Vincentians recognized - 200 years in the U.S.

Thomas J. McIntyre's name is included in the monument constructed on the Lincoln Park Campus of DePaul Univesity which recognizes all Vincentians who have served the University. The monument was erected to celebrate 200 years of Vincentians in America.

Although there is another McIntyre on the list, I do not believe he is related to the family.

VINCENTIAN BICENTENNIAL MONUMENT CONSTRUCTION TO BEGIN ON DEPAUL'S LPC

Elizabeth Clements
MARCH 02, 2016

This year marks the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Vincentians in the United States. To celebrate this milestone, DePaul is installing a monument on the Lincoln Park Campus that will bear the name of every Vincentian who has served the university. Construction will begin in March.

"The roots of DePaul's foundation in 1898 are found in the bicentennial celebration," says the Reverend Edward Udovic, C.M., senior executive for university mission. "The Vincentian commitment to higher education in the United States began when the first Vincentian set foot on land at Baltimore's inner harbor."

The DePaul monument, which will be made out of red granite and include a four-sided clock feature, will stand on the northeast corner of Kenmore and Belden Ave., near Arts & Letters Hall. Limestone benches and landscaping will surround the 11-foot-high tower, creating a large seating area for the university community.

The crowning feature of the new monument, however, will be the names of every Vincentian at DePaul, dating back to St. Vincent's College in 1898. The monument also will include the names of Vincentians who served on the Board of Trustees, the Members of the Corporation or taught at DePaul Academy which closed in 1968. Fr. Udovic compiled the list of more than 200 names, likely the first definitive record of every Vincentian who has served at DePaul. The monument will allow room for the names of future Vincentians to be added as well.

Vasilko Architects & Associates developed the design, working in close collaboration with Fr. Udovic and the Office of the President.

"We wanted the memorial to mark the passing of time, but time that is unfolding second-by-second into the future, which is why we included the clock," Fr. Udovic says. "We pay careful attention to every aspect of campus design and look for opportunities for art, architecture and landscape to contribute to our sense of community and purpose."

Construction will start with excavating the area for a six-foot-deep foundation, built to support the significant weight of the monument and benches. Bob Janis, vice president of Facility Operations, explains that the red granite will come from a quarry in northern Minnesota. The engraving of the names and commemorative text will take place at the Minnesota plant as well. The benches will be made out of Indiana limestone. All work will complete in June.

Janis does not expect any street closures or disruptions to university activities to occur during the installation of the monument. The construction area will be barricaded off, and all members of the university community should remain vigilant when traveling near the work zone.

A formal dedication will take place on Sept. 27 to coincide with St. Vincent's Feast Day. All members of the university community will receive invitations to the ceremony.

Photos: Elaine M. Beaudoin, October, 2016.
Article: Newsline, online. http://www.depaulnewsline.com/features/vincentian-bicentennial-monument-construction-begin-depauls-lpc March, 2016

Thomas McIntyre, 1901 UK Census

In 1901, Thomas McIntyre (1879-1939) was living in the Town of Standish, Civil Parish of Standish with Langtree, Lancashire County, England.  The head of household was Bridget Walsh, widow, age 54 (a possible relative of his future wife, Ellen Walsh?) along with her children Maggie, 28; Matthew, 18, Maria, 16; and boarders: Thomas Cook, 34; Thomas Murtagh, 28; Thomas McIntyre, 23; John McDonogh, 20; James Walsh, 23; John Meehan, 20. They all resided at 1 James' Square.

All the men living with Bridget Walsh, both her son and all the boarders, worked in the underground coal mine per the census.  To more easily view the census page, click on the image to enlarge.

In Standish, at the Victoria Colliery, two coal shafts were opened in 1900 and located on the southeast of the town, approximately 100 feet to one side of the main railway line from London to Glasgow. On February 2, 1901, the first wagon of coal went out from the Victoria Colliery. The coal mine was closed in 1958. It is very possible Thomas and the other boarders worked in this coal mine.

Victoria Colliery, Standish, Wigan Coal & Iron Co. Ltd., c1905

Source: 1901 England Census, Kew, Surrey, England: The National Archives of the UK: Public Record Office, 1901. Class RG13; Piece: 3547; Folio:39; Page: 11. Accessed on Ancestry.com February 19, 2007.

