Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

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pwaldron
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by pwaldron » Mon Nov 07, 2022 11:29 pm

Great research, all.

I don't know what happened Denis Keane's widow, Bridget Madigan, except that she appears to have been alive when he died in 1887, described as married, rather than widowed.

However, she does not appear to be the Bridget Keane in these census returns:

!CENSUS: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... r/1081798/
(1901 - house 2 in Monmore Upper (Kilrush, Clare)) Keane Bridget 60 Female Aunt Roman Catholic Co Clare House Keeper Read and write Irish and English Widow -

!CENSUS: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... er/363759/
(1911 - house 4 in Moanmore, Upper (Kilrush Rural, Clare)) Keane Bridget 80 Female Aunt R Catholic Co Clare - Read and write - Widow - - - -

The lady in the census returns was surely the Bridget Keane née Purtill widow of John Keane:

!MARRIAGE: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 3f52793317
Party 1 Name JOHN KEANE
Party 2 Name BRIDGET PURTILL
Date of Event 27 January 1872
Group Registration ID 2793317
SR District/Reg Area Kilrush

!MARRIAGE_CERTIFICATE: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 145838.pdf
Witnesses were Patt O'Dea and Anne O'Dea.

Her sister Mary Purtill married Daniel Quinlan in Kilrush parish on 1 Mar 1859.

I have been curious for years as to what became of Stephen Madigan and Bridget Keane's children, who were my third cousins twice removed through common Blackall ancestors. Something tells me that you wont give up until you find them!

pwaldron
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by pwaldron » Tue Nov 08, 2022 1:59 pm

Some user-donated family trees at ancestry.com have confused the Thomas Madigan who died in Denver in 1921 with the son of John Madigan and Mary McDonnell who died in 1930 in the townland of Einagh in Killard parish, but adjoining Kilrush parish:

!CENSUS: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... h/1079351/
(1901 - house 37 in Einagh (Einagh, Clare)) Madigan Thomas 17 Male Son Roman Catholic Co Clare Farm Labourer Read and write - Not Married -

!CENSUS: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... gh/361705/
(1911 - house 23 in Einagh (Einagh, Clare)) Madigan Thomas 25 Male Son Roman Catholic County Clare Labouring Boy Can read and write English Single - - - -

!DEATH_CERTIFICATE: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 328743.pdf
Thomas Madigan, bachelor, 47 years, farmer's son.

pwaldron
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by pwaldron » Tue Nov 08, 2022 4:11 pm

I found a few more clues, mainly at ancestry.com:

The application for our Thomas's headstone, made on 11 May 1942, almost 21 years after his death, by John Madigan, of 1062 Fillmore St., Denver, Colorado:
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903 ... AQV1Z-8G1B
There is a colour image behind a paywall at
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/co ... 0429-00495

This confirms that Thomas J. Madigan retired on 4 Jun 1919, and last enlisted on 23 May 1914.

The following index entry surely confirms that the Thomas Joseph Madigan who retired on 4 Jun 1919 used a birthdate of 6 Dec 1875:

U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940
Name: Thomas Joseph Madigan
Record Type: Military Service
Birth Date: 6 Dec 1875
Military Date: 4 Jun 1919
Residence Place: Denver, Colo

A petition for naturalization, again behind a paywall, at
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/co ... 0160-00059
was sworn on 17 July 1918 and confirms that Thomas Joseph Madigan claimed to have been born on 6 Dec 1875, at County Clare, Kilrush, Ireland, and was then residing with Headquarters Company, 79th Field Artillery, Camp McClellan, Alabama. He had migrated from Queenstown on 8 June 1894, arriving in New York on 15 Jun 1894 on the Majestic, and he (first) entered the U.S. Army on 10 Jun 1898.

The nearest match that I could find in passenger lists was the Thos. Madigan, age 21, M, Lab., citizen of Ireland, Last Residence Tralee, Intended destination N.Y., arrived in New York from Queenstown on 10 Jun 1891 aboard the Majestic.

The man who petitioned for naturalization in 1918 appears a few weeks later on a passenger list of Headquarters Company, 79th Field Artillery, 7th Division, leaving Hoboken, NJ, on 13 Aug 1918:

MADIGAN, THOMAS J., 1405321, COLOR SGT, HQ CO
Notify in case of emergency: MRS. MARY MOREY, AUNT, 127 PAVONIA AVE., JERSEY CITY N.J.

He appears on another passenger list dated 21 Apr 1919, returning to the United States:

MADIGAN, THOMAS J., 1405321, REG'T SGT MAJ, 79TH FIELD ARTILLERY
Notify in case of emergency: MRS. NORA FIDRAN FRIEND 1222 EAST 93RD STREET CHICAGO ILLINOIS

Images of these two documents are attached to a user-donated family tree which has conflated two or more Thomas Madigans:
https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/pe ... 2290084738

I suspect that there is a typo in FIDRAN, but am not sure what the original might be - possibly Foran.

There is an index card for Thomas J Madigan, possibly the same one, in New York, U.S., Spanish-American War Military and Naval Service Records, 1898-1902:
https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/co ... 1177-01027
Pvt. Detachment of Cavalry, US MA; enlisted 21 June 1898 [11 days after our man] for 3 years; Residence at the time of enlistment: NY City; Hon. discharged 8 April 1899; birthplace Clare, Ireland; age at enl. 22 yrs 1 mo [several months younger than implied by other sources]; occupation: Butcher.

The enlistment record describes this man as having blue eyes, lt. brown hair, fair complexion and 5' 5 1/2" tall.

