Friends in St. Catherines, Ontario, Canada are trying to nail down the history of Edward P. Doherty, the Captain of the 16th NY who captured Booth and Herold. It is believed he was born of Irish parents in Canada around 1840-1841, but exactly where is unknown. He was in New York by 1861, where he enlisted. Anyone have a clue? Thanks!

Rob Wick should have some information on Doherty, even though his specialty is Conger. However, the Surratt Courier carried articles on Doherty back in 1989, when the Swann galleries in New York held an auction that included assassination materials from the Edward Doherty Archive.

He was born September 26, 1840, at Wickham, Canada East to Joseph and Margaret Doherty, Irish immigrants. He attended school in Montreal and graduated from St. Hyacinth College in 1857. He then began to study law with a Canadian firm before moving to Boston in 1859.

I can send copies of the articles to your friends if they would like. Just let me know an address.

Kate,

Doherty's tombstone shows him born in 1840, but all I have in my files just say Canada. I've looked through all the files I've got, including his obituary in the New York Times, and it doesn't say specifically where in Canada he was born. You might contact Steve Miller, who has compiled many, if not all, of the known statements of those who participated in the manhunt for Booth, and who is a bona fide expert on Doherty. Looking through Steve's manuscript, it appears to me that most of Doherty's material doesn't have much in the way of personal information.

Laurie beat me to the punch. Laurie, I will be in touch because I want copies of that as well. Good job!


Best
Rob

Laurie and Rob! Thank you! This is great, and I will pass the info along to the folks in Canada! I believe they contacted Steve already, but not sure what his response was.

Mr. Miller was the author of one of the articles. Your friends called almost immediately, and copies of both articles are in the mail to them. I don't think they had contacted Miller yet - they only saw his name listed in a library file as someone who had contacted that library.

(10-05-2012 11:54 AM)Laurie Verge Wrote:  Mr. Miller was the author of one of the articles. Your friends called almost immediately, and copies of both articles are in the mail to them. I don't think they had contacted Miller yet - they only saw his name listed in a library file as someone who had contacted that library.

Rochelle contacted me right after she talked with you. She is so grateful and happy to have received the info from you. Not sure why it is so important to her - she runs the BME Church in St. Catharines, where Tubman lived. Tubman became a member of that church in the mid-late 1850s. Not sure where Doherty fits in!

I believe Doherty was married to the sister of Charles Gautier, as in Gautier's Restaurant, a meeting place for the conspiracy.

(10-05-2012 07:19 PM)Jim Garrett Wrote:  I believe Doherty was married to the sister of Charles Gautier, as in Gautier's Restaurant, a meeting place for the conspiracy.

Gee, are you sure?! That would be amazing! Her name was Kate. What evidence is there?!
Best, Kate Larson

Doherty's wife was named Catherine T. Doherty, and Frederick Hatch does say she was the daughter of Charles Gautier and they were married in 1871. She died in 1921, but the New York Times only has a notice of her death and not a full obituary.

Best
Rob

I don't believe that was mentioned in the 1989 articles that I sent to Rochelle, so please pass it on, Kate.

Also, I may be imagining this, but for some reason I think the Gautier family line is mixed in with the family of J. Edgar Hoover.... Can anyone confirm that - or my senility?

There is a newspaper article from the 1870's in the James O. Hall files at the Surratt Society that mentions the Doherty back in town, (Washington) visiting her brother, restauranteur Charles Gautier. Such a small small world.

I will pass this all along to Rochelle in St. Catharines. Doherty's son was named Charles - obviously for either her father or brothr or both!

(10-06-2012 11:19 AM)L Verge Wrote:  Also, I may be imagining this, but for some reason I think the Gautier family line is mixed in with the family of J. Edgar Hoover.... Can anyone confirm that - or my senility?

Is this an "either - or" question?

I'm pretty sure the brain is slipping, so just make that an "and" question.

I'm going to tie Edward Doherty and Everton Conger here for a minute and ask Rob Wick a question: I was searching for some information on the St. Albans Raid and found reference to a Union veteran named Capt. George Conger, formerly of the 1st Vermont Cavalry, being the leader of a fifty-man posse that chased the Raiders out of St. Albans. Was George kin to Everton, by any chance?