Deedy.com Blog

This picture is from a Dec 6, 1917 Boston Globe article and the caption under the photo reads: Insert - First-class yeoman Jack Barry, manager of the Red Sox, who made a strong plea for support for the Sailors' Relief Fund. At first I thought Jack Barry had been drafted. His WWI registration card asks for a deferment due to his need to "support wife". But this Dec 31, 1918 article: Red Sox Planning To Part With Barry indicates that he enlisted along with some of his team mates. Once enlisted, it appears he participated in a number of exhibition games and fund raising events.

Labels: Jack_Barry

While digging around in the pile of family memorabilia that my Mother has accumulated, I came across my great grandfather's patrolman notebook. This used to be kept in my grandmother's dining room sideboard (not far from the peppermint pinwheel candies - hum, funny how you remember little things like that) and I recall paging through it as a child.

Reading it now, I see that it is really more of a time keeping book. Maurice Sullivan filled pages and pages with entries like the one below:

Ther. 39 0/1 Wednesday, Mar. 18, 1896 Wea. Clear

Patrolman Sullivan reported for duty at 7:15AM assigned to route 6 relieved Officer

At 9AM went to court reported back at 11:30AM at 1PM was relieved for dinner reported back at 2:15PM assigned to route 6 was relieved at 6PM by Officer Cadigan

Detailed to caucus at 7:30 was released at 8:30PM.

Clement McDonald
Drunk Probation

Ther. 36 0/0 Thursday Mar. 19, 1896 Wea. Snowing

Patrolman Sullivan reported for duty at 7:15AM assigned to route 6 relieved Officer Arnold at 8AM

At 1PM was relieved for dinner reported back at 2:15PM was relieved at 6PM by Officer Cardigan

Certainly not riveting reading, but the very blandness of the content gives you a feel for what Maurice's working day was like. He started early, put in a long day, and seemed to deal with a lot of drunken citizens. It is more fun reading newspaper articles about his police career...

Labels: Sullivan

I have been pulling WWI draft cards for various family members. Since the McDonough's have so many girls, I have been pulling their husbands records. Michael Thomas O'Leary is married to Thomas & Mary McDonough's oldest daughter Mary. Below are the details found on the document:

REGISTRATION CARD
Serial Number: 4938
Order Number: 4156
Name: Michael Thomas O'Leary
Address: 3 Germaine Street, Worcester, Mass.
Age: 42
Date of Birth: Aug. 29, 1876
Race: White
U.S. Citizen: Native Born
Present Occupation: President of Gen. Mass Foundry
Employer's Name: L.W. Pond Mach. & Fdry. Co.
Place of Employment: 40 Gold, Worcester, Mass
Nearest Relative: Mary H. O'Leary, Wife
Address: 3 Germaine St., Worcester, Mass
I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true: Michael Thomas O'Leary

REGISTRAR'S REPORT
Description of registrant
Height: Medium
Build: Medium
Color of Eyes: Blue
Color of Hair: Black

Has person lost arm, leg, hand, eye, or is he obviously physically disqualified?
No except left eye nearly blind

Signed: Albert E. Fay (Registrar)
September, 12th, 1918

Some things to note from the information above - M. Thomas O'Leary died in February 1919, about five months after signing this draft card. He and Mary have moved from 1 View Street (where they lived for the 1910 census) to 3 Germaine St, which appears to be a single family home. The mention of his eye problem could explain why we see M. Thomas in glasses in this photo. Lastly, the registrar has the last name Fay - could he be any relation to Mary's sister's husband - James Fay?

Labels: OLeary

Recently I received the marriage certificate for Edward Deedy and Hannah Donovan from the City of Worcester. Below are the details:

Place of Marriage: Boston
Date of Marriage: November 8, 1899

Name of Groom: Edward Deady
Surname after Marriage: Deady
Residence: Worcester, MA
Age: 28
Marriage Number: First
Occupation: Laborer
Birth Place: (Unknown) Ireland
Name of Father: Daniel Deady
Maiden Name of Mother: Hanorah Brick

Name of Bride: Hannah Donovan
Surname after Marriage: Deady
Residence: Boston
Age: 27
Marriage Number: First
Occupation: Domestic
Birth Place: (Unknown) Ireland
Name of Father: John Donovan
Maiden Name of Mother: Elizabeth Daly

Once again I have Edward spelling his last name as Deady. Both Edward and Hannah seem to do quite a bit of name shifting over time. After much research, it looks like Edward Deedy was born Edmund Deady and at some point started to call himself Edward Deady and then eventually Edward Deedy. Hannah was born Johanna Donovan, but seems to prefer shortening her first name to Hannah (sometimes spelled Hanna).

The ages the two use on this marriage certificate are likely incorrect. I believe Edward was born in 1868 making him about 31 when he was married. Hannah was likely born in 1869, so she was 30.

