Revisiting: A 1770 Marshchapel Last Will & Testament for Thomas Porcas - Grazier

I've been "revisiting" my research of Portas families in the parish of Marshchapel, Lincolnshire (Lincs), England both online at Lincs to the Past as well as any data accumulated from my many trips to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. All this revisiting has been enlightening and worth the time I spend in what seems to be my retirement occupation -- sidetracking!

Of course, when I hit a brick wall or have a question, I contact cousin Margaret. It sure is nice to sort things out with someone. Margaret lives in Lincolnshire and is a storehouse of Portas family knowledge...a genealogical treasure. Everyone should have a cousin Margaret. Between the two of us, we have connected quite a few families, solved many mysteries and in the process my knowledge of Lincolnshire has increased. 

WHY MARSHCHAPEL?
Sometime after 1749 when their last child was baptized, the Joseph Portas family moved from Wyham cum Cadeby to Marshchapel, less than 10 miles east. Joseph and Elizabeth Portas are my 5x great grandparents. They are my focus interest, but in pursuit of them, I found other Portas families living in Marshchapel, too. Some of them go as far back as the 1600s maybe even the 1500s. This sparked my curiosity to know if they were connected to my family thus driving me to look for more Portas families. Hopefully, I'll be able to connect to most of the ones I've gathered.

A = Wyham cum Cadeby and B = Marshchapel. The Mouth of the Humber and North Sea are just slightly north and east of Marshchapel. The land between the ocean and B is mostly marshes -- hence the place name. (Screen shot from classic Google maps.) 

Currently Margaret and I are working on a Thomas Porcas (Portas). There are two Thomases in Marshchapel -- a father (the elder) and his son. I don't know much about either, so I have many questions. Who better to ask than Margaret who has been researching Lincolnshire Portas families for 40 years or more? We have had a lively online email conversation in the past couple weeks.

THOMAS PORCAS er PORTAS LAST WILL & TESTAMENT
My latest "revisit" is a 1770 Last Will & Testament for a Thomas Porcas - Grazier. You would think this would be a perfect document to get needed information about the testator and his family. There is a question though -- which Thomas does it belong? 

I don't think it belongs to the elder Thomas because as far as I know, he and wife Ann (Darwin) didn't have more than three children and there are five mentioned in the Will. Both Margaret and I agree the testator is their son Thomas who, by the way, also married an Anne. 

Thomas the elder and his wife Ann are both estimated to being born about 1673, based on their marriage of 1693 and the 20-year generation rule. They had three known children: Charles est. b. 1700, and Thomas est. b. 1702 both baptized in North Somercotes; William est. b. 1705 bap. Holton le Clay. Thomas and his family legally settled in Marshchapel 1701, but it is entirely possible Ann went back to North Somercotes to give birth to second son Thomas. It is also entirely possible they had moved on from Marshchapel to Holton le Clay and gave birth to William there. Or I've got the wrong family...that is also possible, but cherish the thought!

Son Thomas and Anne (Bennitt) had eight to ten children. I believe these children belong to this Thomas and Anne: Anne, Thomas, Elizabeth, William, Mary, John, Hannah, and David. [I had another Ann entered, but she is questionable and has been ruled out of the equation upon further research.]

Being able to study then dissect a LW&T helps to sort out the family. Clues come from the list of the heirs and whose named as the executor(s). Was the testator rich or not? There is also a chance of realizing flaws in previous entries to our tree database, or even giving proof to some of those entries. Besides that, it tends to lengthen the to-do list!

THIS LW&T IS SHORT AND SWEET
So how much information can I glean from it? A little more than you would think.

Will 29 March 1770
Will of Thomas PORCAS Marsh Chapell 1770

This is the Last Will & Testament of me Thomas Porcas of Marshchapel in the County of Lincoln Grazier I Give & Bequeath unto my Son Thomas Ten pounds, to my Son David Five pounds, to my Son William six pounds, to my Daughter Elizabeth Holt Two pounds to my Daughter Hannah Marshal [sic] Four pounds All which above mentioned Legacys to be due and payable two years after my Decease. I Also Give & Bequeath unto my Grandaughter Ann Holt Four pounds to be paid her when she attains her Age of Twenty one years. I also Give unto James Stanaland Two Ginnys [Guineas] / in his charge of a Debt due to him from my son in law William Holt to be paid at two months after my Decease All the rest of my Effects, Goods and Chattels whatever after payment of my Debts Legacys and Funeral Expenses I Give & Bequeath unto my Son in Law Jeremiah Johnson whom I make and appoint Sole Executor of this my Wish and hereby -- revoking & making void all former or other will & wills by me at any time heretofore made I do declare this only to be my last Will & Testament In Witness whereof I have hereunto Set my hand & Seal this Twenty ninth day of March in the Year of our Lord One Thousand Seven hundred & Seventy

Signed & Sealed & published & declared by the Testator Thomas Porcas as & for his last Will & Testament in the presence of us who subscribed our names as witnesses thereto at his request & in his presence 

Thomas Porcas X his marke
E Elberger    Thomas Chapman

WHAT DID I FIND?

