Something happened to Esther’s family between 1846 and 1850. She was sent to live with Robert Place’s family. Her sister was sent to live with William French’s family. Did her father die or did he desert his family?
Abner Adams
Born: 12 MAY 1829 in Hartwick, Otsego County, New York, USA
Father: Albigence Adams (1802 to 1867)
Mother: Diana Lattin (1799 to 1846)
First Spouse: Arabella Wheeler (1830 to 1884)
Married: 4 NOV 1854 in Rock, Rock County, Wisconsin, USA
Children:
Ella M Adams (1857 to 1939)
Emma B Adams (1859 to 1911)
Second Spouse: Margaret S Hartzell (1843 to 1935)
Married: 20 APR 1891 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA
Children: none
Died: 18 APR 1907 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA
Burial: Benton Avenue Cemetery
Timeline:
1846 Death of mother, Diana
1850 Rock, Rock County, Wisconsin, USA
1854 Marriage to Arabella
1857 Birth of daughter, Ella
1859 Birth of daughter, Emma
1860 Reeve, Franklin County, Iowa, USA
1867 Death of father, Albigence
1870 Prickly Pear Valley, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA
1880 Prickly Pear Valley, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA
1884 Death of wife, Arabella
1900 Prickly Pear Valley, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA
1905 Death of brother, Leander
1907 Death and Burial
Occupation: bricklayer, rancher
Records:
1850 to 1880 United States Federal Census Records
1900 United States Federal Census Record
Wisconsin, U.S., Marriage Index, 1808-1907
Montana, U.S., County Marriages, 1865-1987
Montana, U.S., County Marriage Records, 1865-1993
The U.S., Find A Grave Index, 1600s-Current
Variations of Surname: none
Biographical Information:
There is a memorial on the Find A Grave website that includes a short biography and death announcement. This biographical information can also be found on Archive.org. The book is entitled “An Illustrated History of the State of Montana“. It was written by Joaquin Miller.
In this article, the author suggested that the given name of Abner was passed down through four generations. This statement is not quite true. His great-grandfather and grandfather both carried this given name. Abner’s father was named Albigence.
The 1891 marriage record listed Abner’s father as Albygence.
Albigence as a given name or surname is quite rare. The name may have originated during the Catharism movement in southern France. The Wikipedia article explains:
“The adherents were sometimes referred to as Albigensians after the city Albi in southern France where the movement first took hold.”
Abner’s First Wife:
Arabella Wheeler:
Arabella was born in 1830 in Vermont, USA. She died on 16 MAY 1884 in Prickly Pear Valley, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA. Arabella was buried in the Benton Avenue Cemetery.
Death Announcement in the Helena Independent newspaper, 17 MAY 1884:
Arabella went by the name of Arabell and Belle.
Arabella’s father was Amos Wheeler. He was born on 4 JUN 1793 in Newport, Sullivan County, New Hampshire, USA. He died on 22 JAN 1872 in Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa, USA. Amos was buried in the Hampton Cemetery.
Arabella’s mother was Sophia Edwards. She was born in 1794 in New York, USA. She died in 1875 in Hampton, Franklin County, Iowa, USA. Sophia was buried in the Hampton Cemetery.
Arabella had three known brothers and sisters:
Daniel Wheeler (1821)
William Wheeler (1823)
Adelaide Wheeler (1833)
Abner and Arabella’s Daughters:
Ella M Adams:
Ella was born in 1857 in Rock, Rock County, Wisconsin, USA. She died in 1939 in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA.
Ella married Newell H Webster on 21 MAY 1876 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA. No known children were born to this marriage.
Newell H Webster was born on 29 NOV 1836 in Henniker, Merrimack County, New Hampshire, USA. He died in 1919 in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA.
Another Ancestry.com member had added a short biography to Newell’s profile. This biographical information can also be found on Archive.org. The book is entitled “Biographical Review … containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan counties, New Hampshire“.
Ella and Newell were buried in the Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery.
Emma B Adams:
Emma was born in 1859 in Reeve, Franklin County, Iowa, USA. She died in 1911 in San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA.
Emma never married nor had any known children.
Ella was buried in the Greenwood Memorial Park Cemetery.
Abner’s Second Wife:
Margaret S Hartzell:
Margaret was born in 1843 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA. She died on 10 JUN 1935 in Seattle, King County, Washington, USA. Margaret was buried in the Acacia Memorial Park Cemetery in Lake Forest Park, King County, Washington, USA.
