Aunt Hannah Keohane

Guy's Cork Almanac of 1891 describes Kinsale as a head post, a garrison, and a market town under local government. I have included the pages about Kinsale - it is interesting reading.

Page 191 has a list of local farmers - Patrick Bowen is listed as being from Killany. We have seen previously that the Keohanes lived in Killaney.

5 years later Patrick Keohane and Hannah Kiely's 3rd daughter and 5th child - Hannah Keohane - is born 1 June 1896 in Killany, Kinsale, County Cork. The following is her civil birth registration from the website irishgenealogy.ie. Her father's occupation is a laborer. Her mother registers her birth on 19 June 1896 - 18 days after she was born. She is #132 on the certificate below.

https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1896/02166/1821015.pdf

According to the 1925 baptismal certificate below, Aunt Hannah was born 1 June 1896 - the same date listed on the birth certificate - we have seen before that some people are baptized before they are born!! She is baptized 2 June 1896 in the Roman Catholic Parish Church by Reverend T. Barrett. Parents are Patrick Keohane and Hanna Keily. Witnesses are Michael Donovan and Hanna Donovan. The baptismal record is dated 23 December 1925 and signed by Father Edward Fitzgerald. I wonder who these Donovans are - married couple, brother and sister, cousins? And I wonder why Aunt Hannah needed a baptismal record in 1925? For her American citizenship papers maybe?

We have seen that the Keohanes are living in Killany when the 1901 Irish Census is taken.  40 year old Patrick is an agricultural worker - his 13 year old daughter Minnie is a housekeeper. John is 11, and Thomas is 9 years old - both are scholars. Ellen is 6, and Hannah is 4 years old - they are also scholars. Baby James is 2 years old. Hannah Keily Keohane died sometime after Jim was born. Is Minnie not going to school so she can stay home and take care of Jim?

http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/reels/nai001949820/

According to the House and Building Return below, the 7 Keohanes are living in a 2 room 3rd class house - this probably means mud walls and a thatched roof. There is one window in the front of the house. They are renting the house from Hanah Bowen. Patrick Keohane is likely working on her farm. In contrast to the Keohanes, Hanah Bowen lives in a 2nd class 7 room house with three other people. She is also renting a 2 room house to Cornelius O'Brien and his family of eight. How did Hannah become head of her family? We saw a Patrick Bowen of Killany listed in 1891 Guy's Almanac - Hannah is the only Bowen landowner now.

(Aside: I remember hearing the name Jerry O'Brien - he was from Kinsale - I wonder if this family is related to him?)

I included the census return for Hannah Bowen as a refresher. She is 

the 35 year old head of the family - she is Roman Catholic and not married - she is a farmer - she was born in Cork - she speaks English. Her 30 year old sister Nano and 26 year old sister Helena live with her - they are not married and are the farmer's sisters - they were also born in Cork and speak English. Julia Dempsey is their 24 year old servant - she is not married - she was born in Cork - and she speaks Irish and English.

I found the answer re Hanah becoming the head of the family - Hanah's father Patrick Bowen died 2 February 1899 of sudden heart disease. His death was reported by Julia Dempsey who is the servant living with Hanah Bowen in the 1901 census. He is #261 on the sheet below which I found on irishgenealogy.ie . So Hannah takes over the farm when her father dies.

There is a Julia Dempsey of Killany who married Daniel Sullivan of Bandon Road on 8 July 1902 - a year after the census. I found the marriage certificate on irishgenealogy.ie. I imagine that if this is our Julia, she continued working for the Bowens until she married. No age is given for either - they were described as "of age." He is a bachelor laborer; she is a spinster servant. Their fathers - John Sullivan and Jeremiah Dempsey are also laborers.

By the time of the 1911 Irish Census we have seen that the Keohanes have moved to Ballythomas. Patrick Keohane has remarried - he and Julia have a child - young Julia. John and Tom are farm laborers - Hannah is 16 - she is no longer going to school as she is not listed as a scholar like 13 year old James. Funny, Julia is 8 and is not listed as a scholar either - are the girls not going to school? The column re Rank, Profession, or Occupation states that "Children or young persons attending a School, or receiving regular instruction at home, should be returned as scholars ... No entry should be made in the case of wives, daughters, or other female relatives solely engaged in domestic duties at home." Would Hannah be working?

Patrick Keohane is listed below as the Landholder in 1911 - and the house is a big improvement from 1901. This house is made of stone with a slate roof - it has 4 rooms and 3 windows in the front of the house. It has improved to a 2nd class building - a much sturdier building. 

Below is a picture of the Keohane cottage in Ballythomas taken in July 1985. We have always been told that my grandfather John Keohane bought the cottage before he emigrated because his father was getting older and wouldn't be able to work at some point - Patrick would normally have had to depend on John Keohane to support him as he aged - there was no pension or social security for farm laborers in the early 1900s. So my grandfather bought him a house so he could go to America - and he probably sent home money as well. 

In the picture below my brother Jimmy is sitting in the window - our Scottish friend Allison, my sisters Jody and Christine, and my cousin John Huliston are also there - sorry for the blurriness.

This next photo shows a picture of John Keohane that used to hang above the dresser in the Ballythomas cottage. 

The Keohane's neighbor, Daniel Bowen, is listed in the above house and building return as having a 1st class dwelling with 7 rooms and 6 front windows. This form states that there were 2 persons in the family. 

Are these Bowen neighbors in Ballythomas related to Hannah Bowen and her sisters? If so, why did Hannah get the farm instead of Daniel? Daniel is not listed in the 1901 Census for Killany. 

So, who is living in that Bowen house in Killany? The 1911 Census for Killany lists 50 year old Hannah Bowen as head of the household and a farmeress. Living with her are her sisters - 45 year old single farmeress Anne Bowen and 40 year old single Helene Bowen who has no occupation listed so she must be taking care of the house. Also living here is 20 year old single Mary Carroll who is listed as a servant.

So who is Daniel Bowen? He was listed in the 1901 Census for Ballythomas West. He is a 46 year old farmer - his wife is 40 year old Maryanne Bowen. Daniel's aunt, 68 year old Johannah Bowen is living with them - she is a widow. So if she is a widow, then she must have married Daniel's uncle? And 70 year old Mary Ahern is a general house servant!!

In 1911 there is only Daniel Bowen, 60, and his wife Mary Anne, 50,  in the house in Ballythomas West. Daniel is still farming. They have been married for 24 years but have had no children.

Daniel may be Hannah Bowen's brother - I found a baptismal record on irishgenealogy.ie for him - he was baptized on 2 February 1851 - parents are Patrick Bowen and Anne Murphy - they were married on 8 February 1846 - Patrick was from Holy Hill. I found several children - Margaret 1848, Daniel in 1851, Johanna in 1856 - this is likely our Hannah Bowen, Mary in 1860, Helena in 1863.

Hannah Bowen died 2 February 1934 of a cerebral hemorrhage paralysis. She was a 78 year old farmer - never married - Margaret Carroll was present at her death. 

In 1911 there was a John Carroll family living in Killany - he was renting a 2 room house with 2 windows in front from Hannah Bowen. His wife Margaret was 52 years old and his daughter Margaret was 8. Could these Carrolls be related to the Mary Carroll who was a 20 year old servant working for Hannah Bowen in 1911 and the Margaret Carroll looking after Hannah Bowen when she died in 1934?

Aunt Hannah's father, Patrick Keohane, died 26 May 1917 in Ballythomas of stomach cancer. He was only 58 years old - he was a laborer. His widow Julia was present at his death - they had been married for 15 years. 

