Patrick Golden : Short Biography

According to the United States Census of 1870, Patrick was the fourth child of Michael Golden and Ellen Flynn. This is supported by his death certificate which lists these two as his parents.  

Family oral history has it that Patrick was born in Clara, County Offaly, Ireland. Patrick was quoted to have said "I was born in the County of Kings," which is the former name for County Offaly. There is a record in the Tithe Applotments of 1854 of Michael Golden (Patrick's father's name) living "at Bridge Street/Water Lane in the village of Clara."  Given that the extensive research performed by Jim Golden shows no additional combinations of these or similar names, it appears that this ties Patrick to Michael Golden and Eleanor Flynn.

The actual year of Patrick's birth is somewhat uncertain.  According to the U.S. Dept. of Commerce Census of 1870 his age is shown as 23, thus his birth year would have been 1847.  According to Jim Goldens research of the 19  United States Census, his birth date is recorded as March,1850 (family oral history has the date as St. Patrick's day, the 17th of the month). . The New York Census of 1905 shows his age at 47 which would mean a birth year of 1856. However, according to his death certificate, dated March 17, 1908, his age is shown as 54, thus his birth year would have been 1854.

According to the 1870 United States Census Patrick had at least two brothers:  James (30), and Edward (28).  He also had at least three sisters: Bridget (25), Mary Mariah (22) and Margaret "Mag" (15). All of these siblings were born in County Offaly and immigrated to the United States with their parents. 

Nothing is known of Patrick's life in Ireland. However, Clara was known to be a "Mill Town" so one can assume that he, his father and his siblings were employed in the mills there. 

According to the New York State Census of 1905, Patrick sets the year of their immigration as 1965 at the age of 17 if we can assume the 1847 birth year. This was a time of turmoil in Ireland, beginning with the "Fenian uprising" of 1867, and leading up to the land war of 1879 led by Charles Stewart Parnell.  Was Patrick a "Fenian?

As Americans, we take for granted the freedoms and lifestyle that we have as our birthright. It is unlikely to enter our minds that at some point we might have to move to another country in order to support ourselves.  And one can only imagine the heartbreak of leaving everything - our families, friends, and all the sights and sounds of our life to that date.  We can easily envision the sadness of the family gathered for the American Wake.  What thoughts must have been on his mind as he left his life behind for the uncertainty of life in a new country with new sets of expectations.

There is some uncertainty as to what Patrick did to support himself and his family.. Patrick married Margaret Tobin, herself a girl from Clogheen in Co. Tipperary, on Feb 5, 1882.  They had a number of children, namely: Michael (1882-1938), James (1884-1924), Margaret (1888-1895), Patarick (1889-1889), Hannah (1890-1895), Mary Ellen (1891-1954) and Ellen "Nellie" (1895-1952) all of whom were reared in their various tenement apartments in the vicinity of East 63rd Street in New York City.

According to one family oral history, a "dynamiter" who worked for the city, and that he died as a consequence of an explosion while building a part of the New York City subway system.  That he died of this cause is ruled out by his death certificate which discloses that his cause of death was due to cardiac failure as a consequence of kidney failure after a lengthy illness.  His death certificate shows his occupation as "Laborer," thus it is possible that he did work for the city in the construction of the subways.  (Many of the "sandhogs" were Irishmen), but a dynamite explosion was certainly not the cause of his death.  

It is also purported that he was the proprietor a saloon near the corner of 62nd St, and 2nd Avenue in Manhattan, not far from his residence and that he was also a precinct captain or ward heeler for Democratic Party.  The saloon served as one of the two great institutions for organizing and giving politial strength to the Irish in America.  (The other was the Catholic Parish.)  According to the book, "The Irish in America" (Coffey and Golway):  "The neighborhood saloon acted, as the village pub did in Ireland, not simply as a place to drink, but as a community social center or ad hock precinct headquarters, providing a ready-made constituency for the bold face-to-face politics of the times...Bartenders were respected members of the parish...The (political) machines were quick to incorporate...saloon owners like the future Tammany chief Charles Murphy into leadership positions."  Thus, if he really did work in a saloon, there is credibility to the claim that Patrick was a local "precinct captain."  He certainly passed a staunch faith in the Democratic party on to his children.

Another family member descended from Patricks son Michael, states that he worked as a barge captain on the boats in New York Harbor.  This seems be closer to the truth, or at least the water.  The US Census of 1870 shows him as a "Boatman", an 1880 Census describes his employment as "Oysters," an 1892 city directory describes him as a "Boatman" and in the New York State Census of 1905 Patrick reports his occupation as "Dockworker."

Patrick died in his home at 407 East 63rd Street on March 17, 1908. (possibly his birthday) after a nearly month-long illness.  He is buried in Calvary cemetery in Queens, New York.