Re: Thomas Smullen, born 1852 NYC parents came from Ireland
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In reply to:
Thomas Smullen, born 1852 NYC parents came from Ireland
Gini Ohlson 6/29/04
Hello Gini,
I found some information about the people I believe to be your Smullen
ancestors. The first record you will see below is the Christening record of a
Thomas Hamilton Smullen. The Christening took place in New York City in 1852,
which matches the year of birth you gave for your ancestor.
This baptism was found at the Mormon Church website at www.familysearch.org
Please see below:
THOMAS HAMILTON SMULLEN
Male
Event(s):
Birth: 14 APR 1852
Christening: 18 JUL 1852 All Saints Church, New York, New York, New York
Death:
Burial:
Parents:
Father: THOMAS SMULLEN
Mother: MARY
Messages:
Extracted birth or christening record for the locality listed in the
record. The source records are usually arranged chronologically by the birth
or christening date.
Source Information:
Batch No.: C506651
Dates: 1824 - 1862
Source: Q974.71 K28N Book = All Saints Church, New York, New York, New York
computer printout; births or christenings, 1824-1862 FHL US/CAN Film
1002430 Item 2
________
All Saints was and still is an Episcopal Church in New York City.
Unfortunately, the Episcopal minister did not include the maiden name of
Thomas's mother in the Christening record. That was standard practice for
Anglican/Episcopal/Church of England/Church of Ireland Christening records
In the 19th century.
According to the record above, these Christening entries were printed in
book form, but you can view the All Saints Church Christenings on a parish
printout, microfilmed by the Mormon Church. The film number you would
order from your local Family History Center is 1002430 Item 2.
On the other hand if Thomas Smullen and Mary were married at All Saints
Episcopal Church, their marriage record may be available in the church
registers as well.
I searched the Mormon Church's online version of the Family History Library
Catalog and found that the Christening, marriage, burials, and confirmations
were microfilmed from 1824 to 1864 by the Mormons for All Saints Church. If
Thomas's parents were married in All Saints, and if any of Thomas siblings
were Christened there, up to the year 1864, they could be in these parish
registers.
Below is information and microfilm numbers for the All Saints Church
Registers:
Parish register of All Saints' Church, New York, 1824-1862
Stmnt.Resp. transcribed by the New York Genealogical and Biographical
Society.
Authors All Saints' Church (New York, New York : Episcopal) (Added Author)
New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (New York City) (Added
Author)
Notes Contains baptisms, 1824-1862; marriages, 1824-1862; burials,
1837-1861; communicants, 1837-1854; confirmations, 1838-1860; families.
Salt Lake City : Filmed by the Genealogical Society of Utah, 1968. 35 mm.
FHL US/CAN Film
532976 Item 1
Another filming. 1941. FHL US/CAN Film
17778 Item 10
______
I recommend ordering both films mentioned above,as well as the earlier mentioned
Microfilm of Christenings, as one microfilm might be easier to read than the other.
You can also write to the All Saints Church if you can't make it to the Family
History Center to order the microfilms.
Contact information for All Saints Episcopal Church can be found at the
website below:
http://www.dioceseny.org/index.cfm?action=Parish.ViewParish&parishID=2&x=11&y=10http://www.dioceseny.org/index.cfm?action=Parish.ViewParish&parishID=2&x=11&y=10
The other record you should consider ordering is the 1852 birth record of
Thomas Smullen from the New York Municipal Archives, in Manhattan. Unfortunately,
these early birth records will not have the maiden name of the mother
either, but the record is worth obtaining to add as a part of your
genealogical record. The birth record may also contain information the
Christening record does not.
You can order the birth record online and pay for it using a credit card.
Information about about ordering vital records from Municipal Archives can
be found at:
http://nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/birth.shtmlhttp://nyc.gov/html/records/html/vitalrecords/birth.shtml
Below is a note from the Municipal Archives website which tells you what
you can expect to find on the birth certificate:
Note: that pre-1866 Manhattan births were recorded in ledger book format;
the following information was recorded: date of birth, parents' names (but
not mother's maiden name), child's name, color and gender; place of birth,
and name of medical attendant.
