Kilmakevogue Old Age Pensioners
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From Danny’s Files: Who Paid for Aunt Johanna’s Glenmore Funeral?
In Danny Dowling’s (1927-2021) voluminous files is a folder Danny simply labelled “Joe Flynn of Busherstown”. Within the file were several old letters, four from a woman named Anna to “Mr. Flynn.” Three are typewritten and one is handwritten and dated 7 September 1935. The two-page typewritten letter is dated Friday, 27 February 1942 and one of the shorter one-page typewritten letters is dated 26 September 1935. Another one-page typewritten letter is undated. Our focus today is on the two-page typewritten letter, but relevant excerpts from the other letters will be utilized to try to identify the author Anna, her mother, her mother’s people in Glenmore and Mr. Flynn. This letter highlights the difficulty of communications during World War II as well as the tragic circumstances of emigration for those who emigrated and those who stayed. Thanks to the Census records in Ireland and the US we have been able to gain insight into the struggles of the sister who remained and the sister who emigrated.
Letter of Friday, 27 February 1942
Dear Mr. Flynn,
Mother received your letter, dated January 18th, this morning, and evidently my letter written around the latter part of January, has not reached you. Your letter was addressed to 1285 Merriam Avenue, but Mother moved from that apartment four years ago, and, as noted in my letter to you, her address is now 1315 Merriam Avenue.
To say Mother was grieved about the collection fund for the burial of Aunt Johanna is really using the term mildly. In all her years here in America (I think she came in 1888), she never once forgot her people at home. Times were hard with her when we were young, but I can remember when I was ten or twelve years of age, I knew how to get to the post office and fill out the money order blanks for the little, she was able, at that time, to send home to Ireland.
Last November she sent five dollars to Aunt Johanna, which probably arrived in late December. When she received a letter from Mrs. Power, regarding Aunt Johanna’s death, and this letter was dated January 14th (later on in this letter I am going to incorporate contents of two letters received from Mrs. Power, so that you may know.) Mother had my sister Madeline send another five dollars to Mrs. Power, pending receipt of further word from her as to the amount of the burial expenses incurred.
I wrote to you incorrectly when I stated Mother had had a lettr from Mrs. Fitzgerald—both were from Mrs. Power, and I misunderstood her, in the telephone conversation she made to my home that day.
Now Mr. Flynn, I am going to quote the first letter received from Mrs. Power, which was dated January 8th
‘I am so sorry to have sad news about Johanna. I got word from the
sister in care of her, saying she was bad in hospital and she wants
to know what I am going to do with regard to her burial. If anything
happens to her, would you please give me some little help to bury
her in her own place. Everything is very dear here for a funeral expense.
She has no friend to look after her by myself. You might be thinking
about Mr. Flynn but he never went near her for the past 7 years.
As I wrote to you before about her, I think you will have two letters.
I am after spending 3/15/0 on her this past six months, trying to
get nourishment, but I don’t mind that if you would give me a little
help to cover the cost of her expenses.
Could you cable and let me know what to do—just a little to help
me as she is the last of you all here I would like to see her brought
from Kilkenny to Glenmore to be buried.’
[Page 2]
Mr. Flynn this next letter from Mrs. Power was dated January 14th, two days after Aunt Johanna had passed away
‘Just a few lines to let you know that Johanna died on Monday,
the 12th of January. I have written to you before about her ill-
ness, hoping you got that letter. Now, Mrs. Murphy, I asked you
in my last letter if you would help me bury her. I am sending you
the bill.’
Let me interrupt here Mr. Flynn. We have received no bill as yet, and Madeline, when she wrote Mrs. Power, asked her to obtain one from Mrs. Fitzgerald. The mails are delayed considerably, and I know we will hear in some way from her, but in this letter which I am going to continue to quote, you will note she makes no mention of any subscription fund which she made…
‘to let you know how much it cost me to bring her home from
Kilkenny. I Did everying (sic) possible for her as she had no
friends that would spend one shilling on her. I went to Mrs.
