Lancelot McGrath

Lancelot was most likely born in Newport, County Tipperary around 1850 to James McGrath and Mary Ryan.  He was one of seven children.  At least 4 of them, (Dennis, Cornelius, Mary and Lancelot) emigrated to the US and settled in New York.  Lancelot emigrated to New York (Castle Garden) on July 23, 1868 arriving onboard the Pennsylvania with a spinster Mary McGrath.   We believe that is his sister Mary Margaret McDonough nee McGrath.  We next see Lancelot on the US census in 1870.  He is a laborer living in Morrisania, Westchester, New York with his cousins the Kirbys.  His future wife Maria Agnes Johnson also lives in Westchester county at this time.  By the 1880 census he is listed as a stone mason still living in Westchester County with the Kirbys while Maria has moved to the Bronx New York.

On January 25 1885 in the Bronx New York he marries Maria Agnes Johson from County Wicklow.  They settled in the Bronx New York and had six children there.   Unfortunately, Maria had complications from her last pregnancy with Kathleen born in 1895.  Maria dies eight days later.  Lancelot now has six children under ten years old and he is unable to cope.  The children are all sent off to other homes or possibly orphanages.  

By June of 1901 his house in the Bronx goes into foreclosure.  Lancelot then dies at St. Peters Hospital in Brooklyn New York on November 2, 1901 at the age of 32..  By the time he died three of his six children had also died.