Patrick Keappock was born to James Keappock (b. circa 1863) and Mary O’Reilly (b. circa 1871) on 26 September 1887, he was baptised on the same date in Drumlum, Shercock, Co. Cavan.
In the 1901 Census the family are living in Corlattylennon and included his parents and five of his siblings. They were: Mary born 1890, Catherine born 1893, James born 1895, John Joe born 1898. In the 1911 Census, it stated that there were nine children born at this time and eight were still living. The additional children in this census were Matthew born 1902, George born in 1904 and Anne born in 1909. In 1913, Peter Paul was born. Their father was an Agricultural Labourer.
He emigrated on 27th June 1901, on board the Cedric. On the passenger manifest he states that his father’s name was James Keappock and they lived at Corlattylennon, Shercock, Co Cavan. His fare was paid by his uncle Thomas Connaughton and he had £3 with him. He was 26. In 1910, he was living with the Connaughtons/Connaughtys at Ledyard, Cayuga, New York and he is working as a farm labourer. In perusing this census most of the men are farm labourers or gardeners. He is listed as a servant within the household of Thomas Connaughton, aged 27, he may be his cousin rather than the uncle who paid his fare as both his parents were born in Ireland.
According to his Draft Card signed on 5th June, (year not stated) he was a conductor and he was employed by the 5th Avenue Coach company. He was living at 446 W, 44 New York and single.
On 25th July 1918, he was inducted into the Army. According to the abstract from the WWI cards he started in the 5th Engineers Training Camp, Humphreys Virginia until 25th August 1918. He was then moved to 4 Engineers Training Camp Humphreys Virginia until 18th September 1918, then to Sect Engineers Base Sec. AEF until November. He served overseas from 1st October 1918 until 29th May 1919. He was honourable discharged on demobilisation on 27th June 1919. He was a private. He was naturalized at this stage as per his application dated 11th September 1918, which states he was single and his occupation was a soldier. This application was made in Virginia and witnessed by his officers. In the 1920 Census, he is living in a boarding house and working as a chauffeur. By 1925, he was working as a Porter and living with his wife Mary and their new son James P. In 1930, a niece and nephew Rose and Thomas Smith are living with them.
Mary applied for naturalisation on 2nd February 1940 and it states that her maiden name was Cooney and that she came to New York on 3rd September 1898. They were married on 10th June 1923. She was listed on Etruria’s manifest and was going to her sister Suzanne, who had paid her fare and she had $5 with her. Her sister lived at Lexington Avenue. In 1920, she was working as a cook and living with her sister Susan, who had married John Gildea and she was working as a cook for a family.
In 1942, he again signs up this time for WWII as per his draft card and he was working with R & R. Express Agency, they were living at 512 West 134 New York.
Their son James died in 1981 in Bronx, New York.
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 27th Jun 1901 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Jan 1981 | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Mary O’Reilly (b. circa 1871) | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | James Keappock (b. circa 1863) | |
| Place & Date of Baptism | Drumlum, Shercock, Co. Cavan 27/06/1901 | |
