It's Him!! Finally!! This Is Our Con Moriarty!

So I had been thinking I was definitely on the right track until the 1903 Newport Directory threw me a curve ball - listing 3 Cornelius Moriartys! But I still think the clerk on Kinsley's Wharf is our Con. 

Another interesting note re 1903 - Michael Dwyer, an electrician, was living at the rear of 28 Clarke Street this year. There are only a couple of buildings on Clarke Street including the armory and a church. The Dwyers were living across the street from the Moriartys in 1903 - the Moriartys had been there since 1897. There was also Ward the Printer at 34 Clark Street and Bell's Stable at 11 Clarke Street. 

27 and 28 Clarke Street now belong to the Inns of Newport - http://www.innsofnewport.com - 5 historic inns. Con's Cleveland House keeps the same name. 28 Clarke Street is now The Clarkston.

27 Clarke Street, Newport where Con Moriarty and his wife had a boarding house in the early 1900s.

Three floors and a basement. Notice the door opens right onto the street.

Side view of 27 Clarke Street - look at how far back it goes. Building  beside it is the Armory. There used to be a walkway between the 2nd floors of the two buildings.

Newport Armory with Con Moriarty's house to the left.

This is an old picture of Washington Square in Newport. Touro Street is on the left side - Clarke Street is off Touro Street near that  white building on the edge of this photo. Go back down Touro Street toward the waterfront to Thames Street - take a left and Margaret (Moriarty) and Michael Dwyer had a boarding house somewhere on that block after 1907.

1904 only listed 2 Cornelius Moriartys in Newport - one laborer and our clerk.

The 1907 Newport Directory shows a change for this Con. He is no longer listed working as a clerk – he is now proprietor of the Cleveland House at 27 Clarke Street – living at the same address – with a notation to see page 475.

Cleveland House ad on right midway down on the page.

1908 brings some interesting information. Con’s long time employer Dennis W. Sheehan died 25 August 1907. The Newport Daily News for Tuesday, August 27 has a little clip that reports he “died suddenly in this city. Funeral from his late residence __John Street Wednesday August 28 at 8:15 AM to St. Mary’s Church at 9:30 when a solemn high Mass of requiem will be offered for the repose of his soul. Relatives and friends are invited. 

(7 July 2012 - I just stumbled across this newspaper account of Dennis Sheehan’s death.) 

“Died at the Beach. 

Mr. Dennis W. Sheehan died at Easton’s Beach last Saturday morning while he was enjoying a bath in the salt water with his wife and family. With the exception of one daughter the others of the party had gone to their bath houses to dress and Mr. Sheehan was taking a last dip preparing to go out also when he was stricken with apoplexy and collapsed at once. He was in shallow water at the time and although he fell face downward into the water he was at once taken onto the dry beach and attempts were made to resuscitate him. A physician who was on the beach found that life was extinct.

Mr. Sheehan was born in Limerick, Ireland, but had made his home in this city for many years and was regarded as one of the leading citizens. He was an active business man, having conducted his present business on Kinsley’s wharf for more than a quarter century. He was very fond of his family and spent all of his leisure time in their company. He was of a friendly and companionable nature, always cheerful, and with a kindly word for everyone. He was a member of the Foresters and of the Knights of Sherwood Forest. He is survived by a wife and six daughters.

Above is Easton's Beach in 18885. This is where Dennis Sheehan died in 1907. Below is also Easton's Beach.

So in 1908 after his employer's death, Con is now working at J. Alexander & Co. Liquors at 18-20 Kinsley’s Wharf. This is where Dennis Sheehan's grocery and liquor store was - it must have a new owner. Con is also proprietor of the Cleveland House at 25 Clarke Street. The ad on page 533 for the store is also below.

When I looked up J. Alexander, I found some very surprising information! 

“John Alexander (J Alexander & Co) 18-20 Kinsley’s Wharf, also proprietor of Germania Hotel, 22 State Street, house same.” But look at the next entry!!

“Alexander J & Co (John Alexander, Cornelius Moriarty) successors to Dennis W Sheehan liquors and groceries, 18 and 20 Kinsley’s wharf (see page 533)” So not only was Con a longtime employee, but he succeeded Dennis Sheehan in the business. Does that mean that Con and John Alexander bought the business? Or did Dennis leave it to them? Were they running it for the family? How interesting is this? I wonder if Dennis Sheehan had an obituary – other than that article in the paper that we just saw - maybe Con is mentioned in it!! I wonder if we could find Dennis’ will?