Obituary:
Margaret’s father was Jonas Hartzell. He was born in 1795 in Nazareth, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, USA. He died in 1841 in Hanover, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA. Jonas was buried in the Hanover Cemetery.
Margaret’s mother was Serapta Downing. She was born in 1810 in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, USA. She died in 1886 in Fulton, Rock County, Wisconsin, USA. Serapta was buried in the Fassett Cemetery in Edgerton, Rock County, Wisconsin, USA.
Margaret had four known brothers and sisters:
Hannah Hartzell (1829)
Mary Hartzell (1831)
Thomas Downing Hartzell (1835)
Reuben Charles Hartzell (1838)
Margaret previously married Henry Machen on 24 MAY 1862 in Rock, Rock County, Wisconsin, USA. One known child was born to this marriage:
Blanche Machen (1869)
Henry Machen was born in 1838 in England. He died on 30 SEP 1920 in Philipsburg, Granite County, Montana, USA.
Margaret and Henry divorced sometime between 1880 and 1891. The 1900 US Census shows that he was living in Princeton, Granite County, Montana, USA. Henry never remarried.
After Abner died, Margaret married Alexander L Thorne on 1 MAR 1909 in Hamilton, Ravalli County, Montana, USA. Margaret was 66 years old and Alexander was 68 years old when they married.
Alexander L Thorne was born on 13 JAN 1841 in Freehold, Monmouth County, New Jersey, USA. He died on 26 DEC 1928 in Helena, Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA. Alexander was buried in the Forestvale Cemetery.
Obituary:
Alexander’s Daughter:
The obituaries for both Alexander and Margaret indicated that Alexander had a daughter named Georgia Thorne. That meant Alexander had previously been married.
Alexander’s 1928 obituary helped narrow down my search for Georgia to Pendleton, Umatilla County, Oregon, USA. A 1930 directory listing shows that she was living at 116 Lewis.
I then discovered that the given name Georgia was a nickname. On the following US Census records her name was written as:
1880 Georgiana Thorne
1900 Georgianna Thorne
1910 Georgana Thorn
1930 Georgeanna Thorne
1940 Georganna Thorne
Georgeanna A Thorne:
Georgeanna was born on 14 AUG 1876 in South Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 14 JUL 1955 in Pendleton, Umatilla County, Oregon, USA. Georgeanna was buried in Olney Cemetery.
Alexander’s First Wife:
The 1880 US Census shows that Georgeanna was living with her mother in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Her mother’s name was listed as Hester which is a variation of the given name Esther.
Esther A Hall:
Esther was born on 4 MAR 1838 in Burlington, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA. She died on 28 NOV 1886 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA. Esther was buried in the Ringville Cemetery.
Esther’s First Husband:
Esther married Joshua Byron Eaton on 23 JAN 1860 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. No known children were born to this marriage.
Joshua Byron Eaton was born in 1832 in East Wilton, Franklin County, Maine, USA. He died on 23 JUN 1860 in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, USA. Joshua was 28 years old when he died. He was buried in the East Wilton Cemetery, Wilton, Franklin County, Maine, USA
Did You Notice?
Joshua died exactly five months after he married Esther. He was a brakesman working on a railroad. The death record listed the cause of death as “killed by locomotive”.
Esther’s Second Husband:
After Joshua died, Esther married Andrew J Burbank on 24 AUG 1862 in Haverhill, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA. Two known children were born to this marriage:
Carl Burbank (1864)
MaryBurbank (1866)
Andrew J Burbank was born on 23 JUL 1833 in Wells River, Orange County, Vermont, USA. He died on 18 JAN 1909 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Andrew was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Sharpsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Esther and Andrew must have divorced after the birth of their second child. The 1880 US Census shows that Andrew was living in Pittsburgh. His marital status was listed as divorced.
Andrew then married Sarah Maria Himmens Gercke on 29 APR 1891 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Andrew was 57 years old and Sarah was 54 years old when they married.
Andrew’s Second Wife:
Sarah Maria Himmens was born on 26 MAR 1837 in Gettysburg, Adams County, Pennsylvania, USA. She died on 2 DEC 1921 in Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA. Sarah was buried in the Greenwood Cemetery, Sharpsburg, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, USA.
The 1860 US Census record shows that Sarah was married to a man named Herman Gercke. They were living in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, USA. His occupation was listed as a baker.
I could find no marriage record for Sarah or Herman. This could be due to his surname being incorrectly transcribed on vital records.
I could not find Sarah or Herman on the 1870 US Census.
