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Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: daisynook on Tuesday 23 August 22 22:21 BST (UK)
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I'm afraid I don't have any definite dates for this request. I'm trying to help a friend find her grandfather James O'Reilly. He was born in Galway and was married to Ellen Bergin/Berrigan with 6 children. He decided to leave the family in Ireland and went to Boston, US around 1940-1950s. He got himself a job on the trolley buses as an Inspector. He was involved in a trolley bus accident where he was killed. His wife in Ireland was paid a pension from the company until she died.
I have been looking for any newspaper clips or other informationa about the accident but have had no luck so far. Could anybody have any better luck than me? Any help appreciated.
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Does she have an approximate year of birth, please? Does she know his parents’ names? Are they fairly certain he remained in the Boston area until his death? Any idea if he died somewhat shortly after arriving or could it have been months or even years later? What was his occupation before he left Ireland, please? Finally, does she know if he had a middle name?
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Hi Lisa - Sorry for delay in getting back to you. I've emailed my friend but not yet had a reply. I can answer the question about the names of James's parents, they were Edward Bergin and wife O'Meara/Mara and yes, he was killed in a trolley accident in Boston so never returned to Ireland. Ellen his wife received a pension from the bus company for the rest of her life. She died in 1981 in Ireland.
Having found that myself this morning it looks like the name was Bergin not Berrigan. I believe it was to do with the Irish pronunciation and people with that name shortened it to Bergin. As for James I believe he was born in 1914 in Tuam, Galway.
I will get back to you with any more answers I can find.
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PS - James's wife was called Bridget O'Meara/Mara
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In your previous thread here
https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=807890.
the generations and same name caused some confusion. ;)
You write here
“ I can answer the question about the names of James's parents, they were Edward Bergin and wife O’Meara “
Who is Edward Bergin? Should it be o’Reilly and mother Ellen Bergin?
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So sorry, I'm confusing myself now. It should read that Edward Reilly and wife Bridget O'Meara were James's parents!!
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Do you have their marriage or his birth?
I am having difficulty finding anything.
Is this right so far?
James b 1914 Tuam.
Parents Edward Reilly and Bridget O’Meara.
James married Ellen Bergin.
Ellen Bergin O’Reilly died 1981.
Is there still a Kilkenny connection? If so - who and when?
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Yes, most things right except James Reilly was born in Tuam, Galway in 1914 but I unfortunately don't have any further information and he worked as an Inspector for MTA. I too have not been able to find anything further either.
There is no longer a Kilkenny connection. All the family except Ellen moved to London after James' death.
I am waiting to speak to my friend to ask more questions but unfortunately this is her grandfather we are talking about and she tells me it was treated as a family secret and no one spoke about James thereafter.
I will get back to you if anything further comes to light.
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There is no birth for James with those details.
I can’t see a marriage for his parents with those names.
I can’t see a marriage for him either.
https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/en/
Where, in Ireland, were the children born ?
When did the family move to England - that might give you an approximate year of death.
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So sorry, I'm confusing myself now. It should read that Edward Reilly and wife Bridget O'Meara were James's parents!!
Back on the other thread we found Ellen Bergin with parents Edward and Bridget O’Meara. :-\. That was in Kilkenny but you say now there is no Kilkenny connection.
There was a lot of work done there by oldohiohome.
It all seems very mixed up.
I understand that it might be a family secret but does your friend at least have the name of their Reilly parent with a birth year. This might have to be obtained from their death in England.
Your friend might recall aunts and uncles who also came to England and we could find years of birth for them.
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Yes, most things right except James Reilly was born in Tuam, Galway in 1914 but I unfortunately don't have any further information and he worked as an Inspector for MTA. I too have not been able to find anything further either.
There is no longer a Kilkenny connection. All the family except Ellen moved to London after James' death.
I am waiting to speak to my friend to ask more questions but unfortunately this is her grandfather we are talking about and she tells me it was treated as a family secret and no one spoke about James thereafter.
I will get back to you if anything further comes to light.
I haven’t finished reading the other thread so perhaps I’m asking this prematurely but since others have not yet been able to find any answers - is there any chance that he wasn’t killed in a trolley accident?
Did James leave Ireland in search of work or for some other reason? Was his death a made up story to “save face” for family members (his wife)? Did he live a separate life in Boston/somewhere in America and HE sent money home to Ireland to take care of his family? Upon his real death, when the money stopped, James became “the family secret”. [So, was James’ death accidental with a pension sent to his wife; or, was the death made up and he actually just sent money home every month with that stopping when he died?] ???
