Category Archives: Hicks

Maternal Branches in the Family Tree: Elida Ann Hicks (1833-1914)

Elida Ann Hicks, my 2X great grandmother, and her family are one of my more interesting family lines because they represent American colonial ancestors who removed to Canada as pre-Loyalists, came back to Maine, and with a brick wall or two mixed in, just for genealogical fun!

No record has been found with the exact date of birth of Elida, but every census record and her death record indicates a birth sometime in 1833.

She appears in the 1850 census, aged 17, and then 27, 37 and 47 in the 1860, 1870 and 1880 censuses. On 25 April 1910, she was 77 and she was aged 81 years when she died on 20 February 1914. From that, it seems likely she was born either in January or early February 1833.

Her parents, Israel Hicks and Abigail Carlisle, lived in Buctouche, Kent, New Brunswick, Canada and Elida was the seventh of eight children born to the couple.

Elida never knew her father as he died in 1835, not long after her youngest sibling, Valentine, was born in December 834. Her mother, Abigail, must have been a strong, independent woman as she raised all eight children and never remarried after Israel’s death. Even more surprising is that Israel had been married before and also left four young children by his first wife. That must have been one busy household.

I had often wondered how Elida came to meet her future husband, Charles Augustus Stewart, as he lived in Charlotte, Washington, Maine. However, I discovered with a bit more research that Charles and Elida were first cousins, as his parents were John Stewart and Catherine Carlisle. Abigail Hicks and Catherine Stewart were sisters!

For a reason known only to himself, the Calais City Clerk only recorded marriage intentions in the 1850s, rather than also recording the exact date of marriage. Charles and Elida filed intentions on 6 July 1850 and likely married soon after because the census taker came around to Meddybemps, Washington, Maine and recorded the young married couple, Charles and Elida Stewart living there.

Charles was a farmer and Elida was a hardworking farmer’s wife. They had eight children, but, like many other families faced much heartache when several children died young.

All vital life events took place in Meddybemps, unless noted.

Children:

1. Wallace Newmarch, born May 1851; died 20 April 1882; married Annie M. Seymour, 4 May 1878, Lawrence, Essex, Massachusetts
2. Permelia, born December 1852; died 22 June 1854
3. Felicia, born September 1854; died 22 August 1861
4. Harry Weston, born 15 June 1858; died 20 July 1911; married Nancy Gilman Aldrich, 6 August 1879, Pembroke, Washington, Maine
5. Melissa E., born 4 August 1859; died 11 May 1921, St. Stephen, Charlotte, New Brunswick, Canada; married Frederick Austin Findley, 22 November 1882, Melrose, Middlesex, Massachusetts. They divorced before 1900 and had no children.
6. Carey M., born November 1866; died 18 February 1869
7. William Charles, born March 1868; died 21 December 1947, Boston, Suffolk, Massachusetts; married Josephine May Sadler, 23 September 1896, Washington County, Maine
8. Annie Maude, born 24 June 1874; died 10 September 1940, Ridgewood, Bergen, New Jersey; married Charles Edwin Adams, 21 September 1898, Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts

As can be seen, Elida buried three young children – Permelia, Felicia and Carey – and lost two more sons who predeceased her – Wallace in 1882 and Harry in 1911.

She also lost her husband, Charles, suddenly when he came in early from his farm work and died of a heart attack when he laid down on the sofa.

I found it very interesting that, up to and including Charles’s death in 1894, the family was always recorded as “Stewart.” However, Annie married as “Stuart” and Elida’s few records in later life also called her “Stuart.” Bertha, Elida’s granddaughter, had the answer. She said her grandmother felt that Stuart sounded more French, so she changed the spelling!

I was fortunate to know Harry’s daughter, Bertha, and her daughters. One of the items her daughters shared with me was the biography that Bertha wrote about her grandmother, Elida. Bertha was also the valedictorian of her high school class and her daughters also shared her speech. Between Bertha’s two stories, a clear picture of life in Meddybemps, which hadn’t changed much from 1850, when Charles and Elida married, until 1910, near the last year of Elida’s life.

Somewhat surprisingly, no photograph of Elida has been found. Calais was a thriving city at the turn of the 20th century and there were multiple photographers in business and there are surviving photos of Elida’s children, taken in the 1800s. Whether Elida chose not to be photographed or whether any photo of her has been lost to time is unknown.

Elida traveled back to Canada multiple times to visit relatives. She hasn’t been found in the 1900 U.S. census or 1901 Canadian census, but she likely was in New Brunswick when the 1900 census taker arrived in Calais, Maine in the summer of 1900. Unfortunately, that is the only U.S. census record that recorded the exact month and year of a person’s birth and would have corroborated, or disproved, my belief that Elida was probably born in January or February of 1833.

