Finding Great Grandma Kennedy Under Wrong Surname on 1920 U.S. Census

Since my visit to the Family History Library this past February during the 2014 RootsTech conference, I have been focusing more on researching my maternal grandfather’s Flanagan and Kennedy lines. These lines have always been problematic for me due to my grandpa being orphaned as a young toddler and then separated from his older brothers. Grandpa knew almost nothing about his parents and his family history.

Sarah KENNEDY (1898-1930) was my grandfather’s mother, who died from tuberculosis when he was just 3 years old. I assume Sarah caught TB while nursing my great grandfather Patrick Thomas FLANAGAN (1897-1928), who died from that disease when Grandpa was only 1-1/2 years old.

What I have been able to piece together about Sarah’s early life is very little:

• Born circa 1898 most likely in Cumberland, Allegany County, Maryland.
• Living (1 year old) with her father Joseph KENNEDY (1876-?) in Lonaconing, Aellgany County, Maryland at the time of the U.S. Census. Her mother was living apart, with her parents and siblings in the same town.
• Married first husband Frank J. WARD (1895-1967) on 25 June 1913 in Mahoning County, Ohio.
• Was residing in Poland, Mahoning County, Ohio at the time of her wedding.
• Gave birth to daughter Catherine Mae WARD in 1914.
• Gave birth to son Joseph A. WARD in 1916.
• Gave birth to someone named Walter WARD in 1916 (possibly the legal name of Joseph, possibly a twin that died, possibly a 2nd son born within the same year).
• Gave birth to son Leonard Luther Ward in 1917.
• By 10 April 1925, she married her second husband (my great grandfather) Patrick Thomas FLANAGAN.

I have been unable to find Sarah yet on the 1910 U.S. Census.

And until June of this year, I had been unable to find Sarah or her children on the 1920 Census. I solved this mystery when searching for the 1920 U.S. Census record for Sarah’s mother Catherine DARNLEY (1878-1926). Even Catherine was hard to find initially, but I managed to identify her enumerated under the surname of her third husband Leonard L. FABRY (1877-?).

It was while reviewing this census record that I discovered Sarah and the children living with Sarah’s mother at this time. Oddly, neither Catherine’s husband Fabry nor Sarah’s husband Ward are indicated as living in the home. I assume from this omission that Sarah had separated from and/or divorced Frank Ward by this time.

Although the children were recorded under the correct last name, that of their father Ward, my great grandmother Sarah was mistakenly recorded under her stepfather’s name Fabry. No wonder I could never find a 1920 Census record a Sarah Ward or even a Sarah Kennedy! I don’t understand why the census enumerator recorded Sarah’s last name as Fabry, since Sarah is described as “married” at this time.

1920 U.S. Census, courtesy of Ancestry.com.

The following details are extracted from the Fabry household census record:

• Date: 10 January 1920.
• Location: Pultney Township, Bellaire, Belmont County, Ohio.
• Address: 3355 Franklin Street
• (Line 82) Kathryn Fabey
  • Head of household / Renting
  • Female / White / 41 years old / Married
  • Able to read and write / Speaks English
  • Born in Ohio
  • Father born in Scotland (speaks Scottish)
  • Mother born in England (speaks English)
  • Housekeeper for private family
• (Line 83) Sarah Fabey
  • Daughter
  • Female / White / 21 years old / Married
  • Able to read and write / Speaks English
  • Born in Pennsylvania
  • Father born in Maryland
  • Mother born in Ohio
  • Not employed
• (Line 84) Andrew Quinn
  • Son
  • Male / White / 14 years old / Single
  • Able to read and write / Attending School / Speaks English
  • Born in Oklahoma
  • Father born in Maryland
  • Mother born in Ohio
  • Not employed
• (Line 85) Kathryn Ward
  • Granddaughter
  • Female / White / 6 years old / Single
  • Attending school
  • Born in Ohio
  • Father born in Ohio
  • Mother born in Maryland
• (Line 86) Joseph A. Ward
  • Grandson
  • Male / White / 3 years 2 months old / Single
  • Born in Ohio
  • Father born in Ohio
  • Mother born in Maryland
• (Line 87) Leonard L. Ward
  • Grandson
  • Male / White / 2 years 1 month old / Single
  • Born in Ohio
  • Father born in Ohio
  • Mother born in Maryland

Google Street View of block where Darnley/Fabry/Ward home was at 3355 Franklin Street.