Fitzgerald, the undertaker, and got everything from her, and
paid for it, so I said I would send you the bill so that you would
believe me. I got mass said the morning she died, and mass
said the morning of the funeral. I paid the bell man, and the
two men who made the grave so you can see I Did every-
thing that I could do for her. I hate looking for money but
you can understand that it cost me a good sum to do all
this for her. I am sending this by air so that you would
get it. I am sure this will be a shock to hear of her death
but God knows best. From your sister’s only friend—’
I do not know what else to comment, Mr. Flynn. Mrs. Power seems to have done many kind things and Mother is grateful. But this collection fund has disturbed her considerably and is there any way we could ascertain what moneys were paid in, and by whom, so that these people could be reimbursed for their kindness. We want to take care of this debt, and I do know that if you had been called in, it never would have happened.
Mother was so happy this morning to receive your lovely letter of sympathy. She knows all through these years of your faithful friendship, and naturally anything you might write us, on this matter, will never be divulged to Mrs. Power, in any way. We will not send any further money until we get a bona fide bill from Mrs. Fitzgerald, or until you may have further word for us. In ever grateful appreciation, Anna.’
Other Letters
In the letter of 27 February [without a year] Anna wrote to Mr. Flynn that she used to send newspapers to Uncle John when he was alive, and she worked for a publisher.
In the handwritten letter of 7 September 1935 Anna asked Mr. Flynn how her Aunt Johanna was doing. She then noted that her sister Frances had married that summer. Anna also mentioned that her brother-in-law, George Maloney, was living with them as her sister Alice died 14 years ago “next February”.
Anna was purchasing Irish Sweepstakes tickets through Mr. Flynn. The Irish Hospital Sweepstakes started in 1930. See, RTE (2026) “The Rise and Fall of the Biggest Lottery in the World.”
Mrs. Fitzgerald the Undertaker
We shall begin with the easiest person to identify. We believe that Mrs. Fitzgerald was the wife of Tom Fitzgerald of Weatherstown (1862 -1935). See, our post of 8 December 2019 regarding local funeral practices and a paragraph concerning Tom Fitzgerald and his undertaking premises and butcher shop on the Quay, New Ross.
The Flynn Family of Busherstown, Glenmore
Joe Flynn of Busherstown, Glenmore, was the name Danny Dowling had placed on the file containing the letters sent from Anna to “Mr. Flynn”. Joseph Flynn was born 30 September 1908. He attended Glenmore National School with Thomas Walsh (1908-1992) of Rathinure, and formerly Davidstown. Tom described Joe Flynn as the best dressed boy at school. Tom told his son Peter that Joe’s father was a sort of agent.
Patrick Flynn (1874-1956) of Busherstown, Glenmore
Joseph Flynn’s parents were Patrick Flynn (1874-1956) and his wife Catherine “Kate” Malone (1870-1953). The couple were married at Rosbercon on 28 October 1898. Patrick Flynn was the son of Michael Flynn (farmer) of Jamestown and his wife Anastatia Gaule. Kate was the daughter of Joseph Malone of Coolien and his wife, Catherine Howlett. In the 1911 Census, for Busherstown, Patrick Flynn (37) was working as an agricultural labourer living with his wife, Kate (39); Joseph (2) and the household also contained Catherine Malone (79) Patrick’s widowed mother-in-law. The Census states that Patrick and Catherine were married 12 years and had two children, but only one child was alive in 1911.
A few months after the 1911 Census, Catherine Malone (c. 1829 -1911) died at Busherstown on 20 August 1911 aged 82 years. Patrick Flynn, her son-in-law, was present at her death. The 1926 Census provides that Patrick Flynn (54) was working as a carpenter, his wife Kate was 54; Joseph was 17 and Anastatia Flynn was 13.
It is unlikely that Joe Flynn (1908-1986) was the Mr. Flynn that Anna was corresponding with. Joe Flynn (1908-1986) married Bridget Walsh of Ryleen, New Ross at St. Mary’s of New Ross on 13 June 1934. Per Bridget Flynn née Walsh’s (c. 1911-1991) obituary the couple left the area in 1936 and eventually settled in Macroom, Co. Cork (New Ross Standard, Thur. 21 Nov. 1991, p. 24). See our F Surname Family page for the short Flynn obituaries. Anna was still corresponding with Mr. Flynn regarding her Aunt Johanna’s death in 1942. We believe that Mr. Flynn was Mr. Patrick Flynn, Joe Flynn’s father.
