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Driscoll of Cork
Roll Call: Lynn Coakley Eaton

Catherine Driscoll married David John Coakley. They were from Clonakilty (maybe Tullyeasky - is that a townland?). I don't know when they were married. I know that David was born between 1840-1843. Catherine was born in 1836, I think based on age at the time of death on her obit. I have recently found out the names of her parents, but don't know anything about them. Her father was named James Driscoll; her mother's last name was Buckley. I don't know her first.

They came to the USA in 1874. David came first in June 1874 with their eldest daughter Margaret, born in 1862. I have evidence that David was an Irish speaker, so I'm guessing he brought his daughter along to help with the English. They left from Liverpool and arrived in Philadelphia. The ship was the SS Indiana.

Catherine came in October 1874 (SS Pennsylvania) bringing along the rest of the children:

Timothy born February 22, 1866

David John Coakley, Jr. born August 1868

Michael Coakley born September 1870

Katherine E. Coakley born December 1872

Mary Agnes Coakley was born in this country September 18, 1875.

All of the children, except the youngest of course, were baptized in Ross Carberry in Ross Abbey.

Also on the ship manifest was a note. I can't read it well. With this second group came an aunt or a serv (may be an abbreviation for servant). There is no name. It's hard to read the handwriting. The second group also came to Philadelphia via Liverpool.

They all moved to Pittsfield, Massachusetts where they stayed. David went to work in a woolen mill.

Catherine died on December 07, 1912. She was buried on December 09, 1912 in St. Joseph's Cemetery in Pittsfield, MA..

Here is the text of her obituary:

"Mrs. David Coakley

Mrs. Catherine Coakley, aged 76, wife of David Coakley of New Road, Pontoosuc, died Saturday afternoon at her home after a lingering illness. She had been an invalid for a number of years. She leaves besides her husband, three sons, David, Michael and Timothy Coakley and three daughters, Mary, Nellie and Catherine Coakley, all of this city.

The funeral was held from St. Charles Church this morning at 10 o'clock. Rec. C.J. Donoghue, officiating. Burial was in St. Joseph's Cemetery. The pall bearers were John Tyler, J.H. Newberger, Dennis Quirt, James Grady, Walter Martin and Robert Nesmith."

Taken from the Pittsfield, Mass. Berkshire Eagle of 12/9/1912. Pontoosuc is a section of Pittsfield, named for the Pontoosuc Mill in which many Irish worked at that time. An interesting glitch in this obit is that Catherine's eldest daughter, Margaret, was still alive at this time, but was left out of the list of survivors.

Only 2 of Catherine's children went on to have their own children. They were David and Timothy. Timothy was my great grandfather. The third son Michael married but had no children. None of the daughters married.


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