james holbrook (part 2 of 3)

family life

James Holbrook's marriage intentions to Hannah Bates is recorded in the Vital Records of Weymouth, MA to the year 1850 (p91), on May 21, 1803.  I did not see a marriage date recorded, but usually it is within a couple of months of the marriage intentions.  James was 23 years old, Hannah was only 16 years old.  As I mentioned in my previous post, it is likely that James and Hannah were neighbors growing up, as their families are enumerated next to each other in the 1790 Census for Weymouth, MA. 

We are able to see how James and Hannah Holbrook's family had grown by viewing the census records from 1810-1830.  They had a total of 11 children; beginning with their first child, Oran in 1804 and ending with my 3rd great grandmother, Lucy in 1827. 

By the 1810 census, they had the following in their family household...

From james holbrook feb 2013

3 males under 10 (oran, minot, edmund); 1 male 26-44 (james); 1 female 16-25 (hannah)

The 1810 census above also shows many of James' siblings.  According to vital records for Weymouth all but one of James' siblings stayed in Weymouth.  It seems his sister Jerusha married and moved to Maine.  The census also shows that James' mother, Jerusha Holbrook, is enumerated in her own household, with another women, probably her daughter Sarah.  Since the listing is alphabetical, it is impossible to see if James was living close to his mother or his siblings.  They were in separate households though, so perhaps James bought his own land; or the land may have been part of his wife Hannah's family's property.  James' mother died in 1819 in Weymouth; she may have left a will which would probably discuss her land and perhaps her son James.  I will have to locate some deed and probate records for Weymouth in Norfolk County to find more details.  As I mentioned in my last post, James' father Abner died in 1788.  If he left a will, it would be in Suffolk County, as Norfolk County was not formed until 1793.

by the 1820 census...

From james holbrook feb 2013

2 males under 10 (william, james); 2 males 10-16 (edmund, minot); 1 male 16-18 (oran); 1 male 16-26 (oran); 1 male 26-45 (james); 2 females under 10 (loisa, hannah); 1 female 26-45 (hannah) (note 1)

The 1820 census actually shows which street James and Hannah are living on and who their neighbors were.  The notation on the top left corner states Boxbury Street.  This is the first document I have found which documents which part of Weymouth James lived in.  Unfortnately, Boxbury Street no longer exists in Weymouth, but I was able to find information from The History of Weymouth book on ancestry.com about James's house, which states is at 573 Union Street, not Boxbury Street.  The name Boxbury Street may have been an older street name for Union Street, or at least in the same areas, as five entries down on the next page the book discusses a deed of Christopher Bass, a neighbor of James, which mentions his land borders land Easterly on Boxbury Street. (2_933)  This section of the book was discussing a time a little later than this 1820 census, so Christopher Bass is not listed on this census.  Some of the other neighbors are mentioned though, such as Abner and John Holbrook, John and Jesse Shaw, Samuel Bates, and David Whitman.  This area of Weymouth is South Weymouth.  I have written a little about the area in a previous post on James' daughter Lucy, here; which includes a map of the possible location of James' land. 

By the 1830 census, James and Hannah's family grew even more; although some of the older children had since moved out. Oran and Minot moved have households of their own.  Two other children of James and Hannah are also not included in the 1830 census.  Edmund and Loisa both died three years earlier in 1827, the same year they had their last child Lucy (James was 48 years old and Hannah 41).  This must have been a very trying year for their family.  Lucy was born in May, Edmund died in September at the age of 19, and Loisa died in November at the age of 15.  The index of records for Weymouth does not list their cause of death.   

