Thomas? Montgomery - I don't think William,s father was Thomas . From Bio of George K. Montgomery born May 7, 1825 ..William's father was Joseph Montgomery

Hi James,

The William who landed in Philadelphia in 1811 with his wife Jane Wright and son John was born in 1751, according to the records attached to the profiles. The William that arrived in 1774 had a different Montgomery family, I fear.

We know that John and William were related because they arrived at the same time and signed the Declaration of Intent to Naturalize at the same time. John later married Eve Keck in western Pennsylvania in 1815, which makes complete sense for an 1811 arrival. John's brother James arrived earlier, along with my ancestor Thomas Wright, between February 7th and February 14th 1798. He also went to the same part of western Pennsylvania and also wound up in Missouri.

Therefore, the William Montgomery and Jane Wright came from the vicinity of County Monaghan, which is where all 27+ 1798 immigrants I've so far identified came from. In fact there is a marriage record there for them - attached to their profiles. Two families came from nearby County Fermanagh - William Rosborough, and the family of William Montgomery. Independent work on John Montgomery shows that he was born in County Fermanagh and we have his exact birthdate and village of birth, even.

Karl

As for whether William's father was named Joseph and came from England, it's certainly possible, but then we'd have to assume that either Joseph emigrated to Ireland, or William did, along with at least one brother. Since the emigration dates don't line up with yours I would want to make very sure that William born 1751 was really the son of Joseph of England before changing anything.

I located the shipboard passenger manifest for William Montgomery and Jane Wright and their family. There is a son Joseph with a wife Mary and a newborn William who traveled with them, as well as a son William and daughter Eliza. The John Montgomery on that record was stated to be born in 1797, which if accurate is five years different from the John who married Eve Keck.

Some things to note:
(1) It's possible that John's age was misstated because that might have saved money. Not sure.
(2) I will look for any indication of a life for a John Montgomery born 1797. If I don't find any, I'll assume that his year of birth was "fluid" and probably he was older. I did see an intent to naturalize, which would not have been signed by anyone under 16. Let's see if I can find it again.
(3) The way "Joseph" might have gotten into this story is because Irish naming tied the firstborn son's name to the paternal grandfather. If people went looking for "Joseph" they could certainly find one but it might not have been the right one. I believe there was an older son Thomas who never left Ireland and would have been named after the grandfather.

The link you gave redirects to Ancestry. Is there an error in it? Or is this an old URL?

The book can be found here:

https://archive.org/stream/genealogicalhist00mont/genealogicalhist0...

The text, which is garbled, is:

'Joseph Moxtgomery, who, it is stated, was born in Ayrshire, about
the year 1680. He is claimed to have been a near relative of Sir
James Montgomcric, of the Skelmorlie line, by his descendants, among
whom there is a tradition that their ancestor in some degree shared in
his misfortunes. Prompted by the inducements held out to Protestants
to settle in Ireland at that time, Joseph crossed the Channel, and pur-
chased a handsome estate near Armagh. This was about 1700, and
the farm is known to this day as the " town land of Killecapple." Here
he resided until his death, which occurred in 1750. He left three sons,

I. Joseph.

II. IlroH; and

III. Samuel. It is not known whcthc-r those last two left any descendants.

Joseph Montgomery ■was born in Ireland about the year 1703, and
on his father's death inherited his estate. He died in 1774, or 1775,
leaving two sons,

I. JdSEi'U ; and

II. Wii.LiAji, (if vhom afterwards.

Joseph Montgomery was born in 1738, and with his brother William
emigrated to America immediately before the Revolutionary war.
Tidings of their father's death reached the brothers shortly after their
arrival in New York, which compelled the return of one of them ;
Joseph, desirous of remaining, sold his interest in his father's estate to
William, who returned, while he entered the army, and after some
military service, became engaged in furnishing army supplies to the
Government. After the Revolution had ended, he returned to Ireland,
and purchased an estate near Newry, and built a house on it, wliich
bears the name of "Ivy Lodge." He resided here until his death in
1805, leaving two children.

I. Joseph, lately a banker in Urughcdn; and

TUB FAMILY OF MONTGOMERY. 167

II. Marrjarct, who mai-ricd .John Ilollidny, and removing to the United States,
settled in Albany, Now York.

William Montgomery was born in 174.'j.' He came to America
about 1774, but immediately returned, as before stated. He married
and had a large family. After his brother's death, in 1805, he sold his
property and returned to the United States, and purchased a tract of
land in Ohio county, Virginia, on which he resided until his death in
1812. Three sons and throe daughters survived him, namely,

I. Joseph.

II. William, born in Ireland, in 1792, who removed from A'irginia to Washing-
ton county, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and the same year married Elizabeth
Kelly. He died in 1858, leaving,

1. Hon. William, who was born in 1818, admitted to the bar in 1842,
and was .elected to Congress from the Twentieth District of Penn-
sylvania, which he represented for two terms, from 1857 to 1861, and
is known as the author of the " Crittenden-Montgomery Resolutions"
on the admission of Kansas to the Union. In 1845 he married Ma-
tilda Duval, and has,

a. Andrew.
6. James; and
c. William.

