Washburn Family History

900 A.D - 1994 A.D.

Compiled by Naomi Washburn Miller, with revisions by Geoffrey Alan Washburn

(Note: The following information fills the gap in our family lineage from the 1600's when John Washburn came to New England, back to the probable origin of the Washburn family. This information was given to me by Warren G. Washburn, of Haleyville, Ala. October 1989.)

Naomi Washburn Miller

Based upon the notes I have available, the research on the coat of arms was done by June W. Dase at teh New York City Public Library.

Arms - Silver - a fess between six martlets - gules on the fess, three cinquefoils of the field.

Crest - On a wreath, a coil of flax argent surmounted by another wreath of the last and gules thereon flames of fire proper.

The dominant color is red

The dominant metal is silver

The whole thing is called “the achievement”

Helmet - denotes gentleman or Esquire

Mantling - is the scroll design surrounding the shield The mantling represents the lambriquin or cloth hood worn by the Knights to keep from getting their heads burned when their helmets got hot from the sun. The two color showing represent the in side and outside where it would be torn or cut by hostile swords in battle. The inner surface depicts the dominant metal, the outer surface the dominant color.

Shield - Also called the field.

Fess - Horizontal band forming middle tier of the shield.

Cinquefoil - derived from clover, usually denotes 9th son.

Martlet- symbol of bird without feet, usually denotes 4th son.

These symbols are called orders or charges, given in recognition of service.

Wreath - is called the Torse

Scroll - Banner for Cri - de-guerre - War Cry - Motto.

1. Tancred, the Viking
2. Rabel, his son
3. Gerald, (Geraldus) son of Rabel
4. Rabel II
5. Almeric d'Abitot, so called from his lands in St. Jean d'Abitot, in Normandy, son of Rabel II.
6. Urse d'Abitot, son of Almeric.
7. Roger d'Abitot, son of Urse, Viscount of Worcestershire, probably identical with Ernaldus of Powis, who had four sons, Walter, William, (Called de Estham), Urse and Roger.
8. William de Estham, ancestor of
9. Sansone (Called Samson) de Estham, his son.
10. Roger de Estham, was Lord of the manor of Kettle Kyre. (Held by the Manor of Estham), in the Northwestern part of Worcestershire, which Manor this Roger de Estham had granted to Henry Ketel. This Roger de Estham is the only Roger of the right dates to have been identical with Roger de Washburn, Lord of the Manor of Washburn in County Worcester.

This descent is not proved, but sets forth the probable origin of the Washburn family.

Rabel de Tancarville was the son of Tancred. This personal name is uncommon and seems of Norman derivation. He is mentioned as commerated by the name of Rabel's Isle or Rabel's Foss. As Tancarville lies on the River Seine, it is thought that the Is le was in the Seine A foss or Fosse is a moat or intrenchment, perhaps built for the added protection of the Castle at Tancarville. Rabel's Foss may have been the moat Iying before the donjon of the Castle, the ruins of which donjon were there as late as 1930.

Gerald de Tancarville, recorded as Geraldus and Geraldus is said by the Duchess of Cleveland, in her valuable compilation of data on many Anglo-Norman families, entitled “The Battle Abbey Roll,” to have been Baron de Tancarville, toward the end of t he tenth century.” This would make him the son and successor Rabel, who was a son of Tancred, founder of this family in Normandy in 912 a.d.

Gerald de Tancarville, was father of Rabell, and may have had a younger son Geraldus.

Rabel II, de Tancarville, son of Gerald de Tancarville, lived in the time of the Duke Robert of Normandy. This Duke, “Robert the Magnificent,” also called “Robert the Devil,” reigned in Normandy from 1027 to 1035. He was the father of William The Conqueror, whose mother was Arlette, daughter of a tanner in Falaise, Normandy.

Rabel II had two sons. Ralph de Tancarville and Almeric, who is known as Almeric d'Abitot, as having a lordship from the name of it's church, Saint Jean d'Abitot. Almeric was the ancestor of the Washburn family.

Almeric d'Abitot, younger son of Rabel II, de Tancarville, was Lord of the fief of St. Jean d'Abitot. His baptismal name often is found softened to the French Amaury and sometimes as Almeric, probably a Scandinavian form.

He was father of two sons, who went to England and were great nobles under William the Conqueror and the latter's royal successors. These sons were named Robert and Urse. Urse was the ancestor of the Washburn family.

Urse de Abitot probably was born at Saint Jean d'Abitot in Normandy about 1040. It has been said that the first ancestor of the Washburn family in England was knighted during the Battle of Hastings, by William the Conqueror. This implies th at he was a young man at that time and that the honor was bestowed in recognition of some deed of special valor. He belonged to a distinguished family and probably would have been admitted to the Order of Knighthood at an early age. He lived until about 1108 and was evidently active until the end of his life, probably aged about 62 at death.

Urse was created Earl of Worcestershire in 1076. He is mentioned as Earl or Viscount and Sheriff of Worcestershire. The Sheriff “Shire Reeve,” among the English, held virtually the rank of Earl, and Urse would have been considered especially high rank bec ause of this far spread lands in England were as tenant-in-chief, held directly from the King. Tenants-in-chief were known as Barons. Such lordships he possessed in Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Herfordshire, and Warwickshire.

In the Doomsday Survey, 1086, he is called Sheriff of Worcestershire. The survey was made by decree of King William The Conqueror, to record the land ownership or tenancy of the land of all England.

Urse d'Abitot died between 1108-1112 or soon afterwards. The baptismal name of his wife was Adelisa, no record found of her parentage and family. He left two children, a son and daughter, Roger and Emeline. Emeline married Walter de Beauchamp and was ance stress of a line of the Earls of Warwick.

Roger d'Abitot, son of Urse d'Abitot, the Earl of Worcestershire and its Sheriff, succeeded his father in title and office. “Earl” at this period was the English form of the French title which in English is “Count.” In the case of Roger an d also of Urse, Viscount was used, perhaps because both Roger and his Father were tenant-in-chief of the King.

Roger was deprived of his estates, through the heavy indignation of King Henry, because in his headlong fury, he commanded one of the King's servants to be killed. The silence about Roger after his offense indicates that he probably left Worcestershire. He could hardly have remained unknown there and probably would have been in peril of further action against him on King Henry's part. Roger would have been in constant danger from the Royal displeasure had he lived und er his own name. All his lands, legally, had been taken from him and bestowed on his sister Emeline de Beauchamp. It is not certain if all his lesser holdings, held under nobles, rather than the Kings were given to her.

Urse had lands under Rolf de Toeni as overlord. In 1140's some land held under same overlord, was conveyed to the sons of the then possessor, and these sons, it cannot be doubted were very near descendants of Urse d'Abitot.

The record of this conveyance shows that a man called Ernaldus de Powis had sons: William, Roger and Urse. This Ernaldus, was a feudal underlord of an estate in Powis about 1145. Powis was a principality in North Wales. It seems that Ernaldus was identical with Roger d'Abitot, second Earl of Worcestershire, son of Urse d'Abitot, the first Earl.

The Normans on coming to England with William The Conqueror, were usually designated by the name of their lands, with the prefix “de” (of) placed before the name. In some cases they assumed the name of offices held by them, as Despencer, Chamberlain, Marshall, etc.

In the Washburn pedigree, such an instance occurs. The son known as John de Dufford, while his father lived and after inheriting the Manor of Washburn, was known as John de Washbourne. These land names were not like our modern surnames but changed at that early period according to ownership of estates.

If Roger had taken the name of Ernaldus, this would explain why no data has been found of Roger from the time when he was bereft of his property and titles by the King. It may explain why nothing further has been found of Ernaldus.

When Ernaldus turned over to this son, William his hereditary feudal possessions of a tract of land in Herfordshire, he did this with the consent of his overlord, Rolf de Toeni. Ernaldus had held it with the obligation of what was known as a Knight's fee. The duty of supplying the service of a single Knight when such duty was feudally due to be done at Clifford, chief castle built to guard between England and Wales.

Consent to Ernaldus' transfer of the fief to his second son, William, not only was given by Rolf de Toeni, the overlord but consented to by Walter, the eldest son, and heir to Ernaldus, and by Ernaldus's other sons Roger and Urse. The document of transfer was recorded in the feudal court of Rolf the overlord, and endorsed with his seal, and was witnessed by the seals of Goce de Dinan, Walter de Handos, Robert de Chandos, Osbert de Hanleche, William de Clinton, Walter, named in the document as son of Ernal dus de Powis, Roger and Urse, named as brothers of said Walter, Nicholas de Chamfur, Urric de la Haie, Walter, son of Richard, Stephan de Chameis William de Estham, Sansone, called son of the said William de Estham, Sansone de Werueleches, Galfrid de Tale bot, Robert Oliphand, Master Heugh de Clifford. These men were powerful nobles, confirming the fact that Ernaldus was himself a man of high rank.

William de Estham, evidently was William, son of Ernaldus, Sansone is called son of William de Estham. Sansone, de Werueleches, probably was Bishop Sansone of Worcester. It seems beyond question that our ancestors were named during this perio d, “de Estham,” also spelled Eastham. Estham is in the Northeast corner of Worcestershire, near the other places connected with our family history, In the Parish of Estham was Orleton. In 1240, William de Washbourne was a mesne-tenant of Orleton. A mesne- tenant was a lord holding his manor from a feudal overlord by having a tenant or tenants holding under himself.

The Manor if Kettles Kyre in Worcestershire was held of the Manor of Estham, believed to have been granted by charter in the 1200's to Henry Ketel by Roger, son of Sansone d'Estham. The exact date of the grant is unknown. The only Roger who could have been this Roger, son of the Sansone of Estham, and living in the 1200's is Sir Roger de Washbourne, from whom one long pedigree is proven to our own time. The son of our Sir Roger, John de Washbourne, is known to have held land in Orleton, in Estham, and is strongly indicated as born in the 1200's.

Sir Roger de Washbourne held his manor feudally from the Beauchamp family, which had inherited this feudal overlordship as descending from Emeline d'Abitot, daughter of Urse d'Abitot, first Earl of Worcester, she becoming the wife of Sir Walter de Beauchamp. The broad estates of her brother, Roger d'Abitot, second Earl of Worcester, were seized by King Henry 1, and bestowed on Sir Walter de Beauchamp and Lady Emeline, his wif e.

Washbourne is in the Southern part of Worcestershire, close to the border of Gloucestershire. Eventually this place included the tiny villages known as Little Washbourne (in Worcestershire) and Great Washbourne (in Gloucestershire), the latter for all its proud name being smaller than Little Washbourne. As time went on the family became known for its many knights, and their Manor grew to be called Knight's Washbourne.

Sir Roger de Washbourne was born not later than 1219 and died 1299. The family of his wife is undiscovered. Her baptismal name was Joan.

