In my last post, I was investigating the family of Charles Towson, a prominent hatter and Methodist in Baltimore. I couldn't find this Towson family in the census for 1850 or
1870, but while doing research for an entirely different matter when I
stumbled upon a scandal that occurred in the mid and late 1880s. The
figures were Charles's daughter Estelle, her husband Edward
Kirkland, and the son of a former judge from Cumberland, George A.
Pearre.
Unrelated Towsons
In genealogy research, sometimes you have to research a person to confirm that they aren't the relative that you're looking for. Instead of putting that information to waste, I've decided to share information I've collected on "unrelated" Towsons here. You can find more under the tag "unrelated Towsons."
Charles Towson, Hatter
Doing research for a family named Towson that lived in Baltimore city can be a nightmare, especially when there are more than one Charles Towsons roaming around. I wanted to identify each of the individuals so that I could know when I was looking at a relative and when I wasn't. One of the most interesting individuals I came across is Mr. Charles Towson, Hatter.
Family of Jehu J. Towson and Mary E. Walker
Jehu Towson Sr. was likely the Jehu J. Towson who married Mary Ellen Walker September 18 1851 (source). The couple had at least the following children: William W. (born June 7
1852), James H. born October 1854, Jehu F. born November 1858, and
Ella O. (born August 1861), who married George W. Smith (born July
1870). Jehu Jr. and Ella were listed in the household of their brother James H. Towson in the 1900 Census.
Family of James F. Towson and Louisa Barker
Family of James F. Towson and Louisa Barker
James Franklin Towson, born 1822, was the son of Joshua Towson and Mary Ferrel. He married Louisa Barker, daughter of William Barker, on April 6th 1841 or April 8th 1842 at the First Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore.
The Family of Jacob Tolley Towson and Henrietta M. Bishop
I have no known relation to this Towson family. I am posting this information for the benefit of other Towson family researchers. I hope this helps someone make their family connections!
buried babies
My third great grandparents, Charles Towson and Frances Tarr, had ten children. Four of these children died in infancy or childhood and are buried in the same plot, 481 FF in Baltimore Cemetery.
Those children are:
William (born abt. February 1868, died abt. December 1868)
James (born abt. Feb 1868, died abt. July 1868)
Sarah Ellen (born Sept. 9, 1876, died Mar. 27, 1881)
Henry "Harry" (born abt. Mar 1880, died abt. Sept 1880)
I have had the best luck finding evidence of Sarah Ellen's life and death. Baltimore City began recording births and deaths in 1875, the year before her birth, and I have both her birth and death certificates. She also appears in the 1880 United States Census, which also shows younger brother "Harry" at age three months.
The only evidence I have for Harry is, in fact, this census. There does exist a burial record for a "Henry" Towson at Baltimore Cemetery, alongside Sarah Ellen. In addition, a pension record of Charles has him list all of his children, and although he cannot give birth or death dates, he gives his son's name as Harry.
The information about William and James's lives is even more sparse. Neither one of them lived long enough to have been recorded in the 1870 Census. But two infant Towsons were buried in 1868; an James in July 1868, and an unnamed infant Towson in December of that year. Cemetery records list James as being four months old at the time of his burial, and the unnamed infant (who could only be William) as being nine months old, meaning that they were most likely twins born in February.
I've been to the FF area of Baltimore Cemetery, in the very back left corner of the cemetery. The area is sparsely decorated with headstones, and there are none in the area where the Towson children are supposed to be buried– either for them, or the four unknowns also buried in the lot with them (William H Busby, Annie Busby, Mary J Busby, and James Busby). One of my dreams is to buy a headstone for these four long deceased relatives of mine. But before I do that, I'm hoping to find actual birth and death dates for the three boys. I'd like to be able to remember them as best as possible. Their lives may have been short, but that doesn't mean they weren't important.
Those children are:
William (born abt. February 1868, died abt. December 1868)
James (born abt. Feb 1868, died abt. July 1868)
Sarah Ellen (born Sept. 9, 1876, died Mar. 27, 1881)
Henry "Harry" (born abt. Mar 1880, died abt. Sept 1880)
I have had the best luck finding evidence of Sarah Ellen's life and death. Baltimore City began recording births and deaths in 1875, the year before her birth, and I have both her birth and death certificates. She also appears in the 1880 United States Census, which also shows younger brother "Harry" at age three months.
The only evidence I have for Harry is, in fact, this census. There does exist a burial record for a "Henry" Towson at Baltimore Cemetery, alongside Sarah Ellen. In addition, a pension record of Charles has him list all of his children, and although he cannot give birth or death dates, he gives his son's name as Harry.
The information about William and James's lives is even more sparse. Neither one of them lived long enough to have been recorded in the 1870 Census. But two infant Towsons were buried in 1868; an James in July 1868, and an unnamed infant Towson in December of that year. Cemetery records list James as being four months old at the time of his burial, and the unnamed infant (who could only be William) as being nine months old, meaning that they were most likely twins born in February.
I've been to the FF area of Baltimore Cemetery, in the very back left corner of the cemetery. The area is sparsely decorated with headstones, and there are none in the area where the Towson children are supposed to be buried– either for them, or the four unknowns also buried in the lot with them (William H Busby, Annie Busby, Mary J Busby, and James Busby). One of my dreams is to buy a headstone for these four long deceased relatives of mine. But before I do that, I'm hoping to find actual birth and death dates for the three boys. I'd like to be able to remember them as best as possible. Their lives may have been short, but that doesn't mean they weren't important.
Powered by Blogger.
Blog Archive
