Catherine Coll: Difference between revisions
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{{Infobox person |
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| name = Catherine Coll |
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| birth_name = Catherine Coll |
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| birth_date = 1858 |
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| birth_place = [[Bruree]], [[County Limerick]], [[Ireland]], [[United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland|United Kingdom]] |
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| death_date = 12 June 1932 (age 73/74) |
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| death_place = [[New York]], [[United States]] |
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| resting_place = Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, [[Rochester, New York|Rochester]], [[New York]], [[United States]] |
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| known_for = Mother of [[Éamon de Valera]] |
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| religion = [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] |
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| spouse = Juan Vivion de Valera (m.1881 – d. early 1880s) (''alleged'')<br>Charles Wheelwright (m. ? – d. 1929) |
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| partner = |
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| children = [[Éamon de Valera]] (1882–1975)<br>Ann Wheelwright<br>Fr. Thomas Wheelwright |
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==Biography== |
==Biography== |
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Catherine Coll was born in [[Bruree]], [[County Limerick]]. She emigrated to [[New York City]] in 1879. She first took a job with a wealthy French family that was living in [[Manhattan]]. This is where she allegedly met |
Catherine Coll was born in [[Bruree]], [[County Limerick]]. She emigrated to [[New York City]] in 1879. She first took a job with a wealthy French family that was living in [[Manhattan]]. This is where she allegedly met Juan Vivion de Valera, a Cuban or Spanish sculptor who came to the home of her employers to give music lessons to the children. Though de Valera's official biography (Longford/O'Neill, Hutchinson, London, 1970) states that his parents were married at St. Patrick's in [[Greenville, New Jersey|Greenville]], [[New Jersey]], on 19 September 1881, the parish records show no record of any Coll–de Valera wedding either at St Patrick's or any church, nor were any civil records found, in the vicinity during the period from 1875 to 1887. Also, initially de Valera was not registered in his father's name. |
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| ⚫ | The New York State records contain two de Valera birth certificates. The first, registered on 10 November 1882, gives his name as George De Valero. The second was a "corrected certificate" which was "approved by Commissioner of Health" on 30 June 1910.<ref>[http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanjmurphy/irhismys/devalera.html]"Irish Historical Mysteries with copies of both birth certificates. For a fuller account see ref 2 in [[Eamon de Valera]]"</ref>. Consequently, whilst the correction was instigated by de Valera's mother Kate, there appears to be no validity in the claims that it was for the purpose of establishing de Valera's U.S. citizenship in an attempt to save him from a firing squad following the [[Easter Rising]] in Dublin, which occurred six years later. It is in this second certificate that the first name is given as Edward and the surname as de Valera. |
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Though de Valera's official biography (Longford/O'Neill, Hutchinson, London, 1970) states his parents were married at St. Patrick's in [[Greenville, New Jersey]], on 19 September 1881, the parish records show no record of any Coll–de Valera wedding either at St Patrick's or any church, nor were any civil records found, in the vicinity during the period from 1875 to 1887. Also, initially de Valera was not registered in his father's name. |
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| ⚫ | It was alleged that Vivion de Valera, always in poor health, left his young family behind him and traveled to [[Colorado]], hoping that perhaps the healthier air would help him out only to die within a few months. However, not merely is there no record of the wedding. No record exists of the existence of a "Juan Vivion de Valera" anywhere in the United States: no birth certificate, no [[baptism]]al certificate (if he was a [[Catholic]]), no wedding certificate and no death certificate. While it was possible that he was born abroad and so either had a foreign birth certificate or was not registered, the absence of a death certificate for someone stated definitely in Éamon de Valera's family history to have died in the United States has puzzled researchers. Some scholars have questioned whether he ever existed. |
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| ⚫ | The New York State records contain two de Valera birth certificates. The first, registered on 10 November 1882, gives his name as George De Valero. The second was a "corrected certificate" which was "approved by Commissioner of Health" on 30 June 1910.<ref>[http://homepage.eircom.net/~seanjmurphy/irhismys/devalera.html]"Irish Historical Mysteries with copies of both birth certificates. For a fuller account see ref 2 in [[Eamon de Valera]]"</ref>. Consequently whilst the correction was instigated by de Valera's mother Kate there appears to be no validity in the claims that it was for the purpose of establishing de Valera's U.S. citizenship in an attempt to save him from a firing squad following the [[Easter Rising]] in Dublin, which occurred |
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| ⚫ | It was alleged that Vivion de Valera, always in poor health, left his young family behind him and traveled to Colorado, hoping that perhaps the healthier air would help him out only to die within a few months. However, not merely is there no record of the wedding. No record exists of the existence of a |
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Kate later married an English-born coachman, Charles Wheelwright, who converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] for her, and she gave birth to a daughter Ann, and a son, Thomas, who would later become a priest. They moved to [[Rochester, New York]]. The closeness of the marriage to her supposed first husband's death is again pointed to as evidence that the first marriage never actually existed, and was just a cover story to explain her pregnancy. Coll sent her young son Éamon back to live with relatives in Bruree prior to her marriage to Wheelwright. She never brought him back to live with her. |
