Updating the McPartland Family

In a previous blog, I detailed what I knew about the family of Patrick and Bridget Lydia McPartland. I've learned quite a bit more about them since my post, and I'd like to update that entry:

Patrick (1835-1884) and Bridget Lydia (1839-1932) both immigrated to the New York area from Ireland. They were married on 28 Nov 1856 in St. Joseph's Church, Batavia, NY. He was 21 and she was 17. They had 12 children:


Thomas (1857-1948) m. Mary Ann O'Keefe Mary Ann (1859-1908)

Mary Ann (1859-1946)

Charles (1861-1863)

James (1863-1946)

Joseph (1866-1946)

John (1866-1956)

= John and Joseph were twins.

Jane Ellen (1868-1913) also called Jennie

Catherine (1870-1971) m. James Cassidy

Elizabeth (1873-1938) m. Francis O'Keefe

Edward Miles (1876 - 1931)

Frances (1878-1908) also called Fannie; m. William Gratrick

Alice Rose (1881-1892)

Spending time in Alabama (Alabama, NY that is!)

I spent some research time in New York recently, and got tons of things to post... it's going to take me weeks to sort everything out! Thanks especially to those who hosted me: Uncle Jim and Aunt Agnes O'Keefe, Kathy O'Keefe, Kay Cassidy Wright and Joe Cassidy. Kay and Joe are pictured above. (Sorry for the shadows, my camera doesn't fix pilot error!).

Kay and Joe are cousins through the Cassidy line. Their grandmother was Catherine McPartland, who married James Cassidy in 1904. Catherine was the daughter of Patrick and Lydia McPartland, and the sister of Elizabeth McPartland O'Keefe, wife of Francis O'Keefe.

Joe emailed me a few months back saying he was happy to read about his Aunt Lizzie on my blog. Of course, I immediately emailed him back! He put me in touch with Kay, who is also a genealogist and a very generous person. She not only shared all her knowledge of our common family members, she let me take pictures of her ample supply of photos, clippings, etc. AND took me to many family places and introduce me to people. This explains how I ended up in Alabama, NY actually getting to meet Joe and seeing various places in McPartland history. You'll be seeing a lot of Kate's stuff in the future.

Since my last blog was about the McPartlands, I thought I would first start with all the info about where they lived: in the town of Alabama, Genesee County, NY. This is about 20 miles from Medina, Orleans County, NY where the O'Keefes lived. I'll then move on to Medina, and from there Niagara.

Who's Who -- the family of Patrick McPartland and Bridget Lydia Dugan

As per her marriage certificate, Elizabeth McPartland was the daughter of Patrick McPartland and Bridget (Lydia) Dugan. Both Patrick and Bridget immigrated from Ireland. However, I have no record of them knowing each other before immigration. Bridget immigrated with her family and appears to have met Patrick when he immigrated and moved to Genesee County, New York.

Patrick and Bridget had the following children:

Thomas (1857-1948)
m. Mary Ann O'Keefe

Mary Ann (1859-?)

James (1863-1946)

Joseph (1866-1946)

John (1866-?)
(John and Joseph were twins)

Jane Ellen (1868-1913)
also called Jennie

Catherine (1870-1971)
m. James Cassidy

Elizabeth (1873-1938)
m. Francis O'Keefe

Edward (1876 - ?)

Frances (1878-1908)
also called Fanny; m. William Gratrick

A Double Link: McPartlands & O'Keefes

One of the best things about having this blog is finding cousins! I recently connected with Kay Wright (through her cousin, Joe Cassidy, another happy "find" through this blog), who has provided me with lots of new information!

In a previous post (1/9/07) I listed the family of Cornelius O'Keefe and Mary Morgan. For three of their children, I also noted that I needed additional information. For their oldest daughter Mary, Kay was able to provide that:

Mary Ann married Thomas McPartland 21 June 1893. She died in 1908.
You will find further info in the news clippings I am mailing to you.

This means that there were TWO O'Keefe/McPartland marriages in the family! Mary Ann O'Keefe & Thomas McPartland in 1893 and Francis O'Keefe and Elizabeth McPartland in 1897 (see previous post)!

I will be posting more of Kay's clippings in future posts.

