England. The National Archives gives no warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or fitness for the purpose of the information provided. Images may be used only for purposes of research, private study or education. Applications for any other use should be made to The National Archives, Kew, Richmond, Surrey TW9 4DU.

Description This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1861 Census for England. The census contains detailed information on each individual who spent the night in each household including name, relationship to the head of the family, marital status, age at last birthday, gender, occupation, and birthplace. Additional information about the dwelling and property was collected. Each name in this index is linked to actual images of the 1861 England Census.

1870 U.S. Census [Caledonia, Kent County, Michigan]

James Mcgarry in the 1870 United States Federal Census

Name: James Mcgarry Age in 1870: 50 Birth Year: abt 1820 Birthplace: Ireland Home in 1870: Caledonia, Kent, Michigan Race: White Gender: Male Post Office: Alaska Value of real estate: View image

Household Members:

• James Mcgarry 50 [b. 1820]
• Catherine Mcgarry 42 [b. 1828]
• James Mcgarry 18 [b. 1852]
• Thomas Mcgarry 13 [b. 1857]
• Patrick Mcgarry 10 [b. 1860]
• Rose Mcgarry 6 [b. 1864]
• William Mcgarry 4 [b. 1866]
• Chentes Handley 26

Source Citation Year: 1870; Census Place: Caledonia, Kent, Michigan; Roll: M593_681; Page: 106A; Image: 171822; Family History Library Film: 552180

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009. Images reproduced by FamilySearch.

Original data: 1870 U.S. census, population schedules. NARA microfilm publication M593, 1,761 rolls. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.

Description This database is an index to individuals enumerated in the 1870 United States Federal Census, the Ninth Census of the United States. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, age at last birthday, sex, color; birthplace, occupation, and more. No relationships were shown between members of a household. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1870 Federal Census.

1880 U.S. Census [Day, Montcalm County, Michigan]

James Mcgary in the 1880 United States Federal Census

Name: James Mcgary Age: 57 Birth Year: abt 1823 Birthplace: Ireland Home in 1880: Day, Montcalm, Michigan Race: White Gender: Male Relation to Head of House: Self (Head) Marital Status: Married Spouse's Name: Catherine Mcgary Father's Birthplace: Ireland Mother's Birthplace: Ireland Neighbors: View others on page Occupation: Hotel Keeper

Household Members:

• James Mcgary 57
• George Mcgary 27
• Catherine Mcgary 50
• Patrick Mcgary 20
• Rose Mcgary 16
• William Mcgary 14
• Patrick Mcglinn 5

Source Citation Year: 1880; Census Place: Day, Montcalm, Michigan; Roll: 596; Family History Film: 1254596; Page: 89B; Enumeration District: 231; Image: 0588

Source Information Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 1880 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010. 1880 U.S. Census Index provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints © Copyright 1999 Intellectual Reserve, Inc. All rights reserved. All use is subject to the limited use license and other terms and conditions applicable to this site.

Original data: Tenth Census of the United States, 1880. (NARA microfilm publication T9, 1,454 rolls). Records of the Bureau of the Census, Record Group 29. National Archives, Washington, D.C.

Description This database is an index to 50 million individuals enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census. Census takers recorded many details including each person's name, address, occupation, relationship to the head of household, race, sex, age at last birthday, marital status, place of birth, parents’ place of birth. Additionally, the names of those listed on the population schedule are linked to actual images of the 1880 Federal Census

2 September 1885 Admission to New York Almshouse

James McGarry in the New York, Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1830-1920

Name: James McGarry Gender: Male Age: 63 Birth Year: abt 1822 Birth Place: Longford, Longford Admission Date: 2 Sep 1885 Father's Birth Place: Longford, Longford Ireland Mother's Birth Place: Longford, Longford Ireland

Source Citation New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1875-1921; Series: A1978; Reel: A1978:49; Record Number: 8497

Source Information Ancestry.com. New York, Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1830-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: New York. State Board of Charities. Census of Inmates in Almshouses and Poorhouses, 1835–1921. Series A1978. Microfilm, 225 rolls. New York State Archives, Albany, New York.

New York State Archives Description This database contains an index and images of records for residents of poorhouses and almshouses in New York State. Institutions used a standard form that can provide rich detail on inmates

1900 U.S. Census (Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan)

James Mcgary in the 1900 United States Federal Census

• Name: James Mcgary [James A Mcgary]
• Age: 77
• Birth Date: Feb 1823
• Birthplace: Ireland
• Home in 1900: Grand Rapids Ward 3, Kent, Michigan
• Race: White
• Gender: Male
• Immigration Year: 1847
• Relation to Head of House: Head
• Marital Status: Married
• Spouse's Name: Catherine Mcgary
• Marriage Year: 1845
• Years Married: 55
• Father's Birthplace: Ireland
• Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
• Occupation: View on Image
• Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members:

• James Mcgary 77
• Catherine Mcgary 74
• Margaret Sullivan 22

Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: Grand Rapids Ward 3, Kent, Michigan; Roll: 722; Page: 16A; Enumeration District: 0055; FHL microfilm: 1240722

Source Information Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004. Original data: United States of America, Bureau of the Census. Twelfth Census of the United States, 1900. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1900. T623, 1854 rolls.

