WW1 Casualty of Chateau Thierry France: Manchester NH’s Sgt. Jeremiah T. Morley (1897-1918)

Jeremiah T. Morley, son of Michael & Julia (Creeden) Morley, was born 12 Dec 1897 in Manchester NH. His parents were Irish immigrants from Kilgarvan, County Kerry who had come to the United States seeking a better life. His father worked as a railroad laborer, and a watchman in the cotton mill to support his family.

Jeremiah grew up on 60 Cedar Street, then moving to Railroad Street with his family by the time he was 13. He attended the local schools, and was a member of St. Patrick Church parish. He was also an employee of Manchester’s People’s Gas Light Company, having enlisted by February 1918, as they published a notice in the American Gas Engineering Journal of February 9, 1918: “The People’s Gas Light Company, serving Manchester NH has the following ……Jeremiah Morley – Co. K, 1st NH Infantry...” among others.

Jeremiah Morley was a member of Company K in the 1st NH Regiment, that was merged

Request for military stone, for Jeremiah T. Morley, killed at Chateau Thierry France during World War 1.

into the 103rd Infantry, 26th Division at Camp Bartlett, the famed “Yankee Division.” The 103rd Infantry Regiment, composed of National Guard troops from the 1st New Hampshire Infantry first mustered at Camp Bartlett. They painted a pine tree on their helmet to clearly represent the “Yankee” Division.

On April 29th, 1918 his regiment set sail and arrived in Liverpool, England on May 7th, and moved onto France June 11th. During May and June, Jeremiah Morley and the rest of his division would have received training at first with the British and later with the French. Starting July 1st, his division participated in the occupation of the Chateau-Thierry Sector.

According to Michael E. Shay in “The Yankee Division in the First World War,” the regiments surgeon, Capt. Stanhope Bayne-Jones wrote, “In spite of everything the men endure the most prolonged distresses–bombardments, gas at night and all the other evils–with hardly a complain, and no sign of loss of spirit. They are really beyond praise for that part of their work.”

St. Patrick Church, 187 Coolidge Ave, Manchester NH

Jeremiah T. Morley died 20 July 1918, age 21 in France near Chateau Thierry. When the aggression ceased, his body was returned home to his Manchester NH family, who buried him in St. Joseph Cemetery on 28 February 1922. A memorial tablet was placed at St. Patrick’s church a year and a half later.

In 2007 St. Patrick Parish was unified with Parish of the Transfiguration and St. Patrick Church was closed. As far as I can tell, the tablet remains on the grounds of the vacant St. Patrick’s church.

[Editor’s Note: This article is one of several I have written at the request of Don Pinard, Department of Public Works, Chief of Parks, Recreation and Cemetery Division, City of Manchester, New Hampshire.  It is a volunteer project (on my part) to better record and share the stories of the men memorialized by the city’s “Military Squares.”  All the information specifically within the body of this project is shared copyright free with the City of Manchester and its representatives, with the exception of photographs provided by family or friends who still retain whatever rights conveyed to them by law.]

======PARTIAL GENEALOGY OF JEREMIAH T. MORLEY======

John Morley, b. 1829 Ireland; m. Margaret Corcoran. She b. 1832 Ireland. In 1911 living in Red Trench, Kilgarvan, Co. Kerry, Ireland
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Children of John & Margaret (Corcoran) Morley:
1. Darby Morley, b. 26 Dec 1864 Ireland
2. Bat [?Bartholomew] Morley, b. 3 Jan 1867 Kilgarvan Co. Kerry Ireland
3. Jeremiah Morley, b. 1868 shopkeeper
4. +Michael Morley, b. April 1870 Ireland
5. Patrick John Morley, b abt 1872 Ireland; m. 15 Feb 1916 to Hannah McGrath, dau of Maurice & Bridget (Geaney) McGrath. He d. 29 March 1945 in Concord NH
6. John Morley, b 26 Oct 1873 Kilgarvan Co. Kerry Ireland, agricultural laborer

Michael “Mack”Morley, son of John & Margaret (Corcoran) Morley, b. April 1870 Ireland, d. 15 March 1939 in Manchester NH; m. 18 April 1893 in Manchester NH to Julia Creeden/Crieden/Quinn, dau of Timothy & Mary (O’Leary) Creeden. She b. May 1867 in Ireland and d 22 Jan 1917 in Manchester NH. At the time of her death they were living at Kellys Falls in Manchester NH. She was buried at St. Joseph Cemetery. On his son’s birth records Michael occupation is watchman. They are buried at St. Joseph Cemetery in Farrell 142. In 1920 living at 119 Railroad Street
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1900 US Census > NH > Hillsborough > Manchester > 60 Cedar Street
Morley Michael Head W M Apr 1870 30 married 7 yrs Ire Ire Ire immigrated 1893 naturalized Laborer R.R.
Morley Julia wife W F May 1867 33 married 7 yrs 3 ch 1 living Ire Ire Ire housewife
Morley Jeremiah T. son W M June 1898 2 single NH Ire Ire
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1910 US Census > Manchester NH > Railroad Street
Morley, Mack Head M W 40 m1x 17 yrs Ire Ire Ire imm 1891 naturalized watchman cotton mill
Morley Julia wife F W 35 m1x 17 yrs 7 ch 3 living Ire Ire Ire imm 1888
Morley John son M W 13 single NH Ire Ire
Morley Bartholomew son M W 8 single NH Ire Ire
Morley, Patrick son M W 4 single NH Ire Ire
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American Gas Engineering Journal, February 9. 1918
The People’s Gas Light Company, serving Manchester NH has the following employees among those on its Honor Roll:
Charles Gleavin – Co. K, 1st NH Infantry
Jeremiah Morley – Co. K, 1st NH Infantry
Michael F. O’Connor – Co. K, 1st NH Infantry
A.H. Scott, R.O.T.C. Plattsburg
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Children of Michael & Julia (Credden) Morley:
1. John Morley, b 1894, d. 14 July 1894 Manchester NH
2. Child Morley, b. 2 September 1895, d. 2 Sept 1895, Manchester NH,  1/2 hour old
3. Jeremiah T. “John” Morley, born 12 Dec 1897 in Manchester NH, and died 20 July 1918, in France.
4. Bartholomew Morley, b. abt 1901, d. 22 Sep 1960. He is buried at St. Joseph Hospital at Mackey 2560.; He m. 6 Aug 1929 in Manchester NH to Isabella Ryan, dau of John A. & Anna (O’Reilly) Ryan. She was b. abt 1899 and d. 4 April 1966, age 67. She is buried at St. Joseph Cemetery Mackey 2259-60. At the time of their marriage he was a switchboard operator and she was a school teacher. Resided 231 Morgan Street. They had children including (1) Jeremiah T. Morley (2) Charles B. Morley.
5. Edward Morley, b. abt 1902 NH
6. Patrick John Morley, b. abt 1906; m. 25 June 1931 to Marie Blanche Daigle, dau of Lazare & Malvina (Gregoir) Daigle. At the time of their marriage he was a teacher and she was a laundry employee
7. Stillborn girl Morley, b. and d. 16 July 1911 Manchester NH

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