Ethel Wight Collection – Part 29

Posted on May 14, 2021 by Don Taylor

Caswell, Cederstrom, Celli, Chamberlain, and Champagne

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Ethel Cederstrom (1911-___) circa 1937, age 25

Ethel Cederstrom (1911-___) circa 1937, age 25.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Ethel Cederstrom, 549 Cumberland Ave, Portland, #389.”

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Ethel G. Cederstrom as a clerk at 586 Congress, residing at 529 Cumberland Ave, Apt. 2.
  • Ethel Glenny Cederstrom was born 19 August 1911 to Rudolf and Alida Cederstrom.
  • In the 1940 Census, she is married to Laurence Hawkins, and her mother, Alida Cederstrom is living with them.
  • The 1930 Census shows 51-year-old Gertrude Cederstrom (head) living with her two daughters, Ethel and Verna Cederstrom, ages 18 and 13, respectively.
  • The 1920 Census shows 51-year-old Rudolph Pederstrom (head) living with his wife Alida, son Rudolph (Jr.), and two daughters Ethel and Verna Pederstrom.

I believe this is Ethel Glinny Cederstrom about 1937, before she married Laurance Hawkins on 4 October 1937 when she was about 25 or 26 years old.

Ethel did not have a profile on Family Search; however, her father, Rudolph Cederstrom, has a profile, GCYX-FZB. Her mother, Elida (or Alida), has a profile GCYX-892. So, I created GZHP-T45 as the daughter of Rudolph and Elida Cederstrom. I uploaded two photos of Ethel to her Family Search profile and a third photo to my Flickr Photostream. I did not find any Ancestry Trees that included Ethel Glinny Cederstrom.

Hortense Caswell (1916-1980), circa 1937, age 21.

Hortense Caswell (1916-1980), circa 1937, age 21.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Hortense Caswell – St. Barnabas Hospital, Portland, #564.”

  • The 1936 and 1937 Portland City Directories list Hortense Caswell as a Student Nurse at 231 Woodford and residing at 20 Norwood.
  • The 1938 Portland City directory lists Hortense as a nurse at 19 Dow, Apt. 5, and residing at the same place.
  • The 1930 Census lists Hortense A. Caswell, the 14-year-old daughter of Claude E. and Alice M. Caswell living in Gray, Cumberland County, Maine.

This photo was probably taken about 1937, as she graduated from St. Barnabas Hospital when she was about 21 years old.

Family Search identifies Hortense A. Caswell as ID: LTBG-GLN. I am quite sure this is her about 1937. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. I have also uploaded one additional image to my Flickr Photostream. Hortense Caswell is found in five Acestry Trees.

A niece confirmed this photo is of “Auntie Hon.” (She disliked the name “Hortense.)

Marjorie Chamberlain, circa 1937

Marjorie Chamberlain, circa 1937

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss M. Chamberlain, State St. Hospital, Portland #838.”

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Marjorie Chamberlain, a student nurse at 62 State, residing at 52 State Street.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory does not list a Marjorie Chamberlain.
  • Page 208 of the 1936 Portland City Directory, where I would expect “Chamberlain” to be listed, is missing from the Ancestry City Directories.
  • Pages 192 and 193, where I would expect “Chamberlain” to be, are missing from the 1938 Portland City Directory.
  • Marjorie Chamberlain is not listed in the 1939 Portland City Directory.

The 1940 Census

There was a 23-year-old Marjorie T. Chamberlain, who was a school teacher in Westborough, Worcester, MA.

There was a 25-year-old Marjorie Chamberlain who was a school teacher in Windsor, Shelby County, Illinois.

There was a 27-year-old Marjorie Chamberlain who was a bookkeeper in Towanda, Pennsylvania.

There was a 27-year-old Marjorie Chamberlain who was a typist in Worcester, Massachusetts.

None of these Marjorie’s were in Maine during 1935 and none of them were nurses in 1940.

There was a Marjorie Louise Chamberlain who married Maurice Eldridge Boardman in Vermont in 1937. However, she was only 16 years old, too young to be this Marjorie.

