William Blanchard

William Blanchard was born 20 April 1858, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  He was baptized Roman Catholic, 23 May 1858, at St. Simon and St. Jude Church, Tignish, Prince Edward Island.  His parents were Stephen Blanchard and Catharine Ferris.  In the 1861 Canadian Census, William was living with his family in Tignish, Prince Edward Island.

William married Elizabeth Kidd, 7 December 1879, at St. Anthony of Padua Church, Brooklyn, New York.  After his marriage, William lived at 179 Freeman Street, Brooklyn, New York.  By 1884 William, Elizabeth, and his children Stephen (1880- ), William (1882-1883), Francis Joseph (1883- ), and Helen (1885-1886) were living at 58 North 10th Street, Brooklyn, New York.

The next moves for the family were to 45 and 43 Franklin Street, Brooklyn, New York.  Here William's family grew to include Edward J Blanchard (1892- ) and William Blanchard (1896-1941).  While William was living on Franklin Street he joined the New York City Police Department (25 March 1892).

In the 1910 United States Census and 1920 United Stated Census William's address was 128 Calyer Street, Brooklyn, New York.  It is while living at this address William retired from the Police Department (5 December 1913).   

In the 1930 United States Census William was living in Queens, New York at 41-23 53rd Street.  He died at this address on 15 April 1932.  The cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage.  William was buried in St. John's Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens.  He was buried with his wife Elizabeth, and his son William (1896-1941).

To complete my research on William, I need to find his immigration records.

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