Ancestor Sketch – Albert Wesley Welch

Welch-Harris Project
Welch Line
By Don Taylor

Albert Wesley Welch was born on 5 March 1847 in Raymond, Maine. His father, John, was 47 and his mother, Mary, was 40. He married Harriet Marilla Robinson in 1876. They had ten children in 15 years. He died on October 6, 1920, in Biddeford, Maine, at 73.

Albert Wesley Welch is found in 23 Ancestry Public Trees and is Family Search profile LZR9-R14.

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Albert Wesley Welch (1847-1920) –Ancestor #WH16

List of Grandparents

• (4)       Grandfather: Robert Anthony Welch
• (8)       1^st Great-grandfather: Francis Asbury Welch (1887-1929)
• (16)    2^nd Great-grandfather: Albert Wesley Welch (1847-1920)
• (32)    3^rd Great-grandfather: John Welch (1799-___)

Birth

I have three different dates and places for Albert’s birth

1. In Limerick, York County, Maine.
2. February 1847 in Raymond, Cumberland County, Maine
3. 5 March 1847 in Raymond, Cumberland County, Maine

The Limerick birthplace was given in Harold Welch’s marriage to Mary Eison in 1912. Harold’s two oldest siblings were born in Limerick, and his mother was born in either Limerick or nearby Limington. This is the only record I’ve encountered indicating Albert was born anywhere except Raymond. As such, I believe it to be in error.

The 1900 Census included the birth month and year. Albert’s birth was entered as Feb 1847.

His death record indicates his birthdate was 5 March 1847. It also indicated he was 73 Years, 7 Months, and one day old when he died on 6 October 1920. That would also place his birth on 5 March 1847 and not in February.

So, 5 March 1847 is my preferred birth date.

1850 Census

The 1850 Census tells us about Albert’s family. His parents, John and Mary Welch, appear to have five children; however, the census does not identify the relationship between the individuals in the household. Other research has found the following for the children of John & Mary. In 1850 John was a farmer whose property was valued at $350.

Apparent (Tentative) Children of John & Mary Welch (Siblings of Albert)

Name	Born	Married	Died
Nathaniel	1829-1830	?	?
Emeline B	1833	Henry Hack	1910
Mary Eliza	1835-1836	Elbridge Gerry Berry	1913
Francis A	1842	?	1884
Albert Wesley	1847	Harriet Marilla Robinson	1920

I’ll do further research on Albert’s siblings when I research his parents.

1860 Census

During the 1860 Census, the John Welch household was enumerated with John & Mary and three (apparent) children, Mary E (24), Francis A (18), and Albert W (13). Albert was attending school.

Adulthood

1870 Census

Sometime between 1860 and 1870, Albert and his mother moved to Limerick. The census reported 23-year-old Albert as the head of the household, whose farm value was $600. Living in the home is his mother, 63-year-old Mary[i]. 

Marriage

Albert Wesley Welch married Harriet Marilla Robinson in about 1876. They had ten children together, but two died as infants.

Children of Albert and Harriet (Robinson) Welch.

Name	Born	Married	Died
Helen May	1880	Frank Woodman	1954
Albert Chester	1881	Eva Clark	1956
Minnie Jane	1883	1. Harlan Trafton 2. Wilford Couch	?
Emma Belle	1884	Robert McFarland	1964
Francis Asbury	1887	Julia Daley	1929
Herold Lester	1892	Mary Eison	1960
William Robinson	1894	Beula Eison	1950
LaForest Temple	1896	Hope Williams	1984
(Unknown)	Probably c. 1886		Bef. June 1900
(Unknown)	Probably c. 1890 Possibly c. 1878.		Bef. June 1900 Possibly bef. 1880

The 1880s

During the 1880 Census, Albert (enumerated as Wesley) and Harriet were living in Limerick. They had no children. Harriet was pregnant with Helen May, who was born the following month. Albert Chester was born in September 1881 in Limerick; however, Minnie, Emma, and Francis were all born in Kennebunkport, so the family must have moved there about 1882[ii].

The 1890s

When Minnie was born (1883), Albert was listed as a farmer, but when William was born (1884), Albert was listed as a Mason. LeForest was also born (1896) in Kennebunkport, but the family appears to have relocated to Harpswell, Cumberland County, before August 1898, where Albert was living when his daughter, Helen, married.

The 1900s

The 1900 Census reported Albert and his wife, Hattie, living in Brunswick, Cumberland County, Maine, at 5 South Street. With them is their daughter, Helen, and her new husband, Frank Woodman. Also living there are Albert Chester, Minnie, Emma, Frank (aka Francis), Harold, William, and Forest. Albert is a brickmaster, and Hattie is a restaurant keeper. Helen and Minnie are waitresses. The son-in-law is a law student, and Albert Chester is a sign-maker. The other kids are either attending school or are at home. Albert Chester married in 1901.

Before 1906 (Emma’s marriage), Albert and Hattie moved to Medford, Middlesex, Massachusetts.

The 1910s

The 1910 Census found Albert living at 365 Washington Street in Boston. Hattie is not with him at that address. I expect I’ll see where Hattie was when I research her specifically. In 1912, Albert’s son, Harold, married Mary Eison. Their marriage license indicates Albert is living in Brighton and Hattie is in Boston.