The petition for naturalization describes our man as having grey eyes, brown hair, light compexion and 5' 5 1/2" tall, so not dis-similar.

If they are the same man, he clearly moved at some time from New York City (in the enlistment record) to Illinois (on his tombstone).

If we could track down John Madigan, Mary Morey and/or Nora Fidran, perhaps that would lead to a definitive identification of Thomas Madigan's parents.

The references to Tralee on the passenger list and to a friend in Chicago made me wonder whether we should be looking at the family of Timothy Madigan and Catherine (Kitty) Bunnion/Bunyon/Bennet, whose older children were born in Kerry and younger children were born in Clare. Kitty reported 10 children born alive in 1911, of whom I have identified only 7:
http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... in/365339/
At least three of her children (Jeremiah, William and Mary) ended up in or around Chicago.

Jimbo
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Jimbo » Wed Nov 09, 2022 1:04 am

Thanks very much, Paddy, for solving the mystery on how the widow Bridget Madigan Keane, who had been married to Denis Keane, could have been the Aunt of John Quinlan. She wasn't! Fortunately, I had inserted "I reckon" as far as the presumed relationship in 1901 between Bridget Purtill Keane (age 60) in House 2 and her neighbors, the three children of Bridget Madigan Keane in House 1 of Monmore Upper, Kilrush.

This incorrect theory, as well as your next posting, show how easy it is to make mistakes with the Madigan and Keane surnames being so common in Kilrush. This increases my doubt on whether or not the three Madigan siblings who settled in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, were children of the Patrick Madigan who is buried at Burrane cemetery.

A bit shocking that Thomas Madigan did not get a headstone until 1942! I believe if Thomas had chosen to be buried at the National Cemetery in Denver for military veterans, the headstone would have been automatic. By choosing to be buried at Mount Olivet, a Catholic cemetery, a separate application would have been required, as completed in the 1942 application by John Madigan, most likely a brother, I reckon.

It would have been generous of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, who operated St. Vincent's orphanage, the recipient of his life insurance, if one of the nuns had completed the headstone application, at no cost, for Thomas Madigan a few decades earlier.

The newspaper accounts of $5,000 payments to four orphans made by the two deceased Great War veterans, for a total of $20,000 was likely mistaken. Why would Thomas Madigan obtain his own life insurance when he had no family? Why would an insurance company provide life insurance to a severely sick patient at a military hospital? Doesn't make much sense. The U.S. military provided a $4,500 insurance policy for each soldier automatically. Possibly rounded to $5,000 by the newspaper. The headline "FOUR ORPHAN BOYS INHERIT $5000 EACH FROM SOLDIERS" could be read correctly, but their statement "bequeathed the $20,000 life insurance", I believe should have stated $10,000 (or $9,000). The nuns of the orphanage, visiting Catholic soldiers in hospital, and paying special attention to those with no nearby relatives, were likely very aware of the military life insurance program.

The other evidence you found leads me to think that Thomas Madigan was not the son of Stephen Madigan and Bridget Keane of Carnanes, Kilrush. This is disappointing, but thanks very much for your efforts.

The Thomas Madigan who arrived in New York in 1891 stated his last residence was "Tralee", located in County Kerry according to a google search (my Irish geography is poor). The two army pensioners named Michael Madigan who received their pensions at Kilrush are included on the "Tralee District Pension List dated 1 January 1883". This is unlikely, but could Thomas Madigan arriving in 1891 have been using this wider definition of "Tralee"?

I followed your suggestion and researched his two contacts listed on passenger listings:

I searched on ancestry .com for "1222 E. 93rd" with no other information but location as Chicago. This led to the WWI draft registration of Joseph M. McAndrews, which led to the 1910 census of "Frank Fedraw" (age 42, born in Austria-Hungary), "Nora Fedraw" (age 38, born in Ireland), and Martin McAndews (age 17), and Joseph McAndrews (age 14), both step-children of head of household.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MK8X-VGL
FIDRAM—Frank Fidram, 47 years, March 6, at late residence 1222 E. 93d-st, beloved husband of Nora McAndrews Fidram, nee Conory, member of . . . Burnside Hungarian Church society. Funeral . . . St. Mary's Church . . . Mount Carmel.
Chicago Tribune, 8 March 1915
When Nora Fidram (back to Nora McAndrews in 1940 census) died in 1945, her death certificate stated "Nora McAndrews", age 81, father "Patrick Conney" and mother as "Mary Leohy", spouse "Martin".

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N3Z8-M99

The Martin McAndrews family in 1900:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MS7Z-Y9Y

**********************************************************

The same approach for "127 Pavonia" in New Jersey led to the transport listing of Thomas Madigan, as you stated, plus the WWI registrations for six men, three Irish surnames, and three Russian or Polish. "127 Pavonia" was a popular saloon in Jersey City that Thomas Madigan may have stayed at, but unlikely his "Aunt Mary Morey".
"PAT" CONNOLLY OUT OF BUSINESS
War Time Prohibition Closes Cafe in Existence Over 40 Years


Patrick Connolly, who for nearly 43 years has conducted a saloon at 127 Pavonia Avenue, locked his place up for good this morning. The Connolly cafe was noted as a place where ales and beers of fine quality were served. The owner never had any use for a cash register. He implicitly trusted his bartenders and it was his proud boast that his confidence in them had never been abused.

The news that Congress had voted to override President Wilson's veto of War Time Prohibition, along with the probability that the Senate would follow suit impelled Mr. Connolly to quit the business at once.

