The Hayes Family History Site

Who Ever Said Yerks Research Was Easy?

Philip Hayes — Wed, 11 Aug 2010 17:08:49 +0000

As I continue to struggle to find proof that George Oakley Yerks is the son of William Townsend Yerks, I changed focus for a bit in hopes that something else might pop-up that would help me put the pieces of this family puzzle together. I decided to research the brothers and sister of William T Yerks. I’ll give you a little spoiler… I have more questions now, than I did before.

John W Yerks

Thanks to research done by David Yerks (a descendant of John W Yerks) of California, we have pretty much solidified this branch of the family tree. There are not too many mysteries left here. We even recently found his gravestone in Pleasantville.

Ezra Yerks

According to Census records, Ezra Yerks is the brother of William Townsend Yerks, John F. Yerks and Armenia Yerks. The 1880 Census indicate that there were two Ezra Yerks that inhabited New Castle in 1880. One was listed as single (b. 1837) and living with the Wright family as a servant on a farm in Chappaqua. The other Ezra Yerks (b. 1830), was listed as married at the time, but his wife was not listed in the Census with him. So that may be a mistake. Living with the second Ezra was his brother Joseph, father John and mother Fanny. I found a gravestone in Palmer Cemetery in Pleasantville that shows a 62 year old Ezra Yerks who died in 1890, so I decided to do some research on him.

First, someone had already added him to Find-A-Grave
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=21078161

His obit (below) offers little help except that he managed Mr. Cowdins Farm in Chappaqua.

There is another article that mentions how a box with lots of money and valuables was found under his bed when he died.

This articles indicates that this Ezra Yerks was a bachelor, “so of course the money would go to his bother and sister”. So, at age 62, that would most likely make him the second Ezra Yerks from above. But if Ezra was indeed a bachelor, than maybe he was Ezra Yerks, the brother of William Townsend. I did contact the poster of the Find-A-Grave memorial to see what she knows. Right now, I guess I would have to say that the Ezra Yerks who died in 1890 is NOT the brother of William Townsend Yerks, but maybe time will tell otherwise.

Armenia Yerks

Armenia Yerks is the daughter of Maria and William Yerks, born around 1835. The 1880 Census shows Armenia Yerks (b. 1830) to be living with Charles Carpenter. It indicates that Armenia is the Aunt of the head of household. This would mean that Charles Carpenter would have to be the son of one of Armenia’s sisters. The problem is that as far as I knew, Armenia was the only daughter of Maria and William Yerks. I am sure there is a connection here, I just have to figure it out..

Then the 1900 Census shows Armenia to be in an “Almshouse” with lots of other woman. From Wikipedia: “Almshouses are charitable housing provided to enable people (typically elderly people who can no longer work to earn enough to pay rent) to live in a particular community”. Also: “A building of residence for the poor, sick or elderly of a parish. Originally founded by the Church. Usually a charity relying on donations for funding”.

Ira F. Yerks

Here is another mystery. Who is the Ira F Yerks that appears in the 1870 Census with William and Maria? Maria would have to have been 59 when she delivered him, if she was his mother. It would seem more likely that he would be the son of Ezra or Armenia, but as far as we know, neither had children. There are two Ira Yerks living in the area in 1900. The first (b. 1864) is listed as a boarder with the Birdsall family in Bedford. The second (b. May 1863) is living with a Jared and Julia Dann in Pound Ridge. He is listed as a son-in-law, making him the sister of Julia.

To make things more confusing, I found two newspaper articles that mention the name Ira Yerks.

A Mr. and Mrs. Ira Yerks of Mount Kisco “Spent Sunday with their Aunt, Mrs. Hannah Lawrence” according to an 1888 Newspaper article.

A September 1887 newspaper article states that a Ira Yerks “went to Newark last Monday to begin work”

Summary….

You would think that with all the information out there about the Yerks Families in Westchester, it would be easier finding information on this branch of the family tree. It’s not. Chances are that they were poor and did not appear as much in the public eye as other branches of the Yerks family tree have because of that. The only grave I have found so far is that of John W Yerks. He is in the same cemetery as the Ezra Yerks above.

Surprise Party For Reginald Parrett… A Family Affair

Philip Hayes — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 14:04:33 +0000

This article was published in the Newtown Register on Thursday, February 9, 1911. According to this brief article, on Saturday, Jan 28, 1911 there was a surprise birthday party for Reginald W Parrett. Reginald was married to Irene Tierney. Irene is a daughter of Mary Jane Kinneary and Thomas W Tierney. They lived at 9 Chestnut Street in Corona, Queens. Corona is a dense neighborhood in the former Township of Newtown in the New York City borough of Queens. It is neighbored by Flushing to the east, Jackson Heights to the west, Forest Hills and Rego Park to the south, Elmhurst to the southwest, and East Elmhurst to the north.

The party was attended by numerous relatives and friends….

