Found! Honorah Sullivan

Reviewing previously explored databases can lead to new findings. This was the case with the searchable databases at the New Jersey State Archives. Death records are being indexed and added to the searchable database and the database is complete for June 1878 to June 1893. A simple search of Moore in Mercer County provided an answer to a long-standing question.

Edward Moore’s parents are Henry Moore and Nora Sullivan.[1] This fact has been known to me for almost as long as I’ve been interested in genealogy. What eluded me was whether this couple immigrated as their son did around 1850.

Nora and Henry have not been found in census records to date. The areas searched included New York, a possible point of entry, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, where Edward married and started his family, and Trenton, New Jersey, where Edward settled at the end of his life. No references or records have been found for this couple. It seemed that they remained in Ireland.

As I’ve mentioned, this blog started my genealogy do-over. Reviewing and organizing my files was long overdue. So when my simple search in a previously reviewed death records at the New Jersey State Archives revealed my 3x great grandmother, I was thrilled. She had settled in the United States and was living with her son, Edward, at the time of her death.[2] Honorah, a widow and born in Ireland, died of old age on 16 March 1892 and was buried at St. John’s Cemetery in Trenton, New Jersey. The *Grandma* headstone near the Moore plot is likely her marker and although no record has been found to prove this, she is the likely candidate. Persistence and luck led to a crack in this brick wall. Now, to find Henry Moore!

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[1] New Jersey, Certificate and Record of Death, 1915, Edward Moore, date of death 6 June 1915; photocopy in family file, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Trenton. 

[2] Certificate of Death, Mercer, New Jersey, Trenton, New Jersey State Archives, death of Honorah Moore, date of death 16 March 1892; copy ordered from archives, received 27 April 2015.

The Moore and Sullivan Families of County Kerry

According to Edward Moore’s death certificate, his parents were Henry Moore and Nora Sullivan, both born in Ireland.[1] While this death certificate states that he was born on 29 March 1840, his pension application states that he was born on 29 March 1836 near Tuosist, County Kerry, Ireland.[2]

A search of church records in the parish of Tuosist yielded two baptismal records recording the parents as Henry Moore and Honora Sullivan. The family’s address was Coornaguillagh. I have no idea how to pronounce that name yet!

Ann Moore, date of baptism 15 May 1849, Roman Catholic

Parents - Henry Moore and Honora Sullivan

Sponsor - Mary Connell[3]

Henry Moore, date of baptism 9 May 1845, Roman Catholic

Parents - Henry Moore and Honora Sullivan

Sponsors - Timothy Sullivan and Catherine Sullivan[4]

While baptismal records are available for Tuosist from 1761to1891, no record of Edward Moore born about 1836-1840 was found. Marriage records for Tuosist begin in 1850 so no record of a marriage between Henry Moore and Honora Sullivan was found.

Although it is not clear whether Henry and Honora Moore immigrated, a record has been located that is a possible match for the family. On 7 April 1851, Henry (37) and Norry (37) Moore along with children, Mary (9), Nancy (1) and Ned (13) arrived in New York City aboard the ship, Prince Albert.[5] This date is consistent with the date Edward Moore provided as his date of immigration. Daughter Ann may have been called Nancy, a common nickname, and her date of birth fits. Daughter Mary has not yet been identified and son Henry is missing from this family group. The Moore family arrived in New York during the Irish Famine and may have suffered the loss of one or more children prior to leaving Ireland.

The following year, in 1852, land records show that the 213 acres of Coornagillagh were occupied by Nicholas Moore, Bartholomew Sullivan and Margaret Shea, Denis Sullivan, Garrett Sullivan, Jeremy Sullivan and Ellen Sullivan. This revelation narrows the focus of my Moore and Sullivan families in Ireland, for now.

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[1] New Jersey, Certificate and Record of Death, 1915, Edward Moore, date of death 6 June 1915; photocopy in family file, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Trenton.

[2] Edward Moore (Pvt., Co. I, 16^th 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.