Photo source: Flicker, Pitheadgear, posted November 4, 2013. https://www.flickr.com/photos/28709338@N04/10679626436/

Chicago to Ireland and Back Again

Fr. Tom McIntyre, CM, provided Elaine Beaudoin with the following story via an email on  May 5, 2003. 

CHICAGO TO IRELAND AND BACK AGAIN

I WAS ONLY FOUR YEARS OLD THAT SUMMER OF 1923 WHEN MY FOLKS DECIDED TO MOVE BACK TO IRELAND TO FARM MY GRANDFATHER'S FARM.  HE WAS A SICK MAN WHOM RECENTLY HAD A STROKE BUT DECIDED TO FARM IN IRELAND SINCE HIS EYESIGHT IN ONE EYE WAS AFFECTED.  IT WAS THE FIRST TIME I WAS ON A TRAIN IN MY LIFE, AND I THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE TRAIN RIDE TO NEW YORK.  I THINK I WAS GLUED TO THE WINDOW FOR THE WHOLE TRAIN TRIP WHICH TOOK A COUPLE OF DAYS OR CLOSE TO IT.  IT WAS A STEAM ENGINE AND DIDN'T GO VERY FAST, BUT WE SAW PLENTY OF FARM LAND AND ANIMALS, the FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.  I WAS FASCINATED BY ALL OF THE SCENERY. 

WE DEBOARDED IN NEW YORK, AND EMBARKED ON OUR VOYAGE TO QUEENSTOWN, IRELAND (PRESENTLY CALLED COBH).  SINCE IT WAS 80 YEARS AGO, THE SHIP WAS NOT VERY MODERN, I WANT TO ASSURE YOU.  IT WAS MORE LIKE A TUB THAN AN OCEAN LINER OF TODAY.  THE VOYAGE WAS A LONG ONE.  ABOUT TWO WEEKS BUT WHO WAS COUNTING.  IT WAS A GRAND EXPERIENCE FOR ME AT THE BEGINNING OF THE TRIP.  THE NEW EXPERIENCE OF BEING ON AN OCEAN LINER, SUCH AS IT WAS IN THOSE DAYS.  THE TRIP TOOK ABOUT TWO WEEKS, AND THE MOST MEMORABLE PART OF IT WAS THE STORMS.  THE SHIP HAD NO EQUALIZERS OR BALANCERS AS MODERN SHIPS DO, AND AS A RESULT DURING THE STORMS WE WOULD NOT BE ALLOWED ON DECK.  I CAN STILL REMEMBER THE BOAT ROCKING FROM SIDE TO SIDE, TO THE POINT THAT ALL THE DISHES AND FOOD SLID OFF THE TABLES.  YET THERE WERE OTHER DAYS WHEN THE SEA WOULD BE RELATIVELY CALM.  ON ONE OF THESE DAYS, A GIRL'S HAT BLEW OFF AND LANDED NEAR ME.  I PICKED IT UP AND RAN TO THE RAILING, AND THREW IT OVERBOARD.  IT THRILLED ME BUT I CAN STILL REMEMBER MY MOTHER GIVING ME A GOOD TALKING TO, AND LETTING ME KNOW HOW BAD A BOY I WAS.  I CAN STILL REMEMBER HER JUST ASKING ME OVER AND OVER AGAIN: WHY???   THE OTHER EVENT I CAN STILL REMEMBER VIVIDLY IS ARRIVING AT QUEENSTOWN.  THE GREENNESS OF THE ISLAND WAS VERY VISIBLE FROM THE SHIP, AND I WAS IMPRESSED.