Only the heir of Sir Roger is recorded, but he probably had other children, It seems probable that he was the father of William de Washbourne, priest, the Parson of Stanford, in 1197-1198.

(I question this information regarding William de Washburn. Unless the dates of 1197-1198 are incorrect and should read 1297-1298, it would be impossible for Sir Roger to have been William's father since Sir Roger was said to have been born not later than 1219 and died 1299- N.W.M.)

Sir John de Washbourne was the son of Sir Roger and Lady Joan de Washbourne. Prior to the death of Sir Roger, John was recorded as John de Dufford, Dufford is Deffort, close to Bredon, near Washbourne.

In 1312, Sir John de Washbourne, was knight of the Shire, In the reign of King Henry III, it became usual for the monarch to summon two knights from each English Shire, elected by the Shire Court, to join the King's Court, to discuss public affairs, conduct important judiciary trials, and to take measures to administer the courses discussed and agreed upon. This was the beginning of the English Parliament. In the year when Sir John is recorded as holding this high office, Edward II was King, 1312 being the fifth year of his reign, this year beginning July 8, 1312 and ending July 7, 1313.

Sir John de Washbourne, Knight in Edward II's reign, confirmed to his son Roger de Washbourne, and to Roger's wife Margaret, the Manor of Washbourne. He died before the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, 29 September 1320. In this year, a case was brought by the guardian of John Casey against Roger, son of Sir John de Washbourne concerning a claim of the said John Casey for land in Wych, said to be Droitwich. This same land was claimed as part of her dowry, by Isabel, the widow of John de Washb ourne. It is thought she may have been a Casey.

Sir Roger de Washbourne may have died in 1316, very soon after his conveyance of Washbourne to his son. This possibility would explain Lady Isabel's presentation of the Living in Stanford, in September 1316. She bestowed it on Peter de WAsh bourne, perhaps a priest, and probably a son of Sir John and Lady Isabel Washbourne, but no proof has been found.

Sir Roger de Washbourne was the son of Sir John and Lady Isabel de Washbourne, he succeeded his father as Lord of Washbourne, in the thirteenth year of the reign of King Edward II, 1320.

On 30 May 1349, he presented to the Church of Stanford, Thomas de Washbourne, perhaps a son. He made other such presentations there 13 July 1349 and July 2 1353.

He was recorded as a Knight and as Lord of Washbourne and Stanford, the latter sometimes called Stanford Washbourne. He was living in 1358.

Sir Roger married Margaret, whose maiden surname is not known.

John Washbourne was the youngest son of Sir Roger and Lady Margaret de Washbourne. Their elder son was named John. He married Katherine Throwin, but died without issue. Sometimes the same baptismal name was given to two children in a family. At any rate, this second son was recorded as John also.

There is little recorded concerning John Washbourne, the younger son and successor to Sir Roger de Washbourne. His wife's baptismal name was Isabel, surname unknown.

Peter Washbourne was the son of John and Isabel Washbourne. In the year of 1356- 1357, Peter married Isolde Hanley. She is stated as a daughter of John de Hanley of Hanley William in Worcestershire, by three eminent historians and genealog ists, Habinton, Nash and Phillimore: but the pedigrees gathered for Herald's College make her a daughter of Thomas de Hanley. The Hanley family is an ancient and distinguished one of Worcestershire.

Peter and Isolde Hanley Washbourne had two sons, John and William. No other record of William Washbourne has been found or lineage descending from him.

Sir John Washbourne was the elder son of Peter and Isolde Washbourne. He was Sheriff of the County Worcester, and Knight of the Shire.

Sir John Washbourne married first Joan Musard. Their only child was named Isolde Washbourne. She married John Salwy of Cane in the County of Stafford. There took place a long contest in the Courts as to the rightful ownership of the Washbourne lands. After the time of Sir John Washbourne VI, and after the time of his son and successor, Sir Norman Washburn, this disposal of Stafford property was completed, while Knight's Washbourne remained property of our Washbourne ancestors. This settlement was arranged by the brother of King Edward IV, George Duke of Clarence. Sir John Washbourne Vl, married second, Margaret le Poor, (le Poher, Poher, Power) about 1400. Margaret le Poher was the daughter and co-heiress of John le Poor of Wichenford, in Worcestershire, and she brought to the Washbourne family the Lordship and manor of Wichenford. Sir John and Lady Margaret Washbourne were buried in a tomb of alabaster in Wichenford Church. The dates of their deaths are uncertain.

Their children:

1. Sir Norman Washbourne
2. John Washbourne, perhaps the priest mentioned in 1420 as appointed in charge of the Church of Great Cumberton.
3. Elinor Washbourne, of whom no records have been found.

Sir Norman Washbourne was the elder son of Sir John and Lady Margaret Washbourne. In the year 1426-1427, Sir Norman Washbourne received Knight's Washbourne from his father, Sir John Washbourne, who mentions himself as a Knight and Lord of Washbourne.

Sir Norman was Sheriff of Worcestershire in 1438-1439. He died 1479-1480. His wife was Elizabeth Kniveton, daughter of Henry Kniveton. The surname formerly de Kniveton, derived from the family's lordship of Kniveton, a parish in Derbyshire.

The children of Sir Norman and Lady Elizabeth Washbourne were the following but the order of births are uncertain.

1. Sir John Washbourne
2. Thomas Washbourne
3. Eleanor, also called Anne, died 1505, married first Richard Scrope, and second John Wyndham.
4. a daughter, married John Hugford.

Sir John Washbourne, son and heir of Sir Norman and Lady Elizabeth Washbourne, was born about 1454. Sir John made his will 3 May 1517. He was buried in the Church of Saint Michael in Wichenford.

He married first Joan Mitton, daughter of William and Margaret (Corbett) Mitton of Weston in Staffordshire, which William was Sheriff of his county in the middle 1400's.

The second wife of Sir John Washbourne was Elizabeth Monington, a lady of Herfordshire

The children of Sir John Washbourne and Lady Joan were:

1. Robert, predeceased his father, left sons, John and Norman.
2. John
3. Walter, executor of his father's will in 1517. Descendants not found.
4. Francis, no data found.

Children by second wife: Elizabeth Monington

5. Anthony
6. Richard

John Washbourne, ancestor of the Washburn family of America was the second son of Sir John and Lady Joan Washbourne.

It seems evident that a break in peaceful family relationships had taken place in the period of his life, after his father's second marriage to Elizabeth Monington, though the trouble may not have been caused directly by the marriage. When his father, Sir John Washbourne made his will in 1517, he mentioned only three of his six sons. These three were Robert, eldest of the first marriage to Joan Mitton (which Robert's elder son John became head of our family in England, his descendants carrying down the el der lineage of primo-geniture), Walter, third son of Sir John and Lady Joan Mitton Washbourne, and Richard, sixth and youngest son of his second marriage.

John Washbourne made his will in Bengeworth on 27 December 1546 and died January 1547. His wife's maiden name is not known. She was called Emme. Her will was dated 1 May 1547 and proved 15 June 1547. Burial was 13 May 1547.

References: Ancestral Roots of 60 Colonists who came to New England between 1623 - 1650, by Frederick Lewis Weis. du Mont de Soungment and Allied Families pg. 99 (Washburn)

John Washburn, son of John Washbourne and his wife, Martha Stevens was born in 1594 in Evesham, England. He was baptized in Bengeworth, England 2 July, 1597. He died in Bridgewater, Massachusetts before 1670. He was married 23 November 1618 to Marjorie More, daughter of Robert More and his wife Ellen Taylor. Children of this union:

1. John, born 1621 in England married Elizabeth Mitchell.
2. Phillip, born 1624, in England.

John Washburn, born in Evesham, County Worcester, England, came to Duxbury Massachusetts in 1631, and died in Bridgewater, Mass. His wife Margaret, and two sons joined him at Duxbury in 1635, coming on the ship “Elizabeth and Anne.” They went to B ridgewater about 1665, He and his two sons, John and Phillip, were included in those able to bear arms, 1643, and his name was among the first freemen of Duxbury. John Washburn, the emigrant, and his father were contemporaries of William Shakespeare, and lived not far from him in a large and frequented market town in England.

References: Generation, 36-40 Ada C. Haight: The Richard Washburn Family pp. 1-8 Burke Landed Gentry, 1939 pg. 29-59 Original List of Persons of Quality who went from England to American Plantations, J. C. Hatten p. 257 - p 57. History of Bridgewater, Mass, Nahum Mitchell. Ancestral Roots of 60 Colonists who came to New England, Frederick L. Weis.

John Washburn, son of John Washburn and Margery Moor. Married 1645 to Elizabeth Mitchell, daughter of Experience Mitchell and his wife Joan Cook She was born in 1629.

Children of this union:

1. John, Married Rebeckah Lapham, 1679. Died 1719- 1724.
2. Thomas. Married 1st. Abigail Leonard. Married 2nd. Deliverance Packard. Died 1729.
3. Joseph. Married Hannah Latham
4. Samuel, born 1651, Married Deborah Packard died 1720, age 69.
5. Jonathan, Married Mary Vaughn, 1683
6. Benjamin, Apparently died Phipps' Expedition of 1690. See Note.
7. Mary, born 1661. Married Samuel Klngsley 1694.
8. Elizabeth, Married 1st. James Howard. Married 2nd. Edward Sealley.
9. Jane. Married William Orcutt. Jr.
10. James, born 1672, Married Mary Bowden, 1693.
11. Sarah, Married John Ames, 1697

References: Original List of Persons of Quality who Went from England to American Plantations, J. D. Hotten Early Settlers of Bridgewater, Mass. Nahum Mitchell Ancestral Roots of 60 Colonists who came to New England, Frederick L. Weis. Bllrke Landed Gentry 1939, pp.29-59

(Note: Sir William Phipps, 1651-95, Colonial Governor of Mass. He is said to have been one of 26 children, all of the same Mother, and was born in a settlement, afterwards known as Woolwich on the Kennebec River, in Maine. Until 18 years of age, he was employed in tending sheep, but then learned the trade of ship carpenter and hav ing gone to Boston, married a well-to-do- widow, much older than himself. Several years afterwards he became possessed with the idea of fishing up treasurer lost in a Spanish Galleon wrecked 50 years before in the West Indies. After two voyages, he locate d the wreck near Hispaniola (1687) and removed from it a vast treasure; for this he was knighted and appointed provost Marshall General at Boston. After helping Increase Mather to overthrow the Andras administration, he commanded an 8-vessel Massachusetts fleet which captured Fort Royal, Nova Scotia for the British; but failed in a Colonial expedition against Canada (1690). He was appointed Massachusetts Governor (1692-94) under a new charter in 1692. was called back to England to answer charges of mal adm inistration, and died while awaiting the hearing. Reference: American Peoples Encyclopedia - Spencer Press.)

(Note: All of the above information of the Washburn Family is a combination of material researched from the New York City Library by June W. Dase and from the Library of Congress, Washington D. C. and other sources by Naomi W. Miller.)

