Patrick Colgan : Short Biography

Patrick Colgan (1881-1935) was the son of John Colgan (1830-) & Kate ? (1840–) of Spoutwell Lane, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath. 

In 1901, Patrick (age 21) was working as a labourer and living at home with his parents when he was recorded in the Irish Census at Spoutwell Lane, Mullingar North. His mother, Kate, seemed to be fostering an infant named John Hefford  at the time.  Patrick's father, John Colgan, was a labourer, and two of his younger sisters were working as dressmakers.  Everyone was able to read and write, and only English was spoken in the household. Their house was slated or tiled (not thatch) and had 4 windows to the front. Their landlord was Lord Greville of Clonyn, Co. Westmeath. By 1911, Patrick's father was deceased and kate was still caring for John Hafford, and had taken in a boarder for extra income. 

In 1902, Patrick was working as a laborer in Mullingar when he married Jane McDermott of Millmount, the daughter of Patrick McDermott (laborer). The couple's witnesses were: Patrick Farrell & Mary Kennedy. 

Children: (for all these births, the family address was at Millmount Rd)

• Christopher Joseph Colgan b. Dec 1902 (his auntie Nellie McDermott present at birth) m. 1939 Margaret Tell, Mullingar

• Joseph Colgan b. 1903 

• Nora Colgan b. 1904

• Dermott William Colgan b. 1905 m. 1936 Agnes Carroll (1907-1958) Mullingar

• Patrick Edward Joseph Colgan (1908-1911) 

• John James Colgan b. 1909

• Thomas Gabriel Colgan b. 1911 

• Francis Augustine Colgan b. 1913 

• Rita aka Margaret Mary Colgan b. 1915 

• Edward Michael Colgan b. 1917 

• George aka Gabriel Harold Colgan (1919-1987) b. Millmount Road, Mullingar | d. Crumlin, Dublin.  

From 1905 to 1911 Patrick worked at Mullingar Railway Station as a Railway Official. 

In April 1911, Patrick Colgan, age 31, "Railway Servant" when his young family was recorded in the Irish Census (townland of Ballinderry Urban, Mullingar South). By that time, Jane (age 26) had borne 6 children, 5 of whom had survived. The census also reveals that both Patrick & Jane spoke only English and could read & write. They were living in a slated/tiled house with 3 windows to the front, next door to Mary McDermott. SOURCE

In the summer of 1911, a double tragedy struck the family when a week after contracting measles, baby John died on June 25th. Young Patrick Jr soon followed and died of measles on July 4th, age 3. 

The birth certs of their children born after 1911 reveal Patrick stopped working at the railway after this tragedy and went back to laboring work. The family was still residing at Millmount Road when their youngest, "George" was born in 1919. 

In 1935, Patrick Colgan was a Motor Driver, when he died of pneumonia at the age of 54. His daughter Rita Colgan was present at his death. SOURCE

His widow, Jane Colgan (1885-1958) lived out her life at Millmount Road until she died of TB, age 73. SOURCE 

The Colgan surname also appears on record in Co. Westmeath as Cologan, Colligan, Colgann, and Colegan.