Birth Certificate Mix Up?

I try to collect the birth records for all children born to a couple.  An exact date of birth helps identify the children in later records.  The location of the births over the years reveals the migratory pattern of a family.

I copied the birth certificates for seven children born to Patrick Francis ODonnell (1857-1931) and Delia Joyce (1862-1929) in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey:

Francis Patrick ODonnell, January 25, 1888
John ODonnell, July 9, 1890
James Richard ODonnell, June 3, 1892
Marguerite ODonnell, October 18, 1894
Joseph Peter ODonnell, June 11, 1897 ("William" on birth certificate)
Mary Ellen ODonnell, June 1, 1899
Katherine ODonnell, March 5, 1904

Baby number 1, Frank born 1888

Baby number 2, John born 1890

Baby number 3, James born 1892

Is this baby number 4?  Maggie born 1894

Baby number 5, William born 1897
Thereafter known as Joseph

Baby number 6, Mary born 1899

Baby number 7, Katharine born 1904

When reviewing these birth certificates later, I realized that I had the wrong Marguerite ODonnell.  I had a birth record for Maggie ODonnell, born October 18, 1894 in Bayonne to James ODonnell and Ellen Gallagher.  On my next trip to the New Jersey State Archives, I searched for the birth record of the correct Marguerite ODonnell.  I did not find it.

Upon further review, I think that the birth certificate for Maggie, daughter of James and Ellen, is actually the record for Marguerite, daughter of Patrick and Delia.  This birth certificate flows in order with the rest of the children- Marguerite was child number 4.  The midwife was the same- A Weyel.  The address appears to be similar to where the other children, except the first one, were born- Rail Road Avenue in Centreville, Bayonne.  And October 18, 1894 is the birthdate used by Marguerite ODonnell.

Patrick ODonnell, wife, and children in 1910.

Only six children are listed.  John ODonnell had died the year before.

The midwife may have confused Patrick and Delia's daughter with another baby born around the same time.  In the 1900 census in Bayonne, there is a Margaret ODonnell, born in August of 1894, living with her parents, John and Helen.

Irish Records!

For the first time I viewed Irish records for family in the United States!

My Irish studies get stuck once we reach the generation that left Ireland and settled in the United States.  Rarely does a record reveal anything more specific than "Ireland" as the place of birth.  The lack of a specific area in Ireland to look for records, combined with the prevalence of certain common Irish surnames, results in short Irish family trees.

Death certificate for Daniel Donovan, died from railroad injuries in Bayonne, New Jersey on March 5, 1890.
Note that the birthplace for him and his parents is simply "Ireland."

To help my DNA studies, my maternal grandmother's first cousins tested their (autosomal) DNA at 23andMe.  (Their mother and my grandmother's father were siblings.)  All of their ancestral lines trace back to Ireland.

Both cousins showed a close match via comparisons at GedMatch, where people can upload their DNA results from the three major testing companies, 23andMe, FamilyTreeDNA, and AncestryDNA.

This DNA cousin and I compared family trees.  The connection- the common ancestor- should not be very far back.  The DNA cousin had the surnames Donovan and Coughlan in her family tree.  My cousins' grandparents were John Coughlin (1854-1906) and Margaret Donovan (1855-1906), both born in Ireland, died in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey.

Margaret Coughlin died in Bayonne in 1906.
Her parents were listed as William Donovan and Ann.
Burial at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.

Usually, I would be stuck at the "from Ireland" part.  But the DNA cousin had a specific location in Ireland for her Donovan and Coughlans:  Skull (or Schull) in County Cork.

I had to find family for the Coughlins and Donovans in Bayonne.  A link came with Margaret:  she was buried at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City in the same plot as a child, William Donovan, who died in 1900.  [You can search burials for Holy Name Cemetery at the website of the Archdiocese of Newark.]  I did not find a gravestone for their plot.  (I searched before the snow.)

Here is little William Donovan in the 1900 federal census in Bayonne with his parents, Lawrence and Mary.

William Donovan, age 2, living with his parents and brother in Bayonne in June of 1900.
William died five months later.

This is William's death certificate.  The date of death coincides with the William buried with Margaret Coughlin in Holy Name Cemetery, and the address is the same as the census, so we know that we have the correct William.

Death Certificate for William Donovan, died November 27, 1900 in Bayonne at age 4 years.
His parents are listed as Lary and Mary.

