History of "The Flynn Estate" - Part 1

 



Stephen Flynn Jr on  The Flynn Estate
abt 1950's

On several occasions, my Grandfather Stephen Flynn Jr. composed a hand written summary entitled " Hx of the Estate".  The original copy was among my mother's possessions and is now part of my genealogy file.  It is a valuable resource that I often review for information.

In the first summary, my grandfather tells about the first settler on Flynn's Hill, Daniel Dunlae from Ireland and his daughter Elizabeth who married Michael Flynn ( his Grandfather).  They settled on the southside of Harbour Main (waterside).  He reports they had seven children.
See Blog Entry - "The Beginning of Flynn's Hill"
November 10th, 2011

The second summary is dated August 1972, my grandfather is 77 years old at the time, he tells about his father Stephen Flynn Sr and his mother MaryAnn.  He talks about the oldest son Michael (his brother) who died Dec 1917 on Bell Island and Michael's wife who died the following month leaving a family of 5 children. My grandfather states that with his parents permission he took one son "Bill" to live with them on the Flynn Estate.
See Blog Entry - "Family Ties" November 30th, 2011

 Also in the second summary, my grandfather gives the exact dates his parents died and states there was no "Will" at the time of their death. According to the summary he remained on the Estate after the death of his parents and raised his family.  Years later he administered to the court for the Estate and collected letters from each of his siblings a "Deed of Release" 

                         Sister - Esther Flynn Lahey - Bell Island, Newfoundland
                         Brother - Phillip Martin Flynn - New York, USA
                         Brother - Patrick T. Flynn - Hamilton, Ontario
                         Sisters - Mary Ellen Flynn and Elizabeth Flynn Morey of New York

The Deed was recorded the 9th day of April 1957 A.D. at 12:40 P.M. Vol 524-5 " Deed of Release"



Stephen Flynn Jr and Ellen Mary Tobin Flynn
In front of their house in Lakeview Harbour Main, NFLD abt 1970's




 

These Family History Summaries have helped answer some of the questions regarding the Flynn Family beginnings in Lakeview Harbour Main,  Newfoundland, Canada almost 200 years ago. My Grandfather felt it was important to put into writing the history of his family and the land which had been in his family for so many years.  He had a strong sense of history and tradition. I think he would appreciate that the summaries were saved, studied and will be remembered.

The next entry will review the history of the Flynn Estate after my grandfather's death.

                                                                                                     

                                                             Elaine

                

My Coffey Connection

This is the cover of Eddie Coffey's C/D "Jack of all Trades" from Newfoundland Canada.  We have several copies of his music in our family, in cassette form and C/D and even possibly a vinyl album version.  My mother told us as children, that he was a cousin of hers, who has done very well singing "Newfie Music". He is a Balladeer of Newfoundland History.

With my recent review of my Coffey Family Connection, I am interested in finding out exactly how we are related.  Here is a little Christmas Melody for you to enjoy!

 

Listening to Eddie Coffey always brings a smile to my mom's face.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

                                                  Elaine

                                                

A Photo for a Family Story

In studying Genealogy, it is recommended to find supporting documentation to prove actual events of birth, marriage and death of family members. When documents are not available, the next best source is family history stories and notes.

Aunt Chris and Uncle Mike Bourke 1981
50th Wedding Anniversary

In 1985, my Great Aunt Chris ( Mary Christina Tobin Bourke) my grandmother Ellen Mary Tobin Flynn's sister, put together a type-written summary, entitled "History of the Tobin Family". Aunt Chris was 76 years old at the time she wrote this statement. In this summary, she listed her Great Grandparents along with their children on both her mother and father's side.  My mother, who loved family history had a copy of this account, which is now part of my genealogy file.  This information has been extremely helpful in my own personal research.
                                                               

This is what Aunt Chris wrote regarding her Grandparents and her Great Grandparents on her mother's side.

"Grandfather Follett came from Clattice Harbour on the Western Shore.  He had a boat and freighted supplies from St John's to Cape Shore.  He married grandmother Ellen Coffey and lived with her parents ( James Coffey and Catherine McGrath) in Angel's Cove Newfoundland.  He had a brother William.  I don't know if there are any children left as 2 sons were drown in a big storm.  Grandfather never shaved nor smoked.  He didn't eat any butter or milk.  It was fish - smoked, dried and salted. He was never sick. At the age of 86, he got pneumonia and died within 2 weeks. They were married over 50 years.  His people came from Chantilly, North France."

