William P. Saxton: A Philadelphia Hatter and His Kin

William P. Saxton (Grandfather to John A. Saxton)
was born about 1800 in Pennsylvania.  His wife was Elizabeth or Ann or Elizabeth Ann.  On the 1860 census she's listed as Ann and on the 1850 census it's Elizabeth.  The couple was most likely married about 1839 in Pa..

1840 census lists a William Sexton, Northern Liberties Phila., Pa. 1 male and 1 female between 20-30yrs. of age and 1 female under the age of 5.

1850 census 6th Ward of Kensington, Phila., Pa.
Wm. Saxton 42 yrs., occupation Hatter, born in Pa.
Elizabeth  33 yrs born in Pa.
(all children born in Pa.)
Ann E. 11 yrs
Alfred 9 yrs.
Oliver 7 yrs.
Harriet 5 yrs
Mary 1 yr.

1860 census 19th Ward Kensington Phila., Pa.
William P. Saxton 55 yurs occupation Hatter born Philadelphia
Ann 40 yrs. born Philadelphia
(all children listed as born in Phila.)
Alfred 19 yrs.
Oliver 16 yrs.
Harriet 14 yrs.
Mary 11 yrs.
William 3 yrs.

I have not been able to locate the family on the 1870 census as of yet.

1880 census 17th Ward, Philadelphia, Hancock Street
William Saxton, Father, 74 yrs. occupation Hatter born Pa., parents born in Pa. Widowed
Annie E. (Williams) daughter 41 yrs born Pa. Widowed
Annie M. (Williams) granddaughter 17yrs

William Saxton died 31 Aug 1887 Philadelphia at the age of 87 yrs.  He is buried at North Cedar Hill Cemetery in Phila.  I don't have the death or buiral information for his wife except that she died prior to William. 

North Cedar Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia, Pa.

Gravestone that marks the resting place of

William Saxton (abt. 1800-1887)

Annie E. Williams (1838-1908)

Daughter of William and Elizabeth Saxton

Benjamin Williams (1835-1880)

Husband of Annie E. Saxton

Howard L. Williams (abt. 1865-1933)

Annie May Harrigan (1863-1913)

Daughter of Benjamin and Annie Williams

Annie M. Harrigan (Still Born 1887)

John M. Harrigan (1859-1931)

Husband of Annie May Williams

Annie E. Harrigan (May-Sept 1889)

William Saxton's son Alfred was the father of John A. Saxton
Alfred Saxton Family

1870 census 2nd Ward Phila.
Alfred Saxton, 28 yrs, Hatter born Pa.
Annie 25 yrs, born Pa
John 4 yrs born NY
Mary 2 yrs born Pa.
Annie 7 months born Pa in November

1880 census 31st Ward Albert St.
Alfred Saxton 39 yrs, Hatter, born in Pa., parents born in Pa. Unemployed for 3 months of that year.
Annie 35 yrs. Keeping House has Debility, born in Pa., Parents born in Ireland
John R. ( this is actually John A.) 14 yrs born NY
Mary 12 yrs
Harriet 7 yrs
Annie E. 5 yrs

1890 Philadelphia City Directory (McElroy's)
Alfred Saxton Hatter home 3159 Mercer
John R. Saxton Driver 3159 Mercer

1900 Ward 25 Rush St. Phila., Pa.
Alfred Saxton born Nov 1840, 59 yrs, born Pa., Hatter, rents property
Anna wife born Oct 1844 55 yrs born Pa.
Alfred son born Sept 1882 18 yrs single occupation laborer
William son born Jun 1888 12 yrs single at school

1910 census Ward 25 Philadelphia
Alfred Saxton Sr. 69 yrs. married 45 yrs. born Pa, retired has his own income
Anna wife 65 yrs.  Had 7 children/5 living born Pa.
Alfred Jr. son 28 single born Pa,. occupation Driver of a wagon
William son 21 yrs single born Pa.occupation Boliermaker for the Railroad

Alfred and Anna died sometime between 1910 ans 1920.  I haven't found them on the 1920 census.

Back to William Saxton (grandfather of John A.) ...............
William's son Oliver was a soldier in the civil war Co. E 27th Pa. Infantry.  He filed for an invalid pension and the next time I can get to Washington DC. I'll look it up.  There is a civil war record for an Alfred Saxton who fought for NY, but was from Pa.  (40th NY Infantry.) This Alfred Saxton also filed for an invalid pension. Due to the fact that John A. Saxton was born in NY in 1866 and that this is the only connection to NY I can find for the family, I have a sneaking suspicion that this may be William's son/John A.'s father.  When I get a look at the pension file I'll know. 

