Mystery Picture on Wall

The photo below was taken at the Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915) home in Evanston Illinois most likely in 1909 or 1910. Although I am not sure of the occasion, given that all the Sullivan family who lived in the Chicago area are included and in another photo from the same day, much of the family of Nonie Mahoney (1889-1971) who would become Philip M. Sullivan's (1885-1959) wife, are represented it is my belief that this was either an engagement party or perhaps even a wedding party reception for Philip and Nonie who married on September 21, 1910.

What intrigued me about the photo when I first saw it was the picture hanging on the wall to the left.

It looks like a photo of six men.

Here is a close up of the picture on the wall:

Unfortunately, the image is too grainy to distinguish faces in the picture.

Several years later, I received a photo of Ann McGivney Sullivan (1836-1915) the wife of James Sullivan (c1830-1898) -- brother of Philip J. Sullivan -- from a great, grandson of Ann and James, Joe Sullivan. In this photo of Ann you can see a similar photo on the wall behind her. My guess is this photo of Ann is from 1910 or perhaps a little later given her age.

Seeing the two pictures in separate Sullivan homes led me to believe the photo was most likely of the extended Sullivan family.

Then, I came across this photo of Philip J. Sullivan in the album of Thomas A. Sullivan (1908-1996), grandson of Philip J. Sullivan. It is believed to be from the late 1870s or early 1880s given the clothing and chair in the photo.

When I look at the picture on the wall, especially in the home of Philip J. Sullivan, the male on the right in the back row looks very much the face in the above photo.

So, if Philip J. Sullivan (1840-1915) is in the photo, might this be a photo of the five Sullivan male children who immigrated to the U.S., plus who else?

Michael Sullivan - c1826 - 1915
James Sullivan - 1830 - 1898
Patrick Sullivan - 1832 - 1881
Andrew Sullivan - 1833 - 1881
Philip J. Sullivan - 1840 - 1915

Other known brothers: Thomas Sullivan (c1831-b1915) and Matthew (1841 - ?) both remained in Ireland.

Update January 21, 2019. Another brother, Rev. Peter F. Sullivan (c1838-1896) has been identified. He lived in Pennsylvania his whole adult life. It is very possible he is the "sixth" man in the photo! View Peter F. Sullivan (c1838-1896).

Sullivan Home in Denbawn

Recently, I was contacted by Eileen Sullivan a great, great granddaughter of Patrick Sullivan/Sorahan (c1794-a1874). She came across this blog and sent me a photo of the home her father, Matthew Sullivan (1927-2011), grew up in and that his brother, Thomas (c1920-1978) lived in until his death. At this point, I believe the home had been on the same property as the land I visited in 2011. View the video of the land.

I imagine this is not the physical building that Patrick Sullivan (c1794-a1874) lived in. It is most likely that this home was built sometime in the early to mid-20th century. However, it is believed to have been on the property, or near the property, listed in the 1857 Griffith's Valuation. I have more sleuthing to do.

Eileen wrote in the email to me: "I have attached a picture of my father's homestead in Denbawn, which was already abandoned.... I stayed there as a child with my parents. Thomas Sullivan [Matthew's brother] lived there until he died. He married late in life and after a couple of years of marriage he died and his wife sold the family farm."

Thank you so much Eileen Sullivan for sharing this amazing photo.

Eileen later sent a photo from 1972 of this same home when her uncle Thomas was still living in the house.

And, here is a wonderful aerial view of the property from May 17, 1984.

Source of photos: Eileen Sullivan, 2017

Life in Drumbarry c1955

Rose Corcoran Sullivan (c1805-1874) lived on a farm in the Townland of Drumbarry, Denn Parish, County Cavan as a young girl. In Drumavaddy School Reunion Committee Denbawn and Drumavaddy Old Schools (Cavan 2007), pages 44-46, it describes a shop in Drumbarry which Teresa Clarke Gaffney worked at in the 1950s. At this time it is not clear if Teresa Clarke Gaffney is related to Rita Clarke Galligan, a friend of the Sullivans, who lived down the road from the old Sullivan farm in Denbawn. And, whom I visited with when I was in Ireland in 2011. Rita was helpful with information on the Sullivans.

The description of a general store, although from the 1950s, is fascinating and probably reflects the type of shops that were in the area in earlier times.

To enlarge the page, click once on the image.

The photo on this page shows Mattie Sullivan (1927-2011) great, grandson of Patrick
Sullivan (c1794-1874) and Rita Clarke (eventually Galligan)

Source: Eileen Sullivan, great, great granddaughter of Patrick Sullivan (c1794-1874) and daughter of Mattie Sullivan (1927-2011) sent me these pages from Drumavaddy School Reunion Committee Denbawn and Drumavaddy Old Schools (Cavan 2007). I am in the process of trying to order the book with the hopes there are more stories and possibly photos relating to the Sullivans and Corcorans of County Cavan.

