Where was Mary McKenzie Nolan born?
I guess she was just Mary McKenzie then. She married John Nolan much later but I don’t know when or where. I imagine it was New York City or near there and occurred sometime after 1900 but before her death in 1923.
Why do I think Mary McKenzie became Mary Nolan then? And why am I unsure of where she was born?
I saw her in the 1900 census with the McKenzie family. The census spelled McKenzie wrong but I eventually found it. The father was listed as Michael McKensey but his name was really Malcolm McKenzie. Her mother Emma (or Emily) and the other children were there so I was sure it was a match.
The census record also indicated she was born in July of 1886 in New York. This matched the birth year on her gravestone. The first name looks like Maurie but could be Marie. The handwriting is not clear.
The next record I have is her death certificate. It indicates she was a lifelong New York City resident. But the place of birth only says USA. It also give her parents’ names to I am sure it is the right certificate. Her residence at the time of death was 543 Brook Ave, Bronx, NY. Her name is given as May Nolan. Her husband is John Nolan.
I have not found a marriage record yet or any indication of children.
So I have 2 records pointing to a birth in New York but they are not convincing. Why does this bother me?
The pattern
The pattern of places bothers me. Mary McKenzie (later Mary McKenzie Nolan) was the oldest child. I have pretty good evidence that the second was born in Boston, MA. The third and subsequent children were all born in New York City or across the river in north New Jersey.
It looks likely now that Malcolm was born in Nova Scotia (although records disagree). If Mary was born in NYC, this would mean he moved from New York (where Mary was born) to Boston (for #2 child) and back (for the rest of them) in a few years. Certainly possible but it would be simpler in Mary was born in Boston or Nova Scotia.
I know little about Mary McKenzie Nolan but this small thing bothers me.
Is Emma a mother or step-mother
Another thing that may be of interest is that Malcolm and Emma are listed as being born in New York in the 1900 census. All of the children except Mary are listed as having a mother born in New York. Mary’s mother was born in Ireland. I’ve found these place listings in census records are sometimes unreliable but this does open up the possibility that Emma is Malcolm’s second wife and Mary McKenzie Nolan is a child of the first marriage.
Since Malcolm is listed as being born in New York and so is Mary, and Malcolm was probably born in Nova Scotia, is is possible that that Mary was actually born in Nova Scotia or maybe in Boston? (since I know the second child was born in Boston)
Comments please
If anyone has anything on her I’d love to hear more. I don’t know if she had children. I know nothing about her husband John Nolan. I have my doubts about where she was born. I do know where she died and was buried but would like to know more.