RootsChat.Com
Research in Other Countries => United States of America => US Lookup Requests => Topic started by: scotmum on Friday 07 October 11 16:49 BST (UK)
-
Hello folks
Some fresh eyes on this would be much appreciated, thanks...a few of us in chatterbox have worked on it with good results, but some records seem awol.
According to the old familysearch site, Margaret Ann Cavanagh married James McKee on 27 APR 1900 at Northampton, Pennsylvania. This marriage does not appear on the Pennsylvania Marriage records on the new familysearch, even though 1900 is covered. It is on the new site now too.
Also, the couple are not appearing on the 1900 census, which I understand was taken in June.
Both Margaret and James were born Ireland, her 1874, him 1872 (24th November according to his WW1 Draft card), and emigrated to USA in 1895.
First appearance after the marriage is the 1910 Census, by which time they have moved to Connecticut. They are still in Connecticut at 1920 and 1930. First child Mary is noted on all Census as born c1903/4 in Pennsylvania (can't tie down a record though), whilst her brothers Johnathan/Jonathon and Herbert are recorded as being born in Connecticut.
So, look up please in any source someone might have access to for the 1900 marriage and also another look at 1900 Census in case someone spots them mis-transcribed.
-
Not what you were looking for, but in case it helps, I found Margaret's obituary. She apparently died 7 Dec. 1954 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
-
I also found Jonathan's obit, and the 1949 Bridgeport, Connecticut city directory says that James died on 29 Dec. 1947 at age 75.
-
Any info is welcome, shelly, thanks.
We had found what we reckoned was Jonathon's death in Stratford, Connecticut on SSDI, but I had no notion of James or Margaret's death dates. Do the obits give much other detail or are they quite basic ones?
-
Hi Scotmum,
In a 1949 City Directory for The OK Laundry Company. Bridgeport. Connecticut - Mrs Margaret A McKee - Pres. Jonathan H McKee pres-tres. and Mrs Mary R Greer sec 350 Bishops Avenue.
Presume Mary R Greer is the married daughter of James and Margaret. - checked the Connecticut Death Index and came up with:-
Mary R Greer - Father's Surname: McKee. Born 23 April 1902 Pennsylvania. Widowed. Husband William. Homemaker. 81 Cobblestone Way. Windsor. Hartford. Conn.
Died: 19 Feb 1998 Windsor, Hartford, Connecticut. Aged 95 years.
Sandra
-
Great find, Sandra, thanks! Goodness, she lived to a grand age.....gives me encouragement to try and find if she had any descendants who might still be alive.
-
Not sure if Shelly could pick up the Obituary for Mary in the Hartford Courant ??? Could only get this piece and couldn't access any further. ???
February 21, 1998. GREER, Mary R. (McKee). Mary R. (McKee) Greer, 95, ... 19, 1998) at a local convalescent home. Born in Scranton, PA she lived in ......
Sandra
-
Update - have managed to pick up the Obituary - will send full account as a pm
Greer, Mary R. (mckee)
February 21, 1998
GREER, Mary R. (McKee)
Mary R. (McKee) Greer, 95, of Windsor, formerly of Stratford, widow of William H. Greer, went to be with the Lord, Thursday (Feb. 19, 1998) at a local convalescent home. Born in Scranton, PA she lived in Stratford many years moving to Windsor 25 years ago. She was a member of the Gospel Hall of Newington.
.....................................etc
Sandra
-
Just googled what you typed, Sandra, and bingo!, got this:
http://articles.courant.com/1998-02-21/news/9802210396_1_mckee-daughters-bloomfield-avenue
edit:
posts crossed
yikes....22 great grandchildren....surely I stand a chance finding a living descendant of her!
-
Have some marriage and other info as a follow up which I will send by pm. I'll eat my HAT if you don't find a living descendant ;)
Sandra
-
Brilliant stuff, Sandra....thanks again.
Still wonder where Margaret and James were at 1900 census...mmmmm..suppose I can't be too greedy with all these other finds :).
-
It looks as if they might have been in Scranton - thats where Mary was born but they could easily be mistranscribed. You never know someone may find them. ;)
Good Luck
Sandra
-
Scranton and Northampton are about 71 miles apart - 1 hour 24 mins according to google. Perhaps the Pennsylvania expert - Johnnyboy will come along and advise you the best places to look for the marriage of James and Margaret and birth of Mary. Can't see any RAOGK or library facility in Northampton at the moment which might help.
