Mr Bernard (Barney) McCoy was born on 24 November 1887 in Carrickithara, Ballinamuck, County Longford, Ireland, the son of John McCoy and Bridget Cole.
He boarded the Titanic at Queenstown as a third class passenger (ticket number 367226, £23 5s). He was travelling to Brooklyn, New York with his siblings Agnes and Alice.
The siblings were from a large family. In 1900 older sister Agnes had come to New York along with brothers William and Patrick and another sister, Mary, had married John Hekel and settled in West New York, New Jersey. Agnes had returned to Ireland and Barney and a younger sister, Alice, were travelling together when the disaster occurred.
Bernard, Alice and Agnes were all rescued, with interviews hinting that they left in an aft port boat.
After surviving the sinking, Barney seems to have spent most of his life in and around West New York, New Jersey and the Hekel family. He worked in a number of odd jobs and never married. When he registered for the draft in World War I he was living at 420 11th Street in West New York and described himself as being of medium height, medium weight, with brown eyes and brown hair. He was employed as a "motorman" for the public service of West New York. He enlisted in the United States Army on April 3, 1918 at Jersey City under service number 1747065 and served until his discharge from Unit 4 at Camp Dix, New Jersey on June 12, 1919. He applied for naturalization in 1920 (giving his date of birth as September 28, 1889) and claimed to have grey eyes (!). His petition was granted and he became a US citizen on 26 March, 1920. He states also that he was 5 feet, 10 inches tall with fair complexion.
Barney later worked in a laundry and when his health failed went to a Veteran's Hospital in the Bronx where he died on 19 July 1945. He was buried in the Long Island National Cemetery.
Comment and discuss
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For about four months now I have been trying to track down the McCoy siblings from Ireland. I hear that of the three -- Agnes, Alice and Bernard -- only the two girls have been located. However, nobody can give me any details and I'm hoping someone here might know about them. Thanks Cameron Bell
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There is something on them on the main page in the purple colored one were it says ET Research Regards, Andrew
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I was just wondering does anyone out there have any information on Bernard,Alice or Agnes McCoy (Lifeboat 16) or their family members? I am currently waiting on info to see if they are any relations of myself. If you are or you know the relations of these three passengers please answer this thread. Or if you have any info on the three I would be much obliged if you could please do so also. Thanks a lot, R,McCoy-Ireland
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Hi Ronan, The McCoys were among the most elusive of the Irish survivors to track down. After a couple of years of searching I found some of their great-nieces and nephews in Virginia and New Jersey and that kind of opened the door. Agnes was a spinster and a domestic to some fairly well-recognized names like Douglas Fairbanks and lived out her life in New York City. She (and her siblings) were born in County Longford, Ireland and Agnes first came to the United States in 1900 seeking work. On January 24, 1957 she was found dead in her New York apartment. There have been family stories on one side that she was murdered, however her death certificates states that she died of natural causes--heart disease. And her great-niece in Virginia says she remembers visiting her as a young girl and she was very ill in bed at the time and her grandfather (William McCoy) did not believe that there was foul play involved. Alice was the wild one and the only one of the three to marry. She first...
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Dear Ronan, Look no further than the ET Research article "" by Robert Bracken right here on the ET, complete with many photographs of them. Robert tracked down the elusive siblings and members of the McCoy family years ago and has included many other details about their lives in his report. The article was subsequently published in Voyage, the quarterly journal of the Titanic International Society, a few years back. They were a fascinating family to study, and plans are in the works to place a marker on Alice's grave in upstate New York in the near future. Just thought I'd save you a little time until you may get a copy of Mr. Molony's work - a good read indeed. Sincerely, Michael Findlay
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Does anyone know how to contact the McCoy three's remaining relatives? And can anyone suggest some great Titanic books? Thanks a mil, Ronan McCoy.
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Thanks Phil, The Alice and Colaine anecdote is hilarious! Great work, as usual! Randy
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Hi Ronan, There are several McCoy descendants alive today - one of whom lives a mile or so from me. If you would like to contact me at , I will be glad to help you. Sincerely, Michael Findlay
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Ronan, for information and reviews on books check out Michael Tennaro's excellent website, especially the 'book of the year' section: titanicbooksite.com/index.html The two books I most often recommend for those starting a collection are first of all the one that started it all 'A Night to Remember' by Walter Lord, and then 'Titanic, an Illustrated History' by Don Lynch and Ken Marschall. For the Irish connection, Senan Molony's book has already been mentioned.
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I happened to be reading this article just now and came across an interesting bit of information. Agnes McCoy, the oldest of the 3 siblings, reportedly worked as a maid in many rich families in America. Among them was the Fairbanks family (yes, them) and she was apparently the "favourite maid" of Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
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I am Agnes McCoy great great granddaughter. Benard McCoy is my great great uncle and Alice McCoy aka Alicia is my great great aunt. My grandmother Colaine Duntz is her married name her mother is Agnes daughter.
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Sorry I said great great but it's 3 greats. Anywho from your last name I am assuming you are family... My grandmother would be very excited to meet you...
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