James (Edward) O'NEIL - like father, like son.
Hi folks - I'm new to the forum but not new to genealogy and have been at this for 20 odd years with an aunt. The reason I've joined is that I've been trying to find the final resting places of not one but two James Edward O'Neils. Now I'd hate for someone to go up all the cul-de-sacs and follow the red herrings I have already - death records, etc but my reason for posting is this - do any of these James make a connection to anyone else's ancestry after my proven information runs out? I have lots more info than this but as briefly as possible here goes.
James(1) O'Neil and Catherine Walsh had nine children, all were born in Cashilisky (1835-1850). They emigrated in three phases between 1850-1852 to New York City.
James(2) O'Neil (b1846 Cashilisky, Co Cork Ireland) - died either New York or New Jersey (1885-1890) or possibly New York (1905).
James(3) O'Neil (b1874 Brooklyn, New York City) - died apparently 'Dominion of Canada' (1914-1915).
Seems simple?
James(2) married Angela Hannah Ames, 30 April 1873 at St Teresa's on Henry Street NYC and had a son James(3), born 21 February 1874 at 96 Bergen Street Brooklyn. By 1880 however James(2) and Angela Ames are separated as Angela is living at another address in NYC and James(3) age 6 is living with his aunts Mary and Honora at 113 E12 Street NYC. There is no further record of Angela after this date and only two references to James(2). Firstly in 1883 he witnesses his mother's will at 84 Madison Street NYC and then he is mentioned in a 1916 legacy.
James(3) grows up in NYC raised by his aunts and has part of his schooling in Canada. He stayed at the home of Michael (his uncle) in Akron from 1890-1892 and after that he works on the cattle ships between USA and UK. In February 1907 he marries a Mary McArdle in Liverpool and has 2 children - James(4) born 1908 and Kathleen born 1910. James(4) marries in Liverpool in 1931 and has six children including my father and the aunt of mine I referred to at the beginning.
The legacy was left in 1916 by a sister to James(2) and Michael - Mary Ann. Michael was the executor of the will he was required to contact next of kin. Testemonies state that James(2) is supposed to have died in 1905 but this date has been filled in by hand after the document was typed up and he does not state where so obviously Michael was not certain. It also states that James(3) deserted his wife in 1910, that his present whereabouts were uncertain and that he'd not been seen or heard of for some time. His last known whereabouts are in August 1910 at a cousin's house - Joesph Dickers, E84th Street. Letters show that between 1907 and 1916 Mary McArdle corresponded frequently with the three aunts in NYC and had certainly told them that James(3) had deserted her in 1910. In December 1915 Mary tells the aunts that she had received a visitor who informs her that James(3) had died 'year last past in the Dominion of Canada' (1914-1915). The aunts reply in January 1916 that they were surprised about this because he had supposedly been seen recently in NYC. It is not clear from the this whether it is the aunts themselves that have seen James(3) or if they have heard this from another source or how recent 'recently' is.
So - James(2) O'Neil (b1846 Cashilisky, Co Cork Ireland) - died possibly New York (1905).
So - James(3) O'Neil (b1874 Brooklyn, New York City) - died apparently 'Dominion of Canada' (1914-1915)?
But… my aunt corresponded in 1959 with a son of Michael, Cyril who states that James(2) apparently died 1885-1890 in either NY or NJ getting this information from his mother Patience who was still alive at the time.
So - James(2) O'Neil (b1846 Cashilisky, Co Cork Ireland) - died either New York or New Jersey (1885-1890)?
Cyril's information was second hand and relied on Patience who was in her 90s in 1959 and related to events nearly 65 years earlier and which he admitted she had difficulty recalling. Michael's testimony in 1916 says he died in 1905, a mere 10 years after the event but even he does not appear sure as the date has been added to the testimony and agonisingly he does not state where.
I know nothing about James(2) after 1883 until his reference in the 1916 will - did he re-marry and start a new family in NYC or possibly in Canada given that James(3) had part of his schooling there and was supposed to have died there?
As for James(3) I'm almost convinced he did not die when he was supposed to have done. Why would a visitor come from Canada to Liverpool to inform Mary of his death 5 years after he deserted her and supply no further details and for the aunts to say he'd been seen recently? Did he start a new life in Canada or anywhere else after 1910?
Regards - Michael O'Neil, Liverpool, UK.
