Thomas Halligan and James Costello

With the help of my Halligan cousin, Cynthia, we think we may have found the name of Thomas Halligan's father.  And, his wife, Ann's, father as well.

This is from the website www.mayoancestors.com (The Mayo is for Mayo County, Ireland) and it shows the marriage between Thomas Halligan and Ann Costello.  Listed as witnesses 1 and 2 are James Costello and Thomas Halligan.  On another record it refers to them as "pt" instead of witness.  Cynthia and I are speculating that "pt" stands for parent, as it is completely reasonable that the fathers would stand in as witnesses.  So, it would seem that Thomas Halligan is Thomas Halligan's father, and James Costello is Ann Costello's father.

Direct line ancestry: Thomas Halligan:James Costello --> Thomas Halligan:Ann Costello --> Anna Teressa Halligan --> Annie Marie Sammon --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Teressa Marshall Nehring

Anna Halligan Sammon Warren and Annie Sammon Ramey Caman

The excitement continues!! : )

My grandfather, Don Caman, said: "My grandmother (Anna Halligan) married William Sammon.  His father and his family came from Ireland.  William Sammon was apparently a ne'er-do-well because my grandmother, who was a staunch Catholic, they had three children, she divorced him.  Then eventually she married William Warren."

Marriage record of Anna Teressa Halligan to William Sammon - 12 November 1879
 in Greene County, Iowa

Marriage record of Anna Teressa Halligan Sammon to William M. Warren - 24 October 1898 in Council Bluffs, Pottawattamie, Iowa

He mentions three children, but I only knew of my great-grandmother, Annie Marie (or Amy Marie, or Marie, or Mary).  Despite her many name changes, I call her Annie because that is what is on her headstone, so that is what she wanted to be called at the end of her life.

In the process of looking for Thomas, I connected with a Cynthia Halligan.  Cousins!!  We both are descendants of Thomas Halligan.  She was doing some digging and found the 1900 Census with William and Hannah Warren, and three Sammon children.  Woohoo!!  

1900 United States Federal Census - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, line 99 - page 1

1900 United States Federal Census - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, line 1 - page 2

So, there is Margaret, Mary (my 2nd great-grandmother), and Frances.  I can't find any more about Margaret, as she most likely got married and I have no idea what her married name was, but I think I found Frances.  There is a California Social Security Death Index entry for Frances Sammon, with the same birthdate, who died in San Francisco in 1987.  There is no entry for him on Find-A-Grave, so I am not able to verify that as of yet.

California Social Security Death Index for Frances Sammon

Then on down through Annie. . .

Annie Marie Sammon Ramey Caman

Marriage Certificate for Clarence Chapman Caman and Annie Sammon

On the back of my great-grandparents marriage certificate, it says that, for both of them, this is their second marriage.  I know very little about Clarence Chapman's first marriage, but this week I was able to find a lot more about Annie's first marriage.  It was to a man named Frederick "Fred" Ramey.  They were married in 1908 in Omaha, Nebraska, and had a son, also named Frederick Ramey.  (I was able to find a lot of information about Fred's parents and grandparents as well.) 

1910 United States Federal Census - Omaha, Douglas, Nebraska, line 13

On the 1930 Census, it lists Clarence and Marie A. Caman, with their son Donald (my grandfather) and step-son, Frederick Ramey.  

1930 United States Federal Census - Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California, line 28

I am not sure why Fred Ramey and Annie were in Colorado, but they weren't there very long.  The April 1910 Census puts them in Omaha, then Frederick was born in Colorado on 21 December 1910.  Fred died in Denver, Colorado in 7 June 1915 and is buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Omaha, Nebraska.  Annie remarries Clarence Caman in 1917.  Frederick married Ruth Sharp and died in Los Angeles on 26 May 1986.