So, I have been unsuccessful in determining the identity of the Marjorie Chamberlain, who was a student nurse at State Street Hospital in Portland, Maine, in 1937.

I have added her photo to Dead Fred.

Marion E Champagne, circa 1937, age 23.

Marion E Champagne, circa 1937, age 23.

This negative envelope says, “Miss Marion Champagne, Queens Hospital, Portland, #303.”

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Marion E. Champagne as a student nurse at 218 State, residing at 681 Congress Street.
  • Page 208 of the 1936 Portland City Directory, where I would expect “Chamberlain” to be listed, is missing from the Ancestry City Directories.
  • Marion is not listed in the 1937 Portland City Directory.
  • Marion E Champagne does appear in the 1938 Waterville, Maine, City Directory working as a nurse and residing at 7 Pleasant. Also at 7 Pleasant are Catherine, Dorothy E., Joseph A (Minnie), and Maurice.
  • The 1930 US Census enumerated Joseph A. Champagne living in Fairfield, Somerset County, Maine. With him is his wife Minnie, two sons, and four daughters, including 17-year-old Marian E. Champagne.

I am sure this is Marion Champagne, daughter of Joseph and Minnie, about 1936, when she was about 23 years old and graduating from nursing school.

Family Search identifies Marian as ID: G4QG-FKK. I have uploaded two photos of her to her Family Search profile. Additionally, I have added one photo of her to my Flickr Photostream. Marian is found in six Ancestry Family Trees.

Michael Celli, circa 1935.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. Michael Celli, 14 Mayo St, Portland, #614.”

  • Michael Celli does not appear in 1934, 35, 36, or 37 Portland City Directories.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Catherine, Mary, Thomas, and Martin Walsh living at 14 Mayo.
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory again lists Walsh’s living at 14 Mayo
  • Finally, the 1937 Portland City Directory lists Catherine Parks, Martin Walsh, John & Margaret Murphy, and Peter & Shoughan Mouradian living at 14 Mayo.

Michael Celli, circa 1935.

A review of the 1930 Census yielded five individuals named Michael Celli.

    • A 29-year-old from Italy, living in Leominster, Massachusetts.*
    • A 19-year-old born in New York and living in Brooklyn, New York.*
    • A 12-year-old living in New York.
    • A 10-year-old living in Michigan*
    • A one-year-old residing in New Jersey.*

Besides the four individuals marked above with an asterisk (*), there were two additional Michael Celli’s enumerated in the 1940 Census.

    • A 50-year-old, born in Italy, living in New Jersey.
    • A 43-year-old, born in Italy, residing In Ohio.
    • Also, none of the Michael Celli’s in the 1940 Census indicate they lived in Maine in 1935.
    • Additionally, none of the wives of the Michael Celli’s in the 1940 Census indicate they lived in Maine during 1935.

Because the man in the photo appears to be about 30 years old and because the photo was probably taken about 1936, it is most likely the Leominster, MA, Michael Celli. However, without supporting evidence, I can’t make that determination.

I have added his two photos to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

I had:

    • Three successful identifications where I could post images to Family Search.
    • I posted two partial identifications to Dead Fred.
    • For the first time, I had an identification on Family Search where the individual does not appear to be in any Ancestry trees.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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John Parson’s Nephew – Albert Parsons (1795-1861)

Posted on May 13, 2021 by Don Taylor

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.In my research for Mary (Wolcott) Parsons, I speculated Mary was living with Albert Parsons during the 1830 Census. I also wanted to determine just who Albert was in relationship to Mary and if made sense for Mary to be the female 50 to 59 in his household.[i]

Albert Parson’s entry on Find-a-Grave showed his relationship. He was born in 1795 in Sheffield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts to Timothy and Huldah (Porter) Parsons. Timothy Parsons and John Parsons were brothers. Thus, Albert was Mary Parsons’ husbands nephew. Albert Parsons’ profile on family search is 9KBZ-FLK. The other key fact to note is that Albert’s mother, Huldah (Porter) Parsons died in 1817, so the female 50 to 59 in his household couldn’t be Albert’s mother.