The Connolly Cafe was a landmark so to speak in the Shoe. It was never closed before—except, of course, on Sundays.

Jersey Journal, Jersey City, New Jersey, 28 October 1919
The only Mary Morey of Jersey City had been married to James Morey, but this Mary was born in Ireland about 1878 and I reckon too young to be an aunt of Thomas Madigan. Perhaps she wasn't an "Aunt" but another "Friend". "Mrs. Mary Morey" of Jersey City would have been a widow, the same as "Mrs. Nora Fidram" of Chicago, when Thomas Madigan left Hoboken on 13 August 1918:
RECOVER NELSON'S BODY.
Was Drowned Trying to Rescue Fellow Worker in East River.


The body of Nathan P. Nelson, of 248 Forty-ninth street, who lost his life in an unsuccessful attempt to save his fellow worker, James Morey, of 229 Twelfth street, Jersey City, was recovered off Pier 6, East River. Morey's body was recovered yesterday at Brooklyn Bridge.

They were employed at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and were detaching an anchor from a pile driver 500 feet off shore in the Navy Yard basin. The weight of the anchor and the swell of a Government tug capsized their small boat. The anchor carried Morey under. He could not swim and came up exhausted. Nelson went to him, they went down together and did not come up. Sailors tried to reach them without success.

Brooklyn-Times Union, New York, 30 July 1918
A very tragic situation, as Mary Morey had an infant son. This would have been big news just when the soldiers were setting off to fight in Europe. Possibly, Thomas Madigan, with no relatives, and staying at the saloon at 127 Pavonia Avenue, had been suggested by its owner, Pat Connolly, to leave his military insurance, $4,500, to the widow Mrs. Mary Morey? Not his aunt, or even his friend, just a very worthy cause, similar to the orphans at St. Vincent's in Denver a few years later. Speculation, of course.

Mary Morey's maiden name was Cronin. She had several siblings in Jersey City, as did James Morey. Owners of Cronin Handball Courts. Several family trees have traced their Cronin family back to Killeenleagh, County Cork.
MOREY—On Thursday, November 30, 1922, at her residence, 212 Twelfth Street, Mary Morey (nee Cronin), beloved wife of the late James Morey. Notice of funeral hereafter.
Jersey Journal, Jersey City, New Jersey, 1 December 1922
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207 ... ames-morey
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207 ... mary-morey

I'll have a look for John Madigan another day. I have to go vote.

Paddy, thanks again for providing so many clues in the search for Sergeant Major Thomas Madigan, possibly your third cousin, twice removed. Although, I feel that we are no closer, and perhaps even further away, from finding who were his parents in County Clare.

Sduddy
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Wed Nov 09, 2022 11:17 am

Jimbo, I hope you will find John Madigan who applied for the headstone for Thomas.

Paddy, I looked at some records for the children of Timothy Madigan and Catherine Bunyon/Bunnion/Bennet. I found a couple of baptisms in the Carrigaholt parish register, Johanna* in Feb 1875, and Mary in Feb 1877. It’s just possible that another child was born in December of 1875, but unlikely, unless he was premature.
The marriage of Timothy Madigan and Catherine Bunyon took place in Ballydonoghue chapel, in the Union of Listowel, Co. Kerry on 15 May 1870: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 181492.pdf Their first child, Michael, was born in Coolard (Union of Listowel) on 14 Feb 1871: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 210704.pdf
Their second child, John, was born in Coolard on 20 Jul 1872: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 183666.pdf
It’s very possible that another child was born in December 1873. If so, he might be our Thomas.
Put along with the three children named by you – Jeremiah (b. 18??), William (1883) and Mary (mentioned above) – that would make a total of 7 children.

*The civil record is for Susan Madigan: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 140477.pdf

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:27 am

I found two more children of Timothy Madigan and Catherine Bunyan:
1 Apr 1878, Newtown: Birth of John to Thady Madigan, Labourer, and Kate Buigham: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 084652.pdf

24 Dec 1879, Querrin: Birth of Mary to Thady Madigan, Labourer, and Kate Burnett: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 055658.pdf

The first John (b.1872) must have died young (I have not found a record). The first Mary (b. 1877) died in infancy: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 209326.pdf.

Now we have 8 births: Michael (1871), John (1872), Johanna/Susan (1875), Mary (1877), John (1878), Mary (1879), William (1883), Jeremiah (18??).

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Thu Nov 10, 2022 10:52 am

The possibility that Thomas J. Madigan was born to James Madigan and Ellen Buckley (there is no record of such a birth) is a very faint one (see my posting on the first page of this thread with link to record of the birth of Joseph Madigan in Kilrush Workhouse in July 1876: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 14743a.pdf). But just in case anyone is interested, I found a record of Ellen’s death in 1907. At least I think it is the same Ellen. 14 Nov 1907: Death in Newcastle Workhouse (Co. Limerick) of Ellen Madigan from Flag Lane, widow, aged 60, Dealer: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 544000.pdf

Sheila

Jimbo
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Jimbo » Thu Nov 10, 2022 6:43 pm

Hi Sheila,

Thank you for investigating the family of Timothy Madigan and Catherine Bunyan, with their County Kerry connections. Upon viewing the actual 1891 passenger listing for Thomas Madigan, I reckon the "Tralee" clue is not very reliable:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QVS2-L6P2

Thomas Madigan arrived on the Majestic prior to the opening of Ellis Island in 1892 with its far more detailed passenger listings. NY passenger listings from the 1880's typically have no information on last residence. The Majestic listing of 1891, in a transition period, looks like it was completed by a lazy ship captain / steward who went very heavy on the ditto marks under the "last residence" column. Typically only counties were reported as last residence. I couldn't find any passengers from County Clare.

