The Greenan and McCluskey Families
Sauk County, Wisconsin
The following chart shows how the Smith Siblings are related to the Greenan family: Three Greenan siblings immigrated to America and lived together in Brooklyn – Catharine (Greenan) Smith, Terrance Greenan and Alice (Greenan) McCabe. They may have had one more brother – Edward. “Irish” John Smith identified Edward Greenan’s children as cousins. Edward Greenan married Bridget Smyth and they lived in Milltown townland, Ematris Civil Parish, County Monaghan.
According to family lore, three young Irish children traveled by ship to America without their parents. They were Bridget, Owen and “Irish” John Smith. “Irish” John’s father, Peter, died during the height of the Irish Famine and John’s mother, Catharine, was living and working in Brooklyn. This story missed an important fact. These young Irish lads and lass did not travel alone. Their Uncle, Terry Greenan, traveled with these three young Irish kids during their voyage to America. Ship records normally show the order passengers boarded ship. Terence Green (Greenan) boarded the Centurian first. The Centurian sailed into New York harbor on July 18, 1850.
Notice Terence’s surname is spelled ‘Green’ instead of ‘Greenan’. We see this same spelling in other official documents too.
Where did the Greenans Live in Ireland?
We can never be 100% certain; however, old Irish land records provide some clues. “Irish” John Smith said he was born in ‘Russnaglogh’, Aghabog Parish, County Monaghan. Russnaglogh, or East Rossnaglogh townland, is approximately 65 Irish acres. 1833 Tithe Applotment records for Corravilla Townland show the following land leaseholders – Thomas Greenan, James Greenan, Peter Greenan, and Terry Greenan. Terry’s neighbors were William Smyth and John Smyth. William Smyth was our ancestor’s (Mary Smyth McPhillips) father. Corravilla is a townland next door to East Rossnaglogh townland. Old records also show Thomas and Anne Greenan were “Irish” John Smith’s baptismal sponsors.
By the mid-Eighteen hundreds we see a record showing the following two land leaseholders living in neighboring Urcher Townland, Kilmore Parish – Terrance Greenan and Catharine Smyth. In 1908 we know “Irish” John Smith visited relatives in Urcher Townland.
America
In 1914 “Irish” John wrote the following to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Pensions in Washington, D.C.: “The names of my brothers and sisters living in the year 1850 were Owen and Bridget Smith; and the names of my relatives who resided with me in Brooklyn N.Y. and who were not immediate members of the family were, my uncles Terance Greenen and Thomas McCabe”. In earlier correspondence he said he lived with his mother, “Katharine”, in 1850. From this information we were able to find the following census record for this family. Do you notice Terrence Greenan is listed as Terrance Green?
1850 US Federal Census; 7th Ward; Brooklyn City; County of King; State of New York
It is possible the McCabe family moved to Buffalo. The 1870 US census shows a Thomas McCabe family living in Buffalo and this Thomas was identified as a widower. Another possibility is this family stayed in Brooklyn as we see a historical document listing Mary Ann McCabe from Brooklyn.
Great Middle
Terry Greenan married Mary Smyth in Ireland. From this union at least two children were born – Alice and James. We assume the Greenans and Smyths traveled together on their way to Wisconsin. Where they lived between 1850 and 1860 is not known with any certainty. One of Catharine Smith’s children, Owen, may have been living in Buffalo, New York, in 1860. Other relatives also lived in Buffalo at this time. Perhaps Buffalo was one location where Terry Greenan and Catharine Smith lived prior to their departure for Wisconsin.
Sometime between 1850 and 1860 Mary, Alice, and James Greenan immigrated to America. During this time many Irish Americans worked and saved money to bring relatives over from the old country. Free land lured many Irish to leave their beloved country for a new life in the Americas. The Greenan and Smyth families left New York State perhaps traveling to Madison first. At some point they procured land in Bear Creek Township. Sauk County, Wisconsin. Bear Creek got its name from the little river which winds through the rugged hills and picturesque scenery.
When our ancestors moved to Wisconsin, Bear Creek Township was still wilderness. The Irish moved to this area at about the same time. By the late Eighteen Hundreds Bear Creek Township was known to have the highest concentration of Irish in Wisconsin. Indian Wars were still part of recent memory. Within 5 years of the Blackhawk War many Irish settlers began pouring into this little area in Wisconsin. By 1850 the Federal Government had resettled most Indians in this area; however, it was not until 1873 that all “non-conforming” Indians had been moved out of Sauk County.
The Irish tended to settle land in groups. In Ireland the Irish adopted a survival strategy by working in groups. They appear to have adopted the same strategy in this new land. The McCarville and Phelan families were among the first Irish families to settle in Bear Creek Township. Later our own ancestors, including Terry Greenan’s family, settled this heavily forested land.
By 1860 we see Terry Greenan (Terns Greene) and his family living by Irish John’s mother, Catharine (Greenan-Smyth) Rooney and her second husband, William Rooney. We know the Greenan and Rooney families were early settlers. Catharine’s obituary said she was one of the earliest settlers in Bear Creek having moved to this land when it was still a wilderness.
1860 US Federal Census; Bear Creek Township; County of Sauk; State of Wisconsin
On the other side of Terrance Greenan family lived a Thomas Donahoe family. Within a few years Terrance, Mary and James had died. Father, Terrance Greenan, died on December 5, 1866 aged 60 years. James Greenan died on June 23, 1863 aged 23 years. Mother, Mary Greenan, died October 5, 1865. Daughter, Alice Greenan, married Bernard McCluskey sometime in the last part of the Eighteen Sixties. By 1870 Alice (Greenan) McCluskey, husband and children were living on the old Greenan homestead. The McCluskey family lived by the Rooneys, “Irish” John and his brother, Owen Smith.
1870 US Federal Census; Bear Creek Township; County of Sauk; State of Wisconsin
The following is a basic genealogy chart for Terrance Greenan and Mary Smyth’s descendants. Alice Greenan and Bernard McCluskey had seven children as shown below.
Of Alice and Bernard’s children, we only have marriage information for James, Arthur, John and Peter. It is not known if Mary, Thomas or Bernard Jr. married nor had any children.
Other Facts about the McCluskey family:
- James J. McCluskey died on December 15, 1904 in Rockbridge, Wisconsin
- Mother, Alice Greenan, died on February 2, 1891 from a fall down a flight of stairs.
- Bernard McCluskey and Alice Greenan McCluskey are buried in two different cemeteries. Both are buried within 10 miles of each other.
- Arthur McCluskey died in 1963 in Sauk County Wisconsin.
- John J. McCluskey died on December 9, 1973, in Reedsburg, Sauk County, Wisconsin.
- Thomas J. McCluskey died on August 1, 1957, in Sauk County.
- Peter F. McCluskey died on January 6, 1971.
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March 2009