So, it does make sense that Mary was living with Albert Parsons during the 1830 Census.

Endnotes

[i] See my posts: “Mary Parsons – The 1855 New York Census opened a Brick Wall” and “Ancestor Sketch – Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons.”

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Ancestor Sketch – Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons

Posted on May 11, 2021 by Don Taylor

Brown-Sandford-Parsons-Wolcott
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Mary Wolcott was born in 1767. She married John Parsons in 1788. After she was widowed in 1813,  Mary lived another 43 years living in several households. She died in 1857 at the age of 89.

Roberts/Brown – Ancestor #205

List of Grandparents

Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons (1767-1857)

Birth

Different researchers seem to disagree about where Mary Wolcott was born, but all seem to agree she was born 20 May 1767 to Samuel and Prudence (Robbins) Wolcott. I’ll know more when I research Mary’s parents. Chandler Wolcott, in Wolcott Genealogy, indicates that Samuel Wolcott located to Sandisfield, MA, in 1764, three years before Mary was born, so it is my current opinion that Mary was born in Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts.

Childhood

Mary was the third of seven children. Her siblings included

    1. Prudence Born 1763      Married John Baxter
    2. Samuel Born 1765      (the 4th generation named Samuel Wolcott)
    3. Mary Born 1767      Married John Parsons, Jr.
    4. Thomas Born 1769
    5. Abiathar Born 1772
    6. William Born 1774
    7. Abigail Born 1781      Married John Chapel.

Her father was a patriot, serving in the revolutionary war when Mary was only 9-years-old. It hat to have been an exciting time for a kid to grow up.

Marriage

Mary married John Parsons, Jr., in 1788 in Sandisfield, and the couple had their first child, Samuel, the following year. Their first five children were born in Sandisfield.

    1. Samuel Born 1789
    2. Polly Born 1792      Later married Jeremiah Miller.
    3. Orrin Born 1794
    4. John Born 1796
    5. Chester Born 1799      My 4th Great-grandfather.

The Columbia Turnpike opened up in 1799 from Berkshire County to Catskill, in Greene County, New York.[1]  In the spring of 1802, the Parsons located to Windham, Greene County, New York, probably using the Columbia Turnpike. Consequently, their next two children were born in New York.

    1. Permelia (?) Born 1805      Married (FNU) Clark.
    2. Prudence Born 1811      Possibly married Benjamin Miller.

Adulthood

I have not successfully found John and Mary Parsons in the 1810 Census (See: John Parsons, Jr., & the 1810 Census.)

Mary’s husband John died on 7 April 1813 in Windham, Greene County, New York.

I have not been successful in finding Mary in the 1820 Census. (See: Mary Parsons & the 1820 Census.) However, I am pretty sure that Mary was living with Albert Parsons during the 1830 Census. I am still hoping to determine precisely who Albert is.

In 1840, Mary was the head of the household comprising of her and a male 50 to 60 years old. I believe this male to be her son, Samuel.

In 1850, Mary was living in the household of Samuel Parsons (her eldest son).

In 1855, Mary is still living with Samuel in Greene County, New York.

Death

Mary (Wilcott) Parsons died on 26 Marth 1857 at the age of 89 years, ten months, and six days old. She is buried with John at the Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, Greene, New York.

Events by Location

  • Massachusetts, Berkshire County, Sandisfield – Birth, 1790, 1800
  • New York, Greene County, Windham – 1802, 1830, 1840, 1855, Death

Further Actions / Follow-up

  • Determine who Albert Parsons is
  • Find John & Mary Parsons in the 1810 Census.
  • Find Mary Parsons in the 1820 Census.

