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

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.

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.