________
Moving forward in time I found what I believe to be the marriage record of
Thomas Smullen in Le Sueur, Minnesota. The record, as you will see, doesn't
specify whether the reference to Le Sueur is the town or the county.
This marriage record was also discovered at the Mormon Church website:
THOMAS H. SMULLEN
Male
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Marriages:
Spouse: CHARLOTTE CASTELINE
Marriage: 01 JAN 1871 , Le Sueur, Minnesota
Messages:
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source
records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.
Source Information:
Batch No.: M530822
Dates: 1854 - 1890
Film Number: 1320256 Items 2-4 = Marriage records, 1854-1919. Applications
for license 1886-1894 Record of marriage certificates 1854-1862 Marriage
records v. B 1854-1890
_______
The Mormon Church has also microfilmed this marriage record. This comes from
a County source rather from a church source. The microfilm number to order
is 1320256 Items 2-4.
Also at the Mormon Church site I found entry of marriage for a William G.
Smullen and Evelyn E. Letson, in Le Sueur, Minnesota. This William Smullen
may have been Thomas's brother or perhaps a cousin. Please see below:
WILLIAM G. SMULLEN
Male
Event(s):
Birth:
Christening:
Death:
Burial:
Marriages:
Spouse: EVELYN E. LETSON
Marriage: 06 SEP 1869 , Le Sueur, Minnesota
Messages:
Extracted marriage record for locality listed in the record. The source
records are usually arranged chronologically by the marriage date.
Source Information:
Batch No.: M530822
Dates: 1854 - 1890
Film Number: 1320256 Items 2-4
_______
William Smullen's marriage will also be found on microfilm number 1320256
Items 2-4.
In addition, if you order the microfilm for All Saints Church, look for the
baptism of William, as it is possible he was Thomas's brother or related to
Thomas.
The next record I discovered at the Mormon Church site was the 1880 census
record for Thomas and Charlotte Smullen and three of their children, living
in the township of Le Sueur, Minnesota. That census entry follows:
Household:
Name, Relation, Marital Status, Gender, Race, Age, Birthplace, Occupation,
Father's Birthplace, Mother's Birthplace
Thos. SMULLEN Self M Male W 28 N.J. Clerk IRELAND IRELAND
Charlotte SMULLEN Wife M Female W 27 N.J. Keeping House N.J. N.J.
Beatrice SMULLEN Dau S Female W 7 MINN. N.J. N.J.
Mary SMULLEN Dau S Female W 5 MINN. N.J. N.J.
Frank SMULLEN Son S Male W 1 MINN. N.J. N.J.
Source Information:
Census Place Le Sueur, Le Sueur, Minnesota
Family History Library Film 1254624
NA Film Number T9-0624
Page Number 208D
________
I'd say the 1880 census is in error, as it says that Thomas was born in NewJersey. You'll see that in a latter census return, that Thomas is recorded to have been born in New York.
The 1880 census return above, also shows that Charlotte was born in New Jersey as well. I'm not sure how accurate that is either.
In addition, the 1880 census shows that Thomas's parents came from Ireland, which is the information you have for them.
The 1880 census record for Thomas H. Mullen and his family can be ordered from your Family History Center.
The film number to order is 1254624.
I also did a search in the census returns for 1880 to see if I could find
William and Evelyn Smullen in Le Sueur, Minnesota. I did find them in the
1880 census, but living in New York with their four children:
That census return is next:
Household:
Name, Relation, Marital Status, Gender, Race, Age, Birthplace, Occupation,
Father's Birthplace, Mother's Birthplace
Wm. G. SMULLEN Self M Male W 32 NY Works In Leather Store IRE ENG
Evlan SMULLEN Wife M Female W 26 NY Keeping House NY NY
Thomas SMULLEN Son S Male W 5 NY NY NY
William SMULLEN Son S Male W 1 NY NY NY
Estela SMULLEN Dau S Female W 10 MN At School NY NY
Robert P. SMULLEN Other S Male W 26 NY Works In Wool Store IRE IRE
Source Information:
Census Place New York, New York (Manhattan), New York City-Greater, New York
Family History Library Film 1254888
NA Film Number T9-0888
Page Number 579D
______
If this census has William's age correctly, he would have been born circa
1848. If he was Thomas's brother, that means their parents were most likely
married in the early to mid-1840s. You'll want to look for baptisms that
took place in 1848 if you decide to order the All Saints Church parish
registers from the Family History Center.
