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 Modelsavailable atHouse
of Cassidyand 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
Wednesday, June 10, 2026
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
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, 3rd US Cavalry.
The 3rd
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 3rd Cavalry in 1861.
Following
the Civil War, the 3rd 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, 3rd 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 3rd 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 20th 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 "1st 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
Wednesday, May 27, 2026
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 4th 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