Again, I’m only on page two of the other thread, but to me, things don’t seem to be adding up. But, perhaps once I’ve reread this thread and finish reading the other one I may not feel as though there is something missing.
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Who knows, you could be right. The only thing against that was that Ellen lived to be 90 and the pension had been still coming, all those years. :-\
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Just another thing to query, looking the bus authority up, it looks as though the Boston area would be MBTA. I think MTA is New York from visits there.
This might make a difference to search areas.
I hope the family can get some better names and dates to search. It is such a puzzle.
Where did Ellen die, if not Kilkenny?
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Who knows, you could be right. The only thing against that was that Ellen lived to be 90 and the pension had been still coming, all those years. :-\
From your other thread
I'm looking for these people for a friend. Her grandmother was Ellen Berrigan, the only date I have is she died in Kilkenny around 1980 at the age of 90. Grandfather James Reilly went to Boston and died there but as they had all those children it must have been after the war.
This would make Ellen born abt 1890 which would make her 24 years older than James if he was born about 1914.
Is that right?
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I will check with my friend if she knows. That's probably not right.
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Thanks. I apologise for keep asking these questions. :)
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Just another thing to query, looking the bus authority up, it looks as though the Boston area would be MBTA. I think MTA is New York from visits there.
The name of Boston's transit system changed over the years. It was MTA until a song in the '60s came along and satirized it. (The Kingston Trio's "Charlie on the MTA"). - motive for changing the name ascribed by me, not them :).
Then it was the MBTA for a while.
Now it is just the "T".
I've been on all three. Many people still referred to it as the MTA long after the name change. No one ever calls it the MBTA and probably didn't even when that was the official name. Too long for a Bostonian to say.
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Thanks for that information. I will bear that in mind.
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Thanks for the information. I only saw MBTA and thought if that was the official title, it would be shown on the pension records.
It’s good to know and I will stop searching with that. :)
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Thanks for the information. I only saw MBTA and thought if that was the official title, it would be shown on the pension records.
It’s good to know and I will stop searching with that. :)
I was wrong. I looked up "when was it called the MBTA" and came up with:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Massachusetts_Bay_Transportation_Authority
It has been officially called the MBTA since 1964. But most people have never called it that, so if the family knew it as the MTA I would not be surprised.
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Here are a few possibilities from the 1856 Boston City Directory at
http://www.donslist.net/PGHLookups/Boston1956M.htm.
James C Reilly carman at the Readville Car Shop, home in Dedham
James R Riley, machinist, Readville Car Shop, home in Walpole
James J Riley, Jr sub[way?] foreman MTA, home at 19 Salem Place, Malden
here are a few that were listed that year without any occupation:
James P O'Riley resides 16 Concord Sq
James F Reilly resides 403 Old Colony Ave, South Boston
James Riley resides 148 W Canton St
James Riley laborer, home 23 Burton St, Brighton
maybe you can eliminate some of them if he used a middle name in Ireland.
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no marriages for Bridget O'Meara/Meara or Bridget O'Mara/Mara and any Edward from 1865 onward at https://www.irishgenealogy.ie/
at freebmd.org, 1865 to 1965, marriage to Edward Reilly or variations:
for Bridget Meara or O'Meara nothing
for Bridget Mara or O'Mara nothing
freebmd is an index to civil records for England.
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See reply #9.
Is there a mix up?
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See reply #9.
Is there a mix up?
In the quote in reply #9 I thought daisynook was saying that the parents of the man were are looking for were Edward Reilly and Bridget O'Meara. It seemed easier to look for their marriage than for how many James Reilly births I would find.
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eliminating the men in the 1956 City Directory using the 1950 census. - Which is free on ancestry.com to us here in the U.S. - It might be worth a try from the UK.
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James C Reilly in Dedham
1950 Census says he was born in Massachusetts and never married. is living with a brother John E Reilly and his family. was a repairman for trains, on the railroad
James R Riley in Walpole was born about 1920 in Massachusetts. is married to Jean M and has a 2 year old daughter born im Massachusetts. was a machinist for the railroad
James J Riley, Jr sub[way?] foreman MTA, home at 19 Salem Place, Malden - didn't find a good match for him, but the 3 that came closest were all born in Massachusetts.
James P O'Riley resides 16 Concord Sq - could be the man on Newbury Street by that name. born in Massachusetts in 1901, never married, is a government clerk
James F Reilly - there were 6. all were either married or were children except 1 who was born in 1870. all were born in Massachusetts
That left the two without middle initials. For them I looked for James Riley born in Ireland (exact) and living in Boston (exact). This would have turned up "your" James anyway, if he was there. There really isn't a good match. The only 2 that came close are both much older than being born in 1914:
James Reilly, 53, married, born in Ireland, in the Boston State (mental) Hospital. probably not him since it is hard to get hit by a trolley in the state hospital.
