The Story of Mary McDermott (Mrs. Butterworth)

Background & Early Life

In 2014, my cousin Michael McDermott asked me, "Whatever happened to Mrs. Butterworth?" He was referring to his aunt, who had returned to America, leaving her young son behind in Ireland to be raised by her parents.

Mary McDermott was born in Ballycoskery, County Cork, on February 26, 1865, and was baptized in Ballyhea on March 5, 1865. Her godparents were Mary Roche and David Lynch.

Castlewrixon House and Travel to America

In 1894, Mary’s brother David and his wife Nora purchased Castlewrixon House, a large property in County Cork. They furnished the home with works of art and furniture transported from London via boat, train, and horse-drawn wagon. David moved his family—including his sisters, Mary (age 29) and Catherine (age 24)—from the townland of Ballycoskery in the Ballyhoura Mountains to a smaller house on the new property.

It appears Mary and Catherine traveled to the United States shortly after. They boarded the Cephalonia at Queenstown and arrived in Boston on May 20, 1894.[1] From there, they traveled west to California, where Mary likely met and married James Henry Butterworth, a stained glass maker.

Evidence from Sister Catherine's Travels

·         Visit to Westfield: In 1895, Catherine returned to Ireland, stopping in Westfield, Massachusetts, to visit their brother John. A local newspaper noted that John had not seen Catherine in six years. This suggests Mary and Catherine did not stop in Westfield during their initial arrival in Boston in 1894. Their last meeting with John would have been when he left Ireland prior to his November 1888 marriage in Westfield.[2]

·         Family Stories: Two family stories support this timeline:

1.    Catherine surprised John by knocking on his door posing as a Singer sewing machine salesperson. When John declined and closed the door, she knocked again and asked if he would buy one from his sister.

2.    The kitchen clock at Castlewrixon House—which still hung on the wall as of 2014—was purchased by Catherine in America and brought home for the family.

·         Confirmation of California: Newspaper reports confirming Catherine was visiting from California further support that Mary was living there as a married woman during this period.

The Birth of Peter Butterworth & Travel Back to the US

Mary returned to Ireland aboard the Campania from New York, arriving in Queenstown on May 27, 1898.[3] Her son, Peter James Butterworth, was born shortly after at Castlewrixon on July 23, 1898. The birth record lists his father as James Butterworth of San Francisco, US America, a stained glass maker.

Following the birth of her son, immigration records confirm that Mary returned to the US at least twice:

1. Departure on July 27, 1899 (Wiesland)

Mary departed Queenstown on the Wiesland and arrived in Philadelphia on August 6, 1899. The passenger log records:[4]

"Mary Butterworth, 35, Irish, Married, husband in California, heard from him 2 months ago. Has been in the U.S. Before, 9 years, one year ago heard from husband regularly, father paid for her passage, husband did not have money enough as he did not have steady work to send for her and father helped her out, she is 6 years married, has no children, bound to Mr. Thos. Clarke."

A note attached to the record clarifies that Thomas Clarke was contacted at the landing station. He stated that his sister (who arrived on the same ship) was a friend of Mary's, and that he was willing to host Mary until she could earn enough money to travel to California.

·         Timeline Analysis: Mary's statements on this manifest are somewhat unreliable—most notably her claim that she had "no children," despite having given birth to Peter a year prior. While her statements imply she had been in the US since 1890 and married around 1893, the timeline suggests she and James more likely met and married between 1894 and 1897.

·         1900 Census: It is unclear how long she stayed with the Clarke family, but Mary likely found work as a servant. She may be the Mary Butterworth listed in the 1900 Census as living with the Anderson family in Sharon Hill, Pennsylvania.[5]

2. Departure in April 1906 (Celtic)

Mary returned to Ireland at some point before crossing back to the US again. She arrived in New York aboard the Celtic on April 16, 1906, alongside her younger brother, Richard. This trip was paid for by her brother John in Westfield.

James Butterworth & Business Troubles in San Francisco

While searching for James Butterworth in San Francisco, records reveal a stained glass company named T. C. Butterworth, owned by Thomas C. Butterworth. Thomas was the son of James and Sarah Butterworth and had two brothers: John and James. Newspaper archives mention Thomas’s stained glass installations, as well as an 1895 robbery at the business where a safe was blown open and $500 plus jewelry were stolen.

