What happened to Benjamin Hemingway's family after his death? Part 6

Benjamin and Pauline Hemingway's eldest child was Rachel.
Rachel is mentioned several times in the financial accounts of her father's estate.
- June 12 1853 - paid for Rachel Schooling - 3 shilling 9 pence
- Nov 14 1853 - paid for Rachel School book - 2 shilling 6 pence
- Dec 5 1853 - paid for Rachel Geographa - 1 shilling 10 pence
- Jan 20 1854 - paid for Rachel Schooling for three months - 3 shilling 9 pence
- Jan 20 1854 - paid for Rachel boots to D. Johnston - 7 shilling  6 pence [the shoes were likely purchased from David Johnston, shoemaker of Unionville - my great-great grandfather]
- May 5 1864 - to paying Rachel Bostwick her Share of the money from the sale of timber it being 21$ 66 (3 shillings 9 pence
- Oct 21 1864 - Sent by mail to Rachel Bostwick 15$ 90 cents (1 shilling 3 pence) [1]
As you may have noticed that Rachel's surname is now Bostwick, the same surname as her step-father.

 In the 1861 census, Rachel is shown living with her step-parents. Did she marry a son of Elijah Bostwick or one of his relatives? [2] In Pauline Hemingway's estate papers, Rachel is listed as Rachel Bostwick of Stoneham, Pennsylvania. [3]

In 1880, Rachel and Wellington (listed only with his initial W) are  living in Stoneham, Pennsylvania. Wellington was a carpenter. They have four children living with them: Frank, 14, born in Canada; Harriet, 8, born in Canada; Seneca 6, born in Pennsylvania and Mahela, 4, born in Pennsylvania. [4]

Wellington died 25 August 1899 in Stoneham, Pennsylvania. He is buried in Oakland Cemetery, Warren, Pennsylvania.  [5]
Rachel outlived her husband. She died 3 January 1908 in Mead Township, Warren County, Pennsylvania, USA. She is also buried in the Oakland Cemetery. [6]

Mahala, the second child of Benjamin and Pauline went to live with her step-parents. There she met Seneca Bostwick who she married in 1865. [7] By 1871, they are listed in the Toronto census in the St. Patrick's Ward. They have a son Walter aged four. [8]. Why is Ida Louisa not listed in the census? Her tombstone in the Society of Friends Cemetery, Ajax gives her date of death as 28 December 1872 at the age of 19 months and 8 days. [9]

Mahala died 12 January 1872. She is buried at the Society of Friends Cemetery in Ajax. Seneca was left to raise young Walter.

To be continued . . .

 [1] Benjamin Hemingway Estate File, H-9 RG 22, Series 6-2, (21 September 1851), York County Surrogate Court, microfilm MS 638 York County, Reel 84, Archives of Ontario, Toronto - The date on the outside of the packet must  be incorrect as Benjamin did not die until December.

[2] 1861 Census of Canada West, Ontario County, Pickering Township, p. 78. line 31, Elijah Bostwick household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 13 April 2015), citing microfilm C-1057, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

[3] Pauline Hemmingway Estate Papers, Surrogate Court County of York (1904), microfilm MS 584 Reel 1100, Ontario Archives, Toronto

[4] 1880 Census of Pennsylvania, Warren County, Stoneham, Page: 287A, p. 13, Enumeration district 277, family 116, W. Bostwick household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 19 April 2015), citing  Roll: 1200; Family History Film: 1255200

[5] Wellington Bostwick Pennsylvania death registration http://www.pagenweb.org/~warren/vitalrec/death1893-1905-b.pdf Warren County, Pennsylvania, Genealogy USGenWeb and PAGenWeb Projects © 2011 Penelope Repko and contributors  Court House Vital Records - Deaths 1893 to 1905

[6] Rachel Bostwick Pennsylvania death registration #4930 (6 January 1908); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 10 April 2015), citing :  Pennsylvania (State). Death certificates, 1906–1963. Series 11.90 (1,905 cartons). Records of the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Record Group 11. Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

Rachel Bostwick and Wellington Bostwick on Find a Grave

[7] 1861 Census of Canada West, Ontario County, Pickering Township, p. 78. line 31, Elijah Bostwick household

[8] 1871 Census of Canada, Ontario, Toronto West (district 46), St. Patrick's Ward (sub-district C), division 3, p. 14, Seneca Bostwick household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 20 April 2015), citing microfilm C-9970, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

[9] Find-a-Grave

[10] Mahala Bostwick Ontario death registration #027251 (23 January 1872); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 19 April 2015), citing microfilm MS 935 Reel 4, Archives of Ontario, Toronto.


© 2015 Janet Iles

Benjamin Hemingway - What happened to his family after his death? - part 4

In the previous posting about the family of Benjamin Hemingway, I included a section of the petition by his second wife, Harriett Webb, for guardianship of the six children. Five of these children were children of Perlina (Pauline) Webb. The two women were most likely sisters.