Sources

  • 1790 Census, 1790 Census – Page 34 – John Parsons, Jr. & John Parsons (Sr.) – Sandisfield Town, Berkshire County, Massachusetts. “Heads of Families – 1790 Census – Massachusetts – Page 34, Column 1, Persons 3 & 4. – Accessed 2 August 2020. https://www.census.gov/library/publications/1907/dec/heads-of-families.html.
  • 1800 Census (FS), Family Search, 1800 – John Parsons Jr. – Sandisfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts (3rd from bottom). “United States Census, 1800,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRZ-J6J : accessed 31 March 2018), John Parsons Jr, Sandisfield, Berkshire, Massachusetts, United States; citing p. 175, NARA microfilm publication M32, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 13; FHL microfilm 205,611. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRZ-J6J.
  • 1830 Census (FS), Family Search, 1830 – Albert Persons – Windham, Greene, New York. “United States Census, 1830,” database with images, FamilySearch ( : 20 February 2021), Albert Persons, Windham, Greene, New York, United States; citing 99, NARA microfilm publication M19, (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 110; FHL microfilm 17,170. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHP7-SGK.
  • 1840 Census (NARA), 1840 Census – Mary Parsons, Southern, Greene, New York. “United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRP-CWF : 8 December 2020), Mary Parsons, Greene, New York, United States; citing p. 149, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHRP-CWF.
  • 1850 Census (NARA), 1850 – Samuel Persons – Windham, Greene, New York. “United States Census, 1850,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCYF-ZJR : 23 December 2020), Samuel Persons, Windham, Greene, New York, United States; citing family , NARA microfilm publication (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MCYF-ZJR.
  • 1855 New York Census, Family Search, Samuel Parsons – New York, Greene, Windham. “New York State Census, 1855,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6S5-GCD : 3 March 2021), Samuel Persons, Windham, Greene, New York, United States; citing p. , line #7, family #130, county clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 480,076. https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K6S5-GCD.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution, “Ancestor Search”, DAR, Parsons, John – Ancestor # A088240. Accessed 31 July 2020. . https://services.dar.org/public/dar_research/search_adb/default.cfm?p_id=A088240.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution, “Descendants Search”, DAR, Ruth Evelyn Hill Carr – Nat’l #: 445593 – Ancestor #: A016639.
  • Daughters of the American Revolution, “Descendants Search”, DAR, Ruth Evelyn Hill Carr – Nat’l #: 445593 – Ancestor #: A088240. Accessed 31 July 2020.
  • Find a Grave, Internet, Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons – Memorial 118318771. Find a Grave, database and images (www.findagrave.com/memorial/118318771/mary-parsons : accessed 28 April 2021), memorial page for Mary “Polly” Wolcott Parsons (20 May 1767–26 March 1857), Find a Grave Memorial ID 118318771, citing Pleasant Valley Cemetery, Ashland, Greene County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Mookie (contributor 47515129). https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118318771/mary-parsons.
  • History of Washtenaw County, Michigan (Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), Google, Pg 1371. Chas. C. Chapman & Co. (2012). History of Washtenaw County, Michigan: Together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history ; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan : embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, aborigines, French, English and American conquests, and a general review of its civil, political and military history. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company.
  • History of Washtenaw County, Michigan (Chicago, Chas. C. Chapman & Co., 1881), Google, Pg 1405. Chas. C. Chapman & Co. (2012). History of Washtenaw County, Michigan: Together with sketches of its cities, villages and townships, educational, religious, civil, military, and political history ; portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens : history of Michigan : embracing accounts of the pre-historic races, aborigines, French, English and American conquests, and a general review of its civil, political and military history. Salem, MA: Higginson Book Company.
  • Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001, Family Search, PAGE 335 – 4TH SECTION (After Manley, Crane, & Spelman) – PARSONS (John Parsons, Jr. and Mary, his wife.
  • New York, US., State Census, 1855, Ancestry, Greene County, Windham, Image 8 of 34, Lines 7 – Samuel Parsons.
  • Chandler Wolcott, Wolcott Genealogy – The Family of Henry Wolcott (, 1912), Internet Archive, Page 119 – LXXIII – Samuel Wolcott.

Endnotes

[1] Family Search Wiki – Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts Genealogy.

