After I got over the shock that my 2x great grandmother was child labor in a mill, I next discovered a possible female Irish immigrant! Now we are talking! Martha's mother was listed as being born circa 1842 in Ireland.
The person in question.... Margaret "Martha" Brown
Martha arrived in the United States circa 1864 possibly from Ireland. A few years after her arrival, she married Joseph Henry Casborn/Casborne on 8 Dec 1867 in Warwick, Kent, Rhode Island at the age of 26. Joseph was an immigrant himself from England, however came to New York aboard a ship named Julian on 13 Apr 1833 at the age of 16 as an apprentice.
First thing, I did to learn more about Martha and her family was check out the 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 and 1940 US Federal Census and the 1875, 1885, 1915, 1925 and 1935 Rhode Island State Census.
By 11 Jun 1870, Martha was the mother to George H. (b. 2 Oct 1868) and Martha Jane (b.20 Apr 1870), and the family was residing in Warwick at the Centreville Post Office area of town. On 1 Jun 1875, the family was residing on Natick Hill Road in Warwick along with another son, Archibald "Archie" Brown (b. 1 Aug 1871).
1875 Rhode Island State Census, Kent, Rhode Island, Warwick, census district 3, p. 183 (penned), dwelling 193, family 333, Joseph H. Casborn household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : 11 Mar 2014); citing New England Historic Genealogical Society microflim. |
On 16 Jun 1900, Martha and her son, Archie, are residing in Warwick. It appears from the 1900 census that Martha never naturalized. On 27 Apr 1910, Martha is residing Coventry, Kent, Rhode Island in the household of Archie. Martha could not be found in the 1915 state census. This is most likely due to an indexing error or her removing from the area during this time period. On 5 Jan 1920, Martha and her son, Archie, are boarders in a Coventry household. It appears from the 1920 census that Martha may have naturalized, however the year of naturalization is unknown. Martha was not found in the 1930 and 1940 federal census nor the 1925 and 1935 state census.
1910 U.S. census, Kent, Rhode Island, Coventry, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 10, sheet 18-A,, dwelling 232, family 335, Archie Casborn household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : 11 Mar 1814); citing National Archives micropublication T624, roll 1436. |
1920 U.S. census, Kent, Rhode Island, Coventry, population schedule, Enumeration District (ED) 15, sheet 5-B, dwelling 97, family 107, Susan E Kane household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : 11 Mar 2014); citing National Archives micropublication T625, roll 1671. |
|
Age
|
Birthplace
|
Birthplace of Father
|
Birthplace of Mother
|
1870 Federal Census
|
32
(b. ~1838)
|
England
|
-----
|
-----
|
1875 State Census
|
33
(b. ~1842)
|
Ireland
|
-----
|
-----
|
1880 Federal Census
|
38
(b. ~1842)
|
Ireland
|
Ireland
|
Ireland
|
1885 State Census
|
44
(b. ~1841)
|
Ireland
|
-----
|
-----
|
1900 Federal Census
|
48
(b. ~1852)
|
Ireland
|
England
|
England
|
1910 Federal Census
|
60
(b. ~1850)
|
England
|
England
|
England
|
1915 State Census
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
?
|
1920 Federal Census
|
75
(b. ~1845)
|
England
|
England
|
England
|
As you might have noted, I wrote earlier "possibly from Ireland". We have no clue who provided the information about her age and birth location to the enumerator. How old really was Martha? And which is it? Ireland or England?
I don't believe anything I read until I have put all the pieces together and analyzed the evidence. Sorting through the conflicting evidence of her year of birth and location is key. Maybe her children's birth, marriage and death records will provide further clues.
To Be Continued....