Ferris Update

I searched the Brooklyn City Directories from 1867/1868-1875/1876.  I looked for a couple different people, but for purposes of this post I will stick with Catharine.

1872/1873
Blanchard Kate, wid 204 Freeman

The directory gives Catharine a new documented date, the earliest found in New York.

Delaney Update

Today I braved the Nor'easter and ventured into Manhattan.  It is supposed to be seventy degrees by the end of the week, and as much as I love researching, I really don't want to spend beautiful vacation days inside NYC Department of Records.

I am not really sure how to write up my new findings.  For some people it is not a problem because I haven't posted their story, but for those I have, I feel it is too soon to post them all over again.  For the time being I think I am going to break up my findings by families, and later I will rewrite the stories that need to be rewriten.

The Delaneys

Birth Certificates
William Delaney and Elizabeth Blanchard

• William Delaney (1872-1908)
• Thomas Edgar Delaney (1874-1878)
• Catherine Delaney (1879- ) 

All of the above children were born at 444 West 37th Street, Manhattan, New York. 

Birth Certificates
William Joseph Delaney and Anne Greenwood

• Joseph Edwin Delaney (1903-1905)
• Edward Delaney (1906-1995)

Missing Children

• William Delaney and Elizabeth Blanchard between 1880-1892 updated Tuesday, August 17, 2010
• William Joseph Delaney and Anne Greenwood between 1903-1906

Tigers and Lyons...

I have been organizing my paperwork in anticipation of my visit to NYC Department of Records.  Next to George Illegitimate, Helen (Ellen) Blanchard and the Lyons' prove to be the most confusing.

I posted Ellen's story about a month ago.  Since then I have stumbled upon new information.  The first thing I found was an old interment list.  The list provided the following names and dates of burials:

• William P Lyons, 7 June 1869
• John J Lyons, 27 August 1872
• Anne Lyons, 28 June 1875
• Annie Lyons, 11 October 1875

On my last visit to NYC Department of Records I found the death certificates for William, John, Anne, and Annie Lyons.  On the death certificates, the places of death were mentioned.  John and Annie died in Manhattan, New York, at 304 Rivington Street.  Anne died at 302 Rivington Street.  William also died in Manhattan, New York, at 125 Goerck Street.

In light of this information, I decided to examine the 1880 United States Census.  I discovered there were still Lyons' living at the addresses.  Michael Lyons, age 32, tailor, and William H Lyons, age 10, were living at 304 Rivington Street.  At Goerck Street, Daniel Lyons, age 5, was a boarder of Mary Lyons.  The ages of Michael and Daniel, as well as Michael's occupation, all correspond to Ellen's husband and son.

After Michael's death in 1891, Ellen and her family moved to Brooklyn.  In 1894 William H Lyons was living with Ellen Lyons, widower of Michael, at 100 1/2 Dupont Street.  William lived with the family through 1900.  William and Daniel Lyons were also connected to Lyons Brother Cigars.  They, as well as the business, were listed under the address 566 Manhattan Avenue, Brooklyn, New York, in both 1897 and 1898.

The other piece of information I found was Stephen Blanchard's baptismal record.  He was baptized in 1880.  Ellen was listed as a sponsor on her nephews baptismal record; however she was not listed as a Lyon, she was Ellen Blanchard.

Based on this new information, it appears Michael was married before Ellen.  It also proves William and Daniel were not Ellen's biological children.

Random People in Random Graves

I love getting interment lists.  They usually provide instant family members, and if you are lucky, they are family members you don't know.  Every now and then however, you come across people who appear to have no connection to your family.  Here are some of those people and their dates of burial.

Lizzie Delaney, 1 June 1887
Charles C Dvorah, 20 August 1890
Harry B Battersby, 4 June 1940
Julia Dunn, 2 December 1949

Fun Mail

I love getting mail, especially fun mail.  Fun mail is all mail dealing with genealogy and/or travel.

I recently started writing to churches in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  I started with St. Cecilia's.  They were able to locate a few records.  The records included my grandfather's baptismal record, as well as his parent's marriage record.  St. Cecilia's was extremely helpful and generous.  They even sent me copies of the original cards.

The next parish I wrote to was St. Anthony/St. Alphonsus Parish.  I waited.  Fun mail!

Baptismal Certificates

Mary Cecilia Colahan
Child of Thomas P Colahan and Sophia Blanchard
Born 25 March 1889
Baptized 10 April 1889 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors Stephen A Blanchard, Cecilia Colahan

Stephen John Colahan
Child of Thomas P Colahan and Sophia Blanchard
Born 15 January 1891
Baptized 4 February 1891 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors John J McElroy, Elizabeth Colahan

Stephen Blanchard
Child of William Blanchard and Eliza Kidd
Born on 12 September 1880
Baptized on 26 September 1880 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors Thomas Kidd, Ellen Blanchard

Prior to this record I had no knowledge of Stephen.  What happened to him?  This baptismal record gives Helen (Ellen) Blanchard a new documented date, the earliest found in New York.