Sandra
-
7 Dec. 1954 - Bridgeport Telegram
"Mrs. James McKee
Mrs. Margaret McKee of 1293 North Avenue, Stratford, widow of James McKee, died at 1:55 am today in Bridgeport hospital where she was admitted Nov. 29 for medical treatment.
Services will take place Friday at 2 pm in the Stratford funeral home of Dennis and D'Arcy, 2611 Main Street. Burial will be at Lakeview cemetery.
Born in Ireland, Mrs. McKee, a resident of Stratford 30 years, was a member of Gospel Hall.
She is survived by a son, Jonathan H. McKee; a daughter Mrs. William H. Greer, both of Stratford; a sister in Ireland, and four grandchildren."
-
William H Greer. Born about 1908 and aged 63 years. Died 19 April 1971 Stratford. Connecticut
Married. Wife:- Mary
Sandra
-
Goodness shelly and Sandra....you are both on a roll with this one :D
The 'sister in Ireland' bit is encouraging as it was only a few months ago that I received a note of the Margaret I am following having married a James McKee in USA - this was from a lady in her 80s who I believe more than likely to be this 'sister's' daughter - would have been great if the obit had named the sister as that would have given me certainty or otherwise.....so tantalisingly close to having the final bits of proof, but maybe one of Margaret's descendants will know the name and I can then cross reference with what I know (when I finally make contact with one...which with all this info, should hopefully happen).
My 99.999999999999999999999% feeling that I have been following the right Margaret now has a fair few more .999999999s on it.
-
Quick update on another great find connected to this family.
Before posting here, earlier today, as a longshot, I sent an email off to library in Stratford, CT, based on the SSDI info we had found for Jonathan whilst in chatterbox. Librarian has gone the extra mile and found me what looked to be Jonathan arriving US from Ireland in 1905. Anyhow, I've just been on Ellis and lo and behold, the manifest shows family group of James, Margaret, Mary and Jonathan (both children noted as born US) returning to Bridgeport, CT!!! (I'd been on Ellis previously but looking for James' arrival in 1895....wasn't expecting that they had gone on a trip back to Ireland with two very young children early 1900)
Seems everyone is on a roll now with this search.
;D
-
Oh, crumbs - saw that earlier - typed out ready for posting and then decided you probably already had that info ??? Never found the incoming one though.
Sandra
-
I wonder.....have just been messing around again on familysearch and found a couple in 1900 (was able to view original):
James and Maggie A McKeen
Pennsylvania
Northampton
0134 Easton city Ward 8
both born Ireland
says married 5 years (so 1895)
says arrived 1900
whereas 'my couple' should be
married 1900
arrived 1895
mmmmmm.......wonder if whoever filled out the census form got some things mixed up.......
also, the above record has this Maggie A as born July 1874....'my' Margaret A was born July 1874!, mind you, it has James as born Sept 1874, whereas James, as far as we know from WW1 draft reg, was November 1872.
Still.......it is closer than anything else that has turned up so far......thoughts welcome.
-
Perhaps the Pennsylvania expert - Johnnyboy will come along and advise you the best places to look for the marriage of James and Margaret and birth of Mary. Can't see any RAOGK or library facility in Northampton at the moment which might help.
Sandra
Hi Scotmum:
Sandra summons. I obey. ;)
The birth of daughter Mary can be confirmed (or not) in two ways. Either way seems to cost $US25.00. Scranton is in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania, so...you can contact either
(1) the Lackawanna County Public Library (http://www.lclshome.org/services/genealogy.php). There is an e-mail address at the bottom of the page.
(2) the Lackawanna County Register of Wills (http://www.lackawannacounty.org/viewDepartment.aspx?DeptID=35). There are e-mail addresses down the page. To see records info, click on the Genealogy link at the top of the page for explanations and downloadable forms (don't use the e-mail link at the bottom of the Genealogy page).
A search of the MSN White Pages for Connecticut (http://msn.whitepages.com) turned up addresses and telephone numbers for the first name daughter in the obituary and her husband (now in Cromwell) and for the first named son in the obituary.
I just saw you last and checked the McKeen entry ion the 1900 census. I think it's your McKee folks. I looked at the Ellis Island manifest for the family coming back from Belfast in 1905. On that manifest James McKee's occupation is mechanic. In 1905 that meant someone who operated a machine. In the 1900 census, James McKeen's occupation is machinist. Too close to be a coincidence, I think.
John :o :o :o
-
Thanks for input, and thoughts, john....also much appreciated.