Life in Denbawn, c1940s

This article was written by Fr. Patsy Sullivan. As of this writing, I do not know how he relates to the larger Sullivan family but I am pretty positive he does. I spoke with him by telephone in 2011 when I was visiting Ireland and he was living in County Sligo. Although we were not able to determine the Sullivan connection, from what I had learned from Rita Clarke Galligan, neighbor of the Sullivans in Denbawn, he is related.

*** I have learned Fr. Patsy Sullivan is my third cousin, once removed. His sister took an autosomal DNA test to verify the paper trail. Yeah!!!***

Click once on the page images to enlarge so you can read them.

Mattie Sullivan (1927-2011) is pictured here. He is the great, grandson of Patrick Sullivan
(c1794-a1874) and was born in Denbawn, County Cavan.

Rita Clarke Galligan invited me and my husband into her home to share what she knew
about her Sullivan neighbors when we visited in 2011. Two of her children
Phelim and Damienne were also present.

Rita Clarke Galligan, with children Damienne and Phelim, 2011
Denbawn, County Cavan

Source: Drumavaddy School Reunion Committee Denbawn and Drumavaddy Old Schools (Cavan 2007); 3 pages. Copies of the pages received from Eileen Sullivan, great, great granddaughter of Patrick and Rose Sullivan. January, 2017.

Patrick Soraghan, possible death date evidence

The original records for the Calendar of Wills and Administration were created by the Probate Registry, which took control of proving Ireland's wills and administrations in 1858. Before this, four different types of ecclesiastical (church) courts dealt with these cases. A Principal Probate Registry was established in London in January 1858, and several district probate registries were created around the country. From then on, the registries oversaw all grants of probate and letters of administration. This collection is the Calendar of these grants covering the years 1858-1920.  View the online index.

This online index was created by FamilySearch as part of an agreement with the National Archives of Ireland. It is believed the original probate records were destroyed in the 1922 fire.

Searching for Patrick Soraghan of County Cavan, the following entry was returned.

SORAGHAN otherwise SOROHAN Patrick   [36]   12 April Letters of Administration (with the Will) of the personal estate of Patrick Soraghan otherwise Sorohan late of Dennbawn County Cavan. Farmer who died 16 March 1902 were granted at Cavan to Peter Soraghan Farmer.  Effects £28.

At first it was believed this Patrick Soraghan (Sorohan) was the widower of Rose Corcoran Soraghan and father of Philip J. Sullivan, but it is hard to believe a person born in c1794 lived until 1902, to nearly 108 years of age. Philip's father, Patrick, was alive in 1876 when Rose Corcoran Soraghan died, but had already died by 1915 when mentioned in his son Michael's probate record.  I'm fairly confident, this Patrick is a member of the larger Soraghan family, but exactly how he fits, I am not sure.

Note: On the 1821 Irish Census for Dennbawn, Denn Parish, County Cavan, Patrick's father, Michael, has his last name spelled as Sorohan.

Additionally, in the above clip is an entry for Thomas Soroghan, died 19 June 1902.  Possibly a brother/cousin of Patrick but again, no other corroborating evidence is known.


Source: Ireland, Calendar of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1920. National Archives of Ireland, Dublin, Ireland.  Calendar year: 1902, page 440.  Accessed online, May 20, 2013.

Elizabeth McCanna Sullivan Probate, Heirship Report c1883

Patrick and Rose's son Patrick, married Elizabeth McCanna in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1855.  They had nine children, two of whom died as infants.  The younger Patrick Sullivan died in Chicago, Illinois, on January 2, 1881.  Just six months later, on July 22, his wife, Elizabeth, died leaving seven children, the youngest being only eight years old.

Elizabeth's brother-in-law, Michael Sullivan, provided information for the Proof of Heirship.  Michael Sullivan also provided the information six months earlier for his brother Patrick's Proof of Heirship.


