This family sketch is being share in the hopes that some other relative might be able to add to this story.
Joseph Turner was born c1785-1790 in England. The town isn’t known at the moment, but there are indications that some of the extended family had ties to Manchester, England and Coventry, Warwickshire, England and they were Methodists into the 20th century.
Joseph married Harriet Jackson, also born in England. Her death record noted parents as Benjamin and Harriet Jackson, but because of the age gap, it is possible that she is a second wife and not the mother of John, in spite of the fact that she calls him her son in her will.
Her age is all over the place in the records – born 1803 [1850], born 1810 [1860], born 1799 [burial record], born 1804 [death record], born 1800 [1870].
Joseph Turner settled in New Jersey sometime between the 1830 census, in which he does NOT appear and 19 March 1834, when he purchased land [Bergen County Deed Book V:394-396] from John Doremus in what was then know as Saddle River in Bergen County, New Jersey. However, in 1837, Passaic County was formed and the area in which Joseph lived was then called Manchester Township. However, in 1847, it was renamed for the last time and became Wayne Township, Passaic County, New Jersey.
Joseph and Harriet sold this land in 1841 [Passaic County Deed Book E:506-507] and purchased other property in the Preakness area of Wayne.
Joseph Turner appeared in several New Jersey censuses.
In 1840, Joseph is enumerated in Manchester Township. His neighbors are similar to those found in the 1850 and 1860 censuses, so I believe this is “my” man.
In 1850, Joseph is found in the newly renamed Wayne Township. His age is off by a few years and he was living with wife (identified as such in the land records) Harriet. There had been a female in the home, under 5, in 1840 who is not enumerated in 1850 so they apparently lost a young daughter during the 1840s.
Joseph is still living in Wayne in 1855 for the state census:
His final appearance is in the 1860 census of Wayne, New Jersey. The family is split onto two census pages with wife Harriet on the second page. However, there is a new mystery that hasn’t been solved. Joseph is head of household, but next is Ann, born c1787, place not noted. In examining the census entries, I noticed that the enumerator didn’t note everyone’s birthplace. My assumption is that the empty spaces indicate born in New Jersey, which means Ann would have been born in New Jersey. Even if born in England, who is she and why is Harriet enumerated AFTER her instead of directly below her husband????:
Note that Joseph, born c1785 and Ann, born c1787 are enumerated at the very bottom of the page above. On the next page we find:
Harriet, born c1800, England completes the family.
1860 is the last time Joseph and Ann Turner are found in the records.
Harriet appears once more, in 1870:
John Turner with (presumed) wife Sarah and their family are now enumerated in Wayne with Harriet Turner, now aged 70 years, living next door.
Harriet then disappears from official records, but in 1876, John and Sarah Turner sells real estate, including that from the estate of Joseph Turner, deceased.
Harriet, herself, left a will, written on 11 August 1869 and recorded five years later on 31 August 1874.
Harriet died of cholera, aged 67 years, in June 1871. Her death record states she died on 15 June, but her church burial record states buried on 14 June. Perhaps, she died on 13 June, buried on 14 June and someone misreported the day of the month. The church record also gives her age as 72.
Children:
- John, born c1822, England; died 22 December 1894, Paterson Passaic, New Jersey; married Sarah Hyzer/Hisor, 29 December 1842, Preakness [Wayne], Passaic, New Jersey
- Daughter, born 1835-1840; not at home in 1850; no further record
Per Harriet’s will, she left her entire estate to her son, John, with no other heirs mentioned.