Ellen Cody was born in Ireland in the late 1830s, possibly in Co. Kilkenny. She was a cousin of Margaret Lahy/Lahey Brennan, daughter of Michael Lahy and Mary Cody. James and Margaret Brennan lived in West Troy, now Watervliet, in the Port Schuyler area. Ellen's son John F., illegitimate, was born in 1858. Ellen married John Cavanaugh in the early 1860s and son John took his name. I don't know if he was the natural father. The family lived in Cohoes before 1865 and husband John, a Civil War veteran, died in the late 1860s. Husband John was the son of Denis and Catherine Cavenagh and that family lived in Cohoes prior to 1840. Other Cavanaughs and Laheys lived nearby. Ellen and son John remained in Cohoes until 1893, when John moved to New York City and Ellen returned to Watervliet to live with the Brennans again. I am not sure when her son returned, but it appears he ran a saloon in Watervliet until about 1914. Records are confusing because of the other Cavanaughs in the area. Ellen remained with James and Margaret Brennan until Margaret's death in 1910. She then lived with relatives Edward and Cecelia O'Brien Dignum in Menands. The notation in the 1913 City Directory said that Ellen was “removed”. It does not state where she went and does not say “died”. I have not been able to locate additional information or death certificates for Ellen or son John. Does anyone have any information on this family?