Mr and Mrs Reginald Parrett.
Mrs Reginald Parrett is also known as Irene Tierney Parrett . Irene was 21 years old. She was Reginald’s third wife and sister of Reginald’s second wife… got that? Yea it took me a while too. Irene’s sister Mary, was Reginald’s second wife. She died unexpectedly in 1909. Reginalds first wife died in 1908. Talking about a string of bad luck…. wow!

Mr and Mrs F. J. Parrett
F.J. Parrett is presumably Reginalds brother or son from his first marriage. I’m not really sure yet.

Margrite Parrett
I’m not sure who Margrite is. She could be his daughter from Reginalds first marriage.

Mr and Mrs James Sproul Tierney (James is about 28 years old)
James is a brother of Irene and the son of Mary Jane Kinneary and Thomas W Tierney. He was a NY Police Officer . He was married to a Sarah Gray. I don’t know if they had any children.

Mr and Mrs Simeon LJ Tierney (Simeon is about 25 years old)
Simeon is a brother of Irene and the son of Mary Jane Kinneary and Thomas Tierney. He may have been a Police Officer and possibly a private detective later in life. Simeon was married to Anna Smith. They had just married at the time of this party and had their first of four kids the following year. I don’t know if there are any living decendants of this branch of the family tree.

Mr James Tierney (about age 18)
James is a first cousin of Irene and is the son of Sarah Beattie and James Tierney. He married Adelle Lehr in 1927, but died in 1931 when the car 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, but killing him.

Miss Grace Elinor Tierney (about age 19)
Grace is a first cousin of Irene and is the daughter of Sarah Beattie and James Tierney. She sang a vocal solo for the event. Grace later became Grace Dunn. They had no children.

Miss Isabelle Tierney (about age 14)
Isabelle is a first cousin of Irene and is the daughter of Sarah Beattie and James Tierney. She later became Isabelle Lewis. She is my Grandmother.

Mr Charles Beattie (about 43 years old)
Charles is the brother of Sarah Beattie Tierney.

Also in Attendance….
Mr and Mrs J F Dobbs (Capt. Dobbs made some humorous speeches)
Mr and Mrs R L Robins of Northport, Long Island
Maria Flood
Mr and Mrs Daragh – Police Officer
Mr and Mrs J Adams
Mr Lawrence McCaughery (played a musical instrument for the event)
Miss Precella Dobbs
Mr and Mrs John N Perkins of Boston
Mr and Mrs F.A. Kuell (Mrs Kuell played a musical instrument for the event)

A “Chip Off The Old Block”…Raymond A Tierney Jr.

Philip Hayes — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 02:32:32 +0000

The following article was published on November 12, 1952 in The Brooklyn Eagle. It tells the story of Raymond A Tierney Jr sterlings high school sports experience and the sports successes of numerous family members. The article mentions that Raymond is the grandson of Police Inspector Frank A. Tierney. Grandfather Frank was one of the outstanding rowers with the Dauntless on the Harlem River and won numerous titles.

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Stamford Mourns “Mom” Condos… Owned Four Coney Island Resturants

Philip Hayes — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 12:23:47 +0000

Jean Yerks, Mary Condos granddaughter, found this article in her keep sake box and gave it to me for good keeping. It’s surprising, because we really had no idea that Semne (now Mary) Konzia Condos was so popular in Stamford. She was born in Greece, immigrated to America circa 1900, bounced around for a while, but finally settled in Stamford. We knew she and the greek Condos family owned four Coney Island Restaurants in Stamford, but we had no idea of the impact they made on the community. Now we know.

Saga of Sterling Club Thrills Lock City Fans: George and Speros Condos

Philip Hayes — Thu, 15 Jul 2010 18:29:03 +0000

This article was found in a box of pictures belonging to Speros Condos, brother of George Condos. George and Speros were twins and together they excelled in the sports arena around Stamford High School. This article looks back at a basketball team that kept Stamford thrilled.

4 Generations of James Leroy Yerks

Philip Hayes — Tue, 25 May 2010 22:09:15 +0000

This photo is of four generations of James L Yerks’. It was taken circa 1969. Based on a few early census records, James L Yerks appears to have changed his name from Leroy Yerks to James Leroy Yerks. James L Yerks Sr is the son of Annie Cutler and George Oakley Yerks. He had two brothers; Ralph who was killed in France during World War I and William Benjamin, who was gassed in World War I but survived and eventually returned to the United States. His decendents now live in the New Jersey area.

James L Yerks Sr (b. 21 May 1912 in Goldens Bridge, NY; d. 1 Oct 2007 in Cos Cob, CT)
James L Yerks Jr (b. 5 Nov 1892 in Mt. Kisco, NY; d. 20 Apr 20, 1973 in Cos Cob, CT)
James L Yerks III (Living)
James L Yerks IV (Living)

Johanna Hayes & Children Arrive In The United States in September 1975

Philip Hayes — Fri, 21 May 2010 13:43:48 +0000

According to Lloyd Lewis’ genealogy notes, compiled from reports of various family members, Johanna Hayes and the rest of the family that had not yet emigrated to the United States, finally made the trip over the pond shortly after the death of her husband, Patrick Hayes. According to a biography of Edward Hayes, a son who had arrived in the United States circa 1869, his father Patrick died in Limerick on April 15, 1875. So far, I have been unable to find a Civil Death Record for him in that year. But using that date as a starting point for searching, I began looking for a ship manifest that contained Johanna and one ore more known children of hers. I soon found the following record.

