Amy I have a directory for 1879. It would be for 2 years before your grandfather was born,he might have had an older brother-was that Patrick? Anyway I have 5 John Sweeney's listed as follows Sweeney,John laborer house lennon A.I.W Sweeney,John moulder b (b=BUSINESS) 321 Second Sweeney,John jr,roller,h N Greenbush Sweeney,John B. stonemason,house,100 Ida Sweeney,John M Baker, house 391 Fourth There is also a Patrick or two as follows: Sweeney,Patrick,police, ist precinct,house 685 Sweeney,Patrick,marbleworker,190 N Third Hope this helps you in your search In a message dated 4/26/2008 11:41:32 A.M. Eastern Daylight Time, lstrait94@earthlink.net writes: amy LaPietra wrote: Hi. I just happened across the Irish in Troy website. I am the granddaughter of Michael E Sweeney who lived at 683 Burden Ave. in Troy with his family. I always heard him tell the story of how his mother Ellen (Brady) and father John died within days of each other in July of 1897. He always said that his mother was working hard doing laundry in the heat of the day on the second floor and had heat stroke. What was listed on her death certificate was Thermic convulsions. She died two days after collapsing and my great grandfather died the day of her funeral. My grandfather was orphaned at 16. He also always told us the story of going down his backyard to the shore of the Hudson and swimming to Watervliet so I know he lived in South Troy. Coincidentally, a century later I met and married an Italian from South Troy by way of Naples. What are the chances of that ? I have found other evidence that a Patrick Sweeney lived at 685 Burden Ave. These are two buildings (still standing) ! **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)