Police Officer Patrick S. Hanley, the son Ellen Hayes and Daniel Hanley and a New York City Patrolman for almost 25 years was shot in the back while trying to apprehend a man who had “shot another brother officer just moments before”.

This is the story of how the “other” Hayes’ arrived in the United States.  The other Hayes’ meaning on the Lewis side.  Yes, I have Hayes’ from both my mother and father.  The information is compiled from many sources, including: Census Records: 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930. A letter From Grace Lewis telling

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

This last weekend, Mom, Colleen, Philip Jr., Kevin and myself all piled into the Trailblazer and headed south to Pennsylvania.  The drive down was without incident and allowed me some quality time to gather more family insight from my Mom.  She told me lots of new things, but unfortunately, I was driving and was unable

After studying the information provided to me in the Internment Report and comparing it to my uncle Lloyd’s notes and census records, I have identified several people buried at the Beattie plot at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn. First, I believe “Mary Beattie & Infant” (b 1864, d. 1904) may be the wife of John

After waiting close to eight weeks, my long awaited Internment Report has arrived for the Beattie’s and Tierney’s buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. After paying $75 for the report, I find it raised more questions than it really resolved. Back in July 2008, I made a trip to Holy Cross after

This video is dedicated to all my friends who came to my 4th birthday party on Sunday, September 14th, 2008. Thank you for all my great presents. I hope you had as much fun as I did!

This is the story of Ellen Hayes Hanley, who came to America  from Ireland with her three children in 1870.  Ellen Hayes was apparently married to Daniel Hanley in Ireland, but did not come to America with him. Ellen and Daniel  had three children; Catherine/Kate (my great grandmother), William and Patrick.  I cannot yet determine

After a series of sudden ideas and strange coincidences, the next generation of Yerks family unfolded before me within hours.  This generation has been troubling me for a long time, as I was unable to find the parents of George Oakley Yerks as listed on his death certificate.  I think the officials may have guessed

Well, the first of two DNA Tests are back.  The Paternal Lineage Test (Y-Chromosome 46) is the test used to help me find genetic cousins on my father’s side.  It has determined that I am a member of the R1b Haplogroup,  also known as the “Artisans” .  Below is a short description of the R1b  Haplogroup that comes directly from

In one last act of desperation to find some type of mention of Ralph Yerks at a War Memorial,  I emailed the Rye Historical Society to ask them if there was a War Memorial in Rye.  Rye was the only town that I had had not visited because I was unfamiliar with it.  Within 12 hours, I received

Ralph Yerks (born April 4, 1894 in Bedford Hills, New York) served and died for his country in World War I, yet we cannot find a memorial in Westchester County that recognizes him. Ralph Yerks, Private, U.S. Army 9th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Division Entered the Service from: New York Died: September 13, 1918 Buried at: