Thomas Lyons (1822 - 1907)

Born 20 Oct 1822 in County Limerick, Ireland

Husband of Margaret Bowing — married May 1854 (to 1907) in Staunton, Virginia, United States

Descendants

Died 23 Nov 1907 at age 85 in Minnesota, United States

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Biography

Thomas' birth has been variously reported, 20 Oct 1822^[1] from one Obituary^[2]. A 1829 birthyear is obtained from another Obituary^[3]. Census birth years are rarely accurate, he is reported 1830 twice in 1860 New Market VA ^[4] and 1880 MN^[5]. It is noted The leader Democrat with 1822 has many errors such 'settling in Baltimore', 'remaining there for 25 years' 'marrying in 1852' and 'emigrating at age 18'. For many years an 1822 birth date was recorded and believed to be accurate. After perusing the 1870, 1880 and 1900 census of Derrynane all reporting 1830, it appears he could be one of the youngest next to his sister, Anne which could explain, in part, the two of them migrating to MN differentially from the others.

He was the son of Timothy Lyons and Margaret Coll (Irish spelling) perhaps in his mother's hometown of Bruree, Limerick or Gibbings Grove, Co Cork. He was a witness at his sister's, Honora, wedding in Apr 1845 at Newtown (currently Newton-Shandrum) Catholic Church Parish County Cork ^[6].

He appears to have emigrated in 1853^[7] with his siblings following his other sister's (anne) wedding in Chelsea, London in Dec 1852^[8]. His obituary inaccurately reports him immigrating ca. 1840, obviously wrong as he was present at his sister's, Honorah's wedding in Ireland in April 1845. His first observance in America is at St Frances of Assisi Staunton VA at his wedding 11 May 1854.

He married Margaret Bowan/Bowen/Bowing (Abt 1826/28Cork IRE-1910MN) on 12 May 1854 ^[9] by Fr. Downey at the historic 'St. Francis of Assisi' Staunton VA with his brother-in-law, Timothy O'Connell whom she was living with and acted as witness ^[10].

"I, Timothy Connell, am personally acquainted with Margaret Bowing, who is about to intermarry with Thomas Lyons, and do solemnly swear that she is above the age of twenty one years-that she is now residing at my house in the Town of Staunton, and that she has had no other residence in Augusta County to the best of my knowledge and belief. Timothy Connell X his mark.

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 11th day of May 1854, James F. Patterson, Clk."

She born in Co. Cork, Ireland ^[11] the daughter of William Bowing/Bowen/Bowan and Johanna Walsh ^[12]. The Bowens and Walshs were common in/around Milford IRE and Gibbings Grove ^[13]

He worked the Railroads in Shenandoah as a contractor like his brother, John as a superintendent^[4]. His first two children were listed as born in Virginia, Maryland or DC depending on the year. The second child was born close to when his mother was placed at St Elizabeth's for the Insane in Oxon Hill in 1864. The period was during the civil when Railroad word ceased and they may have returned to the security of Washington DC/ Georgetown.

He was naturalized in 1858 with the oath of intent in 1856 Shenandoah while he was a railroad superintendent enumerated in New Market, VA ^[4]. He is enumerated with his wife, Margaret and daughter born late in 1859 in 'Maryland', (probably Georgetown as it oscillated from MD to DC several times).

The federal gov't was actively advertising land in than Northwest territory in 1855^{[citation needed][14]} in an effort to get more settlers possibly to help subdue the natives. Thomas apparently took advantage.

He arrived in Derrynane, MN by 1865 in time for the census 1865 enumerated with his wife Margaret, and two children at the time, 'Margaret' and Thomas^[15] and was enumerated as 'Lyon' five years later in the Federal Census in Lexington, MN with three children1870^[16]:

1. Mary (age 9) (enumerated Margaret in 1865) (1859DC/MD -1918)
2. Thomas (age 7) (1862MD-1914)
3. Margaret "Maggie" (age 4) (b. 1865MN), died 22 Nov 1881 Lung Fever^[17][18]

The locations of birth as Maryland^[16] suggest Georgetown as was once in MD before being part of Washington DC. His brother, John was referenced from Georgetown on his 1857 marriage announcement.

Thomas and his family were Catholic and parishioners of St Thomas in Derrynane Twp, LeSueur Co., MN enumerated as 'Lyons' (age 50) in Derrynane Twp with the three children 1880^[5].