Paddy, I found your third cousin, twice removed, in Manhattan. Not Thomas or John, but Mary Anne Madigan, the daughter of Stephen Madigan and Bridget Keane, baptized on 12 February 1870 in Kilrush.

Mary Madigan, age 35, last residence Kilrush, 5 feet 6 inches, fair complexion, black hair, blue eyes, arrived in New York on the Mauretania on 9 May 1908. Her Irish contact was her aunt, Mrs. Keane, of Henry Street, Kilrush. Her American contact was friend, Mrs. Davidson of 2 West 89th Street, New York. "Non Immigrant Alien" was stamped for Mary Madigan, and she had previously lived in New York City for 14 years (or since about 1894).

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXPS-82R

In the 1905 NY state census, Mary Madigan, age 35, born in Ireland, was a servant in the household of "Mrs. Louise Davison". I didn't confirm this address, but she was surely the friend of Mary Madigan listed on the 1908 passenger listing:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPFB-1MP

In the 1900 federal census, she was most likely the Mary A. Madigan, age 28, born in May 1872, as a domestic servant on West 76th Street in the Charles Smith household in Manhattan:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSVT-78P

1910? 1920? 1930?

Mary Madigan, age 68, born in Ireland, single, house-keeper domestic, of 209 W. 15th Street, Manhattan, died on 7 November 1937, at St. Joseph's Home for Aged. Father reported as "Stephen Madigan", and mother as "Brigid Kane". Calvary cemetery.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WKB-LX7

Sduddy
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Tue Nov 15, 2022 10:00 am

Hi Jimbo

Good work finding Maryanne. That is a sweet moment when you see the names on a death record and they tally with the birth record.

Her visit to Kilrush about 1908 and her choosing her aunt [in-law], Mrs Keane [Mary Haugh], as her Irish contact, rather than her uncle Charles Keane, suggests to me that Maryanne had spent time in her youth living with Charles and Mary Keane, Henry Street, Kilrush. I’ve failed to find the marriage record for Charles Keane and Mary Haugh, but I can see from the births of their children that they married in the mid-1880s.

Michael b. 2 Oct 1888: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 924530.pdf;
Stephen b. 30 Dec 1890: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 893590.pdf
Maryanne b. 20 Oct 1889: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 07278c.pdf;
Charles b. 1 Sept 1892: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 872947.pdf. Charles died in 1894: 1 Jan 1894, Henry St., Kilrush: Death of Charles Kane aged 1, son of a Cooper; informant: Tom Smyth, Henry St., Kilrush: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 698048.pdf
This death explains, partly, why Charles Keane states in 1911 census that there have been 5 births, only 3 still living: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/r ... 001785894/.
The informant at the death of baby Charles Keane in 1894 was Tom Smyth, and I wondered momentarily if he belonged to the Smith family that Maryanne Madigan was working for in 1900 (US census), thinking that he might have been instrumental in the emigration of the brothers of Maryanne Madigan at that time, but it is much more likely that he was from the Smyth family living in Doonbeg. I think this death record (1948) might be for him: 7 Mar 1948, at Mountrivers: Death of Thomas Smyth, single, 73, Cooper; informant: John Smyth, brother, Mountrivers: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 206845.pdf
Townland of Mountrivers: https://www.townlands.ie/clare/ibrickan ... untrivers/.

All of that pertains to the children of Stephen Madigan and Bridget Keane, who are of interest to us too, but it is a digression from the search of Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major, who died in Denver, Colorado, in 1921. It would be great if you could find out about John Madigan who applied for Thomas’s headstone, but it is quite possible that John was in Denver just for the length of time it took him to do that.

I’ve been looking at the family of James Madigan and Ellen Buckley, and found some records, but still no sign of a Thomas. I will give what I’ve found another day – just in case someone is interested, but at the moment I feel it would be just one more distraction.

Sheila

Sduddy
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Thu Nov 17, 2022 10:40 am

Just a note: There seems to be a townland called Kilrush in the Co. Clare side of St. Munchin’s parish (which is mostly in Co. Limerick). I’ve looked at the baptism register – just December 1875 – but don’t see the baptism of a Thomas Madigan.

Kilrush Townland, St. Munchin's parish: https://www.townlands.ie/limerick/north ... s/kilrush/
St. Munchin's parish baptism register: https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 9/mode/1up

Sheila

Jimbo
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Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Jimbo » Sun Nov 20, 2022 12:29 am

Hi Sheila,

Thanks for the additional research. If the uncle and aunt that Mary Anne Madigan was visiting in 1908 were Charles Keane and Mary Haugh Keane of Henry Street, as you suggested, then we may need to revisit the identity of the father of Bridget Keane who had married Stephen Madigan in 1868. As we discussed previously:
Per Sheila:
Bridget was the daughter of Charles Keane of Baltard (the townland of Ballard in the parish of Killard). I think he must be the Charles Keane who died in Baltard on 29 Mar 1876, aged 75:

Pedigree: https://www.libraryireland.com/Pedigree ... eremon.php

Per Jimbo:
Thanks also for the link to John O’Hart's pedigree (1892). So Charles Keane (≈1801 - 1876) of Baltard had four sons: Patrick, Charles, Lawrence, and Thomas (all living in 1880 according to the pedigree). Bridget Keane, daughter of Charles Keane of Baltard, who married Stephen Madigan in 1868, was born about 1838. So I agree with you that she must have been the daughter of the Charles Keane who died in 1876 and not his son named Charles.
This Charles Keane of Henry Street was age 47 in 1901, and age 61 in 1911, so born about 1840. Definitely a possibility that he was the son of Charles Keane (≈1801 - 1876) and Mary Cullinan (≈1799 - 1867) of Baltard.

