Continuing from the last post, I'm hoping to figure out when members of the Moriarty family arrived in the USA from Ireland. A great immigrant wave came over in the wake of the Great Famine aka Irish Potato Famine (1845-1852) and the Mexican-American War (1846-1848). In North America, the Western Lands were being opened up for homesteading on vast territories contested by Native Americans/First Nations.
As previously noted, members of the Moriarty family had made it to Kansas by the 1860s. Thanks to state and federal census records, we know that some were born in Ireland, some in Kansas, and one -- Elisabeth Moriarty -- was born in Connecticut (occasionally she is listed as having been born in Wisconsin, which may have been a transit point along the trek to Kansas). This clue, combined with an initial combing through passenger arrival records, led to a possible breakthrough.
On March 3, 1851, Catherine Moriarty, aged 24 (born circa 1826) and Michael Moriarty, aged 2 (born circa 1849) arrived from Ireland on the Princeton, destination Connecticut. This matches other records as to approximate age, and sets up the right place for the birth of Elisabeth Moriarty in Connecticut circa 1852.
There is a John Moriarty, aged 48 (born circa 1803), arriving just two days later (on March 5, 1851) on the Liverpool. Destination: USA (no specifics). He would be about nine years older than the John Moriarty living in Kansas in 1865, but given the vagaries of the record-keepers at the time, he could very well be the same guy, or some other close relative.
Meanwhile, I'll keep seeking answers.
Erik Donald France: efrance23@gmail.com
Not quite sure how all of these Moriarty folks connect, but there's little doubt that they are all connected. From the Kansas 1865 Census (August 31, 1865), Clear Creek Township, Nemaha County, Kansas.
Family #15.
John Moriarty 53 Farmer Real estate $500 Personal estate $475 born in Ireland ca. 1812
Catherine Moriarty 39 born in Ireland ca. 1826
Thomas Moriarty 19 Teacher of public s.[?] born in Ireland ca. 1846
Michael Moriarty 15 Teamster born in Ireland ca. 1850
Elisabeth Moriarty 10 born in Connecticut ca. 1855 (see elsewhere, in Wisconsin)
John Moriarty 5 born in Kansas ca. 1860
Thomas Moriarty 4 born in Kansas ca. 1861
Margaret Moriarty 2 born in Kansas ca. 1863/1864
Mary Ann Moriarty 4/12 born in Kansas in ca. April 1865
Family#16.
Patrick Hines 54 Farmer Real estate $600 Personal estate $800 born in Ireland
Margaret Hines 33 born in Virginia ca. 1832
Mary Moriarty 14 born in Virginia ca. 1851
Jane Moriarty 11 born in Virginia ca. 1854
John Moriarty 9 born in Virginia ca. 1856
James Moriarty 6 born in Kansas ca. 1859
Margaret Moriarty 3 born in Kansas ca. 1862
Julia Hines 4/12 born in Kansas ca. April 1865
Family#17.
Daniel Mitchell 57 born in Ireland ca. 1808
Mary Mitchell 39 born in Ireland ca. 1826
John Mitchell 19 born in Ireland ca. 1846*
William Mitchell 11 born in New York ca. 1856
etc. *Note: I read somewhere in a book that John Mitchell (born Ireland 1846-died 1890) and Mary (Moriarty) Mitchell of Clear Creek had a kid named Daniel S. Mitchell born June 23, 1875.
Also note: there are at least two Moriarty homesteaders in Clear Creek Township, Nemaha County, Kansas in 1859: J. and P. Moriarty.
Hoping to trace the Moriarty family/families back to Ireland.
Erik Donald France: efrance23@gmail.com
Margaret Therese Moriarty (ca. 1864-1950) = my great-great-grandmother.
Born in Kansas, ca. May 1864
1870 Clear Creek Township, Nemaha, Kansas
1880 Not sure yet (Kansas)
1883 (January 25): Marries Nicholas C. Saint Bonnet (1856-1936). Spelling variations in documents include Barnett, St. Bonnett, St. Bonnet.
1883 (December): Mae L. St. Bonnet born in Kansas
1885 Warren Nicholas St. Bonnet born in Pennesylvania
1890 Not sure yet (Monroe County, Pennsylvania)
1890s Stroud Borough, Monroe County, PA
1894 (February) Marguerite E. St. Bonnet born
1900 Stroud, Monroe County, PA (Vineyard Cottage)
1910 Stroud, Monroe County, PA
1920 Stroud, Monroe County, PA
1930 Stroud, Monroe County, PA
1940 Stroud, Monroe County, PA
1950 Dies in East Stroudsburg, Monroe County, PA
Family background. Parents born in Ireland, moved to the USA. Settled in Kansas around the time of the American Civil War. One obituary says parents named Thomas Moriarty (or Moriarity) and Mary Whalen.
1870 Census. Clear Creek Township, Seneca Post office, Nemaha County, Kansas.
John Moriarty (sometimes misspelled Morierty) 55. Farmer. Born in Ireland. Male citizen of US. Real estate $2,500. Personal estate $600.
Catherine Moriarty 42. Born in Ireland. Housekeeper.
Elizabeth Moriarty 15. Born Wisconsin. Parents of foreign birth. At home.
John Moriarty 11. Born Wisconsin. Parents of foreign birth. At home.
Thomas Moriarty 9. Born Kansas. Parents of foreign birth. Attended school within last year.
Margaret Moriarty 6. Born Kansas. Parents of foreign birth. Attended school within last year.
Mary Ann Moriarty 4. Born Kansas. Parents of foreign birth. Attended school within last year.
Catherine Moriarty 2. Born Kansas. Parents of foreign birth.
Charles O’Neill 19. Farm laborer. Born in Ireland. Parents of foreign birth.
Michael Hughes 26. Farmer. Born in Ireland. Male citizen of US. Real estate $1200. Personal estate $450. Can’t read, can’t write.
1880 Census. Marion, Nemaha County, Kansas.
Note: Where’s Margaret Therese Moriarty? John Moriarty has died.
Catherine Moriarty 52. Born in Ireland. Keeping house. Widowed. Cannot write.
Micheal [Michael] Moriarty. 32. Son. Born in Ireland. Farmer. Single. Cannot write.
Elisabeth Moriarty 24. Daughter. Born in Connecticut. Parents of foreign birth. Keeping house. Single.
Mary Ann Moriarty 16. Daughter. Born in Kansas. School teacher. Parents of foreign birth. Attended school within last year. Single.
Catherine Moriarty 12. Daughter. Born in Kansas. Keeping house. Parents of foreign birth. Attended school within last year. Single.
Albert Berry[?] 10. Bound. Born in Illinois. Apprentice[?]. Parents born in Illinois.
Hoping to trace back to Ireland. Erik D. France: efrance23@gmail.com
