Thomas P. Dougherty

performer

Active circa 1893-1910

All that is known for certain, or close to certain, about Thomas P. Dougherty is from contemporary newspaper references. His name was spelled Dougherty or Doherty, but most of the time he was referred to as "Thomas P.," as if to distinguish him from other Thomas Dougherty/Doherty's, of which there were many.

He played at church functions, picnics, concerts, in New York and northern New Jersey; earliest mention 1893.

In 1895 he was a saloon keeper in Manhattan, at 440 West 32nd St., between 9th and 10th Avenues. At the time this was a tough area, just south of the notorious Hell's Kitchen neighborhood, as the boundaries are today defined. On the evening of April 8 he was playing Irish pipes in the saloon. When he stopped, a man named McGuire objected and they had words. Later Dougherty and McGuire, with two others, began playing dice for money. "McGuire lost, and it was then found that he had no money. Dougherty put him out of the saloon, but he remained outside, kicking at the door and cursing, demanding readmittance. Just after midnight, when other men were let out, McGuire tried to force his way in, but was pushed out by Dougherty. Then he drew a knife and stabbed the saloon keeper in the abdomen and groin." Dougherty was taken to Roosevelt Hospital. His assailant was captured later that night. The reporting of this incident the next day allowed that Dougherty's injuries "probably would prove fatal."

They did not prove fatal. He is mentioned a few times at engagements in Northwest Pennsylvania. At an excursion and picnic near Wilkes-Barre, PA, in 1899 he is described as "the original Irish piper, Thomas P. Dougherty, of Harrison, N. J." Another announcement promoting this event says "... they have engaged Dougherty, the champion Irish piper of the world whose air instrument in which he will grind out the ancient and well loved-music of Old Erin from a sett of pipes that will cost a thousand dollars...."

Perhaps his career highlight was playing as a soloist at the twenty-sixth annual Feis Ceoil Agus Seanachas at Carnegie Hall April 23, 1905. This was a very prestigious concert, sponsored by the Gaelic Society and attracting the elite of the Irish community in New York City. Pat Touhey had played at the concert the year previous, pipers Thomas F. Kerrigan and Patrick Fitzpatrick in years before that.

In 1908 and 1910 Dougherty played at Gaelic Society programs in Washington, D. C. In both events he played "The Blackbird" and "The Flagon Reel." These are the last mentions I have found of him.

Census records and city directories bring up several Thomas Dougherty/Doherty's who may be the piper. The most likely candidate is Thomas P. Doherty, born 1861 or 1863 in Ireland, emigrated to the US about 1882. His occupation was Saloon Keeper. He and his wife Helen and their children lived at 515 4th Street, Harrison, New Jersey at least from 1900 to 1907. The Harrison city directory for 1907 shows him running a "Hand Ball Court" at that address.

Selected References

"Gaelic Musical Festival." Brooklyn [NY] Daily Eagle April 20, 1905 p. 16 column 6
Brooklyn NY Daily Eagle 1905 Grayscale - 3066.pdf

"Gaelic Society Meets" Washington DC Evening Star March 17, 1910 p. 11 column 6
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045462/1910-03-17/ed-1/seq-11/

"In and About Pittston." Wilkes-Barre [PA] Daily News Aug. 11, 1899 p. 6 column 3
Newspapers.com

"Pittston." Wilkes-Barre [PA] Times Aug. 16, 1899 p. 2 column 4
Newspapers.com

"A Saloon Keeper Stabbed." NYC Press April 8, 1895 p. 7 column 2
New York NY Press 1895 - 1290.pdf

Nick Whitmer
July 2018