Ireland and the Land League: A Key to the Irish Question - R.F. Maddigan

Biography

R.F. Maddigan (1867-1928)

Ireland and the Land League: Key to the Irish Question

Richard Francis Maddigan was born on the 12th of October, 1867 to parents John Maddigan (father) and Anastasia Grau (mother). He was born on P.E.I., and from what can be gleaned, he spent his entire life on the island. When Maddigan was thirty years old, he married his first wife, Anastasia (Annie) Joy. Together they had four children; Wilfred John Maddigan (1899-1982), Vernon F. Madigan (1902-1974), Gerald J. Maddigan (1904-1983), and Mary Camilla Maddigan (1906-1960). Annie Maddigan died five years after the birth of their last child in 1911, leaving R.F. Maddigan a widower.

In 1914, Maddigan remarried to Jane Egan who was willing to help raise his four children alongside him. R.F. Maddigan would have been around 46 at the time. By census records, it can be seen that his new wife was living with him by 1921 at his place of residence 125, Pownal St. Charlottetown. Mr. Maddigan would die just seven years later on the 24th of February in 1928, he would have been 61 at the time.

R.F. Maddigan was an owner of R.F. Maddigan & Co. A grocery store located on Queen Street in Charlottetown. He bought out the previous operation which was known as W. Grant & Co. Who in February of 1900 posted in several newspapers that they were selling their business to R.F. Maddigan, asking their patrons to continue to shop with the new grocery store. In the same advertisement, Maddigan told patrons that his grocery was fully stocked, sold for cheap, and had free shipping throughout the city. Prior to buying W. Grant & Co, Maddigan sold custom stencil and rubber stamps, using the previous grocery as his primary vendor. In 1906, R.F. Maddigan and Co expanded their business further to start producing soda pop as an alcohol free option for saloons. The store also began selling books which were able to be delivered.

The business venture that R.F. Maddigan was best known for was actually postcards. He advertised that he had around 80 varieties of cards, many of which were picturesque paintings of the beautiful landscape and nature of the island he grew up on. His business, as well as other local businesses on the island were commissioned to produce en masse. An interesting statistic showed that R.F. Maddigan & Co. supplied 10% of their product based on commission in 1915.

In addition to having his own business, R.F. Maddigan was also relatively well involved in the community as well. Maddigan was a member of the Benevolent Irish Society for many years. In 1892, he was re-elected for the position of secretary, with James Egan (his future father in law) working as the treasurer. The Benevolent Irish Society put on celebratory events like St. Patrick’s Day, to which Maddigan had directly been involved in. In 1915, R.F. Maddigan had become the treasurer for the Benevolent Irish Society. In 1925, his business was also listed as one of the trustees for Falconwood Hospital and Provincial Infirmary, providing yeast and other things for the hospital.

Richard Francis Maddigan was a well liked local entrepreneur and an active member of the community he was raised in.

Sources:

“Groceries, Soft Drinks and Postcards;R.f. Maddigan & Co.” 2017. STRAITPOST. May 2, 2017.

“Prince Edward Island Magazine.” n.d. Islandarchives.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

N.d.Islandarchives.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“Prince Edward Island Magazine.” n.d. Islandarchives.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“06 Our Quiet but Engaging Scenery P30-35.” n.d. Islandarchives.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

N.d.Islandnewspapers.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“Richard Maddigan - Historical Records and Family Trees.” n.d. MyHeritage. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“The Descendants of John Maddigan and Anastasia Grace.” n.d. Islandregister.com. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“Michael-T-Carroll - User Trees - Genealogy.com.” n.d. Genealogy.com. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“Year Book Province of Prince Edward Island 1915.” n.d. Islandarchives.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

“Report of the Trustees and Medical Superintendent of Falconwood Hospital and Provincial Infirmary Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island, Canada for the Year Ending December 31st 1925.” n.d. Islandarchives.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

N.d.Islandnewspapers.Ca. Accessed October 30, 2024.

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