Person:Thomas Mugan (1)

From an email 26jul2005 from Mike Mugan-mikemugan<at>rogers.com

As for Thomas' age, the gravestone at Uptergrove indicates he died on May 9, 1902 at the age of 70 years. However the record of his marria ge to MARY MURPHY in 1866 and the 1891 Census suggest he was 26 and 50 respectively which indicates, at least when he had some say in the matter, that he was born in 1840 rather than 1832. His age did tend to fluctuate as he indicated he was 22, 32 and 38 years old for the 1861, 1871 and 1 881 Census respectively. The recently published 1901 Census indicates h is birthdate was May 20, 1839. Given that Thomas Mugan likely provided th is information himself and, subject to finding other information in Ireland, this date is considered definitive. His wife's age was relatively consistent in all published documents. The gravestone also appears inaccurate in that the indicated birth years of both of our Mugan grandparents are earlier than corroboratory information suggests.

The earliest indication of Thomas Mugan's presence in Canada is 1859 when he (Thomas Mughan) was a sponsor at the baptism of Bridget's second child recorded in the book of the Richmond Hill church. Shortly after, he a nd the Caufields moved north as confirmed in the 1861 Census which lists him as a 22 year old labourer in Uxbridge Township. It is not yet known wh ether he sailed to Canada with his sisters or whether they were accompanied by their parents but it is fair to speculate that Bridget took responsibility for her siblings after they lost their parents during the famine. Other Mugans are recorded as living in southwestern Ontario in the mid 1870's but there are no definitive ties. The next documented proof of his presence was his sponsorship along with Catherine Mugan of a child baptized at St. Joseph's Catholic Church at Beaverton in November 1863. (Mugan was spelled correctly).

1. ↑ Census Records
   1901 Census, Ontario, Ontario N.(97), Mara twp(h-2) p. 8.

   QUAY 3 #35 - 58,58; Mugan, Thomas, Head, married, born Ireland, 20 May 1839, age 61; emigrated in 1869; R. Cath., Farmer

2. ↑ tombstone
   St. Columbkille's Cem., Uptergrove, Ontario Co., Ont.; LDS fiche # 6087208, p. 38.

   QUAY 3 stone # 305, MUGAN: "Thomas, May 9, 1902, Ated 70 Years..."

3. ↑ obituary
   The Orillia Weekly Times, May 22, 1902.

   QUAY 3 UPTERGROVE
   It is with deep regret that we record the death of one of the most highly respected citizens of our township, Mr. Thomas Mugan, which sad event took place on the 9th. inst. after a brief illness. Mr . Mugan was a native of the County of Mayo, Ireland and came to Canada about fifty years ago. After spending a short time in Uxbridge and Scott Townships, he removed to Mara, and set to work to hew o ut a home for himself, and in a short time was the possessor of one of the finest farms in the township. The Divine ordinance that man should earn his bread by the sweat of his face was faithfully ob eyed by the late Mr. Mugan. By his death the township of Mara loses one of its best, and most useful citizens, and the Catholic church one of its most devout members. In politics the deceased wa s a staunch liberal. His funeral which took place on Sunday, the 11th. inst., was one of the largest ever seen in Mara and the vast concourse of people that followed him on his last drive along the r oad over which he passed so often in life was, certainly, a glowing tribute to his respect and memory.