Following families in the early census records is always tricky. Reading incorrectly transcribed names and filling in the gaps makes things challenging. Such is the case concerning Joel Cruff Taft and the 1830 Census.
During the 1840 Census, Joel, his father Asa, and his Brother, Asa Junior, were enumerated next to each other. In the 1830 Census, Joel and his father were listed next to each other. Brother, Asa Jr., is enumerated two after Joel on the next page. They were located in Lisle, Broome County, New York.
Their profiles show:
Asa: – 1 1 1 – – – 1 || – 1 – 1 – 1
Joel Cruft Taft – 1 – – – 1 || 2 2 – – 1
Asa Jr.: – 2 1 0 0 1 || 3 1 – 1 – 1
In 1830, I believe that Joel had five children, a boy and four girls. The four girls fit, Amanda and Catherine being under 5, while Mercy and Sarah would be between 5 and 10. The boy under five must be the same unknown boy who appears in the 1840 Census between 10 and 15.
Although I cannot read Joel’s name in the 1830 Census, I am confident that this is Joel beneath his father, Asa Taft.
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 important 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.
Mary Josephine Bowdish (1909-1997), ca. 1936
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Mary Bowdish, 68 High Street, Portland #430.”
Mary Bowdish, circa 1936
The 1933, 34, 35, and 36 Portland City Directories listed Mary J Bowdish, a dietitian at 68 High street residing at 59 High street.
On 19 September 1937, Mary Josephine Bowdish married Robert Carleton Mansfield. According to the Rutland Daily Herald (Rutland, VT), “For some time, she was a dietitian at the Children’s
Family Search identifies Mary Josephine (1909-1997) as ID: LXRX-6YM. I have uploaded two photos of Mary to her Family Search ID. I have also uploaded one more picture to my Flickr PhotoStream. Mary Josephine (Bowfish) Mansfield is found in 17 trees on Ancestry.
Harriette Blanche Bourne (1909-1998), ca. 1936
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Harriet Bourne, 135 Bracket St. Portland, #835.”
Harriett Bourne, circa 1936
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Harriet B Bourne, a piano teacher at 135 Brackett. At the same address is Barbara Bourne.
The 1930 Census identifies Harriett B Bourne and her sister Barbara H Bourne as the 21-year-old daughter of George W. Bourne. So circa 1936, she would have been approximately 27 years old.
Family Search identifies Harriette Blanche Bourne (1909-1998) as ID: LY2N-VKH. I have uploaded a photo of Harriette to her Family Search ID. Harriette Blanche Bourne appears in nine trees on Ancestry.
Barbara H (Bourne) Huey (1910-1986), circa 1936
The envelope this negative was in says, Miss Barbara Bourne, 135 Brackett St, Portland #889.”
Barbara Bourne, circa 1936
The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Barbara H Bourne, a “sub clk PO” residing at 135 Brackett. At the same address is Harriett Bourne.
The 1930 Census identifies Barbara H Bourne and her sister Harriett B. Bourne as the 19-year-old daughter of George W. and Mary E. Bourne. So circa 1936, she would have been approximately 25 years old.
Family Search identifies Barbara H. Bourne (1910-1985) as ID: Y28-J3Z. I have uploaded a photo of Barbara to her Family Search ID. Barbara H. (Bourne) Huey is found in 12 trees on Ancestry.
Miss Leonne Bouk , circa 1936
The envelope this negative was in says, “Miss Leonne Bouk – Y.W.C.A. #486.” [Although it might say Leonne Bonk.]
Miss Leonne Bouk, circa 1036
Searching every way I can think of, I can’t seem to identify Miss Bouk or place her into a family group. Leonne is a rare enough name that I thought I might find her by looking for Leonne only with most any surname. No such luck.
The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Laura Booker, 200 Spring St. Portland #1031.”
Ronald Booker, circa1936
The 1936 Portland City Directory indicates that Stanley J. and Laura E. Booker made their home at 200 Spring.
The 1937 Portland City Directory indicates Stanley resides at 20 Pine; however, Laura isn’t mentioned in the listing.
