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Henry Proctor RICHARDSON I (c1789-1850) - #30 (52 Ancestors)

7/29/2015

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Theme: Challenging    |     Images: Click on many to enlarge
PictureSt George Church in Brede East Sussex England,
attended by generations of RICHARDSONs
Proving my maternal RICHARDSON lines continues to be a challenge.  I have dutifully traced back from my grandmother Eleanor Louise RICHARDSON as far as my great-great-great grandfather Henry Proctor RICHARDSON “the first" with as much certainty as is possible.  His death certificate says that Henry Procter Richardson died 15 October 1850 in Brede Sussex England at age 61 years.  His gravestone no longer exists although the burial index confirms this age and his burial on 19 Oct 1850 at St Georges, Brede.  This would put his birth year about 1789. 

In the Sussex marriage index dated 19 Jun 1819, Henry RICHARDSON (bachelor, of this parish) and Ann PECKHAM (spinster, of Appledore Kent) were married by license in Brede East Sussex, just north of Hastings.  No ages or parents’ names were provided.  Looking at his son’s 1853 marriage certificate, both father (deceased farmer) and son (gamekeeper) were named as Henry Procter/Proster Richardson.  Handwriting is fairly legible but irregular, so is still open to interpretation.  The deceased father is in keeping with Henry Sr’s death in 1850.

So far I have been unable to locate a baptism record for Henry Procter RICHARDSON in or around 1789. There are numerous Richardson baptism records indexed for Brede between 1729 to 1833, but they do NOT include a Henry Proctor or even a Henry in this time period.  The closest baptism for a Henry was in 1778.  Were the records incomplete or was he baptised elsewhere or not at all?  I have been told that the original parish records for Brede are (or were) housed in the Record Office in Lewes, East Sussex but are too fragile to be viewed or filmed.  Some transcripts of these registers have been filmed by the LDS, but I am told that there are gaps in these records around the time in question.  It is possible that the desired records were missing or unreadable in the original, or missed being transcribed if they existed.

PictureHenry P Richardson, Brede Parish Clerk, 1824-1841
From "Brede, The Story of a Sussex Parish",
a 1946 book by Edmund Austen
It seems highly probable with a middle name of Proctor that Henry was the son of Henry RICHARDSON and Martha PROCTOR / PROCTER.  It was a common practice to carry forward maternal surnames in this fashion.  The Proctors were a well-to-do family with property in Brede and nearby Rye Sussex.  Martha married Henry Richardson in Rye on 22 Apr 1777, and I have found baptisms in Brede for seven of their children: Henry 1778 (buried 1781), Martha 1780, Jane 1782, Edward 1784 (buried 1805), Sarah 1786, James 1791 (but age at death implies 1789), and William John 1794.  So potentially there is a convenient gap between 1786 and 1791, ample time for another child to be born.  Their first child was named Henry who died as a toddler, so it makes sense that they would also name a later son Henry to carry on an apparent long tradition of Henrys in this family.  With all their other children baptised in Brede, it would be expected that the baptism for a middle child in these circumstances would also take place in Brede.  Nevertheless I’ve also checked baptism indexes in Rye and other nearby parishes, but so far without luck.

We know that this Henry Proctor RICHARDSON “the first” was a farmer and parish clerk according to the baptism records of his children.  Henry P Richardson is also listed as the Brede Parish Clerk from 1824 to 1841 in the book Brede, The Story of a Sussex Parish by Edmund Austen, printed 1946.   This book also states that in 1826,  "Henry P. Richardson and his wife" were managing the Brede Workhouse for the poor, but perhaps only until 1829.  As to their children, their first son Henry was baptized 28 Jan 1820, about seven months after their marriage. According to a removal order for a pregnant Ann PECKHAM [sic] dated 10 Mar 1818 that sent her back to Appledore Kent from Brede Sussex, it appears that their son Henry was probably born in 1818 rather than 1819 or 1820. (This younger Henry died very young in 1823, coincidentally repeating the pattern of the previous generation.)  After their marriage, Henry P and Ann RICHARDSON had 7 more children including my ancestor Henry Proctor Richardson II (born 1825, baptized 1830).  Their last child Mary was born 17 Dec 1838.  Sadly Ann died in childbirth on that same day at the age of 39, the wife of a “reduced farmer”.

Further evidence of Henry’s farming activities has been found in a 2004 pamphlet entitled "Hop Token Issuers and Their Tokens, The Parishes of Beckley, Brede, Northiam, Peasmarsh & Udimore” by Alan Henderson.  It lists a Henry Richardson of Church House Farm who issued hop tokens to his hop pickers:

“The only date we have for this issuer is 1819 which appears on one of his tokens. ESLT shows that Henry Richardson Sen. owned and occupied Church Land, Brook’s, Loneham, The Home Land, Parkwood, York Land, Kings Wood Land.  The largest of these holdings was Church Lands.  Mention of Richardson Sen. suggests that there was also a Henry Richardson Jr.  The tokens are brass cast in values of B1, B12, B30, and B60, the name of the last two being Richardsons, which perhaps suggests father and son working together.  The B60 is dated 1819.”
As 1819 also happens to be the year of marriage for my Henry P Richardson and Ann Packham, he was of the right generation to be farming with his father.  Although this evidence is speculative and circumstantial, it’s another piece of the puzzle, adding credence to the theory that his father was also named Henry.  It also suggests that they owned or leased substantial amounts land including “Church Land”, which happens to be listed as family property in the will of a Henry Richardson dated 1798 [* see below].

