Charles McHugh married Ellen McDease, 1880

Charles McHugh and Ellen (Helen) McDease were married in Enniskillen, Pettigo, Fermanagh, on 25 November 1880. Their ages would have made them both born about 1858.

Ellen's father was William McDease, and that is all the information I have on the McDease family. Griffiths Valuation does not list a William McDease as owning land anywhere in Ireland. There was, however, a Patrick McDease who lived in Billary, Templecarn, Donegal in the Valuation. It is possible that William was living with him - perhaps Patrick was William's father. Ellen was not born until about 1858, so perhaps William had not married and moved out yet. This connection to Templecarn could explain how Ellen met Charles McHugh, whose father Bernard lived in Carn, Templecarn, Donegal at this same time.

Charles' father was Bernard McHugh.Griffiths Valuation has only 2 Bernard McHughs in Donegal. The one of interest to us lives in Carn, in Templecarn parish, which is where our Charles spent his adult life, and probably grew up.

At the time of his marriage, Charles was a farmer in Kilgarnan, Pettigo, Donegal. Ellen was a farmer in Kilmore, Pettigo, Donegal. Charles and Ellen had 4 children, all born in Carn, Pettigo, Donegal, therefore we can assume the couple lived there all of their married life. Ellen has died prior to the 1901 census. Her youngest child was born in 1893, so she died sometime in between.

Charles and Ellen's 4 children, Mary, Catherine, Thomas, and Charles, Jr., all came to America in 1903. Family lore states that the father, knowing he was dying, sold the farm and gave them the money to come to America. I have no information on Charles the father's death.

Any help adding to these families would be appreciated!