Honora Mary (Reardon) Neville (1815-1888) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Honora Mary [uncertain] "Nora" Neville formerly Reardon

Born Jan 1815 in County Clare, Ireland

Ancestors

Daughter of Unknown (Riordan) Reardon and Unknown Daly

Sister of Thomas Reardon and Peter Reardon

Wife of Patrick Neville Sr — married about 1840 in Apolacon, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA

Descendants

Mother of Bartholomew Joseph Neville, Peter Neville, Ellen (Neville) Donnelly, Bridget (Neville) Maloney, Honora 'Nora' Neville, Mary Neville, Patrick J Neville, William Stanislaus Stanislaus Neville, Alice B. (Neville) Shaughnessy and John T Neville

Died 24 Sep 1888 at age 73 in Apolacon Township, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Bonnie Weant

[send private message]

Profile last modified 2 Oct 2022 | Created 25 Aug 2011

This page has been accessed 2,850 times.

1 Biography
- 1.1 Name
- 1.2 Birth
- 1.3 Death
- 1.4 Residence
- 1.5 Event
- 1.6 Note
- 1.7 Marriage
2 Sources

Biography

abt 1812 - birth in IR to unknown parents Per Descendant Catherine Wilson: Nora was born in County Cork. Alternate location of County CLARE was obtained from 1880 census in Elmira, NY for nephew John F Reardon, which noted Clare as location for his parents birth. His father was Nora's brother so likely that she would have been born same place.

1836 - 27 July - Nora Reardon (21) and her brother Peter Reardon (23) arrive in NY on Ship Diamond. They each have one box of belongings. Future husband Patrick Neville (31) was on the same ship. Did they know each other before the voyage? Did they plan to go to the same location in the US?

This trip was made on a 3 masted sailing ship. This passage took 44 days from Liverpool to NY per shipping news of the day. Ship 'Diamond' 's master was Captain JohnToole. She is average size by the standards of the day - 572 tons. She carried 3 passengers in cabins and 232 passengers in steerage. (see media for sketch of steerage and bunks)

These were not easy passages. Per Wikipedia- Inman Shipping Co: Steerage passengers were required to bring their own food, and often ran short. In 1836, the Diamond lost 17 of her 180 steerage passengers to starvation when the ship required 100 days to make the crossing.

Many ships also foundered off Long Island in rough waters and rocks. There were several notable disasters in early 1936 (ships Mexico and Bristol among others) where there was great loss of life among steerage passengers.

But by 1835 only 1/4 of the workers in Ireland had employment. Leaving must have seemed like the best option. (See media on situation in Ireland). Even with the danger and discomfort, this must have seemed like their only option.

On the Diamond, 232 steerage passengers were packed into an area between decks called steerage. Ceiling heights were low - 6-7' high. There were no portholes and no air and these areas were accessed by latters or rude stairs. Fresh provisions soon spoiled (there was no refrigeration) and passengers were reduced to eating oatmeal, biscuits and stale water for the latter part of the trip. Cholera and typhiod were epidemic in the close quarters and many died before arrival. There were few toilets and no privacy. Imagine the heat in such an area with no windows and no air, hundreds of unwashed bodies living 4 to a bunk, seasickness affecting many, children crying, people falling sick and dying, babies being born.

By the mid 1830's the fares (due to competition) had dropped to about 3L-10shillings. There were many advertisements in local Irish papers for ships naming the ships, the captains and describing the accommodations. Occassionally these offered free passage within Ireland to the departure port.

from Wikipedia - Steerage: The steerage area of the ship was once used to accommodate passengers travelling on the cheapest class of ticket, and offered only the most basic amenities, typically with limited toilet use, no privacy, and poor food. Many immigrants to the United States in the late 19th and early 20th century travelled in this area of the ships. The name "steerage" came from the fact that the control lines of the rudder ran on this level of the ship.

One American observer in 1905 wrote of steerage in the following terms:

...the 900 steerage passengers crowded into the hold of so elegant and roomy a steamer as the Kaiser Wilhelm II, of the North German Lloyd line, are positively packed like cattle, making a walk on deck when the weather is good, absolutely impossible, while to breathe clean air below in rough weather, when the hatches are down is an equal impossibility. The stenches become unbearable, and many of the emigrants have to be driven down; for they prefer the bitterness and danger of the storm to the pestilential air below. The division between the sexes is not carefully looked after, and the young women who are quartered among the married passengers have neither the privacy to which they are entitled nor are they much more protected than if they were living promiscuously.

The food, which is miserable, is dealt out of huge kettles into the dinner pails provided by the steamship company. When it is distributed, the stronger push and crowd, so that meals are anything but orderly procedures. On the whole, the steerage of the modern ship ought to be condemned as unfit for the transportation of human beings...Take for example, the second cabin which costs about twice as much as the steerage and sometimes not twice so much; yet the second cabin passenger on the Kaiser Wilhelm II has six times as much deck room, much better located and well protected against inclement weather. Two to four sleep in one cabin, which is well and comfortably furnished; while in the steerage from 200 to 400 sleep in one compartment on bunks, one above the other, with little light and no comforts. In the second cabin the food is excellent, is partaken of in a luxuriantly appointed dining-room, is well cooked and well served; while in the steerage the unsavory rations are not served, but doled out, with less courtesy than one would find in a charity soup kitchen.

The steerage ought to be and could be abolished by law...On many ships, even drinking water is grudgingly given, and on the steamer Staatendam, four years ago, we had literally to steal water for the steerage from the second cabin, and that of course at night. On many journeys, particularly on the SS Fürst Bismarck, of the Hamburg American Line, five years ago, the bread was absolutely uneatable, and was thrown into the water by the irate emigrants

Please see media Historical Summary Ireland for further info on the times and clothing in Ireland during the 1830-1840's before Nora and Patrick came to the US.

1840 census - Thomas Rearadon (this probably indicates Thomas and wife Mary, brother Peter, sister Nora ) 2 males - 20-30 2 females - 20-30

Patrick Nibbles - 1 male - 20-30 (this most likely is Patrick as he owned the farm next to Reardons)

1840 - probable date of marriage to Honora Reardon in Apolacon, Susquehanna, PA- he is a farmer (28) and quite successful already. It is likely that he brought some funds with which to purchase land.

per Catherine Wilson descendant: Apparently, Patrick Neville and the Reardon family had money to buy land. I do not have a record of the original purchase but I do have a deed dated 1840 where Peter and Thomas Reardon divided land they had purchased jointly. The south end of the property butted next to Patrick Neville. There is an 1858 map that shows the location of the Reardon and Neville farms. If you go to Google and locate Cork Hill Creek Road you will find that Cork Hill Road is located south east. The Reardon boys owned frontage above Cork Hill Road on Cork Hill Creek Rd. Patrick Neville owned the property south of Cork Hill Road and fronting Cork Hill Creek Road.

per Susquehanna County Journal of Geneological and local history: Patrick Neville married Nora Reirdon and they had the following children BJ, Peter, William, Patrick, Ellen- married Cornelius Donnely, Bridget-married Tom Maloney, Mary - married Gillespie, and Alice - married Dan Shaughnessy of Little Meadows.

This was a wilderness area in the 1830's. To farm, the land had to first be cleared of trees and stumps, and a home built. The work was backbreaking and continuous. This area was best suited to grazing animals rather than intensive farming. Wheat was the primary crop, oxen were used for work. Dairy cattle were prevalent and this area was known for its butter. These were farms that supported a family but left little extra and the poor transportation in the area made it difficult to sell excess products. As more children came along, they migrated off the land to the cities to earn livings. (see Farming in Northeast PA media).

