Tracey,

My gr-gr-grandparents were married in 1849 at Saint Patrick's (founded 1839) Church, 242 South 20th Street, Rittenhouse Square area. The Basilica of Sts Peter & Paul wasn't around until 1864.

In 1860 they lived at 5 Newbold Street which t-bones Pearl/Reeves Street. I may be going out on a limb, but judging by my ancestors and the other names I have seen in early years, the area [Spring Garden ward] was well populated with Irish.


St Patrick Parish
20th and Locust Sts
242 S 20th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Phone: (215) 735-9900 Fax: (215) 732-0998

Wish I had something about your family to contribute. That link also has Philadelphia city directories, but the maps and the ability to overlay them with present day road map has clarified a number of questions for me and given me some insight into the way people gathered, and why they settled in certain areas based on their occupations.

Good luck,

Frank