From james holbrook feb 2013

2 males under 5-10 (jeremiah, cornelius); 2 males 10-15 (james, william); 1 male 40-50 (james); 1 female under 5 (lucy); 1 female 5-10 (lindsay); 1 female 10-15 (hannah); 1 female 40-50 (hannah)

There is also another reference to James Holbrook in the History of Weymouth book, though I am not sure if it refers to James or his son.  It is a reference to those that joined the newly formed Democratic Association in Weymouth, in 1839. As it was only a year before Jame's death, and the passage in the book states names were "to form as complete an organization as possible of the Democratic young men of Weymouth" (2_694) it is likely it refers to his son James.  There are some other Holbrooks listed, including William, Abner, Sylvanus, and Asa.  It seems, if not James, at least the younger generation of Holbrooks, had a democratic leaning at this period in history.

continued...

notes
1. the 1820 census has two categories which includes the same age ranges: males ages 16-18, and males ages 16-26, so James and Hannah's son Oran, who is 16 years old is listed twice. 

to do
1. locate deed and probate records for Norfolk county to see where James got his land.  Weymouth was part of Suffolk County until 1793, when Norfolk County was formed.

• His father Abner died while Weymouth was in Suffolk County - 1789 Abner Holbrook Suffolk probate 19255 - from index on google books: Index to Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, MA G-O
• Also a book on google books: Suffolk deeds: liber -I-XIV [1629-87].  Did not find any references to this Holbrook Family. Some references to a John Holbrook and William Holbrook - land bordering Dyer family in Weymouth late 1600s.

 

james holbrook (part 1 of 3)

childhood

James Holbrook, one of my 4th great grandfathers, was born October 16, 1779 in Weymouth, MA to Abner Holbrook and Jerusha Vining. (note 1)  He was the 8th child out of 11; although one older brother, Abner, probably died before he was born . (note 2) 

James was only 8 years old when his father Abner died in 1788.  James' family is found in the first Federal Census of 1790, residing in Weymouth, MA.  His mother Jerusha is listed as head of the hosuehold, as widow Holbrook, with 4 of his siblings. 

Males - Under 16: 2 (daniel, jacob, james); Males - 16 and over: 1 (david); Females: 5 (lydia, jerusha, sarah, betty, jerusha)

Since the household only lists 3 males under 16 years old, one of Jerusha's younger sons may have been living with another family at the time.  The three boys that are under 16 are James, who would have been 11, Jacob, and Daniel.  Also, the two oldest sons, John, age 20, and Abner, age 18, are not incuded in the household.  I did not find John or Abner listed as head of household in Weymouth; so perhaps they are also living with another family.  All 4 daughters are included in the household for 1790, living with their mother Jerusha. 

1790 Census, Weymouth, MA : head of household Widow Jerusha Holbrook

The 1790 Census above seems to be enumerated by residence, so it is possible to see who Jerusha, and therefore James', neighbors probably were.  Samuel Bates and Widow Whitman are listed next to them, perhaps they lived next door.  Samuel Bates is James' future father-in-law; which explains how he met his future wife.  Also, a John Vining is below Jerusha on the 1790 census.  Jerusha had a brother John Vining, but he died before 1790.  Her father's name was also John Vining and was still living in 1790; I believe this is him living next to Jerusha.  I was thinking perhaps one of Jerusha's sons that is not listed with her might be living with her father (their grandfather), since they are neighbors.  John Vining does have one other male living with him who is older than 16.  This person could be one of James' older brothers, John or Abner.  John Vining, their grandfather, did not have any living sons in 1790, so this is a good possibility.  It is still a mystery as to where the third younger son is living in 1790.  I guess it is also possible that the census is incorrect, and they are all living together. (UPDATE: I came across a book on google books : Index to Probate Records of the County of Suffolk, MA, G-O; p 128 which lists guardian records for James, Jacob and Daniel as Suffolk Probate 19534, 19533, 19532 respectively)

By 1800, it seems that James, age 21, is living with his mother Jerusha and his younger brothers, one older brother, and two of his sisters, still in Weymouth, MA.

Males -10 thru 15: 1 (daniel); Males - 16 thru 25: 2 (jacob, james); Males - 26 thru 44: 1 (david); Females - 10 thru 15: 1 (lydia); Females - 26 thru 44: 1 (sarah); Females - 45 and over: 1 (jerusha)

1800 Federal Census, Weymouth, MA : head of household Widow Jerusha Holbrook

This census looks to be enumerated alphabetically, so it is impossible to see who James' neighbors were in 1800.  The census does show that James' older brothers, John and Abner, are now heads of their own households, enumerated separately. 

