I am researching Edward Malia, b 1800 in County Mayo, Ireland and lived in Carbondale, PA. (at that point it was Luzerne County). He is first found in the 1850 census as a laborer. It notes that he was not able to read or write. I believe he may have worked in the coal mines as his descendants worked in the coal mines for several generations. His wife was named Mary (I don’t have her maiden name). He had 6 children. He is last found in the 1880 census as a widower. His daughter Ann (age 50) and another daughter named Maria (aged 18 – possibly a granddaughter ?) were living with him at the time. He is the head of the household.
My goal is to find out where in County Mayo he is from so I can visit the town in his homeland. The BMD records in Carbondale were destroyed by fire. I’d like to find his death certificate. Many of his descendants were interred in the St. Rose of Lima Cemetery. However, he is not located in the St. Rose of Lima Cemetery – it may be possible that his stone was destroyed and the church does not have any documents for him. (We visited the cemetery in April of last year to look for it and found other Malia’s/O’Malley’s).
Immigrant groups sometime come from the same area of their homeland, so it would be helpful if there were any documents stating where the Irish in Carbondale came from. Or what ships they came from. I have a book, “The Irish Are Coming, Sligo to Scranton 1850-1900” by Jim Dolan and was not able to find further information about the County Mayo Irish.
If we can’t get information on Edward Malia, there might be information on his children who came to Carbondale, PA in their 20’s. Some of them went by the surname of O’Malley.
James Malia – b. 1825, Ireland. d. not known. Wife’s name Ann Boylan. Last found in the 1880 census, age 55, cannot write. It seems that he can read at this point. He is a miner.
Registered for the Civil War draft in 1863 and noted as age 34(?- not sure this is correct) and was a laborer and married. He possibly received a pension as O’Malia.
Ann Malia – b. 1830, Ireland. d. not known. Living with her father, Edward in the 1880 census. Could not read or write. It is noted she is a housekeeper.
Bridget Malia – b. 1830, Ireland. d. Unknown. Only found in the 1850 Census. Not in the 1860 Census.
Catherine Malia – b. 1832, Ireland. d. not known. Only found in the 1850, not in the 1860 census.
Hannah Malia – B 1832, Ireland. d. not known. Only found in the 1850 Census, not in the 1860 Census.
Thomas Malia – b. 1836, Ireland. d. 1915, Scranton, Lackawanna, PA
Death Certificate – Mentioned O’Malley as surname. Died of Bronchitis. Widowed. He was a janitor in a public school. Name of father was Edward Malia, mother was not known. The informant was Mary O’Malley. Place of burial is Carbondale. Address of Thomas Malia/O’Malley was 354 Second Street, Scranton, PA. Mary O’Malley (Maria? – found in 1880 census as 18 year old).