California Social Security Death Index for Frederick Warren Ramey

Direct line ancestry: Anna Teressa Halligan --> Annie Marie Sammon --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Teressa Marshall Nehring

Thomas Halligan and his family

This has been a week of amazingness!!  I have broken through so many road blocks this last two weeks, it is so exciting!

A while back I mentioned my difficulty in finding any information on Thomas Halligan.  This has been a road block for as long as I can remember.  I have been able to find oodles of information, thanks to the fantastic genealogical community out there!

It started three weeks ago when a Find-A-Grave volunteer took the headstone photos I had requested of Ann, Patrick and Mary Halligan.  I was guessing that they could have been Thomas' children.  The funny thing was, I didn't remember having requested that the photos be taken.  That one little forgotten request was the crack in the flood gates!

The Halligan marker at the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa

Ann Halligan's marker in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

Ann Halligan's marker in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.  It says: Ann, wife of T. Halligan, died July 17, 18965, aged 68 years

Patrick Halligan's headstone in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

Mary Halligan, Patrick's wife's headstone in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa.

I was guessing that Patrick, Ann and Mary could have been Thomas' children.

When I made the request I added a note that if there was a Thomas Halligan buried there as well, could they please take a photo of his headstone too.  The volunteer told me that there was no headstone for Thomas in the St. Mary's Cemetery in Nichols, Muscatine, Iowa, but that she was familiar with the local cemeteries, and there was a Thomas Halligan buried in the St. Vincent's Cemetery in Riverside, Washington, Iowa.  

Thomas Halligan's headstone in the St. Vincent's Cemetery in Riverside, Washington, Iowa.  Transcription: Thomas Halligan, Died Aug. 22, 1874, Aged 50 years.  John, died June 15, 1863, Aged 8 years.  Julia E., died Nov. 18, 1865, Aged 1 yr. 9 mos.  May their souls rest in peace. Amen.

This Thomas Halligan died in 1874, at the age of 50, meaning he would have been born in 1824.  There are two children buried with Thomas, John and Julia.

I Googled the St. Vincent Cemetery and called to speak to the Sexton there.  He said that when they acquired the cemetery, there were no additional records, and, the first source of my frustration, Iowa did not start keeping records until 1880, six years until after Thomas Halligan died.  Iowa became a state in 1846, but didn't keep records until 1880?!  Bad Iowa!!

So, no death record, nothing.  So, I called the Riverside newspaper to see if there was an obituary.  (Hooray for unlimited calling plans!!)  The Riverside newspaper was not around then, but they said there was a Washington County newspaper and I should contact the Washington County Library's genealogical department to see if they had obituaries.  Since the department is staffed by volunteers, it took a few days for them to get back to me.

In the mean time, I did some digging.  I went back to the 1870 Census that lists Thomas Halligan with his wife, Lancia, and five children, Thomas, Patrick, Ann, Mary and Margaritta.  

1870 United States Federal Census for Union Township, Louisa, Iowa, line 6.

Thomas was born in Ireland, Patrick in Great Britain, and Ann in Iowa.  To me this tracks their immigration.  Patrick was born in 1850, which means that they would have immigrated to America somewhere between July 1850 and roughly, 1852-1854.  I have checked many immigration records and haven't found them yet.  Frustration #2.

The Iowa State Census for 1925 lists Patrick Halligan, born about 1850, from Ireland with father, Thomas Halligan, and mother, Annie Ratchford.

Iowa, State Census Collection, 1836-1925 - Census date - 1 Jan 1925

The Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947 lists Patrick Halligan, born 4 July 1850 in England, with father, Thomas Halligan, and mother, Anna Caslello. (?)

Illinois, Deaths and Stillbirths Index, 1916-1947

Thomas' birth year on the 1870 Census is 1842, and I am beginning to think that the census taker reversed the numbers of his birth year, and perhaps when Ann C. said Ann-C the census taker heard Lancia.  The more I look at census documents, the more I see human error.

