Irish Immigrant Mathias Cunningham

Mathias Cunningham was born about 1818 in County Waterford, Ireland. The exact location of his birth and his parents are currently unknown. Mathias married his wife Margaret Litchfield in Ireland. Margaret was born about 1818 in County Waterford, Ireland. The exact location of her birth and her parents are also currently unknown.

The couple had six children who were also born in Ireland:

1. Ellen M. Cunningham. b. 24 Aug 1847 m. to Michael O'Neill d. 6 Jan 1924
2. Margaret Cunningham b. abt 1848 m. Patrick Andrew O'Neill
3. Mary Cunningham b. abt 1850
4. James Cunningham b. between 1853-1855 d. 14 Nov 1924
5. Catherine Cunningham b. between 1856-1857
6. Bridget Cunningham b. 1859

Research completed by others also indicates that the couple may have had another child born prior 1847.

Ellen M. Cunningham and Margaret Cunningham married two O'Neill brothers who were also Irish immigrants.  Ellen married Michael O'Neill on 20 April 1871. Margaret married Patrick Andrew O'Neill about 1875. Michael and Patrick are the sons of Thomas O'Neill Jr and Bridget Conboy. The O'Neill lineage was extensively researched by two descendants - George K. and Patrick G. O'Neill. The cousins published their research findings in a book "O'Neill Descendants of Con & Katherine 1700-2000".

Arrival to Pennsylvania

The application for citizenship indicates that Mathias Cunningham departed Ireland in 1869 and arrived in the United States of America June of 1869.

Mathias Cunningham settled in Clarion County, Pennsylvania after his arrival. On 8 June 1870 he was enumerated with his family in the 1870 United States Federal Census. The family was recorded at Dwelling No. 110. Family No. 112. The members of household include:

• M. Cunningham, male age 52
• Margaret Cunningham, female age 52
• Ellen Cunningham, female age 23
• Mary Cunningham, female age 19
• James Cunningham, male age 15
• Catherine Cunningham, female age 13
• Bridget Cunningham, female age 11

The occupation for M. Cunningham is recorded as a Laborer. The occupation for Margaret Cunningham is recorded as a housekeeper. The personal estate of M. Cunningham was $10. All members of the household were born in Ireland. Mary, James, Catherine and Bridget Cunningham were attending school. The census also indicates that M. Cunningham was denied from voting.

The box for denied voting was checked because Mathias was not a United States Citizen when the Census was recorded.

Naturalization

On 1 September 1871 Mathias Cunningham became a Naturalized Citizen at the Clarion County Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas. The oath from his citizenship application reads:

Let it be Remembered, That on the 4th day of September in the year of our Lord on thousand eight hundred and seventy one personally appeared Mattias Cunningham  before me, the Prothonotary of the Court of Common Pleas, for the County of Clarion, who upon his solemn oath did depose and say, that he is a native of Ireland now residing in the County of Clarion, aged fifty three years or thereabouts, and that it is a bona fide his intention to become a Citizen of the United States, and to renounce forever all allegiance and fidelity to any foreign Price, Protentate, State or Sovereignty whatever and particularly to the King of Ireland and Great Britain of whom he is now a subject. 

Sworn and acknowledged this 4th day of September 1871

His Mark + Mathies Cunningham

The mark that Mathias placed on the page which was used in place of his signature. This very likely indicated that Mathias never learned to write and could not sign his name.

Application for Citizenship - Mathias Cunningham

A time of change

A decade after arrival Mathias' life changed considerably. His children grew and married. He also lost his wife Margaret. There is no record of Margaret in the 1880 United States Federal Census. The date of her death is currently unknown and would have occurred after 8 June 1870. 

In 1880 Mathias Cunningham was living with his daughter Ellen Cunningham and her husband Michael O'Neill and their numerous children. The family was enumerated in the 1880 United States Federal Census on 16 June 1880 in Clarion, Clarion County, Pennsylvania. Mathias is recorded as 70 years old in the census. This defers from the other references to his birth however it is not uncommon for immigrants of this time period to have a range of dates associated with their birth.