So I hesitantly claim Henry RICHARDSON and Martha PROCTER as my ancestors until I can find evidence to the contrary or hopefully find additional confirmation.  If true, my RICHARDSON lineage extends back through Henry (1756- ) and Martha PROCTOR, Henry (1727-1798*) and Mary SWEETLOVE, Henry (1703-1775) and Susannah THOMAS, and Richard (c1674-1712) and Ann WATTS of Guestling Sussex.

There are still additional avenues to explore.  For instance, I have not yet located possible coroner's records from 1850 that might provide further clues about Henry's family and birth in addition to the circumstances of his death.  And perhaps there are more wills to be found. What a relief  it would be to resolve these doubts about my RICHARDSON ancestors.
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Della Evelyn JOHNSTON (1889-1949) - #29 (52 Ancestors)

7/23/2015

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Theme: Musical    |     Images: Click on many to enlarge
PictureDella Evelyn JOHNSTON, 1911
Evidence of any significant musical talent in our family trees has remained well hidden for the most part.  While undoubtedly some ancestors could carry a tune when the mood hit them, or plunk away on a musical instrument if they had access, we don’t have documented evidence of many professional and/or talented musicians among our deceased relatives.  Although I played clarinet in my high school band, and even taught accordion as my first job to help pay my university bills, I did not pursue playing or working in the music industry. Looking for other musically dedicated relatives, any that have surfaced have almost always been individuals who married into side branches of our trees, so their talent was literally unrelated.  I’ve also heard tales of women who were artistically talented but denied the opportunity of a musical career because it wasn’t suitable for a lady, married or otherwise.  Such were the constraints of social customs at the time. So I have slim pickings for our theme this week.

Let me introduce you to Terry’s Great Aunt Della Evelyn JOHNSTON, his paternal grandmother’s younger sister who was in fact a music teacher.  We think that Della was born in Vancouver BC on 13 Dec 1889, although the 1901 Canada census says the year was 1890, and her death registration claims her birth wasn't until 1893 (we know this is inaccurate as she was already born by the time of the 1891 census).  She was the fifth  of six children born to James Irvine JOHNSTON and Deborah Sophronia KERFOOT, both natives of Ontario who married in Emerson Manitoba in 1881.  Birth records have been located for only two of their six children, sadly not including Della. We know from city directories that her father James JOHNSTON was living in Vancouver BC  by 1890.  Della's four older siblings were born in Manitoba between 1882 and 1887. The death registration for her oldest brother Douglas Howard JOHNSTON says that when he died in 1943 at age 61, he had lived in BC for 54 years; this implies the family moved to BC in about 1889. The 1891 census says that Della (age 1) and the rest her her family were all born in Ontario.  In 1901 her birth location is recorded as "Canada", although someone has overwritten it with “BC”.  As the family was obviously in transition around the time of Della's birth, I'm wondering if her birth was ever registered?

During her childhood, Della lived with her parents in Vancouver, first in rooms on Hamilton (1890-1892), than at 449 Westminster Road (1894-1895), 831 Burrard (1896-1899), and 895 Burrard (1900).  When her father died in Sep 1900 from cancer, her mother was left to care for the young family.  By 1910, some of the family was living at 1419 Harwood, but not Della.  She was probably the Della Johnston, clerk, living at 235 East Hastings.  I'm also assuming here that she worked as a clerk at the family "Kerfoot & Johnston" clothing store at this time.  By 1911 this store had closed.  I'm drawing a blank on Della's location for the next few years.  Did she really attend the Toronto Conservatory of Music, perhaps during this time?

On 30 April 2015, Della married her first cousin Douglas Earle JOHNSON, son of her father’s brother Benjamin,  at Christ Church in Vancouver BC.  They both had the same initials as well as the same last name. By 1921 they were living with her mother Deborah and younger sister Irene at their home on 1419 Harwood in Vancouver, only a couple of blocks away from Sunset Beach on English Bay (the street now contains large apartment buildings). Doug was working as a broker. They decided to adopt a daughter Pamela who was born in 1928 in London England.  By 1930 their family was living at 2180 S W Marine, a large gated property between W 57 (where it meets Yew) and W 59th, near Marine Drive Golf and Country Club.  He must have weathered the market crash of 1929 and become very prosperous, as they were still living in this exclusive neighborhood in 1948.