   Thomas was a grazier [definition: a person who rears or fattens cattle or sheep for market.]: He had a little money saved up. He had "Effects, Goods and Chattels" of which he bequeathed after "payment of my Debts Legacys and Funeral Expenses." This LW&T hadn't been proved yet either. So there are the Administration or other papers to find which might give more information. There is a possible codicil, but in this case the Will was signed the end of March 1770 and Thomas was buried 11 April 1770. If there was time for a codicil it probably would have been attached to this Will. As explained to me, it isn't unusual for a Will to be made out shortly before death. Are there any old Wills not destroyed floating around somewhere?

No wife is mentioned: This leads us to believe Anne has died. I found an entry in the parish register for an Ann Porcas buried on 3 Jun 1763. Could this be Thomas' wife? Usually the burial entry would have said: Ann wife of Thomas Porcas buried...but it didn't. I think I can pretty sure it is her since I didn't find anymore Anne Porcas burials prior to 1770 date of the Will.

Sons: Thomas, David, and William are mentioned, but not John, which means John may have died or he fell out of favor with his father. That is a burial record to look for. I didn't know about a son Thomas so his baptism need to be found along with David's. Originally I had seven children and now it's up to nine. Interesting enough is the disbursement pounds to these three sons: Thomas gets 10 pounds; David gets 5; William gets 6.

Daughters: Elizabeth and Hannah are mentioned, but not Ann. She married Jeremiah Johnson. A death/burial record for Anne needs to be found. I don't think she fell out of favor since her husband is named in the Will as the sole executor. The disbursement of pounds is also a little interesting: Elizabeth gets 2; Hannah gets 4. Could it be Hannah isn't married yet and her father felt she should get a little more inheritance?

Granddaughter: Ann Holt is mentioned. We know she isn't 21 yet because of the statement "to be paid her when she attains her Age of Twenty one years." I haven't found her baptism information yet -- her mother Elizabeth married William Holt 1762 in North Willingham which is a possibility of birth date and place to look. No other children to this couple have been found so far.

Son in law: William Holt owes money and his debt will be paid after the death of his father in law as Thomas directed. I have no idea who James Stanaland is or the relationship he has with the Portas family other than holding a debt. [Years later, in another parish, there is a Staniland who married into another Portas family...no relation to this one.]

Son in law: Jeremiah Johnson must have been a favorite person of Thomas since he was named the executor and was bequeathed "All the rest of my Effects, Goods and Chattels." Quite a haul, maybe. Why would he be the one to receive the rest? Was Anne still alive and just not mentioned? Her sister Elizabeth was mentioned. Have some more searching to do.

Witnesses: I have no idea who E. Elberger and Thomas Chapman are or if they are connected in anyway to the family. It could be they were just the associates in the law office. When Bob and I made out our Wills, two of the office people came in and signed as witnesses. So it does happen.

At least now by looking closely at the Will, I know what I have to find in the records. It gives me a clearer picture of this family. What direction would I be able to go in researching any connection to the Thomas Portas family? Which Thomas?



NICE OLD PARISH

St. Mary's church in Marshchapel.
This image was photographed by Paul Fenwick and
can be found on Lincolnshire Church Photographs maintained by
Wendy Parkinson. She has over 500 images of Lincs churches.

Marshchapel is a small parish town tucked in the marshes (Poacher County) of northeast Lincolnshire. According to the Genuki web page for Marshchapel "The parish lies near the North Sea, just west of North Somercoates and southeast of Tetney, about 10 miles north of Louth and 10 miles southeast of Grimsby. The parish covers over 3,100 acres. West End is a hamlet in the parish, as is Eskham or East Holme. A place called Fire Beacon was near the Louth Navigation Canal." You can read about Marshchapel at the Genuki website or just google it. 

Most of the parishes in northeast Lincolnshire have been residences to Portas families at one time or another for hundreds of years. I call it the "hot bed" for Portas families. I am hunting and gathering these families. 

The next time I'm in Lincolnshire, I will be paying more attention to this area. I am anxious to get pictures of more churches and baptismal fonts. I want to roam the Portas hot bed country to get to know my ancestral lands. I am also anxious to visit cousin Margaret and talk to her without a computer keyboard at the end of my fingers.

Lincolnshire is circled in red, and the area where
my Portas families have been found is the gold shaded area.
All areas as approximate.

Looking east to the North Sea and the marshes from the road just above what is left of Wyham cum Cadeby parish. Wyham is just a church, manor house, and rectory. It is on the eastern edge of the Wolds (Chalk hills). Marshchapel is somewhere out there maybe where you see those trees in the distance. The North Sea is about 15 miles away. Below are oil tankers coming and going from the Mouth of the Humber. The tides coming in from the sea are swift and dangerous. There are warning signs posted along the shore.

 

Aunt Annette Buschick Stapleton

My aunt Lydia's great granddaughter who lives in California said she would go to some cemeteries to take pictures of headstones to share with me. She contacted me one day and asked why there was a wife "Eva" on the Find A Grave memorial for uncle Cluese Stapleton and not our aunt Annette? That got me to wondering also. I knew my aunt married Cluese, but I didn't know if she was his second wife or not. I went searching Ancestry.com and FamilySearch for answers. I came across a family tree and contacted the owner. Turns out the owner is a descendant on the Stapleton side. She told me Eva Groover was older than Cluese and they were married in 1905, but it lasted only for a short time. Eva is buried in Georgia not California.