Washburn Wassebourne Washbourne

Name means Flowing Water

Dr. A. B. Grossart speaks of the family in the Saxon period (1002-1066) in the time of Edward The Confessor before the Norman Conquest in England. The family is of Norman descent and were generation after generation of knightly degree, previous to the time of Edward I (1274-1307) and ranked in point of decent with the most ancient families of the kingdom.

Sir Roger de Washburn was given the lands of “Great Washburn” and “Little Washburn” in the county of Glouster and Worcester (which lie near each other, by William the Conqueror (1027- 1087), in 1066.

The family of Washbourne originated with Sir Roger at Stanford in the county of Worcester. He held his manor feudally from the Beauchamp family seated a few miles away in Ernley Castle” which he inherited. He held this feudal overlordship as descending from Emeline d'Abitot, daughter of Verne d'Abitot, first Earl of Worcester.

The family originated in an age of social turbulence and dynastic wars. But, they were not a fighting family. They were originally a family of Knights but did not care enough about this semi-military profession to which their title pointed to keep up the distinction, though they held to the last generation the estate to which the title was attached. But the family was thoroughly patriotic and intensely loyal. When it came to war, fighting had to be a matter of conscious and necessity, not adventur e or glory to call out the Washbournes. In 1300 King Edward II conferred Knighthood and a coat of arms on the Washbourne family for meritorious service on the seas.

In the role of civilians, the family has played an important part. In England, as Magistrates, High Sheriffs, Escheators to the King, Collectors of Royal Subsidies, members of Parliament for Shire. The public record most favorable to the family is that quaint tribute to John, son of Sir Roger for 63 years he was a Justice of the Peace or Magistrate of the Court, honoring the office by faithfulness and diligence. He was Knight of the Shire for the county of Worcester in the fifth Parliament of Edward II (1284-1327) in 1312.

John Washbourne (Sir Roger 1, Sir John 2 Sir Roger 3) was fined by Charles I (1600) for not taking the Knighthood to which he was entitled at the King's Coronation.

The Honorable John Washbourne, 12th in descent from Sir Roger 1, was born at Eversham, County of Worcester. He came to Duxbury, Mass, in 1631 and became the first Secretary of the Massachusetts Bay Company. He died in Bridgewater, Mass in 1670.

John and his son John, Jr. were among the fifty-six proprietors of Bridgewater, Mass. A tract of land extending 7 miles on each side of a fixed center. John Sr., John Jr., Miles Standish, John Alden and Samuel Nash were among the company which purchased land from Chief Massasoit for 7 coats, 9 hatchets, 8 pairs of shoes, 20 knives, 4 moose skins and 101/2 yards of cotton.

In 1643, John Jr. fought with Miles Standish against the Indian Chief Narraganset and again in 1665.

Joseph Washburn and his brother-in-law fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill.

Issac Washburn fought in the War of The Rebellion

George Abiel Washburn was made a General under George Washington.

Abiel Washburn founded the town of Plainfield, Conn. in 1621.

Compiled by William Lewis Washburn

Patchogue, N.Y. 1914

Information in ( ) has been added by Naomi Washburn Miller from data obtained from other sources with the exception of the numerical generations which were in the original pamphlet.

Foreword

I found among the papers left by my father, the late General George A. Washburn, one in his own handwriting contain the following data on the genealogy of Abiel Washburn.

(After the Battle of Hastings. 1066, William the Conqueror ceded the lands of “Little Washburn”, County of Worcester and “Great Washburn,” County of Glocester, to Sir Roger de Washbourne. He married Emeline d'Abitot, daughter of Vern d'Abitot, First Earl of Worcester.)

1. John (12th in descent from Sir Roger) came to Bridgewater, Mass from Duxbury, Mass with two sons, John Jr., and Phillip. He was born in Eversham, Worcester County England and settled in Duxbury before 1632. His wife followed with the two sons on ship “Elizabeth and Anne,” from London.

He and John Jr., were among the original proprietors of Bridgewater where he settled as early as 1665. He died before 1670.

2. John Jr., married Elizabeth, daughter of Experience Mitchell; had 6 sons and 1 daughter, then 1 son James.

3. James, youngest son of John Jr. born in 1672, married Mary Bowden in 1693.

4. Moses, son of James, married Hanna Cushman of Plympton, Mass, in 1727 and she had Peter, born 1728; Moses, born 1730; Robert, born 1733; Ira born 1735. Moses moved to Dartmouth, Mass. about the year 1740 with his family.

5. Peter, son of Moses, married Abigail Pope and had some children, among them;

6. Ira, who married Martha Chace and had sons as follows' Peter, Ira, Thomas Calvin. Caleb, and Abiel, youngest son.

7. Abiel, born May 18, 1803 married Polly Webber, July 25, 1825.

During the past two years, at odd times it has been my pleasure to add to his brief record and carry it on to date. The result is this pamphlet which I dedicate to the use of the future compiler of the Washburn Family in America.

W.L.W.

February 18, 1914.

Abiel Washburn and His Descendants

1. Abiel Washburn was the youngest son of Ira Washburn and was born in Dartmouth, Mass. May 18, 1803. He probably passed his boyhood in that place. His immediate ancestors seem to have been plain farming people who led respectable lives, raised large families, and lived to ripe old ages. Abiel was probably named after General Abiel Washburn of the Revolution.

Of Peter, the paternal grandfather of Abiel, very little is known. He was born in 1728 and moved to Dartmouth with his father Moses in 1740. He enlisted for the defense of Rhode Island during the Revolution and I have a bullet said to have been carried by him on that occasion. A cane once belonging to Peter has descended thr ough several generations with the understanding that it must always go to a Washburn who has a son to inherit it. It is now in the possession of Egbert Washburn of Medina, Ohio (1914) and will probable pass to his son Leroy who als o has a son.

Peter married Abigail Pope of Dartmouth, Jan. 15, 1725-26 and was a daughter of Thomas Pope. Besides Ira there were probably two daughters.

Ira the father of Abiel was born in Dartmouth in 1757. He married May 17, 1781, Martha Chace of that place and had Peter, Thomas, Anna, Ira, Jr., Calvin, Abigail, Caleb and Abiel. His son, Ira, Jr., settled in Palmer, Mass. and raised a la rge family. Ira moved there in 1828. He died Feb. 23, 1840.

Abiel must have preceded his father to Palmer for an old account book, now in possession of his son Alvah, shows that in 1823, he began work for his brother Ira., at $14.00 per month.

On July 24, 1825 he (Abiel) married Polly Webber at Palmer and resided at Belchertown nearby, where their first child was born. Polly Webber was the daughter of Joseph Webber who was born at Rehobath, Mass., Sept. 17, 1772. She was born at Stafford, Conn., March 8, 1807. She was a sweet little woman beloved by all who knew her. She died Feb. 7, 1875.

Abiel Washburn was a millwright by trade and was considered an expert at building mills with water wheels. His work took him to many towns to live. In 1838 he moved his family to Harford, Susquehanna County, Penn. traveling by wagon across country; but the next July he returned and settled in West Stafford Conn. where he stayed ten years and then moved to Springfield Mass. Residing there thirteen years, he then went to work for the Wason Car works. When carpenter wo rk failed he put up a liniment for sprains which he sold. At one time he also carried on a small business selling notions through the country.

In 1870 he moved to South Belchertown on a small farm which he bought intending to pass his declining years at the peaceful pursuit of farming. On the death of his wife in 1875 he sold the place and visited among his sons and daughters. He died in Medina, Ohio on March 8, 1877.

As I remember my grandfather, he was a tall angular man with the high forehead so characteristic of the Washburns. He led the humble life of a farmer and mechanic, but was respected in the communities in which he lived. Although Abiel and Polly Washbuirn never possessed much of this world's goods, they worked hard all their lives lived honestly and were blessed in seeing their five children grow up to manhood and womanhood. They were buried side by side in the grave yard at Belchertown, Mass. Surely their children inherited what is more precious than gold - an untarnished name.

Children of this union:

  2. George Abiel, born April 28, 1827; died May 20, 1891
  3. Christopher, born Dec. 25, 1828; died Dec. 24, 1919
  4. Alvah, born April 23, 1832; died June 29, 1923
  5. Mary Jane, born Sept. 13, 1839; died Dec. 12, 1903
  6. Sarah Ann, born Jan. 5, 1846

Second Generation

2. George Abiel 2 Washburn (Abiel 1) was born in Belchertown, Mass., April 23, 1827. As a young man he lived in West Stafford, Conn. and there learned the cabinet maker's trade, but before he finished his apprenticeship, he settled in Hartford, Conn., and for many years the was a bookkeeper. At one time he was a teller in the State bank and later entered the insurance business, which he successfully followed, becoming one of the best known agents and adjusters in New England. He was a charter member of St . John's Lodge, F.A.M. of Hartford.

On May 14, 1861, he enlisted in the Civil War receiving the commission of First Lieutenant of the 4th Regiment, Connecticut Volunteers, afterwards the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, May 22, 1862 he was commissioned Major of the 16th Regiment, Connecti cut Volunteers. He was severely wounded in the Battle of Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862. He was made a Lieut.-Colonel, March 30, 1864 and on March 13, 1865 he was made a General by Brevet for Gallantry at Antietam.

In 1883 he moved to Aiken, S.C. for the benefit of his health. He died in Walhala, S. C. May 20, 1891. He is buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Hartford, Conn.

He married first on April 23, 1848, Mary Graves Burt of Hartford, Conn. who was born Jan. 31, 1828 and died Nov. 19, 1850.

He married second on March 17, 1854, Sarah Ann White of Springfield, Mass. who was born March 24, 1830. She was a descendent of Elder John White and the daughter of Preserved and Lucinda Rice White. She died Oct. 16, 1906.

Children by First Marriage

  a. Mary Graves, born March 26, 1849
  b. Frances, born Nov. 8, 1850, died March 18, 1851

Children by Second Marriage

  c. George Arthur, born March 18, 1855
  d. Albert Lyman, born July 4, 1857
  e. Sarah Alive, born Oct. 12, 1859
  f. William Lewis, born March 2, 1862
  g. Leroy Herbert, born Feb. 24, 1869, died Feb. 26, 1870

3. Christopher 2 Washburn (Abiel 1) was born in West Warren,Mass.,Dec. 25, 1828. He learned the tailors trade but before settling down he shipped before the mast on a voyage to India. On his return he worked at this trade in Hartford, Conn. In the early fifties (1850's) he emigrated to the west, living first in Ohio and then moving to We yauwega, Wis. He later returned to Ohio and resided at Canton, Medina and Elyria. In 1910 he removed from the latter place back to Medina where he now resides. (1914)

On Sept. 3, 1850, he married Miss Frances Richmond of Hartford, Conn. She was born in East Hampton, Conn., Nov. 30, 1827. (She died in April 1924)

Children

  a. Francis C., born March 24, 1853; died Jan. 26, 1867
  b. Mary Ella, born July 1, 1858, died Nov. 24, 1946
  c. Jason born July 1, 1862
  d. Julia, born July 1, 1862

4. Alvah 2 Washburn (Abiel 1) was born at Coventry, Conn., April 23, 1832. He is (1914) a machinist and watchmaker. In 1852 he went Wese and settled in Hinckley, Ohio. In 1860 he moved to Medina, Ohio. There he established a small machine shop and was loc ally known as “the Tinker.” For many years he worked at the A. I. Root Co., inventing a number of appliances for beekeepers. For some years past he had a watch repairing shop in Medina and although in his 81st. year (1914) is able to attend to his duties. On Aug. 15, 1852, he married Sarah Almina Webber. She was born in Stafford, Conn., May 21, 1832 and died Feb. 6 1901.

