According to the census of 31 March 1901 there was lodging at 22 Upper North Street, with Bridget O'Brien, a 23-year-old butcher from Dundalk by the name of Patrick Joseph Garvey. Patrick's father Michael had originally lived in Tullyvallen, South Armagh (indeed Garvey is still a common name in that area. Bridget Daly has assured me that just lately a great nephew of the man in question died there). Michael moved to the nearest large town, Dundalk, for work. He found work as a butcher. Then he met and married Bridget Sharkey. The year was 1872. Over the next eighteen years seven children were born to them. Patrick Joseph had two elder sisters, Maryanne and Catherine. He also had three younger brothers, one of whom, James, will later earn a mention in my story. Owen and Michael and a younger sister Bridget completed the family. The family lived at first on James Street but in 1884 they moved to Bachelor's Walk. When his eldest son Patrick failed to find work as a butcher too in Dundalk, Michael contacted his old friend from home (i.e. Tullyvallen) Bridget O'Brien who now owned a boarding house in Upper North Street, Newry. Bridget assured Michael that the young lad could stay with her and she would help find him a position. Within a short time Patrick Garvey was staying with Bridget and had a job as a butcher on the same street.
Patrick showed an interest in his landlady's niece Bridget, a servant girl living elsewhere in the town who would call regularly to visit her sister Susan and her aunt. Soon Patrick and Bridget were walking out together.
The Administrator Rev. Fr. James Carlin officiated at their wedding on August 3 1901. Bridget was just twenty. The marriage record notes that Frank, Bridget's father, was deceased: that Patrick's father Michael was alive and a butcher. The witnesses were a married couple, James and Catherine McClelland . Even today it is unusual not to have at least one family member act as bridesmaid or best man. It was even more so then. This absence may indicate that the parents on both sides were unsupportive of this union. Perhaps this helps explain why Bridget was treated less than fairly in her mother's will some ten years later.
Who was this couple that acted as witnesses?
James McClelland was thirty-eight, and a blacksmith of 40 Mill Street. (There was only horse-drawn traffic still and a demand for smiths). Next door lived the Troys - one of whom would later marry Bridget's youngest sister Maggie. In spite of the age difference, these people became friendly with the young Bridget and Patrick from just around the corner. James's wife Catherine (36) was the mother of six children. Margaret the eldest worked in a local mill as a winder; her younger sister Mary Agnes (15) had recently started work as a weaver; Joseph (17) helped his father in the forge; John (12) James (9) and Bridget (4) were at school.. (My friend and neighbour Eileen Malone was a neighbour and remembers them.)
After their wedding the young couple rented a house at 3 Monaghan Street, where Patrick converted the ground floor to conduct a butcher's and poulterer's business of his own. Where the money came from to set up this venture is not known. Patrick however gained acclamation for his enterprise in a local publication of the time named “THE OPEN WINDOW: an annual of literature and popular yearbook”. The 1901-2 issue records that “MR P.J. GARVEY HAS OPENED A VICTUALLER AND POULTRY DEALER'S SHOP IN MONAGHAN STREET”. Later they moved to 43 Monaghan Street.
The first four houses nearest the railway track (Nos 39-45) were owned by the lady who lived in 45. The lady of the house - a Mrs. Collins, was a sea-captain's wife. Until we left in 1948 and after, rent would be paid for number 43. Before the Garveys arrived in 1901 it was rented by a widow Mrs. Ann O'Neill (51) her two daughters and a boarder. [The other residents of Monaghan Street then are listed elsewhere, in the Source Files . Few names are familiar.]
On 14 May 1902 a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Catherine was born to the couple Bridget and Patrick. Bridget's maiden aunt Bridget O'Brien was godmother to the child. Godfather was one Henry McCullagh. As this is the first McCullagh mentioned I'll have to comment on him.
I searched first for his address in Newry without success. At 4 Church Street Newry in 1901 lived one Henry McCullagh (30) a labourer, son of Henry McCullagh (70), labourer, of the same address. This is unlikely to be Mary's godfather because this man was a Protestant. (We are here discussing Mary's baptism, - not her birth record. A sponsor's duty is to ensure that the child will be brought up in the faith. The Catholic Church authorities would not permit a Protestant to fulfil this role). The only other Henry McCullagh resident in Newry at the time was also Protestant. Later I found one Patrick McCullagh in Newry who hailed from Tyrone. I then searched for a Henry McCullagh from the same area and came up with one such, born at Annavore, Ardboe on 6 January 1852. He was a Catholic and may be the sponsor, because quite a few men from that area came to Newry about the turn of the century. (Philip Coonagh, father of Edward [Susan's husband] was born there the year before Henry. Other migrants, some time later, included Peter Quinn and Patrick McCullagh.) Henry had likely arrived in Newry the previous year and was lodging with Bridget O'Brien on North Street. He may have been more than a casual friend to her. He may also have been a close relative of Bridget's (Loy/Garvey) future partner Patrick McCullagh. These matters are discussed elsewhere. In passing I note that a huge line of successful McCullagh emigrants in Australia (today headed by Des Dineen) are descended from one Henry McCullagh who left Ardboe in the mid-nineteenth century.
