Thomas Wouldhave (TH102) emigrated to Massachusetts in
the early 1840s with his wife, Anne (nee Race), and their very young son, John. Thomas had been born and raised in the area
of Barnard Castle anbd many of its now historic features would be familiar to him. The modern photos show the octagonal Market Cross or Butter Market, which is little changed from
its construction in 1747, a gift from Thomas Breaks to replace the Toll Booth
that formerly stood there. The church is also in the photos, taken on a gloomy day. More
information about and images of Barnard Castle can be found at the website http://www.barnardcastlelife.co.uk/index.html
Thomas had six children who survived to adulthood.
John Wouldhave (JO108)
Thomas’s eldest son John was born in 1840 in Barnard
Castle. He became a shoemaker and at the age of 21 was a
volunteer in the Civil War. He appears on the Civil War Volunteers list
1861-1865, one
of the thirty six men who volunteered from Assabet Village. He enlisted on the 18th
October 1861 and was a Private in the 26th Regiment, Massachusetts, Company E, an infantry unit
fighting for the Union which mustered in September and October 1861. He was mustered out on 26th Aug 1865 at Savannah,
GA.
John married Abbie C Reed, daughter of Jason and Mary Reed,
in Greenfield, Franklin, Mass on 27th November 1866. Abbie was 18 years old, born in Massachusetts
and John 24.
Although we have not found information about their
children, their grandchildren (Raymond A Wilson and Robert A Wilson) were with
them in the 1900 census in Summer St, Maynard Town, which they rented. John’s
occupation was given as Capitalist. They could all read, write and speak English.
John was awarded a military pension as an invalid from 25th
July 1870. He entered a Soldiers’ Home in Chelsea, Mass on June 15th
1903 and died on 17th July 1903 at the age of 63 years. He was
buried in Enfield, Hartford, Connecticut. The Death Return states he suffered
from paralysis of many months duration, contributory factors were dementia and heart disease, also of many
months duration. His widow, Abbie, was
awarded a pension following his death (file dated April 29th 1908).
Elizabeth A Wouldhave (EL124)
Elizabeth was born in about 1844 and married Albert S
Stewart/Stuart on May 27th 1870, aged 23 years. (We haven’t yet found the exact date of her
birth). She became Elizabeth Wouldhave Stewart and had children Ella Maria and George
William. She died of heart disease on 29th September 1886, aged 42, housekeeper
and resident of Maynard, Mass. She was buried in Glenwood cemetery.
Hannah Wouldhave (HA112)
Hannah was born in 1849 (we haven’t yet found the exact
date of her birth). She married Samuel Wilson, a farmer aged 25, on 15th
August 1868 in Stow, Mass. She died 10th
February 1888, aged 39 years and was buried in Glenwood cemetery.
Thomas Wouldhave (TH107)
Thomas was born in 1852.
He married Mary Wilson on 12th December 1874 in Cambridge,
Middlesex, Mass. Mary was 21 years old,
the daughter of David and Margaret Wilson. Thomas was said to be 22 years old
and a machinist. Their first child, Thomas Jnr was born 10th Nov
1875 and registered in Cambridge, Mass. Thomas’s
occupation was machinist. Their second child, Amy M Wouldhave was born in 1877. Amy married John J Doyle on 22nd
November 1897 in Boston, Mass.
Thomas died 11th September 1901 in a
Massachusetts Hospital and was buried in
Glenwood Cemetry, Maynard, Mass, aged 51 . The primary cause of death was
uraemic poisoning (kidney failure) with chronic Bright’s Disease (Nephritis).
Maria J Wouldhave (MA134)
Maria J was born in 1855.
She married Samuel G Saunders on 13th September 1874 in
Maynard. She was aged 19 and he was 20 years old. They had a daughter, Mabel Estella, who married in 1896.
Robert Wouldhave (RO105)
Robert was born on 18th October, 1857 in Stow,
Middlesex, Mass. He married Bertha Louise Nippel, who was born in Germany. In the 1920 census they are living in South
Glenwood, Garfield, Colorado. Bertha
immigrated to the United States in 1867 and was naturalised in 1870. They owned
their own house with the help of a mortgage. They had no occupation in the
census data.
Robert died on 21st February 1930, aged 71,
and is buried in Pioneer Cemetery.
