Can you add to their stories?
The following is a listing of those who we do not quite have enough information to tell the stories of.
The 'elusive' are those who we have very little, to no, information about. If you have any further information about these men and women, we would appreciate you reaching out.
Martin Walsh (~1811 – 1855)
Depending on records, Martin was born to Patrick and Honora Walsh in Ireland between 1810 and 1813. Martin could possibly have been the first family member to walk on U.S. soil. It is possible he is recorded as early as 1830 in Jefferson County, however the identity of the Martin Walsh in the 1830 and 1840 census' remains unclear. Martin was enumerated in the 28th district of Jefferson County in 1850. His son, brothers, mother, a boarder, and a few unidentified Welsh family members were living with him. Martin states that he was a laborer. In 1855, Martin died and was buried in St. Peters Cemetery in Harpers Ferry. His son, Michael, was raised by his youngest brother, Tommy, and his wife Annie. It is unclear who Michael's mother is, however she likely died before the 1850 census.
Patrick Walsh (~1820 – ?)
Patrick Walsh, the son of Patrick and Honora Walsh, only discovered record is the 1850 census. He is recorded in his brother's, Martin's, household in the Harpers Ferry District, likely near Oak Grove (present day Bakerton). No other information has been discovered about Patrick to date. There is some oral history that Patrick may have migrated to Illinois, although we have found nothing to date to suggest this might be true or false.
James Walsh (~1827 – 1871)
James is present in the household of his brother, Martin Walsh, in the 1850 census. He was a boatman. No 1860 or 1870 census record has been found to date, but it is possible that he avoided enumeration as a boatman. James died at Rock Hill (the Flanagan quarry) in 1871 of pneumonia. His younger brother, Thomas, was listed as informant. Thomas noted that James was married to "Margaret" and that their parents were Patrick and Honora Walsh. It is believed James is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in Harpers Ferry although no marker remains. There is a headstone buried behind the stone of his sister-in-law and nephew's headstone that is extremely similar to the headstones of the other family members buried in the plot. This stone is possibly James' headstone, although, without significant excavation, it is not possible to lift the stone from the earth.
Martha Smith Flanagan (~1791 – 1870)
Due to her common maiden name of "Smith" and the era in which she lived, we have had difficulty uncovering Martha's life before her marriage to William Flanagan in 1809 York County, PA. Eight months after their marriage, Martha's son, James Smith Flanagan, was born. The couple both married and christened their son within the Presbyterian congregation of York, PA. The couple remained in York, PA until about 1830, at which point they moved to Jefferson County, WV [VA]. The couple first settled near present day Bardane before quickly moving to Oak Grove (Bakerton) where they lived out the remainder of their lives.
Honora Walsh (~1790 – ?)
Little is known about Honora -- the only uncovered record of her existence in the United States is her listing in the 1850 census, where she lived in her oldest son's household along with her other sons, her nephew, and a possible niece and nephew. From this census, we glean that she was born sometime around 1790 in Ireland. Honora may have been enumerated in the 1840 census as "Anna". Although this is highly likely, it is a fact that is hard to prove or disprove. Honora is unaccounted for in the 1860 census and thereafter, leaving us to believe that she probably died sometime between the years 1850-1860. Honora and her husband Patrick are named as parents on their son's, James', death certificate -- their youngest son Thomas is listed as the informant. Buchanan may be a possible maiden name for Honora.