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The Secret and Tragic Family of Sadie (Donnelly) Reilly

Tragic & Secret Life of Sadie Reilly
Tragic & Secret Life of Sadie Reilly

Sara “Sadie” Donnelly was my 2nd great-grandmother on my father’s side of the family, and married my 2nd great-grandfather John Michael Reilly. Sadie and John had four children together, only three of whom survived infancy. Madeline, Arlington and Lawrence lived long lives into their eighties, while their daughter Helen died as an infant. I don’t have the death certificate yet, so don’t know the cause of death. She was only fourteen months old at the time of her death in 1900.1

When their youngest, Lawrence, was a year old, John committed suicide by jumping off a ferry in Brooklyn harbor after he had been terminated from his job. According to the newspaper article, his body was not found, but he left behind his hat on the deck of the boat near where they though he went overboard. This act left Sadie to raise their three children without him.2

Did John Reilly Kill Himself? Article from The Greenpoint Weekly Star, 22 March 1902.
Did John Reilly Kill Himself? Article from The Greenpoint Weekly Star, 22 March 1902.

Over the course of the next several years, the children would alternately live with Sadie or with their paternal grandparents, Michael and Mary Reilly.

In 1905, according to the New York State Census, all three children are recorded as living at their grandparents’ home at 136 Bedford in Brooklyn. Sadie has not been located in the 1905 New York Status Census, so her location at this time is unknown. 3

In 1910, we start to find some mystery in Sadie’s life, as no living family has knowledge of these next events. Not even my grandfather, when he was still alive, knew this about his grandmother.

Sadie is listed in the 1910 Federal Census, she is listed as Sadie Baldwin, and married to Nelson Baldwin for one year. It is listed as her second marriage and his first. Living with them in the home at 176 Division Avenue is Arlington and an infant, Nelson Baldwin Jr. At the time of the census, Nelson Jr. is a month old.4 Madeline and Lawrence are living with their grandparents (though Madeline is listed as Margaret in the census that year. 5

A month after the census was taken, Nelson Jr. passed away at 2 months old. He died at home at 19 Lee Avenue, Brooklyn, which around the corner from the home they had been in just the month earlier. This is one example of the many locations Sadie lived in while trying to raise her kids in Brooklyn. Nelson Jr.’s cause of death is listed as “Inanition asthema. Child anaemic from birth due to artificial feeding.” Inanition is the medical term for exhaustion due to malnourishment.[enf_note]New York City Department of Records & Information Services; New York City, New York; New York City Death Certificates; Borough: Brooklyn; Year: 1910. Certificate 15850 [/efn_note]

Nelson Baldwin Jr. Death Certificate
Nelson Baldwin Jr. Death Certificate

The Nelsons were completely unknown to the Reilly family up until the discovery of the census and death certificate. Later in her life, Sadie did not talk about her second husband or the son that she lost as an infant.

In 1915, her husband Nelson Baldwin was no longer living with her and she had reverted to using her first married surname, Reilly. In the New York State Census of that year, she had moved again, this time to 469 Rogers Avenue, and was living with Arlington.6 That year, Madeline and Lawrence are again living with their paternal grandparents.7

In 1920, only Madeline can be located in the Federal Census that year. She’s living with her paternal grandparents. Sadie, Arlington and Lawrence have not been located in the census records.8

In 1925, Sadie reappeared in the New York State Census and was living with Madeline and Arlington at 103-39 106th Street in Ozone Park, Queens.9. Lawrence had married at this point, and was also living in Ozone Park with his wife Ethel, and son Lawrence, at 101-12 110th Street.10

In 1930, she was living at 76-11 101st Street in Ozone Park with Arlington.11

In 1940, she and Arlington had moved again and were living at 108-02 103rd Street in Ozone Park.12

Sadie worked most of her adult life for the New York subway system as a token collector. My grandfather would tell stories of going to visit her in her toll booth to bring her lunch or dinner. She lived long enough that my father knew her as a child/teen, as he was fourteen when she passed away on September 2, 1960 in Levittown, New York. She was buried at St. Charles Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.13

So in her life, Sadie lost two husbands – one to suicide, one to reasons unknown. She lost an infant daughter and son. She moved frequently, often not even living with her three surviving children. Her second husband Nelson Baldwin and son disappeared in time, unknown to her descendants.

Honor Role of Family Military Service Members – In Honor of Veteran’s Day

In honor of the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I, veterans from that war are listed in red, with a * to symbolize the red poppy.

