EMILY MOORE LETTERS FROM THE 1800'S #25 52 ANCESTORS 52 WEEKS

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process

I am writing about Emily Moore who was my 2^nd Great Grandfather, Horatio Nelson Moore’s sister.

Emily Moore was born Christmas Day 1820 in Moore’s Mill, Canada and married Charles Williams in St. Stephan, New Brunswick, Canada around 1840.  Several years after they married they moved to Mississippi for health reasons. The following years found them in various places in Mississippi, Shiloh, Spencerville, Citronelle and Marion.  Then they moved into Nanafalia, Alabama.

All the time Emily was married, and lived far from home, she wrote letters.  She wrote to her parents, sisters and brothers, cousins and friends.  Many of her letters were saved and a distant relative of mine Francis Flemington and her husband Frank collected them and translated them.  Most of the letters are from 1869 to 1892 but the first one they have found was written in 1856 to her parents, Tristram and Thankful (Foster) Moore.  This particular letter is about the difference of her Universalist faith and the Baptist church she is going to in Alabama.  The letters were in English but because of the shortage of paper and the price to mail letters the words are cramped and written all over the page as shown below.

The following is a excerpt from a letter Emily wrote dated December 12, 1869 from her home in Alabama to her Brother Simon and his wife in Moore’s Mill Canada.

….I went to Mobile two weeks ago and stayed overnight, went with a friend of ours and an old neighbor of Rashe’s (Horatio Moore, her brother), Mrs. Kendall, in Portland.  She is the daughter of Jurias Keene of Calais.  Mr. Kendall came south in 1856 to take charge of one of Charles’ (Emily’s husband) mills in Mississippi.  After the war broke out he volunteered and was in the army about 15 months, then he was detailed to run a government mill at Meridian, Mississippi.  At the time of Sherman’s raid was taken prisoner and carried to Vicksburg, from whence he settled in Iles but has now taken an interest in a large steam mill 17 miles above us on the R.R. and we see them often.  Their daughter, aged 16, spends a good deal of her time with us.  She is now on a visit to Rashe’s but will be up tonight.  We, Mrs. Kendall and I, had such a good time, it was such a grand treat to hear Rashe sing and Kitty (Rashe’s daughter) accompany his voice with the piano.  Everything about them seems so nice and comfortable.  Mary keeps only a black boy for help this winter, though the family is pretty large, their own four juveniles and May (Emily’s daughter Freddie May).  The girls all go to the same school and pay $5.00 each for Nan, Bess and May.  Professor Lamus gives Kitty her tuition.  Rashe is giving them private lessons in vocal music two evenings in a week.

…..I am writing without my fire, the doors and windows open, and as pretty a bouquet of roses and corals in the vases as ever was culled.  There are several roses (Auggustas) in the vases as large as saucers, white, with gold colored centers and as fragrant as can be.  I only wish you could see them.  We had strawberries and cream for dessert last Thursday and if frost holds off with have plenty by Christmas.

I love these letters.  They give the every day activities during the time after the Civil War and the inter action with her family members and friends.  I am lucky that she mentions my ancestor and his family very frequently giving me an insight into his family life too.

MARTHA PARDUE #24 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS

 

 

 

 

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process

 

 

 

I believe Martha Pardue is my maternal 2nd great grandmother.

 

The only document I find her name on is her daughter, Genevieve's

death certificate dated June 11, 1936.  I believe the information was given by my grandfather, John N. Moore, her son.

 

The death certificate stated her parents as John Counts and Martha Pardue.  I found the marriage certificate for John Counts and Martha Pardue in Savannah, Georgia dated February 15,1864 and the date fits with Genevieve's birth date of December 1, 1864 which I also got from the death certificate.

 

I have not found any documents, birth or census of John Counts with his wife Martha or their child Genevieve.  I find Genevieve in census records after she got married in 1885 in Savannah, Georgia to Tristram Moore.  I find John Counts in census records after he remarries in 1881 to Sarah Fitzpatrick.  I do not find Martha Pardue Counts in any census, or death records.  I have checked in Georgia where they were living when they married, and South Carolina which is right across the river from Savannah.

 

I will keep searching. I hope maybe some other family is researching the same family and has information on this Martha.

 

 

 

 

MARY JANE MATHERS. #23. 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process

Mary Jane was the only child to be born in Ireland to William and Mary McCrudden Mathers.  She was the oldest sister of my Grandfather William Mathers.

Mary Jane came to America when she was between 1 and 4 years old.  She was born December 2, 1864 in County Donegal but the family lived down the road in County Tyrone.  I haven't found her coming in to New York with her parents but her brother, James, was born in New York in 1868 so that narrows down the time frame.

