The Churches

I've wondered aloud about Anne's connection to her religion -- 

What did being Catholic mean to Anne? and recently, thanks to a new subscription to a genealogy resource called "Find My Past" I found a new set of records that sent be back down the religion path. 

While building out Anne's family tree, I received a pop up note saying I had a hint on Mary Nolan (Gagan); I followed the clue and was soon reading a record of her baptism.  Within an hour, I had baptism records for all of Anne and Johns children that I knew of  -- with one exception.

Immaculate Conception, New York City

The Church of the Immaculate Conception

Per the U.S. Federal Census, 1860, the Nolan family lived on 25th Street, near 3rd Avenue. At that point, it was Anne and John with two children, Maurice and Thomas (5 months old that July when the census taker recorded them.)  Both boys were baptized at The Church of the Immaculate Conception  on 14th Street in Manhattan New York City. This location has me reconsidering my calculation of the Nolan home address (it seems like a long walk) but the history of the Church refers to the congregation as overwhelmingly Irish, so perhaps it was just someone that the Nolan's felt comfortable. 

Maurice was baptized on April l0, 1858 (the year of the Church's dedication) and Thomas was baptized on 29 January 1860.

Further baptism's recorded at this church, to parents John and Ann(e) Nolan include: -

John Nolan (September 1, 1961); Willian Nolan (December 30, 1863); Mary Nolan (October 8, 1865 -- my great great grandmother) and Ellen Nolan (September 4, 1868). 

You dedicated readers will note two interesting things in the list above. 

1. John Nolan is the little boy who drowned in 1869.  I have found a notice of his death and the coroner's report of his body being sent to Calvary Cemetery.   The story tells us that he died with his brother Stephen. Stephen Nolan is not listed - I find no record of his birth or baptism at Immaculate Conception - nor have I found a record of the recovery of his body and its burial. 
2. William Nolan is listed as the son of Anne and John Nolan; this is a new name for us.  It is of course possible that William did not live long (and over time he just ceased to be discussed) OR it is feasible that this boy is from a different Nolan family.  I suppose it is also possible this is the brother who drowned with John - but that feels like too big of a mistake/ oversight in family oral history. 

St. John the Evangelist

St. John the Evangelist, White Plains

The Nolan's moved to White Plains; I've hypothesized they moved sometime around 1869 because that is the year John drowns (in White Plains) but to date I've not found any evidence of their home until 1880.  Happily, I do find the rest of the family in the baptismal registry of St. John the Evangelist, in White Plains, New York. 

John Nolan (baptized October 9, 1871); Catherine Nolan (November 17, 1872); Nicholas Francis Nolan (January 24, 1875); and Margaret Nolan (May 13, 1877).

Our Lady of Mercy, Port Chester, New York

Our Lady of Mercy Port Chester

At some point, the Nolan family began worshipping at Our Lady of Mercy, in Port Chester. Ellen Nolan was married there (September 4, 1987) and throughout the family, all girls were married there up to Rita Hughes Beluk ! 

Nolan family events at Our Lady of Mercy included:

Weddings:

Ellen Nolan to John  Halligan: September 4, 1887

Catherine Nolan to James Kelly:  March 6, 1905

Margaret Nolan to Philip Murphy:  April 5, 1905

The family connection extended beyond the Nolan clan to future generations: 

Weddings:

Mary Ellen Gagan to George Hughes: February 15, 1912

Irene Gagan to Daniel Hassan: November 24, 1925

Anne Hughes and Dan McCarthy, 1940

Anne Hughes to Daniel McCarthy: July 20, 1940

Mary Hughes to Edward Stone: April 14, 1941

Rita Hughes to Frank Beluk: May 15, 1950

Baptisms:

Anne Hughes: January 12, 1913

Mary Hughes: June 5, 1916

Sheila McCarthy: January 18,1942

Mary Ellen McCarthy: February 29, 1948

See my growing research on church connections; I'd love more details or photos if you have them!