There is also a 1860 census with Thomas Halligan, his wife Ann C., and children Patrick, Ann and Mary.  The ages and birth places match. 

1860 United States Federal Census - Union Township, Louisa, Iowa, line 19

In the meantime the Washington County Historical Society volunteer called me back.  There were no obituaries ……. frustration #3.  She said that if someone's horse died, it would make the front page, but when a person died, not so much.  She had the cemetery record for Thomas Halligan, which also mention the John and Julia, although the records are inconsistent, one says he died in 1874 and one says 1871.  The headstone says 1874.  She also referenced the 1860 and 1870 Census documents.  She also had the marriage record for Patrick Halligan and his wife, Mary.  Basically, not much more.

I called the Washington County Recorders office, to see if there were any records for any of the Halligan children.  They don't give information over the phone, and you have to be a direct relative to receive any of the documents.  They referred me to the Washington County Historical Society.  Been there.  They said I could pay someone to come to see if there was anything there to ask for, but I am not at that point yet.  Frustration #4.

There is also the 1880 Census where Ann Halligan is listed with her youngest daughter, Maggie (Margaritta).  A few lines down is Patrick and his family.

1880 United States Federal Census - Fremont Township, Johnson, Iowa, line 36

So, based on the census documents and Patrick's death record, I am convinced that this is my 3rd great-grandfather, Thomas Halligan, and his daughter, Ann, is my 2nd great-grandmother, Anna Teressa Halligan.

So, this would be my understanding of this family.  Thomas Halligan and Ann C. Ratchford were married in Ireland, somewhere around 1846ish.  They had a son, Thomas, born around 1848-50.  They immigrated to America, and Patrick was born along the way while they were in England.  For some reason Thomas didn't come with them, as he doesn't appear on the 1860 Census.  My grandfather, Don Caman, said that they came to America with the Sammon family.  "The Halligan family and the Sammons had come from Ireland, they were in the famine and it was to either leave Ireland or starve to death.  So, that's why they left Ireland.  The Halligans and Sammons eventually settled in Iowa and my great-great grandmother met my great-great grandfather in Iowa."

They arrived in America, traveling through Illinois, where John was born, and settling in Iowa, where Ann(a), Mary, Margaritta and Julia were born.  John appears on the 1860 Census, and then died in 1863, and is buried with Thomas.  Julia never appears on a census, as she was born in February 1864 and died in November 1865.  Some time before 1870, Thomas arrived to join the family.

In the St. Mary's Cemetery, the headstones were Patrick and his wife, Mary Morgan Halligan, and Thomas' wife, Ann.  Her headstone says, wife of T. Halligan.

After so many years of road blocks, it is wonderful to have a break through!!  I still have to find the immigration records, and I don't have the International subscription to Ancestry, so I have to find Irish records another way, but still a break through!!

Don Caman continued by saying: "My cousins are named Warren and my uncle was Warren, but really they should have used the name of Sammon, because I show no record that they children's names were changed or that they were adopted by WIlliam Warren, who was their step-father.  But, in those days, when the Census man came around, if you wanted to change your name, you could, because originally, my mother's name was Mary.  And for some reason she liked Amy Marie, so she changed it to Amy Marie."

My next post will be on the process of finding Anna's family and Mary/Amy Marie's family!  The excitement continues!!

Direct line ancestry: Thomas Halligan --> Anna Teressa Halligan --> Annie Marie Sammon --> Donald William Caman --> Donald William (Caman) Marshall --> Lora Teressa Marshall Nehring

St. George - Day 2

I am going to tell you right away that there will be a "St. George - Day 2 Revisited", as I don't have a lot to show for what I did today.  I got a lot of information, but not a lot of photos.....yet.

I started the day at the St. George Temple.  Both Hector McQuarrie and Ann Macfarlane served as temple workers for many years in the St. George Temple, so I was very excited to have a chance to actually go into the temple.  I have been to the temple grounds many times, but never had a chance to go inside.  It was very emotional for me, imagining seeing them there.  I know they are not "in" St. George, but it made me feel good to be where they have been.

