Cinderella Amelia (Lyons) Newcomb (1820 - 1910)

 

Cinderella Amelia Lyons is a half sister to my 3rd great grandmother, Isabella Lyons Bill (1806 - 1872).  Her name intrigued me, so I decided to investigate her life.  Down the rabbit hole!

I had seen the name Cinderella before on a real person.  See this blog post HERE.  This is the only time I have found a Cinderella in my own family tree. The two examples of the name Cinderella I had seen were from the early 1800s.  So I checked the 1850 Federal Census to see how many women and girls had this fairy tale name!  According to Ancestry.com there were there are over 330,000 examples of this name in the 1850 census.  Wow!  And that wouldn't even include Cinderella Lyons, who was born and married in New Brunswick, Canada. 

My 4th great grandfather, Thomas Ratchford Lyons, the son of David Lyons and Elizabeth Ratchford, was born on 3 March 1780 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.  He married Ann Skinner, the daughter of Charles Skinner and Sarah Osborn, on 30 September 1802 in Cornwallis.  Ann was born 9 May 1786 in Cornwallis, and died 19 October 1815 in Cornwallis.  Later, Thomas remarried to Anne Griffin, the daughter of James Chipman Griffin and Sarah Harris, on 21 May 1818 in Sackville, Nova Scotia.  

Thomas had five children with each wife, Ann and Anne, six daughters and four sons.  Of course, the name Cinderella jumped out at me as being very interesting!  I was able to trace her life under her married name.

Cinderella Amelia Lyons was born on 19 November 1820 in Sackville, and married William Freeman Newcomb on 11 December 1845.  William was born on 18 March 1813 in Cornwallis, but the marriage document listed his residence as Roxbury (now part of Boston, Massachusetts), so he must have immigrated to the United States before the wedding.  Cinderella and William also had five children, and their birth records list their birthplaces as Roxbury, Massachusetts; Cornwallis, Nova Scotia; Lewiston, New York; New York; and Massachusetts. 

William died 9 June 1857 on Rainsford Island, Boston Harbor, and was listed as being buried there, too.  This bit of information sent me down another rabbit hole, since I was not familiar with Rainsford Island.  The vital records listed him as dying of apoplexy [probably a stroke], a carpenter, born in Nova Scotia, with no parents listed.  After some research I learned that there was a small pox and quarantine hospital on Rainsford Island, which was also known as Hospital Island, Pest House Island, and Quarantine Island.  He was only 44 years old, so perhaps William had been struck down by a contagious disease? There was no further information on the death record. There are no gravestones on Rainsford Island today, nor any standing buildings.  It is a protected part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Park, being off limits from April to September due to bird nesting, and no transportation to the island. According to Find A Grave, it is estimated that there are thousands of burials on this island, with only about 1, 599 names identified between 1854 to 1896.  About 350 bodies were removed in 1947 and reburied on Long Island.  

Cinderella lived a long life after her husband died.  She didn't pass away until 15 January 1910 in Boston. I found one obituary for her in far away New Mexico, in the Santa Fe New Mexican, 21 January 1910 ""Death of Mrs. C. A. Newcomb - Mrs. Cinderella Amelia Newcomb, mother of Judge William H. Newcomb, and Mrs. H. H. Betts of Silver City, died last week at Boston, Massachusetts, in her ninetieth year."  Despite being a widow with five children, and her husband being only a carpenter, her children did well in life.  Two lived in Massachusetts, one married the judge and removed to Silver City, New Mexico, and two unmarried daughters removed to Los Angeles and were buried at the prestigious Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Glendale, California. 

Cinderella is buried at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Boston.  I hope to find and photograph her tombstone when the weather improves. 

For the truly curious:

Tombstone Tuesday - Alice and Cinderella, 2012:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/10/tombstone-tuesday-alice-and-cinderella.html  

Surname Saturday - Lyons, 2013:

     https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/08/surname-saturday-lyons-loyalists-from.html  

A book about Rainsford Island, free and readable on Internet Archive "Rainsford Island: A Boston Harbor Case Study in Public Neglect and Private Activism" by William A. McEvoy and Robin Hazard Ray, 2019:    https://archive.org/details/rainsfordislandb00mcev_0 

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Cinderella Amelia (Lyons) Newcomb (1820 - 1910)", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 2, 2023, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2023/05/cinderella-amelia-lyons-newcomb-1820.html: accessed [access date]). 

The Obituary of Sarah (Osborne) Skinner, 1848, Nova Scotia

From the Christian Messenger, Friday 14 April 1848, pages 116a and 117.  This was a Baptist newsletter in Nova Scotia, Canada. 

“OBITUARY NOTICE

Mrs. Sarah Skinner was the daughter of the late Mr. Samuel Osborne.  Both Mr. And Mrs. S. were born in Martha’s Vineyard, U. S. where they were married.  They removed, thence to Casco bay Maine, from thence to N. B. and finally to N. S.