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Ethel Wight Collection – Part 28

Posted on May 7, 2021 by Don Taylor

Binnette, Carrier, Casey, Cassidy, & Parsons

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Mildred Flora Elizabeth Cassidy, circa 1937 (age 23)

Mildred Flora Elizabeth Cassidy, circa 1937 (age 23)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mildred Cassidy, State St. Hospital, Portland #941 – DSCN2855.”

I found:

  • Mildred Cassidy appears in the 1937 Portland City Directory as a student nurse at 62 State and living at 52 State.
  • Mildred Cassidy appears in the 1940 Census as a practical nurse living at 120 Spring St. She is 26, born in Canada.
  • According to her naturalization “Declaration of Intention,” Mildred Flora Elizabeth Cassidy, was born 6 Jan 1914 in Newcastle, New Brunswick.

Family Search did not have a profile for Mildred Cassidy, so I created ZWQ-21R and uploaded a photo of her to that profile. She also is found in 10 Ancestry Trees.

Lawrence Edgar Casey, c. 1934 (Age 16)

Lawrence Edgar Casey, c. 1934 (Age 16)

The envelope this negative was in says, Mr. Lawrence Cassey, 8 Wescott St, Portland #226.”

  • My initial search yielded no results. Searching for anyone living at 8 Wescott in Portland, I found that Mrs. Margaret A. Casey lived at 8 Wescott in 1935.
  • The 1934 Portland High School Yearbook, shows Lawrence Edgar Casey’s photograph which is identical to one of the photos in this collection.
  • S. Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 reports Edgar Lawrence Casey was born 7 July 1917 in Falmouth, Cumberland County, Maine to Edgar L and Margaret A. (Ward) Casey. He died 7 October 1988.

Family Search has a profile for Edgar Lawrence Casey as KZZP-611. I uploaded two photos of Lawrence to his Family Search profile. Edgar Lawrence Casey is found in 27 Ancestry Public Trees. I also uploaded three more photos of Lawrence to my Flickr Photostream.

Richard Earl Parsons, c. 1936 (age 3)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs Fred A Carsons – 930 Forest Ave, Portland #723.”

  • Richard Earl Parsons, circa 1936 (age 3)

    My search for Fred Carsons was unsuccessful. Luckily, Ancestry allows searching City Directories based upon Address only. That search found Fred A., and Katherine M. Parsons living at 930 Forest Ave in the 1935 Portland City Directory.

  • The 1940 Census found Fred living with his wife and five children, four boys, ages 17, 17, 15, and Richard, age 8. This photo was taken about 1936, so it must be two-year-old Richard as the child is too young any of the other boys.

Family Search has a profile for Richard Parsons as LBSD-L6W. I uploaded one photo to that profile. He is also in nine Ancestry Family trees.

Leo Carrier, ca. 1936 (Age 2)

Leo Carrier, ca. 1936 (Age 2)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Leo Carrier, 86 Sudig St., Portland #716.”

Sometimes I’m reminded that everyone makes mistakes. In the case of “Mrs. Leo Carrier” I learned that the person was actually Mrs. Romeo Carrier and the child in the photo is Leo Carrier. I also learned that India can look like Sudig (or Dudig). It was a frustrating search but I got there eventually.

My search for Carrier and the number 86 in the Portland City directories yielded Romer and Antoinette Carrier living at 86 India.

There does not appear to be a profile for Leo or his parents on Family Search. However, Leo P Carrier, born 15 Aug 1934 to Romeo J. and Antoinette Bridget (Spaltro) Carrier is found in 8 Ancestry Family Trees. I have uploaded the photo to Dead Fred.

Beverly Binnette, circa 1934 (Age 1)

Beverly Binnette, c. 1934 (Age 1)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Mabel Carpenter – 175 Congress St., Portland #527.”