The entrance to the St. George Temple

The St. George Temple

I took this one because it is Flag Day today.

I asked in the temple office if they kept records of when temple workers had been there.  Their records didn't go back that far.

I next went to the DUP Museum in St. George.  They have an impressive collection there, including many photos of the Macfarlane and McQuarrie families.  I ordered a disk with histories and photos on it.  It will be mailed to me.  First example of not having a lot to show for today.

Yes, that is the same McQuarrie as we are related to.

The McQuarrie Memorial Hall Pioneer Museum, cared for by the Daughters of Utah Pioneers

 Also, there is a big sign as you walk in the door of the museum that says "Absolutely No Photos".  So, I don't have anything to show from my visit to the museum other than a photo of the building.

One thing I did find, however, was a photo of several female temple workers from the early 1920s, including Ann Macfarlane!!!  I was so thrilled!  It said on the binder that the photos were available at a local photography studio that was a few blocks away.  I went there and the photographer had the photo, but her printer was jammed, so I paid for the photo and gave her my address. So, yet another example of how I don't have anything to show for all the work I did today.

From the Museum, I went back to the St. George Cemetery.  If you recall from my last St. George post, I did not take a photo of Robert Gray McQuarrie's headstone.  I went back looking for it today, and all I found was a patch of dirt next to Charlotte Ann McQuarrie's headstone that is getting overrun with grass.  I spent the next couple of hours trying to see if I could find out what happened to Robert's headstone.

Charlotte Ann McQuarrie's headstone with a bare patch next to it.  I would imagine that Robert's headstone said FATHER at the top and looked very similar to this one.

I called the Sexton who is over this cemetery and he said that they do not keep records of what happens to headstones.  I have been told that there was significant vandalism to this cemetery a couple of times in the last several years.  Also, the storms can knock over the headstones, and this type of limestone headstone will shatter if they get knocked over.  Also, I was told at the library (I will get to that in a minute) that the water that the City of St. George has started using lately is straight out of the river and is very alkali and it is deteriorating the headstones.  Lovely!

I wanted to see if there were some local history books that might have pictures from the cemetery, or something like that. Next I went to the Family History library next to the temple, and they didn't have any information.  They suggested I try the City Library.  So, I went there.  They didn't have enough information on Robert McQuarrie to know if there originally was a headstone, but I did find something else out.

In my previous post I mentioned that I didn't know who the headstone next to Hector McQuarrie was.  From the book, "Saint George, Utah Original Pioneers: December 1, 1861 - May 10, 1869: Histories and Pictures", by Roberta Blake Barnum and Paul Peine, it states: "[Hector's] wife Agnes Gray passed away 25 Oct 1900 in St Geoge.  Hector then married his wife's niece, Elizabeth McKillop McMurtrie 24 Dec 1900.  She passed away 15 May 1912.  Hector died 16 Nov 1920.  All are buried in the St George cemetery."  (I found this book at the City Library.)

Is there any chance that anyone has a personal photo of Robert Gray McQuarrie's headstone?  I would love to see it!

So, just ten copies today, but as soon as I get the photos......woohoo!!

Stay tuned. : )

Charles William Penrose - Life History: Part 1

I mentioned in a previous post that my great-great grandfather, Charles William Penrose has never had a book written about him.  I found that amazing, as he had a very full life, and he was somewhat famous in Church history.  There is a dorm named for him at BYU after all. : )

When I was on my mission I was in a missionary conference and my Mission President was speaking about Charles W. Penrose.  He asked if anyone had heard of him, so I raised my hand and told him that he my 2nd great grandfather.  My Mission President asked what I could tell everyone about him, and put on the spot like that, my mind went completely blank, and I couldn't remember a THING about Charles W. Penrose.  I was so embarrassed!  I didn't ever want to be in that spot again!

