Home Sweet Home

Home means different things to each of us.  Memories of a home with traditions for generations is one meaning and living with your family in various homes is another. Traditions are build either way and for my great-grandmother the latter is true.  She was born 11 of Sept, 1869 in Greenport, L.I., NY,   to William H Warner (1840-1889) and Louisa W Jackson (1846-1924).

Several Places Mary Called Home

 Home in 1910- 78 Blackhall St, New London, CT

 1920, New London, CT

She married Frank J McCail at a young age and had a son with him in NY, Nathan McCain born in 1887.  She is first  found in New London, Connecticut where she lived until her death in 1932.  This city will remain her "Home Sweet Home", a place where memories are gathered, family bonds are close and most times 3 generations living together.  

Home Sweet Home: Mary Jane Warner’s Life in New London, Connecticut

In the early 1900s, the waterfront town of New London, Connecticut, was a lively place to call home. The salty air carried the echoes of foghorns, ship bells, and the constant hum of industry. Nestled among the narrow streets and ever-changing addresses was Mary Jane Warner who became a McCail, a Lawrence, and finally a Squires—She was a woman who made a home wherever she landed, often with a full house of children, extended family, and the occasional mystery to solve.

First Known New London, CT Home Location
Photo Courtesy Barbara Fueston Grandon, 2022

Mary’s story reads like a whirlwind tour of marriage, motherhood, and movement. Her first marriage to Frank McCail in New York, resulted in her son Nathan. Mary had relocated to New London, CT in 1893.  Her move came after she was widowed from McCail and had married to become Mrs.Lewis Lawrence.  After their first daughter, Constance L Lawrence (1892-1960) arrives, they move to New London, CT.  They are first documented on Willits which was an empty lot in 2022 when we visited the property.Very different then a 3 generation home back in 1893 when they lived there.  Louisa Davis, Mary's mother is living with them.

By 1910, Mary had nicely grounded and settled in New London, Connecticut, with her mother Louisa, who, like her daughter, was also widowed. Together, they navigated life along the wharf, a place filled with dockworkers, fishermen, and the steady hustle of a maritime economy. If there was one thing Mary knew how to do, it was adapt. The 1910s and 1920s saw her moving from house to house, but always within the heart of the city, close to her support network of family and friends. According to her obituary, she was active in the local Episcopal church, where she must have found both solace and a little comic relief—because, let’s be honest, a woman raising the eight children she would eventually have, while constantly relocating probably had a few stories to tell.

Mary’s third and final marriage was to John F Squires (1874-1907) resulted in four more children, bringing her total to eight. Combine that with her brother Samuel David Davis's children, and it’s safe to say there was never a dull moment in the Davis,Squires combined household. One can only imagine the noise level—children running underfoot, pots clanging in the kitchen, and the occasional "where are my shoes" floating through the air.  

Despite the financial challenges of single motherhood and the uncertainties of life along the wharf, Mary created a sense of Home Sweet Home where ever they landed and presumably filled it with love, resilience, and community. Whether she was baking bread for a full table, gathering with neighbors at church, or simply making sure all her children had matching shoes (or at least a left and a right), she embodied the true spirit of home.

Research Plan: Filling in the Missing Pieces

Mary’s story is compelling, but some details remain elusive. Here’s a plan to uncover more about her first two husbands and how she supported her family:

1. Frank McCail (First Husband)
• Search marriage records in New York for their union.
• Look for birth records of Nathan McCail to pinpoint father’s details.
• Investigate New York City directories and census records to track Frank and Mary's whereabouts.
2. Lawrence Oscanyon-Lawrence (Second Husband)
• Determine if “Oscanyon” was a middle name or a surname.
• Search marriage records for Mary and Lawrence in  New York.
• Order Birth Certificate for their daughter Constance L Lawrence to verify parents
• Check military or immigration records in case he was transient or foreign-born.
• Follow up on indication she was awarded a Pension in 1899 per The Day newspaper.
3. How Mary Earned a Living
• Review city directories for employment listings.
• Check census occupations for Mary and Louisa

And That's a Wrap

Keeping Family Story Alive

Next weeks prompt: Week #13 Language

Barbara