In November 1900, Thomas C. Butterworth filed a petition for insolvency in the US District Court, listing liabilities of $17,761.28 against assets of $11,818.40. Given Mary's statement in 1899 that she had not heard regularly from her husband since 1898 due to work issues, this insolvency filing may mark the culmination of the business's financial troubles.[6]

Deaths of James and Mary (1909)

It is unknown whether Mary and James ever reunited after the birth of their son. However, both passed away within months of each other in 1909.

Death of James H. Butterworth

James passed away in San Francisco on February 5, 1909. His obituary reads:

"BUTTERWORTH – In this city, February 5, 1909, at his late residence, 850 Treat avenue, James H. Butterworth, beloved son of the late James and Sarah Butterworth, and brother of Mrs. F. Sanderson and Thomas C. Butterworth, and the late John W. Butterworth, a native of San Francisco, Cal., aged 41 years 2 months and 23 days. Mass will be celebrated for the repose of his soul tomorrow (Monday), February 8, 1909, at 9 o'clock a.m. at St Peter's church, Alabama street between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-fifth.  Interment private.^”[7]

Funeral records list the expenses charged to his brother, Thomas C. Butterworth. A letter attached from Thomas, dated December 19, 1910, states he had moved to Monterey, California, and would pay once his house in San Francisco sold. The record makes no mention of a surviving widow or son.[8]

Death of Mary Butterworth

Mary passed away in August 1909. Newspaper notices record:

"Mrs Mary Butterworth of New York City, who was spending the summer at Barryville, NY, died at the latter place at eight o'clock Wednesday morning. The remains will be taken in New York City today by Undertaker C. I. Terwillinger & Son."[9]

"The funeral of Mrs Mary Butterworth, who died in Barryville, Pa., will be held tomorrow afternoon in St. Mary's church. Mrs Butterworth was a sister of Police Officer John McDermott. She died yesterday. Mr. and Mrs McDermott brought the body from Barryville late last night. She leaves, besides Mr. McDermott, her parents, several brothers and a son 12 years of age. The burial will be in St Mary's cemetery."[10]

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[1] The National Archives in Washington, DC; Washington, DC; Series Title: Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving At Boston, Massachusetts, 1891-1943; NAI Number: 4319742; Record Group Title: Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service, 1787-2004; Record Group Number: 85; Series Number: T843; NARA Roll Number: 010

 [2] Springfield Republican, May 11, 1895

[3] UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 The National Archives in Washington, DC; London, England, UK; Board of Trade: Commercial and Statistical Department and Successors: Inwards Passenger Lists; Class: Bt26; Piece: 131; Item: 64

[4] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Immigration Records, Special Boards of Inquiry, 1893-1909

[5] Year: 1900; Census Place: Sharon Hill, Delaware, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1405; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0166; FHL microfilm: 1241405

[6] San Francisco Call, Volume 87, number 174, 21 November 1900

[7] San Francisco Call, Volume 105, Number 69, 7 February 1909

[8] San Francisco, California, United States records," images, FamilySearch (https://

www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-DZD8-RM?view=fullText : Jul 23, 2026), image 344 of 378; San Francisco Public Library. History Department. Image Group Number: 004192906

[9] The Evening Gazette, Port Jervis, NY Thursday, August 19, 1909

[10] Springfield Republican, August 21, 1909, page 10

Copyright Kathleen Sullivan 2026 All rights reserved

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 Nellie (O'Sullivan) Hargaden

My mother's cousin, Ellen O’Sullivan, daughter of Michael O'Sullivan and Catherine McDermott,  was born on 24 February 1903 and was baptized on 1 March 1903.  Her godparents were Peter McDermott and Margaret O’Sullivan.  Ellen lived at home with her parents and her brother David.  After the death of her mother in 1954 Ellen would have been the sole resident of 13 Marina Terrace.  Of her 5 brothers, Patrick, Peter, Michael, and David had died.  John Joseph had been ordained as a Capuchin friar and was living in Raheny, Dublin.   Of her 3 sisters, Mary Catherine (Sister Annunciata) had died and was buried in Lagos, Nigeria, Catherine was a Poor Clare nun and Margaret Mary was married.