An interesting thing to note on the marriage certificate is Hannah's residence and occupation. I had not realized that she was living in Boston and working as a domestic before marrying Edward and moving to Worcester.

Labels: Deedy

Thomas and Mary McDonough purchased two lots on View Street in Worcester and ultimately built two homes on those lots - 1 View Street and 3 View Street. 1 View Street was the home that proved how successful this couple had become. According to the Worcester Assessing page the home has over 5,000 sq ft of living space. When you look at a photo of the house, you can see that this home was built to be Thomas and Mary's own castle. On the uphill view of the home you can also see that the structure is four stories tall (with a full basement below). 3 View street next door is three stories tall. This is interesting to note since it seems to contradict the restrictions found in the deed Thomas and Mary signed when purchasing the View Street lots.

Granted premises are conveyed subject to the restrictions that no building of more than two and one half stories, or of the type commonly known as a "three decker" shall ever be erected thereon, that no building shall ever be erected within fifteen (15) feet of said southerly line of said View Street and that no barn shall ever be erected on any part of granted premises.

Labels: McDonough

A recent trip to the Northeast National Archive revealed my Great-Grandfather's naturalization record. A common form for naturalization did not exist until September of 1906. Prior forms were created by the courthouse - so required information varies greatly depending on where you became naturalized. Also, women generally obtained their naturalization status from a Father or Husband - so looking for female ancestors in the naturalization roles in the late 1800's and early 1900's was a fruitless endeavor. The first page of the record was blurry on the microfilm, the second page was clearer. Below is the transcript of the full record:

{Final Declaration Alien}
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS

To the Honorable the Justice of the CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT of Worcester, holden at Worcester, within the County of Worcester, Respectfully presents Edward Deedy, that he is Thirty years of age and by occupation a Laborer that he resides at number Twenty Two on Ellsworth street in Worcester in the County of Worcester and within the district of said court, an alien, that it is his bona fide intention to become a Citizen of the United States of America, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Prince, Potentate, State, and Sovereignty, and particularity to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, whose subject he has heretofore been. All which together with his declaration thereof on oath, before Central District Court of Worcester appears in the Records of said Court to wit: at the October eighteenth Term thereof A.D. 1895. And said petitioner further represents that he has resided within the jurisdiction of said United States for more than five years now last past.

And said petitioner further represents that he has resided in the said State of Massachusetts one year at least, that he has never borne any hereditary title, or been of any of the orders of Nobility; that he is ready to renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State or Sovereignty and particularly to the said Victoria Queen of Ireland as aforesaid, whose subject he has heretofore been: that he is attached to the principles of the Constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and happiness of the same.

And said petitioner further represents that it is his intention to summons as witnesses at his final hearing: Patrick H. Shea who resides at number Twenty Two on Ellsworth Street in Worcester in the County of Worcester, and Joshua Melican who resides at number Nine on Endicott street in Worcester in the County of Worcester. Wherefore said petitioner prays that he may be admitted to become a citizen of the said United States of America according to the forms of the Statutes in such case made and provided.
Signed - Edward Deedy

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Worcester, SS CENTRAL DISTRICT COURT OF WORCESTER
------
We, the witnesses for the within named applicant, severally depose and say that we are respectively citizens of the United States, and that we at the time of filing of the preceding petition resided as set forth in the said petition, and that we have known the foregoing petitioner for five years last past, during which time he has resided in Worcester and has conducted himself and behaved 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.

signed: John Melican
signed: Patrick H. Shea
Worcester, SS.
Sworn in said Court October 17, 1899

I do solemnly swear, that I do absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to every foreign Prince, Potentate, State, or Sovereignty, particularly to Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland whose subject I have heretofore been; and that I will support the Constitution of the United States of America. So help me God.

signed: Edward Deedy
Worcester, SS. Central District Court of Worcester October 17, 1899, Sworn and admitted a citizen

What I found particularly interesting in this document is how Edward signs his name - he is clearly spelling his name Deedy, not Deady. He is also swearing on October 17, 1899 that he is thirty years old. On his marriage certificate (which I have now received from the City of Worcester) he spells his last name as Deady and says he is 28 years old - and the marriage certificate was issued November 16, 1899 (the actual wedding took place on November 8, 1899) - so basically one month later Edward has lost two years and put back the letter a in his last name!

The other very interesting thing found is this document is the name Patrick H. Shea. As you can see, both Edward Deedy and Patrick Shea gave the same address - could this mean they are related in some way, or just roommates?

Another small thing to note, when Edward and Hannah married on November 8, 1899, she not only got a husband, she also got citizenship. I wonder if the timing of those two events was a coincidence or if Edward getting his citizenship was something they both needed before feeling comfortable getting married.

Labels: Deedy