nathaniel french (part 2 of 3)

family life

Nathaniel French married Sally Chubbuck on January 8, 1797, in  Hingham, MA.  The record is from the Vital Records of Hingham, from americanancestors.org.

index of marriage record for Nathaniel French and Sally Chubbuck, Hingham, MA

The first census that Nathaniel and Sally are found in show that they are not living in the almshouse, like Nathaniel's father, George.  In fact, the Massachusetts and Maine direct tax census of 1798 shows that Nathaniel lives in the South Parish of Hingham, with 1/2 shop and 12 acres of land.  I do not know if Nathaniel purchased this land, or if he inherited it.  The next step would be to check Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, since Hingham is in Norfolk County from 1793-1803. (note 1)

The 1800 census shows Nathaniel's growing family:

1800 US Federal Census, Hingham, Nathaniel French

1800 census : 2 males under 10 (nathaniel and theodore); 1 male 26-44 (nathaniel); 1 male 45+ (?); 1 female 26-44 (sarah) 

There is one male over 45 years old who is unaccounted for in Nathaniel's household in 1800.  It may be Sarah's father, Thomas Chubbuck, since his wife died in 1797, and I was unable to find him listed separately in the census.  Thomas died in 1802 in Hingham, so most likely he was living in Hingham in 1800.  I checked to see if it could have been any of Sarah's or Nathaniel's brothers, but none of them would have been 45 or older in 1800.  It also was probably not likely to be Nathaniel's father as he is married in 1800 (to his third wife, Fanny).

The 1800 census shows who Nathaniel's neighbors probably were.  The listing under Nathaniel is Daniel Dill, which is Sarah's sister's, Mary, husband.  This would probably be her family, living next door to each other. 

1810 census...

1810 US Federal Census, Hingham, Nathaniel French

1810 census : 1 male under 10 (freeman); 2 male 11-15 (nathaniel and theodore); 1 male 26-44 (nathaniel); 2 female under 10 (sarah and mary); 1 female 26-44 (sarah); 1 female 45+ (?) 

By 1810, the older male living with Nathaniel and Sarah in 1800 is no longer in their household.  This would make sense if it were Thomas Chubbuck, as he dies in 1802.  There is; however, another older female living with them that is over the age of 45.  Both Nathaniel's and Sally's mothers had died before 1800 according to History of Hingham book.  Perhaps this woman is a sister of either Nathaniel or Sally.  Nathaniel does not have any living sisters in 1810.  Sally has two sisters age 45 and over.  Her sister Mary is married, but her other sister, Patience, never marries.  I am guessing it is more likely to be Patience, than Mary.  I did not find a separate entry for Patience in the 1810 census. 

It seems likely that the land Nathaniel and Sarah are living on in Hingham may have come from Sarah's family for a few reasons.  The 1800 census has Nathaniel and Sarah probably living with Sarah's father.  Maybe they lived in his house as he was older, taking care of Thomas if he needed it.  Also, the 1810 census has them most likely living with Sarah's sister, Patience.  Perhaps Thomas handed down his land and house to Sarah and she was to provide residence for her sister Patience.  Also, Sarah's other sister, Mary, is living next door to Nathaniel and Sarah in the 1800 Census.  Mary may have also been given land from her father Thomas.  The 1810 Census is alphabetized for the town of Hingham, so that does not show who Nathaniel and Sarah's neighbors may have been.  I am not sure if Thomas Chubbuck left a will or probate, but that would provide many clues as to where Nathaniel and Sarah were living in Hingham. (note 2)

(to be continued...)

notes:
1.  Hingham is in Norfolk County from 1793-1803; Plymouth County starting 1803; before 1793 in Suffolk County.    Norfolk County Registry of Deeds do have all their deed register books online.  I found a great guide to using the Norfolk Register of Deeds webpage here - from GeneaMusings blog.  If you are looking for deeds before 1900 you have to search through their scanned index.  There were no French's or Chubbuck's at all from Hingham listed.  In fact, I did not see any listings for Hingham, which makes me think that maybe Hingham was not included in these deeds.  Perhaps because it was in Norfolk County for such a short time, they are still indexed with either Suffolk or Plymouth County for these years.  Have to go to Plymouth Registry of Deeds to look at their index.

2.  I looked in Probate index, Norfolk County, Massachusetts ... 1793-1900, vol. 1, online through Internet Archive, and did not find an entry for Thomas Chubbuck, Sarah's father, who died in 1802 in Hingham, MA.  Again, there were no Chubbucks from Hingham listed.  Thomas is also not listed for the Plymouth County Probate files available online through familysearch.   I will have to look in the Suffolk County probate. 

to do:
1.  Check the Suffolk and Plymouth county deeds to find where Nathaniel got his land in Hingham, MA - around 1797 - year of his marriage.  Plymouth county deeds are online, but for this time period, need to know book number.  I did look at French surnames for 1910-1915, to see if maybe some deeds would link back through his descendants, but there were none that matched.  I also asked on the Plymouth County ancestry boards if anyone had access to the Plymouth county deed index.  The Plymouth County Deed index is available at Plymouth Registry of Deeds, and available from Family Center microfilm. I am not sure about process for Suffolk County Deeds yet. 
 