James Rahilly, 67, widowed, born in Ireland, a car cleaner for the railroad. in the household are two sons Morris and Donald, 25 and 34, born in Massachusetts.
living on Berkeley St, Boston.
too old if your James was born about 1914. otherwise he could be a match if he started another family in the US.
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When were his children born? That would at least give us an idea of how long he stayed in Ireland and when he was born.
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See reply #9.
Is there a mix up?
In the quote in reply #9 I thought daisynook was saying that the parents of the man were are looking for were Edward Reilly and Bridget O'Meara. It seemed easier to look for their marriage than for how many James Reilly births I would find.
Reply #9 extract
I posted
“Back on the other thread we found Ellen Bergin with parents Edward and Bridget O’Meara. :-\. That was in Kilkenny but you say now there is no Kilkenny connection.
There was a lot of work done there by oldohiohome.
It all seems very mixed up.”
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so those were her parents?
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Daisynook, will hopefully find more information from the friend. :)
We found those but now Kilkenny seems to be ruled out.
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I said there was no Kilkenny connection since James Reilly died and the family moved to London. That doesn't rule out all what happened before his death. The only person who stayed in Kilkenny was James's wife Ellen who died there in 1981.
James was my friend's grandfather, not father.
Thank you oldohiohome for all your work. Just a couple of points are that I don't think James was born in 1914 now and when you said 'hit by a trolley', he wasn't hit by a trolley, he worked as an Inspector on the trolley that was involved in an accident. I'm still trying to track down any newspaper that may have details.
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Sorry about that misunderstanding.
Did I give the impression I thought he was your friend’s father? I didn’t meant to.
I was thinking your friend would know the year of their parent’s birth and perhaps any aunts/uncles birth years so that would help with an approximate marriage year for James and Ellen.
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James and Ellen's children's names were Thomas, Patrick, Maureen d.1946, Helen and James Riley Jnr d.1973. Don't know any other dates.
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I'm afraid I don't have any definite dates for this request. I'm trying to help a friend find her grandfather James O'Reilly. He was born in Galway and was married to Ellen Bergin/Berrigan with 6 children. He decided to leave the family in Ireland and went to Boston, US around 1940-1950s. He got himself a job on the trolley buses as an Inspector. He was involved in a trolley bus accident where he was killed. His wife in Ireland was paid a pension from the company until she died.
I have been looking for any newspaper clips or other informationa about the accident but have had no luck so far. Could anybody have any better luck than me? Any help appreciated.
… Just a couple of points are that I don't think James was born in 1914 now and when you said 'hit by a trolley', he wasn't hit by a trolley, he worked as an Inspector on the trolley that was involved in an accident. I'm still trying to track down any newspaper that may have details.
I’ve been following this topic, hoping that I could help. Am I correct in believing that your first post indicated that he was killed while at work and your your post above this one indicated that he wasn’t killed? I apologize if I am confused; let’s blame it on a summer of lack of proper sleep (temps too hot this summer for a good night’s rest). ;)
I, too, apologize for asking questions but others are trying their best to get answers for you and I would like to help as well. :)
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I'm sorry if I gave the impression that James wasn't killed in the accident - re-reading your quotes I still don't know how I gave that impression. Still never mind, he was killed in the accident and that was why his wife got a pension from the trolley company for the rest of her life and she had a long life living to be 90.
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From the other thread after you found the death of Maureen.
Is this death still relevant?
Is this Maureen’s death?
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/deaths_returns/deaths_1947/04587/4213830.pdf
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Yes it is - thanks very much for that
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So their father was Edward?
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No actually, I had picked up on that one. James was their father, Edward would have been their grandfather.
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Yes, I remember the confusion :)
However, that death does say that her father Edward was the informant. :-\
She was 20 yrs old so would have been born about 1926.
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I just had a thought :o
Did James Jnr marry in England? Does the marriage name his father?
Does his death give an age or year of birth?
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James Jnr was the father of my friend. He died in 1973 in London. He also married in London in April 1947 to Mary Kate Barton. I believe this is his birth https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/8230411:2573?tid=183571184&pid=262402139737&queryId=3a5bd44fea4f4c54b6456864969ba5da&_phsrc=uAU23847&_phstart=successSource
but I am meeting my friend this lunchtime and I will make sure I have the right date.
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That’s good to hear.
I think that is going back to the family from the first thread.