I REMEMBER THE FARM OVER IN IRELAND.  MAYBE BECAUSE IT HAD NOT CHANGED MUCH IN THE 50 YEARS AFTER THAT WHEN I WENT BACK AGAIN AND SPENT SOME TEN OR TWELVE VACATIONS THERE FROM 1971 UNTIL THE LATE 80'S.  THE FLOOR OF THE COTTAGE WAS OF HARD EARTH, COLD AND DAMP FOR BARE FEET.  THE CHICKENS AND SOME OF THE OTHER CREATURES ROAMED FREELY ABOUT THE "GARDEN" AS THE YARD IS CALLED IN IRELAND.   AS A RESULT THE GARDEN WAS NO PLACE TO GO WALKING BUT I LOVED IT, AS I WOULD GO OUT AND WALK AND RUN ABOUT WITH ALL THE ANIMAL DEBRIS RUNNING BETWEEN MY TOES.  THE THING I DO REMEMBER -- MAYBE I SHOULD FORGET??????  THEN THERE WAS THE DAY THE DONKEY KICKED ME DOWN AND WAS ABOUT TO STOMP ON ME BEFORE SOMEONE PUSHED HIM AWAY PHYSICALLY.  I GUESS HE COULD HAVE KILLED ME IF HE KICKED ME IN THE HEAD.  I REALLY DO NOT REMEMBER MUCH ABOUT THE TRIP BACK.  I FORGOT TO MENTION THERE WAS NO RUNNING WATER INTHE HOUSE, ONLY BARRELS OF RAIN WATER THAT WOULD RUN OFF OF THE ROOF.  BATHING WAS DIFFICULT, ESPECIALLY FOR MY SISTERS.  TOILET FACILITIES WERE IN AN OLD BUILDING OFF OF THE GARDEN, WITHOUT EVEN TOILET BOWL OR SEAT.  PRIMITIVE, IT WAS. 

WE MADE THE TRIP BACK TO CHICAGO WITHOUT INCIDENT, AND I DO NOT REMEMBER IT.  BUT I DO REMEMBER MOVING TO 171 N. LEAMINGTON TO AN APARTMENT BUILDING WHERE WE LIVED FOR A SHORT TIME BEFORE MY FOLKS PURCHASED THE HOME AT 4737 GLADYS IN RESURRECTION PARISH.  MY DAD WENT BACK TO WORK ON THE STREET CARS UNTIL HE SUFFERED ANOTHER SEVERE STROKE IN 1937 THAT LEFT HIS ONE SIDE PARTIALLY PARALYZED, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO WALK AND TALK BUT NOT WORK.  IN 1939 HE SUFFERED HIS THIRD STROKE, AND I VIVIDLY REMEMBER MY MOTHER WARNING ME THAT THIS ONE WOULD PROBABLY BE FATAL, AND SO IT WAS.

Ellen Walsh in Killure, 1901

At the time of the 1901 Irish Census, Ellen Walsh was living with her older sister, Bridget, in Killure, Kilmacteige, County Sligo.  Her sister Bridget had married Austin O'Hara the previous year and it is believed she may have gone to stay with Bridget because Bridget was about to give birth.

Click on image to enlarge

Note Austin O'Hara signs the census sheet with his "X" mark.

Killure Townland is only a few miles from the Knockahoney Townland, where Ellen and Bridget Walsh's mother is living in 1901.  I have looked for Ellen Walsh in the 1901 Census for a number of years.  Not until Patrick O'Hara, grandson of Bridget and Austin O'Hara, shared that his grandmother Bridget lived in Killure, was I able to locate Ellen.

McIntyre Ancestral Farm, 2011

In August 2011 I visited Ireland and had the opportunity to again stop at the McIntyre ancestral farm.  The farm house had been vacant for over 15 years and my understanding is the land was sold to a nearby neighbor.  The following is a short video of the house and land on the McIntyre/Haran/Cafferty farm.


The occupiers of the land and eventually the owners of the land spanned four generations that I am aware of:

Michael McIntyre (wife Mary) listed in Griffith's Valuation, 1858
son
Lawrence McIntyre (wife Mary Ginty)
daughter
Bridget McIntyre (husband Patrick Haran)
daughter
Tessie Haran (husband Dominic Cafferty), sold the land c1990s

Note, the house in the video was built in the 1930s.  It is believed to be on the site of the older home.

Why Did Thomas McIntyre not stay in Ireland in 1923?

In 1923, Thomas and Ellen (Walsh) McIntyre and their five children traveled to Ireland to visit Thomas' parents, Lawrence and Mary (Ginty) McIntyre, on their farm in Lislea, County Sligo.  Elsewhere in this blog is information about that trip including the passport from the travels.