James Follett b. 1842 and d. 1923, He was actually 81 yrs at when he died. ( Info found through NFLD Grand Banks Genealogy Site) Ellen Coffey Follett b.1843 d. unknown ( My 2nd Great Grandparents)

Their children - Elizabeth - 1871, Mary Bridget - 1874, ( My Great Grandmother), George - 1876, James - 1878, Margaret - 1881, Peter - 1883, John - 1886 and Hanna - 1895

James Follet and Ellen Coffey Follett
(family members not identified)
taken around 1898

The following information is taken from the publication " Our Cultural History" A short History of the Cape Shore Area, Editors: Ernestine Power, Bernadine Careen, Cathy Nash

"A family of Folletts also lived in Angel's Cove in it's earlier days.  James Follett from Clattice Harbour, commanded a schooner that traded on the Cape Shore, bringing provisions to the people and freighting their fish to St. John's.  he married Ellen Coffey and settled down in Angel's Cove.

They had 4 sons and 3 daughters.  Mr. Follett's sons were great seamen and in the early 1900's built their own schooner.  James Follet was considered one of the best captains in Newfoundland.  His wife Ellen was one of the most prominent midwives on the Cape Shore."

I  was very excited when I recently found the above photo of James Follett and Ellen Coffey Follett. I found it through Ancestry.com, by way of the Hanlon2 Family Tree, a decedent from Ellen Coffey's brother David Coffey. Having this photo helps make Aunt Chris' story complete. It is possible that one of the two younger women could be my Great Grandmother Mary Bridget Follett, I will continue researching this possibility.

Some of this information I have shared in a previous entry "My Grandmother's Family". I feel it merits repeating, especially when you find "A Photo for a Family Story"!

                                                                                                     

                                                          Elaine



One Year in Time

This day marks the 1st Anniversary for my Flynn Family History Blog, I remember telling Aunt Agnes when I started the Blog one year ago, " I am not sure where this will go".

But after 64 Postings and 6,416 Views from people all over the world including countries such as, Sri Lanka, Chile, France, Russia, Brazil, Australia, Italy, Mongolia, United Kingdom, Germany, Costa Rica and of course Canada and the USA. I feel confident in saying "It is going well!"

There are some people listed as "Official Followers" of the Blog and others that just check in consistently from time to time. Many though, are those who come across "Flynn's Hill" by accident, by searching common words that are in the Title Entries, for example " The Newfoundland Dog" and "U.S Naval Air Base-Argentia" are extremely popular. The most viewed entry though is "I Dedicate my First Post to my Mother", which is the heart of my writing.

The most rewarding aspect of writing the Flynn Family History and putting it out on the Internet is being able to share the information with my relatives that I may not have ever had contact with. I have collected new stories and family members along the way.  It is amazing to be able to communicate with so many people from my laptop computer that sits on my desk, in the corner my kitchen, in the little town of Silver Lake, located in Southeastern Wisconsin, USA.


I started "Flynn's Hill" in attempt to preserve the stories told to me by my mother, so that they would be remembered and passed along to generations to come. Thank you for your interest and words of encouragement!

Me with my grand daughters, Avery and Mayce
 Summer 2012

                                               

               Elaine

To Vote in America

"Statue of Liberty" in New York Harbour
 photo from my mother's collection
 taken around 1950

 

Today!, in America, it is Election Day! All United States Citizens will cast their vote and then anxiously await the results, which will determine the path our country will take.  It has been a extremely long, grueling process to get to this day with many passionate people stating their concerns and beliefs for a better, stronger America.

 They say this is to be a "Historic Presidential Election".

 

Mary Bridget Flynn
taken 1951

My mother, Mary Bridget Flynn came to America in October, 1949 from Flynn's Hill in Harbour Main, Newfoundland to live with her mother's sister, her Aunt Agnes in Brooklyn, New York at the age of 20 years old.  After living in the U/S for six years and marrying an U/S citizen, my father LeRoy Otto Dollen, she became an U/S Citizen in 1955.  My mother worked for the U/S Navy Civil Service as a Legal Secretary for 33 years, she took her career very seriously and always strived to do her very best. She took her duty of voting serious as well and had great respect for the United States of America.  My mother understood that voting was her right, her privilege and her responsibility as a citizen of the United States of America!  

 

I have the opportunity to vote in America today, because this young woman had the courage and the strength to leave her home and her family to come to America.

 

I am proud to be her daughter!, I am proud to be an American!

 

                                                          Elaine

 

                                   

Philip Martin Flynn



When Uncle Ray came to Wisconsin for a visit in March 2011, we reviewed the Flynn Family History.  He shared some stories I had never heard before, like the story of "Uncle Martin". Uncle Ray explained that he was told, Uncle Martin went off to WWI at a very young age (too young to really join) and never returned to Flynn's Hill.  It was not until many years after the war had ended that a letter came from New York City stating that he was living there now.       


