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Jim Bomford of Florida USA
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Family of Jim Bomford of Florida USA, born 1948 This annotated family tree has been compiled on the basis of a set of emails and other documents sent by Jim Bomford in Florida to David Bomford in South Australia in 2002, an email sent by Jim Bomford to Catherine Holman in 1999, information provided to Catherine Holman by Rick Smith, emails from Jim Bomford to Richard Bomford in Canberra in 2005 and 2006, social security and some other data from Catherine Holman, US census data supplied by Sukie Hunter and WW1 records provided by Rick Smith. Research on the Irish Bomfords by Peter Bamford is reproduced below, but data from it has not been included in the tree. 1a John Bomford in Ireland, b 1763 and had issue. Deeds and letters concerning Ballinakill handed down to Jim Bomford appear to be from a John Bomford; John Bomford, who grazed cattle on Bomford lands at Ballinakill and whose death precipitated a dispute with Sir John Nugent over ownership 2a Henry Bomford in Ireland b 1805, m Mary Kane and had issue 3a Augustin Bomford b 1843 (but see his census records) in Ireland, m Katherine Drugan, b Ireland, and had issue. He and Katherine probably died between 1920 when they were shown in the census, and 1930 when the census shows that their son Oliver had moved into the family home. Also seems to have been spelt Augustus, Agustus, Agustin, Agustave and sometimes Bumford, known (1870 census) as Gus. Augustin fought in the Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg, served with the New York Fire Department and is described in the census documents as an engineer working for wages. Jim Bomford's records show him as working as an engineer for the Fire Department, and that he worked for the City of Brooklyn Volunteer Fire Department before the five counties were joined to form New York City. Jim Bomford (email to Richard Bomford 15 Jan 2006) says his father once showed him a clipping of a bare knuckle fight that Augustin won against John L Sullivan for the rights of the Brooklyn Longshoremen to work the Hoboken, NJ docks. He was supposed to have won the fight. Jim says that is hard to believe because he would have been much older than Sullivan, but Jim's father had a newspaper clipping, from the Brooklyn Eagle if Jim recalls correctly. Augustin was the eldest son of an eldest son according to Jim. The 1920 census has Augustin as 75 years old and Katherine 70, living in their own house with no mortgage at 67 Bush Street, Brooklyn; it says Augustin was born in Ireland and came to the USA in 1863, was naturalised in the USA in 1865 and that Katherine was born in Ireland, came to the USA in 1860 and was naturalised (no date). Family legend has it that Augustin could not return to Ireland due to a clash that he allegedly had with a British trooper which compelled him to leave in the first place. As the family tale goes (email from Jim Bomford to Richard Bomford, 15 Jan 2006) "Gus was a big man whose uncle was the owner of the property and the tenant farms of Ballinakill. He allegedly had an encounter with a British soldier in the street and was insulted by him. This insult had something to do with the fact that he was related to a man of property or was one himself. In the resulting fight he either beat up or killed the soldier. One version had him leaving the soldier who he had disarmed hanging on a hook of some kind. A fellow named Paddy or Patty Iago (not sure of the spelling but that is the name they used or at least how it sounded) helped Gus slip out of Ireland and work his way to America. He could not return and thus the letters of Mary Bomford Burns [sic: but see entry for Theresa Bomford below] went unanswered as to the defence of the title to Ballinakill land." Augustin Bomford, by then in the USA, was the only person remaining who may have had standing to defend Bomford title to Ballinakill lands. Augustus Bumford in 1915 had been (past tense - no indication of when) a Private, Co. G, 46th Regiment, New York Infantry and was entitled to an increased pension. The 1900 census says Katherine had had 15 children, of whom 6 were living; the 1910 census says she had had 10 children of whom 3 were living: Henry and Felix were two of those three in 1910, living with their parents, and the third was Oliver (Alfred), living close by with his own family, so it is presumed William and Augustin Jr had died 4a William, b Dec 1868, still alive in 1900. William had died by the 1910 census, which reports that Katherine had had 10 children of whom 3 (Henry, Felix & Oliver) were living 4b Henry or Harry, b Dec 1872, still alive and unmarried in the 1920 census, living with his parents. There is no sign of a Henry Bomford in the 1930 census, so he may have died between 1920 and 1930 4c Augustin or Agustus b Dec 1874. With his parents in the 1900 census. Augustin had died by the 1910 census 4d Edward, b c 1876 d before the 1900 census 4e Denis. There was a Denis aged 11 months at the 7 Jun 1880 census: he may have died young 4f Dennis, b Mar 1881 according to the 1900 census. Denis is mentioned as having just died in Teresa Byrne's 1909 letter to her Uncle 4g Thomas (not mentioned in census of 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910 or 1920, so presumed to have been born and died young between censuses) 4h Oliver Bomford, known to Jim Bomford as Alfred, b 19 Dec 1884 according to his WW1 registration card (Dec 1884 according to the 1900 census; from the 1920 and 1930 census data we can infer he was born between Jan and April 1885), m Rose Ann St John or Rosanna St John b between April 1886 and Jan 1887 in New York, sister of James St John who lived with the family, and had issue. Served for a time with New York Fire Department and spent much of his life building ships in the Brooklyn Naval Yard according to Jim's father's records, but was a foreman in a carpet factory according to the census data, and a foreman employed by A W Sutton in Brooklyn according to his WW1 registration card (dated 12 Sep 1915). On the WW1 registration card Oliver and Rose are shown as living at 24 West 9th Street, Brooklyn. The 1920 census shows Oliver, Rose and family living at 19 Centre (or Gentre) Street, Brooklyn, with Rose's brother James. By the 1930 census the family had moved to Oliver's parents' house at 67 Bush Street, Brooklyn. In an email to Richard Bomford dated 12 Aug 2005, Jim Bomford explains that Oliver/Alfred worked for a carpet factory and was also a steam fitter in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, including on the battleship USS North Carolina. He also worked during the 1917 influenza epidemic for Ann Matthews Funeral Home, but did not continue there as '[Jim's] grandmother would have no part of it' 5a Augustin, born between April 1906 and Jan 1907 in New York according to census data. Augustin was a bachelor and lived with his sisters Agnes and Teresa and his uncle James St John in Middle Village, Queens, until his death in the early 1980s. His other sister Catherine lived downstairs in another apartment with her husband William Wallace and family. Additional information from Catherine Holman: an Augustin Bomford Birth Date: 10 Mar 1907 Death Date: Dec 1979 Social Security Number: 060-01-3881 State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: New York Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 11374 Localities: Flushing, Queens, New York Rego Park, Queens, New York. Jim Bomford says the date of death in the social security record is wrong for some reason, and that the only Bomfords in the State of New York while he was serving in the NYPD were all related to him, though there were some Bomfords in New Jersey whom he did not meet 5b William Bomford b between April 1908 and January 1909 in New York according to census data, m(1) Margaret Dalton, daughter of St John Dalton and (Mary?) Connelly (sister of Ann), and had issue. At the 1930 census William, aged 21, was a stock exchange clerk living with his parents. William served with US forces in WW2 and was a medical technician in the first wave of landings at Normandy. Served with New York Fire Department. Additional information from Catherine Holman: a William Bomford Birth Date: 14 Dec 1908; Death Date: Jul 1978; Social Security Number: 060-10-8990; State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: New York; Death Residence Localities ZIP Code: 10306 Localities: Staten Island, Richmond, New York; Death Benefit Localities Zip Code: 