Aunt Hannah probably got a job around Kinsale as soon as she could - I couldn't find any more information about her in Ireland - I don't remember hearing that she went to England. We should remember that Hannah is a young adult during World War I, the Spanish Flu, and the time of the Irish War of Independence. The ceasefire between England and the Irish is agreed by both sides on 11 July 1921 - the Treaty is signed 6 December 1921 - I wonder what life is like for Aunt Hannah growing up.

Whatever it was like, she leaves for America on 1 May 1921 shortly before the ceasefire and about 5 years after her father's death. She is listed on line 8 for the S.S. Cedric which leaves Queenstown for New York. She is a 24 year old domestic servant. She reads and writes English - she is a British citizen. Her last permanent address is Kinsale, Cork.  Her nearest relative is her aunt, Ellen Reardon, of Dunderrow, Kinsale, Co. Cork. Her final destination is Watertown, Massachsetts. Interesting that her aunt is listed as her nearest relative and not her step-mother.

Aunt Hannah has a ticket to Watertown, Massachusetts which she paid for herself - she has $25. She has never been in the USA before. She is going to join her brother John Keohane at 17 Adams Street, Watertown, Mass. She is 5'5" - she has a fresh complexion, brown hair, blue eyes. No distinguishing marks. She reports that Kinsale, Co. Cork, Ireland is her birth place.

The SS Cedric was launched at Harland and Wolff in Belfast on 21 August 1902 - at this time she was the biggest ship in the world and was one of the "Big Four Class" ships built for the White Star Line. 

Interesting fact is that J. Bruce Ismay - of Titanic fame - was present at this launching. Cedric sailed the Liverpool to New York route until WWI when she served as an armed merchant cruiser and a troop transport. After the war she resumed her Liverpool to New York route. Her last voyage was September 1931 - she was then sold for scrap.

From https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-rms-cedric-cruise-ship-of-the-white-star-line-date-circa-1908-105366550.html

I wonder if anyone met Aunt Hannah at the dock? Was she traveling alone? How did she get to Boston? 

I don't know how long Aunt Hannah stays with my grandfather in Watertown - maybe until she gets a job. I assume Aunt Nellie Keohane helps her find one.

I do know from ancestry.com that in 1928 - 7 years after she landed in New York - Aunt Hannah declares her intention to become an American citizen. The Department of Labor is responsible for Naturalization Services, and the Declaration will be invalid after 7 years. Please note the change in birthdate from her registered birth date of June 1, 1896 which is also listed on her baptismal record.

In the District Court of Massachusetts, Hannah declares that she is 30 years of age, she is a waitress - she declares that her color is white, she has a fair complexion, she is 5 feet 5 inches tall, she weighs 129 pounds, she has dark brown hair and blue eyes, she has no visible distinctive marks. She further declares that she was born in Ballythomas, Kinsale, Ireland on 20 July 1897; she now resides at 96 Ivy Street, Brookline, Massachusetts. She emigrated to the United States of America from Queenstown, Ireland on the vessel Cedric. Her last foreign residence was said Co. Cork; she is not married.

It is her bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to George V, by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland, and The British Dominions beyond ... King, Defender of The Faith, Emperor of India, of whom she is now a subject; she arrived at the port of New York in the State of New York on or about 14th day of May Anno Domini 1927; she is not an anarchist; she is not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is her intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein: SO HELP ME GOD. 

Hannah signs the declaration. "Subscribed and sworn to before me in the office of the Clerk of said Court at Boston, Mass., this 10th day of May anno Domini 1928", signed by the Deputy Clerk of the District Court of the United States - I can't make out his name.

Here is a picture of 96 Ivy Street - despite Google Maps listing it as 93 - where Aunt Hannah was living in 1928.

And here is a map to give an idea where it is located - it is the red icon at the bottom of the map - I showed it in relation to the Charles River, Storrow Drive, Comm Ave. 

The following email chain includes a discussion of Ivy Street with my sister Patty. The email itself is in reverse order.

Me on June 4, 2009 at 11:42 AM:

"I am going to scan Jim's old letters to Ma this weekend (hopefully.) He wrote them when he was in the service - Bertha was pregnant w/Cynthia. I'm going to send them to Cynthia, but wondered if anyone wanted to see them before I sent them. I can't remember who gave them to me - probably my mother.

Johnny Murphy and I are probably coming up on Saturday. I thought if Hannie was around I might ask her to go for a drive to 91 Beacon Street, Mr. Russell's, maybe the Mission Church and that area where her cousins lived. I'd go by Ivy Street in Brookline where Aunt Hannah worked but I don't know the # or even where it is. She always enjoyed taking "The Tour" with my mother to East Watertown, Belmont, Arlington Hgts, the cemetery, etc. - I'd actually like to do that with her another time. She had a different perspective than my mother. I was telling Christine I'd like to drive by the old Hibernian Hall near Dudley Station where they all went to dances and Pat Lynches where they went for drinks but I don't know if anything is still there, So if Hannie is available and anyone wants to start a "New Tour" with us, let me know."

From Patty on June 4, 2009 :

"if you are going on the "tour" another time, let me know. I would love to come along, or do the driving. I often wonder where Mr. Russel's house is since I often walk down Beacon and Marlborough Streets on my lunch hour. Just yesterday, I was walking along Marlborough wondering which wooden gate would we have entered to pick up Ma or Aunt Nellie.

I won't be home over the weekend but now that I have finished all my exams and take home exams, I am commitment-free."

Me on 6/4/09 at 10:25 pm:

"There used to be a house on Beacon Street that was open for tours - ? the Gibson House? I always wanted to stop in - I thought it might be similar to the place Aunt Nellie worked.

I'll look up that address for Mr. Russell, Patty, and send it along. You'll have to take us to Ivy Street."

June 5, 2009 
"When I drove over to Ivy Street with Mum, the house was empty so we were able to go up to the window and look inside. There is a photo of the four Keohane girls standing in front of tall cyprus trees. I thought Mum said that photo was taken in that yard. She would take the trolley from Watertown Square to the Cottage Farm Bridge, which is now called the BU bridge, and walk over to Ivy Street to visit Aunt Hannah.

Shortly after going over with Mum, I was in the car with my friend, Melissa, in the same area. After I pointed out the house and explained how Aunt Hannah had been a maid (or whatever), we drove by the house where the president of BU lives. And wasn’t there a woman on her knees, scrubbing the stone steps of the president’s house with a bucket and brush. I just turned to Melissa and said, the nationality might have changed, but that is about all that has changed over in this neighborhood."

ancestry.com shows Hannah Keohane still at 96 Ivy Street in the 1930 US census for Brookline Town Precinct 1 on 14 April. She is working for the William D Turner family. Mr. Turner is the 66 year old head of the family. The house is worth $35,000, and the family owns it. Mr. Turner was 40 years old at the time of his first marriage. He reads and writes English. He and his parents were born in Massachusetts. He is a lawyer and worked yesterday. He is not a veteran. William Turner's wife Mabel is also 66 years old and was also 40 years old at the time of her first marriage. She reads and writes English. She as well as her parents were born in Massachusetts. She has no occupation.

Hannah Keohane is the 31 year old maid; she is single. She is able to read and write English. She and her parents were born in the Irish Free State. She spoke English before coming to the United States. It is unknown when Hannah immigrated or if she is naturalized. She is a maid for a private family. She was working yesterday. Apparently Aunt Hannah was not the one responding to the census taker! I wonder if the H beside Mabel Turner's name indicates that she provided the information?

Dellia Lavin is 33 years old - she is single - she reads and writes English. She is a servant. She was born in the Irish Free State. She immigrated in 1920 and has taken out papers for naturalization. She works for a private family.