2. Martha, married -J. Linvillc, and resides near Claysville, Washing-
ton county.

III. Jonx, married Eva Coke, and is now residing in Noddaway county, Mis-
souri, and has,

1. George,

2. Joseph,

o. John T., all residing in Andrews county, Missouri.

4. Mar;/, married, April 5, 1834, -Jeremiah Hall.

5. Elizabeth, married, October 18, 1833, John Headly.
0. Anna, married, April 13, 1843, William Porter.

7. Rose, married, December 27, 1843, G. Nevvinger.
S. Harriet, married, September 27, 1850, William Smith,
9. Lncinda, married, April 8, 1858, .John Phipps.
10. Maggie, married, March 12, 1859, .Joseph Atkinson.

IV. Mary, married Willi.am McBride.
\. Jane, married Robert Luke.

VI. Eliza, married, in 1817, .Joseph Jlounts, and died in 1824.

Joseph Montgomery was born in Ireland, in 1777, and inherited
his father's estate in Ohio county, where he resided until his death, in
1857. He left

I. Joseph, who resides in Macoupin county, Illinois.

II. James, now de.id, resided in Washington county, Pennsylvania,
ill. John T.-, residing in the same county.

IV. Jane, married Willi.am Horsh, of Marshall county, Virginia.

V. Mary, married Wesley Robinson, of Ohio county, Virginia.

VI. Eliza, married Andrew Thompson, of iMarshall county. Virginia. '

The family who arrived in 1811 had all the same names as described above. But that William was born in 1751. His son William was indeed born in 1792 in Ireland but near as I can tell never went anywhere near Virginia; it would have made no sense.

The son Joseph born 1783 is considered by this treatment to be the FIRST son of William and Jane, which is why the name of Joseph is assumed for the father. The son John born 1792 is not given a birth year, so there was clearly some discomfort with the records for the patriarch of that branch of the family.

What I see in the actual records is William Montgomery, his wife Jane, both 60, emigrating to Pennsylvania in 1811 (and signing the Intent to Naturalize then). Along with them is a son Joseph, his wife Mary, their newborn son William. That Joseph was born in 1783. Also along with them is William, born 1792, and John, b.c.1797, and Eliza, b. 1799. There is no evidence that this family had ever been in the US before, and no indication that they came from Newry, although they embarked there. And I remain quite certain that the James Montgomery who emigrated to Philadelphia from County Monaghan in 1798 was the son of William Montgomery and Jane Wright, who married in County Monaghan in 1778. It is possible that the 1811 family is a totally distinct one but that would be quite a coincidence.

Here's cleaned up text from the book:

Joseph Montgomery, who, it is stated, was born in Ayrshire, about the year 1680. He is claimed to have been a near relative of Sir James Montgomery, of the Skelmorlie line, by his descendants, among whom there is a tradition that their ancestor in some degree shared in
his misfortunes. Prompted by the inducements held out to Protestants to settle in Ireland at that time, Joseph crossed the Channel, and purchased a handsome estate near Armagh. This was about 1700, and
the farm is known to this day as the " town land of Killecapple." Here he resided until his death, which occurred in 1750. He left three sons,

I. Joseph.
II. Hugh; and
III. Samuel. It is not known whcthc-r those last two left any descendants.

Joseph Montgomery was born in Ireland about the year 1703, and on his father's death inherited his estate. He died in 1774, or 1775, leaving two sons,

I. Joseph; and
II. William, (of whom afterwards)

Joseph Montgomery was born in 1738, and with his brother William emigrated to America immediately before the Revolutionary war. Tidings of their father's death reached the brothers shortly after their
arrival in New York, which compelled the return of one of them. Joseph, desirous of remaining, sold his interest in his father's estate to William, who returned, while he entered the army, and after some
military service, became engaged in furnishing army supplies to the Government. After the Revolution had ended, he returned to Ireland,
and purchased an estate near Newry, and built a house on it, which bears the name of "Ivy Lodge." He resided here until his death in 1805, leaving two children.

I. Joseph, lately a banker in Urugh[...]; and
II. Margaret, who married John Holliday, and removing to the United States, settled in Albany, Now York.

William Montgomery was born in 174[5]. He came to America about 1774, but immediately returned, as before stated. He married and had a large family. After his brother's death, in 1805, he sold his
property and returned to the United States, and purchased a tract of land in Ohio County, [West] Virginia, on which he resided until his death in 1812. Three sons and three daughters survived him, namely,

I. Joseph. [See below]
II. William, born in Ireland, in 1792, who removed from [Ohio County, West] Virginia to Washington county, Pennsylvania, in 1817, and the same year married Elizabeth Kelly. He died in 1858, leaving,

1. Hon. William, who was born in 1818, admitted to the bar in 1842, and was elected to Congress from the Twentieth District of Pennsylvania, which he represented for two terms, from 1857 to 1861, and is known as the author of the " Crittenden-Montgomery Resolutions" on the admission of Kansas to the Union. In 1845 he married Matilda Duval, and has,

a. Andrew.
b. James; and
c. William.

