Title: Marine Corps Sergeant, Civil War; police officer
Birthdate: May 1, 1845
Death Date: September 8, 1920
Plot Location: Section 125, Lot 31
Born in Ireland, George arrived in this country, presumably in Philadelphia, in 1860 with his family. He was 18 when he decided he should do his part in the “war of the rebellion” so he enlisted in the Marine Corps in early 1864. Details on his service are missing, other than his discharge as a sergeant in 1868. He held a number of jobs as a young man but those details are also unknown.
It was in 1866 that Elizabeth Kilpatrick became a Philadelphian after her voyage from Ireland was over, most likely marrying the ex-Marine in 1868. The first of three girls was born the next year and after that came three boys.
In 1874 George became a “bluecoat,” a patrolman with the Philadelphia police, then quit to be a “milkman,” but being on the streets delivering milk wasn’t nearly as exciting as patrolling the streets as a cop in South Philly. He rejoined the force in 1884 as a lieutenant, staying with them for the next 30 years, rising to Captain. For the last 20 of those years the family lived at 1802 Morris Street in the Point Breeze neighborhood.
When he left for the final time on October 22, 1914 he was 70 years old. After staying for a time with his son in Nebraska to regain his health, George and Elizabeth moved to the Overbrook Park section where he died in 1920. He was a member of the Loyal Patriots of America, the Free & Accepted Masons, and the Grand Army of the Republic veterans group. Two of his daughters and his youngest son and their spouses joined his wife in the Thompson plot in the Mausoleum Hill section of Mount Moriah Cemetery.
Support the Friends of Mount Moriah
Help us in our mission to restore and maintain the beautiful Mount Moriah Cemetery by donating to our cause or volunteering at one of our clean-up events.