Aunt Peggy provided me with a name and an address of a relative now residing in New Jersey. Staten Island is geographically closer to New Jersey than New York. Legend has it that the governors of New York and New Jersey had a foot race to determine who would get the island. The governor of New York lost. I write my second cousin Dorothy a letter, including a copy of great-grandma's photograph. After all, it is her great-grandmother too. Her grandfather took the photo. Perhaps she would be willing to talk to me about our family history if she sees this. That was not the case. She called months later when I was out of town. We became friends on facebook. She never responded to my invitations to meet when I am on the East Coast. I spoke with her briefly when she was at another cousin's house and the phone was handed to her. To this day, I still have not spoken directly to her about our link to Timothy O'Sullivan. It turned out that she held the answer to the question of whether we were related to him or not.
I continued my research on ancestry.com with my free, two week subscription. Those weeks passed quickly and I still hadn't found a record directly linking us to O'Sullivan. My budget for genealogy resembled the shape of a donut, but I was hooked and needed to find a way to continue researching. An online search led me to the Family History Library where I discovered free access to premium data bases, classes, books and like-minded people researching their families. I became a regular patron on Thursday evenings. One of the many things I learned was to contact living relatives when you are stuck or "at a brick wall" in genealogical terms. Luckily, my Great-uncle Jim had five children. I only needed one of his descendants to be willing to talk to me. Time to try again.
I did not want to cold call Sullivan's listed in the phone book on Staten Island. My questions were about the past, but we live in the present post-nine-eleven world. My cousins worked as New York City firefighters. Baby Charles in the photograph was a fireman (only men held that job in those days) and so was his son and nephew. But were they still working in 2001? After twenty years, one retired from the FDNY. A quick calculation determined that they would have been retired by 2001. But even if they didn't work on September 11th, no doubt that they knew people who did, and I had to be sensitive about this.
Meanwhile, I get an email from ancestry.com. as a result of a family tree I had posted there. Short and to the point, it read: "Contact UR cousin William Charles Sullivan age 65-email address." I some how doubted a sixty-five year old man spelled "your" as "U-R". I emailed him back asking him the O'Sullivan question. He called me. Bill is a retired New York City firefighter.
Thursday, March 24, 2016
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Genealogical Journey: The Back Story
The Back Story
It is often said that a journey begins with a single step. My genealogical journey began with a single photograph. An old photograph. A very old photograph. Photography has been a part of my family's lore since it was invented. But is it only lore or was there truth in those stories of being related to a famous Civil War photographer named Timothy O'Sullivan? Maybe this old photograph can help. The photograph was found in a roasting pan stored in the basement of our family's upstate New York home. Perhaps this only happens in my family, but you know how one side of the family's things are proudly displayed in the main area of the house and the other's "junk" is strewn about the basement? So it was with that old photo passed around the Thanksgiving dinner table one year. I was a teenager at the time but I remember having a visceral reaction to seeing that photograph. It seemed to call to me. "We are your relatives. This was a moment in our lives. Get to know us. Don't forget us." It made my ancestors more real to me.
This photograph was not taken in a traditional photography studio where subjects wore their Sunday best standing in front of an artificial background with somber looks on their faces. This picture was taken in the living room of a Staten Island, New York home in 1913 by the baby's dad, Jim Sullivan. The baby is serious, the cat is curious and great-grandma is...no, not furious but thoroughly amused.
My Aunt Peggy, full of family history knowledge, quickly identified the woman as her namesake Margaret Holmes Sullivan. My great-grandmother is holding her first grandson Charles Sullivan, my dad's first cousin. The cat vying for the coveted position on her lap was named Bootsie. The white on his paws made it look like he was wearing boots. Aren't we clever when it comes to naming our pets?
Great-uncle Jim was a newspaper photographer for many New York City papers at the turn of the twentieth century. But was he the only photographer in the family? Were the stories about being related to Timothy O'Sullivan getting mixed up with him? Tim and Jim are similar, photography is the same and the time period is only a few decades apart. But why would we say that? Most people with the surname Sullivan try to relate themselves to the famous Boston boxer, the great John L. Sullivan. Not us. We'll stick with being related to Timothy O'Sullivan. But how?
Time to ask Dad. His answer is to ask Aunt Peggy. Her response is to ask him. Let's see what genealogy records say. Census schedules show Timothy's parents lived near my ancestors on Staten Island. They indicated the relationship of the people in the household, but not the neighbors. Great-great-grandpa's naturalization document listed Timothy's father as a witness to his naturalization but didn't spell out their relationship. Time to reach out to never before met living relatives to see what they know.