                Sarah, their daughter, and the subject of this notice, was born on the 22^nd July 1760 and was sprinkled in her infancy, as were the rest of the children.  Their mother instructed them in the belief and practice of the Pedobaptists, - and exercised over their morals watchful care – taught them to repeat prayers and read their Bibles, &c.  Sarah’s mind was seriously exercised from childhood about her soul’s interests and at twelve years of age her concern became more pungent, and notwithstanding, her having been early instructed, that having been dedicated to God, and be properly termed, truly religious instructions, calculated to impress her mind with the necessity of a divine change, and lead her to the right source and practice, irrespective of the Spirit of God and His Word, were very limited.  When about nineteen years of age, she heard a sermon preached by Henry Allen, who was a Pedobaptist Congregational Minister, and all the churches formed thro’ his instrumentality were of that order, consequently she did not make a public profession of religion until she was bout forty six years of age.  About this time there was a Close Communion Calvinistic Baptist Church organized in Cornwallis by Elder Case, from Maine, consisting of only seven members who separated from what was then called the Open Communion Church, consisting of Baptists and Pedobaptists, over which Elder Edward Manning was Pastor, but who was subsequently immersed by the late Rev. T. H. Chipman, and re-ordained by Elder Case, as the Pastor of the newly organized church.  This being the first Baptist church ever formed in Cornwallis, which Mrs. Skinner untied with, and remained a consistent member until her demise.  It may be truly said that but few persons in life were more rooted and grounded in the truths of the Bible, more circumspect in her deportment, and possessed stronger faith during the whole course of her religious life – and notwithstanding the various conflicts she was called to pass thro’, it bing her lot in the Providence of God, to be what the world is wont to call poor, yet she was rich in faith, and an heir of the Kingdom of God, and in much patience possessed her soul, -- was always cheerful and resigned, and possessed abiding reliance in the strong arm of Jehovah – and a confident assurance of a blessed immortality, knowing that her hope rested alone on the merits of Christ’s death.  She was familiar with her Bible, enjoyed much communion with her Saviour, and always delighting in the Gospel. She loved the house of God, and the communion and fellowship of the saints.  Her life was one continued example of piety – she had, it is true, her inbred corruptions to content with and lament, yet her faith in Christ’s blood triumphed over them.  For a number of years after her husband’s death, she resided with her brother in law, the late W. A. Chipman, Esq.  They highly appreciated her company, but she preferred living with her children during the latter part of her life.  She retained the use of her faculties remarkably in old age, her memory was good – the choice sayings contained in the book of God were always her support, and with much emphasis would she relate them, her mind being richly stored with them.  For a number of years before her demise she was unable to go to the house of God, but when sermons were preached in the house where she resided, she would greatly rejoice in the truth.  She would often repeat appropriate hymns to her state of mind and with pious emotions; and looking forward with joyful expectation of entering into the full enjoyment of that rest that remains for the saints of God.

                One circumstance among many that might be named as interesting might be adverted to.  At one time she was tempted to believe that there was no Heaven.  The thought exceedingly distressed her, and she immediately retired and threw herself prostrate on the ground, and begged of God to relieve her mind.  She returned to the house in agony, and fled to her Bible, and when she opened it the following words from Isaiah met her view “Unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, &c”  instantly all her doubts were removed, and she then resolved in future when any similar suggestion came to her mind that would reject it and this proved a source of great comfort and safeguard to her through her life.  About two years before her demise she took a severe cold which settled in her limbs and rendered her incapable of walking – yet she could sit up through the day – but for the last year she was principally confined to her bed, but always patient and cheerful, -- and her whole theme was the subject of religion.  She gradually declined, and finally when the closing scene drew near, she was like one looking for and hastening unto the day of God.  Death was no terror to her, she could triumph over it.  She knew that her Redeemer liveth, and that his promises would never fail.  How oft would she repeat the saying of our blessed Lord, “In my Father’s house are many mansions &c.”, she had no doubt that there was one for her and that she should soon enter there.  She retained her senses until the last.  Tuesday, before she expired the writer of this sketch saw her, found her dying, but still capable of speaking so as to understood.  In answer to questions proposed to her, she relied that she knew she was dying—that her hope of heaven was strong—She had no fears – all was well.  Being asked if she wished him to pray with her, she replied “Yes!  Prayer is sweet.”  After prayer she said “Amen,” in token of her approbation.  She finally fell asleep in Jesus on the 15^th January 1848, in the 88^th year of her age.  Her death was improved by a sermon preached by the Rev. A. Stronach.

                She was married at the age of sixteen to Mr. Charles Skinner, in N. B. who was a native of Connecticut.  She had by him eight sons and seven daughters, all of whom have been married except on daughter and one son who died when in his eighth year. Most of her children have publicly professed religion, and for the others she was not without hope.  She had one hundred and thirteen grandchildren, forty-seven of whom have professed religion, and all except two are Baptists.  Upwards of sixty great grand children, a number of whom have also professed religion.  There are four Baptist Ministers connected with her family.  One her own sons, Pastor of a Baptist Church in N. B., Elders Ed. Manning, Cornwallis, and Geo. Dimock, Newport, N. S., who married her daughter, and Rev. I. E. Bill, of Nictaux, who married her grand daughter.  – Communicated by Rev. W. Chipman.

                Pleasant Valley, March 29^th, ‘48

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Sarah Osborne Skinner was my 5th great grandmother.  She was the daughter of  Samuel Osborn and Sarah Wass, residents of the island of Martha's Vineyard who removed to New Brunswick, Canada.   She was born 22 July 1760 in Fredricton, New Brunswick, and died 15 January 1848 in Pleasant Valley, Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.

At age sixteen Sarah married Charles Skinner on 24 November 1774 in Passamoquoddy, New Brunswick.   They had fifteen children, including my 4th great grandmother, Ann Skinner (1786 - 1815) who married Thomas Ratchford Lyons.  Ann's daughter, Isabella Lyons (1806 - 1872), married the Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill, who is mentioned in the obituary above.  Ann's sister, Rebecca Skinner (1781 - 1857) married Reverend Edward Manning, who baptized my 2nd great grandfather, Rev. I. E. Bill. 

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The Obituary of Sarah (Osborne) Skinner, 1848, Nova Scotia", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 21, 2017, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-obituary-of-sarah-osborne-skinner.html: accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday ~ Ratchford of Massachusetts and Nova Scotia

RATCHFORD

This lineage begins with James Radsford, who was born about 1719 and married Margaret Ball on 26 December 1738 in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.  This couple is a true brick wall to my genealogy research, since I do not know the origins or parents of either one.  The name Radsford is often spelled as Ratchford in the Bridgewater records, and it is the spelling adopted by the descendants.  They had five sons, no daughters, in the vital records. 