But, the 1880 census shows that William's father was born in Ireland and
his mother in England. The 1880 census for Thomas Smullen on the other hand,
states both of his parents were born in Ireland. This means that
Thomas and William may have been cousins rather than brothers. Or, the
census return could be in error as regards the birthplace of William's
mother. It's very difficult to determine relationships just by looking at
census returns, without knowing any other family background.
I also did a nation-wide search the 1880 census for anyone named Thomas
Smullen, who was born in Ireland. I didn't find a Thomas Smullen from
Ireland, but I did locate the family of widow Katherine Smullen in Lexington
Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota in the 1880 census. She may have been
a relative of Thomas. The census shows this Catherine was born in New York.
She could have been the wife of one of Thomas's relatives.
That census entry follows:
Household:
Name, Relation, Marital Status, Gender, Race, Age, Birthplace, Occupation,
Father's Birthplace, Mother's Birthplace
Katherine M. SMULLEN Self W Female W 39 NY Keeping House SCO SCO
Hellen SMULLEN Dau S Female W 17 NY Domestic Servant IRE NY
James H. SMULLEN Son S Male W 14 MN At Home IRE NY
Jenny G. SMULLEN Dau S Female W 13 MN At Home IRE NY
Walter A. SMULLEN Son S Male W 9 MN IRE NY
Lillian M. SMULLEN Dau S Female W 3 NY IRE NY
Source Information:
Census Place Lexington, Le Sueur, Minnesota
Family History Library Film 1254625
NA Film Number T9-0625
Page Number 295A
__________
Living not far from Katherine Smullen in Lexington Township, was the family
of Talmage and Hannah Casteline. Talmage may have been the brother to
Charlotte Casteline, who was Thomas Smullen's wife. That census return
follows:
Household:
Name, Relation, Marital Status, Gender, Race, Age, Birthplace, Occupation,
Father's Birthplace, Mother's Birthplace
Talmage CASTELINE Self M Male W 30 NY Farmer NJ NY
Hannah M. CASTELINE Wife M Female W 27 IA Keeping House VTNY
Oliver W. CASTELINE Son S Male W 7 MN NY IA
Cora R. CASTELINE Dau S Female W 1 MN NY IA
Elisabeth CASTELINE Mother W Female W 66 NY At Home NY NY
Source Information:
Census Place Lexington, Le Sueur, Minnesota
Family History Library Film 1254625
NA Film Number T9-0625
Page Number 297A
_________
Knowing that there were Smullen families living in Le Sueur County in 1880, I then searched the 1870 census returns, to see how many people with the Smullen surname I could find recorded, and to also see what townships they had lived in.
I located a 49 year old Thomas and a 32 year old Kate Smullen and several
children living in Lexington Township, Le Sueur County, Minnesota.
These children include 16 year old Robert; 13 year old Mary; 7 year old
Ellen; 5 year old James; and a 3 year old female child whose name I can't
decipher.
This census return was found at the HeritageQuest subscription website
provided by my public library. If you send your email address I'll send this
1870 census to you as an attachment. Or, if your library subscribes to
HeritageQuest, you can download the census return. The AncestryPlus
subscription website will also have this census available.
The census shows that Thomas was born in Ireland and worked as a farmer. The
Kate Smullen listed just after Thomas, I believe, is the same Kate Smullen
in the 1880 census noted just above. But in the 1880 census she is listed as
a widow. This means of course that her husband Thomas died between the 1870
And 1880 census years.
In any event, this Thomas Smullen could be the father of Thomas Hamilton
Smullen. It's possible that Kate may have been Thomas's second wife, as she
would have been only 14 years old in 1852 when Thomas Hamilton Smullen was
born.
I am just guessing on this however. Hopefully more research will reveal the
relationship of Thomas and Kate Smullen to Thomas Hamilton Smullen.