However, wouldn't it be more likely that the Charles Keane who was living in "Ballard" in the 1901 census (age 70) and in 1911 (age 81), with his wife Margaret Foran (a few years younger), was the son of Charles Keane (≈1801 - 1876) and Mary Cullinan (≈1799 - 1867) of Baltard? Charles and Margaret (Foran) Keane, per the 1911 census, had been married for 49 years (≈1862, prior to civil records), and were the parents of 12 children with only three surviving.

1901: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... d/1080045/
1911: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... rd/365106/

I also looked for the civil marriage record between Charles Keane and Mary Haugh, who had children starting 1888, but unfortunately could not find one. I reckon that "Keane" gets frequently transcribed in an odd manner as a "K" can look like an "R" in handwriting. Searching the Irish civil records (birth, marriage, and death) using "Reane" and "Rean", there were 40 and 24 results, respectively, which I reckon further research would indicate are transcription errors.

As an example, the "Bridget Reane" of Kilrush, daughter of "Pat Reane", who married Daniel Cooney in 1865, was obviously "Bridget Keane" as transcribed in the Kilrush Catholic marriage records (correction submitted).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 262821.pdf

The Irish census makes the same mistake but less frequently. One example, the "Mardice Reane" of Limerick in the 1901 census is surely "Martin Keane" (correction submitted) since the "K" in Keane, although it appears to be an "R", was written identically to the "K" in the occupation of the head of household, a "Shop Keeper".

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... er/629799/

While "Rean" and "Reane" are obvious incorrect transcriptions of "Kean" and "Keane", there are probably a dozen other odd variations that I haven't considered (although I did note that "Reen" appears to have been a valid surname in Cork and Kerry). Thus, it would be incorrect to ever conclude that individuals did not report a birth, marriage or death to the civil authorities when there are so many transcription errors in the database.

Sheila, regarding the family of Charles Keane and Mary Haugh, the uncle and aunt who Mary Anne Madigan was visiting in 1908, I did discover that their son, Stephen Keane, also went to New York. Stephen Keane, age 22, of Kilrush, arrived in New York on the SS Baltic on 28 August 1908. Father reported as Charles Keane. His USA contact was Mary Crotty; "friend" was crossed out and replaced by "cousin".

Stephen Keane was traveling with Michael Crotty, age 22, father Patrick Crotty of Gower. Also, with Margaret Kennelly, age 22, mother Mrs. Kennelly of Kilrush.

1908 passenger listing: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXPB-XY7

Stephen Keane married Nellie Downes in Manhattan on 17 April 1910. During WWI he fought with Company C of the 328th Infantry, 82nd Division between 19 September 1917 and 15 July 1919. He is buried at Long Island National Cemetery:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/826 ... en-f-keane

Other than both living in Manhattan, I could find no connection between Stephen Keane (1891 - 1958) and Mary Anne Madigan (1870 - 1937), but I reckon they were likely first cousins.

As stated previously, I also believe that the nine children of Bridget Madigan (1829 ? - before 1901?) and Denis Keane (≈1821 - 1887), were first cousins of the three children of Stephen Madigan (≈1836 - 1872) and Bridget Keane (≈1838 - unknown).

Of the nine Keane children of Monmore Upper, Kilrush, only the whereabouts of Peter Keane born in 1871 were completely unknown. Upon further research, I've discovered his passenger arrival record. Peter Keane, "age 25", of Kilrush, arrived in New York on the SS Germanic on 25 May 1900. He was going to Jersey City, New Jersey. But his USA contact was his brother, Thomas of 584 Washington Street, New York.

On the same ticket group (#46553 - #46655) were Maggie Hewitt, age 25 (or 28?), of Kilrush, also going to Jersey City. Also, Mary A. Reilly, age 20, of Tralee, going to New York.

1900 passenger listing: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JXDS-74M

I had previously noted that Thomas Keane married Catherine Norton in Manhattan on 8 September 1901 (NY Extracted Marriage Index, 1866 - 1937). In the 1910 census, their youngest daughter was Marcella born about 1907. However, upon further research, Thomas Kane and Katherine Norton were also the parents of a Loretta born on 20 July 1902 in Manhattan (NY Index to Birth Certificates, 1866 - 1909). Their residence on the birth certificate was 584 Washington Street in Manhattan. In the 1905 NY census, "Lauretta Kane", age 2, was living with her younger brother, Denis Kane (named after paternal grandfather), age 0, and parents Thomas Kane (30) and Catherine Kane (29). Both Loretta and Denis appear to have died prior to the 1910 census.

1905: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SPXM-81N

In the 1900 census, Thomas Kane, age 27, born April 1873, single, was a boarder living at 584 Washington Street in Manhattan, the household of Patrick Mulqueen, his wife, Mary Anne [McGrath], two daughters, and four other boarders.