I descend from Thomas Ratchford, the second son.   He married Desire Gore on 1 December 1760 in Groton, Connecticut.  She was the daughter of Moses Gore and Desire Burris/Burrows/Burroughs.   About 1763 he settled in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.  He was part of the New England Planter movement, who came to Nova Scotia for the free land given away after the Acadian expulsion.  Records of his family can be found in the Township Book of Cornwallis.

Their daughter, Elizabeth Ratchford, is my 5^th Great Grandmother.  She married David Lyons on 25 May 1779 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia.  He was a recent settler from Connecticut to Nova Scotia.  They had twelve children in Cornwallis, and left many, many descendants.  My branch came back to New England.  I found much information about this lineage of Ratchfords in my ancestor, Reverend I. E. Bill’s, journals.  The Rev. Bill married Isabella Lyons Bill, the granddaughter of Elizabeth Ratchford and David Lyons.

I haven’t found any further Radsford or Ratchford records in Plymouth County, Massachusetts to trace this lineage back further than James Radsford, my 7^th Great Grandfather.

My Ratchford genealogy:

Generation 1:  James Radsford, born about 1719; married on 26 December 1738 to Margaret Ball.  They had five sons in the Bridgewater, Massachusetts Vital Records.

Generation 2: Thomas Ratchford, born 19 June 1741 in Bridgewater, died 27 December 1813 in Horton, Kings County, Nova Scotia; married on 1 December 1760 in Groton, Connecticut to Desire Gore, daughter of Moses Gore and Desire Burris.  She was born 20 September 1740 in Groton, and died 11 April 1813 in Horton.  Three children.

Generation 3: Elizabeth Ratchford, born about 1764 and died 18 March 1845 in Nova Scotia; married on 25 May 1779 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia to David Lyons.  Twelve children.

Generation 4:  Thomas Ratchford Lyons m. Ann Skinner

Generation 5: Isabella Lyons m. Ebenezer Ingraham Bill

Generation 6: Caleb Rand Bill m. Ann Margaret Bollman

Generation 7: Isabella Lyons Bill m. Albert Munroe Wilkinson

Generation 8: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

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Copyright 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Surname Saturday ~ Lyons, Loyalists from Connecticut to Nova Scotia?

Isabella Lyons (1806 - 1872)
wife of Rev. I. E. Bill

LYONS

This is another brickwall line, and I was reluctant to post it as a Surname Saturday name until I realized that someone out there in cyber space may have the answer to my lineage problems.  So here is the story…

My line begins with David Lyons.   He appears in Nova Scotia records for the first time when he purchased land from Thomas M. Beckwith near the Pereau River on 6 April 1803.   He appears in the 1790 Federal Census of Stratford, Connecticut.   According to an article in Connecticut Ancestry “Connecticut Loyalists Who Went to Canada” 1974, Volume 17, No. 2, a “Daniel Lyon” was granted land in Canning, Nova Scotia.  Is this the same man?

On 25 May 1779 in Cornwallis, Kings County, Nova Scotia David Lyons married Elizabeth Ratchford, the daughter of Thomas Ratchford and Desire Gore, other new Nova Scotia planters from New England.  I know little else about Thomas and Elizabeth. David Lyons and his family are listed in the Cornwallis Township book, which gives the names and some dates for the twelve children’s births.

My line continues through their son, Thomas Ratchford Lyons, who married twice. His first wife, and my 4^th great grandmother, was Ann Skinner.  She gave him seven children.  I only know a little about this generation from vital records in the Cornwallis Township Book and from a journal written by a son-in-law.  Their daughter, Isabella Lyons, married the Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill, who wrote extensively about his life, his family and his conversion to the Baptist faith.  There is also some information about the Lyons family in the family sketches chapters of The History of King’s County, Nova Scotia by Arthur Wentworth Hamilton Eaton, 1910 (available to read online at archive.org at this link http://archive.org/details/historykingscou00eatogoog ).

Other LYONS researchers have uncovered information about a Patrick Lyons in Nova Scotia.  This Patrick Lyons lived previously in Connecticut, where he witnessed a will.  Patrick Lyons left a will mentioning his father’s burial in County Monaghan, Ireland, and a brother Edmund in Castleblaney.  Could he be the father, brother or kinsman of David Lyons? Was the family of Irish descent?  Were they Loyalists?

My LYONS lineage:

Generation 1:  Patrick Lyons?

Generation 2: David Lyons, born about 1759 in Connecticut? Died May 1812 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia; married on 25 May 1779 in Cornwallis to Elizabeth Ratchford, daughter of Thomas Ratchford and Desire Gore.  She was born about 1764 and died on 18 March 1845 in Nova Scotia.

Generation 3: Thomas Ratchford Lyons, born 3 March 1780 in Cornwallis, died 1859 in Sackville, Nova Scotia; married first on 30 September 1802 in Cornwallis to Ann Skinner, daughter of Charles Skinner and Sarah Osborn.  She was born 9 March 1786 in Cornwallis and died 19 October 1815 in Cornwallis.  He married second to Anne Griffin.

Generation 3: Isabella Lyons, born 28 January 1806 in Cornwallis, died April 1872 in Carleton, New Brunswick; she married on 20 April 1826 in Cornwallis to Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill, son of Asahel Bill and Mary Rand.  He was born on 19 February 1805 in Billtown, Cornwallis and died 4 August 1891 in St. Martin’s, New Brunswick.