Little William's parents were Lawrence Donovan and Mary O'Reilly.  They were married in Bayonne in 1896.  On the marriage certificate filed with the state, Lawrence's parents were listed as William Donovan and Ann Daly.  (Mary's parents were Francis O'Reilly and  Rebecca Nolan.)

Lawrence's residence in Jersey City was a "temporary stopping place."

If you can find a marriage record for an individual, you have a better chance of seeing full names of both parents, as the person was alive when this record was created.  In comparison, the information in a death record is entirely dependent upon the recollection or knowledge of someone who may have little information about the deceased's family.

So I now had Lawrence Donovan, son of William Donovan and Ann Daly, of Ireland.  Perhaps Margaret Donovan, wife of William Coughlin, was Lawrence's sister.

The DNA cousin sent me copies and links of church records from Schull East in County Cork.  A couple by the names of William Donovan and Anne Daly had several children baptized between 1855 and 1875, including a son, Lawrence, in 1862 and a daughter, Margaret, in 1855.

Lawrence of William Donovan and Anne Daly
Baptized December 28, 1865

Margaret of William Donovan and Anne Daly
Baptized January 3, 1855

Going through the church records in Schull East, I found baptismal records for eight children of William Donovan and Ann Daly:
Margaret, 1855
Thomas, 1856
Mary, 1860
Lawrence, 1862
Ann, 1865
William, 1867
Ellen, 1869
Timothy, 1875

The baptismal record for the last child that I found in Ireland, Timothy, was in a different format and provided a specific place name, Cappanolly.  To find this place today, search for Cappaghnacallee.  (Thank you TCO and TS.)

This family in the 1885 New Jersey State census- index at FamilySearch.org:

William Donovan and Mary Daly from Schull immigrated with their children to the United States.  Ann died in 1893 and William died in 1897 in Bayonne.

William Donovan's parents were listed as William and Mary.  If we search for this couple in Schull, we find William Donovan in the tithe applotment book for Cappanacollie in the year 1827!

Welcoming a Cousin from a German Branch

A third cousin of my father reached out to me.  He and my dad share a set of great great grandparents, David Uhl (1834-1884) and Clara Patschke (1840-1914).  David was from Gelnhausen and Clara was from Zeitz (both places now in Germany).  They married in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey in 1865.

Here is the family in the 1870 federal census: David, Clara, and their two children who had issue:

I am descended from David and Clara's daughter, Clara Uhl.  She married Herman Lutter.  Our third cousin is descended from their son, Henry Uhl, and his wife, Emma Holzhauer.

Two of David and Clara's children died young: David in 1871 and Nellie in 1882.  Another daughter, Lillie Uhl, married John Kuhl, but had no known children.

Family heirlooms trickled down to our third cousin, who kindly sent scans.  I was thrilled to see a Reisepass [passport] issued to David Uhl in 1854 for his travels from Gelnhausen to America.  David was 19 years old, had brown eyes, and stood five feet, four inches tall.

Signature of David Uhl

From David Uhl my branch received a hatchet with his last name, UHL, carved into the handle.

Our third cousin also received some of David Uhl's tools and belongings, branded with a similar UHL mark.

Amanuensis Monday: 1781 Will of Williampey Durye of Oyster Bay, Queens County, New York

WILL OF WILLIAMPEY DURYE (DURYEE) OF OYSTER BAY, QUEENS COUNTY, NEW YORK

Written August 2, 1781

Proved July 22, 1782

New York County, New York, Will Book 35: 51-53; Surrogate's Court

His Excellency James Roberston Esquire, Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the same, and Lieutenant General of his Majesty's Forces.

To All to whom these presents shall come or may in any wise Concern.

Sendeth Greeting.

Know ye that at Queens County on the Twenty second day of July last past before Samuel Clowes Esquire, thereunto Delegated and appointed, the last Will and Testament of Williampee Duryee Deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved, and is now approved and allowed of by me; and the said Deceased having whilst she lived and at the Time of her death Goods Chattels and Credits within this Province, by means whereof the proving and registring the said Will, and the granting Administration of all and singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits, and also the Auditting allowing and final discharging the Account thereof doth belong unto me; The administration of all and Singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased and any way Concerning her Will is granted unto Garret Nostrand, Nicholas Bennet, and Williampee Duryee, the Executors and Executrix in the said Will named, who are duly sworn well and faithfully to administer the same and to make and Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits and also to render a just and true account thereof when thereunto required.

