Between 1910 and 1915, Bertha and Jesse got divorced. She had the responsibility of caring for their five children. Bertha never remarried. Jesse first lived with a woman 17 years younger than Bertha. Then he married a woman eight years younger than his ex-wife.
Washington Irving Adams
Born: 1848 in Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA
Father: Wright A Adams (1812 to 1887)
Mother: Elsina Arlene Haile (1815 to 1866)
Spouse: Emma S Hewitt (1848 to 1930)
Married: 1867 in Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA *
(*) The marriage date is an estimate based on the birth of their first child.
Children:
William Wright Adams (10 FEB 1868 to 17 MAR 1941)
Bertha Jennette Adams (15 SEP 1873 to 9 DEC 1961)
Harry Charles Adams (18 DEC 1874 to 20 MAR 1940)
Died: 17 MAY 1912 in Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
Timeline:
1850 Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA
1860 Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA
1866 Death of mother, Elsina
1868 Marriage to Emma
1868 Birth of son, William
1870 Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA
1873 Birth of daughter, Bertha
1874 Birth of son, Harry
1875 Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
1880 Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
1887 Death of father, Wright
1892 Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
1900 Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
1905 Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
1910 Granville, Washington County, New York, USA
1912 Death and Burial
Occupation: farmer & mechanic (1880), mechanic (1892), carpenter (1900), farm mechanic (1910)
Records:
1850 to 1880 US Census Records
1875 New York State Census Record
1892 New York State Census Record
1900 and 1910 US Census Records
New York, Death Index, 1852-1956
Variations of Surname: none
Irving’s Wife:
Emma S Hewitt:
Emma was born in 1848 in Hebron, Washington County, New York, USA. She died on 15 MAR 1930 in Hudson Falls, Washington County, New York, USA. Emma was buried in the Mettowee Valley Cemetery in Granville, Washington County, New York, USA.
Emma’s father was James Hewitt. He was born in 1805 in Vermont, USA. He died on 5 MAY 1865 in Hebron, Washington County, New York, USA.
Emma’s mother was Philinda Smith. She was born in 1813 in New York, USA. She died on 8 OCT 1881 in Hebron, Washington County, New York, USA.
James and Philinda were buried in North Hebron Cemetery.
Emma had ten brothers and sisters:
Sidney Hewitt (1830)
Jennette Hewitt (1831 to 1854)
Julia Hewitt (1834)
Laura Hewitt (1836 to 1841)
Malinda Hewitt (1838 to 1843)
James William Hewitt (1840)
Smith Hewitt (1843)
Cordelia Hewitt (1846)
Charles H Hewitt (1851)
Wealtha P Hewitt (1857)
Irving and Emma’s Daughter:
Bertha Jennette Adams:
Bertha was born on 15 SEP 1873 in Granville, Washington County, New York, USA. She died on 9 DEC 1961 in Granville, Washington County, New York, USA. Bertha was buried in the Fort Ann Cemetery.
Bertha married Jesse Lindsay on 14 DEC 1898 in Granville, Washington County, New York, USA. Six known children were born during their marriage:
Marion Adams Lindsay (1898)
Harry B Lindsay (1902 to 1916)
Sheldon Jesse Lindsay (1903)
Eva L Lindsay (1905)
George C Lindsay (1906)
Helen Lindsay (Unknown) *
(*) Her name appears on a headstone in Fort Ann Cemetery.
Jesse Lindsay was born in 1876 in Argyle, Washington County, New York, USA. He died on 4 JAN 1955 in Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, USA. Jesse was buried in the Union Cemetery.
A Little History:
The 1910 US Census shows that Bertha, Jesse, and the children were living in Kingsbury, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1915 New York State Census shows that Bertha and the children were living in Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA. Her marital status was not recorded on this document.
I could not find Jesse on the 1915 New York State Census.
The 1920 US Census shows that Bertha and her son, Sheldon, had moved to Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts, USA. They were living with Bertha’s brother, William Adams, and his children. Bertha’s marital status was listed as widowed.
The 1920 US Census shows that Jesse had married a woman named Sadie. They were living in Granville, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1925 New York State Census shows that Bertha, her mother, and her two youngest children were living in Moreau, Saratoga, New York, USA. Her marital status was not recorded on this document.
