May Farrell

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Mary Grace "May" Farrell

Mary Grace Farrell, May, was born on January 24, 1885 while the family lived at 313 West 44th Street, midtown Manhattan, NYC. Her father was William J. Farrell who was born in 1848 in Ireland. He was a bootmaker who operated a shop on W44th St. He died on November 25, 1893 from tanic poisoning when boot dye entered a scratch in his leg.

May's mother was Majorie Jane Leit. Jane, as she was called, was born in 1849 on the Isle of Leit, near Newfoundland, Canada. She left home at 16 to marry, without the blessing of the family. She had two sons and was widowed. She moved to NYC where she met and married William J. Farrell. She died on December 21, 1906. She and her husband are buried in Calvary Cemetery, Queens (Long Island City) NY, section 17, range 70, grave 3.

William and Jane had four children, Frank, Jennie, William, and May. Frank left home after the death of his father, working his way across the country with the intention of working the gold fields in Alaska. He sent many letters and cards to his mother, which are still in the family. However, by the time he reached California, the Spanish American War had begun. Frank enlisted in the Navy and saw action on the USS Philadelphia in the Battle of the Phillipines. His letters to his mother and sister provide his account of this action. And he sent a hat back to his youngest sister, who was approximately 16 at the time.

Frank had a son, William, who was Maybelle's cousin. Maybelle's only other cousin was Jack Armstrong, the son of Jennie and her husband Sid Armstrong. Jack Armstrong married Vera and had four children. Jack moved to Melbourne, Florida, and maintained contact with Maybelle until his death in 1997.

May's other brother, William, never married and died in his 20s. Like his brother, William also served in the Navy.

May, herself, began working at 14. She met Fred Jewhurst when she was 18, working as a sales girl in a department store (Arnold Contsable) in NYC. She married Fred when she was 21, June 17, 1906, at Holy Cross Church on 42 St., Manhattan, NYC.

May was a statuesque woman who carried herself with elegance and grace. She was active in her church and encouraged her daughter, Maybelle, to be active as well. She remained close to her daughter and helped care for her grandchildren. She passed away on November 18, 1953 and is buried with her husband and his parents in the Ridgelawn section of the Fort Hill Cemetery in Auburn, NY.

May and Fred had a special bond with the daughter, Maybelle, and shared with her a gentleness and joyfulness. May loved her husband and her life, and she found comfort in the things around her. For example, she enjoyed feeding birds and was an accomplished whistler, mimicing bird calls.

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