|
Beginning in local cemeteries,interviewing parents, aunts and uncles, cousins, and friends we were able to develop a family tree of the two families. Both immigrants came to America from Ireland. Ryan in 1854 and Crotty in 1865. A Ryan son and a daughter married a Crotty daughter and son. Many of the grand children are double cousins. It is told that Thomas Sylvester Ryan came over with an aunt, filling for one of her children left behind becuse of the potato famine. Michael Bartholomeu Crotty came to America, with a brother, with the intention of being mercednary soldiers for the North in the Civil War. They were out of a job because on that day General Grant took Richmond and the war was over. During the celebration in New York City, the boys were separated in the crowds and Michael's brother was never heard from by Michael or their family back in Ireland. Ryan became eventually became a merchant in Mechanicville and Crotty joined the railraod and was one of the organizers of the Brother-hood of Railroad trainmen. Ryan lived to 78 and Crotty to 92.
|