Children

  a. Lucy Adelia, born May 7, 1853, died July 13, 1912
  b. Egbert Abiel, born Jan. 24, 1856
  c. Sarah Melissa born Oct. 7, 1857, died Aug. 5, 1931
  d. Lovina Matilda, born Sept. 26, 1859
  e. Edgar Albert, born April 6, 1862, died Dec. 5, 1886
  A daughter born March 11, 1868, died March 12, 1868
  Christopher Clinton, born Nov. 30, 1871, died Jan. 6, 1894

5 Mary Jane 2 Washburn (Abiel )was born in Stafford, Conn., Sept. 13, 1839. On Jan. 7, 1856 she married William Wirt White, who was a pistol maker at Hartford, Conn. He afterwards moved to Waterbury and was a machinist at Rogers and Brothers Silverware shop. He died Sept. 29, 1908. Mary Jane White died Dec. 12, 1903.

Children

  1.William Leroy White, born May 27, 1857. Married Nov. 4, 1876 to Nellie Merrill. 

Their Children

  a. Edward L. born June 15, 1878
  b. Howard L., born Jan. 20. 1880

  d. Walter W., born Sept. 8, 1883, died June 5, 1885
  e. Morris H., born June 18, 1885
  f. Almira M. born March 4, 1889
  g. Alma A., born Dec. 31, 1890
  h. William W. born April 6, 1890, died July 8, 1896
  i. twin born Jan. 14, 1895, died Jan. 15, 1895
  j. twin born Jan 14, 1895, died Jan. 15, 1895
  k. Harold born July 5, 1896, died Oct. 6, 1896
  l. Helen A. born Oct. 24, 1897

2. Walter Washburn White, b. Nov. 27, 1859, died unmarried Sept. 2, 1884

3. Leslie Strong White, born Nov. 29, 1863, married Jan. 6, 1886 to Kate Welton of Thomaston, Conn. They had one child Clissold, who died Sept. 1887.

4. Lewis Alva White, born July 26, 1866. He married Oct. 22, 1889 Mary Alice Willard. He is a machinist and lives (1914) in Brooklyn, N.Y.

Their Children

  a. Alice L. born Nov. 28, 1890
  b. Annie M. born Oct. 28, 1892
  c. Katherine M. born June 15, 1894
  d. Stanley W. born Feb. 9, 1897
  e. Herbert Washburn White, born April 27, 1908

6. Sarah Anne Washburn (Abiel1) was born in Stafford, Conn. Jan 5, 1846. On Jan. 5, 1869, she married George W. Patterson of Springfield, Mass. He is (1914) a prominent Odd Fellow and for many years was connected with the Boston and Albany railroad.

Their Children

1. Grace E., born Jan. 16, 1870. Married Nov. 23, 1892, Frank Pease. They live in Springfield Mass. (1914).

2. Minnie, born Feb. 27, 1876, married April 18, 1900, to Frank Cushman.

Their Children

  a. Albert Herman, born Dec. 11, 1902
  b. Florence Isabell, born Aug. 14, 1904
  c. Margaret Grace, born April 10, 1910
  d. Martha Patterson, born April 10, 1910, died May 4, 1910

3. Sarah Adell, born May 16, 1878. Died Aug. 25, 1878

4. George Harry, born March 1881, is an engineer in Springfield, Mass. (1914)

Third Generation

7. Mary Graves 3 Washburn (George 2 Abiel 1) was born in Windsor Locks, Conn. March 26, 1849. Her maternal Grandfather was Capt. Levi Burt, of Belchertown, who had the honor or escorting General Lafayette when he visited there. When a young girl she lived with Abiel and Polly Washburn (Her mother Mary Graves Burt died Nov. 19, 1859 when Mary G. was 1 yr., 8 mos., old. The mother died ten days after Mary G's sister Frances was born, Her father George 2 did not remarry for four years. On June 28, 1869, Mary Graves married James W. Willard of Hyde Park, Mass.

Their Children

  a. Mary Alice, born Dec. 2, 1870, married Oct. 22, 1889, Lewis Alvah White (see family 5) of Waterbury, Conn. They reside in Brooklyn, N.Y. (1914)

  b. Anna Luzern, born Nov. 28, 1875, married July 11, 1907, Mark Reynolds Holliday of New Haven, Conn. They reside in New York City. (1914)

8. George Arthur 3 Washburn (George 2 Abiel 1) was born in Hartford Conn. March 18 1855. He learned the toolmaker's trade. He is (1914) the inventor of several machines and appliances, the most important being a rotary steam engine and a s torage battery streetcar the latter being operated on the streets of Cleveland, O., in 1896. On Oct. 17, 1881, he married Mary Ella Washburn of Medina, O. (They were first cousins.)

Their Children

  a. George Arthur, born Aug. 29, 1882; died Sept. 12, 1963
  b. Julia A. J. born July 1885., died Oct. 16, 1887
  c. Frank Ford, born April 3, 1891, died July 1891
  d. Frances Naomi, born Dec. 3, 1892, died July 10, 1976.

9. Albert Lyman 3 Washburn (George2 Abile1) was born in Hartford, Conn. July 4, 1857. He is (1914) a civil engineer in that city. As a young man he learned the toolmaker,s trade and is the inventor of a number of appliances. While living in South Carolina , he patented a process for converting pine needles into a fibre for weaving into carpets. He is a member of the Putnam Phalanx and of the Connecticut Society of Civil Engineers. He married first on Oct. 17, 1881, Mary G . Sherman of New London , Conn . S he died Oct. 14. 1894. Married second, Dec. 28, 1897, Nellie B. Hollister of Hartford, a teacher in the public schools.

Children by the first marriage

  a. Herbert Perkins, born Aug. 1882, died May 1, 1883

10. Sarah Alice 3 Washburn (George 2 Abiel 1) was born in Hartford, Conn. Oct. 12, 1860. She makes her home in Patchogue, N.Y. (1914) in summer and in Aiken, S. C. in winter.

11. William Lewis 3 Washburn (George 2 Abiel1) was born in Hartford, Conn. March 2, 1862. A printer by trade he went south in 1884 and for a number of years was one of the editors of the Journal and Review at Aiken, S. C. He established the Palmetto Press in 1900 and issued several editions of books printed on handmade pa per. He now lives at Patchogue, N.Y. (1914) He married first, Dec. 28, 1898, Sophie U. Stanley of Columbia, S. C. She died March 23, 1900. He married second, Oct. 28 1911, Grace E. Young of Patchogue, who was born May 4, 1887.

Children by second marriage

  a. Frances Alice, born May 2, 1913

12. Mary Ella 3 Washburn (Christopher2 Abiel 1) was born in Weyauwega Wis., July 1 1858. She married Oct. 17, 1881 George A. Washburn (See family 8). She lives at Elyria, O. (1914). She died Nov. 24, 1946 in Washington D. C.

13. Jason 3 Washburn (Christopher 2 Abiel 1) was born in Weyauwega, Wis. Dec. 31, 1862. He was a railroad man and lived in Cleveland, O. He died from the effect of an accident while on duty, June 9, 1902. He was unmarried.

14. Julia 3 Washburn Christopher 3 Abiel 1) twin of the foregoing Jason was born in Weyauwega, Wis., Dec. 31, 1862. She studied medicine and is a prominent physician in Lexington, Ky. (1914)

15. Lucy Adelia 3 Washburn Alvah 2 Abiel 1) was born in Granger, O. May 7, 1853. She did clerical work at the A. l. Root Co., in Medina, O. for 19 years. She compiled and published in 1909. “The Richard Webber Family,” a genealogy from the first settlements in America. She died July 13, 1912.

16. Egbert Abiel 3 Washburn (Alvah 2 Abiel 1) was born in Hinckley Center, O., on Jan. 24, He died April 9, 1932. He has been a clerk at the A. I. Root, Co.'s store for a great many years. (1914) He married first Sept. 30, 1877, Hattie A. Somers of Brunswick, O. She died Feb. 5, 1891. He married second on Aug. 24, 1892. Emily Louise Huddleston of Medina. She died July 12, 1904. He married third on Oct. 15, 1906. Mrs. Mary Hess Hoyt.

Children by first marriage

  a. Leroy Egbert, born Aug. 30, 1878
  Josephine Mabel, born Dec. 19, 1880
  b. Ward Somers, born July 11, 1887
  c. Alvah Edgar born Feb. 5, 1891, died June 29, 1923

Children by second marriage

  a. Irene Jeannette, born Aug. 3, 1895, died Dec. 26. 1913
  b. Thomas Alvah, born July 12, 1901

17. Sarah Melissa 3 Washburn (Alvah 2 Abiel 1 ) was born in Hinckley Centre, O., Oct. 7, 1857. She was a teacher in Medina for eleven years .June 1, 1893, she married Francis A. Pritchard of Medina, O., (She died Aug. 5, 1931) He died May 2 0, 1906.

Their Children

  Francis Washburn Pritchard, born March 9, 1894, died July 26, 1894. A son born Jan. 8, 1897, died the same day. 

18. Lovina Matilda 3 Washburn (Alvah 2 Abile 1) was born in Hinckley Centre, O. Sept. 26, 1859. On April 19, 1882 she married Louis William Hammerschmidt. They live in Medina, O. (1914)

Their children

  William. L., born July 13, 1884. Married Sept. 20, 1913 to Pearl Sellers. Nellie L., born June 16, 1889, died July 6, 1920 Egbert C. born March 23, 1897 

19. Edgar Albert 3 (Alvah 2 Abiel 1) was born in Medina, O. April 6, 1862. On Nov. 15, 1883, he married Isabel Dora Olin. He died Dec. 5, 1886. She died Oct. 22, 1908.

Fourth Generation

20. George Arthur 4 (George 3 George 2 Abiel 1) was born in Plainville, Conn. Aug. 29, 1882. He served four years in the United States Marine Corps. Writes on Philately subjects under the Pen Name, “Sir Weatherby,” He is a machinist in Cleveland, O. On August 10, 1912. he married Elsie L. Pleasance of Cleveland, O.

