My name is Sheila Gyles McCormack. I grew up in Oxford, NY. My dad was Sidney Joseph Gyles. My family always referred to the Vestal Cousins of whom I never met. Didn't some of them work at IBM?
I never met any cousins, period -- what a shame. I take that back I briefly "saw" them at the funerals.
Here is a brief reply to what I know. (I don't have the info in front of me)
They sailed on the SS St. Louis.
My dad came to the US with his mother Ellen M. Gyles, his aunt Annie Gyles, and his grandparents Stephan and Julia Gyles. This was in January of 1916. My dad was given the name of Gyles upon entry to the US at Ellis Island.
They lived in Endwell, NY.
Our Grandparents
Stephan Gyles was the son of James Gyles and Johanna Lonnard (leonard?) from Annestown, Waterford County Ireland.
Julia S. (Sheila) Gyles was the daughter of James Baldwin and Bridget Cohan. (Keoghan, Keowan) Annestown, Waterford County, Ireland.
My grandmother Ellen married 1 Sidney Westwood Orders 2 James Cron.
Aunt Kate was married to John Keane.
Aunt Annie was married to Pete Streno.
Aunt Alice was married to Pat Battista.
Aunt Julia was married to ________Whitaker.
Uncle James and Uncle John married sisters. (can't remember the names off hand, I think Uncle John's wife was Jenny and Uncle James wife Ellie.)
Grandfather Stephan's death certificate is filed in Vestal.
Just heard from a great grandaughter of Uncle John's, she lives in Florida. Another Cousin!!
Steve, by any chance was a part of Endwell ever considered part of the Vestal township?? Maybe that is the term the Vestal Cousins came from??
My dad would be pleased if he was still with us to know that we are searching for and finding each other.
I think we all knew different parts of the family, and the stories, so we need to all get together and put the info all together.
I'd be happy to volunteer to put it together in a genealogy format for all of us to have.
Send your info to: Sheila
mack2001@charter.netA few years ago I heard from a cousin in Ireland. He has since moved to Spain, and I didn't hear from him again. He descended from Grandfather Stephan's brother John in Ireland. On his birth certificate he told me they spelled his name Giles. It was an error but never corrected. SO only this end of the family keeps the Gyles spelling alive.
Hope to hear from everybody soon.
Sheila