Patrick Barrett and Ann Burke

Patrick Barrett and Ann Burke were both immigrants from the parish of Ballysakerry, in County Mayo, Ireland.  The earliest record of this couple is of birth of their son William, in 1842.  This record is from St. Philomena's Catholic Church in Hawley, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, the family was among it's parishioners.

Apparently the family came to Hawley, in Wayne County, Pennsylvania in about 1848 and was among it's "pioneer residents", having previously lived in the town of Lackawaxen in the same county for a period.  Hawley is on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack in Northeastern Pennsylvania.  Mr. Barrett engaged in "mercantile pursuit", owning a general store and stables in the small town.  At this time, the Barrets' had four young children, two sons, William and James, and two daughters, Mary and Margaret.  A third daughter, Bridget, was born in March, 1850.  In the summer of 1851, the Barrett's son, William would pass away at the age of nine.  Just three weeks later, their 18 month old daughter Bridget Barrett also passed away.

Over the next few years, Ann gave birth to two more daughters, Sarah Jane and Eliza, a third daughter Ellen, died in childbirth in 1857.  In 1859 the Barrett's last child was born, another daughter.  They also named this child Bridget.

By 1860, Patrick and Ann Barrett were middle aged parents and their children were still living at home.  They all attended school in that year, except for one year old Bridget.

In 1864, a fire broke out in Hawley and destroyed all the businesses on an entire block, including the general store and stables of Patrick Barrett.  Many of the businesses were rebuilt immediately on the same block, however the Barrett store was moved near to a more centrally located area in the town near the train station.

In 1870, James Barrett, Patrick and Ann's only living son, passed away at the age of 26.  At this time the Barrett's had four daughters, Mary Ann, Sarah, "Lizzie", and Bridget still living at home, the oldest was 23, and the youngest 11.  Their daughter, Margaret had married an irish immigrant named James Fitzpatrick by this time, and had moved away from the town, probably to Pittston, Pennsylvania.

Sometime during the 1870's, Patrick Barrett himself passed away and at that time his widow Ann took over running the general store in Hawley.  Two of the remaining daughters, Mary, and Sarah Jane married businessmen from Scranton during that decade and moved with their husbands to that city.  Of the other two daughters, Bridget and Lizzie, one of them became a nun, "Sister Mary Alphonsus" of the Order of St. Joseph, and lived in a convent in Erie, Pennsylvania.  The other, who was nicknamed "Toda" Barrett, never married and apparently stayed with her mother in Hawley.

In about 1884, Ann Barrett buried her fifth and last child, her daughter Mary (Barrett) McGarry died at that time after a week's illness.  Mary left behind her husband, John McGarry, and three orphan children, ages three to nine.

Finally, in 1886, Ann (Burke) Barrett passed away and was laid to rest with her husband and children.  Her obituary refers to the esteem with which she was held by her children and her amiable character.  The General Store was closed and the business terminated after 38 years of business in the town