'My grandfather, Patrick Francis Downey, was from Hyde Park, Massachusetts, where he worked at American Tool Company. He worked there for 45 years. He originally came from Roscommon County, Ireland, and was one of about ten children. He arrived in Boston in 1884. I always knew Patrick was a member of the Foresters. He was very proud of it. He belonged to St. John’s Court, Hyde Park, Massachusetts, Most Precious Blood. He married Margaret Collins from Chapel Street, Tallow in County Waterford. She became a Forester and was in St. Agnes Court, Hyde Park, Most Precious Blood. They had seven children and four survived. Patrick had a brother, William Downey, who came over on May 28, 1883, and he married Nora Larkin who was also a Forester. They both belonged to the same courts as his brother, St. John’s and St. Agnes. He was a policeman in Hyde Park and he worked there all his life. He married Nora Larkin and she was American-born. I was at a TIARA meeting one night and they mentioned the Foresters and I got excited because I knew that my grandfather had always mentioned the Foresters. I decided to join right then. We worked and had about three or four years of fun looking at all the folders. I was privileged to be able to find my grandparents and Patrick’s brother and wife. I never knew when my great-grandfather died. I had no records of it, but on the application his brother wrote down that he died in 1899 of pneumonia. My cousins are still on the farm where he grew up, so I’m trying to build up all the information on this side to give back to them. Both belonged to the St. John's Court Most Precious Blood Parish, Hyde Park, Massachusetts.'
Copyright restrictions may apply. Visit blogs.umb.edu/archives/about/rights-and-reproductions for more information.
Contact host institution for more information.
