The ship list for the arrival of the Jerry and Mary (Sheehan) Sullivan family has been elusive. The common name is not helpful. They had nine children. One would think with that many children, the ship list could be found, but all the names of the children are common as well, so searching for them makes it difficult, too.
One of the strategies I use when trying to solve a tough problem is to review previous research with a distinct focus. My research question is “When did the Jerry & Mary Sullivan family arrive in the U.S.?”
Review Census Records
The first census that Jerry and Mary were enumerated in was in 1870 in Franklin Township, Houghton County, Michigan. Four children lived with them: Jeremiah, 12; Daniel, 11; Peter, 10; and Michael, 9 months. All are born in Ireland except Michael. This suggests they came to the U.S. between 1861 and 1869. [1]
The 1880 census in Moran Township, Todd County, Minnesota, has three of the above children living with them: Daniel, 20, Peter, 18, and Michael, 11. Next door is their son, Eugene, 29. All are born in Ireland of Irish parents, except for Michael. No additional clues here for their arrival date. [2]
The next available census, 1900, has columns concerning immigration and naturalization. By 1900, Jerry and Mary have died. The focus now will be on the children.
• The oldest, Mary Sullivan married James R. Sullivan and they were living in Holt County, Nebraska. The year of immigration was left blank. [3]
• Eugene Sullivan was living in Villard Township, Todd County, Minnesota. The arrival date was recorded as 1864. He has been naturalized. [4] If he was born in 1851, he would have been 13.
• John H. Sullivan was living in Anaconda, Deer Lodge County, Montana. His arrival date was 1866. [5] He was born in 1854, so would have been 12.
• Jerry Sullivan was living in Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. His arrival date was 1865. [6] If he was born in 1861, he was 4 years old. However, he may have been born in 1858, when he was baptized.
None of the siblings agree on the date of arrival. It is possible that Jerry and Mary did not come at the same time and some of the children came with Dad and others with Mom. Jerry, the son, was only four, so it makes sense that he would not remember or even know their arrival date.
Ten years later, Eugene indicated again that he arrived in 1864.[7] John H. said he arrived in 1862, four years earlier than he had said before. [8] Young Jerry said 1865, which was the same date as in 1900. [9] There is still no consensus from the census records.
Review Obituaries
Obituaries also tell the story of their arrival to the U.S. One obituary of the father, Jerry Sullivan, dated in 1888, stated he had arrived 27 years previously, making it about 1861. [10] The informant would have been either Mary or their oldest son, Eugene who lived nearby. Mother, Mary’s obit gave no immigration date.
• Daughter, Mary, died in 1910 and her obituary stated she had come at the age of 12, making that about 1855, which is outside of the range from earlier records. [12] Who was the informant? Likely her daughter, Mary, with whom she had been living.
• Son, Eugene’s obituary in 1922 stated he came to America when 12 and settled in Providence, Rhode Island. [13] That would have been then 1863.
• John H.’s obituary in 1932 had no mention of his arrival in the U.S. [14] His death certificate stated he had been in the U.S. 63 years, which would make 1869 the year of arrival. The informant was the county hospital. [15]
• Jerry died in 1926 and his obituary stated he came when 5 years old. [16] If born in 1861 as the 1900 census indicated, then the arrival was in 1865, so his story has been consistent in all his records of arriving in 1861. Perhaps he was told he was 5 when they came to the U.S. then the arrival would be in 1865. However, his baptism was in November 1858, which would make his arrival closer to 1863.
Naturalization Review
The obituary records did not help narrow down the date. The next record to check is the naturalization records.
• Jerry Sullivan was naturalized on 27 February 1879 at Todd Co, Minnesota. There is no mention of how long he had been in the U.S. [17]
• Eugene naturalized on 26 February 1880 at Tood County, Minnesota. There is no mention of when he arrived. [18]
• John H Sullivan filed his intent to be naturalized in Davison County, Dakota Territory. He arrived in New York in October 1865. [19]
• Jerry, the son, may not have formerly naturalized but took on his father’s status since he was a child.
Searching again in the New York Passenger List database at Ancestry. One claim is Jerry was born in 1811 and the five results when searching in the database do not seem to be him. None of his family is with him. I also searched using Jeremiah born in 1811 and Jerry and Jeremiah born in 1821. None of the returns matched the family makeup.
