Ducies identified

Got a big package from the Wayne Country Microfilm Department on Saturday: a photocopy of Patrick Ducie's probate packet. He left a chunk of land with two houses on it. Not so bad for a bloke who was mining coal until he emigrated just fifteen years earlier!

The probate papers give the exact location of his land, names his dower as Mary Ducy, and, most importantly, gives the names of all his children. They are all listed by their married names in Mary's obituary, but here they are listed by their own names.

Mary Schonberger is named as some sort of direct participant (perhaps her and her husband John lived in the other house). Then there is a copy of a newspaper clipping in which the estate administrators advertise for the other three children whose location is unknown: John Ducy, Margaret Cummock (see post from 6 Aug) and Lizzie Shadwick.

I had found a John and Mary Schonburger in Montana in the 1900 census, where the obituary placed her. The census says her children were born in Ohio, so I'm almost positive this is John's sister. She is older than John, born in 1842. She isn't listed on the England 1861 census with the rest of the family, presumably because she was married to her German-born husband in about 1858. Did she marry him in England and they emigrated with the rest of the family, or did she go to America first and the rest of the family followed her? This I will have to figure out.

I'm still looking for Lizzie Shadwick. The obituary for Mary Ducy said she was Mrs Charles Chadwick of San Fransisco. There is a Charles and Elizabeth Chadwick in San Fransisco on the 1880 census. This Elizabeth was born in Ireland and her husband in England. So nothing conclusive yet.

I have a really good feeling about their sister Margaret, so I am determined to have the work done for this entire family!