My Dad, Larry McIntyre, over the years told the family he really believed they might stay in Ireland when they went there in 1923. He said he thought the farm was wonderful and remembered being in the field behind the house and suddenly being confronted with a bull which chased him until he jumped over the fence to safety.  He thought it was great fun.  His brother, Fr. Tom, told me that the family never intended to move to Ireland but was only visiting.  At the time of the visit Dad was about 10 and Tom was 4.  My Dad also said his sister Mary hated the farm and definitely didn't want to live there.  She was 12 at the time.

On our trip to Ireland in 2011, I had the opportunity to meet a second cousin Patrick O'Hara.  Pat is the great-grandson of John and Bridget (Cawley) Walsh.  John and Bridget are also my great-grandparents.  Pat's grandmother Bridget (Walsh) O'Hara, sister of Ellen (Walsh) McIntyre, told his family the story about what Thomas said when his father asked him if he wanted the farm. Pat has graciously shared the story with me and allowed it to be video taped.

Note: Pat refers to Thomas McIntyre's wife as Bridget, but her name really is Ellen.  Filmed on the Walsh Family farm, July 26, 2011, in Knockahoney, County Sligo.

Mary Cecelia McIntyre, 1911

The first child of Thomas and Ellen (Walsh) McIntyre was born on June 23, 1911 in Chicago, Illinois.  The birth certificate notes that the parents were living at 2541 W. Monroe, Chicago at the time of Mary's birth.  The father, Thomas, was working as a motorman for the Street Railway Company.  It also provides the place of birth of the two parents and confirms family history.

By the time Mary was born, her father was already 32 years old and her Mom was 28.  The birth certificate, which was not uncommon for the time, does not include a first name.  However, Mary's baptismal record has been located and it states Mary was born on June 23, 1911 and baptized on July 16, 1911.  The sponsors were Thomas' siblings, Mary McIntyre and Laurence McIntyre.  Mary Cecelia was baptized at St. Malachy's Church in Chicago.

Although Mary lived in California, she was in Arlington Heights for Thanksgiving when she died on November 18, 1994.  Her body was cremated and as of 2009, her ashes had not been buried.

Click on image to increase size

Blanche Catherine McIntyre, 1914

Blanche Catherine McIntyre, third child of Thomas and Ellen, was born April 9, 1914 in Chicago.   Her parents were living at 2541 W. Monroe at the time of her birth.  Like her sister Mary, Blanche's birth certificate does not include her first name.  I have been unable to locate Blanche's baptismal record.  Blanche died in California on November 15, 1978.

Click on image to enlarge

Ellen Patricia McIntyre, 1916

Ellen Patricia, know as Pat most of her life, was born in Chicago on March 19, 1916.  At the time of her birth, her parents were living at 1035 N. Keeler Avenue.  She was born at home.  Pat died in California on March 14, 1982.

Click on image to enlarge

Thomas Joseph McIntyre, 1919

Thomas Joseph, the fifth child and second son of Thomas and Ellen McIntyre, was born in Chicago on August 17, 1919.  At the time of his birth, his parents were living at 3116 W. Fulton Street.  Thomas was the last child born to the couple.  His mother was 37 and father was 40 at the time of his birth.  The father was still a motorman and employed by the Street Rail road in the city.  Thomas Jr., like all the rest of his siblings, was born at home.

Click on image to enlarge

Tom died in California on November 29, 2009.

Celebrating 100th Anniversary of McIntyre Citizenship

On October 7, 2010, the extended McIntyre family enjoyed a celebratory get-together at Russell's Barbecue in River Grove, Illinois, in honor of the 100th anniversary of Thomas and Ellen (Walsh) McIntyre becoming American citizens.  Russell's, who is itself celebrating 80 years in the restaurant business, was (and still is) a favorite spot for a meal.  A grandchild, three great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren of Thomas and Ellen, along with spouses and extended family, savored beef and pork sandwiches dripping in Russell's own sauce.  A cake topped off the meal.

