Father William C. Poole, an Early Student in Rome, Left Few Clues For

Thursday, February 2, 2006 FEATURE Southern Cross, Page 3 Father William C. Poole, an early student in Rome, left few clues for researchers to follow hen William Chapman Poole arrived in Rome, Italy, in 1859, he must Whave taken a deep breath, looked in awe at his new surroundings, and said a prayer of thanksgiving for finally arriving at his destination. The young seminarian’s journey from Georgia to the Holy City probably would have included a long voyage to France from America, a bumpy overland trip to Marseilles, a sea passage to Italy, a meandering railroad ride to Trastevere, and finally, another bouncy buggy trip, before he arrived in downtown Rome. The seminary Poole was arriving American college in Rome, suggest- at apparently had an equally in- ed to his fellow American prelates volved journey, starting with its in- that a collection should be taken up ception. “The American College of in the U.S. to help finance repairs. the Roman Catholic Church in Archbishop Francis P. Kenrick of Rome Italy,” as it was formally Baltimore, Bishop Michael known, had incubated in the minds O’Connor of Pittsburgh, Bishop of prelates on both sides of the At- (Saint) John Neumann of lantic for some time when Westmi- Philadelphia, and Bishop Patrick nster’s Cardinal Nicholas Wiseman Lynch of Charleston, were other proposed in 1854 that a pontifical American bishops deeply involved Photo by Pablo Migone of portrait Pablo by at NorthPhoto American College, Rome. college be established in Rome for in putting forward the idea of the The first seminarians at the North American College, Rome, ca. 1858. the training of American diocesan North American College. With their William Poole is fourth from the left in the back row clergy. With Cardinal Wiseman’s support, the sum of $50,000 was proposal in mind, Pope Pius IX collected in the United States to help (1841); John E. Poole (1844); Eli- Next in the sequence of research decided to send a legate, Archbishop restore the old convent building. zabeth Agnes Poole (1846); Mary comes another John Poole, also Gaetano Bedini, to this country. The mysterious Father Poole Matilda Poole (1849), and Francis from England, who died in 1855. The college begins In recent years, several queries Knowles Poole (1852), born subse- Then there is C.G. Poole who ad- Archbishop Bedini returned to have trickled into the archives of quent to the 1850 census. vertised his building supplies that Rome full of enthusiasm and the Diocese of Savannah con- As is true of many early records, same year. There are no newspaper bearing two proposals: that cerning Father William C. these sacramental records con- accounts or records of the death of the U.S. be sent a formal Poole, an early student from tained a glitch. The first name of Father William C. Poole in Savan- nuncio, and that an this diocese at the North the mother of the Poole brood was nah, nor have any records of his American college be American College. Archival given as “Catherine” on several of having officiated at weddings, bap- founded. American bish- information on Poole proved the baptismal records of the oldest tisms or funerals been found. ops in attendance in Rome scant: just a brief 1867 list- children, but as “Caroline” on On March 21, 1861, Caroline C. in 1854 for proclamation of ing of his name, along with records of the three youngest. Only Poole (Soot) of County Limerick, the Dogma of the names of other priests serv- her maiden name, variously spelled Ireland, died at 52. Her death Immaculate Conception Rita H. DeLorme ing at the Cathedral of Saint as “Flannagan,” “Flannigan” and record indicates that she lived in also espoused this cause. In 1858, John the Baptist. The 1867 listing “Flannegan,” remained constant. Savannah for 20 years and was at the Congregation for the Pro- reflected the preceding year,1866, This name problem, while not too the time of her death a resident of pagation of the Faith bought a when William Poole was presum- significant, presaged problems to Robertsville, a nearby South Caro- house in Rome to be used by the ably ordained and assigned to Sa- come in researching the Poole fam- lina community. college. Located on the Via dell’ vannah. ily and their priest son, William. In 1866, a John E. Poole, possi- Umiltà (“Humility Street”), the Census information Articles and directories bly William Poole’s brother, is building’s name reflected its origi- There was no clue as to where Savannah newspaper articles and working at the Pulaski House in nal use as a convent. By the time the priest came from, or who his directory advertisements as well as Savannah and a “William M. the structure was purchased for the parents were or how old he was local death records were to provide Poole” is listed as a merchant. In North American College, the Na- when he entered the seminary. more confusing information. 1867, with things settling down fol- poleonic Wars had passed. French Internet research ultimately yielded Appearing in city directories of the lowing the Civil War, John E. troops, sent to protect papal Rome a “William C. Poole,” age 9, living 1850s were advertisements for a Poole petitioned for the estate of from Italian revolutionaries, were with his father, mother and siblings Whitaker Street turpentine and his “wife, Caroline,” adding to the quartered there until only months in Chatham County, Georgia, as paint dealership owned by John confusion surrounding this family. before its purchase and the former listed on the 1850 federal census. Poole. In January, 1854, the death barracks needed much repair. This census showed John Poole, a of yellow fever of John Poole, Columnist RITA H. DELORME With this fact in mind, Archbishop 40-year-old painter from England; native of England, at 44 years of is a volunteer in the Diocesan Archives. She can be reached John Hughes of New York, long a Catherine C. Poole, 39 and from age appeared in the records. Little at [email protected]. supporter of the idea of an Ireland; William C. Poole, age 9; more than a year earlier, in the fall John E. Poole, age 6; Elizabeth A. of 1852, Englishman William Poole, age 4 and little Mary Poole, possibly the uncle and Catholic Schools Week Correction Matilda Poole, just 1 year old. namesake of William C. Poole the seminarian, perished during the anuary 29–February 4 is he photograph appearing with Investigation of sacramental same yellow fever epidemic. Little Catholic Schools Week, with the the obituary of Deacon Arthur records by Gillian Brown, J T Mary Matilda Poole, one year old theme, “Catholic Schools: Cha- Houghton (January 19) was of ano- Diocesan Archivist, supplied a few on the 1850 census, died of in- racter. Compassion. Values.” Look ther permanent deacon, also de- more facts: the marriage of John fluenza at five-plus years on Janu- for photos and accounts of local ceased. The Southern Cross regrets Poole to Catherine Flannigan in ary 10, 1854, the same day and celebrations in upcoming issues of the error. July of 1840 and baptisms of their children: William Chapman Poole year as her father, John. the Southern Cross. .

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