From my family:

Jeffrey Beck, 1752-1838

  • Relationship to Husband: 7th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: American Revolution

 

James Jasper Busby, 1843-1905

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War, Surrendered at Vicksburg

 

John Calvin Busby, 1840-1863

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War, KIA Gettysburg

 

* James Francis Clark, 1890-1963

  • Relationship to Husband: 2nd great-great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

James Francis Clark, 1919-1987

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st cousin 3 times removed
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Joe Marion Douglas, 1923-2000

  • Relationship to Husband: Grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Michael Douglas,

  • Relationship to Husband: Uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy

 

John Flanagan, 1925-1983

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

James William Garrison, 1830-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Isaiah Golden, 1851-1911

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, Indian Wars

 

Asbury H. Berry Hardy, 1823-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War, Captured at Vicksburg

 

Benjamin Franklin Lee Hardy, 1850-1920

  • Relationship to Husband: 2nd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War, Surrendered at Appomattox

 

Linnie Franklin Hardy, 1926-2010

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

* Thomas Watson Hardy, 1893-1954

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

Norman Helmke,

  • Relationship to Husband: Uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, Vietnam

 

James Philemon Holcomb, 1720-1803

  • Relationship to Husband: 6th great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: American Revolution

 

James Jackson Johns, 1828-1917

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

David Lamb, 1836-1910

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Clark Leathers, unk-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: 4th great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Franklin Leathers, 1841-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

John Samuel Leathers, 1847-1894

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Peter K. Leathers, 1816-1901

  • Relationship to Husband: 4th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Samuel Leathers, unk-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: 4th great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Samuel L. Leathers, 1745-1832

  • Relationship to Husband: 6th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: American Revolution

 

Samuel L. Leathers, 1785-1830

  • Relationship to Husband: 5th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, War of 1812

 

Samuel Moses Leathers, 1847-1931

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

George Washington McBrayer, 1847-1923

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st cousin 5 times removed
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

James L. McBrayer, 1840-1919

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st cousin 5 times removed
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

John H. McBrayer, 1812-1900

  • Relationship to Husband: 4th great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

William McBrayer, 1836-1917

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st cousin 5 times removed
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

George McConville, 1919-1970

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st Cousin, 3x Removed
  • Military Service: U.S. Army Air Force, World War II

 

Ray Otton,

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st Cousin, 3x Removed
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

* Roy Otton, 1898-1969

  • Relationship to Husband: Half-2nd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

* Stephen J. Otton, 1895-1974

  • Relationship to Husband: Half-2nd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

David Pope, 1807-1881

  • Relationship to Husband: 4th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

Jesse Pope, 1833-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: Confederate Army, U.S. Civil War

 

* John Edward Powers, 1898-unk

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

James Thomas Reilly,

  • Relationship to Husband: Father
  • Military Service: U.S.M.A & U.S. Navy, Vietnam

 

Lawrence John Reilly, 1948-1969

  • Relationship to Husband: Uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, Vietnam, KIA, South China Sea

 

Lawrence John Reilly, 1924-2018

  • Relationship to Husband: Grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II & Vietnam, Bronze Star & Navy Commendation Medal

 

Sean Thomas Reilly,

  • Relationship to Husband: Brother
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, Iraq War

 

Franz Xaver Schillinger, 1836-1923

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: Union Army, U.S. Civil War

 

* Louis A. Schillinger, 1896-1991

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

Robert L. Schillinger, 1910-1982

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

 

From my husband’s family:

John Dolman, 1762-1842

  • Relationship to Husband: 5th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: War of 1812

 

Paul Dolman, 1733-1777

  • Relationship to Husband: 6th great-grandfather
  • Military Service: American Revolution, POW-Battle of Flatbush, died of starvation on prison ship Caroline

 

Arthur Kenneth Dyszelski,

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Marines

 

Eugene Ervin Dyszelski, 1930-1996

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, Korean War

 

Gilbert Dyszelski, 1918-1989

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Joseph Dyszelski, 1888-1931

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Stanley A Dyszelski, 1927-1999

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army

 

Elby Lloyd Franks, 1924-2005

  • Relationship to Husband: Step-Grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Kenneth Daris Gomer, 1921-1993

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

Edward Anthony Guzinski Jr., 1920-1982

  • Relationship to Husband: Grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

Robert Lawrence Guzinski, 1924-1992

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

Sylvester T Guzinski, 1922-1944

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II, KIA, Italy, Bronze Star/Purple Heart

 

Thomas Sylvan Guzinski, 1900-1975

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st cousin 3 times removed
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Raymond Kintop, Abt 1916-

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Silvester Kintop, 1926-2007

  • Relationship to Husband: 1st cousin twice removed
  • Military Service: U.S. Navy, World War II

