Person:Michael Coyle (3)

Michael Coyle, the oldest child of Patrick Coyle and Margaret Brady, arrived in the United States on 11 May 1885 , and became a citizen of the United States of America on 25 October 1894. His daughter, Kathleen G. Coyle, said her parents were very proud to be citizens. Her mother became a citizen when she married Michael since he was already a citizen. Mary Jo kept Michael’s precious naturalization paper in a safe deposit box at her bank to keep it safe. This original document is still in the family. ,

In New York City, Michael Coyle met Mary Jo Mullane, daughter of Daniel Mullane and Brigid English. Michael and Mary Jo met in a boarding house. She was walking down a flight of stairs and he was walking up those stairs. She thought he was very handsome. He saw her and instantly fell in love. Despite the protests of Michael’s mother, they were married on 9 November, 1895. , They were married by Father Patrick F. McSweeny, the pastor at Saint Brigid’s Church.

Michael was a baker in New York City. In those days the baker made cakes, pies, rolls, bread, wedding cakes, etc. They also sold milk. The baker would deliver to customers’ homes. Customers paid 3 cents for a pail of milk (a pail was about one quart) and a loaf of bread. They set out an empty tin pail on the front steps. It would be taken and re-placed with a clean, full pail of milk and a loaf of bread or rolls, or whatever the customer had ordered.

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. Mi-chael 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.

In 1920 it was time for the United States to take another count of its population. On 14 January 1920 another Federal census taker visited the Coyle family. Michael was still listed as a baker. This Census showed, for the first time, that more Americans lived in urban areas than on farms. Mary Jo and Michael, who had grown up in a very rural Ireland, were raising their children in the very urban, rapidly growing, Manhattan. This Census is important in the history of the Coyle family because it is the first to show the whole family: Michael, Mary Jo and their six living children. Helen, age 23, was still single and working as an operator in a telegraph office. Marion, age 20, and Margaret, age 18, were listed as telephone operators. Thomas, age 16, was a helper in an electric shop. Lillian, age nine, was attending school. Kathleen, age three, was named ‘Kattie’ in the report. This was also the last U. S. Census that would show the family all together.

1.   Arrivals at Port of New York
   11 May 1885.

   Arrivals at Port of New York, Microfilm #1027354, Arrival 11 May 1885,
   Passenger #540, Family History Library, Salt Lake City, Utah. Copy made by Robert J. Coyle and given to author. Passenger: Michael Coyle.

2.   Citizenship Papers for Michael Coyle
   21 October 1894.

   Citizenship Papers for Michael Coyle, 21 October 1894, State of Connecticut, County of New Loudon

3.   Marriage Certificate
   9 November 1895.

   Marriage Certificate for Michael Coyle and Mary J. Mullane, 9 November 1895, Certificate #17416, Bureau of Records, Health De-partment, New York City; New York City Department of Records and Information Services, Municipal Archives, 31 Chambers Street, New York City, New York, 10007.

4.   1900 US Census
   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.

5.   1910 US Census
   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.

6.   1920 US Census.

   1920 United States Census, New York City, New York, Vol. 279, E. D. 1292, Sheet 18, Line 70; New York State Library, Albany, New York. Michael Coyle family, 223 E 113th.