Who is this John Alexander? Isn’t it interesting that he also owns the Germania Hotel?

I found another entry for Cornelius Moriarty at 27 Clarke Street, Newport, Rhode Island in the 1910 U.S. Census which was conducted in Ward 3 Enumerator District 43 on the 25^th or 26^th of April by Robert G. Babcock, Jr. 

Con is 51 years old and has been married for 21 years – this was his first marriage. (He was married for 7 years in the 1910 census! See again how dates are inaccurate.) He immigrated in 1880 and is a naturalized citizen. He is a grocery merchant. His wife Elizabeth is 54, and she emigrated from Canada in 1888. She had no pregnancies. She is proprietor of a boarding house. Their two adopted children are also listed – Helen M. Murray who is 12, and Joseph C. Murray who is 6 – both were born in Rhode Island.  This is the exact information we need to determine that this indeed is our Con Moriarty – Myles’ brother!!  Finally, at last!!! We know that these two children were the children of Myles’ sister Helen!! As we saw, this Helen Murray was mentioned back in the letter from Reverend James Moriarty!! Hurray!!! Finally!!!

Young Helen reads, writes, and speaks English, while Joseph speaks English but doesn’t read yet.

    

There are almost 30 boarders in the Moriarty home – most of them American born and some of them children. Several are listed as: cook, domestic, servant, and housekeeper for a boarding house – I wonder if they worked at Con's boarding house? Other occupations include engineer, carpenter, traveling salesman, singer, theater manager, sea mariner, machinist, and teachers – all seem to be working. 

I didn’t find a directory from 1910, but 1911 shows a change of address after all the years at 20 Kinsley’s Wharf. Con is now a clerk at 20 West Pelham Street as well as proprietor of the Cleveland House. I wonder what caused the change in address? Kinsley's Wharf was at the end of Pelham Street. Maybe this is just a change in the name of the wharf or street.

In 1914 and 1915 Con is listed solely as the proprietor of the Cleveland House – no other job.

I found an entry for the 1915 Rhode Island Census for Newport – there is no date on it. The Moriartys are still at 27 Clarke Street. Con is listed as proprietor of a hotel. 
Notice that Con’s 11 year old nephew is listed as Joseph C. Moriarty and not Murray. Why is his name changed? Niece Helen, who is 17, is still listed as Murray. Why would one name be changed and not the other?
The hotel has 16 boarders.

LDS has a death index for Con Moriarty – he died 28 February 1915 in Newport. He was 55 years old – birthdate 1961. His parents were Myles Moriarty and Abbie Moriarty! Here is more proof that he is our man!!
(batch) number: I09367-0, system origin: Rhode Island-EASy, source film number: 1906755, reference number:   p 111.

Patrick Murphy, Newport's historian, looked up Con’s obituary for me at the Newport Public Library on 5 June 2012 – the day before I took a walking tour of Newport’s Ward 5 where many Irish lived. Patrick states Con died 28 February 1916.

The obituary states: “Death of Cornelius Moriarty – Mr. Cornelius Moriarty, who died at his home on Clarke Street Monday evening, had for the past 10 years conducted the Cleveland House as a boarding house, where he had many patrons. Previous to this he had been for many years in the employ of the late Dennis W. Sheehan. He was a member of Newport Council, Catholic Benevolent Legion, and of Court Pride of the City, Foresters of America. He leaves a widow.” 

There is no date for the next article. “Today’s Funeral. The funeral of Cornelius Moriarty took place from his late residence on Clarke Street to St. Joseph’s Church this morning. A solemn high mass was said with Father E. A. Higney as celebrant, Father John F. O’Rourke as deacon and Father W.P. McHaigh as sub-deacon. There were large numbers of floral offerings from the many friends and relatives present. The bearers were Andrew T. Hall, William Hannifan, Frank Connors, Frank Clarke, Christopher Cooper, and Andrew F. Dwyer, and the internment was in St. Columba’s cemetery."

