JOHN ALBERT DOYLE MARRIES FLORENCE BATES OCTOBER 1901

JOHN ALBERT DOYLE

MARRIES

 FLORENCE BATES

Grandparents will be in bright blue

In Canandaigua, New York, through research, we were able to determine the arrival of the first family that would spearhead the union of John and Florence. This family was John and Saphrona Akins who eventually had six children, all having a direct influence in the raising of Florence Bates.

The second family to arrive would be Francis and Nancy McCormick, master ice harvesters. They arrived around 1850 from

Sacketts Harbor by way of Rochester, New York.

As you read from the beginning of this family history, circumstances came together miraculously.  We are the descendants of John and Florence and all the other Grandparents listed back as far as 1200.  All these people contributed to our birth and survival and that makes us unique to the tapestry of life. 

They are now gone to the other side but we have reason to believe they are cheering us on to do what is right, be responsible, decent people with our goal to spend eternity with them in heaven. 

                            

                                        

John and Florence were both born in 1864, John in January and Florence in May.  Their paths crossed in school and they would have been in the same grade.  Exactly when John A. picked Florence to be his girl is unknown but it would have had to be before they were 16. 

                                 Florence Bates Doyle at 13   

   

According to Hazel Cloyes, daughter of Nellie Bradfield Cloyes, our Aikin/Bradfield Family historian, Florence was the belle of Canandaigua.  She was an accomplished musician having learned how to play the banjo and piano very well.  Her Uncle John Aikin (note: John changed spelling to Aiken) was noted for his expertise in playing the banjo and had many virtuosos study under him. He is the one who taught the instrument to Florence.  Aunt Gertrude gave the banjo that belonged to Great Uncle John Aiken to Florence after John died in 1904. Wouldn't you love to know what happened to that treasure? It is lost in antiquity.  Another talent Florence had was her ability to do the cakewalk. For those of you younger than I, the Cakewalk dance was developed from a "Prize Walk" done in the days of slavery, generally at get-togethers on plantations in the South. Thereafter it was performed in minstrel shows, exclusively by men until the 1890s. The young people picked it up and incorporated it into their regular dance routines. 

She often complained to her Aunt Libby and Aunt Nellie that she was very unhappy living with John and Gertrude. It is reported that they were very strict and gave her little freedom.  What freedom she had, she stole.  A plus for living with them was that Gertrude was a beautiful seamstress and made gorgeous dresses for Florence.  It is reported that the color salmon was her accent color and it brought out her beautiful brown eyes.

We never heard our Grandmother play the banjo or the piano.  She became quite deaf early on in the marriage and it became progressively worse so that we would have to yell, loud, for her to understand what we were saying.  None of her children learned to play the Banjo. My father, John G. was the only one of his siblings that played the piano well. I remember her always sitting at a small cottage table in the kitchen where she could keep track of the ebb and flow of the family. You could hear the conversations in the kitchen throughout the house because everyone was speaking in loud voices so Grandma could be a part of the group.  Lib and I picked up on all the family gossip and would review it when we went to bed that evening.  Uncle Bob, being the youngest did not come into the conversation until he started dating and then Grandma had plenty to say about the girls he would bring home. He was her baby and no girl was good enough.  Aunt Betty won his heart, they were married and had many children. Now back to the story.

When it became apparent that Florence and John were a couple, they were forbidden to see each other.  It was not unusual for mid teens to date and marry early so the age was factored into the mix by both families.  What the objections were by the Aikins, Bradfields and Bates are as follows: John A. was an Irish Catholic, the family lived on the wrong side of Main Street, the Irish were not considered very smart or capable of academic achievements therefore John would always be a common laborer or at best a fireman.  Irish Catholics were held in disdain and there was a blatant segregation imposed upon them among the 'gentry'. 

Meanwhile, The Doyles and McCormicks objected to their dating because they wanted John to find a nice Catholic girl. They did not associate with the Protestant elite and Great Uncle John certainly was in that class. He was a presbyter in the Presbyterian Church and a high degree Mason.  He had already picked two young up and coming men for Florence.  One was being groomed to be President of a local Bank, and the other was a Dental Surgeon who eventually became Chief of Dental Surgery at Strong Memorial Medical School. So, Florence and John A. had their marching orders and that would be in the opposite direction.  Nancy McCormick also put her two cents in letting John know she did not want to lose her "non Catholic" customers. With Nancy, family was very important but then business was business and she was not ready to end the ice business or the barge traffic or being pier mistress although she was aging and considering her options for selling out and moving to Rochester with her son William and family.

As Mrs. Fennick told my brother Leo and I in 1974, the rebel couple met in secret and of course fell in love. John does not show up on the 1900 census with Owen and Emma and family.  We do know he went to Rochester for a while, probably lived with his brother Frank who was a fireman by now.  In all likelihood, he checked out the requirements for applying for a job with the Rochester Fire Department and also the Rochester Police Department.  He returned to Canandaigua had many jobs was quite able to take care of himself. In 1900, John A. was 16 years old. He observed the protestant work ethic and put it into practice.  An example was his ability to be friendly and helpful even in very trying situations.  People liked him right away, especially the business men.  John was full of life and made many friends with the help of his Irish humor and a bit of the blarney thrown in. He was also shrewd in his business dealings.  No job was too menial.  He could convert it into something special, making it look like the job was just a step below the President of the Company. He learned early that being nice to everyone always paid off in the future. He was a twin and his twin James died in early infancy but I have observed that when this happens, the twin remaining on earth receives a double portion of everything such as talent, good looks, ability and success.  Once you met John A., you never forgot him because he made you feel so very special. I was often stopped by strangers who wanted me to know how much they loved John A. This happened up to 1954.  These people were from a wide variety of the work force in downtown Rochester.  

In late September, 1901, Florence found out she was pregnant.  According to Mrs. Fennick it was the talk of the town which made the problem even worse. Then the lines were drawn by both families. They wanted nothing to do with either one of them.  Mrs. Fennick's sister, Miss Hogan, was a close friend of John and Florence.  She ran into the Hogan house, according to Mrs Fennick, crying uncontrollably. She told the family that no one in the village would marry them and the families stopped talking to them.  Hazel's mother Nellie (Florence's Aunt Nellie Bradfield Cloyes), the only relative to come to aid of the couple, and Mrs. Fennick and her sister met to look into the available options. Aunt Nellie remembered trying to elope when she was 16 but was caught and prevented from marrying the man she loved. This is why she came to the aid of the troubled couple.  A Justice of the Peace was found, his name was J. Wallace Webb and he solemnized the marriage. It was on October 24, 1901. For the next few months there was plenty of gossip especially when Great Uncle John Aiken was admitted to the Rochester State Hospital where he died 4 years later.  The abuse from his father and the devastation he felt over losing his Ward took its toll on him, God rest his soul. Gertrude did keep in touch with Florence.  We believe Gertrude made the dress Florence is wearing in the picture of her at the opening of this Chapter.