At this time the death date and burial location for Mathias Cunningham is unknown. Mathias was not recorded in the 1900 United States Federal Census. Unfortunately the 1890 United States Federal Census Fragment does not include any records from Pennsylvania.

Additional References to Mathias Cunningham

The death certificate for Ellen M. O'Neill records she born in Waterford, Ireland. Her parents are recorded as Mathias Cunningham born Waterford, Ireland and Martha Litchfield born Waterford, Ireland. The informant on the death certificate was her daughter Eleanor Monica O'Neill [Mrs. E. M. Mullen].

The death certificate for James Cunningham records he was born in Ireland. His father is recorded as Matthias Cunningham also born in Ireland. The informant on the death certificate was his niece Eleanor Monica O'Neill [Mrs. E. M. Mullen].

Mathias Cunningham is my 4th Great Grandfather. He is the father of Ellen M. Cunningham my 3rd Great Grandmother. My paternal grandmother Mary Eugenia McDonald is a descendant of Ellen M. Cunningham and Mathias Cunningham. 

References:

1. George K. and Patrick G. O'Neill, O'Neill Descendants of Con & Katherine 1700-2000 (, April 15, 2008),
2. 1870 United States Federal Census. Year: 1870; Census Place: Clarion, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1326; Page: 408A; Family History Library Film: 552825. Record for M. Cunningham lines 22-28.
3. Pennsylvania, Clarion County, Court of Common Pleas. Application for Citizenship - Matthias Cunningham.
4. 1880 United States Federal Census. Year: 1880; Census Place: Clarion, Clarion, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1117; Page: 78C; Enumeration District: 065. Record for Michael O'Neill.
5. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964. Record for Ellen M. O'Neill [Ellen M Cunningham]. Certificate number 8274.
6. Pennsylvania, Death Certificates, 1906-1964. Record for Jas Cunningham. Certificate number 110917.

Guth Research Update: Anton Guth & Theresia Rösch Family

This is the third post in The Guth Research Update Series. The series will be focused on the ancestors of two German born brothers – Francis Xavier and Leopold Guth who settled in Clarion County, Pennsylvania in the mid 1800's. Over the last two years the family has been extensively researched with the assistance of Ute Brandenburg the owner of German Script Experts. I am thrilled to finally share the validation of the original research completed by Jr. Janet Staab many years ago. The Guth Research Update Series will also feature previously unknown Guth family members.

Other Posts in the Series:
Guth Research Update: F.X. & Leopold Guth
Guth Research Update: Anton Guth & Theresia Rösch

The second post in the series featured the marriage record for Anton Guth and Theresia Rösch.

The third post in the series is focused on the the children born to Anton Guth and Theresia Rösch.

Sr. Janet's Original Research

Sr. Janet’s research included two generations of ancestors for Francis Xavier Guth and Leopold Guth as shown in the copy of the original hand typed chart below. 

Original Hand Typed Record for Anton Guth & Theresia Rosch Family Group 
Copy obtained from Sr. Janet Staab

Sr. Janet’s well-kept records included names, dates and locations. Some of the her records did list sources. Unfortunately not all the records shared with me listed the original sources used to complete the research. It also was not clear if Sr. Janet did all of the original research or if some of the research was completed by others.

Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Records: Births Recorded

The Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Register was used to validate Sr. Janet’s original research. The original family records from Sr. Janet indicated the Francis Xavier Guth and Leopold Guth were born in Untersimonswald. Various other sources also pointed to Untersimonswald. Leopold Guth was married in a Catholic Church and his children were also baptized Catholic.