1900 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSJK-DHQ

Patrick Mulqueen of 584 Washington Street in Manhattan died on 24 December 1907, and on the death record his parents were reported as Sinon Mulqueen and Mary Gorman:

1907 death record: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2W9R-4NQ

Sinon Mulqueen (≈1816 - 1888) appears on a whopping 111 family trees on the ancestry website. A few state that Sinon's parents were John Mulqueen and Mary Madigan — others have Margaret Ruddy as his mother. No good sources for either Mary Madigan or Margaret Ruddy as being Sinon's mother; but perhaps Patrick Mulqueen and Thomas Keane were cousins of some sort?

In the Kilrush baptism records, I can see that Sinon Mulqueny and Mary O'Gorman had a daughter Biddy in 1844, and a daughter Catherine in 1845, but not the baptism records for their later children, including Patrick Mulqueen born about 1860. Another sibling, John Mulqueen, died in Manhattan in 1904, age 55, and his parents were reported as Sinon Mulqueen and Mary Gorman on the death record:

1904 death record: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WXK-HD9

This John Mulqueen paid for the inscription at the family vault for his father Sinon Mulqueen who died in 1888: "Erected by John Mulqueen of New York in memory of his beloved father Sinon Mulqueen, Molougha who died July 5th 1888 aged 86 yrs May his soul R.I.P. Amen". (#179, Clare Library, Molougha graveyard transcriptions).

https://www.clarelibrary.ie/eolas/cocla ... ptions.htm

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 762064.pdf

*********************************

Getting back to Peter Keane of Kilrush who arrived in New York on the SS Germanic on 25 May 1900, it is curious that his destination was Jersey City, and also that one of this two travel companions was from Tralee.

The 1900 USA census was reported as of 1 June 1900, so Peter Keane should be living in either New Jersey or New York at the time of the census. A "Peter Kane", reported birth in Ireland of March 1875, was living at 19 West 140th Street in Manhattan. His arrival in the USA was 1900. He was reported as a "nephew" in the household of the widow Katherine Kane (age 70), her two Irish born sons, Patrick Kane (age 30), and Terrence Kane (age 26), as well as two other boarders. Terrence P. Kane, reported birth 26 December 1879 in Ireland, died in the Bronx on 4 June 1917, parents Peter and Catherine Kane.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MSKW-2ZP

In the 1905 NY state census, a Peter Kane, age 35, born in Ireland, was a boarder living in Manhattan, at the household of Daniel Crotty (age 25), and 10 other boarders:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:SP6V-SJV

Peter Keane / Kane was a common name in New York. Unlike the other children of Bridget Madigan and Denis Keane of Monmore, Kilrush, I am not very certain what happened to Peter Keane after his arrival in New York on 25 May 1900.

Sheila, John Madigan was also a common name in New York about 1900. I am investigating a few leads of a John Madigan, who might possibly be the son of Stephen Madigan and Bridget Keane of Kilrush, but nothing definite as of yet.

Finally, one last minute discovery. My previous statement in the Denis Keane & Bridget Madigan family tree that their son "Thomas Keane died between 1930 and 1940" was incorrect. While Thomas Kane wasn't living with his family in 1940, his wife, Catherine (Norton) Kane, was reported as "married" in the census. In now tracing their daughter, Mrs. Henrietta (Kane) Curran, forward to the 1950 census, she was living with her father, Thomas Kane, a widower, age 76 years old, per transcription born in "S. Freta" (S. Ireland) at 328 West 17th Street in New York.

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6XPH-596H

Catherine Kane, of 328 West 17th Street in Manhattan, died on 22 March 1947, married, born in Ireland, reported birth date of 12 April 1881 (NY City Municipal Deaths, 1795 - 1949). Per index, father reported as John Morton (which doesn't agree to her marriage record) and mother as Mary Scanlon. Burial at Cavalry Cemetery on Long Island:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2WTB-1HK

Per the 8 September 1901 marriage index of Thomas Kane and Catherine Norton: Catherine, age 26, was the daughter of Stephen Norton and Mary Scanlon.

"Catherine Norton" was quite possibly the "Johanna Naughton" born on 11 July 1876, daughter of Stephen Naughton and Mary Scanlon of Moyasta, in the district of Kilkee (Kilrush civil record).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 114728.pdf

Per the Kilkee baptism records (1869 - 1880), "Johanna" was baptized on 12 July 1876; sponsors Patrick Fitzgerald and Kate Scanlon. Did "Johanna" go by "Catherine", the name of her baptism sponsor? Also, her older brother was Thomas Naughton born in 1873, the priest used very light ink in the baptism register and it is difficult to read, but the civil record states Thomas Naughton.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 162409.pdf

For many baptisms which appear to have gone unrecorded in the baptism registers, I reckon the explanation, in many instances, is the use of middle names in later years.

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Mon Nov 21, 2022 10:52 am

Hi Jimbo

Yes, I can see now that Charles Keane, Cooper, Henry Street, Kilrush, is not the son of Charles Keane who died in Ballard in 1876. And Charles’s wife, Mary Haugh, is most likely not the Mrs. Keane Maryanne Madigan was referring to. I jumped to that conclusion too quickly. And thanks, by the way, for pointing out that Keane and Kane are sometimes transcribed as Reane and Rane. It is much more likely that Mrs. Keane is Susan [McInerney], wife of Thomas Keane, living in Ballard in 1901: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/p ... d/1080046/
The record of their marriage in 5 Mar 1873 gives Charles Keane as the father of Thomas: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 208366.pdf. Thomas Keane must be a brother of Bridget Keane, Maryanne’s mother. The Killard parish baptism regjster shows baptisms for three of the children of Thomas and Susan. They went on to have 7 more children (the 1911 census states 10, all alive), but not all of these are present on census night, 1901 or 1911. Jane, Kate and Micheal are missing in 1911, plus two more.