No. 1-1702
Doc. 4, Page 158

State of Illinois
Cook County
In the Probate Court of Cook County Illinois

In the Matter of the Estate
Of
Elizabeth Sullivan, deceased
Proof of Heirship

Michael Sullivan being first duly sworn according to law in open Court on oath doth depose and say that he was well and intimately acquainted with the said Elizabeth Sullivan deceased in her life time and was so acquainted with her for about thirty years prior to her death, the said Elizabeth being the wife of his brother Patrick Sullivan; that he said Elizabeth Sullivan and his brother the said Patrick Sullivan were married in Easton Pennsylvania in the year 1855; that as the issue of such marriage the said Patrick Sullivan and Elizabeth Sullivan had nine children born unto them viz., Rose L. Sullivan, now Rose L. Colby wife of Francis T. Colby, Michael A. Sullivan, Thomas J. Sullivan, Charles J. Sullivan, Peter F. Sullivan, Andrew Sullivan, William Sullivan, Francis P. Sullivan who died when he was about six weeks of age about twenty five years ago, and prior to the death of the said Elizabeth Sullivan and Harry Sullivan who died when he was about ten months of age about five years ago and prior to the death of the said Elizabeth Sullivan; that said Elizabeth Sullivan departed this life on or about the twenty second day of July AD 1881 leaving her surviving the said Rose L. Sullivan now Rose L. Colby wife of Francis T. Colby, she being twenty seven years of age on December 28th 1883, Michael A. Sullivan who was twenty three years of age on March 18th 1883, Thomas J. Sullivan who was twenty one years of age August 8th 1883, Charles J. Sullivan who was eighteen years of age on June 19, 1883, Peter F. Sullivan who will be sixteen years of age on November 19th 1883, Andrew Sullivan who will be fourteen years of age November 25(?)th 1883 and William Sullivan who will be eleven years of age on October 18th 1883, her children her heirs and only heirs at law; that the said Patrick Sullivan husband of the said Elizabeth Sullivan departed this life on or about the second day of January 1881 and prior to the death of said Elizabeth Sullivan. This affiant further says that he knows that the said Elizabeth Sullivan was never married to any man other than the said Patrick Sullivan and that she never had any child or children other than the ones above named. That the maiden name of the said Elizabeth Sullivan was Elizabeth McCanna.
[Signed] Michael Sullivan

[No date is on the document]

 

Images courtesy: Elaine M. Beaudoin

Elizabeth McCanna Sullivan Probate, Inventory 1881

The daughter-in-law of Patrick Sullivan and Rose Corcoran, Elizabeth McCanna Sullivan (1834-1881), was married to Patrick Sullivan (1832-1881). Patrick owned a grocery store at 245 W. Taylor, Chicago, prior to his death in January,1881.  Today, the 245 W. Taylor address is actually located at 772 W. Taylor. 
I believe the contents of their personal property noted below in the "Inventory" reflects furniture from their home and the type of items that would be sold in a local grocery store, minus the perishable items. This leads me to believe the grocery store was closed down, either when Patrick died or when Elizabeth died, and did not continue to be an on-going concern after their death.

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No. 1-1702

Doc. 4, Page 158

In the Probate Court of Cook County Illinois

Inventory

Filed Sept 29 1881

State of Illinois

Cook County

In the Probate Court of Cook County Illinois

In the matter of the Estate of Elizabeth Sullivan, deceased

The following is a full and perfect Inventory of the real and personal property so far as the same has come to the possession or knowledge of the undersigned administrator.

Real Estate

None

Personal Property

Cash on hand in bank  $1503.00

Forty yards of carpet, 1 sofa, 4 Rep chairs, 1 Rocker, 1 center table, 4 Brackets, 1 Rocker, 4 lamps, 2 lamps, 3 cain [sic] chairs, 1 table, 1 bureau, 1 cupboard, 1 lot of crockery, 1 stand, 1 bedstead, 1 clock, 1 bedstead and bedding, 1 cooking stove, 1 table, 1 Parlor stove, 1 bedstead, 1 cupboard, 1 looking glass, 20 gallons molasses, 15 gallons vinegar, 5 gal Kerosene, 14 boxes of axle grease, 8 woodden [sic] pails, 13 washboards, 3 lamps, 3 doz catsup, 5 lbs candles, 100 bars of soap, 2 doz lamp chimneys, 2 doz 250 envelopes, 1 lot of clothes pins, 3 doz toilet soap, 5 lbs of allspice, 1 counter scales, 1 counter scales, 1 show case, 1 counter, 8 packages baking powder, 40 lbs of starch, 1counter, 4 bottles mustard, 11 bottles of olive oile [sic], 15 pounds of bird seed, 26 cans of corn, 22 cans of peaches, 9 pounds bird seed, 46 cans tomatoes, 22 cans tomatoes, 34 pounds bird seed, 110 ¼ lbs cans baking powder, 20 cans of apples, 26 cans lima beans, 11 pounds of baking soda, 48 pounds starch, 50 bottles bluing, 13 boxes washing soda, 1 lot of sundries, 11 ½ pounds coconut, 13 packages starch, 52 sacks of salt, 4 doz lamp chimneys, 90 pounds starch, 6 scrubbing brushes, 7 pounds castile soap, 3 doz stove polish, 60 bars soap, 3 bottles olive oile [sic], 25 boxes, 6 watches, 15 boxes blacking, 16 boxes blacking, 1 packages cocoa.

All of which is most respectfully submitted

[Signed] Michael Sullivan

Administrator

September 29, 1881

[Unable to read, but believe it is the notary signature]

The above transcription attempted to capture exactly the handwritten copy with the exception that commas were added to separate the list of items where commas may not have been included in the original document.

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 Images courtesy: Elaine Beaudoin