21. Leroy Egbert 4 Washburn (Egbert 3 Alvah 2 Abiel 1) was born in Medina, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1878. He is an engineer and lives in Lorain, O. (1914). On Jan. 31, 1900, he married Mary Stringer.

Their Children

  Genevieve e. born Dec. 7, 1900
  Leroy Everett born July 7, 1904
  Mildred Hazel, born March 14, 1907

22. Ward Somers 4 Washburn (Egbert 3 Alvah 2 Abiel 1) was born in Medina, O., July 11, 1887. On Sept. 28, 1906 he married Martha Greenlese.

Their Children

  Richard Stanley, born March 25, 1911
  Paul Eugene, born June 19, 1913

23. Alvah Edgar 4 Washburn (Egbert 3 Alvah 2 Abiel 1) was born in Medina, O., Feb. 5, 1891. (He died June 29, 1923). On Feb. 12, 1912 he married Conna Hartell .

Their Children

  Nedra Mae, born Feb. 23, 1913

The original of this pamphlet owned by June W. Dase

Washburn-Webber Joining

(The following information was taken from The Webber Family Genealogy compiled in 1908 by Lucy A. Washburn, born May 7, 1853, died June 13, 1912 in Granger,Ohio.)

The Washburn family was joined to the Richard 4 Webber family in the third generation in America.

Polly Webber, daughter of Joseph Webber and Polly Carpenter Webber, married Abiel Washburn, July 24, 1825. Polly was born March 8, 1806 in Stafford, Conn. Abiel Washburn was born May 8, in Dartmouth, Mass. He was expert in several branches of indu stry and therefore they lived in both Connecticut and Massachusetts. Polly died in Belchertown, Feb. 7, 1875. Abiel went to Ohio to live with his youngest son Alvah Washburn in Medina, where he died March 8, 1877. He now lies by the side of Polly in the O ld Belchertown cemetery.

Children of Abiel and Polly Webber Washburn were:

  a. George Abiel Washburn
  b. Christopher Washburn
  c. Alvah Washburn
  d. Mary Jane Washburn
  e. Sarah Ann Washburn

1. George Abiel Washburn was born April 23, 1827 in Belchertown, Mass. He died May 20, 1891 in Walhalla, South Carolina. He was major of the 16th Connecticut Regiment and was wounded at Antietam. He was afterwards made a Brigadier General. During his last years he made his home in South Carolina.

He married first, Mary G. Burt of Hartford, Conn. April 23, 1848 by Rev. J. R. Stone. She was born Jan. 31, 1828 in Belchertown, Mass. and died Nov. 19, 1850 in Hartford, Conn. at age 22 years, 9 months, and 19 days.

He married second, Sarah Ann White of Springfield, Mass. on March 24, 1854, by the Rev. Charles R. Fisher. She was born on March 24, 1830 and died Oct. 16, 1904 in Aiken, S. C. Age 77 years 6 months, 23 days.

(Note: The following was taken from a newspaper clipping I found in a family Bible. N.W.M.)

“Death of Mrs. S. A. Washburn”

Mrs. Sarah A. Washburn, widow of the late General G. A. Washburn died at her residence on Pendleton Street on Sunday morning. Her death was not unexpected for she had been in failing health for some time. She was born at Springfield, Mass., March 24, 1830 and came to Aiken twenty-one years ago. Mrs. Washburn was a gentle Christian lady and was much beloved by all who knew her. She leaves four children, Mr. G. A. Washburn, Cleveland, O., Mr. Albert L. Washburn, Hartford, Conn., Mrs. W. L. Washburn and Miss S. Alice Washburn of this city.

The funeral services were conducted Sunday afternoon by Rev. T. W. Clift at the residence and the remains taken to Hartford, Conn. for interment in the family lot in Spring Grove cemetery.

At the funeral the many beautiful floral emblems testified to the high esteem in which the deceased lady was held by this entire community. Her loving son and daughter are highly esteemed by their many friends in Aiken and the sincere symp athy of all goes with them on their sad journey.

Children of George Abiel Washburn and his first wife Mary G. Burt were:

a. Mary Graves Washburn, born March 26, 1849 in Windsor Locks, Conn. She married James W. Willard, June 28, 1869 in Hyde Park, Mass. (Springfield) She died Nov. 29.,1920 in Bristol, Conn.

b. Frances Emily Washburn, born Nov. 8, 1859 in Hartford, Conn. She died March 18, 1863. being 4 months and 10 days, in Springfield, Mass.

Children of George Abiel Washburn and his second wife Sarah Ann (White) Washburn were:

c. George Arthur 1 Washburn, born March 18, 1855 in Hartford, Conn. He married his first cousin, Mary Ella Washburn, daughter of 2 Christopher Washburn, Oct. 17, 1881 in Hartford, Conn. He died in Hartford, Conn., Jan. 8,1931 at the Old Folks Home 36 Jeff erson St. She died in Nov. 1946 in Washington, D. C.

d. Albert Lyman Washburn was born July 4, 1857 in Hartford, Conn. He was married first to Mary Sherman of New London, Conn., by the Rev. Bacon, Oct. 17, 1881. She died in Aiken S. C. Oct. 1894. They had one chiid Herbert, born Aug. 1882 and died in March 1883. He married second Nellie Bellows Hollister, Hartford, Conn., Dec. 28, 1897, by the Rev. Forbes. Nellie died March 23, 1900 in Aiken, S. C. They had no children. He was a civil engineer in Hartford.

e. Sarah Alice Washburn was born Oct. 12, 1859 in Hartford, Conn. She never married.

f. William Lewis Washburn, born March 2, 1862 was married by The Rev. W. W. Daniels to Sophie Ulmer Stanley of Columbia, S. C, Dec. 28, 1898. She died March 23, 1900. He married second by the Rev. Ira Henderson, Oct. 28, 1911 to Grace Eliza Young. William Lewis became a newspaperman in Patchogue, N.Y. They had one child, Frances Alice, born May 2, 1913.

g. Leroy Herbert, born Feb. 24, 1869 in Hyde Park, Mass. He died Feb. 24, 1870 being 1 yr. and 2 days in Worcester, Mass.

2. Christopher Washburn, born Dec. 25, 1828 in West Warren, Mass. He married Frances E. Richmond, Sept. 9, 1850. She was born in East Hampton, Conn., Nov. 30, 1827. He died Dec. 22, 1919 in Elyria, Ohio.

In 1846, at the age of 18, he embarked on a whaling expedition covering two years and four months. New Bedford, Mass., was the port from which he sailed on the Bark “Otronto.” He learned the tailor's trade in Hartford and worked at that for many years, ha ving the enviable reputation of being the best tailor in the country. His wife, Frances E. went to live with her daughter Mary Ella Washburn in Elyria, Ohio where she died April 23, 1923, age 95 years. Both are buried in Spring Grove cemetery, Medina, Ohi o.

(Note: As a young child, 4 yrs., I remember my Great-Grandmother Frances E. Iiving with my grandmother Mary Ella at 127 Grant St., Elyria, Ohio. She was a very small neat woman who always insisted on being dressed up every day. She sat by a dining room wi ndow in a straight chair, which Grandmother had put on castors so it could be moved about easily. She wore a white ruffled dust cap and always a single strand of pearls. - N.W.M.)

3. Alva Washburn was born, April 23, 1832 in Coventry, Conn. He married Sarah Almina Webber, Aug. 15, 1852. She was born May 21, 1832 at Stafford, Conn. She came with her family to Hinckley, Ohio in the fall of 1838. She was a typical pioneer girl . Their home was in Hinckley, Ohio and afterwards in Medina, Ohio where Alva was a machinist and a watch repairer. (Note: Alva worked at the A. I. Root Company where he designed the super (frame) that is used in bee hives for the bees to build upon to sto re their honey - N.W.M.) Sarah Almina died Feb. 6,1901. She was a brave woman. Alva died June 29, 1923.

4. Mary Jane Washburn was born Sept. 13, 1839 in Stafford, Conn. She married William Wirt White, Jan. 7, 1856. He was born March 9, 1832 and was a machinist in Waterbury, Conn. She died Dec. 12, 1903. He died Sept. 29, 1908. 5. Sarah Ann Washburn was born Jan. 5, 1846 in Stafford, Conn. She married George W. Patterson Jan. 5, 1869. He was born Dec. 25, 1838 in Coxsackie, N.Y. She died about 1918. They had three children: Grace E., Minnie 1, and George Henry.

Children of Christopher and Frances E. (Richmond) Washburn

1. Francis C. Washburn, born March 24, 1853 in Hinckley., O., died Jan. 26. 1867 in Weyauwega, Wis.

2. Mary Ella Washburn, born July 1, 1858 in Weyauwega, Wis. (Note: Grandmother used to tell me how the Indians stopped at their house for food in Weyauwega. I do not know the reason the family went to Wisconsin.- N.W.M.) She married George Arthur Washburn , Oct. 17, 1881 in Hartford, Conn. He was a machinist. She was a ladies tailor. George Arthur was the inventor of a rotary steam engine and a storage battery streetcar in Cleveland, Ohio.

3. Jason Washburn, twin of Julia was born Dec. 31, 1861 in Weyauwega, Wis., He died June 9, 1902 in Belden Ohio. He was a railroad man and never married. (Note: When I was a child my Mother told me Jason had a fatal illness and just walked into the woods near Belden, Ohio to die. He was identified by dental work, when found. -N.W.M.)

4. Julia, twin of Jason was born Dec. 31, 1861 in Weyauwega, Wis. She received a medical degree in Homeopathic Medicine from Cleveland Medical College (Western Reserve Univ.) in 1891. She was the first woman Doctor to graduate from Western Reserve and wen t to practice in Lexington, Ky. where she was the first woman Doctor to practice in Lexington. She was actively engaged in her practice there for 42 years. She died Aug. 14, 1949, age 88. (I corresponded with Great Aunt Julia from the time I graduated in 1937 until sometime in the later 1940's. She sent me a number of things among them a small cut glass bowl and an antique candle holder. Also six silver bouillon spoons engraved with the letter “W”. The spoons I have given to my nephew George Arthur 4 Wash burn and his wife Sharon, living in Dexter, Mich. When Christmas cards were returned from Lexington, marked deceased, my Aunt Naomi, living in Washington, D.C. hired an attorney to investigate. Dr. Julia had been living In a private rooming house and told her landlady she had no living relatives, so no one was notified when she died. I presume she is buried in Lexington - N.W.M.)

(Note: The Webber Genealogy book gives George Arthur 2 Washburn's birthplace as Plainville, Conn., but my birth certificate gives his place of birth as Plainfield, Conn. N.W.M.)