[3] Church Records, Baptisms, County Kerry, Tuosist, baptism of Ann Moore, date of baptism 15 May 1849, book 2, p. 70, no. 5; database online, (http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/58e96f0497425 : 21 Mar 2015).

[4] Church Records, Baptisms, County Kerry, Tuosist, baptism of Henry Moore, date of baptism 9 May 1845, book 2, p. 19, no. 8; database online (http://churchrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/details/0daf150496592 : 21 Mar 2015).

[5] Records for Passengers Who Arrived at the Port of New York During the Irish Famine, 12 January 1846 – 31 December 1851, ship: Prince Albert, date of arrival 7 April 1851, Moore family; database online, Famine Irish Passenger Record Data File (FIPAS) 1977 – 1989, (http://www.archives.gov/research/immigration/#links : 27 March 2015).

Edward Moore, Civil War veteran

Pension records are a great resource and can provide family information not easily found in other records. Edward Moore, my maternal 2^nd great grandfather, volunteered for service during the U.S. Civil War and his pension file is one of my favorite records. Edward was born to Henry Moore and Nora Sullivan on 29 March 1836 near Tuosist, County Kerry, Ireland.[1] This file provided Edward's location in Ireland which was previously unknown!

A private in 16^th Regiment, Company I Pennsylvania Infantry, Edward volunteered at Pottsville, Pennsylvania on 20 April 1861 and was honorably discharged on 30 July 1861 at Harrisburg, PA.[2] The 16^th Regiment Infantry organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg on 3 May 1861. During his service, the unit moved to York then to Chambersburg and onto Williamsport, Maryland where on 16 June, they attached to Miles’ 4^th Brigade, Cadwalader’s 1^st Division of Major General Robert Patterson’s Army.

On 2 July 1861, Patterson’s division crossed the Potomac River near Williamsport and marched to Martinsburg, Virginia. Under Patterson’s command were 3,500 men, comprised of some regular troops, but mostly 90-day volunteers, whose enlistments were about to end. Patterson was under orders to pin down a small Confederate division. On 3 July, Patterson occupied Martinsburg but made no further aggressive moves until 15 July, when he marched to Bunker Hill. They held off the Confederate unit but instead of moving on Winchester, Patterson turned east to Charles Town on 17 July and withdrew to Harpers Ferry.[3]

The Battle of Hoke’s Run (also known as The Battle of Falling Waters or The Battle of Hainesville) was part of the Manassas Campaign of the American Civil War. While this battle was considered a Union victory, it contributed to the Confederate victory at the Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) less than three weeks later.[4]

On 7 April 1911, Edward Moore, age 75, filed a Declaration of Pension and was eligible to receive twenty dollars per month. The marriage certificate in this pension file states that Edward Moore and Mary Curtin were married on 22 October 1866 at St. Patrick’s Church in Pottsville. They had twelve children, four of whom predeceased them. Research continues for a possible connection between Camp Curtin and Mary Curtin.

Following their marriage, Edward worked as a ‘pudler’ in the iron mills.[5] A puddler made wrought iron using a process in which pig iron is converted to wrought iron. This was a highly skilled and dangerous occupation which required physical strength, stamina and sustained concentration.[6]

Based on this information, much of which was gleaned from the pension file, it is clear that Edward and Mary Curtin Moore were very strong and courageous people!

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[1] Edward Moore (Pvt., Co. I, 16^th 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.

[2] Edward Moore Civil War pension no. SC 569,600, RG 15, NA-Washington.

[3] Falling Waters Battlefield Association, Inc. (http://www.battleoffallingwaters.com/newbattle.htm : 28 September 2010).

[4] Falling Waters Battlefield Association, Inc. (http://www.battleoffallingwaters.com/newbattle.htm : 28 September 2010).

[5] 1870 U.S. census, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Pottsville, p. 352, dwelling 30, family 38, Edward Moore; digital image online, HeritageQuest.com (http://heritagequest.com : 16 May 2009) citing NARA microfilm publication M593, roll 1447.

[6] Old Occupation Names, Article. Rodney MH Hall. Hall Genealogy Website. http://rmhh.co.uk/occup/i-k.html : 20 April 2010.