I have developed a timeline for Nancy that while duplicating some previous information, strengthens my argument for her being the daughter of Alexander and Martha McAdoo. The timeline is based on the information I have to date.
Born 12 Jun 1839, Ireland. [Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947]
Immigrated with her parents and brother on 25 Aug 1852 aboard the ship Lizzie Harward. [Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945]
Married James Atkinson 03 Feb 1857, First Independent Christian Church, Kensington, Philadelphia, PA. [Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985]
William A. Atkinson, son, born 07 Mar 1858, Philadelphia, PA. [Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1945]
Jane Atkinson, daughter, born abt 1860, Philadelphia, Pa; died 08 Jan 1861, Philadelphia, PA. She was buried 09 Jan 1861 in Franklin Cemetery, Kensington, Philadelphia. [Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915]
The death record for Jane Atkinson gave an address of 330 Belgrade St. Therefore, Nancy and her family lived at that address in 1860. That location was just around the corner from where the three McAdoo families lived on Savery St.
In 1863, the Atkinson family was living in Illinois, because James registered for the Civil War draft on 01 Jul 1863. [U.S. Civil War Draft Registrations, 1863-1865]
This timeline is intended only to identify the length of time Nancy lived in Philadelphia, and the proximity to McAdoo relatives living in Kensington. I have been unable to find any reference to Daniel McAdoo and Sarah Stewart, the names of her parents listed on her Illinois death record. While those two names are similar to her brother Daniel and his wife Sarah [surname unknown], their birth dates and marriage date are not a reasonable fit to Nancy’s birth date, so that piece of the puzzle remains unsolved.
Friday, May 18, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Alexander McAdoo Family - New Information
Since discovering new information about Nancy and Martha [Matty] McAdoo, I have done additional research to locate other possible children of my 3X great-grandparents, Alexander and Martha McAdoo. The result is interesting, but once again circumstantial and inconclusive, yet tantalizing to this amateur family genealogist.
I mentioned in my previous blog that Martha [Matty] McAdoo, born about 1821 in Ireland immigrated to America with her brother Daniel and his young family, arriving in Philadelphia on 24 Aug 1845. Searching through census records, I found in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, a Martha McAdoo working as a domestic at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. The hospital was founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. The census was taken at the hospital. I have been unable to locate the 1850 census record for Daniel and his family, so, once again I am not completely certain that I have identified the right Martha, but it is a strong possibility. Unfortunately, I have not found any additional records relating to Martha.
While reviewing the census taken at the hospital, I discovered a Margaret McAdoo, who was born in Ireland in 1826, also working as a domestic. I found two immigration records showing that she had arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Bark St. James on 28 Jul 1847. She was accompanied by a James McAdoo, who was born either in 1819 or 1822. There is no doubt in my mind that they were brother and sister.
In addition to the immigration records, I have found a death certificate for a Margaret MacAdoo Campbell, born in 1826 in Ireland, who died in Philadelphia on 3 Feb 1907. The record names her parents as Alexander McAdoo, born in Ireland, and Martha Best, born in Ireland. What a coincidence! The surname of Martha is new information. A brief search has not surfaced any additional information about either Margaret or James.
I will now try to pull all this information into a coherent whole.
First, the McAdoo family historically was quite small in Ireland. Our McAdoo branch, centered in Philadelphia in the mid-nineteenth century was one of only a few McAdoo families living in the city at that time. The three families living on Savery Street in 1860, Martha and Margaret working as domestics at Pennsylvania Hospital in 1850, plus the family units that immigrated together make a strong case for considering the makeup of Alexander’s family as follows:
Parents:
Alexander McAdoo (b. abt. 1786) & Martha Best (b. abt. 1797). Immigrated on 25 Jul 1852
Children:
James (b. abt. 1819 or 1822). Immigrated on 28 Jul 1847
Martha (b.abt. 1821). Immigrated on 24 Jun 1845
Daniel (b. abt. 1824). Immigrated on 24 Jun 1845
Margaret (b. abt. 1826). Immigrated on 28 Jul 1847
William (b. abt. 1832). Immigrated between 1848-1852
Alexander (b. abt. 1837). Immigrated on 25 Aug 1852
Nancy (b. abt. 1839). Immigrated on 25 Aug 1852
The relationship of the children’s birth dates is reasonable, as well as the birth dates to immigration dates. Until I uncover information that either supports or rejects this conclusion, I am considering Alexander and Martha as the parents of the above-named seven children. Further research is necessary to confirm that Martha’s surname is Best.
