In Conclusion

I can now report with confidence the following new or corrected information. Corrected 23 March 2021. 

Dennis Buggy

Dennis Buggy was born on or before 6 June 1829 to Richard Buggy and Mary Brannagan, probably at the Buggy family residence in Kyleballynamoe Townland, Tubbridbritain Civil Parish, Freshford Catholic Parish, County Kilkenny, Ireland.[1]

He was baptized 6 June 1829 in Freshford Catholic Parish, County Kilkenny, Ireland.[2]

Dennis Buggy married 1) Alice Fagan on 23 September 1854 in Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut.[3]

Dennis Buggy married Catherine Phelan on 20 January 1856 at St. Mary Church, Derby, New Haven County, Connecticut.[4]  The couple may also have married on 17 January in Naugatuck.[5]

Please add this new information, along with its source information, to genealogy databases.  The sources are usually found in the footnotes and can be copied into database notes.

To cite this blog, write: Judy Kellar Fox, “[title of blog post],“ Pinpointing Dennis Buggy’s Irish Origins, posted [date of post] (http://foxkellarbuggy.blogspot.com : accessed [date you read it]).

Please ask permission before copying the narrative text: foxkellarj@comcast.net.

Many thanks to Ruth McLaughlin, Matthew Whalen, Michel Ann Dobyns, and my friend and yoga teacher (a Dennis Buggy descendant) for inspiration, encouragement and sharing.

Thanks to you for joining me.  It’s been a fun challenge.  I learned a lot, and I hope you did, too.

THE END (until new information surfaces to require reevaluation)

© 2013 Judy Kellar Fox, CG, foxkellarj@comcast.net.

---

[1] Catholic Church, Freshford Parish (Kilkenny, Ireland), Parochial Registers, 1773-1881, Baptisms, 1825-1847, p. 66, Denis Buggy (1829); Family History Library microfilm 926,192, item 3.

[2] Ibid.

[3] [This record is for a different Dennis Buggy, who married only Alice Fagan.] Sharon [last name not given], Town/City Clerk’s Office (Derby, Connecticut; 203-736-1462), telephone interview by Judy Kellar Fox, 8 April 2013, citing an old, fading marriage index held at the Town/City Clerk’s Office. 

[4] St. Mary Church (Derby, Connecticut), marriage book, arranged chronologically, Dennis Buggy and Catherine Phelin (1857); Archdiocese of Hartford Archives, Hartford.

[5] Questionnaire 3—389, Dennis Buggy (Pvt., Co. K, 20^th Conn. Vols., Civil War), pension claim no. 1355777 (Rejected); Case Files of Rejected Pension Applications, Civil War; Records of the Bureau of Pensions and Its Predecessors; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington, D.C.

[6] Dennis Buggy obituary, Faribault County [Minnesota] Register, 27 May 1915; Blue Earth Community Library, Blue Earth, Minnesota.  See also, Questionnaire 3—447, Dennis Buggy pension claim no. 1355777 (Rejected), Civil War, RG 15, NA-Washington.

[7] “The Phelan Descendants: The Buggy Family, The Delaney Family, The Dollard Family,” privately held, 2013, 8.

12. The Buggy-Brannagan Family of Freshford: A Possible Match!

Despite several discrepancies with U. S. sources for Dennis Buggy’s family, the Richard Buggy-Mary Brannagan family of Kile, Freshford Parish, County Kilkenny, bears closer examination because its Denis is approximately the correct age to be Dennis Buggy the immigrant. 