  • The 1935 Portland City Directory list Mable L. Carpenter as the wife lf L. Thurston Carpenter residing at 1 Haskell in South Portland. Note. The 1934 Directory shows L. Thurston Carpenter but does not mention Mabel.
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory lists a Mrs. Mabel L Carpenter, a waitress at 82 Free who resided at 57 Danforth. There were no Carpenters listed at 175 Congress.
  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Mrs. Mabel L. Carpenter, married to Edgar Binette and moved to Saco.
  • The 1940 Census shows Edgar Benette and Mabel living at 7 South Street with their two children, Beverly, age 6 and Patricia, age 2.
  • Based upon the photo number, 527, it was taken about 1934 or 1935, so this must be a photo of Beverly and not Patricia. Further research found that Beverly was born 26 October 1933.
  • Mabel Louise Grace married Joseph Edgar Binette on 28 November 1936, well after Beverly’s birth in 1933. Mabel Louise Grace married Lawrence Thurston Carpenter on 9 November 1934. So this photo was likely taken after that when Beverly was about a year old. Mabel married James I. Dixon on 19 November 1929.

Beverly does not appear to have a profile on Family Search, however, Mabel Louise Grace is ID LYN1-LWK. Because I am not entirely sure who Beverly’s father is (Dixon, Carpenter, or Binette), I did not add a profile for Beverly in Family Search. Regardless of the name Beverly was born with, she clearly grew up with Binnette as her surname.  Mable Louise Grace, wife of Edgar H. Binnette is found in 19 Ancestry Trees.

I have added Beverly Binnette’s photo to Dead Fred.

Conclusion

I had a good week with:

    • Three successful identifications where I could post to Family Search
    • Two successful identifications where I needed to post the image to Dead Fred.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

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Mary Parsons & the 1820 Census

Posted on May 2, 2021 by Don Taylor

Census Sunday
Brown-Sanford-Parsons-Wolcott
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.I try to find my ancestors in each of the Census records. Women are tough to find in Censuses before 1850 because they are often not named. As is always the case, try to figure out what I think I know so I’ll know what I might expect before I start searching.

Mary Wolcott

Mary Wolcott was born on 20 May 1787 in Windsor, Hartford County, Connecticut. She married John Parsons, Jr., in 1788 and was enumerated in Sandisfield, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, during the 1790 and 1800 Censuses. In the Spring of 1802, John Parsons, Jr., and Mary moved to Windham, Greene County, New York.

I have not been successful in finding them in the 1810 Census. John died in 1813. Mary died in 1857, so she should appear somewhere in 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 Censuses.

John and Mary had at least seven children. In 1820 they should appear as:

      • Samuel Parsons Age 31
      • Orrin Parsons Age 26
      • John Parsons Age 24
      • Chester Parsons Age 20
      • Polly, who married Jeremiah Miller Age 28
      • Permelia probably married FNU Clark after 1820 because she would have been only 15 years old in 1920.
      • Prudence would have been about 12-years-old in 1820.

Do any of the children appear in the 1820 Census, and do any of them seem to have a 53-year-old woman living with them?

1820 Census

As search for Parsons in Windham, Green County yielded.

      • Albert Parsons 1 1 0 1 0 0  | 0 1 1 0 0 [i]
      • Orrin Parsons 1 0 0 1 0 0 | 0 0 1 0 0
      • Samuel Parsons 0 0 0 0 1 0 | 0  2 0 0 0

Neither 20-year-old Chester nor his mother, 53-year-old Mary, appear to be living with any of them in Windham. It is not clear who Albert Parsons is. His household seems to include him, 16 to 26 years old, his apparent wife, also 16 to 26 years old. And three apparent children, one boy, under 10, and a boy and a girl ages 10 to 16.

There were two Miller families in Windham. Abraham and Eleazer. Abraham’s household did not include a woman over 45. Eleazer’s household did have a woman over 45, but it appears that Eleazer was over 45, and thus his wife is likely to be over 45. Additionally, there is no male 16 to 26 in the household so that that household couldn’t include Chester.

Expanding my search to all of Green County, there was no Jeremiah Miller enumerated during the 1820 Census.

It seems weird that I’m unable to find Mary (Wolcott) Parsons in any of the Census records. I’ll try another approach.

Endnotes:

[i] The 1820 Census is unique in that it has an extra, overlapping, age group. The third column is for males 16 to 18 and the fourth column is for males 16 to 26. There is no similar column for females.

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