Aunt Annette was one of my mom's older sisters; aunt Lydia was the oldest, then came Annette. I don't remember too much about her. I think I only met her a few times, but I was very young. She lived in California so we didn't see her very much. Mom would talk about her often though. I wish I could remember some of the stories. There is no one left to ask.

I don't have any pictures of aunt Annette because all of mom's family pictures were destroyed in a house fire. The pictures in this post of aunt Annette were given to me by a Stapleton descendant from Georgia with permission to use them in this post.

 Aunt Annette is on the left, I don't know who "Mama" is, but believe she is a Stapleton. This picture is with permission from a descendent of the Stapleton family in Georgia.
 I am not at the liberty to give the name.

Annette Matilda Buschick was born 30 Jan 1893 in Chicago, Illinois, to Edwin L. and Laura (Voigt) Buschick. On the 1900 US Census she is listed as "Anna," second daughter age 7. The family was living in Lake View area possibly on Belle Plaine Ave. My grandfather Edwin was 35 and listed as an Order Clerk. Annette's other siblings were all girls, Lydia 9 yrs., Florence 3 yrs., Ruth 6 mos. Annette's middle name was probably for her great aunt Matilda Fowler the sister to Annette's grandmother Susan (Fowler) Buschick.

The 1900 was the first census I saw Edwin and Laura and family. They were married in 1889, and the 1890 census doesn't exist for Cook County, Illinois. By 1908 there were more children in the household -- eight in all, seven girls and one boy. Eleanor was the only one to die very young. All the rest became adults with families.

1900 US Census, Chicago, Illinois / source: Ancestry.com

On the 1910 US Census, Laura was asked how many years she was married - 20; how many children were born - 8; how many were still alive - 7. That account of children holds true with what I have found. On that census, Lydia 19 had married and was living in the same house with the Buschicks at 1931 Belle Plaine Ave. Annett[e] was 17 and working as a "Helper" in a printing company. Florence was 13, Ruth 10, my mother Edna was 5, Edwin, the only brother was 2, and Alice 16/12 or 1 yr 4 months. Lydia's husband, John Helstrom, was shown as a printer in a printing company, presumably the same one Annette worked at. (Brother Edwin would become a printer after World War II, also.)

In 1919, Annette married Cluese Isaac Stapleton. I found them on the 1920 census in Baltimore where Cluese is shown as 29, born in Georgia, and he's a labourer in the ship yards. Annette was 26.  They spelled her name as I always knew it to be -- Annette. I think there is a little fibbing going on here. Cluese's first marriage was in 1905...fifteen years later he was divorced and married a second time. If Cluese is 29 in 1920, he would have been 14 when he married Eva. Do you think that is why they weren't married too long? Well, with a little more research I found he was born 1885, thus bringing his actual age to be 35 in 1920. That's more like it. See how accurate these censuses are?

Later that year, the Stapletons would become parents of Juanita A. She was born in Illinois October 1920.

I don't know how long they were in Illinois after the birth of Juanita, but by the 1930 census we find the Cluese Stapletons in Los Angeles County, California: Cluese is 44 and retired (In this census, his age is more inline with when he was born.); Annette is 39 and a saleswoman for patent medicine; daughter Juanita is 9  b. Illinois; and son Robert C. who is 6 and was born in California which puts them out of Illinois sometime before 1924.

Cluese Isaac Stapleton on right with a World War I buddy.
This image is from a public family tree on Ancestry.com

The 1940 census shows Juanita is no longer in her parents' household. She could have gotten married. They lived at 2017 Camden Ave., Los Angeles. Cluese is 54; Annette is 47 and a postal clerk in the post office; Robert is 16 and is shown to be a "Little Merchant" selling newspapers. I found Cluese and Annette at the bottom of one page and Robert on the top of the next.

Juanita married Harry Stockwell sometime before the 1940 census. They had three children. The first child was born Oct 1940. I don't know much more about this family although do I remember their visits in the summer. A big, beautiful trailer pulled by a beautiful shiny car with California license plates would be down in our backyard and parked there for several days. We lived in Mundelein, Ill. and had a big house and yard. A day or two later, mom's siblings and their families would come out from Chicago and suburbs for a big family gathering in our yard. Sometimes there would be a carnival in the school yard behind our house and fireworks.

This picture probably taken in the early '50s was also given to me by the same Stapleton descendent from Georgia. The handsome man on the left is unidentified...he looks like Rock Hudson but I don't think he is, but who is he? Next to him is aunt Annette Stapleton & family (Bob, Juanita, Harry, Bob, & children). 
What is the doggie's name?

Even looking at the pictures of aunt Annette, I really don't remember her that much. I was 15 when she died in 1960. I don't know how long it was before that when she had visited last...I wish I would have paid more attention.

