More on Gillen Fire/Names and Ages
Josephine Pepper Gillen (1874-1930), child of Owen and Johanna Pepper, is buried in her husband's family plot in Holy Cross Cemetery, Malden, MA. Her husband, William John Gillen (1858-1944), is the son of John Gillen and Elijah (Eliza?) Gillen, County Cork, Ireland.
The plot where Josephine and her husband are buried holds a family secret that was never revealed to future generations: Although Josephine and her husband had three surviving children (Margaret, Frances and John), they lost up to 7 others all in one day: November 10, 1905. The children include Josephine, 4; Frank, 10; William, 7; Lillian, 2; Mary, no age given; Liza, no age given; and Bridget, no age given. Daniel J. was buried with them on June 7, 1907).
I am researching what happened, but we're assuming it was a terrible fire (in the Charlestown area) a few days earlier. Although these seven children (?) were the first to occupy the gravesite, their names are not on the stone. My husband and I are going to try and remedy this, possibly in a small ceremony in 2005.
Anyone who has any information about any of this, please feel free to pass it on.
Thanks.
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Re: More on Gillen Fire/Names and Ages
DF Wood 2/20/02