Marvellous work finding Stephen Keane from Henry Street, Kilrush, and Peter Keane from Monmore, both emigrants to the US. That took some doing with Keane being such a common name!

Jimbo, I can see that it is going to be very difficult for you to find John Madigan, since you do not even have a birthyear for him. I really think you have given enough time to Thomas, the Sergeant Major, and John already. I fear you will wear yourself out.

Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Tue Nov 22, 2022 10:36 am

Nothing of any real use here, but may be of interest to someone.

I’ve found that the first child of Thomas Keane and Susan McInerney was born in Gowerhass, Susan’s homeplace (Jan. 1874). Mary is not with her family in Ballard in 1901 and I don’t see a marriage previous to that.
5 Jan 1874, at Gowerhass: Birth of Mary to Thomas Keane, Farmer, and Susan McInerny, Balltard; informant: Austin McInerny, occupier, Gowerhass: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 153333.pdf. The Kilrush (St. Senan’s) baptism register shows the baptism of Mary: https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 2/mode/1up.

17 Mar 1877, at Gowerhass: Death of Austin McInerney, married, aged 70; informant: Mary McInerny: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 209334.pdf
7 Dec 1878, at Gowerhass: Death of Mary McInerney, widow, aged 80; informant: Pat Browne, Gowerhass: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 879503.pdf . Patrick Browne had married Kate McInerney in 1878: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 060471.pdf
23 Nov 1897, at Gowerhass: Death of Catherine Browne, married, aged 42, wife of a farmer; informant: Patrick Browne, husband, Gowerhass: https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 656062.pdf

The Browns are in Gowerhass in 1901, but no longer there in 1911. I haven’t found them.

Sheila

Sduddy
Posts: 1826
Joined: Sun Sep 26, 2010 10:07 am

Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Sduddy » Wed Nov 23, 2022 10:43 am

Note re Charles Keane, Cooper, Henry St., Kilrush: The Killard marriage register online goes only from 1867 to 1881. It shows the marriage of Charles Keane and Mary Haugh on 16 Feb. 1879 – years earlier than we reckoned; witnesses: James Clancy, Mrs. Scanlon. But that is of no use for finding Charles’s father’s name: https://registers.nli.ie/registers/vtls ... 2/mode/1up

Sheila

Jimbo
Posts: 591
Joined: Mon Aug 26, 2013 9:43 am

Re: Thomas J. Madigan, Sergeant Major U.S. Army, born in Kilrush

Post by Jimbo » Sat Jan 27, 2024 10:15 pm

Hi Sheila,

Recently I had a search of the ebay auction website for any interesting Irish stamp covers, and was very surprised to find a letter addressed to a Miss B. Madigan of the Bronx, sent from F. Madigan of Vandeleur Street, Kilrush in 1939. The letter had been opened and resealed by the censor. Given the Irish writing, I think, on the pink seal at the back of the envelope I assume it was an Irish censor.

1939 Letter from Kilrush to B Madigan of Bronx NY.jpg
1939 Letter from Kilrush to B Madigan of Bronx NY.jpg (62.99 KiB) Viewed 22144 times
1939 Letter from Kilrush to B Madigan of Bronx NY (back).jpg
1939 Letter from Kilrush to B Madigan of Bronx NY (back).jpg (53.31 KiB) Viewed 22144 times

Sheila, this discovery was quite a coincidence and a reminder that we never determined the identity of Sergeant Major Thomas Madigan of Kilrush who died in Denver in 1921 leaving his life insurance payout to several needy orphans. Before taking another look for Thomas Madigan I researched the 1939 stamp cover.

Miss B. Madigan of 1761 Stillwell Avenue in the Bronx was easy to find in USA records, with a few challenges. In the 1940 census, one year after receiving the letter, she was still living at Stillwell Avenue. “Bregid Medigan”, age 28, reported her birthplace as a very localized “Kilrush” and not Ireland. The Family Search website reported Kilrush as in Transvaal, South Africa; sometimes search results are better when using less prescriptive parameters. Also, the ancestry website is more forgiving than Family Search which did not pick up that “Bridget Madigan” was “Bregid Medigan” of the 1940 census:

https://www.familysearch.org/search/rec ... me=Madigan

In 1940, she was a naturalized U.S. citizen and a live-in nurse at an orphanage / charitable home sponsored by Edwin Gould, a rich New York financier and son of Jay Gould, a rail baron and “one of the wealthiest men of the 19th century”.

https://www.egfaccelerator.org/about/our-history
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay_Gould

1940 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KQM8-NXC

In the 1930 census, Bridget Madigan, age 18, was a student nurse at the Home for Hebrew Infants on West Knightsbridge Road, also in the Bronx. Her reported year of immigration was 1929.

1930 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X76J-N12

Bridget Madigan was just 17 years old when she arrived in Boston on the SS Cedric on 8 September 1929; her Irish contact was her mother, Mrs. Frances Madigan of Vandeleur Street, Kilrush; her USA contact, who paid her fare, was her cousin, Mr. Joseph Hanrahan of 11 Seymour Street, Worcester, MA.