The 1870 census also shows that, living next door to Thomas Smullen, was
William Smullen and his wife "Elizabeth."
William is shown to be 24 years old, working as a farmer, and born in what
appears to be New Jersey. Elizabeth is shown to be 17 years old and is
listed as keeping house. It appears she was also born in New Jersey. I'm not
sure if this William Smullen is the same William Smullen found in the
marriage record you saw earlier, as his wife in the marriage record is
Evelyn, while the name in the 1870 census is Elizabeth. They could be one
and the same person, however.
I also found another Thomas Smullen in the 1870 census return who may have
been your direct ancestor, as in the census he is listed as being 19 years
old, which places his year of birth in 1851. But these census returns are
often off with ages by a few years, and in some cases off by several years.
I can't make out what Thomas's occupation was in the 1870 census.
This Thomas is shown to have been born in New York and living with the
family of an O.F. Huntley. I can't make out O.F. Huntley's occupation
either, as the entry is faded. I can send you this census return as an
attachment as well. The 1870 census return does not give information about
where a person's father and mother were born.
Concerning 20th century census returns, I couldn't locate Thomas H. Smullen
in either the 1900 or 1910 returns for Minnesota, or any other state. He may
have been missed in both census returns.
But, I did find the 1900 census return for a 35 year old James Smullen and
his 34 year old wife Emilie, living in Lexington Township, Le Sueur County,
Minniesota. James's occupation in the census is listed as "Postmaster."
The census shows he was born in Minnesota but that his parents were born in
New York. Emilie was born in Iowa but her father was born in Connecticut and
her mother in New York.
The 1900 census also shows that a 58 year old Kate Smullen and her 22 year
old daughter Lilie, were living in Lexington Township. Kate is listed as a
"widow," and Lillie is shown to have been single. Kate and Lillie would be
the same people found in the 1880 census return. I also believe this Kate
Smullen would also be the Kate found in the 1870 census return, living with
Thomas and their children.
Both Kate and Lillie were born in New York, but both of Kate's parents were
born in Scotland, according to the census return. This information matches
with the birthplace of her parents given in the 1880 census return
James and Kate Smullen are also listed separately in the 1910 census for
Lexington Township.
James in the 1910 census was living with his wife "Emma," and 10 year old
son whose name appears to be "Jay." James is also listed as still being the
"Postmaster."
Kate Smullen in the 1910 census is shown to be 60 years old with no
occupation, while daughter, 25 year old Lillian, is shown to have been a
"Housekeeper."
But also in the 1910 census for Lexington Township is 54 year old Robert P.
Smullen. This is most likely the same Robert P. Smullen who was in the 1880
census in New York, living with his father William and mother Evelyn.
The 1910 census has Robert living with his 41 year old wife Mary E. The
census shows they were married for 19 years as of 1910, and that both were
born in New York, but that their parents were born in Ireland. The census
also shows that Robert's occupation was that of a "bartender," in a
"saloon."
I found Thomas H. Smullen again in the 1920 census return for Le Sueur, Le Sueur County, which shows that he was a 67 year old widower, and that his occupation was a "salesman," for an insurance company. The census shows his parents were from Ireland, but that he was born in New York. He was living at 5 Main street, according to the census. This 1920 census return contradicts the 1880 census return which lists Thomas as having been born in New Jersey.
Listed with him is a 24 year old son named Ray, who was single and is shown
not to have been employed. Also in the household is 48 year old Bertha
Herman, who is listed as the daughter of Thomas.
Also Gini, I couldn't find any information online that the Thomas Hamilton
Smullen born in 1852, was a judge or a state senator. Could the Thomas
Smullen who was a judge and state senator have been Thomas's son or
grandson?
A link from a genealogical site called RootsWeb has a transcription the
History of Nicollet and LeSueur Counties, by William Gresham, published in
1916, which gives the names of State Senators, States Representatives,
County Attorneys, etc., from the year 1860 to 1915 for both Nicollet and Le
Sueur Counties. The book doesn't list county judges, except for probate
judges, as far as I could determine.
