Person in this family
John Joseph Leahy Sr.
7 January 1905 (compiled) – 26 December 1988 (compiled)
John Joseph Leahy Sr. was born at Bayonne on 7 January 1905, a son of Malachy Leahy and Margaret Jane Murphy, and died at Island Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey, on 26 December 1988. He married Estelle Birch in 1932 and they had three sons — Jack, Robert and Walter. He is the point at which one branch of this family leaves Hudson County for the Jersey Shore: he, his wife and two of his sons are buried together at Saint Joseph's, Toms River, in Section C, Row 25, Grave 39.
Compiled
John Joseph Leahy Sr. was born at Bayonne on 7 January 1905, a son of Malachy Leahy and Margaret Jane Murphy, and died at Island Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey, on 26 December 1988. He married Estelle Birch in 1932 and they had three sons — Jack, Robert and Walter. He is the point at which one branch of this family leaves Hudson County for the Jersey Shore: he, his wife and two of his sons are buried together at Saint Joseph's, Toms River, in Section C, Row 25, Grave 39.
Born at Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey Died at Island Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey
Recorded as: John Leahy
Birth: From our family tree - no record found yet
Death: From our family tree - no record found yet
How is this person related?
Andrew John Leahey’s first cousin three times removed
Gina D. Cacace’s spouse's first cousin three times removed (by marriage)
Abigail Ann Leahey’s first cousin four times removed
Marie C. Fitzgerald’s spouse's first cousin twice removed (by marriage)
Kevin Leahey’s first cousin twice removed
Worked out from the recorded parents and marriages. No sex is recorded for anyone in this archive, so the wording stays neutral.
How this person is related to Andrew:
John Joseph Leahy Sr. is your first cousin, 3 times removed.
Life
A written life story has not been added for this person yet.
References for this account: [1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
Photographs
A single flat slab reading LEAHY, carrying three of the family: JOHN J SR. 1905-1988, ESTELLE M. 1906-1978, and WALTER T. 1937-1989 — John Joseph Leahy Sr., his wife Estelle Birch, and their son Walter, who died a month after the year turned on his father's death. An American flag stands at the head of the stone. Section C, Row 25, Grave 39. This is the Jersey Shore end of a family that began at the Bayonne waterfront.
Photograph by M & E A, 24 July 2019, via Find a Grave memorial 78826758
Family
Parents
Siblings · birth order
- Helen Bridget Veronica Leahy
- John Joseph Leahy Sr. (this person)
- Elizabeth M. Leahy Ryan
- Mary Leahy
- Malachy Edward Leahy
- Rev. Celestine Leahy, S.A.
- Margaret A. Leahy
Spouse
Children
See this family in the family treeWhere they lived
Use the place list first. The map below is optional.
Places listed on this page
- Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
- Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey
- United States
- Saint Joseph's Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums, Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey Cemetery or burial place
- New Jersey
The map could not load. The complete place list is above it.
The pins show approximate places. The line only joins them in time order; it does not prove the route travelled. 2 of the places listed above are recorded only as a county or country, so they are not pinned. Cemetery and burial places have red pins.
Timeline
Died
[COMPILED] Memorial date and place; the photographed stone confirms only the years where noted. [1]
From our family tree - no record found yet
The move to Ocean County
Born in Bayonne and dead at Island Heights: this generation moved from the Hudson County waterfront to the Jersey Shore. Island Heights, Toms River and Pine Beach are neighbouring communities in Ocean County, and the family is buried together at Saint Joseph's in Toms River.
From our family tree - no record found yet
The family stone at Toms River
The stone at Saint Joseph's is a single flat slab reading LEAHY, with three people on it: JOHN J SR. 1905-1988, ESTELLE M. 1906-1978, and WALTER T. 1937-1989 — a father, a mother and the son who died the year after his father. An American flag stands beside it.
Proved by a record
What the records say
10 records transcribed.
Record exhibit
Find a Grave memorial 78826758 for John Joseph Leahy Sr.
