The other day I found two photographs that seem to link two branches of the Tierney family together. The pictures come from the collection of Frank Noel and May (Berry) Tierney who lived in Larchmont, New York. Frank Noel Tierney and Raymond A Tierney were first cousins, so it makes sense that they new of each other, but these are the first photographs connecting the two families.
"Raymond Tierney and Family with Frank, Virginia and May"
Several weeks ago, I received a phone call from Lynn Williams in response to a letter I had sent her, telling her that I believed we were cousins through the Tierney branch of our family tree. She confirmed that she was the granddaughter of Irene Tierney. Irene is the daughter of Thomas W. Tierney. Thomas W. Tierney is the brother of my great grandfather James F. Tierney. That makes us second cousins, once removed.
We had a wonderful conversation, exchanging stories of what we knew of the Tierney’s. Then she dropped the bomb. She has a picture of her great grandfather… AND HIS FATHER! “His Father” is James Tierney (b. 1835 in Ireland, d. Feb 1888 in Manhattan) and is our shared relative.
Thanks to Carolyn Gibbons of North Carolina, a ROAGK volunteer who found this obituary for me.
Edward Schnedier, 82, died Saturday. Funeral services will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday at Emmanuel Episcopal Church by the Rev. Martin Caldwell. Burial will be in the old Bethesda Cemetery.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Eleanor Tierney Schneider; one daughter, Mrs. Eleanore Dorsett of Fayetteville; and two grandchildren.
And thanks ROAGK volunteer Phil Bible who found Richard Curry, who lives in the area of Bethesda Cemetery for the picture of the grave and posting it on FindAGrave.com.
Several weeks ago I visited the final resting place of Mary Tierney, my Great-Great Grandmother. After receiving her Death Certificate from the New York City Archives, I was able to determine that she was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Queens, New York. Unfortunately when I arrived, I found her plot, but there was no gravestone. I was hoping that there would be a gravestone with markings to fill me in on some missing pieces of the Tierney clan puzzle.
So in desperation, I requested an Internment report from Calvary Cemetery. It was a bit expensive, but I think well worth it. Much to my surprise, I received it in just two weeks time. So, the Internment report solved several Tierney mysteries for me.
When I first took over the family genealogy project from my Uncle Lloyd Lewis, there was one page of his notes that I ignored for some time because the notes he had on the names were scarce.
On the top of one page, he wrote the name Kate Sproul Colwell.. Next to it were the names; Lou Colwell Gent, Mary Lou Gent and John Gent. Now, the name Spoul was familiar to me. It happens to be the maiden name of my great, great grandmother, Mary Sproul Tierney (b. abt 1829 in Ireland), who married James Tierney (b. abt 1826 in Ireland). I have seen several variations of the Spoul name including Sproul, Sproule and Sproull.
So, based on my Uncles notes, I assumed that Kate Sproul Colwell, is the sister of Mary Sproul, wife of James Tierney. Several weeks ago, I decided to investigate this branch of the family a little more in-depth. So, my first step was to talk to my Mom. She remembers a Lou Gent being referred to as “Cousin Lou”. She was a school teacher in New York City. So with that small amount of information I was able to find Lou Gent in the 1930 census records. She was married to a Harold G Gent and had twins; John and Mary Lou. In this census, her occupation is listed as a “teacher”. So at least I know I found the right Lou Gent.
Now that I found Lou, the rest of the family was fairly easy to find, working backwards. Lou was the daughter of Louise and John S. Colwell. So obviously my next step was to pull the death certificate of John S. Colwell. It was fairly easy to find, but here is where my trouble began. It lists his parents as Catherine Tierney and Michael Colwell. WOW. My first reaction was to assume that this was a mistake and that the informant had taken the married name of Catherine’s sister and used it. I’ve seen lots of mistakes like this on death certificates before.
So Michael Colwell (b. abt 1832 in Ireland) and Catherine (b. abt 1826 in Ireland) had six other children besides John S. Colwell. I haven’t bothered researching all of them yet as I am still looking for resolution of Catherine’s maiden name. I soon found Catherine Colwell’s death certificate at the New York City Archives. Awesome! Now I can finally put things to rest. Wait a minute, not so fast. It lists her father as “Frank Tierney” and her mother as “Unable to state”. Now I’m really confused. I know there was a Frank who was the son of my gr, gr grandfather. Could this also be a mix up? Could Frank be the fathr of James and Catherine Tierney?
Based on her death certificate I was able to determine that Catherine was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Flushing, Queens, not to far from where Mary Sproul Tierney is buried. James could be there too, but I have not yet confirmed it with any type of record.
