Membership in Irish-American Organizations

One of the ways the Irish kept their identity as Irish, and also helped the land of their birth or ancestry, was to participate in organizations that celebrated their heritage, or helped the people of their homeland. While citizens of Belleville most likely participated in every Irish-American organization that came into existence over the years, records of who actually belonged to these organizations has been difficult to find.

Some early Irish joined American organizations. There was a Belleville Council, Junior Order, United American Mechanics, an anti-Catholic, anti-immigrant organization associated with the Know-Nothings. Verner W. Forgie, whose father had come to America from the north of Ireland, was a member.

One of the first Irish-American organizations to have a significant membership of residents of  Belleville was the Fenian Brotherhood. A letter of E. Mullen, secretary of the O’Neill Circle, Newark, N.J., to the Irish American Weekly, reported on recruitment meetings in Newark and Belleville. The letter, dated May 28, 1868, was published in the June 13 issue. Major MacWilliams had addressed a meeting in Belleville on May 25, which, the correspondent notes, “was attended by a very large and enthusiastic audience.” After the lecture, “a circle of seventy-four members was formed, and a military company of thirty-eight men started.” The officers were: John W. Goslin, Centre; M. Hanley, Secretary; C. White, Treasurer; M. Hanley, Captain.

The correspondent notes that both the Belleville circle and a newly-formed Newark Eighth Ward circle “are composed of good and true men who are evidently determined to exert themselves in not only increasing their circle in numbers, but also in preparing their boys in green for active service under our gallant President, Gen. John O’Neill.”

The April 3, 1886 issue of the New York Irish American Weekly reported on the convention of Irish Societies of New Jersey, held at the Young Men’s Catholic Institute in Newark, to form a permanent State organization of the Irish National League. The newspaper noted that “the stage in the hall was appropriately decorated with American and Irish flags and pictures of Parnell, Archbishop Croke, and Washington.” The Belleville Branch of the Wolfe Tone Club was represented by William McVey, Hugh Diamond, Michael Daly and James Slattery.

  

The Friends of Irish Freedom was organized in 1916 to help in the fight for Irish independence. While the date of organization for the Belleville branch has not been discovered, the H. C. Morris’ Belleville Directory for 1921 lists the following officers: John J. Killeen, president; George Batty, vice-president; Mary G. Monahan, recording secretary; Mrs. Nichola Shelby, financial secretary; Mrs. Patrick Baney, corresponding secretary; Mrs. James Neary, treasurer. Meetings were held at St. Peter’s Hall.

Killeen, a carpenter, was born in Ireland in the 1880s. According to the 1920 census, he had immigrated in 1900. In 1930 he was living at 59 Hornblower Avenue, with his New York-born wife, daughter of a New York-born father and an Irish-born mother.

Batty is probably George Batty, Jr., born in New Jersey about 1880 to an English-born father and a New Jersey-born mother. Both of George, Sr.’s parents were born in England, but his maternal grandfather was born in Ireland. George Batty and Son was listed in the 1921 Belleville Directory under “House Furnishing Goods” at 182 Washington Ave, where they also resided.  

Mary Monahan, born Mary Quinn, had married James J. Monahan in their hometown of Bohola, County Monahan, on 6 June 1901. Soon after their marriage they settled in Belleville and lived at 64 Quarry St., where they later ran a confectionary store.

       

In 1921, Nicholas Shelby was a motorman living at 130 Stephens St. I have so far not found him in any other records.

       

Mrs. Patrick Baney is probably Delia Baney, born in Ireland about 1874, immigrated 1889 or so. Her husband Patrick was born in Ireland about 1870 and immigrated 1888. He was naturalized in 1900 at the Court of Common Pleas in Newark. By 1920 they were living at 21 Hornblower Avenue. In 1900, he was a laborer in a brass factory. The 1921 directory gives his occupation as motorman. In 1930 he was a gardener. In 1924, she returned to Ireland for a visit, perhaps to experience the Irish Free State she had worked for.

       

Mrs. James Neary is most likely Julia Neary, née Day, born about 1862 in New York to Irish-born parents. In 1930 she and her husband were living at 35 Hornblower Avenue. According to the 1921 Directory, her husband dealt in lumber.

I hope to find out more about the membership in these organizations, and find more recent organizations that residents of Belleville belonged to.