The Mahardy's, like the Spain Family, originated in Ireland and also settled in the county of Herkimer in upstate New York . In information given to Gene Clifford from one Mathe Mahady and so graciously passed along to me, he wrote,"...you are part of the Mahady Clan, which is "O'MOITDE" in Irish Gaelic and a rare name in Ireland, from mainly within the counties Longford, Roscommon, & Westmeath." This family chose the town of Newport in Herkimer County to settle in and evidence shows that their descendants were still residing there up to 1920, according to the census records, and may still live there today. The family consisted mostly of farmers by profession, as was the predominant industry of the time and that locality.

The first of that family that we know of to emigrate from Ireland and the progenitors of the family in America were Michael and Bridget Mahardy. They were both born in Ireland Circa 1799-1800. Michael and Bridget emmigrated from county Longford Ireland from the town of Edgeworthton. Bridget Mahardy's maiden name was Bridget Mclaughin/Mclaughlin. We know this who from the 1907 death certificate of her son, Michael Mahardy(A8). His mother was listed as Bridget Mclaughin. The very large McLaughlin family in the Herkimer area is related to Bridget and it is fairly sure that Michael McLaughlin of Newport, and County Longford is her brother. He is listed in the will of Michael Mahardy.

In the Index to Ardagh Wills, published in 1922 several wills are listed back to the mid 18^th century with the names of Span(Spain?), Mahedy,Malady, Mahady, and Mclaughlin in County Longford. As these may prove to be relations or ancestors the very small list is attached to this book as an addendum.

Bridget and Michael Mahardy may be the same couple who are listed in the New York City Passenger Lists Index 1820-1824 as having arrived from the port of Liverpool leaving(?) on July 19, 1822. The Mahardy's arrived in the United states on Sept. 30, 1822. They are listed on the passenger manifest as Michael Malady age 22, laborer, and Bridget Malady age 20. No Children were listed. Michael Mahardy was listed as head of the household in the 1830 census in Newport,Herkimer County, New York. The household consisted of one male aged 30-40 (himself), one male under the age of 5 ( Patrick aged 1 year), one female aged 20-30 (his wife Bridget), one female aged 5-10 Rose?) and two females under the age of 5 ( Ann and Rose?).

I never found evidence of any of the Mahardy's doing military service, but that does not mean that they did not do any. One also has to remember that farmers were usually exempted from service even when they wished to volunteer because they were considered too valuable in their capacity as farmers.

Bridget Mahardy died July 30, 1890. Her obituary from the newspaper,

Norway Tidings for August 1890 reads as follows:

"In Norway, July 30,1890, Mrs. Bridget Mahardy, in the 88th year of her age. She was the mother of Patrick and Michael Mahardy of this town, with whom she alternately resided. She died at the home of the former."

Bridget Mahardy was and living with her son, Michael, in the Town of Norway in Herkimer County, New York. According to the Census, Bridget was illiterate. In 1880 she was listed as a widow, so Michael died sometime before 1880. The name Mahardy is also listed in some census records (i.e. 1860) as Maharda. It was also spelled in records as Malardy and Malady. The last is from the 1830 Census of Newport. The Ultimate in misspellings would have to go to the 1855 New York Census of Herkimer County where for the same family the census taker recorded as follows;" Patrick Mardy, Bridget Mardy, Mary Mahardy, Michael Mahardy, and Margaret Maha"

The Mahardys, Spains, and McLaughlins were all good Irish Catholics and Both Charles Spain and Michael Mahardy helped to establish St. Patrick's Roman Catholic Church in Newport New York in the 1830's and 1840's. Previous to the building of St. Patrick's Church our families attended St. John's Catholic Church, in Utica, New York.

MICHAEL MAHARDY\MAHADA (A)

Born: Ireland ca. 1799-1800 In Edgeworthton, county Longford, Ireland

Applied for U.S. Citizenship in 1829 and was naturalized February 8, 1832 in Herkimer County. Name written as Michael Madheyerty and as Madhardy.

Died: April 1, 1851 buried old Irish Cemetery in Newport, Herkimer County, New York

Tombstone Reads: Michael Mahada aged 52 years

Married: Bridget McLAUGHIN on or before 1822

Born: ca. 1801-1802 in Edgeworthton(?), County Longford, Ireland

Died: in Norway Town, Herkimer County, NY July 30, 1890

Obituary for Bridget Mahardy in the August 1890 issue of Norway Tidings, page 3 column 2. She died July 30, 1890 in her 88th year at home of her son Patrick.

Issue:

• 1) Female Child: born ca. 1820-1825

• 2) Rose: born 11/27/1825- fl 1840

• Baptised 12/25/1825 at St. John's R.C. Church in Utica. Oneida County, New York

• Baptismal Sponsors: Patrick McLaughlin and Mary Hughes

• 3) Ann Marie-

  • Born : ??/??/1828 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: Thursday 10/11/1906 in Utica, Oneida County, NY

    • Lived at #54 Francis Street, Utica

    • Never Married

• 4) Patrick M. -

  • Born: 03/??/1829 or c. 1834 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: fl. 1900 in Norway Town, NY

• 5) Mary -

  • Born: ??/??/1831 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: between 06/??/1880 and 03/28/1898, possibly at Salmon River, Oswego County or at Clayville, Town of Paris, Oneida County, NY

  • Married: John Henry Spain on 04/12/1860 in Utica, NY

  • Issue: see under SPAIN, John Henry

• 6) Elizabeth -

  • Born: ??/??/1833 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: fl. 1850 Newport, NY

• 7) Marcella -

  • Born: c.??/??/1839-1840 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: fl. 1900 in Herkimer County, NY

  • She was listed as a domestic in the 1860 Census., working for a farmer, Warren W. Richardson, in Schuyler, Herkimer County, NY. The 1875 NY State census lists her as widow, so she married John Devins, her second marriage during or after 1875. Her farm at the time (1875) was listed as 190 acres with a value of $12,000.

  • Married: 1st ca.??/??/1867 to James Spain

  • Issue: see under SPAIN, James

  • Married: 2nd ca:??/??/?? to John Devins/Davins/Devens

  • No issue by this marriage

• 8) Michael -

  • Born: ca. 04/??/1841 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: October 7, 1907 in Newport(?), NY

• 9) Margaret -

  • Born: ??/??/1844-1845 Newport, Herkimer County, NY

  • Died: fl. 1860

  • Lived with brother Patrick in Newport, NY; worked as a domestic

Ann Marie Mahardy (A3)

Married: Thomas Daniel Clifford in Newport, Herkimer County, New York Born: March 17, 1824 in County Kerry, Ireland

Died: 1883 in Newport, New York

Issue:

• A)Thomas A. Born: 1851 Newport, New York
  Died: 1918

• B) Catherine
  Born: 12/27/1854 Newport, New York
  Died: 12/12/1940

• C) Augustus

• D) John E.

• E) Eugene

• F) Francis Clifford (Frannie)

• G) Ella

• H) Marcella A.

• I) James

• J) William

• K) Daniel

• L) Mary

Patrick Mahardy (A4) -