Newlands House circa 1930 Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, England
The 1841 England Census record for Nathaniel Soames listed his residence as Newlands House in Stanstead Abbotts, Hertfordshire, England. Nathaniel was living with his son John, and daughters Emma and Jemima Soames. Nathaniel Soames and his son John Soames are enumerated as of "Independent Means" in the census document.
Newlands was listed as a Grade II property 24 January 1967 with English Heritage Building ID 355924 . The building was described at the time of listing as a circa 1600 timber-framed and plastered structure with sections altered; mentioning that the front was "gothicised" in the early 19th century.
The property was a bed and breakfast for a time in the early 21st century and is apparently currently a private residence. Newlands was sold circa 2014 for £ 1,700, 000.
Recent photographs
The Whitaker Bible is dated 1881. The front cover of the bible is engraved with the family name 'Whitaker" (click on image to enlarge). A four page PDF version of the Whitaker Bible (cover, births, marriages and deaths) can be found at familysearch along with a well sourced family tree.
The Bible is in the possession of Nancy O'Connor Evans via the following abbreviated family tree.
Whitaker Family Bible Births
Whitaker Family Bible Marriages
Whitaker Family Bible Deaths
When looking through old newspapers on NYSHistoricalNewspapers.org, I found something quite unexpected. The following news article was published 5 May 1899 in The St Lawrence Tribune (page 3)
Arthur La Rue and Millie Whittaker were married on Tuesday 2 May 1899 in Gouverneur, New York.
So, it looks like Millie Lucy was married before she married Alfred Bush. I have heard the name La Rue in connection the Bush/Whittaker side of the family, but the fact that Millie Lucy was previously married to a man named La Rue was definitely not known.
As I recall the La Rue family connection had something to do with a silent film actor, but I have not found any connection with Arthur La Rue and the early film industry.
Millie and Arthur La Rue are found in the 1900 US Census living in Potsdam Township, New York.
Millie Lucy's marriage to Arthur La Rue didn't last very long. Millie appears (using her maiden name) along with future husband Alfred Bush on the first page of The Ogdensburg Advance and St Lawrence Weekly Democrat on 12 November 1903 in the following news tidbit filed under the town of Madrid.
12 November 1903
George Capron Furniss, son of George Furniss and Lucy Cook, death notice published 1 September 1863 in the Ogdensburg Journal, page 3.
Libbie (Elizabeth) Furniss dies of consumption at age eighteen, four weeks after the death of her twenty year old brother George Capron Furniss. Death notice published 26 September 1863 in the Ogdensburg Journal, page 3.
Lucy Claflin Cook, wife of George Furniss, article regarding her poor health about one month before she died. 13 March 1883, Norwood News, page 3.
Lucy Claflin Cook, wife of George Furniss, obituary, published in the Ogdensburg Journal on 11 April 1883, page 3.
George Furniss death notice, two months after the death of his wife lucy Claflin Cook. George died in England he was visiting his birth place in England. Article in the 5 June 1883 issue of The Ogdensburg Journal 1883, page 3.
Work in Progress
Joseph Eddy Wilson was born c 1855 in Vermont to Dorcas Ann Varien and James Wilson.
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| 1855 New York State Census Hoosick, Rensselaer, New York |
Dorcas and James Wilson were newlyweds in 1855, they had been married earlier that year in Adams Massachusetts on 28 January 1855. The marriage record incorrectly notes that this marriage was both James and Dorcas's first marriage. Dorcas Ann Varian was previously married to James Van Avery.
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| Marriage record James Wilson & Dorcas Varian Adams, Massachusetts |
In 1885, Joseph is living with his father James, brother Fred, daughter Emma J Wilson and son William. Delia is likely the wife of Fred Wilson and It's probable that JE Wilson is actually meant to be Joseph Eddy Wilson, but the age is incorrectly listed as age two in the 1885 Nebraska State Census shown below. There are not many two year old farmers.
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| 1885 Nebraska Census Family of Joseph Eddy Wilson |
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| 1885 Nebraska Census Merrick, Nebraska |
There are several possible issues with the information in the 1885 Nebraska Census, but it seems highly likely that this is the family of Joseph Eddy Wilson. The ages of all the family members, with the exception noted above of JE Wilson, are consistent with those given for these family members in previous documents. The location of birth for several family members seems the most problematic with the possible explanation that the enumerator confused Vermont with Virginia.
Emma J Wilson eventually will be married In Merrick County Nebraska which is where the 1885 Nebraska Census enumerates the Wilson family.
Dorcas Ann Varian likely married another man after 1880 named William Babcock, She is shown living with him in the 1880 US Census in Grafton, Rensselaer, NY. Dorcas is still named Wilson in this census.
Note: Sort out the George Wilsons listed as sons of Wessett and Solomon Wilson. Review family of Jeremiah Wilson, son of Wessett and Solomon as well.
Note. Eddy is likely a family name as it appears in this area as a surname