I wonder what Aunt Hannah did on her days off? Did she go to the Irish dances in Dudley Square? It is now known as Nubian Square. Did she get together with Aunt Nellie or other maids? I know she visited my grandmother sometimes. My mother said that Aunt Nellie would bring the staples - ham, bread, eggs - while Aunt Hannah would bring desserts. She said that Aunt Nellie was fun - she liked music, dancing, card games. Aunt Hannah was more serious and practical.

Below is Aunt Hannah's Certificate of Entry from the Department of Labor. It certifies that Aunt Hannah arrived in New York on May 11, 1921 on the SS Cedric. The certificate was issued August 18, 1930 by direction of the Secretary of Labor and signed by Raymond Crist, Commissioner of Naturalization.

Next we have Aunt Hannah's Petition for Citizenship for the United States of America - it is #127793 and is inserted below.

"To the Honorable the US District Court of Mass District at Boston - The petition of Hannah Keohane, hereby filed, respectfully shows: (1) My place of residence is 96 Ivy St at Brookline Norfolk (County.)  

(2) My occupation is a waitress. (3) I was born in Ballythomas, Ireland on July 20, 1897. My race is Irish.

(4) I declared my intention to become a citizen of the United States on May 10, 1928 in the US District Court of Mass Dist, at Boston, Mass. (5) I am not married. I have no children. (6) My last residence was Ballythomas, Ireland. I emigrated to the United States of America from Queenstown, Ireland. My lawful entry for permanent residence in the United States was New York, NY under the name of Hannah Keohane on  May 11, 1921, on the vessel Cedric as shown by the certificate of my arrival attached hereto.

(7) I am not a disbeliever in or opposed to organized government or a member of or affiliated with any organization or body of person teaching disbelief in or opposed to organized government. I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy. I am attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States. It is my intention to become a citizen of the United States and to renounce absolutely and forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty and particularly to (?)  George V by the Grace of God of Great Britain, Ireland, and The British Dominions beyond ... King, Defender of The Faith, Emperor of India - of whom (which) at this time I am a subject (or citizen), and it is my intention to reside permanently in the United States. (8) I am able to speak the English language. (9) I have resided continuously in the United States of America for the term of five years at least immediately preceding the date of this petition, to wit, since May 11, 1921 and in the County of Norfolk of this State, continuously next preceding the date of this petition, since May 1924 being a residence within said county of at least six months next preceding the date of this petition.

(10) I have not heretofore made petition for citizenship ...  Attached heretofore and made a part of this, my petition for citizenship, are my declaration of intention to become a citizen of the United States, certificate from the Department of Labor of my said arrival, and the affidavits of the two verifying witnesses required by law. Wherefore, I, your petitioner, pray that I may be admitted a citizen of the United States of America ... I, your aforesaid petitioner being duly sworn, depose and say that I have read this petition and know the contents thereof;  that the same is true of my own knowledge except as to matters herein stated to be alleged upon information and belief, and that as to those matters I believe it to be true; and that this petition is signed by me with my full, true name.

                                                                           Hannah Keohane 

                   

Affadavitts of Witnesses

Catherine Cronin, occupation housewife, residing at 10 Faxon St, Boston, and Katherine Foley, occupation housewife, residing at 74 Regent St. Boston each being severally, duly, and respectively sworn, deposes and says that he is a citizen of the United States of America; that he has personally known and has been acquainted in the United States with said Keohane, the petitioner above mention, since 1921 and that to his personal knowledge the petitioner has resided in the United States continuously preceding the date of filing this petition, of which this affidavit is a part, to wit, since the date last mentioned, and at Brookline, in the County of Norfolk this State, in which the above-entitled petition is made, continuously since 1921, and that he has personal knowledge that the petitioner is and during all such periods has been a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States, and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the United States, and that in his opinion the petitioner is in every way qualified to be admitted a citizen of the United States.
Katherine Foley                                         Catherine Cronin

Subscribed and sworn to me by the above-named petitioner and witnesses in the office of the Clerk of said Court at Boston this 12th day of November Anno Domini 1930.  I hereby certify that certificate of arrival No. 1 29155 from the Department of Labor, showing the lawful entry for permanent residence of the petitioner above named, together with the declaration of intent NO. 208474 of such petitioner, has been by me filed with, attached to, and made a part of the petition on this date."

The petition was signed by the Deputy Clerk, but I cannot make out his name.

Catherine (Moriarty) Cronin is the older sister of my grandmother, Margaret Moriarty Keohane from Sneem - Margaret married Hannah's oldest brother John Keohane. I couldn't find any information on Katherine Foley.

Hannah is listed on Ivy Street in 1929, 1931, 1932 Brookline directories. I couldn't find her in any other directory.

Can we take a quick detour? I found some interesting information on ancestry.com about the Turners for whom Aunt Hannah worked.

Joseph Tilden Turner was born around 1800 in Pembroke, Massachusetts - the son of Captain Elisha Turner. Somehow he managed to find his way to Worcester in central Massachusetts. In 1826 he married Nancy Baker of Shrewsbury and they had 4 children:  

Robert Turner dob March 31, 1827

John Baker Turner dob Feb 6 1829

Walter Livingston Turner dob May 27 1831

Nancy Baker Turner dob March 16 1834

According to Worcester City Directories from 1844 to 1848, Joseph T. Turner had a bowling alley and a market in Worcester but lived in Southbridge. I was quite surprised at the bowling alley! He died in March 1848 of consumption/tuberculosis in Worcester at 47 years old - he was a cabinet maker per his death certificate. His parents were Elisha and Sally Turner. In November of the same year his 45 year old widow Nancy Baker dies of dropsy which was an accumulation of fluid - today it would probably be called congestive heart failure. Her parents were John and Lucy Baker.

By the 1850 census, their son John Baker Turner has made his way from Worcester - he is 21 and is a merchant in Boston. At the same time 23 year old Ellen Augusta Cobb is living in Boston with her 52 year old father Henry and family - a merchant with $15,000 in real estate. 

By the 1855 Boston Census, John Baker Turner is listed as a corn merchant. Ellen Cobb is now living with her sister Lucy Chandler's family in Boston. Lucy's husband John Chandler is also a merchant - they have 2 young children and 2 servants.

29 year old John Baker Turner, born in Worcester, marries 28 year old Ellen Cobb, who was born in Boston.  The wedding takes place on 19 Oct 1858 in Brookline - he is a merchant residing in Boston - Ellen resides in Brookline. Her parents are Henry and Augusta Cobb.

In 1860 there was a 32 year old John B Turner living in Brookline - Post Office was Roxbury. He was a merchant - his personal estate was worth $5000.

His wife Ellen is 30 years old.

Their daughter Mabel Turner was not quite a year old.

Sarah Turner was 16 - she was probably John Baker Turner's sister.

John B Turner may have enlisted in the Union Army in 1861.

By1865 John B Turner is 37 and continues working as a merchant.

He and his wife Ellen are living in Brookline and have 2 more children - Henry and William Dall - 4 and 1 years old. 21 year old Sarah Turner is still living with them.

The 1870 census lists the John B Turner family living in Brookline - no address is provided in this early census. John is a 42 year old cotton  merchant - his real estate is valued at $15,000 and his personal value is also $15,000. The household includes his 40 year old wife Ellen and his 3 children - Mabel 12, Henry 10, and William 7. 

There is also an entry for the 1870 Beverly census - John B Turner - 41- born in Massachusetts - merchant -  real estate was $20,000 - personal estate $30,000. Ellen D Turner - 40 - born in Massachusetts.

Mabel 10, Henry  9, and William D - 6. There are also 3 domestic servants - 2 from Scotland, 1 from Ireland. Is this a different John B Turner whose children have the same names? Is it a summer home?