About 1916, Albert moved to Biddeford and lived there when his son, Francis, married in 1917. Hattie was living in Lindon, MA, at the time.

The 1920s

The 1920 Census found Albert living at 29 Landry (?) in Biddeford with his daughter Emma and son-in-law, Robert A Mc Farlane. The 72-year-old Albert doesn’t have an occupation listed.

Death/Burial, etc.

Albert Wesley Welch died at age 73 on 6 October 1920, at 53 Green Street, Biddeford, of chronic myocarditis and endocarditis. David Dolloff, M.D., was the attending physician. He was buried in Woodlawn cemetery on 9 October; W. I. Dennett was the undertaker.

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Events by Location

• Maine, Cumberland, Brunswick             1900-1901
• Maine, Cumberland, Harpswell             1898
• Maine, Cumberland, Raymond               1847 (Birth) to 1860s (school)
• Maine, York, Biddeford                           1916 – 1920 (Death)
• Maine, York, Kennebunkport                 1883 – 1896
• Maine, York, Limerick                             1870s (Marriage) – 1883
• Massachusetts, Middlesex, Medford      1906
• Massachusetts, Suffolk, Boston              1910, 1913
• Massachusetts, Suffolk, Brighton           1912  

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Sources

• 1850 Census, Family Search, 1850 Census – Maine, Cumberland, Raymond – John Welch. Page 7 – Line 46 –  Enumerated 20 July 1850. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6JK-R39.
• 1860 Census, Family Search, 1860 Census – Maine, Cumberland, Raymond – John Welch. “United States Census, 1860”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDCM-PB5 : 18 February 2021), John Welch, 1860. Page 62, Line 19.
• 1870 Census, Family Search, 1870 Census – Maine, York, Limerick – Albert Welch – Line 4. “United States Census, 1870”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6DH-G93 : 29 May 2021), Albert Welch, 1870.
• 1880 Census, Family Search, 1880 Census – Maine, York, Limerick – ED 197, Sheet 385B. “United States Census, 1880,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFQC-69T : 14 January 2022), Wesley Welch, Limerick, York, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district, sheet, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm.
• 1900 Census, 1900 – Albert W Welch. “United States Census, 1900”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MMLD-FB4 : 9 March 2022), Albert W Welch, 1900.
• 1910 Census (NARA, 1910), 1910 – Albert W Welch – Massachusetts, Suffolk, Boston Ward 25 – ED 1657 “United States Census, 1910,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M228-W3J : accessed 6 January 2023), Albert W Welch, Boston Ward 25, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 1657, sheet 3B, family 55, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 625; FHL microfilm 1,374,638.
• 1920 Census (FS), 1920 – Maine, York, Biddeford – Robert A McFarlane, Head – (also Albert W Welch). “United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MF84-QMS : 1 February 2021), Robert A Mc Farlane, 1920.
• Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900, Family Search, Emma Bell Welch – 15 Nov 1884. “Maine Births and Christenings, 1739-1900”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FWB2-RP8 : 14 January 2020), Emma Bell Welch, 1884.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Leforest Temple Welch – 1 May 1896 – Kennebunkport, Maine. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC6S-X2P : 2 March 2021), Leforest Temple, 01 May 1896; citing Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Minnie Jane Welch – 23 Apr 1883. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HKQ-C13 : 2 March 2021), Minnie Jane Welch, 23 Apr 1883; citing Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – William Robinson Welch – 14 Jun 1894 – Kennebunkport, York, ME. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC6S-76V : 2 March 2021), William Robinson Welch, 14 Jun 1894; citing Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Frances Asbury Welch & Julia Anna Daley – 11 June 1917. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q24J-6MFZ : 2 March 2021), Frances Asbury Welch and Julia Anna Daley, 11 Jun 1917; citing Biddeford, York, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Marriage – Robert A McFarlane & Emma B Welch – 18 Aug 1906. “Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q28Q-DK1Z : 22 July 2021), Robert A McFarlane and Emma B Welch, 18 Aug 1906; citing Portland, Cumberland, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm.
• Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915, Ancestry.com, Harlan Verne Trafton – Minnie Jeanette Welch – Feb 22, 1902. Medford, 1902 – Page 519 – Line 18  -.
• New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, Family Search, Albert C. Welch & Eva M. Clark – 1901. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLZP-82H : 1 August 2022), Albert C. Welch and Eva M. Clark, 1901.
• New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, Family Search, Harold L Welch & Mary Eison – 1912. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLZP-DM2 : 1 August 2022), Harold L. Welch and Mary Islon, 1912.
• New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, Family Search, Helen M. Welch & Frank W. Woodman – 1898. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FLFL-6YH : 1 August 2022), Frank W. Woodman and Helen M. Welch, 1898.
• New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, Family Search, Wilford A. Couch & Minnie A. Trafton. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL8M-RBJ : 1 August 2022), Wilford A. Couch and Minnie A. Trafton, 1913.

Endnotes

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[i] Research Deeds for Albert getting the property in Limerick.

[ii] Research York County Deeds for Albert’s selling of property in Limerick and purchasing property in Kennebunkport. In the 1880s.