2.  Since Thomas Chubbuck is not in the Norfolk County Probate index and his probate record is not online for the Plymouth County Probate records, check Suffolk County probate for Sarah Chubbuck's father, Thomas Chubbuck, d. 1802 in Hingham, MA (Nathaniel's father George died in almshouse). 

3.  Also look at Sarah's brothers' probates - Plymouth county probably.  Sarah's brother Thomas has a son Henry Chubbuck who leaves land to Sarah Chubbuck and her children - including Freeman French.  Henry's will also mentions Sarah's sisters Mary Dill and Patience Chubbuck.  Strange to me that Henry left to his aunts and cousins, but maybe he had no children and maybe his father Thomas did not have many other children. 

nathaniel french (part 1 of 3)

childhood

Nathaniel French, one of my 5th great grandfathers, was born around 1770 in Hingham, MA.  (note 1)  The closest birth record I could find for a Nathaniel French in Hingham was the Nathaniel born January 19, 1768 to George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  I have written a bit about George Lane French and my difficulty obtaining records for him in many posts. 

possible birth of Nathaniel French to George Lane French and Sarah Tower (from: NEGHS, Vital Records of Hingham, MA; newenglandancestors.org)

Nathaniel was about 7 years old when the Revolutionary War began.  He and his brothers would obviously have been too young to fight; but his father, George Lane French, does have an entry in the
Massachusetts Soldiers and Sailors in the War of the Revolution, vol. 6; (pg 71; available on internet archive).

French, George Lane. Private, Capt. Pyam Cushing's co., Col. Lovel's regt.; service between March 11 and March 29, 1776, 2 days; company assembled to guard the shore.  

If Nathaniel's father is George, he was not gone long due to the Revolutionary War.  Even though his father was home; however, Nathaniel probably did not have an easy life.  George and his family spent at least some years in the almshouse in Hingham, MA.  The records show George Lane French's death occurred while residing at the almshouse in 1814.  The death of Nathaniel's sister-in-law and nephew (Delight Rice French, wife of George French, and Phinneas French) also occurred at the almshouse in 1791.  I am guessing that Nathaniel may have spent some years here also, as a child or young adult.

I tried to find Nathaniel's family in the 1790 Census, but was not very successful.  Nathaniel would be about 22 years old by the 1790 census; old enough to be a head of a household and enumerated in the census.  I did not find him listed in Hingham, MA; perhaps he was still living with his father as he was not yet married. (note 2)  There are only 4 pages for Hingham and I browsed through each page to make sure the index did not miss him.  The only George French enumerated in Hingham is Nathaniel's brother George, who married in 1785 and had a family of his own.  It does not seem that anyone else is living with George other than his wife and his own children.  (A year later, George's wife Delight and son Phinneas' deaths are recorded from the almshouse also.)

1790 Cenus Hingham; George French (children's names are from History of Hingham book) : Males - Under 16: 2 (joshua, phinneas) Males - 16 and over: 1 (george); Females: 2 (sarah, delight)

I also did not find an entry for Nathaniel's other brothers, Phinneas (20 years old), Theodore (18 years old), and Perez (14 years old).  Their brother Joshua probably died by 1778, (according to The History of the Town of Hingham, p237), and their sister Sarah died in 1782.  I have not been able to find out more information for any of Nathaniel's brothers other than George who dies in 1832 in Hingham, MA.  The other brothers do not seem to be listed in the later censuses, nor did I find death records for them in Hingham.  They may have either died and did not leave a record, or they removed from Hingham.  Their father, George Lane French, did not have a probate as he died in the almshouse, so no information can be found that way. 
The other French's that are listed in the Hingham 1790 census are as follows:

• Miss French : 1 female (not sure who this is)
• Ezra French : 1 male 16 and over, (ezra) 3 females (daughters lucy, hannah, sarah) - not sure where sons samuel and reuben were; and wife died in 1790 [George Lane French's cousin]
• Jonathan French : 5 males 16 and under (charles, martin, daniel, bela,?) 1 male 16 and over (jonathan), 3 females (betsey, elizabeth, elizabeth) [George Lane French's brother; Nathaniel's Uncle]
• Theodore French : 2 males 16 and over (theodore, theodore), 1 female (wife persis or daughter hannah) [George Lane French's brother; Nathaniel's Uncle]

Since I could not find Nathaniel or his father George in the 1790 census, I am guessing they may be living in the almshouse by this time.  The number of residents residing at the almshouse were included in the 1790 census, as shown below.

