Brick wall on Christopher Sloan and his wife Bridget Ann (Cunningham) Sloan

Question

I've been trying to find more info on Christopher Sloan and his wife Bridget Ann (Cunningham) Sloan for ages. The records in the US say they were born in Ireland, and I believe they immigrated to the US around 1849, eventually making their way to Cayuga County, New York. Any new info on Christopher or his wife would be appreciated. Christopher is said to have been born around 1819, and his wife Bridget in 1822. There could have also been a possible name change for Christopher, First and/or Last. Any and all info you can give me is appreciated.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Robert, this might be your person.

From: Famine Irish Entry Project, 1846-1851. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. Info duplicated here: Registers of Vessels Arriving at the Port of New York from Foreign Ports, 1789-1919. Microfilm Publication M237, rolls 1-95. National Archives at Washington, D.C.

Name:	Christoph Sloan
Birth Year:	abt 1823
Age:	25
Gender:	Male
Embarkation:	Liverpool
Ship:	West Point
Occupation:	Workman/Woman
Passengers:	237
Compartment:	Cabin
Native Country:	Ireland
Destination:	USA
Arrival Place:	New York, New York, USA
Arrival date:	7 Mar 1848
Transit Type:	Staying in the U.S.

Do you know if they arrived together, married in Ireland, did he perhaps come first? I see this:

Source Citation

Year: 1852; Arrival: New York, New York; Microfilm Serial: M237, 1820-1897; Microfilm Roll: Roll 118; Line: 21; List Number: 1135

Name:	Bridget Sloan
Arrival date:	12 Aug 1852
Birth Date:	abt 1824
Age:	28
Ethnicity/ Nationality:	Irish
Place of Origin:	Ireland
Port of Departure:	Liverpool, England
Destination:	United States of America
Port of Arrival:	New York, New York
Ship Name:	Underwriter

But this last one is closer to year Christopher arrived:

Name:	Bridget Cunningham
Age:	24
Birth Year:	abt 1825
Arrival Year:	1849
Arrival Place:	New York, New York
Primary Immigrant:	Cunningham, Bridget
Source Publication Code:	2597.51.1
Annotation:	Date and port of arrival. Gender, occupation, port of embarkation, and name of ship are also provided. The remainder of this book will be indexed in future volumes of PILI.
Source Bibliography:	GLAZIER, IRA A. AND MICHAEL TEPPER. The Famine Immigrants: Lists of Irish Immigrants Arriving at the Port of New York, 1846-1951. Vol. IV (April 1849-September 1849). Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1984.

Comments

I have seen the name Christoph Sloan before, but I wasn't confident about the info. I do not know whether or not they were married before or after immigration. Do either of those records say the names of their children that you know of? Sons John and Patrick.

Also, FamilySearch has an 1860 census record in Cayuga County. listing Christopher and Bridget, as well as their sons John and Patrick. Both were born in Ireland.

1860 Census - Springport, Cayuga, New York:

Christopher Sloan - Age 40

Bridget Sloan - Age 40

John Sloan - Age 17

Patrick Sloan - Age 14

EDIT: I looked at the 1852 passenger list with Bridget Sloan listed. Looks like the names of her children possibly listed above her name. Being John, Patrick, Bridget, and possibly another.

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Looks like your 1852 record may be the one if you have some child name matches. I think it would be unusual for these records to use the maiden rather than married surname since the names were generally recorded at point of origin or ticket purchase rather than point of entry (that names were taken on arrival or changed on arrival is a common misconception).

I would next contact the Cayuga County Historian and see what information they have. Info is here http://www.cayugacounty.us/Community/Historian  I've found the NY State county historians to be exceptionally helpful and they may well have something which contains more information on the family, possibly including documents with names of the parents. The biggest help would be anything that shows the village or county they originated from in Ireland so you know where to search in Ireland.

Also have a look at this although I did not find a match: https://archive.org/details/historyofcayugac00stor/page/n5  Even if you don't find them here the book may be helpful in filling in gaps or context if the county historian provides information. This book is written not long after your people arrived.