The Mulrooneys
Bridget and William Coomey
(My great gandparents)
Family History
by Mark Mulrooney
(06-08-99)
In the early 1900's my great grandparents on my mother's side immigrated to America from Waterford, Ireland. Waterford is a city in Ireland with a population of 40,328. The capital of Waterford country is a major port in southeastern Ireland located on the river Sir at the head of Waterford harbor.
My great grandparents immigrated over here because they needed better jobs. At that time in Ireland there was something going on called the Potato Famine that started in 1845. Jobs and food became scarce in Ireland. At this time my great great grandfather and eight of his chrildren came to Massachusetts. Two of of my great grandfather's brothers, James and Patrick, stayed in Ireland because they both had good jobs as blacksmiths. Being a blacksmith was a good trade.
My great grandmother, Bridget Mansfield, was a young woman in Ireland when she came over with her father and her eight brothers and sisters: Bartholomew, Mathew, Mary, Margaret, Nell, Ann, and Kate. My great grandfather, William Coomey, also came over on the same ship. He came with his two sisters Mary and Bridget (Bride) and his four brothers James, Michael, Daniel, and Jack. My great grandmother always used to say, "He chased me over here on the boat." They were later married on Tuesday, September 10, 1912 and have five chrildren: John, Patrick, Mary, Margaret, and William. William is my grandfather. He married a woman named Julia Duffy. William and Julia had seven children: Judy, Billy, Kevin, Danny, Mary, Katie and Meg. Judy is my mother.
When my grandfather came to this country he learned a trade. He became a michinist and worked at the CF+ I Plant in Worcester, Massachusetts. He also did something very intereresting. He had a kennel at his home and he bred and raised Boston Terriers. My great grandmother died in 1968 and my great grandfather died in 1981.
Bridget (center), her sister Mary, her brothers Matthew (standing) and Bartholmew (left)
Left: Bridget and William Coomey
Right: William and Bridget Coomey's wedding Inviatition