Peter Felix HOLDEN
BIRTH-MARRIAGE-DEATH-:This information from family records given to Richard C. Holden of Colorado Springs, CO Peter Felix was the first to be buried in the Holden grave at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Lowell, MA. My cousin, Alice Holden Fahy, 141 Nesmith St. Lowell, MA 01852, told me she remembers the grave was first on a hill with an iron fence around it. This was in the year 1916 approx. when William H. Holden died. Since then the grave has been bulldozed and now is situated on even ground. In the original grave several people were buried after Peter. Mary Molloy Holden, my grandmother, was also buried here, and most likely her children, George and Catherine. The children of Peter Felix and Catherine Coyne, George, Peter and Kate were likely buried in the grave. The lady at the cemetery with whom we spoke on 14 June 1991 told us no records were kept of children buried since so many died. In the grave Catherine Coyne Holden was buried on 20 Feb 1911. 11 June 1880 census shows Peter,Catherine and their children, John, Mary A.,William H. and my grandfather, James Francis living at 209 Salem St. Lowell, MA. Many funny stories are told of Peter Felix. There was one told of his coming home on Salem St. in Lowell. They were subletting a room or rooms from a man. During the day, the man had died, and as was the custom, was layed out in his front room ready for the Irish Wake. Peter Felix came home alittle plastered, and he bumped into the man. He let out a scream which could be heard back to Ireland. Aunt Gert said he was born in Cork, which we have found to be not true through his civil war records which declared him to be born in county Carlow. Later we found the family to be from Borris. He belonged to the US Cavalry during the civil war. in my granddad's birth certificate from City of Lowell in the year 1870, Peter Felix is listed as a laborer
DEATH AND MARRIAGE, SEALING: Records in the possession of Richard C. Holden of Colorado Springs, CO. My Dad, George A. Holden remembered his grandmother, Catherine Coyne Holden as a little Irish lady with long dark dresses with a flask of whiskey concealed in her pettycoats. She would sneak a drink now and again. She was kind and loving to Dad. She had her hair in a knot. Dad remembers her speaking to him in Gaelic-something like Istorin (Darling). The family don't know where she was born. I have always heard County Cork, or County Galway. Charlotte Placht, my Dad's cousin, knew alot about her family, and she came from the Coyne family, and she said they were from County Ross- common. I think I will look there first. Aunt Gert said she was born as well as all of her sisters and brother in County Galway. All came to the US in their early teens to do housework. Michael worked in the mills of Lowell. Aunt Gert said they were a saving, God fearing people. They aquired property in Lowell. Catherine Coyne died in her late seventies. In reading my notes, I want to add that she was a small, slight, and spoke with a brogue. She parted her hair in the middle with a bun in the back. Her hair was white. She wore oval shaped glasses with all metal rims. Her dresses extended to the floor. She died when the family lived on Walker Street. Dad thought about 1908 or 1909.
Birth and Marriage Records are in the possession of Richard C. Holden Colorado Springs, Co. Uncle Johnny killed himself. My Dad told me the story about slashing his wrists and coming out of the bathroom to show his daughters saying,"Look what I've done"
Birth and Marriage Records are in the possession of Richard C. Holden Colorado Springs, Co. According to Alice Holden Fahy the family called her Me-Ann. From information my Father, George A. Holden has given me. Also Alice Holden Fahy, daughter of William H. Holden has given me information. E-mail from my Genealogist, Judy Wight, supplied confirmation of birth and baptism dates. She also found sponsors Jerry Donevan (Likely the husband of her sister and Ellen Moloy who could be a relative of my grandmother, Mary Molloy.)
Birth and Marriage Records are in the possession of Richard C. Holden Colorado Springs, Co. When we visited with Alice Holden Fahy in Lowell, Mass 14 June 1991 for Florence Gallagher's daughter,Lisa's wedding, she told us a horse kicked William causing a heart aneurysm and his death a few months later. She said the H. stood for Henry.