Passenger: Johana Hayes
Arrival Date: 20 Sep 1875
Birth Year: abt 1820
Age: 55
Gender: Female
Ethnicity/Race/Nationality: Irish
Place of Origin: Ireland
Port of Departure: Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland
Destination: United States of America
Port of Arrival: New York
Port Arrival State: New York
Port Arrival Country: United States
Ship Name: Wisconsin

Also traveling with Johanna is a daughter named Brid. (Bridget), age 30 and a son name John, age 20. The ages for all three passengers match the known ages of the Johanna, Bridget and John of Limerick, Ireland. Based on these facts, it is safe to conclude that this passenger manifest positively identifies that that these three family members arrived in the United States on 20 September, 1875.

The Tragic Life and Death of Robert John Beattie

Philip Hayes — Wed, 19 May 2010 14:44:57 +0000

Today, I was going through some old records which I had considered “duds”, when I came across a copy of a death record from England for a Robert John Beattie. I initially had discarded the record because the approximate birth year for the person did not match any Robert Beattie I had in the family tree. As I looked over the death certificate, I suddenly remembered an e-mail that Cousin Janice Beattie had sent me telling me that there was a Beattie family member who was born in Hong Kong, China and his name was Robert John Beattie. I didn’t have him in the tree yet, because I knew virtually nothing about him.

This death certificate is for a Robert John Beattie who died in the Walton section of Lancaster, England. The death certificate indicates that he was found drowned at Langton Docks on May 20th, 1889. Robert was 24 years old and was a foreman at a business on Newark Street in Walton. Robert was last seen alive on December 8, 1888. How he got into the water is not known. The death record indicates that a death certificate was received from a coroner’s inquest held on May 21, 1889. I will have to see if I can get a copy of the Coroners Inquest Report.

Based on the information in the death certificate, I am fairly certain that this Robert John Beattie, is the son of Robert Beattie of Kirkcudbright, Scotland and the Robert John Beattie who born in Hong Kong, China. We know that there is a Robert J Beattie (b. circa 1866), listed as a nephew, living with the family of John and Edith Mann Beattie in Everton (1871) and Kirkdale (1881). These two locations are just mile or two from Langton Docks (see the map) where this Robert John Beattie was found.

This Robert was 24 years old at the of time his death. That would place his date of birth crica 1866, which matches what we know about our Robert John Beattie based on those Census records.

What makes this story even more tragic is that his father, Robert Beattie, was reportedly murdered in Hong Kong. As the story goes, brother John Beattie sailed to China to bring his young nephew home.

So now the big question… Was he murdered? Did he take his own life? Or was this just a tradgic accident?

Jane Lewis Hunter Portrait

Philip Hayes — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:36:06 +0000

I was recently contacted by Peter Aubrey-Smith. He is my third cousin, once removed on the Lewis branch of my family tree. He had seen my research on ancestry.com and decided to contact me. We have since been sharing information back and forth, but the grand prize came the other day when he shared with me a portrait picture of a woman that his family firmly believes is Jane Lewis.

Circa 1880

Jane Lewis is the sister of Henry William Lewis who is my great, great grandfather. Jane (b. circa 1844 in Llanmdock, Wales) married William Henry Hunter (b. circa 1844 in Barstaple, England) on October 16, 1865. Together they had at least 5 children. Peter is the descendant of their fourth child, Margaret Grace Hunter.

My cousin in Pennsylvania has letters from Jane to the Lewis family in New York I have not seen them yet, but now I am excited to get my hand on them now.

Harry McNeill & Jane Josephine Hayes Marriage Certificate

Philip Hayes — Tue, 18 May 2010 20:01:43 +0000

This the the marraige certificate for Harry McNeill & Jane Josephine Hayes. They were married at St Patricks Roman Catholic Church in Manchester, New Hampshire on September 27th, 1920.

GROOM:
Groom: Harry G McNeill
Address: 257 Merrimack Street, Manchester, NH
Occupation: Cigarmaker
Father: Irving McNeill (Deceased)
Mother: Esther Louise Sanborn
Mother Address: 257 Merrimack Street, Manchester, NH
Mother Birthplace: Manchester, England

BRIDE
Bride: Jane Josephine Hayes
Bride Address: 35 Front Street
Occupation: Brushmaker
Father: John J Hayes (Deceased)
Father Occupation: Watchman
Father Birthplace: London, England
Mother: Jane B Keelty (Kelty)
Mother’s Address: 35 Front Street

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