Francis Tumblety's Grave
Contributed by Bev Willard
The cemetary is quite impressive, very large covering several acres sitting on both
sides of Lake Avenue. The cemetary was so large in fact that we saw deer grazing amongst
the graves! The entrance to the cemetary seemed very appropriate for Dr. Tumblety -- large
Victorian gateway with lots of wrought iron and a small castle-like structure just beyond
some offices with turrets of stonework. I had to wonder if this wasn't something like what
he might have seen or lived near during his time in London.
Dr. Tumblety's grave is located in the middle of Section 13 and is in quite good shape
for the age of that section -- workers there told us that this section is one of the
original areas and the cemetary has kind of expanded around it. You will notice in the one
picture that the name on the headstone is "Tumuelty" -- all family members share
this misspelling, if in fact it is an error. The inscription above Francis's name reads
"Requiescat In Pace." His brother Lawrence is buried in this plot along with a
James Tumblety and his wife Margaret. According to the book by Evans and Gainey, Francis's
older brother was Patrick, although he did have a sister named Margaret so I am not clear
as to who is who -- if this is his sister and brother-in-law or the other way around.
Tumbletyland... there are no rides or arcades but lots to see and imagine!
Update -- October 9th, 1998
From: Roy Thurston
Genealogist
President, Rochester Genealogical Society, Inc.
Regarding your Casebook which was contributed by Bev Willard, I would
like to offer some corrections.
In the second paragraph Ms Willard states 'You will notice in the one
picture that the name on the headstone is "Tumuelty"-- all family
members share this mispelling, if in fact it is an error'
This is not an error. Their name was spelled many different ways as were
most people's names at that time. The only mispelling that I can see is
Ms Willard's spelling of cemetery.
All the spellings below,are exactly as they appear in the listed
references.
The first mention of the family in Rochester NY is in the 1844 Rochester
City Directory where his brother is listed as:
Lawrence TUMUELTY b.(board) cor S.Sophia and Clarissa
1848/49 Rochester City Directory:
Patrick TUMIALTY, fireman, Gas Works, b.Rapids
Lawrence TUMIALTY, gardener last h. S.Sophia
James TUMILTY, last h. S.Sophia
1850 Federal Census Rochester NY 8th Ward 25 28
LDS film Margaret TUMATHY 62 Ireland
0017107 Lawrence " 29 Gardener "
Ann " 22 "
Francis " 19 Labourer "
1850 Federal Census Rochester NY 5th ward 512 500
LDS Film Pat TUMILTY 27 Laborer Ireland
Mary " 27 "
Evidently the 1850 census was never researched by Evans and Gainey or
they would not have stated that "Francis was born as near as can be
at present acertained, in 1833, in Canada".
I believe that Francis was born between June 1830 and June 1831, in
Ireland.
1851/52 Rochster City Directory:
Patrick TUMIALTY, fireman gas works, h. 6 Andrews
Lawrence TUMILTY, gardener, h. S.Sophia near Flint
Franklin TUMILTY, peddler. b. S. Sophia near Flint
Margaret TUMILTY, Mrs. widow b. S.Sophia near Flint
This is the last mention, in any records that I have found to date, of
Francis living in Rochester NY.
1855/56 Rochester City Directory:
Patrick W. TUMELTY, gas works, h. Orange
1857/58 Rochester City Directory:
Patrick TUMILTY, laborer gas works, h. Orange
Rochester Union and Advertiser 3-1:
11 March 1858 "The celebrated Dr.TUMBLETY arrived in this city today"
(beginning of an article in a local newspaper)
s is the first indication of the name spelled TUMBLETY and it is the
way that Francis spelled it when he was not spelling it BLACKBURN or
TWOMBLETY or TUMBETY or TOWNSEND
Rochester Union and Advertiser 2-2
20 September 1858 " Patrick TUMBLETY, accidental death, Plymouth Avenue
and Germaine Street, near the Rapids......."
and on and on..... The name was spelled many different ways.
In the Casebook: The Tumblety Grave, Ms Willard states " His brother
Lawrence is buried in this plot along with a James TUMBLETY and his wife
Margaret. according to the book by Evans and Gainey, Francis' older
brother was Patrick, although he did have a sister named Margaret, so I
am not clear as to who is who--if this is his sister and brother-in-law
or the other way around"
Well Bev, this is neither his sister or brother-in-law. James and
Margaret are his mother and father. It should have been obvious from the
ages. The inscription on the family memorial in Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
states:
James TUMUELTY, 7 May 1851, 74 yrs
Margaret TUMUELTY, 27 May 1873. 87 yrs
Lawrence TUMUELTY, 14 February 1898, 79 yrs
Dr.Francis TUMUELTY, 28 May 1903, 73 yrs
His sister Margaret, by the way, was married to a KELLY.
Patrick's son James and family are also buried in Holy Sepulchre
Cemetery. Their inscriptions reads:
James P. TUMILTY, 1851-1911
Mary J. TUMILTY, 1851-1928
Geraldine E. TUMILTY, 1883-1908
Edmond O. TUMILTY, 1889-1937
Patrick J. TUMILTY
Battery G
6 D.S. Art'l
Died 2 Nov 1912
Age 37 yrs
The cemetery has no record of burial for Patrick or his wife Mary
The stone for Francis and family and the stone for Patrick's son James
and family are identical and look the same age. I assume that they were
erected by James' family in either the 1928 or 1937.
These corrections are respectfully submitted.
Roy Thurston
Genealogist
President, Rochester Genealogical Society, Inc.
Photos