Conclusion
Several possibilities for what may have occurred:
• Jerry came alone and Mary and the children followed
• Jerry came with the eldest children and Mary followed with the younger children
• The ship list they came on did not survive.
• They came in a different port. Since one of the sons said they settled first in Rhode Island, I also checked passenger lists arriving in Boston but had no results.
This is still an open research problem, but when I return to the research, I know what I have already searched.
#52Ancestors-Week 8: Migration
This is my eighth year working on this year-long prompt, hosted by Amy Johnson Crow (https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/) at Generations Cafe.
I write each week in one of my two blogs, either Mam-ma’s Southern Family (https://mam-massouthernfamily.blogspot.com/) or My Trails into the Past (https://mytrailsintothepast.blogspot.com/). I have enjoyed writing about my children’s ancestors in new and exciting ways.
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1. 1870 U.S. census, Houghton Co., Michigan, Franklin, p 22, dwelling 152, fam 162, Jeremiah Sullivan.
2. 1880 U.S. census, Todd Co., Minnesota, Moran Twp, ED 133, sht 15b, dwelling 6, fam 6, Jerry Sulivan.
3. 1900 U.S. census, Holt Co., Nebraska, Grattan, ED 115, sht 8a, p. 146 (stamped), dwelling/farm 125, James Sullivan.
4. 1900 U.S. census, Todd Co., Minnesota, Villard, ED 200, sht 6b-7, dwelling 110, family 111, Eugene Sullivan.
5. 1900 U.S. census, Deer Lodge Co., Montana, Anaconda, ED 15, sht 1, dwelling 24, family 24, John Sullivan.
6. 1900 U.S. census, Pierce Co, Washington, Tacoma, ED 182 Sheet 1, 5th ward, Jerry Sullivan.
7. 1910 U.S. census, Todd, Minnesota, Villard, ED 185, sht 8b, dwelling 149, family 150, Eugene Sulivan.
8. 1910 U.S. census, Deer Lodge, Montana, Anaconda, ED 13, sht 5b, dwelling 107, family 134, John H Sullivan.
9. 1910 U.S. census, Pierce Co, Washington, Tacoma, ED 257, sht 9a, 169/186, Jerry Sullivan.
10. "A Good Temperance Lecture," Brainerd (Minnesota) Dispatch, 14 Dec 1888, p. 1, col. 4.
11. Staples World, 27 Feb 1892, p. 8.
12. "Death of Mrs. Sullivan,” The Frontier (O’Neill, Nebraska), 22 Sep 1910.
13. "Eugene Sullivan Passed Away,” Staples World, 2 Nov 1922 p. 1.
14. "Last Rites Said for John H. Sullivan Here," The Daily Report (Pomona, California), 31 May 1932, p. 1.
15. State of California, Department of Health Services, death certificate, no. 32-028359, 1932, John H. Sullivan.
16. "Railway Employee for 53 Years Dies at Home in Tacoma,” Tacoma Daily Ledger, 25 Apr 1926, p. A8.
17. Todd Co, Minnesota, District Court, Seventh Judicial District, naturalization records, Final papers, vol. A, p. 235, Jerry Sullivan, 1879, digital image, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org); digital film 102010229.
18. Todd Co, Minnesota, District Court, Seventh Judicial District, naturalization records, vol. A, p. 260, Eugene Sullivan.
19. "South Dakota, County Naturalization Records, 1865-1972," images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org), Petitions, 1882-1892, vol. 2D, p. 209, John H. Sullivan.
For Eugene in 1900, wouldn't he have been 13?
ReplyDeleteFor trying to help narrow down the year of arrival, have you checked to see if any directories (farm, county, other) exist for Franklin Township and/or Houghton County from 1870 going backward? What churches existed in the area? Even if no child was baptized, perhaps there are administrative records that might mention the family?
You are correct. That's what I get for doing math in my head. As for other records, I have looked. Mostly Catholic records are just sacramental and they don't tend to give immigration data, though may give the name of the place where they were born. But I know that.
DeleteI like the way you summarized your research and rationale. So often, in my family tree, the man came first to scout for work and a place to live, but not always. Fingers crossed that you turn up a fresh clue in the future.
ReplyDeleteI hope I do, but even if I don't, my research is documented.
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