I mentioned in my previous blog that Martha [Matty] McAdoo, born about 1821 in Ireland immigrated to America with her brother Daniel and his young family, arriving in Philadelphia on 24 Aug 1845. Searching through census records, I found in the 1850 U.S. Federal Census, a Martha McAdoo working as a domestic at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. The hospital was founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond. The census was taken at the hospital. I have been unable to locate the 1850 census record for Daniel and his family, so, once again I am not completely certain that I have identified the right Martha, but it is a strong possibility. Unfortunately, I have not found any additional records relating to Martha.
While reviewing the census taken at the hospital, I discovered a Margaret McAdoo, who was born in Ireland in 1826, also working as a domestic. I found two immigration records showing that she had arrived in Philadelphia aboard the Bark St. James on 28 Jul 1847. She was accompanied by a James McAdoo, who was born either in 1819 or 1822. There is no doubt in my mind that they were brother and sister.
In addition to the immigration records, I have found a death certificate for a Margaret MacAdoo Campbell, born in 1826 in Ireland, who died in Philadelphia on 3 Feb 1907. The record names her parents as Alexander McAdoo, born in Ireland, and Martha Best, born in Ireland. What a coincidence! The surname of Martha is new information. A brief search has not surfaced any additional information about either Margaret or James.
I will now try to pull all this information into a coherent whole.
First, the McAdoo family historically was quite small in Ireland. Our McAdoo branch, centered in Philadelphia in the mid-nineteenth century was one of only a few McAdoo families living in the city at that time. The three families living on Savery Street in 1860, Martha and Margaret working as domestics at Pennsylvania Hospital in 1850, plus the family units that immigrated together make a strong case for considering the makeup of Alexander’s family as follows:
Parents:
Alexander McAdoo (b. abt. 1786) & Martha Best (b. abt. 1797). Immigrated on 25 Jul 1852
Children:
James (b. abt. 1819 or 1822). Immigrated on 28 Jul 1847
Martha (b.abt. 1821). Immigrated on 24 Jun 1845
Daniel (b. abt. 1824). Immigrated on 24 Jun 1845
Margaret (b. abt. 1826). Immigrated on 28 Jul 1847
William (b. abt. 1832). Immigrated between 1848-1852
Alexander (b. abt. 1837). Immigrated on 25 Aug 1852
Nancy (b. abt. 1839). Immigrated on 25 Aug 1852
The relationship of the children’s birth dates is reasonable, as well as the birth dates to immigration dates. Until I uncover information that either supports or rejects this conclusion, I am considering Alexander and Martha as the parents of the above-named seven children. Further research is necessary to confirm that Martha’s surname is Best.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Nancy McAdoo
I have been reviewing the records of my McAdoo ancestors in another attempt to break through some “brick walls.” Whenever I go through this exercise, I am often surprised at what I discover. My most recent research has once again surfaced some interesting information, and yes, raised questions with no immediate resolution.
I began with my 3X great-grandparents, Alexander McAdoo (1786-1863) and Martha (1797-1872). Once again, I decided to tackle their immigration to America. Before proceeding, I should say that I still do not have direct evidence that they are indeed my ancestors, but the circumstantial evidence is so strong that I have come to to accept the relationship as fact. Similarly, the relationship among the three McAdoo families living on Savery Street in Fishtown in 1860 (Alexander and family, William [1832-1903] and family, and Daniel [1824-1882] and family) has to be more than coincidence. The theory I have adopted is that Alexander and Martha are the parents of my 2X great-grandfather William and Daniel, as well as Alexander, who immigrated with his parents. The family will no doubt become larger as a result of my research, if for no other reason than circumstantial evidence.
Once again I reviewed the original image of the manifest of the ship Lizzie Harward, which arrived in Philadelphia on 25 Aug 1852 (Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945). Alexander and his family are listed as follows:
Alex McAdoo, born abt. 1802
Matty McAdoo, born abt. 1802
Alex McAdoo, born abt. 1838
Nancy McAdoo, born abt. 1840
I had searched for information about Nancy before, but without success, so I had chosen not to include her in our tree. This time however, I located a reference to a Nancy M. McAdoo in an Ancestry Family Tree (Descendants of John Elston). The tree contained this information about Nancy: born, 1838 Co. Donegal, Ireland; spouse, James Atkinson (1830-1896); child, Sarah Jane (1863-1919).
