400 years since The Mayflower: The Cooper

What did my 10x great-grandfather do for a living? Where did that profession lead him?

Family member name: John Alden
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1598 - September 12, 1687
Relation: My 10x great-grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's mom's dad's dad)

John Alden was 21 years old when a group of families approached him to join the crew of the ship that would take them across the ocean.  He met them in Southampton, England. Little did he know they were to be called the Pilgrims, and they were inviting him on a historic journey on the Mayflower that would change his life.  

Why did the Pilgrims want him to come along? He was a cooper.

coop·er

/ˈko͞opər,ˈko͝opər/

Learn to pronounce

noun

1. a maker or repairer of casks and barrels.

The cooper was a necessary position on any ship. He maintained all barreled supplies and provisions.

* Do you want your food to stay fresh and airtight, and therefore, not die of hunger?

* Do you want your precious beer to stay in the barrel and not leak out?

If the answer is yes, you need a qualified cooper.  They made many different containers from small buckets to large barrels, or casks.  The casks were made of wood planks and metal hoops that bound the planks together.

As a crew member of the Mayflower, and not a Pilgrim, he was expected to return to England when the ship went back in the spring.  However my 10x great-grandfather decided to remain in Plymouth and on April 5, 1621 watched the boat sail away.  He may have made his decision early on, since he was a signer of the Mayflower Compact, which was written when they arrived in November 1620.

The cooper would establish himself as a valuable member of Plymouth Colony. He and his wife Priscilla would have 10 children, of which I am one of tens of thousands of descendants.

Sources:

Wikipedia: John Alden
Colonial Coopers

Visiting the cemetery in Duxbury, MA with my dad.

Warleigh Manor

Do you like British historical TV shows about upstairs/downstairs stories like Downton Abbey?  It turns out my ancestor was part of the "downstairs" staff in a grand English country manor.

Family member name: Charles King

Lifetime: 1775 - 1868
Tree branch: Bromley
Places lived: Near Bath, England

Relation: My 5x great-grandfather (my dad's mom's mom's dad's mom's dad's dad)

An Ancestry.com member kindly posted this scan of some old King family notes.  Notice the area I highlighted in red.  It mentions Charles King, born in 1775, was "for over 50 yrs. valued servant of Skrines, Warleigh M[anor]."

Warleigh Manor is just outside of Bath, England.  It was built in 1815.  If Grandpa Charles was hired as a servant at Warleigh as soon as it was built, he would have been 40 years old at the time.  

I have questions!!!  

What were his duties? Was he the butler? Did he live on the grounds? Or were there servants quarters inside the Manor House? He must have been very "valued" if the family kept him on for 50 years.  He would have been 90 years old when he retired!  Maybe the Skrines thought of him as part of the family, like Carson on Downton Abbey.

Whatever his profession in "service", he did it well.  Congrats Grandpa Charles!

PS: More about Warleigh Manor

* Warleigh is a small parish outside of Bath with a population of 1,759

* The Skrine family bought the land in the 1600s 

* Henry Skrine finished building the current Manor house in 1815 

* It is a lovely early example of a Tudor villa with Victorian additions

* It remained in the Skrine family for seven generation, until the early 1960s

* From the 1960s until the late 1990s it was a reform school for the most emotionally troubled pre-teens in England

* Around 2000, it was sold and underwent a fabulous restoration and now is broken up into luxury "apartments", one that is 4,500 square feet

Links to sources and pictures:

The Bathford Society

Video: Flying around Warleigh Manor, Bath

2018 pics of renovated interior

Descendant of Kings

Yes! I finally found a British King in my family tree!  I am a descendant of Kings!

Family member name: Charles King

Lifetime: 1775 - 1868
Tree branch: Bromley
Places lived: Bath, England

Relation: My 5x great-grandfather (my dad's mom's mom's dad's mom's dad's dad)

Sorry to get your hopes up, but he's not a member of the royal family. heehee. His last name is King.  But, this post is NOT just about a play on words.

Charles was born in Bath, England in 1775 and lived for 93 years, long enough for photography to be invented.  Another descendant of Mr. King generously shared his family photo online for others to see.

This post is simply to say:

* I can't believe that we have a photo of someone born in 1775.  

* And that person is my 5x great-grandfather.  

Here he is!  What do you think?? Is he a sweet grandpa or a curmudgeon?  Please leave a comment below!

Signed with a mark

Marriage certificates in Great Britain are great! I love that they include the bride and groom's signatures.  How cool is it to see our ancestor's handwriting?!  However, there is one exception: when they sign with their mark.  What is that?

Let's check out two examples from my family that are 100 years apart.

1871

In 1871, my 2x great-grandfather signed his own name, John Boyle.  But his new bride wrote an X and the clergyman wrote "The mark of Catherine O'Neill".

