Thomas Callihan was born September 16, 1779 (date calculated from tombstone inscription).  Cora Swift has been advised that this is the same Thomas Callihan who was born in Ireland, served in the War of 1812 and received 320 acres of bounty land.  That parcel was located in Pike County (the second county south of Hancock County), in an area within the boundaries of Pike County proper both before and after areas were split off to form other counties.

There are no census records showing that any Callihans (or reasonable variation of the spelling) lived in Pike County, Illinois, during the 1830 and 1840 census years.  If the Hancock County resident Thomas Callihan was the war veteran, we suspect that he, like many other veterans, sold his bounty land in Pike County, later emigrating to Hancock County.

Regarding Thomas Callihan's birth place, there are references to his having been born in Scotland or Ireland, although the 1850 and 1860 censuses listed Pennsylvania as his birthplace.  His children reported:
- Charles "Callahan": 1900 census, father born Scotland
- William "Callahan": 1900 census, father born Ireland

While this website has no evidence to specifically make a connection between the 1812 war veteran and the Thomas Callihan who came to Hancock County, other Callihan family members and researchers may have confirming documentation or be privy to written or oral history passed down through the family.

Thomas and several of his children (in separate households) first appeared in an Illinois census in 1850.  Census records from 1850 forward indicate all of the Callihan children were born in Pennsylvania.  In an attempt to locate them in previous years, we suggest the following.

Household of Thomas Callihan
Males 0 thru 4 - 2        [Evan 1828, Undetermined male]
Males 5 thru 9 - 1        [Jacob 1820, William 1821-22]
Males 10 thru 14 - 1    [Charles 1818]
Males 15 thru 19 - 1    [Undetermined male]
Males 20 thru 29 - 1    [John 1808]
Males 50 thru 59 - 1    [Thomas Sr]
Females 5 thru 9 - 1    [Elizabeth 1823]
Females 40 thru 49 - 1    [Margaret]
Total - 9

Also in Elizabeth Township in 1830, page 384, line 16:

Household of Thomas Calihan Jun.
Males 30 thru 39 - 1
Females 0 thru 4 - 2
Females 20 thru 29 - 1
Total 4

The following possible listing is more ambiguous, complicated by the absence of firm marriage dates for all of Thomas' children.  (Also enumerated in Elizabeth Township in 1840 was Charles "Callihen".)

Household of Thomas Callihen
Males 10 thru 14 - 1        [Evan 1828]
Males 15 thru 19 - 2
Males 50 thru 59 - 1        [Thomas Sr]
Females 15 thru 19 - 1        
Females 50 thru 59 - 1     [Margaret]
Total - 6

Follow this link to see a map of Lancaster County townships presented by USGenWeb.  Return to this webpage with your browser back indicator.

The household of Thomas Callihan was thusly enumerated in 1850:

Thomas Callahan, 68, male, farmer, born PA
Margaret, 50, female, born PA
Fianna E, 23, female, born PA
Simon, 9, male, born PA

A diligent search of 1860 census records for all states has produced only the following listing as a strong possibility for the household of Thomas Callihan, despite the given name shown for the male head of the family.  In 1860 Thomas Callihan would have turned 81 (again based on his tombstone inscription), a bit long in tooth to have made an arduous trip to another state between 1850 and 1860, although it is certainly possible.  (Simon P. Callihan, enumerated with Thomas in the 1850 census, above, left Hancock County and was living in Wayne County, Ohio, in 1860.)

In 1860 this household was enumerated immediately preceding Thomas Callihan's son, William "Calahan":

John Calahan, 83, male, farmer, value of real estate 3000, value of personal estate 600, born PA
Margaret, 69, female, born PA
Margaret, 10, female, born PA, attended school within the year

The parentage of the 10 year old Margaret has not been determined, but it's a fairly safe mental leap to believe she was Margaret Ellis Snearly (or Snearley), who married George Cuba in 1868, and who was mentioned in Margaret Callihan's will.

Thomas died April 16, 1863, and was buried in Fountain Green Cemetery.  Margaret died October 26, 1869, and was buried beside Thomas.