The WWI Registration of Leo F. O'Keefe

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Above is the WWI Draft Registration card for Leo Francis. The Transcription:

(Left Handside)

Registration Card

Serial No.: 5662

Order No.: 14855

1) Name: Leo Francis O'Keefe

2) Permanent Home: 720 10th St., Niagara Falls, Niagara [County], NY

3) Age in Years: 18

4) Date of Birth: Sept. 5, 1900

Race: 5) [box for White] "Yes"

[items 6-9 are boxes for other races]

Citizenship: 10) [box for Native Born] "Yes"

[items 11-12 are boxes for other types of citizenship, items 13-14 are for aliens, 15 for note on citizenship]

16) Present Occupation: Wholesale Clerk

17) Employer's Name: Richmond & Mathers

18) 354 [unreadable], Niagara Falls, Niagara, NY

NEAREST RELATIVE:

19) Name: Elizabeth O'Keefe

[mother, Elizabeth McPartland O'Keefe]

20) Address: 720 10th St., Niagara Falls, Niagara [County], NY

I affirm that I have verified above answers and that they are true

Leo F. O'Keefe

[signature]

PMGO

Form No. 1

(Right Handside)

REGISTRAR'S REPORT

[The number 31-8-24-C is stamped next to this heading]

Description of Registrant

Height: box for Medium written "Yes"

Build: box for Medium written "Yes"

Color of Eyes: Blue

Color of Hair: Brown

29) Has person lost arm, leg, hand, eye, or is he obviously physically disqualified? "No Loss"

30) No exceptions or notes written

Signature of Registrar: Edward Howe

Date of Registration: Sept. 12, 1918

Who's Who -- Francis & Elizabeth's Family

Francis O'Keefe married Elizabeth McPartland on 8 Sept 1897 in Wheatville, Genesee Co., NY. (see previous blog). I'll be posting more, including photographs, of these two and their lives later.

They had the following children:

Leo Francis O'Keefe - (5 Sept 1900 - 21 Feb 1976)
-- married Leona Fields (see previous posts)

Joseph William O'Keefe - "Joe" (16 Dec 1898 - 1930)
-- married Rita [last name unknown]

Irene O'Keefe (abt. 1905 - ??)
-- married Cletus Martin

M. Helen O'Keefe (1907-1987)
-- married Thomas Brophy

The Marriage of Francis O'Keefe and Elizabeth McPartland

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This is the official copy (for genealogical purposes only) of the Marriage License for Francis O'Keefe and Elizabeth McPartland. The transcription of above certificate:

Left-hand Column:

Date of Marriage: September 8, 1897

Groom's Full Name: Francis O'Keefe

Residence of Groom: Medina, NY

Age: 30 Years

Color: White
Occupation: Hotel Landlord

Single or Widowed: Single
Birthplace of Groom: Shelby Center, Orleans Co, NY

Father's Name: Corneilus O'Keefe
Mother's Name: Mary Morgan

Number of Groom's Marriage: First

Bride's Full Name: Elizabeth McPartland

Residence of Bride: Wheatville [NY]

Age: 24 Years
Color: White
Single or Widowed: Single

Maiden Name if widowed: No

Birthplace of Bride: Wheatville, NY

Father's Name: Patrick McPartland

Mother's Maiden Name: Bridget Dugan

Number of Bride's Marriage: First
Name of Person performing Ceremony: Rev. F. J. Burns

Official Duties: Catholic Priest

Residence: East Pembroke, NY

Right-sided Column:

County of Genesee

Town of Alabama

Villiage of Wheatville

Certificate and Record of Marriage
State of New York -- Bureau of Vital Statistics

Numbers on left side: 16032 (stamped, meaning unclear)

Registered No. 193

I hereby certified that Francis O'Keefe and
Elizabeth McPartland were joined in Marriage
by me in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, at Wheatville, NY

this eighth day of September 1897
Signature of Witnesses in Marriage: Joseph Kearney, [unreadable]

Signature of Person performing ceremony: Rev. F.J. Burns

The marriage certificate contains all sorts of wonderful genealogical information. It lists the bride's maiden name as well as her parent's names (including mother's maiden name!) . Also listed are occupation for the groom and his parental information as well. These all help to link generations together, as well as point in new directions for research.

