52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.34 - Mary McCURDY (1778-1855)

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was Defective, Dependent, Delinquint and I wrote about my 3rd great-grandfather Jacob ORMSBEE's unusual second wife.  This week's theme is NON-POPULATION SCHEDULES/censuses.  Rather than follow the theme, I'm choosing to write about another 3rd great-grandparent:  Mary McCURDY.

Mary McCURDY is the only daughter I have found to date, for parents, Neil and Abigail McCURDY. Her father was born 4 Jul 1745, Rathlin Island, Antrim, just off the northern coast of Northern Ireland, and apparently settled before 1775 in the St. Andrews region, New Brunswick, Canada. This is on the border with Maine, on Passamaquoddy Bay - a very fluid friendly border area for many years. Nothing is known about the history of his wife Abigail, to this date. Apparently a group of Rathlin Island families and individuals came over to Lubec ME, not far away (dates unknown), as found on one of several histories of McCurdy family lines.

It is speculated that there were also two sons born to Neil & Abigail McCURDY in New Brunswick:  George, (abt 1782-1835), and Alex (?1785-?).  Their names show up after Neil's death, in notices in the New Brunswick newspapers, but no other details have been confirmed. Daniel Johnson's newspaper transcriptions have been very helpful for NB ancestors.  Mysteries abound with this early family.

Mary McCURDY was born in March 1778. Her birthplace has been stated to be Halifax county, Nova Scotia in several histories; however that appears most unlikely as her parents lived in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, for all their life, as far as can be determined.

At the Christ Church & Trinity Anglican Church, on 4 Dec 1801, Mary married Thomas PETTYGROVE, in St. Stephen, which is literally across the St. Croix River from Calais, Maine. Thomas PETTYGROVE was born Oct 1765 in Kittery, York, Maine, but the family moved to Calais before 1792.  At that time, Thomas and his elder brother Francis each bought a hundred acres of land in the region of Calais, settling there, and raising their families.  Note that Calais ME was incorporated as a town in 1809.  Her husband's surname is often spelled Pettegrow or Pettegrew.

Mary and Thomas had the following children, b. in Calais, ME unless indicated otherwise:

1. Thomas, b. 20 Jan 1804; m. Mary ___ 
2. Neal McCurdy, b. 18 Mar 1805, d. 4 May 1883 Pulaski WI; m. in Calais ME, 10 Mar 1833, to Abigail Hammond Pope, 6 children; m.2nd in WI to Lucinda 1854 in WI, 2 children; m. 3rd in WI to Eunice in 1860s.
3. Caroline Elizabeth, b. 4 Jun 1806; m. in Calais ME, to James Stewart est 1825
4. Elizabeth, b. 29 Sep 1808
5. Sarah Ann, b. 27 Aug 1809, d. 9 Jul 1895 Easton WI; m. in Calais ME, 25 Apr 1838 to  Jonathan Corliss Colby, 9 children
6. Mary Charlotte, b. 30 Jan 1811 Bailyville ME, d. 7 Oct 1889 Eagle Creek, OR; m in Calais ME, 9 Jul 1834 to Phillip Foster; 9 children (Oregon Territories pioneer settlers by sea)
7. Francis William (F.W.), [direct ancestor] b. 12 Oct 1812, d. 5 Oct 1887 Port Townsend Washington territories; m. 1842 (in ?New York) to Sophia RULAND [direct ancestor], 7 children (Oregon/Washington pioneer settlers by sea)
8. William A., b. abt 1818; m. in Calais ME, abt 1857 to Julia A. ___; one son, William A. (1859)
9. Abigail R., b. 1820, d. aft April 1, 1852 after 5th child; m. in Calais, ME, Oct 1843 to John C. Smith, 5 children
10. Lucy K., b. 1822, d. after 1900 ME; m. in Calais ME, 23 May 1854 to John C. Smith (yes her deceased sister's husband), 4 children.

She certainly saw sadness with losing children, either through death or migration.  #6 Mary Charlotte and #7 Francis William both disappeared to the west coast of America, over 3400 miles distant; they and their families were part of the opening of the Oregon territories (which became WA and OR).   #2 Neal her 2nd son, and #5 Sarah Ann, her 3rd daughter,  both moved with their families to Wisconsin, over 1300 miles distant.  #9 Abigail died after 5 children.