No one knows for certain the eventual fate of the baby's father, Patrick Garvey. Bridget Loy (my cousin) remembers being told that Patrick Garvey died early in his married life of blood poisoning. Seemingly he was stung by a wasp and scratched the spot with the point of a lead pencil. The poison pervaded his system with fatal results. If you ignore the part about the lead pencil, the explanation is not nearly so far-fetched. The poison sac of a wasp causes only severe discomfort to most people but its effects can be fatal to a tiny minority of people who are allergic to its poison.
I have searched the records in Newry, Dundalk, Belfast, Dublin, Liverpool and London for this death without success. I have come up with the death of other Patrick Garveys about this time (see source file) but they are not relevant. I persisted with this search for months on end because it is central to the story about to unfold. Still no success. That nothing untoward happened is suggested by the degree of communication with our family. In the 1950's my mother Eileen was visiting on Ormeau Road Belfast one James Garvey, brother of Patrick, recently returned from a lifetime spent in London.
Still only in her early twenties Bridget found herself a widow with a newborn daughter. She could not make her living from the butcher's shop. She was rescued from homelessness, penury and disaster by her maiden aunt of Upper North Street, Bridget O'Brien..
She took on her niece as a live-in maid and friend. From this point onwards, until her death in 1921 she would act as her niece's guardian. The North Street boarding house was surrendered and another bought in Monaghan Street. Some years later the house across the road (43 Monaghan Street) was purchased too – for the niece, the lady who was to become my Granny Bridget. Thank heavens for that. Otherwise we would never have existed.
Both Bridgets, aunt and niece, across the road from one another, were in business as boarding house keepers and providers of meals to farmers in town for market days. But I skip too fast. A crucial event some few years earlier must be recorded.
The Catholic Church records that an illegitimate child was presented for baptism at Newry Cathedral on 27 August 1907. She was sponsored by one Mary Magee and christened Elizabeth. The baptismal record acknowledges that the child was the illegitimate daughter of Bridget Garvey of Monaghan Street. Could I learn more?
Yes. Take note of these Court Proceedings of the time.
NEWRY REPORTER Saturday 4 April, 1908 p6
BALLYBOT QUARTER SESSIONS
GARVEY V MALLON
Bridget Garvey, by her aunt Bridget O'Brien of Monaghan Street Newry sued Joseph Mallon, a farmer residing at Derrybeg, near Newry to recover £50 for seduction.
Mr Hunter Moore appeared for the plaintiff and Mr P J O'Hagan (Mssrs O'Hare and O'Hagan) defended.
His Honour gave a decree for £40 and costs. The defendant did not appear.
NEWRY REPORTER Saturday 11 July, 1908
ARMAGH ASSIZES
NEWRY SEDUCTION CASE
Joseph Mallon of Derrybeg Newry appealed against a decree for £40- and costs granted against him at the Ballybot Quarter Sessions, in an action which was brought against him by Bridget O'Brien of Monaghan Street Newry for the seduction of her niece and servant Bridget Garvey.
Mr D M Wilson KC (instructed by Mr Hunter Moore) appeared for the plaintiff, and Mr Chambers KC (instructed by Messrs O'Hare and O'Hagan) represented the defendant. Mr Justice Wright affirmed the decree.
NEWRY REPORTER THURSDAY 28 JANUARY, 1909 P6
ILLEGAL SEIZURE MALLON V O'BRIEN
This was an interpleader civil bill brought by Ellen Mallon, a widow and farmer, residing in Derrybeg townland against Bridget O'Brien of Monaghan Street Newry, lodging home proprietor, to recover £50 in respect of the illegal seizure of a cow, heifer and two calves, the property of the plaintiff, on foot of a decree which the defendant obtained against the paintiff's son Joseph in an action for the seduction of her niece.
The seizure was made on 24 July last, and in order to obtain the release of the animals in question, the plaintiff lodged the sum of £47 1s, the return of which she now claimed, together with £3 19s damages against the defendant for trespass and wrongful seizure.
Mr P J O'Hagan (Messers O'Hare and O'Hagan) represented the defendant.
Mr O'Hagan said that the defendant did not send the decree which she got against Joseph Mallon to the Sheriff, but appointed special bailiffs for its execution.
Joseph Mallon however had nothing to do with the animals which were seized: they were the sole and absolute property of his mother who owned not only the farm but everything about the place.
