May 22, 2000

Dear James

I have a couple of items to contribute to your grandmother's, Mary Ann Mehaffey, family from her marriage to James B. Hilferty.

First, there is a reference in the World Family Tree collection of family trees published by the Family Tree Maker genealogy software producers. These references occur on CD Volume III # 4045 and CD Volume III # 3118. The latter does not appear to be correct but, I do not have the information to confirm or correct as no children of James B. and Mary Ann are enumerated. Number 4045 states the family as you have it identified in your message dated May 9, 2000, five children named John, James, Frederick C., Eleanor and Maria. This family tree identifies the parents of Mary Ann as being Robert Mehaffey and Eliza Megaffin. There is a lengthy enumeration of the descendants of Mary Ann's brother, John Mehaffey, and his Wife Margaret Irwin but, no other siblings of Mary Ann and John. Mary Ann is also shown to have had a son James Mehaffey who married Anna Marion Jones and in turn had two children James Irwin Mehaffey and Elizabeth Ann Mehaffey.

Second, there is in the 1920 U.S. Census of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania an enumeration of a family of Mary Hilferty at 33 years old with 5 children, John at 13 years old, James at 11 years old, Frederick C. at 9 years old, Elinor at 6 years old and Maria at 4 years old. To make this story more intriguing Mary is described as a widow (Wd) with no husband i.e. James B. Hilferty being recorded. Further this family of Mary and her five children are living in the household of James F. McGlinchey and his wife, Anna, and their three daughters, Marianna, Catherine and Dorothia. The entire group of people is recorded to be living at 5020 Cedar Avenue in Philadelphia. Mary Hilferty is recorded as a sister-in-law of James F. McGlinchey which is to say that Mary is likely a sister of McGlinchey's wife, Anna, but, I can not be certain of that.

Now the interesting point of this story is that your message shows that James B. Hilferty died on October 3, 1918 which is basically confirmed in the 1920 census by recording Mary Ann as a widow.

I am attempting to find the 1910 census listing of the James B. Hilferty family which was recorded before he died and should show the family with only the older sons, John and James, in the household. At this point I can not identify who the parents of James B. Hilferty are. If you look for a marriage certificate for James B. Hilferty and Mary Ann Mehaffey that may be disclosed. I am hoping that the 1910 census will disclose whether James B. was born in the U.S. or was born in Ireland.

My interest is that of the Compiling Editor of the Halferty, Helferty and Hilferty descendants of the Gaelic Irish Clan of the O'hAilbheartaigh of County Donegal of the Ancient Provence Ulster in the North of Ireland.

According to “Sheridan's Dictionary of Irish Names and Surnames” the Halferty name means "noblebright, accomplished or learned". The Irish surnames Halferty, Helferty, Hilferty, Helverty and their O' variations are anglicized forms of the Gaelic surname "O'hAilbheartaigh". The name is of patronymic origin, in that, it belongs to the category of surnames derived from the first name of the grandfather of the original bearer. In this instance, the name indicates "grandson of Ailbheartaigh", an old personal name derived from the Gaelic "ilbeartach". The earliest Halferty families were found in Donegal and later in County Londonderry and County Armagh. The "O'hAilbheartaigh" were classified as a Sept of the O'Donnell clan.

Please let me hear from you.

Clifford W. Holforty
28721 Hidden Trail
Farmington Hills, MI 48331
248-489-1075