Thirty-three grandchildren she never met, and four children never seen again, plus one daughter who died as a young woman.  Challenges and losses. I always wonder if there are packets of letters to and from her children, sitting in an attic somewhere, which would provide more details of her life, and/or the lives of her children. 

I have not researched all details possible for the various other children.  I have researched #6 and #7 because of my connection with #7, and his sea migration together with his sister #6 and her husband and family to the west coast, in 1843.

Obviously if you have any information or corrections about Mary McCURDY and her family, I would be very pleased to receive this.  You may send details through my email at bottom of page, or in the Comments section below.  Please note that FindAGrave notes on memorials for her and her husband have inaccuracies.  I have added a few comments to their pages to help with corrections.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.33 : Emily, 2nd wife of Jacob ORMSBEE

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was 32 [e.g., we have 32 3rd greatgrandfathers].  This week's theme is "Defective, Dependent, Delinquent" - that column in some of the US Censuses for identifying such individuals in families. I've only found one to date, so here's Emily, 2nd wife of Jacob ORMSBEE, whom I've written about previously. Jacob is my 3rd great-grandfather on my mother's maternal line.

Jacob ORMSBEE, b. 21 Jun 1806 in Pompey, Onondaga, NY, married first to Sabra TOWERS, b. 22 Aug 1805 in Schaghticoke, Rensselaer, NY, in about 1824 in New York state, likely in Baldwinsville, Manlius, or even in Syracuse.

Sabra died 13 Aug 1869, aged 63, in Syracuse, and is buried in the family plot (ORMSBEE-GRAVES) at Oakwood Cemetery, Onondaga, New York.

In December 1869, only 4 months after his wife's death, Jacob, a successful builder/carpenter, married a much younger woman, Emily.

Jacob, 68, and Emily, 40, are found on the 1870 Census for Syracuse, Onondaga, NY, with another woman, Sarah Hurd, aged 69 - her mother.  Both Emily and Sarah note they were born in Vermont, and can be found living in Syracuse on earlier Censuses, where there is stated relationship of mother-daughter. Emily also had a son, Henry Lafayette Palmer, named after her 1st husband, Lafayette Palmer, who seems to have died shortly after/around the time their son was born.  He does not show up on the 1870 Census.  On this 1870 Census, Emily shows she owns real estate [independent of Jacob] and personal value, similar to her new husband. The Lucius Ormsby below, is Jacob & Sabra's son.

Something happened in the next 10 years, however, as we look at the 1880 Census for Syracuse.

As you can see, Emily, now aged 53, has a tick in the Health section column for "Idiotic".  That would likely refer to her being unable to speak/converse, or having a severe brain injury of some sort.  A severe stroke might have caused this description, as well.  There was a scratch-out in the column of "insane".  Oh dear.

Living with Jacob and Emily is a Housekeeper, Hannah Coon, aged 64, labelled "Sister" - which would be sister to the Head of House, Jacob.  This is a new person for the Ormsbee line, and I can hardly wait to research more about Hannah.  (Sidebar: I found Hannah married to Henry James Coon, with 5 children including only son James; both Hannah and James are buried in Oakwood Cemetery in the Ormsbee-Graves plot - confirming her relationship with Jacob. However there is no death/burial date for either person. Perhaps they are simply listed on a memorial plaque?)   

Unfortunately, the 1890 Census is not available to see if Emily is alive at that time. In addition, I have been unable to confirm the death of Emily Ormsbee/Ormsby so far.

Jacob died 29 Mar 1893, aged 86, in Syracuse, and was buried at Oakwood cemetery in the family plot ORMSBEE-GRAVES.  There is a long obituary glued into my Terwilliger Souvenir Album, plus other little notes about his death. Absolutely nothing is said of either wife.  I might assume therefore, that Emily died in the years between 1880-1893.  She is not buried in the family plot at Oakwood Cemetery, according to the Burial Registration Book.

A mystery.  Who was Emily?  Why did he marry such a much-younger wife only a few months after his first wife died, after 45 years of marriage?  Did he know her and her family, perhaps do business with them?  And why on earth was she NOT buried in the same family plot as Jacob, her husband?  I have many questions and no answers at all.

Obviously if you have any information about Emily Hurd, her death, her family of origin, or where she may be buried, I would be very pleased to receive this.  You may send details through my email at bottom of page, or in the Comments section below.