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James Jnr was the father of my friend. He died in 1973 in London. He also married in London in April 1947 to Mary Kate Barton. I believe this is his birth https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/8230411:2573?tid=183571184&pid=262402139737&queryId=3a5bd44fea4f4c54b6456864969ba5da&_phsrc=uAU23847&_phstart=successSource
but I am meeting my friend this lunchtime and I will make sure I have the right date.
I don't have ancestry. Could someone tell me what the parents' names are on that birth record? And date and place of birth.
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James Reilly b September 1928, Callan, Ireland mmn Bergin.
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Thank you.
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James Reilly b Sept 1928 in Callan, Ireland is the son of the James Reilly that I am trying to track down. I have been calling him James Reilly Jnr
James Reilly Senior the elder was born around 1880 not sure of exact date.
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Thank you daisynook :)
It’s hard isn’t it - or at least I think so.
I know I am digressing but is this right?
Marriage 1947 Kensington
James Reilly and Mary Kate Barton
Do you have a copy of the certificate? It looks likely that M K’s sister, Anastatia married at the same time.
Birth
Mary Kate Barton 1923 Kilkenny
Death
Mary Kate Reilly 2006 Brent. Her birthdate 14th August 1923. So that looks good.
I can’t see a death for James Reilly in 1973 which would fit with the information you have given.
Would you give the death record details you have please? Is the year of birth shown as 1928?
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No, no, no, am I not explaining it very well am I? The James I'm trying to find information on is the elder born around 1880 in Dunmore, Galway married to Ellen Bergin born around 1880 too d.1981 in Kilkenny.
The James who died in January 1973 in an accident too died in London buried in Camden, London he was my friend's father b.1928 Mary Kate was my friend's mother, son of the James the elder.
Sorry don't have a copy of certs.
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I have just heard a little more info on the trolley bus crash that it crashed and then caught fire.
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Yes, I am on those lines but trying to establish a birth for James jnr which would lead us to the right father. As there is no death for one born 1928, I was trying to find out any other helpful information.
James Reilly deaths
March quarter 1973 St Pancras - birth date 6th April 1889
There is a James Joseph Reilly killed in a car accident in North Acton in March 1977 and death registered in Brent as was Mary Kate’s. :-\ He was born in 1915.
If you are definite about the 1928 birth, it would be best to check with the birth certificate.
I will check Dunmore again though for father. :)
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I know it was 1973 for James Jnr death. This was my friend's father. He was a scaffolder and someone hadn't secured the scaffold properly, it collapsed and he fell, died instantaneously. You are right, that birthdate cannot be right. I'll get onto her and ask his dob.
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My friend says her father was born 1924 although she doesn't have anything definite!! Sorry
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My friend says her father was born 1924 although she doesn't have anything definite!! Sorry
Oh dear ;) there are no likely deaths in that case.
I saw what looks like an inquest in June 1973 in the Harrow newspaper. It mentions scaffolding but no name in the newspaper snippet.
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Well, here I am again, hopefully with a little more information.
I have found that there were other members of the Reilly family who went to US and died there - Mary Reilly who married John D Ellis Franks, Thomas Paul Reilly d.1934 and his wife Honor Nora Ryan d.1959 in Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio and buried in Calvary Cemetery.
Could these clues possibly lead anyone to the James Reilly I'm searching for? Any help appreciated
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The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Fri, 7 Sept 1934
Page 21
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/145647827/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204968013/thomas-paul-reilly
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The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Wed, 26 Aug 1959
Page 22
Nora Ryan Reilly
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/145647864/
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Ellie J Franks
The Cincinnati Post
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tue, 2 Jun 1959
Page 28
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/145647966/
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Lancaster Eagle-Gazette
Lancaster, Ohio
Fri, 19 Jul 1963
Page 5
Mary Franks
https://www.newspapers.com/article/lancaster-eagle-gazette/145648017/
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Cincinnati, Ohio
Thu, 18 Jul 1963
Page 2
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-enquirer/145648030/
FIND A GRAVE
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207668199/marie-franks
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/207667961/ellie_john_franks
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1940 census Ellie, Marie and a James Reilly(brother in law, mechanic, street railways ) - Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWP8-BY4
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QSQ-G9M1-79H?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AKWP8-BY4&action=view
Mary Reilly Franks in 1930
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X47K-RVS
1920
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDYG-78C
marriage
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Z8H9-B76Z
pedigree tree
https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/M46C-RVB
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James F Reilly
died October 7, 1952, Hamilton County, Ohio
dead on arrival at General Hospital
usual residence: Dixie Hotel
married, born about 1892, age last birthday: 60
occupation: employee, street railway
parents: Patrick Reilly and Mary ___
informant: Mrs Eli J Franks
cause of death: coronary occlusion
buried Calvary Cemetery, Cincinnati, October 10, 1952
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X6PC-YV8
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Ohio Deaths, 1908 to 1953, for some reason don't always show up when looking from familysearch's main search page. the individual database is at:
https://www.familysearch.org/search/collection/1307272
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1940 census Ellie, Marie and a James Reilly(brother in law, mechanic, street railways ) - Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio.
https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KWP8-BY4
James Reilly's marital status was M7 = married, living apart from his wife.
