Living

Other Events:

• Other: Oakland, Michigan, USA
• Reference Number: 2187
• Residence: 1900, Goodland, Lapeer, Michigan, USA

Freeland married Emma Jeddo. Emma was born in 1888. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 413
• Residence: 1930, Elmer, Sanilac, Michigan, USA

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 2795
• Residence: 1870, Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1880, Burton, Genesee, Michigan, USA

Notes:

Birth:
4/23/1861--where from

Julius married Mary McCarthy on 26 Feb 1884 in Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan, USA. Mary was born in 1861 in Elba, Lapeer, Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 61
• Residence: 1900, Goodland, Lapeer, Michigan, USA

Other Events:

• Birth: Fort Ann, Washington, New York, USA
• Name: William Irish
• Reference Number: 5901
• Birth: 1830, New York, USA
• Birth: 12 May 1830, New York, USA
• Birth: 1831, New York, USA
• Birth: May 1831, New York, USA
• Birth: 1832, New York, USA
• Birth: 1834, New York, USA
• Birth: 14 May 1834, Washington, New York, USA
• Residence: 1850, Fort Ann, Washington, New York, USA
• Residence: 1855, Fort Ann, Washington, New York, USA
• Residence: 1860, Davison, Genesee, Michigan, USA
• _MILT: Between 22 Aug 1864 and 6 Sep 1865, Cowan, Franklin, Tennessee, USA; Civil War-A Co 29th Mi Inf
• Residence: 1870, Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1880, Tuscola, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1900, Ellington, Tuscola, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1910; Almer, Tuscola, Michigan
• Probate: 14 Aug 1914, Caro, Tuscola, Michigan, USA; see notes for probate news

Notes:

Born May 14, 1834 in Fort Ann, Washington, New York to Amos Irish and Vina Harris of Fort Ann. His parentage is confirmed by a Marriage Record filed in Lapeer County on 10 Aug 1901 where he lists the names of his parents. (The book, Descendants of John Irish, The Immigrant, lists his parents as David Irish and Sally Phelps, but we now know that is incorrect)

He married Henrietta Phelps, daughter of Reuben Gibson Phelps and Mary Crossett of Fort Ann in Kingsbury, Washington, New York by 1857. On his military pension application paperwork he listed this date as 1842, which is obviously incorrect, as he would have been only 8 at the time. In the 1850 Census he was living with Amos and Vina Irish without a wife. So perhaps he meant 1852. His first child was born abt May 1855. (Albert on the 6/13/1855 New York State Census for Fort Ann as 1 month old; apparently died young, does not appear on any future census)

On the 1855 New York State Census for Fort Ann he and Henrietta are living with his parents, Amos and Vina.

By the 1860 census he and Henrietta are living within a few households of his in-laws, Reuben G and Mary Phelps in Davison, Genesee, Michigan.

On 12/14/1861 he is living in Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan where is listed on the Tuscola County marriage record of Henrietta’s aunt Sarah Rebecca Phelps; “I do hereby certify that on the fifteenth day of December in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one at the house of William Irish in the Township of Fairgrove Joseph O. Shultz aged twenty three and Sarah R Phelps aged sixteen years both of the Township of Fairgrove”

On 22 Aug 1864 William Irish joined the 29th Michigan Infantry to serve in the War of the Rebellion. He was a private stationed in Cowan, Tennessee. After prolonged exposure to an ice storm, while guarding a railroad bridge, he fell ill and spent the rest of his life with lung and digestive problems. He was discharged from the Army for medical reasons on 06 Sep 1865.

On the 1870 and 1880 census he is still living in Fairgrove with Henrietta.

His wife, Henrietta died, 5 Oct 1887. Her gravestone which is next to Williams in Moreland Cemetery in Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan says; “Henriette Wife of Wm. Irish Jan 28, 1835-Oct 5 1887”.

On the 1900 Census he is living in Ellington, Tuscola, Michigan with his daughter Sophronia.

William remarried 10 Aug 1901 to Laura Murna, daughter of Julius Balwin and Lucinda Pierce, both of NY . She died about 1906-1907. We know no more about her. It is on this Lapeer County Marriage record where we find our only known record of his parents names.

On the 1910 census he is living in Almer, Tuscola, Michigan with his daughter Sophronia.

He died on 14 July 1913 in Caro where he was living with his daughter Ida. His gravestone in Moreland Cemetery, Fairgrove reads; “William Irish Pvt 29th Mich Inf July 14, 1915”. The year on the gravestone is obviously incorrect as his military pension records clearly show he died 7/14/1913, the Tuscola County death ledger shows 7/14/1913 and a probate file was opened in Tuscola County on 8/14/1914.