William Blanchet
Child of William Blanchet and Elizabeth Kidd
Born 16 January 1882
Baptized 5 February 1882 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors Stephen Blanchet, Johanna Kennedy 
William is another child I had no knowledge of.  This record lists Johanna Kennedy as a sponsor.  Is Johanna Kennedy connected to Mary Kennedy?

Edward Blanchard
Child of William Blanchard and Elizabeth Kidd
Born 1 August 1892
Baptized 15 August 1892
Sponsors Francis Kidd, Ella Delany
     Marriage Notation
     To Anna Smith
     Date 7 July 1937
     Church St. Joan of Arc
     Place Jackson Heights, New York

William Blanchard
Child of William Blanchard and Lizzie Kidd
Born 26 May 1896
Baptized 16 June 1896 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors George Blanchard, Katie Kidd

Catherina Blanchard
Child of Stephen Blanchard and Elizabeth Briordy
Born 22 October 1896
Baptized 16 November 1896 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors Thomas Hawkins, Sophia Colahan
     Attached note
     Elizabeth Briody
     Born 16 March 1875
     Baptized 1 April 1878 at St. Alphonsus Church
     Parents John Briody, Brigid Briody

Helen Elizabeth Blanchard
Child of George Blanchard and Alice Leigh
Born 19 March 1905
Baptized 2 April 1905 at St. Anthony of Padua Church
Sponsors Stephen Blanchard, Ellen Novnan

Marriage Certificates

Thomas P Colahan, Sophia M Blanchard
25 June 1888
St. Anthony of Padua Church
Witnesses Stephen Blanchard, Mary Colahan

William Blanchard, Elizabeth Kidd
7 December 1879
St. Anthony of Padua Church
Witnesses Edward Blanchard, Joanna Kennedy

I assume this is the same Joanna Kennedy that sponsored their son William at his baptism.

Robert H McDermott, Eileen Corrigan
18 May 1946
St. Anthony of Padua Church
Witnesses Thomas A Kavanagh, Mary Kavanagh
     Attached note
     Robert H McDermott
     Baptized 7 March 1920
     Immaculate Conception of BVM
     Brooklyn
     Eileen Corrigan
     Baptized 17 September 1922
     St. Cecilia's
     Brooklyn

Sophia

Sophia M Blanchard was born 1 April 1856.  She was baptized, Roman Catholic at St. Simon and St. Jude Church, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  Her parents were Stephen Blanchard and Catharine Ferris.  In the 1861 Canadian Census, Sophia was living with her family in Tignish, Prince Edward Island.

On 24 December 1876 at Church of St. Michael, Manhattan, New York, Sophia served as godmother to her sister Elizabeth's daughter, Mary Ellen Delaney.  In the 1880 United Stated Census, Sophia was living with her mother Catharine, and her brothers Edward, Stephen, and George.  They were living in Brooklyn, New York at 595 Lorimer Street.  In 1887, Sophia M Blanchard, a teacher, was living at 148 Meserole Avenue.  

On 25 June 1888, Sophia married Thomas P Colahan at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Brooklyn, New York.  In the 1900 United Stated Census Sophia and Thomas were living at 105 India Street.  Also living in the household were the couple's three children, Mary Cecilia (1889-1979), Stephen John (1891-1973) and Francis Ambrose (1892-1938).  By 3 January 1915, Sophia and her family were living at 821 Lincoln Place.  Sophia lived at this address until her death, 28 February 1948.  Sophia and her husband, Thomas, were buried in Holy Cross Cemetery, Brooklyn, New York.

Like all Blanchard children, to complete my research on Sophia, I need to find her immigration records.  Unlike the other children, Sophia's family can be traced to present day, and it is through their generosity that I have a picture of her.

Sophia M Blanchard

Happy Shamrock Day!

There are only two kinds of people in the world, the Irish and those who wish they were.~Irish saying

With this in mind, Happy St. Patrick's Day to the Boyde, Corrigan, Dyer, Ferris, Flynn, Friel, Hassett, Mahon, McDermott, and Prior/Pryor families.

Annie

Anne was born to Stephen and Catharine Blanchard abt November 1853.  She was baptized Roman Catholic, 8 March 1854, St. Simon and St. Jude Church, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  In the 1861 Canadian Census, Anne was living with her family in Tignish, Prince Edward Island.