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[COMPILED] John Joseph Leahy Sr. | Birth — 7 Jan 1905 — Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey, USA | Death — 26 Dec 1988 (aged 83) — Island Heights, Ocean County, New Jersey, USA | Burial — Saint Joseph's Catholic Cemetery and Mausoleums — Toms River, Ocean County, New Jersey | Plot — Section C: Row 25 Grave 39 | Parents — Malachy Leahy 1870–1960; Margaret Jane Murphy Leahy 1882–1942 | Half Siblings — Helen Bridget Veronica Leahy 1899–1903
Record exhibit
Find a Grave memorial 78826758 image — Leahy marker naming John J. Sr., Estelle M. and Walter T., uploaded as a person image to memorial 78826758.
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Photographed inscription: LEAHY / JOHN J. SR. / 1905 – 1988 / ESTELLE M. / 1906 – 1978 / WALTER T. / 1937 – 1989
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/576 — Fire Truck Bayonne, New Jersey, number 1
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Postcard Collection of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll1); CONTENTdm number “576”; Digital ID “BDL001.001.038”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1910?”; Subject: “Topic: Fire engines; | AAT/form: picture postcards”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note: “Metadata field blank.” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of the image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. - [RECORD] **Compound object:** Document; Side 1 pointer 574; Side 2 pointer 575.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/615 — Police Headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey, number 1
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Postcard Collection of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll1); CONTENTdm number “615”; Digital ID “BDL001.001.051”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1910?”; Subject: “Topic: Police stations; | AAT/form: picture postcards”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note: “Building located on 26th Street” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of the image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. - [RECORD] **Compound object:** Document; Side 1 pointer 613; Side 2 pointer 614.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/618 — Police Headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey number 2
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Postcard Collection of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll1); CONTENTdm number “618”; Digital ID “BDL001.001.052”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1907?”; Subject: “Topic: Police stations; | AAT/form: picture postcards”; Location: “Not supplied”. Full descriptive note: “Metadata field blank.” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of the image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. - [RECORD] **Compound object:** Document; Side 1 pointer 616; Side 2 pointer 617.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/621 — Police Headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey, number 3
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Postcard Collection of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll1); CONTENTdm number “621”; Digital ID “BDL001.001.053”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1910?”; Subject: “Topic: Police stations; | AAT/form: picture postcards”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note: “Metadata field blank.” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of the image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder. - [RECORD] **Compound object:** Document; Side 1 pointer 619; Side 2 pointer 620.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll2/161 — Police headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey, number 4
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Photographs - Buildings and Architecture of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll2); CONTENTdm number “161”; Digital ID “BDL002.003.208”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1914?”; Subject: “Topic: Police stations; | AAT/form: black-and-white photographs;”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note: “Metadata field blank.” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of this image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll2/191 — Interior of police garage on Newman Avenue, Bayonne, New Jersey
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Photographs - Buildings and Architecture of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll2); CONTENTdm number “191”; Digital ID “BDL002.003.181”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1970”; Subject: “Topic: Police stations; | AAT/form: black-and-white photographs; news photographs;”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note:Show the full recordHide the full recordFull record, about 150 words
“This photograph was published in the September 16, 1970 issue of the Bayonne Times for an article titled "Completion of City Hall, Garage to Phase Out Old Buildings." The caption reads: "Police Garage - This photo shows the interior of the police garage on Newman Avenue, near 7th Street. Most police vehicles will be housed in the centralized garage after it is opened. The Newman Avenue garage is expected to be sold by the city."” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of this image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll2/192 — Exterior of police garage on Newman Avenue, Bayonne, New Jersey
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Photographs - Buildings and Architecture of Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll2); CONTENTdm number “192”; Digital ID “BDL002.003.185”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1970”; Subject: “Topic: Police stations; | AAT/form: black-and-white photographs; news photographs;”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note: “The back side of the photograph reads:Show the full recordHide the full recordFull record, about 100 words
"Garage near 7th Avenue, phased out after occupancy of centralized garage on Hook Road."” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of this image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Record exhibit
Bayonne Library item p15335coll6/230 — Scene of police patrol car accident, Bayonne, New Jersey
This old record gives information about the person or family named here.
Partly proved
Verbatim transcription currently held in this archive — reproduced in full.
