Friday, April 10, 2015

Is Timothy Sullivan related?


Looking at the people closely connected to one’s relatives often leads to more relatives and brick wall breakthroughs. While it hasn’t been determined yet, I hope that this is the case with Timothy Sullivan.

Timothy Sullivan appears closely connected to my 2x great grandfather, Edward Moore (1836-1915). Edward Moore’s mother was Nora Sullivan.[1] Timothy Sullivan volunteered in the same unit with Edward Moore during the Civil War.[2] At the marriage of Edward Moore and Mary Curtin, Timothy Sullivan was a witness.[3] In 1870, the families are enumerated next to each other in the census.[4] However, by 1872, Edward Moore’s family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania,[5] and by 1885, to Trenton, New Jersey.[6] Timothy Sullivan remained in Pottsville, Pennsylvania until his death in 1902/03.[7] 

Were these two men cousins? Perhaps Timothy’s father and Edward’s mother, Nora, were siblings. While a connection must still be determined, it is clear that Timothy and Edward shared a bond and I hope that they remained close even with a distance between them.



[1] New Jersey, Certificate and Record of Death, Edward Moore, 1915, photocopy from family files; Bureau of Vital Statistics, Trenton. 
[2] W.W. Munsell, History of Schuylkill County, PA, online transcription, New York: W.W. Munsell & Co., 1881, p. 116; (http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/schuylkill/history/local/munsell/hist0008.txt : 10 April 2015).
[3] Marriage Certificate, marriage of Edward Moore and Mary Curtin, copy from pension file, Edward Moore (Pvt., Co. I, 16th Reg’t PA Infantry, Civil War), pension no. SC 569,600, Case Files of Approved Pension Applications, 1861-1934; Civil War and Later Pension Files; Department of Veterans Affairs, Record Group 15; National Archives, Washington D.C.
[4] 1870 US census, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Pottsville, p. 352, dwelling 30, family 38, Edward Moore; digital image, AncestryHeritageQuest.com (www.ancestryheritagequest.com : 10 April 2015) citing NARA microfilm publication  M593, roll 1447.
[5] Letter dated 20 August 2010 from Lorraine Skelly, Holy Infancy Church, search of baptismal and marriage registers for Moore family, Honora Moore, date of birth 19 July 1872, date of baptism 27 July 1872.
[6] New Jersey, State Census, 1885, index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6TB2-K2M : accessed 10 April 2015), Edward Moore, Trenton, Ward 03, Mercer, New Jersey; citing p. , Department of State, Trenton; FHL microfilm. [7] Pennsylvania, Probate Records, 1683-1994, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, Pottsville, will of Timothy Sullivan, dated 12 September 1902, letters of administration filed 24 February 1903; digital images online (www.familysearch.org : 9 April 2015)

2 comments:

  1. Have you done DNA testing? I am asking only because I have had luck going this route... not exactly in terms of finding specific answers, but certainly in terms of finding fellow researchers. We are fortunate only in that we know the towns our ancestors came from in Co Cork; the actual MRCA is probably one generation beyond the records. Several of these DNA cousins have Sullivan families, which is why your post caught my eye.

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  2. I kept reading earlier posts on your blog, and see that your Sullivans came from a different part of Ireland... still, DNA is a great avenue to explore if you haven't already done so!

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