William R. Mahoney was born 22 April 1866 in Clonmel, County Tipperary, Ireland, the child of William MAHONEY & Johanna Daniel
He married Margery SWEENY????? of County Donegal. Margery was born in 1865 and died in 1955, according to the gravestone in Holy Cross Cemetery, Colma, California.
William R. MAHONEY was known as "Uncle Billy" to some of the family. He liked to invent things, and he invented a device to catch flies. There are similar fly catching devices on the market today. "Uncle Billy" also liked to walk around with nails in his pockets and make them clink together to make it sound like he had money in his pockets. One of Uncle Billy's "inventions" can still be seen today. Sometime around 1915 he constructed a metal chair so that his father William MAHONEY, Sr., could sit down when they went to the cemetery to visit the elder William's son, and younger William's brother, Patrick MAHONEY and the elder William's daughter, and the younger William's sister, Margeret Mahoney LEE, both of whom passed away in 1915. The chair is still located next to the MAHONEY family gravestone in Holy Cross CEMETERY. Click here to see a picture of the gravestone and chair.
From the 1900 census, this couple was living in Fresno, Ward I, at 998 Q Street. William's birth is given as September 1869 and 30 years old.He arrived in the USA in 1877 and is a plumber. He was married in 1893. Margery's birth is given as June 1871, age 28, arrived in USA in 1881 and was married in 1893. They were both born in ireland, as were their parents. Also residing in the house is a niece, Margery SWEENY, born Dec 1890, age 9. She was born in California as was her mother. Her father was born in Ireland. Because the niece's mother was born in California, it is most like the father is Margery Mahoney's brother. Therefore, it is liely that Margery's maiden name is SWEENY.
From the 1910 census, we find this couple at 1362 or 1262 Eighth Street, Oakland, California and they are renting. William is listed as 40, married in 1893, arriving in the USA in 1896, a plumber for the Railroad, and born in Ireland. Margery is listed as 35, arriving in 1886. There is also a 60 year old servant living in the house named Mary Daley.
Unable to find them in 1920 census.
From the 1930 census William arrived in 1897, he is aged 58 and a plumber. Marjorie D. Mahoney is age 59. They own their home at 233 Nonth Street, Oakland, valued at $6,000. There were 4 roomers living in the home.
There is a California death record for a William Richard Mahoney, born 24 April 1862, outside the USA, died 10 March 1944 in San Francisco. His mother's maiden name was O'Daniels. This is obviously our guy.
This page was last updated on March 25, 2010