Elida knew she didn’t have much time left and on 16 February 1914, she wrote her one-age will, signed with an X, likely because of weakness. The 1880 census indicated that Elida and Charles could both read and write.  Elida made several bequests:

1. Nellie F. Adams, $100.00 [Equivalent to well over $3500 today]
2. William C. Stuart and to “my grandchildren,” $1.00 each
3. Daughters Annie M. Adams and Melissa E. Findley, the remainder of the estate in equal shares
4. Annie M. Adams appointed executrix

Her will is interesting for several reasons. First, the #1 bequest was to Nellie (Tarbox) Adams, my other 2X great grandmother, who was still married at the time (husband Calvin didn’t die until 1921), so I have to believe that Nellie and Elida were close friends, on top of the fact that Nellie’s son and Elida’s daughter had married. Second, I don’t know whether Will Stuart had already received his share of the estate, but Elida took care to mention that he plus “her grandchildren” were only to receive a dollar. Lastly, Melissa was the elder daughter, but her last born child, Annie, was named executrix.

Elida passed away on 20 February 1914, probably very early in the morning because her obituary appeared the same day in The Calais Advertiser:

Elida was buried in the little Meddybemps Cemetery next to her husband, Charles, and her three little children who had all died so young.

 

 

1861 Deed by Elida Stuart: Help Needed!

UPDATED TRANSCRIPTION – Scroll down to the bottom!

Sometimes, we win the handwriting lottery in old documents and, other times, we don’t. I definitely didn’t win with this deed, created in Calais, Washington, Maine, but filed in Kent County, New Brunswick, Canada.

All I can say is the county clerk shouldn’t have been fired, he should never have gotten the job!

This deed is mercifully short, but there are still a handful of words I haven’t been able to figure out, even though I’ve worked on this for three days!

If you are challenged by hieroglyphics, this is your chance to test your skills!

Here is my transcription, but see below for a crop of the above deed:

Know all men by these presents that I Elida Stuart of the Town of Meddybemps in the County of Washington in the State of Maine for and inconsideration of the sum of twenty pounds lawful money of New Brunswick to me paid by Mariner Hicks of the Parish of Wellington in the County of Kent and Province of New Brunswick the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge have granted bargained and sold and by these presents do grant bargain and sell unto the said Mariner Hicks his heirs and assigns one certain piece or parcel of Land situate lying and being on the West side of the Little Buctouche River in the County of Kent aforesaid being all my right title share and interest of in and to all that certain (?) and (?) Land owned by my late father Israel Hicks and bounded on the Westerly Lands occupied by Andrew (Jenet?) and on the East by Lands occupied by the heirs of the late Ira Hicks and containing in the whole ninety acres more or less. To have and to hold the same Lands and premises with the appurtenances to the said Mariner Hicks his heirs and assigns and (?) every (?) who of forever and I do for(?) and (?) with the said Mariner Hicks his heirs and assigns that he is seized of the premises as a (?????) estate of inheritance in fee simple free of and from all manner of encumbrances whatsoever and that I have a good right (?) power and (?) (?) to (?) bargain and sell the same in manner and form as (?) within.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this third day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty one.

Elida Stuart (seal)
Signed sealed and
delivered in presence of
ER Chase

State of Maine – Calais June 3rd 1861

Personally appeared Elida Stuart the person who signed (?) and of her own free will acknowledged that she understood the meaning of the above written instrument and that it was her own (free will?) and deed.

Before me ER Chase Mayor of the City of Calais

Here is an enlarged crop of the second half of the deed, where I am missing the most words:

The text (updated after K made several suggestions with which I agree). Note that I have looked for this Andrew in the 1851, 1861 and 1871 censuses of Kent County, New Brunswick. I can’t find him OR any surname that looks anything like what is written in this deed. I also figured out a couple more words.:

occupied by Andrew (Jenet? Gand?) and on the East by Lands occupied by the heirs of the late Ira Hicks and containing in the whole ninety acres more or less. To have and to hold the same Lands and premises with the appurtenances to the said Mariner Hicks his heirs and assigns and with every (?) (who of?) forever and I assign my heirs executors and administrators (???) with the said Mariner Hicks his heirs and assigns that he is seized of the premises as a good indispensible estate of inheritance in fee simple free of and from all manner of encumbrances whatsoever and that I have a good right with power and lawful (?) to (?) bargain and sell the same in manner and form as (?) within.

I would appreciate any help you can provide – even if it is only a word or two. It takes a village and the indecipherable words are being decoded bit by bit. Thank you! 🙂

Israel Hicks & Abigail Carlisle, Family of Pre-Loyalists and Loyalists

Israel Hicks was born about 1785 in New Brunswick, Canada. Looking at his year of birth, you might assume that he was the child of Loyalists who fled the newly formed United States in 1783 at the close of the Revolutionary War, but, in this case, you would be mistaken.

Israel was actually the son of Ira Hicks, born in 1761 in Warren, Bristol County, Rhode Island and grandson of Samuel Hicks and Thankful Bowen. The Hicks were Pre-Loyalists with Samuel and Thankful moving their young family from Rhode Island to New Brunswick, Canada not long after baby Ira’s 1761 birth.

Abigail Carlisle was the daughter of Robert and Catherine (MNU) Carlisle, born about 1793, also in New Brunswick, Canada. Robert IS considered to be a Loyalist, although I would not call him that in the technical sense of the word. His military service during the Revolution was to help guard Nova Scotia from attack. I have found no evidence that he ever lived in the former colonies before or during the war. He was a loyal subject of the king, but not one who lived in America.

