It would seem reasonable that Thomas Flanagan, his wife, and probably his nephew, John, after his arrival in 1851, lived in Conneautville for some period of time between 1850 and 1854 when Thomas bought his property in Beaver Township. This time period is when, according to family stories, John might have worked at the Powers Livery Stable.

There was a Catholic church, the Immaculate Conception, located in Summit township. The first services for that parish according to records at the Erie County Historical Society where held in Philip McGuire's house and barn as early as 1840. The church itself was built in 1852. It is highly likely that this is where the Mahonys and Flanagans worshiped along with their Irish neighbors.

After quite a bit of searching, I located what I believe is the marriage record for John and Mary. It is at St. Philip Church in Crossingville. At the time, the Immaculate Conception Church in Chestnut Corners, was a mission of Crossingville, as was Conneautville. The priest at Crossingville, Fr. K. O'Branigan, provided services about once a month in Chestnut Corners. It's not clear whether the actual ceremony was performed in Crossingville or Chestnut Corners. The columns in the above image are for the participants in the marriage, their place of residence, who their parents were, the date of the marriage, the witnesses and any remarks such as dispensations received. The column for parents, unfortunately, was left blank. The ditto marks for place of residence indicate that they lived in Crossingville, but all the evidence points to Beaver, at least for John.

Two of John Mahoney's children are buried in the cemetery that is still on the site of The Immaculate Conception Church. Jane, Martin's twin, and Thomas are both reportedly buried there although we can no longer locate the grave stones. Jane died in 1873 at about six weeks of age, and Thomas died on Christmas Day in 1874. He was about five years old. Both of these deaths occurred after the family had moved to Palmer Road.

There is a deed transfer recorded August 19, 1858, which says in part:

"This Indenture made the twenty eighth day of September in the year of Our Lord One thousand Eight hundred and fifty seven between Ezbon Partch and Eliza his wife of the township of Conneaut County of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania of the first part and John Mahony of the County and State aforesaid of the Second part witnesseth that the said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of three hundred and fifty dollars to them in hand paid by the said party of the second part the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged have granted bargained sold released and confirmed and by these presents do grant bargain sell release and confirm unto the said party of the second part his heirs and assigns all that certain piece or parcel of land situated in Conneaut township in the county of Crawford and State of Pennsylvania being part of a larger tract ..."

It goes on to describe the property, which appears to be immediately south of the property which his uncle, Thomas Flanagan, bought. William Partch, who witnessed his citizenship oath, and William Wright were the deed witnesses. John Mahoney bought his first farm for $350.

The census for Conneaut Township, Pennsylvania, recorded on the 29th day of June 1860, shows John Mahony, age 24, a farmer, and his wife Maria, age 23, along with two children, Mary Mahony, age 2 and Margaret, age 10/12 (i.e. 10 months old). Except for the ages, these facts fit with other things we know of this family. In 1860 both John and Mary should have been 27.

The same census for Beaver Township shows the following: