John Francis Boland (1887 - 1953)

Born 29 Mar 1887 in Flatbush, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America

Ancestors

Son of Thomas Francis Boland and Anna Mary (Pierce) Boland

Husband of Elizabeth (Ahearn) Boland — married 5 Jul 1924 in Kings County, New York, United States of America

Descendants

Died 1953 at about age 65 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, United States of America

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Allison Mackler [send private message]

Biography

John Francis Boland was born on 29 March 1887 to Thomas Boland and Annie Pierce in Flatbush, New York. At the time of his birth, his parents were living at 593 East 3rd Avenue.^[1][2] John was the grandson of one of the last dairy farmers in Flatbush.

By 1892, John's parents had moved to Windsor Terrace, a small, rural village on the outskirts of Flatbush. Their home was at 44 East 2nd Street.^[3] John was five years old and had a three year old sister, Mamie, who died later that year.^[4] By 1900, they had moved to 530 18th Street, which was still in Windsor Terrace.^[5][6]

John married Charlotte Peterson around 1910 and they had four children.

In 1915, John was living with his wife and children, but in 1917, according to his WWI draft record, he was living separately at 1346 Prospect Ave. In the 1920 US Census, Charlotte and their children are living with Charlotte's parents. Both of them report that they are married in the 1920 US Census. But it appears that John and Charlotte were separated and no longer living together by 1917.

In 1917, John was living at 1346 Prospect Ave., which was within a block of his parents, at 114 Greenwood Ave., and two blocks from Charlotte's parents, 114 Ocean Parkway, where Charlotte was living. Nearby was Emma Vordermeier and her husband, Harold Pitman, at 255 E 4th St.

The relationship between John and Emma is unknown, however DNA has confirmed that the daughter of Emma Vordermeier, Marjorie Pitman, born on 14 October 1921, is the daughter of John. Thus the half sister of the children of John and Charlotte. Marjorie was raised as the daughter of Emma's husband, Harold Pitman.

John's wife, Charlotte, remained living with her parents the rest of her life. She died on 17 May 1922. Her obituary does not mention John. Less than a year later, John and Charlotte's daughter, Lillian, died from influenza on 26 February 1923.

On the one year anniversary of Charlotte's death, in 1923, John posted an In Memoriam, in the newspaper, in honor of Charlotte.

According to one of Charlotte's grandchildren, all of John and Charlotte's children were adopted by Charlotte's parents and their surnames were changed from Boland to Peterson.

John lived until 1953. He is buried in the same plot at Holy Cross Cemetery as his mother and siblings.

Census Records

• 1892 New York State Census^[3]
  • John Boland, M(ale), age 5, born in US, citizen
• 1900 US Census^[5]
  • John Boland, son, W(hite), M(ale), born March 1877, age 13, s(ingle), born in New York, father born in Ireland, mother born in New York, Occupation: at school, can read/write/speak English

Sources

1. ↑ "New York, New York City Births, 1846-1909," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : 11 February 2018), Bolend, 29 Mar 1887; citing Manhattan, New York, New York, United States, reference cn 3090 New York Municipal Archives, New York; citing FHL microfilm 1,324,393.
2. ↑ Paternal and maternal relationships are confirmed by a 23andMe test match between Dave Mackler and his maternal first cousin once removed, JJA. Their most-recent common ancestors are Thomas Boland and Annie Pierce, the great-grandparents of Dave and grandparents of JJA. Predicted relationship from 23andMe: First to Second Cousin, based on sharing 465 cM across 18 segments.
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} "New York State Census, 1892," database with images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org: 18 August 2019), John Boland, 1892; citing Flatbush, E.D. 08, county offices, New York; citing FHL microfilm 1,930,244; Enumerated 16 February 1892.
4. ↑ "New York Deaths and Burials, 1795-1952", database, FamilySearch, 2020 (http://familysearch.org : 23 July 2020), Mary Agnes Boland, 1892.
5. ↑ ^{5.0 5.1} "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : accessed 12 August 2020), John Bolane in household of Thomas Bolane, Borough of Brooklyn, Election District 27 New York City Ward 22, Kings, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 377, sheet 6B, family 432, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); citing FHL microfilm 1,241,060; Enumerated 1 June 1900.
6. ↑ The South West side of 18th Street is now the Prospect Expressway which was built between 1953 and 1962. 530 18th Street no longer exists. ~ Allison Mackler, 12 August 2020