Person:Helen Coyle (1)

On 9 January 1897 Michael and Mary Jo’s first child was born. They named their daughter Helen Frances Coyle. Her nickname was ‘Nellie’ and she was listed as Nellie Coyle on her birth certificate. They were living at 419 West 39th Street, Manhattan, at the time of her birth. She was born at home as all her younger siblings would be.

On 2 June 1900 a Federal Census taker visited the little Coyle family at their home at 159 113th Street in Manhattan. The enumerator listed Michael as a baker in a bake shop. Mary Jo was listed as a mother of three children; two living. Their daughters were listed as Nellie and Mary.

The Coyle family was living on Third Avenue in 1910 when the U. S. Census was taken again. Michael was 39 and Mary 38. He was listed as a baker in a bakery. The report shows his year of immigration as 1886 and Mary’s as 1892. They rented their home. Four children were at home: Helen, 13; Marion, 10; Margaret, 8; and Thomas, 7 years old.

As a young woman, Helen Coyle, oldest child of Michael and Mary Jo Coyle, lived with her parents and siblings. She worked for the Western Union as an operator. She was petite but always a hard worker. All the Coyle sisters were only about five feet tall.

The next day was sunny. It was Monday, 9 May 1921. The New York Times (which sold for 2 cents) said the day was mild with west winds. Nathaniel and Helen were married. Their marriage license says Nathaniel was 39 and living at 234 West 120th Street that day. Helen was 23 and living at 223 East 113th Street. The Marriage Certificate says they were married in the Municipal Building by John R. Dalton, Deputy City Clerk, Borough of Richmond. F. L. Waterman and Thomas J. Douglas were the witnesses.

The New York State Census of 1925 found the Gardners living in an apartment at 217 Mt. Eden Avenue in the Bronx. Nat is listed as a telegrapher, 41 years of age. Helen is also listed as a telegrapher. She’s shown as 26. Both of them, in fact, were two years older than they admitted to the census taker.

On 26 March 1928 at 4:45 a.m. her daughter was born at Dr. Moore’s Sanitarium in the Bronx. She weighed seven pounds and six ounces. , She was named Alberta after Nathaniel’s late brother, Albert Gartner. She was named Joy because her parents were delighted to have a child after years of waiting. She was a brown-eyed, red-haired girl. Nat was 46 and Helen was 30 when Alberta Joy was born. Soon they took their bundle of joy home to 105 Ellicott Place and began their family life together.

1.   Birth Record
   1897.

   Certificate and Record of Birth for Nellie Coyle, #277, 9 January 1897, New York City Department of Health, State of New York.

2.   US Census Records
   1900.

   1900 United States Census, Manhattan, New York; Vol. 178, E. D. 930, Sheet 2, Line 72; New York State Library, Albany, New York; Microfilm Box #120. Michael Coyle family at 159 E 113 Street, Manhattan.

3.   US Census Records 1790-1930
   1910.

   1910 United States Census, Third Avenue, Ward 12, Manhattan, New York City, New York, S. D. 1, E. D. 330, Sheets 16 A & B. Michael Coyle family.

4.   General Register Office. Marriage Certificate (Certified Copy). (Certified Copy of Marriage Certificate)
   1921.

   Marriage Certificate for Nathaniel Gardner and Helen F. Coyle, 9 May 1921, certificate no. 56041, The City of New York, Office of the City Clerk, Municipal Building, Manhattan.

5.   New York State Census Records 1825-1925 - Information Online Indexes
   1925.

   1925 New York State Census, New York County, AD 2, ED 56, Page 51, Lines 33-34, New York State Library, Albany, New York. Nat and Helen Gardner living at 217 Mt. Eden Avenue, Bronx.

6.   Birth Certificate
   1928.

   Certificate of Birth for Alberta Joy Gardner, 26 March 1928, registered no. 4709, State of New York, City of New York, Department of Health.