My great grandmother Sarah Kennedy Flanagan has been extremely difficult to research, mainly due to her children being orphaned at a young age, and her children being split up and lost to each other. Yet even the records I have been able to find offer conflicting information. I also have not identified a single other descendant who is actively researching Sarah or Sarah’s line, with whom I could collaborate on this tough woman.
#52Ancestors: My Grand Uncle Leonard Luther Ward
Leonard was the middle brother of my grandfather. I never met him. I know almost nothing about Leonard. I did not even know Leonard existed until I found that very first lead about my grandfather’s family history, the 1930 U.S. Census record.
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. Until June of this year, I had been unable to find Sarah Kennedy or her children on the 1920 Census.
#52Ancestors: Grand Uncle Patrick Joseph Flanagan Desperately Reunites with My Grandfather
Patrick is the only one of my orphaned grandfather’s siblings I ever met. I remember Grandpa crying when Uncle Pat died. Grandpa was crying over the loss of his brother. But, more significantly, Grandpa was heartbroken over the loss of the only biological family member with whom he ever had a real relationship.
WWI Draft: Step-Great Grandfather Frank J Ward
After finding that 1920 city directory I discovered yesterday for my great grandmother Sarah KENNEDY (1898-1930) and her first husband Frank J. WARD (b. 1895), I spent some time looking for additional records on Ward that might provide more information about my great grandmother and her children. I came across Frank Ward’s WWI Draft Registration […]
#52Ancestors: Was Great Grandma Kennedy Having an Affair with Great Grandpa Flanagan?
Did my great grandmother Sarah Kennedy ever divorce her first husband Frank Ward prior to marrying my great grandfather Patrick Flanagan? Sarah and Frank were still living together in 1920, when the first child of Sarah and Patrick was supposedly born.
#52Ancestors: Walter Ward (b. 1916), My Grandfather’s Mystery Brother
My 12th week in Amy Johnson Crow’s “52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks” family history blogging challenge. The challenge: have one blog post each week devoted to a specific ancestor. It could be a story, a biography, a photograph, an outline of a research problem — anything that focuses on one ancestor. I’m a few weeks […]
