Margaret Elizabeth Forgrave : Short Biography

Margaret Elizabeth Forgrave, daughter of Thomas James Forgrave and Margaret Togaraul, was born Presbyterian in Garvagh, in Errigal parish, in Derry, in Ireland, on 18 June 1861. Her father, Thomas, was born in Ireland and was a farmer in Aghadowey. According to Griffith's 1859 Valuation, Thomas owns Halfshare of Plot 24, a 16.5 acre crop farm with James Forgrave, who is likely his brother. Thomas also owns a quarter share of a 65 acre mountain grazing plot with James, Anne, and Jane Forgrave, who are likely his sisters. Lady Garvagh is the landlord. Thomas was born in 1811 and died in Cah, Errigal, Derry, Ireland 10 July 1901. Margaret neé Torgaraul Forgrave was born in 1818 in Ireland and died in 1874 in Coleraine, Derry, Ireland at age 56. Her siblings, all born in Garvagh, were John James Harvey Forgrave, born about 1844, immigrated to Ontario, Canada prior to 1872, married Susanna Crozier on 18 November 1872 in Ontario, Canada; Thomas Forgrave born 1854 and married Mary Jane Mitchell on 6 July 1882 at the Aghadowey Presbyterian Church, following her death in 1889, he married Leticia Cunningham on 27 December 1890 at Aghadowey Presbyterian Church; Robert Forgrave, born 1856 and died 6 August 1916 in Coleraine at age 60 and was a bachelor; Jenny Forgrave, born about 1861, immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1875, married John McPhilimy on 6 March 1889 in Ontario, Canada; James Forgrave, born about 1867, immigrated to Ontario, Canada in 1885, married Elisabeth Miller on 19 June 1897 in Ontario, Canada. Margaret was a Teacher. She married Knox Hutchinson in Ireland on 9 October 1879 in the Aghadowey Presbyterian Church. Margaret was 18 and living in Caw, when she married. Knox was 32 and a spirit merchant, who owned BI OKane's Pub in Garvagh. They had 10 children: Margaret Forgrave Hutchinson in 1880, William John Meek Hutchinson in 1882, Mary Ann Hutchinson in 1884, Thomas James Hutchinson in 1886, Unnamed Baby Girl Hutchinson in 1888, Robert Knox Hutchinson in 1889, Elizabeth Forgrave Hutchinson in 1891, Isabella Alexandra McNeary Hutchinson in 1894 all born in Garvagh, Sarah Jane Hutchinson born in 1896 in Aghadowey, and Hugh Smith Hutchinson born 1898 in Belfast where they lived at 37 Liliput St. In 1911, The family lived at 198 N. Queen St. Belfast without the oldest 3 children: Maggie, William, and Minnie. William and Minnie immigrated to the United States in 1903. Margaret's husband Knox Hutchinson died on 22 July 1912 at the Mater Hospital in Belfast. In 1913, son Tommy immigrated to Niles, Ohio, United States. In Jan 1918, World War I was raging in Europe. Margaret, Maggie, Sally with her husband R.C. Stanley Bower II, and Hugh apply to emigrate to the US. They live at 7 Fife St in Belfast. On Feb 16, 1920, visas arrived with requirements to leave Ireland between Feb 16 and Feb 25, 1920.  Margaret and her three children plus son-in-law Stanley Bower left Ireland on Feb 25, 1920 from Londonderry, aboard the Columbia, formerly the Belgic, and went to Niles, Ohio, the United States. Upon entry at Ellis Island on March 8th, 1920, the question was asked of all of them "Will you forsake the allegiance to the British Flag and pledge your allegiance to the flag of the United States of America?" To the younger ones, this was not so hard, but to the 61 year old grandmother who had left three of her children behind, she found it not an easy question to answer.  With tears streaming down her face, she raised her hand to pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.  The tears of the mother softened the customs official who said "Mrs. Hutchinson, there is someone waiting outside to see you. Take your fine family with my blessings to meet your friends." They travelled by train to Youngstown, OH and were met by Tommy who drove them to Niles, OH. When they arrived at William Morrison and Minnie Hutchinson Morrison's house at 307 Cherry St, it was full of family and friends with a huge spread of food. Margaret and her oldest daughter Maggie, bought the house across the street from Minnie at 304 Cherry St. for $3000. Margaret wandered off one evening and no one knew where she went. The house was getting cold and Hugh went down to the basement to fix the furnace. He found his mother, Margaret, sitting in front of the furnace with the door open, peering into the crackling fire, reminscing of evenings spent around the open peat fire so far away in Ireland. In 1921, Margaret caught Pulmonary Tuberculosis and began a two year battle with her health. On 12 September 1923, Margaret died at the house at 304 Cherry St.  She was buried in Niles Union Cemetery in Niles, Trumbull County, Ohio, United States.