Perlina and Benjamin were married by Rev. Wm. Jenkins (Presbyterian) 21 December 1839. Their witnesses were John Hemingway and Josiah Helmke. She died 14 August 1849. She is buried in Hagerman East Cemetery, Markham. Her namesake was born 20 July 1849. Was her death an aftermath of childbirth?

With five young children including a newborn, Benjamin would have needed help raising the children. Harriett Webb stepped in to fill that role. Perhaps, Harriett had already been helping Pauline with the children. A search for a possible marriage of the couple on Ancestry.ca resulted in finding only one possible one in Illinois on 5 August 1851 in Hancock County, Illinois. The same search on Family Search found the same record. At that time in Canada West (Ontario), marriages would have been registered at the District Level. Some of them are listed on Ancestry. Together, Benjamin and Harriett had a little girl, Anna Benjanna. In the 1861 census, Benjanna's birthplace is given as Illinois. This leads me to believe that the marriage listing could be for the right couple. Ancestry only has the index and no image.

Between 1852 and 1861, Harriett remarried. She married widower, Elijah Bostwick. Elijah had children from his first marriage to Sarah Rogers: Esther, Seneca, Phoebe Ann, Nathan and Jonathan. Sarah died 16 June 1847. He married Margaret Austin in 1851 but she only lived a few months after their marriage.

You may recall that Elijah Bostwick acted as surety for the guardianship petition. Elijah and Harriett likely married around  1854. Together, Elijah and Harriett had Sarah Alice 30 June 1855, Thomas Albert 6 October 1856, Ida Louisa 15 October 1858, Lydia and Lizzie 9 March 1861, and Rachel E. 18 October 1863. and Ella 16 October 1864 and Hannah Mahala (called Hela in the 1871 census).

In 1861, Elijah, Harriet and two of Elijah's sons, and their three children are living in Pickering Township. With them are Harriet's daughter Benjanna, and Harriet's step children Rachel, Mahala and Corwile [Corwin].

To be continued . . .

Benjamin Hemingway - Perlina Webb Ontario District Marriage Registrations, Home District; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 13 April 2015), citing microfilm MS 248 Reel 2, Archives of Ontario, Toronto

"Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1934," index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:KFK3-PV4 : accessed 15 April 2015), Benjamin Hemmingway and Harriett Webb, 05 Aug 1851; citing Hancock, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 954,177.

Canadian Quaker Yearly Meeting Records, Pickering Monthly Meeting Register; digital images, Ancestry.ca (http:// www.ancestry.ca : accessed 10 April 2015), citing Reference Number: B-2-29; Reel Number: 18 Canadian Yearly Meeting Archives; Newmarket, Ontario, Canada

1861 Census of Canada West, Ontario County, Pickering Township, p. 78. line 31, Elijah Bostwick household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 13 April 2015), citing microfilm C-1057, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

1871 Census of Canada, Ontario, Ontario County (district 47) Pickering Township (sub-district a), p 21, family 76; digital image Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 10 April 2015), citing microfilm C-9973, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

© 2015 Janet Iles

Benjamin Hemingway - What happened to his family after his death? Part 2

Benjamin Hemingway died when he was about 30 having not written a will. He had six children. His second wife Harriet applied for guardianship. The guardianship documents provide a wealth of information that act as a springboard for more research.

William, Heir at Law.
William was the eldest son of Benjamin. He was born about 1843. His step-mother, Harriett worried that he would not be fairly treated. 

The financial accounts mention William several times.

June 12 1856 sent by mail to Mrs. Bostwick the sum of 12 pounds 10 shilling 0 pence,  paid to Mrs. Bostwick six pounds five for Williams board, Oct 30 Went to Duffins Creek to see about William Board, Jan 1 1859 Went down down to Duffins Creek to See Mrs. Bostwick, Feb 26 1861 Went down to Duffins Creek to see William [1]

In the 1871 census, it looks like William is living with Rachel Webb. He is 27 years old. The census indicates William is unable to read and write and he is of unsound mind. [2]

In the 1881 census, William is still shown with Rachel Webb who is 80 years old. The census indicates that William is deaf and dumb.  William is 37 years old. [3]

Going back to 1861 to see who was living with Rachel Webb, we find Parnele Webb who is the head of the household, Elsie Webb 25, Hannah Webb 20, and William Webb, 18. No William Hemingway. The interesting thing is the census shows William as Blind. Was the stroke in the right column? Could this actually be William Hemingway but his surname was entered as Webb? [4] There is no William Webb in the 1851 census household of Parnele and Rachel Webb.[5]

William died when he was 45 years old on 26 January 1889 in Pickering Township. The death registration states: "General weakness, had been helpless and speechless for 38 years, had been sinking for 3 months previous to death." The informant was Rev. G. M. Brown. [6]

More questions that might not have answers:
What happened to William when he was about seven years old? In the guardianship petition William is listed as eight years old. There is no indication that he had a disability only his step-mother's concern that he would be treated fairly.
Who was the Mrs. Bostwick he was boarding with at Duffin's Creek?

To be continued

[1] Benjamin Hemingway Estate File, H-9 RG 22, Series 6-2, (21 September 1851), York County Surrogate Court, microfilm MS 638 York County, Reel 84, Archives of Ontario, Toronto - The date on the outside of the packet must  be incorrect as Benjamin did not die until December.

[2] 1871 Census of Canada, Ontario, Ontario South (district 47), Pickering Township (sub-district a), Division 1, p. 27, family 97, Rachel Webb household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 11 April 2015), citing microfilm C-9973, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

[3]1881 Census of Canada, Ontario, Ontario South (district 132), Pickering Township (sub-district A), Division 1, p. 19, family 95, Rachel Webb household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 10 April 2015), citing microfilm C-13244, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

[4]1861 Census of Canada West, Ontario County, Pickering Township, enumeration district 5, p. 80, line 46, Parnele Webb household; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 3 April 2015), citing microfilm C-1057, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa. 

[5]1851 Census of Canada West, Ontario County (district 26), Pickering Township (sub-district 245), p. 29, line 6, household of Parnele Webb; digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : 10 April 2015), citing microfilm C-11742, Library & Archives Canada, Ottawa.

[6] William Hemingway Ontario death registration #012534 (12 February 1889); digital image, Ancestry.ca (http://www.ancestry.ca : accessed 15 March 2015), citing microfilm MS 935 Reel 55, Archives of Ontario, Toronto.

© 2015 Janet Iles

Benjamin Hemingway - What happened to his family after his death? part 1

Research Objective:  To learn what happened to Benjamin Hemingway's family after his death? 

Benjamin Hemingway was my great-great-great uncle. His parents were Josiah Hemingway and Anna Stiver. He was their 10th child and youngest son. He lived in Markham Township. 

Known:
When Benjamin's father died in September 1851, Benjamin was listed as an heir in Josiah's will.

All my Freehold Estate compromising my Land Property be divided between my other two sons Moses and Benjamin, in such a manner that Benjamin, shall have and possess of the said land from twenty five to thirty acres more than my son Moses, to be left at the Discretion and be determined by the undermentioned Executors. [1]

Now this might not have been a problem but Benjamin died several months later on 22 December 1851 without a will and before the property had been divided. The Estate papers for Benjamin give an idea of what happened after his death. [2] These records were very important to me in my research as previous researchers had only mentioned two of Benjamin's children and they had been raised by Anna Holditch.

Benjamin's wife Harriet petitioned for guardianship. Five of the children were from Benjamin's former wife, Pauline Webb. Harriet and Benjamin had one baby. The children are all 12 and under: Rachel, Mahala, William, George and Corwin, (all from Benjamin's first marriage) and Anne Benjanna. 

She applied for guardianship to be shared with Henry Sanders. Harriet was worried that the eldest son William, heir at law, would not receive his father's share of property and that it would not be done fairly. The estate papers include detailed financial records as payments were made to old Mrs. Hemingway for her dower and other items such as school books. In the financial accounts it also shows a Mrs. Bostwick at Duffin's Creek being paid for William's board. It looks like Henry Sanders looked after these financial accounts, dating from 1852 to 1865. 

Also signing the documents in this guardianship as Sureties for the guardianship are Elijah W. Bostwick of Pickering Township and James Taylor of Markham Township. James Taylor swore to undertake his responsibilities and that he was worth 100 pounds and Elijah W. Bostwick affirmed that he would undertake his responsibilities and that he was also worth 100 pounds. Neither men had debts. [2]

Questions to which there may not be an answer:
Is James Taylor who acts as a surety, the husband of Caroline Hemingway (sister to Benjamin)?
How did the Hemingways know Elijah W. Bostwick?
Why did William get sent to live with a Mrs. Bostwick?
Why did George and Pauline go to live with Anna Holditch?
Why was Henry Sanders chosen as the guardian?
Were Pauline (Perlina) and Harriett sisters?


To be continued

[1] Josiah Hemingway Estate file H-9 RG 22 Series 6-2, (28 September 1851), York County Surrogate Court, microfilm MS 638 Reel 84, Archives of Ontario, Toronto
[2] Benjamin Hemingway Estate File, H-9 RG 22, Series 6-2, (21 September 1851), York County Surrogate Court, microfilm MS 638 York County, Reel 84, Archives of Ontario, Toronto - The date on the outside of the packet must  be incorrect as Benjamin did not die until December.


© 2015 Janet Iles