Married Sixty-Six Years

Medina Sentinel 1914 (Medina, Ohio)

One who attains the age of 66 years has lived a long life and within four years of the allotted span. But for a man and wife to have enjoyed a wedded companionship for that number of years is something most remarkable and indeed rare.

Last Sunday, Sept. 3, Christopher Washburn and his wife Frances, 523 West Friendship Street completed their 66 years of married life, although but a few near relatives were award of the fact. Mrs. Washburn was born Dec. 25, 1828 in West Warren, Mass, and Mrs. Washburn (Formerly Frances E. Richmond) was born Nov. 30,1827 in East Hampton, Conn., they being respectively 86 and 87 years old. They have four children, two of whom, Mary Ella, a tailoress of Elyria, and Julia, a practicing physician of Lexington, Ky., are still living.

Fifty years ago, Mr. and Mrs. Washburn were resident of Medina, but later moved to Elyria. They have resided in Medina for the past five or six years. Though in somewhat feeble health, both Mr. and Mrs. Washburn recall vividly the early days and especial ly does the eyes of Mr. Washburn light up when he is asked to relate some of his experiences on a whaling trip when he was a boy. They were exciting and Mr. Washburn still preserves several trophies of the trip in the way of poisoned arrows, whales teeth. etc.

The Sentinel congratulates Mr. and Mrs. Washburn upon so remarkable a marital journey and with many other friends hope they may be spared to celebrate their diamond wedding Sept. 3, 1925.

(Original newspaper article owned by June Washburn Dase.)

Medina Man Who Sailed As a Whaler

Story of His Experience On a Voyage That Lasted Two Years and Four Months

Medina County Gazette

September 28, 1917

Three weeks ago the Gazette in its “Observer: column contained a short item regarding the whaling voyage in the “40's” of Christopher Washburn. Knowing that the experience of this remarkable Medina nonagenarian were worthy of more extended notice, the Gazette asked Judge A. R. Webber of Elyria, a relative of Mr. Washburn, to prep are such an article. Mr. Webber kindly consented and the result is given below.

Fifty years ago the thrilling stories of adventure were whaling voyages, in the times when whale oil lamps were in vogue, and coal oil and electricity not so much as a dream. No prayer of the Minister of the Father leading devotions at the family altar, w as complete without an earnest appeal for the protection of the whalers on the high seas. People frequently remarked, “What would the world do for light if the whales ever became extinct?” In America the whale boats were mainly built and sailed from the p orts of Maine, Massachusetts and Connecticut that traversed the Atlantic and Indian oceans. It was not an uncommon thing for one of these boats, with its crew, to be gone for two or three years, and many never returned, but went down in great storms at se a, or lost their lives in attempting to capture the monster, for it must be remembered that one stroke of the tail of a grown whale would play havoc with the small harpoon boat and its crew after driving the harpoon into his blubber side.

A Medina Whaler

To see and talk with an old whaler in this day and generation is a curiosity, but there is one come down to us who was on a voyage that lasted just two years and four months to a day. He shipped at the age of 18, on the 1st. of January 1847. He was a Mass achusetts boy born on the 25th of Dec. 1828, and he will be therefore 90 years of age on the 25th day of December next. Those who know him best call him “Uncle Chris Washburn.” He resides on West Friendship Street, Medina, Ohio with his sweet companion we call “Aunt Frank,” in their cottage home. She is 90 years of age and will be 91 on the 30th of November next. They have been married 67 years. She keeps house with his assistance and this year he spaded, planted and cared for this war garden of n o mean size, in doing “his bit.” Both are in possession of their faculties, and while their hands are somewhat gnarled and forms a little bent, their eyes gleam and they have no wrinkles deep enough to cover their smiles. They are keenly interested, not o nly in good books, but in the ups and downs of the world and community. They just love to see friends. He insists on doing the washing and she says he can make excellent bread. Neatness and order pervade everything. When asked, “What are you doing these days?” They have one answer. “We are waiting.” I called on the goodly couple the other day and found that events of his whaling voyage are as fresh in his memory as though he had just returned from the sea. Seventy years have not obliterated them.

Fresh in His Memory

I said, “Uncle Chris, I have come to hear you tell me over again of your whaling voyage to the Indian Ocean.” “Well, he said, “It is a long time ago since I made it, but I have not forgotten it. We sailed from Port Wilberham, Mass. on the 1st. day of January 1847. Our craft was only 70 feet in length and 150 tons burden. The name of our boat was “Otranto,” She was a three-master and shipped including the Captain and First and Second mates, 22 men. Her destination was the Indian Ocean. Casks of fre sh water, meats and bread were in her hold, enough for a long voyage and just a little whiskey in the medicine chest, for the Captain was a sober man. When we would return depended entirely upon the number of whales captured. She carried a heavy canvas th at gave her great speed. She was built for the Coast-wise trade of the Atlantic. The common sailor, after paying all expenses of shipping, what ever they might be, was to receive as compensation, 1/135th part of the new profit, would there be any. I was just a common sailor.

To reach the Indian Ocean it was necessary, of course to steer around The Cape of Good Hope, south of Africa. All the way a zig-zag course was taken to scout the Atlantic for whales, but only one was captured before reaching the Indian ocean. For five and one-half months we never sighted land. The first we saw was the North West coast of Australia, but we did not land. It was inhabited by savages and was a land of sandhills and scattering pines. Our ship carried three small boats, each 20 feet long, for h arpooning. On the Atlantic, on the way out, we encountered a terrific storm which lasted for many days. The vessel might as well hot have had a rudder so far as directing her course was concerned. She was driven for hours at the mercy of a terrible sea, and we expected that the spars would be blown away. It was tossed like a cork all one day and night, and when it was not on the crest of some great breaker it was in the trough of the sea. We were powerless and did not know but we should go down among the sharks. Day light and calm sea were hailed to our delight, so she would obey the rudder.

14,000 Miles Direct

The extent of our voyage was 14,000 miles East of Mass., as the crow flies. We cruised the coast of Australia and among many islands, and traveled a great distance in a zig-zag course in the Indian Ocean for the big game. When the meat ran out, we caugh t porpoise, which is fine eating. The islands were visited for fresh water.

The catch of the voyage up to the time we returned was a sore disappointment. We had only captured whales enough for 400 barrels of oil. It would take another 400 barrels to make the boats burden.

From the time the voyage was started there were three sailors in the top rigging on the watch for whales. They watched continuously through the voyage by relays. When a whale was discovered, the Captain ordered the three boats lowered and manned, six sail ors to a boat, viz, the helmsman, four oarsmen, and a harpoonist, who assisted at the oars till the time came to strike. We would get as near to the whale as possible, reaching him from the rear, to avoid being discovered, and when within striking distanc e, which was about 25 ft., the harpoonist would stand erect in the boat and throw his three-foot harpoon attached to a rope many hundred feet long and coiled up in a tub in the boat, the end of which was in the shape of a dart with a very sharp point and edges. If the throw was successful, the instrument entered the blubber of the whale to a depth of about one or two feet. There upon the great whale would lash the sea and dive. Then a ll was anxiety and excitement until the end. If more rope was needed, it was attached as the whale sped downward and still downward, and if the sailors say that they would not have enough rope, they would immediately attach a buoy so as to locate later th e whale. For to attach the rope to a boat would mean that the boat would be drawn down and the sailors would be left to the mercy of the sea. After a time, the whale would die and rise to the surface. Perhaps it would take another thrust after he had come up. On one occasion after taking a whale, the boat was capsized by the infuriated creature and all sailors in that boat went into the water.

Sixteen Whales

We captured 16 whales. One a sperm whale 70 feet long produced about 250 barrels of oil The largest whale we captured was very poor and after getting him about half stripped of blubber, he sand and broke the cable by which he was being held from going dow n. If it had not broken it would have had to be cut to keep the ship from going to the bottom. The manner of getting the oil was to bring the whale along side the big boat and then cut his blubber flesh into strips and hooks, attached to the ropes that r an over the pulleys, were driven into it and it was pulled off and tried out in kettles on the deck. The scraps were thrown to the sharks. Great schools of these always showed up on these occasions. At this point of the old navigator's story, he bro ught out some souvenirs of this voyage and said:

Whales Teeth

Here are two teeth of a whale we captured. They weigh three pounds. You see they are finely polished and have scratched (Scrimshaw) and tattooed figures on their surface of vessels and various things. They were made by one of the sailors, adept in that li ne. Here is an Arab's dagger, about 18” in length, sheathed in a wooden scabbard, an instrument of warfare. I purchased it in an old town on one of the islands that was built in its day by sea pirates whose day of rule was gone. It is the kind of an instr ument that Arabs carry all of the time and had a poisoned blade at that time, which meant sure death to the one who received a stab, but I have long ago cleansed it of poison. While on the voyage I made a cane out of native ebony wood and topped i t off with ivory from a whale's tooth. As you see, he carried the cane on state occasions only. It was interesting to notice with what tender care he handles these reminders of that 70-year old event. They came into his possession in his youth in a then f ar country, peopled by savages, the only tangible reminder of his hazardous voyage. All else is memory.

Ended By A Mutiny

He continued: “Finally in cruising the Indian Ocean we ran into a great school of whales, hundreds of them. The Captain ordered the boats launched, and there upon the crew refused to go and serve the First Mate. He was a man of surly, wicked dispos ition. Trouble had been brewing for sometime between the men and the mate. When the Captain saw he could not persuade the men to act he pointed the little Bark toward America. At Cape Town, Africa we sailed into harbor for provisions and while all the sai lors were on land, save two, one of those Indian Ocean tornadoes struck the sea, and blew the vessel out of the harbor, parting her anchor chain and it looked for a time as though all was lost. l was one of the two driven out to sea. It cost us $6 0 to recover our anchor and $30 to have the men taken out to the vessel. Many storms were encountered during the two years and four months, and after a long hard voyage, the American port from which we had sailed was sighted.

After all the expenses were figured out, I had coming to me for the four months and two year's work, $18. I had expected on reaching Australia to go around the world, but when I found men there who had been waiting for four years for such a chance, that a mbition oozed out of me. It was a great sight to see the tropical birds about our ship, when we could not see land. They would sometimes cover the rigging. One of the great sights in the Indian Ocean was to see the great water spouts, so common. You could see the water going up when near enough and hear the roar of the wind.

The Contrast

On hearing of this sea venture in a craft of 70 ft. over thousands of miles of wild sea, it came to me that lake freighters are now afloat more than 600 ft. in length and carry at one load 14,000 tons. The tugs that convoy them in and out of the harbor ar e about the size of the “Otranto.” Marvelous indeed. This goodly couple, as pioneers, cut a farm out of the Wisconsin woods. They saw life when the scythe and sickle were implements of husbandry and oxen made the team, and months and weeks were required t o convey intelligence where now it is instantaneous around the world. Then one took his life in his hands to reach the Pacific slope, now he rides and sleeps in a palace over the desert and through the mountains . Now the pace is a mile a minute. Mo nsters navigate under the seal and over the sea. The airs full of them. The earth trembles under their raging tread.

