I am looking for records for part of our family in which the couple were
married after 1850, had two children, and then apparently, the husband died
by 1855, when the widow remarried and moved to Valparaiso, Porter County
(not sure which order, either!). Since census records don't help in this
case, and it would be too early for death certificates, I'm trying to find
some other means of verifying info.
I'm looking for the family of Samuel SWANTON and Mary Ann SULLIVAN. Their
first child, Sarah E., was b Jan 19, 1853 in Michigan City. Their second
child, Ellen, was b Dec. 19, 1854, although I don't know the location. Mary
Ann's second marriage was in 1855 to Edward X. RYAN, and they lived in
Porter Co. by the 1870 census. I can't seem to find anyone from this family
in the 1860 census.
Since their descendants were Catholics, I need to know which parish in
Michigan City would be most likely to have baptismal and marriage records at
that time. If anyone can help me w that, or have any other advice about
local records that might help me sort this out (I'd like to know Samuel
Swanton's parents' names, and also when he died and where he was buried),
I'd really appreciate the help.
Jacqi