Research Trip Rambles: A Postcard from Buffalo, New York

Henry Sheridan, cordwainer, is listed fifth line from the bottom. (Reproduction by permission of the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library, Buffalo, New York.)

 

This post marks the first in a series about discoveries made during my trip to western New York and Ontario, where I've been researching my Becker/Baker, Cassidy, Sheridan, Cailteux, and Schiltz families. I'm on my second last day of the trip and it's been jam-packed. 

 

July 11, 2025

Dear Family,

I've made the most incredible find at the Buffalo & Erie County Public Library! Remember my stories about my ancestor Mary Jane Sheridan who began her life in the 1840s in Buffalo? You might remember that her father Henry Sheridan—my fourth great-grandfather—worked as both a teamster and later as a shoemaker. 

During my time at the library I discovered a whole section of Buffalo city directories from as far back as 1832 (can you believe that they had directories back that far?). I'd previously found Henry in the 1849 directory, so I thought I'd work backwards from there to see how far back he was in Buffalo. Guess what? Henry was in the 1837 directory! That's the earliest I've found any of our ancestors in the U.S.

I knew it was the right man even though I had to look up his occupation of "cordwainer." That's an old word for a shoemaker. I also knew that the family lived in the section of Buffalo known as the Hydraulics that bordered the Hydraulic Canal. Henry's shop address was sometimes noted in the "hydraulicks." 

I got chills holding the directories, which practically crumbled in my hands—they were over 180 years old!

Can't wait to share what I discover next. I wonder what it will be?

Yours from western New York,

Nancy

Henry Sheridan in Buffalo City Directories 1837-1851

Until next time...

© Nancy Gilbride Casey, 2025. All rights reserved. 

 

NOTES 

Directory citations in order listed above:

Directory for the City of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY: Charles Faxon, 1836), p. 135, negative search for Henry Sheriden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

A Directory for the City of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY: Sarah Crary, 1837) p. 121, Henry Sheriden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

A Directory for the City of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY: Faxon & Graves, 1838) p. 127, Henry Sheriden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

For 1839-40 Buffalo City Directory (Buffalo, NY: Faxon & Graves, 1839) p. 119, Henry Sheriden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

For 1840 Buffalo City Directory (Buffalo, NY: Faxon & Graves, 1840) p. 140, Henry Sheriden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

1841 Crary's Directory for the City of Buffalo (Buffalo, NY: Faxon & Graves, 1841) p. 165, Henry Sheriden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

1844 Walker's Buffalo City Directory (Buffalo, NY: Lee & Thorp's Press, 1844, p. 197, Henry Sheridan; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

1848...1849 Buffalo City Directory (Buffalo, NY: G. Reese & Co., Printers, 1848), p. 273, Henry Sheridan; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library.

1849....1850 The Commercial Advertiser Directory for the City of Buffalo (Buffalo [New York], Jewett, Thomas & Co., 1849), p. 295, Henry Sherden, teamster, Hydraulics; imaged, New York Heritage Digital Collections (https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/VHB011/id/8603/rec/3 : accessed 13 Feb. 2025); citing Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.

1850 Buffalo City Directory (Buffalo, NY: np, 1850), p. 249, Henry Sherden; citing Buffalo & Erie County Public Library. 

1850...1851 The Commercial Advertiser Directory for the City of Buffalo (Buffalo [New York], Jewett, Thomas & Co., 1850), p. 249, Henry Sherden, teamster; imaged, New York Heritage Digital Collections (https://nyheritage.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/VHB011/id/1850/rec/1 : accessed 13 Jan. 2025); citing Buffalo and Erie County Public Library.