Little did I know that the journey to seek information about the dead would lead me on a fabulous journey of meeting the living. Please join me for the story about how a man who had no living descendants united hundreds of living relatives.
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| Great-grandma Margaret Holmes Sullivan with her first grandson, Charles. 1913 Staten Island New York |
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Tuesday, April 28, 2015
I am back...seasons change...tax season that is: San Diego Sour
Had to dessert my blog for a while. I work in a tax office so January through April is pretty sporadic as far as a normal schedule goes. Work gets in the way of life: time wise, energy wise, patience wise. Sometimes you just want to come home to a sofa, a snack and a screen. I thought I would re-open my blog with some income tax preparation tips.
Tax tips:
1. April 15th is every year. Along with death, you cannot avoid paying taxes. Don't procrastinate.
2. Think about your taxes year round. Our office is open year round to assist you with questions. If there is any change in your income, call us. Consider withholding more. Don't spend all it on a Corvette. There will be tax consequences. See tip number one.
3. If it is days before the 15th, we are going to have to file an extension for you. Last minute on your part does not mean we can work faster to make the deadline. But don't worry, we will still do your return for you. If you are worried about penalties, send in a payment to the IRS and the state. Any amount helps and remember, the interest on taxes owed is far less than on a credit card or other loan. If you are still worried, see tip number one.
4. Please give us a working phone number. We send you an organizer at the beginning of the year. Please fill it out. Things change fast these days. Many of us, myself included, have disconnected our home phones and gone completely cellular. You may have done that on April 16th of last year so when you come in this year, it isn't a new phone number to you, but it is to us. Learn how to retrieve your messages and check them!
5. Income tax preparation is a service. We don't make the rules so don't get mad at us if you owe. We answer to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board as well. We don't work for the IRS or the states. We follow their rules and they don't answer any of our questions as to "why'.
6. Income tax preparation is a service. A paid service. Please be prepared to pay when you pick up your returns. We will not electronically file them if you don't. We can't wait for your refund to arrive to take it out of there. You are not entitled to first class service, a private appointment with no waiting, attention to detail and tax saving advice for free. We also have awesome candy and drinks. Try a VITA office if free is what you can afford. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. They are usually for low-income people and those who end up not having to file. Be prepared to pay with your time by waiting in line and have the work take longer. Tip number one applies to their offices as well.
7. We don't have forms. Don't call us on April 15th looking for free forms that you can have. Most tax returns need to be filed electronically these days. Even if they don't, the work is still done via computer, not paper forms that you fill out. See tip number one.
Have a happy and prosperous new year!
Tax tips:
1. April 15th is every year. Along with death, you cannot avoid paying taxes. Don't procrastinate.
2. Think about your taxes year round. Our office is open year round to assist you with questions. If there is any change in your income, call us. Consider withholding more. Don't spend all it on a Corvette. There will be tax consequences. See tip number one.
3. If it is days before the 15th, we are going to have to file an extension for you. Last minute on your part does not mean we can work faster to make the deadline. But don't worry, we will still do your return for you. If you are worried about penalties, send in a payment to the IRS and the state. Any amount helps and remember, the interest on taxes owed is far less than on a credit card or other loan. If you are still worried, see tip number one.
4. Please give us a working phone number. We send you an organizer at the beginning of the year. Please fill it out. Things change fast these days. Many of us, myself included, have disconnected our home phones and gone completely cellular. You may have done that on April 16th of last year so when you come in this year, it isn't a new phone number to you, but it is to us. Learn how to retrieve your messages and check them!
5. Income tax preparation is a service. We don't make the rules so don't get mad at us if you owe. We answer to the IRS and Franchise Tax Board as well. We don't work for the IRS or the states. We follow their rules and they don't answer any of our questions as to "why'.
6. Income tax preparation is a service. A paid service. Please be prepared to pay when you pick up your returns. We will not electronically file them if you don't. We can't wait for your refund to arrive to take it out of there. You are not entitled to first class service, a private appointment with no waiting, attention to detail and tax saving advice for free. We also have awesome candy and drinks. Try a VITA office if free is what you can afford. VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance. They are usually for low-income people and those who end up not having to file. Be prepared to pay with your time by waiting in line and have the work take longer. Tip number one applies to their offices as well.
