Jane McDermott : Short Biography

Jane Frances McDermott (1883-1958) of Millmount, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, was the youngest daughter of Patrick McDermott (1856-1904) of Wooddown (son of John McDermott, farmer) and Margaret Scally aka Skelly (1854–?) of Marlinstown (dau. of Peter Scally, farmer) who were neighbours in Mullingar East and married in 1875. 

In 1901, Jane (age 18) was working as a machinist and living at home with her parents (and her sister Nellie aka Ellen) when she was recorded in the Irish Census at Millmount, Ballinderry, Mullingar South. Her father, Pat McDermott (1856-1904) was a labourer, who could only read. Her mother Margaret was illiterate. Only English was spoken in the household. Their tiny 2-room house was not thatch but had only one window to the front. Their landlord was T.L. Hutchinson. A Mary McDermott (nee Cosgrave – widow of publican William McDermott, The Freen) lived nearby.

In 1902, Jane was living at Millmount when she married Patrick Colgan (1881-1935) of Spoutwell Lane, Mullingar. The couple's witnesses were: Patrick Farrell & Mary Kennedy.

Patrick was a labourer who worked at the Mullingar Railway from 1905-1911 and later as a motor driver. 

Children: (all born at Millmount Rd)

• Christopher Joseph Colgan b. 1902 (his auntie Nellie McDermott present at birth) m. 1939 Margaret Tell, Mullingar

• Joseph Colgan b. 1903 

• Nora Colgan b. 1904

• Dermott William Colgan b. 1905 m. 1936 Agnes Carroll (1907-1958) Mullingar

• Patrick Edward Joseph Colgan (1908-1911) died in infancy

• John James Colgan (1909-1911) died in infancy

• Thomas Gabriel Colgan b. 1911 

• Francis Augustine Colgan b. 1913 

• Rita aka Margaret Mary Colgan b. 1915 

• Edward Michael Colgan b. 1917 

• George aka Gabriel Harold Colgan (1919-1987) b. Millmount Road, Mullingar | d. Crumlin, Dublin.  

Both Jane and Patrick could read & write. By 1911 were living in a slated/tiled house with 3 windows to the front, next door to Mary McDermott (no relation) publican's widow. SOURCE   

By April 1911, Jane's mother had moved to Petitswood where she worked as a gatekeeper. One of her grandchildren (surname FAY born in Dublin) was with her. 

In the summer of 1911, a double tragedy struck the family when a week after contracting measles, baby John died on June 25th. Highly contagious, young Patrick Jr also contracted measles and died on July 4th, age 3. (A vaccine against measles only became available in 1968).

The birth certs of their children born after 1911 reveal Patrick stopped working at the railway after this tragedy and went back to laboring work. The family was still residing at Millmount Road when their youngest, "George" was born in 1919. 

In 1935, Jane's husband Patrick Colgan died of pneumonia at the age of 54. Their daughter Rita Colgan was present at his death. SOURCE

Jane McDermott Colgan (1883-1958) lived out her life at Millmount Road. She died of TB, age 75. SOURCE