Whitten-Bickford Project
52 Ancestors – Week 2018-22
By Don Taylor

I have researched many individuals that have gone west over the generations. Anson Bickford is the first individual that I found that went to California early in California History (in the 1850s or 60s) and then returned to the east coast in the 1870s.

Whitten-Bickford 2018 – Ancestor WB12

List of Grandparents

• Grandfather: Everett Anson Bickford
• 1^st Great-grandfather: Anson Wayne Bickford
• 2^nd Great-grandfather: A. Bickford

Anson Wayne Bickford (1835-1922)

Anson Wayne Bickford was born on 7 November 1835 in Kennebec County, Maine, to A. and Eliza Bickford. Various records indicate he was born in Oakland, Heartland, and Belgrade, Maine.

In 1873, the Maine legislature incorporated West Waterville. It 1883, West Waterville was renamed Oakland. Hartland, Maine is in Somerset County. Most of the records indicate Kennebec County, so Hartland seems unlikely. Because Oakland and Belgrade adjoin and Oakland was created long after his birth, I believe Anson was born in an area of Belgrade that later became Oakland. Further research regarding Anson’s parents should provide clues to Anson’s birth.

I know nothing about Anson’s childhood. However, when Anson was 16, Maine passed the first state law to prohibit the sale of alcohol. There were numerous protests against the law which culminated in the “Portland Rum Riot” when, in 1835, the mayor of Portland ordered the militia to fire on the rioters. One man was killed and seven were wounded. Maine’s prohibition law was re

pealed after that, in 1856, when Anson was 21 years old.

Although Anson was in his 20s when the Civil War broke out, I have been unable to find evidence that he served in the war.

First Marriage

Independence Day Parade – San Francisco 1865

The first place I found Anson after the Civil war was in California in 1865.  He is living in California with his first wife, Henrietta, in San Francisco.  Henrietta was from Halifax, so it is unclear if they met in the East then located to California or if they met in California and married there. In any event, the couple had fraternal twins, a girl and a boy, on 1 October 1865.

The following spring tragedy struck. Henrietta died of Consumption on 28 May 1866. His son “A. W.” (Possibly Anson Wayne, Jr.) also died the same day. Eight days later their daughter Nettie died.

Second Marriage

Anson appears to have remarried either later in 1866 or in early 1867 to Jean Elizabeth MacGowan[1] of New York. Their first child Jeannette was born in January, 1868. Jeannette was also known as Nettie like Anson’s first daughter. Anson and Jean had one more child, Ralph, while they were in California. Then the couple moved east, to Readfield, Maine. Anson and Jean had nine children together, eight of whom lived to adulthood. They are:

Children of Anson Wayne and Jean Elizabeth (MacGowan) Bickford

Readfield, Wayne, and Fayette are all adjoining communities in western Kennebec County, Maine.

The 1880 Census finds Anson and Jane living in Readfield with their six oldest children. Their seventh child, Mertie Alice was born on 10 Nov 1880 and died five days later on 15 Nov 1880.

The 1900 Census, reports the family had located about 20 miles away from Fayette to Auburn, Maine. The census reports that Jean birthed eight children, eight of whom were living in 1900. Mertie wasn’t mentioned.  Living with them in Auburn are Nettie, Everett, Maude and Erna.[2]

Jean died sometime between June, 1900, and October, 1904, when she was reported as deceased in the marriage registry of their son Edwin. Also, by 1904 Anson had moved across the river to Lewiston, Maine.

By 1910, Anson had moved back to Auburn to live with his son, Everett. That census indicates that Anson was a widower and that he had 11 children, eight of which were living.

Death & Burial

Bickford Monument – Photo by “Stone Finders” via Find a Grave

Anson moved to South Berwick, Maine about 1920 and died there on 24 August 1922. He was buried about 100 miles away at Fayette Mills Cemetery, Fayette, Kennebec County, Maine with his wife Jean/Jane, where they lived for many years.

Further Actions / Follow-up

Follow-up with research of Anson’s parents to determine his most likely birth location.