John and Florence were married and took up residence in Canandaigua.  John worked hard at many jobs always networking towards a goal he had since he was very young.  That goal was to be a detective.  His second goal was to have the marriage blessed in the Catholic Church.  When this happened we do not know since many records were destroyed in a fire at the Church Office. We do know that they were married at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Canandaigua according to many family members and I would guess it was just before Uncle Arlington was born in 1902 or soon after.  They remained in Canandaigua until after the birth of  Uncle Ken in 1904, their second child.  John was thrilled to have two healthy sons. By this time, both sides of the Main Street wanted to spend time with their new relatives.  It is said that Aunt Mary Aikins had a say in naming the children as they were born.  The past animosity was put behind the families and forgiveness reigned.

John A.'s great grandson, John G. Doyle III, published a book GENERATIONS OF SUCCESS...CORPORATE HISTORY OF THE DOYLE GROUP, INC...1914 TO 1994. The following history are excerpts from this book.

"When still in my kindergarten 

 days, I got hold of detective stories

 and studied them as hard as a

 youngster knows how.

I was determined two be as

capable in the detective line

as the heroes of those books always were ..."

                              written by John A. Doyle

During the years of 1890 and 1900, it is important to note that Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's stories of Sherlock Holmes were published in a famous magazine, THE STRAND, and became immensely popular with Americans.  John A. would definitely have had access to these stories and especially the books written by Sir Arthur.  But the man who most impressed and influenced him, was without a doubt, one of Arthur's teachers, Dr. Joseph Bell. The good doctor was a master at observation, logic, deduction, and diagnosis. All these qualities were later to be found in the persona of the celebrated detective Sherlock Holmes. Through medical school Arthur was chosen to be Dr. Bell's lab clerk.  It was during this time that Arthur became intriqued with the ability to use forensic science in the Medical Field and applied this knowlege to his short stories which of course are now classics.
                                                    

Another talent that John A. picked up early was the ability to network.  He was able to carry this talent into his adult life and became very well known and liked among the Rochester gentry considering he was an Irish Catholic from a small provincial town. Remember, his in-laws saw him as nothing more than a common laborer. Those that lived long enough had to rescind their opinions.

And so we continue......

Their first home in Rochester was at 34 Almeroth Street in 1910. This date was taken from the 1910 census.  They no doubt lived on Almeroth Street for at least five years. With John and Flo were Arlington and Ken.  The next one to be born was John Gordon (my father) in 1907. Please note we do not know where they lived prior to 1910. The last address was in Canandaigua, New York. We believe the twin boys were born some time in this period but so far we have not been able to verify proof of twin birth except for verbal stories.  After moving to 31 Sycamore Street circa 1914, John and Florence with  sons and a daughter Dorothy, settled down To help you keep track of the births and deaths, here is the list to help.  Some information is missing like month of birth, marriages and grandchildren.  If you send me information that will help fill in the blanks, I will be happy to insert them and thank you for your help.

John, at age 19, with only an eighth grade education, worked as a deliveryman and meat cutter for the Burkhalter market on Front Street. In 1908, after John Gordon was born he passed the police examination and was assigned to the position of patrolman for the Rochester Police Department.

His brother Frank was already established in the Rochester Fire Department and that, no doubt helped John A. to receive consideration for the Police Department. 

He did very well at solving crimes and soon gained a reputation for being an Ace Detective. His will to get ahead led him swiftly through the ranks and within three years, John A. was promoted to the Detective Division where his boyhood dream was becoming a reality. By this time it was 1911 and John was 27 years old.  His Captain was William H. Whaley.  They became kindred spirits and both possessed extraordinary abilities to solve crimes.

John had a way to make everyone feel exceptional and I never heard of one person who did not like him. During the 40's and 50's I was often stopped on Main Street or in the Department Stores by strangers telling me their story of knowing my Grandfather and what a marvelous person he was.  In particular there was an elevator operator that stopped me as we approached my floor and related a story of how "Mr. Doyle" as he respectfully called him, had helped him financially and obtained that job for him.  He knew I had to be a Doyle because the resemblance was so great.   

John A. and his brother Frank had their pictures taken in uniform in 1908. John A. is on the left and Uncle Frank is on the right. John A. looks like his father Owen and Frank looks like his mother Emma McCormick Doyle.

                                                                          

Meanwhile back on Sycamore, John Gordon was born in 1907 and in 1909 Dorothy was born.  Dorothy lived until she was three years of age and she died in 1912. We do not know who was born in this three year time period, we do know from hand me down stories that twins were born but did not live. As yet we have not found the birth notice of the twins being born. It may have been a miscarriage. Uncle Leo was born in 1913.  The family was growing and John and Florence made plans to expand their dream for themselves and the five children. They would soon move into a newer, bigger house on Mount Vernon Avenue.

  John Albert Doyle, Rochester Police Department

John Albert and Florence Doyle

John and Flo 1901 in their first house in Canandaigua.  Arlington has been born,
            

Since the last posting of this Doyle family history, I, unfortunately experienced the worst case scenario...the total crash and loss of my computer and its contents including the accumulation of family pictures.  It has taken a year to retrieve at least some of them from Margie Frazer and other relatives.  What happened created an impossibility to blog until many of the issues were resolved.  So, here I am, December 10, 2013 with a new beginning.  My blog editor was taken down because there was no activity and Google may have thought of everything but they did not think to notify me and give me an opportunity to get back into the Doyle Dining Room
With this said, let's continue with the John A. Family History.Our last entry brought us up to the birth of Leo in 1913. With four sons, it was time to have some daughters. This was also the time for John A. to be honing his skills as the most renowned Detective to ever work for the Rochester Police Department.  John was transfered to the Detective Division under the watchful eye of Chief Detective Whaley.

CHILDREN OF JOHN A. AND FLORENCE

Arlington T.       Born: 5/24/1902  Died: 11/20/1970

Kenneth V.         Born: 6/1/1905   Died:1/18/1968

John Gordon      Born:  6/18/1907  Died: 9/18/1966

Marie Dorothy: born on July 26, 1909 and baptized on August 15, 1909 by Father Connor at Blessed Sacrament Church. Dorothy died April 9, 1912  Death notice: Democrat and Chronicle (Rochester, New York) ·  Wed, Apr 10, 1912 ·  Page 13.  We do not know the cause of death but we do know there were two epidemics at the time and all the Doyle Children were in the hospital.  The epidemics were Whooping Cough and Scarlet Fever.

Leo W. Doyle   Born: 3/12/1912  Died: 3/4/1935

      Baptized: 4/19/1912 in a private ceremony

      Formal Baptism: Blessed Sacrament  Church 6/27/12

      Godparent: Arlington Doyle, age 11, and Francis Murphy

Marjorie A.   Born:  4/26/1913  Died:  2/25/1982

Florence R.   Born: 6/13/1915   Died:  7/22/1991

 (nicknamed Honey) 

Rosemary T.         Born: 10/30/1918   Died: 1/31/1992

William Joseph  Born: 4/25/1917  Died: 4/5/1918

       Baptized: 5/20/1917 by Fr. Conner

       Godparents: Arlington Doyle, age 16 and Mary Huck

Rosemary T.         Born: 10/30/1918   Died: 1/31/1992

\

 Marian Dorothy

Robert E.     Born: 11/19/1921  Died: 6/5/1976

                              May they all Rest in Peace with The Sacred Heart



Owen Doyle and Emma McCormick marry 1873

OWEN E. DOYLE

MARRIES

EMMA MCCORMICK

CHAPTER  9

names of grandparents will be typed in green

Thanks to the research and personal trip to Ireland of Joan Edenharder, descendant of Charles Doyle, we have a name for the place that Owen and Charles were born. So far we do not have the names of their Father or Mother. This research is actively on going at the time of this writing.

