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Longford Emigrants in Schuylerville, New York
Longford Natives living in Schuylerville and Victory Mills, New York circa 1850-1900: Schuylerville is located in Saratoga County in the Hudson Valley on the banks of the historic Hudson River. It is located in the town of Saratoga and is not to be confused with the larger and more famous Saratoga Springs located a few miles west. It was at Schuylerville that British General John Burgoyne was defeated by American forces during September and October 1777 at what became a turning point in the Revolutionary War. An impressive monument commemorates scene of the battle. The village of Victory adjoins Schuylerville. Victory is located on Fish Creek, a tributary to the historic Hudson River. In 2000, the village of Victory had a population of 665.Victory was incorporated in 1849 and has historical significance in that the Saratoga Battle Monument is within the Village and the General Phillip Schuyler House and the Saratoga National Historical Park and National Cemetery are nearby. Schuylerville and Victory Mills can be described as “twin towns.” Victory Mills is the product of the industrial revolution. The number of textile mills, which required abundant waterpower, grew rapidly during the mid-1800s. Three wealthy Bostonians, Enoch Mudge, David Nevins, and Jared Coffin learned of the potential of waterpower on Fish Creek in the Town of Saratoga. They sent Benjamin Losee and Pickham Green to investigate the potential and by 1846 the men had incorporated “The Saratoga Victory Manufacturing Company” and built a three-story cotton cloth manufacturing plant costing $425,000. The company flourished and the number of employees living near the mill increased. As a result the Village of Victory was incorporated under the general laws on April 16, 1849, with William E. Miner, Patrick Cooney, George McCreedy, Russell Carr and Benjamin Kelsey elected as trustees, William E. Miner, president and James Cavanaugh, clerk. In 1850, the cotton mill employed 160 men, 209 women, working at 12,500 spindles and 309 looms and produced over 1,800,000 yards of cotton cloth. By 1877, the company employed 700 and had a capacity of 26,000 spindles with annual production of 819,988 pounds, or 4,487,190 of yards of goods. The development and expansion of Victory Mill coincided with the Potato Famine in Ireland. As a result, many Irish Catholic immigrants found work at the mills and as early as 1847, there were already a significant number of Irish families settled there. Early settlers included John Lynch, Michael and John Kelley, Patrick, James, and Lawrence Cooney, Wm. Carroll, Charles and Andrew Farley, Hugh and John Quinn, Hugh T. White, Hugh Temple, John Cavanaugh, James and Thomas Mulvihill, Patrick Lennon, Peter Garrihan, Patrick Airn, Patrick, James, and Mathew Gearatty, Wm. Fitzsimmons, Hugh Geary and Peter Bannon. Several of these men were natives of County Longford including Bannon, Gearatty, Geary and Mulvilhil. Certainly there were other natives of County Longford as well. Those whom have been connected directly to Longford are listed below. No regular or permanent Catholic services were available to serve the spiritual needs of this rapidly expanding Irish Catholic population. The only Catholic churches within a circuit of thirty miles were at Lansingburg near Troy, Whitehall, and Sandy Hill. Considerable commitment and self-sacrifice and a strong love for their faith were required to attend services at these distant places, oftentimes traveling on foot. Many would set out together on foot the previous night in order to arrive in time for early morning services. The first Catholic Masses at Victory Mills were held at the houses of different members, conducted at irregular intervals by visiting priests. Sunday school was generally held at the house of William Carroll. Catholic services were also held in the old Schuylerville Academy, and in the schoolhouse east of the well-known “Mansion House.” Ground was broken for a church in 1845. This was on a lot nearly opposite the Reformed Protestant church. A plain wooden structure was erected at an expense of about $700, and consecrated in 1847 by Bishop McCloskey. This work was executed under the labors of Father Daly who was succeeded in the missionary work by Father Cull. The first