1790 Hingham Census showing number of residents of almshouse (6 males over 16, 1 male under 16, 12 females)

If Nathaniel was at the almshouse with his father, he managed to leave it and obtain his own residence by the 1800 census with his wife.

(to be continued...)


notes:
1. I have a name of Nathaniel French for my 5th great grandfather from my 4th great grandfather's birth record, Freeman French.  (Freeman's death record does not list parent's name).  I have an approximate birth date of 1766-1774 from the 1800 and 1810 census for Nathaniel.

2.  Nathaniel's mother died in 1782 according to the History of Hingham book.  Nathaniel's father George remarried to an Abigail Lewis in 1783.  Abigail died in 1790, and George remarried again to Fanny Humphries in 1791. 

to do:
1. find deeds of Nathaniel's father George - Hingham book states he resided on Hersey Street.  Was this after the almshouse?  George's father Jonathan resided on French Street according to Hingham book, as did George's brothers, Theodore and Jonathan.  Some of George's siblings were born in Weymouth - did Jonathan (Nathaniel's grandfather) sell their land in Weymouth when they came to Hingham.  Did George Lane French (Nathaniel's father) come to Hingham as an adult or with father Jonathan?

2.  find information on Nathaniel's brothers : Phinneas, Theodore and Perez.  History of Hingham book does not have information on them either.  May need to browse through the Holbrook Massachusetts Vital Records database on ancestry.com.  Familysearch does have a death date for a Perez, son of George, in Hubbardston, MA in 1868 - but states he was born in Hubbardston in 1796.  Record could be incorrect.

joanna whiting french probate

I wrote a blog post for Joanna Whiting French here, before I had access to her probate record.  The following blog entry will just be about her probate from Plymouth County. 

Joanna died in South Scituate, June 27, 1887.  The docket for Joanna French (Plymouth County Probate 3624) is listed below, from familysearch.org's database, Massachusetts, Plymouth County Probate Records, 1633-1967.

Plymouth County Probate for Joanna French 1888

Plymouth County Probate vol. 174, p. 487:

• petition for administration of Joanna French's estate by Benjamin W. French
• appointment granted
• Alpheus Thomas, Elisha C Sprague sureties - Benjamin W. French to make inventory of Joanna's estate
• signed in presence of Lucy A Thomas, Josie M French
• June 25, 1888

Plymouth County Probate vol. 169, p. 463:

• affidavit of motion of appointment filed for Benjamin W. French, administrator of Joanna French's estate
• Oct 28, 1889

Plymouth County Probate vol. 163, p. 595:

• Edwin Beal, Edward A French, Charles N Gardner - to appraise the estate of Joanna French, deceased, intestate - deliver the order of doings to Benjamin W French, administrator
• $326.00 personal estate, as per schedule exhibited. (but i do not see a schedule of inventory)
• Oct 29, 1889

The main person in these documents, other than Joanna, is the administrator, Benjamin W. French.  Benjamin is the second oldest son of Joanna and Freeman French.  I did not find a familial connection between Joanna Whiting French to either Alpheus Thomas or Elisha C. Sprague, listed as sureties in her estate.  None of her daughters or sisters were married to anyone with these surnames.  I also did not find a connection to two of the people appointed to appraise her estate, Edwin Beal and Charles N. Gardner.  The third appraiser is Joanna's youngest son, Edward A. French. 

I have not had much experience looking at probate documents, but I do find it a little strange that Joanna's husband, Freeman, is not listed in any of the documents.  Maybe it is because he was about 86 years old at the time of his wife's death and was not able to handle legal matters.  I do also find it strange that Freeman does not have any probate records of his own when he died almost two years later.  Maybe his possessions were dealt with before he died.  It would have also been nice to see the inventory of Joanna's possessions that amounted to $326.00. 

to do:
1. find Plymouth County deed records for Freeman French to see where their land ended up. 

george c cowing probate

I wrote a post about George Clinton Cowing and his wife Lydia Helen French a little over a year ago.  The Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967 database on familysearch was not available then, so now I want to update that post with the probate I found for him.  Lydia also has a probate docket, but her records are not available online yet.

The first probate documents are dated June - November, 1900; requesting that George's son, George F. Cowing, be administrator of the estate.  The document lists the following heirs,

• Lydia H Cowing, Norwell, widow
• Mary E Gardner, Malden, daughter
• Helen J Stoddard, Norwell, daughter
• George F Cowing, Weymouth, son
• Percy W Cowing, Hingham, son

 granted Nov. 1900
(Plymouth Probate vol.162, p.413)

The next document is widow Lydia requesting part of George C. Cowing's personal estate  - granted $75.00 (Plymouth Probate vol. 177, p. 172) Feb 1901

Another document from the same month, February 1901, is from administrator and son, George F. Cowing, requesting to mortgage the following lot of land...