Clerk of the Kilmakevogue Old Age Pensioners
We did not locate any records regarding Patrick being an agent, but we did find that he sought a post in the 1930’s to collect rent for the County Council. However, he did serve as clerk of the Kilmakevogue Old Age Pensioners’ sub-committee for the Kilkenny Co. Council. It is not known when he took up this post, but in 1945 he was granted an increase in his salary to £10 per annum (Kilkenny Journal, Sat. 12 May 1945, p. 6).
Patrick remained in this post until early September 1956 when he resigned from it and also resigned as the temporary clerk of the Dysertmoon OAP Sub-committee due to “impaired health.” It was stated that “in both positions he gave general satisfaction and was most efficient in the discharge of his duties. His many friends wish him a speedy recovery to health” (Kilkenny Journal, Sat. 8 Sept. 1956, p. 8).
Two months later, Patrick Flynn (widower) died on 11 November 1956 at Butlerstown, Waterford, at the home of his son, Joseph Flynn. Patrick wife, Catherine Flynn née Malone (c. 1879-1953) died 8 December 1953 at the age of 77. Patrick was present when she died at Busherstown, Glenmore. No obituary could be located for either Patrick or Catherine Flynn. Their names are recorded on a headstone in St. James’s Cemetery, Glenmore, without a date of birth or death.
Aunt Johanna of Glenmore
We located in the death register a death of a woman named Johanna on 12 January 1942. Johanna Walsh, Glenmore, spinster, aged 65, died in the County Home on 12 January 1942.
We believe that Aunt Johanna was Johanna Walsh born to Thomas Walsh (labourer) and his wife Margaret Grant on 24 April 1876 at Busherstown, Glenmore. Thomas Walsh, of Ballyreddy, married Margaret Grant on 30 May 1859 at Rosbercon.
Children of Thomas Walsh & Margaret Walsh née Grant
The following known children were born to this couple:
[1] Mary Walsh (b. 21 Jan. 1860)
[2] Catherine Walsh (bapt 11 June 1862)
[3] John Walsh (b. 12 Aug. 1867)
[4] Bridget Walsh (b. 11 Nov. 1867) emigrated to US.
[5] Ellen Walsh (b. 3 March 1870)
[6] Margaret Walsh (b. 31 Dec. 1871)
[7] Anastatia Walsh (b. 8 Oct. 1873) m. John Gaul (b.c. 1867) of Knockbrack on 5 June 1893.
[8] Johanna Walsh (b. 24 April 1876) Never married; died 12 January 1942.
[9] Alice Walsh (b. 17 Feb. 1879)
The Decline of the Thomas Walsh Family of Busherstown, Glenmore
The Census records reflect that the family grew then went into decline. In the 1901 Census there were a dozen people living in the Walsh home in Busherstown. Thomas was 69, and his wife Margaret was 60. Mary Walsh was 34; Alice Walsh was 21 and their daughter Anastatia Gaul was 27. Also present was her husband John Gaul (36) and their 5 children. Another granddaughter Bridget Phelan (1) was also in the home.
In the 1911 Census, Thomas Walsh was 77, Margaret was 74 and two unmarried daughters were also present: Johanna (34) and Alice (32). A granddaughter Bridget Walsh was also present and aged 11. In the 1926 Census the only members of the family left in Busherstown were Johanna Walsh (50) living with her mother Margaret (90). Margaret died on 28 February 1927 at Busherstown as a 94 year-old widow. Her daughter Alice was present when she died although she was not living in the home in 1926.
We found a John Walsh, aged 69, (b.c. 1865) who died on 3 March 1934 at Busherstown. He was a widower, and his sister Johanna Walsh was present at his death in Busherstown. He died of pneumonia. Johanna was the last of her family to reside in Busherstown.