————–  Disclaimer  ————–

Citations

• California Great Registers, 1866-1910, Family Search, Anson Mayne Bickford – No Image. “California Great Registers, 1866-1910,” Database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VT6N-SB2 : 8 December 2017), Anson Mayne Bickford, 06 Jul 1866; citing Voter Registration, Second, San Francisco, California, United States, county clerk offices, California; FHL microfilm 977,097.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Erna Eliza Greta Bickford – Birth 23 Sep 1884. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HVQ-SWY : 6 November 2017), Anson Wayne Bickford in the entry for Erna Eliza Greta Bickford, Birth 23 Sep 1884; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,002,382. – Accessed 18 May 2018.
• 1880 Census, Family Search, Anson W. Bickford – Readfield, Kennebec, Maine. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF35-72V : 15 August 2017), Anson W Bickford, Readfield, Kennebec, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district ED 102, sheet 384B, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 0482; FHL microfilm 1,254,482. Accessed 7 Feb 2017.
• 1870 Census, 1870 Census – Anson Brickford [Bickford] – San Francisco, San Francisco, California. “United States Census, 1870,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN6Y-56H : 12 April 2016), Anson Brickford, California, United States; citing p. 220, family 1732, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,583. Accessed 17 May 2018.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Erna Bickford Salley & Albert Stevens Maddox. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24N-6TR9 : 13 March 2018), Anson Wayne Bickford in the entry for Albert Stevens Maddox and Erna Bickford Salley, Marriage 24 Aug 1914; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 10,151. – Accessed 18 May 2018
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Death – Anson W Bickford. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24X-BSFD : 13 March 2018), Anson W Bickford, Death 24 Aug 1922; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 10,080. – Accessed 20 May 2018.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Estella A Bickford – 29 Aug 1878. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HVQ-789 : 6 November 2017), Anson Wayne Bickford in the entry for Estella A Bickford, Birth 29 Aug 1878; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,002,382. – Accessed 18 May 2018.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Maud Barbara Bickford – 10 Feb 1883. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HVQ-C27 : 6 November 2017), Anson Wayne Bickford in the entry for Maud Barbara Bickford, Birth 10 Feb 1883; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 1,002,382. – Accessed 18 May 2018.
• 1900 Census (FS), Family Search, Anan T [Anson] Bickford – Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine,. “United States Census, 1900,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MML4-WG3 : accessed 17 May 2018), Everett A Bickford in household of Anan T Bickford, Auburn city Ward 3, Androscoggin, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 4, sheet 14B, family 357, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,587. – Accessed 7 Feb 2016.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Edwin W Bickford & Clara L Smith. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ3Z-LCM : 28 September 2017), Anson W Bickford in the entry for Bickford and Smith, Marriage 1904; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 9,896. – Accessed 20 May 2018.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Everett Anson Bickford & Ada Maria Chase. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VZ3Z-FB6 : 28 September 2017), Anson W Bickford in the entry for Bickford and Chase, Marriage ; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 9,896. – Accessed 20 May 2018.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – George W Salley & Erma E G Bickford. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24J-SQKV : 13 March 2018), A Wayne Bickford in entry for George W Salley and Erma E G Bickford, Marriage 01 Sep 1908; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 10,186 – Accessed 24 May 2018.
• 1910 Census (FS) (NARA), Family Search, Everett Bickford, Auburn, Androscoggin, Maine. “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MRSP-ND2 : accessed 18 May 2018), Everett A Bickford, Auburn Ward 2, Androscoggin, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 3, sheet 3A, family 73, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 536; FHL microfilm 1,374,549.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Raymond Richard Sherman & Barbara Maud Bickford. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24J-34CR : 13 March 2018), Ancon Wayne Bickford in the entry for Raymond Richard Sherman and Barbara Maud Bickford, Marriage 28 Oct 1911; citing Division of Vital Statistics, State Board of Health, Augusta; FHL microfilm 10,189. – Accessed 19 May 2018.

ENDNOTES

[1] Various records indicate Jennie’s maiden surname was McGowan and MacGowan. I have decided to use MacGowan for her surname because it is the surname on her memorial stone.

[2] The 1900 Census is a very confusing record. It clearly indicates Jennie E, the wife of Anson Bickford, is living but was born in February 1840 and is 60 years old. Other records suggest she was born between 1849 and 1850. To add to the confusion, her marker indicates that she died in 1898. I believe the birthdate in the 1900 Census should be Feb 1850, making her 50 years old. That would then be consistent with all other records except for her marker. It appears that her marker was carved about 1957 when her daughter Matilda was buried, which might explain an incorrect death date on the common marker.