A Tale of Two Patrick’s
I have no idea where it originated but for as long as I can remember I’ve known that my great grandfather fell off a street car and into to the Charles river where he was swept away never to be seen again. Turns out this is the juxtaposition of two true stories about a father and son.
To clarify the lineage Patrick J. Hayes Sr. begat Patrick Hayes Jr, who begat Howard Hayes Sr.; who begat Virginia Hayes-my mother.
Now to dissect the story:
Patrick Hayes Jr was “found drowned” in August of 1901.
The story is detailed in the news clipping below and family lore suggest a strong possibility that stopping for a pint was the reason he “lost the last train for home”. Losing his way and falling into the river support the argument as well. He left behind a widow who was 7 months pregnant and three little ones.
Fast Forward to December 1901, when his father, Patrick Sr made the papers:
Cambridge Chronicle December 7, 1901
No way of knowing how these two stories were blended into one, but here’s another twist; on May 27th 1950 Patrick Hayes Jr’s grandson Robert McDonald drowned attempting to swim across the Charles River with some friends. Robert’s mother, Catherine (Hayes) McDonald buried her son with his grandfather, although only Robert’s name is on the stone.
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