Margaret Mary Woods

Margaret (Maggie) Woods was the second of (at least) nine children born to James Woods and Margaret Josephine Morgan of Corrags, County Down. Her birthdate makes hers among the very first civilly registered Catholic births; location listed as Warrenpoint, but family always claimed Newry. Maggie's mother, Margaret Morgan, was born in County Armagh (c. 1839), possibly Keady, but nothing more is known about her family. Maggie's father, James, was born c. 1836, possibly in Edentrumly. Maggie's siblings were: Mary (b. 15 Sep 1861), Elizabeth (b. 1 Mar 1866), Thomas (b. 17 Feb 1868), Anne (b. 28 Aug 1869), Catherine (b. Jan 1872), Rose Ellen (b. 13 Apr 1874), Teresa (b. 26 May 1878), and James Joseph (b. 13 May 1880). Maggie left Ireland for England (where sister Mary was living) about 1882 and arrived in the USA (port of Boston, MA) circa 1887. She married Samuel Lomax (from Lancashire, England) in Boston on 8 Oct 1888. Daughters Margaret Jane (b. 28 Feb 1889) and Sarah Helen (b. 4 Jun 1891) were born in Boston before the family moved to New York City where son Joseph (b. 1896) and daughter Hilda May (b. 24 Mar 1898) were both born. Maggie lived with daughter, Sarah, and Sarah's husband, Harry, from 1912 until Maggie's death in 1947 (in New Milford, NJ).

None of Maggie's siblings immigrated to America, though her brother, James, worked there for many years before finally returning to Ireland (m. Anne McAvoy). Mary also returned to Ireland after the death of her husband, James Pogue; their daughters, Mary Violet and Margaret Ellen, both immigrated to America (New York City). Brother Thomas moved to Glasgow, Scotland, but nothing more is known about him. Elizabeth married Charles McCartan; they had 10 children and a very large farm called "Lagan View" in Donacloney, Lurgan. Teresa married Pat McAvoy - he left for WWI and never returned, presumed dead, but later found to have taken another wife in France. There is no information on the other siblings.