James' childhood occurred at a changing time in American history.  The American Revolution ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris in 1783, when James was only 4.  I believe his father Abner fought in the war; at least in the beginning with the march to take possession of Dorchester Heights, according to the Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the Revolutionary War book.  (vol 8 p 71)  The end of the war brought along a lot of changes.  Massachusetts joined the union when James was 9 years old, in 1788, the same year his father died. 

James was 10 years old when George Washington was elected as the first president of the United States in 1789.  The Bill of Rights were adopted when he was 12 years old, in 1791.  John Adams was elected the second president of the United States in 1796, when James was 17.  He was probably familiar with the Adams family, as Abigail Smith Adams had also lived in Weymouth, MA.   

continued...

notes:
1.   James' birth is noted in the Vital records of Weymouth, Massachusetts, to the year 1850... , page 131, available online through Open Library. 

2. A brother Abner was born in 1767, then another brother Abner was born in 1772.  Although I did not locate a death record for the first Abner, I am assuming he died before 1772, when the second Abner was born. 

to do:
1. Obtain Gaurdianship records for James, Jacob and Daniel : Suffolk Probate 19534, 19533, 19532

maja lena pettersdotter (part 3 of 3)

death

In 1890, Maja and Anders return to Humla; where they remain for the rest of their lives (at this time their son Frans actually moves back to Blidsberg with his new wife; although the rest of Maja and Anders' children are all living in Humla). Maja dies at the age of 72, in Humla, on November 8, 1898.  I am not practiced in reading Swedish handwritting, so I am not sure of her cause of death.  It may be in the column 4th to the end.  Maja's husband, Anders, lives only a year and a half longer; his date of death is May 18, 1900.

Death record of Maja Lena Pettersdotter, Humla, Sweden (gid 1908.11.100)

From maja lena feb 2013

I believe Maja survived all of her siblings. (note 1)  Her youngest sister died the same year as Maja, but in February. 

All of Maja and Anders' children survive them. One child, Emma Sofia, moves to the United States, to Warwick, RI in 1892, with 5 of Maja and Ander's grandchildren (Emma continues to have a total of 9 children). I am not sure how much contact the family had with each other while living in Sweden, but I would guess they would have seen Emma and the grandchildren off to America. Emma was the only child of Maja and Anders who left Sweden; although, some of Maja's other grandchildren emigrated to America also.  An ancestry.com tree has some of their son Alfrid's children emigrating to Colorado in the US. 

Maja and Anders had a total of 26 grandchildren.  As I mentioned above, 5 leave for America as children (Emma's children) and 4 more are born in America.  One of Gustafa's children was not born before Maja died; so that leaves Maja as knowing 19 of her grandchildren while she was alive.  Not all of her grandchildren survived her; however.  I found at least 2 that died as children; both children of their youngest  son Frans.

Humla churchyard, picture by Ake Fagerlund on kyrkokartan.se website

I would love to have a picture of Maja and Ander's headstone, but I am not sure where they are buried.  I think that if they are listed in the church books for Humla, that would mean they are buried at the Humla churchyard, hopefully with a headstone.  I did come across one website that has photos of headstones of Swedish churchyards, but they only have three for Humla.  The website is Gravstensinventeringen. I did check findagrave.com also, but they do not have any listings for Humla.  

notes
1. I have not found a death record yet for her brother Johan who emigrates to America.

to do
1. look for death records in Swedish Death Index to see if all grandchildren stayed in Sweden - how many went to America.
2. search for pictures of gravestones for Humla cemetery - maybe Maja and Anders are buried there.

maja lena pettersdotter (part 2 of 3)

family life

Maja was 26 years old when she married.  Her husband, Anders Andersson, was 27 years old and also living in Blidsberg, Sweden at the time.  I am not sure if Anders was the father of her illegitimate child, Johan; as there is no father listed on Johan's birth record.  Sometimes the church records have a book of church accountings which may discuss these matters, but Blidsberg does not have this for 1850.  Anders was living on a farm less than a mile away from the farm Maja was living on at the time of Johan's birth in 1850.  Anders was on the farm Åslyckan, while Maja was living at Alarp Odegarden.  It seems likely that they knew each other before the birth of Johan.

residence of Anders Andersson 1825-1852 on farm Åslyckan (A)

 and Maja Lena Petersdotter 1842-1851 on farm Alarp Odegarden (B)

View Larger Map

After Maja and Anders married, they moved out of Blidsberg to a neighboring parish of Humla.  In their Household Examination, Anders' name has the notation "torp." before it.  According to the book, "Your Swedish Roots", this is a "crofter, cottager or peasant". Maja and Anders stayed on the same farm of Mellomskogen, in Humla, until 1872 - for 20 years.  They had four more children after Johan, all born while living at this farm.