11209 Localities: Brooklyn, Kings, New York. Jim Bomford in an email to Richard Bomford on 12 Aug 2005 confirms that William of Staten Island was his father and the dates are correct. William lived at Staten Island after returning from Deltona, Florida in 1974 until his death. Margaret Bomford, Birth Date: 6 Sep 1910, Death Date: May 1948, Social Security Number: 099-10-5204, State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: New York, State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: New York. Margaret died shortly after her son Jim was born 6a James Michael Bomford, known as Jim, b 1948 in New York. No children. Raised by his Aunt Catherine Wallace (below). Married to Virginia. Served with New York Police Department. After retiring from the Police, moved to Florida and was elected Fire Commissioner of a professional ALS City Fire Department. Government consultant living in Florida in 2005 5b William Bomford m(2) Edna and had further issue (Kathleen Miller email 29 Mar 2010). They lived at Deltona Beach, Florida, until Edna's death in the 1970s 6b Kathleen Bomford, who had issue 7a Matthew Bomford 5c Catherine Bomford or Katherine Bomford, b between April 1910 and January 1911 m John William Wallace, known as Willie, and had issue (Peter Bamford, 14.8.8, note 6; Kathleen Miller email 16 Apr 2010). Lived in Queens (see 5a Augustin above) 6a Theresa Wallace, m George E Dunn and had six children. They lived in Lake Grove, Long Island, New York 6b Roseann T Wallace, m Vincent Orciullo and had two children. They lived in Staten Island 6c John William Wallace, known as Jack, d 1972 in an auto accident, m(1) Rosalind Cohen and had issue 7a Randy Jay Wallace 6c John William Wallace divorced and m(2) Judith Ann McKenna of Brooklyn, New York and they had 4 children before his death. The children were raised in Brooklyn. Up until their father's death, in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn; and after his death in theWindsor Terrace section of Brooklyn (Kathleen Miller email 16 Apr 2010) 7b Kathleen Wallace, married and has two children 7c John William Wallace III 7d Robert James Wallace 7e Timothy Scott Walllace 5d Oliver (Jr) b between April 1915 and January 1916, also known as Alfred, who had issue. Worked much of his life building ships in the Brooklyn Navy Yard, where records are said to record him as 'also known as Allie' [which would sound much the same as Ollie]. Jim Bomford says 'There were two Alfreds: one was my grandfather; the other an uncle who was baptized Oliver Peter in error (long story).' There is no Alfred recorded in the 1920 and 1930 census data, only Oliver. There is an Alfred Bomford in the IGI: Birth Date: 30 Aug 1915, Death Date: Apr 1967, Social Security Number: 095-18-6838, State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: New York. In an email to Richard Bomford dated 12 Aug 2005, Jim Bomford explained that his Uncle Allie was intended by his [Jim's] grandmother to be called Alfred, and Alfred is the name on his birth certificate and recorded in the IGI records. But he was subsequently baptised Oliver. Both names are legally acceptable and he is shown as Oliver Jr in the census records. His brother William handled the funeral arrangements and used the name Alfred as his mother had intended and that too is reflected in the IGI record 6a Alfred, known as Skipper. Jim Bomford in an email to Richard Bomford dated 12 Aug 2005 says Alfred was named after his grandfather (Oliver known as Alfred) and spent his entire career with Xerox from when it was a printing operation in Brooklyn in the 1950s 6b Richard 6c John, a New York police officer 6d Elizabeth 6e Margaret 5e Agnes, b between April 1920 and April 1921 5f Rose Ann (not recorded in the census data). Rose died as a child 5g Theresa, b between April 1926 and April 1927, probably in January 1927 (1930 census) 4i Felix, b Dec 1886, d of influenza in WW1 (probably 1917 epidemic) 3b Unknown male. Theresa Bomford Byrne's father 4a Theresa Bomford. Also known as Teresa Bomford Byrne and Teresa Byrne, wife(?) of Terry (presumably Terry Byrne, see 1909 letter) of 2 and/or 6 Dominick Place, Mullingar, Co West Meath, a niece of Jim Bomford's great grandfather Augustin, with a connection to Bomford lands at Ballinakill, now (2005) in