If anyone can tell me more about this picture and the family, please contact me at my regular email address found in my profile to the right. If anything needs to be corrected... I would love to hear from you, too.

1717 Last Will and Testament: Sillenia Portis of Tetney Widdo

Almost a year ago I explored and wrote about the 1716 Last Will and Testament of William PORTAS of Tetney. He is my 7x great grandfather. I have been a little lax in writing anything on his wife Syllina's Will since then. I've had this Will image for about six years, but I put it aside 'cause something came up, then I got sidetracked, and then I helped someone else, and before I knew it, I hadn't written anything. You know how it goes.

I wrote about Syllina last November 3, 2013 when I found her marriage to William PORTAS in the 1678 parish pages of Wold Newton and couldn't make out her maiden name; I called her Syllina "What's-her-name." Today I revisited that posting and thought maybe if I could study her Will, I can find out what her maiden name was. Well, I did, and I couldn't find a clue to that mystery name. Yet, the Will helps me learn a few more things about my ancestors in Tetney, Lincolnshire, England. Also, there are some questions begging for answers at the same time showing me the need for further research.

I know this isn't a very good image. That's the price I pay taking it from the reader bed at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City on one October six years ago. I was just "gathering" at the time and I didn't know how important this document would be to my research back then. I'll call-up for this and other Last Will & Testaments next time I visit Lincolnshire Archives in Lincolnshire, England. Hopefully, I will have the chance to transcribe the original documents, too! (Click on the image to increase its size.)

Before I get on with this blog post, you should know Syllina's name has been seen spelled several ways in other documents. Way back when, not many people knew how to read or write, and the names were generally spelled phonetically, her given name could be found spelled any number of ways. In this Will her married name is spelled Sillenia Portis; I will use that spelling.

THE WILL

The beginning of this document has basic terminology of the times. Sillenia is of "Sound mind and perfect memory." She "bequeaths" to "almighty God" her body and soul, etc. It isn't easy transcribing these old Wills, but I'll do my best.

This Will was written on "twenty first day of May" 1717; this date is the last line. Was it administered in 1722? I won't know unless I can find the administration papers. I haven't found any other documents to go along with the Will such as Inventory either. There might not be one if she was living with her son.  (Click on the image to increase its size.)

Sillenia Portis of Tetney in the County of Lincoln Widdo being of sound mind and perfect memory ye ---- be almighty God for same do make and ordain this my Last will & Testament in Manner and form following ________ Imp? I bequeath my Soul unto Almighty God who gave it me hoping through the motile ---- Death & passion of my Saviour Jesus Christ to have full & free pardoning of all my Sins and to inherit ever lasting life and my body I commit to the ground to be decently buried in Christian manner all the discretion of my Executor hereto for named and as touching my Small Estate I dispose thereof as followeth 

Item  I give to my Son William Portis the Sume of three pounds: he giving his three children ten Shillings a piece of it and the Sume to be paid by my Executor within whole year afrom my deceaseItem  I give to my Daughter Jane being the Wife of John Ayscoghe the Sume of Seaven pound she given her children 10 shilling a piece & to be paid as the aforesaid Legacy Item  I give to Elizabeth ye wife of John Lingard ye Sume of Seaven Pounds she giving her children ten shillings a piece to be paid by her by my Executor at Twelve month from my decease  Item I give to John Berkett ten shilling & to Elizabeth Smith ye sume ten shillings is to be paid of them by my Executor within Twelve months afrom my decease   Item  I give my grand children John Portis & Elizabeth Ayscoghe & Wm Lingard Twenty Shillings to be divided amongst them & to be paid by my Executor after my decease  Item  All tho not of my money and goods not be fore different of I give to my Son John Portis whom I make my Executor of this my last will and testament  In witness whereof I have write set my hand this twenty first day of May in the year of our lord God 1717 

Witness hereon
Elizabeth X Ayscoghe (her mark)
Edward Ayscoghe

Sillenia X Portis (her mark)

WILL WAS DRAWN UP 1717

In the year after her husband William's death, Sillenia didn't marry again; she is described as a widow in the opening paragraph. In her husband's Will it is thought that she would live with her son John because of the statement "if she be not content to tarry with my son John." Since she named John her Executor, you would think she was living with him and her "Small Estate" could be what remains of her inheritance from William. 

From her husband's 1716 Will, Sillenia inherited 20 Pounds, a "fether bed," a "bedstead," and "all other furniture fitting or belonging to that bedstead" in which William stated these were items for her to have a somewhat comfortable life. She also received other things necessary to her comfort. I suspect William's Will was written on his deathbed and he died shortly after it was drawn up.

This is what was written on the Will's cover sheet. I can only make out the date of 18th April 1722 and the barrister(?) John Cawley. I think those words are basic terminology in Latin of which I don't speak.

Sillenia died in 1720 three years after her Will was written. This document has a "cover" date of 1722. I'm surmising this is the date the Will was proved and everything has been administered to by her Executor. If anyone knows what the wording on the cover sheet is, please let me know.

Sillenia was buried 31 October 1720 seen on this the Tetney parish register page for 1720. She was about 60 years old. (Click on the image to increase its size.)