The history does show that a T.H. Smullen was a Registrar of Deeds in Le
Sueur County from 1883 to 1885.
Pease see below for the names found in this history, which you can accesses
for a closer look, at:
ftp://ftp.rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/mn/statewide/bios/nclscty1.txt
Nicollet and LeSueur Counties
Volume I (county histories)
William Gresham
1916
LESUEUR COUNTY
Page 381
CHAPTER V.
COUNTY AND STATE REPRESENTATION.
STATE SENATORS.
D. C. Evans, 1860; Nathan Dane, 1862-63; J. J. Porter, 1864-65; R.
Butters, 1866-68; E. R. Smith, 1869-70; M. Doran, 1871; L. Z. Rogers,
1872; F. Talbot, 1873-74; M. Doran, 1875-80; George E. Case, 1881-82; M.
Doran, 1883-86; J. C. U. Chapman, 1887-90; Edson R. Smith, 1891-94; J. W.
Lloyd, 1895-98; M. E. Everett, 1899-06; H. F. Weis, 1907 to 1915.
_______
STATE REPRESENTATIVES.
Henry Steck, Thomas McDonaugh, B. Abbott, 1860; T. M. Perry, 1862; R.
Butters, 1863; R. Butters, 1864; L. Z. Rogers, 1865; A. K. Maynard, 1866-
67; Dennis Doyle, 1868; R. H. Everett, 1869; J. A. Pfaar, 1870; L. H.
Bullis, 1871; George S. Millard, 1872; D. Becker, 1873; Frank Becker, V.
Kenworthy, 1874; Thomas Collins, 1875; William Conrad, H. L. Gish, 1876;
P. S. Gardner, J. Zimmerman, 1877; C. N. Pinney, William Richter, 1878;
D. Butler, William Weyl, Francis Wrabeck, 1879; Daniel Baker, P. S.
Gardner, Ed Purrington, 1881; A. Borak, R. W. Jocklin, 1883; Hugh B.
Yrne, Gust Wendenhaffer, 1885; C. E. Lehman, E. H. Shove, 1887; J. C.
Swain, 0 P. Buell, 1889; Job W. Lloyd, John Wacek, 1891; E. E. Salls,
John Wacek, 1993; Charles Z. Dressel, 1895; William R. Mahood, R. C. Van
Lehe, 1899; M. J. Feeney, W. R. Mahood, 1901; J. A. Anderegg, John
Taylor, 1903; J. A. Anderegg, George H. Denzer, 1905; George H. Denzer,
C. W. Glotfelter, 1907; George H. Oenzer, John Spencer, 1909; G. H.
Denzer, Martin Schwarth, 1911; H. H. Flowers, 1913-15.
________
PROBATE JUDGES.
Otis Young, 1855-58; D. M. Densmon, 1858-59; D. Doyle, 1859-60; Andrew
Hess, 1860-62; William Bacon, 1862-65; John H. Leitler, 1865-66;
Page 383
William Bacon, 1866-68, Joseph A. Philips, 1868-70; John L. Meagher,
1870-83; James Dilahantz, 1883-89; A. Delacy, 1889-91; Cornelius Kilduff,
1891-95; Patrick Galagan, 1895-1901; O. P. Buell, 1901-03; T. E. Lynch,
1903-11; H. Wetzel, 1911 to present date-1916.
________
COUNTY ATTORNEYS.
At first there was a district attorney, instead of a county attorney; the
first appointed was in 1853, in the person of John M. McGee, who was the
same year elected by the people of his district. The first record of a
county attorney was when Francis Cadwell was elected in 1867, and he was
followed by: P. Cadmore, 1869; A. W. Bangs, 1870; G. D. Emery, 1878;
Thomas Hession, 1881; W. Boright, 1885; O. J. Parker, 1887; M. R.
Everett, 1891; Charles C. Kolars, 1895; P. J. Kirwin, 1897; Thomas
Hession, 1901; A. J. Edgerton, 1903; Frank J. Hanzel, igog; L. W.
Prendigrast, 1915.
________
COUNTY SURVEYORS.
