In the 1880 US Census report for New York City, the family of Patrick Hannigan was enumerated on June 8, 1880 while living on 149th Street. In the enumeration, there were five children listed: Mary (11); Cornelius (9); James (7); Lizzie (5) and Rosanna (3). A sixth child, my great-grandfather, was born that day. The family is listed on lines 16-22 on the census form:
1880 US Census for New York City, Patrick Hannigan’s family listed on line 16-22
In February 1896, Rosanna married Henry Edgar Acker at the North New York City Methodist Episcopal Church on Willis Avenue. At the time of her marriage, Rose was living at 627 E 144th Street, the address in the New York City Directory listed for her mother, Katherine Hannigan.
Despite the claim that this is Henry’s first marriage, other research has proven that Henry had been previously arrested and charged as a bigamist. How this marriage ended is unknown, but a son, William Acker, was born to them in February 1897. A search for William’s birth record is ongoing, but according to a source in New York City, some birth conducted my mid-wives failed to get reported.
Certificate of Marriage for Henry Acker and Rosanna Hannigan, February 9 1896
After the marriage, Rosanna is missing from the search of official records. Extensive research has turned up nothing until the discovery of an obituary for her sister, Mary Ellen Hannigan Haring published in The Trenton Evening Times in 1915. That obituary includes a Mrs. Salem Goodale as a sister, but who is Salem Goodale? And where did they get married and live?
That is another story.