Harrigan Horgan Hogan

Johanna (Horgan) Hogan

What's in a name? Well it depended on how you pronounced it, how a clerk may have heard it and how it was written down.

Johanna was born about 1829 in County Kerry to Johanna Fitzgerald and Thomas Horgan. She was the eldest in the family, and it appears that she left Ireland for New York about 1848, leaving behind the horrors of the great famine.

 
In some accounts she is listed as arriving in South Australia with her mother, but she is not on the passenger list for the arrival of the "China" in 1852. Another account has her arriving years later on the "Ocean Steed" via America. On the passenger list for the "Ocean Steed" which departed New York on 11 May 1855, there is a Johanna Harrigan aged 22.[1]  - Here's where you get to practice your Irish accent! 😀

 
Given the Irish accent and the clerk's recording of it in New York, this is most likely Johanna Horgan who arrived in Melbourne, 27 August 1855. This would tally with the age on her marriage record.
One wonders if she was aware of the murder of the chief mate on the voyage to Australia. The mate was particularly violent and had been bullying and beating a boy who eventually struck back with a knife attack. [2]

There were three intercoastal ships projected for departure to Adelaide from Hobson's Bay, Melbourne in early September, so Johanna boarded one of those to make her way to Adelaide. An obituary states that she arrived in Port Adelaide on September 29th 1855.

Her mother and brothers had not seen her for seven years so one imagines the reunion was joyful.

Marriage and family life

John Hogan lived on a farm near the Horgans, sharing connections through the close-knit Catholic community. It was within this circle that Johanna Horgan and John Hogan met, leading to their marriage in September 1861 at St. John's Church near Kapunda. Johanna, who claimed to be 28 [3] at the time, embarked on another new chapter of life with John, and together they raised a family of six children—five daughters, Hannah Catherine, Johanna Mary, Bridget Helen, Mary, Margaret, and one son, Timothy Thomas.

Johanna was not just a devoted wife and mother; she was a skilled dairywoman, celebrated for her butter and ham, which won awards at local agricultural shows. The Hogans were active in their community, particularly within the Tarlee Catholic Church. They participated in parish events, with a highlight being the annual New Year's Day picnic, where families gathered for food and festivity.

When John passed away, Johanna found a meaningful way to honour his memory. She funded a stained-glass window in the church, a lasting tribute to her late husband and a symbol of their deep ties to the community.

Window dedicated to the memory of John Hogan
in the Tarlee Catholic Church

Conflicting Obituaries

There is conflicting information provided in some obituaries, the Kapunda Herald, the paper in her home town, possibly provides the most accurate details.

One of the oldest residents of Kapunda, Mrs. Johanna Hogan, died on Saturday morning last. She was born at Licksnaw, County Kerry, in 1829, and was therefore 85 years old when she passed away. She was in Ireland during the days of the awful famine in 1845-7 and in 1848 went to the United States.

After a stay of seven years there she came to Australia in the Ocean Steed, arriving at Pt. Adelaide on September 29, 1855. She married Mr. John Hogan, of Taylor's Gap, and resided in the district until five years ago, when she came to reside with her daughter and son-in-law (Mrs. and Mr. John Callinan) in Kapunda. Mr. Hogan died many years ago. He was well-known as a breeder of splendid horse stock, and both Mr. and Mrs. Hogan were known as most charitable and generous people. The surviving children are Mr. T. Hogan, Taylor's Gap, Mesdames Callinan, McCarthy, O'Brien, and Kitschke. The late Mrs. J. J. O'Sullivan was also a daughter. There are 10 grand-children.[4]

It would appear that either her age at death was incorrect or she was five years older than she claimed to be when she arrived in Australia. This was not an uncommon occurrence amongst early immigrants where accurate record keeping was not a high priority in their lives. Unless an exact birth or baptism record is found we may never know. 

Johanna’s parents, husband and children

[1] JOHANNA HARRIGAN Age: 22 Arrival month: AUG Arrival year: 1855 Date of arrival: 1855-08-01 Fiche: 38 Gender: F Origin code: F Page: 1 Ship master: CUNNINGHAM T Ship name: OCEAN STEED https://prov.vic.gov.au/archive/3AFAF4A2-F96C-11E9-AE98-C1235E0566FF?image=97

[2] 1855 'SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE.', The Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 - 1954), 29 August, p. 4. col.1 https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/154895313

[3] Groom Surname: HOGAN Groom Given Names: John Bride Surname: HORGAN Bride Given Names: Johanna Marriage Date: 28-Sep-1861 Marriage Place: St John Kapunda Groom Age: 32 Groom Marital Status: N Groom Father: Thady HOGAN Bride Age: 28 Bride Marital Status: S Bride Father: Thomas HORGAN District: Kapunda Book/Page: 47/391

[4] 1914 'PERSONAL.', Kapunda Herald (SA : 1878 - 1951), 18 September, p. 2. https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/108278513

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

A Dedicated Daughter 1877 -1926

Johanna was the sixth of seven children born to John and Hanora Horgan. She was named after John's mother, Johannah Fitzgerald. The couple's first born Johanna, had died at age seven so the name was used again. Growing up on the Linwood farm Johanna had three older brothers as well as two sisters, one older and one younger, to share their days. This Johanna was only six years old when her father John died in 1883.

There is no record of her early years but we can get a sense of her as an adult from this obituary.

