Our Irish Ancestors and The Famine

Relation to Author: Maternal 2nd Great Grandparents 

Bernard Keenan
Born: November 7, 1829, Hogansburg, New York, USA
We believe his parents were born in County Antrim, Ireland and arrived in America in 1821
Ellen Leary
Born: April 12, 1838 (or 1840), County Cork, Ireland
Arrival in America: 1843

Patrick Leary
Born: March, 1831, Ireland
Arrival in America: 1859
Honora McCarthy
Born: 1831, Ireland
Arrival in America: 1855

Denis O'Leary
Born: December, 1835, Canada
Arrival in America: 1837 from Canada; Parents arrived in Canada from Ireland between 1828 and 1835
Katherine Burns
Born: August, 1835, Ireland
Arrival in America: 1851 or 1852

Michael Barry
Born: 1839, County Kerry, Ireland
Arrival in America: sometime between 1839 and 1844
Mary Enright
Born: November 1844, County Kerry, Ireland
Arrival in America: 1847

All of my maternal ancestors are Irish Catholic (which makes me 50% Irish). Growing up I had thought that all of our Irish ancestors first came over during or because of the Great Famine, which lasted from 1845 to 1852. But that isn't the case. Some came over well before the famine and some came over after it was over. 

The best frame of reference is to look at the generation of my 2nd great grandparents. Six of my eight maternal 2nd great grandparents were born in Ireland and emigrated to America. The other two were born in America and Canada and their parents were born in Ireland and emigrated to North America - both ending up in upstate New York.

Now let's look at when they all came over. Four of my 2nd great grandparents left Ireland before the famine: Bernard Keenan's parents (came over in the 1820s), Ellen Leary (arrived 1843), Dennis Leary's parents (late 1820 or early 1830s), and Michael Barry (parents arrived before 1844) were all in America before 1845.

Two of my 2nd great grandparents did come over over during the famine: Katherine Burns seems to have come over by herself in 1851 or 1852 at age 16 and Mary Enright came over as a two year old with her family in 1847. 

Finally, two of my second great grandparents came over after the famine had ended: Patrick Leary arrived in 1859 at age 28 and Honora McCarthy arrived in 1855 at age 24, also possibly by herself. What really hits me is that these two lived through the famine and then came to America after - ultimately deciding Ireland still wasn't safe.

To conclude: Some of our relatives were lucky enough to come over before the famine. Others, survived some or all of the famine and still came to America.

Another Wedding Picture

Helen Leary (married name Keenan)
Born: November 4, 1909, St. Lawrence County, New York
Died: May 1, 2004, Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence County, New York
Relation to Author: Grandmother

Hubert Keenan
Born: March 20, 1907, St. Lawrence, NY
Died: November 14, 1984, North Lawrence, St. Lawrence NY
Relation to Author: Grandfather

Yesterday was the anniversary of Helen Leary and Hubert Keenan's wedding. Below is another picture from the wedding. This one is the happy couple with their wedding party. From left: Barry Leary, Alta Martineau, James Keenan, Arthur Leary, Catherine Leary, Helen Leary, Hubert Keenan, Mrs. and Mr. Harold Garey (sorry - the newspaper only gives her married name - and not even her own first name).

The newspaper article says the breakfast reception took place at the home of the bride, which means it is the home of Walter and Ida Leary in North Lawrence. 

PS - I had previously posted the picture of the bride and groom with their parents.

Stats on the others pictured after the jump...

Happy 75th Anniversary Grandma and Grandpa!

Hubert Keenan
Born: March 20, 1907, St. Lawrence, NY
Died: November 14, 1984, North Lawrence, St. Lawrence NY
Relation to Author: Grandfather

Helen Leary (married name Keenan)
Born: November 4, 1909, St. Lawrence County, New York
Died: May 1, 2004, Brasher Falls, St. Lawrence County, New York
Relation to Author: Grandmother

On this day 75 years ago, Helen Leary and Hubert Keenan were married. Below is a lovely picture of the smiling couple. 