Israel Hicks and Abigail Carlisle married on 9 March 1819 in Shediac, Westmorland County, New Brunswick, Canada. The Carlisle family lived in Sussex Vale,  Kings County, New Brunswick so I am not sure what she was doing in Shediac.

The two towns are 65-70 miles apart, which was quite a trip in 1819. After they married, they settled down in Buctouche, Kent County, New Brunswick, which is a further 20+ north of Shediac.

Israel and Abigail Hicks had eight children, but I know little about most of them. I am hoping some Canadian cousins might see this post and get in touch with me.

(Israel’s and Abigail’s children are left aligned; their grandchildren are bulleted.)

Children, probably all born in Buctouche:

Ira, born 3 September 1821; died 11 September 1908, McKees Mills, Kent County, New Brunswick; married Matilda Abrams, 25 November 1844, Kent County, New Brunswick. Ira and Matilda have descendants, who I believe mostly live in Canada.

Ira and Matilda had eight children:

  • Abigail, born 12 August 1845; died 27 November 1908; married Duncan McKay, 30 June 1880
  • Deborah, born 1847; married Peleg S. Jones, 21 June 1877
  • Abram, born 1852; died 1928; married Mary E. MacFarlane
  • Jane, born 1855; married Charles Geddes
  • Ephraim H., born 1857; died 1921; married Margaret Hyslop
  • James Ira, born 1859; died 1938; married Harriet Jane Sherwood
  • Elida Felicia, born 1863; died 1946; married Robert McConnell
  • Emma Elizabeth, born 1 April 1866; married Willard Jones

Polly, born about 1823

Ephraim, born about 1825

William, born about 1827

David Harris, born December 1829; died 27 September 1853, Meddybemps, Washington County, Maine; unmarried. He was likely visiting or living with sister Elida, her husband and their family when he died.

Charles, born about 1831

Elida Ann, born 1833; died 20 February 1914, Calais, Washington, Maine; married Charles Augustus Stewart, 6 July 1850, Calais, Washington, Maine. Charles and Elida have descendants, all living in the U.S., as far as I know.

Elida and Charles Stewart/Stuart had eight children:

  • Wallace Newmarch, born May 1851; died 20 April 1882; married Annie M. Seymour
  • Permelia M., born December 1852; died 22 June 1854
  • Felicia, born September 1854; died 22 August 1861
  • Harry Weston, born June 1857; died 20 July 1911; married Nancy Gilman Aldrich
  • Melissa E., born 4 August 1859; died 11 May 1921; married Frederick Austin Findley; had no children
  • Carey M., born November 1866; died 18 February 1869
  • William C., born March 1868; died after 1940; married Josephine M. Sadler
  • Annie Maude, born 24 June 1874; died 10 September 1940; married Charles Edwin Adams, 21 September 1898

Valentine, born December 1834; died 20 March 1912, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, but he is buried in Robbinston; married Mary Ellen Noddin, about 1862, probably in New Brunswick, Canada.

In 1850, Valentine was a 15 year old laborer living in the home of Phillip Boyden in Robbinston. Valentine and Mary were living in Robbinston, Washington County, Maine in 1900. She reported having given birth to nine children, five living. Robbinston was close to Meddybemps, where sister Elida lived.

Valentine and Mary had nine children, eight of whom have been identified:

  • Harris M., born 1863; died 1884 in an accident in the woods; unmarried.
  • George L., born May 1864; died 24 June 1887; unmarried.
  • Howard, born 1866; no further record, but by process of elimination, he must be the fifth child living in 1900 and 1910. It is possible that Howard returned to Canada to live. He is not the Howard Hicks living inFalmouth, ME in 1900. Some Believe he is the Howard living in Kittitas, WA in 1900 and onwards. However, in 1900, he is next door to the family of a Manfred HIcks, age 60, which might be coincidence since Hicks is a common name, but he might be a son of that Manfred.
  • Carrie Maud – born August 1869; married Clifford S. Lovell, 20 November 1890, Robbinston, ME. He was from Middleboro, MA.
  • Eliza Evelyn, born 24 May 1872; died 14 August 1935; married Walter F. Anderson, 14 October 1893. He was from Stoneham, MA.
  • Israel Lindsey, born 19 August 1874; died 27 December 1894 of tuberculosis; unmarried.
  • Lucy M., born 8 September 1876; married Howard Cline, 26 February 1894, Robbinston, ME. He was from Middleboro, MA.
  • Mary Etta, born 19 November 1878; no further record.

Israel Hicks died before 9 December 1835, when his estate was administered. He was only about 50 when he died and left widow Abigail with children ranging in age from 14 to a few months old to raise on her own.

Abigail never remarried. She died 27 March 1871 in Meddybemps, where, like son David, she was either visiting or living with daughter Elida’s family and is buried in the Charlotte, Maine Cemetery near other Stuart family members.

AbigailHicksGravestoneCharlotteMECemetery
“Abigal Hicks”