ISSUES

Issue 1: Name of elder Sullivan, patriach, who arrived in Saratoga Springs.  I have him listed as Michael Sullivan.  Bob Sullivan has mentioned both Michael and Florence as possibly being his name.  Bob settled on Michael. 

Support for Florence being his name is from correspondance:

Their fathers name was also Florence and he came to this country and set up a shoe-making shop in Saratoga.  The Sweeneys had a ... picture of him which I tried to get without success.(Margaret Harrington, Oct 12 1956)

Michael Sullivan and Julia Connell are listed on Mary Sullivan Sweeney's death certificate:

Question:

• What is the elder Sullivan's given name? 

Answer:

• From Mary Sullivan Sweeney's death certificate it is certain that it is Michael.

Issue 2:  Bob found LDS documentation for Michael Sullivan and Julia Connell which states that Julia was 28 yrs when Michael was 48.

I found passenger ship records that list a Michael Sullivan, age 48 yrs, and Julia Connell, age 28 yrs, arriving on the Fidelia in 1848.  These dates match.  The controversy is that if Julia is 28 yrs in 1848 then she would have been born in 1820.  The same year as Johanna her daughter which would not be possible.

I did find a death certificate for Florence Sullivan in Saratoga Springs which states he died Dec 1, 1882.  This death certificate states his mother is Anna James, his is a cartman, spent 30 years in U.S. (consistent with arriving here in 1851).  The issue is whether this is indeed the same Florence as our family member.  This could explain Julia being born in 1820 and that Johanna's mother was Anna James.

My great grandfather Florence had a probate record in Saratoga Springs listing Nov 28, 1883.   The issue is that the actual date is 1 year later than the death certificate above.

Questions:

• Do I have the correct death certificate?
• Is Julia Connell born 1820 our relative?  Not confirmed, but very likely.

  Could this be the marriage certificate for Michael and Julia?

  

• What is Johanna's mother name?

Answer:

• Do I have the correct death certificate? Yes.  The Saratoga Springs directory of 1883-1884 states that he died Dec 1, 1882 as in the record below.   Anna James was Florence's mother.  Mary Sweeney's mother was Julia Connell.