Miss Johanna Horgan. second daughter of Mrs. H. Horgan, Linwood, and the late Mr. J. Horgan, who died recently at her mother's residence (writes our Stockport correspondent) was most deservedly popular, with all with whom she came in contact. She had an ever ready smile of friendship, and although her illness was painfully weary and of long duration, she bore all suffering with marvellous fortitude. She was a devoted member and worshipper at the Roman Catholic Church, at Tarlee, and St. Mary's Church, Hamley Bridge.
Much sympathy Is felt throughout the whole district for the aged mother, and her sisters, Miss Kate Horgan (Linwood), Mrs. J. Mclnerney (Riverton), and her brothers, Messrs. Andy Horgan (Alma), and Thomas and John Horgan (Linwood). (1)

When Johanna died in 1926 at age 49, she left behind a world on the cusp of great change. Post-World War I Australia was grappling with the aftermath of conflict and loss, having contributed significantly to the war effort alongside other British dominions. The war had brought about social changes, including an increased role for women in the workforce and society. Johanna's role was unchanging, working in the farmyard and in the household. Her church activities probably included cleaning and perhaps arranging some flowers. We have some photos of her siblings but none of her or her namesake.

Johanna's funeral notice posted three days after her death, on the day of the funeral, reflects the importance of local newspapers in chronicling the lives of ordinary citizens in the past.

HORGAN.—THE FRIENDS of the late MISS JOHANNA HORGAN are respectfully informed that her Funeral will leave her Mother's Residence (Mrs. H. Horgan), Linwood, for the St. John's Cemetery, on FRIDAY, August 27, at 1.30 p.m. 
R. J. DAY. Undertaker, Kapunda. (2)

1.  1926 'News From Country Centres', Observer (Adelaide, SA : 1905 - 1931), 11 September, p.8   https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/165624269

2. 1926 'Advertising', The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1889 - 1931), 27 August, p. 8. col.3 
https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/47013710

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin

A legacy of resilience: Andrew's story

Early Years

Andrew Joseph Horgan was born on April 14, 1869. He was the second son of Irish immigrants, John Horgan and Honora O'Leary who had married in 1863. They farmed at Linwood, near Tarlee South Australia. Andrew joined the family fold after his sister Johanna and brother Tom. Unfortunately, his older sister Johanna died in 1872 when he was a mere toddler.

Despite the family's grief, Andrew had playmates and companionship with all his siblings, Tom, Catherine, Johanna (named in memory of the departed sister), the younger John, affectionately known as Jack and little sister Nora.  

Tragedy struck the family once more in 1883 when their father John Horgan died. Andrew at just 14 shouldered the weight of responsibility alongside his mother and siblings, hard work now their daily lot.

Marriage and Family

At age 36, Andrew exchanged marriage vows with Elizabeth Smyth in the Tarlee Catholic Church in February of 1906. After enjoying a honeymoon in New Zealand, he moved into the Smyth family home at Alma. This farm was eventually left to Elizabeth when her mother died shortly after their marriage. Together Andrew and Elizabeth raised three children on the farm: a daughter Hanora Mary, and two sons, Edward John and Joseph Andrew.

Andrew on the Alma farm

Andrew's younger sister Johanna died in 1926, and his mother's death followed just a year later. Now there were just his three unmarried siblings left on the Linwood farm, Tom, Kate and Jack. Nora had married in 1909.

Changing fortunes

The great depression of 1933 swept across the land leaving Andrew grappling with hardship. A clearing sale was held on the property with thirteen horses sold but there was little demand for his farm equipment. After such a poor year, the death of his wife Elizabeth in 1934 dealt another blow. 

Andrew and his son Eddie continued to work on the farm trying to navigate life's uncertainties. It appears from subsequent events that they may have concentrated on raising and milking cows.

Eddie's marriage in 1937 brought a new person onboard. Hannah, Eddie's wife was a town girl from Hamley Bridge so the tasks of a farm wife were quite new to her. By now Joe was living back with his father and brother so there were three men who needed household care, meals prepared and cooked and worn clothes mended.

 

By 1939 with a new baby in the house, it was time to plan for the future. The sale of the farm enabled his son Eddie and young family to seek their own farm at Snowtown and Andrew traded the familiar Alma landscape for a dairy farm near Hahndorf. In this venture he was accompanied by son Joe and daughter Mary.

The return to Linwood

Life came full circle with the death of his brothers Tom in 1941 and Jack in 1942. It was time to return to the Horgan family farm at Linwood.  He returned, as did his son Eddie and his family. Through toil and tragedy, Andrew's unwavering faith provided solace. He was an active parishioner attending Mass at both Tarlee and Hamley Bridge.

During the remaining years of his life Andrew enjoyed the company of his young grandchildren. He was back where his life began, where for so many years he had laboured diligently with his siblings. Now he was within visiting distance of his sisters. Kate was in Riverton and Nora was on the McInerney farm, just out of Riverton. In 1949 celebrations were held at the Linwood farm for his 80th birthday with a large group of family and friends present.

80th birthday 1949 at Linwood

Andrew died on May 2, 1951, at the family farm, and was laid to rest beside his beloved Elizabeth in quiet confines of Navan Catholic Cemetery near Riverton.

This post first appeared on earlieryears.blogspot.com by CRGalvin