Bridget Murphy née Walsh (1867-1953) native of Busherstown, Glenmore
With the information that Anna provided regarding the death of her sister, Alice in February 1922, and her brother-in-law’s name George Maloney, it was relatively easy to find Alice Veronica Maloney née Murphy. Alice was born on 2 June 1897 in New York City. Alice died 24 February 1922. She is buried in Woodside, Queens, New York with her father and mother. See Findagrave .
George Thomas Maloney married Alice Veronica Murphy, aged 22, on 18 June 1919 at Sts. Peter and Paul of the Bronx. The groom was a 24-year-old accountant born in New York City to Michael Maloney and his wife Bridget Tracey. The bride was the daughter of William Murphy (c.1866 -1906) and his wife Bridget Walsh (1867-1953).
The 1900 Census
The 1900 Census provides that William J. Murphy and his wife Bridget Murphy had been married for ten years. William J. Murphy was 34 and emigrated to the US in 1890 while Bridget was 32 and emigrated in 1887. In 1900 William was employed as a bricklayer. The couple had 5 children, but only 4 were living in 1900.
William J. Murphy died in 1906 leaving Bridget with six children to raise from 14 to 3 years of age. The 1910 Census shows that Bridget was employed as a housekeeper for an industry called “flat house.” This apparently meant that she was employed in a tenement that could house garment makers etc. Her eldest child Joseph Patrick Murphy was 18 and employed as a bricklayer. Mary Murphy at 15 was employed as a dry good packer. Her youngest four daughters were attending school. In the 1910 Census Bridget reported that she emigrated in 1888.
The Children of Glenmore Native Bridget Murphy née Walsh (1867-1953)
All of Bridget’s children were born in the Bronx, New York City.
[1] Joseph Patrick Murphy (1890- ) worked as a bricklayer
[2] Mary A. Murphy (1896– ) m. Thomas Cullen.
[3] Alice Veronica Murphy (1897-1922) m. George T. Maloney (b.c. 1895)
[4] Madeline Murphy (1899- )
[4 ] Anna Murphy (1901- )
[5] Frances Murphy (1904- ) Worked as a telephone operator. Married in the summer of 1935.
1930 Census
In the 1930 Census, Anna Murphy is listed as the Head of the Household. Anna is 28 years of age and employed as a stenographer for a publishing house. Her sister Frances is 26 and employed as a telephone operator. Her mother Bridget is 60 and not employed. On the 1930 form Bridget’s year of immigration is 1890. Anna’s sister Madeline is 30 and is employed as a stenographer. Also in the home is George Maloney, her brother-in-law. George is a 34 year-old widower employed as a salesman for National Cash Register.
The 1940 Census
In 1940 Bridget Murphy née Walsh was 72 and living with her was her widowed son Patrick Murphy (49) who was employed as a bricklayer with the WPA. George Maloney her son-in-law was 45 and was employed as a dental caster? Also, in the household were two of Bridget’s grandchildren: Thomas Cullen (21) a bank cashier and Audrey Cullen (19) a dental nurse. All reported that they lived at the same address in 1935. This was the last Census in which we could locate Bridget Murphy née Walsh. We could not locate an obituary. On the brink of WWII we sought to determine what happened to her grandson Thomas F. Cullen.
Thomas Francis Cullen (1918-2000)
Thomas Francis Cullen of Merriam Ave., New York registered for the draft. He was 22 years of age having been born at New York on 11 Sept. 1918 He listed his father, Thomas Francis Cullen of 11 Ann St. E. White Planes, Westchester, New York, as the person who would always know his address. He was employed at the Central Hanover Bank and Trust Co. He was described as 5’ 11 ¾” tall, weighed 140 pounds with Brown eyes, brown hair and a light complexion.
According to his obituary (The Record (Havensack, N.J.) Mon. 28 Aug. 2000, p. 24) he died aged 81and was a resident of Leonia. “Before retiring in 1981, he was a senior vice president at Manufacturers Hanover Trust Co., New York City, where he worked for 45 years. He was an army veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was a graduate of Rutgers University in New Brunswick.”
Please send any corrections or additional information or photos to glenmore.history@gmail.com .
Dr. Kathleen Moore Walsh
The featured photo above is an old Irish Sweepstakes ticket.