Life after the R.I.C.

So we just saw that Jim Moriarty resigned from the Royal Irish Constabulary in 1920.  I had learned several years ago about a police museum in Belfast, Northern Ireland: 

http://www.psni.police.uk/index/about-us/police_museum.htm.

They advertised that they had service records for the RIC, but I never received any information, and I lost $25. 

But, before we go on, I just received a copy of the September 10, 1920 article in the Cork Examiner from the National Library of Ireland. I have to admit that I am somewhat disappointed - I was hoping for something more juicy and exciting than just the fact that Jim Moriarty resigned.

"R.I.C. RESIGNATIONS

Four members of the R.I.C. at present stationed in Lisdoonvarna, have tendered their resignations, namely: - Constable J. Moriarty, 13 1/2 years' service - native of Annascaul, Co. Kerry; Constable D. Casey, 11 1/2 years's service - native of Hollymount, Rathmore,  Co. Kerry; Constable C. Quirke, 9 years' service - native of Clonakilty, Co. Cork; Constable P. Power, 7 1/2 years' service - native of Ballymacoda, Co. Cork.
Constable J Duggan, Tuckey street has resigned from the R.I.C. after 10 years of service, eight of which were spent in Limerick. He is a native of Ballydehob, Co. Cork."

I went back to my copy of The Kerryman - A Century that was published in 1999. It reports that in February 1920 there was an attack on the RIC barracks in Camp, a town on the Dingle Peninsula, at one o'clock in the morning one Thursday in February. "The attackers used hand grenades, rifles, revolvers and crow bars. Sergeant McDonagh and six men stationed in the barracks replied with rifle fire and hand grenades. After a battle lasting over an hour the raiders succeeded in blowing up the end wall of the barracks and called for surrender of the police.  The latter, however, refused and kept up a brisk fire on the attackers who ultimately withdrew, leaving behind them two guns, a colter revolver and a couple of crow bars."

This attack in Camp was not that far from Annascaul and Inch. And the Kerryman also reports that the Annascaul Barracks were burned to the ground in April. The following April it is reported that "in the auxiliary creamery yard at Deelis, Castlegregory, Mr. J.M. Slattery and Sons, on Friday morning at 7 o'clock, was found the body of Patrick Foley of Annascaul, an ex-soldier and a member of the R.I.C. since January last, with his hands tied tightly behind his back, his eyes blindfolded, by a handkerchief, which was tied around his head and twenty-six bullet wounds in his body, nearly all within the region of his chest." Castlegregory is also on the Dingle peninsula. I would think, in this atmosphere, that Jim Moriarty had no choice but to emigrate. 

So what did Jim Moriarty do immediately after he resigned? Did he go back to his uncle and his family?  Did he lay low until he could leave Ireland? Did he go back to his mother? We know from Tess O'Donoghue's letter that the Schoolmaster taught until 1925 - so he was still living in the Inch Post Office building when Jim resigned from the RIC. Perhaps Jim went back to Inch and helped out in the Post Office. 

Life was dangerous for the men in the RIC and for those who resigned as well. A large number of constables were shot and killed in Kerry. The Dingle peninsula had a reputation as a hotbed of rebels or so I have always been told. It must have been an odd situation - Jim Moriarty being in the RIC and his cousins being in the fight for independence. Were any of them living at home in the Post Office?

I found a record on www.ancestry.com for 35 year old James Moriarty leaving Queenstown on the S.S. Carmania and arriving in New York on May 12, 1921 (about 6 months before the treaty was signed ending the Irish War of Independence which led to the Irish Civil War.) He is on line 3. He is working as a clerk, and his last permanent address is Annascaul -  so maybe he was indeed working in the Post Office. On the passenger list, Jim Moriarty’s nearest relative in Ireland is Uncle James Moriarty of Annascaul, Co Kerry. He has a ticket to his final destination that he bought himself – he has $25. He is going to his sister Mrs. J. Cohane (Mrs. John Keohane - my grandmother) at 17 Adams Street in Watertown. 
Jim does not plan to return to Ireland - he is coming to America for an indefinite length of time and plans to become an American citizen. He is in good health, has a fair complexion, black hair and blue eyes. His birth place is listed as Annascaul!! Why did he list Annascaul and not Loughane or Sneem?
Interesting that he is listed as having black hair - the two pictures of him that I have seen show him with light hair - I thought he had reddish hair.