I wonder if Andrew Dwyer was related to Con's brother-in-law, Michael Dwyer? Margaret Dwyer died in January 1917 so she was still alive and running her boarding house nearby on Thames Street when her brother died.

The 1916 Newport Directory also lists Con’s death - very simply  - "Moriarty, Cornelius died February 28, 1916.". 

Just an addendum re Con Moriarty. We saw there was no other Cornelius Moriartys listed in the directories from the 1880s. I found a couple of additional listings for Con. 

Cornelius Moriarty is listed as a Trustee of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Division No.1 of Newport in 1887, 1888, 1893, and 1894. This division was organized in 1885. So he must have been involved from the beginning. Here is the 1894 listing:

Their hall is located at 275 Thames Street. Several members of my immediate family were and are members of the Hibernians - so this spiked my interest.

This Has Got To Be Our Boy

So we saw that Con Moriarty was living with Dennis Sheehan and his family until 1890. Con continued working for Dennis at his grocery and liquor shop on Kinsley's Wharf. In 1891 he moved across the street from his sister Margaret and her husband Michael Dwyer.

Con applied for American citizenship around this time as we can see in the above index.  This Petition 566 was filed in the Court of Common Pleas in Newport. The index states that Cornelius was born in 1861 in Ireland. He arrived in New York on 27 May 1877. He is naturalized on 27 June 1890. Witnesses are Peter White and Michael Sullivan – both are from Newport.

I went to the National Archives in Waltham and obtained a copy of this petition - see it below - which was recorded in the Court of Common Pleas of Newport, R.I. Years 1802-1903 volume. In May 1890 “Respectfully Represents, Cornelius Moriarty of Newport in the County of Newport that he was born in Ireland about the year 1861 and is over twenty-one years of age; that he arrived at New York in the United States of America, on or about the 27^th day of May A.D. 1877, he being then a minor, and not more than seventeen years of age; that he has ever since resided in the United States, and for 13 years last past in this State; that it now is, and for the three years next preceding the preferring of this application, has been his bona-fide intention to become a citizen of the United States, and to renounce all allegiance and fidelity to every Foreign Prince, Potentate, State, or Sovereignty whatever, particularly to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and Empress of India, whose subject he has heretofore been, and that he has never borne any hereditary title or been of any of the orders of nobility in the country from which he came. Wherefore he prays that he may be admitted to the rights of citizenship of the United States of America, in conformity with the laws in such case made and provided.” Signed by “Cornelius Moriarty. Sworn to in open Court, this 7^th day of the May Term A.D. 1890. Attest: Alex P Lisson, Clerk”

Then in Newport on July 11^th A.D. 1890 … “I, Peter White, of Newport in the County of Newport on oath depose and say that I am a citizen of the United States; that I have been acquainted with Cornelius Moriarty the foregoing petitioner, for 13 years last past; that he arrived in the United States when he was a minor not more than seventeen years of age, and has ever since resided in this country and in Newport in this State, for 13 years last past, during which time he has conducted and behaved himself as a man 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 same. I further depose and say that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it has been for three years next before this date, his bona fide intention to become a citizen of the United States;  and I derive my knowledge of his age at the time of his arrival in the United States, from the following facts, viz: ‘He was a young lad when I first knew him and I should think him to be about 16 years of age.’  Signed: “Peter White. Subscribed and sworn to before me, the 12^th day of July A.D. 1890 Alex P Lisson, Notary Public.”

Again the same day in Newport – July 12^th A.D. 1890 – “I, Michael Sullivan of Newport in the County of Newport on oath depose and say that I am a citizen of the United States; that I have been acquainted with Cornelius Moriarty the forgoing petitioner, for 13 years last past; that he arrived in the United States when he was a minor not more than seventeen years of age, and has ever since resided in this country  and in Newport in this State, for 13 years last past, during which time he has conducted and behaved himself as a man 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 same. I further depose and say that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, it has been for three years next before this date, his bona fide intention to become a citizen of the United States; and I derive my knowledge of his age at the time of his arrival in the United States, from the following facts, viz: ‘He was a boy when you first knew him and from his appearance would say he was about 16 years of age.’ Signed by “Michael Sullivan. Subscribed and sworn to before me, the 12^th day of July A.D. 1890. Alex P. Lisson, Notary Public. #556”

I couldn’t find any passenger listing  on www.ancestry.com for this 1877 date for Con immigrating, and I couldn’t find a baptismal entry on www.irishgenealogy.ie. We don’t know that the dates listed above are the actual dates though.

