The Search Continues

 

Brick by brick, piece by piece I continue to build my Dooley evidence always on the hunt for William and Ellen Dooley’s origin. Their son, David F. Dooley’s death certificate reports William Dooley and Ellen Hart’s origin as Cork, Ireland. This death certificate is my one and only lead to Ireland and the search continues.

I have searched immigration records for William Dooley. There are several possibilities for William, but the immigration records provide little evidence to distinguish one William from another. Records offer an age, year of immigration, country of origin and destination. Arrivals reported “Ireland” as their country of origin and “United States” as their destination. I fear looking for William Dooley’s immigration records is like looking for that proverbial needle in a haystack.

Ellen Hart is equally puzzling. One immigration record matches her age and reported date of immigration. Unfortunately, the Ellen Hart of that record arrived in Tasmania not the U.S.A. She’s not my Ellen!

The Good News is that kink from my last post is not a kink at all. The Dooleys located in Lot S26, Block 45, Section S of Calvary Cemetery are my Dooleys; every single one of them!

Something Is Amiss

Oh, No! I just discovered a kink in my Dooley research. Wouldn’t you know it, just when I went out on the limb and declared William and Ellen Dooley to be The Irish Immigrants?

Examine the census records and you will see a 3-4 year age difference between William and Ellen. After reviewing the death records, I find a 14-year age difference. Something is definitely amiss. Could it be possible that there are two William and Ellen Dooleys with sons of the same name buried in the same cemetery? I need to think.

Bye the way, did I mention this blog is a work in progress?

Lot S26, Block 45, Section S

The above location marks the final resting place of William and Ellen Dooley. This couple is the patriarch and matriarch of the large Dooley Clan of Chicago, Illinois and beyond.

Having studied this couple’s three census records (1870, 1880 and 1900) and their death certificates for months, I wondered could William and Ellen be “THE IRISH IMMIGRANTS?” Dare I go out on the limb and declare them so?

Today’s research took me to Calvary Cemetery situated along the shore of Lake Michigan. Established in 1859, Calvary Cemetery is the final resting place for many Dooley ancestors. You may visit William Dooley, Ellen Dooley, Elizabeth Dooley, David Dooley and Stephen C. Dooley at Lot S26, Block 45, Section S.The gravestone reports the death dates of William, Ellen, Elizabeth and David that match their respective death certificates. Stephen C. Dooley was interred in the same location but without a headstone. I neglected to look for Stephen’s wife, Anna; which means another trip on another day.

While I have yet to locate the immigration records for William and Ellen, I believe I can say with a degree of certainty that William and Ellen Dooley were this family’s “Irish Immigrants.” William and Ellen do indeed belong to this Dooley Clan of Chicago and beyond. They rest in eternity along side two of their sons, David and Stephen, whose lives are chronicled even today by living descendants.

Please review the census. I cannot post death records as Family Search licenses them, but census and death records combined with the family plot in Calvary Cemetery make the familial connection.

William’s death certificate reports his birthplace as Ireland. He passed away 12 May 1900 at the age of 71. The certificate also reports the number of years lived in Illinois to be 30, however, that number is difficult to read and is my best guess.

Ellen Dooley’s death certificate reports her birthplace as Ireland as well. She passed away 29 Oct 1905 at the age of 62, Her death certificate clearly states that she lived in Illinois 54 years; which means she immigrated at the young age of eight years.

Now to find the immigration records. I am getting close to “jumping the pond” and searching for William and Ellen’s Irish origins.

As you will see in 1870, William and Ellen had a son, Mike. Sadly, little Mike did not make it to the 1880 census. In reviewing Dooley interments of Calvary Cemetery, I was not able to locate a Michael Dooley whose dates fit for this little boy.

You may click on the images for a large view.

To Labor

By definition: labor is the human activity that provides the goods for wages.  This Labor Day I have compiled a list of “jobs” that our Adams, Cox, Dollen, Dooley and Meyer ancestors performed for wages.

Rag Sorter

Wheelwright

Farmers

Koethner “Cottager” or small farmer

Tailor

Carpenters

Plasterer

Telephone Operator

Secretary

Manufacturing: Research and Development

Painter/Auto Shop

Telephone Company Lineman

Fireman

Policeman

Gambler

Physicians

Dentist

Teachers

Elizabeth “Betsey” Strong, my third great grandmother, labored as a rag sorter in St. Decuman Parish, Somerset, England. Betsey, age 34, was a widow and supported three daughters: Sarah Caroline (age 11), Emma (age 9) and Fanny (age 7). Her husband, Henry Strong, passed away in 1840. She most likely labored as a rag sorter for eight more years until their 1849 passage to America aboard the ship, Shannon.

Rag Sorting reminds me that nothing stays the same. I doubt that there are rag sorters in today’s work force but wonder what jobs of today will stay and which will disappear as rag sorting did.

Happy Labor Day to those who labor. I extend my sincerest prayers for those who wish to labor but cannot find a job. Here’s to a better, brighter future.

Yippee!!!!

Ancestry.com announced that it is offering free access to all U.S. Census records dating from 1790-1940! The free access starts now and ends at midnight September 3^rd. This is a great opportunity for you to take a peak for free!

In addition to browsing your family’s census records, you can try out their Time Machine. Make a few selections and discover what life was like in 1940.

Start your search and join the fun at:  http://www.ancestry.com.

My Brilliant Idea

The Dooley Family research is moving along at a nice pace. Internet research has yielded some baptismal records for the children of William Dooley and Mary Egan. Family Search has digitized the records; which are quite easy to view and eliminate much legwork . The Dooley children were baptized at Holy Family Church located at 1080 W. Roosevelt Rd., Chicago.  I don’t read Latin, but I believe the church records were written in Latin. This deduction comes, of course, from my wild guess.

Here is Stephen Arthur Clement Dooley’s baptismal record found in Holy Family Church’s record book. I do not know where the original record book is located, but it is fun to see a copy of the actual record itself.

Please click on the record for a larger view and use out your magnifying glass to read the record that is located towards the bottom of the page. You will see that Steven was baptized Arthur. The church made an added note about his marriage to Elizabeth Marino at St. Viator’s Church.

“Illinois, Chicago, Catholic Church Records, 1833-1928,” Holy Family (Chicago) images, Family Search (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 21 Aug 2012), Dooley, Stephen baptism and marriage.

Today, as I was walking my dog, I came up with a brilliant idea of having the Dooley Family attend Mass at Holy Family Church. It would be a memorable way for the descendants to go back to their familial and religious roots.

The Luck of the Irish

I have an organizational problem. My husband thinks a new desk with lots of storage space will solve my problem but I don’t think so.  Information about Dooley ancestors and descendants continues to pour in; which means a mountain of information covers my desk and surrounding spaces.  I find it difficult to organize on a beautiful summer day. 

A number of years ago, I purchased a small Irish charm for each of my children.  One charm seems to have survived as I found it sitting on my son’s nightstand recently. He apparently felt the need for a little luck. I am borrowing it for I need luck too!