The Potsdam Courier and Freeman had a story on the wedding (the title of the story was "Miss Helen Leary is a Charming Bride of Hubert Keenan"). The story tells us that they married at the St. Lawrence Catholic Church. Arthur Leary performed the ceremony and celebrated the mass. Lilian Plumadore sang "Believe Me, if All Those Endearing Young Charms" (an Irish folk song according to Wikipedia) and "Ave Maria". Following the wedding there was a breakfast reception at the bride's home.

The bride's gifts to her attendants were gold crosses on neck chains. The grooms gifts to his attendants were leather wallets. The attendants were Catherine Leary, Alta Martineau, James Keenan, Barry Leary, and Mr. and Mrs. Harold Gary.

The article describes what everyone wore, but unfortunately the description of Helen's dress is too faded to read in the article. However, you can see for yourself in the picture - what isn't shown in the picture but can be made out in the article is that she wore a Juliet cap of seed(?) and something about a shoulder-length veil. (The maid of honor wore a rose gown with navy accessories and the bride's maids wore peach satin and halo hats.) The groom and best man wore white suits.

The article tells us that the bride's going away dress was a powder blue knitted suit with navy accessories. Their honeymoon was a trip through New England.

Sounds like an amazing day. Happy anniversary! We miss you.

1940 Census: Keenan and Leary

In my first post about the 1940 census, I had looked at the records of my paternal grandparents and great grandparents (with a lot of help from my uncle). I have now searched and found my maternal grandparents and great grandparents in the 1940 census.

Here, the occupation information isn't quite as exciting. Walter and Ida Leary have no occupation listed, though we know from previous census records that Walter was previously a farmer.

Helen and Hubert Keenan are married and have their first child Michael. They are living on James Keenan's (Hubert's dad) farm. Hubert and James are listed as farmers.

What is interesting is the location. I had always understood that the farm my mom grew up on, the farm that Hubert, Helen, and Michael are living at, was not their father's farm. However, it seems that it is. The 1940 census entry for Hubert says he was working as a farmer "on father's farm". And James' location in the previous census records has not changed.

Family lore has it that Hubert's brother (Bernard) got the "good farm" in Helena. I think we had assumed that meant it was the family farm. However, it seems now that the Helena farm might have been better, but was not the family farm. Instead, Hubert, Helen, and Michael all lived on the family farm and took it over when James aged and then passed away. This is the same farm that my mother grew up on until her dad retired from farming (due to heart conditions) and they moved into North Lawrence.

I just find it interesting to now realize that the farm was in the family much longer than I had realized. Next time we drive by the farm, it will feel a little different knowing that it served three (at least) generations of farmers.

Wedding Picture!

(Left to right)
Mary Keenan (nee Leary)
Born: March 1, 1870, New York
Died: December 16, 1951, Lawrence, St. Lawrence, NY
Relation to Author: Great Grandmother

James J. Keenan
Born: March 21, 1865, Helena, St. Lawrence, NY
Died: September 28, 1955, North Lawrence, St. Lawrence, NY
Relation to Author: Great Grandfather

Helen Keenan (nee Leary)
Born: November 4, 1909, St. Lawrence, NY
Died: May 1, 2004, Brasher, St. Lawrence, NY
Relation to Author: Grandmother

Hubert Keenan
Born: March 20, 1907, St. Lawrence, NY
Died: November 14, 1984, North Lawrence, St. Lawrence NY
Relation to Author: Grandfather

Ida Leary (nee Barry)
Born: September 1, 1878, Brushton, Franklin, NY
Died: January 7, 1981, St. Lawrence, NY
Relation to Author: Great Grandmother

Walter Leary
Born: January 5, 1874, North Lawrence, St. Lawrence, NY
Died: July 19, 1960, Winthrop, St. Lawrence. NY
Relation to Author: Great Grandfather

This is a picture from Hubert and Helen's wedding day. They are surrounded by their parents.  The wedding was August 16, 1937, so the parents were 67, 72, 58, and 64 years old, respectively, at the time. Helen and Hubert were  27 and 30, respectively.