I don't suppose anyone was there to meet him at Ellis Island - I wonder if anyone knew he was coming? Did he make plans to leave or did he feel he had to get out of Ireland quickly because of his RIC background. How often was he in contact with my grandmother? Did he or the clerk misspell her name on the manifest? Did he take the train from New York to Boston? Who told him where to go?

I do know that Jim Moriarty was in the Boston area when my mother Ellen Keohane was born 14 September 1921 in Watertown. He arrived in mid May - I wonder if he stayed with my grandmother all that time?

Nuala Aylward told us that Jim headed to Chicago to be best man for his cousin Con Moriarty, the Schoolmaster's son. And do you remember that Con had to run out of Ireland because the British were looking for him? Doesn't this tell us that family bonds surpass all else?

I found Jim Moriarty listed in the 1930 U.S. Census for Chicago’s Ward 7 which was taken on 4 April. He and his wife Bridget own a house at 615 East 85^th Place. This is a 2 family house worth $6500 and they have a radio. Both Jim and Bridget are 45 years old – they were married when they were 39 (that would have been about 1924.) Jim immigrated in 1921, and Bridget in 1909. Jim Moriarty has taken out papers for naturalization. This is interesting because I had heard that Jim never became a U.S. citizen because he would have lost his RIC pension. We’ll have to try to find his petition for naturalization papers.  Jim is working as a baggage clerk for the railroad.  

John T. and Helen Martin are renting an apartment from the Moriartys for $62.50/month. They have a 9 year old  - John Jr. who was born in Illinois. Mr. Martin’s brother-in-law, Stephen Janosky, is staying with them – he is 19.  

I tried to find a marriage certificate for Jim Moriarty and Bridget Gallagher on www.ancestry.com and www.familysearch.org but came up with nothing. I looked in the Chicago online data base - found an index for Jim's death but nothing for a marriage. I wonder if they married before Jim went to Chicago?

There are no street directories for Chicago online except for 1884 which does not apply to our Jim Moriarty.

I found the following letter from Jim Moriarty to my grandmother, his sister Margaret Keohane.

The postmark says: 

 "Chicago, Illinois 
   Grand Crossing Sta.

     March 24 

      10 AM 

         1937"

"Mrs. M Keohane

6 Green St.

  Watertown, Mass"

                                                            "1615 E 85th Pl.
                                                                 Chicago, Ill.
                                                               23rd March '37
Dear Margaret,
           Not having heard from you since Xmas I would like to know how you and the children are  getting along.
        We had a mild winter in this part of the U.S.A. but there was much sickness, and many deaths from flu and pneumonia. Some think we are going to have a chilly summer. But no matter what way it comes, whether to our liking or not, we can't do a thing about it."

"I suppose you know that Mother is 70 years old this month. 
All here are well thank God. I hope yourself and the children, Hannah and Nellie, are feeling fine.
         Wishing ye all a very happy Easter.
                                As ever    Jim
Enclosed is a present from Bridget for the children at Easter.
                                                           Jim"

(Hannah and Nellie Keohane were my grandmother's sisters-in-law.)

I find it interesting that Jim, who grew up with the Schoolmaster, was reminding my grandmother, who grew up in Loughane, that their mother was turning 70 that month! And it is interesting that he is keeping track of what is going on with my grandmother who by this time was a widow with 5 children. I wonder if he spent time with her when he cycled home to Loughane each summer for a holiday with his "real" family.  

The 1940 U.S. Census of Chicago's Ward 9 was taken in Jim's neighborhood - block 49 - on April 16 by Mrs. Agnes Ryan.
Jim and Bridget had moved to nearby Stony Island Avenue. They are renting one of four apartments at 8500 Stony Island Avenue. Jim is 55, and Bridge is 57. It is very interesting that Jim had been living with a Schoolmaster, but reports he only attended school to the 6th grade - Bridget only went to the 5th grade. We know Jim was a 14 year old scholar in the 1901 Irish Census. He and Bridget didn't have children so maybe they didn't know the equivalent class here in the U.S.
Jim and Bridget are both naturalized. Jim is working as a baggage clerk for the steam railroad - he is making $1440 annually. He worked 44 hours the week of March 24-30.

A is 1615 E 5th Place where Jim and Bridget owned a home. B is 8500 Stony Island Avenue where the Moriartys later moved.