Barney, circa 1928

It made sense then that, Ellen, known as Nellie,  married at St. Finbarr’s in Cork City on 10 September 1955[1]  Bernard (Barney) Hargaden, a widower and retired Garda.  She and Barney lived in the O’Sullivan family home at 13 Marina Terrace, Albert Road, Cork. 

In 1961 Barney retired after 39 years with the Garda Siochana.  He was looking forward to spending more time on his favorite pastime, fishing.  Superintendent Delaney, who made the retirement presentation was the first sergeant he had served under in Fermoy, County Cork.  He was presented with a fishing outfit as a token of respect by his colleagues at McCurtain Street Barracks.

The United States Lines vessel America arrived at Cobh on the afternoon of June 29 and 170 passengers embarked before resuming her voyage to New York City.  Sailing from Cobh were Barney and Nellie Hargaden.  They would be spending three months visiting relatives in the US. 

 In March 1969 Nellie won a brand new Ford Capri!  On Sunday 9 February 1969 the Sunday Independent offered the Prize of a Lifetime, ermine white with blue upholstery, as the prize for a single winner in their weekly Fashion Contest.  While the paper had offered cash prizes and various appliances, and even a British Morris Minor, the Ford Capri was new to the European market and had been reviewed extensively in the newspapers.  All the contestants had to do was take fashion pictures and arrange them in first, second, third place, etc., as to their preference.  There was a fee to enter, and competitors could submit as many entries as they wish.  On Sunday, 9 February the fashions displayed were suede and leather garments from June and Peter Morris of Wicklow Street and Henry Street, Dublin.  There were 4 winners in contest #841, but since there was no single winner, they shared a cash prize of 200 pounds and the awarding of the Capri was held over for the next week.  On Sunday, 16 February the fashions displayed were ladies skirt and trousers suits, Hetty Models available at House of Cassidy and stores throughout the country.  In this contest (#842) there were 17 winners who shared the cash prize of 200 pounds and once again, the awarding of the Capri was held over.  On Sunday, 16 February there were 9 photos displayed of young girls’ coats and dresses, manufactured by Cinderella Ltd, Shamrock Villas, Harold’s Cross, Dublin 6.  And this time, in contest #843,  there was only one winner, Mrs. Nellie Hargaden of 13 Marina Terrace, Albert Road, Cork!  Nellie worked for many years at Roche’s store in Cork.  Did this give her an advantage on the fashion front?  Barney and Nellie traveled up to Dublin to pick up their new wheels.[2]

Barney Hargaden was born 7 April 1898, at Carrigeenblike, County Sligo, son of Thomas and Maria (Coen) Hargaden.   As a young man, Barney joined the Garda Siochana in 1923 and was originally stationed in Fermoy, County Cork, where he first married Ellen, born 26 July 1901, daughter of Thomas and Mary (O’Mahoney) Lomasney on 3 September 1929.  Ellen (Lomasney) Hargaden died 24 October 1931 of nephritis, pregnancy and oedema of the lungs.

Barney died on 22 February 1991 and was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery, Charleville.  Ellen O'Sullivan Hargaden died on 28 January 1996, at the Catherine McAuley Nursing Home in Charleville, County Cork. Her funeral was held at Holy Cross Church, Charleville, the following day, followed by burial in the Holy Cross Cemetery.  She was 92 years old, the longest lived of her siblings.

 [1] Although Nellie’s marriage record is not yet available on irishgenealogy.ie, notation was made of this date and the name of the church on her baptismal record.

[2] My family owned a yellow Ford Capri when I was in high school, which would have been right around the same time.

Copyright Kathleen Sullivan 2026 All rights reserved

A Transatlantic Heritage

Using an idea generated by the Technical Genealogist (https://www.technicalgenealogist.com/)  I generated the infographic below from my DNA results

Copyright Kathleen Sullivan 2026 All Rights Reserved

Who is John Downey?

I first encountered John Downey living with my great great grandmother Hannah (Dealy) O’Sullivan in the 1900 census, at 180 Chelsea Street in Charlestown.  His relationship with her was stated as cousin. 