Family member name: Catherine O'Neill Boyle

Lifetime: 1849 - 1941
Tree branch: Boyle
Places lived: Durham, England; Indianapolis, Indiana

Relation: My 2x great-grandmother (my mom's dad's dad's mom)

1771

In 1771, my 5x great-grandparents, William Fripp and Betty Knight both added their marks with an X.  

Family member name: Betty Knight

Lifetime: 1744 - 1831
Tree branch: Bromley
Places lived: Dorset, England

Relation: My 5x great-grandmother (my dad's mom's mom's mom's dad's dad's mom)

Why?

Why did they sign with a mark?  There are multiple theories.

• Most likely, the participant could not read or write. Illiteracy was very common prior to 1875 in Great Britain. On the other hand, we can't really assume that those who signed their name were completely literate, as some could write their name, but that's all.
• They were simply asked to put their mark by the official in charge of the ceremony.  Maybe the official assumed they were illiterate.
• You never know, they could have been blind!

Fripp family secrets

My grandmother did not have e-mail in 2010.  So the researcher contacted her assisted living complex.  "Your cousin is looking for you" he told her.  She replied, "I don't have any cousins." She did not yet know Ellen Fripp's secret.  

Ellen Fripp

Ellen Fripp had three children from her first husband, Henry W. Bromley: Percy, Ernest  and Florence.  Later, Ernest was married and had one son named Ernest, Jr. and Florence married and had Charlotte.  Charlotte is my grandmother.  Ernest, Jr. (Charlotte's cousin) died when he was 12 years old of appendicitis. 

Charlotte grew up with her grandmother, Ellen. They were very close. 

Ruth Fripp

Ruth grew up in England with her elderly father, Frank. Frank was raised by his Aunt Kate.  Ruth's grandparents passed away long ago, but she heard that they had moved to America.  She wondered if she had any living relatives there.  

Ruth hired Dave the researcher to find out.  He found that Kate's sister Ellen married a Bromley. Then he found Ernest Bromley's obituary which mentioned his niece, Mrs. Roger Webber of Duxbury, Massachusetts.  When Dave found that Mrs. Roger Webber's full name was Charlotte Ellen, he knew he had found a relative.  But the year was 2010, and Charlotte was born in 1915.  Could she still be alive? He made the phone call.

The secret: Frank Fripp

Ellen Fripp had a child out of wedlock in 1875 in London. (Today, October 25th, is the anniversary of his birth.) The father's name is lost to time, but she called her son Frank.  When Ellen married in 1880 and moved to the United States, she left her son in care of her sister, Kate.  My grandma Charlotte never knew about Frank.  As an elderly man, Frank married and had a daughter named Ruth.

The secret revealed

Through Dave the researcher, Ruth found her only living cousin, Charlotte, in America.  My grandma was 95 at the time. Before my grandma died in 2014, Ruth and her husband flew from London to Boston multiple times over the next couple years to connect with family they never knew and to hear the firsthand account about her own grandmother.  

They still keep in touch with us.

Shakespeare was a friend of the family. Maybe.

My 12th great grandfather was John Smythe.  I think he must have been friends with William Shakespeare.  :)  Just sayin.

Family member name: John Smythe
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1580ish - unknown death date
Relation: My 12x great grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad)

John Smythe lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon in England. He was born around 1580.

You know what that means? Grandpa Smythe lived there during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He lived in the same town as William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway and he lived there at the same time that they lived there.  William was about 20 years older than Grandpa John. 

The population of Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1600 was 2,000.  It was still a small market town where everybody knew everybody.  Even if they weren't close friends, they definitely knew each other.

John's son Ralph was my immigrant ancestor who arrived in Massachusetts in 1630.

PS: All credit for the genealogical findings of the Smith family goes to the helpful genealogist at the Chatham Public Library on Cape Cod.  She sent me a big fat juicy envelope full of photo copies of vital records in the mail.  Amazingly, I received the package only about a week before leaving on our long-awaited vacation to the English countryside.  Before then, I had no idea that I had ancestors who lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was one of our scheduled stops on the trip.

It made me look at the town in a whole new way, through the eyes of my family.  Here we are.

Dru and me in 2017, outside my 12x great grandfather's friends's wife's home.

My 12x great-grandfather's friend's house still stands today in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England.

My 12x great-grandfather's buddy, William Shakespeare.  Photo credit: British Library.

Autumn arrival

One hundred and twelve years ago today my great-great-grandmother arrived to the United States.

Family member name: Catherine O'Neill Boyle
Tree branch: Boyle
Lifetime: 1849 - 1941
Relation: My 2x great grandmother (my mom's dad's dad's mom)

What was October 19, 1906 like for Catherine Boyle?

First, a brief history of Catherine. Queen Victoria had already been reigning for 12 years when Catherine was born in 1849 in England.  She married an Irishman named John Boyle in June 1871 and they started their family which would grow to include 12 children.  They lived in Blackhill, Durham, England.  