Without these pioneers and like spirits it could not have been. To such is due the purest democracy on earth, that of the American Flag. All hail to them, be they living or dead.

A.R. Webber Elyria, Ohio

(Original newspaper article was owned by June Washburn Dase)

Washburn Lineage Continued

Children of George Arthur 1 Washburn and Mary Ella Washburn

1. George Arthur 2 Washburn, born Aug. 29, 1882 in Plainville, Conn. He was married Aug. 10, 1912 in Cleveland, Ohio to Elsie Louise Pleasance, born Dec. 29, 1886. He died Sept. 14, 1963, age 81 years in Medina, Ohio. She died March 24, 1970, age 83 in Medina, Ohio. They are both buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Medina, Ohio.

2. Julia A. Josephine Washburn, born July 1885, Medina O., died Oct. 16, 1887.

3. Frank Ford Washburn, born April 3, 1891, Cleveland, Ohio, died July 18,

4. Frances Naomi Washburn, born Dec. 3, 1892 in Cleveland, Ohio. She died in a nursing home in Medina County, Ohio, July 10, 1976.

Children of George Arthur 2 and Elsie Louise (Pleasance) Washburn:

1. June Marie Washburn, born June 5, 1914 in Medina, O. She married Edward Raymond Dase, Jr., born Aug. 19, 1912, in Lakewood, O. on May 5, 1934. She died May 15, 1990 in Lakewood, O., He died August 13, 1991 in Cleveland, O.

Children of this union:

  a. Judith Ann Dase, born Dec. 10, 1938 in Cleveland, Ohio. She married Howard Frank Helms, born May 11, 1937 at St. Lukes Lutheran Church in Cleveland, Ohio on June 20, 1959. Children of this union:

  1. Daniel Howard, born March 24, 1961 in Lakewood, Ohio. He married Catherine Halbohn, born Sept. 26, 1963 in Brooklyn N. Y., on June 22, 1991 in Bay Village, Ohio. Children of this union: Joshua Daniel Helms, born Jan. 14, 1992 in Middleberg Hts., Ohio.

  2. David Edward, born March 10, 1963 in Lakewood, Ohio. He married Sharon Probosky, May 20, 1989 in North Ridgeville, O. They were divorced Nov. 12, 1992.

  3. Janet Marie Helms, born June 2, 1964 in Lakewood, Ohio. She married first: Daniel Lewis Cartrette, Jr., born July 4, 1963, at Christ The King Church, on July 23, 1983 in North Olmsted, Ohio. Children of this union: Nichole Marie Cartrette, born Feb. 10, 1984, Beaufort, S. C. and Jacquelin Mae Cartrette, born Oct. 2, 1985, Beaufort, S. C. She married second: John Christopher Stone, born Aug. 30, 1966 in Kansas City, Mo on April 19, 1990 in Marietta, Ga. Children of this union: Meagan Ashley Stone, born Oct. 12, 1992 in Atlanta. Ga.

  4. Jeanne Rose Helms, born June 2, 1964, in Lakewood, Ohio. She married Brian Dale Haney, born April 15, 1961 in Lakewood, Ohio, on Sept. 14, 1985 at Christ The King Church, North Olmstead, O. Brian Dale Haney was a United States Marine assigned to the President of the United States Helicopter Corp. He died May 1993 in a crash in Washington, D. C. Children of this union: Jamie Lee Haney, born July 25, 1986 Western Medical Center, Tustin, Calif.; Anthony Robert Haney born Oct. 5, 1988, Martha Washington, Hospital, Fredericksburg Va.; Deanna Rae Haney, born Oct. 9, 1990, De Witt Army Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Va.; Kristina Lynn Haney, born Oct. 27, 1992, De Witt Army Hospital, Fort Belvoir, Va.

  5. Matthew Joseph Helms, born Aug. 23, 1971, Fairview Hospital Cleveland, Ohio.

2. Barbara Louise Dase, born Jan. 18, 1943. She married Jacob Zvi Waide, born July 1, 1947 in Tel Aviv, Israel, on Nov. 8, 1968 in New York, N. Y. They were divorced in 1986. Children of this union:, N.Y.

  a. Robert Moshe Waide, born March 9, 1971 in New York, N.Y.

  b.Melody Devora Waide, born May 22, 1973 in New York, N. Y. She married Gary Gaiansa, born June 30, 1968 in New York, N.Y., in New York in 1992. Children of this union: Amanda Katelyn Ronit Gaiansa, born Sept. 14, 1992, in Staten Island, N.Y.

  c. Jennifer Robin Tispora Waide, born March 13, 1977 in Staten Island, N.Y.

  d. Jonathan Daniel Waide, born, Feb. 4, 1978 in Staten Island, N. Y.

2. George Arthur 3 Washburn, born Jan. 26, 1916 in Medina, Ohio. He married Kathryn Luella Youngs, born Oct. 23, 1917 on March 18, 1944 in St. Mary's Ohio. She died Sept. 3, 1990 in Johnson County, Tenn. He died Dec. 12, 1991 in Carter County, Tenn. Children of this union:

  a. George Arthur 4 Washburn, born Sept. 10, 1946 in Selma, Ala. He is a graduate of Penn State University with a BA in Electrical Engineering and a Masters in Nuclear Engineering. He married Sharon Henderson, Dec. 23, 1970, at Fort Gordon, Ga. Children of this union:

  1. George Arthur 5 Washburn, born Dec. 30, 1971 in State College, Pa.
  2. Geoffrey Alan Washburn, born Nov. 21, 1978 in Dexter, Mich.
  3. Kathryn Elizabeth Washburn, born June 15, 1982 in Dexter, Mich.

  b. Mark Christopher, born Dec. 19, 1948 in Poland Ohio. He graduated from Princeton with a BA in History and from Duke University with a Masters Degree in Education. He is the author of a number of books. He lives (1995) in Acton, Mass.

  c. Scott Henry Washburn, born May 9, 1955 in Poland, Ohio. He graduated from Penn State University with a degree in Architecture. He married Rosemary Katherin Gabriel, June 21, 1986 at St. Christopher's, Philadelphia, Pa. Rosemary was born April 13, 1955 at Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa. Children of this union:

      1. Victoria Abigail, born Feb. 9, 1990 in Nazareth Hospital, Philadelphia, Pa.

      2. Rebecca Kathryn, born July 9, 1991 in Holy Redeemer Hospital, Meadowbrook, Pa

3. Naomi Elizabeth Washburn, born May 17, 1919 in Medina, Ohio. Married Walter Henry Miller, born July 31, 1915, on Oct. 2, 1937 in La Grange, Ohio. Children of this union:

  a. Mary Susan Miller, born July 12, 1944 in Troy, Ohio. She attended Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College, Kirksville, Mo., She married Chester Arthur Harwood, Feb. 27, 1965 at St. Paul's Church, Park Ridge, Ill. (She divorced Sept. 1980) Since 1972 she has resided in Monrovia, Calif. She was a Vice-President with Union Bank, Los Angeles from 1976 to 1988. She appeared in the Who's Who of American Women and the Who's Who in Banking and Finance in 1979 thru the 80's. In the 90's Mary Susan was the controller and Administrative Director for a homeless shelter, Union Station Foundation of Pasadena, Calif. Presently (1994) she is Business Manager for Rose Bowl Aquatics, Pasadena. Children of this union:

      1. Michael Henry Harwood, born June 8, 1970 in Arcadia, Calif. He graduated from Monrovia High School in 1989 with awards: Citizenship Award, 1985 from the Monrovia Chamber of Commerce, Bank of America Achievement Award in the field of Drafting 1989; Rotary Club International Student of the Month, February 1989. He attended Citrus Community College, Glendora, Ca. and graduated with an Associate of Arts degree, majoring in Architecture, receiving an academic achievement award for architectural drafting. He married Heather Kuethe- Loney, Sept. 10, 1994 in Arcadia, Ca. 

  b. John Henry Miller, born May 7, 1949 in Marshall, Mich. He graduated from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Ill, with a Degree in Theatre and a Masters of Fine Arts. He was employed at the North Carolina School of the Arts as Technical Director. He was married to Jeanne Claire Brown, daughter of Frank W. and Jeannette A. Brown, June 30, 1979 in Fork Union, Va. Jeanne was born Oct. 13, 1958. That September they moved to Tallahassee, Fla, where John was Technical Director in the School of Theatre and a professor at Florida State University. In Aug. 1989 they returned to Winston-Salem, N. C. where John is again employed at the N. C. School of the Arts. Children of this union:

      1. Margaret Claire Miller, born Sept. 30, 1985 in Tallahassee, Fla. 

History of Hiram Richmond and Washburn Family by Mary Ella Washburn

1926

(The following account was written by my Grandmother Mary Ella Washburn in 1926 for her daughter Frances Naomi Washburn. It was brought to my attention in April 1982 by my sister June W. Dase, who owned the original. The history of the Richmond family wa s new to me and while the Washburn history may be repetitious, I thought Grandmother's comments were very interesting -N.W.M.)

“Your Great Grandfather, Hiram Richmond, was born in the state of Connecticut early in 1800. He was the son of a Dr. Richmond. He learned the shoe making trade and about 1824 he married Phoebe Edwards, and to this union were born 12 children, six sons and six daughters. There is no date to go by, so I will merely write what I have been told.

Children of Hiram Richmond

James Richmond went to Texas to seek his fortune and never returned to Connecticut.

John Richmond went South and was killed.

Charles Richmond went to California in 1849 and brought away enough gold dust to start him in a shoe business on Broadway, New York City, where he prospered for many years. He made shoes for the Grant family when Ulysses S. Grant was President of the United States. Nellie Grant had gold plates on her heels.

Charles C. Richmond married late in life, Miss Annie Collins of New York. Six little pages carried her train into the church. They had no children. Charles died of pneumonia.

Hiram Richmond went to Tennessee.

Franklin Richmond liven in Meridan, Conn. and worked at silver plating. He married Miss Ives of the same city.

Newell Richmond married and had four children. He shared his home with his widowed mother in Moodeus Conn.

Abbie Richmond was the oldest daughter. She married Titus Prout and had two sons.

Frances E. Richmond was born in East Hampton, Conn., Nov. 30, 1827 and married Christopher Washburn Sept. 3, 1850. She was the best vest maker in the city of Hartford.

Annie Richmond married William Jones and had two children,, a son and a daughter Belle.

Eunice Richmond married Dwight C. Wheeler who was a jeweler in New London, Conn. They had no children.

The youngest daughter's name was Mary. She went to live with a family who adopted her and she forgot her own family. It was not at all likely that any of these people are living, but they were refined, intelligent, high-minded people.”

(Note: At this point Mary Ella related the following account of the Washburn branch of her family.)

