richard stodder and monica marsh

My 5th great grandmother, Lydia Stodder, is indexed in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 on ancestry.com as having died February 5, 1864. This record connects my family to Richard Stodder and a Mary Marsh as her parents.

death of lydia stodder whiting in Hingham, MA

I have not been able to find a record of marriage for a Richard Stodder and Mary Marsh, but there is one for Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh, on May 30, 1773 in Hingham, MA. This marriage would be in the same time period of Lydia's birth around 1779. All other records for Monica do not refer to her as Mary, so I am not sure why Lydia's death record would have recorded her mother's name as Mary, if these are in fact the correct parents. Maybe it is an incorrect transcription or someone mistakenly informed them of the wrong name at the time of Lydia's death.

marriage of richard stodder and monica marsh in hingham, ma

I wanted to find more information on Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh to see if I could connect them further with Lydia Stodder.

The first place I checked was History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Volume 3, page 201, which lists Lydia as the daughter of Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh. The problem with these town history books, is many times the source of their information is not noted. I am not sure where the authors found the children of Richard and Monica, as I have not been able to locate birth records for them. Maybe they are in the Hingham church records somewhere, but I did not find them in the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988. The only records I did find were the death records of the three unnamed children, which states Richard as their father and no mention of a Mary or a Monica.



History of the Town of Hingham, Massachusetts, Volume 3, page 201
Richard Stodder and Monica Marsh family

The next record produced would be Lydia's marriage to Benjamin Whiton. Unfortunately, marriage records from Massachusetts for this time period usually do not provide the parent's names. This is also the case for Lydia's marriage to Benjamin. Lydia's supposed siblings listed above also do not list their parents on their marriage records.

marriage of Benjamin Whiton and Lydia Stodder in Hingham, MA

If Lydia is part of this family, her mother Monica, dies in 1810 in Hingham. There is an entry for Monica Stodder's death in Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988, and the date of 1810 matches. This only shows that there was a Monica married to a Richard Stodder in Hingham that dies in 1810, but still does not connect any of their children to this couple. Since the probate records are accessable online for Plymouth County, I searched the index to see if there was a Monica or a Mary Stodder listed which may show this connection. There are many Mary's; however, none with a date around 1810. I did the same for Richard's death of 1819, but again there was no match in the probate index. (note 1)

Although the History of Hingham book states that Lydia's siblings are Gridley Stodder and Mary Stodder, I have not found any evidence to support this. The 1790 census does show that Richard Stodder from Hingham has 2 males under 16 living in the household and 4 total females. This would account for Gridley and another male child and for females: Lydia, Mary, and Richard's wife Monica, plus one more female. Perhaps another widow and child, maybe a sister to Richard or Monica, is living with them at this time; or maybe Richard and Monica have another son and daughter that is not accounted for in the History of Hingham book.  By 1800, the census shows that Richard and Monica are living by themselves in Hingham.   I am not sure where their supposed son Gridley would have been living in 1800.   He was 19 years old, and not married yet; but he does not seem to be listed as a head of household in the area. Maybe he was on a ship at this point, as his later profession is a mariner.

I also searched for death information on these siblings listed in the Hingham book.  Gridley's death does not list any parents, and I was unable to find Mary's death record. Mary's husband Ichabod Stodder does have some probate records online, but since Mary died before Ichabod (according to History of Hingham book), Mary is not mentioned in the probate. His supposed sister-in-law, Mary's sister, Lydia, is also not mentioned. Lydia's brother Gridley does have some probate records online, but they are for gaurdianship appointed to Jedidiah Lincoln, as Gridley is unable to take care of himself in 1810, at the age of 32. His death record states he was a mariner, but also insane. It seems strange to me that although he was incapable of taking care of himself, Gridley was married in 1807. Maybe something happened to him after marriage, or maybe they were married inspite of it.