I found this unlabeled photo in my mother's collection,  I believe this photo is of Uncle Martin, a young man in a military uniform who went off to war, in a family collection of  photos. Looking closely at his hat you will see an anchor symbol under a crown which would indicated the British Navy. Newfoundland was a Colony of England in the early 1900's.  


Philip Martin Flynn was born May 12th, 1900 in Harbour Main, Newfoundland. He was the 8th child born to Stephen Flynn Sr and Mary Ann Tubrett, making him my Great Uncle. He would of been about 15 - 18 years old during WWI. This young man in the photo looks to be around that age. There were only a few early photos, in my mother's collection and as stories are learned the fragments of that time period come together. I strongly feel that the story told by Uncle Ray is a match to this photo!

 

 

Several records found through Ancestry.com show Philip Martin Flynn traveled back and forth from North Sydney, Nova Soctia, Canada  to New York, USA between Feb 1919 to Sept 1923 for work. His occupation is listed as Iron Worker and Laborer. The U.S Dept of Labor Memorandum (on the right) dated Sept 22, 1923  records his last permanent residence as Hamilton, Ontario, Canada and his destination as Franklin, New York, USA. Uncle Martin's older brother Patrick was living in Hamilton, Ontario from 1918 on, so that would make sense that he went to live with his brother after WWI and not return to Harbour Main.  The 1940's U.S Census shows Philip Martin living in Rockville Centre, Nassau County in Long Island, New York living as a lodger in the house of Leroy Baily on Sunrise Hwy. He is single at the time and his occupation was Laborer for the Village Water Dept.

Aunt Agnes holding daughter Denise, Great Uncle Martin, his daughter Mary,
his wife Mary and my Mother Mary

The above photo was taken in New York around 1956 during a visit to see Uncle Martin and his family by my mother and her sister.  Aunt Agnes helped to identify this photo of Uncle Martin, his daughter Mary and his wife Mary. I have not found any additional information on Uncle Martin's family.



This photo of Uncle Martin was taken July 13, 1993 by my second cousin Joe Flynn.  He sent a card with this photo to my mother Christmas 1993. Joe writes in the card, "I found Uncle Martin to be a pleasant old man full of stories of home".  

Philip Martin Flynn died January 19th, 1994, at 93 years old, in Uniondale, Nassau, New York.

 

My cousin Joe tape recorded his visit with Uncle Martin for his father, I hope one day, to hear that tape.

 

                                                                                                                Elaine

 

Memories of Uncle George

Me, Uncle George and his oldest son Wayne
taken abt 1966

My first memory of Uncle George would have to be sitting around the dinner table.  His presence was that of a "Gentle Giant", tall, towering, respected and sometimes intimidating.  He would insist that each food on your plate be tried and would notice if any had not. I remember "collard greens", especially ( they were not my favorite) Uncle George would persist until they were tried.  I would get so mad and refuse to eat them, stating  " I do not like them and I will not eat them".  Thinking back over this time, I am sure it was the reaction he was after the most, dinner would end with his chuckle. Although, Brenda his daughter once told me, "No, He was serious and he meant it!"

 I remember how he played the Violin and the Accordion, my mom told me Uncle George learned to play by listening. Aunt Agnes clarified he learned to play the accordion by ear, and took lessons to play the violin. I was always in awe when he played, I remember thinking "How does he know how to do that?"

 Uncle George would play and anyone listening would dance, especially my Aunts.  He loved to play and they loved to dance!

Uncle George was a Plumber by Trade, his father Stephen Jr was a Plumber also. Uncle George was a very hardworking man, owned his own business and taught at the local Technical School. It just so happened that I married a plumber as well. In July 2006 while at a Plumbing Convention in Las Vegas, NV, my husband was talking to a group of men who were from Newfoundland. Roger mentioned that my mother was from Newfoundland near St. John's. He then asked if any of them knew George Flynn? One gentlemen spoke up and said that he did, that George Flynn had been his instructor and that he was the best instructor he had ever had, saying with much respect.  Imagine being so many miles away from home and those two men would meet and know of George Flynn.

George Anthony Flynn was born October 16th, 1931 on Flynn's Hill in Harbour Main, NFLD, he was the third child born to Stephen Jr and Ellen Mary Tobin Flynn.  He married Hilda Williams and raised a family of 5 children, Wayne, Janet, Tony, Brenda and Dennis. He lived his entire life in Newfoundland and passed away October 8th, 2006, of Colon Cancer, 8 days before his 75th Birthday.  His son Wayne told me," He worked until the very end, it was just how he was".

                                                                                                                                                                      

Uncle George playing the Accordion and my Aunts dancing!

The month of October marks the Anniversary of Uncle George's Birth and his Death. I dedicate this post to "My Uncle George"

 

                                                   Elaine