James Lacey (abt. 1828 - 1887)

Born about 18 Oct 1828 in Delvin, County Westmeath, Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Catherine Mary (Shaughnessy) Lacey — married about 4 Apr 1856 in Champlain, Clinton, New York, United States

Descendants

Died 23 Oct 1887 at about age 59 in Altona, Clinton, New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Scott Lacey [send private message]

Biography

James was born Oct 18, 1828 to Patrick and Mary (nee Donoghue) ^[1] He traveled from Liverpool to New York, arriving August 1, 1847. ^[2] It is believed that he worked on the canals, and made his way west doing so. In the Clinton County area, he is thought to have worked with the local lumber companies. At some point, he was able to sign on with the railroad company.

He was married to Catherine Shaughnessy on April 4, 1856 at St. Joseph-Du-Corbeau, in what is present day Coopersville, Clinton, New York. ^[3]

He passed away in Oct 23, 1887 ^[4] and is buried at Holy Angels Cemetery, Altona, NY. His place of rest is under the family tombstone of Shaughnessy, also memorializing:
- Mary Stack. Mary is noted in the 1880 census as the mother-in-law living with James' family. The tombstone records that she is the: Wife of / J. SHAUGHNESSY, / Died / Dec. 27, 1883, / AE. 87 Ys. / A Native of Co.
- Sarah J. Died / Sept. 7, 1859. / AE. 1 Yr. & 6 Ms. Note, however, that Sarah M. Lacey is not the same Sarah J. identified by tombstone record, Sarah J. Died in 1859, 20 years before Sarah M was born.

He was survived by:^[5] Catherine Lacey, spouse,
Patrick J. Lacey,
James J. Lacey,
John E. Lacey,
Eugene M. Lacey,
Peter B. Lacey,
George P. Lacey,
Robert E. Lacey,
Hannah L. Lacey,
Mary E. Lacey,
Katie E. Lacey,
Sarah M. Lacey,
Estelle Lacey

Research notes

Birth Birth Certificate: not found.
Birthdate 10/18/1828 is sourced from Dad’s book, it is not clear where he found that. The birth year is supported by the following source docs
1. Tombstone death Oct 23, 1887, AE 59, puts his birth in 1828 or 1827
2. 1880 census taken June 3, age 52, places his birth in 1828 or 1827
3. 1860 census taken Aug 28, age 25, places his birth in 1835 or 1834. This is either due to an error by the census taker, or it raises the possibility that the 1860 and 1880 James Lacey’s are not the same people. However, given that Catherine and Mary both appear in both censuses with appropriate ages, it seems more likely that the census taker erred.

Parents:
Dad's book identifies Patrick Joseph Lacey and Mary (Donahue) Lacey. I've not yet researched Ireland records to find anything that links them

Place of Birth: Dad's book points to County Westmeath, Delvin as at least the residence, if not the birth place. While I have no source documents yet, Dad did travel there and do extensive research.

Location:
- Columbia, Herkimer County NY 1850 census (uncertain)
- Champlain, Clinton County NY 1860 census
- Altona, Clinton County NY 1880 census


Census continuity
1850 census: there are several potential census entries. There is no good way to verify any of these entries given that his marriage and first child are both after 1850, based on the 1880 census. Neither is there any other document to establish his location in 1850.
Possible matches include:

1860 census: this census shows James, Catharine (sic), and Mary. Taken Aug 28, it places The birth years as 1858 or 57 for Mary, 1839 or 40 Catharine (sic), and 1825 for James. Notably missing is 7 day old Patrick Joseph. This brings into question the veracity of his birth date, or that this may not be the same James Lacey as the 1880 census. The census location is Champlain.
1870 No entry found

Immigration: Lacey history indicates he sailed on the Niagara. The SS Niagara, Cunard Line, is indicated to have launch July, 1847, with the maiden voyage May 20, 1848 from Liverpool to Boston^[6].

Possible matches for arrival:

Marriage:
See marriage notes under Catherine Lacey

Next steps:
Need to research census records.
Request copies of Death Certificate,
Citizenship, on file with Herkimer county clerk
Marriage certificate,
property and work records that Dad references on page 174, and NY
Surrogate record.
Further investigation into SS Niagara records.

Disambiguation
- Ireland: There are numerous instances of James Lacey in Ireland, County Westmeath before 1850 and it is difficult to determine which one is this James Lacey - The family relationship to James and Catherine Lacey is established by the marriage and death records of Patrick Joseph Lacey who is a confirmed relative both by record and by personal account of Gerard C Lacey I.

Death:
Note that probate record is January of 1890, a little over 2 years after the death recorded on the tombstone. However it also names Catherine and places the location in Altona.

Burial:
He is buried at Holy Angels Cemetery, Altona, NY
http://www.nnytombstoneproject.net/clinton/altona/holy_angels.htm
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/87768506/james-lacey

Sources

1. ↑ Lacey, James. The Legacy of the DeLacy, Lacey, Lacy Family 1066 - 1994. Gerry Lacey, 1994. Page 168.
2. ↑ Lacey, James. The Legacy of the DeLacy, Lacey, Lacy Family 1066 - 1994. Gerry Lacey, 1994. Page 171.
3. ↑ Lacey, James. The Legacy of the DeLacy, Lacey, Lacy Family 1066 - 1994. Gerry Lacey, 1994. Page 173.
4. ↑ State of New York #33819
5. ↑ New York Surrogate Court record, Clinton County, NY, October 23, 1887.
6. ↑ Norway Heritage site http://www.norwayheritage.com/p_ship.asp?sh=niaga

• Family history

Main source is a secondary source:
Title The Legacy of the DeLacy, Lacey, Lacy Family 1066 - 1994
Publisher Gerry Lacey, 1994. Pages 168-180

Marriage Certificate: Record is said to be at Archdiocese for the Comte' de Clinton, Benoit Pontbriand-2390 Marie Victorin-Sillery-Quebec-Canada, G1k1.

Citizenship: 9/24/1856. Aliens Admitted file, Herkimer County NY, County Clerk, Volume 2, Pg 200.

Death Certificate: State of New York #33819 New York Surrogate Court record, Clinton County, NY, October 23, 1887.

Probate Records, 1790-1969; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Clinton County); Probate Place: Clinton, New York

Probate Records, 1790-1969; Author: New York. Surrogate's Court (Clinton County); Probate Place: Cl

Year: 1880; Census Place: Altona, Clinton, New York; Roll: 819; Page: 17A; Enumeration District: 002

Year: 1860; Census Place: Champlain, Clinton, New York; Page: 647

Year: 1850; Census Place: Columbia, Herkimer, New York; Roll: 513; Page: 73a

http://www.nnytombstoneproject.net/clinton/altona/holy_angels.htm