1904 Death Record, Michigan

James McGarry in the Michigan, Death Records, 1897-1920

• Name: James McGarry
• Birth Year: 1822
• Death Date: 17 Jan 1904
• Death Place: Grand Rapids, Kent, Michigan, USA
• Age: 81
• Father's name: P A McGarry

Source Citation The Library of Michigan; Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920; Rolls: 1-302; Archive Barcode/Item Number: 30000008530812; Roll Number: 70; Certificate Number: 67

Source Information Ancestry.com. Michigan, Death Records, 1897-1920 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010. Original data: Michigan Death Records, 1897-1920. Microfilm publication, 302 rolls. Library of Michigan. Lansing, Michigan. http://seekingmichigan.org.

Description Contained in this index are Michigan death records from 1897 to 1920. The entire collection is arranged chronologically and alphabetically by county. Information that can be obtained from these records are death date, place, sometimes the names of the mother and father, and even the physician who attended the death

Find A Grave Memorial

• Created by: Angela Owens Jando
• Record added: Aug 07, 2014
• Find A Grave Memorial# 134014674

• James Alford McGarry
• Death: 17 January 1904, Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Burial: Saint Andrews Catholic Cemetery, Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan

See original Find A Grave Memorial by clicking this link: [1]

• Name: James Alford McGarry
• Birth Date: 3 Feb 1822
• Birth Place: Keenagh, County Longford, Ireland
• Death Date: 17 Jan 1904
• Death Place: Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA
• Cemetery: Saint Andrews Catholic Cemetery
• Burial or Cremation Place: Grand Rapids, Kent County, Michigan, USA
• Has Bio?: Y
• Spouse: Catherine McGarry

Children:

• Mary Ann Coady
• William R. McGarry
• Thomas Francis McGarry

Source Information:

Ancestry.com. U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012. Original data: Find A Grave. Find A Grave. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi.

Description:

This database contains an index to cemetery and burial details posted on Find A Grave.

4 April 1928 Sons of American Revolution Application by son William Rutledge McGarry

Name: William Rutledge McGarry Birth Date: 1872 Birth Place: New York, New York SAR Membership: 46512 Use Membership 46512 to find records at SAR website here: [3]

Role: Applicant Application Date: 4 Apr 1928 Father: James Adams McGarry Mother: Catherine Hunter Rutledge

Source Citation Volume: 233

Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.

The following is a typed extraction from public domain images of the original SAR application at Ancestry.com (available at this link):

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA SOCIETY

OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

I, WILLIAM RUTLEDGE MCGARRY, being of the age of 56 years, hereby apply for membership in this Society by right of lineal descent in the following line from EDWARD MCGARRY of Haslet's Delaware Regiment of Continental Troops. who was born in Philadelphia, PA on the 1st Day of September 1751, and died in Germanstown, PA on the 5th Day of July 1837. and who assisted in establishing American Independence.

I was born in NEW YORK CITY the county of NEW YORK on the 29th Day of April 1872

I am the son of

1] JAMES ADAMS MCGARRY, born 1824 died 1904, and his wife CATHERINE HUNTER RUTLEDGE, born 1826, died 1906, married 1846;

[2] and grandson of EDWARD MCGARRY born 1799 died 1867 and his wife ABIGAIL ADAMS born 1801 died 1846 married 1822

[3] and great-grandson of WILLIAM R. MCGARRY, b. 1776 - 1851 and his wife ELIZABETH MOYLAN, born 1778 died 1846 married 1822

[4] and great-great-grandson of EDWARD MCGARRY b. 1751 died 1837, and his wife Henrietta Pinckney, born 1754 died 1828 married 1774,

[5] and great-great-great grandson of WILLIAM MCGARRY born 1727 died 1804 and his wife Henrietta Morris, born 1730 died 1803, married 1749;

[6] and great-great-great-great grandson of THOMAS F. MCGARRY born 1704 died 1783, and his wife, Susanna Schuyler, b 1707 died 1756 married 1725,

[7] and great-great-great-great-great son of William McGarry born 1681 died 1744 and his wife Mehitobel Adams born 1682 died 1783 married 1703;

and he, the said Edward McGarry, [No. 4] is the ancestor who assisted in establishing American Independence, while acting in the capacity of AIDE TO CAPTAIN of Delaware Troops and as a solider in Colonel Haslet's regiment of Delaware Continental Troops in the War of the Revolution.

[SIGNATURES]

15 August 1969 SAR Application

William Rutledge McGarry in the U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970

Name: William Rutledge McGarry Birth Date: 29 Apr 1872 Birth Place: New York Death Date: 2 Feb 1942 Death Place: Redwood, California SAR Membership: 99111 Role: Ancestor Application Date: 15 Aug 1969 Father: James Adams McGarry Mother: Catherine Hunter Rutledge Spouse: Margaret Hoche Dechaux Children: Mark Rutledge McGarry

Source Information Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Original data: Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970. Louisville, Kentucky: National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Microfilm, 508 rolls.

National Society, Sons of the American Revolution

Description This database contains applications for membership in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution approved between 1889 and 31 December 1970. These records can be an excellent source for names, dates, locations, and family relationships.