The Richard Buggy-Mary Brannagan Family of Freshford

County Kilkenny, Ireland

Catholic Church, Freshford Parish (Kilkenny, Ireland), Parochial Registers, 1773-1881, Baptisms, 1800-1825 (first item in chart only), and Baptisms, 1825-1847, pages as indicated in column 1; Family History Library microfilm 926,192, items 1, 3.

page	date	child	father	mother	male sponsor	female sponsor	residence
[none]	7 Feb 1825 26	Elizabeth Buggy	Richard Buggy	Mary Branagan	[none]	Margaret Buggy	Kile
1	7 Feb 1825	Eliza	Richd Buggy	Mary Branagan	[none]	Margt Buggy	2-6 Kile St G[___]
35	16 Apr 1827	John	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Joseph Talent	Judy Qualey	Kile
66	6 June 1829	Denis	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Andy Buggy	Kath Quealey	Kile
101	23 July 1831	James	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Richd Fitzgerald	Catharine Brannagan	Kile
167	21 Jan 1835 T M	Patt	Richd Buggy	Mary Branagan	Jas Hogue	Mary Fitzgerald	Kile
217	17 Aug 1837 T M	Michl	Rich d Buggy	Mary Brannagan	James Butler	Mary Hayne	Kile
262	12 Apr 1840 R. T.M.	Rich d	Rich d Buggy	Mary Branigan	Edm d Hoyne	Ellen Campion	Kile

Elizabeth and Eliza Buggy, born in 1825, are the same child.  The first entry is at the very end of one parish register, and the second is on the first page of a new register.  The consistency of the ink and handwriting in all entries in the registers suggests that they were copied into the books from notations made on slips of paper.  The priest entered Eliza's baptism in the old book and repeated it in the new one. 

Freshford baptisms from 1820 through 1847 show the above children and no others baptized for this couple.  Marriages were examined from 1820 forward, and there is no Richard Buggy-Mary Brannagan marriage recorded in the Freshford Roman Catholic parish registers.[1]  Given the timing and frequency of births from 1825 through 1840, more baptisms would be expected before 1825 if the couple had been married and living in Freshford earlier.  Firstborn Eliza is not mentioned as illegitimate, so Richard Buggy-Mary Brannagan probably married elsewhere and moved to Freshford parish some time before her baptism.  They may have had other children elsewhere as well.

Comparing with the Phelan Family History

The Phelan family history book asserts that Dennis Buggy’s parents Richard Buggy and Mary Butler were buried in Freshford.[2]  Unfortunately, the microfilmed Freshford parish registers do not include burials.  Baptism records (above) do show that the couple was there at least through 1840.

The family book also lists the children of Richard Buggy and Mary Butler and where they resided, in this order:[3]

            John Buggy (Ireland-Naugatuck, Connecticut)

            Dennis Buggy (Ireland-Minnesota)

            Patrick Buggy (Ireland-Naugatuck, Connecticut)

            Elizabeth Buggy Neary (Ireland-Naugatuck, Connecticut

            Henry Buggy (died in Ireland)

            James Buggy (died in Ireland)

            Michael Buggy (Ireland-Waukon, Iowa)

            Richard Buggy (Waukon, Iowa)

Here’s how they match with the Freshford family of Richard Buggy and Mary Brannagan:

Freshford Buggys in order of baptism	Phelan book birth order
1. Eliza/Elizabeth Buggy	4. Elizabeth Buggy Neary
2. John Buggy	1. John Buggy
3. Denis Buggy	2. Dennis Buggy
4. James Buggy	6. James Buggy
5. Patt Buggy	3. Patrick Buggy
6. Michl Buggy	7. Michael Buggy
7. Richd Buggy	8. Richard Buggy
	5. Henry Buggy

  

Except for Henry, who does not appear in Freshford parish records, the children’s names are the same.[4]  It appears that these are Dennis Buggy and his siblings, seven children baptized in Freshford Parish, County Kilkenny, Ireland.

Making this match on the basis of name matching is tenuous.  It's useful to seek more information, in U.S. and Irish records, to confirm the identity.

Another look at U. S. records, this time for Dennis’ siblings who also immigrated, is in order.  First, though, back to Dennis, whose U. S. marriage record has turned up.

Update, 26 May 2013

Like many family books compiled from saved records, reminiscences, and scraps of data, The Phelan family history has inaccuracies.  Official records contradict some information, and I’ve indicated the discrepancies in this blog.  Public records, created by persons in an official capacity (priests, town recorders) are generally reliable.  They were created close to the time the event took place.  In general, I trust them more than family members’ recollections.