This is what we have so far: Owen and Charles Doyle were brothers who emigrated to Tyendinaga Township of Hasting County, Ontario, Cananda from Graiguenamanagh, County Kilkenny, Ireland. They did not travel together, perhaps because of their age difference and/or money available. 

Owen was born in 1807 in Ireland and died 1863 in Lonsdale, Ontario, Canada from Holy Name of Mary's Church that he helped build. 

He is buried in the Catholic Cemetery in Marysburg, Ontario, Canada.  It was recently noticed by cousin Margie Frazer who is my partner in researching this material that the picture of Owen's grave stone indicates his wife is buried there in the same plot.  The name on the tombstone is Mary Shaughnessy.  The problem is the Census indicates that Owen was married to Margaret Shaughnessy. Charles. who was born in 1818, died June 19,1879 and is buried in Marysville, Canada from Holy Name of Mary's Church was married to Mary Shaughnessy. 

The question is: How is it after 147 years that no one noticed this error on the headstone.  Here is the picture:

                            

Owen was an early settler of Tyendinaga (Indian Territory) Township and one of the original signers of the petition to get land for the Roman Catholic Church at Marysville, Ontario.  He probably came to this area around 1830 or before.

There is a recorded marriage at St. Michael's Church in Belleville on January 23, 1834 stating that Owen Doyle age 26,  married Margaret Shaughnessy, age 21 (sister of Mary Shaughnessy,19 who married Owen's brother Charles Doyle, age 19 on September 12, 1837).  They are the daughters of William Shaughnessy and his wife Catherine (Guiden).Since the date of arrival to this area is just about 4 years to date of marriage, we surmise that the Doyle Boys knew the Shaughnessy Sisters in Ireland. It is possible that they came from a family of means. They were able to purchase land, get married and begin their families within 4 years of arrival.  The lands that they purchased were adjacent to their father in law, William Shaughnessy's land where Owen and Charles began farming.

In 1837 Owen bought land in Lonsdale and built a Tavern, located down a country lane, over a small bridge and situated on the hill..  Taverns in those days also had rooms available for layovers.  When Owen died in 1863 at age 63, he left the Tavern/Hotel to his son Patrick known as Big Paddy Doyle. 

   THE DOYLE HOTEL,LONSDALE,CANADA prior to renovations.

DOYLE HOTEL renovated, picture taken by cousin Ginger Purvis in 2010.

 We assume that Owen's son Arthur, b. 1839, baptised October 1839 at age 5 weeks, at St. Michael's in Belleville, inherited the farm land. At this time we have no documentation to verify this.

Owen and Margaret  had 9 children as follows:

1. Mary;   2. Catherine;  3. Arthur;   4. Frances;   5. Margaret;

6. Owen Eugene, b. 22 Apr. 1846;  7. Ellen;  8. Hanorah;  9. Patrick

know as Big Paddy.

Charles and Mary had 11 children.  The relationship between the children of Owen and Charles genetically speaking would be closer than that of regular cousins. 

Why Owen E. Doyle, Jr. came to Canandaigua is unknown.  How he met Emma McCormick is unknown.  However, it is our guess that there were relatives already in the town because of several Doyles who show up on the census sheets.  Also, we can assume Emma and her siblings helped Nancy at the Daisey Tea Room....a logical place to meet one's future husband. Owen, being Irish, loved fishing as would his grandsons i.e. Jack, Arlie, Ken, Leo and Bob who were avid fishermen. And where would he go to rent a boat?  To Nancy McCormick the piermistress and renter of the only boats on that part of Canandaigua Lake.

The witnesses to the marriage of Owen and Emma were Jacob Briscoe and William Doyle. Very unusual to have two male witnesses which makes you wonder why Emma did not have one of her sisters in attendance.  The marriage was in St. Mary's Parish Church in Canandaigua. All the children were baptized in St. Mary's Catholic Church so there are records to be studied.  We do not have a picture of Owen which is a shame.  We do have one of Emma.

    Emma in 1930 at John and Mary Doyle's Wedding (my parents)

It would appear that they were very close and maintained a quiet, simple life at 22 Clark Street. We can just imagine that when the Doyle children were born Nancy McCormick was right there, involved in their care. Owen and Emma instilled the work ethic in their children as observed in their future success in the business world.  As their first born Frank grew, being the oldest, he probably was involved in the ice business. He did go to school also. He moved to Rochester before 1900 because in the 1900 census he is there with his wife Minnie (Clark) and two of their four children. Minnie's mother, Bridgit Clark was also living with them. Frank was a fireman and teamster.  Here is his picture along with his brother John Albert who joined the Rochester Police Department at 24.  John A. looks like his father and Frank looks like his mother which gives a near resemblance of Owen and Emma in their younger years.

John Albert, Rochester Policeman and brother Frank Eugene, Rochester Fireman 1909

      

 Nancy and her Mother, Nancy McAdam, realized the importance of schooling.  The census indicates Aunt Annie and Aunt Margery attended school also.  Aunt Annie was a successful business woman with great artistic talent. She made beautiful hats and during her lifetime woman would not go out without a fashionable head covering.  I feel fortunate that we spent a lot of time with her.  She had a wonderful sense of humor and kept us laughing for hours. She never married but she did have a constant companion Jeffery Leiser.  We do not know too much about Aunt Margery except that she married Paul Berger. Aunt Nellie died in her first year. No one ever mentioned her as we were growing up. When John Albert was born in 1884 he was accompanied by a twin who was named James.  The twin was always mentioned in family conversations involving John A.  According to records at the Town Clerk's Office, James lived for 6 months. Over the years the family said that Frank and John were twins but of course we know now that they were born ten years apart. We do know that John went to school but it is said he did not go beyond 8th Grade and it is questionable if he actually graduated. The Canandaigua Messenger printed his name along with others who received a "perfect school attendance certificate".   He went to work as soon as he could. His various jobs were at the Canandaigua Hotel, the Meath Meat Market which was owned by the husband of his Aunt Sarah McCormick Meath, Canandaigua newspaper delivery, and several more including helping his grandmother with the ice business.  It appears he left home before the 1900 Census.  It is recorded that he bought a piece of property next to his sister Margery.   He was 16 years old in 1900 and spent part of 1899 in Rochester, New York probably with his brother Frank's family.      

Owen and Emma lived at 22 Clark Street in Canandaigua, New York.

Owen worked as a cooper in one of the many barrel factories. He also states on the census of 1880 he was a carpenter. Emma states on the census that she was a nurse and worked as needed.  They had six children with four living to adulthood.  Their names are:

1.  Frank Eugene b. 1874 ... m. Minnie Clark b. 1871... Frank d. 1932 from Car Accident that also killed his daughter Anna.

                           

2.  Nellie b. 1880, lived three months

3.  Margery b. 1880...m. Paul Berger... d. 

4.  Anne  b. 1882  remained single, had her own Millinery, Arts and Crafts Shop... d.

5.  John  b. 1884 m. Florence Bates October 22, 1901, d. October 1939 from a stroke suffered on the way home from a Yankee's Baseball game with his good friend, J. Edgar Hoover, Director of the FBI.  He and Florence had 13 children.  9 lived to adulthood. 

