This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Kirkwood/Carr from Kensington/Fishtown/Port Richmond
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/5gH.2ACEB/2792.2.1.1.1.2.1.1.1
Message Board Post:
Linda, the Ray Carr I referred to was originally from St Annes Parish. He worked with me
at Northeast Hospital in the late 80s. He lived with an older sister Margie on Cambria
St,as did his daughters. He did have son/s,but I don't remember if they lived there or
not. Ray was a widower for many years when I met him. He at one time lived on Belgrade St.
He used to hang out in the old 1 1/2 bar at Kensington and Somerset. I believe he had a
brother Billy. His sister used to run the old paperstand at Kensington and Somerset. I
have heard of the woman who owned the card/flower shop on Huntingdon St in St Annes. She
had a relative(daughter I believe) that lived on my block of the 2800 block of Memphis St.
My wife is from Howard & Dauphin.
I have just recently learned that my GGm's maiden name was Carr. This is my Dads
family. Mary Ellen Carr married Hugh Kirkwood (these are my GGparents) in Ireland in 1868.
They had one child Mary born in Ireland in 1870. They came to the US in 1873 and resided
at 12 th & Passyunk in Annunciation Parish or Epiphany of Our Lord Parish,until about
1910,when I located them in Kensington/Fishtown on Gordon St. I'm not certain,but I
think it was the 2600 Block. That is around the corner from the old Dutch club on Cedar
St,now the club house of Duffy String Band. The last of Mary Carrs children to pass away
was my Greataunt Ellen or Ellie. She died in 1941 at PGH from cancer and is buried in New
Cathedral as are the rest of the family. There was also a Eugene Kirkwood who died around
1937. He was a tradesman,but I don't know what he did. GGF Hugh was a machnist at the
Navy Yard and died from the Gordon St address in 1925.
My dilemma is: these people came and settled andf raised a family in S Philadelphia,where
most people would be buried in Holy Cross, as are the rest of my family. GGM(who used her
middle name Ellen)died in 1892 while in S Philly and is buried in New Cathedral. There are
no available documents in the archives. St Annes tells me that the records pertaining to
the family were "probably burned up in the fire in '37".
My Dads immediate family were all born in S Phillyand raised in S & SW Philly. I was
born in SW Philly and raised in S Philly. I met my wife while I was in the service and I
worked at Bayuk Cigars prior to going in the service.
The latest info that I have is that my GGf was a boarder in the house on either Norris or
Gordon St,owned by an Emily Y Smith, according to the 1920 US Census.
I would just like to connect my GGm Mary Carr Kirkwood or her children to that area. Many
questions abound concerning her. She was originally from County Antrim,married somewhere
near Dublin and her first child Mary was born in Meath. She was approx 15/16 when she
marreid. My GGf was a Protestant and she a Catholic, though he did convert and was
disowned by his family. He also had other children in Ireland,but married Mary Carr. He
was a seaman. He came to the US from Scotland as a toddler in 1855 and went to sea as a
boy in 1866/67.
The lineage is in place,but the history and perhaps an extended family,is ever elusive.
Please keep me posted by direct e-mail if you prefer. My e-mail is jim_kirkwood
@yahoo.com