Category: Kiernan

They Landed!

On By 19pondstreetIn Immigrants, Kiernan, Riley, Stories and Trivia, UncategorizedLeave a comment

It was on this May 28th day in 1862 that Patrick Riley and Rose Kiernan set foot in the United States.

Patrick and Rose first left Ireland and traveled to Liverpool, England. I do not know how long they stayed in Liverpool. It was typical for the emigrating Irish to first book passage to Liverpool, where they would hopefully gain employment and secure enough money to purchase passage to New York. Patrick and Rose did not process through Ellis Island because it was not established as an arrival center. We can determine they traveled in steerage class because the passenger list had them in the last group departing the ship.

It appears they were not married at the time because Rose traveled under her maiden name and both were listed as single. 

It was on this day, May 28, 1862, when…

On By 19pondstreetIn Immigrants, Kiernan, Riley, Stories and TriviaLeave a comment

Patrick Reilly and Rose Kearnan departed the passenger ship Neptune and stepped out onto America’s New York City. Patrick was 23 and Rose(a) was 17 years of age.

Patrick’s father’s name was Michael and Catherine was his mother. Rose’s parents were named Patrick Kiernan and Rose (McHugh) Kiernan,

The Neptune left out of Liverpool, England sometime around the middle of May,1862 and sailed directly into New York harbor. Back in 1862, depending upon the type of vessel and weather, the Atlantic crossing could have lasted up to fourteen days.

Passengers departed the ship according to the class of their tickets. The holders of the First Class tickets disembarked first, Second Class next, and finally the people in steerage who were the last to leave the ship. An examination of the manifest shows Patrick and Rose were listed on the last page. At the time of their crossing, the cost of the cheapest ticket would have been around the equivalent of $39.

Here is a photo copy of the last page Neptune’s passenger manifest. You can just make out numbers 4 and 5 – Pat Reilly and Rose Kearnan (sp).

Born on this date

On By 19pondstreetIn Birthdays, Kiernan, Riley1 Comment

Michael J. Riley, son of Patrick Riley (Ireland) and Rose Kieran (Ireland) was born on this date in 1865 in New York City. He was the 1st in our Riley family to be born in the United States. Michael never married. According to his death certificate, Michael died on January 15, 1953, while in a nursing home located in Central Falls. Prior to his stay in the nursing home, he resided at 181 South Bend Street in Pawtucket.

Cynthia L. (Fleury) Massaro, daughter of Barbara H. Riley and Richard B. Fleury, granddaughter of Patrick J. Riley (1900-1985) and Margaret Cecelia McSally (1900-1938). 

Ship Passenger List

On By 19pondstreetIn Immigrants, Kiernan, RileyLeave a comment

I may have found the day Pat Riley/Reilly set foot on United States soil!

Below is a copy of a page from the manifest of the ship, Neptune which arrived in the Port of New York on May 28, 1862. You can see that the first column on the left has number 4, listed as Pat Reilly and number 5 is listed as Rose Kiernan.

Passenger List

This document is from the National Archives and Record Administration.

This is a pleasant find, but it has raised a question or two. When the page came up on the screen it was different from all of the other index pages on the microfiche roll. It was the very last page on the roll. Its physical makeup, font and layout was not at all similar to the other twenty some pages which makes me a bit nervous.