The Hart News

Volume 1, Issue 1 July 1999

Many of the family have attempted to search our roots to the generations before our arrival in America. Hart descendants have gone back to the Old Sod and kicked around the Wicklow area looking for Harts. Some names were found, but none that could be the Mother and Father of our three DeKalb Co. Harts. The mystery may have been solved in preparing for this publication. As I scanned through Gerry’s wonderful family tree I came upon the name of Richard Fitzgerald, an acquaintance that I had often commented must be some sort of relation. As it turns out, he is the great grandson of Sarah Hart Flood Marshall, the sister of my great-great grandfather Patrick. I called him immediately to share the news, and he came right over to my folks’ house (Rita Hart) with his small but exciting bit of family history. His document (1935) states that Patrick and Mary (Malloy) Hart born in county Wicklow, Ireland came to this Country and settled in Hartville, now Millbrook, Duchess County New York, and lived to be about 90 years old. Their children are as follows:

Patrick Hart – Died in Milan Township

Christopher Hart – Died in Milan Township

John Hart – Died in Poughkeepsie, NY

Bridget Hart Pendergrass – Died in Baltinglass Ireland

Ann Hart – Died in Baltinglass, Ireland

Katherine Hart Tobin – Died in Poughkeepsie, NY

Mary Hart Cardiff – Died in Poughkeepsie, NY

Ellen Hart – Died in Poughkeepsie, NY

Sarah Hart Flood Marshall – Died in DeKalb

Hanore Hart Farrell Sullivan – Died in Yorkville, IL

Sarah Hart came to this country with her parents and was married to John Flood April 15, 1842 in New York. This may mean that Sarah and her parents came to this country 5 years before her brother Patrick arrives.

There is a great website for Duchess County New York. I searched the name Hart for references and was sent to a book written and published in 1878 about the history of the county. On page 423-432 the author describes the hamlet of Washington, which contains an area called Hart’s Village, now known as Millbrook. The Village was formed around a mill built by Philip Hart. Philip Hart came to this county from Ireland around 1770 and proceeded to purchase 1000 acres . In 1876 many of his relatives still resided there. This may explain how and why we came from Wicklow to this part of the United States. Perhaps the more foot loose of our forefathers settled here far earlier than we suspected. I believe a party must be formed to go to Duchess County to investigate. The website lists two Catholic churches in the area. Seems like a good place to start.

One of the things that I have found so confusing while doing this research is that the Irish, and maybe others, only seem to have four or five names to choose from. I’m not really kidding. Therefore, when someone says Patrick, John, Christopher, Mary, or Katherine, the memory could be recalling any number of people, from multiple generations. So, I will try to set some minds straight. The Patrick Hart buried in Rochelle, (picture on page one), is the son of Patrick Hart, (lead story page 1. See what I mean?). Patrick came to Milan Township in 1860. He was born in Baltinglass Ireland on May 3, 1815. He married Mary Moffat in Ireland in 1834. She was born in Ireland in 1816. Patrick died on April 17, 1874. Mary died in 1894 and they were buried together in Rochelle, IL. They had six sons and one daughter:

John – born in Ireland 1844

Patrick – (another one!) born in Ireland 1847

Anna Marie – born in Ireland 1848

Thomas (T.E.) – born in Duchess County NY 1851

Frank – born in Duchess County NY 1853

Stephen – born in Duchess County NY 1854

Christopher – birthplace unknown 1857

Historic Grave Marker Above you see the grave marker for one of the original Milan Township Harts and his wife. Buried in Rochelle, the headstone has fallen into disrepair, and is doing a Pisa-like tilt to the left. Descendants are instituting a repair and refurbishing of the historic stone to preserve an important part of our family history. A bid of $300 has been received by Jerome Hart from the Sycamore Monument company to straighten the marker.

Contributions and any questions about the headstone restoration should be directed to: Jerome (Jerry) Hart, 2222 Bittersweet, Rockford, IL 61108. Please send what you can, $15 would be appreciated. Any monies left over will be spent on the reunion, or to help fund this newsletter if you would like it to become a regular publication, perhaps yearly. Take time to visit the grave during the reunion. It will be repaired by then. Committee for Restoration Jerome Hart, Howard Hart , Jim Hart, Bob Hart, Gene Hart

Well, every 68 Years doesn’t seem to be asking too much for a family to get together. It seems there is more and more interest in genealogy and family roots these days. You happen to belong to a very interesting and prosperous Irish-American family. Take advantage of finding out about, and sharing your part of this American family by attending the Hart Millenium Reunion. We will make available an extensive family tree, and you can give us the dates and links that we may be missing. Meet the people that share your heritage, and maybe even your features. Perhaps Bob Hart our locally well known Irish Tenor will sing at Mass and maybe favor us with an Irish tune or two at the Hall.

We are also seeking additions to the family tree, and would like you to make any corrections, additions, or deletions. We would like to insure accuracy. As we know families can expand and contract rather quickly.

Please bring old pictures and articles to be shared. We will try to have a scanner available to save these to a computer so that they can be added to a website or future newsletter. While you’re at it you may want to visit Patrick Hart’s grave, and stop in Lee to see other family members gravesites. For those of you that would like to stay and relax, we can move to the park next to the cemetery in Rochelle. Bring a lawn chair and catch up with family.

The Hart family last met for a family reunion in 1931 in DeKalb, IL. Every part of the DeKalb Harts was represented. Most all of the family members shown in this photo have been identified and recorded by family members. There are a few still unknown, maybe you can help us. We will have the picture at the Millenium Reunion September 12, 1999 in the Rochelle, Illinois St. Patrick’s Parish Hall. There will be a Mass at St. Patrick’s at 10:30 AM for the living and deceased members of the Patrick Hart Family. The reunion will follow. Please bring a dish to pass, and your own pop, coffee and meat will be provided by the committee. The Ladies of St. Pat’s will serve. Bring any family momentos, pictures, family bibles, deeds, birth, death, marriage certificates, newspaper clippings, etc. Stories of the trials, tribulations, etc. of ancestors can be submitted for future newsletters. We could feature a person or family each issue. We would also like to create an Internet website so that other Harts can find and identify us. Here is a Calendar of Events with contact persons for directions and questions:

Catholic Mass – For living and deceased members of the Patrick Hart Family

Place – St. Patrick’s Church , Rochelle, Illinois

Time – 10:30 AM

Date – September 12, 1999

Hart Family Millenium Reunion

Place – St. Patrick’s Parish Center

Time – 11:30 PM please be prompt as the hall is rented for two hours only.

Date – September 12, 1999

Bring a Dish to pass, and any family history, stories, pictures, documents, newspaper clippings. The Ladies of St. Pat’s will take care of serving and table service.

We need to know how many to plan for so please RSVP. Take your dish to pass to the Parish Center before Mass. RSVP by September 1 !! Contact Veronica (Gene) Hart