The children born to Anton Guth and Theresia Rösch that were listed in the Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Register:

1. Genofeva Guth, daughter, b. 6 December 1923 baptized 7 December 1823 
2. Francis Xavier Guth, son, b. 30 October 1825 baptized  30 October 1825 
3. Maria Guth, daughter, b. 6 September 1827 baptized 6 September 1827 
4. Leopold Guth, son, b. 14 November 1830 baptized 14 November 1830 
5. Anna Maria Guth, daughter, b. 26 May 1833 baptized 26 May 1833 
6. Anton Guth, son, b. 2 June 1835 baptized 2 June 1835 
7. Constantina Guth, daughter, b. 7 February 1837 baptized 8 February 1837 
8. Daniel Guth, son, b. 20 July 1839 baptized 20 July 1839 
9. Theresia Guth, daughter, b. 18 December 1840 baptized 18 December 1840 
10. Theresia Guth, daughter, b. 26 March 1843 baptized 27 March 1943 

The children were all born in the German territory known as the Grand Duchy of Baden. Genofeva  was born in Simonswald. Francis Xavier, Maria and Leopold were born in Untersimonswald. The remaining children were born in Neusimonswald. Untersimonwald and Simmonswald are neighboring towns that are very close to together. The towns are approximately 1.7 miles apart. Residents could easily have walked between the two.

Untersimmonsald and Simmonswald, Germany

Today the area formerly known as the Grand Duchy of Baden would be associated with the German State of Baden-Württemberg which was established after World War II.

Map of Confederation of the Rhine 1812

Untersimonswald would be approximately where the "o" is in Großherzogtun Baden

Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Records: Deaths Recorded

Life in the mid 1830's was very different - death was very much a part of life. Many families lost young children to disease or infections. It would be almost another 100 years until the discovery of Penicillin. Sadly Anton Guth & Theresia Rösch lost five children at very young ages. Tragically lost two children, Anton and Constantina, died within a few days of each other. The death records for the children were included in the Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Register:

1. Maria Guth, daughter, d. 9 January 1831 at 5 o’clock in the morning, 3 years old 
2. Anton Guth, son, d. 20 April 1838 at 9 o’clock in the morning, 2 years old
3. Constantina Guth, daughter, d. 24 April 1838 at 9 o’clock in the morning, 14 months old 
4. Theresia Guth, daughter, d. 27 December 1840 at 4 o’clock in the morning, 9 days old
5. Theresia Guth, daughter, d. 13 September 1846 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon, 3 years old

The death of Maria is recorded in Untersimonwald. The deaths of the other children are recorded in Neusimonswald.

The burials for the children were also included in the  Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Register:

1. Maria Guth, daughter, burial 11 January 1831 at 8 o’clock in the morning
2. Anton Guth, son, burial 22 April 1838
3. Constantina Guth, daughter, burial 26 April 1838 at 7:30 in the morning
4. Theresia Guth, daughter, burial 29 December 1840 at 8 o’clock in the morning
5. Theresia Guth, daughter, burial 15 September 1846 at 6:30 in the morning

The burial of Maria is recorded in Untersimonwald. The burials for the other children are recorded in Neusimonswald.

Validation of the Children of Anton Guth & Theresia Rösch 

The Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Register validate the nine children originally included in Sr. Janet’s records. The birth dates incorproated in Sr. Janet's records were also correct.

Observations

The Parish records use the German spelling of Rösch with the umlaut mark.

The Parish records also included a few additional discoveries.

• The first discovery was the death record for Maria Guth. 
• The second was the Parish records included the birth and death record for another daughter Constantina Guth. The original records from Sr. Janet did not list Constantina Guth.

