Michael (1844-1889) and Mary Ann Hannigan (1837-????) met while working at an estate in Lisnamoe, County Tipperary, Ireland. They were married June 4, 1864 in Ballymackey, County Tipperary, where her father, George Oder Quin, was a Clerk of the Church. His brother, Pat Hannigan, was a witness (Best Man) to the wedding.
Evidently the three of them departed for Liverpool shortly thereafter as the Ship John C. Clark sailed from Liverpool on or about the 15th of June for New York City. There were four passengers with the surname of Hannigan on-board the ship from County Limerick: Patrick, Mary and Michael, and an additional person, which appears to be David. It is not known if David was related.
The three of them disembarked at Castle Garden, Manhattan on August 03, 1864 and found themselves in Staten Island, New York. Michael and Mary Ann would only have one child, who was born at sea on June 30, 1864. They named the boy Cornelius George after his grandfathers.
Sometime in 1883 St. Austin’s Military School opened in the old Garner Mansion on Staten Island. Both Michael and Mary Anne soon found employment and housing there, Michael as a coachman and Mary Anne as a servant/cook.
St. Austin’s Military School is a defunct American military academy formerly located in the West Brighton section of Staten Island, New York.
The school was founded in 1883 by the Rev. Alfred G. Mortimer with the name St. Austin’s Episcopal School for Boys. The name of the school was soon changed to St. Austin’s Military School. In 1898, it moved to Connecticut.
While on Staten Island the school was housed in the former Garner Mansion on St. Austin’s Place. A nearby street named St. Austin’s Place is a reminder of the school.
A death notice was placed in the November 13, 1889 issue of The New York Times and The New York Herald indicates Michael died at his residence on Bard Avenue, West New Brighton, Staten Island on Tuesday morning, November 12.
Death announcement of Michael Hannigan
A funeral and interment notice was placed in the November 14, 1889 issue of The New York Herald which indicates Michael died at his residence on Bard Avenue, West New Brighton, Staten Island on Tuesday morning, November 12. His funeral arrangements were from his home and he was to be buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens.
Funeral arrangements announced with interment information.
A further funeral notice was placed in the November 15, 1889 issue of The New York Herald which indicates a time change for friend in New York to meet the Staten Island boat.
Funeral information modified
The 1900 Federal Census lists Mary Hannigan, born in Ireland in Aug 1837, still working as a cook at St. Austin’s Boarding School on Bard Avenue, Staten Island. Shortly after the Census was enumerated the School closed on Staten Island and was moved to Connecticut. When and where Mary passed away remains a mystery and whether she remained on Staten Island or moved to Connecticut is unknown.