According to Cora's accumulated documentation, Thomas' wife and the mother of his children was Margaret Eve Donehi, born November 24, 1780, in Lebanon, Lebanon County, Pennsylvania. Cora was given a marriage date and location of 1808 in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.  With the exception of a handful listings for the surname Donehy - none of which were found in either Lebanon or Lancaster County, we have nothing to support this.  But more pertinent are the ages of Ann Callihan Kinney and Thomas Callihan (perhaps the Jr. listed in the 1830 census of Elizabeth Township), both named as heirs of Thomas Callihan (Ann living, Thomas deceased).

It is our interpretation of all the references displayed here that the Margaret Callihan (given name frequently spelled Margarete in various documents) who lived and died in Hancock County:
- was Thomas Callihan's third wife.
- was married twice prior to her marriage to Thomas.
- was the mother of Sarah Ann "Sally" Fortney, maiden name documented as Miller, born in 1816).
- was the mother of Fianna Ellis (later Beebe, born about 1827).
- was the mother of Evan "Callahan" (born about 1828).
- had a familial connection to Margaret Ellis Snearly or Snearley (later Cuba) (born about 1850).

We will begin with the verbiage of Thomas' and Margaret's wills.  Presented below are verbatim transcriptions of those wills and subsequent documents, with the exception of the bold, italicized and [bracketed] text added for emphasis. The underlined words appeared in the original documents.

I Thomas Calihan of Hancock County and State of Illinois do hereby make and declare this my last will and testament in manner and form following to wit First - it is my will that funeral expenses, and my just debts be fully paid.  Second after the payment of such funeral expenses and debts I give devise and bequeath unto my wife Margret Calihan the farm on which we now live situate in said County and known and described as the north east of the North Eas quarter of Section thirty two in Township Six (6) north of range five west of the fourth principal meridian during her natural life and at her death I want my children to have two thirds of the value of the farm equally devided between them and the remaining one third is to be at my wifes disposal and I wish and I wish my step daughter Fhy Ellis to share equally with the rest of my her [heirs] and Simon Peter Callihan to have his mothers share which will be equal share with the rest of my heirs and is my wish that after my death that my wife shall make a vandue [sic - clearly written] and sell what personal property there may be such as horses cattle farming utensils & c [sic - perhaps etcetera?] and it is my wish also after my wifes death that the farm is to be sold and Thian Ellis is to have one hundred dollars and then the rimander to be divided as above named and lastly I hereby appoint N J Bobbit to assist my wife in making a vandue and selling the personal property and settling my last will and testament. Given under my hand and seal this the 6th day of April 1854.
Thomas Callihan {Seal}

Signed sealed published and declared by the said Thomas Callihan as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who in his presantus and in the presentes of each other and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto attest.W J Bobbit
Wm Mack

I Thomas Calihan of the State of Illinois and County of Hancock do hereby deauclare this my last will and testament in the manner and form as hereafter described instead of the one hundred dollars that is mentioned in the within will to my step daughter Fhian Ellis I hereby Bequest fifty dollars to her and her heirs and also Simon Peter Callihan who is mentioned in the will as to have equally with my wife's children.  Given under my hand and seal this the 12th day of January 1863Thomas [his mark] Callihan

Signed sealed and published and delivered in presants of the undersigned as signed for his last will and testament in his presants and in the presants of each other and at his request have subscribed our names as witnesses ther to AttestW J Bobbit
Jacob ComerInternal revenue
Stamp 50 cts

Oath of Executor}
State of Illinois    } ss
Hancock County    In County Court June term AD
1863,

I do solemnly swear that this writing contains the true last will and testament of the within named Thomas Callihan deceased so far as I know or beleive and that I will and truly execute the same by paying first the debts and then the legacies mentioned therein as for his goods and chattels will thereunto extend and the law charge me and that I will make a true and perfect Inventory of all such goods and chattels, rights and credits as may come to my hands or knwledge belonging to the estate of said deceased and render a fair and just account of my Executorship when thereunto requested by law to the best of my abilities so help me God
Sworn to and subscribed beforeW J Bobbit
me this 27th day of June AD1863
F M Corby clerk
By M S Carey Dept

Recorded by order of Court May 25th 1863
F M Corby Clk

Follow this link to view the location of the land Thomas described in his will.

