At some point after arriving in New York City on 2 June 1880 onboard the ship "England", four of the Bourke sisters had professional photos taken. In this profile picture, Bridget Delia, called Delia, is standing and her sister, Maggie, is seated.
Bridget Delia Bourke was born to Thomas Bourke and Maggie Ryan on 4 April 1866 in Foiladaragh, County Tipperary. She was baptized in the Diocese of Cashel and Emly, and her birth was officially registered in Newport. At the age of 14, she immigrated with her parents and some of her siblings to America. After being processed through Ellis Island, the entire family made their way to "upstate New York" where they had other family and friends living in the Schenectady area. All of the Bourke daughters married except Delia.
Delia found work as an Irish Servant with families in the area. Unfortunately, she became ill, and on the 3rd of August in 1887, at the age of 20, Delia was confined to a Poor House in Saratoga, NY. When her health improved, she was released and returned to work as a Servant, which she continued for most of her life. One record suggests that she may eventually have cared for one of her single or widowed brothers as she aged.
When she could no longer work, her niece, Catherine Hickey Landry, and Catherine's husband, Bill Landry, took Delia into their home to live out her life. In this photo of her as an older woman, she is standing in Catherine and Bill's yard while their children, Tom and Peggy, play in the background.
Delia passed away 6 February 1931 in Rotterdam Junction, NY.
May she not be forgotten.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
| Bridget Delia Burke.JPG (299.34 KB) | 299.34 KB |
| Bridget Burke Almshouse.jpg (1.24 MB) | 1.24 MB |
| Bourke ship manifest.jpg (45.46 KB) | 45.46 KB |
| Additional Information | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 4th Apr 1866 | |
| Date of Death | 1st Feb 1931 | |
| Father (First Name/s and Surname) | Thomas Bourke | |
| Mother (First Name/s and Maiden) | Maggie Ryan | |
