March 19, 2025
Introduction: In this article, Katie Rebecca Merkley concludes her explanation of some of the records she searched – and how she searched them – to learn about her immigrant ancestor. Katie specializes in U.S. research for family history, enjoys writing and researching, and is developing curricula for teaching children genealogy.
My previous article on Robert McElhinney (see: Part 1) discussed the Irish birth record index and searching for him in newspaper articles and censuses. My census research continued until 1950. He was also found on World War draft registration cards and his death records were researched. This article will discuss what was found for him on those records.
Photo credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html
In my earlier research, I found his marriage certificate with his first wife: he married Jennie McIntyre on 25 October 1905. From the 1930 census, I learned he was living that year with a different wife, Vera, his daughter Mildred, and his mother-in-law, Annie B. Shank.
In the 1940 and 1950 censuses, Robert McElhinney and his wife were empty nesters. They lived in Cheltenham, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, in 1940 and his occupation was salesman. (1) In 1950 they lived in Philadelphia, where his occupation was real estate. (2)
In 1940 his wife was listed as Catherine V. McElhinney; in 1950 she was listed as C. Vera McElhinney, so it’s safe to conclude that her full maiden name was Catherine Vera Shank.
C Vera McElhinney answered the supplemental questions in the 1950 census. She said she had been married only once and had two children. (3) She was likely referring to her stepchildren, because Robert isn’t known to have had any additional children besides the ones he had with Jennie.
Finding him in state censuses, which were taken between the federal censuses, gave more complete information about his life and migration. New York has state censuses available in 1905, 1915, and 1925. New Jersey has state censuses available in 1905 and 1915. Pennsylvania never took a state census. The New York and New Jersey state censuses are available on FamilySearch.
Robert McElhinney registered for the drafts for both World Wars. He was 39 when he registered for the WWI draft on 12 September 1918. He was living in Philadelphia at that time, and listed his nearest relative as his wife, Jennie. He was an alien who had filed his declaration of intention. (4) This conflicts with the 1910 census, which indicated he was naturalized. The best way to resolve this conflict is to find his naturalization papers.
Robert was 62 when he registered for the WWII draft in 1942. This time his contact person was Mrs. Vera C McElhinney. They lived in Chestnut Hill, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. (5)
Both draft records give a physical description. In 1918, Robert had blue eyes and brown hair. He was of medium height and medium build. (6) In 1942, he had gray eyes, brown hair, and a ruddy complexion. He was 5’7” tall and weighed 150 pounds. (7)
Robert McElhinney died in 1965 in New Jersey. I have ordered his death certificate. It is cheaper to request vital records by mail than online, because VitalCheck charges a $13 service fee on top of the record fee charged by the state. Ordering by mail usually takes longer than ordering online.
I found Robert McElhinney’s obituary in GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives, published in the Atlantic City Press. As he outlived all his siblings, it did not mention surviving siblings. The obituary states that he was born in Donegal, Ireland, had lived in Philadelphia, and had been in Atlantic City, New Jersey, the last six years of his life. His surviving wife was Elaine G., which is a different wife than either spouse I found on the censuses. His daughter, Mrs. Mildred Friedman, was living in Puerto Rico. Robert McElhinney was a retired real estate broker, which matches his occupation on the later census.
He is buried in West Laurel Hill Cemetery in Bala-Cynwyd, Montgomery, Pennsylvania. He shares a gravestone with his son, Robert Edwin McElhinney, who died young in 1932. (8) Two of his known siblings are also buried in that same cemetery.
I also found an obituary for Mildred (McElhinney) Friedman, Robert’s daughter, in GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives, published in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. It indicates she was proud of her Irish heritage and kept in touch with cousins in Ireland.
It can be assumed that someone proud of her Irish heritage would have taught her children to be proud of that same heritage. I know I was, and I’m four generations removed from my Irish immigrant ancestor. A good way for me to learn stories of Robert McElhinney and his family could be to trace Mildred’s living descendants and contact them. I may be able to find them on social media and reach out to them there.
I have contacted my grandmother, whose maiden name is McElhinney, to find out what she knew about her grandfather’s siblings. All she said was that she put what she knew into FamilySearch.
Reaching out to her sister, my great-aunt, was more fruitful. She gave me the etymology of the surname McElhinney. The Irish version is McGiollaCainnigh. Mc or Mac means “son of.” Giolla or El means “servant of.” Henney comes from Cainnigh (pronounced coney) which translates to English as “Kenneth.” So, McElhinney means son of the servant of Kenneth. (9)
FamilySearch messaging allows you to message others who edit information on the FamilySearch profiles of your ancestors. I have previously corresponded with a McElhinney cousin in this manner. The “view relationship” button shows we are both descended from Joseph McElhinney, brother of Robert McElhinney.
Another route I might try is to look at DNA matches who also descend from McElhinneys and message them through the DNA website platform.
There is more to be learned about Robert McElhinney. While I have an idea of his life in America, I can learn more from continued research, including stories I can find about him in old newspapers such as GenealogyBank’s Historical Newspaper Archives. I can also contact his descendants.
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Note on the header image: family photos and genealogy records.
Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html
Related Article:
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(1) 1940 U.S. Census, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Cheltenham, E.D. 46-36, sheet no. 4B, dwelling 61, household of Robert McElhinney; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 17 February 2025).
(2) 1950 U.S. Census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia, E.D. 51-1153, sheet no. 18, household of Robert McElhinney; digital image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 25 February 2025).
(3) 1950 U.S. Census, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Philadelphia, E.D. 51-1153, sheet no. 18, household of Robert McElhinney; digital image, Ancestry (https://ancestry.com: accessed 25 February 2025).
(4) “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 17 February 2025), card for Robert McElhinney, serial no. 671, Division no. 15, Spring Hill, Philadelphia, PA; NARA microfilm publication M1509.
(5) “United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 17 February 2025), card for Robert McElhinney, serial no. 3170, Board no. 60, Philadelphia, PA; National Archives and Records Administration. Mid Atlantic Region.
(6) “World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 17 February 2025), card for Robert McElhinney, serial no. 671, Division no. 15, Spring Hill, Philadelphia, PA; NARA microfilm publication M1509.
(7) “United States, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1942,” images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org: accessed 17 February 2025), card for Robert McElhinney, serial no. 3170, Board no. 60, Philadelphia, PA; National Archives and Records Administration. Mid Atlantic Region.
(8) Find a Grave, database and images (https://findagrave.com: accessed 5 March 2025), memorial page for Robert McElhinney (1879-1965), Find a Grave Memorial ID 91394942, citing West Laurel Hill Cemetery, Bala Cynwyd, Montgomery, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Crypt Tonight (contributor 48494116).
(9) Ruth McElhinney. Telephone conversations [unpublished], 25 February 2025, told to Katie Merkley.