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Nice one oldohiohome. I found a short newspaper cutting of his death earlier.
The Cincinnati Post
Cincinnati, Ohio
Tue, 7 Oct 1952
Page 5
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-cincinnati-post/145664190/
FIND A GRAVE
John Reilly - Married son of Patrick and Mary Reilly.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204968099/james-f-reilly
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James F. Reilly
BIRTH 1892 Ireland
DEATH 7 Oct 1952
Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
BURIAL Calvary Cemetery Cincinnati, Hamilton County, Ohio, USA
PLOT Sec. C Lot 164 MEMORIAL ID 204968099
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/204968099/james-f-reilly
his sister Mary Franks' findagrave page, already posted, says she was the daughter of Patrick and Mary Hunt Riley
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I think "married, living separate from his wife" might explain the reason for the story that he got hit by a trolley and died. Easier than saying he just left.
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parents' marriage, maybe
10 June 1877, R.C. chapel of Dunmore, Registrar's District: Dunmore, Tuam, Galway
Patrick Reiley, laborer, of Castlefaran, father Thomas, a land holder
Mary Hunt, spinster, of Carrowuseen ? father: Thady Hunt, deceased, a land holder
both of full age
wittnesses: Bridget Prendergast and Michael Mitchel
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/marriage_returns/marriages_1877/11144/8081799.pdf
someone mentioned Tuam in connection with this family, I think. This is the only marriage of a Patrick Riley and Mary Hunt anywhere in Ireland from 1865 to 1892.
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his birth, maybe
Superintendent Registrar's District Tuam, RD: Dunmore, Galway
11 December 1889, in Mooneenpollagh (?)
James, son of Patrick a laborer, of that townland, and Mary Reilly formerly Hunt. informant: the mother
https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02450/1910744.pdf
You'd have to look for the other known children of this couple in this area to tie it all together and be sure you have the right person. Townland spelling could be Mooreenpollagh also. The spelling probably changed over the years also.
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Well, how do I thank you oldohiohome and sandra for the information I have been searching for for years now. You have definitely found the right person and I am very grateful for your hard work. I had his dob as 1889 but the date you have given me is not so far away.
All the information fits the bill. Poor man, a sad story.
Best Wishes
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his birth, maybe
Superintendent Registrar's District Tuam, RD: Dunmore, Galway
11 December 1889, in Mooneenpollagh (?)
James, son of Patrick a laborer, of that townland, and Mary Reilly formerly Hunt. informant: the mother
Moneenpollagh townland in Dunmore civil parish
https://www.townlands.ie/galway/dunmore/dunmore/dunmore-north/moneenpollagh/
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Thanks Kiltaglassan for the information on where James was born.
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I am now having doubts that James F Reilly is the right person. I have his death as 11 December 1889 not 1892 and have no record of him having a middle name initial being F
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I am now having doubts that James F Reilly is the right person. I have his death as 11 December 1889 not 1892 and have no record of him having a middle name initial being F
a lot of people didn't know when they were born. or information on later records were provided by someone else.
The informant on his death record was his sister. How many James Reillys in Cincinnati had a sister named Mrs Eli Franks?
He might have added the initial when he got to America to distinguish himself from half a dozen other James Rileys in whatever city he landed in.
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Thanks very much for your comments on James. You are definitely right. There are so many James Reilly's, it took me a long time to find him in the first place.
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arrived New York July 23, 1926, sailed from Cork
James Reilly, 36?, laborer, last residence: Dunmore
intends to stay permanently
closest relative in Ireland: wife Mrs Nellie Reilly, Grange, Dunmore
destination: brother, Mr Thomas T Reilly, 5411 Woodburn? Ave, Cincinnati
born in Dunmore, good health, fresh complexion, dark hair, blue eyes, 5 feet 8 or 9 inches
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Thank you very much for the extra information on James Reilly. Interesting that it says he intended staying permanently as he left his wife, 7 children and one born just after he left!
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In those days, it was pretty common for the man to emigrate first to find work and save up for the wife & kids to come.