Ellen GLEESON & Forest John VanderLieth

Ellen (Auntie Nell) GLEESON was the daughter of James GLEESON & Ellen HERBERT

Nell was baptized on 10 October 1883, Silvermines Parish, County Tipperary, Ireland. Her sponsors were James GLEESON & Bridget GLEESON.

Forest John VanderLieth was born 5 July 1886 in New York.

Nell arrived at Ellis Island on April 23, 1908 aboard the ship "Majestic" from Queenstown, Cobh of Cork.
From the ship's manifest, we learn the following: Nell had $50 in her possession, her fare was paid for by her mother, E#llen Gleeson of Silvermines, and she was travelling to her sister Margaret GLEESON at 31 Commonwealth Avenue, San Francisco, California. Nell was 5 Ft, 8 1/2 Inches tall, Fair complexion, Brown Hair and Blue Eyes from Ireland, Silvermines, age 24.  

Nell eventually married Forest VanderLeith. They had a son named Forest James VandLieth was born 18 February 1916. 

From the January 3, 1920 census, Ellen is listed as age 34, young Forest is listed as 3 years 11 months.
So Forest must have been born in February 1916 and Forest Senior is no longer living in the household.
Ellen lists her parents as from Ireland and their native tongue as Gaelic.
Ellen is listed as from Ireland and native tongue in Irish.
Ellen is renting at 707 Shotwell Street, San Francisco, California
Ellen's occupation is a "keeper" of a "boarding house"
Ellen is listed as arriving in 1908 and she became a naturalized citizen in 1916.


From the 1930 census, Ellen is living at 292 Guerrero Street, she is a renter, age 43, Divorced. The monthly rent was $35.00. Ellen lists herself as born in Noerthern Ireland, as were her parents. She has no occupation. Also in the residence are her son Forest, age 14 and a lodger, Joseph Conway, age 54, Divorced. He was born in Missouri and both his parents born in Northern Ireland.

From the 1940 census, Ellen is living with her sister Bridget and Brdget's family, at 3741 Army Street, San Francisco.

Forest James VanderLeith, had no children.

Ellen went by the name of "Nell" and to her many neices, nephews, great neices and great nephews she was known as "Auntie Nell"

Ellen's husband, Forest J. VanderLeith was in Petaluma, Sonoma County, California in 1920, listed as married a boarder, and
a salesman at a meat market.

From Ellen's California Death record she was born 9 October 1886 in Ireland and her mother's maiden name was Herbert. Ellen passed away in San Francisco on 15 December 1962.

Forest John VanderLieth passed away 11 April 1951 in San Joaquin, California. As of 1953, his widow Lucy was a nurse, living in San Joaquin.

So, the baptism record has Ellen born in 1883, the Ellis Island record has her born in 1883, the 1920 census record has her born in 1885, and her death record has her born in 1886. I think we can be pretty certain the 1883 year is correct.

Their son Forest James VanderLieth married Margaret Remillet. They wee divorced in San Francisco in April 1973 in San Francisco. On 18 January 1974 in San Francisco he married Elsie Lisle/Brann.

Ellen's son Forest James VanderLieth passed away on 24 May 1985 in San Mateo. He had no children.

There is a 1992 record of a Forest Vanderlieth at 37 Stowa Way, Daly City, CA. 94014-2863. It is unclear what this is concerning.




This page was last updated on 20 August 2012