The James Edward Bresette and Mary Francis Johnston Family of South Bend, St Joseph County, Indiana and Shawnee County, Topeka, Kansas: An Analysis of their journey from South Bend, Indiana to Shawnee County, Topeka, Kansas and the Johnston Family Origins in Ireland
Mary Frances Johnston was the daughter of Patrick Johnston and Elizabeth Clifford. Mary Seed Forsell, a descendent of this family has evidence of Patrick Johnston's origins in Ireland from his naturalization record. She states he came to the US in 1828, was naturalized in 1850 and hailed originally from County Sligo, Ireland. Additional family lore suggests Ballymote, County Sligo. Ballymote is a Townland in Emlaghfad Civil Parish, that appears to be part of Ballymote Roman Catholic Parish. Part of this Civil Parish may be covered in neighboring Keash Roman Catholic Parish records as well. Ballymote was only a small town of only 38 acres in the mid 19th century. It is relatively close to the Mayo/Roscommon border area. Mary was likely the first of three siblings (John and Edward) who journeyed to South Bend, Indiana where she married James Edward Bresette at St Joseph Church on September 24, 1874.
James was the son of Ludvici Bresett and Maria S Chandonai and Mary Francis the daughter of Patritius Johnston and ELiza Clifford according to the St Joseph Church record. I believe that Edward and his family are in South Bend Indiana at least as early as 1850 as I found his family with Mary (27), Edward 4, Emily 1 and Mary S Chandonu? 54 living in Portage Township. The 1860 Census shows James E Bresett 14, Emily Bresett 11 and Mary 2 Bresett 16 (all born in Indiana) living with the Charles Chandonahi? Family from Michigan in St Joseph County, IN. The 1870 St Joseph County, Indiana Census shows James B--et? 50 Dipp-g in Wood Mill (born in England), James Bressett 24 Planer (born in Indiana) Sarah Bressett 22, Emma 3 and James 4/12 all born in Indiana. It appears that James E was previously married to a Sarah (as this census shows) before he married Mary Francis Johnston.
This page was inspired by Mary Seed Forsell, a descendent of this family who has generously shared information on the Johnstons, Devines, Sinnots and Frains, all of which had family members in the South Bend, Indiana Irish Community. Mary's contribution to the pool of information on the South Bend Irish Community is greatly appreciated and will benefit us all! This page would have had a million gaps without her contribution!
This is a work in progress and will be added to over time! Please contact me if you feel you are a descendent of this Irish family or others in the South Bend, Portage Township, St Joseph County, Indiana area.
| Census, Church or other Record | Date Born, Baptized, Married or Census conducted | Father/ Husband/ Head of Household | Mother/ Wife | Child; other | Occupation; Misc. Info gathered |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1850 US Census Lockport, New York | Census conducted on July 10, 1850 | Johnson, Patrick, 32 born in Ireland | Johnson, Eliza 30 born in Ireland | Johnson, Eliza Ann 8, born in New York | (Mary's Family) Patrick is a Stone Cutter |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Robert, 6 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, John 5 born in New York | (he later married Julia Devine in South Bend, IN) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Wm 3 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Mary 2 born in New York | see note below; married in St Joseph Co, IN |
| " | " | " | " | Johnson, Mary 29 born in Ireland | |
| 1860 US Census for Town of Lockport, Niagara County, New York | Census taken June 30, 1860 | Johnston, Patrick 50 born in Ireland | Johnston, Ellen, 45 born In Ireland | Johnston, Robert, age 15 born in New York | (Mary's Family) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, John, age 16 born in New York | John is a Stone Cutter's Apprentice |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, William, 14 born in New York | Stone Cutter's Apprentice |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Mary, 11 born in New York | (Married Edward Bresett St Joseph Church South Bend, IN September 24, 1874) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Henry 9 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Ellen 5 born in New York | |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, Edward 2 born in New York | (he married Elizabeth Stackman? in South Bend, IN in September 1880, moved to Kalamazoo, Michigan where he raised his family and died at age 86 on September 20, 1940) |
| " | " | " | " | Johnston, B-by? 7 mos born in New York | |
| Indiana Marriage Collection 1800-1941 | September 24, 1874 Marriage | Bresett, Jed | Johnston, Mary F | married in St Joseph County, IN | |
| St Joseph Church South Bend, Indiana Marriage Record | September 24, 1874 | Bresett, Edwardum | Johnston, Mariam Franciscum | Edward was the son of Ludvici Bresett and Maria S Chandonai?; Maria Franciscum was the daughter of Patritius Johnston and Eliza Clifford; Witnesses Georgius Henry? and Susanna Henry | |
| 1900 U.S. Census for Shawnee County, Topeka, Ward 4, Kansas (Probable family of Mary (Johnston) Bresett) | Census conducted on June 8, 1900 | Bresett, J.E, Head 53 born May 1847 in Indiana; dad in Canada, mom in IN | Bresett, Mary Frances, Wife, 50 born November 1849 Massachusettes; parents in Ireland | Bresett, Mary Frances, 24 single born August 1875 in IN; Dad in IN, Mom in Ma. | J.E. was a Millwright; They were married 26yrs; 9 kids, 7 living; Mary Francis daughter is a Stenographer |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Sarah Eliz, 20 single daughter born July 1879 | School |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Julia Elenor, 19 yr old single daughter born May 1885 in I Kansas, dad in IN, mom in MA. | School |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Robert Burton, 16 yr old son born September 1883 | Apprentice |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Alicia Louisa, 14 yr old born September 1885 in Kansas, dad in IN, mom in MA | School |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Veronica, 13 yr old daughter born June 1887 in Kansas, dad in IN, mom in MA | School |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Lafayette, 8 yr old son born in Kansas, dad in IN, mom in Mass | School |
| 1910 US Census for Shawnee County, Topeka, Kansas, Ward 4 Residence on 401 Polk Street | 1910 | Bresett, John E, Head 64 born in IN; Dad in Canada, mom In IN; | Bresett, Mary F, Wife 60 born in Mass; parents born in Ireland; married 38 yrs 9 children, 7 living | Bresett, Lenila 28 yr old single daughter born in Kansas, dad in IN, mom in Mass. | James E is a Machinist- shop; Lenila is a Teacher in Public School; they rent their home |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Monice, 21 yr old single daughter born in KS, dad in IN, mom in Mass. | Monice is a Teacher in Public School |
| Kansas State Census Collection for Shawnee, Topeka, Kansas | 1915 | Bresett, James E age 69 | Bresett, Mary F age 66 | Bresett, Emma S, age 48 | |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Julia E age 31 | |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Veronica A age 28 | |
| " | " | " | " | Bresett, Lafayette, L age 22 | |
| " | " | " | " | Bair, Anna 38 | |
| 1920 US Census for Shawnee County, Topeka, Kansas Ward 3, Precinct 7; Residence at 2261 Tylor Street | 1920 | Bresette, J.E., Head 74 born in IN; parents born in IN (May Bair a Lodger from Utah lives with them) | Bresette, Mary Frances, wife 71 born in Massachusetts; parents born in Ireland | Bresette, Emma 48, single daughter born in Indiana; dad in IN, mom in Mass. | J.E. was a retired Builder Contractor |
| " | " | " | " | Bresette, Julia B, 35 single daughter born in Kansas, dad in IN, mom in Mass. | Julia was a State Official, Official State House |
| Find a Grave Website- entry for Kansas- Mary Frances Bresette | Born 1848; Died 1927 | Bresette, Mary Frances | Mary Frances was buried at Calvary Cemetery, Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas Plot: Sec 9 |