None of these records have shown a connection of Lydia Stodder to Richard and Monica together, or to her siblings Gridley and Mary. So far, the only connection I have that Lydia is connected to Richard Stodder is Lydia's death recorded mentioned first in this post, from the Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 database. There does not seem to be any other Richard Stodder's in Hingham for this time period, so it is likely that Lydia is the daughter of Richard and Monica; but not conclusive. Hingham town and church records will have to be located to find more evidence than the History of Hingham book provides.

notes:

1. I also searched the Plymouth County Probate index for Monica Marsh's siblings, and Richard Stodder's siblings; hoping I would find one that mentions either Monica Stodder as wife of Richard Stodder; or one that mentions any nieces and nephews as children of Richard and Monica. I obtained sibling information for both from the History of Hingham book, shown below. There were some probate records online for them, but none mention Monica or Richard or their children.

nathaniel french (part 3 of 3)

death

Nathaniel French died on September 19, 1818 in Hingham, MA.  His death is recorded in the Vital Records of Hingham available on americanancestors.org.  This record has Nathaniel's age as 42 years old, which would make Nathaniel's birth year 1777.  This date conflicts with the birth date I have for Nathaniel as son of George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  The date of their son's birth is 1768.  This death record is a transcribed document; though, so it could be incorrect. 

Hingham Vital Records, death of Nathaniel French

To complicate things a little, I did find another transcription of Hingham town records on ancestry.com, Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988.  This record has the same death date of September 19, 1818 for Nathaniel French in Hingham, MA; but has his age as 52, not 42 years old.  This transcription makes much more sense for my Nathaniel, which would give him a birth date of about 1767.  This is close to the birth date of 1768 for the son of George Lane French and Sarah Tower.  I do believe that the first record was transcribed incorrectly and Nathaniel is the son of George and Sarah.  I did not find any other Nathaniel's in the town records for births or deaths that match.  Which makes things a little easier to trace Nathaniel in Hingham. 

Massachusetts Town and Vital Records, Hingham, Nathaniel French death

When Nathaniel died, he left his widow Sarah with two daughters, 13 and 15 years old; and three sons at the ages of 17, 19, and 21. None of his children were married yet. Most were probably still living at home when Nathaniel died (the 1820 census has all but one older son living with their mother Sarah).  I was also able to find Nathaniel French's probate file on familysearch which supports the 1818 death date of Nathaniel French in the records above.  Once you get into the actual probate records, they also do mention his widow, Sarah. 

From nathaniel french march 2013

The first probate document is a letter of administration for David Whiton, of Hingham to be the administrator to Nathaniel French's estate.  It was signed by Jedidiah Lincoln and John Curtis.  David Whiton was probably a friend of the family as I do not have him listed in my family tree. Nathaniel's son Freeman marries a Joanna Whiting, but she does not seem to have a David in her immediate family. (Plymouth Probate vol. 46, p. 308)

The next document provides the names of the men who will appraise the estate of Nathaniel French: David Whiton, gentelmen; Perez Whiton and Daniel Wilder, yoeman. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p. 49)

There is also an inventory of Nathaniel's Estate provided in his Probate file. This is where Nathaniel's widow, Sarah, is first mentioned. The documents show Sarah will receive any items she chooses to the sum of $300.00. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51)

The inventory is interesting to see what Nathaniel and his family possessed. It seems Nathaniel had land in Abington in addition to Hingham.  (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51)  One of Nathaniel's sons, Freeman, does move to Abington after he marries around 1826. Maybe he purchased the land at auction from his father's estate, although he only would have been about 17 years old. Abington is part of Plymouth County so I will search for deed transactions for this county around 1818 up to 1826.

The inventory also mentions that Nathaniel owned a farm and 1/2 of a Coopers Shop. (Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51).  I found an interesting article on coopers from Old Sturbridge Village website which discusses both the trade of coopers and how they often also kept farms. Most of the tools listed in Nathaniel's inventory seem to be farm tools. (see note 1)  I was a little surprised to see that Nathaniel was a Cooper, as the History of Hingham book states that he was a packetman (p238). I have not found any evidence of this profession for Nathaniel, I wonder if he could have done both. Part of the description for Coopers on the Old Sturbridge Village website does discuss making barrels that are used for shipping. Maybe his barrels were sent on the ships.



Another document in Nathaniel's probate allows the adminsitrator, David Whiton, to sell items or land from the Estate of Nathaniel French to the sum of $800.00 so that he may pay the debts of Nathaniel.  (note 2) (Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p 427)

These debts are also listed in Nathaniel's Probate file.  The article on Coopers does mention that usually accounting books were kept noting bills and receipts. I am guessing that is where the administrator accessed the information for Nathaniel's debts.  These debts list many familiar surnames, such as Chubbuck, Gardners, Whitings and Whitons, and Dills. Also mentioned are Deacon John Jacobs and Doctor Shute. (Plymouth Probate vol. 53, p.131) (note 3)  I have not been able to find any information on a Deacon John Jacobs for this time period, but the History of Hingham book does discuss Dr. Daniel Shute and his son Dr. Daniel Shute Jr., who both resided on Main Street in the south part of Hingham. This is probably the area in Hingham that Nathaniel French also lived as most of the above mentioned surnames are also from South Hingham.

Having these probate records is great, but they have left me with some questions, such as:

• Who was the land at auction sold to? Was it the land in Hingham or Abington, or both?
• Who owned the other half of the cooper shop?
• Did his widow Sarah remain on land in Hingham, and who was that handed down to?
• Since he had property and items to hand down, why didn't he leave a will, did he die suddenly?

notes:
1.  Plymouth Probate vol. 50 p. 50-51

Inventory of Estate of Nathaniel French

• 25 1/2 acres of land in the homeplace at 35.............................................................$892.50
• 7 acres of woodland in Abington, 56...dwelling house 575.....................................$631.00
• 1 barn 100, 1/2 a Cooper shop 12 ...........................................................................$112.00
• $1635.50
• 1 hog 30, 2 sheep 5, 3 cows 60..................................................................................$95.00
• 3 Tom English Hay ?, Salt? 10, pesh? 15..................................................................$70.00
• 2 ladders 2,25, 4 hay forks 2, 25, 3 rakes 3,25............................................................$2.25
• 1 hand cart 2, 9 hoes ?, 4 spade ? ...............................................................................$4.00
• 1 ? shovel .40, 1 dung fork .75, 2 scythes and staff .75, 3 yokes .50 .........................$2.40
• 1 ? hoe .50, 1 bill hook .50, 2 iron crows ? ................................................................$3.50
• 1 beetle and 3 wedges .75, 1 collar and hamer .50, 1 gindstone ?..............................$2.50
• 3 ? ?, 1 cropeut saw ?, 1 handsaw .50, 2 wood saw ?..................................................$6.50
• augen? gimblets chipals?, old iron ? , 2 pittelyards ? .................................................$6.00
• 1 gun 8.00, 1 pistol 1.00, 4 kat? irons 1.00, 1 coffee mill .50 ....................................$5.50
• 4 dish kettles 2.00, 2 pots 1.50, 1 tea kettle 1.00, 3 spiders 1.50 ...............................$6.00
• 1 toad iron .50, 1 bread ? .50, 1 cheese ? .50, wooden ? ? 10...................................$11.50
• 2 meal ? 1, dairy furniture 2.50, 9 kitchen chairs 2.50................................................$6.00
• 1 table .50, 1 fire sett 1.50, 1 lantern, candlestick, lamps and bellows 1.....................$3.00
• books 6.00, bed, furniture in the East Back chamber 12.00.......................................$18.00
• wool and sundries in the West Champber 3.00, 3 bbls cider? 6.00............................$10.00
• potatoes 13.00, empty bbls, keg? in the cellar 5.00, cheese 10.00 ............................$28.00
• bed and purniture in the front room 36.00, crockery in the frontroom closet 5.00, ...$41.00
• 1 doz knives and forks 2.00, 9 silver teaspoons 3.00, 1 silver watch 10.00 ...............$15.00
• ? 19.00, wearing apparel 22.00 .....................................................................................$41.00
• $399.15
• pew in meeting house ..................................................................................................10.00
• $409.15

David Whiton, administrator on the Estate of Nathaniel French, late of Hingham in said County, yeoman deceased...You are hereby directed to deliver to Sarah French the widow of said deceased so much of his personal Eastate in such articles as she may choose as will amount to the sum of three hundred according to their appriased value the same being an allowance much her for necessaries...after the widow Sarah French has selected from the personal Eastate of said deceased the allowance that has been made her you are hereby...

pg. 51

authorized to sell the residue at public or private sale as you shall judge most beneficial to all persons interested therein and account unto me for the porceeds thereof...

2. Plymouth Probate vol. 50, p 427

To the Hon Joshua Thomas, Esq, judge of Probate for the County of Plymouth, who petition of preresentation of David Whiton administratior on the Estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham in the said County yeoman deceased humbly show that the personal Estate of said deceased is insufficient by the sum of eight hundred dollars to pay all his past debts and incidental charges therefore prays that he may be licensed and empowered to sell so much of said deceased real Estate as shall produce the sum aforesaid ...

Plymouth Court of Probate, Dec 6th, 1819, on the foregoing petition ordered that the said David Whiton cause personal notice to be given to all persons interested in said Estate of this his petition and order thereon and that they may appear at the Court of Probate now held at Scituate in said County on this first monday of Dec instant at three o clock pm when and where they may appear and show cause if any they have why the prayer of said petition should not be granted...

Plymouth December 6, 1819 by virtue of the within I have notified the widow and children of the deceased Nathaniel French to appear at the times and place and for the ? within mentioned.

Plymouth Court of Probate Decmeber 6 1819 David Whiton Administrator of the Estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham in said County yeoman deceased having filed in the probate office for said County his petition for License to sell as much of the real etsate of said deceased as will produce the sum of eight hundred dollars for the purpose of paying his just debt and incidental charges and the said David Whiton having given notice to all persons interested in said Estate agreeable to the order of this Court all which being made evident to me by due Examination, therefore ordered that the said David Whiton be and hereby empowered to sell and pay deed to convey so much of said deceased in real Estate as shall produce the sum.

3. Plymouth Probate vol. 53, p.131

The account of David Whiton adminstrator on the estate of Nathaniel French late of Hingham yeoman deceased

The said accountant charges himself with sundry receipts viz

• for sundires sold at auction as ? 25.27 cash ? of Benjamin Whiton balance of ? .............31.29
• Warren Thayer note ?, Joshua Damon 15, Daniel Chubbard note ? 116.25 ..................135.25
• Deacon John Jacob note of interest 11.85, Jesse Gardner 1.63, Joseph Whiton 3.05......16.53
• Col Washington Cushing 1.75, Deac J. Jacobs 2, David Whiton balance of ? 319.82...323.57
• Sundry articles of personal estate including cash delivered widow on account of allowance by the judge..........................................................................................................................273.90
• cash received for the real estate sold at auction by order of court.............................800.00

                                                                                                                                             1580.84

And ? allowance for the following payments and charges viz

• sundries delivered the widow by order of the judge 277.90 as paid samuel gardner jr 2.61................................................................................................................................280.51
• james gardner 5.78 joseph whiton on 2 notes and interest 15.60 -................................21.38
• job loring jr. 5.50 perez whiting balance 7.94 davis whiting balance 10.35 ..................23.79
• eliha whiton 2.08 mary dills note 152.01 doctr shute jr. 25.49...................................179.58
• daniel dills note and int. 15.58 emma dills 22.72 whiton and fearing's acct 19.57........57.87
• doctr shute 2.40 deacon john jacobs note and int 138.22 ? 70.12................................210.47
• henry chubbuck note and int 107.55 ditto 35.20 ditto 154 ditto 256...........................552.75
• ditto for cash lent 60 abigail gardner note and int 23.98................................................83.98
• patience gardner 41.34, ditto 4.36 anthony gardner bill 4.09.........................................49.79
• perez whiting 2.25 david whiton and co. bill 27.47 daniel wilder 2.32..........................32.04
• ? Lane 2 B wilder collector 5.20 B. wilder collector 8.42..............................................15.62
• paid joshua hersey jr collector 3.20 joseph wilder ? .30...................................................3.50
• probate fees 5.85 ditto for inventory 1.25 for license to sell real estate 5.50 ................12.60
• perez whiting collector 4.53 administrators services 30, probate fees for recording ?...36.53

                                                                                                                                             1560.68
                                                                                                          Sarah French left her mark x





to do:

1.  Search for the deed for Freeman French's land in Abington - Plymouth County Deeds - 1818-1830.  Freeman then moves back to South Scituate/Norwell, where all his children were born - after Nathaniel's death.   (need to search index at registry in Plymouth for these dates - records are online, but need book vol. number, etc)

2. Find where Nathaniel's land went after his death and after his wife's death - their children:

• son Theodore said to have removed from Hingham in the History of Hingham book.  I could not find a record of him in Hingham.
• son Nathaniel stayed in Hingham, died in 1867 - look at his children too.
• daughter Mary French marries Joseph Wilder, remains in Hingham - have a son Joseph Wilder
• daughter Sarah dies in 1863, marries Jacob Dunbar - not sure where they ended up or if they had children.

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