The Early Kearney Family

The Kearney family is originally from County Louth, Ireland. That is until the early members of the Kearney Family - Michael + Susan - took their children to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to make their home. One of these children was Richard M Kearney. He was born on January 21, 1836, in County Louth, Ireland. He and his family traveled to New York City on April 7, 1847, on the ship Liverpool. On January 3, 1861, at St.Patrick’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, Richard M Kearney married Anna Louise McBride before their family and friends. Their witnesses were Henry and Rosanna McBride. They ended up having 13 kids together before their deaths. Richard died on December 29, 1906, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Anna died 12 years later on March 17, 1918. Their one child, Henry John Kearney, stayed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, until his death. But during his time in Philadelphia, he created a wonderful family.

Henry John Kearney was born to Richard Kearney and Anna McBride on October 15, 1870, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He lived on Lombard Street his whole life, only living in different houses on the same street. On August 14, 1895, Henry John Kearney married Catherine Loretta Markey in St.Patrick’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Henry’s younger brother, Joseph Kearney, and Catherine’s older sister, Rose Markey, witnessed their marriage. Catherine was born to James Markey and Mary Phillips on June 22, 1874, in Philadelphia, PA. Six days later, on June 28, 1874, Catherine was baptized in St.Patrick’s Church. After Henry and Catherine’s marriage, they moved to 2406 Waverly Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They had four sons together. 

Their first son was Richard J Kearney. He was born on October 12, 1896 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. On October 25, 1896, Richard was baptized in St.Patrick’s Roman Catholic Church. Joseph A Kearney, Henry’s younger brother, and Gertrude Markey, Catherine’s younger sister, were his godparents. Richard attended St.Charles Borromeo Seminary School to go through the priesthood. He became a priest and went by the name Reverend Richard Kearney. He later founded St. Raymond of Penafort Catholic Church. He founded the church after Pearl Harbor in 1941. Richard first held mass in an old barn, which was transformed into a small parish. This was until the church was moved in 1948 to a new church. Before founding St. Raymond of Penafort, he was assigned as a priest to Most Blessed Sacrament Church, BVM Church, St. Ambrose Church, and Our Mother of Sorrows Church. Father Richard Kearney sadly died on December 20, 1964, in his rectory at St. Raymond of Penafort in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.  

Henry John Kearney Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on July 22, 1899. He was the second son of Henry and Catherine. He was baptized on July 30, 1899, in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia. His godparents were Thomas Markey, Catherine’s younger brother, and Mary G Kearney, Henry’s younger sister. Henry lived with his family at 2406 Waverly Street and 2411 Lombard Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was known as Harry or Uncle Hi. Henry was married on February 28, 1922, in St. Patrick’s Church to Elizabeth [?]. He struggled with alcohol abuse. Then, in 1931, he married Sabrina Gordon at St.Patrick's Church. In 1940, Harry lived next door to his younger brother James at 2305 Lombard Street with his Aunt Rose, Catherine’s older sister, and his cousin Harry and his wife and daughter. Henry died on May 10, 1942, in his Aunt’s home at 2305 Lombard Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was only 42 years old when he passed away from Chronic Myocardial. He was buried on May 15, 1942, in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. 

James Edward Kearney was born on May 16, 1901, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the third child of Henry John Kearney and Catherine Loretta Markey. Ten days after James was born, he was baptized in St.Patrick’s Church in Philadelphia, PA, as James Aloysius Kearney on May 26, 1901. Rose Markey, Catherine’s older sister, and Thomas J Naulty were his godparents. From the time he was born to 1921, James lived at 2411 Lombard Street, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. On September 15, 1921, James Edward Kearney married Mary Agnes Wickersham in St.Patrick’s Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The witnesses to their marriage were James’s older brother, Harry Kearney, and Mary’s older sister, Louise Wickersham. After their marriage, James and Mary lived on 2309 Lombard Street and 415 Croskey Street, a block away from where he grew up. A few weeks after their marriage, their first child, Rosemary Kearney, was born on October 11, 1921, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. However, only a few weeks later, Rosemary passed away due to premature birth. This was not the only time James and Mary endured this heartbreak. On May 31, 1924, their third child, James Kearney, was born. Their son passed away on February 26, 1926, due to Bronchopneumonia. But they didn’t just experience heartache; they experienced joy as they had five exceptional children that lived long, happy lives; Richard “Dick” Kearney, Mary Theresa “Tese,” Henry “Harry” Kearney, Kathleen “Kate” Loretta, and James “Jim” Edward Kearney. Unfortunately, James passed away on May 29, 1987, at Mercy Catholic Medical Center in Darby, Pennsylvania, USA.

Joseph Kearney was born on November 15, 1907, at 2406 Waverly Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. He was the last child and final son of Henry and Catherine Kearney. He was baptized on November 24, 1907, in St.Patrick’s Catholic Church in Philadelphia. His godparents were Lawerence Phillips and Margaret Kearney, Henry’s younger sister. Unfortunately, on April 1, 1908, Joseph died. Two days later, he was buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, Pennsylvania. 

A couple of months after Joseph’s birth, Catherine died on December 16, 1907, from sepsis, which she received after childbirth. Catherine was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Yeadon, PA. Her infant son, Joseph, will later be buried alongside her at Holy Cross Cemetery. 

The deaths of Catherine and Joseph left a lasting impact on the family. After 15 years, on July 12, 1922, Henry John Kearney married Mary A. Henry in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Sadly, just 16 years after their marriage, Henry John Kearney died on December 30, 1938, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 

The Kearney Family remained in Philadelphia for most of their lives. James and his brother Harry, in particular, remained on the same street, Lombard Street, their whole lives. This family brought joy, laughter, and love into others' lives but also endured heartbreak and struggle.