Ellen (Meagher) Thompson (1889 - 1973)

Born 19 May 1889 in Frostburg, Allegany, Maryland, United States

Ancestors

Daughter of Thomas Francis Meagher and Annie Elizabeth (Brooks) Maguire

Wife of Francis Merle Thompson — married 3 Apr 1909 in Mount Pleasant, Westmoreland, Pennsylvania

Died 31 Aug 1973 at age 84 in Homestead, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States

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Biography

Baptized Ellen,^[1] as the first-born daughter she was named after her maternal grandmother, following the traditional naming convention of the time. Afterwards she was almost always known as Nellie or Nell.
Before marriage, Nell was working with her sister Irene as a maid and waitress in a hotel in Mount Pleasant.^[2]
The marriage was at St. Joseph in Mount Pleasant.^[3] Through 1910 the young family was residing in Everson^[4] in Fayette County. By 1920^[5] and through 1923^[6] they were in Pitcairn, Allegheny County. By 1931, and continuing into the 1970's they were in West Homestead, first at 309 Cherry,^[7] and from 1935 in an apartment at 203 W. Eighth Avenue.^[7][8] That apartment was on the second floor above a long-time bakery at street level.^[9] In the 1960's Nell would spend several days each summer staying with her sister Irene in Uniontown. Separately Nell would also vacation with Irene and Irene's daughters and Irene's sister-in-law.

The Find A Grave memorial for Nell includes a transcript of her obituary from the Homestead Daily Messenger, and includes links to the memorials for four of her six children.

Research Note

Unconfirmed, but likely, death dates for the other two children: Thomas b. 27 Feb 1919 d. Apr 1974 Allegheny County; Regis b. 14 Mar 1911 d. 31 May 1990, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.

Sources

1. ↑ Baptismal Register, St. Michael, Frostburg, Vol. 2 1871-1889, p. 366, #52. Godparents Patrick Higgins and Maria McKenna.
2. ↑ As told to Jim Toth. Irene was recorded as residing at the hotel in the 1910 census, and that was probably the situation as well for Nell before her marriage. The 1940 census records Nell's occupation as chambermaid.
3. ↑ Westmoreland County Marriage License Docket, No. 26877, Francis M Thompson, b. Maryland 24 Oct 1887, residing Everson, Occupation Machinist, Nellie C. Meagher, b. Frostburg, Maryland, 19 May 1889, residing Mount Pleasant, consent of Mrs. Annie Meagher, married 3 Apr 1909 by M. G. O'Donnell.
4. ↑ 1910 census, Pennsylvania, Fayette, Everson Borough, ED 24, Sheet 7A, 19 April 1910, Painter Street, lines 28-30, "Mearl" 21 Machinist, Nellie 20, Eugene 3 months. Immediately following is the household of Eugene Thompson 57, probably Merle's father. Merle and his parents, and their parents, all born Maryland.
5. ↑ 1920 Census, Pennsylvania, Allegheny, Patton twp., Pitcairn, ED 316, Sheet 4B, 9 January 1920, 632 "Street Ten", lines 68-74, Francis M., 34 Machinist Railroad, Ella C. 30, children Eugene F 10, Regis J. 8, Paul E. 7, Hazel I. 4, Thomas M. 11 months.
6. ↑ Obituary for son James says born in Pitcairn. (The obituary is included with the Find A Grave memorial for James. His memorial is linked to the memorial for his mother.)
7. ↑ ^{7.0 7.1} Polk's Homestead City Directories, 1931 and 1937-1945, Carnegie Library of Homestead.
8. ↑ Census image of the family of Nell in the 1940 census: Pennsylvania ED 2-586, Sheets 3B and 4A (Images/Pages 6 and 7 of 28). The census records that they were in the same house in 1935.
9. ↑ Son Thomas worked in the bakery. The building is one block west of the Homestead Grays Bridge (High Level Bridge). In 2018 there is an auto parts store at street level, and it appears that the apartment is now reached from steps in the back.

• Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by a 23andMe test match between Jim Toth and his second cousin SL, a grandaughter of Nell Meagher. Their most-recent common ancestors are Thomas Francis Meagher and Annie (Brooks) Meagher Maguire, the great-grandparents of Jim Toth and of SL. Predicted relationship from 23andMe: Second Cousin, based on sharing 224 cM across 10 segments.