Matthew Fitzpatrick : Short Biography

I'm hoping that someone can provide me with more information about Matthew Fitzpatrick, and the extended Fitzpatrick family he came from.

Of the Fitzpatrick family I've profiled on this site, he is the one that I know the least about.  He was born about 1804, presumably somewhere around the Lough Gowna area.

He probably was the first of the family to emigrate to the United States.  I found him with his wife, Margaret, on the passenger list for the Eli Whitney (attached, 9th & 10th from the top), which arrived in New York City on May 29, 1835.  They are also the first Fitzpatricks to appear in Mount Pleasant, Wayne County, Pensylvannia, where they are both listed in the 1840 federal census.  This coincides with a major influx of Irish settlers into Wayne County after 1835. Presumably having bought a patch of land north of Rock Lake (see attached 1860 and 1870 maps), he will remain there through 1880, farming, as successive portions of the Fitzpatrick family emigrate, and pass through.

In the 1850 census they are there, farming, adjacent to two other houses containing Fitzpatrick families: 1) my 2nd great grandfather, Daniel L Fitzpatrick (profiled separately on this site), his wife Catherine Fagan (profiled separately on this site), and two small children (Elizabeth and James), and 2) Elizabeth, born ~1790 (potentially Daniel and/or Matthew's mother) living with Ellen, born ~1815 (potentially Daniel and/or Matthew's sister).

By 1860, both his wife Margaret and Elizabeth have presumably died, since they are no longer present. Daniel, his family, and Ellen have also moved on (they will appear 8 miles north, in the 1870 census). He is living with Dr. Charles Fitzpatrick (profiled separately on this site), his wife, and four children (Mary (b. 1843), Bridget (b. 1845), Betsy (b. 1848) and John (b. 1850).  An adjacent house contains another Daniel Fitzpatrick, born ~1790, and three young adults Bridget (b. 1838), John (b. 1842) and Daniel (b. 1843).

In the 1870 census, Matthew is living with six children, Mary Ann (b. 1852), William (b. 1855), Jane (b. 1857), Margaret (b. 1859), Charles (b. 1861) and Agnes (b. 1863). Dr. Charles Fitzpatrick has moved into a nearby house, with his family.  John Fitzpatrick (profiled separately on this site) and his family of eight children, recent immigrants, are also living with Charles.

By 1880, Matthew is part of the last Fitzpatrick family left at this location.  Listed as a widower, he is living with his sister, Helen, born ~1830, and the youngest child, Agnes (b. 1863).

That is the last documentation of him that I can find.