Patrick Garrity (1820-1882)

Catherine Glinnan

Patrick Garrity (also spelled Geraghty) was born about 1820 in the Parish of Shrule, County Longford, Ireland. Patrick was the son of James Garrity and Ann Finnan also a native of Shrule Parish.

The surname Geraghty and variations was quite common in the parishes of Cashel and Shrule where many of the Irish emigrants to Schuylerville and Victory Mills came from. The Tithe Applotment Books for County Longford show several Geraghtys living in several townlands in the parishes of Cashel and Shrule during the 1830's. A townland is the smallest geographic unit in Ireland and is much smaller than a US township or town. At Derrahanemore (Cashel) we find Bryan, two John Geraghtys and John Jr; Owen, Patrick and three Thomas Geraghtys. At Derrhanebeg (Cashel) there was a Patrick Geraghty. John and Lawrence Geraghty and a Thomas Geraughty lived at Gurtheen Lower (Shrule) and Peter and William Geraghty lived at Darrogue (Shrule) while another William Geraghty lived at Drimnacor (Shrule).

Patrick Garrity married Catherine Glinnan at Ballymahon (Shrule Parish) on January 29, 1843 and came to the United States about 1847 as the Famine was reaching it's most severe stage. Patrick and Catherine brought an infant daughter Ann to America where they joined other Irish Catholic families at Victory, Saratoga County, New York. Patrick soon established a grist mill at the base of the dam on the Fish River which flows between Schuylerville and Victory Mills. He operated the mill for many years. The Garrity family lived at Smithville on Fish Creek just opposite from the Town of Victory where Patrick Garrity died January 14, 1888.

Patrick and Catherine Garrity were the parents of at least six children:

1. Ann Garrity, born about 1846 in Ireland;

2. Marcella Garrity, born 1848, New York;

3. Mary Ellen Garrity, born 1850, New York;

4. Mathew Garrity, born 1853, New York;

5. Catherine Garrity, born 1852, New York;