HER SMALL ESTATE?
If Sillenia was living with her son John, then maybe the Pounds and Shillings defines her "small estate," and those "comfort" items are now in her son John's possession, but her money can be freely given to whom she wants. Besides, she didn't designate any items like feather beds or furniture, etc. to be given to anyone. So there probably wouldn't be any inventory of "goods and chattels" and maybe not even an administration document of the dispersement of such funds.

DISPERSEMENT
Of Sillenia's eight [known] children, William, Jane, Elizabeth, and John survive and are given their inheritance in Pounds with their children given Shillings. I'm not sure how the amount translates in today's terms, but to have it in a Will in 1716, I would think it was quite a bit a money.

Sillenia doesn't distinguish what connection she has with two more people named further on -- John Berkett(?) and Elizabeth Smith who received 10 Shillings a piece. Could they have been her servants? They must have been special to her to be named in her Will.

WERE THEY FAVORITE GRANDCHILDREN?
It is interesting Sillenia just names three grandchildren. It is confusing to me why these three were singled out and were to divide 20 Shillings. This money seems to be over and above what Sillenia designated when naming her children and their heirs.

Daughter Jane married John Ayscoghe. Of the seven children they had, only four were born prior to 1717 when the Will was drawn up. Of those four only Elizabeth was named. Could it be the other three had died? Something to look for as I do my research.

Daughter Elizabeth married John Lingard, I don't know who all their children are yet, so I can only guess that since they had married in 1712, five may have been born, but only William survived by the time of the Will. More information is needed here, too.

That leaves sons William and John to have the named grandchild John Portis. Both had sons named John. 

William's son John was baptized in 1707 and lived to be an adult about 40. He is the likeliest candidate. I can only speculate when John's son John was baptized. This young John is the second "John" to be born to John and Ann (Dixon) Portas. Their first son John died very early in life. The surviving son John was born sometime after 1715 birth of his brother William. (His sister Selina wouldn't be born until 1722, two years after Sillenia died.) If he were baptized sometime in my originally speculated year of 1717, it may have been later in the year and he, not being known to Sillenia at the time of her Will, may not have been included. And here, too, more information is needed.



WHAT HAVE I LEARNED?
As you can see, I have a lot of research waiting for me on my 7x great grandparents William and Sillenia Portis and family. 

I have been looking at all my notes from the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, and the images on "Links To The Past" a website sponsored by the Lincolnshire Archives. Unfortunately for me, the parish pages I need to look through aren't scanned and uploaded yet or they aren't available. So I add to my "To Do" list for my research trip to Salt Lake City next October.

It is good to write about a couple Wills. These postings help me to see a bigger picture of my ancestors' lives. They give me a chance to sort out conflicting and sometimes confusing facts. The speculations become actual events or just continue to haunt my research. The blog posts also create more things to be aware of and to research. 

Slowly but surely, the "blanks" are being filled in, too.

First Day of Spring...Maybe

I say maybe to the first day of spring because we woke up to yet more snow! It really wasn't much. By 9 o'clock it was all gone and the sun came out, but for awhile it was coming down quite heavily. For a moment I was wondering if our winter was ever going to end!

The blinds were opened so our plants in the front window could get some light. Here is our one lonely bloomer, seeming to look out. Was he checking the progression of some construction going on across the street? Did he see our neighborhood cats -- Hardrock, Coco, and Joe? Was he looking for his brothers and sisters, bulbs we planted last fall beyond the fence? Or was Mr. Daffy Dil just counting the minutes for Spring to arrive?

Follow Up on the Mystery Picture Research

IS THERE A CONNECTION WITH CROSBY STEAM VALVE AND GAUGE CO.?

 

Not too long after my last post about the mystery picture, I received an e-mail from Mr. Simmons of the Crosby company. So far, his is the only reply from the recipients of any letter sent out to various companies associated with this picture. 

Mr. Simmons couldn't come up with any definite answers to my questions, but said he had "put out several inquiries to current and past Crosby employees to see if we have any corporate memory or documentation of a connection between your grandfather or his employer and Crosby." I can only hope someone will have something to share; I will be ready to receive it in any event.

Mr. Simmons went on to say, "Although we cannot see the Crosby logo on the picture you included in your letter, the display absolutely looks like the products Crosby would have displayed at that time. Crosby Steam Valve and Gauge Co. was established in 1874 in Boston, so the firm was in existence at the time of the 1887 exhibition and likely would have participated." I sent him a link to my blog which has the enlarged section showing their company name.

When I sent the Crosby Steam Valve and Gauge Co. the letter, I was hopeful of finding a connection of my great grandfather August F. Buschick. That connection may in turn give me the answer to why this particular picture -- one of two non-family member pictures -- was in the family album.

Mr. Simmons added, "If we do not establish any direct connection, I can speculate why your grandfather may have had interest in the Crosby display. Crosby was, and still is, in the business of providing various items used as accessories for steam boilers, notably safety valves (still produced today) as well as gauges and steam whistles. As a result, the various steam boiler manufacturers of the time were prospective customers for Crosby. In your grandfathers position, he would have been aware of the various suppliers of boiler accessories, and that may be the reason the picture was of interest. It is also likely he knew various Crosby personnel including sales persons and engineers. Of course this is all pure speculation on my part."