"a certain lot of land with the buildings thereon situated on the southerly side of Barrows street in said Middleboro, bounded on the east by land now or formerly of Mary A. Lovell, on the South by land now or formerly of one Barrows; westerly by land of person unknown; northerly by Barrows street; for the purpose therein set forth; it appearing that no person objects, and all the heirs of the intestate or their guardians having assented thereto, and that it is necessary and expedient to mortgage said real estate to raise the sum of two hundred thirty-two dollars, for the purpose set forth in said petition:..."

granted for a term of not longer than 2 years.
(Plymouth Probate vol. 199, p. 138)

I looked at the historical land ownership map database on ancestry.com to see if I could find this land, but I did not see any of the names appearing on the probate document above.  I did find the street though, which is still in Middleborough today.  Below is the historical map of Middleborough 1879 and the present day google map.  I am interested to find out why George had land in Middleborough, as he seemed to reside in Weymouth and South Scituate.  I also do not see a connection with his family or his wife Lydia's family to Middleborough. 

1879 land ownership map of Middleborough, MA showing Barrows Street

present day map of Barrows Street, Middleboro, MA

View Larger Map

George's final probate document describes land the administrator needs to sell to pay off debts from George C. Cowing's estate; amounting to $600.00. The document states an offer of $75.00 was received to sell...

"a lot of woodland lying in the southerly part of Hingham in said County and bounded southerly by land now or formerly of Lewis Gardner, Israel Sprague? and heirs of Reuben Garnder, northwesterly by lands now or formerly of Lewis and Josiah Gardner; north easterly by land now or formerly of Howard Gardner and ? Wilder - containing about seven acres.  Being the same land devised to Freeman French by the will of Henry Chubbuck."

granted April 1901
(Plymouth Probate vol. 210, p. 324)

I looked briefly at Henry's will that I have saved to my computer to see if a better description of the land was included.  Henry's will calls this land as six acres in Hingham, situated near Queen Ann's Turnpike.  The historical map for Hingham labels Queen Ann's Corner and has many Garnder's living in this area.  There is also a Mrs. N. French listed, which Henry Chubbuck also granted land to in his will.  Mrs. N. French is most likely Sarah Chubbuck French, wife of Nathaniel French, and mother to Freeman French.  Freeman French is George C. Cowing's father-in-law; which may explain why he possessed this land in 1900.  I am not sure of Henry's relationship to Sarah Chubbuck French and therefore Freeman French; but I am guessing he is Sarah's brother and Freeman's Uncle.  (note 1)

1879 land ownership map, Hingham, MA showing Queen Ann's Corner

present day map of Hingham, MA near Queen Ann's Corner

View Larger Map
The maps show where the general location of the land that George's estate is selling.  As mentioned above, this land was originally Henry Chubbuck's, then Freeman French's.  $75.00 does not seem to be a lot of money for almost seven acres; maybe the land was not very useable.  The probate documents do not show who the land was sold to.  I do know from census records though that this is not where George resided when he was living.  The last census for him shows that he did live close to this area, in the town of South Scituate, south of Hingham; just down the street from this area.

George did not leave a will, but I still found all these probate documents very useful and interesting to look through.  The land in Middleborough is a mystery to me and perhaps it will lead to new connections when I find more information about how George obtained it.  I also have no reference to a Henry Chubbuck in my family tree, so this is another new person to discover.    


notes:
1.  Nathaniel French's father, George Lane French, did end up in the alms house.  Maybe this is why Henry included them in his will, as Nathaniel, and therefore Sarah, would not have inherited anything from his father.  Nathaniel died before Henry, and Henry left land for Sarah and her children.   


to do:
1. obtain Lydia French Cowing's probate records
2. find Plymouth County deeds that correspond to these land transactions
3. find how George Cowing received land from in Middleborough, on Barrows Street - did he buy it, inherited it?
4. find connection of Henry Chubbuck to Sarah Chubbuck French and Freeman French - is he Sarah's brother?

plymouth county probate part 2

In the last post, I wrote about finding probate documents for Plymouth County in the familysearch database, Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967.  I found many of my ancestors in this database, and I wanted to create a list that I could look back on when I am doing more research on these individuals.  (I will provide links on ancestor's names if I have written a post about their probate file.)

