A new home - Nolan family to America

Following on from my last blog we now have Thomas and Ellen Nolan and their daughter Mary embarking on their journey to America. As previously stated I believe they arrived via Canada, but that is  only my assumption based on various opinions and views.

Unfortunately no departure lists exist in Ireland or Britain for that period and  authorities were more concerned with people entering the country, not departing it. Therefore no information detailing there departure is available to be found.

Most immigrants arrived in Canada via  the ports of Quebec and Halifax, although many came to New York and then travelled to Canada by way of the Hudson River, Erie Canal and Great Lakes.

There a no comprehensive lists of immigrants arriving in Canada prior to 1865, shipping companies were not required by the government to keep their passenger lists.

Right lets get going with what we actually know from published  documents.



View of St. Paul, Ramsey County, M.N., 1888
Fig 1  
 

Our first actual record in the US for the Nolan family is in the 1880 US Census. 

        

US CENSUS - city of St Paul - county of Ramsay - state of Minnesota.

Enumerated on the 1st of June 1880

Household	Role	Gender	Age	Birthplace
Thomas Nolan	Self	M	45	Ireland
Ellen Nolan	Wife	F	45	Ireland
John Nolan	Son	M	12	Minnesota, United States
Mary Nolan	Daughter	F	19	Ireland
Cornelius O'Conner	Other	M	29	Ireland

The family are living at 8 Chestnut St, St Paul, Minnesota.
Thomas is listed as a Labourer and we also have the first mention of his son, John, who is my great grandfather.
Both Thomas and Ellen are indicated as neither being able to read or write and that their parent's were all born in Ireland.
John is listed as having attended school within the census year and Cornelius O'Connor is a boarder with the family.

The details listed somewhat verify Mary's birthplace as being Ireland and give an approximate birthdate of 1861.

The actual record can be viewed here online at https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GYBN-B9J?wc=QZ2W-YYH%3A1589406338%2C1589399260%2C1589402393%2C1589394841%3Fcc%3D1417683&cc=1417683

I know I have jumped ahead to 1880 and missed providing the birth details of John Nolan but I wanted to introduce him via the census information as it gives us a date and place of birth and something to work with and its my first actual factual document on the family.

Stay tuned for some more information in my next entry and even some family hearsay gossip.
Everyone loves abit of gossip lol.

Fig 1 - The map here can be purchased here at
http://www.worldmapsonline.com/historicalmaps/1W-MN-SP-1906.htm