Willis Irish in his book has William married to Polly by 1855 and only marrying Henrietta, his housekeeper after Polly dies. That is incorrect. His military pension file shows he married Henrietta Phelps in Kingsbury, New York. We have Tuscola County birth records for two of their children, Mary and Ida which both show Henrietta as the mother. We have the marriage record for his son Alfred which also shows Henrietta as the mother. A form to obtain burial reimbursement from the bureau of pensions filed by his son-in-law after his death lists Henrietta as his first wife and Mrs. Murna as his second wife. The wives are numbered first and second and Polly is not mentioned. The 1855 New York state census lists Polly as a child of Amos. It is obvious that Polly is a sister to William.

William’s date of birth varies from 1830 to 1834 on the census records. He also supplied at least 3 different years of birth during his pension application process. The bureau of pensions finally accepted 1832 as correct. This would conflict with the 1850 census by two years, which is the earliest census record where his age is listed.

(P130) Civil War Pension File- NARA
2/15/1909 affidavit of William Irish-

I make the following declaration, to correct a statement made by me on March 3, 1907 in which I stated I was 77 years of age born May 14, 1829. That was an error. I was born May 14, 1832 and am past 76 years of age. There is no record public or private of my (birth). (Ever) since I could remember I knew my birthday was May 14 and that I was born in 1832. My memory is not as good as when I was younger and when making the statement called on gave 1829 when I should have said 1832 which I am positive is the correct date.

Signed with his mark (Note: we know from census info that neither William or Henrietta could read or write)

Witnessed by
N E Tallmadge
John Abell

Notes:(Nathaniel E Tallmadge is the husband of his daughter Sophronia Irish)
(John Abell is the husband of his daughter Ida Irish)

It should be noted that age has a bearing on the amount of pension paid. At age 62, age 70 and age 75 the rates go up. So there is an incentive for the pensioner to pad his age. William Irish’s earliest age record would be the Oct 1850 census where he was listed as 16. That would translate to a year of birth of 1834, which would make him younger and pay him less pension money. The book “The Descendants of John Irish” lists him at 1834. A listing of census dates, ages and translated years of birth recorded before the pension application is as follows:

Oct 1850 Census 16 1834
August 1860 Census 28 1832
June 1870 Census 39 1831
June 1880 Census 50 1830

So it would seem that every 10 years he aged 11 or 12 years! I would say that as the years went by he probably forgot his year of birth and the earlier entries listed are more likely to be correct. 1834, which was the earliest entry used would probably have the most likelihood of being correct.

The Tuscola County Birth Ledger entry for his daughter Mary Udora Irish lists William and Henrietta as both being born in Fort Ann, New York. The other birth, death and marriage records only list New York. William’s military pension application lists Washington County, New York as his place of birth.

Children of William Irish and Henrietta Phelps:

Albert b abt May 1855 apparently died young

Vermilla b.1857-58 New York

Alfred b. Feb 1860 Michigan m. Mary T Gelisse 19 Apr 1892 Reese, Tuscola, Michigan

Julius b. 23 Apr 1861 Fairgrove d. 11 Feb 1940 Sandusky, Sanilac, Michigan
m. Mary McCarthy 26 Feb 1884 Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan

Sophronia b. Mar 1868 d. 1937 m. Elias Bills 4 Jul 1883 Flint, Genesee, Michigan m. Nathaniel Eugene Tallmadge 10 Dec 1892 Lapeer, Lapeer, Michigan

Mary Udora b. 19 May 1870 Fairgrove m. Alfred Ralston 4 Oct 1886 Caro, Tuscola, Michigan m. Samuel Wedge 22 Feb 1905 Bay City, Bay, Michigan

Nellie (Nettie) b. Jun 1872 Fairgrove m. William E Gillett 3 Jun 1894 Grand Blanc, Genesee, Michigan

Ida b. 14 Aug 1876 Fairgrove m. John Abell

Sources:

Tuscola County Birth Records: Ida Irish, Mary Irish

Tuscola County Death Records: William Irish, Henrietta Irish

Tuscola County Marriage Records: Alfred Irish, Ida Irish, Mary Irish, Sarah R Phelps