More on Oliver............I found a record on Ancestry.com for Oliver being treated at a US National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers in Dayton, Ohio.  The record lists Oliver Saxton born in Philadelphia, occupation Hatter, 31 yrs. old,  injury - gun shot wound of right thigh, injury received May 15, 1864, Reseca, Ga.  Oliver was in the home from June 22, 1874 through Aug 16, 1875.

There is an article posted online at http://www.delcohistory.org/ashmead/ashmead_pg285.htm
that tells of the death of Oliver Saxton.  The article is included in the book on Delaware County, Pa. History - Tinicum History.)

William's daughter Annie E. Saxton married Benjamin Williams.  Daughter Mary/May Saxton married a Mr. Haines.  Harriet died shortly after her father.  I don't have an exact date.

John A. Saton Family

1910 census Philadelphia
John Saxton 44 yrs born Brooklyn parents born Pa. Does odd jobs, rents home
Mary wife 37 yrs born Phila.
Mary daughter 3 yrs born Phila
Anna daughter 2 yrs. born Phila
John son 1 month born Phila.

1920 census Camden Garfield Ave.
John A. Saxton, owns home, 53 yrs, born NY, occupation laborer
Mary J. wife 47 yrs. arrived in this country 1889 was a naturalized citizen, born in Ireland
Mary A. daughter 13 yrs.
Annie daughter 11 yrs.
Francis son 7 yrs.

1930 census Camden
John Saxton  owns home, value of property $8,000.00, 64 yrs. old age 39yrs old at marriage, born NY parents b. Pa, occupation porter at a bank
Mary wife 57 yrs, 32yrs old at marriage born Ireland, parents born Ireland, Naturalized citizen
Mary daughter 23 yrs works for a department store
Anna daughter 21 yrs cashier at a restuarant
Frances  son 17 yrs Clerk at a garage
Patrick Kane boarder 20 yrs Helper at a garage

There will be more to follow on the Saxtons in my next posts.

Connollys and Conleys

Climbing to the top of the Conley family tree in the US takes one to the year 1828 when Bryan Connolly/Barnabas Conley/Bernard Conley (all one in the same) immigrated to the US, by way of New York. A naturalization document held in the Cambria County archives at Ebensburg, Pa. states the following.


October Term 1835.....
Fancis McGrath, a person who knows Bryan Connolly swore in open court that Bryan Connnolly resided in the US for the past five years and in the State of Pennsylvania one year;

"that is to say he the said Bryan Connolly resided the whole time in Pennsylvania which place is within the constitution of the United States and that during his residence within the United States he has behaved as a man of good moral character; attached to the constitution of the United States and well disposed to the good order and has findings of the same. Francis McGrath has sworn and subscribed in open court this 6th October 1835."

Bryan appeared in court July 3, 1832 to petition the court for naturalization. The following is from the naturalization document. "The petition of Bryan Connolly honorably showeth your petitioner was a natural of Ireland and heretofor and a subject to the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britian and Ireland and he arrived at New York in the state of New York in October 1828."

Bryan Connolly, born about 1807, was married twice, his first wife was Bridget Green (birthdate unknown.) It is unknown as to the nationality of Bridget or where she was born. I am assuming that with a name like Bridget Green, she was Irish. Bridget and Bryan were married at St. Patrick's Church in Newry, Cambria Co., Pa. on May 21, 1830 (as per Rev. Ledoux Books)

Bridget and Bryan Connolly had children: John b. abt 1830, Thomas b. abt. 1832, Christopher b. abt. 1834, James b. abt 1836, Bernard b. abt. 1838, Elizabeth b. abt 1841, and Mary b. abt 1843. It is assumed that Bridget died prior to Jan 1844 due to the marriage date of Bryan and his second wife.

Bryan's second wife was Catherine Reilly (born about 1810-1815) in Ireland. I have no information as to when she came to the US. The couple had children: Mariam b. 17 Feb 1845, Bridget b. 30 Mar 1846, Catherine b. 05 Nov 1847, Patrick b. 01 May 1850, Ann b. 1851, Margaret b. 08 Oct 1853, Matthew b. Abt. 29 May 1855, Michael G.b. 1857(my direct ancestor), Francis b. abt 1859

That makes a total of 16 Conley children (his estate papers list 14-see below)!