In Testimony whereof I have Caused the Prorogative Seal of the Province of New York to be hereunto affixed at Fort George in the City of New York the ninth day of August one thousand seven hundred and Eighty two. -------- Sam Bayard Jun Secr'y-----

To All Christian People to whome these presents shall come or any ways Consern.

Know yea that I Williampe Durye, Widow of Joost Durye, late Deceased, of the Township of Oyster bay in Queens County on Nesaw Island & Provens of New York, being this second day of August in the year of Our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and Eighty one, being in a good State of Health and mind and understanding quick and good and well knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, I being therefore desirous to sett my outward house in Order before my final change doth Come, do therefore make my last Will and Testament in the following manner.

First I Commend & Committ my Soul to God that Gave it me and my Body to the Earth to be Buried with a Christial Burial at the discression of my Executors hearin after named and appointed and as Touching such Worldly and Outward Estate wharewith it hath pleased God to Bestow upon me.  I Will and devise and dispose of as is hereafter directed and expressed.

Item.  I will and Order all my just Debts and Funeral Charges and Expences all fully paid before any divid be made.

Item.  I Will and Bequeath unto my Son Charles Dereaye, son George Durye, the Lame Boy the just and full Sum of Ten pounds York Money to be put on Instrust for him until he arrives to Lawfull Age and then paid him with the growing Intrust and in Case he the said George Durye should not live to be of age then the said Ten Pounds and Instrust shall be divided equally between his Brothers and Sisters.

Item.  I Will and Bequeath unto my Daughter Willempey Durye, one the best of my Cows, six Puter Platts, three Platters, two Basons, Six knives and forks with all Tea Tacklin and Chaney Ware.

Itam.  I Will and bequeath unto Cornelia Noostrand my great Family Bible.

Item.  I Will and bequeath unto Mary Bennet one Large Pewter Platter marked M.R.T. which was my Mothers.

Itam.  I do give and bequeath all the Remainder of my Estate of all kinds and of all Nature whatsoever unto my three Daughters, namely Cornelia Noostrand, Mary Bennet, and Willimpey Durye and to be equally Devided between them as they shall think proper, and in Case that either of them should decease before they shall Reive ther third part, then my Will is that their part shall be equal Devided between there Lawfull Children or Haires.

Lastly I do hereby Ordain and appoint my two Sons in Law Garret Noostrand and Nicholas Bennet, both of the Township of Oysterbay, my Executors and my Daughter Willimpey Durye my Exectruk to this my last Will and Testament.

In Witness whareunto I the said Willimpey Durye have hear unto sett her hand and fixed my Seal the day and year above written, upon y second Consideration I give unto Willimpy Durye my side Sadel and Brass Kittell done before signed over and above, the above a fore mentioned things.  ----------------  Willime Durye LS

Signed Sealed published pronounced and Declared by the said Willempey Durye for her last Will and Testament in the presence of the Subscribers which signed as Witnesses in the presence of the Testatrix and of each other.  Isaac Wright.  Jordan Wright.  John Wright.

Queens County.

Be it Remembered that on the Twenty second day of July One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty two, Personally came and appeared before me Samuel Clowes Surrogate of the Said County John Wright of Oyster bay of said County yeoman and being duly affirmed, declared that he did see Williampee Duryee sign and Seal the within Written Instrument, purporting to be the Will of the said Williampee Durye; bearing date the second day of August One thousand seven hundred and Eighty one, and heard her publish and declare the same as and for her last Will and Testament.  That at the Time thereof she the said Williampee Durye was of Sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the Knowledge and belief of him this affirmanant; and that his name subscribed as a Witness to the said Will, is of his Own proper hand Writing which he subscribed as a Witness to the said Will in the Testators Presence – as also that he this affirmanant did see Isaac Wright and Jordan Wright sign their names to the said Will as Witnesses thereto, and that in the presence of the Testator.  ----------------------  S Clowes Surrogate

Unusual Name

I've never seen "United States" as a given name, but here it is on a birth record from 1909- for father and son.

Birth certificate for United States Cook, Jr.
Born May 29, 1909 in Newark, Essex County, New Jersey
Father: United States Cook.  Mother:  Bertha Wilkins.

I also found it unusual that the notice of a name change- over sixty years later- was on the microfilm with the birth certificate.

In case you thought this was a clerical error, it's not.  Here is United States Junior with his mother in the 1920 census.