Generation 4: Caleb Rand Bill m. Ann Margaret Bollman

Generation 5: Isabella Lyons Bill m. Albert Munroe Wilkinson

Generation 6: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

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Copyright 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

My Top Ten Brickwall Problem Ancestors

This is a shot in the dark, but last September Diane Boumenot posted her top ten genealogy research problems HERE and she has already solved two of them.   Readers and Google searchers found her post and sent her enough information or clues to break down those genealogical brickwalls.  So… here is my list.  I’m hoping for a reader or distant cousin to read this and help me to solve a few genealogy mysteries, too!

Diane listed the skills and strategies she thought she might need to solve her research problems.  This is a good idea, and working through this list has got me thinking of new ways to attack these mysteries.  Maybe I’ll solve them at least one brickwall before I get a mysterious “cousin connection” email or comment?

My 10 “Brickwall” ancestors:

1.   Elizabeth Lambert (about 1775 – 1834) is my 5x great grandmother.  She married Owen Jones, a native of Wales and son of a British customs officer, on 11 May 1793 at the Second Baptist Church in Boston, Massachusetts.  They lived in the North End, and had six daughters who were described as debutantes and all married very well.  I’m hoping she is from a well-connected, wealthy family in Boston who left lots of good records.  Unfortunately, there were many Lambert/Lombard/Lumbard/Lamport families in Boston at this time, and I have searched them all for Elizabeth.  A consultation with a professional genealogist at a conference leads me to believe I should search probate and deeds for Elizabeth among the many Lambert families.

One clue- Elizabeth had a sister, Sarah, who married John Dark/Dargue on 1 December  1793 in Boston.  Elizabeth (Lambert) Jones named her first daughter Sarah Dargue Jones in her honor.  The sister Sarah (Lambert) Dargue died on 3 September 1796, no parents listed.

Problem- I’ve never really done probate or deed research, so this will be my first test case with these types of records.  Searching for Jones records in the courthouse won’t be fun, neither will it be fun searching through all those Lambert/Lombard/Lumbard/Lamport etc. variations.  Elizabeth Lambert was born at about the time of the Boston siege during the American Revolution (many residents fled the city), so she may have been born somewhere else in Massachusetts or New England.

2.  Margaret Welch (about 1796 – 1860) is my 4x great grandmother.  Her death record in Chichester, New Hampshire does not name her parents.  She married Richard Locke on 21 October 1823 in Chichester.   Her children’s marriage and death records say she was born in Kittery, Maine.  Census records say she was born in Maine.

Problem - I cannot find a Welch/Welsh family at all that might be her possible parents or ancestors.  This is the opposite of the Elizabeth Lambert above where I have too many possibilities.  Perhaps searching York County, Maine probate and deeds would work, like my brickwall #1? 

3.  Nancy Thompson (about 1804 – after 1847) is my 4x great grandmother.  She married Jonathan Batchelder on 11 February 1822 in Belmont, New Hampshire.  Her children’s marriage and death records say that she was born in Gilmanton, New Hampshire.  There were several Thompson families in Gilmanton and Belmont (contiguous towns) but no record of Nancy/Ann/Hannah.  Jonathan Batchelder died in the Concord State Hospital after being declared insane.  I have his account book, and inside it I found guardianship papers dated 1847 making “Nancy Batchelder” the guardian of her minor daughter, Pauline.  No further trace of Nancy can be found in the New Hampshire vital records or census records.

Problem – Did Nancy remarry? Pauline’s death record name’s her mother as “Nancy Tompson”.  Is that a clue? The Gilmanton Historical Society is stumped.   I’ve searched all the Thompson/Tompson genealogies and vital records.  Perhaps I’ll need another probate and deeds research trip to Belknap County, New Hampshire?

4. Hannah Phelps (1728 – 1805) is my 5x great grandmother.  She married George Flint on 13 November 1753 in Andover, Massachusetts.    I’m not even sure of her surname, it was given as “Phelps” in a compiled Flint genealogy.  This is a real stumper.  I’ve very little information on George Flint, too, except what was found in the Flint book.

5. David Lyons (about 1759 – 1812) is my 5x great grandfather.  He was from Connecticut and removed to Cornwallis, Nova Scotia where he appears in many land records.  He was married in Cornwallis on 25 May 1779 to Elizabeth Ratchford.   I have no idea where he came from in Connecticut, and few clues.  I don’t know if he was a planter or a Loyalist.  Another real stumper.

6. James Radsford/Ratchford  b. about 1719 is my 7x great grandfather.  He married Margaret Ball on 26 December 1738 in East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.  They had five sons and all their births are recorded in the Bridgewater vital records.  This surname seems to have a lot of variations, and perhaps it was a corruption of some other name altogether?  There are no Radsfords or Ratchfords in earlier Massachusetts records.  No death record has been found.

7.  Margaret Ball (see above)  I have no birth or death record on Margaret, just a marriage and her name listed on her children’s births as “Margaret”. 

8. Amelia Unknown (born about 1790 – 1860) is my 4x great grandmother.  Her death record lists her birthplace as Stoughton, Massachusetts but no birth record has ever been found.  She died as a pauper in Wayland, Massachusetts the same year as her husband, who was also listed as a pauper.  Amelia had a colorful life with at least three husbands as listed below….

     #1 Amelia gave birth to twins in Salem on 26 June 1825 as Amelia Lewis, no husband listed.  Her son’s death records list their father as “Captain Thomas Lewis” but I haven’t found a marriage record.  Her twins were possibly born after he died.   Did he die at sea?  No record has been found for him in Massachusetts.

     #2 Amelia remarried to Thomas Johnson in 1827 in Salem

     #3 Amelia remarried third to John Adams in 1843 in Topsfield, Massachusetts.  Her death record lists her parents as “unknown”.    Both sons died very young before 1853, and their records do not give her maiden name.   She married often, so perhaps there is even another earlier marriage I am missing here?

