Catherine (Katy) Fagan : Short Biography

Great Grandmother CHRISTINA Ross was a Dubliner of an Irish(British) Army family. Her mother CATHERINE Fagan my 2nd GGMum born at Flemingstown, Naas. Celbridge barracks were nearby, home of the Royal Dublin Fusiliers.  Did they call the children 'army brats' in the 19th century?

  Katie was christened at Saggart R.C. Church and made me ponder the Catholic Irish oppressed being the tools of the oppressor. Job security was the motivation.

This Birmingham CofE girl never thought military history would be my subject! My Irish Catholic neighbours migrated in the 1950's, for work opportunities. Now from my desk in Australia I learn my Maternal DNAhas a continuous line of Irish Catholic soldiers for the British Army. The Fegan or Fagans have been noted as coming into County Westmeath via the Normans. I would be most grateful for any corrections and insights...50 percent Celt here!

3rd GFJames Fagan(or Fegan) was also born in a barracks environment, at Castledevlin, County Westmeath in 1835. A Gunner in the 1st Dublin Fusiliers. His record shows him surviving the Fenian Uprising on Tallaght Hill 1867 to the first Afghan campaign 1878. He was a landowner at Flemingstown on the marriage to Margaret Healy in 1867 at Celbridge.

His role model father Thomas Fagan was baptised St. Mary's Catholic Church at Morans Hill(?), Athlone in 1815. A Royal Hospital Chelsea document states he joined the army at Mullingar aged 20 years, the 59th Regiment of artillery - discharged in 1859.

Thomas would have felt the heat serving at Corfu, Malta and the West Indies. He received good conduct medals and financial bonus of 5 pound. Had he spent it on cooling beer or sent the money home for the rent? His father John was a tenant of 32 acres, with his wife Mary Tracey. The tithes in Ballinvalley, Castledelvin owed to Land Lord Tighe was 27 pound a year!

Finally my 6th Great Grandfolk DANIEL FAGAN (Fegan). Born in Athlone around 1769, wed to Anne (or Catherine)Fox at  St. Mary's R.C. Mullingar, February 1788. Soldier or Subsistence Farmer. He could have been both.Or in a League of Tenant Farmers activating for land reform?