She was 57 years old in 1906 when she and her daughter Kate made the short trip to Liverpool and boarded the steamship called Baltic.  They were in steerage class.  Ten days later, they disembarked onto Ellis Island.

October 19 was a Friday in 1906 just as it is in 2018, and it was a warm day in New York City as the temperature rose to 73 degrees.  

Here are the steps she encountered during the immigration process.

1. Ferry - She took a ferry from her ship's pier to Ellis Island
2. Label - She was labeled with her name and ship name
3. Baggage drop off - How many belongings did Catherine bring with her? How much would you bring if starting a new life in a new country?
4. Separation - Normally men were separated from the women and children, but since Catherine only traveled with her grown daughter, they most likely were not separated
5. Stairway - Catherine was unknowingly watched by inspectors as she climbed the stairs to the Great Hall. Those with medical difficulties were flagged for further examination.
6. Chalk - A small amount of immigrants were given a chalk mark letter code on their coat lapel to indicate a medical problem.  Catherine's paperwork said her health was "good".  Probably no chalk for her!
7. The Great Hall - Verbal inspections took place here.  Catherine and Kate were no doubt surrounded by hundreds, if not, thousands of other immigrants.  How did they feel? Since Ellis Island was nicknamed the "Island of Tears", most likely it was not a comfortable experience. Here is a picture of the Great Hall in use.

Photo source: New York Public Library Digital Collection

8. Legal Inspection - 32 questions to determine entry.  Most of the replies are found on her arrival paperwork.
9. Baggage reclaim - Finally! They could pick up their luggage.
10. Money exchange - You had to have at least $20 to enter America in 1909.  Since Catherine arrived in 1906, this was not yet a requirement.  She must at least have had enough for transportation to Indiana.
11. Kissing Post - The exit to Ellis Island was named the Kissing Post, where many immigrants were reunited with their loved ones who were already in the US.  Did any of Catherine's family members come to greet her?  Maybe her husband John?
12.  Ferry to New Jersey or New York - The next phase of her journey begins!

She settled in Indianapolis, Indiana and lived there for 35 years.  She passed away at the age of 91 leaving scores of descendants, of which I am one.  

I feel that my October 19 was well-spent by imagining her life-changing experience 112 years ago today.

Bath time!

My dad's middle name is Bromley.  It is his grandmother's maiden name.  I knew that the Bromleys were from England.  It's time to see life through their eyes.

Family member name: William and Anne Amelia Bromley and their son Henry Bromley

Relation: My 2x great grandfather (Henry) and my 3x great grandparents

William and Anne lived in Bath.  Ah, Bath! Known for its beautifully preserved white Georgian style buildings and its curative hot springs, Bath has been a destination for who's who of British society for centuries. 

And the Bromleys lived right in the middle of it. Anyone who has lived in Bath or has ever visited Bath for even one day is familiar with where they lived. 

In 1858, they moved into the downtown area of Bath.  They lived on the 3rd and 4th floor attic of 25 Union Street.  The ground floor and second floor was used for retail.  Union Street is a pedestrian shopping area in the heart of the town. And just across the street is the Roman hot baths along with the famous Pump Room restaurant. The Pump Room is named for the actual water pump that brings the mineral water up from the deep spring below directly into the restaurant. Centuries old plumbing! 

Here I am directly below their apartment. Downstairs is now a clothing store called COS.  Their windows would have been the ones above the letters COS. The Bromleys were so downtown.

Jane Austen, who lived in Bath from 1801 to 1806 wrote about the Bromleys' corner.

From chapter 7 of Northanger Abbey:

Half a minute conducted them through the pump-yard to the archway, opposite Union Passage; but here they were stopped. Everybody acquainted with Bath may remember the difficulties of crossing Cheap Street at this point; it is indeed a street of so impertinent a nature, so unfortunately connected with the great London and Oxford roads, and the principal inn of the city, that a day never passes in which parties of ladies, however important their business, whether in quest of pastry, millinery, or even (as in the present case) of young men, are not detained on one side or other by carriages, horsemen, or carts.  This evil has been felt and lamented, at least three times a day, by Isabella since her residence in Bath.

In the 1860s, William was the manager and editor of a newspaper, also listed as a printer, which I think is fantastic since I also work for a publishing company. Maybe that's where I get some of my obsession with grammar and punctuation. (I know I get some from you too mom!) That profession meant he was educated and no doubt well-known around town. Anne Amelia was a dressmaker. Did she create fashion-forward clothes for the high society ladies to show off at the theatre? How cool would that be?  Anne made enough to support herself since William moved out of the home in the late 1860s. We don't know why.  Anne lived there until 1874. 

Here are some pictures of the sources I found at the Bath Records Office.

Bath City Directory 1860-1861

Bromleys listed in Bath 1860 Directory at 25 Union Street

1852 map of Bath.  I added the star at 25 Union Street.