Kate later married an English-born coachman, Charles Wheelwright, who converted to [[Roman Catholicism]] for her, and she gave birth to a daughter Ann, and a son, Thomas, who would later become a priest. They moved to [[Rochester, New York]]. The closeness of the marriage to her supposed first husband's death is again pointed to as evidence that the first marriage never actually existed, and was just a cover story to explain her pregnancy. Coll sent her young son Éamon back to live with relatives in Bruree prior to her marriage to Wheelwright. She never brought him back to live with her. |
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Later in his life, Éamon de Valera would remember occasional visits from, as he knew her, a woman in black, which ended up being his true mother. Kate later sent her young son to Limerick to be raised by his grandmother and uncle. |
Later in his life, Éamon de Valera would remember occasional visits from, as he knew her, a "woman in black", which ended up being his true mother. Kate later sent her young son to Limerick to be raised by his grandmother and uncle. |
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The Wheelwrights were staunch supporters of de Valera and his cause for the establishment of the [[Irish Republic]]. In 1916, Mrs. Wheelwright campaigned successfully for the suspension of the death sentence placed on her son, an American citizen by birth, by the British government. |
The Wheelwrights were staunch supporters of de Valera and his cause for the establishment of the [[Irish Republic]]. In 1916, Mrs. Wheelwright campaigned successfully for the suspension of the death sentence placed on her son, an American citizen by birth, by the British government. |
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Though married for many years to Wheelright, Catherine is generally referred to in biographies as ''Catherine'' (or Kate) ''Coll''. |
Though married for many years to Wheelright, Catherine is generally referred to in biographies as ''Catherine'' (or Kate) ''Coll''. |
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==References== |
==References== |
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Revision as of 00:40, 21 September 2010
Catherine Coll | |
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| Born | Catherine Coll 1858 |
| Died | 12 June 1932 (age 73/74) |
| Resting place | Holy Sepulchre Cemetery, Rochester, New York, United States |
| Known for | Mother of Éamon de Valera |
| Spouse(s) | Juan Vivion de Valera (m.1881 – d. early 1880s) (alleged) Charles Wheelwright (m. ? – d. 1929) |
| Children | Éamon de Valera (1882–1975) Ann Wheelwright Fr. Thomas Wheelwright |
Catherine (Kate') Wheelright (née Coll) (1858 – 12 June 1932), was the mother of Irish President and Taoiseach Éamon de Valera.
Biography
Catherine Coll was born in Bruree, County Limerick. She emigrated to New York City in 1879. She first took a job with a wealthy French family that was living in Manhattan. This is where she allegedly met Juan Vivion de Valera, a Cuban or Spanish sculptor who came to the home of her employers to give music lessons to the children. Though de Valera's official biography (Longford/O'Neill, Hutchinson, London, 1970) states that his parents were married at St. Patrick's in Greenville, New Jersey, on 19 September 1881, the parish records show no record of any Coll–de Valera wedding either at St Patrick's or any church, nor were any civil records found, in the vicinity during the period from 1875 to 1887. Also, initially de Valera was not registered in his father's name.
The New York State records contain two de Valera birth certificates. The first, registered on 10 November 1882, gives his name as George De Valero. The second was a "corrected certificate" which was "approved by Commissioner of Health" on 30 June 1910.[1]. Consequently, whilst the correction was instigated by de Valera's mother Kate, there appears to be no validity in the claims that it was for the purpose of establishing de Valera's U.S. citizenship in an attempt to save him from a firing squad following the Easter Rising in Dublin, which occurred six years later. It is in this second certificate that the first name is given as Edward and the surname as de Valera.
It was alleged that Vivion de Valera, always in poor health, left his young family behind him and traveled to Colorado, hoping that perhaps the healthier air would help him out only to die within a few months. However, not merely is there no record of the wedding. No record exists of the existence of a "Juan Vivion de Valera" anywhere in the United States: no birth certificate, no baptismal certificate (if he was a Catholic), no wedding certificate and no death certificate. While it was possible that he was born abroad and so either had a foreign birth certificate or was not registered, the absence of a death certificate for someone stated definitely in Éamon de Valera's family history to have died in the United States has puzzled researchers. Some scholars have questioned whether he ever existed.
Kate later married an English-born coachman, Charles Wheelwright, who converted to Roman Catholicism for her, and she gave birth to a daughter Ann, and a son, Thomas, who would later become a priest. They moved to Rochester, New York. The closeness of the marriage to her supposed first husband's death is again pointed to as evidence that the first marriage never actually existed, and was just a cover story to explain her pregnancy. Coll sent her young son Éamon back to live with relatives in Bruree prior to her marriage to Wheelwright. She never brought him back to live with her.
Later in his life, Éamon de Valera would remember occasional visits from, as he knew her, a "woman in black", which ended up being his true mother. Kate later sent her young son to Limerick to be raised by his grandmother and uncle.
The Wheelwrights were staunch supporters of de Valera and his cause for the establishment of the Irish Republic. In 1916, Mrs. Wheelwright campaigned successfully for the suspension of the death sentence placed on her son, an American citizen by birth, by the British government.
Charles Wheelwright died in 1929, and Catherine Wheelwright died 12 June 1932. Both are buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York.
Though married for many years to Wheelright, Catherine is generally referred to in biographies as Catherine (or Kate) Coll.
References
- ^ [1]"Irish Historical Mysteries with copies of both birth certificates. For a fuller account see ref 2 in Eamon de Valera"
Sources
- Tim Pat Coogan, De Valera: Long Fellow, Long Shadow (Hutchinson, 1993)