The 1938 Portland City Directory reported Stanley and Laura living at 44 Holly.
During the 1940 Census, Stanley and Laura lived with Laura’s mother and stepfather on Douglas Street in Portland. With them is their six-year-old son, Ronald. Ronald was born on 25 February 1934. He died in 1992 in Santa Barbara, California.
In this photo, the child appears to be about two or three, which confirms a likely photo date of 1936.
Family Search identifies Ronald Eugene Booker as ID M3Q2-R19. There were two photos of Ronald. I uploaded them to his Family Search profile. Ronald appears in four ancestry trees.
Conclusion
This week I had:
Four successful identifications that I could post images to Family Search
One named individual but not otherwise identifiable that I posted 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.
For this week’s Treasure Chest Thursday, I’m looking at a clipping from the Donna Darling Collection.
Terrace Theatre – Attendance Records Smashed, circa 1925
Cinema Treasures reported 41 Terrace theatres in the united states, but only one of them in a city named Danville – Danville, IL. Donna appears to have had two trips into Illinois with her Bathing Beauties, once in the fall of 1924 (September) and again in January/February 1925. So this show must have been from one of those periods.
This clipping is particularly interesting because it names the other girls in the show.
Betty Bryant of Ziegfield’s – A Prize Winner.
Mildred O’Brien – In Singing and Dancing.
Alyce Louyse – A Bather From Mars.
Clarice Allyn – Petite Toe Dancer.
May Walker – Blue Singer and Beach Flirt
It also mentions Murray Earl as Comedian.
Key features:
The venue was the Terrace Theatre in Danville, Illinois.
The show was the “California Motion Picture – Big Hollywood Reue of Bathing Beauties, featuring Donna Darling.
Finally, a review of the newspapers of the time yielded none currently available online for Danville, Illinois.
Conclusion
Date Unknown (Probably Fall 1924or Spring 1925) – Danville, IL – Terrace Theatre – Hollywood Revue of Bathing Beauties.
Roberts-Barnes-Taft-Sutherland
Amanuensis Monday
By Don Taylor
[Transcription of Page 108]
Heirs of Mary Sutherland } To } Justice B Sutherland }
Deed Book 8, Page 108
This Indenture made this seventeenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and twenty-one. Between Phineas Sutherland and Dorcas his wife, [[i]] David Sutherland and Rachel his wife, Lot Sutherland and Lydia his wife, Jacob W Fuller and Candice his wife, David Brown and Eliza his wife, Joel C Taft and Tammey his wife of the the town of Lisle, County of Broome, State of New York of the first part and Justice B. Sutherland of the town aforesaid of the second part Witnesseth, that the said parties of the first part for and in consideration of the sum of one hundred dollars to them in hand paid by the party of the second part the receipt whereof as is hereby con??ped and acknowledged Hath remised realeased and forever quit claim unto the 2nd Justice his heirs and assigns forever all right and title which have the 1st parties of the first part have in and to a certain piece or parcel of land lying and being in the town of Lisle it being a part of lot No seventy in the first township of the Chenango Triangle – Bounded as follows – Beginning at the southwest corner of a lot of lands containing 100 acres deeded to Mary Sutherland by John Hornby then north fifteen chains eighty three and a half links to the Swest corner of David Sutherland land thence East thirty one chains sixty seven links to the S. east corner of 1se David Land thence south fifteen chains eighty three and a half links to a stake marked thence west to the place of beginning containinf fifty be the same more or less – To have and to hold all [??] right and title in and to said remised released and quit claims forever in with the assentenance thece of onto the said Justice his heirs and assigns forever to his and their own to [???] use and behoof*
[ Text continued on left margin ]
* And Furthermore we the said parties of the first part do for our select our heirs ?? Administrator consistent with the paid Justice his heirs and assigns that from and after ensealing of those Seventy-two the partials of the first part will have and affirm no right and title a deserved into the above remise released and quitclaim presence.
