FAMILY OF
PATRICK FOLEY AND BRIDGET FOLEY
This page is currently a WORK PAGE ONLY
UNDER CONSTRUCTION!
 
PATRICK FOLEY: ORIGINS

Patrick Foley was, born in Ireland in about 1910.  His listing in the 1870 U.S. Census would confirm that birth year within a year; since we do not have an actual birthday to go on.  Further information is being sought regarding his origins in Ireland.  His first son, Patrick, was born about 1848; and, if we assume that this family followed the prevailing custom of naming the first male child after its paternal grandfather; then it is probable that Patrick's father was also named Patrick.

BRIDGET _____ FOLEY: ORIGINS

THE MARRIAGE OF PATRICK FOLEY AND BRIDGET ________

The 1870 U.S. census makes it clear that at least two children (and probably more) were born to this couple while still in Ireland.  Using US census data, we can calculate that Patrick was born about 1848; and Thomas about 1851.  Other research, however, indicates that at least one other child, Ellen (about 1843) was born to Bridget and Patrick in Ireland.  We can further deduce from knowledge of the socio-economic situation of Irish Catholics in 19th Century Ireland, where there were scarce recources and little need to travel,  that Patrick and Bridget most likely hail from the same region of Ireland; and that their marriage would have occurred about 1842, or earlier.  This was at least 3 years before "the famine."

 
CHILDREN BORN IN IRELAND
From research on other lines of our family; we have learned that the "great famine" in Ireland was quite horrible in some areas (especially in the cities) but not so completely devastating in other areas... especially rural areas where the Irish peasants knew how to work the land, procure fish, and owned and knew how to manage farm animals.  Regardless of these differences, historians assert that 1846 and 1847 were the very worst years of the famine; and yet Patrick and Bridget were clearly able to generate the will and vision to get married during this time of great scarcity.  Besides the assumption that they were very much in love; there is another clue in the year of their marriage... and that would be that they were probably raised and met in an area of Ireland that was rural; and that their families had skills and resources which enabled them to procure food during these years of famine.  Although we are still in search of documents which would share much more light on the life of this young family (and their forbearers) in Ireland, we must settle for now with the record we have: i.e. that Bridget bore at least three children: Ellen (~1843), Patrick Jr. (in about 1848) and Thomas (in about 1851) and maintained sufficient health to emigrate to the U.S. with her family between 1851 and 1852.
 
THE FAMILY EMIGRATES TO THE U.S.
Although we have sufficient information to calculate that the family made the trip to the U.S. during the 1851-52 time window, we have neither documents nor tradition to assist us with any details.  Although the scope of this project will include a search for the ship, the port of entry and all other details; for now we must be satisfied with a single clue... and that is that they settled in Tippecanoe County, Indiana and we have later addresses in the city of Lafayette.  This of course suggests that their "port of entry" was likely New Orleans; and that their route to Lafayette would have been up the Mississippi, Ohio, and Wabash rivers to Lafayette; as this entire river system was navigable at that time; and riverboat travel was in its heyday as we recall from Mark Twain's writings.
 
EARLY YEARS IN AMERICA ~~ LAFAYETTE IN
Information (and photos) are being sought regarding this period in the family's life.
 
THE 1860 U.S. CENSUS LISTING FOR THE FAMILY OF PATRICK & BRIDGET FOLEY §
Name Age Relationship Occupation Birthplace Father's 
Birthplace		 Mother's 
Birthplace
FOLEY, Patrick 50 Husband Laborer Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Bridget 50 wife Housewife Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Patrick 12 son . Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Thomas 9 son . Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Peter 8 son . Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, John 7 son . Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Margaret 4 daughter . Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Owen 3 son . Indiana Ireland Ireland
§ The 1860 Census has not yet been procured and studied in detail!
The above "construction" is based on notes from earlier research and may not be complete or correct.
We know from other research that Margaret Foley (age 4 above) had at least one elder sister, Ellen!  Realizing that the census was taken based on "households" and NOT "families" ...it is possible that Ellen (and maybe other children) were members of "other households" by reason of marriage or employment.  Noting that both Patrick and Bridget are listed as age 50, it is certainly feasible that they had children much older than those listed above.  As for Ellen Foley, it is known that she married Timothy Splann on 3/9/1867; so it is probable that she was in her late teens at the time of the 1860 census; so quite likely she had left home to seek work... probably in Indianapolis.  The reason for this theory is that Tim Splann's obituary makes no mention of his ever living in Lafayette.  He is reported to have come to Indianapolis with his family at age 11 in 1854.  He then served in the Civil War... after which (1865) he returned to Indianapolis... where (we assume) he met and married Ellen Foley.  Tim was 24 at the time of his marriage; and we may assume that Ellen was his "contemporary" ...which would lead us to calculate an age of 17 or 18 for her at the time of the 1860 census shown in the table above.
  CLICK HERE or on the thumnail to see Tim's Obituary.
 

 
THE CIVIL WAR & POST WAR YEARS
Information (and photos) are being sought regarding this period in the family's life.  For the moment, one obvious thing to note is that Bridget continued to bear children till quite late in life.  It appears that her youngest, Sally, was born when Bridget was 51.
 
 
THE 1870 U.S. CENSUS LISTING FOR THE FAMILY OF PATRICK & BRIDGET FOLEY
[Date of Census was June 2, 1870]
Name Age Relationship Occupation Birthplace Father's 
Birthplace		 Mother's 
Birthplace
FOLEY, Patrick 60 Husband Laborer Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Bridget 60 wife Housewife Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Patrick 22 son Laborer Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Thomas 19 son U.S. Soldier Ireland Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Peter 18 son teamster Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, John 17 son . Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Margaret 14 daughter . Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Owen 13 son . Indiana Ireland Ireland
FOLEY, Sally 9 daughter . Indiana Ireland Ireland
SUMMARY OF 7 CHILDREN OF PATRICK AND BRIDGET FOLEY
 
Ellen Foley 1843 (est.) - 1908 Ellen married Timothy Splann Who served the Indianapolis Police Department from 1873 until his retirment in late 1906.  Tim "Cap" Splann, rose to the rank of "Captain of Police" and was instrumental in forming the department's first "Detective Department" in 1899.  "Cap Splann" commanded this department as it's first "Chief of Detectives."  He was well liked and respected and is mentioned in the history of the IPD published in the year 2000, "A Proud Tradition of Service."  "Cap Splann" and his wife ("Aunt Ellen") actually raised Ellen's nephew, Harry N. Connor (son of her sister, Margaret) after the early death of his father.  "Cap" was instrumental Harry's decision to become a police detective.
Patrick Foley ~1848
Thomas Foley ~1851
Peter Foley ~1852
John Foley ~1853
Margaret Foley ~1856 - 1927  On April 24, 1876, "Maggie" married Nicholas Connor (1879 - 1940.)  Margaret and Nicholas are our dicrect ancestors. See the separate webpage dedicated to their family.
Owen Foley ~1857 -
Sally Foley,  ~1861 - ____  Sally married Steve Hannigan August 25, 1885