The 1925 New York State Census shows that Jessie, Sarah, and three children were living in Kingsbury, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1930 US Census shows that Bertha had moved back to Kingsbury, Washington County, New York, USA. She was living with her son, Sheldon, and his family. Bertha’s marital status was listed as divorced.
The 1930 US Census shows that Jesse was married to a woman named Mary H Trahan. They were living in Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1930 US Census shows that Sadie had married a man named Larry Auburn. They were living in Hudson Falls, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1940 US Census shows that Bertha was living with her daughter, Eva, and her husband, Herbert Willett. They were living in Glens Falls, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1940 US Census shows that Jesse and Mary were living in Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1940 US Census shows that Sadie was living in Glen Falls, Warren County, New York, USA.
The 1950 US Census shows that Bertha was living with her daughter, Eva, and her husband, Herbert Willett. They were living in Glens Falls, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1950 US Census shows that Jesse and Mary were living in Fort Edward, Washington County, New York, USA.
The 1950 US Census shows that Sadie was living in Glen Falls, Warren County, New York, USA.
Did You Notice?
Sarah went by the nickname Sadie.
Sarah used the name Fisher on the 1940 and 1950 census records.
Bertha and Sarah were both living in Glens Falls in 1940 and 1950.
Here is What I Found:
Jessie’s Fiance:
Sarah Louise Reynolds:
Sarah was born on 10 FEB 1890 in Hartford, Washington County, New York, USA. She died in 1986 in Glens Falls, Warren County, New York, USA.
Sarah married Hiram D Fisher on 13 DEC 1907 in Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA. Two known children were born during their marriage:
Kathleen Fisher (1909)
Rollin J Fisher (1910)
Hiram D Fisher was born on 4 MAY 1885 in Fort Ann, Washington County, New York, USA. He died on 20 JUN 1913 in Glens Falls, Warren County, New York, USA. Hiram was 28 years old when he died.
I could find no records showing that Sarah married either Jesse Lindsay or Larry Auburn. The fact that she used the married name Fisher in 1940 and 1950 seems to confirm that they were never married.
Sarah did give birth to one child by Jesse Lindsay:
Gladys Lindsey (1917)
Larry Auburn was harder to locate.
He appeared on the 1930 census with Sarah. His occupation was listed as a salesman. His age was listed as 37 years old which would mean he was born in 1893.
The 1940 US Census shows that Larry Auburn was living in Oneonta, Otsego, New York, USA. His occupation was listed as a salesman. His age was listed as 49 years old which would mean he was born in 1891.
I could find no additional information on Larry Auburn. This name might be an alias.
The 1915 New York State Census shows that a man named Lawrence O’Brien was living with his mother in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York, USA. His age was listed as 25 years old which means he was born in 1890.
The 1900 US Census Record shows Lawrence O’Brien living with his mother in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York, USA. His age was listed as 11 years old which means he was born in 1888.
I then found that a man named Lawrence O’Brien was incarcerated in the Auburn State Prison in 1916. The record indicates that he was born in 1888 in Oneonta, Otsego County, New York, USA. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
I could find no other information on Lawrence O’Brien after 1916.
This does not definitively prove that Larry Auburn and Lawrence O’Brien are the same individuals. I think it is interesting that the name Auburn was used. Maybe by a man jailed in Auburn State Prison?
Jesse’s Second Wife:
Mary was born on 20 AUG 1881 in Hartford, Washington County, New York, USA. She died on 30 NOV 1955 in Glens Falls, Warren County, New York, USA. Mary was buried in the Union Cemetery.
Mary had previously married Albert Trahan on 27 NOV 1902 in Brooklyn, Kings County, New York, USA. Three known children were born during their marriage:
Ethel O Trahan (1905)
George F Trahan (1907)
Arthur A Trahan (1909)
Albert Trahan was born on 18 JUL 1879 in Fitchburg, Worcester County, Massachusetts, USA. He died on 30 NOV 1948 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, USA.
Mary and Albert must have divorced after the 1910 US Census was enumerated.
Albert then married Carrie Hohl on 10 NOV 1913 in New York City, New York, USA. One known child was born during their marriage:
Kenneth Trahan (1915)
Carrie Hohl was born in 1881 in Germany. She died in 1971 in Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York, USA.
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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