1929 passenger listing: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:23XT-ZK9

Bridget Madigan was born on 27 October 1911, parents John Madigan and Frances O’Dea, shopkeepers of Vandeleur Street (Kilrush registration):

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 608958.pdf

Bridget born in October missed the 1911 census, but her parents were reported as shopkeepers on Vandeleur Street. John Madigan was head of household, but had “married in” which is perhaps why the “step father” (Thomas O’Dea) and “mother” (Anne O’Dea) living with the family are reported in relation to his wife, Frances O’Dea Madigan. In the 1901 census, Anne O’Dea was living with three of her children, including Fanny, on Vandeleur Street:

https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ ... t/1082652/
https://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/ ... et/364512/

According to their 1906 marriage record, John Madigan was the son of Thomas Madigan of Carnacalla, Kilrush. He must be the son of Thomas Madigan and Bridget Murrahy of Carnacalla baptized on 13 April 1872 (Kilrush baptism register, 1863-1881).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 691623.pdf

Frances O’Dea, although her father was not reported on the 1906 civil marriage record, was the daughter of Patrick O’Dea (of Vandeleur Street) and Anne Madigan (of Carnacalla, Kilrush), who married in 1871. Anne Madigan, the daughter of Sinon Madigan of Carnacalla according to the civil marriage record, was surely the “Nancy” baptized on 24 February 1840 with parents of Sinon Madigan and Nancy O’Dea of Carnacalla (Kilrush baptism register, 1827-1863).

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 161064.pdf

When Bridget Madigan arrived in Boston in September 1929 she was just a few months shy of her 18th birthday. Her young age, compared to the other passengers, may have been due to tough family circumstances since her father, John Madigan, died in 1922 at only 43 years old:

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 387215.pdf

Bridget Madigan, born in Kilrush, of 1761 Stillwell Avenue in the Bronx, declared her intent to become a U.S. citizen on 9 November 1934, filed additional paperwork on 18 February 1937, and her citizenship was finalized with a signature by Bridget on 8 July 1937.

1937 Naturalization: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QP2Z-WYK7
1937 USA Naturalization photo of Bridget Madigan.jpg
1937 USA Naturalization photo of Bridget Madigan.jpg (43.97 KiB) Viewed 22144 times

Bridget Madigan, age 35, a U.S. citizen by NY Supreme Court in July 1937, returned to New York City on 23 July 1947 on the Marine Falcon. She had been out of the country since August 1946. Her U.S. address was North Country Community Hospital, Glen Cove, Long Island.

1947 passenger listing: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:245T-9VP

One year later, in a startling development, Bridget Elizabeth Madigan, age 36, born in Kilrush, date of U.S. naturalization of 8 July 1937, departed New York City, on 14 July 1948 on the S.S. Pioneer Star bound for Brisbane and Sydney, Australia. The “length of time passenger intended to remain abroad” was “permanently”. Source: “U.S. Departing Passenger and Crew Lists, 1914-1966”, available on ancestry website. The S.S. Pioneer Star carried primarily freight (only nine passengers boarded in NY) and arrived in Brisbane on 17 August 1948. Bridget Madigan’s later whereabouts in Australia are a mystery. Her mother, Frances O’Dea Madigan, a shopkeeper of Vandeleur Street, died at the age of 85 years on 6 February 1963.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/ ... 103821.pdf

*****************************

Sheila, we investigated the identity of Sergeant Major Thomas Madigan of Kilrush back in late 2022. The Irish stamp cover sent from Kilrush to Bridget Madigan living in the Bronx has led me to take a fresh look into our prior research.

The Mary Madigan who died in Manhattan in 1937 was definitely, as reported on her civil death record, the daughter of Stephen Madigan and Bridget Keane. And thus she was the sister of a Thomas Madigan born in 1868, who quite possibly could be Sergeant Major Thomas Madigan. But she is very unlikely to have been the Mary Madigan who returned to New York on the Mauretania on 9 May 1908 with her aunt, Mrs. Keane, of Henry Street, Kilrush being her reported as Irish contact. Mary Madigan is a common name in Kilrush and our research into the Keanes of Henry Street has led me to believe that I had merged two different Mary Madigans from Kilrush into one single New Yorker. Nor was the Mary who died in 1937 the domestic servant working for Mrs. Davidson in the 1905 census and also reported as her USA contact on the 1908 passenger listing. It was a considerable leap to go from the 1937 civil death record to the 1905 census, with no clue as to where Mary Madigan was living in the 1910, 1920, and 1930 census reports.

Since our research in 2022, many New York City death records are now on-line (previously only limited information was available from an index). Searching using Mary Madigan’s certificate number 24054, city of Manhattan, and year of death of 1937, resulted in her actual death record:

https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc ... ew/6671845

As we already knew from the death record index, Mary Madigan died on 7 November 1937 at the St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged, located at 269 W. 15th Street in Manhattan. Her parents were Stephan Madigan and Bridget Keane. Important new clues were that she had reportedly been in the USA for 40 years, all in New York. Her occupation was domestic servant, and she had last worked in June 1920. The informant was Sister Agnes Loretta (and not a relative).

I searched the 1930 NY census for St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged and found Mary Madigan, born in Ireland, with a reported age of 68, as an “inmate” of the home. Her reported year of immigration was 1890 according to the census, which differs from her death record which would be about 1897. She was an “alien”, so there are no naturalization records which might provide details on the year of immigration and ship taken. If Mary Madigan in fact arrived in 1890 then the passenger listing would provide very little detailed information.

1930 census: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X4K8-KX3

At the 1930 census, Mary Madigan, since born in February 1870, would have been only 60 years old. She likely exaggerated her age by eight years to qualify for her earlier entry into the “home for the aged”. St. Joseph’s Home for the Aged on West 15th Street in Manhattan was a very grand building and I could see why Mary might fib her age to gain entry (check out last photo in below article):

https://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/ ... -the-aged/

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