[RECORD] Collection: “Photographs - Industry, Commerce, and Transportation in Bayonne, NJ” (p15335coll6); CONTENTdm number “230”; Digital ID “ICT002.006.021”; Creator: “Not supplied”; Date: “1970”; Subject: “Topic: Traffic accidents; Streets; | AAT/form: black-and-white photographs; news photographs;”; Location: “Bayonne (N.J.);”. Full descriptive note:Show the full recordHide the full recordFull record, about 150 words
“This photograph appeared on the front page of the June 23,1970 issue of The Bayonne Times for an article titled "Department to Honor Dead Cop." Caption reads "Accident Scene -This is the area on the Hook Road where Patrolman Joseph Brameyer lost his life in an accident Sunday."” Rights: “U.S. and international copyright laws may protect this image. Commercial use or distribution of the image is not permitted without prior permission of the copyright holder.” [RIGHTS] restrictionCode: 1; cite/link only; do not download or host.
Historical context
These background articles explain the places, work, and events in this entry.
Bayonne and the Industrial Waterfront, 1870–1920
The Bayonne in these family records was a new city built around water, rails and heavy industry. Bayonne Township was formed only in 1861, uniting older settlements on Bergen Neck; it became a city in 1869. The…
What Sponsors and Witnesses Can Tell Us
Catholic registers often preserve the people standing just outside a family photograph. A baptism normally names the child, parents, date and sponsors or godparents; a marriage normally names the couple and wit…
A Stillman in Bayonne’s Oil Works
George Hoffman’s 1900 census entry calls him a “Stillman Oil Refinery” and places his family at 36 West 23rd Street in Bayonne. His 1915 funeral entry still gives his occupation as “stillman.” That was not a su…
A Train Operator in Bayonne, 1914
James D. Leahey’s funeral entry records a compact working life: married, American-born, age twenty-eight, living at 83 West 12th Street in Bayonne, occupation “train operator.” He died on 1 June 1914, twelve da…
A Vessel Captain in New York Harbor
The 1918 Bayonne directory lists “Matthew S. Leahey, vessel capt” at 9 Cottage Street. It does not name his boat, employer, cargo or licence. “Captain” may bring an ocean liner to mind, but a Bayonne harbour ca…
What we still don't know
- Obtain original birth, death and interment records; memorial dates and family labels remain compiled except where the photographed stone itself is quoted.
- [CONTEXT ONLY] Restricted Bayonne Library police/fire images illustrate institutional setting; no requested family surname appears in their metadata and no family member is asserted to appear.
- [LEAD, NARROWED — see finding 99] The Pine Beach Leahys have been identified but not yet joined to this family. William A. Leahy (about 1937 - 4 December 2008) was born in Jersey City, raised in Bayonne, moved to Pine Beach about 1977, and served thirty-one years in the New Jersey State Police, retiring a lieutenant of the Criminal Investigation Unit; he was a Marine in Korea and a member of the Celtic Club of Bayonne. His wife Gail died at Toms River in 2019 and their grandson is the Andrew Leahy in question. He is NOT a son of this John Joseph Leahy Sr: William's brothers were Daniel and Michael, while John Sr's sons were Jack, Robert and Walter. The circumstantial fit is still strong — Jersey City, Bayonne, then the one corner of the Jersey Shore this family went to — but surname and place are exactly what this archive has been wrong about before. The 1940 census, where William would be about three, would name his father and settle it.
References
- [1] Find a Grave memorial 78826758 for John Joseph Leahy Sr.Back to citation 1a Back to citation 1b Back to citation 1c Back to citation 1d
- [2] Find a Grave memorial 78826758 image — Leahy marker naming John J. Sr., Estelle M. and Walter T., uploaded as a person image to memorial 78826758.Back to citation 2
- [3] Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/576 — Fire Truck Bayonne, New Jersey, number 1Back to citation 3
- [4] Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/615 — Police Headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey, number 1Back to citation 4
- [5] Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/618 — Police Headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey number 2Back to citation 5
- [6] Bayonne Library item p15335coll1/621 — Police Headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey, number 3Back to citation 6
- [7] Bayonne Library item p15335coll2/161 — Police headquarters, Bayonne, New Jersey, number 4Back to citation 7
- [8] Bayonne Library item p15335coll2/191 — Interior of police garage on Newman Avenue, Bayonne, New JerseyBack to citation 8
- [9] Bayonne Library item p15335coll2/192 — Exterior of police garage on Newman Avenue, Bayonne, New JerseyBack to citation 9
- [10] Bayonne Library item p15335coll6/230 — Scene of police patrol car accident, Bayonne, New JerseyBack to citation 10