Archives of Maryland
(Biographical Series)

Francis D. Gildea (1816-1881)
MSA SC 3520-14588

Biography:

Francis D. Gildea was the son of Felix Gildea and his wife Mary Summers. Felix and Mary were married by Archbishop John Carroll, at what was then St. Peter's, on July 31, 1810, having received a license from the Baltimore County Court on July 30th (MSA Index 8; MSA SC 2707 reel M 1517, marriage register p. 282). There are numerous members of the Gildea/Gilday/Gildey/Guildea/Guilday family in the Cathedral's baptismal register index for 1782-1854. Presumably some of these are Felix and Mary's children. The most important though is the entry for Denis Gildea, son of Felix and Mary, dated September 22, 1816. Although his name is originally recorded as and indexed as Denis Gildea, the first name Francis was added either the same day or at a later date. (MSA SC 2707 reel M 1511, baptismal register D p. 299).

Marriage, baptismal, and internment records for various members/generations of the Gildea family were found among the records of the Co-Catherdral Minor Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Collection, MSA SC 2707, however, the family name was not located in the pew rent books covering 1821-1836 and 1857-1871.

Felix Gildea died in September 1836 at about 55 years of age, and was buried in a lot at the Cathedral's cemetery on the 14th. In his will, Felix left all of his real and personal property, including a home on Pacca [sic] Street to Mary and their children. (BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Wills) Liber 16 ff. 115-16 [MSA CM 188-16, CR 72, 247-2]). This is verified by city directory entries. Felix Gildea’s residence is listed as Paca Street in the 1827, 1829, and 1835 city directories, which are available on the Archives of Maryland Online. Francis Gildea is associated with Paca Street in the 1837 directory, the year after his father’s death. Felix’s wife, Mary, seems to have died about two years later, being buried in the Cathedral's cemetery on our about June 30, 1838. (Hans Grogaard and Mary Warfield, Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 2004) 136.; MSA SC 2707 reel M 1522).

Francis Gildea and Susan Ann Gable received a marriage license in Baltimore County on May 17, 1843 (MSA Index 13). The minister who married them was named McJilton. Kanely's Directory of Maryland Ministers lists 3 McJiltons - all were either Methodist Episcopal or Protestant Episcopal. This is presumably the faith that Susan was raised in. She appears to convert to Catholicism though, as there is a Cathedral baptismal record entry for “Susanna Gildea (born Gable) [aged] about 34 years old” on October 28, 1859. (baptismal register I p. 202; MSA SC 2707, M1513).

Francis and Susan had at least 9 children:

1.)  David M.- Born October 6, 1843, and  baptized Michael David Guildea, December 1843 (baptismal register G p. 167; MSA SC 2707, M 1512).   Died January 22, 1911, in Catonsville, Maryland, and buried at Loudon Park Cemetery in Baltimore.

2.)    Mary Ellen - Born December 7, 1846 and baptized  January 1847 (baptismal register G p. 255; MSA SC 2707, M 1512). Died March 22, 1850 (The Sun published a death notice on March 22, 1850 for Mary E. Gildea, daughter of Francis and Susan (Thomas L. Hollowak, Index to Marriages and Death in The (Baltimore) Sun, 1837-1850 (Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1978) 220).

3.)    Unknown son. - Date of birth and name unknown.  Died at the age of 2 years in April 1850.   Buried at the Cathedral’s cemetery on April 18, 1850 (Burial records for the Cathedral’s cemetery list a male Gildea, son of Francis who was buried on April 18, 1850, having passed away at the age of 2 years. (Hans Grogaard and Mary Warfield, Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 2004) 136).

4.)  John Felix - Born February 25, 1850.Baptized April 7, 1850 (baptismal register G p. 343; MSA SC 2707, M 15

5.)    Margaret Ann - Date of birth and baptism unknown. Died June 11, 1859. (The Sun death notice mentions that she is the eldest daughter of Francis and Susannah Gildea. (Walter E. Arps, Jr. Departed This Life: Death Notices from The (Baltimore) Sun, 1859-1860 volume 4 (Silver Spring, MD: Family Line Publications, 1986) 51).