Of the children found in various census records and believed to be Thomas' issue, the birth years range from approximately 1797 to 1828.  The birth years of two daughters in particular, Hannah Mathews and Sarah Witmeyer, have not been determined.

Calculating Margaret Callihan's birth date from her tombstone inscription, she was born about November 24, 1788.  When Margaret prepared her will in January of 1866, she stated she was 73 years old, making her birth year approximately 1792.

Ann Callihan Kinney was born in 1797, Thomas Callihan Jr. was born, very tentatively, circa 1800.  It's a safe presumption that this Margaret Callihan was not their mother.  Simon Peter Callihan was born in 1839, at which time Margaret would have been between 46 and 51 years old. Simon could have been one of those surprise babies sometimes born to older mothers, but this wouldn't account for why he was described separately from the older heirs.

Margarete Calihan {seal}

View an image of Margaret's will.

Seneca M. Wright bought the Callihan farm; the worldly goods not specifically bequeathed in Margaret's will were sold; taxes, fees, bills and other claims were paid.

Those funds which were part of Thomas' estate were paid to his children or their heirs, a full share being $62.21.

View a transcription of the accounting and sums paid.

Funds from Margaret's portion of the estate were paid to persons named in her will, at $73.12 per share.

Receipts

Margaret Callihan left goods and money to:
- Sally Fortney (born in 1816)
- Fianna Ellis Beebe (born circa 1827)
- Evan Callihan (born circa 1828)
- Simon P. Callihan (born in 1839)
- Margaret Ellis Snearly/Snearley (born circa 1850)

We are considering these bequests good evidence of familial relationships.

Marriage documents of Sally Fortney's son, Franklin Fortney, indicate her maiden name was Miller, which leads to the assumption that if Margaret was Sally's mother, Margaret was married to a Miller. And if Margaret was also Fianna's mother, then Margaret was married to a man named Ellis. (Granted, we are assuming marriages took place.)

Questions include:
- If Fianna Ellis was not Margaret Callihan's daughter, by what relationship was she Thomas Callihan's stepdaughter?
- Was Evan "Callahan" Margaret's son?
- Who was Simon P. Callihan's mother?  Simon's age and the statement that he was to receive "his mothers share" imply that his mother was a child of Thomas Callihan.
- What was the connection between Margaret Callihan and Margaret Ellis Snearly or Snearley (later Cuba)?
- Who and where were the heirs of Thomas Callihan, the deceased son?
- Who and where were the heirs of Sarah Callihan Witmeyer, to whom funds were dispensed on January 8, 1872?

So many questions.  As of this update, November 6, 2006, we now have the obituary of Jacob Callihan, named therein as the second son of Thomas and Eve Callihan.  It also stated that Jacob was one of six children.  Perhaps that was an error by the writer of the obituary or, perhaps, it is a solid clue to this ongoing family puzzle.

We caution the reader to remember that the following is speculation.  The most straightforward scenario is:

-- Thomas was first married to a woman who was the mother of his eldest children, including Ann, who was born about 1797.
-- Thomas married Eve Donehi (or some variation of spelling of that surname) in 1808.  She was the mother of six children, including Jacob, said to be her second son, hence also Charles.
-- Margaret was also married previously, to men with the surnames Miller and Ellis.
-- Both Thomas and Margaret had a daughter named Sarah.  Sarah Witmeyer was Thomas' deceased daughter; Sarah (Sally) Fortney was Margaret's daughter.
-- Thomas and Margaret had at least one child together - Evan.  And if we were to fling another guess, he was named for Eve, then deceased.
-- Fianna Ellis Beebe was Margaret's daughter.
-- Margaret Ellis Snearly was Margaret's granddaughter, perhaps through an Ellis daughter (hence the middle name Ellis) who married a Snearly and died (which is why the young Margaret ended up in the Callihan home in 1860).  How helpful it would be to know the younger Margaret's exact birth date.
-- Simon was a son born to one of Thomas' daughters outside of wedlock and Simon was left in the care of his grandfather.