Clues as to Della's musical talent came from another researcher with unnamed sources:
"She was a graduate of the Toronto Conservatory of Music. She was a member of the Vancouver Women's Musical Club and the Vancouver Symphony Society. She was considered one of the best teachers in the city.”
So far my queries have been unable to verify most of these statements, although I finally found separate listings for Della E JOHNSTON in the Vancouver City directories for 1945 and 1948, verifying she was a music teacher:
     Johnston Mrs Della E mus tchr 5741 Gran  r 2180 SW Marine
     Johnston Doug E (Della E)  h 2180  SW Marine
     * Johnston Della E  wid A   h 1146 W 10
[* Note that this third listing is for a different Della E Johnston, widow of A L Johnston, living on W 10th.  Although probably in different generations, their common names make it easy to confuse these individuals.  I do not know if or how she might be related.]

Perhaps our Della felt able to take on a separate location for her teaching once her daughter Pamela had grown up.  She may have taken on additional students to cover the expenses.  Della’s studio location (5741 Granville, where Granville meets SW Marine Drive at the foot of 72nd Ave), was fairly close to her home.

On the Canadian Encyclopedia site, I also found a piano teacher named Della Johnston in Vancouver, mentioned in the biographies of two students Ursula Malkin and Norma (Kathleen) Abernathy.  These students went on to distinguish themselves in their own musical careers.  So perhaps this is our Della’s legacy.

All too soon Della's music was silenced.  At the age of 59, Della JOHNSTON died from a stroke on 12 Apr 1949 at her home on SW Marine Drive in Vancouver.   Her husband died two years later.
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Harriet Compton ANDREW (1922-2009) - #28 (52 Ancestors)

7/14/2015

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Theme: Epic Road Trip     |     Images: Click on many to enlarge
Picture

MAP OF THE CLARK FAMILY ROAD TRIP ACROSS CANADA AND THE USA
JULY 1953 - EAST TO WEST LOCATIONS
PEI: Linkletter PEI; NEW BRUNSWICK: Chatham, Bathurst, Dalhousie, Campbellton; QUEBEC: Gaspe Peninsula, Quebec, Montreal;
ONTARIO: Cornwall, Brockville, Kingston, Belleville, Toronto; MICHIGAN: Port Huron, Flint, Bay City, Straits of Mackinac;
MINNESOTA: Aitkin, Detroit Lakes; NORTH DAKOTA: Bismarck; MONTANA: Billings, Bozeman;
WASHINGTON: Spokane, Moses Lake, Seattle, Winslow, Lofall, Port Angeles; BC: Victoria, Langford, Duncan.
PictureHarriet C and Charles B CLARK, PEI Canada
Canada is a BIG country; from coast to coast it extends a maximum of 9,306 km (5,780 miles) and contains six time zones.  As you head east from the Atlantic you encounter the four maritime provinces (Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, Nova Scotia and New Brunswick), followed by Quebec and Ontario.  The three prairie provinces of Manitoba, Saskatchewan and Alberta, are bordered on the west by the majestic Rocky Mountains, gateway to British Columbia, the western-most Canadian province.  Of the many islands off its Pacific coast, by far the largest is Vancouver Island, greater in size than the whole province of PEI.  Surprisingly the large city of Vancouver is not on this island but on the adjacent mainland.  The smaller provincial capital of Victoria is located on the southern tip of Vancouver Island.

It’s a long way to drive across Canada or the northern states in the USA, but that is what my mother’s sister Harriet Compton (ANDREW) CLARK did in 1953 with her husband Charlie CLARK and 3 children.  How fortunate we are that she kept a diary of their journey that started in Linkletter PEI (near Summerside and St Eleanors), and ended in Duncan BC on Vancouver Island less than 50 miles northwest of Victoria. That’s a distance of over 9,000 km, with about two-thirds of their road trip routed south of the border - the logical route after stopping in Toronto. Harriet's travel journal is filled with amazing details of their cross continent trip, focusing on their timeline, distances traveled, weather, key place names (particular where they had meals and stopped each evening), the scenery (usually if it was monotonous), car trouble, and trip expenses.   I’ll share some of the highlights here.

PictureHarriet and oldest son Arnold CLARK, 1945, PEI
Harriet was the last of her immediate ANDREW family to leave PEI.  Her parent and six siblings had already headed west after the war, and for the most part settled in the Duncan BC area, although some ended up in Ontario.  Harriet and Charlie (who had married on 25 Sep 1942 in St Eleanors PEI) had no immediate plans to follow them, but in early 1953 Harriet was hospitalized with double pneumonia and pleurisy.  She blamed her illness on their “big old cold house" that had belonged to her RICHARDSON grandparents, who both died in 1951.  Although renovations had updated the house with electricity and improved oil heating, it wasn’t enough to make the house comfortable during the hard winter months.  So in February 1953, Charlie insisted they move to BC where the winters were much warmer and where there was family to welcome them. So the planning began.

As Charlie was a mechanic, tinkerer extraordinaire, and lover of all things on wheels, of course they had to drive the distance, although Harriet thought longingly of the train.  In his “spare” time between two jobs, Charlie organized their “covered wagon”, a 1948 International Metro 3/4 ton cab over engine van, retrofitted with bunk beds made from BC fir plywood, and stuffed with their belongings and supplies for the trip.  Harriet, while still recovering from her illness and dealing with their three young children, had the daunting tasks of selling off most of their possessions in preparation for leaving.  They were so exhausted they couldn’t even enjoy the farewell parties.

