Josephine Farrelly : Short Biography

The person that led many of the Farrelly’s to Albany was their cousin Frank Carolan Sexton.

A note of caution is advised here as a number of baptism’s were found for Mary Clarkes whose mother was Katie. Having eliminated possible fathers who were found on the 1901 census and where further children were born after November 1885, Andrew Clarke and Kate Carolan were chosen as her parents.  Three different Andrew Clarkes had their death’s registered in the district of Bailieborough between the date of Kate’s first marriage in September 1882 and her remarriage in November 1885 and the most suitable was a death registered in the last quarter of 1884, as he was aged 40, while the other two were aged 23 and 83.  Her maiden name was proven when Philip Farrelly’s baptism was located and gave his mother’s name was given as Kate Carolan.  However, they are common names.  Using this strategy Mary A. Clarke was born in Bailieborough and baptised on 13th June 1883, her father was Andrew Clarke and her mother was Kate Carolan, her sponsors were Peter Brady and M Donoghue.  Her parents were married on 5 September 1882 and their witnesses were Peter Brady and Maggie Donoghoe.  After her father died in 1884, her mother married Laurence Farrelly on 9th November 1885, they were both from Bailieborough and because Katie was a widow, her maiden name was not recorded.

In 1901, Lawrence Farrelly, a baker (43) was living with his wife Katie (40) and their six children, Philip (13), Kathleen (10), Micheal (7), Matthew (6) Josephine (5) and Maggie aged 3.  They lived in a private house on Australia Street, Bailieborough which they rented from James Coleman.  In 1911, Lawrence still worked as a baker and lived with his wife Katie, with them was Micheal, who worked as a labourer and Josephine and Agnes (probable Maggie) now aged 13.  They said that they were 22 years married and had 9 children, who were living.  Neither Mary or Ann could be positively identified in the 1901 or 1911 Irish Census.

On 6th September 1910, Philip sailed from Liverpool on the Carmania, he had been living in Dublin and worked as a grocer.  With him was Patrick McCabe, he was a grocer’s assistant and had also worked in Dublin.  Patrick’s relative was his father Mr. McCabe from Corratinure, Killenkere, he was heading to New York.  Philip was baptised on 14 January 1888.  He was now 22 and going to a friend F. Sexton, who lived at 98 Clinton Avenue, Albany New York.  On 5th September 1914, Phllip Joseph was travelling again this time on the Campania, that left from Liverpool, he was now working as a clerk and his father was listed as his relative, he was single and returning to 98 Clinton Avenue, Albany again to his cousin Frank C. Sexton.  No further trace could be found of Philip and perhaps he returned home.

On 14th February 1912,  Katherine emigrated to America via Canada. She was baptised on 26 July 1890.  She was listed at the port of Buffalo, New York, she had traveled on the S.S. Dominion and was going to her brother Philip, she listed her father in Australia Street as her nearest relative.  She married Thomas Carroll (born circa 1886) and in 1920, they were living at Chester Ward, Delaware, Pennsylvania with their two children Anna aged (1917) and Thomas (1920)  Her husband Thomas was a labourer in the shipyard and they had their own home which had a mortgage on it.  In 1930, they were in 931, Pennell Street, Chester, their home was valued at $3400 and their family now included Arthur (1921), Josephine (1925), Kathleen (1925), Mary T. (1926), Agnes G. (1927) and Laurence 5 months old.  Thomas was now working as a spinner in a Rayon Mill.  In 1942, Thomas completed his WWII card and he said he was from Armagh.  Kathleen (Catherine) Grace Farrelly died on 2nd June 1943 of a uterine prolapse and Thomas died on 21 September 1952, his daughter Josephine was the informant of his death.  They were both buried in Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Cemetery, Linwood, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

On 23rd June 1912, Ann Farrelly (circa 1886) and her half sister Mary Clarke left Bailieborough on the Mauretania, they sailed from Queenstown and arrived in New York on 28th June 1912.  They were going to Philip Farrelly, he was Ann’s brother and Mary’s half brother.  Philip still lived at 98 Clinton Avenue, Albany, New York.  They had $25 each with them, were both 5’ with fair complexions, brown hair and blue eyes and were both born in Bailieborough.  Mary’s nearest relative was her mother Mrs. L. Farrelly and Ann’s was Mr Laurence Farrelly and their address was Australia Street, Bailieborough.  Mary stated that she was a nurse and Ann was a servant.  In 1922, Ann (33) and Mary F (36) (Could this have been Mary Clarke?) were returning to America, arriving on 22nd October 1922, they nearest relative was their mother Catherine.  They were traveling on board the Cedric, they both had been in America for 10 years until 17th June 1922.  Ann was going to her employer Mrs. J. McNaughton Thompson, who lived at 22 Lancaster St., Albany and Mary was going to her employer Mrs. R. E. Sard, Glencove, Long Island, New York, both girls were the same height 5’2”.  Annie E. in 1915, may have been working in Albany as a cook, no further records of Mary Clarke could be found

In 1925, Ann was living with her husband John Rooney and their two children Philip H. aged 2 and John 1.  In 1930, they were living in Catherine Street in Albany, John was working as a fireman on the railroad.  They owned their own house valued at $5800 and had two more children, Isabell (4) and Mary F. (2).  In 1940, they are living in the same house with their fifth child Lawrence aged 9.