Elderly Thomas and Margaret recorded age 60 as 'Lyon' are enumerated in Derrynane with their son, Thomas Jr, and wife Catherine and their young John (age 2) with the Benzick family in 1895^[19].

On his final census 1900, he and Margaret and residing adjacent to his son's family in Derrynane, his birth Mar 1831 and hers at Jan 1831would place him second to youngest of his five siblings^[20]. They are recorded as having seven children two surviving (Margaret died at age 16 leaving four infants).

He died age 85 on 23 November 1907 ^[21] in Le Sueur, Minnesota. His Obituary in Henderson MN 29 Nov 1907^[22]. He died at the home of his son in Derrynane township, LeSueur Co. MN of heart failure and old age ^[23]. "An MT Moran visited friends in Belle Plain". He certainly is related to his son's mother-in-law, Anna Moran. There is an MT Moran b. 1856 Wisconsin. His wife of "Lung Fever". Thomas and his wife Margaret are buried in St Thomas cemetery, LeSueur county, Minnesota.

Research Notes

The Lyons, McKasy, McAuliffe, Bowen and Walsh families interacted with one another in Milford, Cork Co Ireland. A Bridget Bowen McAuliffe (b. ca 1837 Ireland) daughter of Wm Bowen died in LeSueur Co. ^[24], Derrynane Twp MN may be a sister ^[25]. An Irish born John McAulliffe witnessed the will of Patrick MacKasey in LeSueur Co., Derrynane Twp. and was in Shenandoah in 1860 ("Declaration of Intent") born in Co. Limerick and living in proximity to Thomas and Margaret Lyons.

Sources

1. ↑ Unsourced genealogical report by Alice Eichholz PhD in Montpelier VT hired by John H Lyons in 1998/99; perhaps the St Thomas cemetery records
2. ↑ The Leader Democrat '28' Nov 1907; "he was born about 85 years ago"
3. ↑ '29' Nov 1907 Obituary Thomas Lyons age 78 in 1907; The Sibley Independent
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2} 1860 Census New Market, Shenandoah VA
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} 1880 Federal Census, Derrynane Twp, LeSueur Co., MN; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBK-3LS?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMZ9D-8BC&action=view
6. ↑ Marriage records at the rectory of Newton-Shandrum by Paul Williamson Jun 2000
7. ↑ immigration tales across five generations from Granddaughter to daughter, twice in Southern Maryland
8. ↑ Marriage Record
9. ↑ "Virginia Marriages, 1785-1940", database, FamilySearch
10. ↑ LDS: LDS film #0033972 VA Staunton-Marriages & Judy Mackesy Miyagi
11. ↑ possibly Ballyfeard parish, Fartha Townland south of Carrigaline, Cork) where there were Walshes and Bowen together Griffiths Valuation lead
12. ↑ VA Marriage Database, FamilySearch
13. ↑ "History of Milford" by Mr Matt Murphy ca 1920's http://www.milfordgaa.com/aboutus/history.html; unfortunately no longer available as he is deceased
14. ↑ Mn Newspapers
15. ↑ 1865 MN State Census, Derrynane MN; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:939Z-Y5NS-Z?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ASPSQ-9WQ&action=view
16. ↑ ^{16.0 16.1} 1870 Federal Census, Lexington PO., Derrynane Twp, LeSueur Co., MN; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6LDQ-2PH?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMDH7-XNL&action=view
17. ↑ Death Record, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-99DL-4Y6B?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQP7Q-67VG&action=view
18. ↑ Margaret Lyons LeSueur Sentinel, 23 Nov 1881, died aged 16 in Derrynane Twp, buried St Thomas Church
19. ↑ 1895 MN State Census, Derrynane, MN; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-DT9W-WTH?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AMQDM-ZHX&action=view
20. ↑ 1900 Federal Census, Derrynane Twp, LeSueur Co, MN; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6XMS-V6B?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AM9ST-3MK&action=view
21. ↑ Minnesota, County Deaths; https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9DL-499Z-9?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AQPHG-TDQJ&action=view
22. ↑ Obituary, Sibley Independent, Henderson MN Friday 29 Nov 1907
23. ↑ 1578 Death Record card, MN Historical Society
24. ↑ MNHS death certificate 1913 ; Bridget McAuliffe b. 1837 died Dec. 28/1913 76 years; Father: Wm. Bowan/Bowen and Mother Unknown
25. ↑ MN Historical Society