The Descendants of

John & Bridget (Joyce) Coen/Coan

Of Canteeny

“Migration to America”

This information was compiled from immigration records available via the Ellis Island web site “www.ellisislandrecords.org”. The project is ongoing, covering a period of migration from 1892 - 1924. The database of names and the optical scanning is not complete; therefore, some names are not available. Thomas came to America in 1895, but little more is known of his migration. Timothy (Thady) is listed in the 1901 Lackagh Census as living in Ireland, but he is also listed on the Ellis Island website as arriving in America on June 6th 1901. “Coan” is how the name is most frequently spelled within the family today, but most records in Ireland use “Coen”. “Cowan” and “Cowen” were also sometimes used. The spelling here is as it appears within the records, to aid in finding the names in the web site. The period discussed here is from the first Ellis Island migration in 1899 of Catherine, to the last trip in 1919 of Delia. Within that twenty-year period, the format of ship’s manifests changed. Some documents contain more information than others. Common questions such as name, age, nationality, final destination and who they were going to see were asked. Personal questions regarding political viewpoints as well as physical description, health questions and how much money was in their possession, were also asked. They all came separately. They were unmarried and ranged from 18-23 years old. They came in the order of their ages, sometimes traveling with relatives and friends (who are listed for reference purposes). They all traveled in steerage class. In some cases, Athenry was listed as residence, but that was where their tickets were purchased as a through passage, covering railroad and ship. The Irish at that time were considered British subjects.

Catherine, “Kate Coen” (m. John Weis)

Kate left Queenstown, County Cork aboard the White Star Line steamship SS Germanic. She sailed on July 6th 1899 and arrived at Ellis Island on July 14th 1899. She was listed as a servant, eighteen years of age, single and able to read and write. Her last residence was listed as Athenry, County Galway. She was in possession of $15.00 and here to see her brother Thomas at 427 East (1)4th Street in New York, who paid her fare. She favorably answered all questions regarding character; she was never in prison, an almshouse or on charity. She was not a polygamist, an anarchist or under a labor contract. She was in good health; her “Mother Tongue” was English. This was her first time in the United States

and she was Roman Catholic.

Timothy (Thady) “Coen” (m. Mary?)

Thady left Queenstown, County Cork in May of 1901 and arrived at Ellis Island aboard the White Star Liner SS Majestic on June 6th 1901.

His last residence was listed as Turloughmore, County Galway Ireland. He was listed as 23 years old and a laborer. He was in possession of $5.00 and indicated that his fare was paid for by his brother Thomas who he listed as his sponsor.

Mary “Coen” (m. Giuseppe Perillo)

Mary left Queenstown aboard the Cunard Liner SS Aurania on September 2nd 1903 and arrived at Ellis Island on September 10th 1903. She was listed as nineteen years old, single and a servant. She was able to read and write. Her last residence was listed as Athenry, County Galway. She paid her own fare and was in possession of $2.50. She traveled with her cousin Julia Concar to see Julia’s sister (Mary’s cousin) Kate Concar who lived at 29 “Beachiman” Place (possibly Beekman) in New York. She had not previously been in the United States and was in good health. Additionally, she did not possess any of the character flaws questioned in the ship’s manifest.

Delia “Coan” (m. Michael Griffin)

There are three manifests for Delia. One from 1906, one from 1914, and one from 1919. Per the 1914 record, she was in the US for seven years; 1906 -1913. The 1919 record ironically indicates her being here 1909-1916. The 1914 document is however correct. Church records at Lackagh (the dates which were given to me by Delia’s daughter Teresa) also indicate that she was actually three years older than her immigration records show, thus confusing issues even further. Supporting details in all manifests do indicate that it is no doubt the right person.

1906; Delia “Cowan” age eighteen of Athenry, having sailed from Queenstown, departing October 7th 1906. She arrived at Ellis Island on October 14th aboard the Cunard Liner SS Etruria. Her ticket #28225 was paid for by her sister. She could read and write, her occupation was listed as servant and was in possession of 75 cents. She stated that she was born in Turloughmore, Athenry. She was single and five feet two inches tall (She was actually much taller). Her nationality was listed as British and her race as Irish. It is interesting to note various changes to the notes on her manifest. It suggests that the agent who initially recorded her information, might have been new on the job. Her first name Delia had a line through it and Bridget was penciled in (note: Delia is a common nickname for Bridget, but per Teresa, she never used Bridget). She was also the only one of the family to have her name spelled as “Cowan”. Other corrections were; complexion changed from dark to ruddy. Hair from dark to fair and eyes from blue to (fair?). She was enroute to see her sister; Mrs. John Weis at 152 East 5th Street in New York City. Delia returned to Ireland in 1913, to visit her ailing mother. She came back to New York in 1914 to put her affairs in order, so that she could return to Ireland and care for her mother. World War I prevented her from going back to New York after her mother died. When the war ended, she permanently came to the U.S. to live in1919.

1914; Delia “Coan” left Queenstown aboard the American Line ship SS Philadelphia on April 16th 1914, arriving at Ellis Island on April 23rd 1914. She was listed as twenty-five years old, single, a servant and a resident of New York. She was able to read and write, was in possession of $25.00 and paid her own fare. A physical description indicated that she was in good health, five feet, seven inches tall, of fair complexion with fair hair and blue eyes. She stated that she was visiting her mother Bridget Coen at Canteeny, Athenry, and County Galway. She was enroute to New York to see her sister Mrs. John Weis, who lived at 1934 Third Ave. Traveling with her were cousins Willie Concar and Patrick Flynn, as well as Norah Duffy and John Joyce (possibly cousins).

1919; Delia “Coen”, single, age twenty-nine, a domestic and permanent resident of New York, She sailed from Southampton (probably from Queenstown with a stop in Southampton) on November 26th 1919 aboard the Red Star Liner SS Lapland, arriving at Ellis Island December 6th 1919. In this manifest, she stated that she was born in Turloughmore and was visiting with her brother John “Coen” who lived at “Canteeny, Turloughmore, and Athenry” and was enroute to see her sister Mrs. Weis who lived on Grandview Ave. in Springfield Gardens, Queens. She was in possession of $20.00 and paid her own fare. Her physical description indicated that she was in good health and five, feet six inches tall. Her complexion was listed as “fresh”, her hair dark and her eyes brown (her daughter Teresa stated that her eyes really were brown). Listed with her, was a travel companion Margaret Connelly also of Turloughmore.

Norah “Coan”; (m. Jeremiah Regan)

Norah was the last sister to come to America. She sailed from Queenstown aboard the Cunard Liner SS Coronia, departing on April 26th 1911, arriving at Ellis Island May 3rd 1911. She was twenty-one, single and a servant. She was able to read and write, was in possession of $15.00 and paid her own fare. Like her sisters, she was of good character. She lived with her mother Bridget Coen in Turloughmore and was going to New York to see her sister Mrs. J. Weis who lived at 532 East 5th Street. She was in good health. Her description indicated that she was five feet, six inches tall and of dark complexion with brown eyes.

The family farm where all were born was in the Parish of Lackagh, Townland of Canteeny, and District of Turloughmore in County Galway. Brothers John and Padraic remained in Ireland. Padraic was a shoemaker and thatcher. John ran the family farm until his death in 1954, when it was sold to James Murphy (a cousin?).

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