I CONCUR WITH MR. SIMMONS' SPECULATION

The Crosby company was located in Boston, Massachusetts. What connection would it have between Chicago and Boston? 

I remembered finding in the 1867 Boston City Directory the name "Walworth." In the same ad was my great grandfather's business, Walworth, Buschick, & Co. in Chicago. It was in a folder on my computer where I stash all my clippings and findings.

This ad says both companies were "manufacturers and dealers in..." many items associated with steam, gas, and water. So there was a market for all these gauges and fittings, etc. long before Crosby company was established in 1874. 

It is conceivable James J. Walworth & Co. was dealing with a manufacturer that by 1874 could have been sold to the Crosby company, or maybe Walworth was the manufacturer of gauges, fittings, etc. and sold off that phase of their company to Crosby! I can't find any proof of either assumption.

In the 1873 Chicago City Directory, I found a listing of Boiler Makers' Supplies. "Buschick, Furnis & Stavers" was first of the four listed. Third is J.J. Walworth & Co. By this time August Buschick's business changed names to Chicago Steam Boiler Works (boiler manufacturer) and he moved from Lake St. to Michigan Ave.

J.J. Walworth & Co. now has a Chicago address which coincides with the 1865 business address for Walworth, Buschick & Co. ad in the Chicago Tribune. I'm not sure if J.J. is the same Walworth with August as a partner. There could be Walworth brothers and the business was sold to my great grandfather. In 1882 there was another ad for Chicago Steam Boiler which claimed an 1854 establishment.

A TIME LINE

Here's somewhat of a time line of my great grandfather's boiler business in Chicago.

1855 - A.F. Buschick was just a machinist and by 1862 he was advertising for himself as a machinist and draftsman and was working for The Marine Boiler Works.1865 - A.F.B. was with Walworth, Buschick & Co. and became superintendent 1866 - they manufactured steam boilers, fittings, etc.1867 - Boston City Directory finds James J. Walworth & Co. Boston and Walworth, Buschick, & Co., of Chicago advertising Wrought Iron tubes for steam, gas, and water. Mfgrs & dealers of .... (misc. items)... and steam gauges.1870 - the first I saw of the name Chicago Steam Boiler Manufacturing Co. They had something to do with the Chicago Water Tower & Pumping Station (this was just before the Chicago Fire 1871)
1872 - the company was rebuilding this big machine that got damaged in the fire... still under this name.1873 - Chicago Steam Boiler Works was listed in the Chicago city directory as a Boiler Manufacturer, and Buschick, Furnis & Stavers, on Front near Halsted St. Bridge is listed under "Boiler Makers' Supplies" 1875 - A.F.B. goes bankrupt1882 there was an ad in the Chicago Tribune for the Chicago Steam Boiler Works (established 1854) ... the proprietor is a G.K. Shoenberger, and A.F.B. is superintendent.

Has Chicago Steam Boiler Works gone through several name changes (possibly ownerships, too?) starting with Marine Boiler Works when great grandfather worked there as a machinist in 1855? Chicago Steam Boiler Works claims it was established in 1854. Could it be the last in the evolution of names starting in 1854?

This timeline is by no means complete. There are aspects of great grandfather's life I have yet to uncover. I have written a few other posts about my great grandfather. 

I'm keeping the faith this timeline helps me track down that "shred of truth" in the family story that, August Ferdinand Buschick had "done all the fittings" for the Chicago Water Tower. The story was according to my mom, aunt Florence, and cousin Elmer Crippin, but that's for another post.

SIDE NOTE - ALL IN THE FAMILY

Great grandfather at age 58, passed away in 1883 -- two years before the mystery picture was taken and placed shortly after into the family album.

August F. Buschick had a younger brother Gustavus Emil who was in the same occupation and seemed to follow his big brother. In 1880, August applied for a patent with M. Van Allen, on their invention of a "smoke consuming furnace," and it was patented March 15, 1881. Then in 1880, Gustavus' name was on an application for "improvements in boiler-furnaces" and was granted a patent in 1881. Later years, he went on to patent other furnace inventions and improvements. 

August is buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Chicago, Ill. - 1883 (Find A Grave <findagrave.com> Memorial # 66424180) and Gustavus is interred in Forest Home Cemetery, Forest Park, Ill. - 1902 (Find A Grave <findagrave.com> Memorial # 66429993). No headstones or grave markers for either.

Great grandfather's brother-in-law, Charles Kroeschell was also in the boiler business in Chicago. Charles married Sarah Fowler who is the sister of Susan, August's second wife.

[Are there are any Buschick descendants who can add anything to the life of August Buschick? Or can correct something I have written? If you can, please contact me. I would love to hear from you. My email address is in my "profile" to the right of this post.]

Investigating That Mystery Picture

There were a couple basic questions about this picture below: 

1. When was it taken? 
2. Where was it taken? 
3. Did this obelisk exhibit have a connection to my great grandfather's steam boiler business? 
4. And, why was it in the Buschick family album -- one of only two non-family pictures?

