Thursday, May 27, 2010

Sheridan Family Deaths Mystery

According to information received recently, the Sheridans are a related branch of the Carey family.  It appears that John Patrick Carey who married [first] Barbara Gilboy [probably in Ireland] was an immigrant to and progenitor of the family in Canada.  A Mary Carey, whom I believe to be an older sister of John's, married Edward James Sheridan in Ireland, had 8 children and also emigrated with her family to Canada.

In October 1863, three of Mary's grandchildren by her son James Sheridan, along with an adult Thomas Sheridan age 57 [probably another of Mary's sons and uncle of the deceased children], died from what the record stated was not natural causes, as verified by a jury.  The parish records did not state any other details on the deaths.  I would think that such an accident or traumatic event would have been reported in a local newspaper - but have no idea how to locate same.  I've posted a query on one of the message boards, and hope to hear some suggestions. 

Online - Quebec Catholic Parish Records!

I've recently discovered the online Quebec Catholic Parish Records at www.familysearch.org.  What a find!  They are not indexed, but are browseable and grouped by years.  I've found the baptism record for James Carey, great-greatgrandfather of my son, who emigrated to the U.S. about 1890! The records are written in French, which I have a basic working knowledge of...but I've been lucky enough to correspond with a gentlemen who has very kindly translated for me anything I can't quite make out.

I've also been in touch with the Chief of Police of Lincoln, New Hampshire, a very nice man who is also a genealogy buff.  He has been kind enough to send me a photo of James Carey, taken some time in the 1930s when James was in his 60's.  The Lincoln PD will be celebrating an anniversary in September, and the Chief has promised to send me any more info they may dig up on James Carey, the town's first Police Chief.

A couple of women have also emailed me recently regarding the Carey's - this must be a "Carey Year" !


Now I have to start recording the info I've found.  Am trying Legacy Family Tree instead of PAF, mainly because of their separate, searchable tabs including "To Do" lists, which I think will be very handy.

More later...