1. Cowing Family
• George C. Cowing - 1899 Norwell, MA  (m. Lydia Helen French d. 1919) have probate papers saved for George C Cowing
• have docket files saved for Lydia Cowing - but do not have probate records online for 1920 yet
2. French Family
• no George Lane, no Jonathan, no Jael, no Sarah (last three prob. suffolk county)
• Freeman French - 1889 Norwell, MA (m. Joanna Whiting d. 1887)
• no docket for Freeman French
• have docket saved for Joanna French 1888 and probate records
• Nathaniel French - 1819 Hingham, MA (m. Sarah Chubbuck d. after 1840) 
• have records saved for Nathaniel
• could not find any probate for sarah
3. Stoddard Family
• Arthur Stoddard - 1934 Norwell, MA (m. Helen Lydia Cowing d. 1914)
• have docket saved for Arthur - Plymouth Probate # 44165 - records not online yet
• Helen 1916 - have docket - records not online yet - might be her
• David Turner Stoddard - 1892 Norwell, MA (m. Maria Harding d. 1908)
• browsing through stoddards - none for arthur, helen, david, or maria in first set of records
• David - did not find browsing first file - but do have docket saved - just records not up yet - probably him, but dated 1908 (which is death date of his wife) - Amasa D his son is listed as adm - did not find one for maria - the maria listed is not her.
• Stodder - no Richard (d. 1819) ; no Mary (d. 1810) - dates and info from history of Hingham book:
• Richard's son Gridley d 1861 - has some gaurdianship records he was insane later in life, also Gridley's son Gridley d. 1864 probate online.
• Richard's son - in - law Ichabod Stodder (d 1842 probate online)- married to Richard's daughter Mary (d. 1832 no probate) - they have 3 children that were either drowned or lost at sea according to history of hingham book.
4. Chubbuck Family
• no Thomas or Patience
• Henry saved to laptop - Henry's mentions Sarah French and children - not sure who Henry is
5. Gannet/Gardner Family
• no David that matches - no Patience
• no John or Joanna Gardner - and did not find any of their male sons from History of Hingham book
6. Tower Family
• no Nathaniel - no Sarah (but hingham is in plymouth county in 1819)
7. Whiton/Whiting family
• Benjamin Whiton d 1814 - saved to laptop - none for wife Joanna
• Benjamin Whiton d 1809 - saved to laptop - mentions wife Jemima?  also mentions grandson Joseph - son of Benjamin - none for wife Jemima
• Benjamin Whiting d 1858 - saved to laptop - also probate for wife Lydia - saved
• a Lydia, wife of elijah, is listed
8. McConihe/Macconney Family
• did not find any up to 1881
• Anna E Mcconney 1908 saved docket - records not online yet - none for her husband - James F Macconney
• looked at mcconney, mcconihe, macconney, mconney in 1881-1939
• no James Mcconihe d 1881 and no Sylvia Mcconihe d 1886
• no John Mcconihe d 1836
• no Seth Reed or Sarah Macconney Reed
9. Raymond Family
• Joshua - 1798 saved - widow Grace - no separate file for Grace
• Samuel 1846 saved - widow Sylvia - no separate file for Sylvia
10. White Family
• Jeremiah - 1794 saved - mentions daughter Selah Bates - nothing listed for Jeremiah White's wife Hannah - dies much before him, he marries two more times
• nothing for Jeremiah's father Samuel White - but died in weymouth?
• also Jeremiah White - 1809 - mentions sister Selah Bates - saved this Jeremiah's will and also another document asking for removal of John White from estate because he is confined due to debt - and putting Samuel Bates in his place.
11. Dunham/Donham Family (this family interests me because I have been trying to find the parents of Sylvia Dunham - so I listed all Dunhams I will eventually have to look into) -Dunhams 1665-1881 begin at image 18/480
• andrew - mattapoisset - 1861 - mentions an andrew in docket (donham)
• angelo l - carver - 1875 - adm augustus h soule
• anna elizabeth - plymouth - 1877 - adoption and change of name from anna lucas
• annis - middleborough - 1729 - will - but no record no.
• benjamin abington 1853 adm alice dunham
• benjamin w - carver - 1862 - adm william savery
• cornelius - plympton - 1765 - adm elisha whitten (donham)
• cornelius - brocktion - 1876 - adm evelina dunham
• ebenezer - plympton - 1766 - adm lydia dunham (donham)
• ebenezer - plymouth -1773 - adm john dunham (donham)
• ebenezer - carver - 1821 -
• elijah - plymouth - 1827 - adm eunice dunham - eunice dunham d 1874 maybe - does not list children - plymouth
• elijah - middleborough - 1871 - adm henry dunham
• elizabeth - plymouth - 1854 - adm John F dunham
• ephraim - middleborough - 1756 - adm elizabeth dunham - wife elizabeth - child jonathan - middleborough
• eunice plymouth - 1874 - adm william s danforth
• george - plymouth - 1801 - adm phebe dunham (donham)
• george - plymouth - 1810 - adm levi vaughn (donham)
• george l dunham - plymouth - 1868 - adm joseph p brown
• george - bridgewater - 1820 - adm samuel rider
• george - abington - 1859 - adm lucy dunham
• hannah j - plymouth - 1872 - adm richard b dunham
• harvey - plymouth - 1833 - adm eunice dunham
• harvey - plymouth - 1870 - adm alvin perkins
• henry - abington - 1806 - adm anna dunham (donham)
• ichabod jr - plymouth - 1826 - adm maria dunham - ichabod and betsey - mentioned in their son ichabod jr will 1826 ichabod jr wife is maria - plymouth
• ira - kingston - 1821 - adm silas dunham
• israel - plympton - 1726 - adm joanna dunham (donham)
• israel - carver - 1828 - adm isreal dunham - son israel, son joseph, benjamin, eleazer, hannah chase, wife hannah
• jacob - plymouth - 1829 - gaurdian simeon dike
• james - plympton - 1758 - adm rebecca dunham (donham)
• james, ebenzer, susanna - plympton - 1737 - gaurdian elisha whiting (donham)
• jane p - rochester - 1842 - adm walton ellis
• john - plymouth - 1692 - adm mary dunham
• jonathan, ephraim, annis - middleborough - 1770 - gdn joseph rounsevel (donham)
• joseph - middleborough - 1782 - adm john shaw (donham)
• joseph - plymouth - 1703 - adm hester dunham (donham)
• joseph - plymouth - 1842 - adm hannah dunham
• joseph, benjamin, lydia, abigail - carver - 1827 - gdn joseph shaw/or abraham perkins
• josiah - plymouth - 1748 - gdn joshua newcombe (donham)
• josiah - plymouth - 1757 - adm amos dunham (donham)
• lucas - plymouth - 1874 - ex lysander dunham -son george, lysander, henry, daughter matilda - plymouth
• mary t or l - carver - 1880 - ex william savery
• nancy t or l - plymouth - 1880 - adm arthur loud
• nathan - plymouth - 1875 - ex anna h dunham
• nathaniel - plymouth - 1763 - adm stephen samson (donham)
• nathaniel - plymouth - 1783 - adm nathaniel dunham (donham)
• patience - plymouth - 1850 - ephraim churchill - patience churchill alias dunham - (sister betsey peterson - widow of perez) - plymouth d 1850
• robert - plymouth - 1824 - adm robert dunham
• robert - plymouth - 1833 - adm phineas leach - heirs mary ann long, caroline dunham, william dunham, sally leach
• samuel - plymouth - 1687 - adm john dunham
• samuel - plymouth - 1718 - adm samuel dunham (donham)
• samuel - plymouth - 1761 - adm ebenezer dunham (donham)
• samuel l or t - rochester - 1841 - adm jane p dunham - long list of documents - no will
• sarah c b - carver - 1859 - adm joseph dunbar
• sila - pembroke - 1825 - adm experience dunham
• solomon - middleborough - 1792 - adm bathsheba dunham (donham) - wife prob. bathsheba
• thomas s - carver - 1870 - adm william savery
• warren - middleborough - 1838 - ex thomas southworth - will - mentions wife lucinda, daughter lucinda dunham
• william dunham d 1833 plymouth - widow betsey -
• another william g? dunham - spendthrift - d 1833 - plymouth -- guardian to be jacob covington - for being a spendthrift

