[Note: for some reason I did not publish this post, but I’ve forgotten why. Maybe I was barking up the wrong tree, so bear with me if that’s the case. I need to get back into the Maggie/Willie story and finish it up. Did Maggie die in 1934?? I found their marriage record -in Annaclone, in 1921- which throws much of the info below into doubt. Was there a second couple by the same names?]

Margret McCavitt, or Maggie, was another of the McCavitt siblings, and another of my great grand-aunts. It’s been hard to find out much about her beyond what is shown in the various censuses between 1900 and 1940. I’m indebted to Damian McKevitt for the fantastic photo, below, of Margaret and her husband.

1901 Census of Ireland

The 1901 Census of Ireland gives her age as 13, so she has a probable birthdate of around 1888-ish. She is one of 5 sisters and 3 brothers all living with widowed father James (58), living in Lacken. Maggie is employed as a domestic worker, ie a servant, but we don’t know where.

1911 Census of Ireland

Margaret was still living at home on the farm in 1911. Only her brother Daniel and sister Rose are still living there with her, along with father James who is 72 (-ish) by now. Margaret’s age is 24, and she, like her sisters, is a “farmer’s daughter”. [It seems that she emigrated to the United States shortly after this, either in late 1911 or 1912.]

In fact, Maggie did not head west. She married Willie Rooney in November 1918. Willie was from Corbally close to Katesbridge, just down the road from where they got married. Willie had been married before, likely to a Lizzie Doyle. Maggie and Willie had at least two children, Eddie and Mary Rose.

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Good research/genealogy lesson learned: all of the info belo seemed to be the perfect fit for what I thought I knew about the McCavitt siblings. Turns out, though, that I had been up the proverbial wrong tree. A fellow family researcher contacted me and let me know that she thought my research was incorrect. Far from being upset or put out, I was relieved and happy to get it right. So, thanks, Wendy H.!

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1915 New York Census

In the time between the 1911 Irish census and the 1915 NY census, Margaret emigrates and finds a husband, William Rooney. I’m guessing it was pretty soon after arriving, maybe a year or two. Although, their daughter Josephine is listed as 5 years old, which would put her birth at 1910.Willie Rooney is a clerk in a dry goods store, and Margaret is at home looking after Josephine. Interestingly, it says that Maggie arrived in the US in 1895

1920 US Census

They are living at 240 67th St., in Brooklyn, a two-family house. Willie is 46 (b.~1874) and Maggie is 38, b.~1882 ( this differs from her supposed birthdate of 1888). The census record indicates that Maggie had immigrated in 1894, and that she naturalized in 1909. However, this seems like it might be an error, since she was in Ireland in 1909 – I assume. Willie is a ‘carrier’ -a postman- and seems to have been born in New York, but his father was born in Ireland.

1925 New York Census

By June 1st 1925 the Rooneys have moved a couple of blocks up to 216 79th Street, a single family home that they own (per the 1930 census). Willie is 44, Margaret 42. Their daughter Josephine is 14, which indicates they probably got married in late 1911/early 1912. Under the column headed “Number of Years in the U.S.” it says 27 – which would mean she arrived in 1898-ish. Perhaps she came, went back and returned? On this census Willie is a post office clerk.

1930 US Census

They are still in number 216, which is valued at $15,000 (now it’s worth almost $1.5 million!). Margaret and Willie’s ages are recorded as 50 and 52, and Josephine is 17. The date confusion continues: it says they got married at age 35 and 33, between 1911-15. Margaret’s birthdate agrees with the 1920 census, so either the Irish census is wrong, or she just consistent with the error? Willie is still a Post Office mail carrier. Maggie’s date of immigration is 1912, very different to what’s on the previous census, but maybe more likely? I haven’t been able to find her on any ships or immigration papers yet.

1940 US Census

Some interesting details in this census. As a mailman Willie earned $1200 in 1939, and Josephine -a 29 year-old bookkeeper for a coal company- made $1900. Willie is 66, Maggie 64 (I can’t keep up with all of these age changes!), and they are still in the same house in Brooklyn – although property prices appear to have fallen, with the value listed at just $8000. Yikes.

to be continued…