6.  James b. 1884 twin to John, died six months later.

For some reason Owen had to go to Canada in 1919.  Cousin Gary Waldron (son of Crabill and Honey Doyle Waldron) told us that he was told there were problems with his naturalization papers and so he returned to the land of his birth, Lonsdale, Ontario, Canada.  It was there he died.  John A.and John G. (my father at age 12) traveled to Canada to bring Owen back.  He was given a funeral at St. Mary's Parish and was buried at Holy Sepulchre Cemetary in Rochester, New York at the John A. Doyle burial plot along with William and Dorothy Doyle (children of John A and Florence). 

Emma, stayed in Canandaigua for several years and was mentioned in the Canandaigua Messenger on many occasions. Here are a couple of examples:

Canandaigua Messenger July 16,1923 

 

Canandaigua Messenger (1920 something)

My brother J. Gregory Doyle in front of Holy Name of Mary Church built by the Doyles and Shaughnessys and others in Canada

                        

The Irish who emigrated to Canada and America in the early 1800's came with hope and a deep, holy faith.  Many were uneducated but they instinctively knew the fundamentals of their spiritual roots and lived them to the fullest.  The Doyles and the Shaughnessys were Catholic and lived their Faith with great fervor passing this rich,

active spiritual life on to their children and grandchildren. This is shown clearly by the involvement of the Doyles and Shaughnessys to build a Catholic Church as soon as possible.  Their names are etched in the history of the Holy Name of Mary's parish Church.  You can be sure a percentage of their income went into the building fund. The life of the Irish revolved around the Church and this is evident today with their descendants.  Faith is a gift of Almighty God.  With it comes a deep desire to know, love and serve Him in this life and in the next.  If you have Faith, you know this and what is expected of you. Owen, Sr. and Mary knew, as did Charles and Margaret and they imparted this Faith to their children, who in turn gave it to their children and so on to the next generation. Nancy McCormick and Frank practiced their Faith and passed it on to their offspring.

Emma and Owen practiced their Faith and passed it on to their children.  I have personal knowledge of the Faith of John A. and Florence through their holiness and example as seen with my Father and Mother. 

Aunt Annie's Gift Shop advertisement:

Aunt Annie inherits money from her close friend and companion.

Canandaigua Messenger 12/21/1923

OBITUARIES

Canandaigua Messenger
March 16, 1971
Miss Anna Doyle

Miss Anna Doyle 80, died yesterday.
She resided at 137 Hubbell Street.
She formerly owned and operated a
hat shop and retired 30 years ago.
She leaves four nieces,Marge
Miller, Honey Waldron, Rosemary
Dowling, Marion Frazer and one nephew
Robert.
The funeral services will be
tomorrow at 8:30 am in the MCElwee
Funeral Home and a 9 a.m. Funeral
Mass in St. Mary's Church. Burial
will be in Calvary Cemetery.

The following is information on the burials of Owen and Emma if you would like to visit Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Rochester, New York.

                               

          

 Doyle Owen Eugene

Cemetery Section: SEC 19 East
Cemetery Lot/Tier: 321
Grave Number: 1W-N1
Burial Date: August 23, 1919
Age: 69

         
          
 Doyle Emma F.  
Cemetery Section: SEC 19 East
Cemetery Lot/Tier: 321
Grave Number: 3W-N
Burial Date: March 07, 1944
Age: 88

In 1939 our Grandfather, John A. died from a stroke.  We were able to go to his bedside and he was alert enough to recognize us.  We told him we loved him and within days he died.  Amid the sadness and flurry of activity of funeral preparations, my mother told me I would be going to St. Ann's home for the aged to spend the time of the funeral with my great grandmother Emma (John's mother) who was in residence there. I knew her to be a wonderful, soft spoken, very kind person who always took an interest in me.  We visited her many times at the home.  Being six years old it never occured to me that she had lost her ability to remember.  There were others in the room but I do not remember who they were.  Her sisters maybe.  I went to the window that faced Lake Avenue and the funeral procession came into view.  Emma came and stood by me and soon said, "that must be a very important person to have so many cars going to the Cemetery". She took my hand, squeezed it and we stood together watching until the last car had passed. Her calmness, dignity and genteelness is what I remember most about her.  She lived five more years and my Father made sure we visited her often.  St. Ann's is no longer there on that piece of land except in my memory.  There was something very holy about that place. 

                               
                                

                     

         

                                   

FRANCIS S. MCCORMICK MARRIES NANCY MCADAM IN SACKETS HARBOR, NEW YORK

1855  Horse Island lighthouse

CHAPTER  7

Sackets Harbor (originally spelled Sacketts Harbour) was the chief shipbuilding site on the Great Lakes for the United States during the War of 1812. Thousands of shipbuilders, sailors, and soldiers were stationed at this staging area for operations on Lake Ontario. One-third of the U.S. Army and one-quarter of the Navy

were stationed at Sackets Harbor during the war.

Two battles were fought at this site (in 1812 and 1813). In the First Battle of Sackets Harbor, British marines were unsuccessful in retrieving the Lord Nelson, a British schooner seized by the Americans.

Horse Island, just off Sackets Harbor, was the staging point for British operations during the Second Battle of Sackets Harbor. British troops attempted to capture supplies and destroy the 28-gun General Pike, a new vessel under construction. The attack was thwarted by U.S. troops, but the Americans, fearing their stores would be captured, burned their own supplies.

The first lighthouse was built at this important military post in 1831. The present structure was built in 1869. The fifty-foot tower sits just off Sackets Harbor, and is similar in design to the lighthouse at Stony Point. The lighthouse was replaced by a skeleton tower in 1956.

Schuyler Simmons was keeper at Horse Island from 1926 until his death in 1932. He was succeeded by his wife Julia. Their grand-daughter, Dorothy Beetz, recalls that "when the tide was down, my stepgrandmother on the island would wave a white diaper telling us that it was safe to drive across by car from the mainland. If the water was high, we then went to the island by boat."

Today, the military has left Sackets Harbor. The town has been reborn as a quaint resort town and historic site. It is also the home of the Seaway Trail Visitors Center, located in the August Sacket Mansion.

Grandparents will be in the color pink

The story of Francis S. McCormick and Nancy McAdam begins in Sacketts Harbour  in 1840 when they married. Francis was 21 and Nancy was 15.  The 1840 census shows Nancy's mother Nancy McAdam as head of the household with 11 persons living in the home.  We do not know where the story of the McAdam arrival at Sacketts Harbour originated but until it is verified, we will tell you what has been reported.  Census records have shown that Nancy and John McAdams were born in Ireland and emigrated to the United States eventually living in Middlebury, Vermont.  Little Nancy was born in 1825 in Middlebury, Vermont according to the story she tells.  We were not aware of any other children but the 1840 census indicates many people in the same house.  At this point we are beginning to doubt John's participation in this family.  We do know Nancy McAdam the mother was a Nurse. She was born in Ireland in 1799. The mysterious John McAdam supposedly was born in Ireland. Since we are still in the research mode, we will leave Sacketts Harbour, New York on the "pending completion of the examination" shelf. The name McAdam also is shown as McAdams.  We do not know which one is correct.

