Yesterday, I examined, in depth, the clues found in very few documents that provided a glimpse into the family of Daniel S. Babcock.

Today, we’ll look at what became of their lives.

Census records provide the family structure:

Daniel S. Babcock, born c1815, either in New York or New Jersey
Eliza Muns, born c1819, either in New York or New Jersey

Assuming that Eliza was Daniel’s first and only wife, they married c1839 or 1840.

Given that New York and New Jersey vital records in the 1800s are spotty, it isn’t surprising that no birth or death records have been found for any of them.

It’s possible, and perhaps probable, that Caroline married between 1860-1870 and she has been lost to time.

It is also quite likely that Jane also married. There is a Jane Babcock who married John Rigley on 16 August 1862 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey. The marriage record records Jane’s age as 21, but, if Daniel’s daughter, she was only about 17 or 18. I suggest this as a possibility because Charles and George Babcock both married in Paterson. However, neither John nor Jane Rigley [Wrigley] can be found in 1870.

It is much more likely that Helen and Elizabeth died in childhood. They haven’t been found living elsewhere in 1860 and they would only have been 12 and 9 in 1860.

Lucy is a story unto herself, to be told in a couple of days.

Children (born in NY or NJ):
1. Caroline, born c1841; died after 1860; no further record
2. Charles H. or G., born c1842
3. Jane, born c1845; died after 1860; no further record
4. Helen H., born c1848; died between 1855-1860; no further record
5. Elizabeth, born c1851; died between 1855-1860; no further record
6. George Westley, born c1854
7. Lucy, born 9 May 1857/58; died c1877

Charles Babcock, whose middle name is unknown but recorded as H. or G., who married Harriet Turner on 1 October 1866 in Paterson, Passaic, New Jersey, lived out their lives in the area and had four children.

George Westley Babcock married Cecelia Perry on 27 March 1874, also in Paterson. They, too, had four children, but the family removed to Fairfield County, Connecticut.

Each of these families will have their own sketches in a few days.

The final child, Lucy, really lived a short, tragic life. Her story will give an indication of what became of her parents, neither of whom appear in further census records.