Welch-Harris Project
Welch-Robinson Line
By Don Taylor

When Harriet Marilla Robinson was born on 20 December 1861 in Limington, Maine, her father, David, was 24, and her mother, Malinda, was 23. She married Albert Wesley Welch in 1876. They had ten children in 15 years. She died on 14 December 1927, in Melrose, Massachusetts, at age 65 and was buried in Biddeford, Maine.

Harriet (Robinson) Welch (1861-1927) is found in 33 Ancestry Public Trees and is Family Search profile LZR9-TM8.

Welch/Harris – Ancestor #17

List of Grandparents

• Grandfather: Robert Anthony Welch (1920-2007)
• 1^st Great-grandfather: Francis Asbury Welch (1887-1917)
• 2^nd Great-grandmother: Harriet Marilla Robinson (1861-1927)
• 3^rd Great-grandfather: David Boyd Robinson (1837-1916)

Birth

The United States was in turmoil when Malinda Jane (Huntress) Robinson was pregnant with her second child, Harriet Marilla. In April, the American Civil War began with the battle at Fort Sumter and Maine Regiments organizing to send young men to the fight. Harriet was born on 20 December 1861. She would grow up being known as Hattie.

Children of David and Malinda Robinson (Siblings of Hattie)

1870 Census

The 1870 Census found Hattie living with her parents, four siblings, and her grandmother, Dorcas Robinson. Her father, David, was a farmer.

Marriage

Hattie married Albert Wesley Welch in about 1877[1]. The couple had at least eight children, although they may have had ten.[2]

Children of Albert and Hattie Welch

1880 Census

Albert & Hattie lived in Limerick during the 1880 Census, which was taken in June. Hattie was pregnant with Helen, who was born in July. Albert was farming.

1890s

In 1898, Hattie’s eldest child, Helen, married Frank Woodman. Albert & Hattie lived in Harpswell, Maine.

1900s

The 1900 census found Hattie as a “restaurant keeper” living in Brunswick, Maine. Her husband is a “brickmaster.” All of Hattie’s living children reside in the household. The eldest daughter, Helen, is a waitress, and her husband, Frank, is a law student. Sixteen-year-old Minnie is also a waitress. Frank and Harold are attending school.

In 1901, her eldest son, Albert Chester, married Eva Maria Clark.

Between 1901 and 1906, Hattie and Albert moved to the Wellington neighborhood of Medford, Massachusetts, as there were living there when daughter Emma married Robert McFarlane.

1910 Census

The 1910 Census shows Hattie lives with her daughter, Minnie Trafton, a lodging house keeper. Also in the household are two of Hattie’s sons, Harold & Willie. Hattie’s husband, Albert, lives in Boston, so it appears they were estranged.

1920 Census

In 1920, Hattie was living in Malden. Living with her is her 24-year-old son William, who is attending school. The census reports Hattie was Divorced, but I have not found a divorce record yet. Hattie’s (ex)husband was living in Biddeford, Maine, with his daughter, Emma, and her husband.

In December, Hattie’s (ex)husband died in Biddeford and was buried there.

Death/Burial, etc.

Harriet Marilla Welch (née Robinson) died on 14 December 1927 at the home of her daughter Minnie’s home in Melrose, Massachusetts. Her body was transported to her daughter Emma’s house in Biddeford, Maine. Rev. Royal Brown of Foss Street Methodist Church officiated the funeral service at Emma’s. Hattie was then buried at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Events by Location

• Maine, Cumberland, Brunswick 1900-1901
• Maine, Cumberland, Harpswell 1898
• Maine, York, Biddeford   Burial
• Maine, York, Kennebunkport (unknown years – per obituary)
• Maine, York, Limerick     1870-1880
• Maine, York, Limington  Birth.
• Maine, York, Portland (unknown years – per obituary)
• Massachusetts, Middlesex, Malden (Linden) 1921-1927-Death.
• Massachusetts, Middlesex, Medford (Wellington)       1906
• Massachusetts, Suffolk, Boston  1910-1913.

Conflicts

Birth Conflict

• Harriet’s obituary indicates she was born on 20 December 1861 in South Limington.
• William’s birth record and Emma’s and LeForest’s marriage records indicate Harriet was born in Limington.
• Minnie’s birth record indicates her mother was born in Limerick, as does William’s marriage Record and her obituary that ran in the Portland Evening Express.
• Finally, her son Howard’s marriage record indicates Hattie was born in Kennebunk, Maine.

Note that Limerick and Limington are two townships that border each other.

Further Actions / Follow-up

• Search church records for evidence of Harriet’s birth.
• Search for records of Harriet living in Kennebunkport, Maine.
• Search for records of Harriet living in Portland, Maine.
• Search for Minnie Jane (Welch) (Trafton) Couch’s death record.

Sources

• 1870 Census, Family Search, 1870 – David Robinson – Limerick, York, Maine, Page 13. “United States Census, 1870”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M6DH-8DS : 29 May 2021), David Robinson, 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, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), FHL microfilm. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MFQC-69T.
• 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 – Minnie I Trafton – Massachusetts, Suffolk, Boston Ward 11 ED1419
• 1920 Census, Various, 1920 – Hattie M Welch. “United States Census, 1920”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MX1Q-GBQ : 1 February 2021), Hattie M Welch, 1920.
• Biddeford Daily Journal (Biddeford, ME), Newspapers.com, Burial – Harriet Robinson Welch – 19 December 1927, Page 7, Column 7.
• Biddeford-Saco Journal (Biddeford, Maine), Newspapers.com, Obituary – Harriet Robinson Welch – 15 December 1927, Page 2.
• 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, 1 May 1896; citing Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KC6S-X2P.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – Minnie Jane Welch – 23 April 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 April 1883; citing Kennebunkport, Maine, United States, multiple sources, Maine; FHL microfilm. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:2HKQ-C13.
• Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921, Family Search, Birth – William Robinson Welch – 14 June 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 June 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 June 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 August 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 August 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 – 22 February 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.
• New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947, Family Search, William Robinson Welch & Beulah Carrie Eisan – 1921. “New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947”, database, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL84-YLR : 1 August 2022), William Robinson Welch and Beulah Carrie Eisan, 1921. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL84-YLR.
• Portland Evening Express (Portland, ME), Newspapers.com, 1927-12-15 – Obit Mrs. Harriet Welch.

Endnotes

[1] The 1900 Census indicates Albert & Hattie had been married for 23 years.
[2] The 1900 Census indicates that Hattie had 10 children, 8 of whom were living.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Ibid.