I then began to search for marriage information, and found a marriage record in (Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985), which showed the following:
Nancy McAdoo
Marriage: 03 Feb 1857
Philadelphia, PA
Spouse: James Atkinson
Place: First Independent Christian Church
I had not heard of the First Independent Christian Church, and wanted to find out more about it. What I learned was most interesting, and supported my belief that Nancy McAdoo Atkinson was an ancestor. The First Independent Christian Church was organized in about 1845. Today it is known as Pilgrim Congregational Church. It was first known as Union Wesleyan Church, having been formed in 1825 by Rev. Samuel S. Kennard who broke away from Kensington M.E. “Old Brick” Church in Kensington. Further research pinpointed the church’s location at Belgrade and Marlborough Streets, Kensington, Philadelphia, the neighborhood where all three McAdoo families lived at the time.
I checked the 1860 U.S. Federal Census and found that Nancy was not living with her parents, so the 1857 marriage date led me to believe this might be our Nancy. Yet, I felt more evidence was necessary.
I located Nancy and family living in the area of Kewanee, Henry, Illinois in the 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 U.S. censuses. I have not been able to locate 1860 census data about James and Nancy, but it appears they moved to Illinois sometime between their marriage in 1857 and 1863, since I found a U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865 for a James Atkinson dated 01 Jul 1863. It gave his birth as 1833 in Ireland, his residence as Henry, Illinois, and that he was married - a pretty close match.
One piece of evidence that I have uncovered is from the Illinois Deaths and Stillborns Index, 1916-1947 is troubling. The record shows the following:
Nancy M. Atkinson
Born: 12 Jun 1839, Ireland
Died: 02 Jan 1921, Kewanee, Henry, Illinois
Buried: 05 Jan 1921, Pleasant View Cemetery
Age: 81
Residence: Kewanee, Henry, Illinois
Father: Daniel McAdoo, b. Ireland
Mother: Sarah Stewart, b. Ireland
Spouse: James Atkinson
All the data fit except for the parents. Yet, the first names are the same as Daniel (b. 1824), who I have assumed to be her brother and his wife Sarah (b.1822). Also, Daniel and Sarah were married in 1845, five to seven years after Nancy’s birth. Up to now, I did not know Sarah’s surname, so I am not entirely certain that I have the correct Daniel McAdoo and Sarah - but it is a strong possibility.
When Daniel and Sarah immigrated in 1845, there were two other family members, Matty (b. abt. 1821) and Robert (b. abt. 1844). Given Matty’s birth date, I assume she is Daniel’s sister, and the daughter of Alexander and Martha (Matty). I have not located 1850 census data for Daniel and his family, but Robert does not appear in the 1860 census. I have found a Philadelphia death record for a Robert McAdoo who died 09 Feb 1849, age 4. I assume he is Daniel and Sarah’s son. I have located a Martha McAdoo (b. abt. 1821) in the 1850 census working as a domestic at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. I am assuming she is our Matty.
Another interesting, but unrelated fact is that Daniel’s brother Alexander (b. abt. 1837), a civil war veteran had two sons, William (b. abt. 1865) and Robert (b. abt. 1868), both born in Illinois. I wonder if there is a connection? Nancy had sons named William (b. abt 1859) and Robert (b. abt. 1870), both in Illinois.
In summary, I believe the evidence is sufficient to make the following assumptions. Nancy McAdoo is the daughter of Alexander and Martha. She married James Atkinson and relocated to Illinois. Matty McAdoo is Martha, also the daughter of Alexander and Martha. I recognize that these assumptions require further exploration, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling. Meanwhile, I will make these changes to the McAdoo Clan Families Tree.
I began with my 3X great-grandparents, Alexander McAdoo (1786-1863) and Martha (1797-1872). Once again, I decided to tackle their immigration to America. Before proceeding, I should say that I still do not have direct evidence that they are indeed my ancestors, but the circumstantial evidence is so strong that I have come to to accept the relationship as fact. Similarly, the relationship among the three McAdoo families living on Savery Street in Fishtown in 1860 (Alexander and family, William [1832-1903] and family, and Daniel [1824-1882] and family) has to be more than coincidence. The theory I have adopted is that Alexander and Martha are the parents of my 2X great-grandfather William and Daniel, as well as Alexander, who immigrated with his parents. The family will no doubt become larger as a result of my research, if for no other reason than circumstantial evidence.