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES - No.32 : Cornelius GRAVES, 1783-1828

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was Easy, and I wrote about my ex-husband's maternal grandfather.  This week's theme is 32, i.e., THIRTY-TWO.  We're at the 32nd week, and there are 32 third-great-grandparents.  I've chosen to write about Cornelius GRAVES, of Connecticut - whose father is much better known (Stephen GRAVES, of the Tory Den fame near Harwinton CT).  Don't forget to click on links for more details.

Cornelius GRAVES, b. 15 Feb 1783 in Harwinton, Connecticut, was the eldest son, and third child of Stephen GRAVES and Ruth JEROME (whose father was Zerubbabel JEROME - remember those posts on Zerubbabel?).  Cornelius was baptised 27 Apr 1783, in East Plymouth, CT.

Cornelius became a very successful stone mason and contractor, and in about 1803 he married Anna TREAT, the 2nd of the five daughters of Samuel Peet TREAT and Sarah THOMPSON.  Anna is a direct ancestor of  Robert TREAT, Governor of CT in the latter part of the 1600s.

The family moved near Auburn, Cayuga, New York, where he worked as a farmer, as well as contracting/providing materials while building the Auburn Prison.  Apparently, he also was involved in contracting materials to build the locks on the Erie Canal.  The Canal opened Oct 26, 1825, connecting the Great Lakes with the Hudson River, starting a wave of immigration to the western regions, as well as improving transportation of goods/freight.

Soon after 1810, the family moved and settled in Jordan, Onondaga County, NY.

Children of Cornelius and Anna:
  1. Emeline, b. 21 Jun 1805, Harwinton CT, d. 2 Aug 1879; m. Henry Allen 1824; 3 children
  2. William Thompson, b. 2 May 1807, Harwinton CT, d. 26 Jul 1889; m. Oct 1835 to Catherine C. Davis;  known as "honest Tom Graves"; successful banker
  3. Edward Seabury, b. 19 Nov 1810, Harwinton CT, d. 19 Oct 1887; m. 5 Jul 1849 to sister of above bro's wife, Nancy L. Davis; 1 daughter
  4. Stephen Rensselaer, b. 2 Oct 1814, Jordan, NY, d. 1894; m. 7 Nov 1824 to Susan A. Barr; 6 children
  5. Sheldon, b. 8 Jul 1816, Jordan NY, d. 13 Feb 1894 Chicago IL; m. 12 Jun 1846 to Mary Camp; 5 children
  6. Caroline, b. 31 Aug 1818, Jordan NY, d. 22 Jul 1821 - 2yrs of age
  7. Harmon, b. 29 Oct 1821, Jordan NY, d. 2 Mar 1825 - 3 yrs of age
  8. Charles Giles [direct ancestor], b. 7 Mar 1824 Jordan NY, d. 8 Feb 1902; m. 26 Sep 1850 to Harriet Philena ORMSBEE (1827-1929!); 3 daughters

Only four years after the birth of his last child, Charles, Cornelius died on 27 Sep 1828, near Auburn NY.  It is a mystery to me why he died at only 45 years of age, and I haven't found any records to date with any details.  But noting that two children died in 1821 and 1825, there may have been epidemics in the region... or perhaps he had an accident related to his work.  However, he was a very successful businessman, and the family managed extremely well in their lives after he died.

Anna, his wife, did not remarry. She lived for a time with her eldest son, Wm Thompson "Tom" Graves in Jordan.  She died, aged 83, on 12 Oct 1866, in Jordan NY.

Cornelius is buried with his wife, in Maple Grove Cemetery in Jordan, Onondaga, New York.

If any of this information is incorrect, or if you have further information, please do contact me at my email below or through Comments. I am always happy to correct details, and add information as well,

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.

52 ANCESTORS, 52 THEMES, No.31, Easy: Henry Luther RICE, 1857-1934

This year's challenge by Amy Crow is another weekly blog based on Themes. Last week's theme was Challenging, and I had another go at my 3rd great-grandmother, Charlotte BORTLE. This week's theme is EASY -  which turned out to be more challenging than last week's topic.  Here is Henry Luther RICE, my children's great-grandfather on their father's mother's line.

Henry may have been named for another Henry in the family, Henry C. Rice, born 1827, his uncle, his father Joel's brother. Uncle Henry married Arletta Healy, the sister of Joel's wife, Charlotte Healy.

Henry Luther RICE was the first-born of Joel RICE and Charlotte HEALY, who had married 19 Aug 1854 in White county, Illinois.  Born 26 July 1857 in Harrisburg, Salina, Illinois, Henry married for the 1st time to Ida May Barnes, 20 Apr 1881, in Illinois.  Ida, born 1862 in [likely] White county, Illinois, was the 3rd of 8 children of Theron Stares Barnes and Martha S. Mitchell.

Children of Henry Luther RICE & Ida May Barnes, born in White county, IL:
  1.  Charles Edward "Ted", b. 2 Jun 1882, d. 28 Apr 1942, Redlands, CA; m. with children
  2.  Calla "Caly" M., b. Aug 1884, d. 13 Apr 1913 Carrizo Springs TX; m. Earle Cook, 1 dau
  3.  Joel "Joe", b. Nov 1886;  unknown history

Unfortunately, Ida May died 5 Jan 1887, barely a month after Joel was born, leaving Henry with 3 children under 5 years.  I have not yet found a marriage record, but by 1887, he married Martha Jane VINEYARD, the 6th of 10 [or 12] children of Phillip Wesley Vineyard & Margaret C. WALTERS. [The couple may have adopted 2 Yates children].  And after Phillip died in 1874, Margaret married for the second time to Francis M. Berry and had 3 more children.  Martha Jane was born 2 Aug 1864 in White county, Illinois; her family may have been neighbours with the Rice family, as both families were farming in Indian Creek region of White County, IL. Indian Creek is a village next to Norris City township in White County.

Children of Henry Luther RICE & Martha VINEYARD:
  4.  Ada C., b. Aug 1888, d. 1983 in Mendocina CA; 1st m. [or not] unknown Mitchell, 1 dau; 2nd, m. [or not] Charles William LEWIS, 1 son.
  5.  Don Olin, b. 7 Jul 1891, d. 30 Jul 1967, San Bernardino co., CA; m 1915 to Inez A. Freel; 2 children
  6.  Barney Brooks, b. Feb 1893, d. 19 May 1945, San Bernardino co., CA in mental asylum; did not marry, mental illness after father died
  7.  Faye Jennie, b. May 1895, d. 18 Nov 1945, Fullerton, Orange, CA; m. Edwin A. Starr; 3 children
  8.  Reba Kathryn [direct ancestor], b. 23 Jun 1897, d. 27 Aug 1974 Vancouver BC Canada; m. [or not] approx 1934 to Charles William LEWIS; 2 sons
  9.  Helen, b. 1901; m. unknown Ewing; nothing further known; "died young" said Reba
10.  Marguerite LaVerne, b. 1903; m. abt 1922 to Barney Watje; 4 children
11.  Hazel Florence, b. abt 1904, d. abt 1998; m. ? Cummings; 4 children

Henry and his family lived in the Indian Creek township area of White County, Illinois until just after the last child was born.  While in Illinois, he sold Farm Implements, according to the 1900 Census.

The family moved after 1905 to Redlands, San Bernardino, California where they may be seen on the 1910 Census.  All the children are listed as born in Illinois. Henry's occupation at this time is Printer, owning/managing his own Printing shop, where his son Barney was also working with him. The elder three children by his first wife are not at home at this time, which would be normal considering their ages in 1910.

Henry continued to work in his own printing shop, as seen in the 1920 and 1930 Censuses, with Barney assisting in the shop.  Henry died 12 Jan 1934 in Redlands, and is buried there at Hillside Memorial Cemetery.  His second wife, Martha Jane, died 19 Mar 1954 in Los Angeles, and is also buried in Hillside Memorial Cemetery.

Information above is taken from Censuses, Marriage records, WW1 Draft Card records, FindAGrave headstones with their memorial writings, and personal information from Lewis/Rice family members. If any of this information is incorrect, please do contact me at my email below or through Comments. I am always happy to correct details, and add information as well.  And if you are related, my children and their cousins would be thrilled to connect with you!

Blogger - or my computer - is still not letting me "reply" to your comments, for some unknown reason. If I don't reply to your Comment, please know that I'm totally thrilled you came to read my post and commented!  You truly make my day.