They planned their route and schedule with great care.  The trip was to last 19 days with a 10 night break in Toronto to visit Harriet’s oldest brother George ANDREW and family plus her youngest brother who was there apprenticing for an auto mechanic. From the above map you can see that the eastern leg of their route remained in Canada until after they left Toronto, and then crossed the border into Michigan at the south end of Lake Huron Lake. They then headed north to the head of Lake Michigan Lake, crossing the Straight of Mackinac by ferry.  Remaining in the United States, they drove west all the way to Seattle on the Pacific coast.  And finally they headed north to Port Angeles on the Olympic Peninsula where they caught a ferry to southern Vancouver Island.

PictureHarriet CLARK visiting with her brother George ANDREW's family
at 56 MacPherson Avenue, Toronto in July 1953
The trip was scheduled to start on Thursday 2 July 1953, and that day arrived all to quickly.  It was 5am when Charlie, Harriet and their three children left from Charlie’s parents place on Linkletter Road (near Summerside PEI).  They took the ferry over to New Brunswick and ended up for the night near Campbelltown NB with only an overheating radiator causing them trouble.  But it was also emotionally draining to realize they had just left their homeland behind.  Their feelings must have see-sawed between excitement, worry, doubt, sadness and expectation. Harriet was probably too tired to explain these mixed emotions because all she wrote was: “Slept very well ‘considering everything’.  Kids good.”

When on the road they drove hard, often getting up before dawn to cover the necessary miles. Sometimes they continued driving into the evening after putting the kids to bed in back.   On Sunday July 5 they were delayed by a flat tire, and after getting it repaired in Cornwall Ontario (a new tube and patch cost them $9.50), they drove 375 miles before arriving in Toronto at 11:30pm.

During their stay with relatives in Toronto (from 11:30 pm Sunday July 5 to 6am Wednesday July 15), they were convinced that their van was no longer a suitable vehicle.  I think the concern was that it was too heavy a vehicle and wouldn’t make it over the Rockies.  No doubt there were mechanical reasons as well.  Harriet doesn’t mention why, just that they decided to trade their van in on a brand new but very small car …

We decided we would have to change out transportation - sell the Van and get something else, to see us to the west coast.  The only deal we could make to get a few dollars out of the Van was to trade it in on a 1953 “Volkswagon  Beetle” Car  “Brand New” “out of the box so to speak”.  Charlie was fed coffee & doughnuts while our “BUG” was assembled, painted, and upholstered from scratch !!!! But to make this drastic change it meant undoing all the interior of the Van, the bunks and all clothing, bedding Dishes, etc. we bought large steamer trunks and packed & repacked [and then shipped west], left the plywood & sponge rubber, fragile dishes with George & June and started out for the second leg of our journey west. …  Our little V.W. Beetle was a funny looking sight, we had a roof carrier loaded on top with a lot of stuff, so the wheels looked a bit pigeon–toed.
Can you imagine traveling all that way with five people crammed into a VW bug?    But in Harriet’s words: “Car really good even if it was slightly crowded.”  Their new car drew a lot of attention and when they arrived in BC they learned that theirs with the very first of its kind in BC.  One of my favorite stories in Harriet's trip diary involves this car:
[On Friday July 17] After lunch on the road again it was about 1.30pm. we were traveling at around 100 mph when suddenly there was a loud BANG and our windshield literally crumbled in on us like very course salt, glass was everywhere it gave us all an awful scare!!!!!
Charlie cleaned out the glass & I quieted the kids, we had scratches on our arms, Charlie and I had sun glasses that clipped on over our glasses and there was tiny chips of glass imbedded in them, it was the shock more than anything. As the kids were sleeping – it was a rude awakening, Cleaned up and on the road again we drove slower till we reached a little town called  Atkin Minnesota, about 10 miles of driving without a windshield, we found a glass cutting & (Body) and auto wrecker’s, run by a man by the name of “Wright” he cut us a windshield out of a 36 Chev.  one ton truck windshield, just a bit of trimming to make it fit, an hour an a half later we were on the road again. Suddenly it pores rain and thunder what a relief from the extreme Heat!!
PictureHarriet CLARK and her three children on their epic and
exhausting (yawn!) road trip across America in 1953.
Yet they still managed to drive 421 miles that day!  Their expenses were $19.00 (installed windshield), $10.00 (cottage for the night), and $2.80 (groceries for supper).  The day before they had filled up with gas at a cost of $3.30. Prices sure aren’t what they used to be!

Their trip across the central States was uneventful, with "very tiresome  scenery, desert & Hills ".  On Monday July 20 they got up at 5:15am and were on the road by 6:30 am to drive through the Rocky Mountains.  Their VW handled the terrain well: "VW very good passed lots of boiling radiators, struck about 12 miles of road construction, dusty gravel slowed us down considerably,  but we reached “Spokane” Washington State at roughly 6pm.”

I think their longest and most grueling day must have been their last of the trip - Tuesday July 21.  They were up at 3:30 am, leaving Spokane and arriving in Seattle by noon. and took a ferry to Winslow by 2 pm, ended up in Port Angeles at 4:20 pm.  The CPR ferry Princess Elizabeth to Victoria was delayed until well after 8:30 pm due to high winds and rough seas.  Harriet and son Arnold both got sick on the voyage.  Harriet notes that the German officers on board and the Customs Officials were quite interested in their German “Folksvagon”.  

Once on shore in Victoria they drove as far as Langford before being intercepted by their welcoming committee. Harriet’s mother Nell ANDREW and her sister (with husband Vern JONES and two young sons) had driven down from Duncan to escort them to their new home.  What a welcome reunion that must have been!  But the winding, narrow and scary Malahat drive was still ahead of them, which they drove at 50 mph most of the way.  They finally arrived in Duncan at 1:30 am July 22, “totally bushed” but only a few hours behind schedule.

With their journey now over, they spent several weeks living with her parents in Duncan, but conditions were very cramped in the two bedroom house.  Charlie, always extremely resourceful, quickly got a job at a GM car dealership, and through a customer quickly bought a small but comfortable house on nearby Alderlea Street for $50 down and $50 per month at 4%.  Just like that!  Very pleased with their good fortune, they wasted little time getting ready to move in, buying all their "new" second hand furniture locally.  So they settled in, happy to be in their very own home on this Pacific side of Canada.

A final but very important note about their marathon trip is that Harriet was already expecting their fourth child at the time.  So you could say the baby-to-be also came along for the ride!  Charlie quickly had to make renovations to their new house to accommodate a nursery for their new daughter, born in February 1954.  Their youngest son wasn't born until 1960. It wasn't long before they needed a bigger house!

Harriet’s handwritten trip diary was later transcribed by Charlie, who added the following note at the end:
“This is the Diary that Harriet did on our way from PEI to BC I have finally got it in the computer 52 years and 10 houses later.”
PictureHarriet Compton (ANDREW) CLARK, 1922-2009
It should be evident by now that Harriet and Charlie CLARK were both very personable, outgoing and enterprising people who didn’t shy away from trying new experiences.  Not only did they continue to move their home frequently (always in Duncan or the surrounding area), but Charlie owned about 96 vehicles (give or take) during his lifetime.  He also had uncounted computers starting in the 1980s as soon as they were available. The Clarks hosted the Andrew family reunion in 1959 and Charlie took the photos.  Of course he had a camera, and for quite some time he even developed his own film.

Harriet Compton (ANDREW) CLARK, the middle of seven children born to Harry Charles ANDREW and Eleanor Louise “Nell” (RICHARDSON) ANDREW, was born 17 May 1922 on their family farm in North St Eleanors, PEI, Canada.  She described herself as “the brazen one”, I think in comparison to her siblings.  A petite woman with a positive outlook and a wonderful whit, she was also energetic, very organized and didn’t suffer dust or clutter gladly.  She was a a great cook and could bake up a storm anytime. I was always happy to get some of her cookies at Christmas, and the church bazaars always benefited from her skills and generosity as well.   Harriet later worked side by side with Charlie in their family locksmith business.  As a child I always enjoyed visiting the Clarks and playing with their two daughters.  Their two older sons acted as our babysitters for a time.  And as adults we kept in contact, and always enjoyed our visits. 

PictureHarriet and Charlie CLARK's burial at St Marys Anglican Cemetery,
North Cowichan (Duncan) BC on 20 Apr 2015
Charlie and Harriet CLARK were active members of the Anglican Church, first at St Johns and then St Peters, but they chose to be buried in St Mary’s Church cemetery on Somenos Road.  Harriet died first from recurring cancer on 2 Jun 2009, age 87. They had been married almost 67 years and had such a strong love for one another that Charlie was devastated.  Charlie CLARK died five and a half years later on 11 Jan 2015 at the age of 94.   I attended their memorial tea on 19 Apr 2015 at St Peter’s Church Hall in Duncan, where both their ashes were on display, encased in beautiful wooden marquetry boxes hand crafted by their older daughter. The following day, on what would have been Charlie’s 95th birthday, they were buried together beside their eldest son Arnold CLARK and Harriet’s parents Harry and Nell ANDREW.  All much loved and not forgotten.

I am selfishly grateful that Harriet and Charlie CLARK decided to drive from coast to coast back in 1953 to start a new life in the town where I grew up, swapping one island life for another.  If they hadn’t, I probably would not have gotten to know and appreciate my darling Aunt Harriet and her wonderful family.

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William Henson (c1745-1830) - #27 (52 Ancestors)

7/8/2015

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Theme: Independent    |     Images: Click on many to enlarge
PictureAmerican soldier (rifleman) in
the Revolutionary War
Some of my early relatives fought on the "rebel" side for the independence of the United States of America including William HENSON, my paternal four times great (4G) grandfather.  Other researchers have kindly shared their early Henson research with me, with warnings that many of the details were speculative.  Certainly William's parentage and birth details remain under debate: perhaps he was born about 1745 in Harper's Ferry Virginia.  His father was probably "Old" Paul HENSON, and his grandfather could have been  William Hanson/Henson who emigrated from Sweden to Virginia.   Or perhaps he came from Ireland?  William's mother may have been Elizabeth Stroeher (many spelling variations), perhaps born in Cambridgeshire England.   There's no shortage of theories in these earlier generations!