7. We don't have forms. Don't call us on April 15th looking for free forms that you can have. Most tax returns need to be filed electronically these days. Even if they don't, the work is still done via computer, not paper forms that you fill out. See tip number one.
Have a happy and prosperous new year!
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
House of Ireland ( Happy St. Patrick's Day)
Another sweet bi-product of genealogy research is wanting to celebrate your heritage. For me, that meant attending the March lawn program sponsored by Balboa Park's House of Ireland. So I marked my calendar months in advance, asked my friend whose married name is O'Leary, to join Jenn, Alex and Eric and me for an afternoon of Irish culture. Upon hearing about our outing, Marcia wanted to join us as well. So I got a shamrock manicure, cut up some soda bread and drove Marcia and Mrs. O'Leary to Balboa park. We had the luck of the Irish and found a parking space quickly and close by the International cottages in bustling, busy Balboa Park .
We set up our chairs, commandeered a park bench, and saved a space on the grass with a beach towel for Jenn's gang who were driving separately. We were handed programs and perused the vendors on the lawn prior to the show. Marcia bought a bangers and mash stew the House of Ireland was selling. I talked with the Civil War re-enactment members of the 69th Regiment New York State Volunteers, photographed the shamrock seller and petted the Irish Wolf hounds.
The Cameron Pipers, a bagpipe group, started off the music by marching through the International Cottage courtyard. They ended their on the dragon laden stage. Yes, the stage had a dragon who was named Ollie. According to legend, Ollie helped St. Patrick drive out the snakes and dragons ( except for himself ) in Ireland. The House of Ireland Queen and Princess emceed the afternoon that featured Kid's Session Musicians from the local school of Irish dance, Pride of Celti Dancers, a Q& A session for both the Irish Setter Club of San Diego and the Irish Wolfhound Association of the West Coast. The dogs were a big hit with the crowd eliciting many ooh's and ah's at their size and weight.
Upon arrival, Alex ate most of the soda bread by himself. I am happy to report he also enjoyed the Children's Spotlight portion of the program performed by the Little Dancers. They danced the Pee Wee Reel, Little Light Jig and Single, Jig Shenanigans. The polka set also included the funny sounding Oh, the Britches Full of Stitches and, appropriately for this hot day, We Brought the Summer With Us.
The Gaelic sports presentation Q & A session was surprisingly interesting to me. Not much of a sports fan, I was surprised to learn that hurling is thought to be the oldest sport in history going back thousands of years. It was used as a way to keep in shape when you had to fight to defend your village. Some very skilled athletes demonstrated bouncing the baseball- sized ball on a bat that looked like a canoe paddle. Hey, I said I didn't know much about sports.
The program ended with the singing of the Irish National Anthem. For all you trivia buffs, it is called "A Soldier's Song."
Before I let the photos tell the rest of the story, I'll end by saying Mrs. O'Leary bought a giant shamrock plant that matched her "This is my Lucky Shirt" t-shirt.
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| Shamrock nail art in honor of St. Patrick's Day |
We set up our chairs, commandeered a park bench, and saved a space on the grass with a beach towel for Jenn's gang who were driving separately. We were handed programs and perused the vendors on the lawn prior to the show. Marcia bought a bangers and mash stew the House of Ireland was selling. I talked with the Civil War re-enactment members of the 69th Regiment New York State Volunteers, photographed the shamrock seller and petted the Irish Wolf hounds.
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| Ray, an Irish Wolf Hound |
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| Shamrock Seller |
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| Irish Wolfhounds stealing the show |
Upon arrival, Alex ate most of the soda bread by himself. I am happy to report he also enjoyed the Children's Spotlight portion of the program performed by the Little Dancers. They danced the Pee Wee Reel, Little Light Jig and Single, Jig Shenanigans. The polka set also included the funny sounding Oh, the Britches Full of Stitches and, appropriately for this hot day, We Brought the Summer With Us.
The Gaelic sports presentation Q & A session was surprisingly interesting to me. Not much of a sports fan, I was surprised to learn that hurling is thought to be the oldest sport in history going back thousands of years. It was used as a way to keep in shape when you had to fight to defend your village. Some very skilled athletes demonstrated bouncing the baseball- sized ball on a bat that looked like a canoe paddle. Hey, I said I didn't know much about sports.
The program ended with the singing of the Irish National Anthem. For all you trivia buffs, it is called "A Soldier's Song."
Before I let the photos tell the rest of the story, I'll end by saying Mrs. O'Leary bought a giant shamrock plant that matched her "This is my Lucky Shirt" t-shirt.
 |
| Mrs. O'Leary with her giant Shamrock plant |
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| Alex with a little Shamrock plant. (L-R) Marcia, Jenn and Mrs. O'Leary behind him. |
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| Ollie the dragon on stage with the musicians. |
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| House of Ireland Singers in Sunny San Diego |
Monday, March 16, 2015
A Very Bradbury Birthday
March 8, Saturday 2:30 until 6PM-- 60s
pop music and more concert party
for Janet Bradbury's Birthday
One Heart One Mind Center for Spiritual
Living
11211 Sorrento Valley Road, Suite G,
San Diego 92121
60s music and more performances and
sing- alongs
No gifts. I suggest a donation of your
choice to One Heart One Mind Center for Spiritual Living.
Schedule: Arrive at 2:30 for
socializing and snacks.
Performance starts at 3:30PM.
Dinner at 5PM
The program includes prizes for best
60s outfit, and for answering questions about 60s music.
Dinner will be catered Indian Food and
potluck salads and snacks.
Order vegetarian or non-vegetarian.
Some gluten free options will be available.
If you want to, please bring a potluck
item: salads, snacks or beverages.
Performers include Jeannette, Andrey,
Anita, and some yet to be determined.
Please feel free to invite other
friends or friends of mine who may have missed this notice.
Please RSVP by March 3 by e-mail or
call.
This was Janet's invitation for her birthday party. I was pleasantly surprised and delighted to score this invite via email. I have known Janet from a writing group we both attend, but not much outside of that. This sounded like a fun chance to get to see another side of her. So I replied "yes."
I couldn't be there at the start time so I walked in to find Janet and Jeanette in the middle of signing the Joni Mitchell song "Both Sides Now." Nancy from the writing group handed me a program; after putting a donation and card for Janet in the designated basket, I took a seat to enjoy the performance.
The tie-dyed peace symbol on the front of the program said Welcome to Janet Bradbury's 2015 Birthday Extravaganza. The first two pages had the headline "The Show" and listed the song, the artist, the year and the singer. The next five pages titled "The sing-Along" had the words to songs we sang as a group--We Shall Overcome, Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Yellow Submarine and Reach Out in the Darkness--A Chant. There was even a Coca-Cola ad! The last three pages listed the performers and their bios. The back page listed a special thank you to people, places and the restaurant that catered the food. ( Quite good Indian cuisine.)
My favorite part of the performance was when Janet sang a Russian folk song called Dark Eyes in Russian! Afterwards, her daughter Anita joked she was going to play the guitar to the tune of Another Sad Song- literally!
After dinner, we fittingly sang Happy Birthday to Janet who had sung to us all afternoon. She blew out the candles on her three cakes; yes, multiple cakes, all carrot! I had to leave before the cake was served and the group photo, but still had a wonderful time. Later that week, I received the following email from Janet.
The tie-dyed peace symbol on the front of the program said Welcome to Janet Bradbury's 2015 Birthday Extravaganza. The first two pages had the headline "The Show" and listed the song, the artist, the year and the singer. The next five pages titled "The sing-Along" had the words to songs we sang as a group--We Shall Overcome, Put a Little Love in Your Heart, Yellow Submarine and Reach Out in the Darkness--A Chant. There was even a Coca-Cola ad! The last three pages listed the performers and their bios. The back page listed a special thank you to people, places and the restaurant that catered the food. ( Quite good Indian cuisine.)
My favorite part of the performance was when Janet sang a Russian folk song called Dark Eyes in Russian! Afterwards, her daughter Anita joked she was going to play the guitar to the tune of Another Sad Song- literally!
After dinner, we fittingly sang Happy Birthday to Janet who had sung to us all afternoon. She blew out the candles on her three cakes; yes, multiple cakes, all carrot! I had to leave before the cake was served and the group photo, but still had a wonderful time. Later that week, I received the following email from Janet.
Here is the group photo Sam took with a thank you to everyone. It was a beautiful party!
Ten of those who came were not in this photo. Thank you to them too!
Thank you to everyone who came. Thank you to our performers for helping me to create a musical experience.
Thank you to everyone who assisted! Thank you to Sitar Indian cuisine for providing great food!
Thank you for the beautiful party and all the great songs!
May your lives be richly blessed!
Love,
Janet
And they are Janet, because you are a part of it.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
La Mesa VFW bench dedication & Plaque Removal and Plaque Build Up: San Diego Sweet and Sour
A day in the life in this blog post is both San Diego sweet and sour. The "sweet" part the title refers to is a bench dedication ceremony at the La Mesa VFW/American Legion post on March 7, 2015. The "sour" part about plaque removal and build up has nothing to do with dental hygiene but is about plaques on the Vietnam Memorial Monument at the same location.
Saturday,
March 7 the sun shone brightly on the crowd at the Vietnam War
Memorial at the American Legion Hall in La Mesa. The Monahan and
Ellis families, related through marriage, were among the viewers awaiting the unveiling of the bench honoring their respective
fathers. Veterans of the second World War, the late William P.
Monahan, Sr. and Ellis Evers were decade long residents of La Mesa. Dinah and Mike worried about what their fathers might have in common to talk about when the families got together. Usually men of few words, Bill and Ellis sat in a corner and talked for hours about their experiences in WWII. This bench is dedicated to their memories.
Upon arrival, we walked around the Vietnam Memorial that was built in
1970. Reading the plaques, I was amazed that they were still there
knowing many plaques were stolen and sold for scrap. Heck, the wiring
in the street lights on our block was recently cut and stripped of
its metal. I was already worrying about the fate of the bench, hoping
it wasn't made of desirable metal. My fears about the bench were
unfounded, it is made of ceramic mosaics spelling out the words
"Freedom is not Free".
A cross with a helmet and two flags top the memorial
After
the speeches and unveiling of the bench, TV news outlets interviewed
the families and VFW volunteers. I later saw their reports were about
attempts to steal the plaques I was wondering about that day. It turns out that same morning, VFW volunteers noticed the plaques were loosened and took
them down for fear of being stolen. They will be reinforced and
better security measures put into place when they are re-installed.
One news report stated how the monument is right across the street
from the La Mesa police department. Attention thieves: the plaques
are made of bi-metal and are not valuable scrap. Remember what the
bench says: Freedom is not free. Neither are the plaques.
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| Bill Monahan, Jr. & the author behind the bench |
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| The Monahan siblings with their father's bench |
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| Side view of the bench |
Wednesday, March 4, 2015
The blog about my block was blocked
Okay, so I had a couple of topics in mind to write about. The first is about always being the bridesmaid and never the bride. I can't write that one until I am the bride, which I am determined to be because I have a shot at that weekly. More on that once I am the bride.
Another topic I was going to write about concerned a possible fight at a community planning meeting scheduled on February 23. I was going to blog about my block. The "fight" was cancelled before the meeting because my neighbors and I won without having to go to battle. In part, the one stop pizza parlor pot shop business application was withdrawn because of possible blow back from two neighborhood groups. The city had already denied the application to the LA based medical marijuana cooperative to open shop. No matter, businesses in our area have been known to ask for forgiveness instead of permission; illegally operating without permits making all kinds of noises, messes and smells and profits for themselves. So I guess they thought they would push the issue at the planning meeting because no body cares or goes to those meetings, right? Wrong! That strategy went up in smoke for them. Not one, but two adjoining neighborhood groups care about what happens on my block. So the blog about my block was blocked when the agenda item was withdrawn. I feel our neighborhood group, dubbed the lunch bunch, has reached its tipping point. Now we can stop shenanigans in our neighborhood before they start, without having to attend the fight. So I have nothing to blog about because the blog about my block was blocked.
Another topic I was going to write about concerned a possible fight at a community planning meeting scheduled on February 23. I was going to blog about my block. The "fight" was cancelled before the meeting because my neighbors and I won without having to go to battle. In part, the one stop pizza parlor pot shop business application was withdrawn because of possible blow back from two neighborhood groups. The city had already denied the application to the LA based medical marijuana cooperative to open shop. No matter, businesses in our area have been known to ask for forgiveness instead of permission; illegally operating without permits making all kinds of noises, messes and smells and profits for themselves. So I guess they thought they would push the issue at the planning meeting because no body cares or goes to those meetings, right? Wrong! That strategy went up in smoke for them. Not one, but two adjoining neighborhood groups care about what happens on my block. So the blog about my block was blocked when the agenda item was withdrawn. I feel our neighborhood group, dubbed the lunch bunch, has reached its tipping point. Now we can stop shenanigans in our neighborhood before they start, without having to attend the fight. So I have nothing to blog about because the blog about my block was blocked.
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