Genie's Lamp
Philadelphia Genealogy
2nd Great Grandparents - Paternal
Richard Kelley & Catherine Ayres
Catherine Ayres/Ayars was born in Bridegton, New Jersey in February 14, 1846 to Jonathan B Ayres, a merchant who later worked for the Pennsylvania Railroad, and Sarah Woodruff. The Ayres line is well researched and is currently documented many generations back to Robert Ayars, Esq. who was born in 17th century England. For more information on the Ayars family there is a genealogical reference, 'Robert Ayars and His Descendants', compiled by Frank D. Andrews. Catherine, (descendant 930) and Richard Kelly/Kelley are on page 133 of the Google eBook edition.
Richard Kelly/Kelley was born June 30, 1840 in Smyrna, Delaware to Daniel and Abigail Kelley of Virginia or Delaware.
He and Catherine were married in Delaware in 1860 and were living in Philadelphia by 1863 where he was a carpenter. He had at least one sibling, a brother Daniel, who reportedly also resided in Philadelphia.
Catherine and Richard Kelly had ten children, at least eight of whom survived to adulthood, the 8th born being my great grandfather, Horace Woodruff Kelly Sr. Their children were: Charles, James, Jonathan, Sarah, Abigail, Richard B, Mary, Horace, Priscilla and Catherine.
Catherine Ayres Kelly died of heart disease at age 65 in Philadelphia on June 11, 1910. Her last address was 7772 Dittman Street.
Richard died of an infected ulcer on July 31, 1917 at the age of 77 while living with his son, Richard B Kelly, at 5932 Keystone Street.
Richard and Catherine are buried in Magnolia Cemetery in the Tacony section of Philadelphia in lot 137 section D
(Photos of Catherine Ayres & Horace Kelley Sr courtesy of Sue & Rich Dickstein)
James White & Matilda Clark
Matilda Clark was born in Ireland to unknown parents in Dec and came to Philadelphia around 1862. She had three children with her first husband, Robert Cox Sr, also from Ireland; Maryann, Catherine and Robert. Robert Sr died of unknown causes in 1878 in Philadelphia.
On March 3, 1879 Matilda Clark Cox married James White who was born in Dublin, Ireland on July 14, 1848 to Thomas & Eliza Caffery. They had five children together; Matilda Jane, my great grandmother, born December 1879, Jane, Martha, James Joseph and Thomas.
The family lived at 200 W. Cumberland Street in 1880 and by 1900 purchased a home at 168 W. Huntingdon Street.
On February 14, 1907 Matildda Clark White died of cirrhosis of the liver at age 59 at their residence. On October 29, 1918 James White died at age 73 of a cerebral hemorrhage. They are buried in Mount Moriah Cemetery.
Pantaleone Teti & Filomena Tolisi
The parents of Teresa Teti were probably born about 1855 in Italy. They lived in Campobasso, Molise, Italy in October 1886 when Teresa was born.
About 1903, when Teresa was 16 years old, the family immigrated to Philadelphia, PA. Filomena died in 1924 and Pantaleone in 1934 in Philadelphia.
Camillo DiBenedetto & Filomena Appoglisi
Camillo, the father of Pietro DiBenedetto/aka/Peter Bennett was born on July 16, 1851 in Civile, Lanciano, Chieti, Italy to Domiziano DiBenedetto and Maria Nicola di Benedetto.
In April 1886 they were living in Vastogirardi, Isernia, Italy where Pietro was born.
If they immigrated to Philadelphia it probably would have been in the early 1900's when Pietro arrived. No more information is known
2nd Great Grandparents - Maternal
Daniel O'Donnell & Bridget McDevitt
Daniel O'Donnell was born about 1828 in Ireland, in Glenties, Donegal, to William O'Donnell and Ann Slavin. He came to the U.S. in the late 1840's with his two sisters, Margaret and Catherine and a brother, Patrick.
In 1850 Daniel was living near his brother, Patrick, in Phoenixville, PA.
Bridget McDevitt was born in January 1837 to John & Hannah McDevitt in Ireland. Her year of arrival is 1846 on the the census of 1910. She would have been a young child of 9 and probably immigrated with her parents or parent. She may have lived in Phoenixville in the early 1850's where she likely met Daniel O'Donnell.
About 1853 Bridget and Daniel were married in Pennsylvania. By 1854 the first of their seven children was born, a daughter called Ann. Six more children would follow: William, Mary Ann, Edward, my great grandfather John J, Rose and Daniel.
