William and George Quigg came to the U.S. from Ireland in 1842. In the 1860 census, George was 27 years old and living with his mother, Margaret, and two younger siblings on a farm in Mt. Lebanon. Ten years later, the census lists George as being married to M.J. with three children-M.G. (Margaret/Maggie), 7; M, 5; and T.J. (Thomas), 2. T.J. would die within the next year.
On Sept. 2, 1864, William and his brother John enlisted in Co. L 204th (5th regiment) Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery as privates. William enrolled for a one-year term-“unless sooner discharged.” He signed his papers with an X. He was 5 feet 6 with dark eyes, hair and complexion. He was mustered out June 30, 1865 having served 10 months.
In the 1880 census, 70-year-old Margaret was keeping house for her two sons-William (age 48) and John (age 37) on Virginia Street in the 32nd ward, 3rd precinct of Pittsburgh. Both sons were employed as puddlers (the man in charge of an iron mill furnace). Also living in the house was Margaret’s 16-year-old granddaughter Maggie-the daughter of George who had died in 1872 at age 42. Maggie, according to the census, was attending school.
The two brothers and their niece Maggie were still living on Virginia Street when the 1900 census was taken. But now Maggie, age 36, was keeping house. William, age 72, was listed as a day laborer. By the 1910 census William (listed as 80 years old) was still with niece Margaret, but now they were on Jenny Street in Pittsburgh’s 19th Ward. William died two years later.
Note: William’s age keeps changing. In the 1880 census he was 45, but in the 1900 census, he was 72. His enlistment papers of 1864 list him as being 30, which jibes with the 1880 census.
St. Clair Cemetery 