the hands of the descendents of Sir Percy, Sir Walter and/or Sir John Nugent. Wrote to her Uncle (not named in the letter) in 1909 (page 1, page 2, transcript), in April 1914 (page 1, page 2, transcript), and in a letter of which we don't have a complete copy or the date (though from the content is was around New Year and after 'several battles' probably during WW1) (page 1, page 2, page 3, page 4, transcript), about a Bomford/Nugent dispute over lands at Ballinakill. Theresa had a son in the Irish Guards who had 'gone through several battles' (see her undated letter), one of her 'large family', a 'big family of good young men' 3c Unknown. Jim Bomford says 'Grandfather [7c Oliver, above] had some uncles in Ohio working in the petroleum industry and although I did have some correspondence with them we never met either. Hazzard Bomford who is deceased and his daughter Robin' 2b Oliver. Oliver is mentioned as an uncle of Augustin in Theresa Bomford Byrne's1914 letter to her Uncle Not placed: Mary Bomford Burns. Pleaded (letter 'postmarked in the late 1800s') with Jim Bomford's great grandfather (1b Augustin) to return to Ireland to defend the title to Bomford lands. The dispute contained in the letters some from a Mary Bomford Burns discuss Lord Percy Nugent grazing livestock on Ballinakill property and through that laying claim to the "manor houses and tenant farms." Letters to my Great Grandfather Agustus requested that he either return to Ireland to defend the claim or grant the right to represent him to Mary Bomford Burns
Additional information from Peter Bamford re Bomfords and Bomford lands around Ballinakill in Ireland (taken from the 1980s version of his work, the more recent version of which is at www.bomford.net/IrishBomfords). Beginning of Peter Bamford's information: 17.6 The Bomfords of Ballinakill & Co Westmeath 1799-1853 Ballinakill is on the south shore of Lough Derravaragh in the Parish of Multyfarnham and northeast of that village. To the south are the lands of Farragh and to the west is Lackan which both belonged to Thomas [Bomford] the elder of Clounstown and then to his son, Thomas [Bomford], who moved from Clounstown to Harristown in Westmeath in 1784. The neighbouring parish to the east is Stonehall, which includes the estate of Mornington, the property of Owen Daly (1780-1847); he was the grandson of Owen Daly and his wife Anne, a daughter of Edward Bomford of Hightown. So Ballinakill is surrounded by Bomford history. Another property about six miles to the east of Ballinakill is Cumberstown which lies at the east end of Lough Lene: This is a mystery property as no Bomford lease has come to light, but it does appear to belong to Thomas Bomford of Clounstown in 1762 when its rents were placed in trust for the maintenance of his daughters (7.18.1). Then in 1783 (14.5) the rents were set aside by his son, Thomas Bomford of Harristown, to cover the debts on Clounstown. There was therefore a definite tie between Cumberstown and Thomas of Harristown, so much so, that the John Bomford of Cumberstown (see below) of 1832 must be closely related, perhaps a grandson. Yet another mystery property is Cyplin (14.6) that Thomas Bomford of Harristown leased in 1784, and I begin to suspect that it is part of Cumberstown. The reason why Cyplin is mentioned here is because the lease was witnessed in 1784 by the first of the unplaced Bomfords of Westmeath; his name is Oliver Bomford and he is described as a "Publican”. Other Bomfords named Oliver will appear shortly. The first Bomford mentioned concerning Ballinakill is John Bomford. The actual deed has not been found but it is referred to in the May 1850 deed (below), which reads - "Reciting 1. Lease of 5th July 1799 in which John Alyward O'Brien leased to John Bomford of Lisgomell, Co Westmeath, the land of Ballinakill containing 81 plantation acres (131 statute) in the Parish of Multyfarnham and Barony of Corkaree." Lisgomell has not been located but it is probably either in the Parish of Multyfarnham or of Stonehall. If it is in the latter parish then the following prerogative will reference belongs to this same John, "1817 John Bomford his will of Stonehall, Co Westmeath." Let us suppose that John was 30 in 1799 when he leased Ballinakill, and then he would be about 48 when he