Once again I reviewed the original image of the manifest of the ship Lizzie Harward, which arrived in Philadelphia on 25 Aug 1852 (Philadelphia Passenger Lists, 1800-1945). Alexander and his family are listed as follows:
Alex McAdoo, born abt. 1802
Matty McAdoo, born abt. 1802
Alex McAdoo, born abt. 1838
Nancy McAdoo, born abt. 1840
I had searched for information about Nancy before, but without success, so I had chosen not to include her in our tree. This time however, I located a reference to a Nancy M. McAdoo in an Ancestry Family Tree (Descendants of John Elston). The tree contained this information about Nancy: born, 1838 Co. Donegal, Ireland; spouse, James Atkinson (1830-1896); child, Sarah Jane (1863-1919).
I then began to search for marriage information, and found a marriage record in (Pennsylvania Church and Town Records, 1708-1985), which showed the following:
Nancy McAdoo
Marriage: 03 Feb 1857
Philadelphia, PA
Spouse: James Atkinson
Place: First Independent Christian Church
I had not heard of the First Independent Christian Church, and wanted to find out more about it. What I learned was most interesting, and supported my belief that Nancy McAdoo Atkinson was an ancestor. The First Independent Christian Church was organized in about 1845. Today it is known as Pilgrim Congregational Church. It was first known as Union Wesleyan Church, having been formed in 1825 by Rev. Samuel S. Kennard who broke away from Kensington M.E. “Old Brick” Church in Kensington. Further research pinpointed the church’s location at Belgrade and Marlborough Streets, Kensington, Philadelphia, the neighborhood where all three McAdoo families lived at the time.
I checked the 1860 U.S. Federal Census and found that Nancy was not living with her parents, so the 1857 marriage date led me to believe this might be our Nancy. Yet, I felt more evidence was necessary.
I located Nancy and family living in the area of Kewanee, Henry, Illinois in the 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, and 1920 U.S. censuses. I have not been able to locate 1860 census data about James and Nancy, but it appears they moved to Illinois sometime between their marriage in 1857 and 1863, since I found a U.S. Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865 for a James Atkinson dated 01 Jul 1863. It gave his birth as 1833 in Ireland, his residence as Henry, Illinois, and that he was married - a pretty close match.
One piece of evidence that I have uncovered is from the Illinois Deaths and Stillborns Index, 1916-1947 is troubling. The record shows the following:
Nancy M. Atkinson
Born: 12 Jun 1839, Ireland
Died: 02 Jan 1921, Kewanee, Henry, Illinois
Buried: 05 Jan 1921, Pleasant View Cemetery
Age: 81
Residence: Kewanee, Henry, Illinois
Father: Daniel McAdoo, b. Ireland
Mother: Sarah Stewart, b. Ireland
Spouse: James Atkinson
All the data fit except for the parents. Yet, the first names are the same as Daniel (b. 1824), who I have assumed to be her brother and his wife Sarah (b.1822). Also, Daniel and Sarah were married in 1845, five to seven years after Nancy’s birth. Up to now, I did not know Sarah’s surname, so I am not entirely certain that I have the correct Daniel McAdoo and Sarah - but it is a strong possibility.
When Daniel and Sarah immigrated in 1845, there were two other family members, Matty (b. abt. 1821) and Robert (b. abt. 1844). Given Matty’s birth date, I assume she is Daniel’s sister, and the daughter of Alexander and Martha (Matty). I have not located 1850 census data for Daniel and his family, but Robert does not appear in the 1860 census. I have found a Philadelphia death record for a Robert McAdoo who died 09 Feb 1849, age 4. I assume he is Daniel and Sarah’s son. I have located a Martha McAdoo (b. abt. 1821) in the 1850 census working as a domestic at Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. I am assuming she is our Matty.
Another interesting, but unrelated fact is that Daniel’s brother Alexander (b. abt. 1837), a civil war veteran had two sons, William (b. abt. 1865) and Robert (b. abt. 1868), both born in Illinois. I wonder if there is a connection? Nancy had sons named William (b. abt 1859) and Robert (b. abt. 1870), both in Illinois.
In summary, I believe the evidence is sufficient to make the following assumptions. Nancy McAdoo is the daughter of Alexander and Martha. She married James Atkinson and relocated to Illinois. Matty McAdoo is Martha, also the daughter of Alexander and Martha. I recognize that these assumptions require further exploration, but the circumstantial evidence is compelling. Meanwhile, I will make these changes to the McAdoo Clan Families Tree.
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