So, to try to put this issue to bed, I decided to pull the death certificate of one of Catherine and Michael Coldwell’s other children to see if it can give me a last name of Catherine. His name was Thomas W. Colwell. I just received it today. It lists his mothers name as “CATHERINE TIERNEY”
Conclusion
Pending some further investigation, it does appear that instead of Catherine being the sister of Mary Sproul, she is the sister of James Tierney, my gr, gr, grandfather. Since James Tierney died almost two centuries before Mary Sproul Tierney, it is conceivable that relatives, who passed information onto Lloyd may have had their facts a little mixed up. They may have thought Catherine was related to Mary because James had not been around for so long. Who knows? Whatever the reason, all evidence now is pointing to Catherine Colwell being a Tierney. So it appears that all the Colwell’s and Gent’s are cousins through the Tierney side of our family. I know there are members of those families out there. Now I just have to find them.
The Hayes Branch Cemetery Headstone Photo Album contains pictures from various cemteries for the following surnames.
CARNEY-Patricia A. (nee Tierney). On December 1, 2008. Devoted daughter of the late Honorable Judge Raymond A. Tierney. Beloved wife of the late Thomas. Loving mother of Patricia A. Dear sister of Raymond Tierney, Marie Anderson and the late Francis Tierney. Funeral Monday 8:30 A.M. from the MARINE PARK FUNERAL HOME, 3024 Quentin Road, Brooklyn. Funeral Scripture Service 9:30 A.M. at St. Thomas Aquinas R.C. Church. Interment St. John’s Cemetery. Visiting Saturday and Sunday 2-5 and 7-9 P.M.
James T. Tierney, son of Sarah and James F. Tierney, was killed on December 12, 1931 when the “hired automobile” he was driving went out of control on Edgecombe Avenue, 25 feet south of the Middle Bridge Viaduct. The car plunged 100 feet into Colonial Park, landing upright. Rescuers found him still sitting in the drivers seat, but accoding to his Death Certificate, he had suffered multiple fractures and internal injuries.
James was just 37 years old when the crash took his life. He served with the American Expeditionary Force in Word War I and was living in the Bronx at 2500 Webb Avenue. According to his Death Certificate, he was a salesman for an unknown company and appears to have been married to a Mary L. Tierney.
James was born in Manhattan, New York on June 6, 1894 to James F. Tierney and Sarah Beattie Tierney. He died on December 12, 1931 and is buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn.
I know there are many relatives who served our country that are not yet on this list. By next year, I hope that I can find you and add you to our little tribute.
From Philip Sr., Colleen, Philip Jr. and Kevin…. THANK YOU!
On Veteran’s Day we honor Some of them were drafted; In the jungle or the desert, Some came back; some didn’t. No matter what the duty, Let every veteran be honored; We owe so much to them, By Joanna Fuchs |
Private Ralph Yerksb. 1894 d.1918 Second Lieutenant Harry W. Lewisb.1892 d.1972 James Tierneyb. 1894 d.1931 Lloyd Lewisb.1928 d. 2000 Colonel Robert E. Dunn, US Armyb. 1892 d. 1974 James Leroy Yerks IIIb. 1938 William B. Yerksb. 1891 d. 1960 Jonathan J. Foleyb. 1896 d. 967 Brian HoganGulf War 1990 -1991 John W. Dunnb. 1930 d. 2000 John E Dunn1985-1990, USAF Active Duty William SheehanFred BarnesGeorge CondosNick Condos |
While doing some casual family genealogy research using Google’s new Newspaper Archives, I stumbeled accross one of the greatest finds yet…. A New York Times obituary with a picture of New York City Police Captain Frank A. Tierney. He was 68 year old when he died of heart disease in Brooklyn, New York. Frank was the brother of my Great Grandfather James F Tierney. My great Uncle actually was a Police Inspector before being demoted to Captain just before his retirement in 1928.
He spent 32 years on the Police Force, including several years in Chinatown, heading up the move against the gangs there. Unfortunately, he encountered some political trouble in 1918 with Police Commissioner Enright who took the opportunity to demote him. It seems that although he was in and out of some minor trouble through his career (see the attached articles), he was generally well respected and liked. He retired as a Captain on December 31, 1928, ending his career managing the Miller Avenue Precinct in Brooklyn.
He was survived by his three sons; John E, Frank A. Jr. and Raymond A Tierney (who later became a New York City Magistrate in 1956.)
The Obituary and Photo