Last week I was doing a little more research on this image, writing letters, and sending emails to various businesses I found on this picture. I think I can answer, or at least get real close to answering, the first two and possibly the third question. Quite a week. 

A neighbor came over to help me with my printer's network hook-up. Once we got the printer connected and working, we decided to test the copier and then the scanner. I took out the mystery picture and gave Andy a short narrative on what it was, adding several questions I had. We decided to scan the cabinet card image at 1200 dpi because then we could see more of the picture clearly by enlarging it. That sure worked in my favor...to a point!

 

This image found in the Buschick family album was taken in 1887, a date I found after scanning it at 1200 dpi and looking at small sections. On the back of this cabinet card is printed Copelin, the photography studio. Read about this image in my previous post of January 15. (This is not the 1200 dpi image - it would be too large to use on the web.)

On the lower-resolution original scan, I could only see a few names: Remington Type writer (I sent a letter to the Remington Firearms Co. mentioned in my previous post January 15; I did get a reply). The company had sold off the typewriter division many years ago. The division has since gone through several ownerships, and I was told, currently belongs to SunMicrosystems in California. (I haven't received a reply to my inquiry sent out last week.) I couldn't find anything on MACK INJECTOR found on the box display in front. Up under the windows is John W. Masury & Son a ready-made paint manufacturer. According to the website, Valspar bought the business several years ago and the Masury brand has been lost.

The new high-resolution scan afforded more information not previously seen. A date found on the image suggests the picture was taken either the January before my great grandfather passed away in December of 1883 or almost two years later in 1885. In the background on the right is a wavy ribbon-type sign (enlargement blow), I could make out Verona Nut Locks in Use January 17 - is it 1883 or 85? Can't be 1887 because the 7 in "January 17" is different. This is an old company that dates before 1883, but I can't seem to find if they still exist or if bought out over the years. Currently Suzuki company uses the lock nuts. 

All I can make out clearly is: Verona Tool Works.
Verona Nut Locks In Use January 17 1883 (or 85).

NO MORE DATES FOUND
So without knowing for sure if that number is a three or a five, even by squinting at a enlargement of that isolated area in the photo, we can narrow down the date another way. According to "Langdon List of 19th and Early 20th Century Photographers" website, "Copelin" (the photography studio) was located at 237 Dearborn, Chicago, Ill. in 1885. That is the same address printed on the back of the cabinet card (see my previous post). That would put the date of this mystery photo at almost two years after August F. Buschick died. (Copelin studio was at 78 Madison St. in 1880, and at 308 Dearborn in 1887.)

A new name was found that might lead me to a connection with my Buschick family. On the back wall to the left is Delaware Bridge, Co.  "Ed Hemberle ENGR Chicago." He was an iron bridge and iron roof engineer/designer. This could mean there is a Chicago connection to these exhibits location, but none leads me to my great grandfather business of steam boilers.

Delaware Bridge, Co.  "Ed Hemberle ENGR Chicago
In business of iron bridges and iron roofs, etc.

In the lower left corner of the obelisk exhibit, Andy spotted some writing and we enlarged the image again to isolate that black casting of some sort. The "Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co. Boston" is about all we could make out. Of course, I looked it up on the internet and found out it is now owned by Anderson Greenwood, LP. I have a letter out to this company asking if there is an archive of this picture and if by chance there is anything information on the company having any dealings with my great grandfather or a Buschick. It has only been a few days now, but am anxious to get a reply. 

"A" points to the name CROSBY and "B" to the full name of the company "Crosby Steam Gage & Valve Co. - Boston"

I suspect August F. Buschick may have designed or drawn the designs of these steam fittings and valves, but can't be certain at this point. I don't know which paper this came out of, it was sent to me some time ago. I would speculate it to be the Chicago Tribune and the date was in the late 1860s. This doesn't proved any thing other than he did make drawings for machinery. 

A.F. Buschick, Practical Machinist and Draftsman, will make Drawings for Machinery of all descriptions, and offers his services to those wishing to secure Patent Rights, Specifications, Drawings, and Models made to order. Office at the Marine Boiler Works, Michigan street, between Wells and Franklin street, Chicago, Ill.

DATE DONE, NOW WHERE IS THIS EXHIBITION?

I was feeling a little down knowing this picture was taken two years after great grandfather died. We know now it couldn't have been at the Centennial Exposition in Philadelphia in 1876 as once thought. I emailed the Chicago historian/genealogist to give him a short update on what I had found out. He replied about just finishing a new book by Dr. Dennis Cremin -- "Grant Park: The Evolution of Chicago's Front Yard." My genealogist/historian friend wrote, "I was reminded that a major building which might be of interest to you, the 'Interstate Industrial Exposition Hall' once stood where Chicago's Art Institute now stands." This building beginning in 1873 opened every fall until 1891 with the purpose of exhibiting "our skill and industry." He added, it could be worth my while to check it out with the author of the book. So I did. 

I went to the internet again; I looked up that building and found a full image of it on the Art Institute's webpage. I studied the picture and looked for any possibility it could be the same building where this mystery exhibit was. First thing I noticed was the windows, then the roof. It does look promising...