The entries on the 1860 and 1880 US Census records show that Sarah gave birth to four known children:
Minerva Margaret Gercke (1856)
John Harry Gercke (1859)
Anna Rebecca Gercke (1860)
Jane Elizabeth Gercke (1867)
Sarah’s First Husband:
Herman L Gercke was born in 1828 in Germany. I do not know when he died.
In 1835, Herman and his parents immigrated to the United States. They arrived in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
The 1850 US Census shows that Herman was living with his widowed mother and five siblings in Philadelphia.
In 1861, Herman enlisted with the 79th Infantry in Lancaster, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.
There was a pension record that showed Sarah filed for widow’s benefits in 1888.
Herman’s Parents:
Herman’s father was Helfrich Gercke. He was born in 1786 in Prussia. He died on 20 JUL 1848 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Herman’s mother was Margarethe Sophia Selzer. She was born on 22 JUL 1807 in Germany. She died on 16 AUG 1877 in Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, USA.
Esther’s Parents:
Esther’s father was Curtis D Hall. He was born in Vermont, USA.
Esther’s mother was Eliza S Marcy. She was born in 1818 in Walpole, Cheshire County, New Hampshire, USA. She died on 19 OCT 1891 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA.
Esther had one known sister:
Almira Dorcas Hall (1846)
What Happened to this Family?
As shown above, I could find no information on Esther’s father. It could be that he did not use the name Curtis on vital documents. He may have used his middle name.
He may have died before the 1850 US Census was enumerated. He may have also divorced or deserted his wife and children. I do not know.
I do know something happened to this family:
The 1850 US Census shows that Esther was living with Robert Place and his family. They were living in Hinesburg, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA.
The 1850 US Census shows that Almira was living with William French and his family. They were living in Williston, Chittenden County, Vermont, USA.
Their mother may have been working out of the area at that time. I could not find her in the 1850 or 1860 US Census records.
Eliza married Lyman Higgins on 28 MAY 1862 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA. No known children were born to this marriage.
Lyman Higgins was born on 30 SEP 1821 in Homer, Cortland County, New York, USA. He died on 28 FEB 1896 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA.
Lyman had previously married Mary Middlebrook. I could find no marriage record. Four known children were born to this marriage:
Theron Higgins (1846)
Jane Higgins (1848)
Alice Higgins (1850)
Hiram Higgins (1856)
Mary Middlebrook was born on 9 SEP 1821 in Lanesborough, Berkshire County, Massachusetts, USA. She died on 9 JAN 1861 in Worthington, Hampshire County, Massachusetts, USA.
Lyman, Mary, and Eliza were buried in the Ringville Cemetery.
Notes:
John Adams (1595 to 1633) was the first person with that English surname to immigrate to North America from England. In 1621, John boarded the Fortune. This was the second ship, after the Mayflower, to bring puritans to North America. In late November of that year, the Fortune arrived at Plymouth Colony. John was the progenitor of all the Adams descendants listed in these posts.
Creating Your Family Tree
Interested in building a great family tree? Remember these important steps:
Look in your photo albums. You may have old pictures that your parents or grandparents gave you. Or, ask them for copies of photos that they have in their possession. Many people will write names and dates on the backs of photographs. Letters, diaries, and family bibles are also excellent sources for births, marriages, and deaths.
Talk to your older relatives to find out about your ancestry. They may relate stories about an ancestor that you can add to your family tree. Family history is usually not found in newspapers. It is more of a verbal memory that is passed down from generation to generation.
Find the right family tree builder that suits your needs. You can choose one that has a paid subscription like Ancestry.com. There are also free sites like FamilySearch.org.
When you start building your family tree, add documentation to your ancestor’s profile. The records can include birth, marriage, death, census, military, city, and county directory listings. Any information that you can find will help create a life story about your ancestor.
If you have a unique surname, like Wakenight, you may find databases on the internet that are useful in your search. I use SurnameDB.com for my English surnames. There are many others on the internet for other countries like Ireland, Italy, and Germany.
Genealogy is the study of a person’s “line of descent.” As you create your family tree, you would typically start with one individual and go “back into time.” You would add their parents, grandparents, and so on. There are also family trees that go “forward into time.” Many of these family trees start with a famous person, such as a president or royalty, and move forward into the present time. The purpose of this type of pedigree is to establish a person’s bloodline with that famous person.
There is no limit on how big your family tree can grow. The blank canvas is there for you to use. Cherish your family history, and it will be there for generations to come!
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