resident priest was Rev. Father Roach, who was succeeded in a short time by Rev. H.B. Finnegan who was serving in 1878. The church was burned to the ground on Sunday morning, June 22, 1871. Catholics parishioners then worshiped for a time in the public hall at Victory Mills. Bishop Conroy of Albany, laid the cornerstone of the new church, which was completed during 1873 and dedicated by Bishop McNierney on October 21st. The impressive structure was considered second to none in the upper Hudson Valley. The cost of $40,000 required heavy financial sacrifice for the mainly working class parishioners. It occupied a commanding position, convenient for the two villages and overlooking the surrounding country for many miles. The Catholic population included within the parish, which extended somewhat beyond the borders of Schuylerville, by 1878 numbered twelve hundred. It had a Sunday school of two hundred pupils, superintended by Mr. John Carlin. The following individuals who lived at Schuylerville or Victory, New York are known to have roots in County Longford: Bannon, Peter; died 8 October 1903, native of County Longford Carroll, Bridget nee Eustace (see Bridget Quigley); Connerton, Ann nee Gannon; Died 26 December 1867; Age 29; Wife of Thomas Connerton; Native of Cashel Parish, County Longford Cooney, Bob; mentioned in John Eustis letter dated 30 September 1903; Cooney, Patrick; Eustace, Ann; daughter of Patrick and Catherine (Cunningham) Eustace of Collum and Ballyrevagh, Cashel Eustace, Catherine nee Cunningham; Widow of Patrick Eustace, of Townland Collum, Cashel Parish Eustace, John; son of Patrick and Catherine (Cunningham) Eustace of Collum and Ballyrevagh, Cashel Eustace, John; born Shrule Parish, Ballymahon, County Longford, Jan. 6, 1833; Died Janesville, Minnesota; July 5, 1916. (Lived at Schuylerville from 1850 until about 1854 before emigrating to Mapleton, Wisconsin and later to Janesville, Minnesota); Eustace, John; brother to Bridget, James and Patrick of Cashel and Shrule parishes. Eustace, Kattie; daughter of Thomas and Bridget (FitzPatrick) Eustace; Died July 1864; Age 4 years 8 months. (Thomas Eustace was a native of Townland Collum, Cashel Parish). Eustace, Julia; daughter of Thomas and Bridget (FitzPatrick) Eustace; Died ??, 11. 1863 Age ?? years 8 months. (Thomas Eustace was a native of Townland Collum, Cashel Parish). Eustace, Mary; daughter of Patrick & Catherine (Cunningham) Eustace of Collum and Ballyrevagh, Cashel Eustace, Patrick; son of Patrick and Catherine (Cunningham) Eustace of Collum and Ballyrevagh, Cashel Eustace, Thomas; Died 1905, son of Patrick and Catherine (Cunningham) Eustace of Collum and Ballyrevagh, Cashel; Gannon, Julia; Wife of Lawrence Gannon; Died January 22, 18??; of Cashel Parish, County Longford Gannon, Lawrence; Died 16 January 1896; Age 54; Native of County Longford; Gannon, Margaret; Died 6 March 1905; Age 92 years; Native of County Longford Gannon, Michael; Died 27 April 1900; Age 80; Native of County Longford Gannon, Patrick; Died January 24, 1859; Age 33; Native of Cashel Parish, County Longford Gannon, Patrick; Died 15 August 1904; Age 65 years; Native of County Roscommon Garrity, Ann nee Finnon; Died 23 February, 1887; Age 99 years; Wife of James Garrety; Native of Shrule County Longford; Garrity (also Geraghty), Patrick; Geary, Hugh; Died 17 February 1886; Age 73 years; Native of County Longford Geary, Mary; Died 24 April 1865; Wife of Hugh; Native of Parish of Shrule, County Longford Geary, Marselle; Died September 26, 1858; Age 67 years; Wife of Hugh Geary, Native of Shrule Parish Geary, Sarah; Died 27 September 1870; Gill, Ann; native of Longford; Kelly, Honora; Died 18 March 1897; Age 72; Native of County Longford Kelly, Patrick; Widower, Died 12 March 1897; Age 78; Native of County Longford Masterton, James; Died 27 April 1905; Age 65 years; Native of County Longford Mulvihill, Catherine nee Bannon; Died October 3, 1861; Age 50/56; wife of Thomas Mulvihill; Native of Shrule Parish, County Longford Mulvihill, John; Died 10 March 1907; Age 55; Native of County Longford Mulvihill, Thomas; Widower, Buried 8 October 1903; Native of County Longford
Quigley, Bridget nee Eustace; Died 1869, Age 38 years; daughter of Patrick and
Catherine (Cunningham) Eustace; Native of Cashel Parish County Longford |
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