A picture of me, Sister Marshall, on my mission.  I was leaving for the Australia Melbourne Mission and my Gma Lu Penrose Bond, Aunt Marji Castle and Uncle Brent Castle met me at the Salt Lake City Airport to say good-bye.  December 1993

So, I want to compile all I can find about Charles W. Penrose.  I will compile his history the best I can.  And, with it all in one place, hopefully I won't ever go blank again if anyone asks me about my great-great grandfather.

Let's start with the basics.  Charles was born on 4 February 1832 in Camberwell, London, England to Richard Penrose and Matilda Sims Penrose.  Charles was Christened on 31 May 1837 at St. John Parish, Waterloo, Lambeth, London, Surrey, England.

A copy of Charles William Penrose's christening/baptism certificate

A photo of Matilda Sims Penrose (no date)

He was the second child, and only son, born to Richard and Matilda.  His older sister was Juliana, and his younger sisters were Matilda, Emma and Elvira.

In a talk that I gave in 1983, I wrote: "On February 4th, 1832, Charles W. Penrose was born to a well-to-do family in Camberwell England.  By the time he was four he was already reading the Bible.  He heard the Mormon missionaries when he was eighteen years old and when he joined the Church, he was disowned and disinherited."  He was the only member of his family to join the Church, being baptized on 14 May 1850, and my grandmother said that as far as she knew, he never talked to any of his family again after that.

I don't have any photos of Charles as a young man, but I think of all his sons, that Herbert looks the most like him, so I am going to say that this is probably what Charles looked like as a youth.

Herbert "Herb" L. Penrose

Next post I will write more about Charles W. Penrose's mission in England.

Direct line ancestry: Charles William Penrose --> Frank William Penrose --> Lu Penrose Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring

Rolf Wallace Bond

Or perhaps, Wallace Rolf Bond.  Or, Rolfe Wallace Bond.  Or Bonde.  Between several documents he is listed in different ways.


Not all family stories are Happily Ever After.  Sometimes the people in our families do not always act with integrity and honor.  Sometimes people are selfish.  Sometimes people walk away from their families.  People's motives, especially after their deaths, are a matter of memory of those they may have wronged.  There are two sides to every story.  The purpose of my blog is not to right wrongs or prove anything one way or another, it is to present the history of my family.  Good or bad.


That being said, this is my great-grandfather, Rolf Wallace Bond.

I have always been told was kind of a loser.  He left his family when my grandfather, Richard Bond, was fairly young.  Pre-teen anyway.  No one seems to remember why.  My grandfather didn't talk about him much, so my mother doesn't remember much about him either.


This is what I do know. . .


Rolf Wallace Bond was born in Cheyenne, Wyoming on 28 July 1887 to Frank and Henrietta Wallace Bond.  This photo was taken in front of their home in about 1891, making Rolf about 3-4 years old.

Henrietta, Rolf and Frank Bond

This photo was taken of Rolf in the spring of 1895, just before he turned eight years old.

The next time Rolf shows up is on the 1910 United States Federal Census, living with his parents in Washington DC.  He is on line 29 and his age is 22 years and his occupation is listed as a Surveyor.

It is not clear at this point how Rolf ends up clear across the country, but on 10 March 1914 he is marrying Miriam Griffiths in Twin Falls, Idaho.  On the Marriage Certificate, his name is written as Wallace R. Bonde.  He was 26 and Miriam is 21.

This is an undated photo of Wallace/Rolf and Miriam.