In this comparison picture, on the right is a portion of the Interstate Industrial Exposition Hall building which was a place to exhibit various industrial manufacturing skills. This building I believe is the exterior of the building where the obelisk display was. Here's why: "A" on the left points to the wide partitions; "B" shows three windows between A's partitions. They are the same as in the interior picture on the right. Picture this: from the bottom of the windows to the top of the back wall in the interior image's "C" sure looks like it is structurally the same as the exterior picture's "C" to the left. (A full image and more information on the Interstate Industrial Exposition building can be found at the Art Institute of Chicago's website in the Architecture Photograph Collection.)

It's not easy to compare images of the exterior of the building to the interior shot in my mystery photo. Could they be the same? Can I yell BINGO! yet?


A LITTLE SERENDIPITY HAPPENED, WILL PERSISTENCE PAY OFF?
Questions #1 and #2 are pretty much answered i.e. with cautious optimism. With several letters and emails out to the companies I have found on the picture, I still have questions #3 and #4 waiting to be answered. 

I don't know if I will ever know of a connection or why this particular image was in the Buschick family album. Someone knows. It's just finding him and the answer will come when I least expect it. In the mean time, I won't give up. 

A Mystery Photo: Calling For Those Exposition experts

My great grandfather August F. Buschick was a steam boiler maker and machinist 1850s to 1880s. He died in 1882. As I was looking through a family album, I came across this cabinet card pictured below. I've seen it before in this album, but never really paid attention to it until I started researching about August and his life in Chicago, Illinois.

WHERE WAS THIS PICTURE TAKEN?

Clearly it is a display of gauges and pipe nozzles and fittings. Probably they are his handy work. This surely looks like an exposition of some sort because there are several other businesses' displays close to this tower.

The business sign on the far wall (left) could be "Delaware Bridge Co.," and the box in front is "Mack Injector," "Remington Type-writer" is on the right. Up under the windows is "John W Masury & Son." That is about all I can make out.

This picture must have been of some importance to my Buschick family. Why would it be in with the family pictures? This picture has been in this album since the late 1800s for sure. I only took it out to see what, if anything, was written on the back. "Copelin, 237 Dearborn St., Chicago" was printed on the back along with what types of photographs they did.

I went to the internet to find out more about the photography studio and what years it was in business. I searched at "Langdon List of 19th and Early 20th Century Photographers" and can be found on <http://www.langdonroad.com/cltoco.htm>.

COPELIN, ALEXANDER J. W.
Copelin, A. J. W., photographer, 54. 75 Madison, Chicago, IL (1880); photographer, 237 Dearborn, Chicago, IL (1885); A. J. W. Copelin, photographer, 308 Dearborn, Chicago, IL (1887) A. N. Marquis Business Directory; A. J. W. Copelin, commercial photographer, 308 Dearborn St., Chicago, IL (1892) City Directories 

Copelin, Alexander J. W., photographer, 8th fl. 308-316 Dearborn St., Chicago, IL (1900) photographs for advertising purposes, Tel. Harrison-319 Chicago, IL (1900) City Directory

WHEN AND WHERE?

One suggestion from a Chicago history researcher, was it is a display at the Centennial Exposition of 1876 in Philadelphia. That seems plausible because August was still in business and was still alive at that time. The only problem -- his business of that time was the Chicago Steam Boiler Works, which is not listed in the Expo's directory. 

The display next to the tower, one can make out it is Remington "S" / TYPE- which Remington Typewriter company isn't listed. At that time it was part of the Remington Firearms company which is listed. I have a letter out to Remington for a search of their archives for a picture of their 1876 display. I haven't heard anything. If they did have a picture, maybe the obelisk/tower will be in it also!

I found a book on Google Search about the Expo, and contacted one of the authors; nothing conclusive from her research. The display would have been in Machinery Hall. She gave me a couple websites where there may be more images. I was hoping one of those images would have the obelisk/tower in it. Nothing found in the several pictures of Machinery Hall displays.

I have studied those pictures of the interior of Machinery Hall; I noticed the windows seem to be of the same type, but the walls leading up to the windows are different -- at least in the pictures shown on those websites. They may have been taken in another part of the Hall, too.

ANY THOUGHTS?

The photographer was in business from 1880 to 1900. This doesn't match up with the 1876 year for the Expo. Was the picture taken before Copelin was in business and then he developed this from a negative of some sort and mounted it on his cabinet card?

Was the image taken before or after August Buschick died (1882)? Or was it possibly his brother-in-law's business on display? They were both in the same type of business around that time. 

Then again, maybe it was just a picture taken of interest for future reference? We do that all the time on a trip where we take a picture of a building or landscape and then years later can't remember why we took it.

I wish we could see a name on the display. That would tell us for sure whose it was. I have no conclusive evidence when or where this picture was taken or why it was important enough to be in the family album. 

So far I haven't been able to turn up any documents or information to bring this mystery to a close. I am hoping someone in the family has an idea and would come forth. 

Any experts on World's Fairs or Expositions out there to help solve this mystery photo?