On the 1850 Summerhill Twp. census Bryan's name is written as Barnabas Conly, he is listed as 46 yrs old and a blacksmith, Catherine as 40 yrs. old. Children listed include: John, Christopher, James, Bernard, Thomas, Elizabeth, and Mary

On the 1860 Summerhill Twp. census Bryan Connolly's name is recorded as Bernard Comelia (not uncommon for names to be butchered by the census takers.) In 1870

Bryan/Barnabas/Bernard passed away 14 Sep 1864, so it's obvious he no longer appears on the census records.

From his estate paper held at the Cambria County Archives in Ebensburg, Pa.:

"The petition of Catherine Connelly, widow and execution of the last will and testament of Bernard Connelly late of Summerhill Township in the said county deceased. Humbly ____ that the said Bernard Connelly died on or about the 17th day of September A.D. 1864 leaving a widow and 14 children to wit. Bernard, Thomas, Patrick, Mathew, Michael, Francis, William, John , James, Mary, Elizabeth, Bridget, Catherine, and Margaret. That there was no personal estate of the said deceased wherewith to satisfy his debts and that there are debts against the estate of the said decendant whereby it is necessary that his real estate or part thereof be sold to satisfy the same, as by the statement herewith produced appears."

Bernard owned land consisting of 121 acres and 133 perches. The document was date 1 March 1866.

The discrepencies in the number of children and their names could be due to deaths of children prior to the writing of the will or that nicknames were used or that I can find no record in the Rev Ledoux books (Catholic Vital Records of Central Pennsylvania) of these children being born.

Bernard and Catherine's some Michael G. Conley, born 1857 is my direct ancestor. I don't have much information on him at this time. His obituary from the Johnstown Tribune Dec 12, 1923 reads:

"Wilmore, Dec. 12 -Funeral services for Michael G. Conley whose death occurred at his residence here yesterday aftenoon, willbe conducted at St. Bartholomew's Catholic Church at 9:30 o'clock Friday morning. Mr. Conley was 67 years of age and the sone of the late Bernard and Catherine Conley he is survived by his widow Mrs. Rebecca Conley and the following children: Andrew Conley, Altoona; Thomas and Leo Conley, both at home; Bernard Conley, this place, Michael Conley, Portage; Charles Conley, Blairsville, and Rose (wife of Chist Boast,) Lilly."

Michael G. Conley (b. Aug. 1857 d. Dec 11, 1923) married Rebecca Barbara Burnheimer b. Nov 4, 1887(daughter of Peter and Rebecca Burnheimer.) They had children: Bernard, Andrew, Thomas, Leo, Michael, Charles, and Rose. Their son Bernard Augustus Conley is my direct descendant.

Bernard A. Conley (b. Aug. 30, 1889 d. Nov 5, 1957) married Esther Susan Bendon (b. Oct 31, 1893 d. Aug 3, 1934). The couple had children: Emily, Merle, Margaret, Kenneth, William, Mae, and Lawrence.

Obituary for Bernard Conley from the Johnstown Tribune, Nov. 6, 1957 reads:

"Conley, Bernard A. 68 of 919 Conmaugh Ave., Portage, died November 5th, 1957 at home. Born August 30th 1889 in Wilmore. Son of Michael and Rebecca (Burnheimer) Conley. Preceeded in death by wife former Esther Benden. Survived by these children: Mrs. Margaret Kordish, Portage; Kenneth and Merle both of Lilly; William, Mrs. Mae Ratosky, and Mrs. Emily Davenport, all of Barberton, Ohio, and Lawrence, Johnstown; 22 grandchildren, and one great grandchild. Brother of Mrs. Rose Boast, Lilly; Charles, Cleveland, Ohio; Michael, South Fork, and Thomas, Wilmore. Last employed by PRR. Friend received after 10:00AM Wednesday in Beck Funeral Home, Portage. Requim mass at 9:30AM Friday in St. Jospeh's Catholic Church, Portage. Interment St. Bartholomew's Cemetery,
Wilmore."

Daughter of Bernard and Ester Susan Conley, Margaret Conley was my Grandmother. Margaret (b. Aug. 22, 1914 d. Feb 18, 1987) married Joseph Kordish (b. Dec. 25, 1911 d. Oct 16, 1989) son of Andrew Kordys/Kordish and Mary Kaszics. Their children are: Joseph, Donald, Judy, and Ronald Kordish.

For more than you'd ever want to know about the family you can look at the family tree on line at http://www.rootsweb.com/. On rootsweb, go to the familytree tab then search for Andrew Kordys and my tree (kingcarsontree) will be the only one that comes up. You can then look at all of my postings.

Previous postings about this family line can also be found under the posting I uploaded in March titled "Cleaning Up the Elders." It begins with the Elder family and how they connect to the Conleys.

Enjoy and please leave a comment,

Smiles!