This Peter White who was a witness for Con's naturalization, lived at 73 Levin Street from 1884 to 1892 - so he was a neighbor of Con's. He worked as an expressman - probably delivering goods around the Newport area. He was born in Kerry - his sister's birth was registered in Kenmare. There are Whites in the Sneem area so maybe Con knew him from home?

Below in 1893 we see that Con has made a move to 11 Cannon Street. He stays there through 1896. 

There are so many Moriartys!! Are any of these Moriartys related? We still haven’t found Cornelius Moriarty living at 47 William Street which is the address in the Schoolmaster’s diary. 

The 1897 Newport Directory shows Con still clerking at 20 Kinsley’s Wharf but is boarding at 27 Clarke Street. His job is steady, but he moves fairly often. I wonder why. And Con has changed from boarding at 27 Clarke Street to "house" at 27 Clarke Street in the 1898 directory. Does this mean he bought it? This entry is the same for 1899 and 1900.

On 11 June, when the 1900 U.S. Census of Newport’s Ward 3 is taken by Charles D. Burbridge, Cornelius Moriarty is living at 27 Clarke Street (as we saw in the Newport Directories.) According to this census, he was born in May 1861 in Ireland and is 39 years old. He has been married for 7 years (so wedding was about 1893.)  His wife Elizabeth was born August 1861 in Canada and is 38 years old. Her parents were also born in Canada. Elizabeth has had no pregnancies. Con immigrated in 1880 and is a naturalized citizen – so the Cornelius Moriarty that we just saw listed in all those Newport Directories must be the same Con Moriarty. His wife, Elizabeth, had arrived 8 years earlier in 1872. Con is a grocery salesman and is paying a mortgage on the house. Elizabeth runs their boarding house where they have 8 lodgers – two from Ireland and the rest American-born. They also have Elizabeth’s 2 nieces from Canada staying with them. Anna Kinston is 23, and her sister Ida is 18. Anna immigrated in 1894 and is a dressmaker. Ida came in 1898 and is a bookkeeper. Con, Elizabeth, Anna, and Ida all read, write, and speak English.

From the date of immigration – 1880 – in the 1900 census, I found a “Crnls” Moriarty immigrating to New York on the Adriatic. He was a 17 year old laborer. The ship arrived on 4 June 1880.

White Star Line's S.S. Adriatic - built by Harland and Wolf in Belfast. Maiden voyage was in April 1872 from Liverpool to New York.

Oh boy! 1903 has 3 Cornelius Moriartys listed!! Our clerk on Kinsley's Wharf and two new laborers.

On 21 January 2012 I found an entry for Cornelius in the Newport 1905 census. Enumerator District is 238. The Moriarty family is the 574^th family visited. There are 16 in the family. Cornelius Moriarty lives at 27 Clarke Street in Newport in Newport County. Voting district is 3, and it looks like Ward 3. Relation to Head of Household is husband. Con is 44 years old. He was born in Ireland in 1861 and emigrated in 1878 – he has been in this country for 27 years. He has lived in Newport for 27 years and has lived there the last 12 months. He is married. 

Con’s parents were born in Ireland. He is a naturalized citizen. I can’t make out what it says in Box 23 re voter – is it property or proprietor?
Con reads and writes English. He is a salesman and has not been unemployed during the Census year.
He did not serve during the Civil or Spanish Wars. He does not receive a pension.

Con’s parents were born in Ireland. He is a naturalized citizen. I can’t make out what it says in Box 23 re voter – is it property or proprietor?
Con reads and writes English. He is a salesman and has not been unemployed during the Census year.
He did not serve during the Civil or Spanish Wars. He does not receive a pension.

Here is the 1905 Rhode Island Census for Elizabeth B. Moriarty of 27 Clarke Street in Newport. She is the wife in the family. She is white, 39 years old, and married. She was born in 1866 in Canada E. She has not had any children. She reads and writes English.

Elizabeth immigrated in 1875 and has been in the U.S. for 30 years. She has lived in Newport for the last 12 months. Her father and mother were both born in Canada E.
Elizabeth is a house keeper. 
She is not a widow of one who served during the Civil or Spanish War. She does not receive a pension.

