Ellen Carney Garvey

History

 

Born:

 

Married:

Died:

Buried:

 

About 1831 in County Mayo, Ireland; mother Mary Maloney, father  unknown Carney (from Ellen’s death certificate)

Before 1859 to John Garvey in Ireland

April 4th, 1920 in Cleveland, Ohio

April 7th, 1920 Calvary Cemetery Section 9 plot 1275

Written Records

Cleveland Directory

First appears in 1884.  Initially she is listed on W. River for two years at a saloon formerly owned by Martin Garvey.  She moved to 82 Pearl in 1885-86 for one year, then to 52 Mulberry from 1887 to 1889.  Finally, she appears on Alger Street, later to be named W. 67th.

Land Deeds

She bought property at 32 Alger St. (1228 W. 67th) with her son Patrick Garvey in 1895.  On June 15th, 1922 it became the property of Patrick Garvey, and on July 2, 1926 it was transferred to Patrick McCafferty.  It was then sold to T. B. Gill on Dec. 12, 1927.  It was again sold in 1929.

 

Census Records: 

1900:  Ellen was born in February, 1846, and at the time was 54, a widow (Husband's name was John).  She was born in Ireland and could not read or write English.  She immigrated to the U.S. in 1885 and had been living here for 15 years.

1910:  Ellen was now 61(!) owned her own home and had 4 children.  She had immigrated in 1885, the record states.

1920:  Ellen was now 80(!) and had immigrated in 1888.  She was an alien and could neither read nor write English.

 

Naturalization

She did not become naturalized.

Carney

Death Records

Ellen died on April 4, 1920, and was buried at Calvary (from St. Colman's Church).  Over her grave is a stone with the words:  "Mother Ellen Garvey 1831- 1920."  Records at Calvary list her age as 85.

Obituary

“GARVEY – Ellen, April 4, beloved mother of Patrick, Mrs. P. Loftus, Mrs. F. Eland, Mrs. J. McCafferty, at her residence, 1228 W. 67th street.  Funeral services at St. Coleman’s church, Wednesday, April 7 at 9 a. m.  Funeral car.  Friends invited.”

Probate

Ellen’s will left all of her goods to her son Patrick Garvey.  Total amount listed was $437.86.

 

The Person

Ellen seems to be the matriarch of the family, possessive and wanting things her way.  She was born in Ireland as were her 4 children: Pat, Mary, Anna and Catherine.  She lived in Roslahan  not far from Castlebar, in the parish of Balla.  Her maiden name was Carney.  Dates and ages are very elusive and change with each notation.  Did she prevent her daughter, Catherine, from marrying the man she wanted  (named Murray)  and did she prevent her son Patrick from marrying?

                She must have been a strong person in many ways.  Her husband John died an untimely death "in his middle years" of typhoid;  it must have been difficult to let her eldest daughter (Mary) go to the United States alone.  Where did she get passage money for the rest of the family?  Could Mary have earned the money and sent it to Ireland to pay passage for the rest of her family?  Would you be willing to travel with three children in a boat for several weeks?  Don't forget there may have been 500 to 900 other passengers on board.   Then, with a friend she met on the boat she went to the Cleveland area where so many Mayo people had settled and where, presumably, she had other relatives.  She probably came to the U.S. in 1882-83  since her name shows up on the records of 1884 in the Cleveland City Directory.   For the first two years here, she is listed as the owner of a saloon (or was she merely working for Martin Garvey?).  She moved several times before settling down and owning a home with her son on Alger Street.   Her home was said to have been built by a carpenter named Johnston; there were several carpenters named Johnston in Cleveland at the time; one in fact who lived on Alger.

                It was said that she took care of Patrick McCafferty after his mother was hospitalized around 1896.   He became known as Patrick Garvey.  Patrick McCafferty is not listed in the 1900 census.  Patrick's father, James, seems to disappear from Alger Street in 1903, but is said to reappear twice a year to pay taxes (to Ellen?).  Later, in the early 1920’s, James is listed as living on Bernard Ave. with his son Patrick.   

                In her later years she suffered from rheumatism, limped and sometimes used a cane.  She died in 1920 (probably 85-89 years old) and was buried from St. Colman Church.

 

Documents

¨       Census records: 1900, 1910, 1920

¨       Death Certificate

¨       Obituary

¨       Burial Records

¨       Probate

¨       Land Deed

¨       Cleveland Directories

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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