John came to America in 1865 and worked as a laborer before enlisting in the Army on 16 November 1869 in New York City.  He is recorded as 5’7” with grey eyes, dark hair and a fair complexion.  He signed up for a 5 year term and was assigned to Company F, 3^rd US Cavalry. 

The 3^rd U. S. Cavalry was organized in 1845 as the Regiment of Mounted Riflemen.  They fought in the Mexican American War and were later renamed the 3^rd Cavalry in 1861. 

Following the Civil War, the 3^rd Cavalry was tasked with securing the expanding American West during the escalating Indian Wars.  At the time of John’s service in 1869 and 1870 the regiment was transferred from the District of New Mexico to the rugged Arizona Territory.

Company F operated on the southwestern frontier during a time when conflicts with Apache and Yavapai bands were escalating.  The company was tasked with protecting trails, guarding remote outposts,  such as Camp Hualpai and Fort Whipple, and conducting scouting expeditions across vast, arid terrains.

Cavalry service in Arizona during this era was notoriously brutal.  Troops endured intense desert heat, freezing mountain nights, isolation, poor rations and relentless tracking duties, factors which could easily trigger long-term physical disability and cardiovascular strain.  On March 28, 1871 John received an official medical discharge.  While “in the field” near notoriously unhealthy Camp Grant, Arizona a military surgeon signed a certificate declaring John permanently disabled due to severe cardiovascular issues, specifically “progressive dilation” (an enlarged heart) and chronic bronchitis.

These men faced immense physical wear and tear.  “Progressive dilation” typically referred to an enlarged heart caused by chronic overexertion or an untreated illness, like the bronchitis noted in his file.   This diagnosis confirms that his physical breakdown was directly tied to the hardships of his enlistment.  His first stint in the Arizona Territory was an intense 16 months before his health collapsed near Camp Grant.

Although John was discharged from the Army, he was far too ill to survive the journey home.  He spent the spring of 1871 confined to the post hospital at Camp Pinal Arizona.  In September he was transferred to Camp Lowell, a larger military hospital near Tucson.  By October he was stable enough for light duties around the hospital as a convalescent patient.  In late November he was finally released to begin his long journey back to the northeast to recuperate with family.John returned to the Northeast to recuperate and in 1873, as shown on his Indian Wars Pension card, he re-enlisted into Company F, 3^rd U. S. Cavalry.  At that time, he headed out to the Northern Plains for the Great Sioux War (1876-1877) against the Lakota and Cheyenne.  

By 1873, the 3^rd Cavalry had shifted its headquarters out of the southwest desert and moved up to the Department of the Platte, covering Wyoming, Nebraska and the Dakota Territory.  Company F would have participated in some of the most famous campaigns in American military history including, The Black Hills Expedition (1874), the Great Sioux War (1876-77) and the Powder River Expedition.

John spent the years after his final discharge until his admission to the soldiers’ home as part of the widespread Irish diaspora.  Like many Irish immigrants he most likely returned to the Northeast, where he would have the support of family networks.  Charlestown in these years was one of the most tight-knit Irish enclaves in the United States.  The economy was anchored by the Navy Yard, the Boston & Maine railroad and the commercial docks.  Cousin Hannah’s house was directly across the street from the Navy Yard.  The 1900 census lists his occupation as a house painter, while the 1910 census lists laborer.  If his health permitted it, John could have found light work in these sectors.   House painting in the early 20^th century was taxing and hazardous work, involving heavy exposure to toxic fumes and lead-based paint.  Combined with his arduous cavalry service, this may have exacerbated his bronchitis and arterial disease.On June 15, 1917 John applied for his Indian War Pension as an Indian Survivor under the Act of March 3, 1917 which expanded protections for frontier veterans.  This Act of Congress finally granted pensions to Indian War veterans based on age and length of service.  Just 5 months later he was admitted to the Soldiers’ Home at Togus on November 7, 1917.  This home was a lifelong safety net for volunteer soldiers.  The home’s doctors also noted arteriosclerosis, bronchitis and cardiac/vascular issues.  The Togus home in Chelsea, Kennebec County, Maine was the first National Asylum for Volunteer Soldiers opened in the United States. 