He produced probate of the will of her husband, Luke Mallon dated 7 July 1903. Under the will the deceased appointed her sole executrix of his will and guardian of his children. He bequeathed to her all his property of every nature and kind for her life, with remainder at her death to such of her children as she might appoint.
Mrs Mallon was then examined and bore out Mr O'Hagan's statement. Immediately after the seizure she lodged £47 1s with the Sheriff and got back the animals.
MR CARROLL: Does your son live with you?
He comes and goes.
MR CARROLL: Does he drive a hackney car in Newry?
He has neither horse nor car.
MR CARROLL: When did he get rid of it? Was it after the decree granted against him was affirmed at the Assizes?
He does not tell me his business!
MR CARROLL: Had he a horse and cart up to that time?
Any horse or car he ever had was mine.
Further cross-examined, she said that it was her own name that was on the cart at her place.
MR CARROLL: Do you support him?
Well, if he comes in I would not see him hungry!
MR CARROLL: He gives you no assistance in the management of the place?
No!
Miss Mallon, plaintiff's daughter and Samuel Cully, a porter at the main line in Bessbrook Station of the GNR were examined in support of the plaintiff's case,
Mrs O'Brien (defendant) examined by MR CARROLL said that the defendant was a dealing man and attended markets and fairs. She had seen him paying men in her little restaurant in Monaghan Street and she had frequently observed livestock with him.
He drove a horse and car, but after the affirmation of the decree against him, he got rid of them.
His Honour granted a decree for the full amount claimed.
How do we interpret all of this?
Clearly the two Bridgets were ill-advised to take these court cases. Instead of vindication for the wronged young woman and financial remuneration for Joseph Mallon's crass behaviour, the actions cost them dearly and did little for their reputations in the town.
Though not mentioned in any court case, this ‘seduction' resulted in pregnancy, and the illegitimate birth of Elizabeth some seven months before it came to court. All this predated the Welfare State and the modern child maintenance awards against absent fathers.
What is clear is that her aunt had to bear the financial costs of these actions on behalf of Bridget Garvey. The young mother was ever more beholden to her maiden aunt.
All of this would have great bearing on the decision to have the new-born infant adopted by the Rices of Monaghan Row. I suspect the Church was complicit in that action and decision. Perhaps the alternative would have been much worse - perhaps confinement in an orphanage, or transportation – see note elsewhere – homelessness or abandonment.
As descendants, we must look with pride and gratitude to our spinster forebear Bridget O'Brien. After the murder in the closing decade of the nineteenth century of the husband of her sister in Ummerivore, she served for seven years in the shop there, allowing Catherine to focus on the rearing of her orphaned children. Later Bridget O'Brien came to Newry to open a boarding house in Upper North Street.
In that location she hosted many. Among them her niece Susan (17), Bridget's younger sister who paid her way working as a seamstress. Among them too was P J Garvey (25 years) soon to become ( Granny) Bridget's groom (in 1901, we believe). Others, as we know from the 1901 census return for 22 Upper North Street, included Elizabeth McEvoy, aged 40, RC, born USA, single, servant, housekeeper, and what might well be father/daughter pair Richard Byers, 50, tailor, widower .. and girl Lizzie Byers, 20, boarder, single.
Much changed within the next two years: P J Garvey wed (granny) Bridget, she became pregnant, he died, we think, of anaphylactic shock, Bridget O'Brien gave up the house and moved to Monaghan Street with the widowed niece ten years her junior. There she became her employer as well as her guardian. And guardian too of the child for a time.
I am enormously indebted to this great lady whose beneficent intervention on my granny's behalf, over more than a decade, allowed the younger Bridget to carve out an independent life for herself; later to meet her life partner, Patrick McCullagh, and with him to rear three more children (one of whom would become my father, also Patrick McCullagh.)
In 1923 at the age of fifty three – and still unmarried, Bridget O'Brien died of a cerebral haemorrhage in Daisy Hill Hospital. As Patrick, the younger Bridget's life partner had passed away less than three years before this, and a new family burial plot had then been purchased at St Mary's, it appears likely that this was the interment place of Bridget O'Brien too. Recently, as deed holder of this plot I attempted to confirm this with the Newry R.C. authorities. They have no record of who was buried there a century ago and appear to rely on commemorative burial stones for such details.
It had been decades since Bridget O'Brien had left South Armagh and there were few surviving relatives in Ummerinvore. Also it is likely that at least some of the money for Patrick's burial came from Bridget O'Brien, giving her (some) ownership in the plot. I felt that I could not include her name in the stone I recently had erected there to remember our deceased forebears therein interred.
But I am convinced this is her last resting place. To any family visiting the grave, I ask that you include her in your prayers for the dead. You would not exist but for the generosity and efforts of this great lady, the centenary of whose demise comes round very shortly. May God have mercy on her soul.