Photos courtesy: Elaine McIntyre Beaudoin

Thomas J. McIntyre, Petition for Naturalization, 1910

Having completed his Declaration of Intention in 1908, Thomas is now completing his naturalization process.  The top part of the first page of his Petition for Naturalization is filled in with the information supplied on the original Declaration of Intention.  It is noted that he filed his first papers in Chicago, Illinois in the Circuit Court of Cook County.  He is now filing his Petition in the Superior Court of Cook County.  This portion of the paperwork is dated May 26, 1910.

Two individuals are required to sign an "Affidavit of Witnesses" each stating he is a citizen and that each personally knows Thomas McIntyre to have resided in the United States for a period of at least five year continuously immediately preceding the date of filing as well as in the State of Illinois.  They also swear that Thomas is a person of good moral character, attached to the principles of the constitution of the United States, and that he is in every way qualified to be admitted a citizen of the United States.

James Joseph Hallinan, a conductor who lives at 740 Irving Ave, signs the document first.  Hallinan was probably a co-worker of Thomas' at the Chicago Surface Line.  The second witness is William Madden, a police officer residing at 2958 Lee Avenue, Chicago.  Madden is Thomas' first cousin.  He is also the brother of the Patrick Madden, the person Thomas states on the ship's passenger manifest he is going to join when he came to America in 1904.  


On October 7, 1910 Thomas McIntyre swore his Oath of Allegiance:
"I hereby declare, on oath, that I absolutely and entirely renounce and abjure all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to George V King of Great Britain and Ireland of which I have heretofore been a subject, that I will support and defend the Constitution and laws of the United States of America against all enemies foreign and domestic; and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same."
Signed: Thomas McIntyre

Certificate of Naturalization No. 142375

Of note is the last section "Order of Court Admitting Petitioner".  It says to "Insert on following lines marriages and births occurring after petitioning and before naturalization.  Since Thomas and Ellen/Helen were married between these two occurrences what is written is:

"Helen Nacacahoone reside in Chicago Ill married Sept. 4, 1910."

When I saw this I was confused until I tried to pronounce Nacacahoone and realized it was Knockahoney, the townland where Ellen Walsh was born.

If Thomas McIntyre had not made the one week trip across the ocean in 1904 and then filled out the paperwork to become a citizen of the US in 1910, we might be in a very different place in our lives.  We are all very fortunate. 

So on October 7, 2010 the McIntyres will give thanks and celebrate the 100th Anniversary of our immigrant ancestor's decision to become an American Citizen.

Origin of Walsh and McIntyre names

Walsh

 This famous national locational and descriptive nickname surname derives from the pre 7th Century Olde English and Anglo-Saxon word "waelisc", meaning "foreigner" or perhaps more likely in the passage of time, "stranger". Be that as it may it is one of the ironies of history that the invaders from North Germany and even the later Vikings, should apparently refer to the people that they conquered or at least drove from their original homes, as 'The Foreigner" and even more so that the name should have stuck. The surname is popular in many areas and countries, there being a large "Walsh" contingent in Ireland, where it is the fourth most popular surname, and even a small number in France, originally in the Nantes area. The modern surname is recorded in a wide variety of spellings, including Welch, Welche, Welsh, Walsh, Walshe, Walch, and Wellish. The early surname development includes examples such as Walter Walsheman of London in 1279, Simon Welshe of Bedford in the year 1279, John Walsh of Roxburgh, Scotland, in 1330, Margery Wellis in the 1327 Pipe Rolls of the county of Essex, and Lawrence Walsh of County Mayo, Ireland in 1588. The first recorded spelling of the family name is from Ireland. This is believed to be that of Haylen Walsh, the son of Phillip the Welshman, and dated 1171. He is recorded as being with Strongbow, earl of Pembroke, in his initial invasion of Ireland in that year. Throughout the centuries, surnames in every country have continued to "develop" often leading to astonishing variants of the original spelling.

McIntyre

Information on the origin of the McIntyre name can be located at the McIntyre/Ginty Genealogy Blog.

Source: The Internet Surname Database.  Accessed June 5, 2010.