On 10 December 1871, Anne was a witness at her sister Elizabeth's wedding.  The wedding took place at the Church of St. Michael, Manhattan, New York.  On 24 June 1877, Anne married John O'Brien at the same church.  John was a tailor.

Unfortunately this is the only information I have for Anne.

Still My People

A few days have passed since I found George Illegitimate's baptismal record.  I am still upset, but I am thinking clearer about the situation.  I realize there are many leads to follow up on, and I have a lot more research to do.

When I started researching my family the goal was simple, find out who "my people" were.  What were they like?  What were their lives like?  I wasn't looking to find kings and queens, or the rich and the famous.  I was looking to find the personalities that shaped my family.  I was looking to find pieces of me.

As you might have guessed, I started my family tree researching the Blanchard's.  At first their lives appeared simple; a couple kids living with their mother in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  As I continued my research I discovered some more family members, and it wasn't before long I found a Canadian connection.  When I started my Canadian research I stumbled across Stephen Smith Blanchard, born 1815, Truro, Nova Scotia.  I ignored him.  I did some more research, but I wound up back at Stephen Smith Blanchard.  I found out Stephen's family could be traced back to the American Revolution.  Being an American History major, I have to admit this intrigued me, but I still doubted Truro Stephen was my Stephen.  So I continued my research.  I found a marriage record and a census record.  These documents supplied my Stephen's middle initial, S.  Wow! I was related to Truro Stephen.  He was my people, his family were my people, and my people were involved in a very cool time in American History.

This is why I became so upset upon finding George's baptismal record.  It appeared my people weren't my people.  All my time and energy was wasted on someone else's family.  Of course, now I realize that was ridiculous.  Whether or not I am blood related to them, the family that left Canada and moved to Brooklyn, New York was George's.  They called him brother.  They lived with him, celebrated birthdays and weddings with him.  They made him a godfather to their children.  In every way important, they were his brother, and he was theirs. 

So I have decided that while George might not technically be a Blanchard, and multiple people I trust have pointed out he still might be, he is still very much connected to the family I have come to know and love.  They are still my people.

Who Do You Think You Are?

George Illegitimate
On the 5th April 1864 I have baptized George born on the 26th February of unknown parents.  Sponsors Daniel Blanchard and Hariette O'Reilly.

I am very sad....

Edward H Blanchard

Edward Blanchard was born 2 October 1851, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  He was baptized Roman Catholic, 21 October 1851, at St. Simon and St. Jude Church, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  His parents were Stephen Blanchard and Catharine Ferris.  In the 1861 Canadian Census, Edward was living with his family in Tignish, Prince Edward Island.

In 1874-1875 Edward was living in Brooklyn, New York, at 180 Green Street.  In 1877 he was living at 140 Huron Street, Brooklyn, New York.  In 1879-1880 Edward was living at 179 Java Street, Brooklyn, New York.  In the 1880 United States Census Edward was living at 595 Lorimer Street, with his mother Catharine, his two brothers, Stephen and George, and his sister Sophia.  His occupation was listed as a stair builder.  In 1881 Edward was still living at this address.  In 1894 Edward was living at 183 Eagle Street, Brooklyn, New York.  In 1897 he relocated to 116 Eagle Street, Brooklyn, New York.  In 1900 Edward was living at 190 Freeman Street, Brooklyn, New York.

In the 1900 United States Census Edward was living with his wife, Ellen Easton, at 152 Java Street, Brooklyn, New York.  On 3 December 1900, The Brooklyn Daily Eagle stated, Edward Blanchard of 153 Eagle Street, was promoted to bridge tender on the Blissville Bridge.  His salary was $839.50.  Two years later (7 February 1902) the paper reported Edward was dismissed.  In 1910 the United States Census stated Edward was living at 130 Huron Street, Brooklyn, New York, with his wife, Ellen.  On 2 September 1915, Edward H Blanchard fell down a flight of cellar stairs at 236 West 144 Street, Manhattan, New York.  He died from a fracture, at the base of his skull.  Edward was buried in Calvary Cemetery with his wife.

To complete my research on Edward I need to find his immigration and marriage records.   Also Edward was listed as having two children in the 1910 Census, Edward (17) and Edith (12) Blanchard.  This was the first and last time they were mentioned.

Churches in Greenpoint

St. Anthony-St. Alphonsus
862 Manhattan Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222

St. Cecilia
84 Herbert Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

SS Cyril and Methodius
150 Dupont Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222

Holy Family
21 Nassau Avenue
Brooklyn, New York 11222

St. Stanislaus Kostka
607 Humboldt Street
Brooklyn, New York 11222