We have searched from 1880. Only one Cornelius Moriarty has been listed in Newport until 1903.

If I had the marriage certificate for Con and this Elizabeth Moriarty, perhaps it would list their parents, and then we would know for sure. My gut says this is our boy but there is no documentation just supposition. We need some definite facts.

Let's look for Cornelius Moriarty in Newport.

 Let's review before we go on – Michael Moriarty from Coad married Mary/Gubby Sweeney from Coad in 1850 in Cahirdaniel and eventually settled in Loughane. They had at least 7 children. 

1) Mary Moriarty - Hannah John L said that one of Myles Moriarty’s sisters married a Sullivan down Gleesk Pier Road – so this may be her. Her daughter married Mike Breen from Moneyflagh (Patrick Breen’s uncle) and settled off the Gleesk Pier road.

2) Myles Moriarty married Ellen Leary from Bohocogram and they settled in the homestead. More about Myles’ family coming up. 

3) Margaret - we just saw that she emigrated to Newport and married neighbor Michael Dwyer of Dreenauliffe– they had no children.  

4) We also have learned that Schoolmaster James Moriarty trained at Trinity College in Dublin and eventually taught at a school in Annascaul/Inch on the Dingle peninsula. He married a Fitzgerald from there, and they had 12 children – some of whom were involved in the Irish War of Independence. The schoolmaster lived in the Inch Post Office building which two of his daughters later ran. 

5) Helen Moriarty emigrated to Rhode Island where she married Joseph Murray – they had 2 children. Unfortunately, both Helen and her husband died young.  

6) Cornelius/Con Moriarty emigrated to Newport. He adopted his sister Helen’s 2 children when she and her husband died. 

7) I have no information about Myles’ brother Michael – perhaps he died young or perhaps he also emigrated. 

So let’s stay in Rhode Island, and see what we can find out about Helen and Cornelius Moriarty. 

Like his sister Margaret Moriarty, we had heard absolutely nothing about Con from my grandmother. When I connected with his cousin, Nuala Aylward, she had an old address – 47 William Street, Newport, Rhode. So this gave me someplace to start the search – Newport. William Street is near St. Mary’s Roman Catholic Church.

Notice that William St. is starred on the right - it runs between Bellevue Ave. and Spring St.

St. Mary's Church is at the corner of Spring St. and Memorial Boulevard.

You can see Thames Street running along the waterfront at the bottom of the map - above Newport Harbor. Margaret Moriarty Dwyer had a boarding house at #133 Thames not far from the red arrows at Washington Square and before Mary Street. Clarke Street is also starred - above Thames Street between Touro and Mary Streets - the Dwyers lived here at #28 for 2 years. Earlier, they lived in an area to the left of this map.

47 William Street, Newport

Above is 47 William Street - the address that Nuala had for Con - we saw on the map that it runs between Bellevue Avenue and Spring Street on one side of St. Mary’s Church. I couldn’t find any Newport directory listing Con at this address. Notice how the house is set right on the sidewalk. No porch or yard. The street is narrow – my car is parked on the opposite side heading for the harbor – you can see the tail end of it. Today the house is assessed at $398, 300. The Assessor’s Office lists it as a 3 family built in 1901. It has an asbestos roof and asbestos shingles. It has 7 rooms total with 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. I wonder if it was really built before 1901 and the Assessor's Office did not keep records before that? Surely Con came over before 1901!

A look down William Street from outside # 47 - we are looking toward the waterfront.

We know that Margaret Moriarty immigrated to the United States around 1878-1880 and was married in Newport in 1889. The Irish used to save their money once they were established in the U.S. to bring over a brother or sister. Then they would bring over the next one and the next until all the family was over. We can presume that if Margaret was here first, that she would save her money to bring over her sister or brother. 

I found nothing for Con in the 1880 U.S. Census for New York or Rhode Island. And we know there is no 1890 U.S. Census. So it is on to the Newport directories.

The first directory on www.ancestry.com to have a listing for Cornelius Moriarty is 1883 below. Con is a laborer boarding at 37 Marsh Street! 

Does this sound and look familiar? Do you remember that Michael Dwyer, the blacksmith, was boarding at 37 Marsh Street in 1883?!? This same year!  Is this a coincidence or what? 