Amanuensis Monday: 1781 Will of Joost Duryea of Oyster Bay, Queens County, New York

WILL OF JOOST DERAY (DURYEA) OF OYSTER BAY, QUEENS COUNTY, NEW YORK

Written April 1, 1781

Proved July 30, 1781

New York County, New York, Will Book 34: 277-280; Surrogate's Court

His Excellency James Roberston Esquire Captain General and Governor in Chief in and over the Province of New York and the Territories depending thereon in America, Chancellor and Vice Admiral of the same, and Lieutenant General of his Majesty's Forces.

To All to whom these presents shall come or may in any wise Concern.  Sendeth Greeting.

Know ye that at Queens County on the thirtieth day of July last past before Samuel Clowes Esquire thereunto Delegated and appointed, the last Will and Testament of Joost Duryea Deceased (a copy whereof is hereunto annexed) was proved, and is now approved and allowed of by me; and the said Deceased having whilst he lived and at the time of his death Goods Chattels and Credits within this Province, by means whereof the proving and registring the said Will and the granting administration of all and Singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits, and also the auditting allowing and final discharging the Account thereof doth belong unto me; The administration of all and singular the Goods Chattels and Credits of the said Deceased and any way Concerning his Will is granted unto John Wortman, Gabriel Duryea, Abraham Muntfort, and Willits Kirby the Executors in the said Will named, the three former being duly sworn and the latter being duly affirmed well and faithfully to administer the same, and to make and Exhibit a true and perfect Inventory of all and Singular the said Goods Chattels and Credits and also to render a Just and true account thereof when thereunto required.  In Testimony whereof I have Caused the Prorogative Seal of the Province of New York to be hereunto affixed at Fort George in the City of New York the thirty first day of August one thousand seven hundred and Eighty One. -------- Sam Bayard Jun Secr'y-----

To All Christian People to whome these presents shall come or any ways Consern.  Know yea that I Joost Deray, of the Township of Oysterbay in Queens County on Nesaw Island and Province of New York, yeoman, being this first day of April in the year of our Lord Christ one thousand seven hundred and eighty one, being in but a weakly state of Helth but mind and understanding quick and good and well knowing that it is appointed for all men once to Dye, I therefore am desirous to sett my outward house in order, before my final change doth Com, do therefore make my last Will and Testament in the following manner.

First I commend & Commett my Soul to God that gave it me and my Body to the Earth to be Buried with a Christian Buriel at the descresion of my Executors hearin after mentioned and named, and as Touching such Outward Estate wharewith it hath pleased God to bestow upon me.  I will and Devise and dispose off as is hereafter directed and expressed.

Item.  I will order and direct my Executors hearin named to fulley pay all my Just Debts and and funal Charges and all other Expences that arices in the Execution of this my Will.

Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Will beloved wife Willimpey Dereay two of my best Beds and full furneture and my best horse and and riding Chais, my Cubbord, two Tables, Looking Glass, and house hold furneture of all sorts and all Kinds that is in my house suffecent to furnish her for house keeping at the discresion of my Excetors with Suffientcey of meat and bread Com to last her one whole year after my Dcease with two of my best swine and the use and profit of all that of my Lands which my Son George Dereay leased to me and my wife, Referances thereunto being had to said lease.  I also Will and bequeath unto my said Wife the full and Just sum of two hundred pound good Currant Lawfull money paid her by my Exectors within three month after my Decass all which I give her at her one free Disposal.

Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Daughter, Willimpey Dereay, the next Choice of my Beds and full furneture, and the full and Just Sum of Thirty pounds of good Current money as above said to paid her within four month after my Decass.

Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Grandson, George Dereay, son of Jacob Dereay, the Sum of ten pound.

Item.  I will unto my Grandson Rulaf Dereay, son of John Dereay, the sum of ten pound all Currant money to be putt on Intrust untill they arrive to Lawfull age and then paid them with the Instrust.

Item.  I will unto Nealey Noostrand the sum of twety Pound paid her when my Excutors shall think proper for the use of her Lawfull Children or Lawfull Hars – Twenty.

Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Son, George Derea, and to his Hares and Assigns and to there free disposal all that of one Shilling Rite of Land in the Common in the Township of Hempsted which I Borgt of James Pearsall of Huntington in Seffas County.  I also give and bequeath unto my Son, George Dereay, twenty one Acres of plain Land which I bought of Jonathan Pratt, situated in Oysterbay Plain with all my ?ites of Land whatsoever that is not already given away and disposed of to him, the said George Dereay, and to his Hares for Ever and to there free disposal.

Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Son, Charles Derea, the sum of five Shillings paid him within One year after my Decass, which makes with what I have before given him his full Shear and Deviden of my Estate.

Item.  I will and order my Exutors to sell and Dispose of All my Estate which is not already given away and disposed of and turn the same into money and to divide in the following manner, which is to say.  I give and bequeath unto my Son, George Dereay, four Eleventh parts.  Item.  I give and bequeath unto my Grand Children, Children of my Son, John Dereay, Dceased, two Eleventh parts of the neat procead and to be put on Intrust untill they com to Lawfull age and then to be Eaqually divided between them.  Item.  I will and bequeath unto my three Grand Sons, sons of Jacob Dereay, Dceased, two Eleventh parts of the neet procead of my Estate to be putt on Intrust, and to be Equally divided between them or the survivers of them that shall live to Lawfull age.  Item.  I give and bequeath unto my Daughter, Mary Bennet, one Eleventh part of my Estate.  Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Daughter, Willimpey Dereay, one Eleventh part of the neet prosads of Estate.  

Item.  I will and bequeath unto my Sun in Law, Gareet Noostrand, the profit and Intrust of one Eleventh part of the neet prosad paid him so long as he liveth and Provided my Daughter, Cornelia, should have Lawfull Children, then the principal or one Eleventh part shall be equal divided between her Lawfull Children, but in Case my Daughter should live to be a widow, then I give and bequeath the one Eleventh part paid unto her and at her own free disposal.  I also give and bequeathto Nelas Lawfull Hars a Bond I have against her Husband, Garret Noostrand, Dated ye twenty first of March 1781.  Condition of one hundred pound fourteen Shilling three pence, to be paid them when they arrive to Lawfull age & the Instrust yearly paid to there Mother, Nealey Noostrand.  And in Cass that Nealy should not have Lawfull Isseu- and should Dceass before her Husband, Garret Noostrand, then it is my will and I do Order and direct that her Eleventh part and the Bond or money due on Noostrands Bond be equally divided between George Dereay John Dereay and Jacob Dereay Children and Mary Bennet and Willempy Dereay in this Preposan.  George Dereay to have as much as the Children of John & Jacob Dereay, Dceased, and Woman to have half as much and the true intent and meaning is that if Cornelia Noostrand shod Decass not having Lawfull Chldres or Decass before her Husband then her part or Devidan be Devided into six parts.  George Dereay to have two parts, John Dereay Children to have one part, Jacob Dereay children to have one part and Willimpy Derey to have One part and Mary Bennet One part.

Lastly I do hereby Ordain Constitute and appont my Friends and Neighbour John Wortmon, Willits Kirby, Gabiral Dereay and Abraham Monfoort all of the Township Oyterbay in Queens County my Excutors to this my last will and Testement disenwlling and Revoaking all other and former Wills in Wittness whereof I the said Joost Dereay have hear unto sett my hand and fixed my Seal the day and the Date above written ----------------- Joost Durya LS

Signed Sealed published Pronounced and Declared by the said Joost Dereay for his last Will and Testament in the presents of the subscribers which signed as Wittnesse in the presents of the Testator and Each other.  Isaa Wright.  George Montfort.  John Wright.  Queens County.

Be it Remembered that on the Thirtyeth day of July One thousand Seven hundred and Eighty One personally came and appeared before me Samuel Clowes Surrogate of the Said County John Wright of the Township of Oysterbay of said County yeoman and being duly affirmed Declared that he did see Joost Duryea sign & seal the within written instrument, purporting to be the Will of the said Joost Duryea bearing date the first day of April One thousand seven hundred and Eighty one, and heard him publish and Declare the same as and for his last Will and Testament; that at the time thereof he the said Joost Duryea was of sound disposing mind and memory to the best of the Knowledge and Belief of him this affirmant; and that his name subscribed to the said Will, is of his own proper hand writing which he subscribed as a Witness to the said Will in the Testators presence – and that also that he this affirmant did see Isaac Wright and George Montfort the other witnesses to the said Will subscribe their names as Wittnesses thereto in the Testators Presence.  ----------------------  S Clowes Surrogate

Excluded, not Forgotten

When researching your family's history, each new discovery answers some questions and raises new ones.  Such was the case with the Estate of Fannie Brewer.

Fannie Duryea (1830-1901) married Abraham Lent Brewer (1826-1901) about 1848 in New York City.  They died within hours of each other in April of 1901 in Spring Valley, Rockland County, New York.  Abraham died first.  Fannie's will left everything to Abraham, but since he died before she had a chance (a few hours) to write a new will, Fannie was deemed to have died intestate.  The couple had no surviving children, so Fannie's estate was divided among her living relatives.