1876-77 Henry Ives Turner and William Dall Turner were students at Adams Academy in Quincy - founded by President John Adams.

In the1880 census of Brookline, 52 year old Arthur Williams is president of powder mills. His wife is 50 year old Antoinette. He has 5 children:  25 year old Madaline at home, 22 year old Arthur Jr is a store clerk, Rose 20 is at home. Mabel Oliver is 16 and Mary P is 11 - they are at school. Also living there is mother-in-law Mary P Oliver 73 and brother-in-law Charles A Oliver 45 - he has no occupation. There are 2 Irish servants.

In 1887 the young Henry Ives Turner marries this Mabel Oliver Williams on June 14th in St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Brookline. I think it says that 26 year old Henry is living in Greenville, Mississippi - he is a cotton buyer. 

Even though indigenous peoples occupied the Greenville area for thousands of years, outsiders wanted the land to develop cotton plantations. The US government aided them by passing The Indian Removal Act which forced the local tribes to the Indian Territory west of the Mississippi River. Greenville became the center for the surrounding cotton plantations due to its position on the Mississippi River. I suppose this is why young Henry Turner may have been residing there.

In 1894 Henry's father John Baker Turner died of apoplexy - 66 years old. His residence and burial was in Boston, but he died in Fall River. He was a  merchant - born in Worcester. His parents were Joseph Turner born in Boston and Nancy B Baker born in Shrewsbury. 

The 1898 and 1899 Brookline directories list Henry I Baker as a real estate broker at 31 State St, Boston with a house at 86 Monmouth Street in Brookline. His mother Mrs John B Turner and his brother William D, a lawyer at 73 Tremont Street, Boston, are both listed at the same house.

The 1900 Brookline census for 77 Mountfort St lists 39 year old  Henry Ives as a real estate broker - he is renting the house! What happened to all the money and real estate that his father had? He and his wife Mabel - 36 - have been married for 13 years - they have 2 children born and living - 11 year old Oliver and 5 year old Esther are at school.

Brother William D Turner is 36, single, and a lawyer - he is also living with them.

There is an Irish parlor maid as well as an Irish cook.

The only Turner listed in the directory for 1901 Brookline is William D Turner at 77 Monmouth Street with his business at 73 Tremont Street, Boston, but the 1901 Boston directory lists William Dall Turner - (Foster & Turner) - a lawyer at 87 Milk room 18 with a house at Longwood Avenue.

Adding to the confusion the 1901 Boston directory also lists Henry Ives - real estate broker at 31 State Street room 702 with a house in Brookline.

In the 1902 Brookline directory, Henry I Turner is still in real estate with a house at 77 Monmouth Street, while his brother William D has a house at 71 Colchester Street in Brookline. There is also a listing for Mrs. Mabel O. Turner at 158 Cypress Street in Brookline!!

A tragedy occurs in 1902 when Henry I Turner commits suicide. The following newspaper article reports: 

"FIRED INTO MOUTH.

Henry I. Turner Ends His Life in Brookline

He Was a Well-Known Real Estate Dealer on State St.

Despondency Set Down as the Cause of the Deed.

      Henry I.Turner, a well-known real estate operator at 33 State st., committed suicide by shooting himself at the home of his brother, William D. Turner, 71 Colchester st., Brookline, early last evening. The cause of the deed is not positively known, but it was probably due to general despondency.

    Mr Turner lived with his mother and sister at 77 Monmouth st, Brookline. As far as can be learned he left the house shortly before 5 pm yesterday and went directly to the home of his brother, a short distance away. The brother is not in town, and there was no one in the house, excepting the housekeeper.

    Turner went upstairs and entered the bathroom. A few moments later the housekeeper heard the sound of a pistol shot, and, rushing upstairs, she found the man lying on the floor, senseless. He died almost immediately and before medical aid could be procured.

    The weapon used was a 32 caliber revolver, and the shot was fired directly into his mouth, the bullet passing upward into his brain. 

    Henry I Turner was born in Brookline, 37 years ago and was a son of John B and Ellen Augusta Turner. He has a sister and a brother, both of whom, with his mother, survive him. Several years ago Turner married a Miss Williams, but they were afterward divorced. They have one child, a little girl, who is living with her mother in Brookline.

    The body was viewed by assistant Medical Examiner Bowker."

Funny - no mention of the son Oliver!

Henry I Baker's death was registered in Brookline - date of death was 18 September 1902 - he was 41 years old - divorced - cause of death was gunshot wound to the heart - he was in real estate - his father was John Baker Turner - his mother was unknown. Henry was buried in Mount Auburn Cemetery on Spruce Avenue, Lot 1528, Grave 5.

Below is a picture of a 32 caliber revolver.

The 1903 Brookline Directory again lists Mrs. Mabel O. Turner, widow of Henry I Turner,  at 158 Cypress Street. William D is still living at 71 Colchester Street.

Not quite a year after Henry's death, on 5 June 1903 Henry's 39 year old brother William D. Turner marries Henry's 39 year old ex-wife, Mabel O. (Williams) Turner at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Aspinwall St. This is William's first marriage and Mabel's second. They both reside in Brookline.

The Turners moved to 37 Chestnut Street, Brookline and then to 369 Marlborough Street, Boston before settling at 96 Ivy Street in Brookline where Aunt Hannah worked for them.

Now back to Aunt Hannah Keohane! I did find that on September 4, 1932 Hannah left Queenstown to return to Boston on the S.S. Scythia. The ship arrived in Boston on September 13. Hannah was 35 years old and single. Her passport is #495783 - she was naturalized in the District Court of Boston on 16th February, 1931. She is living at 96 Ivy St. Brookline, Mass.

I wonder how long she was gone? Did she go to visit her brother Jim in Ballythomas? Was her stepmother Julia Keohane or her aunt Ellen Reardon in Dunderrow still alive?

Back to Aunt Hannah. Somewhere along the way, she meets Stephen DeCourcey.

Considering that I knew very little about Uncle Stephen, I did find a good deal of information on ancestry.com, irishgenealogy.ie, census.nationalarchives.ie after a little detective work. 

I found a birth certificate for Stephen on irishgenealogy.ie, but his name was Coursey - not DeCourcey. It shows:

Superintendent Registrar's District Bandon - Registrar's District Bandon.

Births Registered in the District of Bandon in the Union of Bandon in the County of Cork.

Line #141 lists date and place of birth as 1892, 25 December. Stephen Coursey was born on Boyle Street in Bandon - it is now Connolly Street. He is a male. 

His father is Patrick Coursey of Boyle Street, Bandon - his mother is Mary Coursey formerly Chambers. His father's occupation is a laborer. 

Signature, Qualification, and Residence of Informant: Mary Coursey, Mother, of Boyle Street. When Registered: Thirteenth January 1893. I can't make out the Registrar's name.

Below is a current picture of Connolly Street in Bandon.

The below picture shows the intersection of Parnell Street, Connolly Street and Oliver Plunkett Street. Bandon was a plantation town - and settlers mainly came from Somerset in England - Bandon was a walled city.

Bandon was an important market town, but it's commerce began to diminish in the 1800s with the industrial revolution and the arrival of trains.

I also searched through the 1901 and 1911 censuses and finally found Uncle Stephen's family living in house #52 in Shannon, Bandon, County Cork in 1901. I'm not sure if Shannon is a part of Bandon or if it is the former Shannon Street. Shannon Street was changed to Oliver Plunkett Street in 1940 - it seems to be an extension of Connolly Street. Below is a picture of Shannon Street from the Lawrence Collection sometime between 1870-1910. Crowley's is the name of the shop on the bottom right.