plymouth county probate

While browsing the Massachusetts databases on familysearch.org, I noticed they added a new database that might include some ancestors of mine.  "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Records, 1633-1967." I have never been able to access probate documents because I have not been able to find the time to dedicate to spending a day at the courthouse.  Needless to say, I was very excited when I found this database. 

There are actually two Plymouth County probate databases on familysearch, I really do not know what the differences are.  The other database is, "Massachusetts, Plymouth County, Probate Estate Files, 1686-1915."  I found that I had better luck with the first database I listed.

The first step was to find all the ancestors that may have died in Plymouth County between 1633 and 1967.  I did a search in my family tree software, Legacy, for anyone that died in the towns of Hingham, Abington, Norwell, and Scituate.  It would have been easier to search for deaths in Plymouth County if I had been consistent about putting the county name in the death place field; but I knew that was not the case.  I also had to be careful with dates for my Hingham ancestors, as Hingham was part of Suffolk County until 1793, then Norfolk County from 1793-1803, and finally part of Plymouth County from 1803 to the present.  The search produced the following surnames from my family tree: Cowen/Cowing, French, Stodder/Stoddard, Chubbuck, Garnet/Gardner, Tower, Whiton/Whiting, McConihe/MaCconey, Raymond, White, and Dunham/Donham.

The next step was to browse through the probate files, since this database is not indexed to be searched yet.  This really was not that difficult as the files are organized by date and then alphabetical.  There are a couple of steps to finding your ancestor's probate, depending on which time period you are looking at. 

There are two groups of dates, 1685-1881 and 1881-1939.  The first group of dates (1685-1881) are broken up into separate files to browse sorted alphabetically by surname.  The entry for each person includes the volume and page numbers for all the probate documents that were created for that person.  The following is an example from the 1685-1881 grouping for Nathaniel French. 