At the time of admission, the name and address of John’s nearest relative is listed as "1^st Cousin Hannah O’Sullivan, 180 Chelsea St, Charlestown Mass”

But which Hannah?  Hannah O’Sullivan was the widow of Jeremiah O’Sullivan, but her mother was also Mary (Sullivan) Dealy, so she could be his first cousin through her mother.  Her daughter Hannah O’Sullivan was the daughter of Jeremiah and Hannah (Dealy)O’Sullivan, so she could also be his first cousin through her father.  Hannah Senior was born in 1832, John Downey in 1844 and Hannah Junior in 1861.  By the time John died on October 30, 1920 and made his final trip home, Hannah Senior had died.  Although John does have a Maine death certificate, because his body was shipped interstate a death certificate was also issued in Massachusetts.  The informant was Hannah O’Sullivan.  We know this is the younger Hannah, as she was the only one still living.  She listed John’s parents on the death certificate as John Downey and Catherine Sullivan.  But was Catherine the sister of Mary (Sullivan) Dealy or Jeremiah Sullivan?   Either Hannah could be his first cousin.

In accordance with his family’s wishes, John’s body is officially “sent to Charlestown,” Massachusetts.  John was buried on November 3 at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden after a funeral Mass at St Catherine’s Church in Charlestown. 

My grandfather, Jeremiah Sullivan, would have lived in the same house in Charlestown with John until he was about 5 years old.  He would have known John at least until his father died and they became estranged from his grandmother Hannah.  Did he hear stories about the American Southwest?  Did he think of John when he was sent to Texas with the New Hampshire National Guard in 1916?

Resources:

1870 United States Federal Census; Year: 1870; Census Place: Camp Grant, Pima, Arizona Territory; Roll: M593_46; Page: 30B
1900 United States Federal Census Year: 1900; Census Place: Boston Ward 3, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Page: 5; Enumeration District: 1195; FHL microfilm: 1240676
1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Boston Ward 3, Suffolk, Massachusetts; Roll: T624_614; Page: 1B; Enumeration District: 1297; FHL microfilm: 1374627
1920 United States Federal Census Year: 1920; Census Place: Augusta, Kennebec, Maine; Roll: T625_643; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 48
Arizona, U. S., Territorial Census Records, 1864-1882
Baptism, irishgenealogy.ie
Boston, Massachusetts, U.S., List of Boston Residents, 1909-1972
Boston Evening Globe, Nov. 2, 1920, page 7
Charlestown Enterprise, Nov. 6, 1920
Massachusetts Death Certificate
Maine, Death Records, 1761-1922: Maine State Archives; Cultural Building, 84 State House Station, Augusta, ME 04333-0084; 1908-1922 Vital Records; Roll Number: 16
Massachusetts, U.S. City Directories
U.S. National Homes for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers, 1866-1938
U.S., Army, Register of Enlistments, 1798-1914
U.S., Returns from Military Posts, 1806-1916: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Returns from U.S. Military Posts, 1800-1916; Microfilm Serial: M617; Microfilm Roll: 653
Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926: Page 1 - Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926 1873; Page 1 - Index to Indian Wars Pension Files, 1892-1926 1949
Register of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Togus, Maine

Copyright Kathleen Sullivan 2026, All Rights Reserved

  The Girl in the Photograph

My great grandmother Laura Josephine Shaw was baptized Marie Elionore Chauvin, the third child and second daughter of Joseph Chauvin and Mary Ann McCarthy, on 22 January 1878 at St Bernard de la Colle, Quebec, Canada.  I remember meeting her once, at a nursing home in Winthrop when I was very young.  We always treasured the beautiful picture we had of her.  Until we found out the photograph wasn’t of my great grandmother, but her sister, Edith Amelia Shaw.

Laura’s youngest sister, Edith Amelia Shaw was baptized as Emmilie Ida Chauvin on 22 August 1883 at St Brigid’s Church, Montreal, the 4^th daughter and fifth child of Joseph and Mary Ann (McCarthy) Chauvin. 

One fine summer day in July of 1901 Edith joined her friends Catherine and Albert in a prank.  The trio met up with James Shea, an elderly man[1] from Charlestown and employee of Boston & Maine Railroad at a house at 12 Blossom Street.  James was carrying quite a bit of cash in his wallet that day.

