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FAMILY
HISTORY
Genealogical
information for descendents of
MICHAEL STANLEY and MARY ANN McGUIRE
Michael Stanley was
born in Ireland, according to his Civil War Records obtained from the
National Archives in Washington, DC. We do not have his date of birth,
but on the reverse side of his enlistment paper, it is indicated that he
was exactly twenty-one at time of enlistment. Because of this, on
Michael Stanley's Family Group Record, his birth date is listed as circa
1843, approximately 1843.
Michael had an older
brother, Thomas. On the 1860 census, which is the oldest record on
Thomas, he is recorded as 26 years old and born in Ireland. The 1880
census records Thomas as 45 years old and again, born in Ireland. In
addition, the 1880 census tells us that his father was born in Ireland,
and that his mother was also born in Ireland. Therefore, Michael and
Thomas were both born in Ireland of parents born in Ireland. From these
census records, it would seem that Thomas was born in 1834 or 1835 so he
would have been 8 or 9 years older than Michael.
The oldest record
that has been found on Michael is a copy of his marriage record. On May
27, 1859, Michael Stanley and Mary Ann McGuire were married at St.
Aloysius Church, Summit, Cambria County, Pennsylvania. The church in
which they were married no longer exists, however, a second St. Aloysius
Church now stands at the same site, adjacent to the old cemetery.
Thomas Stanley was
the first-born child to Michael and Mary Ann on June 25, 1860. Their
second child, Bridget Jane, was born on July 8, 1862.
In order to prevent
confusion, it should be noted that Michael named his son Thomas, while
his brother Thomas named his first son Michael.
In one document, it
is stated that Mary Ann died "some time in 1863."
A brief marriage, apparently a little over four years. After the
death of Mary Ann, it is not known what arrangements were made for the
care of the children. It may be that they were living with their uncle,
John McGuire, before the death of Mary Ann. In any event, on the ninth
of February 1864, Michael enlisted in the Army of the United States of
America. He enlisted at Hemlock, Pennsylvania, a town you will not find
on any map of Pennsylvania today because that was the earlier name for
the town in Cambria County that is now known as Lilly. Michael's
enlistment in the military was the Fifty-fifth Regiment of the
Pennsylvania Volunteers, Company A.
The Fifty-fifth
Regiment was recruited during the summer and autumn of 1861. Company A
was recruited in Cambria County. During the early part of the war, this
regiment was used mainly for guard duty, although they were engaged in
several battles. In January 1864, the majority of the men re-enlisted
for a second term of threes years and were given a furlough. During this
time, new men were recruited, and this is when Michael enlisted. The
regiment returned to duty in South Carolina on the 23rd of
March, engaged in drill and guard duty for three weeks and then embarked
for Gloucester Point, Virginia. On April 12, 1864, the regiment was
assigned to the Third Brigade, Third Division, Tenth Corps, Army of the
James. One month later, May 16, 1864, Michael was wounded in the battle
of Drury's Bluff, south of Richmond, Virginia, was captured and died in
a southern prison in Richmond.
At this time, Thomas,
who had not yet reached his fourth birthday, and Bridget Jane, who had
not yet reached her second birthday, were orphans.
John Porter was a
Second Lieutenant in Company A of the Fifty-fifth. He enlisted on
October 30, 1861, and was discharged on a Surgeon’s Certificate
November 1, 1862, and returned to Tunnelhill, Pennsylvania. He was 42
years old at the time, and it would be reasonable to conclude that this
ex-army officer was held in high esteem by the young men of the area,
and he was probably instrumental in recruiting Michael and others to
join his old regiment. When Michael did not return from the war, John
Porter probably felt some obligation toward Michael’s children. We
have evidence of this since he supported Mary Kennedy in her successful
attempt to become guardian of Bridget Jane.
And, when Thomas was about fifteen years old, he decided to leave
his guardian and uncle, John McGuire, they were living in Altoona at the
time, and went to live with John Porter. This ultimately resulted in my
father being named David Porter Stanley. During his entire life, my
father was known only as Port to all members of his family. This is
mentioned to show that there is no doubt that Thomas and Bridget knew
John Porter during their early life, and, in fact, as long as he lived.
Porter died in 1901.
Nothing further is
known about the early life of Bridget Jane.
Apparently she was raised by Mary Kennedy. Later in life, on St.
Mary’s Church records in Allegheny City, Pennsylvania, her name was
recorded as Johanna Kennedy.
Of Thomas, it is
known that he had excellent handwriting and was an expert swimmer. The
details are not known, but when Thomas was young, perhaps on his trip
from Altoona to Tunnelhill, he saved the life of a child who was
drowning.
There is one other
story that must be told about Thomas. His age at the time is not known.
However, a local tavern owner had a black bear and there was standing
offer to anyone who wanted to wrestle the bear. If you could stay with
the bear for two minutes, you could receive free drinks at the tavern
for one month. This offer must been too much for Thomas, so he
challenged the bear. He not only stayed with the bear for two minutes,
he got a bear hug on the bear and almost killed it.
No attempt was ever
made to try to find marriage records for Thomas and Bridget Jane. Thomas
married Bridget Ratchford. She is listed on the 1880 census with her
family. Their first child was born in December of 1882, so it can be
assumed that were married in the early 1880’s. They lived in the
Tunnehill area until they moved, in 1902, to North Braddock, a suburb of
Pittsburgh. Around 1920, they moved to the North side of Pittsburgh. In
case anyone wonders why the county of birth is not listed for the
children, it is because Tunnelhill straddles the boundary between
Cambria and Blair Counties. The boundary line is Main Street and you
have to know what side of the street the birth occurred in order to know
the county of birth. It is believed that all births occurred in Cambria
County, but there is no verification.
Bridget Jane, who was
known all her life as Jennie or Jen, married Joseph A. Link, who lived
in Allegheny, Pennsylvania with his parents. Allegheny later became the
north side of Pittsburgh. Their first child was born in January of 1881.
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