Monday, March 21, 2016

52 Ancestors No. 52: The Broderick-Knapp Family Photographs

My first cousin (2x removed) Mary Amelia "Geraldine" Broderick was born on the 4th of December 1908 in Canard River, Ontario the daughter of Leo William Broderick (1879-1920) and Claire (Gignac) Broderick (1882-1973). Leo Broderick was engaged in farming at the time of her birth (Source: Ontario, Canada, Catholic Church Records (Drouin Collection), 1747-1967) . Her father Leo would later become a detective in Windsor Ontario

Geraldine's Parents
 Leo William Broderick (1879-1920) 
and Claire (Gignac) Broderick (1882-1973)


Mary Amelia "Geraldine" Broderick (1908-1974)
Photo (c 1925); Source: Detroit Border Crossings 1905-1963




I located a border crossing card for her that said she worked at the Book-Cadillac Hotel in Detroit in the mid to late 1920's

The Book-Cadillac Hotel in the 1920s
Source: The Burton Collection; Detroit Public Library




 1929

I found pictures of Geraldine in the Border Cities Star at the Annual Haverhill Club Holiday Dance. She is with her sister Madge Broderick and future brother-in-law Johnny E. Murray.


At 24 years of age, Geraldine married Thomas C. Knapp at the Immaculate Conception church in Windsor, Ontario



As far as I know, Geraldine and Thomas Knapp had only one daughter pictured below.

Geraldine (Broderick) Knapp and daughter "Gerry" (c1940)

 In 1946, when her sister Margaret (Broderick) Hogan died, her obituary stated that Geraldine was living in Nomoka, Indiana.

Windsor Daily Star - Nov 11, 1946

When Geraldine's mother Claire (Gignac) Broderick died in August 1973, her obituary stated that Geraldine was then living in Pompano Beach, Florida.


Mary Amelia "Geraldine" (Broderick) died aged 65 years at Lighthouse Point, Broward, Florida, USA and her husband Thomas Cassius Knapp died there in 2003 at 95 years of age. (Source: Social Security info)


Wednesday, March 16, 2016

The Irish Surnames of Maidstone, Essex and Detroit

This St. Patrick's Day blog post is dedicated to the Irish ancestors who lived in Maidstone, Essex, Kent (Ontario) and Detroit, Michigan.


Below is an excerpt from the book, "Detroit is my home town" written by Malcolm W. Bingay (editorial director and columnist at the Detroit Free Press) in 1946 and found on the Internet Archive.

In the book are tales from Corktown Detroit and the song below is presented as follows:

From Detroit Is My Own Hometown

 Essex County Irish

Some Essex county (Ontario) Irish surnames compiled here by Victoria Penner https://alifeinessexcounty.wordpress.com/2012/03/18/essex-county-irish-part-1/ and some of my Irish ancestor's surnames added. The source for some of the surnames is "Commemorative biographical record of the county of Essex, Ontario : containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens and many of the early settled families"

Askin – came to Sandwich in the late 1700s
Atkin – originally English but fled to Ireland during the time of Cromwell. Came to Essex County in 1840 from County Wexford.
Beacom – County Fermanagh. Came to Mersea Township in 1853 after several years in Quebec (the family arrived in Canada in 1841)
Brett - County Sligo, Ireland in 1826 and came to North America 
Brien – Fermanagh, Ireland. Came to Essex in 1846.
Burke – Mary Ann (came from Montreal and married John LaMarsh).
Brennan - County Kerry arrived in 1853
Broderick - County Clare - came across the Atlantic 1843
Catherwood – first came to Peel County, then bought land in Colchester North in 1887.
Cleary – County Fermanagh – came to Montreal first, then to Windsor in 1841.
Cowan – Northern Ireland, County unknown – came to Mersea about 1842
Curry – Northern Ireland – came to Windsor in 1838.
Gardiner – came from Ireland in the early 1800s and originally settled in New York State. Son James Gardiner moved to Canada, eventually settling in Chatham in 1870.
Golden – County Sligo, Ireland. The Goldens of Ireland were originally English but were forced to flee to Ireland during the time of Cromwell. Came to Anderdon in approximately 1850.
Hanna – first came to Lanark County from Ireland in 1820. Came to Essex County in 1884.
Henderson – Ernest – came to Canada in 1883 from Ireland where he worked for the Great Northern Railroad of Ireland. 
Hincks (Rev. John Perrot Hincks) – Dublin and Belfast. Came to Canada in 1860 and to Windsor in 1880 as rector of All Saints Anglican.
Kenning – came to Canada in 1834, didn’t move to Essex County until 1887.
McCarthy – County Cork. Came to Sandwich South about 1839.
McHugh – from County Cavan, Ireland. Came to Maidstone in 1840.
McKeough – from Ballymackeough, Tipperary. Came to Paris Ontario in 1829, settled in Chatham sometime thereafter (the source book includes some Kent county settlers too so I will include them here)
McCormick – County Down and Belfast. Originally the McCormicks came to the British American colonies back in the early 1700s. Came to Colchester South in 1795. There have also been McCormicks on Pelee Island.
McNamara – Mary – born in 1822 in Ireland — Married Leonard Scratch (Kratz) of Gosfield.
Miller – Louise – married into the Vermette family.
Mooney – came to Sandwich South in 1836 after 15 years living in Valcartier Quebec. Home county in Ireland unknown.
Moynahan - County Kerry arrived in 1828, first staying in Pennsylvania for three years
O’Connor – originally came to Boston in 1824, settling up in Canada in Maidstone in the 1830s.
Osborn – Jane – Dublin – married to Walter Atkin, came with him in 1840.
Wilkinson – County Tyrone, originally, then Virginia. Came to Malden in 1801. (likely a loyalist) 