Catherine had been drinking, and when she entered the establishment, she cuddled up to Mr. Shea, sitting on his lap and slipping his wallet out of his right hip  pocket.  She passed the wallet to Edith who concealed it under a tablecloth.

When Mr. Shea discovered that his wallet was missing, it could not be located.  It was no longer under the tablecloth!  A witness had seen Albert toss something out the window.  Mr. Shea went to the police and Catherine, Albert and Edith were arrested.  After Catherine sobered up, she confessed to her part in the crime. 

Albert Cartnell, Catherine Crowley and Edith Shaw were charged with larceny and receiving stolen property for taking $200 from James Shea.  Catherine appeared in court, elegantly dressed in black silk.  Edith, pale and suffering from consumption, was dressed in black and walking with a stout cane.   She appeared extremely delicate.  Catherine admitted that she took the wallet and gave it to Edith.  Edith said that Albert was last seen with it.  Albert denies having seen it at all, although he later admitted he had had the money and hid it in the toilet tank.  He later retrieved it from the tank and threw it across the fence.  Edith claimed that Albert counted the money in front of her and offered her $100 to keep her mouth shut.

Although Catherine and Albert both had records with the police, Catherine was given immunity for being a government witness and was sentenced to probation only.  Albert was convicted and sentenced to the house of correction for a year.  Edith was also convicted and sentenced to the reformatory prison for women for a year.

With no prior criminal history Edith could have expected to be sentenced to probation.  She was suffering at that time from consumption and needed hospital treatment.  The judge determined that since her mother had at one time run a “disorderly house”[2] it was deemed that her home environment was not the best.  She was sent to the women’s prison in Sherborn on the advice of probation officer, in hopes that she would receive better care in the prison hospital there.

On August 24, a petition for pardon was presented to Governor Crane, as Edith was dying in the prison hospital at Sherborn.  The prison chaplain stated that she was very low and would not recover.  Governor Crane was out of town at that time and was not expected to return until August 27.

Edith’s mother was quoted as saying “Two I have lost already; they died in my arms.  Edie is all I have left, and to think that she may die in prison!”  It appears that Mrs. Shaw must have forgotten my great grandmother, alive and married with 3 children in Charlestown![3]

Although there is no record of her release, Edith did die at home at 5 Ransom Court off Cotting Street in the West End of Boston, on June 5, 1902, age 19 years, 9 months and 11 days.  Her funeral was held on June 7 at St. Joseph’s Church and she is buried at Calvary Cemetery.

 Video below created by NotebookLM.

Resources:

Boston Evening Record, August 13, 1901

The Boston Globe August 14, 1901

Boston Journal Thursday August 15 1901 page 8

The Boston Globe  - Thursday, August 15, 1901, page 2

The Boston Traveler, August 23, 1901, page 1 and 2

The Boston Post August 24, 1901

Boston Traveler, August 24, 1901

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[1] Age 68!

[2] Possibly a brothel

[3] Picture credit The Boston Traveler Friday August 23 1901, page 1

Copyright Kathleen Sullivan 2026, All Rights Reserved

My Curran Cousins

John Curran (1867-1944) of Lawrence and Lynn

Update!

This week I received an email from Ireland Reaching Out.  The subject was Irish Naming and Baptism Traditions.  Since I was familiar with the Irish naming patterns, I almost chose not to read the email.   At the last minute, I retrieved it from the trash and settled down to read what proved to be a lengthy article.

One phrase toward the end of Irish Baptism Traditions and Customs caught my eye:

The poorer class of Catholics (rarely named on land records, but living in a townland in some sort of extended-family rundale system) followed a specific godparent convention to the letter: every sponsor/ godparent was either a sibling or a sibling in-law of one of the child's parents. It's that simple.  Surnames that do not match the parents' surnames are in-laws and key to knocking down brick walls.

I knew that John Curran's godfather was Thomas Grady and I was sure there were no Grady in-laws in my family.  John's mother, Catherine Houlihan, had three sisters, Mary, who married Tom Griffin, Honora, who married John Gould and Margaret, who disappeared.  There were no Gradys hiding there.  But I hadn't considered the Currans.  

On  30 January, 1866, just a year and a bit before John's birth on 8 February, 1867, Thomas Grady married John's paternal aunt, Margaret Curran.  So John's godfather was indeed a sibling in-law.