2. Martha, married J. Linville, and resides near Claysville, Washington County, [PA].

III. John, married Eva Coke, and is now residing in Noddaway county, Missouri, and has,

1. George,
2. Joseph,
3. John T., all residing in Andrews county, Missouri.
4. Mary, married, April 5, 1834, Jeremiah Hall.
5. Elizabeth, married, October 18, 1833, John Headly.
6. Anna, married, April 13, 1843, William Porter.
7. Rose, married, December 27, 1843, G. Nevvinger.
S. Harriet, married, September 27, 1850, William Smith,
9. Lucinda, married, April 8, 1858, .John Phipps.
10. Maggie, married, March 12, 1859, .Joseph Atkinson.

IV. Mary, married William McBride.
V. Jane, married Robert Luke.
VI. Eliza, married, in 1817, Joseph [B]lounts, and died in 1824.

Joseph Montgomery [son of William] was born in Ireland, in 1777, and inherited his father's estate in Ohio County, [WV] where he resided until his death, in 1857. He left:

I. Joseph, who resides in Macoupin County, Illinois.
II. James, now de[ceased], resided in Washington County, Pennsylvania,
III. John T., residing in the same county.
IV. Jane, married William Horsh, of Marshall County, Virginia.
V. Mary, married Wesley Robinson, of Ohio County, [West] Virginia.
VI. Eliza, married Andrew Thompson, of Marshall County. Virginia.

Differences between the immigration records and the book that I have found so far:

(1) William was born 1751 and died 1831 in Philadelphia, not in Ohio County WV. His obit was published in the New York Post. According to his obit he was a merchant, though, and may have traveled widely.

(2) William did not have children Mary and Jane. There are no records for those children emigrating so they may in fact be children of another Montgomery.

(3) The Joseph that emigrated with William was born c. 1783 He arrived with a wife Mary (which may have been confused by the author as Williams' daughter) and an infant son named William. This disagrees with the family laid out in the book quite dramatically. Since William and Jane married in 1778, a son Joseph born in 1777 is unlikely.

(4) The book does not explain Montgomery children left behind in County Monaghan. There are records involving Montgomerys there; I have the records, including one Montgomery born around 1778 named Thomas, who would very likely have been the first son of William and Jane. There would also likely have been a son Samuel born since that was the name of Jane's father.

Item #4 especially calls into question the rest of the tale. I think the origin of the Montgomery family in Ireland is likely reasonably accurate; families don't forget that kind of thing. But I think the Irish details, especially the tiny families and much sailing back and forth, are likely an attempt to reconcile multiple families into one narrative. Should be taken with a grain of salt. I'll think about how to reconcile the data and the account as much as possible but it won't wind up being an exact match for the reasons given above.

I've updated William's profile ( William Montgomery ) with this information. I will work on reconciling the trees over the next several days.

It turns out that everything depends on whether the County Fermanagh birth place and date for John Montgomery ( John Montgomery ) is correct. I am not sure where this information originally came from, but if it is accurate then John's parents were almost certainly William Montgomery and Jane Wright, as described. If this is NOT accurate, and John was in fact born in Armagh, then the William and Jane that arrived in 1811 could have been a different couple whose eldest son was Joseph and whose third son was William.

So I'd dearly love to know where that bit of information came from. It's common in web trees and also appears in FindAGrave.

If William and Jane lived in Ashbrooke, Fermanagh as described, then we have to include James Montgomery, who emigrated in 1798, in the family structure. He is thought to have been born in 1782 and since the 1798 Monaghan immigration consisted entirely of cousins and uncles/aunts of Thomas Wright, he very probably was the eldest son of the couple, meaning that William's father was probably called "James", who may well have been a younger brother of Joseph who died before his father and thus was omitted from whatever will this is based on. Birthdates of the sons, squishy as they are, can be manipulated within reason to line up with Irish naming conventions either way.

FWIW, other Geni users have tried to tie Canadian Montgomerys as children of William and Jane, which pretty much demonstrates there is quite a lot of overloading going on here for Montgomerys from Ireland.

Final resolution.

(1) Fleshed out the other children of William and Jane, specifically Joseph and William.
(2) Moved Thomas to a brother of William's named "James".
(3) The parent of both, and the man who settled in County Monaghan from County Armagh, is also named "James".
(4) Minor adjustment of years of birth for children of William and Jane so that the family follows Irish conventions. The sons are now universally a few years older than their wives.
(5) The Canadian descendant is now the descendant of William Montgomery and Jane Gamble, who I posit lived in County Armagh. That William is the son of Joseph b. 1703.

Have a look. Fits all the data now.