9.  James Phillips (about 1792 – 1820) is my 4 great grandfather.  He married Sarah Cree on 6 August 1815 in Topsfield, Massachusetts.  His death record in Topsfield says he was a “native of Rowley” but I cannot find him in the Rowley records.   There is a James Phillips enumerated in the 1820 Census in Andover, Massachusetts, which may or may not be this James.   Again, Phillips is a common surname in Essex County, Massachusetts, which makes this as difficult as the Jones brickwall #1.

10. Mary Hovey (about  1751- 1832) is my 5x great grandmother.  She married Nathaniel Treadwell on 1786 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  I have no clue as to her birthdate, birthplace, parents or ancestry.  Mary is listed on my lineage papers to the Mayflower Society, showing my descent from Mayflower passenger Isaac Allerton.  No one at the Mayflower Society can find her parents either!   There is plenty of information on her husband, who served in the American Revolution and was from a noted Ipswich, Massachusetts family.  I’d love to beat the professionals who have attempted to identify Mary Hovey, but so far I’ve been unsuccessful, too.

Please read Diane Boumenot’s blog post at this link, she inspired my list!:

http://onerhodeislandfamily.com/2012/09/17/how-to-solve-the-next-ten-problems/

Another blogger with a similar idea is Colleen Pasquale, who posted a list of 12 puzzles from her family tree on 12 December 2012 (12/12/12)  at this link:
http://leavesnbranches.blogspot.com/2012/12/121212-twelve-genealogy-questions.html

and Randy Seaver picked up the meme at his blog at this link:
http://www.geneamusings.com/2012/12/12-genealogy-mysteries-id-like-to-solve.html

Barbara Poole posted her top Ten Brickwall Ancestors at her blog back in 2010 and she is still waiting for her big break.  Keep your fingers crossed for her!  Read about her list at this link:
http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2010/10/top-ten-brick-walls.html

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Amanuensis Monday - Sarah Osborn Skinner 1760 - 1848

Back in 2001 I found a distant cousin on GenForum, and we were both descended of Sarah Osborn, who married Charles Skinner on 24 November 1774 in New Brunswick.  According to my calculations, Sarah was only about 14 when she married, not the 16 claimed in her obituary.  This is the article sent to me by the cousin with whom I was corresponding.  This was a wonderful clue to my 5x great grandmother's life, because records are very scarce in Nova Scotia!

The Christian Messenger, January 1848 ( a Baptist magazine):

"Died 15 January 1848 in Cornwallis [Nova Scotia], Mrs. Sarah Skinner in 88th year, daughter of the late Samuel Osborne of Martha's Vineyard, U.S. They removed to Casco, ME, to NB, then to NS. Born 22 July 1760, married in NB at age 16 to Charles Skinner, native of Connecticut. Leaves 8 sons, 7 daughters, 113 grandchildren, 60 great-grandchildren. Late W.A. Chipman was a brother-in-law. Edward Manning and George Dimock sons-in-law. Rev. I. E. Bill married a granddaughter."


Osborn Genealogy:

Generation 1: Reverend Samuel Osborn, born in Ireland about 1690 and died in 1774 Boston, Massachusetts; married on 1 January 1710 to Jedidah Smith, daughter of Benjamin Smith and Jedidah Mayhew.  Six children.  He was a graduate of the University of Dublin and became pastor of the church at Eastham, on Cape Cod, in Massachusetts, but was dismissed for his Arminian opinions and removed to Boston.

Generation 2: Samuel Osborn, born 1711 at Edgartown, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, died after 8 October 1753; married on 9 September 1731 in Edgartown to Keziah Butler, born about 1710 in Edgartown and died in October 1768 in Edgartown.  Ten Children.  Keziah remarried to Samuel Pease in 1752.

Generation 3: Samuel Osborn, born about 1732 in Edgartown, died in Nova Scotia; married on 28 April 1755 to Sarah Wass, daughter of Wilmot Wass and Rebecca Allen, born 24 January 1738 in West Tisbury, Martha's Vineyard, Massachusetts, died about 1813 in Nova Scotia.  Five children.

Generation 4. Sarah Osborn, born 22 July 1760 in Fredricton, New Brunswick, died on 15 July 1848 in Pleasant Valley, Cornwallis County, Nova Scotia; married on 24 November 1774 in New Brunswick to Charles Skinner, son of Aaron Skinner and Eunice Taintor, born 3 January 1748 in Colchester, Connecticut, died before 1837 in Nova Scotia.  Fifteen children including Ann Skinner, born 1786, who married Thomas Ratchford Lyons in 1802.   I descend from their daughter, Isabella Lyons, who is my 3x great grandmother who married the Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill mentioned in the obituary.

For the truly curious:

Another blog post with a longer version of this obituary:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/08/the-obituary-of-sarah-osborne-skinner.html  

My OSBORN lineage:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/12/surname-saturday-osborn-of-cape-cod-and.html  

My SKINNER lineage:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/11/surname-saturday-skinner-of-hartford.html   

My BILL lineage:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/03/surname-satruday-bill-of-boston.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Amanuensis Monday - Sarah Osborn Skinner 1760 - 1848", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 29, 2011, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/08/amanuensis-monday-sarah-osborn-skinner.html: accessed [access date]). 

Draper and Maynard Sports Equipment

In 1881 Jason F. Draper and John Maynard established a glove factory in Plymouth, New Hampshire.  In 1882 they began producing baseball gloves and supplied major league teams.  By the 1920s 90% of the major league teams were using equipment from Draper-Maynard.  The company was bought and sold many times over the years, and it is now the D&M Co. of Tokyo, Japan, which was not aware of its connection with Draper-Maynard “until they did research for their centennial celebration in 2001.”  [see the NH Historical Society webpage http://www.nhhistory.org/baseballquiz/baseball4.html]   There is also a new company named Draper-Maynard producing vintage reproduction baseball jackets and gloves, and it uses the original “Lucky Dog” trademark of Jason Draper’s bird dog, Nick.