37 Marsh Street in June 2012 is a 2 storey building with an unfinished attic and basement. It was built in 1724. The exterior is clapboard with a Gambrel roof. Today it has 10 rooms including 5 bedrooms and 4.5 bathrooms. I wonder how many rooms it had in 1883? And in what condition was it when Con was boarding there? It was over a 150 years old then. And did each boarder have his or her own room? Or were a couple of guys or a couple of women in a room? or a couple of them sharing a bed even?

Remember that we wondered if this Michael Dwyer at 37 Marsh Street was from Dirreenauliffe and if he was the Michael who married Con’s sister Margaret Moriarty in 1889? Would this be too much of a stretch to think that Con Moriarty from Loughane is boarding in the same house as Michael Dwyer from nearby Dirrennauliffe?

And who owns this house in 1883? I recently found on www.ancestry.com that a fireman, John Caulfield, has a house at 37 Marsh Street. 

But there were others also. 

Benjamin F. Crowell, a boatman, has a house at 37 Marsh Street. 

Mrs. Bridget O'Loughlin has a house at 37 Marsh Street as well as Michael O'Loughlin, a watchman for the Old Colony Steamship Company repair shop, who has a house there. Frank O'Loughlin, a plumber, boards there. 

Widow Catherine Sullivan also has a house here.  

George Hopkins, a boilermaker, is boarding here in 1883. 

None of these people sound familiar. Is the house divided into apartments? What is the difference between "house" and "boards" in the directories?

Con is boarding there as well as the two Dwyers, George Hopkins, and Frank O'Loughlin.

Marsh Street is on the other side of Newport from William Street but is still down near the docks. In 1879 it starts at 68 Washington Street which runs along the waterfront east to the cove – looks like a small body of water in an 1882 map. The Old Colony Railroad starts nearby, and the wharf, where its steamships dock, is also nearby. Must be a busy and noisy place.

By 1884 Con is a clerk at 20 Kinsley’s wharf.  Kinsley’s Wharf was across from Pelham Street between Bowen’s Wharf and Sayer’s Wharf – it no longer seems to be there – it was in the area of today’s popular Bannister Wharf.

Con is boarding at 101 Levin Street this year. Patrick Murphy, Newport City Historian, told me that when it was laid out in the early 1900s, Memorial Boulevard - that we saw near William Street on the map above - took both sides of Levin Street which was a narrow street like so many early streets.

The directory talks about the gala July 4^th celebration and Newport reunion in 1884. The city was full of thousands of visitors and natives who had returned home for the celebration. Houses, buildings, wharves, boats and ships were adorned with patriotic decorations to celebrate Independence Day. The harbor was full of every kind of vessel - all decked out in finery. There was a procession  - the longest ever held - through the main streets of the city. When it ended, there was a collation, and toasts were made by local dignitaries. There were letters from United States President Chester Arthur as well as from Rhode Island’s Senators and Representatives. Julia Ward Howe, famous author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic, read a poem. 

Image what Con Moriarty and his sister Margaret thought of this! They come from outside the small isolated village of Sneem – remember that in 1837 there was only one road going through the village! And now less than 40 years later Margaret and Con were in Newport with thousands of people celebrating America’s Independence from Britain, whom they blamed for the Irish Famine – remember these Moriartys were born not long after the end of the Famine. And this year Newport was having a Reunion as well – so there were even more people!! I’m sure the Moriartys and many an Irish emigrant had never seen such commotion, such noise, such festivities, such crowds!!

Dennis W. Sheehan emigrated from Foynes Island, Limerick, Ireland in 1872 to New York. In 1879 he is working as a clerk at 14 Ferry Wharf in Newport.  

In 1880 Thomas Carrigan owned a liquor store and saloon at 19 Kinsley's wharf. (Con is working at 20 Kinsley's wharf four years later in 1884.) By 1881 Dennis Sheehan has a grocery and liquor store at that same address - 19 Kinsley’s Wharf, and he was boarding at 8 Mill Street. Did Dennis Sheehan buy the shop from Carrigan, who disappears from the directories? There was no # 20 Kinsley's Wharf in 1880.