This photo was taken in 1914, and on the reverse it read: "To Mrs. Miriam Bond, from your Devoted Husband, All Yours and Yours Alone.  Wallace R. Bonde"

Wallace/Rolf Bond's Military Registration card, dated 5 June 1917

Now Wallace/Rolf is a married man, and within three years of their marriage, they have two children.  The oldest is my grandfather, Richard Griffiths Bond, born 26 December 1914 in Twin Falls, Idaho, and the youngest is Evalyn Ruth, born 17 August 1916 in Salt Lake City, Utah.  On his Military Registration card he lists his wife and two children.  He describes himself as being tall and slender with gray eyes and dark brown hair.  He lists his occupations as Clergyman, and a Laborer for the Oregon Short Line, North Yards in Salt Lake City, Utah.  He was 29 years old.

Ruth, Wallace/Rolf, Miriam and Richard Bond taken 18 August 1918

There is virtually no information on Wallace/Rolf, until his death in 1947.  He is mentioned in a affidavit in 1945 where a Sereno B. Tuttle swears, deposed and says that he knew Rolf when he was born and knew him all his life and that he is a citizen of the United States, etc.  It is unclear what the affidavit was for.

Rolfe W Bond's death certificate

Rolfe/Wallace/Rolf died in Santa Rosa, Sonoma, California on 16 March 1947.  If anyone can decipher the writing to see what he died of, I would be grateful.  Any doctors out there?  To me it looks like he died of Shork due to Pulmonary mumblemumble.  I don't know, I can't tell. Haha!

Interestingly enough, he is listed as separated from his wife, Miriam, but she had remarried twice before his death, the second time being prior to February of 1945.  It is unclear where the hospital got that information, so either there was a divorce in there somewhere, or Miriam remarried without a divorce.  (My mother thinks that is entirely a possibility.)

Rolf/Rolfe/Wallace/Rolf was cremated and buried with his parents in the Rock Creek Cemetery in Washington DC.

A little over a week ago, the 1940 Census became available and I am interested to see if I can find Rolf there to find another small piece of the puzzle of his life.

Direct Line Ancestry: Rolf Wallace Bond --> Richard Griffiths Bond --> Kathryn Bond Berkowitz --> Lora Marshall Nehring

Sergeant Richard Marshall

My grandfather, Richard Allen Marshall, died back in October, but today my Aunt Lindi, Uncle Rich and I attended the Memorial Ceremony for him at San Joaquin Valley National Cemetery in Santa Nella, California.

At this ceremony they were honoring the fifty-four people who had been buried there in the last three months.  Before it began one of the Chaplains came around to ask us who we were there to honor.

The weather had been rainy, windy and cold, but the rain stopped before the ceremony began.  The ceremony was outside and the wind continued to blow hard, and I took this photo to remember how hard it was blowing.  It was cold too.  And windy!

They started the ceremony with a reading of Psalm 23 by one of the Chaplains.

There was a woman who sang two songs that she had written.  They were pretty good songs, especially the second one, but she sang them in a kind of airport-lounge-singer type way and for me it kind of took away from their impact.  The words were a very fitting tribute to those who we were there to honor.

Then a Chaplain from the VFW in Fresno read the names of those that were being honored.  When he got to Gpa's he said, "Sergeant Richard Marshall, another veteran of World War II, from the greatest generation."

Then the Marines took the flag that was folded up on the stand and unfolded it.  They held it up as the Merced County VFW Honor Guard fired the twenty-one gun salute.  Even when you know it is coming, that first shot always makes you jump a mile!  Then, behind us, another soldier played Taps on the bugle.  Then they refolded the flag and placed it back onto the stand.

Lindi donated the flag that honored Richard Marshall to the cemetery for their Avenue of Flags on Memorial Day.

When the ceremony ended, we thanked everyone, and one of the members of the honor guard came around with brass from the twenty-one gun salute and asked if we wanted to have one of them.  Lindi and I each took one and we felt it was very nice of them to offer us those!

We went to find the headstone, which is in Section 3-13, site 516.  The grass was not put in yet, so our shoes got good and muddy, but we got some good photos of Gpa's headstone.

Lindi and Gpa Marshall's headstone

I am glad we had this opportunity to honor my grandfather.