52Ancestors 52Weeks - In the News

Blogger Amy Johnson Crow has challenged us with writing about an Ancestor once a week for the year 2019.  She will give us prompts to get us started.  This week's prompt is In the News.

The historical newspapers are a wonderful place to look for and find information on relatives.  You find birth, marriage and death announcements, when someone is visiting from out of town and people coming off ships.  There are also articles with more personal accounts of people’s lives.  One such account that I found for Owen J. McDonald, my husband’s paternal great grandfather, was very interesting.

Brooklyn Daily Eagle – 4 Apr 1883 Wed – Page 4

The article is from the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 4 April 1883.  The headline reads Behind a Cloud - Disappearance of Wealthy Butcher. Apparently, Owen McDonald owned a butcher shop in the Washington Market.  Every Sunday he would go and do his accounts while it was closed.  On Sunday, 25 February 1883, he went as usual from his home on 19^th Street, Brooklyn to Washington Market (Most important NYC wholesale produce market between 1880-1910 located in what is now known as TriBeCa) 

Washington Market 1890

He didn’t return home.  Now it is April and there has been several sightings, in a bar, in a railroad station, and in New Jersey, but he hasn’t come home. The article gives a complete description. Owen was 40 years old, with light sandy hair slightly mixed with gray.  He wore sparse side whiskers and small mustache.  He was dressed in a dark overcoat, dark mixed pants, laced shoes, stand up collar.  He also had on a scarf and was wearing a white shirt. When he was spotted in the railway station, he had on his work cap and not his fedora that he wore going to work.

The article hinted that he might have been insane as his two sisters had some insanity issues and possibly one of his daughters. The article indicated that he was loved by everyone, had a great business and so many people were out searching for him.

I have checked the newspapers from April 1883 to his death in 1896 and have found nothing telling if he ever was found or what happened to him until his death.  The death certificate dated 28 November 1896 states that he died in Bellevue Hospital of Emphysema and is buried in Calvary Cemetery.

This article was wonderful and frustrating at the same time.  I learned about his relationships with friends and family, a complete description of him and how he ran his business but not what happened to him while he was missing.  There was never any hint through family tales what happened either.  Very interesting.

52 Ancestors 52 Weeks – Large Family

Blogger Amy Johnson Crow has challenged us with writing about an Ancestor once a week for the year 2019.  She will give us prompts to get us started.  This week's prompt is Large Family.

My great grandparents, William John Mathers and Mary McCrudden Mathers, had 9 children 7 who lived to adulthood. My grandfather, William Mathers/Mathews was the youngest child and only 1 of 2 boys.  The second oldest, James was born in 1868 and my grandfather was born in 1884 quite a difference in age. William John Mathers was a shoemaker and in the 1880 New York Census he lived at 226 W. 28^th Street, New York City and had his wife and 7 children living above his shop.

When the children got married and had children, they all stayed very close.  They lived within several blocks to each other in New York City.  The grandchildren of William Mathers and Mary McCrudden Mathers were 32 in number.  The families got together for every special occasion.

Their Children were-

Mary Jane – Married Joseph Flanagan and had 12 children

James – Married Cecelia O’Brien and had 1 son

Catherine – Married Patrick Morris and had 2 daughters

Ellen (Nellie) – Married William Hickey and had 6 children

Ann – Married William White and had 2 daughters

Theresa – Married William Rudolph and had 5 children

William – Married Mary (Mamie) McGuigan and had 4 children

The grandchildren were born between 1890 and 1924.  Grandma, Mary McCrudden Mathers was alive for all their births, she died in 1933.  Unfortunately, Grandpa, William John Mathers only lived until 1902.

Even though William and Mary had 7 children and I think that is a large family, their oldest daughter, Mary Jane had a larger family.  Mary Jane Mathers and Joseph Flanagan had 12 children, their oldest was born in 1890 and their youngest was born in 1914.  The amazing thing is their youngest who was born in 1914 lived until 2015.

52 Ancestors 52 Weeks – Bachelor Uncle

Blogger Amy Johnson Crow has challenged us with writing about an Ancestor once a week for the year 2019.  She will give us prompts to get us started.  This week's prompt is Bachelor Uncle.

My only Bachelor Uncle was Thomas F. Mathews oldest brother of my father, James R. Mathews.

Thomas F. Mathews Age About 3

Thomas was born 16 October 1909.  He was the first child born to William Joseph Mathews and Mamie McGuigan Mathews.  They lived at 316 E. 73^rd St. in New York City when he was born.  Thomas lived at that address until sometime between 1925 and 1930.  William Mathews’ brother-in-law, Patrick Morris died in 1925 and William with his family moved in with the Morris family to help. 

Thomas F. Mathews About 1930

Thomas lived in Queens, New York the rest of his life.  He lived with his parents until he entered the Army in 1942 during WW II. When he returned from the war, he worked with asbestos covering pipes.  He also worked at the New York Times Newspaper part time at night. He would get the newspaper from the printing press and prepare it for distribution.  He was following in a tradition that started with his father and continued with his brothers and nephew.

Thomas F. Mathews in the Army 1943

He was very close with his sister, Catherine Mathews Hurley (Kay).  I am sure he was a help to her after her husband died and she had 5 children to raise by herself.

In later years he went to live with his sister, and she took care of him when is was disabled due to diabetes. Thomas was a good friend to all and loved to get together with friends at the local pub.

Thomas died 13 August 1970 in Richmond Hill, Queens, New York.

Thomas F. Mathews with sister, Kay Mathews Hurley