Below is a current picture of Shannon Street/Oliver Plunkett Street. 

I find it very interesting that in the 1901 census Stephen's father, Patrick Courcey, is a 60 year old vegetable dealer! I have never seen this in previous research. So does Patrick have a shop or does he sell his vegetables from a cart? Does he grow them himself? Does he buy them from surrounding farmers? Or does he go to markets in Cork City and buy them there? 

Patrick is of course the head of the family although this census does not ask that question - he reads and writes both Irish and English. His 50 year old wife Mary is also able to read and write Irish and English.

Patrick and Mary have 6 children - 4 sons and 2 daughters. John is a 20 year old rural postman - I wonder what that entails - delivering mail to the countryside? His younger 3 brothers are all in school - Patrick is 15; Daniel is 13; and Stephen is 8.

The other 2 scholars in the family are 17 year old Maryan and 4 year old Maggie. All the children but Stephen and Maggie read and write Irish and English. Stephen and Maggie read and write English - even 4 year old Maggie can write!

The Courceys are all Catholics - altho it is spelled Chatolic.

The next form tells us that the family lives in a private home. It is made of stone, brick, or concrete with a slate, iron or tiled roof. There are 4 windows in the front of the house. All that makes it a 2nd class house. Only 1 family lives in the house - Patrick Coursey is the head of the family. There are 8 family members living in 4 rooms. There is no landholder listed - in the Kerry records either the landlord or the owner is listed. So I don't know if the Courceys own this building or are renting it. 

This area where the Courceys live has a rooming house with 6 families living in it.

The Courceys are not listed as land owners or grocers in Guys Directory of Bandon 1875  or in transcription according to 

http://www.bandon-genealogy.com/local-directory-1876.htm. But it is an interesting read of a big city compared to Sneem, County Kerry.

The DeCourcey family is living in house #16 on Shannon Street in 1911. There have been a few changes in the last 10 years. Their name has changed from Coursey to DeCourcey. Patrick Courcey has died, and his 60 year old wife Mary is now head of the family. She has had 9 children, but only 7 are living now. She is also a shop keeper - remember in 1901 Patrick was a vegetable dealer - the family now has a shop.

29 year old John is single and still working for the Post Office. Patrick is 24 and is working in the shop with his mother.

Daniel is a stoker in a hosiery factory - he is 21.

Stephen is 18 and working as a postman.

Little Maggie is now 14 and continues in school.

Another change is that daughter Mary A O'Brien is a 26 year old widow. She has had 3 children, but only Mary B O'Brien is living - she is a 5 year old scholar. Both are living here with the DeCourceys - Mary is likely helping in the shop while her daughter is at school.

The other change in the household is 26 year old lodger Stephen Chambers - he is a general laborer. Is he a brother of Mary DeCourcey? or another relative?

I found an 1865 birth certificate for a Mary Chambers born November 23rd in Round Hill, Bandon. Parents are listed as laborer William Chambers and Ellen Carthy Chambers.

 

Then I found a birth certificate for Stephen Chambers - he was born May 24, 1883 - his family lived on Cork Road. His father is laborer Edward Chambers, and his mother is Ellen Desmond Chambers. So Stephen maybe a cousin to our Mary Chambers Decourcey - not a brother.

On the second page of the House and Building Return, Mary DeCourcey is listed in building 18 - it is a shop with 2 outbuildings - it is made of stone, brick, or concrete - it has a slate or tiled roof - it has 7-9 rooms with 7 windows in the front of the house. Obviously, it is a first class house.  Nine people are occupying 7 rooms on 7 April.

The family has a stable - two cow houses - a piggery - a fowl house - and a potato house. They seem pretty well off! Especially 2 cow houses!

So why would Stephen Coucey sail from Cobh on the SS Caronia on 29 March 1925. He is a 23 year old single postman whose last permanent address was Bandon. So I would think that he has a good job. His closest relative in Ireland is his mother Mrs. M Courcey. His final destination is Boston.

Page 2 tells us that the Caronia arrived in Boston on 4 April 1925. Stephen bought his own ticket and has $40. He is joining his cousin James Chambers - the address 119 Magriolda Street is crossed out - it was in Arlington. Handwritten is 22 Tannery Street (?) in Cambridge. He intends to reside permanently in the U.S. His complexion is fair as is his hair - his eyes are grey.

The S.S. Caronia was built in Scotland on the Clyde River and launched in 1904. She was a Cunard Line steam ship and was used frequently on cruises from New York to the Mediterranean.  The Caronia sent the first ice warnings to the Titanic in 1912! During the first world war, the British Admiralty requisitioned her services. After the war, Cunard used the Caronia on several different routes. Cunard sold her for scrap in 1931.

http://www.norwayheritage.com/gallery/gallery.asp?action=viewimage&categoryid=4&text=&imageid=211&box=&shownew=

I checked irishgenealogy.ie and found an entry for James Chambers born 6 April 1881 to laborer Edward Chambers and his wife Ellen Desmond of Cork Road. We have seen these parents before - their younger son Stephen was living with Uncle Stephen and the DeCourceys in 1911. I wasn't able to find the Chambers family in the 1901 or 1911 census - maybe the parents had died?

I did find a listing for this James and Hannah Chambers in the 1925 Cambridge City Directory - they have a house at 22 Tannery Street. James is a laborer.

I found Tannery Street on an old 1916 Bromley map of Cambridge (https://iiif.lib.harvard.edu/manifests/view/drs:6592027$34i.) It is located a couple of blocks east of Alewife Brook Parkway near the borders with Arlington and Somerville. According to an article in the 8 October 1921 Cambridge Chronicle, Tannery Street was the ancient way to the fish weirs at Alewife brook and dates back to 1888. (https://cambridge.dlconsulting.com/?a=d&d=Chronicle19211008-01.2.80&e=-------en-20--1--txt-txIN-------)

I found a 1925 Declaration of Intention to become a citizen of the United States for Stephen DeCourcey - it is dated shortly after he arrived. He is a 32 year old laborer. His color is white, his complexion is light - he is 5 feet 9 inches tall - 146 pounds - with light hair and blue eyes. He has no visible distinctive marks. He was born in Bandon, Ireland on 25 December 1892. He resides at 22 Tannery Street in North Cambridge. He emigrated to the USA from Queenstown, Ireland on the Caronia. His last foreign residence was Bandon, Cork. He is not married. He renounces allegiance to any foreign power especially George V of Great Britain and Ireland. He arrived in the port of Boston on 4 April 1925. Stephen signed the Declaration in the District Court of Boston on 29 June 1925.

In the 1927 Somerville Directory, Stephen DeCourcey is a laborer living at 785 Somerville Avenue. By 1929 he has moved to 22 Campbell Park in Somerville 

Stephen is listed in the 1930 U.S. Census for Somerville, Massachusetts' Ward 6 which was taken on April 4. 
26 year old Catherine Murphy owns 22 Campbell Park - it is worth $14,000 - she also owns a radio. She was born in Massachusetts, but her parents were born in the Irish Free State. Catherine works as a payroll clerk for the Electric Railroad.
Her mother Mary J. Murphy is 58 year old widow - she emigrated from Ireland in 1890 and is a naturalized citizen. She is probably a home maker.
Catherine's sister Mary A. Murphy is a 23 year old clerk for the Telephone Company but was not at work yesterday. Their 22 year old brother George is a helper for an electrical company.
Catherine has 2 boarders for extra income. Stephen De Courcey is a 36 year old form maker for a bakery and was working yesterday. He emigrated from his home in Ireland in 1925 and has taken out papers for citizenship. He is not a veteran.
The other boarder is 21 year old Joseph Daley who was born in Massachusetts but whose parents were born in the Irish Free State. He is an Inspector in a rubber shop - he worked yesterday - he is not a veteran.