D. C. Smith, 1853; Z. Wise, 1858; C. G. Myrick, 1865; H. B. Miner, 1869;
L. H. Bullis, 1870; C. G. Myrick, 1878; Ed S Solberg, 1892; Joseph W.
Hruska, 19o6; Alfred Bradshaw, 1914 to present date-1916.
__________
REGISTER OF DEEDS.
William W. Swan, 1853-56; J. H. Swan, 1856-58; George D. Snow, 1858-60;
Felix A. Borer, 1868-75; Frank W. Kolars, 1875-76; F. A. Borer, 1876-77;
J. F. Quinlin, 1877-79; George Cheadle, 1879-83; T. H. Smullen, 1883-85;
P. Hammond, 1885-87; Joseph Rochock, 1887-89; Charles M. Floathe, 1889-
93; Frank Maudry, 1891-99; William H. Jeager, 1899-1905; Joseph Hagerty,
1905-11; Ed Salberg, 1911 to present date-1916.
______
I alsofound records ofdeath and burialfor Thomas
Hamilton Smullen. These records were found at the Ancestry website.
Below is the death record:
Name: THOMAS HAMILTON SMULLEN
Death Date: 12/19/1937
Death Place: LE SUEUR
State File Number: 007420
I suggest you order this death record from the Minnesota Department of Health In Minneapolis. The death record may tell you the full name of his mother and could even mention a town or county in Ireland where Thomas's mother and father were born.
Below is contact information for the department of health:
Minnesota Department of Health
Attention: Office of the State Registrar
717 Delaware Street, SE
P.O. Box 9441
Minneapolis, MN 55440
(612) 676-5120 recording
Fax: (612) 331-5776
I recommend calling the department of health before sending away for the death certificate, as the $10 chargeI found online for death certificates, may have changed.
Next is the burial record for Thomas H. Smullen which shows that he was buried in Mound Cemetery, Section B, in Le Sueur County, Minnesota. The record also shows that his wife’s first name was Charlotte, who no doubt would have been Charlotte Casteline:
Township: Ottawa
County: Le Sueur
Name: THOMAS H SMULLEN
Birth Date: 1852
Death Date: 1937
Cemetery: Mound
Comments: SP. CHARLOTTE
Section: B
I believe the Mound Cemetery is located in Ottawa, a few miles south ofLe Sueur Township, and just west of Lexington Township. Le Sueur and Ottawa are located
on the Minnesota River.
Also at the Ancestry website I found the death record of a younger Thomas Hamilton Smullen, who may have been the grandson of the Thomas Hamilton Smullen born in 1852. That record is next:
Name: THOMAS HAMILTON SMULLEN
Birth Date: July 5, 1910
Birth City: LESUEUR
Birth State: MINNESOTA
Death Date: January 17, 1997
Death Place: KATHIO TOWNSHIP, MILLE LACS
State File Number: 1997-MN-001444
Mother's Maiden Name: MILLER
_______
Concerning the Smullen surname in Ireland, I generated a surname report from a subscription website called Ireland of Other Days, which shows the name Smullen was most common in Counties Wicklow and Offaly. County Offaly in the 19th century was called Kings County.
This surname report is based on those names found in an Irish land record called Griffiths Valuation, which was enumerated in Ireland between 1847 and 1864. Further, the surname report shows that Smullen was also found in Counties Armagh,Donegal,Dublin,Kildare, Louth,Meath, and Westmeath, though with less frequency that Wicklow and Offaly.
In closing, of all the records mentioned in this email, the one you want to look at first is the death record of Thomas Hamilton Smullen, as that could tell you the maiden name of his mother, and possibly where his parents came from in Ireland.
The other information is important to gather also for your genealogical records. You should order as many records as suggested in this email as you can, make extra copies of them, and place them in folders so that you can go back and look at them whenever you need to revisit your genealogy.
All of the information I found concerning the Smullen family was discovered online, and should only be used as finding aides until you can look at copies of actual documents either on paper or microfilm.
Online record should never be fully trusted until they can be verified through the other sources just mentioned above.
Don’t hesitate to write if you have any questions.
Best Wishes Gini,
Dave Boylan