My 2x great grandfather David Sweeney was born on 13th July 1892 to Joseph Sweeney and Esther Cowan, the youngest of eight children - Agnes (1879) Thomas (1880), Thomas (1876-died in infancy), Joseph (1883), Esther (1890), William James (1886) and Mary Lucinda (1873, two years before parents were married). He first appears on the 1901 Census living at 16 Earl Street aged 8 with his family and two cousins from his mother's side (William and Annie Ferris). In 1911 he is living at 49 Earl Street aged 18 with his mother and siblings, his occupation is listed as a ship boilermaker. During this time his father Joseph, also a boilermaker, died on 13 July 1904 after suffering from pneumonia.
In 1915 David enlisted in the 15th Battalion Royal Irish Rifles, serving in France and Belgium. I haven't found any evidence that his brothers joined up. He was awarded the 1914-15 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal (nicknamed Pip, Wilfred and Squeak). His official number was 15-13679, 15 being the battalion number. During his period of service he married Elizabeth McNamee on 13th October 1917 in Belfast. These two people are quite similar in that they were born in the same year and both lost their father at a young age, (John McNamee died in 1910) . Their daughter Mary (May) was born in July 1919, a few months after the death of his brother William aged 32, followed by Esther Patricia (Pasty) a few years later.
In 1925 David travelled to the United States most likely hoping he could provide a better life for his family. His sister Agnes was already living in New York with her husband Samuel Evans and their two children (Robert and Samuel H). He is listed on the 1925 New York State Census as a lodger aged 32 but his surname is spelt Sweeny. I knew I had the right person on the passenger list because his address of 16 Earl Street was recorded. Not much else is known about the rest of David's life. He seems to have carried on as a boilermaker until his death on 16th April 1954 at the age of 61. His wife Elizabeth died in 1982 aged 79.