 

Isaac Carroll Pool, 1923-1999

  • Relationship to Husband: Half-great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Andrew Jackson Redd, 1829-1920

  • Relationship to Husband: 3rd great-grandfather
  • Military Service: U.S. Civil War, Union

 

Arthur P. Reynolds, 1923-1976

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

Ervin Rissling, 1927-2003

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army

 

Joseph Singsheim, 1925-2003

  • Relationship to Husband: Great uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War II

 

* Stephan Wegner, 1894-1983

  • Relationship to Husband: Great-grand uncle
  • Military Service: U.S. Army, World War I

 

 

Letters from Larry – An overview

After my grandfather’s death in May, my father collected all the letters Pop had written to Nan during both World War II and Vietnam, during both of which he was active duty Navy.  I’ve been going through the letters putting them in archival sleeves and cataloging them.  I hope to eventually transcribe all of them.  I’ve just finished cataloging all of the letters from World War II, and they fill 8 2″ binders.

The letters are on a variety of paper – anything from his ship’s stationery to sheets of onion skin.  His handwriting also varies considerably, depending on the time of year.  He wrote letters about every other day and were generally 1 or 2 pages long. His longest letter was 14 pages, while his shortest was a postcard with only a couple of words on it.

The letters start in 1941 before Pop joined the Navy when he was only 17 years old and Nan was only 15.  They were already in love, and in one letter, he asks her to marry him for the first time. They did not become officially engaged until later in 1943, but he was sure that she was the one for him.

His most prolific writing year was 1945, a year in which he wrote 182 letters covering 245 sheets of paper.  They were married in January 1945 while he was on leave, and Nan quickly became pregnant before Pop had to return to his ship.  Most of the letters are from the Pacific and cover the news of her pregnancy and how much he misses her and is looking forward to being a father.  As her due date in November approached, his anticipation and anxiety increased steadily, and his worry about Nan and the baby is very apparent.

His second most prolific year was 1943 when he wrote 122 letters covering 212 sheets of paper.  This is the year he was assigned to the USS Oakland when it was commissioned in July and he departed for the Pacific.  Many of the letters appear to have been mailed together, as he would write, but wouldn’t be able to send them until he had access to a supply ship or port.

1944 was his least prolific year, with only 44 letters on 122 sheets of paper. There are two possibilities: either there are some letters missing (which seems unlikely based on how the letters were kept), or as seems most likely from the letters, he was engaged in prolonged combat from late 1943 to the end of 1944.  He was present at most of the major battles of the Pacific, and as a gunner, was directly involved in the combat.  I think he just did not have as much time to write to Nan that year as he would have liked. I think this is also evident from the fact that his letters averaged 3 sheets of papers vs only 1 sheet on average in 1945 and 2 sheets in 1943.  He couldn’t write as many letters, but he wrote longer ones.

pops letters chart

Letters from Larry – 1 January 1946

1 January 1946 – San Francisco, California

My Darling,

Here it is New Years night aboard and its as quiet as a church.

About five minutes ago the word was passed that we’re shoving off for Washington tomorrow morning so I guess I don’t get any liberty in Frisco.

Was trying to find out if there is any dope on who is staying aboard in Reserve Commission but there isn’t any dope as yet.

Gee I wish I could be with you for our anniversary but it don’t look as though I can.  Although time seemed to go slow when we were at sea it hardly seems like we’ve been married a year. It sure will be swell to be toether for more than a month or two.  By the time I see you and Jimmy again I’ll bet Jimmy will be pretty big.  You know the more I think of it the more I feel we should have been married while I was in Newport [late 1942 to 1943].  Don’t you?  I wonder if we would have had Jimmy right away like we did. I still wish we didn’t have to use those damn rubbers.  It a lot nicer without them but we can’t have anymore children till 48 or early 49.

J.J. and Cimarolli, Pete Smith and Pete Pruchnik and all the boys were asking how you were and also send their best wishes.  Well what di dyou do last night honey?  Were you home all alone or did you and J.T. go uot New Years calling?

Before I forget it your money order was here when I got back.  I’ll keep hit and send you may pay this Saturday.  Well baby I think I’ll close now.  Give my love to J.T. and the folks.  I love you and miss you sweetheart.

Your loving hubby,

Larry

over

P.S. Enclosed find some post-cards for your scrap-book.

LAA

XXXXXXXX

 

Senate Tribute to Pop

On May 24, 2018, Senator Chuck Schumer of New York paid tribute to my grandfather, Larry Reilly, on the floor of the Senate.  Video clip of the comments below: