Birthplace: Bernondsey, London England in the Poor Catholic Section. – His parents immigrated to England during the Potato Famine. Bernard's Father was said to be a Wine Tester. Bernard’s older brother was Joseph (1877) of the Tie Co. Bernard is burried at St. Raymond's Cemetery 1201 Balcom Ave Bronx NY Section12 Range 18 Plot (blank) Grave 92 http://www.straymondparish.org/cemetery.html Bernard married Alice Girard (43 Hardwicke Street Rotunda Dublin Ireland Mason House with 7 windows in front, 8 rooms, 11 people ) She was very cultured, A school teacher. She played the piano and sang. Born:1875 - 5-18-1920 from Cholera & Tuberculosis Buried in St. Raymonds Cemetary, NYC on 5-21-1920 (McMenamin), she was 45 and had Bernard & Alice were married on June 15, 1903 at the Roman Catholic Chapel of Orn Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland 4 sons: John(1904), Patrick(1905), Brian(1907) & Colm(1913) was born in America, .
Bernard & Alice emigrated to America on Nov 30, 1908. However the records show they arrived in 1909, March 21, 1909 (From John Joseph's Petition for Citizenship) and the Name for Alice, Patrick, Brian and John was MacNamin on the ship Campania Colm was born in America on Feb-12-1913. Alice passed away from Influenza-TB-Cholera & Operative Shock 7 years later. After Alice Girard MacMenamin's death (5-18-1921) the 4 boys were put into Catholic Protective Home/Orphanage until Bernard remarried 5 months later - they were able to get the boys out of the orphanage.
married 6 months later on Aug 22, 1921 at Our Lady of __ (Brian John MacMenamin and Sarah Josphone Geddis) in NewYork, NewYork (Nov 12, 1885 ??-May 6, 1958 lived 72 years) who had been sent to America after she smuggled a gun. She was part of the Shinn-Fain Movement, more political than the IRA. Sarah hid the gun in a hat box for the IRA, because the “Black & Tan” criminals & prisoners were released from jail by Britain and sent to Ireland to put down the Irish Republic before the 1916 rebellion. Sara had vivid blue eyes , The 4 loved boys loved her - they even loved her more than their father. Sarah & Bernard had 4 more children James(10-15-1922), Maureen Mary (8-22-1924 died at 6yrs), (Joseph (4-2-1926), & Bernadette(*[from Sara's Naturalization application #414318] 5-2-1930, actual DOB=3-2-1930). She was beloved by John, Patrick, Brian & Colm. She loved and cared for them as a mother. It was because of Sara the 4 boys were released to Bernard from the orphanage, and they never forgot her kindness, and always referred to her as "Mother". Sara was distressed after the deaths of Brian(4-22-1928) and Maureen(3-18-1931), She Bernard and their 3 children sailed on 5/9/1931 to Belfast, N Ireland. Sara took 1 year old Bernadette, 5 year old Joseph and James and returned to Ireland from May-9-1931 thru Sep-27-1932, almost a year and 1/2. Part of the reason for the long visit was because Sara was NOT yet a citizen. Aunt Bernadette's cassette 1984 recording from Jil & Aunt Alice's trip to Washington DC explains their journeyWhen Sara tried to come back to the United States after her visit home to Belfast Ireland, she was not allowed to return. She was not a citizen. Emigration did not want people coming into the US that did not have good employment potential. Bernard was beside himself - he did not know how to get his wife and 2 youngest children back home. When his friend Mr. Hennessy who just happened to be Bernard's son Patrick's future father-in-law, heard the story, he had his lawyers draw up papers giving Bernard one of his businesses. Bernard was able to get Sara, Joey & Bernadette back into the United State. Mr. Hennessy's lawyers then drew up papers having Bernard return the business to Mr. Hennessy. Sara eventually gained US Citizenship in 1944 (see paperwork below)
Bernard was Naturalized on in the Bronx, New York City Cert #3261366
=========================================================================== We are looking for the English Newspaper from 1886 that discusses the MacMenamin's - Valerie & Maureen found it - but they didn't get the link =======================================================================================
Currently there is a debate - to use a Space - or to leave it out. Sometimes it is spelled McMenamin (Sara's Passport) Alice Gerard MacMenamin's death Certificate. Lots of censes have various spellings. |