Downtown Taghmon

Downtown Taghmon
Main Street, Taghmon, County Wexford, 2011

About James Connor and Anastasia Colfour (Colfer)

About James Connor and Anastasia Colfer

James Connor (c1818-1897) and Anastasia Colfour (Colfer) (c1821-1884) married in the Parish of Taghmon in 1842 and emigrated from County Wexford, possibly the town of Taghmon, between c1852-1854. History states that James preceded Anna by two years. Shortly after arriving in America, they settled in Evanston, Illinois. They lived and farmed in an area of Evanston now known as Stockham Park until about 1862 when they moved to the corner of Ridge Avenue and Lake Street in Evanston. Several siblings of James' also came to the U.S. around the same time and resided in Evanston. They include his twin siblings Katherine and Thomas, both of whom never married; and, his brother Patrick who married Margaret Welsch. James and Anna had six children, the first five of whom were born in Ireland. They include Ellen (Sullivan) (1843-1919), James C. (1846-1890), Bridget Lucy (Headen/Hayden) (1849-1876); John A. (1852-1932); Mary E. (Haughey) (1854-1934); and, Thomas E. (1857-1929). Anna died of typhoid pneumonia on April 15, 1884. James, lived to be 79, spending the last thirteen years living with his son Thomas. James died on October 2, 1897.

Monday, April 19, 2010

No Senior Connor Death Certificates Available

In doing research on the Connor family it has been disappointing there are no death certificates for the senior Connors.  Requests have been made (sometimes twice because I didn't keep a research log!) for death certificates from Cook County and I have only received a "Certification that Record Was Not Found" document.  The following have officially been requested:

Anastasia Colfour Connor, died April 15, 1884
Thomas Connor, died September 28, 1888
James C. Connor, died November 25, 1890
Katherine Connor, died May 1, 1897
James Connor, died October 2, 1897

In Illinois we are lucky that the State has created an online index for deaths however the above five individuals are not listed in the Illinois State index nor through FamilySearch.

My guess is that it has something to do with the city of Evanston records prior to 1900.  Connors who died in Chicago, prior to 1900, do have death certificates.  On a positive note, very lengthy obituaries are available for almost all of the above and where I have located them, I have posted them on this Blog.

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