The intentions of marriage between Benjamin Blanchard of Canterbury, N. H., and Bridget Fitzgerald of Contoocook, were posted up “at the Meeting House Door” in Rumford, N. H., March 26, 1739. (John C. Ordway in Salem [Mass.] Press Historical and Genealogical Record, Vol. 2.)
Thomas McLaughlin, of Bedford, N. H., was lieutenant in Capt. John Moore’s company, Col. Stark’s regiment, at the battle of Bunker Hill, June 17, 1775. McLaughlin was made captain of the company the morning after the battle, in place of Moore, promoted. (Military Records of New Hampshire.)
A Mrs. Hall and Mr. Keating arrived at New London, Conn., in August, 1770, from Dublin, in the brig Patty. Captain Forbes in the 58th year of his age died at Cork, Ireland, on March 5, 1791. He was a native of Hartford, Conn., and had resided in Ireland for many years prior to his death.
In 1790, Norwich, Conn., had a printer named Major John Byrne. About this time he went to Windham, Conn., where he published the Phœnix or Windham Herald. In 1795 he was the postmaster of Woodstock, Conn., and in 1807 a member of the Aqueduct Company of Windham.
The British evacuated Boston, Mass., March 17, 1776, and the Americans marched in and took possession. Washington, from his headquarters at Cambridge, authorized as the parole for the day: “Boston;” and the countersign: “St. Patrick.” Gen. John Sullivan was brigadier of the day.
Keeney’s Ferry, operated over the Connecticut River at Hartford, Conn., took its name from Richard Keeney, who was granted the privilege in Oct., 1712, by the Assembly. The ferry was discontinued by act of the Assembly in May, 1753. (Rev. James H. O’Donnell, Norwalk, Conn.)
Florence Maccarty bought land in Roxbury, Mass., in 1693. He was a provision dealer and contractor in Boston. He subsequently added to his Roxbury purchase, the property becoming known as the “Maccarty farm.” The tract at one time comprised 60 acres. (Drake’s Town of Roxbury.)
John O’Kane came to this country from Ireland in 1752. He was then 18 years of age. He located in or near Albany, N. Y., and married a daughter of Rev. Elisha Kent. On his marriage he is said to have dropped the “O” from his surname. (N. Y. Genealogical and Biographical Record, July, 1878.)
Michael Magee was a member of Capt. Marsh’s Troop of Light Horse, of Essex, N. J., in the Revolution, and was wounded. Thomas Magee was a matross in Capt. Hugg’s Western Company of Artillery, New Jersey. (Official Register of the Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Revolutionary War.)
William Henry came from Coleraine, Ireland, and established a manufactory of arms in Pennsylvania before the Revolution. In 1777 he was deputy commissary general and was active in sending supplies to the Patriot army at Valley Forge. He was elected to Congress in 1784, and died in 1786.