Festus King

Festus Francis King

January 20, 1873 – August 17, 1955.

I am trying to determine if I have any Irish relatives from my grandfather, Festus King and his wife Mary McDonough King. I expect to be in Ireland in the fall of 2016 and would like to say hello, if possible.  My email is paul19971@comcast.net

Paul King

Festus King was born on January 20, 1873 to Patrick and Mary Murphy King in Claddaghduff (near Clifden) County Galway, Ireland.  Patrick was a farmer.

Festus attended the Claddaghduff School, a one room school house, until it closed in 1883.  The Aughris Male School opened September 4, 1883, and Festus completed his schooling in 1885 from Aughris Male School. An Aughris Female school opened in 1883. There was a nearby Aughrismore Female school that opened in 1861 with a note in the  “To School” book that there were 230 homes within a half mile of the Aughrismore school.

Festus apparently immigrated to the United States aboard the Westernland S/S operated by the American Line. The journey from Queenstown to Philadelphia took about 7 days arriving in Philadelphia on June 13, 1901. His age was listed as 25 and was apparently accompanied by a female, aged 30, named Nora. 

An earlier voyage aboard the SS Pennland, also operated by American Line arrived on the 31st of March, 1897 listed among its passengers, five Kings from Clifden headed to Pittsburgh PA.  The names are: Inlin (sp) 19, Female, Bridget, 18, Female, Mary 55, Female and Married, Maggie, 4, Female and Festus, 25, Male occupation listed as a laborer who could read and write.

Little information is currently available for Mary McDonough King who married Festus. Mary was from Inishbofin, County Galway where she was baptized on July 18, 1875, the daughter of John McDonough and Margaret Murphy McDonough.

Festus and Mary had five children: Marie: 1904 - September 6, 1974; Margaret: December 22, 1906- 1989; James: 1909 – 1992; Thomas: 1911- August 5, 1965; and Joseph: 1915 – August 26, 1992.