John Burrige and Lydia Rowe

Since Ellen Rowe spent so much time living with them, I thought I'd do a post on John and Lydia (or Lidia) Burrige. I also thought that knowing a little bit more about them might help to find out more information on Ellen's family.

John B. Burrige
Parents: Francis Burrige and Mary A. Battison
Birth: July 3, 1828
Marriage: 1850 to Lidia Rowe. He was about 22 years old.
Death: September 19, 1910

Lydia Rowe
Parents: James Rowe, ??
Birth: September 6, 1825
Marriage: 1850 to John Burrige. She was about 25 years old.
Death: March 23, 1918

Most of the information I've found about these two people is pretty sketchy until about 1870, when Ellen was living with them. I did find links to a marriage record (here's the other) for them in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England, in 1850. The census records show them getting married about 1850, as well. The two immigrated to the United States shortly after their marriage (1853, as shown in the 1910 census), and may have ended up in Indiana by 1860 (see this 1860 Census). The census shows this couple as living in Dearborn County, Indiana, close to the border with Ohio, and just 60 miles from Clermont County, Ohio. The age difference between John and "L" are the same as John and Lydia Burrige. I don't know who the two children would be; they have a different surname than Burrige. According to the 1910 census, Lydia bore 2 children who were not living at the time that census was taken. However, the 1900 census records that she did not bear any children at all. They may have been fostering the two children listed with them in the 1860 census.

The couple stayed close to Ellen Rowe and her family as the years wore on; they were listed in Ohio twp, Clermont County, Ohio, in the 1870, 1880, 1900, and 1910 censuses. Lydia's death record lists her still living in Ohio township, very close (only about 2 miles) to New Richmond, where Ellen was living at the time. The death certificate also lists her father's name: James Rowe. I'm thinking that she was probably a sister or cousin to Ellen Rowe's father.

John's death certificate shows that his parents were Francis Burrige and Mary A Battison. I found a death record and a burial record for one Francis Burrige, born about 1798 and died in 1875 in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, England. This is probably John's father! There is another Francis Burrige (probably the same one) listed in the England and Wales 1841 Census, aged 40, in Hemel Hempstead. No one is listed with him - just that he was a cordworker and that he was born in Hertfordshire.

Ellen was obviously close to her foster parents. She was only 8 or 9 when she made the journey across the ocean to the United States, so she had plenty of time to get close to them before she married at about the age of 21. Ellen and Wheelock also named their first son after John Burrige, and Ellen was the one to report Lydia's passing when she died.


Here's some excitement from when I started the post on Ellen Rowe:

In 1870, Ellen Rowe was living with John Burrige and Lydia Burrige, who had emigrated from England about 10 years previous to her own immigration to the US. After some digging, I found out that Lydia's maiden name is ROWE! And that her father's name is James Rowe. Dad didn't know about this when I asked him -- we have a lead! Now all I need to do is find some sort of connection between her and Ellen's father (James Rowe, who has a son named James Rowe, as well. Why did everyone have to have the same name???) I'm guessing that Lydia was some sort of aunt to Ellen; she's old enough to be siblings or cousins with James Rowe, father of Ellen Rowe.

This is a possible entry for Lidia in the 1841 England and Wales census. I just wish it was easier to make out! The Burriges in the 1860 Census(possible match), 1870 Census, 1880 Census, 1900 Census, 1910 Census.

The mysteries in this post are 1) why is it so disorganized, and 2) How was Lydia Rowe related to Ellen Rowe?


EDIT: Since publishing this post, I found a picture with Lydia Rowe in it, and she was labeled as "Auntie Burrige," supporting my thoughts that she could be Ellen Rowe's aunt! Here's the picture:

Auntie Burrige is the woman seated in the middle, with the black dress and cap (bonnet?)

Ellen Eve Rowe

Parents: James Rowe, Mary Ann Mitchell
Birth: October 16, 1851 in Shropshire, England
Year of immigration to US: 1860/1861 Year of naturalization 1871
Marriage: Jun 11, 1872 to Wheelock Winspear. They had six children: John Burrige, Wheelock William, Minnie May, Nellie Grace, Marie Mabel, and Catherine Pearl
Death: January 16, 1948 in Ohio, United States

Ellen was born in Shropshire, England, and was the second child born to James Rowe and Mary Mitchell. When she was about 9 years old, Ellen left England and came to the United States to live with John and Lydia Burrige, who had no children of their own. I believe that John and Lydia were Ellen's aunt and uncle, because according to Lydia's death certificate, her maiden name was Rowe.

Dad wrote a note on James Rowe (Ellen's father)'s page in Family Search. It says:

"James & Wife Mary Ann & 3 children died in epidemic. William and Ellen were then raised by the Burriges."

So it appears that Ellen was an orphan, although an orphan that loved her foster parents very much.  She was only 8 or 9 when she made the journey across the ocean to the United States, so she had plenty of time to get close to them before she married. She also named her first born son after her foster father John. Her son Wheelock William was obviously named for his father, but perhaps his middle name was in memory of Ellen's brother William.

