Michael Melody : Short Biography

Michael Melody is my great(x2) maternal grandfather. He was the youngest son of his father's second marriage. He immigrated to the U.S. about 1845 with at least his older half-brother, Patrick Melody. They were both listed as Blacksmiths on the 1850 US Census report. Michael was later listed as a Farmer. Their father was Thomas Melody who first married Mary Grace, and secondly married Catherine Mullin. Thomas and Catherine had two sons, John and Michael, who both appear in the Tynagh - Catholic Parish Registers for 1816-1846 baptisms. Michael's death record stated that his date of birth was 2 Feb 1821, but his baptism is recorded for 27 Jan 1821, so his exact birth date remains uncertain.

Michael married Ann(ie) Garrigan between 1845-1849 in New York, USA. Records indicate that Annie Garrigan immigrated to Canada from Ireland before 1836, and moved to New York before 1844. She first married to William Maine. She was a widow with one son by her deceased husband named John A. Maine, born 1844, NY. John Maine was listed as John Melody on the 1860 US Census report, but Michael and Annie's first child was actually Michael Melody, born 1849, NY.

Annie Garrigan's sister, Margaret, married Michael's half-brother, Patrick Melody in New York as his second wife.

I had to purchase Michael's death certificate from the Wisconsin Historical Society, so am unable to share a URL here, but his death certificate recorded the following information:

Name: Michael Melody / Color: White / Age: 74 years / Name of Father: Thomas Melody / Name of Mother: Unknown / Occupation: Farmer / Place of Birth: Tinough Galway Co., Ireland / Name of Wife: Annie Garrigan / Date of Birth and Date of Death: 2 Feb 1821, 27 Aug 1895 / Cause of Death: Brights Desease / Name of Place of death: Town of Rockland / Name of Location of Burial Ground in Which Interred: R.C. Cem. Bro. Co. / Name of Person Returning Certificate: Rev. W. U. U. delaan / Residence of such person: Morrison  / Date of Certificate: Aug 29 1895 / Date of Registration: Jan 14 1896