Look at the ad below for Dennis’ shop – “Dealer in Foreign and Domestic Liquors and Cigars. Also Choice Family Groceries, and Table Delicacies.” Remember the mansions were being built at this time, and Newport was becoming quite a fashionable summer destination – we read about the Fall River Line that brought the wealthy from Boston and New York to Newport - sounds like Dennis was appealing to a wealthier clientele and to customers who wanted the finer things in life. 

By 1882 Dennis Sheehan also is a partner in Sheehan and Groves' saloon at 47 Levin Street. Dennis still lives on Mill Street. 

James Groves had emigrated from Derry, Ireland to New York about 1862. He arrived in Newport about 1875 and by 1879 he had a liquor store at 7 Perry Street. He kept that establishment until 1883 when he is also listed having a liquor store at 104 Levin Street. He keeps the liquor store on Levin Street until 1887 – then he is listed as a baker at 499 Thames Street. 

There is nothing more after 1882 about a saloon for either Dennis Sheehan or James Groves. But in 1883 Dennis has moved to a house at 14 Bay View Avenue. He still has the shop on Kinsley's wharf, but it is now #20 where it had been #19.

Our Con Moriarty is living at 101 Levin Street in 1884.  Guess who is living next door? Dennis Sheehan is at 98 Levin Street! So what came first - the job or the digs? Did Dennis hire Con and then get him a place to stay? Or did Con move to Levin Street and then get a job? Or was Con working at The Carrigan shop when Dennis Sheehan bought it?

That Levin Street was pretty busy - James Groves had a liquor store there, Groves and Sheehan had a saloon there at one time and now Con and Dennis Sheehan are living there.

But look what happens in 1885? They are both at the same address - 98 Levin!!! So, what? Con moves in with Dennis? I know Dennis married 22 year old Julia Ann Halpin in Newport on 12 September 1882 - Dennis was 27.  Julia's father, Patrick Halpin, owned a grocery store at 3 Spruce Street and was living there when they were married. Spruce Street was back near Marsh Street where Con was living in 1883. 

Below are the 1885 entries.

Dennis and Julia Sheehan eventually have at least six daughters - I could not find any sons. Did Dennis feel like Con was a younger brother and take him in? Or was Con a loyal and trustworthy employee for this to happen? I find it very interesting no matter what.

I recently (7 July 2013) found an interesting entry in the 1885 Newport, Rhode Island Census. Look at line #19 near the bottom -  District #206, Family #459, Number in family is 5 - Moriarty, "Arnelius" - male, boarder, white, single, born in Ireland, parents born in Ireland, bartender, alien (not  naturalized citizen.)

Did you ever hear of anyone called Arnelius? Do you think this should be Cornelius? Dennis Sheehan owned a grocery and liquor shop - could he have kept the saloon that Thomas Carrigan had? That's the way it worked with the Irish in Boston - combos of shops and bars where the locals shopped, met folks from home, gathered for conversation,  politicked. Just saying that this could be our boy Con.

And now look at the entry below for Dennis W. Sheehan that I found 12 July 2013 - Line 20, same District 206, same Family 459, same 5 in family as Con - 30 year old white married male - grocer - born in Ireland, parents born in Ireland - real estate voter - naturalized citizen. So the above Arnelius Moriarty is our Con!

Dennis stayed at 98 Levin Street until 1889 - then he moves to 99 John Street in 1890 - but still has  a grocery and wholesale liquor store on Kinsley's Wharf. Con is also there at 98 Levin Street until 1890. By 1891 Con has moved to 57 Burnside Avenue - still working at Sheehan's store. 
So what happened? Why did they move?

We heard of Burnside Avenue before - Michael Dwyer is living at 56 Burnside from 1889 to 1892 - he married Con's sister Margaret in January 1889. And now Con moves across the street from the Dwyers in 1891!

My car is parked in front of 59 Burnside Street - again it is right on the sidewalk like so many older homes.

57 Burnside Avenue is now a driveway. This is 59 Burnside Ave – a 2 family house built in 1849. There are 12 rooms but only 4 bedrooms– there are 3 bathrooms. Worth about $300,000 in 2012.

The street is a mix of older and newer houses but # 59 seems to be the oldest. Several were built in 1890 – I suppose some of the older houses were knocked down and replaced then. 

So now what happens?