At the height of the Great Depression my uncle Robert Wilkinson was just a kid, and the oldest boy in the family.  His uncle invited him up to visit Plymouth, New Hampshire.  This uncle was George Herbert Adams, but he was known by the strange nickname of Cupe Adams, and he was more of a first cousin once removed.  Cupe was married to Inez Perkins, daughter of Elizabeth Bill, my great grandmother’s sister.   Cupe was a graduate of Dartmouth College, and the treasurer at Draper-Maynard Company.

So Robert and my grandmother were picked up by a chauffeur from their home in Beverly, Massachusetts and driven to the Adams summer home on Squam Lake, where they were treated like royalty.  The height of the weekend was a tour of the Draper-Maynard factory where the sports equipment was made in nearby Plymouth.  Uncle Robert, who is not longer alive, was only about ten years old, and thought he had died and gone to heaven.  There were not many  toys in the house where he grew up with my Dad, and the whole neighborhood shared bats, gloves and balls for baseball, football and other sports.   Uncle Cupe took a basket and filled it with bats, balls of all types, gloves, hats, helmets and other goodies for the overawed little cousin.  When Robert returned to Dearborn Avenue in Beverly he was the neighborhood hero, especially to his two little brothers!

1913 Draper & Maynard
Spring and Summer Catalog

Uncle Robert never forgot his benevolent Adams relatives, and they were kind to the whole family over the years.  Inez (Perkins) Adams was a house mother for a girl’s dorm at Plymouth State Normal School, which is now known as Plymouth State University, and she was a favorite cousin.  Everyone remembered her as a particularly nice person.  When my grandmother was a newlywed English bride to my Yankee grandfather, cousin Inez helped her to learn all about her new relatives.   The original Draper-Maynard factory building was bought in 1992 by Plymouth State University and is now the art department. 

Genealogy:

Generation 1.  Caleb Rand Bill, born 30 May 1833 in Nictaux, Nova Scotia, son of Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill and Isabella Lyons, died on 30 December 1902 in Salem, Massachusetts; married on 7 June 1858 in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia to Annie Margaret Bollman, daughter of Bremner Frederick Bollman and Sarah Elizabeth Lennox, born on 11 September 1835 in Lunenburg, died in 1923 in Salem, Massachusetts. Nine children including my Great Grandmother, Isabella Lyons Bill, born January 1863 in Machias, Maine.

Generation 2.  Elizabeth T. Bill, sister to Isabella (above), born September 1866 in Houlton, Maine; married on 26 December 1892 in Salem, Massachusetts to Charles Foster Perkins as his first wife.  Two children.

Generation 3.  Inez Margaret B. Perkins, born 26 April 1893 in Salem, died August 1966 in Houston, Texas; married in 1915 to George Herbert Adams, Jr., born 12 April 1890 in Plymouth, New Hampshire, son of George Herbert Adams and Sarah Katherine Smith, died 4 November 1943.  One son.

Generation 4. George Herbert Adams, III, born 28 July 1916, died on 7 January 1990, married with at least one son also named George Herbert Adams. 

I wonder if the nickname “Cupe” was passed along to all the other George Herbert Adams?

http://draper-maynard.com/  Draper- Maynard website for reproduction vintage sports equipment

http://www.la84foundation.org/SportsLibrary/BBM/1912/bbm96ad.pdf   “The Draper-Maynard Co., Manufacturers of Sporting Goods”    from the sports library archives at La84foundation.org

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Draper and Maynard Sports Equipment", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 8, 2011, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/08/draper-and-maynard-sports-equipment.html: accessed [access date]). 

Amanuensis Monday- Reverend Bill's Marriage

Reverend I. E. Bill and his wife, Isabella Lyons

For most of the ancestors in my family tree I only have dates and places for their births, marriages and deaths.  For a few more, I have occupations gleaned from censuses, or their status in society from tax records, or other minute details of their lives.  For only a handful do I have diaries, letters or memoirs.  It was fascinating to read and transcribe my 3x great grandfather's memoirs over the last month for Amanuensis Mondays.

This is the last part of Reverend Bill's memoir I will be transcribing and posting on my blog.  In the previous posts, he describes his genealogy and early family life. He also wrote about his religious conversion and baptism into the Baptist faith and his desire to become a pastor.  Here he describes his wife, Isabella Lyons, born 28 January 1806 in Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, died April 1872 in Carleton, New Brunswick, daughter of Thomas Ratchford Lyons and Ann Skinner.

"...My father died when I was nine years of age but I was early sent to school and although my father was called away my mother continued to give me the best opportunity of mental training which the schools of the country afforded. When I had passed successfully through these she would gladly have sent me to King’s College Windsor the only college at that time in the Maritime Provinces, but unfortunately it was encompassed with ecclesiastical tests which barred the door against me as the son of a Baptist parentage. When I thought of entering the ministry this want of a collegiate training was a great obstacle in my way.

Under all the circumstances I resolved to continue my worldly occupation and do what I could in connection with that for the interests of Zion.

Having entered upon my 21st year I married the young lady of my choice, Isabella Lyons, and took her to the pleasant home which a kind providence through the thoughtfulness of my loved parents had provided for me. There with one heart and soul we began the duties of a married life by erecting the family altar and calling upon the goodness of the Lord for guidance in all that pertained to the present and to the future. Home was happy, prospects for the future pleasing. As time went on some thirteen months after our marriage we were blessed with our first born, a son, to which we gave the name of his grandfather, Asahel...."
 