died in c1817. Therefore we are looking for a John Bomford with WestMeath connections whose dates are about 1769 to 1817, and such a John is there in the family tree. He is John the youngest son of Thomas Bomford and Alice (Jessop) of Harristown, (17.7.2), and brother to Robert Bomford who takes the name of Jessop and inherits Mount Jessop. Indeed there is no other John available in the family tree, but this John suits incredibly well; unfortunately there is no definite evidence and so John of Lisgomell must remain among the unplaced Bomfords. However whichever John he is, he has relatives as the following deeds show. 17.6.1 Lease - Ballinakill 15th December 1826 Between 1. John Higgins of Relic, Co
Westmeath, farmer Extract from List of Westmeath Voters 1832 In the Barony of Corkaree In the Barony of Demifore or Fore Oliver Bomford of Stonehall 23rd May 1837 "Oliver Bomford of Stonehall, Co
Westmeath, Esqr," is mentioned in part three of an assignment of land in Carrick
in the Barony of Demifore. Mortgage - Ballinakill 6th February 1846 For £300 Oliver Bomford of Ballinakill,
Co Westmeath, mortgaged to John Bomford of Blackhills, Co Westmeath, the lands
of Ballinakill containing 81 plantation acres (131 statute) in the Parish of
Multyfarnham at a rent of £85.6.0 Prerogative Inventories 1850 "1850 John Bomford of Blackhills, Co
Meath, farmer, his will." 17.6.2 Lease - Ballinakill 25th May 1850 Reciting Lease - Ballinakill 20th January 1853 Between 1. Oliver Bomford of Mullingar,
Gentleman Summary: There is nothing to connect John Bomford of Lisgomell who died about 1817, with the other Bomfords of these deeds except the lands of Stonehall and Ballinakill; but since land normally passed from father to son, we can assume that the later Bomfords were the children of John of Lisgomell. Since Ballinakill was first in the hands of Henry Bomford in 1826 and 1832 he was probably the eldest son. Henry died without children sometime before 1846 when Oliver had the place. Oliver was therefore the second son. He was at Ballinakill in 1826, at Stonehall in 1837, back in Ballinakill in 1846 when he owned the place. By 1850 he was living in Mullingar and had leased Ballinakill. He was still in Mullingar in 1853 and that is the last date he is mentioned. Another brother was John of Blackhills. John may have been the second son, but I think not because he was never 'of Ballinakill'. John's property was Cumberstown (1832), but in 1846 he was at Blackhills where he died in 1850 without children. By 1853 the only surviving brother was Oliver, but there was a living sister, Elizabeth, who was a widow and whose husband, Mr Smith, had died before 1853. End of Peter Bamford's information. Some speculation. One the basis of all that, one is tempted to speculate that Jim Bomford's great grandfather Augustin's father Henry (b 1805, m Mary Kane, son of John Bomford b 1763, brother of Augustin's Uncle Oliver) in Jim Bomford's account is the same person as Peter Bamford's account's Henry of Ballinakill (died 'sometime before 1846', eldest son of John Bomford of Lisgomell and Stonehall (died about 1817), and brother of Oliver of Stonehall, Ballinakill and Mullingar (not mentioned after 1853), John of Blackhills (died intestate and without children 1850) and Elizabeth Smith (widow in 1853)). Oliver of Stonehall, Ballinakill and Mullingar would be Augustin's 'Uncle Oliver' mentioned in Theresa Bomford Byrne's 1914 letter. So the names fit. But if that were so then we would have to revisit Peter's indication that Henry died 'without children'. If Henry had Augustin in 1843 (or possibly 1845 according to the census) and Henry died before 1846 (based on his brother Oliver being 'of Ballinakill' in 1846, or before 1850 based on Oliver being the 'eldest and only surviving' brother in 1850) and if Augustin was the eldest son of an eldest son (ie he had younger brothers) then Henry was busy having sons in his last years. One of the other sons would be Theresa Bomford Byrne's father, so that Augustin could be her uncle. If Henry first had Ballinakill in 1826 (Peter's account) and was born in 1805 (Jim's account) then he first had Ballinakill lands at the age of 21, 9 years after his father John died in 1817. If you have more information on this family please contact us. |