                                                     
When checking the 1850 Census we find Francis McCormick age 35 and Nancy McAdam McCormick age 24 had moved to Rochester, New York with their three children:

1.  Mary J. McCormick  8  b. 1842, d., June 26, 1905
2.  Francis McCormick  5   b. 1845, d., Mar 9, 1913
3.  Sarah McCormick     2, b. 1848, d., unknown
4.  *Note: Anna A. McCormick was born after the 1850 Census
                  and died in 1859 before the 1860 Census
                  She is not recorded in Census data and is often
                  left out of the list of Children.
4.  Eliza Burns  age 16, born in Ireland - servant

Francis states on the 1850 Census that he is an Engineer.  We do not know what work, if any, he had in Rochester, New York

                                                   

In the 1860 census The McCormick family has moved to Canandaigua, New York.  The following is the list of family members:

              1860 United States Federal Census
                       McCormick Family:

Special note on Mary Jane McCormick who is out of the home by this census:

Mary Jane (Jennie) McCormick was first born November 5, 1842 in Oswego, New York.  She married James F. Dubois who helped Nancy settle the estate after Francis (Frank) died.  Mary Jane died June 26, 1905 in Willard, New York. Mary has left the family home as noted by the 1860 Census.  In 1905 the Democrat and Chronicle printed this obit on Mary Jane. We do not know the reason she was in Willard State Hospital.  In the 1800's the people with Tuberculosis were often placed there.  Also there was no medicine for certain mental conditions and people needed to be isolated.
.
OBITUARY  for Mrs. Mary Jane (Jennie) DU BOIS

In Willard, June 27th occurred the death of Mrs. Jennie DuBois, wife of James DuBois, of this place. Mrs. DuBois is survived by her husband, five sons, Charles, James, Rankin, and Wallace of Canandaigua; and David of Batavia, and four daughters, Mrs. Emma L. Tobin and Mrs. Jennie Twist, of Canandaigua; Mrs. Anna Dewy of Chapinville; and Mrs. Ida N. Pratt of Geneva. Funeral will be held from the home on lake shore road, Thursday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Interment in West avenue cemetery.
A peculiar fact in connection with this death is that up to the time of the death of Mrs. DuBois, five generations of her family were living, as her son, Charles DuBois has grandchildren and her mother, Mrs. Nancy McCormick, is still living. This is one of the rare cases where a great grandmother has preceded in death the great, great, grandmother of the youngest branch of the family


                                              1860 Census

Frank McCormick 40    Engineer    Head of the Family

Nancy McCormick  33   Housewife


Canandaigua, Ontario, New York


Household Members:

1. Francis McCormick 15, was born 1844, died March 9, 1913 in Canandaigua and is buried with Parents in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. He married Anne Flynn. The death of Frank R. McCormick, a Civil War Veteran, occurred at his home on Main Street South, on Sunday, after a two month illness, aged 68 years. Besides his wife, he leaves a daughter, Minnie, three sons, Eugene, and Willard McCormick of Watertown, Frank of Binghamton, a daughter, Sister Anne LeLobels, of Quebec, his mother, Mrs. Nancy McCormick, four sisters, and two brothers, Mrs. Sarah Meath, Mrs. Cecilia Gentner, John McCormick, Canandaigua, Mrs. Laura Koons, Mrs. Emma Doyle, and W. J. McCormick, Rochester. The funeral services were held at St. Mary's Church on Tuesday. Interment was at Calvary Cemetery.

2. Sarah McCormick 12, born 1848, married Patrick Meath on September 30, 1885, in Canandaigua, NY. Sarah Meath is the Grandmother of Eddie and Howard Meath... Both men were very well known in Rochester during our growing up years. 30's, 40's and 50's. Howard owned a sports store and Eddie was a radio personality... In addition, Eddie was the host / MC at the "Barn" (gathering place for teens)....Greg Doyle, great grandson of Emma (sister of Sarah) McCormick Doyle and Owen Doyle, cousin of Howie and Eddie Meath, had his own band through High School and after. He played the trumpet with his band at the "Barn". Lib and Eileen Doyle, great granddaughters of Emma and Owen Doyle spent many wonderful Saturday nights with Donald and Thomas Brindisi (twins) at the "Barn". For us it was a Teen Dream place to go thanks to Mr. and Mrs. Frank Gannett of the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle.


3. Celia McCormick   10   born 1850, married about 1876 to a Mr. Merkley who died about 1879,  and then she married second husband Henry David Gentner from Germany, in 1884 in Canandaigua, New York


There were two children: Annamaria (writing was difficult to decipher) Merkley, born in 1878 and David Henry Fredrick Gentner born September 30 in Canandaigua, NY, died March 10, 1978 in Hudson, New York. Celia is listed as Merkley, widowed  in the 1880 Census living at home with Nancy McCormick and her daughter Annamaria (?), age 2.

4. John H. McCormick 7 was born 1852

5. Emma McCormick   5,  was born 1854 and married Owen Doyle in 1873 in Canandaigua.  Their children are: Frank, Anne, Margery, John Albert born 1884. The next chapter will tell the story of Owen and Emma and their family since they are my direct Great Grandparents and their son John Albert is my Grandfather.

6. Willie J.McCormick 3,  was born 1856; he died December 29, 1906. He married Alice M. Cowen on June 26, 1886.

7. Annie A. McCormick 6months, was born 1860, died 1875. Buried with Nancy and Francis in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. She was
named after her sister Anna A who died 1859.

8. *Note: David McCormick was born 1867 and died 1868.
      He is not listed on this Census because he was born and
      died after the information was obtained. He is buried with
      his parents in Calvery Cemetery.

Nancy McAdam  61,  Nurse, widow, mother of
Nancy McCormick and grandmother of above listed children.

NOTE: At no time did Francis state that he was an Ice Dealer. The first time we see the reference to Ice Dealer and Ice Pedler is the Census of 1880.  

     

The 1870's were filled with many life changes for Nancy McCormick. Her dear husband Francis in 1868 was dead and she found that nothing in the home was hers. It was the law that the oldest male in the family would inherit all possessions that belonged to the Head of the Household. That meant that every dish, pan, bedding, furniture, cutlery, silverware and glasses plus the house and out buildings, animals and equipment were no longer available for the widow since she was a woman and not eligible for inheritance. Nancy was blessed with a good business head. She took inventory of all the items that were on the land, asked her son-in-law James Dubois to assist her and then proceeded to the Court House to lay claim to what she felt was rightfully hers. She needed the income from the Ice Dealership to continue raising her family. She also needed the equipment to harvest the ice.  

 The following is a copy of the Probate of Francis McCormick's worldly goods:  

          PROBATE

9 JUL 1868

To the Surrogate of the County of Ontario.
The Petition of Nancy McCormick of the Town of Canandaigua in the County of Ontario respectfully showeth:
That Francis S. McCormick of the Town of Canandaigua in the County of Ontario died in the said Town of Canandaigua on or about the 5th day of May in the year of our Lord on thousand eight hundred and sixty eight.

That at the time of his death he was a inhabitant of the County of Ontario.