There isn't a lot of mention in records about women in general.  I do have Mary Jane's marriage certificate to Joseph Flanagan dated April 10, 1887 in New York.  They had 12 children.  I am sure she was a very busy women caring for all her children.  I did have a conversation with one of her youngest girls, Irene Flanagan Ranaghan and she said her mother was a very kind and caring women.

Mary Jane died September 29, 1916 with her youngest only 2 years old.  One of her older daughters, Ann (Nanny) took over the chores of the house and caring of the children.

Children

Sarah 1890-1894
Thomas 1891-1894
Florence 1893-1894
Katherine 1894-1905
Joseph 1895-1979. Marr. Marguerite P Rodregurz
Nell 1897-1907
Ann 1898-1983   Marr. James Connolly
Theresa 1900-1972. Marr. James McAvey
Alice 1901-1995. Marr. Joseph Tavolacci
Martin 1903-1980. Marr. Ann Connolly
Irene 1906-2001. Marr. John Ranaghan
Marcella 1914. Marr. John Luizzo

THANKFUL FOSTER #22 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process

Thankful Foster was born in Machias, Maine in 1783 to Benjamin Foster and Ruth Scott, one of 7 children.  Thankful is my maternal 3rd Great Grandmother.  She married Tristram Moore on  November 16, 1802 in St. Stephen, New Brunswick, Canada.  

Thankful helped her husband run a saw mill in Moore's Mill, New Brunswick, Canada.  Her Father-in-law William helped found the small town and the saw mill on the Dennis River.

I am very happy to have this women as an ancestor.  Her parents must have loved her very much to have named her Thankful. She  and Triatram had 13 children and I am descended from her son Horatio and his wife Mary Rose. Most of the children stayed in Canada but several did immigrate to the United States.  

Thankful Foster 1783-1868

Tristram Moore  1780-1864

Children

Eliza 1803-1879 marr. Israel Peaks

Horatio 1804-1825

Myra 1808-1828

Cyrus 1809-1864 marr. Martha Pine

Emeline 1810-1812

John 1812-1893 marr. Mary Louisa DeWolfe

Alice 1824-1886 marr. George Morrill

Justin 1817 marr. Myranda Mahew

Simon 1819-1874 marr. Elizabeth Dunham

Emily 1820-1906 marr. Charles Williams

Hannah 1822 marr. John Elliott Moore

Horatio (2nd) 1825-1901 marr. Mary Rose

George 1827

Mary 1827

William 1829-1853

OWEN MCDONALD #21 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process

 

Owen McDonald was born about 1840 in Ireland.

 

Owen McDonald is my husband's paternal great grandfather.  I do not know when he came to the United States but he married, around 1865, Mary Callahan who was born in New York.  They had 7 children, Oscar, Ida and Blanche who all died very young and George, Ellen (Nellie), Gertrude, and Florence (my husband’s grandmother).

 

I found Owen with his family in several census records that stated he was a butcher.  All the databases are very helpful in letting you know where he lived, who he lived with and what occupation he had but it doesn’t really tell you anything personal about the person.

 

 

I often search old newspapers.  Many have been put on-line and are easy to find people because they are indexed. I have found very detailed descriptions of weddings, family parties, and graduations.  You also find where people have travelled and who they have visiting them from out of town.

 

I found an article about Owen McDonald in the Brooklyn Daily Eagle Newspaper in 1883.  It is a sad story about Owen being lost after leaving work.  He was a butcher and had gone to his office at the Washington Market on a Sunday morning to do his billing. He was spotted at several locations after that including New Jersey but nothing after that time.  This article was dated April 4, 1883 and he had been missing since February 25, 1883.

 

Part of Brooklyn Eagle Article

http://newsstand.bklynpubliclibrary.org/

 

 

The unfortunate thing about newspapers they don't give an update on some articles.  I haven’t found another article stating that he was found or what was the reason for his disappearance.

 

The wonderful thing about this newspaper article is it gives a description of the man.  Some of the family and friends stated he was not a drinking man so they know that was not part of the problem.  The family said that when he left the house that day he wore a black derby hat but later was seen wearing a green plush cap which he usually wore at the market.