Genesee County Marriage Records: Sophronia Irish, Nellie Irish

Lapeer County Marriage records: Sophronia Irish, William Irish

Bay County Marriage Records: Mary Irish

Military Pension Records File (NARA): William Irish

US Census Records: 1850, 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900 and 1910
Descendants of John Irish The Immigrant 1629-1963 and Families by Willis Luther Irish And Stella Bertha (Putnam) Irish 1964
Some notes on his Civil War Pension file from NARA: Verifies most of the info we already knew about William. The major exception is that nothing about his parents is stated. Added info about a 2nd wife later in life. As part of the pension process the government asked for statements from people who knew him and served with him in the army. There are 21 handwritten statements, some 3-4 pages long. The only name we have heard before is Samuel Fairbanks. Also statements from doctors paint a picture of a sickly man who had many difficulties as life went on. Amazing that he made it to 82 years of age. I find fascinating the statements from his fellow comrades in the military. In the winter of 1865 he was involved in guarding a railway bridge in Cowan, Tennessee. He was exposed to a violent sleet storm during a 6 hour guard shift. His corporeal who relieved him of guard duty said he was coated with ice. He got very sick, very bad cold, coughing and basically the rest of his life, slowly got worse. Coughing and lung problems never went away. Constant bouts of severe diarrhea throughout his life. Everyone who knew him stated that when he came back from the service he was constantly coughing. One said he came back half the man he once was. Medical conditions are catarrh and catarrah of the head, lung problems, kidney problems, partial deafness, intestinal problems. Some of the forms say 5'10" some 5'7". Weight from 115 lbs to 125 lbs. A doctor who examined him in 1885 (note-this was before Henrietta had died) stated emaciated, unable to walk around but for short distances, unable to work.

More Notes:
(P117-118) William Irish died July 14, 1913 per John Abell, his son-in-law, with whom he was living at the time at 214 E Goarty St (on numerous bureau records) (John Abell wrote in hand 214 E Grant St)(P99) in Caro, Mi. Buried in Moreland Cemetery. (in 1900 and 1910 he was staying with Sophronia, but in 1913 when he died he was staying with Ida).

(P128, P123) (William Irish stated he was born in Washington County, New York.)

(P117) 1st wife was Henrietta Phelps who died about 10/5/1888 (note: we show 10/5/1887 per cemetery record) 2nd wife was Mrs Neuezna (Neuersna?Neuerna?Neuerma?) first name unknown died about 1906 (this was per John Abell on Application for Reimbursement Form on April 18,1914)(must have been married after 1900, cause not show up on any census) (Unusual that the children did not know her first name)

(P106) Married 1842 in Kingsbury, Washington County, New York. He stated never previously married. Per Pension form filled out June 4, 1898 by William Irish. Note:(obviously incorrect date, he would have been 8 at the time. Another reason why we have problems with dates) (we know from the census it would be after 1850. 1st child born 1857) (Kingsbury is just south of Fort Ann on the map)

(P137) Original pension application filed May 16, 1888. (This would have been after Henrietta had died) (this appears to be the earliest form)

(P6) Sept 10, 1890-pension application form-not the first application.

(P12) July 27, 1888 bureau of pensions requests records from war dept

(P37) Nov 27,1890-deposition of Wm Irish explaining his illness. Witness Miss Nettie Irish and James E. Hoye (James E Hoye was an employee of the Bureau of Pensions in East Saginaw.)

(P97) Another document witnessed by Miss Nettie Irish.

This shows us that Nettie is the going name for his daughter Nellie (who would have been 18 at the time) The two references I had earlier come up with for Nettie Irish who I believed could be William’s daughter, now I am sure that they are his daughter.

(P111) casket receipt $91


Birth:
pension records, dau mary birth record,1850 census

Birth:
date not given

Birth:
from death cert--this is probably incorrect date

Birth:
from military pension paperwork

Buried:
Moreland Cemetery

Died:
Buried Moreland Cemetery, Tuscola, Michigan, USA

William married Henrietta Phelps between 1850 and 1855 in Kingsbury, Washington, New York, USA. Henrietta (daughter of Reuben Gibson Phelps and Mary Crossett) was born on 28 Jan 1835 in Fort Ann, Washington, New York, USA; died on 5 Oct 1887 in Tuscola, Michigan, USA; was buried after 5 Oct 1887 in Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan, USA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 5949
• Residence: 1850, Fort Ann, Washington, New York, USA
• Residence: 1855, Fort Ann, Washington, New York, USA
• Residence: 1860, Davison, Genesee, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1870, Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan, USA
• Residence: 1880, Fairgrove, Tuscola, Michigan, USA

Notes:

Tuscola County Death ledger record----10/24/1887 Henrietta Irish female white married 68y 9m 3d died Fairgrove pneumonia born Canada housewife unknown parents parents residence Canada

The age is 16 years off, Canada is incorrect, parents from England is incorrect. But am unable to find another Henrietta Irish or another unrelated Irish family in the area. Dod is close. This may be correct person with lots of incorrect information on the record.

Inscription Moreland Cemetery-Fairgrove. 1/28/1835 to 10/5/1887 wife of William

Name appears as Hannah on 1855, 1860 and 1880 census.
Name appears as Henrietta on husbands military pension and 1880 census.
Name appears as Henriette or Hanriett on fathers will, grave stone and dau Mary's birth certificate. 1880 census is conclusive if last letter is a or e.


Buried:
Moreland Cemetery

Notes:

Married:
per statement on Williams pension application