6.)    Mary - Born circa 1856 per age in census records; no baptismal record found

7.)    George A. - Baptized George Alfonsus on August 7, 1859. (baptismal register I p. 197; MSA SC 2707, M1513).

8.)    Annie - Born  November 30, 1861. Baptized Mary Ann Eliza on December 17, 1861 (baptismal register I p. 270; MSA SC 2707, M1513)

9.)    Laura Pauline - Born May 15, 1865. Baptized May 25, 1865 (baptismal register I p. 357; MSA SC 2707, M1513). Buried at the Cathedral’s cemetery on January 2, 1867. (Hans Grogaard and Mary Warfield, Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries (Westminster, MD: Heritage Books, Inc., 2004) 136).

Francis and Susan may have had at least one other child. Burials in Pro-Cathedral and Cathedral Cemeteries lists a Francis Gildea who died at the age of 6 and was buried on June 12, 1859. No parents' names are listed.

Francis D. Gildea died August 21, 1881 at the age of 66. (BALTIMORE CITY HEALTH DEPARTMENT BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record) Francis D. Gildea, 21 August 1881, Certificate No. 50604 [MSA CM 1132-16, CR 48,060). The Sun reported that he died at his son-in-law’s residence at 138 Fremont Street. The paper noted that he “was a bricklayer by trade. He put up a number of important buildings, such as the Baltimore City College, the Hebrew Orphan Asylum, male grammar school, besides numerous private dwellings.” (The Sun, 22 August 1881.) During his life, he also held the position of “lieutenant of the night watch at the old western police station, which stood on Greene street, near Baltimore street, for six years. He was appointed by Mayor Law, and retained the position until he resigned.” (The Sun, 23 August 1881.) Francis Gildea was not found in the BALTIMORE CITY REGISTER OF WILLS (Estate Docket) for August 1881 - May 1882. Francis was buried at the Archdiocese’s new cemetery, New Cathedral, the former "Bonnie Brae" estate. (source: Death certificate)

The Gildea’s eldest son, David, and Margaret “Maggie” Meeks obtained a marriage license in Baltimore City on March 25, 1871. (BALTIMORE CITY COURT OF COMMON PLEAS (Marriage Index, Male) 1851-1885, Gibson-Handy [MSA CM 205-8, CR 1670]). The date and location of their marriage is currently unknown. Their son, Gabriel Perkins Carroll Gildea, was baptized at the Basilica on November 22, 1875. His name appears in the baptismal index as William P. E. Gildea (baptismal register J p. 164; MSA SC 2707, M1514). The couple have at least two more children, Lottie and David (per the 1910 census). They have not been located in baptismal records for the Basilica.

David M. Gildea died January 22, 1911, at his son-in-law’s home in Catonsville at the age of 67. (DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS (Death Record, Counties) David M. Gildea, 22 January 1911, Baltimore County [MSA SM 30-7, SR 3019]). His obituary states that he is survived by his wife, Margaret, and a son and a daughter. (The Argus, 28 January 1911.) A funeral mass was held for him at St. Mark’s Catholic Church and he was buried at Loudon Park Cemetery. (1888-1967 death register for St. Mark’s, MSA SC 2539, M 1649). David Gildea not found in the BALTIMORE COUNTY REGISTER OF WILLS (Administration Docket) for February 1911 - 1912.

The bricklaying trade was passed down through the Gildea family. Felix Gildea is listed as a bricklayer in the 1827, 1829, and 1835 city directories. His son, Francis is listed on census records and city directories interchangeably as a bricklayer and brick mason. His eldest son, David, becomes an apprentice bricklayer by about the age of 16 (1860 census). His next son, John F., also takes up the trade. (1870 & 1880 census). It does not appear that Francis and Susan’s youngest son, George, takes up the trade. The 1880 census lists him as a 20 year old express messenger. To date, this is the only record located which shows George’s occupation.

Prepared by Jennifer Hafner, 7 July 2006.

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