Looking for information on mother for Peter Joseph McCabe

Question

According to the information listed on his Death Certificate his mother is listed as Mary Ellen Dorsey. However I have found limited information on a Mary Ellen Dorsey. Would you help find more information for something to build upon?

All known information in profile.

Answer 1

Could this be her?  Born 1843 Ireland, died 1906 Philadelphia, widow.  Can't tell whether Dorsey was maiden or married name. 

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JDP4-L26 : 8 March 2018), Mary Ellen Dorsey, 02 Nov 1906; citing cn 26976, Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 1,319,472.

Comments

Familysearch is broken No server is available to handle this request.

---

Yeah.  Just when I found one for Mary Ellen McCabe, 1850 - 1881.  Born in Pottsville, the same place as shown on Peter's death certificate. 

---

I think this Mary Ellen 1850-1881 is the one Steve is looking for. Before FS went down I found the family in the 1900 US Census and John F. was a widower.

---

There is also this 1880 record of Mary E and John McCabe, with a son Peter born 1871-ish.

"United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MWJT-5H3 : 16 July 2017), Mary E Mccabe in household of John Mccabe, Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States; citing enumeration district ED 527, sheet 142B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1184; FHL microfilm 1,255,184.

---

Here we go.  No info on Mary Ellen's parents. 

"Pennsylvania, Philadelphia City Death Certificates, 1803-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JK3G-7Y6 : 9 March 2018), Mary Ellen Mccabe, 08 Dec 1881; citing , Philadelphia City Archives and Historical Society of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; FHL microfilm 2,056,915.

---

Yes she had a son named Peter however she also had a daughter named Alice. Because a Mary Ellen Dorsey is listed on the Death Certificate for the mother and Alice was born in 1886 https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/McCabe-2255

---

@Herbert. That could be correct however not sure why Mary Ellen is listed as Mother of someone born in 1886 which would be 5 years after her death

---

@Herbert I not sure if it the right Mary Ellen but if it is she appears in the 1860 Census as Mary Ellen McCabe the daughter of Samuel H McCabe and a Anne Mary (Unknown Maiden Name) Possibly Riggs

---

Alice's death certificate could be mistaken.  Her profile has a 1900 Census record that seems to indicate she was born 1879-80.  I can't see the 1880 Census linked above, because FamilySearch is acting up again. 

---

Alice was not born on 1886. She was born on Sep 1879 according to the 1900 US Census. She is listed in line 78 here:

https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6889-X1G?i=35&cc=1325221

---

I can see the 1880 Census on Ancestry.  It doesn't have Alice, but it does have Cecelia at 5, and John at 2.  In 1900, Cecelia was 25 and John 22 (per Alice's profile).  Maybe Alice was born in Sep 1880, not Sep 1879?  She would have just missed the 1880 Census.  Anyway, there are way too many coincidences for the 1880 and 1900 McCabes to be different families.

---

aargh you just confuzzled me. I do agree that Death Certificates can be wrong although I rarely use a Census as a Primary Source. I've had awful experiences with Census records. Reckon I will have to do research when I have plenty of coffee. And Blueberry Pie.

---

I temporarily changed some things up in the profile for Alice. This was a good find and could very likely be correct family.

---

Thanks for the star, Steve!  Yes, the 1850-1881 Mary Ellen must be her (not the one in my answer, but the one in the comments).  In 1900, Cecilia Dorsey lived with them, shown as 'niece' in the census.  In 1906, Cecilia (living at the same 1900 address) married Harry Fitzpatrick.  Over the years, Cecilia's siblings Alice Dorsey and Hugh Dorsey lived with the Fitzpatricks.  I think they were the children of Mary's brother Peter, as shown on the 1860 Census cited below.  I'd have to go back and dig up those records, but that should help tie them all together.

Answer 2

Here is 10 year old Mary E Dorsey at home in Pottsville, with her Irish parents (see 1880 Census) Patrick and Ann.

"United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXTM-DWR : 13 December 2017), Mary E Dorsey in entry for Patk Dorsey, 1860.

Comments

I can only choose one favorite answer. But if I could choose two I would choose this one also.

Thanks for the help