That he left no will, as so far as your petitioner has heard, or been able to discover: That he left your petitioner his widow, Mary J. Dubois, Sarah E. McCormick, Cecelia McCormick, John H. McCormick, Emma E. McCormick, William McCormick, Anna McCormick, Edward A. McCormick, Laura E. McCormick, David h. McCormick, all of Canandaigua & Francis P. McCormick
Watertown N.Y. his children.

And your petitioner further showeth, that all the goods, chattels, and credits of the said deceased do not exceed in value the sum of 500 dollars, (this next line is stricken out on the original copy)and his real property does not exceed in value the sum of 200 Dollars: and your petitioner prays that Letters of Administration of the goods, chattels and credits be granted by the surrogate to the petitioner.

Dated July 9th 1868. Nancy McCormick

Ontario County Surrogate Court } SS.

On this 9th day of July 1868, personally appeared before me, in open Court Nancy McCormick the above named petitioner, and made oath that the matters set forth in the above petition are true, to the best of the knowledge, information and belief of said petitioner.

Elihu M. Morse Surrogate.

Ontario County, ss.

I do swear, that I will well, honestly and faithfully discharge the duty of Aministratrix of the estate of Francis S. McCormick deceased, according to the law.

Subscribed and sworn the 9th day

of July 1868, before me } Nancy McCormick

Elihu M. Morse

Surrogate


Bond of Administrator.

Know all Men by those Presents:

That we, Nancy McCormick, James F Dubois & Thomas B. Lyon all of Canandaigua are held and firmly bound unto the People of the State of New York in the sum of One Thousand Dollars, to be paid to the said People; for which payment well and truly to be made, we bind ourselves and our and each of our Heirs, Executors and Administrators, jointly and severally, firmly by those Presents.

Sealed with our seals. Dated this 8th day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty eight.
The condition of this obligtation is such, that if the above bounden Nancy McCormick Administratrix of all and singular the goods, chattels and credits of Francis S. McCormick, late of the Town of Canandaigua deceased, shall faithfully execute the trust reposed in her as such; and also if the said Administatrix shall obey all the orders of the Surrogate of the County of Ontario, or the person charged by the constitution and laws with the preformance of the duties of the office, or of any other office or Court having juisdiction in the premises, touching the Administation of the
Estate committed to her then the above obligation to be void; otherwise to remain in full force and virtue.

Sealed and Delivered in Presence of Nancy McCormick

Thomas B Lyon

James F. Dubois

State of New York,

Ontario County }ss.

James F. Dubois & Thomas B. Lyon the surities, named in the above bond, being duly sworn, each for himself says, that he is a resident of the County of Ontario, and that he is a freeholder, and is worth more than one thousand Dollars, over and above all just debts and liabilities existing against him, and over and above his property exempt from seizure on execution.

Sworn this 9th day Thomas B. Lyon

of July A.D. before me. } James F. Dubios

Elihu M. Morse

Surrogate

State of New York,

Ontario County }ss.

On this 9th day of July A.D. 1868, before me the subscriber Surrogate of said County, appeared Nancy McCormick, James F. Dubios & Thomas B. Lyon to me personally known to be the same persons described in , and who executed the foregoing Instument, and severally acknowledged to me that they executed the same.

Elihu M. Morse

Surrogate

A true And Perfect Inventory Of all the goods, Chattels and credits which were of Francis S, McCormick late of the town of Canandaigua in the County of Ontario , deceased, made by the Adinistratrix of the Estate of the said deceased, with the aid, and
in the presence of Thomas B. Lyon and Seymour H. Jackson they having been duly appointed as Appraisers; containing a full, just and true statement of all the personal property of the said deceased, which has come to the knowledge of the said administratrix of said estate, and particularely of all moneys, bank bills, and other curculating madium belonging to the said deceased, and all just claims of the deceased, against said administratrix and all bonds mortgages, notes and other securities, for payment of money,
belongings to the said deceased, specifying the names of the debtor in security, the date, the sum origanally payable, the endorsements thereon, with their dates, and the sum, which in the judgement of Appraisers, may be collectable on such security.

Upon completion of this inventory, duplicates thereof have made and signed at the end thereof by the Appraisers.

The following articles are exempted from appraisement, to remain in the possession of the Widow and minor children of the deceased, persuant to Revised Statutes.

1 Cook Stove 2 Parlor Stoves

Family Bible. all pictures

All School & all other books

1 Cow 2 Swine

All Beds Bedsteads & Bedding

All clothing of the Widow & Children

1 Table 6 Chairs 6 K & Forks

6 plates 6 cups & Saucers 1 Suger Bowl

1 Cream Cup 1 Teapot 6 Shams(?)

In addition to the above enumerated articles from appraisal, the
Appraisers, in the exercise of their discretion, pursuant to the statute, set apart the following articles of necessary household furniture and other personal property, for the use of the Widow and minor children. of the deceased, the same not exceeding in value one hundred and fifty dollars.

1 Table 1.00 12 Chairs 1.00   2.00

Crockery ware 3 Stone ware 3  6.00

Lamps 2.50 Clocks  $2 4.50

1 Dem. Wagon $20 & Nancy 5 25.00

Ice Tools 5. 4 kegs @$1 9.00

1 Cultivator 3.50

1/2 acre(?) Wheat 50.00

1 Cow & Calf 50.00
                                         Total:  $150.00

(hand written on separate paper contents of Ice Business and Misc.)

1 New Boat 25.

Boats Henns(?) 15.

1 Cutter 10.

2 Old Wagons @$8 16.

1 Ice Plow 5.00

1 Culling Box .50 Old Stove $3 3.50

Old Ice House 25.00

Ice in Same 100.00

New Ice House 300.00

Ice in Same 50.00

10 Cords Sline(?) 30.00

2 (?) Wagon & Nancy 120.

                                                                                           

               1870 United States Federal Census


Francis S. McCormick died 1868
Nancy McCormick 44,  Head of
Household, Canandaigua, NY                                         
Household Members:

1.  Celia McCormick         20  b. 1850

2.  John McCormick          18  b.  1852  Captain John McCormick was, for years, captain of the “Ontario,” which was built after the destruction of the “Joseph Wood” in back of Nancy McCormick's house.  He married Margret McCarthy and they had three children.

         John E Mccormick 19     b. 1870


         Francis R Mccormick 8    b. 1892


         Gertrude Mccormick 6     b.  1894


 John fought on the Union Side during the Civil War.  He was injured and had an obvious limp for the rest of his life.

3.  Emma McCormick       16  b. 1854

4.  Willie McCormick        13   b. 1857, d. Dec. 29, 1906.
He married Alice M. Cowen on June 26,1886  They had one adopted child called Charlie. His Grandmother took him at a Children's Home giveaway program and gave him to William.