Isabella Lyons Bill (1806-1872)

Ingraham Ebenezer Bill married Isabella Lyons on 20 April 1826.  In the last passage above, Reverend Bill mentions the birth of his first son, Asahel, 14 May 1827 in  Billtown.  This young man died on 20 July 1848 at Acadia College.  The reverend and his wife had a total of five children, four boys and one girl, including Caleb Rand Bill, my 2x great grand father.

This next part of the memoir is filled with many, many pages of Reverend Bills's education, ordination and first years in the Baptist ministry.  If anyone is interested in the early days of the Baptist Church in Nova Scotia or the Maritime provinces, it would be an interesting read. Please contact me if you are interested in a transcription of his entire memoir.   It also describes many of the early Baptist families, pastors and preachers in Nova Scotia.  In this part of his memoir he also describes how Acadia College was founded as an alternative to King's College, which would not accept students outside of the Church of England.  He was one of the first supporters of Acadia College, and was granted an honorary degree.  It is now Acadia University.
 
Part one of Reverend Bill's memoir
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-reverend-i-e-bills.html

Part two of Reverend Bill's memoir
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-more-from-rev-bills.html

Part three of Reverend Bill's memoir
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/11/amanuensis-monday-more-from-rev-i-e.html
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Copyright 2010, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Amanuensis Monday- More from Rev. Bill's Memoirs



Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill (1805-1891)

Last week on Amanuensis Monday I posted the first part of Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill's memoirs. I'll be posting a little bit every Monday for the next few weeks. Last week's post included a bit of Bill genealogy, starting in England and Boston. This branch of the Bills were living in Lebanon, Connecticut before immigrating to Nova Scotia. Their settlement is known as "Billtown", part of Cornwallis outside of Wolfeville. His immediate ancestors (grandparents and parent) are described here. These are all good clues to the family tree, but fortunately I already knew the Bill lineage from the book written by Ledyard Bill in 1867, The History of the Bill Family . Next week I'll include more from this memoir about Reverend Bill's young adulthood and conversion to the Baptist faith. There are only a few words I was not able to transcribe.

"The Provincial Branch of the Family

...By this brief reference ?? ?? ancestors in the old world and their rise and progress in the new we have prepared the way to that of those who gave us a favored birth on Nova Scotia soil. We belong to the sixth generation of Bills on this continent, and to the second generation in Nova Scotia. My grandfather’s Christian name was Ebenezer and my Grandmother’s maiden name was Ingraham. Being the youngest of the family may parents kindly honored me by giving me the names of both grandparents. The modern mode of spelling my first name leaves out the ah and hence we have Ingram instead of Ingraham. My father’s name was Asahel Bill. He was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, April 7th 1740 and removed with his father to Nova Scotia about 1755 where he was subsequently united in marriage to Mary Rand, a native of that province. Happy in their marriage life and full of youthful aspiration and vigor they selected for their future home a magnificent tract of land of several hundred acres in the center of the township of Cornwallis. This district was subsequently in honor of my father, called Billtown. The value of the tract selected was greatly influenced by a block of intervals of not less than a hundred acres of surprising fertility. From the ample products of this fruitful homestead our parents were not only able to supply the physical and mental necessities of a large family but to accumulate what was then considered a most valuable property which was ultimately divided between their three sons John M., Caleb R., and Ingram E. and four daughters Sarah, Rebecca, Mary and Levinia. Our parents were trained religiously in the doctrine and practice of the Presbyterian faith, but by a careful study of the word of God they changed their views regarding the subjects and mode of Christian baptism, and embraced Baptist sentiment and participated largely in the revival influence experienced under the ministrations of the Mannings, Hardings, Crandals and others of that class. Their hearts and their home were open at all times to extend to these servants of God and their ??? the rites of a truly Christian hospitality. In that home of peace and Christian love the gospel was frequently proclaimed by Gods chosen interpreter with the Holy Ghost sent down from heaven, and there united prayers were offered such as God delights to hear and answer. The change in my mother’s views regarding ordinances did not prevent her from teaching her children the summary of doctrine contained in the Westminster catechism. So thoroughly did she instruct them in these fragmental verities of the Christian faith that as they grew to years of understanding they formed no difficulty in giving a good reason for the faith which they cherished. Thorough catechistical instruction coming from parental lips to children made their fostering care produce impressions and connections not easily e??. Hence the obligations resting upon parents to apply themselves carefully and prayerfully to the religious culture of those that God has given them."

Part One of this Memoir can be read here http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-reverend-i-e-bills.html 

 Part Three can be read here http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/11/amanuensis-monday-more-from-rev-i-e.html 

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To Cite/Link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Amanuensis Monday- More from Rev. Bill's Memoirs", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 25, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-more-from-rev-bills.html: accessed [access date]). 

Amanuensis Monday- Reverend I. E. Bill’s Memoirs

Ten years ago a distant cousin sent me a photo copy of Reverend Ingraham Ebenezer Bill’s memoirs. He was my 3x great grandfather, who had a grade school education, never attended Divinity School, yet became a Baptist preacher who spoke all over Canada, the Eastern United States and England. The original journal is in the archives at Acadia University in Wolfeville, Nova Scotia. He was part of the original committee of Baptist ministers who founded Acadia College in 1839, and they later granted Rev. Bill an honorary doctorate. I’ve transcribed his memoirs, and will post in several parts over the next few Amanuensis Mondays.

a photograph of Reverend I. E. Bill
from the Bill Genealogy by Harry Bill

 Ingraham Ebenezer Bill, son of Asahel Bill and Mary Rand, born 19 February 1805 at Billtown, Cornwallis, Nova Scotia, died on 4 August 1891 at St. Martin’s, New Brunswick; married on 20 April 1826 to Isabella Lyons, daughter of Thomas Ratchford Lyons and Ann Skinner. Five children born in Billtown.