The Maidstone Cross was erected in the year 2000 to commemorate the the 150th anniversary of the devastating famine in Ireland 1845-1852. The Irish family surnames engraved on the Maidstone Cross helped build St. Mary's Parish.

Source: Photos taken by Louise & Jack Boyde at the 2000 Maidstone Cross Dedication

Source: Photos taken by Louise & Jack Boyde at the 2000 Maidstone Cross Dedication

 Surnames Appearing on the Maidstone Cross

ALLEN, AUSTIN, BARRETT, BARRY, BATTERSBY, BEAHAN, BRADY, BRAZILL, BRENNAN, BRODERICK, BROWN, BURKE, BUTLER, BRYNEE, CAHILL, CARROLL, CASEY, CHITTLE, CLANCY, COLE, COLLINS, CONNELLY,CONROY,CONWAY, COSTIGAN, CRONIN, CUNNINGHAM,CURNEYN, DALY, DANIBER, DAUGHTERY, DAWSON, DEEHAN, DELANEY, DENNISON, DEVLIN, DILLON, DIXON, DOLAN, DONAGHUE, DONNELLY, DONOVAN, DOOLEY, DORAN, DOWNING,DOYLE,DRISCOLL, DUNN, FAHEY, FALLON, FARRELL, FERRY, FIELDS, FITZGERALD, FITZPATRICK, FLANAGAN, FLANNERY, FURLONG, GALLAGHER, GAUGHAN, GEARY, GRAHAM, GRANT, GREEN, GREENAWAY, HALEY, HALFORD, HAMILTON, HAUGH, HAYES, HEALY, HENCHEY, HENNESSEY, HENRY, HICKEY, HIGGINS, HOGAN, HOULIBAN, HUGHES, HURLEY, JONES, KANE, KAVANAGH, KEANE, KEATING, KELLY, KENNY, KILROY, KIRBY, LANE, LARKIN, LAVIN, LENNON, LYNCH, LYONS, MAHER, MAHON, MAHONEY, MARKHAM,MARTIN, McAULIFFE, McCANN, McCARTHY, McCLOSKEY, McCOY, McDONALD, McGUIGAN, McGUIRE, McHUGH, McINTYRE, McKEON, McLAUGHLIN, McLEAN, McMAHON, McNALLY, McNAMARA, McPHARLIN, MITCHEL, MOONEY, MORAN, MORTIN, MOYNAHAN, MULLINS,MURPHY, NANGLE, NOLAN, O'BRIEN, O'CALLAGHAN, O'CONNELL, O'CONNOR, O'DONNELL, O'FLYNN, O'GORMAN, O'HALLORAN, O'KEEFE, O'NEIL, O'RILEY, O'SULLIVAN, POWERS, QUINLAN, REYNOLDS, ROBINSON, RUDDEN, RYAN, SAVAGE, SCULLEY, SEXTON, SHANAHAN, SHEEHAN, SHEENAN, SHERIDAN, SLATTERY, SMITH, SMYTHE, SWEENY, TIERNAN, TWOMEY, WALSH, WARD


As the song says,


"A great many of them, 
As you know, passed away,
But we reverence their memory
On their Patron's Saint's Day.  

Each day of the year,
when the bell tolls,
Just say a few prayers, 
For the repose of their souls."




Source: Border Cities Star March 17, 1930

Saturday, March 12, 2016

52 Ancestors No. 51: The Broderick-Murray Wedding

I was quite excited to locate a Border Cities Star article dated January 5, 1935 that had the Wedding announcement of Mary Margaret Broderick (1911-1994) and John Charles Murray (-1995)

Source: Border Cities Star; Jan 5, 1935; Page 6 of 28; Found online
The caption reads:
"Mr. and Mrs John Charles Murray, JR; whose marriage took place this morning at Immaculate Conception Church, are shown with their attendants immediately following the ceremony. From left to right are Miss Marcella Broderick, maid of honor; Mrs Murray, the bride, who was before her marriage Miss Madeline Margaret Broderick; daughter of Mrs. Clara Broderick of Marentette Ave and the late Leo Broderick; Mr Murray, the bridegroom, son of Mr and Mrs Charles Murray of Church street and Mr. Raymond Marcotte, best man. Mr and Mrs. Murray will take up residence on Church street following their return from a motor trip to New York City. Mr Murray is physical training instructor at the Windsor-Walkerville Vocational school.