Birth Record for Constantina Guth in the original German:

Im Jahr tausend achthundert dreissig u sieben den siebenten Febr nachts acht Uhr wurde zu Neusimonswald geboren u heute den achten Nachmittag halb drei Uhr in der Pfarrkirche von Gefestigten getauft Constantina ehel Tochter des Anton Guth Uhrenmacher u der Theresia Rösch. Zeugen sind Hr. Joseph Rösch Bauer v. Haslach, Lehrer Beck u. Maria Anna Brugger, Krämerin.
P. Dallmann Pfarrer

Birth Record for Constantina Guth translated to English:

Born in Neusimonswald on 7 February 1837 at 8 o’clock at night, and baptized today, the eighth, at 2:30 in the afternoon, by this officiant at the parish church: Constantina, legitimate daughter of the clock maker Anton Guth and Theresia Rösch.
Witnesses were Mr. Joseph Rösch, farmer from Haslach, teacher Beck, and Maria Anna Brugger, shop keeper.
P. Dallmann, Pastor
Untersimonswald Parish Register Duplicate
[Translated by Ute Brandenburg, Iowa City, IA at germanscriptexperts.com] 

Death Record for Constantina Guth in the original German:

Im Jahr tausend achthundert dreissig u. acht den vier u zwanzigsten April Morgen neun Uhr starb zu Neusimonswald Konstantina eheliches Kind des Uhrenmachers Anton Gut u der Theres Rösch u wurde 1 Jahr 2 Monat alt den sechs u zwanzigsten d. M. Morgen half acht Uhr begraben.
Zeugen sind Todtenbeschauer Eichenhofer u Lehrer Beck.
GroshBdsch Pfarramt
Dallmann Pfarrer

Death Record for Constantina Guth translated to English:

Konstantina, legitimate child of the clock maker Anton Gut and Theres Rösch, age one year and two months, died in Neusimonswald on 24 April 1838 at 9 o’clock in the morning, and was buried on the 26th of the same month at 7:30 in the morning.
Witnesses: coroner Eichenhofer and teacher Beck
Parish office of the Grand Duchy of Baden
Pastor Dallmann
Untersimonswald Parish Register Duplicate
[Translated by Ute Brandenburg, Iowa City, IA at germanscriptexperts.com] 

Corrections & Additions 

Using the data from the Untersimonswald Catholic Parish Register the following corrections & additions were incorporated into my records:

• Birth dates and notes were recorded and/or corrected to align with the Parish Register. 
• Baptism dates were and notes were incorporated into the register. 
• Death dates and notes were recorded and/or corrected to align with the Parish Register.
• Burial dates and notes were recorded.
• The death record for Maria Guth was incporated. 
• The birth and death records for Constantina Guth were included.  Constantina Guth was missing from the records. 

This concludes the third Guth Research Update post.

Leopold Guth is my 3rd great-grandfather. Francis Xavier Guth is my 4th Great Uncle. Anton Guth and Theresia Rösch are my 4th great grandparents. Anton Guth and Katherina Wangler are my 5th great grandparents. Johannes Rösch and Katherina Wintermantel are my 5th great grandparents. My connection to the Guth line extends through Leopold’s daughter Frances Philomena Guth, her daughter Frances Philomena Selker, to my paternal grandmother Mary Eugenia McDonald.

References:

1. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5581, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1810-1825. 1823 - Baptism Record - Guth, Genovefa
2. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5581, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1810-1825. 1825 - Baptism Record - Guth, Franz Xaver
3. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1827 - Baptism Record - Guth, Maria
4. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1830 - Baptism Record - Gut, Leopold
5. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1833 - Baptism Record - Gut, Anna Maria
6. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1835 - Baptism Record - Guth, Anton
7. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1837 - Baptism Record - Guth, Constantina
8. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1839 - Baptism Record - Guth, Daniel
9. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1840 - Baptism Record - Gut, Theres
10. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1843 - Baptism Record - Guth, Theresia
11. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1831 - Death Record - Gut, Maria
12. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1838 - Death Record - Gut, Anton
13. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1838 - Death Record - Gut, Konstantina
14. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1840 - Death Record - Guth, Theres
15. Staatsarchiv Freiburg L 10 Nr. 5582, Untersimonswald, Simonswald EM; Katholische Gemeinde: Pfarrei St. Peter, Standesbuch 1826-1844. 1846 - Death Record - Gut, Theres
16. Map of the Confederation of the Rhine: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rheinbund_1812,_political_map.png