Three names from Ellen's family are in my family: Mary Ann (Ellen's mother), Ellen, and Catherine (Ellen's daughter; also Ellen's mother-in-law). I don't know if it was intentional or accidental that my parents gave us names from our family heritage; I remember hearing once that I was named for someone in our family tree, but when I've asked about it more recently, I was told otherwise.

Anyway, Ellen was living with John Burrige and Lydia Burrige in 1870 (see the census below). They had emigrated from England about 10 years before Ellen had, and I imagine that they were well established in their Ohio township, Clermont County community by the time she reached them in 1860. Ellen married Wheelock Winspear just two years after the census was taken, when she was 21.

The two started their family, lived in Kentucky for a while (where their son John was born), and then settled in Pierce Township, Clermont co, Ohio. The place they settled was probably on Wheelock's family farm, since Wheelock's mother (Kate) and spinster sister (Maria) were living either with or right next door to the young family.

As the years progressed, Ellen and Wheelock's sons and daughters were married. The aging couple stayed in Pierce, Ohio until they moved to Ohio, Ohio (seriously, that's what it's called!) one township over.

Ellen's foster mother Lydia Burrige passed away in 1918, probably around or close to the time that the Winspears moved to Ohio twp. Since her foster father John had already passed on, Ellen was the informant for the death record. She either knew or had records for Lydia's birth date and father's name, which were recorded on the death record.

1924 was a difficult year for the Winspear family. On New Year's Eve, (Dec 30, 1923), Ellen and Wheelock's son John died. Just a few months later, in May, Wheelock passed on from acute nephritis (kidney disease), and then in June of the same year Ellen and Wheelock's son Wheelock William passed on also.

Thankfully, Wheelock Winspear had provided well for his widow--they owned their house in Ohio, Ohio--so Ellen would not face as much financial difficulty as another might in her situation. Wheelock was already 77 at the time of his passing, and I believe the two were both prepared for it. However, no matter how much you know what's coming, loss is hard to bear; I'm sure it was even harder for Ellen to bear since two of her children in addition to her husband passed away all in one year

Even though the house was owned free of mortgage, Ellen did not want to live by herself. By 1930, she was living with her daughter Catherine in Cincinnati in a place they rented for $35.00/month at 961 McMillan St. I imagine she sold the house in Ohio twp and used the money from the sale to supplement Catherine's income as a clerk at the post office. In 1940, Ellen still lived with Catherine at the same address. The view from their window probably included this building: 

Picture from Google Street View, 978 McMillan St, Cincinnati, OH

The building that they lived in has been torn down, and a Kroger grocery store sits in its place.

In 1940, Catherine worked as a stenographer at the Revenue Department. Since neither the 1930 or 1940 censuses list an occupation for Ellen, I believe she just stayed at home to keep house and cook their meals. At some point between 1940 and 1948, Catherine had married a Mr. Barnhart and moved to Waynesville, Warren county, Ohio (northeast of Cincinnati). Ellen came with them, and passed away in Waynesville in 1948 at the ripe old age of 96.


Marriage record:

1870 Census

1880 Census

1900 Census:

1910 Census:

1920 Census:

1930 Census:

1940 Census:

Death record (1948)

Wheelock Winspear

Parents: John Winspear, Catherine Almira Wheelock
Birth: March 8, 1847
Marriage: June 11, 1872 to Ellen Eve Rowe. He was 25 and she was 20. They had six children: John Burrige, Wheelock William, Minnie May, Nellie Grace, Marie Mabel, and Catherine Pearl.
Death: May 27, 1924, at 77 years old

Wheelock was born in New York State near Buffalo. He was named by the maiden name of his mother. For at least the first 13 years of his life, his family lived close to his mother's family in Lancaster, Erie County, New York, as you can see from the 1850 and 1860 Censuses. His family farmed and had boarders, and even a servant at one point.

For some reason or another, the family decided to move from NY to southern Ohio, 450 miles away from where they used to live. The place they settled on was a small town called Pierce, a mere 3.5 miles from Amelia, and about the same distance from the Ohio river, which was also the Kentucky-Ohio border. They probably moved around 1868 or 1869, since Wheelock's 2-year-old niece Girtie was born in NY and his 11-month old niece Maude was born in Ohio. The girls and their parents were living with Wheelock's parents at the time of the 1870 US Census.

In 1872, Wheelock married his life-long companion, Ellen Rowe. Their first child--John--was born across the river in Kentucky, but the rest of their children were born in Ohio. I'm guessing that Wheelock had found a temporary job in KY to help him get his new family on their feet, and then moved back to Ohio to be close to his family once again.

In 1880, Wheelock's mother and youngest sister were living with or right next to his own young family. He had 3 children, including Minnie May (recorded as Minetta on the census). The farm was doing well enough that he could employ a man to help on the farm.

As the years progressed, Wheelock's sons and his daughters were married. He and his wife Ellen stayed in Pierce, Ohio until they moved to Ohio, Ohio (seriously, that's what it's called!) one township over a few years before Wheelock's passing in 1924.

1924 was a difficult year for the Winspear family. On New Year's Eve, (Dec 30, 1923), Wheelock's son John died. Just a few months later, in May, Wheelock passed on from acute nephritis (kidney disease), and then in June of the same year Wheelock's son Wheelock William passed on also.