William HENSON is said to have married Ann JACOBS  in 1786 in Harper's Ferry, Virginia.  I have tentatively entered 12 children, all with approximate ages, some with birth locations in North Carolina and Kentucky: Nancy, John, Paul, Christina, Isaac, Susannah, Ellen, William, Mary, Robert, Cristopher and Anne.   My 3G grandfather Billy HENSON Jr. was in the middle of the pack, born 1803 in North Carolina.  No one lists primary sources, and I am having a lot of trouble finding them myself.  Most have resorted to copying from other compilations, including me at this stage.  Many uncertainties remain.  Proof is still needed.

Details of William's later life and family come from his Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant application files and his widow's pension documents.  As a veteran he received a pension of $8.00 per month starting 10 Jan 1828, for 18 months of service as a private in the North Carolina Continental line.  A transcript of his application says he served three tours of duty in North Carolina:
  • Late in 1780 for 18 months, he enlisted "about 40 days before the Battle of Guilford Court-house at a town by the name of Salisbury (the County forgotten) in the Company commanded by Captain William Lytle in the Regiment commanded by Colonel Joseph Lytle in the line of the State of North Carolina on the Continental establishment" ... and "he was discharged by the said Colonel Lytle at Salisbury".  He lost his discharge papers. [the Battle of Guilford NC started 15 Mar 1781]
  • Another 9 months, undated - "in Surry County and at the Courthouse of said County in the State of North Carolina he enlisted for the term of nine months in the company commanded by Captain John Jones (his given name is not positive) in the Regiment commanded by Colonel John Armstrong (his given name he believes was John) in the line of the State of North Carolina on the Continental Establishment" ... and "he was discharged by his Captain ( __ Jones) at Surry Courthouse North Carolina."   He also lost these discharge papers.
  • In 1782 for 18 months.  The Secretary of State's office in 1828 certified that " it appears from the musterroll's [sic] of the Continental line of this State in the revolutionary war, that William Henson a private in Captain Brevard's Company of the 10th Regiment, enlisted in 1782, for 18 months ... nothing more is said of him on said rolls."

So how long did he really serve?  It seems that he was only given credit for 18 months for pension purposes.

I find it very interesting that William waited a long time (1828) to apply for his pension, as it was available as early as 1820 for eligible veterans.  Here's what he had to say on this matter:
"... the following all [sic - are] the reasons for not making earlier application for a pension. That until within one or two years since he felt himself able to support himself and family and that he always disliked the idea of having it said that he was supported by his government when he had no expectation of it when he fought for liberty but owing to old age & poverty and having been crippled within the last year by the fall of a limb from a tree he has concluded to yield to the pressing solicitation of his friends. And in pursuance of the act of the first of May 1820, I do solemnly swear that I was a resident Citizen of the United States on the 18th day of March 1818 ..."
We believe that at least two of William's brothers - Richard and Paul (Jr.) - also fought in the Revolutionary war against the British. Included in the documentation for Richard's pension application is an affidavit by their sister Martha (according to this summation by Will Graves):
fn p. 8: Martha May of Newton County Missouri gave a supporting affidavit in which she says she has known Richard Henson since she was 6 years old; that she is the sister of said Henson; that she can remember of going with her father to see the said Richard and 2 of her other brothers start to go against the British in the war of the revolution in Wilkes County North Carolina when she was about 14 years of age; that they were gone for 3 months; and that prior to that her brother had gone into service for a first tour.
By the time of William HENSON's death on 20 Sep 1830 (or 1831 according to one transcript),  he was living in Knox City Kentucky.  William's widow was still alive in 1850 according to both the 1850 US census (when she was living in Clay County Kentucky, age 90, with her daughter Ann Gilbert and family), and her widows pension application (summarized by Will Graves):
fn p. 9: On May 1, 1850, in Clay County Kentucky, Ann Henson, about 90 years of age, made application for a widow's pension under the 1848 act stating that she is the widow of William Henson, a pensioner of the United States for his service in the revolution at the rate of $96 per annum on the Kentucky list; that she married him at Harpers Ferry in the state of Virginia in the year 1786 by publication in a church; that she has no family record of her marriage it having been destroyed some 25 years ago; that she had several children born prior to 1794 whose names are Nancy, William, John, Paul, Christenah, Isaac and after 1794 she had Susannah, Lurean, Mary , Robert, Christessla [?Christopher in another document] and Ann; That her husband died September 20, 1831.
This latest document seems to be the main source for the names of their twelve children.  Ann HENSON states that she had 6 children prior to 1794, and that means they were born within an 8 year span, assuming they were all born after her marriage in 1786.  That's possible I suppose, but other sources say that Isaac (for instance) wasn't born until 1798.  Who is right?  It could be that Ann was forgetful at the age of 90, or perhaps she adjusted their births to maximize the pension benefits (obviously 1794 was a pivotal year for benefit calculations).  But why would she do that after having delayed making her application in the first place? Was she eligible for the widows pension right after his death 20 years before?  Or maybe she wasn't eligible until the new legislation of 1848? I'll have to look into that detail further.  Either way she seems to have missed out on some pension money just as William had.  They were a proud lot.

