Lonergan Family

Lonergan Family

In pre-Norman times the O’Lonergans inhabited north-east Thomand, i.e. that part of Tipperary which lies on the east side of Lough Derg, but the pressure exerted by the Anglo-Norman Butlers forced them southwards to the country around Cashel and Cahir, where they have remained in considerable numbers up to the present day. They gave a large number of ecclesiastics to the Church from the twelfth to the fifteenth century, no less than six of these being archbishops or bishops, two of Killaloe and three of Cashel. The most distinguished of these was Donnell O’Lonergan, Archbishop of Cashel, who took a prominent part in the Council of Kells in 1152. Mention should be made, too, of the family of O’Lonergan which supplied harpers to the O’Kellys of Ui Maine. They possessed a small patrimony at Ballynabanaby in the parish of Kilgerril (southeast Galway) at the time that the Book of Lecan was compiled, i.e. at the beginning of the fifteenth century.

John Lonergan was born in Ireland. He married Bridget.

Children of John and Bridget:

At the “Old Church” in Cahir there are gravestones for John Lonergan, Glinegad, died 10 February 1808, aged 36 years, Husband of Bridget, Father of Mary and for Bridget Lonergan, Glinegad, died 18 February 1808, aged 34 years, Wife of John, Mother of Mary. Mary Lonergan, Glinegad, died 6 December 1807, aged 24 years, Daughter of John and Bridget was the next grave. The dates don’t fit for Mary, but these could be Maurice’s parents as the ages are good and Cahir is within six miles of Ballylooby where Maurice’s children were recorded.

Maurice Lonergan was born in 1801 in Newcastle, Co. Tipperary, Ireland to John and Bridget Lonergan. He died on 25 June 1885 in Berlin, Steele County, Minnesota. In Ireland, Maurice married Julia (Johanna) Hennessey, born 1801 in Newcastle, Co. Tipperary, Ireland and died 1 March 1870 in Steele County, Minnesota and is buried in St.Aiden’s Cemetery.

Children of Maurice and Julia (Hennessey) Lonergan

Julia Hennessey

The family reportedly came to the in USA on 10 May 1848 sailing into Boston. The shipping record has not been found so far. Since at least two of the children were in Canada, it is possible they came in through Quebec, which was common at the time, and records for Quebec don’t start until 1865. There is an Irish cemetery in Quebec where many of the Irish of that period are buried in their attempt to come to America. In 1848, they moved to Nashua, NH where Maurice worked in a shoe factory. Several sons later were shoemakers so Maurice probably taught them the trade.  They came to Minnesota in 1860, making the trip from LaCrosse to Steele County by ox team, and settled in Bath, MN to farm. Indians were often seen in the area at the time. The family is recorded in the 1860 census as living next to each other. Maurice and Julia still have Honora and young Maurice at home. James and Margaret are the next record with three children and then William and Susan. The pioneer village of Bath (1857 - 1963) consisted of St. Aidens Catholic Church and the family is well represented in the cemetery.

William Lonergan was born in Ballylooby, Co. Tipperary, Ireland on 4 May 1837  to Maurice Lonergan and Julia Hennessey and died 25 Feb 1909 in Berlin, Minnesota and is buried in St. Aidens Cemetery in Bath, MN. During 1860, William married Susan Bradley in Nashua, N.H. She was born 19 April 1835 in Ardstraw, Co. Tyrone, Ireland to Peter Bradley and Mary Kelly, she died 13 June 1893 in Berlin, MN. Shortly afterwards in 1861, they moved to Minnesota with Susan’s mother.

Children of William and Susan (Bradley) Lonergan:

Susan and her family came to the USA in 1838 and first settled in Lowell, MA prior to moving to Nashua, N.H. where she must have met William.

Ballylooby, Ireland baptismal record for William Lonergan of May 1837

Maurice Joseph Lonergan was born on 27 Feb 1871 in Berlin, MN to William Lonergan and Susan Bradley. He died on 10 March 1958 in Rochester, MN and is buried in St. Aiden’s Catholic Church in Bath, MN. He married Myrtle Tuttle Hemingway on 28 June 1899 in Bath, MN. She was born on 31 March 1876 to Aaron Hemingway and Olive Nickerson in Fond du Lac County, WI. She died on 11 Oct 1952 in the Castelamar apartments in Rochester, MN and is buried in St. Aiden’s Cemetery in Bath, MN.

Children of Maurice and Myrtle (Hemingway) Lonergan:

Maurice was a graduate of Pillsbury Academy in Owatonna.  He taught school for 12 years in Steele County. The family is in Berlin Township of Steele County in 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses. Maurice and Myrtle moved to Rochester about 1940 were Maurice was employed by St. Mary’s Hospital. The home in Rochester was 1143 1st St., NW.

Maurice J. and Myrtle Lonergan and family

Any additional information should be sent to Jerry Franck at [email protected]
Or 2317 Nashua Lane, Mendota Heights, MN 55120