SUCCESS! Slattery - Leehive Hypotheses Proved

I am on my way out the door to the Utah Genealogical Association's membership banquet with Mark Lowe as guest speaker, but I had to share a success this afternoon at the Family History Library here in Salt Lake City.

For several years now I suspected that both of my 2nd great-grandparents on my father's side - Martin Slattery and Margaret Leehive - died prior to 1900. The evidence which I had gathered as part of my proof:

• The Slattery family is seen in the 1880 US Federal Census in Rosendale, Ulster County, New York although most of the children were not yet born.

• Martin and Margaret could not be located in the 1900 US Federal Census; however, their children with the surname Slattery were living with a Dennis Leehive, assumed to be Margaret's brother.

• A 1903 newspaper account from Kingston, New York mentions Dennis Leehive as guardian of the Slattery children but no real details.

So one of my first projects at FHL was to find either Probate or Guardian records for the Slattery Children.  The Guardian Records 1823-1920 for Ulster County have an index on one of the microfilm reels. In Section 4, I found the following information:

Margaret Slattery appointed guardian 8 April 1895 for:
James Slattery - 3 yrs
John Slattery - 6 yrs
Julia Slattery - 8 mos
Martin Slattery - 4 yrs
Mary Slattery - 10 yrs
Thomas Slattery - 7 yrs

And then Margaret died and Dennis Leehive appointed guardian in her place 17 October 1898.

Not only does the index show where all the decrees, letters and bonds are filed, but it also shows that Dennis Leehive filed Guardian Reports on the following dates: 29 May 1899, 23 January 1900, 2 January 1901, 17 January 1902, 12 January 1903, 8 January 1904, 20 January 1905, 9 January 1906, 4 January 1907, and 6 January 1909. A release of guardianship was filed 21 Feb 1916.

So guess what records I'll be after tomorrow morning over at FHL?

© 2010, copyright Thomas MacEntee