Ellen Walsh McIntyre, Death Certificate, 1941

Helen (Ellen) Agnes Walsh McIntyre died on the day before Thanksgiving, Wednesday, November 26, 1941 at 10:00 a.m. in her home at 4737 W. Gladys Avenue, Chicago. Her death certificate says she lived on Gladys for 15 years and owned her home. Ellen did not work outside of the home, at least since the start of Social Security and her death certificate states she did not have a Social Security number. Her birth date is recorded as October 26, 1883. From her birth certificate, we know she was born in 1881 and on the birth certificate is states her day of birth as October 12.

Her son, Thomas J. McIntyre, is the informant on her death certificate. He gives her birth place as County Sligo, Ireland; father as John Walsh also of County Sligo; and, only a first name for her Mother, Ellen. We have since learned that her father is in fact John "Jack" Walsh, but her mother is Bridget Cawley. Her son Thomas was living with her on Gladys Avenue at the time of her death.  He was only 22 years old at the time.

She died of uraemia, due to chronic nephritis and hypertension.  Prior to death she had influenza which probably intensified her health issues.

Helen/Ellen was buried, alongside of her husband Thomas J. Sr., in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois on November 28, 1941, the day after Thanksgiving.

For additional information and a transcription of Ellen's death notice see Thomas and Helen McIntyre, Mt. Carmel Gravestone and Obituaries

Ellen Walsh, 1910 US Census

I'm not sure I have actually found "our" Ellen Walsh, but this Ellen Walsh, age 27, living at 215 W. Forty-Fifth Street, Chicago, Illinois is as close as it gets. Today, this location is in the middle of the Dan Ryan Expressway. She is the only Ellen Walsh in Chicago that is close to "our" Ellen's age. Our Ellen would have been 28 on April 16, 1910, the date of the census. But, depending on who provided the information, and as you can see from other documents (when they gave their ages at the time of their marriage Ellen is suddenly 2 years younger than actuality) being one year off is pretty close. This Ellen Walsh is single, born in Ireland as are her parents. The document states that this Ellen Walsh immigrated in 1908. I have yet to find a record of "our" Ellen Walsh's immigration. She is working as a servant and living with James J. and Edna Roach who are themselves only 23 and 22 years old respectively.

In the 1910 US Census, Thomas J. was living with his brother Lawrence J. at 2136 Park Avenue, Chicago. Ellen and Thomas J. McIntyre were married later in the year on September 2, 1910.

Ellen Walsh, Birth Certificate, 1881

Ellen Walsh was born on October 12, 1881, or so her birth certificate states. I have not been able to locate a baptismal record for her and wonder, if like her husband Thomas J. McIntyre, was her birth reported several months after the actual birth. But, for now, October 12 is the "official" date.

She was born in Knockahoney, a small townland in County Sligo, only a few miles from Lislea, where Thomas J. McIntyre was born. Her father was Jack Walsh and her mother Bridget Cawley Walsh. Jack was a farmer. From her birth certificate, it shows that her mother was the informant on the birth certificate and since she signed her name with an "X" she was mostly likely illiterate.

When I was in Dublin in 1998, I went to the General Register Office and requested a copy of her birth certificate which you see above. In Ireland, in the1880s, births were recorded in "Register Books" so this image is a contemporary copy, hand written in 1998 from the original Register Books.

Thomas J. McIntyre, C.M., 1919-2009

Father Thomas J. McIntyre, C.M.
August 17, 1919 - November 29, 2009.

Father Thomas J. McIntyre, C.M., 90, died of natural causes on Sunday, November 29th in Silverado Care Center, San Juan Capistrano.  The son of Thomas J. McIntyre and Ellen Walsh, he was born in Chicago on August 17, 1919.

Fr. McIntyre entered the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentian Fathers and Brothers) on October 17, 1942 and professed perpetual vows in the Congregation on October 18, 1944.  He was ordained a priest in the Congregation of the Mission at St. Mary's Seminary, Perryville, MO on June 4, 1950.

"Father Mac" had been resident assisting priest at St. Catherine of Siena Catholic church in Laguna Beach from 1990, when he retired from active ministry, until August of 2008 at which time he moved into assisted living at Belmont Village in Corona del Mar, CA.

Prior to his retirement, Father McIntyre served as associate pastor (1982-1990) at St. Vincent de Paul Church in Huntington Beach, CA, in the Diocese of Orange.