On 27th October 1912, Matthias emigrated.  He traveled on board the Carmania.  He was baptised on 9 June 1893, his sponsors were Andrew Donnelly and Bridget Roche.  He had worked as a bartender in Dublin.  He was heading to his brother Philip in Albany.  In 1920, he was living with his sister Kathleen Carroll and her husband Thomas at Chester Ward, Delaware, Pennsylvania and was working as a labourer in a Ship Yard.  In 1930, this may be him living with his wife Ethel, they had married 2 years previously and he was working as a Drier in a Mill.  In 1935 and 1940, he was living in 33, Saratoga Avenue, Milton, Saratoga, New York, he was working as a Driver for a Sock factory, he was single and living as a lodger.  In 1942, he completed his WWII Registration Card, at this time he was living at 33 Saratoga Avenue, Ballston Spa, Saratoga, New York working for Balston Stillwater Knitting Co.  He gave Mrs William Rooney, of 265, Catherine St, Albany as the person who would always know his address.

On 9th July 1923 Josephine (26) arrived in New York, she traveled on board the Celtic that departed from Liverpool.  The ship's log described Josephine as 5' 5" with fair skin and dark brown hair with blue eyes.  She was baptised Agnes Josephine on 3rd February 1895, her sponsors were James Cullen and Kate McPhillips.  She was a shop assistant and her mother was her nearest relative, she was going to her sister Ann Rooney, who lived at Hudson Avenue, Albany, she intended to stay for five years. According to her grand daughter Christine, Josephine was working as a nanny in Manhattan when she met Frank, who was working as a elevator operator in the same building she worked in.  She listed her age differently because Frank was born in 1906 and perhaps she didn't want anyone to realize the age gap.  She married Frank Kenney in New York on 27 November 1931.  On 1st November 1937, she petitioned for naturalization, on this form she gave her date of birth as 4th February 1899.  They were living at 104 W 89 Street, New York.  Frank was New York born as were their two children Mary Josephine born on 6th January 1933 and Dora Frances was born on 19th August 1934, according to her daughter Christine her name was later changed to Frances Dora.  In 1940, they were living with their two children and renting their home on West 89^th Street, Frank was working as a handy man specializing in apartment buildings.  Frank died in October 1973 and Josephine died in April 1978, their last address was 11355, Flushing, Queens, New York.

Josephine Farrelly & Frank Kenney are pictured on the right on their wedding day

Margaret was baptised on 28th Feb 1898, she most like remained in Bailieborough and married Thomas Mullardy on 24 August 1932, in Bailieborough.  Michael also remained in Bailieborough and according to their family he died on 15 April 1912 aged 20.

The person that led many of the Farrelly’s to Albany was their cousin Frank Carolan Sexton.  He was listed on Ellis Island travelling from Hamilton, Bermuda on board the Bermudian, he arrived into New York on 11th May 1914, he was 35 and his address was listed as 18 Clinton Avenue, Albany, he had been naturalised by the Supreme Court in 1908.  He was born on 17 March 1878 to Pat Sexton and Anna Carolan in Carrickallen, Laragh, Co. Cavan.  His mother Ann (1845) was possibly a sister of Katie Farrelly nee Carolan.  In 1901, he was living in Carrickallen with his father (66), mother (58), brother John (25), Joseph (19) and sister Elizabeth (16).  They were a farming family.  In 1911, his mother was widowed and living with John, Joseph and Elizabeth, she said that she had 12 children and 11 were still living. In 1905, Frank was living with his sister Bridget Culnan (43) and her son Thomas (16), he was working as a labourer in a distillery.  In the same building was a Thomas Sexton and his family, who may have been related.  In 1910, he was still in Albany and living as a boarder with the Davis family and was a saloon keeper.  On 12th September 1918, he completed his WWI Draft Registration Card, on this card he stated that he was retailing liquor and was self employed at 98 Clinton Avenue, Albany and that he lived there.  The person who would always know his address was his sister Mrs Mary Waugh of the same address. 

In 1920 he was the head of the family and living with him was his sister Mary, her husband Edwin, their family and his nephew Thomas Culnan. In 1930, he was living at 458 Yates Street and working as a service man at a gas service, they owned their own home which was valued at $4,500, and he was 41 when he married Sarah.  In 1942, he completed his WWII Card, he was now retired and living at the same address with his wife Sarah who was the person who would always know his address.  According to the US Directory in 1947, Frank had died on 29 September 1946.  He was buried in St Agnes’s Cemetery, Menands, Albany, New York and according to his obituary he was also survived by his brother Bernard Sexton.  98 Clinton Avenue is now a vacant plot of land.

98 Clinton Ave, Albany