Below is 22 Campbell Park - #22 is the door on the right - I don't know if #22 is upstairs or downstairs.

#20 is rented by John Mulkerrin - a 39 year old plumber - who is also a veteran of the World War. He pays $50/month rent to Catherine Murphy and owns a radio. He lives with his 43 year old wife Katherine. They have a roomer, Andrew Susnar, who is from Austria and his native language is German. He is a carpenter and works laying floors.

22 Campbell Park is the red icon in the Davis Square section of Somerville shown below on the map - it is not too far from Tannery Street.

I found Uncle Stephen's Petition for Naturalization. In the US District Court of Massachusetts in Boston, Stephen reported that he resided at 22 Campbell Park in Somerville - he is a baker. He was born in Bandon, County Cork, Ireland on December 25, 1892. His race is white. He declared his intention to become a citizen of the United States on 9 June 1925 in the US District Court of Massachusetts at Boston. He is not married - he has no children. His last foreign residence was Bandon, Co. Cork. He emigrated from Queenstown - his lawful entry into the United States was at Boston under the name of Stephen Coursey on April 4, 1925 on the Caronia. It is his intention to become a citizen of the United States and renounce any allegiance to George V. He has resided continuously in the United States since April 4, 1925. He has not previously petitioned for citizenship. He prays that he be admitted as a citizen of the United States and that his name be changed to Stephen DeCourcey. Stephen signed the petition.

The Affidavit of witnesses includes gardener William J Walsh of 257 Upland Road in Cambridge and Charles E McCall, a helper, whose address is 360 Geneva Street, Boston, Dorchester. They swear that they are citizens of the United States and have known Stephen DeCourcey since July 1925 - he has resided in Cambridge and Somerville. They signed the affidavit.

The Deputy Clerk James Allen of the Court verifies that the petitioner and witnesses swore the above before him on 27 October 1930. He also swore that the following Certificate of Entry from the Department of Labor and the petition of citizenship were filed by him.

The petition is stamped Granted on the top right hand corner.

The April 2 1940 census of Somerville's Ward 6 shows Mary J Murphy is still at 22 Campbell Park. She is now 70 years old and is the widowed head of the family. She finished 6 years of school. She was born in Eire, is a naturalized citizen, and lived in the same house 5 years ago. She has no occupation or salary listed but has received more than $50 in income.

Her daughter Mary A Murphy is 32 years old and is single - she completed 4 years of high school. She was born in Massachusetts and lived in the same house 5 years ago. She is a telephone operator for the telephone company. She made $1352 in salary.

Mary O'Brien is a 34 year old servant - she is single and finished 6 years of school. She was born in Eire - she is an alien. She lived in Cambridge 5 years ago. She does housekeeping for a private family. Her salary was $208. The X beside her name indicates that she was providing information on the family. I wonder if she would ever be Uncle Stephen's niece - his sister Mary Ann's daughter? I found a passenger list for 1928 for a Mary Bridget O'Brien whose grandmother, Mrs. DeCoucey, paid for her ticket! I'd say there is a connection there.

Our Stephen De Courcey is still lodging with the Murphys. He is 47 years old, single, and finished 6 years of school. He is a naturalized citizen - he lived in the same place 5 years ago. He is a porter for a Mail Order House? His salary was $1296.

Here is some interesting information on Stephen DeCourcey.

Back in May 2021 I posted a message on Ancestry.com to Kathleen Lizotte Lynde:

"Hi there, I saw on ancestry.com that you had the obit for Hannah Keohane DeCourcey. She is my great aunt. Just wondered if I knew you!!

Mary Ellen"

She wrote back saying that she was the great great grandniece of Hannah Keohane's husband, Stephen DeCourcey. "Stephen's sister, my great grandmother died when my grandfather was only 16 in 1918, so the family was split up and lost contact."

She told me that she had contacted Mary Feeney, Aunt Hannah's niece,  who sent her some pictures that Stephen had left behind after his death. She asked to collaborate on researching Stephen.

I wrote back to Kathleen that: 

"Mary Cooney Feeney was probably the niece you contacted - she may have been the executrix of the will. She lived in Arlington near Uncle Stephen and Aunt Hannah, and took care of them. Mary is my mother's 1st cousin.

I suppose you know they married late in life and never had any children. I don't remember much about Uncle Stephen - we used to think he was very cranky when we were kids. He loved the Red Sox tho - he used to have the radio on when the games were being played and no one could interrupt him. 

He and Aunt Hannah took me, my brother Johnny, and my 2 cousins, Chris and John Navin, to Fenway Park to see the Red Sox - I seem to remember going to a couple of games. They also took the 4 of us to a circus or rodeo when it came to the Boston Garden.

For a couple of summers, I would spend a week with them - I might have been in middle school but no older. Stephen must have been still working? I don't seem to remember him being around the house. Aunt Hannah would take me on the streetcar to see all the relatives. Then when she would be getting diner, Stephen and I would walk to the library. I remember him holding my hand as we crossed Park Ave. and thinking I was too big for that. 

I'll have to pull out the info I have on them - I think I went to a church in Brookline, Ma a few yrs ago to get their marriage certificate - Hannah was working at 96 Ivy St. in Brookline. I may have a picture of them from their wedding.

What a small world! I used to live in Watertown, but moved to Cape Cod a few yrs ago.

Great to hear from you!

MEM"

I wrote to my sisters about the message from Uncle Stephen's niece with her email attached:

"Of all the people to hear from! Uncle Stephen's niece!"

Christine wrote back:

"As one of the youngsters banished to the living room with Uncle Stephen I can and will say it was torture, and I am sure Jody will agree! I never made it to the kitchen except to bring out the dirty glasses from the tiny drop of ginger ale we were given. If the Red Sox were on we were not allowed to speak and if they weren't on we had to speak to him!! Ugh..."

Patty replied:

I guess we can't say it was torture to be one of the youngsters relegated to the living room with Uncle Stephen while the others were in the kitchen with Aunt Hannah eating her delicious almond(?) wafer cookies. ooohhhhh those cookies - if I ate gluten ever again, it might be for one of those cookies!!!"

Kathleen wrote back to me: 

"Mary Ellen,

Thank you so very much for your beautiful recollection of Uncle Stephen. I never met him but did speak to him via the telephone a couple of times back in the 1980's. I know what you mean about "being cranky" my paternal grandfather was the same way. LOL.
Yes! Mary Feeney. What a lovely woman to send me the photo's Uncle Stephen had left ( only wish he had put names to the photo's but they are still my family treasures).
It wasn't long after I received the photo's she sent me my house burned down. I lost her address but since the pictures were put on CD, I still had them. I am so grateful to her.
I would appreciate anything you come across about Stephen and Hannah.
My gr-grandmother, Katherine Mary (Kate) DECOURCEY was born in Bandon, County Cork Ireland 1878. Sometime in the late 1800's early 1900's she left Ireland. Supposedly to follow and English Navy Man (who the story goes died in the Irish Sea) , but then how many unwed mothers told their children that their father died? She must have really disappointed her mother, as her mother had her birth record removed from the church the only thing that the Priest found was a piece of paper noting Kate's age and date of confirmation, ( can you imagine that?) Stephen told me during a phone conversation that his mother was a powerful women and tried to control all 8 of her children. My grandfather said that once he went to see her and she wouldn't accept him ( he being illegitimate) My grandfather, Jeremiah, was born in a workhouse, December 20, 1902, in Devonshire England and sometime between 1903 and 1906 Kate and her infant son, Jeremiah, arrived in Boston. I have been looking for 34 years where they came into the US and as of yet no luck. I really believe they came through Canada but since Canada kept such vague records I will probably never know.

