Colorado Hartford Family

Welcome to the Colorado Hartford Family

My grandmother's name was Anna Catherine Hartford.  She died 3 July 2002 at the tender age of 97, and it wasn't until then that I started to research her family and learn a bit about the history of many of the branches.  Her father's family originated in Dublin, Ireland, immigrated to Canada in the late 1820's and eventually came to Saint Lawrence County in New York during the 1850's. It appears that my part of the family ended up in Colorado sometime in the late 1800s.  What I've learned about the family so far is very interesting. 

Dennis Hartford (1822-1908)

As far as I can tell, Dennis was the first of the three brothers to move the the United States.  I first found him in the 1850 census  in the town of Moira, Franklin County, New York.  Here he's listed as 26 years old and works as a "Clerke."  This census also says he was born in Canada, but we know that is wrong.   I haven't been able to find Dennis in the 1860 census.

Death Certificate for Dennis Hartford.

1850 census page for Dennis Hartford.

Military records for Dennis Hartford. (22 page pdf)  This includes an interesting letter from Dennis to the Secretary of War requesting release from the Army because his wife died and he needed to take care of his children.  He was given a 40 day furlogh to get his kids settled, but went back to his unit until the 1864.

Civil War pension records for Dennis Hartford. (16 page pdf)  These pension documents record Dennis' attempt to get a pension for liver and kidney disease, rheumatism, palsy, and heart trouble.  His service was from 1861-1864 and he applied for the pension in 1890.    He was given $12 dollars a month in 1890 and was increased to $20 in 1907 about a year before he died.

1870 census page for Dennis Hartford.

1890 census page for Dennis Hartford.

1890 veterans census for Dennis Hartford.

Transcription of 1890 St Lawrence County veterans census.

Death Register of St. Mary's Parish in Potsdam NY, 1875-1915

Thomas Hartford (1826-1911)

Thomas Hartford was my great-great grandfather.  He immigrated from Dublin Ireland around 1832 to Canada with his parents and two brothers.  He was the last of the three brothers to move to the US.   I can find him in the 1851 Canadian census, but he doesn't show up again until the 1870 US census.  Thomas married Isabel Rafferty sometime around 1845 in Canada.  His first four sons (James, Peter, Richard, and Dennis) were born in Canada - the last in 1858.  His last two sons (Daniel and John Thomas) were born in New York in 1862 and 1868 Respectively.  The 1920 census shows Dennis (the youngest son born in Canada) immigrated to the US in 1862.  Below are documents I've collected relating to Thomas:

1851 Canadian census (look at lines 43-46).
1870 US Census page 1 (look at lines 37-40).
1870 US Census page 2 (look at lines 1-4).
1880 US Census (look at lines 44-47).
1900 US Census (look at lines 8-9)
Death Certificate for Isabel Rafferty Hartford (Wife of Thomas)
1910 US Census (look at line 45. Thomas is living with his oldest son James)
Death Certificate for Thomas Hartford.