Resolving Conflict in a Death Record

  

Image by rawpixel.com

 

How do I know I have the right man? Was the John Cavanaugh, age 30, who died in 1891, the same man who married Rose Gilbride in 1863?

In my ongoing project to update my Gilbride line research, I found myself needing to resolve a conflict introduced by a death certificate.

The John "Cavanagh" of the death certificate died on 13 March 1891 from injuries sustained when he was hit by a train in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. According to this record he was 30 years old. There's the conflict: The John Cavanaugh who married Rose Gilbride was born about 1835-1838 according his Civil War draft registration and the 1870 U.S. census, meaning he was significantly older than 30 years old if he was the man in the death certificate.¹

Fortunately, correlating different sources of evidence helped connect the certificate with Rose's husband, in spite of the error in his age.

 

• John's death date was mentioned in a deed between Rose E. Cavanaugh and Daniel T. Cavanaugh and Daniel's wife, Mary, which was executed on 6 September 1911 in Wayne County, Pennsylvania. The deed included the language: "...and the said John Cavanaugh having died on the 14th. of March A.D. 1891, the complete and full title to the above described parcel of land thereupon vested in the above named Rose E. Cavanaugh."²

 

• An obituary in The Wayne County Herald dated 19 March 1891, stated that John “Cavenagh” died after being hit by a train, “late Saturday last.” The prior Saturday was 14 March 1891. The one-day discrepancy between the 14 March obituary date and the 13 March date on the death certificate could be attributed to the accident occurring either in the late night or early morning hours between 13 and 14 March 1891.³

• The cause of death in the death certificate was “run over by car,” but does not mention a train. The cause in the newspaper notice was “struck by an eastbound train.” The “car” referred to a train car, not an automobile, though not stated as such in the death certificate.⁴

• The obituary noted John was “an old Hawley resident.” Though noted as 30 by the physician on the death certificate, it could be that the condition of John’s body after the accident made it difficult for the physician to correctly ascertain his age. Friends or relatives who might have informed the doctor of his age were likely distraught over his sudden and violent death and could have been inaccurate or unable to give his age. And John was unlikely to have given his own age under the circumstances. If born between 1835-1838, John would have been in about 53-56 years old, considered “old” for that time.⁵

• Noted as "an old Hawley resident," John resided in Palmyra, Wayne County, and Lackawaxen, Pike County, both near to Hawley, during his life. As a Roman Catholic, John and wife Rose baptized their children at St. Philomena Church in Hawley.⁶

• John Cavanaugh and his wife Rose Gilbride Cavanaugh had eleven children, one of whom, Edward, appears to have died before his father. All other ten children were living when John died, correlating with the death notice which states, “He leaves a wife, five daughters and five sons."⁷

Correlating more than one source of information about John Cavanaugh and his family members found in deeds, an obituary, censuses, military records, etc., helped solidify that the 1891 death certificate pertains to John Cavanaugh, husband of Rose Gilbride.

Until next time...

Follow my blog with Bloglovin 

© Nancy Gilbride Casey, 2024. All rights reserved.

 

NOTES

 

¹ City of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Return of a Death, John Cavanagh, 13 March 1891; imaged, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9YG-V3JP-N?cat=707274&i=1180 : accessed 17 September 2024); citing Bureau of Health, Scranton. Also, U.S. Civil War Draft Registration, Consolidated List, Schedule 1, Class I, 11th Congressional District, Pike County, Pennsylvania, A-Z, Vol. 1, p. 120 , line 15, John Cavanaugh, Lackawaxen; imaged in, "U.S., Civil War Draft Registration Records, 1863-1865," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/1666/images/32178_520307095_0087-00246 : accessed 25 Sept 2024); citing Records of the Provost Marshal General’s Bureau (Civil War), Record Group 110, National Archives in Washington, D.C. Also, U.S. 1870 census, Pike County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Lackawaxen Twp., p. 33 (penned), 391 (stamped), dwelling 246, family 231, John Cavanagh, 35; imaged in "1870 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/7163/images/4278954_00109 : accessed 30 May 2024).
² Wayne Co., Pennsylvania, Deed Book 102, p. 569-570, Rose E. Cavanaugh to Daniel T. Cavanaugh and Mary A. Cavanaugh, 6 September 1911; citing county courthouse, Honesdale.
³ Hereabouts and Thereabouts," The Wayne County Herald [Pennsylvania], 19 March 1891, p. 3, co. 3, John Cavenagh's death; imaged, Newspapers.com (https://www.newspapers.com/image/362421963/ : accessed 17 September 2024).
⁴ City of Scranton, Pennsylvania, Return of a Death, John Cavanagh, 13 March 1891.
⁵ U.S. Civil War Draft Registration, Consolidated List, Schedule 1, Class I, 11th Congressional District, Pike County, Pennsylvania, A-Z, Vol. 1, p. 120 , line 15, John Cavanaugh, Lackawaxen. Also, U.S. 1870 census, Pike County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Lackawaxen Twp., p. 33 (penned), 391 (stamped), dwelling 246, family 231, John Cavanagh, 35.
⁶ Wayne Co., Pennsylvania, Grantor Index to Deeds Prior to 1941, C-D, p. 305, Russell Daniels, et. ux. to John Cavanaugh, 1 January 1861; imaged, "Deeds, 1786-1866; index, 1795-1941," FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-CS4Y-4SLV-6 : accessed 12 September 2024); citing county courthouse, Honesdale. Also, U.S. 1870 census, Pike County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Lackawaxen Twp., p. 33 (penned), 391 (stamped), dwelling 246, family 231, John Cavanagh, 35. Also, Gilbride/Casey Family Tree, public tree, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/34074975/family?cfpid=18580786356&fpid=150198205512&usePUBJs=true). Individual baptismal dates for children are documented on this tree.
7 St. Philomena Catholic Church, Hawley, Wayne Co., Pennsylvania, baptisms, Edward Cavanaugh, 10 Aug 1880, bap. 13 Aug. 1880; transcribed by B. Spellman Shuta, 1 March 2019; citing "Fwd: Scaled down request," email, B. Spellman Shuta [e-address for private use] to N Casey [e-address for private use], Barbara's Emails folder, Tioga, Tx. Also, U.S. 1880 Census, Pike County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Lackawaxen, p. 23, dwelling 303, family 308, Edward Cavanah, 3/12 months; imaged database, "1880 United States Federal Census," Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/imageviewer/collections/8756 : 21 May 2024). Also, U.S. 1900 Census, Wayne County, Pennsylvania, population schedule, Hawley, ED 125, p. 12B, dwelling 245, family 264, Rose E. Cavanaugh, 48; imaged database, "1900 United States Federal Census," FamilySearch (https://www.fancaseymilysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6Q83-13R?i=23 : 31 May 2024). Rose indicates here that she had given birth to 11 children, but only 10 were yet living. All children besides Edward died after 1900. See Gilbride/Casey Family Tree, public tree, Ancestry (https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/34074975/family?cfpid=18580786356&fpid=150198205512&usePUBJs=true). Individual death dates for children are documented on this tree.