History of Susquehanna County PA: Apolacon was part of Tioga Township until 1801. Then became part of Rush township. in 1814 it became Choconut In 1831 Edward and Patrick O'Shaugnessy were the first Catholic Irishmen in Apolacon. Page 466 - 1847 Patrick Neville showed Taxable income Page 467 - John Regan an Irishman of the township, retained his vigor until he was more than 104 years old. page 474 - After the experiment of founding a permanent settlement of Friends had failed (referring to a Quaker settlement) many lands reverted to Dr. Rose and Caleb Carmalt which were offered on such favorable terms that many Irishmen were induced to locate here about 1830 and the next 20 years following and almost the entire section is now inhabited by citizens of that nationality, This result was brought about largely by the influence of Edward White, the first Catholic Irishman in the vicinity of Friendsville. He was a well educated and energetic Irishman in which capacity he served Dr. Rose faithfully. His wife was the sister of Gerald Griffin, the Irish novelist whose parents had their home with White..... Through his efforts the Catholice Church of Friendsville was established. Catholicism was given a permanent place in Choconut Valley. A further account of this famiily appears in the annals of Silver Lake where it also resided.

1841- Bartholomew J born in Little Meadows, Susquahanna, PA

1842- son Peter Neville born Little Meadows, PA

1844- Ellen Neville born Little Meadows, PA 24 Nov - Patrick is naturalized as US citizen

1845- Great Potatoe Famine is happening in Ireland. Over a million people starved and it is assumed that Peter and Nora had relatives who were emigrating to the US and hoping for their assistance.

1846 - June - Bridget Neville born in Little Meadows, PA

1847 - per Ramanthus Stocker Historian, he was living in Apolacon, Susquehanna, PA

1848 - Hanora 'Hanna' Neville born in Little Meadows, PA

1850 - Mary Neville born in Little Meadows, PA Note: I cannot locate Patrick Neville's family in the 1850 census.

1852 - Patrick Neville Jr, born Little Meadows, PA

1856 - Alice Neville born Little Meadows, PA

1858 - John Neville, born Little Meadows, PA

1860 Census - dwelling 1409 - family 1358 Patrick 55, farmer, Farm worth $2000/personal propery $508 Honora 45, Bart 19 - teacher, born PA Peter 18, born PA Ellen 16, born PA Bridget 14, born PA Hannah 12, born PA Mary 10, born PA Patrick 8, William 6, Alice 4, John 2, Shows Catharn Griffin *2 (orphan?) living with family (unknown relationship).

Note that Edward White working with Dr. Rose to bring the Irish to Friendsville was married to a Griffin who was sister of Irish author Gerald Griffin - possible realtionship?

General info - Susquehanna County Journal of Genealogic and Local History - Vol 10 - May 1999, Vol 1 page 63 Edward White - Irishman and agent for Dr. R H Rose) was instrumental in having Irish Catholics settle in Friendsville and vicinity. Mr and Mrs White (Mrs White was a sister of Gerald Griffin, the Irish author) were married in Limerick, IR and settled in Susquehanna County in 1822. 9 years later, Mr. White erected a Catholic church in Friendsville, St. Francis Xavier.

1861 - the US Civil War begins. Patrick is too old to be sent but his sons are of fighting age and are now US citizens as he was naturalized in 1844, making them eligible for the draft.

1867 - Bridget Neville marries Thomas Maloney - future mayor of Pittston and my direct ancestor

1870 Census - Farm is now worth $7500 and person property worth $1900 Patrick (65), Hanora (62), Hanora (22), Mary (20), Patrick (18) working farm, William (16) working the farm. shows John Donnelly (5) - orphan- living with family - relationship unknown. Bart, Peter, Ellen, Bridget, Alice, John are not listed

1872 - per Atlas of US county land ownership - property is located off Route 267 near intersection of Route 4007 and 4014, Kelly Rd. Still all farmland and uncultivated land. Property was south of 267 and east of the creek in Friendship Township.