   

Mellomskogen, Humla, Sweden : Residence of Maja, Anders, and children 1852-1872

(Maja's age 26-46)

View Maja Lena Petersdotter timeline in a larger map

During this period, while Maja and Anders were living in Humla; Maja's parents, her brother Johan, and her sister Johannes were all living on separate farms in the parish of Böne.  Böne and Humla parishes are a bit over 6 miles apart; therefore, I am not sure Maja would have seen her parents and siblings very often.  Her mother, Lena, died in Böne in 1870, her father in 1882.  Her brother Johan only stayed in Böne until 1854, when the moving out records show him moving to North America.  I believe he was the first in her family to emigrate (note 1).  Her sister Johannes stayed in Böne until she died in 1898.  Maja's oldest sister, Anna Cassa, was still living in Brismene; which was even further from Humla.  Anna stayed in Brismene until her death in 1890.

In 1872, Maja and her husband and all five of their children, moved to the farm of Gunnarp, still within Humla.  They only stayed at this farm for 3 years.   In 1875 they moved within Humla again.  They are listed below their second oldest son Alfrid Sand, who is now a soldier in the Elfsborg (Alvsborg) Regiment and resides in a soldatorp (soldier residence) on the farm of Nickabo.  It is not clear to me on the Household Examination if Maja and Anders are also living in Nickabo with their son, but I do not see another farm name listed. Soldiers in Sweden lived in certain houses in the parish, so Maja and family may have moved here when Alfrid became a soldier. (note 2)

Household Examination Humla gid 1908.8.3300 Maja Lena Petersdotter 1875-1879

This farm of Nickabo would be the last place Maja and her family were all together in the same house.  The dates in the last column of the Household Examination above, show all their children moving out of the household.  Their oldest son, Johan, moves that same year to another farm in Humla.  Their daughter, Gustafa Charlotta, moves to another farm in 1878.  Another daughter, Jeff's great, great grandmother Emma Sofia, moves to another farm in 1879.  The only child that remains with Maja and Anders is Frans Wilhelm.  The three of them move in 1879 also, but they leave Humla for the parish of Brunns, to a farm called Björkelund.  This was the furthest move Maja and Anders have made.  The other moves were all into surrounding parishes; but this move was about 15 miles south (using current roads), close to the city of Ulricehamn (noted in map below).  They only stay at this farm for three years, returning to the parish of Blidsberg in 1883.  Anders is noted as an arrendator, which is tenant farmer.  

current locations of Maja Lena's residences throughout her life in Sweden

(the yellow pin is where her husband Anders lived as a child)

View Maja Lena Petersdotter timeline in a larger map

After Maja and Anders returned to Blidsberg, their son Frans lives with them for one more year.  In 1884, Frans is listed as a soldier in Humla, while Maja and Anders remain in Blidsberg until 1890.    This would make two of Maja and Ander's sons soldiers and one daughter, Gustapha Charlotta, marrying a soldier. While Maja and Anders are living in Blidsberg, all of their children are in the neighboring parish of Humla.



notes:
1. The Moving Out records for Böne in 1854 show Johannes and his wife and son moving to North America.  I was unable to locate any passenger records for this family.  I was also unable to locate them in any censuses in the US for dates beginning in 1860.  Johannes seems to be the first to emigrate, but at least two of Maja's neices/nephews- Johanna's children - also emigrate to America - Thur in 1893 - and Selma in 1888 (some ancestry.com hints imply more of Johanna's children emigrate).  Also to be mentioned in the next post, their daughter, Emma Sofia emigrates in 1892.