One would say that my grandfather, Jeremiah was the black sheep of the family. He only lived part time with my grandmother and her 3 children. Nana did not like the fact that Jeremiah liked to drink. So we know little about his family only what I have found over the past 34 years.10 years ago I found my grandfather, Jeremiah's ( 4) 1/2 siblings only 1 was still living, and she was suffering with dementia. My luck!

Again thank you, if you find any more information I would be in your debt. Kathleen LIZOTTE LYNDE."

I found a civil birth register for Catherine Courcey born 24 February 1878 on Boyle Street, Bandon to car man Patrick Courcey and Mary Chambers.

I responded to Kathleen: 

"Wow!! What a story! Poor Kate DeCourcey- what a hard life.

I include 2 of my sisters on this email in case they might have any story on Uncle Stephen they could tell you.

I used to be a visiting nurse in Winchester in the 1970s. Winchester borders Arlington so sometimes I would stop by to visit Stephen and Hannah on my lunch break or just for a cup of tea - they would always be very happy to see me. They had a nice house - 96 Paul Revere Rd in Arlington Heights - I think Mary Feeney or one of her children got the house. They left me the dining room table. 

They had a breakfast nook in the kitchen that I always loved - you could look out at the garden behind the house."

Then:

"Hi Kathleen,

I attached info re the DeCourcey's wedding. I hope it comes thru.
Hannah's sister Nellie was her maid of honor. I don't know anything about Fred McCall. (Charles E McCall was a witness on Stephen's Petition for Naturalization - I wonder if there was a relation?)
I'm curious re the pictures Mary Feeney sent you. Are they very old pictures? Do you have them online? Maybe we could figure them out.
Have to get back to studying - I am taking a course for a certification in Gerontology - would rather be doing family history. I have been researching since the late 70s. I have scads of info re my mother's family - Moriartys from Sneem, Co. Kerry and Keohanes from outside Kinsale, Co. Cork. Now my cousins and I are looking into my father's family. But have to cut back for a couple of wks while I take this course. I find it relaxing altho it can be very frustrating when you can't find that certain nugget - like your gr-grandmother coming to this country. It is so much easier now with so many records online! Let me know if the attachment came thru - hope you enjoy it.
MEM"

I also asked:

"Do you know a Mary Bridget O'Brien? She came out to Uncle Stephen in March 1938 - her mother was Mary O'Brien of Watergate St. in Bandon. She was 32 yo, single, housekeeper. She had been in Boston for 9 yrs and left in June 1937. Stephen was living at 22 Campbell Park, West Somerville. There is a handwritten note on the form that states Stephen was her uncle. I can send this to you in an ancestry.com email if you want.

The Murphys don't sound familiar - my husband is from Sneem, Co. Kerry altho the Murphys were eventually from Cork long ago.
My maiden name is Manning- my father's father was from Roundstone in Connemara and his mother from the Clonbern/Glennaaddy area in Galway.

MEM"

Kathleen wrote back:

"Mary Bridget O'BRIEN was Uncle Stephen's niece by his sister Mary who was widowed when Mary Bridget was but a small girl. I have to send you an invite to my family tree there you would see most of what I have on the DECOURCEY family. I'll do that next. Thank you

The pictures I posted on a sight in Bandon I will send you a link to it.

Kat"

I was able to log onto the link but did not recognize anyone in the pictures.

Meanwhile the 1940 Somerville Directory below lists Stephen DeCourcey as employed at Sears Roebuck and Company, boards r22 Campbell Park. 

I think it was Frances Smith who told me that Aunt Hannah was married in Brookline. I searched around on Ancestry.com and found a marriage index. Hannah Keohane is residing in Brookline in 1942 - volume 35 page 345. There is another Hannah Keohane living in Somerville in 1942 - volume 103 page 524. That is interesting because Stephen was living in Somerville.

Stephen and Hannah's civil marriage certificate is dated September 13, 1943 and is number 350. Date and Place of Marriage was April 19, 1942 in Brookline. Groom is Stephen DeCourcey; Bride is Hannah Keohane. He is living at 897 Broadway in Somerville; She is living at 11 Hyslop Road in Brookline. Stephen is 49; Hannah is 45. There is a section for Color - below the line it states if other than white - both sections are blank. Stephen's occupation is custodian; Hannah's is housemaid. His place of birth is Co. Cork, Ireland; her place of birth is Co. Cork, Ireland. 

Stephen's Father is Patrick DeCourcey - his Mother Mary Chambers. Hannah's Father is Patrick Keohane - her Mother is Hannah Kiely. It is the first marriage for both. Neither is widowed or divorced. James E. Welch, Priest performed the ceremony - he resides at 774 Boston Street, Brookline. Date of record is April 21, 1942.  City Clerk of Somerville certifies that the above information is a true extract from the Register of Marriages in Somerville. A Justice of the Peace signs that the City Clerk appeared before him and made oath of the truth of the foregoing certificate by him subscribed. I couldn't clearly make out either name.

I looked up the address on the civil marriage certificate and learned that 744 Boylston Street was St. Lawrence Church, a part of St. May of the Assumption Parish. It is the red icon on the bottom of the map - St Mary's is the red icon to the right. 

I wrote to St. Lawrence Church for a marriage certificate sometime in early 2006 and received the following information: "This is to certify that Stephen DeCourcey and Hannah Keohane were lawfully married on the 19th day of April 1942 according to the Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in conformity with the laws of the State of Massachusetts - Rev. James E. Welch officiating in the presence of Frederick J. McCall and Ellen Keohane. 

The next two photos are of St. Lawrence Church.

That must be Fred McCall behind Uncle Stephen in the above picture - that is Aunt Nellie beside Fred. Charles McCall of Geneva Ave in Boston was a witness for Uncle Stephen's naturalization. I wonder if they are related?

Shortly after their wedding, Stephen Courcy filed for the draft. Notice his name is handwritten Courcey, but the "De" is typed in. He is now living at 33 Charnwood Road, Somerville which is also his mailing address. He does not have a phone. He is 49 years old - he was born in Bandon, Cork, Ireland on December 25, 1892.

Mrs. Hannah Courcey will always know his address. US Navy is his employer - he works at Annex No. 1 at the Navy Yard in Boston. Stephen signs the form Stephen Courcey.

Page 2 reports that Stephen is white, 5'8", 140 lbs. His eyes are blue, his hair is black, his complexion is ruddy. He has no distinguishing marks. The form was signed by the registrar - I can't make out his name - for local board 136, West Somerville Branch Library on April 26, 1942.

The map below shows 33 Charmwood Road where Uncle Stephen and and Aunt Hannah were living in 1942.

33 Charmwood Road is on the left of this light green 2 family home - I'm not sure if the DeCourceys were upstairs or downstairs. 

I remember going to a dinner at Aunt Hannah's and Uncle Stephen's in the late 1950s - I thought they were living upstairs in a two family home in Arlington, but maybe it was Somerville. I was young - after supper, someone was washing the dishes - another person dried them and handed them to me one by one - I was to place them on the dining room table. I am not sure if it was the same night that Mary Theresa Feeney was there - she was much younger than me - I adored her - she was like a doll with blond  banana curls - I was crawling on the floor playing with her.