BIRTH-MARRIAGE: information from family records given to Richard C. Holden of Colorado Springs, CO DEATH: Personal knowledge of Richard C. Holden. Grandad was buried at the Holy Cross Cemetary, near his home in Inglewood, Los Angeles, CA. He was married after gradmother died to Mable Raymond Fitzgerald who is also buried at Holy Cross. I can remember my Grandfather as a stout (abt 300 #s), cigar smoking,slightly protruding blue eyes which were quite large. Dad called him "PA". He had been a millionaire in the days before prohibition. At one time he owned extensive property encluding a beautiful house on Florence Ave in Lowell. Dad said they only lived in this beautiful house one year. This is the house was saw and took pictures of. It is beautiful today. Dad remembers a circular staircase, the stained glass window, a beautiful library, and a maid with smelly feet. The house is located in a suburb called The Highlands. Dad attended the Bartlet School which we saw a couple of blocks away. There was also a house on Stevens St in Lowell, I Think. We saw and took a picture of this house and the house where Peter Felix and Catherine Coyne lived when they came from Ireland on Salem St. Grandad also owned a hotel in Lowell and a Movie Theater in Detroit, Michigan. They also talked of Grandad owning a movie Theater in Wydandott, Canada. Grandad walked with his head to one side...a family trait. My Dad did also, and I think I might walk this way as well. Dad can remember lots of wealth. When his mother was ill, Grandad was earning lots of money, and Dad remembers him coming home and throwing pockets full of money on the bed beside her. After Florence Ave the family moved to Walker Ave which Dad said was a come-down from Florence Ave. He married Mable Fitzgerald on Feb 3, 1908 eight months after Mary Molloy died. Dad remembers waiting for his Dad on Florence Ave when he got off the streetcar. He remembers running to Grandad when he got off the streetcar, and Grandad saying,George, you are always running. Dad also remembers Grandad bringing home many pairs of shoes. He would put them on the floor and the boys would grab the ones they liked. This led to seriously malformed feet for my Dad. He had toes which layed over one another. James Francis loved hats. He would go below the bar where he worked as a bartender, and come up with a silly expression and various hats. He always had a beautiful big car. I would watch the tail lights when he and Mabe, who drove, left, and I would think, someday I will have a car like that. 5 June 1900 Census shows James Francis and Mary Molloy, also called Minnie, living at 93 Salem St with their children, Gertrude, Walter, and Harden (the Irish name for Harold. Peter Felix and Catherine Coyne also lived their. Aunt Gert said her father was born April 13,1877. Dad said it was 1870. Grandad was a gambler. He also owned a liquor store, a bar, a comb, barrette and a suspender factory in Lowell. Grandad lost his money due to a Sandwich Law which made it necessary to give a free sandwich with a glass of beer. Dad came out to California with his Dad. In those days there were few roads and I don't think major highways existed. They drove their own car, and Dad told of sleeping in haystacks, and one night in a cemetery without knowing it until the next morning. Before they left for California, Grandad spent much time in Detroit. Their first apartment in Los Angeles was called the Gaviotta Apartment (If I can read my writing) located at 2nd and Diamond in Downtown LA. Next they moved sto 124 Beaudry Ave, and then to Venice where Grandad worked as a bartender for $22.50/wk. Times were tough, but Dad said they loved California. Aunt Gert even worked as a film star for one of the studios. When Granddad was baptized as a child into the Catholic Church his sponsors (Or godparents) were Michael Conlon..(surname in question according to Judy Wight..maybe it was illegible) could this be Michael Coyne, his mothers brother and Anna Follard ( Catherine Coyne's sister). Certificate of birth from the City of Lowell lists Granddad's birth as 13 April 1870 (Copy in Filing Cabinet.)
Birth: Records are in the possession of Richard C. Holden Colorado Springs, Co. E-mail of 17 March 2003 from Genealogist, Judy Wight gives exact date of birth and mentions the sponsors were Edward McDermott, probably her mother, Winifred McDermott's brother and Catherine Collins, no doubt a relative of her brother, Michael Coyne's wife Mary Collins.
Birth and Marriage Records are in the possession of Richard C. Holden Colorado Springs, Co. E-mail from Judy Wight (listing births obtained from the Archdiocese of Boston) in filing cabinet listed the sponsors as Martin Nevyland (name in question) and Harriet McCormac
Birth: Records are in the possession of Richard C. Holden Colorado Springs, Co. 17 March 2003 E-mail from Judy Wight, Genealogist giving date of baptism. Sponsors were John Leanard and Kate McKarney
He married Catherine Coyne 25 Nov 1859 at Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts . Catherine Coyne was born at Galway or Rosscommon, Ireland 1839 .
They were the parents of 7
children:
John E. Holden
born 9 Aug 1860.
Mary Ann Holden
born 28 Apr 1862.
William Henry Holden
born 1869.
James Francis Holden
born 12 Apr 1870.
George Holden
born 31 Aug 1872.
Peter Holden
born 9 Jul 1875.
Kate Holden
born 9 Jul 1877.
Peter Felix Holden died 3 Feb 1902 at Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts .
Catherine Coyne died 17 Feb 1911 at Lowell, Middlesex, Massachusetts .