[ Text continued on the main page ]
In witness whereof we the parties of the first part have hereunto set our hands and seals the day and years first above written Phineas [His Mark] Sutherland {Seal} Dorcas {Her Mark Sutherland {Seal} David Sutherland {Seal} Rachel Sutherland {Seal} Lot Sutherland {Seal} Lydia Sutherland {Seal} Jacob W. Fuller {Seal} Candance Fuller {Seal} David Brown {Seal} Eliza Brown {Seal} Joel C Taft {Seal} Fanny Taft {Seal}. Signed sealed and delivered in presence of Joseph Warner Orlando C. Fuller.
On the 28th day of January in the year of our Lord 1822, personally appeared before me Oliver Stiles one of the conerned na??g of 1d County Phineas Sutherland & Dorcas his wife, David Sutherland & Rachel his wife, Lot Sutherland & Lydia his wife, Jacob W Fuller & Candance his wife, David Brown & Eliza his wife and Joel C Taft and Fanny his wife,
[ Page 109 ]
Deed Book 8, Page 109
with names to me bury[?] and acknowledged that they executed the within deeds and the Dorcas Sutherland, Rachel Sutherland, Lydia Sutherland, Candance Fuller, Eliza Brown and Fannie Taft came to me I examined separately privately and but [???] their husbands acknowledged thay executed the same voluntarily and without any fear or compulsion from them. Oliver Stely
Recorded June 25th, 1822 at 10 O.Clock A.M.
[Transcription by Don Taylor, 10 March 2021]
Findings
Mary Sutherland died before 17 March 1821.
Her estate, of some 50 acres, went to her children.
Her children consisted of:
Phineas Sutherland and Dorcas his wife,
David Sutherland and Rachel his wife,
Lot Sutherland and Lydia his wife,
Candice, the wife of Jacob W Fuller,
Eliza, the wife of David Brown
Tammy, the wife of Joel C Taft
All of the above appear to have been living on 17 March 1821.
It is unclear, but Justice B. Sutherland may have also been one of her children. The property transfer was recorded on 25 June 1822.
Endnotes:
[i] Note: Comma’s were not in the original but were added to the transcript to improve readability.
Following families in the early census records is always tricky. Reading incorrectly transcribed names and filling in the gaps makes things challenging. Such is the case concerning Joel Cruff Taft and the 1840 Census.
Joel was born in 1798 or 1800 in New York. He died in either 1844 or 1847, probably in Fairbanks, Sullivan County, Indiana. It is notable that all of his known children, including his youngest, William, were born in New York. So, it is likely that Joel was in New York during 1840 and was probably either 40 or 42 years old. I expect his wife, Tamise, to be living with him and over 40-years-old, My guess as to children is they would have as Female “1 3 2”.
Under 5 – Platina
Age 5 to 10 – Luracy, Joanna, & Candance
Ages 10 to 15 – Catherine & Amanda
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 | 1 2 2 0 0 0 1
There is no Joel Cruff Taft enumerated in the Census; however, there as several Joel Taft’s, but none of them lived in New York (or Indiana). There is a “J. C. Toft,” two “J. Taft’s and a “Taft.”
Name
Location
Abbreviated Enumeration
Taft
New York City
0 1 0 0 0 0 1 | 0 0 2 0 1
J Taft
Triangle, Broome, NY
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 | 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1
J Taft
Triangle, Broome, NY
0 1 1 – 1 1 – – 1 | 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1
J. C. Toft
Barker, Broome, NY
0 0 1 0 1 1 | 2 1 3 1 – – 1
It is also possible that Luracy was enumerated as under five and for Candance being listed as 10-years-old depending upon when their birthdays fall within the year. If so, that would make the profile “2 1 3.” As seen in the Census.
The critical fact is that Joel had five daughters under 15, and “J. C. Jogt” is the only head of household enumerated in New York during the 1840 Census with five daughters. Consequently, I am tentatively accepting that Joel Cruff Taft, his wife, and seven females (likely daughters) lived in Barker (town), Broome County, New York, on 1 June 1840.
Although I cannot read Joel’s name in the 1830 Census, I am confident that this is Joel beneath his father, Asa Taft.
This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection
