Putting It All Together (or part of it)

Edward Barry and wife Bridget at 81 Dove St. in South Boston (nee Higgins, who was likely the sister of my gg grandfather Edward and his brother John, who adopted Annie Carrigan)  ~ led to me Cornelius Scanlon also at 81 Dove ~ who led me to James Scanlan at 92 Dove and earlier 2 Dove St. ~ who bought property from Michael Cunningham of 2 Dove ~ whose tax records led me to John Higgins at 1 Dove and John Higgins the roofer at Farrell Place in 1859-1862.  

And John the roofer may have had a brother named James Higgins, another roofer. 

A 25-year old James Higgins is listed on John’s 1860 census in Ward 12 of Boston.  He is listed simply as a laborer born in Ireland [1].  At this point we don’t know if they were brothers, and so far, James is not listed on any further records pertaining to John.

But I traced a roofer named James Higgins a few years ago, so I pulled out my notes from that time, which included his marriage record from 1863.  

James is listed on this record as a 25-year old laborer whose parents were James Higgins and Mary [2].  I don’t have any documents that list Mary’s maiden name, at least not yet, but will keep looking. 

Now the death return for John Higgins the roofer listed his parents: James Higgins and Mary Hagerty [3].

I believe there is a connection.

So this morning I resumed my search of James Higgins the roofer and found his naturalization records from 1877:  He was born in County Waterford, Ireland, and arrived in New York on or about 15 October 1853 [4]. 

IF there is a connection between these roofers and my gg grandfather Edward Higgins (also a roofer), and his brother John (a teamster), the man who adopted Annie Carrigan ~ and if there is a connection between Annie, and the Carrigans from Lismore, County Waterford, investigating the occupation of roofing may (or may not) bring me one step closer to where I need to go. 

Notes:

[1] 1860 U. S. census, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, Boston, population schedule, Ward 12, p. 115, dwelling 763, family 889, line 8, John Higgins household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 18 March 2014), citing National Archives microfilm publication M653, roll 525.

[2] “Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915,” Boston, 22 November 1863, James Higgins to Hannah Walsh, no. 2070; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed again 21 March 2014), citing “Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911-1915,” New England Historic Genealogical Society.

[3] “Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915,” Boston, 25 January 1914, entry for John Higgins; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 21 March 2014), citing Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840–1911. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.    

[4] “New England Petitions for Naturalization, 1787-1931,” Massachusetts, U. S. Circuit Court, 1877, December, Vol. 111, p. 169, entry for James Higgins; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 21 March 2014). 

Scanlon # 14: James Scanlan

James Scanlan may have been a brother to Cornelius Scanlon, who lived at 81 Dove Street in Boston in 1868-69, before likely migrating to Michigan and later Missouri (See Scanlon # 13).

I have been looking at James’ death record.

Other than having parental information that is partly consistent with Cornelius’ parents, James' return of death states he died 8 April 1907 in Boston, and that his usual residence was 92 Dresser Street [1]. 

Now it’s important to note that Dresser Street had previously been known as Dove Street [2], and that James had lived at “92 Dove Street” as early as 1868 and on Dove itself as early as 1864 ~ which places his residence there at about forty years [3].

The death return also states he was to be buried at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts (where John Higgins was buried!), and so today I will write the cemetery for the location of the grave and a list of people he is buried with [4].

The return did not give the name of an informant.

Notes:

[1] “Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915,” digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 October 2013), entry for James Scanlan, 8 April 1907, citing “Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840-1911, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

[2] Dove Street in Boston was changed to Dresser Street on 1 March 1900.  A Record of the Streets, Alleys, Places, etc., in the City of Boston, (1910), 2^nd edition, Street Laying-Out Department.  Google Books (http://www.books.google.com : accessed 12 March 2014).

[3] James’ son John Scanlon died at 92 Dove in 1868, but daughter Ellen was born at “2 Dove” in 1866.  In 1864, son John was born at Dove Street, but in 1862 daughter Annie was born at 282 Second.  For relevant birth and death information, see:

"Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXZ9-2BV : accessed 12 March 2014), Annie Scanlan, 09 Jul 1862; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, v. 152, p. 79, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1420998.

"Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXHB-4MK : accessed 12 March 2014), Ellen Scanlan, 02 Dec 1866; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, v 188 p 120, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1428038.

"Massachusetts, Births, 1841-1915," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FXZW-6S2 : accessed 12 March 2014), John Scanlon, 17 Jun 1864; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, V. 170, p. 65, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 1428036.

"Massachusetts, Deaths, 1841-1915," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/N7YK-Y24 : accessed 12 Mar 2014), John Scanlon, 30 Sep 1868; citing Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts, v 213 p 174, Massachusetts Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 960193.

[4] See note 1 for citation of James’ death record.  John Higgins was buried at Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts, on 14 December 1908 at Walk J, grave 119 per documents from Holyhood Cemetery Association, 990 LaGrange Street, West Roxbury, Massachusetts 02132.

Scanlon # 13

The "Boston Cornelius Scanlon" had lived at 81 Dove Street.  After tracing some of the other Irish families who lived on Dove Street in Boston, I have identified another possible sibling for Cornelius:  

“James Scanlan” died in Boston, Massachusetts on 8 April 1907 at about the age of 68, which would place his birth in Ireland around 1839.  His parents were “John Scanlan and Ann Lundregan” [1].

These given names are consistent with the given names of Cornelius’ parents on his marriage record [2].  They are also consistent with the given names of the "Missouri John Scanlon’s" parents [3].

The surname “Lundregan” is similar to “Lonergan,” which is Cornelius' mother's surname found on his possible baptism in the Roman Catholic parish of Lismore, Co. Waterford.    In fact, without the “d” in Lundregan, it would have the same Soundex Code as “Lonergan.” 

As it is now, the Soundex code for Lonergan is L562, and the Soundex Code for Lundregan is L536. 

According to one website, however, some of the variants of Lonergan include “Landergan, Landrigan, Ladrigan and Landragon” – all with a “D” [4].   

Here is a visual comparison of the parental information so far, and obviously not without conflicts:

	“Lismore Cornelius” [5]	“Lismore John” [6]	“Boston Cornelius” [7]	“Missouri John” [8]	James [9]
Father	John Scanlon	John Scanlon	John	John Scanlon	John Scanlan
Mother	Honor Lonergan	Elizabeth Lonergan	Anna	Ann [Langhun?]	Ann Lundregan

Onward... 

Notes:

[1] “Massachusetts, Death Records, 1841-1915,” digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 October 2013), entry for James Scanlan, 8 April 1907, citing “Massachusetts Vital Records, 1840-1911, New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.   

[2] “Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988,” marriage, no. 2158, entry for Cornelius Scanlon and Margaret Shanahan, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2013).

[3] “Missouri Death Certificates,” Lawrence County, certificate no. 27203, entry for “John Scaulon,” Missouri Digital Heritage (http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ : accessed 19 September 2013).  Note:  “Scaulon” rather than Scanlon.

[4] “Lonergan Surname History,” HouseofNames.com (http://www.houseofnames.com : accessed 14 October 2013).

[5] “Baptismal/Birth records for Ireland,” Irish Family History Foundation, Co. Waterford, Roman Catholic parish of Lismore, Cornelius Scanlon; copy of original record held at Waterford Heritage Genealogy Centre, Jenkens Lane, County Waterford, Ireland.

[6] Ibid., baptism for John Scanlon.

[7] Ibid., Cornelius Scanlon marriage.  See Note 2.

[8] Ibid., Death certificate for John Scanlon.  See Note 3.

[9] Ibid., Return of Death for James Scanlon.  See Note 1.

Thomas Fox # 3

I've found Thomas Fox on the 1870 U. S. census listed in the household just below Cornelius Scanlon's.  He is listed with an older couple.  I have extracted a few columns below:

1870 census for Quincy, Houghton, Michigan [1]

Dwelling 52, Family 55: 

Scanlon Cornelius, 33, M, W, Laborer, Ireland
Scanlon Margaret, 31, F, W, Keeping House, Ireland
----John, 1, M, W, Massachusetts
----Michael, 5/12, M, W, Michigan

Dwelling 53, Family 56:

Fox John, 70, M, W, At Home, Ireland
-----Ellen, 55, F, W, Keeping House, Ireland
-----Thomas, 32, M. W, Miner, Ireland

Neither Cornelius or John owned real estate. 

That Cornelius and Thomas would be listed next to each other in the 1870 census in Michigan and in the 1880 census in Missouri ten years later deserves a little pondering [2].

Notes:

[1] 1870 U. S. census,  Houghton County, Michigan, population schedule, Quincy, p. 8, dwellings 52 and 53, families 55 and 56, Cornelius Scanlon and John Fox; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2013), citing Family History Library microfilm 552,173; citing National Archives microfilm publication M593, roll 674.

[2] 1880 U. S. census, Lawrence County, Missouri, population schedule, Mt. Pleasant, Enumeration District 86, p. 39, sheet 483C, dwelling 331, family 335, Cornelius Scanlon; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2013), citing Family History Library microfilm 1,254,698; citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 698.

 

Thomas and Bridget Fox

Also…  

While scrolling through FHL film 930,929 (an index to Lawrence County, Missouri deeds), I discovered that a man named Thomas Fox also bought land from the St. Louis and San Francisco railroad Company on the same day (14 September 1877) that Cornelius and John Scanlon bought their land from the railroad.

Thomas’ land was situated between Cornelius’ and John’s [1].

Thomas was born in Ireland as was his wife Bridget [2]

A little digging produced what is likely their headstones in the same cemetery where Cornelius is most likely buried.  These stones, just as Cornelius’ did, place both Thomas’ and Bridget’s birth in County Waterford as well [3]. 

And so now I'm wondering if Thomas and Bridget migrated to Missouri from Massachusetts, as did Cornelius, where his oldest known son (John Scanlon) was born [4].   

Notes:

[1] An Illustrated Historical Atlas of Lawrence County, Missouri (1879), Missouri County Plat Books, online database, Missouri Digital Heritage http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ : accessed 18 September 2013).

[2] 1880 U. S. census, Lawrence County, Missouri, population schedule, Mt. Pleasant, Enumeration District 86, p. 39, sheet 483C, dwelling 329, family 333, Thomas Fox; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2013), citing Family History Library microfilm 1,254,698; citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 698.

[3] See Memorial 51116621, digital image of headstone photographed by Tammi, Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com : accessed 4 October 2013), Missouri, Lawrence County, Pierce City, St. Patrick’s Cemetery, entry for Thomas Fox, b. 1833-d. 1907.  

  
[4] Lawrence County, Missouri censuses agree that Cornelius' oldest son John was born in Massachusetts.  See 1880 U. S. census, Lawrence County, Missouri, population schedule, Mt. Pleasant, Enumeration District 86, p. 39, sheet 483C, dwelling 331, family 335, Cornelius Scanlon; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2013), citing Family History Library microfilm 1,254,698; citing National Archives microfilm publication T9, roll 698.  Also see 1900 U. S. census, Lawrence County, Missouri, population schedule, Mt. Pleasant, Enumeration District 78, Sheet 2A, dwelling 22, family 22, Cornelius Scanlon; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 14 September 2013), citing Family History Library microfilm 1,240,870; citing National Archives microfilm publication T623, roll 870.

Scanlon # 12

The birth year of the ‘Missouri Cornelius’ was about 1832 (See my previous post about his headstone).

In order for my hypothesis (that the ‘Missouri Cornelius’  was a godparent to John Higgins in 1842) to be more than plausible, it would be extremely helpful to find a baptism in County Waterford for a Cornelius Scanlon born around 1832, and preferably in the Roman Catholic parish of Lismore where John Higgins was baptized.

The headstone of the ‘Missouri Cornelius’ does place his birth in County Waterford, Ireland.  Yet in order to find a baptism, I need the maiden name of Cornelius’ mother, which has so far, not directly presented itself. 

If he and John Scanlon (born about 1846) were brothers, the maiden name of John’s mother will be helpful, if they had the same mother.        

So far what I have for John’s mother’s maiden name looks something like “Langhen” – which may possibly be Lanergan or Lonergan.  The handwriting is unclear [1].  

John is so far the only known possible sibling for Cornelius. 

To date, I have not found a baptism for a Cornelius Scanlon in the Roman Catholic parish of Lismore in 1832.  I did find a potential baptism for John Scanlon, however – and I’m not quite ready to leave the Scanlons behind [2]. 

Notes:

[1] “Missouri Death Certificates,” Lawrence County, certificate no. 27203, entry for “John Scaulon,” Missouri Digital Heritage (http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ : accessed 19 September 2013).  Note:  Indexed as “Scaulon” rather than Scanlon.

[2] The baptism for John Scanlon was found via the Irish Family History Foundation’s database for baptisms.

  

Scanlon # 11

So I headed to the FHC as soon as it opened yesterday morning and spent a couple of hours scrolling through FHL film 930,929-- an index to Lawrence County, Missouri deeds.

I found Cornelius and John Scanlon listed as grantees.  They had each bought land on 14 September 1877 from the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad Company.

***

I decided to take another look at John Scanlon’s mother’s maiden name on his death certificate.   

What looked initially like “Laugher or Laughur or Laughlin” is more probably something like “Langhen or Langhun,” and possibly “Longhen or Longhun,”  and perhaps even "Lonergan."

What looks like a “U” in “Laugher” is probably an “N,” based on the indexing of “Scaulon” for Scanlon. 

That is, what initially looked like a “U” in Scaulon has the same appearance as the “U” in “Laugher” [1].

I haven't forgotten I still need to find additional records that give the maiden names for both Cornelius' and John's mother.

Notes:

[1] “Missouri Death Certificates,” Lawrence County, certificate no. 27203, entry for “John Scaulon,” Missouri Digital Heritage (http://www.sos.mo.gov/mdh/ : accessed 19 September 2013).  Note:  Indexed as “Scaulon” rather than Scanlon.