Marriage of Thomas Grady and Margaret Currane, 30 January 1866

John Curran is the earliest immigrant I have found in my maternal grandmother's extended family.  Thomas Grady was one of the sponsors or associates of John I wanted to follow up on, to see if he may have assisted John in emigrating to America.  Thomas and Margaret are listed living in the Commons of Milltown, Dingle, in the 1901 Irish Census, with their youngest surviving child, Brandon.   Since John emigrated in 1883 and the Gradys were still in Ireland in 1901, they were not the ones to help him emigrate.

Margaret (Currane) Grady died 6 October, 1913, and her death was witnessed by her widower, Thomas.  They did not emigrate to America, although some of their children may have.

Death of Margaret Grady, 6 October 1913, Commons of Milltown, Dingle

If you would like to read this very informative (and helpful!) article, click here.

Irish Naming and Baptism Traditions

Copyright 2019, Kathleen Sullivan. All Rights Reserved

My Curran Cousins

Mary Doherty (Dooley) Cosgrove (1907-1933) and Mary Rita (Cosgrove) Greene (1928-2005)

Mary Doherty⁴ (Catherine³, John² Curran, Catherine¹ Houlihan) Dooley, was the eldest child of Michael F. and Catherine Z. (Curran) Dooley.  She was born on 15 September 1907 at Lynn, Massachusetts.  Her parents’ residence was 43 Norton Street, Lynn, the home of her maternal grandparents.

Mary’s parents moved often.  By the time she was 19 she had lived in Lynn, Saugus, Braintree, and Abington.  In 1926, she was living with her maternal grandparents again at 43 Norton Street and listed as a student in the city directory[1].

In 1927, Mary married Joseph H. (also Howard J.) Cosgrove.  Joseph was born 17 August 1905 in Canada, the son of Frank and Emma Cosgrove.  He was employed as a steamfitter in a shoe factory.

The couple’s only child, Mary Rita Cosgrove, was born July 4, 1928, in Lynn.  By 1930, the Cosgroves were living first at 148 Liberty Street Suite 3 and later, when the census was taken, at 64 Prospect Street, Lynn.[2]

Mary (Dooley) Cosgrove died at 64 Prospect Street on 19 November 1933 and was buried at St. Joseph Cemetery on 22 November 1933.  The primary cause of death was listed as articular rheumatism and the secondary cause as acute pericarditis. 

Joseph Cosgrove remarried sometime in or before 1935, to Dorothy Arline Platt, born in Lynn, 19 March 1909, the daughter of Samuel Platt and Leah Phillips.  They lived at several addresses in Saugus, and later in Lynn, and in Sebastian, Florida.  Joseph died on 8 June 1979 in Florida, and Dorothy died 14 June 1990 in Massachusetts.

Mary Rita Cosgrove

Mary Rita⁵ Cosgrove (Mary D.⁴ Dooley, Catherine³ Curran, John², Catherine¹ Houlihan) was raised in Saugus, Massachusetts with her stepbrother, Howard Arthur Spofford, son of Dorothy Platt.  He graduated from Saugus High in 1944 and Mary Rita graduated two years later, in 1946.  She married Donald Vernon Greene in 1950 and they had two children[3].  Mary Rita died 15 May 2005 in Sebastian, Florida and was buried 18 May at Fountainhead Memorial Park, Palm Bay.   Her husband Donald died 6 May 2011 at Tilton, New Hampshire and was buried with her at Fountainhead Memorial Park.

If you are related to Mary Dooley or Mary Rita Cosgrove, please contact me through the comments section below.

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[1] Ancestry.com, U S City Directories, 1822-1995

[2] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census

[3] Since these children are living, their names are not included here.

My Curran Cousins

Catherine Zita Curran (1889- 1974)

Residences of Michael and Catherine
(Curran) Dooley

Catherine³ (John², Catherine¹ Houlihan) Zita Curran was the only surviving child of John Joseph and Mary (Kelleher) Curran.   At the time of her birth, the family lived at 13 Astor Court in Lawrence, Massachusetts[1]. 