If you have an ancestor that died within the second group of dates (1881-1939), there is an extra step involved in finding their docket of probate documents.  These dates are broken up into two volumes, also organized alphabetically by surname.  Once you find your ancestor in this index, you are given a case number, including the volume and page for finding their docket (or list of probate files).  The entry for George C. Cowing is below, which shows the docket number 11352, and which volume and page you will find his docket in, vol. 10, p 184. 


Familysearch then has the dockets organized by year and volumes, usually only two volumes per browsable database.  You simply click on the volume you are looking for and browse to the correct page listed in the index.  Then you will find all the probate documents created for that person, similar to the first grouping of dates.  For George, I went to the grouping of dockets for vol. 8-10; and browsed to the correct entry for George C. Cowing, shown below.  The entry shows all the probate documents created for George, including volume and page numbers. 


Now you know which probate documents you are interested in obtaining.  Familysearch also has many of the actual probate records online.  Currently it looks as is they have the records up to 1908.  In the previous step, you obtained the information to find these records.  The next step is to locate the volume; which are mostly organized numerically within the Plymouth County Probate database page.  Once you find the volume, browse to your correct page.  You will have to do this for each document listed for your ancestor to see all the probate records. 

I am very excited to have access to this database, and have already searched for all my ancestors that may have created probate records in Plymouth County.

augusta ophelia tessier and achilles narcisse labrecque

Augusta Tessier and Achilles LaBrecque were married on May 9, 1881 at the Notre Dame de Québec.
 

 church register entry for marraige of Achilles LaBrecque and Augusta Tessier from Notre Dame de Quebec

In Québec, a notary record is also created when a couple is married. I have written a little bit about finding the notary for their marriage in another post, here.  Notary Joseph-Alphonse-Elzéar Chaperon notarized their marriage. His records can be found at the Library and Archives Canada microfilm CN301, S299. These documents are also available online, but they are in French and it may take me a while to translate them. It seems there is an inventory of some sort listed, maybe Augusta's dowry. The notary document is 6 pages. Looking at the first couple of paragraphs, the only additional information I have discovered was about Augusta's father, Honoré. I believe his profession is stated as "gardien de la Prison Commune de District de Québec". When I enter this phrase in an online translation site, Babylon, it is translated as "common prison warder of the district of Québec". This is similar to the 1881 census which states Honoré is a "gardien".

Augusta and Achilles left Québec, Canada for Boston, Massachusetts 6 years after they married, in 1887 (according to the 1900 US Federal Census). At this time, they had three young children, including my great grandfather, Alfred, who was only months old. According to the 1900 census, this couple had a total of 10 children; with 6 still living. I was only able to find records for 8 of their children; Corrine, Arthur, Alfred, George, Eugene, Bertha, Odelle, and Augusta (George and Bertha died before 1900).

1900 Census Boston, MA Achilles and Augusta Labrecque family

Augusta and Achilles moved at least 8 times between 1900 and 1930. They lived in Boston in 1900 and in Cambridge in 1910. In 1910, they are also living in Quincy, MA (south of Boston); they were actually enumerate twice this year, maybe they moved during the census dates. By 1920 until at least 1930, Augusta and Achilles are living in Watertown, MA; west of Boston. (note 1)

Map of Augusta and Achilles Labrecque from 1900-1930

View Achilles and Augusta Labrecque in a larger map

Achilles and Augusta had three living sons during the time of World War I. I have found records for two of their sons, Eugene and Alfred, that showed they fought in World War I.  Their son Alfred, my great grandfather, actually went to Canada to enlist.  I have read some articles which state soldiers from the US did this because Canada entered the war before the US and they wanted to enlist sooner. Their other son, Eugene, fought with the Massachusetts's 101st Engineer Regiment, according to the database, U.S., Headstone Applications for Military Veterans, 1925-1963 on ancestry.com. At some point after the war, Eugene travelled back to Canada with his wife and child. They eventually came back to US and settled in CT, but this was after Achilles and Augusta had died. Even though Eugene died in CT, he was buried in Quincy, at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, the same cemetery as his parents.

Achilles and Augusta's oldest daughter, Corrine may have also travelled out of Massachusetts. She and her son are found on a passenger record to France; but they eventually settled in Boston. I have not found the marriage record or her son's birth record to confirm this is the correct Corrine; but she is listed in the 1930 census above one of her siblings in Watertown, MA with her married name and son.

Achilles and Augusta's other children mostly remained in Watertown or Quincy as they grew older. Arthur and Alfred stayed in Quincy. Augusta and Achille's daughter Odelle never married and stayed in Watertown. Another daughter, Augusta, also never married. She was living in Watertown while her parents were alive, but eventually moved to Cambridge, MA.