1873 - Mary Neville marries

1876 - Marriage of Bartholomew J to Sarah

1878 - Death daughter Ellen Neville Donnelly at age 34 of pneumonia in Philadelphia, PA. Ellen had been taken to the new teaching hospital at University of Pennsylvania as they offered the best care in the country at the time. Her sister Nora Neville moves to Pittston to live with widower Cornelius and help with all the children.

Per Jim Henry a descendant: The Neville and Donnelly families were deeply religious families. Of Cornelius and Ellen (Neville) Donnelly's 11 children, one son became a priest and 2 daughters became nuns. Patrick's daughter Nora Neville's obituary shows she never married and noted the "influence and example of her pious parent's during her early life". Ellen (Neville) Donnelly was described as "a true wife, mother, and sister" and being an example of "a disciple of the meek and lowly Jesus". Son Bartholomew J Neville was also active in the Catholic Church in his own hometown, and apparently even made donations to the Church back in Little Meadows, his name appearing there as a contributor on one of the stained glass windows..

1879 - son Patrick Neville Jr. working as teamster for Cornelius (brother in law) (drank bedbug poison - accident or suicide attempt?) He survived and ultimately died in Binghamton NY in 1924.

1880 Census - Patrick is 72, Hanna is 66, William is 26 and teacher. Alice is 24 at home. Mary married a Gillespie but is living with her parents and 2 grandchildren - presumably a widow Bartholomew Gillespie 4 and Anna Gillespie 2

1880 - Honora wife of Patrick Neville, Died Sep 22, 1889, Aged 73 yrs 8 mos per gravestone and cemetery records provided by a church worker for Bonnie Weant another descendant.

Per Catherine Wilson descendant: Patrick Neville and his wife Honora are buried in St. Francis Cemetery in Friendsville, PA. I have attached a photo of the gravestone I took last year.

Other family members are buried in a cemetery at St Thomas the Apostle Cemetery just outside Friendsville. Location: Leaving Little Meadows on highway 858 gong south-east toward Friendsville. The cemetery is at the Intesection of highway 858 and Bowbridge (T-773). Names on graves include: Neville, Donnelly, Shaughnessy, Reardon - probable resting place for the earliest of these farming residents.

Per Jim Henry descendent: In 1991, after over a hundred years had passed since the original immigrant Neville family lived in Little Meadows, there was still at least one family member in that small town. Miss Rita Shaughnessy, granddaughter of Alice (Neville) Shaughnessy, lived in Little Meadows at that time and was a member of the St. Thomas Catholic Church parish where he met her on a research trip to the area.

Name

Name: Honora 'Nora' /REARDON/^[1]

Name: Hanorah /Neville/^[2]

Name: Honora /Nevil/^[3]

Name: Homer /Reardon/^[4]

Found multiple versions of NAME. Using Honora 'Nora' /REARDON/.

Birth

Birth: 1860, 1910, 1920 census

Date: JAN 1815

Place: County Clare, Ireland^[5]^[6]^[7]

Birth: 1880 census

Date: 1814

Place: County Clare, Ireland^[8]

Birth: passenger list on arrival states age as 26

Date: 1815^[9]

Found multiple copies of BIRT DATE. Using JAN 1815

Death

Death: 73 yrs 8 mos - St. Francis Cemetery, Friendsville

Date: 24 SEP 1888

Place: Apolacon, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA^[10]

Residence

Residence:

Date: 1860

Place: Apolacon, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA^[11]^[12]^[13]

Residence:

Date: 1880

Place: Apolacon, Susquehanna, Pennsylvania, USA^[14]

Event

Event: Ship Diamond

Type: Arrival

Date: 27 JUL 1836

Place: New York, USA^[15]

Event: Diamond - see ship passenger list

Type: Departure

Date: 1836

Place: Liverpool, England^[16]

Note

Note: #N19

Note: #N236

Marriage

Husband: Patrick Neville

Wife: Honora 'Nora' Reardon

Child: Mary Neville

Relationship to Father: Natural