2.  There is a picture of Alfrid playing a fiddle and a picture with his wife on someone's tree on ancestry.com. I love finding pictures of ancestors that people have generously posted. 

     
to do:
1. keep searching for passenger records for Johannes to see where in US he settled.  Information in book - tracing your swedish ancestors - about finding passenger records for the early years of emigration - such as 1854.

2. search swedish death index to see how many of Maja's sisters' children emigrate to US - do they haev death records in the Swedish Death Index.  Search other neices and nephews also.

maja lena pettersdotter (part 1 of 3)

childhood

Maria Helena Pettersdotter, Jeff's 3rd great grandmother, was born May 13, 1826 in Blidsberg, Sweden, at Danstorp.  I first came across Maria's name written as Maja Lena in a Household Examination record, so I had been documenting her as Maja Lena rather than Maria Helena.  Most of my writing will therefore call her Maja Lena, as that is how I think of her.  I have since found her name written either way in the many different documents.  Maja was the third child out of five born to Peter Andersson and Lena Michaelsdotter; although one older sister had died at the age of 1, before Maja was born.

birth record of Maria Helena Pettersdotter (Maja Lena) 1826 Blidsberg

According to the Household Examinations, the family moved soon after Maja's birth from Blidsberg to the parish of Börstig, Sweden in 1826.  They stayed in Börstig for about 11 years, living at Hedenstorp; which most likey was a farm name.  I was able to locate Hedenstorp in Börstig on an historical map and have marked it on the current map below.   

current map of Maja Lena's residence from 1826-1837 Hedenstorp, Börstig, Sweden until she was 11 years old

View Maja Lena Petersdotter timeline in a larger map

In 1837, Maja and her family of 6 moved to a neighboring parish of Brismene. They stayed in Brismene for about 5 years, when Maja was between the ages of 11-16.  I was not able to locate on the historical maps either farm of Dalbogården or Storegården in Brismene that are listed in the Household Examinations for this family.  I will have to look into this area a little bit more.  Most of the parishes Maja has lived in seem to be very small parishes, with currently about 500 residents.  Her father, Petter Andersson, is noted as hälftenbrukare in the Brismene Household Examinations.  According to the book "Your Swedish Roots", a  hälftenbrukare, is a farmer who pays half the profit of the land let to him. (note 1)

household examination Brismene, Sweden (farm Dalbogården) gid  661.5.75500 maja lena petersdotter 1837-1840

household examination Brismene, Sweden (farm Storegården) gid  661.5.79300 maja lena petersdotter 1840-1843

When Maja was about 16 years old, around 1842, the family moved back to Blidsberg, the parish where she was born.  The Household Examination record above shows that Maja's older sister, Anna Cassa, is no  longer living with them.  She had married a year earlier in 1841, and stayed in Brismene for the rest of her life.  Maja lived with her parents for another 10 years in Blidsberg.  Nine of those years they lived on the farm Alarp Ödegård.  While living on this farm with her family, Maja's first child was born out of wedlock when she was 23 years old.  The Household Examination record has a notation of oäkta, for illegitimate child, next to Johan August, born in 1850 (the last entry for the household on the examination below).  His birth record confirms he was Maja's child.

    

household examination Blidsberg, Sweden (farm Alarp Ödegårdarden) gid 578.8.90200 maja lena petersdotter 1842-1851

This Household Examination record also shows one of Maja's brothers, Johannes, moves back to Brismene in 1851.  The family household now includes Maja, her father Peter, her mother Sara, her youngest sister, Johanna, and Maja's illegitimate child, Johan August.  This family of five moves in 1851 to another farm in Blidsberg, Västra Alarp.  Maja only stays here for one year, moving out with her son, after she marries in 1852.

current map of Maja Lena's residence from 1842-1852, age 16-26

(blue is Alarp Ödegård farm, yellow is Västra Alarp farm, Blidsberg, Sweden)

View Maja Lena Petersdotter timeline in a larger map
(to be continued...)

notes :
1. This notation of hälftenbrukare is also in the Danstorp farm for the Blidsberg Household Examination for 1826, the farm where Maja was born before they moved to Börstig.