Achilles and Augusta are buried with two of their daughters at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery. Augusta died in 1931, Achilles six years later in 1937. Five out of their eight children survived them (although the 1900 census states they had 10 children, so maybe five out of ten children). They also had at least 10 grandchildren survive them, one grandchild died as an infant.

Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, MA - Augusta and Achilles LaBrecque

notes:
1. Augusta's obituary (discussed in a post here) states that she would spend summers in Watertown. Maybe that is why they were enumerated twice in 1910, they may have had two residences.

to do:
1. find stone at Mt. Wollaston Cemetery, Quincy, for their son Eugene Labrecque.

james holbrook (part 3 of 3)

death

1830 is the last year that James appears in the Federal Census. His death is recorded in the Vital Records of Weymouth (p 279) on January 29, 1840. The book states he is buried at Elmwood Cemetery in South Weymouth; which is almost across the street from where his land was on Union Street. James' wife Hannah lived another 12 years and is buried with her husband. I did visit the cemetery to locate thier graves and found them and some other smaller stones which probably are their children that died at a younger age.

From james holbrook feb 2013

James was survived by all but two of his children (Edmund and Loisa both died in 1827).  Most of the remaining children stayed close, residing in Weymouth with their new families.  One son, Cornelius, is noted to have moved to California in the History of Weymouth book on ancestry.com (note 1).  A daughter, Belinda Lindsay, also moved from Weymouth to the town of South Scituate (became Norwell).  Norwell is only a couple of towns away from Weymouth, but not sure how frequently they would have been able to see each other or how they got around to different towns. 

At the time of James' death, he had at least 9 grandchildren, all born in Weymouth.  Even though James never knew all of them, he would eventually have at least 39 grandchildren that lived to adulthood.  I found an additional 14 that died in childhood in the various vital records of Massachusetts. (note 2)

I checked the Probate Index, Norfolk County 1793 - 1900; A-K for James Holbrook and found a case number for his will, dated 1840, no. 9716 (p 545).  The probate records are not online at this time for Norfolk County, so I was unable to view the will.  I am hoping when I do eventually obtain it, I will have more information about James' children and probably land.


notes:

1.  records for Cornelius :

• according to weymouth book Cornelius went to CA (3_278)
• I think some of his brother william's children went to CA - maybe together?
• brother Jeremiah records state born dec 1821 - dates are too close, were they twins - cornelius was jan 1822.  But jeremiah's stone on findagrave states birth was 1822 - so maybe he was born dec 1822 and they were not twins - have to find birth record - maybe it was transcribed incorrectly in the weymouth vital record book
• there is a c holbrook b 1823 living in calaveras california in the 1852 CA state census who was born in MA (on ancestry)
• looked at death index on family search - they have deaths only starting in 1856 for that town - did not find any holbrooks - could have died before 1856 or moved from calaveras
• "California, County Birth and Death Records, 1849-1994" images, FamilySearch citing California, County Birth and Death Records, Various county clerks throughout California. https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/2001287
• ALSO a tax register for 1894 in Volcano, CA (Amador county) - Comelius Holbrook b. 1823 in MA
• 1905-1929 - deaths in CA on family search - no cornelius page 509/857 https://familysearch.org/search/collection/show#uri=http://familysearch.org/searchapi/search/collection/1932433 maybe he died before 1905
• a cornelius holbrook dies in 1887 in michigan - from find a grave? - not him, found death record on familysearch, parents do not match.
• cannot seem to find him in 1860 and beyond censuses

2. children and grandchildren of James and Hannah:

• oran stayed in weymouth - died same year as father - 1840. had 5 children - 2 died young, all born before 1840
• minot stayed in weymouth - had 4 children before 1840
• edmund and loisa died before they were 20
• james stayed in weymouth - had 7 children - 4 died before a year old - 2 of them before 1840 - one child survived that was born before 1840 - 2 other surviving children were born after 1840. james may have lived in different part of weymouth - buried in different cemetery. - lakeview - 1840 census he is living near an abner and an ira holbrook
• hannah holbrook cushing - stayed in weymouth - had 8 children - 2 before 1840 (one died as child) - 6 after 1840 (4 of the 6 died as children)
• william stayed in weymouth - had 7 children - all after 1840
• jeremiah stayed in weymouth - had 5 children - all after 1840 - 5 more with second wife - 1 died as child
• cornelius - he may have gone to CA
• belinda lindsay holbrook reed - moved to Norwell - had 5 children after 1840
• lucy holbrook - stayed in weymouth - probably in same house as father - had 7 children after 1840 - 2 died as children

to do
1.  visit Elmwood Cemetery again and look closer at smaller stones around James and Hannah
2.  find more information on Cornelius in California
3.  obtain James' will Norfolk County Probate no. 9716