I have a few more pictures from the wedding, so look for more of these to go up on the blog in the future.

Before They Were Grandparents

Helen Leary Keenan
Born: November 4, 1909, North Lawrence, New York
Died: May 1, 2004, North Lawrence, New York
Relation to Author: Grandmother

Hubert Keenan
Born: March 20, 1907, St. Lawrence County, New York
Died: November 14, 1984, North Lawrence, New York
Relation to Author: Grandfather

My mother has a collection of old pictures from her side of the family. I have started scanning them and will be posting them on this blog from time to time.

I think it is fitting to start with this picture of Helen Keenan (nee Leary) and Hubert Keenan - my grandparents - because it is one of my favorites. I just love this picture. I love seeing them in their youth. I knew them when they were much older, of course. And to see them so young, vibrant, and happy is amazing. 

While I don't have a date or location for the picture, they look to be about the same age as in their wedding picture (coming soon to this blog) so I would guess the picture is from sometimes around 1937. If anyone has better information, definitely let me know. Otherwise, just enjoy!

Off the Farm

3rd Great Grandfathers (known)
John Keenan b. 1785, Antrim, Ireland; d. 1871, New York; oc. Stone Mason?
John (Jack) Leary b. unknown; d. unknown; oc. unknown
Cornelius Leary b. 1799, Ireland; d. unknown; oc. Farmer

2nd Great Grandfathers
Bernard J. Keenan b. 1829, New York; d. 1891, New York; oc. Farmer
Patrick Leary b. 1831, Ireland; d. unknown; oc. Farmer
Denis Leary b. 1835, Canada; d. unkown; oc. Meat Market?
Michael Barry b. 1839, Kerry, Ireland; d. unknown; oc. Farmer

Great Grandfathers
Walter Leary b. 1874, New York d. 1960, New York; oc. Dairy Farmer
James J. Keenan b. 1865, New York; d. 1955, New York; oc. Dairy Farmer

Grandfather
Hubert Keenan b. 1907, New York; d. 1984, New York; oc. Dairy Farmer

Census records tell me that most, if not all, of my male ancestors that lived in America on my mother's side - my grandfather through my 3rd great grandfathers - were farmers. I say most, if not all, because there are three of whom I cannot confirm (and as best as I can tell, the 5 great grandfathers not listed were born and lived in Ireland).

While the Keenan, Leary, Leary, and Barry households were farming - from as early as 1821 through 1960 - the rest of America was moving off the farms and into the cities. The graph below shows how fast the decline was. But we can also put it into perspective by looking at how much of the labor force were farmers while each generation of my ancestors were farming.

Source: Growing a Nation; The Story of American Agriculture. http://www.agclassroom.org/gan/timeline/farmers_land.htm

In 1790, before any of my maternal ancestors arrived, 90% of the labor population were farmers. In 1850, when Cornelius Leary is farming (and possibly John Keenan, too), 64% of the labor force were farmers. When my second great grandfathers (possibly excluding Dennis Leary) are farming in 1880, 49% of the labor force is farming. And in 1920, when James J. Keenan and Walter Leary - my great grandfathers - are dairy farmers, 27% of the labor force are farmers. By the time Hubert Keenan gives up farming around 1960 after his heart attack, with none of his children continuing in farming, only 8 percent of the labor population were farmers.

In 2000, when Hubert Keenan's children and grandchildren are spread across the country (having left behind our ancestral (if not actual) home of Franklin and St. Lawrence counties in norther New York State), working as (or retired from jobs as) managers, teachers, nurses, lawyers, engineers, technicians, accountants, analysts, etc - but no farmers, only 1.9% of the labor force are farmers (source: USDA).

For 200 years, many families in America moved away from farming - moving out of rural areas and into the cities. My maternal ancestors held on much longer than most, but in the end, we too moved off the farm.

*Note: Additional details and background will now be posted in the comments section.