GALLAGHER Family of Downingtown: Chester County, PA Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Paul Gallagher Copyright All Rights Reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/pafiles.htm ********************************************************* The Gallagher Family of Downingtown, PA The children of William Gallagher and his wife, Jane Clark Gallagher, began emigrating from County Donegal, Ireland to Chester County during and after the famine in Ireland that began in the 1840’s. The oldest son, William showed up in the census of 1850 in East Caln. Another daughter, Mary, after immigrating, married William Calhoun, also from County Donegal, on September 17, 1854 in the Catholic Church in Doe Run. The Calhoun family was shown living in West Bradford in the census of 1870. Their eleven children were baptized in St. Joseph’s in Downingtown. Another daughter, Jane, married James McNamee, and was listed in the 1860 census in East Caln. Their seven children were also baptized in St. Joseph’s in Downingtown. Son, Robert, emigrated in 1867 with his wife, Margaret Dewey, and settled in Conshohocken, Pa. Another son, Patrick, who is my grandfather, immigrated to the U.S. just before the American Civil War. He was listed in the census of 1860 in East Caln. On September 25, 1861, Patrick enlisted as a private in Co. B of the 53rd Volunteers of Chester County. The regiment took a prominent part in the engagement with the Confederates in Fair Oaks, VA on June 1, 1862. The regiment was also under fire at Malvern Hill and thence to a fierce battle in Antietam, where the 53rd was chosen to drive the enemy from their strong position at “Sunken Road”. Patrick was honorably discharged from the 53rd Pa Vol. on October 23, 1862 at Harper’s Ferry and immediately enlisted in the regular service on October 24, 1862 for a two year term and was paid a bounty of $100. He was assigned to Co. B, lst Regt. U.S. Cavalry, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac. Patrick was engaged with the Regiment in Virginia during cavalry skirmishes in Kelly’s Raid, - March 17, 1863 and Stoneman’s Raid, May 1863, and Beverly Ford – June 9, 1863. Patrick was captured at Shelby’s Gap on June 21st, 1863 and confined at Richmond, VA. He was exchanged for Confederate prisoners on July 5th, 1863. The regiment was engaged again at Manassas Junction and Catlett’s Station, November 5, 1863. There were a number of skirmishes around Richmond before the battle of Cold Harbor on May 31st and June 1st. 1864. Besides the battles mentioned above, Patrick shared the fortunes of the regiment in Sheridan’s First Raid, - May 25th to June 1stm 1864; the Wilderness – May 7th and 8th, 1864; Sheridan’s Second Raid – June 10th to 25th, 1864; Deep Bottom – July 27th, 1864; Rockville – July 10th to 13th, 1864, and Sucker’s Gap – July 17th, 1864. He was honorably discharged at camp near Middletown, VA on October 24, 1864. After returning home he returned to his job on the Pennsylvania Railroad. He married Annie Sheehy, a native of Thurles, Tipperary, Ireland in 1866 at West Chester and took up residence in Downingtown. They had eleven children, the ninth youngest being my father, Edward. Patrick worked as a foreman on the railroad after the war and died at a young age in 1892 of illness incurred during his war service. He was mustered into the Hancock Post, #255, GAR, Downingtown, on June 15, 1887. Patrick Gallagher, and his first cousin, Patrick McNamee, PA Cavalry, are buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery. Patrick’s other two first cousins, Edward and Patrick Sheehy, who served with the Pennsylvania Militia when Lee invaded Pennsylvania are also buried in St. Joseph’s. Anyone tracking this family please feel free to contact me by email: pgallagher80@optonline.net This file is located at http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/chester/history/family/gallagher.txt