5.  Annie A. McCormick    10   b. 1860  d. 1875
She is buried with Francis and Nancy McCormick
in Calvary Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York

6.  Eddie McCormick   8    b. 1863, d. 1901
He is buried with Francis and Nancy McCormick
in Calvary Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York


7.  Laura McCormick       5    b. 1865,  d. after 1916
She married Jacob Koons Apr 24, 1883 in
Canandaigua, NY


8.  David McCormick   under a year old,    born 1867 and died 1868.
He is not listed on any census because he lived
and died after the information was obtained. He
is buried with Francis and Nancy McCormick


9.  Frederick J. McCormick   2,  b. 1868, d. 1876
He is buried with Francis and Nancy McCormick
at the Calvary Cemetery, Canandaigua, New York

Nancy McAdams     69   Nurse retired, widow, mother of Nancy McC

The 1870's were filled with many life changes for Nancy McCormick.  Her dear husband Francis in 1868 was dead. Nancy was blessed with a good business head.   She needed the income from the Ice Dealership to continue raising her family.  She also needed the equipment to harvest the ice.  She also knew she needed additional work to supplement the family income.  She and Francis had a concession on the pier selling fruit drinks to visitors, so she applied to collect the fees for the cars that drove out on the Pier and got the job.  It is recorded that she did a very good job collecting the fees.  Eventually Nancy was given the job as Pier Mistress, a job that put her in charge of running the Pier.  This included renting out the boats, managing the boat houses, fees for cars and other motor vehicles. A building on the pier was given to her by the city. This was called the "Waiting Room" for those people who were waiting to board the Steamer. This was a place to rest and have refreshments.  The building next door was called the Daisy which Nancy acquired.  She opened up her 'Daisy Tea Room' which became the hub of Canandaigua.  That is where you picked up all the latest local gossip.  It was the most popular spot in Canandaigua.

There were two events to happen in Canandaigua in1873. The first was the court trial of Susan B. Anthony. It was referred there because there were too many folks in Rochester, New York who wanted to do battle over women's rights. The second was the preparation of the Wedding of Emma and Owen Eugene Doyle. The Daisy Tea Room is where you kept tract of what was happening in that trial and I am sure there was much talk of the McCormick/ Doyle wedding.  It was a wonderful place to eat lunch, meet friends, share the news all with a water view. 

The following is from the archives of the Anthony Trial in Canandaigua:
      At the trial, the judge penned his decision before hearing the case (his first criminal case) and discharged the jury because he maintained that there were no questions of fact for them to consider. He found Anthony guilty of voting illegally, fined her $100, and then made the mistake of asking her if she had anything to say.

"Yes, your honor," seethed Anthony, "I have many things to say; for in your ordered verdict of guilty, you have trampled under foot every vital principle of our government. My natural rights, my civil rights, my political rights, my judicial rights, are all alike ignored. Robbed of the fundamental privilege of citizenship, I am degraded from the status of a citizen to that of a subject; and not only myself individually, but all of my sex, are, by your honor's verdict, doomed to political subjection under this, so-called, form of government."
ONTARIO COUNTY JOURNAL Friday March 14, 1913 Pg 5, col 3 by: Ron Hanley
                                            
On the same page, col 5 is an obit regarding Frank McCormick:
SAME PAPER col 5

DIED McCORMICK - At Canandaigua, March 9, 1913, Frank McCormick, aged 68 years

                                    

             1880 Federal Census 

Name: Nancy Mccormick

[Nancy Mcadams]
Home in 1880: Canandaigua, Ontario, New York
Age: 56
Estimated birth year: abt 1825
Birthplace: Vermont
Relation to Head of Household: Self (Head)
Father's birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Name: Nancy
Mother's birthplace: Ireland
Neighbors: View others on page
Occupation: Ice Dealer
Marital Status: Widowed
Race: White
Gender: Female


Household Members: Name Age


Nancy McCormick 56


William McCormick 23


Edward McCormick 17


Laura McCormick 16


Nancy McAdams 80


Celia Merkley 29

Armemrla Merkley 2
                                                  
               1900 U.S. Census                                  

Name: Nancy McCormick
Home in 1900: Canandaigua Ward 3, Ontario, New York
Age: 74
Birth Date: Aug 1825
Birthplace: Vermont
Race: White
Gender: Female
Relationship to Head of House: Head
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother: number of living children: 9
Mother: How many children: 13
Marital Status: Widowed
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page

Household Members: Name Age


Nancy McCormick 74


Laura Koons 35


Rosa Koons 16


Anna Koons 14


Louise Koons 10


Rose Smith 64, sister of Nancy McCormick
                                  
                    NEWSPAPER ARTICLES



Sunday,August 1, 1915 Rochester Democrat & Chronicle


Interview with Nancy McCormick on her ninetieth birthday
Bore Thirteen Children and Ran a Business Thirty-three Years; Active on Her Ninetieth Birthday


Although the span of her years is four score and ten, Mrs. Nancy McCormick who lives with her son William J. McCormick, at 457 Main Street West, has few of the infirmities that come with advanced age. Mrs. McCormick is today celebrating her ninetieth birthday and she said yesterday that she expected enjoy the occasion fully as much as do her sons and daughters and the
friends who are expected to drop in.
There has been not a little action in Mrs. McCormick's life. She was born in Middlebury, Vt. on August 1, 1825 and a few years later her parents removed to Franklin Co. in this state. She was married to Francis McCormick at Sackett's Harbour in 1840, when she was but more than 14 years old. Mrs. McCormick and her parents, Mr. and Mrs McAdam, started from Franklin county for Rochester on a lake boat but her mother was so badly upset by the rough weather encountered that the captain of the boat refused to take the party
farther than Sackett's Harbour.
Mrs. McCormick's husband died in Canandaigua in 1868. Some years before his death he had established an ice business in that town, and Mrs. McCormick continued the business , conducting it for thirty-three years. She was the first Businesswoman in Canandaigua and is well known in that place. When help was scarce she frequently did a mans work in the cutting and
harvesting of ice.
Some years ago the town of Canandaigua built a pier into the lake, and Mrs. McCormick was made piermistress, or toll collector, a fee being exacted from all vehicles that drove on the pier and from the boats that landed there. It was the duty of Mrs. McCormick to collect these fees, and it is a matter of record that she did her work well.
Mrs. McCormick had thirteen children, six of whom are living. Besides her son William J. McCormick, with whom she has made her home for eight years, she has two children in Rochester, Mrs. Owen Doyle and Mrs. Laura Koons.
Her other living children, John McCormick, Mrs. Sarah Meath and Mrs. David Gentner, are in Canandaigua. Her oldest son, now dead, enlisted in the Civil war when he was 17 years old.
Except for difficulty in walking due to rheumatism, Mrs. McCormick is exceptionally active for a person who has attained her years. She is able to read without glasses and also to do tatting her favorite occupation. She says the counting necessary to tatting keeps her from thinking. She has a unusually retentive memory for things that happened long ago and is able to recite verses she learned as a child.
Mrs. McCormick has done considerable traveling. She visits Canandaigua a year ago and hopes to go again. She has a vivid recollection of the Civil war and says that the present European conflict impresses her as being a more horrifying struggle.

                                     
                         THE MCADAM COAT OF ARMS

In 1890 Nancy has entered a new phase of her life at 65.  She is still Piermistress of the Canandaigua City Pier and is making a nice living for her family.  There was a major concern regarding her son William. He had a severe drinking problem and on top of that he had a gamboling problem that was eating up the family income at an alarming rate.  In November the Temperance Movement that had plagued the area for years became more radical and managed to get laws pasted to prohibit alcohol beverages altogether.  I do not know exactly what happened but Nancy was arrested and appeared in criminal court facing charges of serving alcoholic beverages.  Granted she received a slap on the wrist and a $6.00 fine with no other consequences except to be on the crime list in the Canandaigua Messenger for all to see:

 The People vs. Nancy MC CORMICK. Selling strong beer and ale without license. Convicted, sentence $6.05. Paid.