Ann claims that her remaining six children were born after 1794 - undoubtedly so, but I sure wish she had included all their birth dates.  According to others, Ann, the youngest, wasn't born until 1817.  The distribution of births doesn't seem proportionate.  I don't know where most of these birth dates have come from, and there are variations in the children's names and birth order as well. There are still many discrepancies to deal with here.

William's long life of 85 years must not have been an easy one, farming and raising a large family in probably rugged conditions.  In the prime of his life, he chose to fight in the Revolutionary War as a patriot after America made its declaration of independence.  His contribution to the birth of a nation is something to be proud of.

REFERENCES and FURTHER READING

Descendants of Paul William Sr, by William G Mattheis
Battle of Guilford, North Carolina, 15th March 1781  - British Battles site
The American Revolution in North Carolina - "Carolana" site
Revolutionary North Carolina - Learn NC site
North Caroline in the Revolutionary War - Lost Souls Genealogy site
1 Comment

Mary HOPGOOD (1823-1894) - #26 (52 Ancestors)

7/3/2015

2 Comments

 
Theme: Halfway    |     Images: Click on many to enlarge
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How I wish I was even halfway finished researching my HOPGOOD line, but in spite of repeated efforts I still have not breached a massive “brick wall” concerning my 2 times great (2G) grandmother Mary HOPGOOD.  I know she married Charles ANDREW on 26 Mar 1842 in Stratton, Cornwall  in south-west England where they both resided, declaring that her father was a farmer named William HOPGOOD.  Less than two weeks after their marriage they set sail for PEI Canada with their young daughter.  While I know something of their later life in PEI, I have been unable to find any more concrete details about Mary's parents, siblings and earlier ancestors.  Where did Mary HOPGOOD come from?  All I have are some partial guesses.

Cornwall is not the only place in England where HOPGOODs lived, although it's the logical place to start my search. In fact the biggest concentration of the name in 1841 (and presumably earlier) occurred in Wiltshire and in neighboring Hampshire.  Cornwall only had a small number (approx 22 individuals from freeCEN) living mostly in Kilkhampton with a few in Morwenstow, both on the north shore near the border with Devon (where 27 Hopgoods lived in 1841).  So the odds are in favour of roots in other counties.  But before I look farther afield, here's what I've found in this south-west corner of England.

PictureSt Andrews Church, Stratton, Cornwall
https://familysearch.org/learn/wiki/en/File:Stratton_St_Andrew_.jpg
I have previously mentioned Mary and her elusive early history and ancestors in a story about her husband Charles ANDREW.  Mary’s surname was once thought to be WOOD based on a 1906 published biography about her son William ANDREW.  But Mary's marriage certificate and gravestone both say it was HOPGOOD, so that mistake has now been corrected.  Family sources claim that Mary was born 25 Dec 1823 in England although I don’t have any other evidence to support this.   No baptism record for her has been found, and it was too early for both civil registration (started 1837) and census records (started 1841).

No one named Mary HOPGOOOD is indexed in the Cornwall 1841 census.  It had been suggested that our Mary was the daughter of John and Ann (Penwarden) HOPGOOD, one of the 3 Hopgood households listed in 1841 in Kilkhampton Cornwall where her husband Charles Andrew was born.  Although this couple did have a daughter Mary Ann, baptized in Kilkhampton in 1826 and close in age to my Mary, this Mary Ann had already died as an infant in 1826. 

Thinking that John might have had a brother William somewhere nearby, I searched for John’s parents: Thomas HOPGOOD and Catherine BURROW, married in 1797 in nearby Morwenstow Cornwall.  Of their possible 14 children, there wasn’t a single William who could have fathered my Mary.  But because of the location I continue to be hopeful that this John and his family are somehow related to my Mary.  John's Hopgood line has now been traced back to the 1600s in and around Kilkhampton. I think I have found an early connection to my ADAMS line, which descends through CORNISH and GRIGG marriages to my ANDREW line.  This only adds to the appeal and credence of possible linkages here.

Mary's marriage registration in 1842 was a great find, as it gave us her correct marriage date and location, plus her father's name: William.  We had been put off the scent for a while by family stories claiming they married earlier on Dec 9 1840. This fabricated marriage date was a convenient nine months before their daughter Mary Ann was born on Aug 14, 1841 (birth date recorded in the 1901 Canada census).  And as far as the marriage location is concerned, I think that Stratton is also a red herring and probably only a temporary residence for them both.  There were no Hopgoods at all living in Stratton in the 1841 census, just the year before.

