Family of Francis A. "Frank" Ahern and Ellen E. "Nellie" Fermoyle

Francis A. "Frank" Ahern, was born to Dennis Ahern and Ellen Fitzpatrick on Wednesday, 22 January 1868 in Arlington, baptized 23 January at St. Peter's in Cambridge (sponsors: Patrick Ahern and Julia Fitzpatrick), died due to chronic endocarditis on Friday, 14 April 1916 at the home of his brother, Dennis, at 21 Webster St. in Arlington, buried on Sunday, 16 April 1916 in St. Paul's cemetery in Arlington. He married Ellen E. "Nellie" Fermoyle (aged 22) on Sunday, 14 September 1890 in the church of St. Malachy's in Arlington (witnesses: Patrick Ahern and Matilda Fermoyle).

Nellie had been born a twin to Michael and Rosey (Morris) in Arlington 11 February 1868, baptized 23 February at St. Peter's in Cambridge (godparents: Cornelius Leary and Mary King). Nellie's twin was Michael William Fermoyle. Their birth followed by six days the birth of Thomas Fermoyle to Patrick and Bridgett (Morris). It would seem from this that two Fermoyle brothers married two Morris sisters. Perhaps they were all twins?

In the children's concert at St. Malachy's on Tuesday the 30th of January 1883, Nellie played the part of Snowdrop in the cantata "Quarrel Among the Flowers". She graduated from Arlington's Cotter Grammar School in June of 1885.

In 1900 Frank was working as a steam pump maker and they rented from the Fermoyles at 9 Garrison Ave. in Somerville. They later moved to Chelsea, but were burned out in the great fire of 12 April 1908 and came to live with the Aherns at 21 Webster Street. In 1910 Frank was working as a machinist in a chemical works and they were renting a house at 38 Norcross St. in Arlington where Nellie died of pnuemonia and anemia on 23 March 1911, buried 25 March in St. Paul's Cemetery in Arlington. After her death, Frank and the kids moved back to 21 Webster Street.

They had the following children:

1. Rose Ahern, stillborn on Wednesday, 8 July 1891 in Arlington.
2. Loretta Elizabeth Ahern, born 20 June 1892, possibly in Somerville, baptized 22 June at St. Malachy's (godparents: James A. Fermoyle and Catherine A. Ahern) and was living at 21 Webster St., both her parents having died, when she married Andrew Joseph Mahoney (aged 27) of Somerville on Saturday, 16 July 1921 at St. Agnes (witnesses: Timothy J. Mahoney and Rose Fermoyle). She worked as a telephone operator.
3. Frank Thomas Ahern, born 8 July 1895 on Summer St. in Arlington, baptized 14 July at St. Agnes (godparents: Thomas M. Ahern and Matilda C. Fermoyle). He married Agnes Elizabeth Allen (age 30) of Cambridge 27 February 1927 in Cambridge. She was born in Co. Sligo to John Allen and Margaret Feeney.
4. George E. Ahern, born August 1898 in Massachusetts.
5. Everett James Ahern, born on Friday, 27 June 1902 at 1450 Mass. Ave. in Arlington, baptized 17 July at St. Agnes (godparents: John W. Fermoyle and Frances Ahern), married Pauline Agnes Zeiner (age 22) in the rectory of St. Agnes on Wednesday the 15th of September 1926. She had been born in Rhode Island to Paul Zeiner and Mary Tynan. At the time of their marriage Everett was living at 12 Summer street and Pauline was living in the house at 38 Norcross street where Everett's mother, Nellie had died 15 years before.
   They had the following children:
   • Everett J. Ahern, Jr.
   • Alan Ahern
   • Mary R. (Ahern) Martin
6. Edna Mary Ahern, born 21 November 1908 at 245 Mass. Ave. in Arlington, baptized 6 December at St. Agnes (godparents: Daniel P. Sullivan and Lena [Mannix] Ahern), died 10 August 1911 at 22 Cleveland St. in Arlington of acute endocarditis and heat prostration, buried in St. Paul's cemetery in Arlington.

Mention of Frank Ahern's Family in the News

Arlington Advocate - 21 August 1880

St. Malachy picnic . . . The prize in the running race for very small boys was carried by Cornelius Linnehan, Frank Ahern winning second honors.

Arlington Advocate - 10 August 1900

Mrs. Frank Ahern, Mrs. James Fermoyle, Mrs. William Fermoyle, Mrs. C. L. Dodge, together with their families, are summering at Dodge Cottage, Greenfield, N.H.

Arlington Advocate - 2 November 1901

At this time James H. Hanson, who held orgies in the Thompson house, was given ten months in the House of Correction and Francis O'Hern for assault on Mrs. A.L.P. Skillings, was sent to the House of Correction for one year.
[Note: This, and subsequent reports of criminal wrongdoing, refer variously to Francis, or Frank O'Hern, O'Hearn, or Hearn. Frank Ahern is the only such name listed in the Arlington Town Directory for this period, though he's dropped from the directory for 1900, which is when they moved in with the Fermoyles in Somerville, and doesn't resurface until 1902. Further research may determine that the Frank O'Hern mentioned in the police reports is not related to "our" Aherns. Mrs. Skillings was 77 years old at the time and appears to be of the "better" class in Arlington. -dja]

Arlington Advocate - 17 October 1903

Francis O'Hearn was arrested in Boston, and in Cambridge Police Court on Thursday was held on two counts, charged with the larceny of carpenters' tools. The alleged theft was from the premises of Luther C. Weathers, on Paul Revere Road. O'Hearn was sentenced to four months but he appealed both cases and is held in three hundred dollars on each of the two counts for the next session of the Grand Jury.

Arlington Advocate - 23 July 1904

The Frank Hearn arrested at Lexington this week for stealing a watch, is the same party who a year or more ago assaulted Mrs. Skillings and has been arrested here before for petty larcenies.

Arlington Advocate - 22 April 1916

The funeral of Frank A. Ahern was held at his late residents [sic], 21 Webster street, Sunday afternoon. Interment was in St. Paul's Cemetery. Monday morning in St. Agnes church a high mass of requiem was celebrated.

Arlington Advocate - 17 September 1926

On Wednesday afternoon, September 15th at 3 o'clock, Miss Pauline Agnes Zeiner, daughter of Mrs. Mary Harvey, of 38 Norcross street, and Everett James Ahern, of 12 Summer street, son of the late Frank A. Ahern, were united in marriage at the St. Agnes rectory by Rev. Fr. J. J. Leonard, who performed the single ring ceremony.
The bride was in a gown of Alice blue georgette, over pink satin. She wore a black picture hat and carried pink roses and delphinium. Miss Loretta Tynan attended as bridesmaid and wore a gown of apricot georgette over pale yellow satin, with a black picture hat and carried tea roses. After the ceremony, supper was served to the bridal party at the Hotel Bellevue. Following a wedding trip to New York and Washington, Mr. and Mrs. Ahern will make their home at 38 Norcross street, this town.

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