A Marriage, Part II

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Housekeeping side note: All the dots you see in the blank lines are because Blogger is stripping out the blank lines I put in. So to keep the blog from being one huge block of crammed type, I have to put something in the line and I chose to put a period.

Now, onto the genealogy stuff. This is the official marriage license for Leo & Leona O'Keefe. Since it posts so small on the blog, here's what it says (handwritten items in italic):

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NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division of Vital Statistics

MARRIAGE LICENSE

County of Niagara

City of Niagara Falls

Registered No. 8102

(also #15598 in upper right corner without explanation)

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Know all Men by this Certificate, that any person authorized by law to perform marriage ceremonies within the State of New York to whom this may come, he, not knowing any lawful impediment thereto, is hereby authorized and empowered to solemnize the rites of matrimony between

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Leo Francis O'Keefe

of Niagara Falls in the County of Niagara and the State of New York,

and

Leona Esther Fields

of Niagara Falls in the County of Niagara and the State of New York

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and to certify the same to be said parties of either of them under his hand and seal in his ministerial or official capacity and thereupon he is required to return his certificate in the form hereto annexed. The statements endorsed hereon or annexed hereto, by me subscribed contain a full and true abstract of all the facts concerning such parties disclosed by their affidavits or verified statements presented to me upon the application for this license.

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In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the seal of said City at Niagara Falls this Thirty First day of May nineteen hundred and Twenty Two.

George J. Richards, Clerk

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The following is a full and true abstract of all the facts disclosed by the above-named applicants in their verified statements presented to me upon their applications for the above license:

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From the Groom (left side column, bottom of page):

Full Name: Leo Francis O'Keefe

Color: White

Place of Residence: 613 9th St., Niagara Falls, NY

Age: 21 . Sept 5, 1921

Occupation: Grocery Clerk

Place of Birth: Medina, NY

Name of Father: Francis O'Keefe

Country of birth: Genessee Co, NY

Maiden Name of Mother: Elizabeth McPartland

Country of birth: Genessee Co, NY

Number of Marriages: first

I have not to my knowledge been infected with any venereal disease,or if I have been so infected within five years, I have had a laboratory test within that period which shows that I am now free from infection from any such disease.

Former wife or wives living or dead: (blank)

Is applicant a divorced person: (blank)

If so, when and where divorce or divorces were granted: (blank)

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From the Bride (right side column bottom of page):

Full Name: Leona Esther Fields

Color: White

Place of Residence: 1929 Whitney Ave, Niagara Falls, NY

Age: 20

Occupation: none

Place of Birth: No. Tonawanda, NY

Name of Father: Joseph Fields

Country of birth: Moose Creek, Ontario (Canada)

Maiden Name of Mother: Mary Jane La Rock

Country of birth: Martintown, Ontario (Canada)

Number of Marriages: first

I have not to my knowledge been infected with any venereal disease,or if I have been so infected within five years, I have had a laboratory test within that period which shows that I am now free from infection from any such disease.

Former husband or husbands living or dead: (blank)

Is applicant a divorced person: (blank)

If so, when and where divorce or divorces were granted: (blank)

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Future Address

(Enter here EXACT FUTURE ADDRESS after marriage if known)

833 Elmswood Ave, Niagara Falls, NY

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Additional paragraph on next page (see scan from A Marriage, Part III):

The written consents of the Parents, Guardians or Persons under whose care and government the Minor or Minors may be has been filed in the Town or City Clerk's office in (blank) as provided by Section 15, of Article 3 under the Domestic Relations Law.

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This license has all the things that a genealogist loves: full names, places of birth and relationships, and addresses. It links one generation (Leo & Leona) to another (their parents), verifying the connections. With the birthplaces, I know where to look for birth records or other ancestors. With addresses, I can find mortgage records, property deeds, tax rolls, etc. .The certificate itself tells you a lot about the time, what "they" (the government, society) considered important and how they view things. The questions asked, what gets added to the license over time, even the phrasing of questions leave little clues to social and political attitudes of the time, and hence, what it was like for your ancestors. I'll be posting later the marriage certificate for Leo's parents for a comparison sometime later in this blog.