By 1870 Daniel, a laborer, and Bridget along with five of their children were then living in Philadelphia on Adams Avenue in the Frankford section. Their first child, Ann, died sometime before 1870, probably in Philadelphia and in 1873 their 18 month old son, Daniel Jr, would die of accidental burning with coal oil. He is buried in New Cathedral Cemetery.
The 1880 census has the family living at 2429 Hope Street but a directory for the same year has their address as 2354 Hope Street. Both addresses were in the neighborhood of West Kensington. It's possible they owned both homes as they purchased many properties over the years.
On December 11, 1892 Daniel O'Donnell died of pulmonary phthisis at their residence at 2636 Palethorp Street at age 64. He is buried in New Cathedral Cemetery.
In 1900 Bridget was living with her daughter Mary Ann Oulahan's family at 3120 Arbor Street. By 1910 she was living with her daughter Rose at 2931 Hartville Street. In 1920 she was again living with the Oulahan's in their home at 30 Silver Street.
On January 8, 1927, 90 year old Bridget McDevitt O'Donnell died of heart failure in the care of a physician. She is buried in New Cathedral Cemetery in Section E Block 10 Lot 29 with Daniel and three of their children; Daniel Jr, William and Rose O'Donnell McNulty.
Samuel Dearnley & Mary Philomena Nugent
Samuel Dearnaley/Dearnley was born in Hadfield, Derbyshire, England in January 1848, the first of seven children of William Dearnaley and Margaret Clarke.
His Dearnley line has been traced back to William Dearnley c. 1560 - 1613 and Elsbeth Goddard born about 1554.
On April 21, 1877 Samuel married Mary Philomena Nugent of Lancashire, daughter of Thomas Nugent, in the Preston Street Church in Farnworth, Bolton, Lancashire, England.
In 1880 Samuel and Mary Philomena, called Philomena, immigrated to Providence, Rhode Island with their infant son Joseph. There they had three more children, including my great grandmother, Margaret Mary, before relocating to Philadelphia.
Samuel died at Episcopal Hospital at age 55 of pneumonia following a scalding accident in the Empire textile mill where he was employed as a watchman on December 7, 1903. He is buried in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Philadelphia, PA.
Philomena was living at 2559 Emerald Street, the home of her daughter and son-in-law, Catherine and James Devlin, in 1920.
(Mary) Philomena Nugent Dearnley died at age 76 on 20 Aug 1922, burial place unknown though it is likely Holy Sepulchre.
Edward Bayless & Mary Unknown
The parents of John Bayless were born about 1850 in Wales, England. In September 1870 they were living in Mount Carmel, Pennsylvania. They had four children: Edward, Rebecca, William & John. I have no information for what became of Edward. Mary married David Lewis about 1874 In Shenandoah, PA and had two more children, Martha and Daniel Lewis and died after 1894, probably in Shenandoah.
Michael Valerius & Mary Woll
Michael Valerius was born on 17 November 1836 in Katholisch, Herforst, Rheinland, Prussia to Jacobi Valerius and Catharina Becker and was baptized the following day.
On November 24, 1862 he married Mary Woll, daughter of Wilhelmina Carl & Johann Woll, and in 1864 they immigrated to the anthracite-mining region of Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.
In 1870 Michael, a 33 year old stone mason, was living with his 27 year old wife, Mary, and thier 2 year old daughter, Lena, in Shenandoah.
In 1873 Mary would give birth to a son, John. This same year Michael became a Trustee of Saint Michael C.M.B.A. (German) a branch of the German Catholic Central Association.
In 1877 another daughter, Mary Valerius, my great grandmother was born. It is believed Mary Woll Valerius died giving birth to Mary or shortly after. It is not known where she is buried.
Michael would marry a 32 year old widow, Elizabeth Britt Verlin, shorthly after Mary's death and he and Elizabeth would have 5 more children together.
In 1880 the family was living at 170 Jardin Street where Michael was also involved in merchandising. At some point after the birth of their last child Michael & Elizabeth were separated, living in different counties of Pennsylvania.
About 1898 Michael Valerius died, probably in Swoyersville Borough, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, his last residence. It is not known where he is buried.
Elizabeth Britt Valerius died on Dec. 28, 1934 of cardiac decompensation in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. She is buried in St. Mary's Cemetery in Wilkes-Barre (Hanover).