Thankfully, Wheelock Winspear had provided well for his widow, and they owned their house in Ohio, Ohio, so she would not face as much financial difficulty as another might in her situation. Wheelock was already 77 at the time of his passing, and I believe he was prepared for it.


Sources:

1850 Census:

1855 New York State Census:

1860 still in Lancaster, New York

1870 US Census

Marriage record:

1880 US Census:

1880 Census, Pierce, Clermont, Ohio

1900 US Census:

1910 US Census

1920 US Census

Death Certificate

John B Winspear

John Winspear was Minne May Winspear (Great-Granddad Cliff's mother)'s brother. He died at only 50 years old on New Year's Eve.

According to his death certificate, John died by "gunshot wound to the head" in December of 1923 at 2:30 A.M. "Whether suicide or otherwise [was] to be determined" at the time of the death certificate. Wow. He was a merchant, and I assume did not live a wild lifestyle.

Also according to his death certificate, John was a widower. At the 1920 census three years earlier, however, his wife was listed with him and his two daughters from a previous marriage. I found his two daughters in a 1930 US Census, so I know that at least they survived him. Was the death of his wife so devastating that he couldn't stand to be alive anymore? Was he murdered by a dissatisfied customer? (I doubt it) I guess I won't know. I hope he has found comfort and peace since then.

Ivey Kibben Connell

Ivey Kibben Connell was one of Granddad J.C.'s brothers who fought in WWII. He was the only one that didn't come back from the war. After he died, he was buried in Italy, "70 miles from Rome", and then his body was brought back a couple of years later so he could be buried in Camden, close to his family.

Ivey was awarded the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. The State (SC) newspaper said of him on April 27, 1944:

"With utter disregard for his personal safety he continued into the city ... which was still under intense enemy artillery and small arms fire and established an observation post and mortar position from which controlled fire was delivered. At this post he was killed by an enemy mortar shell which landed in his position. His courageous action contributed to the successful withdrawal of our forces and is a credit to the services."

I found several newspaper articles about his service as part of a website commemorating Clemson University alumni. My cousin Alyssa posted a link to the website, which she found because of another relative sharing it on Facebook. Thanks so much!

*Pictures are from an album on Facebook by Aunt Lois. Thanks to her, too!

J.O. and Grace Thompson: A Complementary Pair

Here's a little blurb that my sister Rachel sent me:

"Grandma was telling us about us about her daddy (J.O. Thompson). She told us that if he ever got in a fight with the devil, he would win. She told him that if he ever got in a fight with the devil... And he said I already have many times. And you know where he told him to go? To go to hell. Where he belongs. "Get the hell out of my house!"

"Grandma also told us about her mother (Grace Campbell). Her mother was a very humble, compassionate, quiet person. She was also an excellent seamstress. When she was in college she learned about furs and of those sorts. In her community, in the Charlotte area, she was asked to help alter and make clothing for businesses in southern Charlotte. One of the things that her mother did that she was most proud of was when she helped a black couple that lost their baby. They didn't have enough money for a coffin. Grandma's mother decided to help for no money. They brought her a box and she used some of the scraps of blue silk from a woman's slip she was making for the lining of the coffin. Grandma said you had to keep from crying because the couple was so humble and so thankful."

Thanks for those tidbits, Rachel! It's fun to learn more about the personalities of our grandparents.

Matilda Catherine Bowers

Parents: J. Bowers, Diana Connell
Birth date: About 1859
Marriage date: About 1885 to Robert Jackson Connell. She was about 26 and he was about 29. They had five children: Docia, Broadus Robert, Luther Wilburn, Charlie Lee, and Cora Lee. Charlie and Cora were twins.
Death date: 18 June 1901

Matilda was born a short 2 years before the outbreak of the American Civil War in Lexington county, SC. Her father was not listed in the 1860 census with her family, so I'm guessing he had died sometime between 1858 and 1860. The family also moved from where they lived in 1850 to live right next door to a John Connell in 1860.

Sometime around or before 1885, Matilda married Robert Jackson Connell in Lancaster, SC. According to the information on FamilySearch (gathered by people other other other than myself), he was her first cousin; Matilda's mother and R.J.'s father were siblings. Matilda and Robert's first child--Docia--was born in 1886, followed by Broadus in 1891, Luther in 1895, and the twins Charlie and Cora in 1896. Sometime after Charlie and Cora were born and before her passing in 1901, the family moved to Camden, in Kershaw County, SC. I'm sure she worked hard keeping her family fed and helping to do work on the farm in between giving birth to her children. Matilda passed away in 1901 at about the age of 42.

_______________________

I wasn't able to find very many records for Matilda, but I did find two sources that give enough information to infer important dates and happenings in her life. Those sources would be her headstone at Malvern Hill Cemetery and the 1860 Census. The death records for her daughters Docia and Cora strengthen the link to the woman recorded on the headstone and Robert Jackson Connell, and help prove that she is the wife

Headstone at Malvern Hill Cemetery in Kershaw County, SC
In 1860 Census

In children's death certificates:
Docia
Cora Lee