Children:
1. Asahel Bill, born 14 May 1827 and died 20 July 1848 shortly after graduating from Acadia College.
2. Mary Anne Bill, born 27 April 1829, died 17 November 1865; married on 14 September 1851 to Thomas McHenry
3. Edward Manning Bill, born 27 March 1831, died on 18 December 1904 in Boston, Massachusetts; married on 6 June 1857 to Charlotte Grace in Australia. Please see my blog post http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/02/missionary-to-new-zealand.html for more information on E. M. Bill, who lived for a while in Australia.
4. Caleb Rand Bill, born 30 May 1833, died on 30 December 1902 in Salem, Massachusetts; married on 7 June 1858 to Ann Margaret Bollman in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. Please see my blog post http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/10/bill-family-reunion.html for more information on Caleb R. Bill, my 2x great grandfather, the music professor at Salem, Massachusetts.
5. Rev. Ingraham Ebenezer Bill, Jr., born 8 April 1836, died after 1887; married on 23 November 1871 to Eleanor Pike in Maidstone, Kent, England.

See my blog post http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2009/09/tracing-your-minister-ancestors.html for more information on the Bill family lineage.

For my BILL lineage, see this link:

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/03/surname-satruday-bill-of-boston.html  

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"A Personal Sketch

By the Reverend I. E. Bill

Having been mercifully preserved amid manifold dangers and temptations by sea by land, at home and abroad, for more than half a century in the ministry of the gospel of the blessed Lord, it is deeply pressed upon my soul as a solemn duty which I owe to my covenant God and Father to record his wondrous goodness and rich grace as made manifest in what I have seen, heard and experienced during these years of protracted ministerial service. Not indeed that self may be exalted but that Christ the Saviour may be glorified and his church benefit. A few paragraphs regarding my ancestry will not be inappropriate.

In a history of the Bill Family edited by Mr. Ledyard Bill of Connecticut and published in 1869, I find the Bill ancestry traced back to 1490. The first name in the list is Dr. Thomas Bill, a physician of great eminence, and an attendant of the Princess Elisabeth in 1549. He took the degree of M. D. at the celebrated university founded by the Emperor Charlemagne at Paria in Italy. He was one of the physicians to Henry VIII and Edward the VI and from these sovereigns received distinguished honors.

William Bill L.L.D was another distinguished name in the annals of Britain. He was born in Hartfordshire England about 1505. Subsequently as a literary man he was elevated to very high positions one of which was master of St. John’s College and soon after he became vice chancellor of the university. In 1551 he was appointed Master of Trinity College, and became one of the Kings Sir Chaplains. He had with many others high in office to suffer bitter persecution under the cruel reign of Mary and was compelled to go into retirement for safety, but on the secession of Queen Elisabeth he was restored to his former honors and became Fellow to the famed Eton College. He was also appointed a member of the Royal Ecclesiastical Commission, consisting of the distinguished Bishop Cramer and others, to revise the calendar of sermons and homilies to be used in the church service throughout the year. On the 15th of June 1560 he was installed Dean of West Minster being the first incumbent of that office.

He died on the 15 of July 1561, and was interred on the 20th of that month in the Chapel of St. Benedict in Westminster Abbey where there is an altar tomb having thereon a brass with an outline portrait of the deceased with an inscription round the verge noting the honors conferred upon this eminent man. It seems that no other person ever held at the same time the three important positions of Master of Trinity, Provost of Eaton and Dean of Westminster.

Having thus briefly noted two prominent members of English ancestry we ?? on to say that the first mention of any of the Bill family in America is found in the ancient records of the town of Boston, where says Ledyard Bill in his history, we read John Bill died Nov 10 1638. The writer of the history assumes for good reasons that John Bill and his wife arrived in the New World prior to 1635. They had sons and daughters, who in their turn married, multiplied and passed into other generations. These are very sketched by the author of the history giving names, dates, marriages, births, callings, positions, professions, offices, residences, purchases, sales, deeds, and deaths ?? of our relatives in America for eight generations.

Before proceeding with our own parentage justice demands that we should make a panning reference to our cousins, whose ancestors adopted the teachings of the American revolution and who pledged their fortunes and their lives to the cause of freedom from what they regarded as British tyranny of the darkest shade, many of these were men of high ???, of bold adventure and of brave instincts they believed they were right and rushed with others to the mighty conflict determined to conquer or to die. We have the result; a nation was born that is now mighty in its numerical strength, boundless in its resources of material wealth. Rich in its political institutions, enriched in its agencies for mental and religious cultures, and filled with the treasures of learning and of a God given Christianity. A nation whose ships traverse very sea, and whose commerce extends to all the towns and cities of the world. A nation that has given birth to intellectual giants in all realms of thought, invention and progress, and whose statesmen, generals, poets, orators, theologians, ministers and missionaries take rank with the greatest and the best of nations.

We have seen that the Bill family was of British origin, and that English blood courses in the veins of its numerous generations, but what is America to day in all its high and noble instincts, but the expansion and growth of British blood, language, energy, ???, education, intelligence, freedom, and Christianity on this broad American continent. It is the daughter of the grand old mother struggling by her side for the diffusion of light, liberty and salvation among all nations, peoples, and ?? for the ushering in of that age of gold when the knowledge of the glory of God shall fill the whole earth. We have therefore no political quarrels with our cousins across the lines, but heartily offer the prayer God bless them and their nation and prosper them in every good word and work!..."

This is part one of his memoir
For part two, posted on 25 October 2010, click this link:
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-more-from-rev-bills.html

For part three, posted on 1 November 2010, click this link:
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/11/amanuensis-monday-more-from-rev-i-e.html

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To Cite/Link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Amanuensis Monday- Reverend I. E. Bill’s Memoirs", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 18, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-reverend-i-e-bills.html: accessed [access date]).