Well, it's been a while since I posted my question and Geralyn so kindly responded. I finally made it to the State archives to look up the birth record for Louisa and John. I am convinced that Louisa Wiegand is my Elizabeth Wiggins. Elizabeth's death record states that she was born on 1/12/1875, and that is also Louisa's birthdate. I found John's birth record, as well as Henry and Bridget's marriage record. Both births and the marriage were recorded in South Orange. Unfortunately, none of the records state Bridget's maiden name. It only appears on Elizabeth's marriage record. I also found Louisa/Elizabeth (via the 1885 NJ census) as a resident of St. Mary's Orphan Asylum in South Orange. I could not find her brother listed anywhere, and I could not find any death record for her parents or brother in Essex county records for the period of 1880-1885. I guess it is quite possible that they didn't die, but for some reason left the county (or state), leaving their daughter behind. My grandmother always said her mother was raised in a convent, but never said exactly why. I found out from my Mother that several children on her side of the family had been in and out of St. Mary's (due to unfortunate family circumstances) about 25-30 years ago. I'm wondering if St. Mary's is still in existence today, and if there are any historical records available. Stephanie --- Geralyn Barry <gbarry@proaxis.com> wrote: > Hi Stephanie, > > I found the following family in the 1880 census > online at > Familysearch.org. Was your Elizabeth perhaps called > Louise (or Elizabeth > Louise) when she was small? This family fits your > description except for > your g-gmother's first name. > > 1880 US census > South Orange Township, Essex County, New Jersey > [Village of Hilton, formerly Middleville; street > name and address not > listed] > FHL Film 1254781; NARA Film Number T9-0781 Page > Number 234A > Henry WAGIAND - Married Male White 37 Gardner > [sic] born GERMANY, > parents born GERMANY > Bridget WAGIAND - Wife Married Female White 36 > Keeping House born > IRELAND, parents born IRELAND > Louise WAGIAND - Daughter Single Female White 5 > born NEW JERSEY, > father born GERMANY, mother born IRELAND > John H. WAGIAND - Son Single Male White 3 > born NEW JERSEY, > father born GERMANY, mother born IRELAND > > Three girls in one of my families (DUNPHY) were > listed as scholars and > "inmates" at St. Vincent's Industrial School in > 1870. It was run by the > Sisters of Charity as a school and orphanage. It was > in the 11th Ward of > Newark in 1870. Perhaps that was the place. > > Geralyn Wood Barry in Oregon > > Stephanie Johnson wrote: > > Hi, Ann! > > > > My g-grandmother's name was Elizabeth Wiggins. I > am > > not sure if that is the correct spelling of her > last > > name, or not. Even my grandmother wasn't sure, as > > when looking through things I inherited when she > died, > > I found that she had spelled the name as Wiggins, > > Wiggans, Wiegands, etc. I have seen the name > spelled > > many other ways, too, in my years of searching. > > > > Elizabeth was born on January 12, 1875, in New > Jersey. > > The date and state is according to her death > record. > > New Jersey is also listed on her marriage record, > and > > in later census records. > > > > I cannot find any census record for her parents in > > 1880, so it is quite likely that they were > deceased. > > Her father's name was Henry (Heinrich?) Wiggins, > born > > in Germany, and her mother was Bridget > > Comerford/Commerford, born in Ireland. I haven't > > found any death records (yet!) for either Henry or > > Bridget. > > > > My grandmother always told me her mother was > raised in > > a convent, but never said where. Since Elizabeth > lived > > in, and was married in Newark, I thought that area > > might be a good starting point. > > > > Thanks for the help, > > > > Stephanie > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ The fish are biting. Get more visitors on your site using Yahoo! Search Marketing. http://searchmarketing.yahoo.com/arp/sponsoredsearch_v2.php

This orphanage has been closed for many years.The records could be in one of two places: Seton Hall University Library or the Archives of the Sisters of Charity who ran the orphanage. For the Archives, contact Sister Elizabeth McLaughlin at (973) 290-5417. For Seton Hall Library contact Kate Dodds, Librarian.. I don't have that number, but I am sure you can get it from Information. Good Luck. Pat Beaumont