Miss Madeline Margaret Broderick on her wedding day 1935

Madeline Margaret Broderick was the daughter of Detective Leo Broderick and Claire Gignac

Madeline's parents Detective Broderick and Clara (Gignac) Broderick
I wanted to include this beautiful photograph of this most gorgeous child - their son Donald Murray.


I am fortunate to have connected with some Broderick-Murray distant cousins through my genealogical research. That is why I enjoy doing genealogy so much. You meet wonderful relatives that you never knew you had!

Thursday, March 10, 2016

List 279: Fenian Raid Volunteer Bounty Claim

Martin Broderick (1831-1915)
 Martin Broderick's obituary read that he was seen walking about before he died with his Fenian medal pinned to his breast:
"For his services in the raid Mr Broderick was given a grant of land and a medal. The latter was, he considered, his most valuable possession, and until three days before his death he was seen on the streets with the trophy pinned to his breast." (Source: The Detroit Free Press; Page 11 Tuesday, October 11, 1915)
The Fenian Raids took place in the 1860s and, after much protest and a national petition organized by Fenian veterans,  in January 1899, Britain finally authorized a Canadian General Service Medal for veterans of the 1866 and 1870 Fenian Raids and the 1870 Red River Rebellion.

The medal finally arrived in 1914, only one year before Martin Broderick died. 

Martin Broderick's approved "Fenian Raid Volunteer Bounty" claim is found on List No. 279 at Library and Archives Canada. Below are the documents related to Martin Broderick.


RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279
March 4, 1913 Application For Grant 
The Fenian Raid Volunteer Bounty Act
(March 1913)

Below is Martin Broderick's application for a grant under the Fenian Raid Voluntary Bounty Act 

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279

J. Wallace Askin's
Comrade Declaration 
(March 1913)
 
Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279

Department of Militia and Defense
Rejection of Application
May 7, 1913

On May 7, 1913, the Department of Militia and Defense wrote to Martin Broderick that, "it will be necessary for you to produce better proof of your service, and any facts you can which would prove that you actually served."

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279

On May 31, 1913, Frederick Neal wrote from Sandwich, Ontario to the Secretary of the Militia Council (Headquarters, Ottawa) on behalf of Martin Broderick:
Source: The Town of Sandwich (Past and Present) by Frederick Neal
Frederick Neal's Letter (May 1913)

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279

Frederick Neal indicates in his letter that he is enclosing written declarations made by:
  • Martin Broderick before ex-mayor Eugene Brault
  • Sargeant David Clark declared before Capt J. Wallace Askin
  • Private John Vigneaux declared before Capt. J. Wallace Askin
Martin Broderick's Declaration (May 1913)

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279

From Martin's declaration, I learned:

  • Martin signed his name with an "x" meaning that he never learned to write
  • Martin first joined the Voluntary Independent Infantry Co. No. 2 about the year 1862 under the command of  the late senator Charles E. Casgrain as Captain
  • Martin continues as a member of Voluntary Independent Infantry Co. No. 2 until the winter of 1865
  • In the winter of 1865, Sandwich Companies No 1 and 2 held a joint meeting (in the old jail building which No. 1 company had been using as an armory) and that the purpose of the meeting was joining Co. No 1 & 2 into one strong company for active service.
  • Martin and others enrolled in No. 1 company and at the meeting Thomas H. Wright was elected Captain
  • Martin was engaged in active service under Captain Wright from March to June 1866 at Sandwich Detroit River - Essex Frontier.
  • Martin continued as a member of that company until 1872 when it was disbanded.

David Clark's Declaration (May 1913) 


David was Martin's neighbour in Sandwich West and served with Martin on the Sandwich Voluntary Infantry Co. No. 1.

David said that "Martin Broderick performed active service with us from March to June 1866 and continued to perform all drills and other duties until the year 1872; that I received from the government my Bounty of $100 for said service; that I was a Sargeant in said No 1 Company under Captain Thos. H Wright and that the said Martin Broderick was a Private with me in the same company"

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279


John Vigneaux's Declaration (May 1913) 

John was engaged in active service with Martin on the Sandwich Voluntary Infantry Co. No. 1 in the months of March, April, May and June of 1866

Source: RG9 II A 4, volume 82, List 279
Map illustrating the Fenian Raid, June 2nd 1866. [LAC cartographic material].
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