At age 17, Catherine married Michael Francis Dooley, on 26 November 1906[2], at St Mary's Church in Lynn.  Michael was the eldest son of Michael Francis and Mary T F (Leahey) Dooley of 62 Prospect Street in Lynn.  Michael’s occupation is listed as a draughtsman.

Tracing the children of Catherine and Michael Dooley was not straight forward.    Although the couple married in Lynn and their first two daughters were born there, the other four children were born in varied locations.   It appears that the family moved often, specifically for Michael’s employment.  However, the parents’ names and the father's occupation are consistent on the birth records, which leads me to believe these children are all members of the same family.  The chart below lists the Dooley children I was able to locate in the records and verify.

I was not able to locate a birth record for Catherine Frances, born 1910.  The information for her in the chart below is taken from the census.  She is listed on the 1910 U S Federal Census with the age 0/12 years old.  That census form was recorded on 18 April 1910.  Later in life, Catherine Frances used a birth date of 21 April 1910.

Child	Birth Date	Residence of Parents	Occupation of father
Mary Doherty	15 Sept 1907	43 Norton St, Lynn	Pattern Maker
Gertrude Helen	2 Sept 1908	43 Norton St, Lynn	G E Co
Catherine Frances	18 April 1910	68 Hesper St, Saugus	Pattern maker, Electric company
John Charles	2 Nov 1913	Braintree, Mass.	Pattern maker
Francis Anthony	2 Nov 1913	Braintree, Mass	Pattern maker
Rita Elizabeth	15 May 1925	Everett, Mass.	Record unavailable

Catherine and Michael Dooley had the following children:

1.       Mary Doherty Dooley, born Lynn, 15 September 1907; died 19 November 1933, at Lynn

2.      Gertrude Helen Dooley, born Lynn, 2 September 1908; died 25 October 1946, at Boston

3.      Catherine Frances Dooley, there is no birth record for Catherine; died 4 January 1936, at Middleton

4.      John Charles Dooley, (twin) born Braintree, Massachusetts,  2 November, 1913; died 26 March 1958 at Boston

5.      Francis Anthony Dooley (twin) born Braintree, 2 November 1913; died 11 September 1968, at Albuquerque, New Mexico

6.      Rita Elizabeth Dooley, born Everett, Massachusetts, 16 May 1925; died 17 November 2015, La Verne, California

Between the time of their marriage in 1906 and 1957 they lived in 9 different cities or towns, as shown on the map above.  These include Lynn, Saugus, Braintree, Abington, Peabody, Malden, Everett and Chelmsford[3].

It seemed that I might have missed some children, as there is a gap of 12 years between the birth of the twins (#4 and #5)  in 1913 and Rita Elizabeth in 1925.  However, since Catherine had married at the young age of 17, she was still only 36 years old when Rita Elizabeth was born.   Rita is with her parents in the 1930[4] and 1940[5] census and is the informant on her mother’s death certificate[6].

Between 1963 and 1968, Michael and Catherine lived in Panama City and Vernon, Florida.  In 1968 they moved to Albuquerque, New Mexico.  This may have been as a result of the death of their son, Francis Anthony.

Michael Francis Dooley died 1 October 1970 as a result of a stroke.  He is buried at Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico[7].

Catherine outlived her husband and five of her six children, dying on 4 October 1974, age 85, in Springfield, Virginia[8].  She is buried with her husband at the Gate of Heaven Cemetery, Albuquerque, New Mexico[9].    The cause of death was a cerebral vascular accident due to arteriosclerosis.  At the time of her death, she was living at 1221 Rosser Avenue, Waynesboro, Virginia.  The informant was her daughter, Mrs. Francis L (Rita) Delaney.

I would love to communicate with any descendants of Michael and Catherine (Curran) Dooley.

Next time, the life of Mary Doherty Dooley, the first child of Michael and Catherine.

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[1] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts Birth Records, 1840-1915

[2] Ancestry.com, Massachusetts Marriage Records, 1840-1915

[3] Ancestry.com, U S City Directories

[4] Ancestry.com, 1930 United States Federal Census

[5] Ancestry.com, 1940 United States Federal Census

[6] Ancestry.com, Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014

[7] Ancestry.com, U S, Find A Grave Index 1600s-Current

[8] Ancestry.com, Virginia, Death Records, 1912-2014

[9] Ancestry.com, U S, Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current

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