Flaherty Family History
Much of this work was done by Ricky Dean.
For more info, see the Family Tree & Flaherty Family Lore pages. If anyone has
done more research that they could share, please let me know...
The name of Flaherty is of Irish origin (of course). The family traces its ancestry back to before the year 1100, when it first appeared in the ancient records of the county of Connacht. The name, loosely translated into English, means "descendant of the great (or bright) ruler." For more information, see the "Family Lore" page.
Patrick Flaherty (born in Ireland - Mar 1848) emigrated to England where he met and married Mary Burke (born in England, Sept 1854); together they had 3 children in England. Patrick emigrated to the US in 1881. He was followed the next year by his wife, Mary; his daughter, Mary (born 1878); and his two sons: Michael (probable name, born 1876) and Hugh (newborn). He became a coal miner, and lived on West Linden St. in Scranton for at least 14 years, until his time of death: 10 PM on August 12, 1914 at the age of 66. His obituary appeared on page 8 of the Scranton Times August 14, and he was buried on 17 August 1914. Mary died and was buried on 5 January 1930. Grave Locations - Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, Pa: Block\ 11, along road, ¼ of the way around the circle that the church is in). The pair had a total of eight children: Michael, Hugh, Belle (Bridget), John, Hannah, Julia(Jule), Margaret, and Mary.
Hugh Flaherty was born in County Durham England on Sept 5, 1881 or 1882, and emigrated as a newborn to the US. As an adult, he worked as a coal laborer, and later married Margaret McGuire. He was appointed to the Scranton Fire Department as a fireman on July 14, 1913 by Mayor John Van Bergen. On August 1, 1926, he was promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Engine 9 on North Main Ave. He organized the firemen's "Good Will" club, was the Scranton representative of the Int'l Association of Fire Fighters, and manager of the fire department's baseball team. He was a communicant of St. Vincent's church on Providence Road. He had previously been President of the Holy Name Society at St. Patrick's Parish in West Scranton, and President of the Keyser Valley Rod and Gun club. At various times, the couple lived at 2503 Jackson St, 1015 W Linden Ave, 1011 W Linden Ave, and 955 Johler Ave. At about 9 AM on August 25, 1932, Hugh died at West Side Hospital in Scranton, from injuries sustained in the line of duty at the West Side Fire of E.H. Schlesser’s Auto Paint Shop. He received last rights from the Rev. Thomas J. McHugh of St. Patrick's Parish, and was taken to Cusick’s morgue. Funeral Services at St. Vincent De Paul's Church followed a procession of over 200 Fire and Police officers, in addition to many friends. He was buried on August 29 in section 7, of Cathedral Cemetery in North Scranton (near the center).
Margaret McGuire Flaherty was born in England on June 10, 1887. After her husband's death in 1932, she continued to live at 955 Johler Avenue. Later, she moved to Rear Court Road, then the corner of Mead & Court Road, 926 Providence Road, all in Scranton. She and the children who were still living with her later moved to Dodd Street in Bloomfield, NJ, and later to Dodd Street in East Orange, NJ, where she died on 21 July 1949. She is buried in the same plot as her husband, Hugh Flaherty, in Cathedral Cemetery in Scranton. There were nine surviving children: Patrick (Pat), Hubert (Burt), Thomas (Tom), Mary, Margaret, Joseph (Joe), John (Jack), Francis (Frank) and Robert (Bobby).
As the family got larger (and more far-flung), the children of Hugh and Margaret sought a way to keep the family together. In 1952, they formed the Hugh A. Flaherty Family Association. The Association began to hold annual family reunions, and which still continue to this day. Members of the family have served in many capacities, including lawyers, engineers, editors, EMTs, state troopers and firemen.