Aha, just read at one of your links:
" ...official registration of births and deaths did not become mandatory in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until 1906..."....could explain why Mary's birth is not appearing on searches done so far.
-
Hi Scotmum and Johnnyboy,
If there had been anyway to have found those marriage and birth certs easily, Johnnyboy would have known. $25.00 !!! not cheap !! shame !! Delighted that you have found the couple in 1900 - tried loads of combinations of the spelling but never turned anything up - well done you - they are certainly your couple.
Sandra
-
" ...official registration of births and deaths did not become mandatory in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania until 1906..."....could explain why Mary's birth is not appearing on searches done so far.
What happened in Pennsylvania is that the state did not require births to be registered at the state level until 1906. Records were centralized in one town in western Pennsylvania. Before 1906, births in Pennsylvania were frequently registered by individual counties on their own initiative. but the farther you go back before 1906, the less likely you are to see a birth with any governmental agency in Pennsylvania. You have to rely on church records, then.
In this case, I think that Mary McKee's birth is probably registered at the Lackawanna County courthouse in Scranton.
I also checked the old FamilySearch website for the marriage of James McKee and Margaret Ann Cavanagh. When I clicked on the batch number to see the source information, I was taken to a blank screen. The McKee-Cavanaugh marriage record on FamilySearch might be have been contributed by a researcher. One always has to be careful with contributed records.
Northampton County's seat is Easton, Pennsylvania. I think you have a chance to verify the marriage by contacting the county archives of Northampton County. You can go here to reach the county's website: http://www.rootschat.com/links/0fgi/. Scroll down to Archives and you'll find the e-mail address of a human person.
In my home county in Pennsylvania, early marriage records are kept in the Register of Wills office in very large ledger books. These books are still stored in the register's office on open shelves.
Just saw Sandra's reply. I think you might have luck e-mailing the Archives at Northampton county. And maybe you won't be charged. If you e-mail over the weekend, Monday, Oct. 10 is a national holiday: Columbus Day, when we celebrate the "discovery" of America as if the original occupants hadn't been here for thousands of years!
John :o :o :o
-
Thanks for all the further input, also much appreciated.
Quick update (and you can put your hat safely away sandra ;) ), with all the leads from this thread and some google research using same, I have managed to email one of the great grandchildren of James and Margaret.........and, more importantly, received a reply ;D. The chap is forwarding my email to his mum and I await hearing from her.
Well done everyone!
(ps maybe thread could be left open a little while as still some parts of the research need worked on)
-
Great News and very exciting. Was very confident about the "hat" - hope everything works out for you.
Good Luck
Sandra ;)
-
Yes, it's great news. Let us know how you get on.
John :o :o :o
-
Well, having tracked down one of the descendants and made good initial email contact, sadly, the follow through promised by them was not forthcoming. Never mind, will keep trying until I perhaps find one who is more interested in and/or has more time on their hands to discuss their family history.
-
Sorry to hear that, it all looked very promising - maybe they might come along in time. Have you tried some of the others - whitepages and sites like that one could help you.
All the best for 2012
Sandra
-
Just saw Sandra's reply. I think you might have luck e-mailing the Archives at Northampton county. And maybe you won't be charged. If you e-mail over the weekend, Monday, Oct. 10 is a national holiday: Columbus Day, when we celebrate the "discovery" of America as if the original occupants hadn't been here for thousands of years!
John :o :o :o
Update:
;D...thought I had followed through on your suggestion at time, John....but it seems I hadn't or at least, hadn't had a respons (probably side-tracked with the descendant hunt so didn't follow through). Anyhow....delighted to report that whilst there was nothing at the county archives, there was at Orphan's Court (odd place for marriage records, but there you go). I now, thanks to an amazingly helpful lady there (who has been thanked profusely), have a copy of the Marriage License application for the marriage I quoted at start of this thread........and......
it is for the Margaret Ann I had hoped it might be!
So all the work following that couple in census etc., has not been in vain (really did feel they were the right couple, but without proof from the descendants we tracked, I still needed to find proof for myself).
So, big thanks again to all for input on this thread.
ps
Sandra, hopefully I shall get some time soon to try and track down one of the others, as it really would be wonderful to make contact.
-
HI Scotmum,
Terrific, delighted you had a good response.
All the best
Sandra ;)
-
Hi Scotsmum: Congratulations on your find. Only saw this by accident, as the Rootschat Notifier left me out of the loop.
You never know where information will be found. Orphans courts in Pennsylvania counties also used to handle wills and marriages. Now both are usually with a county's Register of Wills.
John :o :o :o