I happened upon a name change for Stephen - the below page shows where Stephen Coursey signed allegiance to the US Constitution on the 6th April 1931. Notice the handwritten note on the bottom of the page in dark ink - "Change of name - refused by court." The ink matches the ink in the date and certificate number above on 6 April 1931 - so was Stephen denied a name change initially when he was signing the oath? Again at the bottom of that page but in different ink it says "name changed to Stephen DeCoursey - Probate Middlesex Co, Cambridge 1-26-43 - new cert issued 7/15/43."

The next page is from the US Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service in Philadelphia - it is dated July 15, 1943.

"Clerk, United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, at Boston

Dear Sir:

    You are informed that a new certificate of citizenship has been issued in the changed name of the person whose name appears below, in lieu of the original certificate granted by your court. It will be noted that the name of the naturalized person has been changed by order of court subsequent to the date of admission to citizenship. it is suggested that you make appropriate reference to the change of name in your records, including index.

Name at time of admission: Stephen Courcey

Number and date of certificate: 3414789 - 4/6/31

Number and date of petition: 127459 - 10/27/30

Present name of naturalized person: Stephen DeCourcey

Changed by decree of the Probate Court of Middlesex County, Cambridge, Massachusetts 

Date of decree: 1/26/43

New certificate granted on 7/15/43

Number: 3414789

                                                        Sincerely yours,

                                            Earl G Harrison, Commissioner

                                            By:

                                            T.B. Shoemaker, Assistant Commissioner"

The 1944 Boston Directory lists "DeCourcey, Stephen PI sub carrier for PO, resides in Somerville." I don't know what PI stands for. The 1945, 1947 and 1948 directories say the same thing.

1953 finds the DeCourceys living in Arlington - Stephen is a carrier for the Cambridge PO (Post Office) A. I don't know what the A means. No address is given.

The DeCourceys have moved by 1962 to 90 Paul Revere Road in Arlington - Stephen continues as a mail carrier for the Post Office.

The map below shows 90 Paul Revere Road in the upper left corner - it shows its proximity to Somerville, Cambridge, Medford, Belmont/Waverley. Mount Pleasant Cemetery is in the top center.

Aunt Hannah and Uncle Stephen lived in the blue house below although  it might have been white when they lived there.

When I would go "on vacation" to them, I used to visit the 2 "older" ladies that lived next door - it looks like the house was converted into condos. Those ladies were very nice - I used to enjoy visiting them - it was like a brief escape from Aunt Hannah who was very well intentioned, but I don't think she had any experience with kids. 

Sometimes Aunt Hannah and I would walk down Paul Revere Road past those condos and take a short cut to the Arlington Heights bus station. Aunt Hannah would take me shopping into Boston or to visit Mrs. Mahoney - I think she was the same Mrs Mahoney who raised Frances Keohane after her mother died. Sometimes we would walk the other way and take a left - we would walk up a hill to visit another friend of Aunt Hannah's - I think Curtis lived there - he was older than me - they would make me spend time with him while they talked over tea in the kitchen - Curtis probably hated seeing me coming!!!

When I visited in Arlington Heights, I had a room to myself - I would go up to my room or out in the garden behind the house and read - Aunt Hannah was probably getting dinner for Stephen. 

I loved the breakfast nook that was in the kitchen - when we would visit, I would love to sit on the bench on the inside. I still remember the small juice glass of ginger ale that Aunt Hannah would give us - what a treat - we never had ginger ale unless we were sick. Did they have Coke back in the late 50s? We never had that either. My sister mentioned the almond wafers that Aunt Hannah made - they were scrumptious! I've never found anything that tasted like them.

Aunt Hannah had a small table at the top of the stairs - my younger sisters and maybe my younger brother would go up and look under the statue of the Blessed Mother for quarters - they probably each got 25 cents!!

Every Christmas I would have to give Aunt Hannah lavender soap - my mother would buy a certain brand - I would have to wrap it and sign a card. I continued this tradition as I grew older.

When I was able to drive, I would drive my mother and the younger kids over to see Aunt Hannah - sometimes I would take them all to the cemetery where Hannah's brother/my mother's father was buried. We would stop at Brigham's for an ice cream on the way home.

I would stop by for a visit years later when I was working for the VNA - I would bring my lunch and have it with them. I would send them cards for the holidays. Even though Aunt Hannah was not so much fun, I felt that she meant well - I wondered if she regretted not having any kids.

Hannah T. DeCourcey died January 24, 1979 - she was a white female and the wife of Stephen DeCourcey. She died at Symmes Hospital in Arlington. Her residence was 90 Paul Revere Road, Arlington, Mass. She was an 82 year old housewife. Social Security #012-50-1416. Hannah was born in Ireland - her father was Patrick Keohane - her mother was Hannah Kiley - her parents were both born in Ireland. Cause of death was Recurrent Cerebral Thrombosis due to Coronary Artery Disease, due to Myocardial Infarction. Attending Physician/Medical Examiner was Gordon A. Saunders, MD. Place of Internment was at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington, Mass. Death certificate was issued August 19, 1981.

A try copy from the Records of Deaths in the office of the Town Clerk, Arlington, Massachusetts.

Attested by the Assistant Town Clerk Florence R McGee.

Aunt Hannah is buried near my grandmother so I would visit both graves.

1979 Boston Globe Jan 26 - Very difficult to read the insert.

"In Arlington, Jan 24.  Hannah T. (KEOHANE), beloved wife of Stephen DeCOURCEY, sister of Mrs. Ellen ALBERT of Watertown, and Mrs. Julia COONEY of Ireland, and the late Thomas, John and James KEOHANE, also survived by several nieces and nephews.  Funeral from the John R. O'Donnell Funeral Home, 1021 Mass Ave. Arlington saturday, Jan. 27 at 8 a.m., Funeral Mass in St. James Church at 9 a.m.  Visiting hours, Thursday 7-9, Friday, 2-4 and 7-9.  Relatives and friends invited.  Parking in rear of funeral home."

Uncle Stephen died January 27, 1985 at Sancta Maria Hospital in Cambridge. He was born Dec. 25, 1892 in Ireland. He was widowed - his wife was Hannah Keohane. He was a letter carrier for the United States Post Office. His Social Security number was 023-10-5895. His residence was at 90 Paul Revere Road, Arlington, Middlesex County, Mass 02174. His father was Patrick DeCourcey and his mother was Mary Chambers - both were born in Ireland. 

Informant was his niece Mary Feeney - 35 Mt. Vernon St., Arlington, Mass.

Burial was Jan. #0, 1985 at Mt. Pleasant Cemetery, Arlington, Mass. Funeral director was Edward J. Gaffey of Gaffey-McAvoy Funeral Home, 223 Mass. Ave., Arlington, Mass. Cause of death was terminal acute pneumonia. Other comorbidities: Hypertension, Fractured Left Hip - operated 11/84, Diabetes Mellitus. 

I am having difficulty making out the print on the death certificate. Michael Fuller was the attending physician, but C. G. Hori, MD pronounced Stephen dead 1/27/85 at 4:15pm. Dr Hori's address was 231 Grove Street, Cambridge 02138.

I remember Mike Fuller from working at Sancta Maria and St. Elizabeth's Hospitals. I knew Dr Hori slightly.

I was living in Sneem, Co. Kerry in late 1985 or early 1986 when I got a letter that Aunt Hannah had left me her dining room table with a large crystal bowl and matching double candle holders. I used the dining room table when we moved back to Watertown. I had the bowl and candle holders on my dining room buffet - I had 4 candles shaped like a Victorian dressed family of carolers - I would put them in the candle holders at Christmas. And I still do it 30 years later!!

I wish I had paid more attention when Aunt Hannah was talking about relatives or even asked her about life when she was young. If anyone has any stories or information about Aunt Hannah or Uncle Stephen, feel free to comment below! Thanks in advance.