A Decade Coming-The Legacy of Sarah Corr, part 1

I finished all my finals for my online classes yesterday and I rewarded myself by playing with ancestry.com

I started getting interested in genealogy when I was in 7th grade (1991-1992) after having a school assignment.  This was a year after my Grandpa Sullivan passed away.  I can't help but wonder how much more information I would have about my family had I only I had a couple more years with my grandfather.

I did know a little bit about my Great Grandfather Sullivan, who passed away in 1950 but my great grandmother, Sarah Corr was born in Ireland and died in March 1919.  Her death certificate said a problem with her kidneys though my grandfather always swore that they flu killed her (the epidemic of 1918 which was the same strain as last years Swine flu.)  That was all I knew.

When I was just out of college in 2001-2003, I was living in Southern Maine and would routinely go to Massachusetts (Boston area, about a two hour drive)  to chip away at my family history.  I would take what I could get, an obituary here, a census record there. I went to the Archdiocese Archives (the record is currently at my parents in Maine so dates are appoximate) and learned my great grandparents married in April 1899 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Cambridge, MA and that Sarah Corr lived at 11 Dana St in Cambridge.  There was also a Corr listed as a witness.  Sarah was listed as a domestic.

I went to the Cambridge Public Library and picked up the city directory of 1899.  Don't know why I thought I could find any clues but on the first page there was listed Rev. Edward Abbott, 11 Dana St.  I think found articles about her employer.

I asked my grandmother (who met my grandfather in 1944 and obviously never met her mother-in-law) and all she could tell me was that we were related to the former police chief of Lexington, MA.  So I knew we had cousins out there.

Then a decade later, I find them on ancestry.com!

So sorry

I have not written in a long time.  Between finals, visits from friends, two trips to Maine, preparing to move, and a case of Gastroenteritis that hit the ER, I have been busy. I will start blogging again tomorrow.  Promise.

#4 My Paternal Grandfather, Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Sr. 1906-1990

I need to break out the old family photos and the scanner...

4.  Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Sr. b. August 6, 1906 at 77 Dustin St, Brighton, Massachusetts and d. October 11, 1990 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.  He was the son of 8. Daniel Joseph Sullivan and 9. Sarah Agnes Corr.  He married 5. Catherine Ann Donahue on January 13, 1946 at St. Charles Boromeo Catholic Church in Woburn, Massachusetts.

#3 Jeanne Anne Crowley 1950-

Now onto the third person on my family tree-my Mom

My mother, Jeanne Anne Crowley at the Grand Canyon in June 2006

3. Jeanne Anne Crowley b. October 3, 1950 at Choate Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts.  She was the daughter of 6. John Timothy Crowley and 7. Edna Margaret Roche.

Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Jr. 1947-

Okay, it's been awhile.  Just got caught up with schoolwork because I have the tendency to wait until last minute to do all my assignments.

My father and I at the Maine Republican Party Convention in 2008.


2.  Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Jr., b. August 21, 1947 at Choate Hospital in Woburn, Massachusetts.  He was the son of 4. Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Sr. and 5. Catherine Ann Donahue.  He married 3. Jeanne Anne Crowley on May 18, 1973 in St. Charles Boromeo Catholic Church in Woburn, Massachusetts.

I guess it has to start with me...

I have ignored my love of Genealogy for too long. I even used to want to be a professional genealogist. I am hoping to explore my genealogy and local history as well.

The first rule of genealogy is to start with myself and work up and out. Maybe I will spend a day on a person or tidbit of family history. I guess I will start with me.

1. Kerry Ann Sullivan. b. August 30, 1978 in Boston, Massachusetts. She is the daughter of 2. Daniel Patrick Sullivan, Jr. and 3. Jeanne Anne Crowley.