Tag Archives: Muldoon

Ellsworth Joseph Muldoon (Conover)

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BIRTH 1 JAN 1885 • Pennsylvania or Maryland, USA
DEATH Unknown

Facts about the birth of Ellsworth Joseph Conover are not easy to locate. Multiple records indicate his birthplace as Pennsylvania but his marriage certificate suggests that he was born instead in Baltimore, Maryland. His date of birth is often noted as January 1 either in the year 1884 or 1885. The first record of Ellsworth we have located is from the 1900 census and notes him as Ellsworth Conover, the 16 year old adopted son of Henry and Mary Muldoon. Inconsistencies about his birth date or location could be due to his adopted parents not being certain about those facts. January 1 could also have been used just have been because it was the first day of the year.

1900 census Muldoon family living in Philadelphia with adopted son Ellsworth Conover

It’s likely that Ellsworth’s family was from England because we have record of him departing Liverpool, England, on October 4, 1899, at age 14. It is not certain if he was returning to the United States after visiting family or immigrating there for the first time. It is possible that as an adult he lied about his birth location to shortcut his way to citizenship or for some other reason.

Ellsworth Muldoon departure from Liverpool, England, on October 4, 1899

Passport applications and immigration records show that he traveled to England again in 1914. On December 23, 1915, he married Nellie Hegarty in Manhattan, New York City, New York. A year following their marriage, Ellsworth applied for a passport to re-enter the United States while in Nassau, Bahamas. His appearance is described as 5’10” with grey eyes, light hair, a prominent nose and a long face. A photo is also included in the passport application.

1916 passport application for Ellsworth Muldoon

By 1918 Ellsworth and Nellie had moved to Chicago, Illinois, and Nellie gave birth to their daughter Marianne Muldoon. The last documentation found of Ellsworth is a 1920 census record in Chicago where he was residing with Nellie and Marianne. Inquiry within the family also provides no additional information about what could have happened to Ellsworth.

Helen “Nellie” Hegarty

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BIRTH 19 JUL 1880 • Kilgarvan, Kerry, Ireland
DEATH 2 JAN 1960 • Des Plaines, Cook, Illinois, USA

Helen “Nellie” Hegarty was born on 19 July 1880 to Jeremiah Hegarty and Helen Sullivan of Droumadilish, Kilgarvan, County Kerry, Ireland. According to census records, she immigrated to the United States sometime between 1898 and 1901 and took up residence in the area of New York City. While living in New York, she worked as a domestic servant. On 23 December 1915 Nellie married Ellsworth Joseph Muldoon, also a household servant. At the time of her marriage she was 35 years old, despite her marriage certificate noting her age at 31. It was not common practice in Ireland at this time to keep track of one’s birthday, meaning it is reasonable that she may not have known her age. Alternatively, she may have lied about her age because she was marrying a younger man.

Shortly after their marriage, Ellsworth was employed to work as a valet for a family traveling to the Bahamas. Ellsworth’s passport application indicates that Nellie was to join him on this journey and immigration records show they returned together from Nassau on the SS Mexico on April 24, 1916.

By September 1918 Nellie and Ellsworth had relocated to Chicago, Illinois. On 1 December 1918 Nellie gave birth to their first and only child, Marianne Ellen Muldoon. Records from 1918 and 1920 locate them in the Near South Side neighborhood, immediately adjacent to the current-day McCormick Place.

By 1930 Ellsworth is no longer a part of the household and Nellie is found living with the families that employ her as a maid. According to family accounts, she worked as a maid at Mercy Hospital & Medical Center during this period while her daughter Marianne attended boarding school.

Nellie passed away on 2 January 1960 in Des Plaines, Illinois.

Our family’s lineage to Nellie Hegarty is noted below along with codes to lookup these individuals on FamilySearch.

Helen “Nellie” Hegarty (1880-1960)  • LRK4-VQB
Marianne Ellen Muldoon (1918-1982) • LRKS-J59
Patrick Joseph Ross (1955-Living) • LRK9-CH8
Brian Patrick Ross (1985-Living) • LRJB-19W