Catherine (Sheridan) Gallagher

Catherine Elizabeth Sheridan was born in County Longford, Ireland on December 18, 1858, daughter of John and Julia Sheridan.

When she was nine years old, her widowed mother emigrated to the USA with Katie and here eight brothers and sisters. Julia set up home at 54 America Street, Providence, RI, in 1867. By the time of her mother's death in 1880, Katie and three of her sisters were employed in the nearby woolen mill.

The following year, November 23, 1881, Katie E. Sheridan, aged twenty-three, was married Matthew Gallagher at Holy Name Church in Providence. Their first child Francis only lived a short time. Their other children were Julia, John, Edward (who also died), Catherine, Edward J (who died on August 24, 1890 at the age of 11 months), Mary, born on June 6, 1892, and the three youngest, Joseph, Ruth and William, who were still living in 1981.

Katie and Matthew Gallagher moved frequently during their forty married years together. They lived at ten different residences, beginning at Atwells Ave. and Dale Street, where Julia was born, and extending to Steuben Street, the family homestead when William, the youngest, arrived.

During the 1890's and early 1900's, federal census records indicate that the Gallagher children, even those of employable ages (13-16) were attending school nine months of the year. (Education as a priority has long been a family value!)

By 1900, the Gallagher family lived at La Vaughn Street, Steere Avenue and finally at 82-84 Hope Street, where for a few years, Peter (Pa) Smith lived as a boarder. Katie Elizabeth Gallagher died on May 17, 1921.

Download PDF file of descendent tree of Francis Gallagher,
the author's Great-Great Grandfather.