Either before or after this incident Nancy had an idea that the Center of the Lake did not belong to anyone.  She checked the records at the town hall and sure enough, the center of the Lake was not under any jurisdiction.  Now, by this time, Nancy owned all the rental boats at the pier. I am sure she had a working relationship with the Steam Boats that used the pier as a landing. Her son John McCormick was Captain of one of the Steamboats that toured the Lake.  Having a good sense for making money, she put a barge out on the middle of Canandaigua Lake, her inventory was Liquor and Beer and fine spirits. Since she had control of the boats, the "Feds" could not get there in a rental unless she said so.  I was told this by Mrs. Fennick, a very good friend of Florence Bates and John A. Doyle (you know, Nancy's grandson.).  Mrs. Fennick was 90 years old when we went to see her. Her mind was sharp and she gave my brother Leo and I lots of information that will be told in Chapter 8. Mrs. Fennick said the barge was the place to go for beer and spirits and so they came from miles around.  Nancy's income shot up to millions of dollars.  Mrs. Fennick said she carried the money, at the end of the day, loose in her apron as she walked the pier to her home on the South end of Main Street each and every day.  I do not know how long this dream job lasted but she made a lot of money which may be why so many of the family returned to the McCormick home after their spouses died.  I do not know how much she had left when she died but Mrs. Fennick said William's addictions used up the bulk of her savings. During her extra curricular business, the ice business was still a going gussy and she had plenty of help.  A great portion of the ice harvested was taken to the Brewry by sleds driven by local farmers.  The Ice House was a huge storage facitity that housed the winter harvest of ice for months. 



There was a young man from Ireland by the name of Thomas O'Reilly who came to Canandaigua on his own at age 16. He lived at the McCormick home and Nancy insisted he go to school. It was a private school and Nancy paid the tuition. He also made money peddling McCormick ice.  He finished school,became a full time worker for Nancy and married an Irish Lass in 1880 at the local Catholic Church.  The Canandaigua Messenger had an article relating that while Thomas was making ice deliveries, he had an accident and was was electrocuted. He left his wife and child. 

By 1900, the McCormick home was going strong.  By 1910, Nancy was living in Rochester with her son William and his wife Alice and their son Charles on West Main Street.  In 1916, one year after her Rochester Democrat and Chronicle interview, Nancy died and was buried from her favorite Church and buried in Calvary Cemetery with her dear husband Francis and their beloved children who died early in life and the mysterious Nancy Ann McAdam who died at 81 in 1880. God rest in peace all their souls.
                                                

NANCY MCCORMICK AND THE FAMOUS APRON

                               NEWSPAPER ARTICLES


Nancy McCormick article about 1901

MRS. NANCY M’CORMACK.
Canandaigua, N.Y., Oct. 6 –

One of the old pioneer residents, and a remarkably well preserver woman, is Mrs. Nancy McCormack. Nearly everybody in in the village knows her either by personal acquaintance, or by reputation. Mrs. McCormack was born in Middleberry, Vt. August 1, 1825, and came to this village in 1852. her husband, the late Francis McCormack, started the well established ice business of the McCormack family in 1858 and died ten years later. His wife has continued the business ever since. The McCormack’s have for years been closely associated with the steam boats on our lake, and the wreck of “The Lady of the Lake,” which was the first real steam boat on these waters, now lies buried under Mrs. McCormack’s boat house. In addition to that the steamer “Joseph Wood” was build in her back yard, and some years afterwards was wrecked by the ice at the end of the pier. Her son, Captain John McCormack was for years captain of the “Ontario,” which was built after the destruction of the “Joseph Wood”. In the early days of St. Mary’s Church, in the times of Father O’Connor, and other early priest here, one of the most earnest workers at the church fairs and festivals was the subject of our sketch. She is now in her seventy-sixth year with a splendid possession of her faculties, and she has resided a large family, and they are as proud of her as one can imagine. That she may enjoy many more years of health and happiness is the wish of a multitude of friends.
                                       
                             
            

                                                                  
     OBITUARY
McCormick- At Rochester,
Dec. 27 1916, Mrs. Nancy McCormick aged 91 years.
Interment at Canandaigua.
Mrs. Nancy McCormick, widow of Francis McCormick, and well known business woman of Canandaigua, died at the home of her son William J. McCormick, in Rochester, on Wednesday, at the great age 91 years.
Mrs. McCormick was born at Middlebury Vermont , on August 1, 1825, but a few years latter became a resident of Franklin County, this state, where her parents made their home.
She was united in marriage in 1840 to Francis McCormick, the ceremony being preformed at Sackett's Harbour, where the family had settled, following an effort to reach Rochester by means of a lake boat. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. McAdam, were so badly upset by the rough weather encountered that the captain insisted upon their debarkation at Sackett's Harbour.
Settling in Canandaigua Mr. McCormick established an ice
business and boat livery at the lake, the first enterprise of the kind conducted in the place, and upon her husbands death in 1868, Mrs. McCormick assumed it's management, a business that she followed with success for a succeeding thirty-three years.
When the village built a pier into the lake for the accommodation of the steamboats, she was made the piermistress and toll collector, fees being exacted for all vehicles that drove on the wooden structure and from the boats which landed passengers and fright thereon.
She was faithful in the preformance of this public service as she was in looking after her own private business and made the aquaintance and gained the respect of almost the entire population of the village.

Mrs. McCormick was a woman of large stature and in her rime of vigorous physique, giving the harvesting and storing of ice and it's distribution to customers her personal supervision.

Notwithstanding her great age, she continued active and mentally alert to very near the end. Her memory was exelent and she recalled with interest her experiences as the pioneer business woman of Canandaigua, where she is remembered as a most interesting character.

She had thirteen children, six of whom survive, as follows, John H. McCormick of Canandaigua, William J. McCormick of Rochester, Mrs. Patrick Meath and Mrs. David Gentner, of Canandaigua, and Mrs. Laura Koons of Rochester.
The funeral service was held at St. Mary's Church in this city, Friday morning, with interment in Calvary Cemetery.


ONTARIO COUNTY TIMES Wednesday January 2, 1917 PAGE 6 COL 3
DIED   McCORMACK At Rochester, December 27, 1916, Mrs. Nancy McCormack, aged 91 years. Interment at Canandaigua.

                                                            

For the record, there is no history of any McAdam living in Middlebury, Vermont during the 1820's nor is there any record of a John McAdam associated with the two Nancys in Sackets Harbor, New York. The story that Nancy McAdam told is exactly the same story that Nancy McAdam McCormick told about how they all ended up in Sackets Harbor. This story always had the exact same narrative with no deviation at all.  I am surprised the reporters never asked her about her Father.   In all of the interviews that Nancy McCormick gave, she never mentioned her father living or dead, no reference to him at all.  She had a reputation of telling stories all the time.  I report, you decide.  At the moment the McAdam family resides in the land of Mystery. We had two people personally check the Town Hall and Catholic Church for records of the McAdams.  The results came back there are no records on John, Nancy and little Nancy.  Also there is no record of Rose McAdam Smith who was born supposedly in Sacket's Harbor. Naturally we would love to solve this mystery once and for all but all research ends up with zero information.