I cannot explain why the Phelan family book claims that Dennis Buggy’s mother was Mary Butler and that he had a brother with the decidedly un-Irish name of Henry.  These statements conflict with official parish records, and I can only attribute them to errors of memory or copying.  Perhaps these were names from other branches of the Phelan family.

Next Time: Twice-Married Dennis Buggy

© 2013 Judy Kellar Fox, CG, foxkellarj@comcast.net.

---

[1] Catholic Church, Freshford Parish (Kilkenny, Ireland), Parochial Registers, 1773-1881, Marriages, 1799-1877; Family History Library microfilm 926,192, item 2.

[2] “The Phelan Descendants: The Buggy Family, The Delaney Family, The Dollard Family,” privately held, 2013, 8.

[3] Ibid., 3, 4.

[4] Henry rarely appears as a given name in the Freshford Catholic parish registers, suggesting that the family record of this child may be confused.

11. Freshford Parish Records: Good News and Bad

Freshford Catholic Parish registers record a baptism for a “Denis” Buggy, son of Richard Buggy.[1]  We expect that it will match Dennis Buggy who was born 11 June 1830 to Richard Buggy and Mary Butler.[2]  It doesn’t.  The baptism took place 6 June 1829, a whole year earlier, and although the father was Richard Buggy, the mother was Mary Brannagan, not Butler.  This conflicting information means either that it is the wrong Dennis Buggy or that more research and analysis are in order to explain the conflicts.

Here are the Buggy baptisms in Freshford Catholic Church from 1827 through 1833, a good chunk of time, with Dennis Buggy’s proposed birth date (1830) in the middle.  The columns include the page number in the baptism book; the date of baptism (not birth) and sometimes the initials of the priest; the child’s name; the father’s name; the mother’s name; the names of the male and female sponsors; and the residence of the child.

A glance shows that there are two Denis Buggy baptisms and four Richard Buggy fathers, each with a different wife!

Buggy Baptisms, Freshford Catholic Church, 1827-1833

p	date	child	father	mother	male sponsor	female sponsor	residence
29	30 Nov 1826	John	Richd Buggy	Mary Morris	John Grace	Betty Morris	Rathmoyle
35	16 Apr 1827	John	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Joseph Talent	Judy Qualey	Kile
61	26 Jan 1829	James	Richd Buggy	Mary Morris	James Saler	Mary White	Rathmoyle
64	8 Apr 1829	Denis	Michl Buggy	Judy Meighan	John Quigly	Judy Buggy	Kile
66	6 June 1829	Denis	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Andy Buggy	Kath Quealey	Kile
71	23 Nov 1829	Juliana	Richd Buggy	Margt Butler[? ink blot]	John Ca[__t__]ll	Judy Qua[ley]	[black ink blot]
101	23 July 1831	James	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Richd Fitzgerald	Catharine Brannagan	Kile
102	7 Aug 1831	Judith	Richard Buggy	Mary Morris	John Buggy	Margaret McCabe	Rathmoyle
113 J M	28 March 1832	Mary Peggy	Richard Buggy	Peggy Butler	Michael Butler	Judy Buggy	Kile
123 J F	17 Oct 1832	Michl	Richd Buggy	Cathe Culle[man?]	Phill Donge[__]cy [Doughercy?]	Cathe Young	Liss
128 J M	5 Feb 1833	Mary	John Buggy	Judy Hicky	Jas Holahan	Biddy Pantill	Rathmoyle

Reshuffling the table gives an overview of the Buggy families baptizing children during this time:

• ·      Richard Buggy and Mary Morris of Rathmoyle, 3 children, 1826-1831
• ·      Michael Buggy and Judy Meighan of Kile, 1 child, 1829
• ·      Richard Buggy and Mary Brannagan of Kile, 3 children, 1827-1831
• ·      Richard Buggy and Margaret Butler of Kile, 2 children, 1829-1832
• ·      Richard Buggy and Catherine Culleman[?] of Liss, 1 child, 1832
• ·      John Buggy and Judy Hicky of Rathmoyle, 1 child, 1833

