Hi Colin,

My search is for Frances Margaret Holden, wife of Francis McGillicuddy Eagar. Her husband, was the son of Alexander Eagar and Margaret McGillicuddy.

Since you are descended from Robert, Alexander Eagar's brother, thought you may be of help.

I have a lot of Holden information from early 1800's until today, but there are a few gaps.

I'd specifically like to find out more about one of Frances Margaret's siblings. Her only brother, William Holden, born about 1831and immigrated to New York City about the 1850. He is my great grandfather.

And, I'd also like to learn exact date and place of birth of William and his father Francis Smollet Holden, and wife Anna Sara Beamish (found her listed also as Sara Anna Beamish.)

Frances Margaret Eagar's father, Francis Smollet Holden (aka Dr. Francis H. Holden) had a musical doctorate, and, with his father, Smollet Holden, were musically prominent and helped preserve Traditional Irish Music in the early 1800's. They and other family members are mentioned in Dr. George Petrie's 1855 book the "Ancient Music of Ireland."
Posthumously, Dr. Petrie referred to him as "the most eminent British composer of military music in his time, and also referred to Smollet's son, Francis H. Holden as his young friend and that both they and Francis' sister and her husband Joseph Hughes contributed to preserving this music.

Francis Smollet Holden and his father, Smollet Holden lived in Dublin, where Smollet had a music publishing and musical instrument shop on Parliament St., Dublin. Smollet Holden died in Dublin in 1813. His first wife's name was Janet Fraser and second wife's name is unknown at this time.

Francis Smollet Holden (aka Dr. Francis H. Holden) died in New Ross, Ireland while preparing a setting for "The Beggar's Opera." He had 5 children; Francis Margaret Holden Eagar was the youngest.

Sorry to be so lengthy, but thought to give you this much information in the hope you may find a thread in your McGillicuddy Eagar genealogy that would lead to my great aunt, Frances Margaret Holden Eagar's ancestry.

I would like to exchange with you the names of all of Frances Margaret Holden and Francis McGillicuddy's Eagar's children. Plus, names of Francis McGillicuddy Eagar's siblings; who are the children of Alexander Eagar and Margaret McGillicuddy. The latter you probably have.