Upon learning that Mary was not yet married at the time of the 1841 England census, and not living in either Kilkhampton or Stratton, I had great hopes that I could locate her with her parents somewhere close by.  But that was before I factored in the repercussions of her early pregnancy.  When the census was recorded on or around June 6, 1841, Mary would have been about 7 months pregnant.  So it is not surprising that I could not find her in her father William’s household.  There are a couple of possible listings for Mary across the border in Devon (Barnstaple and Woolfardisworthy); both were listed as servants in other households. There are tantalizing clues of other Hopgoods and even Andrews in the neighbourhoods, but I haven't yet grasped any positive connections to either sighting.  I’ve even started to doubt the validity of her father’s name considering the circumstances under which it was recorded.  But I haven’t ruled out any of these guesses.

 I have also been gathering information on a fair number of other HOPGOOD families in south-west England and further afield, hoping for a break.  In Mary’s parents’ generation I have found a different John Thomas* Hopgood, born 1799 in Cornwall, son of Richard and Elizabeth, who married a distant relative Mary YEO in Kilkhampton in 1821.   I have located at least 6 children for this John Thomas and Mary, but no Mary among them.  It is interesting that this family also emigrated to Prince County, PEI sometime between 1837 and 1839 and that John Thomas and Mary (Yeo) both died in 1882 in Cascumpeque and Port Hill PEI respectively.  My Mary was still living in England until 1842, but if she had relatives already in PEI, that might be one reason she chose PEI as her emigration destination.  So I’m keeping my eye on a possible connection here.
There are SO many options for Mary’s father William HOPGOOD.   Could he have been the illegitimate son of a Susanna HOPGOOD, baptized in Kilkhampton in 1787?  As no father was recorded, William was give his mother’s maiden name, at least at birth. He would have been about 36 in 1823 when Mary was born - a very plausible age to go along with the location.  His mother Susanna was likely baptized in nearby Morwenstow in 1764, daughter of Thomas and Mary.  If so then she was the sister of the Thomas Hopgood (Jr) who married Catherine Burrow (mentioned above).  All these pieces seem to fit nicely together, but so far there is no real “proof” that this scenario is correct.  Perhaps I need to do a one name study on this line (groan)!

In spite of her shadowy origins, Mary and her husband Charles ANDREW did immigrate to PEI Canada in 1842, apparently from Kilkhampton according to their gravestone.  I have another note (unfortunately not sourced) that says they sailed on the brig "British Lady" on Apr 8, 1842 and landed at Yeo's Shipyard, Bideford River, PEI on May 20, 1842.  From a booklet "Sketches of Old St Eleanor’s, Prince Edward Island", page 35:
“Charles Andrew emigrated from Kilkhampton County, Devon, England in 1842.  He and part of his family landed at the Yeo Shipyard at Port Hill, after spending over one hundred days at sea.  He left his family at Port Hill while he walked to North St Eleanors with an ox and a sack of potatoes where he started to clear his farm.  He built a log house, planted his potatoes and then brought his family from Port Hill to North St. Eleanors by boat where the remainder of his family were born.  One of his sons William Andrew was Sheriff of Prince County for sometime.  At the present time [1973] there are seven houses that were once owned by sons of the late Charles Andrew that have been moved to the Village of St Eleanors.  Benjamin Andrew, South Drive, is the only male descendant still living in PEI with the Andrew name.”
I'll note here that their great-grandson Benjamin Andrew passed away in 2005, and I don't know of any Andrew's currently living on the island.  I am also intrigued by the mention of Port Hill in this article, where Mary and young Mary Ann would have stayed until Charles had made the homestead ready.  Port Hill is on the north shore of PEI in Prince County, near Bideford and Tyne Valley (where descendants later settled as well).  Could Port Hill also be associated with John Thomas HOPGOOD and his wife Mary YEO (mentioned above) who also immigrated about 1838. Mary (Yeo) died in Port Hill in 1882.  Were they settled in Port Hill in 1842 and therefore able to take in the newly arrived Mary ANDREW and her daughter? But perhaps I'm grasping at straws here. 

From  newspaper accounts [1836 - 1845] as indexed on the Island Register site:
The ship “British Lady” arrived May 19, 1842 PEI, having departed from Bideford, G. Britain.
"Royal Gazette, 31 May, 1842: "The British Lady, Yeo, 37 days from Bideford, arrived at Port hill on the 19th inst., with goods, and a number of passengers." - also - Colonial Herald Sat., 23 May, 1842, page 3, Ship News: "The British Lady, Yeo, 37 days from Bideford arrived at Port Hill on the 19th inst. with goods and a number of passengers. [GC]"
Their journey would have been arduous enough at 37 days.  Thank goodness they weren't really at sea for 100 days, a tall tale indeed!

The family prospered in PEI Canada.  Charles and Mary had 9 children between 1841 and 1863 when Mary was 40: Mary Ann, John, Charles, William, Elizabeth Ann, Thomas, Flora, Albert (died age 2) and George Albert.  Mary died first 7 Feb 1894 in St Eleanors PEI at the age of 70.  Of her known 27 grandchildren, she would have lived to see all but four of them.  Both Mary and Charles are buried in the St Johns Anglican Church Cemetery in St Eleanors PEI.

I will persevere in my quest for my HOPGOOD ancestors!
2 Comments

    Authors

    Terry and Claudia Boorman have been interested in their family history since the 1980s.  They live in Victoria BC Canada.

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