Most of "Father Mac's" priestly ministry was within the Archdiocese of Los Angeles, beginning in 1951 when he was assigned as teacher and Dean of Students at Our Lady Queen of Angels Preparatory Seminary in San Fernando. He served there until 1957.  He also served as Superior and Rector of St. Vincent's Preparatory Seminary in Montebello, CA from 1959 to 1965.  From 1975 to 1979 Father McIntyre was Pastor and Superior of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal Parish in Montebello, CA. Over the years he also served in several administrative capacities for the Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, Province of the West.

His warmth and humor attributed to his popularity wherever he served.  He was recognized as one who tried to be faithful to the charism of St. Vincent de Paul by organizing and leading programs of outreach to the poor in the various parishes at which he served.

A vigil Mass was celebrated for Father McIntyre at St. Catherine's in Laguna Beach on the evening of December 3rd. A memorial Mass was also celebrated at St. Catherine's on Friday, December 4th.

The Vincentian Fathers and Brothers, and his family and friends celebrated the Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. on December 4th in the Doheny chapel at DePaul Evangelization Center in Montebello, CA.  Interment followed at Calvary Cemetery in Los Angeles.

Obituary provided by Father William Piletic, C.M.

Above photo is from ordination day, 1950.

 Thomas' Ordination Day Invitation, June 4, 1950.

Thomas J. McIntyre, Declaration of Intention, 1908

In 1790 citizenship required a two year residency in the U.S. and one year in the state, to be of good character, and to be performed in a court of record.  The laws affecting naturalization changed over the years and who was responsible for granting citizenship also changed.

The naturalization side of the Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) did not come into being until Congress created the Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization by passing the Naturalization Act of 29 June 1906 under the Department of Commerce and Labor. The new agency became responsible for overseeing and supervising the courts in the naturalization of aliens and for keeping a duplicate of each court's final naturalization records. Prior to that date, naturalization was exclusively a function of the courts.

The intention of the Basic Naturalization Act was to provide a uniform rule for the naturalization of aliens throughout the United States. The law, effective 27 September 1906, was designed to provide "dignity, uniformity, and regularity" to the naturalization procedure. It established procedural safeguards and called for specific and uniform information regarding applicants and recipients of citizenship status.

The Immigration and Naturalization Service was separated from the Labor Department and placed under the jurisdiction of the Department of Justice in June 1940. In 2002, the INS was dismantled and many of their functions became the responsibility of the new U. S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) division of the Department of Homeland Security.

Sources: Szucs, Loretto, They Became Americans. Ancestry Incorporated, 1998; Szucs, Loretto and Sandra Luebking, editors. The Source, 3rd edition, Ancestry, 2006.

In 1906, The Bureau of Immigration and Naturalization required all aliens to be registered. Residency requirements for citizenship were two years to file intent and five years for final papers.  Final papers comprised the Declaration of Intention, Oath of Allegiance, and certificate of naturalization.

Thomas J. McIntyre declared his intention to become an American citizen on March 18, 1908 by completing the Declaration of Intention (often called "first papers"). The Declaration of Intention was made by an alien, as a preliminary to naturalization, before a court of record, to the effect that it is his intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States.

He filed his first papers in the Circuit Court of Cook County.  The document reads:

I, Thomas McIntyre, aged 28 years, occupation Motorman, do declare on oath that my personal description is: Color: White, complexion: dark, height: 5 feet 7 inches, weight: 180 pounds, color of hair: Black, color of eyes: Grey, other visible distinctive marks: none;  I was born in County Sligo Ireland, on the 14th day of April, anno Domini 1879; I now reside at 35 Flournoy St. Chicago, Ills.  I emigrated to the United States of America from Queenstown, Ireland on the vessel Majestic; my last foreign residence was County Sligo, Ireland.  It is my bona fide intention to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign prince, potentate, state, or sovereignty, and particularly to Edward VII King of Great Britain and Ireland, of which I am now a subject; I arrived at the port of New York, in the State of New York on or about the 22nd day of April, anno Domini 1903; I am not an anarchist; I am not a polygamist nor a believer in the practice of polygamy; and it is my intention in good faith to become a citizen of the United States of America and to permanently reside therein: So Help Me God.
Signed: Thomas McIntyre
Subscribed and sworn before me this 18 day of March, anno Domini 1903.
Signed: Joseph E. Bidwill, Jr., Clerk of the Circuit Court, by B. W. Reid, Deputy Clerk.


He had been in the country since 1904, but he writes 1903 on the Declaration.  Also, he makes himself a year younger, by stating he was born in 1879.

In 1910 he completes his Petition for Naturalization and takes his Oath of Allegiance.

Thomas J. McIntyre Arrives in America, 1904

The ship S. S. Majestic, part of the White Star Line, left Liverpool, England on April 13, 1904. On April 14 it stopped at Queenstown (now Cohb), Ireland picking up the remainder of its passengers before making the Atlantic crossing. Thomas J. McIntyre boarded the ship in Queenstown. Per the New York Times of April 21, 1904, the ship Majestic was "off Fire Island at 9:18 p.m. April 20." The following day the April 22, 1904 New York Times reports the Majestic arrived on April 21.

For April, the weather was quite cold when Thomas arrived. The evening of April 20 was only 34 degrees, more than 20 degrees colder than average for that time of the year. It would warm slightly the next day, but still be colder than normal.

The ships' "Manifest of Alien Passengers for the U. S. Immigration Officer at Port of Arrival" lists Thomas J. McIntyre along with four others whose last residence was also Aclare, County Sligo.  Although, I know of no relationship to Thomas, they were neighbors in Ireland and made the voyage with him.  None had ever been in the United States before and each carried $20.00 as did Thomas.

They were:
Patrick Leonard, age 20, laborer, going to join his sister Mrs. Mary Mulroy, 6000 LaSalle Street, Chicago
Mary Murphy, age 20, maid, going to uncle John Reynolds, 5546 Union Avenue, Chicago
Anne Leonard, age 19, maid, going to sister Mrs. Mary Mulroy, 6000 LaSalle Street, Chicago
Anne Leonard, age 21, maid, going to cousin Mrs. Mary Mulroy, 6000 LaSalle Street, Chicago

Thomas states he is going to join his cousin, Patrick Madden, who lived at 963 Robey Street, Chicago.  Robey was renamed Damen Avenue a few years later.

In 1904, the White Star Line had six ships (Majestic, Arabic, Oceanic, Teutonic, Celtic, and Cedric) that made the trans-Atlantic voyage on a regular basis. Each week, two ships would leave either the port of New York or Liverpool, crossing the ocean. The S. S. Majestic which arrived on April 21, would leave New York City at 10:00 a.m. on April 27 headed again for Queenstown and Liverpool.

Thomas and Helen McIntyre, Mt. Carmel Gravestone and Obituaries

McIntyre - Thomas J. McIntyre of 4737 Gladys avenue, beloved husband of Helen Walsh McIntyre, devoted father of Mary C. Kenney, Lawrence F., Blanche C. Elliott, Helen P., and Thomas J. McIntyre brother of Lawrence and the late Mary Egan.  Funeral Wednesday, 10 a.m. from chapel, 4817 W. Madison street, to Resurrection church.  Burial Mount Carmel.  Member of Holy Name Society, A.O.H., division 1; A.A. of S. and E.C.E of A., division 241.  Kindly omit flowers.  Austin 1137.  Chicago Tribune, Tuesday, Dec 26, 1939, page 16.

McIntyre - Helen A. Walsh McIntyre of 4737 Gladys avenue, beloved wife of the late Thomas J., loving mother of Mary C. Kenney, Laurence F., Blanche C. Elliott, Helen P. Campbell and Thomas J. McIntyre.  Funeral Friday, 9:30 a.m. from chapel 4817 W. Madison street to Resurrection Church.  Burial Mount Carmel.  Kindly omit flowers.  Austin 1137.  Chicago Tribune, November 27, 1941, Thursday, page 16.

Thomas J. and Helen (Ellen) A. are buried in Mt. Carmel Cemetery, Hillside, Illinois.
They are buried in Lot 78, Block 8, Section 30.  The GPS coordinates of the graves are Lat 41.863625N, Log 87.913414W, Alt: 679 feet.