The Washburn family originally lived in Worcestershire England. Three brothers, John, Charles and Martin set sail for America sometime in 1600. It is supposed that the Washburns of Maine, Vermont and Connecticut are all descendants of:

  1. John 1 Washburn who came to Bridgewater, Mass. from Duxbury, Mass. with John John 2 Jr., and Phillip. Phillip never married.

      a. John 2 Jr., married Experience Mitchell by whom he had six sons and a daughter, then a seventh son, James.

          1. James Washburn married and had children, among them Moses. 

  2. Moses married Hanna Coleman of Plympton, Mass. in 1727 and had children as follows:

      1. Peter, oldest son of Moses and Hannah was born in 1782. 

  3. Ira, son of Peter was born Sept. 23, 1756 in Dartmouth, Mass. (I added place of birth which I found among my research papers. - N.W.M.)

Abiel Washburn, youngest son of Ira, was born May 18, 1803 at Dartmouth. He was married to Polly Webber, July 24, 1825. Five children were born to Abiel and Polly. Three sons and two daughters as follows:

1. George Abiel Washburn was born April 23, 1827 in Belchertown, Mass. He died May 20, 1891 in Walhalla, S. C. Was Major of 16th Conn.; was wounded at Antietam, was afterwards Brigadier General. During his last years his home was in South Carolina He married first, April 23, 1848, Mary G. Burt of Hartford, Conn. She died Nov. 19, 1 850 leaving one child named Mary Graves Washburn. He married second, March 7, 1854 Sarah A. White, Springfield, Mass. Children of second wife:

  a. George Arthur 1 Washburn, born March 18, 1855, Your father. (Meaning father of of Frances Naomi for whom Mary Ella was writing this history in the year 1926- N.W.M.)

  b. Albert Lyman Washburn, born July 4, 1857.

  c. Sarah Alice Washburn, born Oct. 12, 1860.

  d. William Lewis Washburn, born March 2, 1862.

  (Note: Grandmother does not list the last child born.)

  e. Leroy Herbert, born Feb. 24, 1869 in Worcester, Mass. (N.W.M.)

2. Christopher Washburn, born Dec. 25, 1828, in West Warren, Mass. Married Frances Richmond, Sept. 3, 1850. Four children were born to this union, namely:

  a. Francis C. Washburn, born March 24, 1853, Hinckley, Ohio. He died Jan. 26, 1867 in Weyauwega, Wis.

  b. Mary Ella Washburn, born July 1, 1858, Weyauwega, Wis. Married George Arthur Washburn, Oct. 17, 1881 in Hartford, Conn. For 20 years she kept a ladies Tailoring and Dressmaking Establishment at Elyria, Ohio on Second St. and 127 Grant St. (She died in November 1946, age 88 in Washington, C. C. Buried in Spring Grove Cemetery, Medina, Ohio.)

  c. Jason and Julia Washburn, were born Dec. 31, 1861 in Weyauwega Wis. Jason died June 9, 1902 in Beldon, Ohio. He was a railroad man and never married.

  Julia, this twin is (1926) a physician in Lexington, Ky. Unmarried. (Note: Notice how little recognition Mary Ella gives to her sister's accomplishments as a doctor. I remember my Mother telling me that Great Aunt Julia became a Doctor against her famly's wishes and that is why she went to Lexington to practice. N.W.M.)

3. Alva Washburn, third son of Abiel and Polly was born April 23, 1832, in Coventry Conn He married Sarah Almina Webber, Aug. 15, 1852. She died in Medina, Ohio, Feb. 6. 1901.

4. Mary Jane, oldest daughter of Abiel and Polly was born Sept. 13, 1839 in Stafford, Conn. and died Dec. 12, 1903 in Waterbury, Conn. She married William W. White, Jan. 7, 1856 He was a machinist in Waterbury, Conn. Their children were William Leroy, Wal ter Washburn White, Lewis Alva White and Leslie Strong White.

5. Sarah Ann Washburn born Jan. 5, 1846 in Stafford, Conn. She married George W Patterson, Jan. 5, 1869. He is (1926) a prominent Odd Fellow in Springfield, Mass. Their children are: Grace, Minnie J. George and Haney.

Children of George Arthur 1 and Mary Ella Washburn

1. George Arthur 2 was born Aug. 29, 1882. In his youth he was a machinist. Later he joined the Marines for 4 years and spent a greater part of his time in Honolulu. He had an honorable discharge in 1912. The same summer, Aug. 10, he married Elsie Louise Pleasance in Cleveland, Ohio. They lived a few years in Elyria Ohio at 4 Frank Court, then moved to Cleveland. After a few months there he moved to Medina, Ohio where he worked at the A. I. Root Factory.

Children born to this union

  a. June Marie, born June 5, 1914, Attending school at West Tech. She is a very pretty, smart girl, 12 years old. (1926)

  George Arthur 3 born Jan. 26, 1916. He is ten years old and a very reliable young man.

  c. Naomi Elizabeth, born May 17, 1919, seven years old. She is a bright active girl.

  Elsie L. Pleasance is a very pleasant, smart woman., She is a fine housekeeper and cook and a kind wife and mother. She was born Dec. 29, 1886.

2. Julia A. Josephine, born Medina, Ohio, July 1885, died Oct. 16, 1887. Buried in Spring Grove cemetery, Medina, Ohio.

3. Frank Ford Washburn, born April 3, 1891, died July 1891, Buried in Medina, Ohio.

4. Frances Naomi Washburn, born Dec. 3, 1892 at one o'clock a.m. at 1231/2 Liberty St. Cleveland, Ohio. When she was seven years old, she came with her mother to Elyria, Ohio where she attended school until she was 16, when she decided to leave school to learn the milliner's trade, which she has followed ever since. She has achieved wonderful success and for over six years has been with the J. L. Hudson, Co, Detroit, Michigan (End of account by Mary Ella)

(Note: In 1932, during the depression, Aunt Naomi was let go from Hudson's. But in 1933 she was hired by Woodward & Lothrop, Washington, D.C. where she was Millinery buyer for the “French Room until she retired. She then moved first to Lakewood, Ohio, then to an apartment in Brooklyn, Ohio. She died July 10, 1976 in a nursing home in Medina County, Ohio.)

Addendum

A note of interest: When Grandmother lived alone at 127 Grant St., Elyria, your father, Walter Henry Miller used to deliver groceries to her when he worked after school for his father John H. Miller. Grandfather Miller was then Manager of a Fisher Bros., grocery store a few blocks from my Grandmother's house. This was a number of years before I knew him.

As a child I was told that Grandmother Mary Ella and her husband George Arthur 1 were divorced. He lived back East. I found the place and date of his death written in a family bible. They apparent lived in Cleveland at the time of their separation. Grandmother then took Aunt Naomi and George Arthur 2 to live with her father Christopher in Elyria, O. My father always spoke of being raised by his Grandfather Christopher. He never spoke of his father

I had always known that Grandmother Mary Ella Washburn had married a cousin named Washburn, but until I began compiling this history I never really understood who was who. George Abiel and Christopher Washburn were brothers, son of Abiel and Polly Webber Washburn. George Abiel's son George Arthur, married Mary Ella, Christopher's daugh ter. This meant they were first cousins and their respective fathers- in-law were also their uncles

During the years we lived in Park Ridge, Ill, I found the following letter in a book in our home library I can only presume sometime when my Mother, Elsie Louise lived with us, she used it as a book mark and then overlooked it. The letter was written by George Arthur 2 to his sister Frances Naomi at 127 Grant St., Elyria, Ohio. She was 17 years old at the time.

Honolulu, T.H. 7l3109

My Dear Sister,

Well I suppose you are figuring out just how you will spend the Fourth. I will have to parade in the forenoon and I don't know what or where I shall go in the afternoon. The city is going to have fireworks in the evening, I presume. What do you think of m y stationary, pretty nifty isn't it., but then there always was some class to me.

I am sending 60 cards home this payday. You will get them before you receive this letter. I will send 100 more soon. I am drawing only $9.80 a month now as I just put $5.00 a month with the Paymaster,

You needn't bother about going to see Miss Pleasance unless you want to as she and I are quits I guess for all time. (Famous last words - They celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 1962 in Medina, Ohio. I believe Mother told me the reason Daddy joined the Marines was because they had quarreled.)

How are the folks, well I hope. When are you going to send me another Cleveland P.D. (Cleveland Plain Dealer - morning newspaper) Have you ever seen any stamps like the one on this letter before? I will send a Program of our Military Ball home one of these days. Yesterday was payday and I was on guard, so today I can do as I please until 6:30 a.m. tomorrow morning.

Well, Chere Sister, write to me soon and tell me all the news. Give my love to all the folks.

Ever Your Brother George

Campvery Co. A. Marine Battalion Honolulu, T.H.

History of Pleasance Family

(Note: I know very little about the beginnings of my mother's family. What I do know is told here. - N.W.M.)

My Mother's father Henry Nottingham Pleasance was born on a New York Central train between New York City and Cleveland, Ohio. His father's name was George Higgins Pleasance and his mother's name was Emily Burden. Grandfather's middle name was in honor of the President of the railroad at the time of Grandfather's birth. Henry N. Pleasance married Caroline Bolty. l do recall that Grandfather had a sister Georgia Pleasance (I have her gold thimble.) and Grandmother had a brother named Henry Bolty. T here was also an Aunt Bettie, but I do not know whose sister she was. (That is where my middle name came from.)

Children of Henry N. and Caroline B. Pleasance

  1. Effie, died in infancy
  2. Russell died about age 8 of diphtheria.
  3. Florence died in her early 20's of tuberculosis.
  4. George Higgins Pleasance died in 1970's.
  5. Howard Herbert Pleasance, date of death unknown.
  6. Richard Bolty Pleasance, died in the 1970's.
  7. Elsie Louise Pleasance, born Dec. 29, 1886, died March 24, 1970.

4. George Higgins Pleasance married Grace Anderson in Lakewood, Ohio in late 1920's. Aunt Grace lived for many years in a nursing home in Lakewood, Ohio She was 100 years old on May 18, 1993. She died in the fall of 1993.

Children of this union:

  a. Charles Anderson Pleasance who married Margaret Ann Barclay. They had three daughters.

      1. Barbara Alice, married Enrique Rafael Zelaya, Sept. 18, 1982.

      2. Penny

      3. Mary Jane. Married Peter Smith

  b. Richard B. Pleasance married Josephine Hoag in the late 1920's. Children of this union:

      1. Richard Eugene Pleasance who married first: Vada, then Sybil. He died in September, 1994 in Raleigh, N .C.

      2. Dorothy Ann married James Faile. Children of this union:

          1. James
          2. John
          3. Karen

  c. Elsie Louise Pleasance married George Arthur 2 Washburn in Cleveland, Ohio, Aug.10, 1912. Children of this union:

      1. June Marie
      2. George Arthur 3
      3. Naomi Elizabeth