I found an index to Jim Moriarty's naturalization papers. He is still living at 8500 Stony Island Avenue in Chicago. He went through the U.S. District Court in Chicago - certificate #: P-257254 and CN-5515196. I'll have to look up where these records are kept and try to get a copy of them. 

The index lists Jim being born in Ireland on March 4, 1886. He arrived in New York on May 12, 1921 as we have already seen. Now, this says that he was naturalized March 27, 1942. We just read above that he said he was already naturalized in the 1940 census.

Witnesses were Daniel Callahan of 7326 Woodlawn Avenue and Timothy Callahan of 1516 East 75th Place - both in Chicago. I believe Daniel is the husband of Jim's cousin Catherine Moriarty - I found Daniel and Catherine Callahan in the 1940 U.S. Census.  I wonder if Timothy is Daniel's brother? 

I also found Jim's WWII registration card. It tells us that he had no middle name. His Stony Island Avenue address is given, but it looks like that is crossed out and replaced with 1413 E. 60th Place (2/5/43.) So the Moriartys must have moved again in 1943.

Box 4 tells us that the Moriartys have a telephone - Sag. 9486. Jim is 56 years old and was born in Sneem, County Kerry, Ireland on March 4, 1886.

Interesting that he listed Daniel Callahan, 7326 Woodlawn Ave, Chicago as the person who would always know his address. This is his cousin Catherine Moriarty's husband. I wonder why he would list Daniel and not his own wife?

His employer is the Illinois Central R. R. at 135 East 11th Place, Chicago.

The second page of the WWII registration lists Jim as 6'1" tall and  170 lbs. His eyes are brown and at this point his hair is gray. He has a light complexion. He has no distinguishing marks.

It is dated April 27, 1942 - I cannot read the name of the registrar at Local Board No. 91 Chicago City - it looks like 231 East 79th Street. 

Remember Father Jim Moriarty told us that Jim "worked for the Illinois Central and became the baggage master at their main station in Chicago. He was married and had no children and lived in an affluent neighborhood on the southeast side of Chicago. He and his wife were very very religious people." I wonder if Jim's time in the RIC made him more religious? 

Central Station where Jim Moriarty worked as a baggage master was opened in 1893 for the Chicago World's Fair celebrating the 400th anniversary of Columbus landing in America. The fair showed off the progress that Chicago had made after a devastating fire in 1871 destroyed a good part of the city. The building had a thirteen story clock tower and the largest train shed in the world at that time.

According to www.railswest.com, the Baggage Master, or less affectionately known as the "baggage smasher" insured that baggage was properly tagged, presided over the baggage car and ensured that baggage got off the car at the correct destination.

I found the naturalization index for Bridget Moriarty - I recognized  it after seeing the new address on Jim's WWII registration - 

1431 East 60th Place, Chicago, Illinois. Certificate No. P-280823 and Cn. 5683585 in the U.S. District Court of Chicago, Illinois. Bridget was born in Ireland on May 1, 1876.  She arrived in New York on Sept. 24, 1908. She was naturalized May 20, 1943. 

Another record to obtain!! Maybe it will lead us to a marriage certificate for Jim and Bridget.

I found an index on www.familysearch.org for James Moriarty’s death. He died 4 June 1943 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His date of birth is listed as 15 March 1885, and he was born in Co. Kerry, Ireland. His father was Miles Moriarty – place of birth unknown!! His mother is Ellen Leary born in Co. Kerry, Ireland. His occupation is a baggage clerk. He resided in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. His spouse is Bridget (no maiden name given.) He was buried 7 June 1943 in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Evergreen Park, Cook County, Illinois.

Digital folder: 4205850 – image #1919 – film #1953884 – vol/page rn16843.

My mother, Ellen Keohane Manning, remembered traveling to Chicago by train with her aunts Mary Moriarty Walsh and Catherine Moriarty Cronin to Jim Moriarty’s funeral. She said that is where she met some of Ma’s Shea cousins from Moneyflagh.

www.familysearch.org has an index for a Bridget Moriarty who may be ours. She died 2 July 1946 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Her date of birth was 1877. Her father was James Gallagher; her mother was Bridget Early.
Digital folder: #4005303; Image # 2509; GS Film #1985100; Reference ID: cn 19806. 

So we know what happened to great uncle Jim Moriarty after his father, Myles Moriarty, drowned back in 1893. Now let's see what happened to his four sisters.