p	date	child	father	mother	male sponsor	female sponsor	residence
29	30 Nov 1826	John	Richd Buggy	Mary Morris	John Grace	Betty Morris	Rathmoyle
61	26 Jan 1829	James	Richd Buggy	Mary Morris	James Saler	Mary White	Rathmoyle
102	7 Aug 1831	Judith	Richard Buggy	Mary Morris	John Buggy	Margaret McCabe	Rathmoyle
64	8 Apr 1829	Denis	Michl Buggy	Judy Meighan	John Quigly	Judy Buggy	Kile
35	16 Apr 1827	John	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Joseph Talent	Judy Qualey	Kile
66	6 June 1829	Denis	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Andy Buggy	Kath Quealey	Kile
101	23 July 1831	James	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Richd Fitzgerald	Catharine Brannagan	Kile
71	23 Nov 1829	Juliana	Richd Buggy	Margt Butler[? ink blot]	John Ca[__t__]ll	Judy Qua[ley]	[black ink blot]
113 J M	28 March 1832	Mary Peggy	Richard Buggy	Peggy Butler	Michael Butler	Judy Buggy	Kile
123 J F	17 Oct 1832	Michl	Richd Buggy	Cathe Culle[man?]	Phill Donge[__]cy [Doughercy?]	Cathe Young	Liss
128 J M	5 Feb 1833	Mary	John Buggy	Judy Hicky	Jas Holahan	Biddy Pantill	Rathmoyle

Shuffling again allows comparison of the two Denis Buggy entries:

64	8 Apr 1829	Denis	Michl Buggy	Judy Meighan	John Quigly	Judy Buggy	Kile
66	6 June 1829	Denis	Richd Buggy	Mary Brannagan	Andy Buggy	Kath Quealey	Kile

The first, older Denis can be eliminated, as both his parents are incorrect.  What about the second one?

The birthdate: A baptism of 6 June supposes a birthdate on or before that date, not later (as 11 June). 

The birth month: the same as Dennis Buggy the immigrant!

The birth year: As noted in an earlier blog post, Dennis Buggy’s birth year as reported by U. S. and Minnesota censuses extends from 1828 through 1833.[3]  Only the 1910 census would place his birth year in 1829.[4]  It’s a good match, but not strong enough alone to outweigh other conflicting information.

The father: the same!

The mother: Brannagan is an unknown surname, as Butler is expected.  Adding to the conflict, a Margaret Butler is one of the Freshford Richard Buggy wives, and living in the same community (Kile) as the Buggy-Brannagan couple.  Could the memory of the informant of Dennis Buggy’s mother’s name have been confused?

More research will untangle the threads.  Here’s the plan: 

• ·      Examine parish records for earlier and later baptisms for the Buggy-Brannagan couple to develop a picture of the whole family.
• ·      Discover Dennis Buggy’s siblings and see if they match the Buggy-Brannagan children.  If they do, it will be fairly safe to say that Denis Buggy born 6 June 1829 in Freshford is the same as Dennis Buggy who died 1915 in Minnesota.  If not…

Next Time: Examining the Whole Buggy-Brannagan Family of Freshford

---

[1] Catholic Church, Freshford Parish (Kilkenny, Ireland), Parochial Registers, 1773-1881, Baptisms, 1825-1847, p. 66, Denis Buggy baptism (1829); FHL microfilm 926,192, item 3.

[2] “The Phelan Descendants,” privately held, 8.  Also, Dennis Buggy obituary, Faribault County [Minnesota] Register, 27 May 1915.

[3] Judy Kellar Fox, “3.  Dennis Buggy in Censuses,” Pinpointing Dennis Buggy’s Irish Origins (http://foxkellarbuggy.blogspot.com/2013/03/3-dennis-buggy-in-censuses.html), “Summary of Dennis Buggy ages as given in censuses.”

[4] 1910 U. S. Census, Faribault County, Minnesota, population schedule, Pilot Grove, ED 80, sheet 11 (penned), dwelling 173, family 176, Richard M. Boggy household; digital image, Ancestry.com; NA microfilm publication T624, roll 696; FHL microfilm 1,374,709.

© 2013 Judy Kellar Fox, CG, foxkellarj@comcast.net.