Washington Market, Brooklyn, NY 1888

http://www.printsoldandrare.com/newyorkcity/

 

 The article also stated that he was about 5’6” or 5’7”, about 40 years of age, had light sandy hair slightly mixed with gray, he wore sparse sidewhiskers and a small mustache.  He was dressed in a dark overcoat, dark mixed pants, laced shoes, stand up collar, had on scarf and a white shirt.  He had no jewelry and they didn’t know if he had any money on him.  The family was a little embarrassed to say that there was some insanity in the family and was hoping that wasn’t the problem.  If I was an artist I could draw a picture of him from that description.

 

I do know that he died November 28, 1896 in Bellevue Hospital, in New York City.  It states on the death certificate that he was in New York City for 3 years so I think he might have been in the hospital for that length of time. I don’t know where he was the other years.  The 1892 census does not show him living with his family.  He is buried in Calvary Cemetery with his 3 children who died young, his Mother, Mary McDonald, my Father-in-law, Thomas N. Murphy and my Mother-in-law Mary Glessoff Murphy.

 

CATHERINE MATHEWS #20 52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS

 

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process

 

 

 

 

CATHERINE MATHEWS was born in New York City, New York on January 23, 1911.  Her parents were WILLIAM MATHEWS and MAMIE MC GUIGAN.  CATHERINE was known by a few different names, her family called her Sis or Sister and the younger generation called her Kay.  She was my father's sister, my Aunt Kay and Godmother.  

 

Catherine was the only girl with 3 brothers, Thomas born in 1909, William born in 1915 and James born in 1920.  I imagine she was doted on, I know my father thought she was very special.

 

Catherine got her drivers license about 1930 and the family had her take them for rides out to the country every weekend.  They also went up to Port Chester, New York to visit Aunt Alice, her Mother's sister.   I am surprised they even had a car. People who lived in New York City and the 5 boroughs rarely had cars because of all the buses and trains available to them.

 

 

On September 14, 1940 Catherine married Bartholomew Hurley.  They lived in Jamaica, Queens, New York at first and then settled in Richmond Hill, Queens when they started their family.  They had 5 children, William, Robert, Dennis, Joan, and Brian.

 

Bartholomew developed cancer and died in 1957.  Catherine went back to work as a secretary to take care of her family.  She was a very wonderful mother.  She was also a good friend to all her cousins who lived nearby.

The cousins, Bunny Morris, Grace White Mulrain, Kathleen Rudolph Mc Donough, Bunny Hickey and Helen Hickey Mahon were her favorites. They would get together every chance they could and would most likely play cards and talk. 

 

Catherine had her Mother and brother Tom living with her, after her husband died, for many years.  Catherine lived to see a couple of her children marry and have children. Catherine died July 29, 1989 and is buried in St. Charles Cemetery in Farmingdale, New York.

 

 

HONORA QUINLAN #19 ONE OF MY “BRICK WALLS” 52 ANCESTORS 52 WEEKS

In January 2014, Amy Johnson Crow of the Ancestry blog No Story Too Small issued the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge.

The premise: write once a week about a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, a research problem — any that focuses on that one ancestor. The next week, write about a different ancestor. In 52 weeks, you’ll have taken a closer look at 52 people in your family tree… and maybe learned a little bit more about them in the process.

Honora Quinlan was my husband’s paternal great grandmother.   Honora was born in Ireland according to all the documents I found on her.  The years 1852 to 1864 were stated as her birth in several census records and on her death record.  She had her first child in 1873 so I figure her birthday was most likely closer to 1852.

I found Honora with her husband, John Murphy in the 1880 census living in Brooklyn, New York.  Also living with them were their children Mary born in 1873, Patrick born in 1875, Thomas (my husbands grandfather) born in 1877 and Maggie born about 1879 plus Honora’s, mother Mary Quinlan.  The 1900 census indicates that she came to the United States in 1870 but I have not found her or her family on any Passenger List as yet.

I found Honora’s mother, Mary in the Brooklyn Directory listed as the widow of Michael Quinlan, but that is the only place I have found any mention of Honora’s father’s name. 

As you can see I do not have anything substantial on Honora.  I know she was born in Ireland according to all I have found.  She is listed as John Murphy’s wife in the census records.  Honora and John are the parents 4 children.  Honora’s mother name is Mary and her father is Michael.  I do have her death certificate but the birth information on the certificate is secondary and questionable. 

I do not have a birth certificate or exact place of birth.  I do not have a marriage record.  I do not have any immigration records.  I have looked for Honora and John’s marriage both in the New York and Irish records and found nothing. 

I have searched many records and used many different plans of attack such as searching other family members, neighbors, and sponsors on her children’s birth records.  I have put this family tree on Ancestry.com  all in the hope someone will come along and have a clue to the next step in finding more about Honora Quinlan Murphy.