This was a great find.  Fannie's siblings were listed, along with their children.  But this was an incomplete list.  I was confused by the omission of one sibling, John Duryea.  John died in 1836 in New York City.  I theorized that maybe the family had forgotten about him, since he died so long ago.  Yet one of John's children, Catherine Jane Duryea (1834-1906), was a witness at family wedding in 1890 in Jersey City, signing "Kate Lockwood."  So Fannie's long-gone sibling, John Duryea, was not forgotten, but rather omitted from the distribution of the estate.

Later, I discovered another older and long-deceased brother, Rulief S Duryea.  In the 1830s, Rulief moved to Illinois and established Yorkville in Kendall County with James S Cornell (related to Ann Cornell?).  Rulief died in 1846.  His wife, Susan Montrose (1812-1897), and children later moved to California.  Was Rulief forgotten or omitted on purpose?

Now I think I have a better theory why Fannie's oldest brothers, Rulief and John, were omitted from her estate.  They were half-siblings.  Fannie shared a father, Garret S Duryea, with them, but not a mother.  Rulief and John's mother was Charity Horton.  Fannie and the siblings mentioned in the court papers were children of Ann Cornell (1784-1871).  Ann outlived Garret some 37 years.

In 1901, when Fannie's estate was probated, New York law provided that full siblings inherited to the exclusion of half siblings if the inheritance came through the non-shared parent.

This is my explanation for now as to why the descendants of Rulief and John did not inherit anything from Fannie's estate.  Half-siblings could be excluded in certain circumstances.  I thought that Fannie's money came to her by her husband's death-- this would not be a reason to exclude Fannie's half-siblings.  The only explanation to exclude the half-siblings would be that Fannie's money came to her through her mother, Ann, who was not the mother of the half-siblings.  But Ann died 30 years before Fannie.  Surely any money was long disbursed and used.

At least one of Rulief's children was alive when Fannie died in 1901.  Sarah Eliza Duryea (1843-1903).  She was born in Illinois and died in California.  Her husband was Edward L Hathaway (1841-1914).

FAN: Friends, Associates, Neighbors

Hunting for ancestors results in thousands of names, dates, and locations, but you need even more than just "family members."  You should also be looking at, and recording, the people who lived next to your persons of interest; worked with them or owned businesses with them; witnessed wills and marriages; sponsored religious ceremonies, and so on.

This is called the FAN Method:  Friends, Associates, and Neighbors.

In the 1855 New York State Census (images available at FamilySearch.org), George W Duryea (1823-1864) and his family are living in New York City, 19th Ward.  With them is a servant, Mary Walpole, age 28, born in Ireland.  This Irish servant later married George's brother, Jacob Duryea (1824-1899).  This shows us how Mary Walpole probably crossed paths with Jacob Duryea.

Mary died in 1915 in Jersey City.  She was buried at Hoboken Cemetery in North Bergen, Hudson County, New Jersey.

Unlike other sources, Mary's death certificate gives her place of birth as England, not Ireland.
Her parents are listed as John Wallpole and Mary Brazil.

Discovering Ancestors in Names of Cousins

When researching family lines, it is vital that you research siblings of your direct ancestors, as well as their children and grandchildren, because they will yield additional information on your shared ancestors.  Also, when possible, obtain certificates of births, marriages, and deaths, even if you *think* that the record would contain nothing new.  The record would at least confirm other evidence and may provide new clues.

John Duryea (1861-1919) was a first cousin of my great great grandfather, Abraham Brewer Duryea (1878-1944).  Abraham's middle name, Brewer, is from the family of his maternal grandmother, Rene Brewer (1824-1904).

John and Abraham's grandfather was Garrett Duryea (1777-1834).  I am seeking documentation that Garrett's first wife was Charity Horton.  John and Abraham descend from Garrett's second wife, Ann Cornell (1784-1871).

On my most recent trip to the New Jersey State Archives in Trenton, I copied John Duryea's marriage certificate to Katherine Dwyer (1858-1929).  They were married in Hoboken, Hudson County, New Jersey on February 11, 1889.  To my surprise and delight, John's middle name was included on the certificate.  HORTON.  I wonder if the family knew of the origin of this name when John was named, as he is the grandson of Ann Cornell, not Charity Horton.

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