Bernard Mccoy

Who was Bernard McCoy?

Bernard “Barney” McCoy was an Irish-born Titanic survivor who later became a naturalized American citizen. Born on November 24, 1887, in Carrickithara, Ballinamuck, County Longford, Ireland, McCoy embarked on a journey that would lead him through one of history’s most infamous maritime disasters and on to a life of service in his adopted country.

Early Life and Family

Irish Roots

Bernard McCoy was born to John McCoy and Bridget Cole in rural Ireland. He came from a large family, with several siblings who would play significant roles in his life and his fateful journey across the Atlantic.

A Family’s American Dream

The McCoy family, like many Irish families of the time, saw America as a land of opportunity. This dream of a better life led to a gradual migration of the McCoy siblings to the United States:

In 1900, older sister Agnes McCoy, along with brothers William and Patrick, made the journey to New York.
Another sister, Mary, married John Hekel and settled in West New York, New Jersey.
Agnes later returned to Ireland, setting the stage for a pivotal moment in Bernard’s life.

The Titanic Journey

Why was Bernard McCoy on the Titanic?

Bernard McCoy, at the age of 24 (twenty-four), boarded the Titanic at Queenstown (now Cobh) on April 11, 1912. He was traveling as a third-class passenger, accompanied by his siblings Agnes and Alice McCoy. Their destination was Brooklyn, New York, where they hoped to join their family members who had already established themselves in America.

Titanic Ticket Details

Ticket Number: 367226
Fare: £23 5s (equivalent to about £2,800 or $3,500 in 2023)
Class: Third Class

The Fateful Night

On the night of April 14-15, 1912, when the Titanic struck an iceberg and began to sink, Bernard and his sisters faced a harrowing experience. Interviews with survivors hint that the McCoy siblings were rescued in an aft port lifeboat, though the exact number is not specified in the available records.

Life After the Titanic

Settlement in New Jersey

After surviving the Titanic disaster, Bernard McCoy settled in West New York, New Jersey, close to his sister Mary Hekel and her family. This area would become his home for most of his adult life.

Occupational Journey

McCoy’s work life was varied:

He initially worked in various odd jobs.
By World War I, he was employed as a “motorman” for the public service of West New York.
Later in life, he worked in a laundry.

Military Service

Bernard McCoy answered the call to serve his adopted country during World War I:

Enlistment Date: April 3, 1918
Enlistment Location: Jersey City
Service Number: 1747065
Discharge Date: June 12, 1919
Discharge Location: Camp Dix, New Jersey (Unit 4)

Becoming an American Citizen

On March 26, 1920, Bernard McCoy achieved a significant milestone by becoming a naturalized U.S. citizen. His naturalization records provide interesting details about his appearance:

Height: 5 feet, 10 inches
Complexion: Fair
Eyes: Described as brown in WWI draft registration, but curiously listed as grey in his naturalization application

Personal Life and Characteristics

What was Bernard McCoy like as a person?

While detailed accounts of Bernard’s personality are scarce, we can glean some insights from the available information:

He never married, suggesting he may have been independent or devoted to his work and family.
His willingness to serve in the U.S. Army indicates a sense of duty to his adopted country.
The fact that he lived near family members in New Jersey suggests he valued close family ties.

Physical Description

Based on various official documents, Bernard McCoy was described as:

Medium height and weight
Brown hair
Brown eyes (though his naturalization papers mysteriously list them as grey)
Fair complexion

Final Years and Legacy

Bernard McCoy’s later years were marked by declining health. When his condition worsened, he was admitted to a Veteran’s Hospital in the Bronx, New York. He passed away on July 19, 1945, at the age of 57 (fifty-seven).

In recognition of his military service, Bernard McCoy was laid to rest in the Long Island National Cemetery, a fitting tribute to a man who survived one of history’s greatest maritime disasters and went on to serve his adopted nation.

Bernard McCoy’s life story, from his origins in rural Ireland to his survival of the Titanic disaster and his subsequent life in America, serves as a testament to the resilience and adaptability of early 20th-century immigrants. His journey embodies the American immigrant experience, marked by both tragedy and opportunity, and culminating in a life of service to his new homeland.