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

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.

Elizabeth and the Delaneys

Elizabeth Blanchard was born circa 1846.  She was living with her family in Tignish, Prince Edward Island, in the 1861 Canadian Census.  Elizabeth married William Delaney, 10 December 1871, at the Church of St. Michael, Manhattan, New York.  Her marriage certificate lists her parents as Stephen Blanchard and Catharine Ferris.  After her marriage, Elizabeth lived at 444 West 37 Street.  She was listed at this address in both the 1880 and 1900 United States Censuses.  Elizabeth and William had eight children.

William Joseph Delaney (abt 1872-1908)
Thomas Delaney (abt 1874-1878)
Mary Ellen Delaney (1876-1897)
Catherine Delaney (1879- )
Joseph Delaney (1881 - )
Anne Delaney (1883-1907)
Elizabeth Delaney (1888- )

Elizabeth Blanchard Delaney died 18 January 1901, from pulmonary phthisis.  Elizabeth is buried with family members in Calvary Cemetery.

To complete my research on Elizabeth and her family I need to find, and/or follow up on quite a few things

• Elizabeth's baptismal record.
• Immigration records for Elizabeth.
• William Joseph Delaney and Thomas Delaney's birth records. The Church of St. Michael's searched their records for 1872, 73, 74 and 1874, 75, 76 respectively, but couldn't find anything. updated Tuesday, March 30, 2010
• Joseph Delaney's baptismal sponsors were George Blanchard and Mary Kennedy. The Kennedy name appears on numerous Blanchard family documents.
• Elizabeth Delaney's baptismal sponsors were William J Delaney and Ellen Ferris.
• I do not have any records on Catherine, Joseph, and Elizabeth Delaney after 1900.
• I only have records for seven Delaney children.  updated Tuesday, August 17, 2010
• William Joseph Delaney had at least two living children when he died in 1908, William Delaney (abt 1901- ) and Edward Delaney (abt 1906- ).

Catharine Ferris Blanchard

Catharine Ferris Blanchard is one of the more interesting stories in my family tree.  She married very young and had quite a large family.  She appeared to be living a rather normal life; however things changed.  For reasons yet unknown Catharine left her husband, her home, and everything she knew in Canada,  to start life over in the United States.  Here, with most of her children by her side, she lived to become a very "old lady."

Here is Catharine's story...

On 29 September 1839 Catharine Ferris (abt 1825-1915) married Stephen S Blanchard in Bathurst, New Brunswick.  On 27 August 1843 her son John (1843-1867) was baptized in St. John Baptist Church, Miscouche, Prince Edward Island.  In September of 1847, Catharine gave birth to her son Daniel (1847- ).  He was baptized at St. Simon and St. Jude Church, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  Catharine's children Helen (1849-1927), Edward (1851-1915), Anne (1853- ), Sophia (1856-1948), and William (1858-1932) were also baptized in this Church.  In 1861 Catharine was still living with her family, in Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  She was listed with them in the 1861 Canadian Census.  In 1877 Catharine was living at 140 Huron Street, Brooklyn, New York.  From here she moved to 179 Java Street, and in the 1880 United States Census she was living with Edward, Sophia, Stephen (abt 1861-1936), and George (abt 1864-1940) at 595 Lorimer Street.  During the next twenty years some of her addresses included 692 Leonard Street and 148 Meserole Avenue.  In the 1900 United States Census, Catharine was living with Sophia's family at 105 India Street.  Catharine died 3 January 1915.  Her cause of death was listed as bronchial asthma and pleura-pneumonia.  At the time of her death Catharine was living at 147 Twelfth Avenue, Queens, New York.  Catharine was buried 5 January 1915 in Calvary Cemetery.  

Those are the facts, but there is plenty I still need to learn.

When was Catharine born?
Her year of birth ranges from 1825 in the 1900 United States Census to 1832 in the 1880 United States Census.  In the 1861 Canadian Census she was listed as 21 to 45, which puts her birth between 1816 and 1840.  Considering she was married in 1839 and John was born in 1843, Catharine was probably born closer to the 1825 date.

Where was Catharine born?
Catharine states she was born in Ireland in the 1861 Canadian Census and the 1900 United States Census.  In the 1880 United States Census she states she was born in Massachusetts.  Her children list her birthplace as Ireland, Nova Scotia, England, or Canada depending on the child and the year of the census.

How did Catharine wind up in New York?
Catharine was living in Canada in 1861.  She was probably living there when Stephen and George were born as well, but right now I do not have those records.  In 1877 Catharine is living in Brooklyn, New York.  She is actually living in New York earlier; however I need to double check my source.  Last time I went to NYC Department of Records  I found Catharine in an earlier directory.  She was living at 204 Freeman; however I did not write down the exact year.  I wrote Freeman Street, 1872/1873.  I am going to have to verify what directory this is from next time I go.  updated Tuesday, March 30, 2010  I have yet to find immigration records for Catharine or her family.

As to why Catharine left Canada we may never know; however we can speculate...My speculations will be in another post.

Three + One = Four

I have been searching for four baptismal records from Prince Edward Island.  Without civil records, baptismal records are the only way to establish birth, and links to parents.

I have no records for Elizabeth (abt 1846-1901) and George (abt 1864-1940).

I have two records for Stephen (abt 1861-1936); however I am not sure if either is correct.

That is three.  My fourth record is for a girl listed in the 1861 Canadian Census.  The 1861 Canadian Census isn't nominal; however it does list the ages of people in the household.  According to the census there should be a girl, aged 16-21.  Assuming this girl isn't a servant, and based on her age and where her immediate siblings were baptized, I should find her record  at St. John the Baptist.

So to figure all this out, I ordered microfilm from my local Family History Center.  I ordered two different films.  One from St. John Baptist and one from St. Simon and St. Jude.