Chat
|
Daily Search
|
My GenForum
|
Community Standards
|
Terms of Service
|
|
|
I don't know if your relative is the same as mine.
I have letters starting in 1849 from James J. Heffernan's family in London (Mother N. Gooch; Sisters Harriet in Darby, Elizabeth Messinger in London; Brother John Heffernan in London, 3 Edward St., Dorset Square.)to him at Hamilton Street, Albany, New York (9/27/1849). Mentions Mary Heffernan visiting the family in London. There is also a letter to 'My Dear Sister' from Christina Messinger, #4 Berwick St., St. James (London) dated 2/4/1851. (Nieces: Ginger, Eliyia)
My cousins have the following letters/papers:
James married Anna Seese in Albany NY Sept. 30, 1858;
He fought in the Civil War (Major, 55th Illinois Infantry, battle of Corinth, MS (near Shiloh). After the war, in 1864, with a Missouri address, he applied to the Mexican govt. to fight in the Mexican war, but they turned him down -- we have that letter from the Mex. Consulate in Wash. DC. Family legend has it that he then organized some of his buddies and they invaded Canada (because he was a feisty Irishman and hated the Brits), and it was suggested that he head west. My grandmother told me this story about Canada, prefacing it with: 'Neither of my grandfathers was very practical..."
There is a 7/27/1868 letter 'to whom it may concern' from the Exec. Dept of NY State, recommending General James J. Heffernan as a gentleman & asset to any community,states he is 'moving to a Pacific State'. At that time he was a 4 Star General.
Among the papers is the following on a single piece of paper: 1871, 4/25 arr @ Corrine(sp?) Utah; 1873, 1/6 Left for Annaville, NV; 1874, 7/15 left for Mills; 1875, 1/16, arr Salt Lake City; 1875 6/1 Went to Hinckley(s); 1876, 2/1 Went to Carters; 1876, 8/11 Left Salt Lake City for Colorado.
There are several letters relating to mining claims and land development in LaPlata County Colorado (where Durango is). In 1886, Jas. Heffernan got some letters of introduction as a mining engineer and went prospecting for gold in Honduras. There are 2 letters he wrote to his wife 2/25/1886: "My darling Anna.. we start for the interior tomorrow with pack animals. The Gold is here. I am in and if energy will get it we will be rich very soon."
There is a letter dated 7/10/87 from AG Brooks to Col. JJ Heffernan at Animas City, CO re: the deed to a 200 acre farm in PA, and trading it for something.
I think James died in late 1986 or 1887, based on letters referring to his obituary dated around 3/14/1887. His wife lived in Durango at that time. His son, Joseph Heffernan, married Anna E. Miller 12/23/96. They were my great grandparents, and had trading posts in the 4 corners area at least some of the time. Their two daughters, Eleanor (my grandmother) and Anna lived in that area the rest of their lives. Aunt Anna Heffernan (she never married) died last November, at the age of 95 or so. She worked as a cook in the Indian boarding school at Ft. Defiance, NM. My grandmother married John Ismay, and they started a trading post west of Cortez, CO next to the Navajo reserv. in 1921. They had 9 children, and two of my uncles, Robert and Eugene, never married, but lived at home and helped run the store and the farming operation. These old guys are still out there, operating Ismay Trading Post outside of Cortez, CO.
Followups:
|
| http://genforum.genealogy.com/hefferman/messages/7.html | ||
 |
Agreement of Use Link to GenForum Add Forum |
|