Following is my recap of the emigration of my branch of the Lynam family from County Westmeath to Philadelphia. The Lynams were significant tenants in the area of Horseleap, Raheen and Gallstown. These are the children of David Lynam and Ellen Kilmurray. They came to the Fishtown neighborhood of Phila. All of them are buried in New Cathedral cemetery in Phila.
Owen and Bridget are the first to arrive in 1877. Owen eventually marries Annie Kilmurray (Dec 1, 1883) who is my Great grandmother and mother of David Lynam (1886-1922) who was the only surviving child of that union.
Owen is recorded in the Phila directory as a porter and Annie Kilmurray appears in the 1870 census as a servant in the household of Mr Yerkes a stockbroker.
There is a close link between Kilmurray and my Lynam branch. Owen Lynam is one of the sons Ellen Kilmurray and David Lynam (Westmeath) and Owen marries Annie Kilmurray in Phila
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Bridget is recorded in the census of 1880 as a resident worker at Girard College. She apparently never married and died July 6, 1891 of Addison’s disease on her death certificate as cause of death. At the time of her death her residence was 2009 Hope St
Patrick died 22 Sep 1903 (38). His death certificate indicates his body was removed from the house of his brother, John. 2048 Bodine St. Both he and John were workers in a Morrocan leather plant and John died 1904 most likely from the same exposure to extremely hazardous conditions. Patrick’s death certificate states that he was married (spouse unknown). John died 1904. He was married to Catherine McLaughlin.
David died 5 Feb 1899 (38) and his body was removed from 1316 Hope St. He was not married.
Ellen died March 2, 1934. She was not married and apparently resided at Girard College with Bridget. She is recorded in the 1900 census as an employee.
Catherine is a bit obscure. I believe she died in 1951 and is buried with her siblings in New Cathedral Cemetery.
The remaining family members; Malachy and Mary Lynam remained in Westmeath. Mary married her first cousin Malachy, and were living in Corgarve, Westmeath about 1900.
Malachy may have married Mary McLaughlin and they had two children (David and Thomas). Malachy and his two sons are recorded in both the 1901 and 1911 census living in Umma – Raheen. Mary may have died in 1889.
After Owen and Bridget arrived (1877) the other Lynams emigrated to Phila as a group and arrived in 1880 on the SS Ohio:
David
Katherine
John
Ellen
Patrick
According to family sources they walked the distance (150 miles) to Queenstown (Cobh) and their departure.