Ellen M. “Nellie” Byrne was born in Drum, County Roscommon, Ireland, in 1865, the daughter of James and Catherine Byrne (née Higgins). Nothing is known of her childhood or early life, but in the 1880’s, she immigrated to the United States of America, and settled in Boston, Massachusetts. She was unmarried.
By 1900, she was running a boarding house at 125. Center Street, Boston. Living with her for a time was her niece, Mary A. Molloy, who had also emigrated from County Roscommon, and who was a daughter of one of Nellie’s sisters. In 1908, Mary had married Michael Burns, another Irish emigrant, and settled in Boston.
In 1914, Nellie’s nephew, Robert J. Molloy, came to stay with her. Robert had emigrated from Ireland to Canada in 1913, but had decided to join his sister, Mary Burns in Boston. He initially stayed with his aunt Nellie, before eventually moving in with his sister and her husband.
Robert Molloy’s health began to fail in early 1915, and being unable to work regularly and support himself, he was ordered to be deported back to Ireland. His health being so poor, Nellie Byrne decided to accompany him on his journey back home and avail of an opportunity to spend a short holiday in the land of her birth. It was her intention that her time in Ireland would be brief, and that she would return to Boston within a few weeks.
When the authorities made a decision as to the timing of Robert Molloy’s deportation, they booked him third class passage on the May sailing of the
Lusitania. Consequently, Nellie Byrne booked third class passage on the same sailing. She purchased her ticket from James F. Walsh & Co., 382. West Broadway, South Boston.
Having left Boston at the end of April, she boarded the liner at the Cunard berth at Pier 54 in New York on the morning of 1st May 1915, in time for her scheduled 10 o’clock sailing. This was then delayed until just after mid-day as she had to wait to embark passengers, crew and cargo from the Anchor Lines vessel Anchor Lines vessel the
S.S. Cameronia which the British Admiralty had requisitioned for war service at the end of April.
Six days out of New York on the afternoon of 7th May, the Lusitania was within sight of the coast of southern Ireland - and no doubt Nellie Byrne had her first glimpse of her native land for a long time - when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-20. At that time, she was only about 250 miles away from her Liverpool home port. Both Nellie Byrne and Robert Molloy were killed as a result of this action.
As no trace of her body was ever discovered and identified afterwards, she has no known grave. Nellie Byrne was aged 50 years, although when boarding she stated her age as being 45 years!
A letter appealing for information was written by Margaret Molloy, a sister of Robert, and Nellie Byrne’s niece, which was published in the 27th May edition of the
Cork Examiner newspaper. It stated: -
INFORMATION WANTED.
Sir, - May I beg to ask, through your esteemed paper if any reader could give even the least information re Robert Molloy and Ellen M. Byrne, supposed to have been passengers on the ill-starred Lusitania, their destination being Curraghboy, Athlone, Co. Roscomman? The former a brother of mine, about 28 years of age, about 5ft. 9in. in height, medium build, hair somewhat dark, complexion rather fair, inclined to ruddy; the latter an elderly lady (an aunt of mine) being on list of survivors. Even the smallest scrap of information will be gratefully received by their afflicted relative.
Margaret Molloy
Curraghboy, Athlone, May 25th 1915.
Alas, it would appear her appeal brought her no worthwhile information.
1900 U.S. Federal Census, 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Cunard Records, Sunday Boston Globe, The Sunday Herald, Cork Examiner, PRO BT 100/345, Deaths at Sea 1871 – 1968, Michelle Bonarrigo, Graham Maddocks, Geoff Whitfield, Michael Poirier, Jim Kalafus, Cliff Barry, Paul Latimer, Norman Gray.
Copyright © Peter Kelly.