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o'Hagan family search near Maghara, County Derry

Derry

Hi! I am researching my late husband's family and will be visiting Northern Ireland next week. I plan on visiting Maghara Tuesday 06/30/26 to see what I can find. Patrick Hagan (1843-1895) immigrated to the United States in the late 1860's possibly with a brother (unknown name) who stayed on the east coast while Patrick continued west to settle near Rio Vista California. He married Maria McNamee (1845-1906) who immigrated to the United States a few years later. I have not been able to find an Irish or US marriage certificate or their birth certificates, so I don't know their parents' names. From Maria's obituary: " Maria, dearly beloved wife of the late Patrick Hagan of Rio Vista and mother of Frank, James, John, Bernard, Hugh, Charles and Maria Hagan and sister of Mrs. Lennon and Frank McNamee, a native of Ireland." I also have another obituary of Patrick's brother (I believe may be a half-brother) "Francis Hagan (1860-1934), beloved husband of Susan Hagan, loving father of Francis J. Hagan, brother of the late Patrick Hagan of Rio Vista California, a native of Maghara, County Derry, Ireland".

I would love to find anything related to our Hagan family, especially Patrick & Maria's parents' names and where they lived. If you have any information that could help, please let me know :-)

Janet Hagan

jhagan70

2 replies

Janet,

RC baptisms for the parish of Maghera & Killylough start in 1841. They are on-line free. You could search them for Patrick’s baptism. Bear in mind that most folk in Ireland in the 1800s didn’t celebrate birthdays and ages were often out by a few years.

https://registers.nli.ie/

In the 1831 census of Co Derry, there were just 6 Hagan households in the parish of Maghera. 2 in Moyagall, 1 in Tamnymullan, 1 in Drumlamph, 1 in Dunglady and 1 in Fallagloon. (No O'Hagan. The O' prefix wasn't always used).

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollin/Maghera/Moyagall/84/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollin/Maghera/Moyagall/114/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Tamnymullan/31/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Daughlady/19/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Fallagloon/36/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Drumlamph/65/

None of the 6 families lived in Maghera town itself. They all lived in nearby townlands which form part of the parish

3 McNamee households in the parish in 1831, in Swatragh, Tamnymullan & Brackish:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Swateragh/44/

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Tamnymullan/57

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1831/Londonderry/Loughinshollen/Maghera/Brackagh/32/

Without parents names it’s going to be a struggle identifying the right family but perhaps you will find Patrick’s baptism in the parish records.

Elwyn, IrelandXO Volunteer ☘IrelandXO Volunteer

Thank you for this information! I appreciate it :-)

jhagan70

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