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Ancestors of Richard T. Spotten

6. John Humphreys, born September 25, 1876 in Bethesda, North Wales ¹²; died May 24, 1933 in Yorkville, NY¹². He was the son of 12. Richard Humphreys and 13. Mary Williams. He married 7. Jane (Jennie) Pritchard July 16, 1903 in Ellis Island, New York ¹³.

7. Jane (Jennie) Pritchard, born October 16, 1877 in Bethesda, N. Wales; died December 1963 in Camden, NY. She was the daughter of 14. David Pritchard and 15. Margaret Eluned Parry.

Notes for John Humphreys:
John was born in Bethesda, but grew up in Mynydd Llandegai (which is "Douglas Hill" in English), a tiny community just outside Tregarth (across the creek from Bethesda). Ellen Humphreys, a great-granddaughter, visited there and says Mynydd Llandegai is a lovely hill covered with heather. John's sister Elizabeth's grandson, Stephen Haycocks, has sent me two photos that together give a panoramic view, although these were taken in March of 1996, so the heather was not in bloom. In the fall of 1996, he and Belinda sent two more photos, in which the hill is indeed covered with heather.

According to their daughter Margaret, John became a naturalized citizen after receiving his draft notice from Britain in WW I. He worked at Savage Arms, who sent a letter that he was involved in the defense effort here, and advised him to become a citizen, especially since he had so many children. The US would not draft a man with such a large family. However, the 1920 Census (taken on January 2) shows both John and Jane as "AL", alien, meaning they had not yet been naturalized.

From the Oneida County Courthouse Immigration and Naturalization office, I obtained a copy of John's Oath of Allegiance, Declaration of Intention and Petition for Naturalization.

The Declaration of Intent, no. 4973, was filed on March 4, 1918 and gives his occupation as Machine Operator. It describes him as 5'7" tall, 140 pounds, with light complexion, brown hair and blue eyes. His address at the time was Box 266, Yorkville, NY. It also says that he emigrated from Liverpool, England on the vessel Cymric, arriving in the port of New York about March 25, 1899.

On his Petition for Naturalization, dated March 8, 1920,he is still listed as a Machine Operator, living at 17 Brainard St., Whitesboro, NY. It also says that he left Liverpool on or about March 15, 1899, and lists his wife Jane P. and the seven children then living at home. (Bess was already married,; Eleanor was born in July 1920.) Jane would have obtained her citizenship through him, so there is no indication of when she and Bess immigrated, nor the ship or port of entry for them. The Certificate of Naturalization, No. 1373043, was issued on June 26, 1920.

The story in the family that we have heard is that John's mother did not approve of his intention to marry Jane, so she sent him off to America, where he married Jane at Ellis Island after working for awhile and then sending passage for her and their daughter Bess. The 1910 and 1920 Censuses indicate that Jane and Bess arrived in 1902; however, they also indicate that he arrived in 1900 or 1901, which is not so. He did emigrate prior to 1900, when the slate workers were on strike at the Penrhyn quarries. Lord Penrhyn would not negotiate with them, and the strike lasted for over three years.

My mother finally found a tattered "Marriage Contract" for Nain and Taid dated July 16, 1903. It says that Taid was living at Slatington, Penn., but for Nain "living at" was crossed out and "Arr S.S. Aurania July 16, 1903", so they actually did get married at Ellis Island on the day of her arrival here.

I obtained a ship passenger list for Taid's voyage. It gives his name as William, rather than John, but the age and other information are correct for John. The two pieces of information given that I did not have before were that his destination in Slatington was the home of his UNCLE... Evan W. Williams... and that he had a grand total of 4 Pounds (no proper British pound sign in this software...) with him. Evan Williams may have been Taid's mother's older brother or her uncle. The latter seems more likely as I have not found any other indication yet that he was her brother.

John worked in slate quarries in Wales, Pennsylvania and Vermont until January 1910. The affidavit of the witnesses to his Petition for Naturalization says that he had lived in the area since January 15, 1910. His statement says he had been a resident of the State of New York since September 24, 1908. The family is shown to be in Granville, NY in the 1910 Census, which was taken about January 2. Their son David was born in Granville in 1914, but son John was born in Yorkville in 1917. I have a postcard sent to Mrs. Jane Humphreys. Dayton Hill, Middle Granville, NY from her cousin, Anna Pritchard Carroll on Dec. 7, 1915.

John also worked for a time at Great Meadow state prison in Comstock, NY. During WW I, he worked for Savage Arms in Utica, NY. In the 1920 Census, he is listed as a laborer in a cotton mill.

The 1926 Utica City Directory lists his occupation as a shipping clerk, living at 924 Inman Place. In 1927, he is listed in the City Directory as retired, with the family now living at 2139 Whitesboro St., Utica (actually, it's in Yorkville) By 1928, they had moved to 2203 Whitesboro St., and at the time of his death were at 8 Calder Ave.

At least a few sources, Eleanor Humphreys Graham, Margaret Humphreys Burke and Elaine Humphreys Colacino, have said he was crippled after being hit by a trolley. Elva Harrington Zajac doesn't remember anything about a trolley; she thought he just suffered from severe arthritis, even needing help to eat. She remembers he was once treated with a rubber tube with an electric current, which didn't help! She also remembers that he had all of his teeth pulled. Elaine said her father used to tell her how he and his brothers would cross arms to form a seat to carry their father from room to room. John's sister Elizabeth's daughter, (Mary) Edith Richardson Haycocks also believes that he was crippled from his arthritis.

Elaine's brother Bill says that Taid was not hit by a trolley, but that he drove a trolley. After work he would meet an Irish friend who was a policeman, and they would go for a beer before going home. The two of them were hit by a hit and run driver; the cop was killed and Taid was crippled. Well... I'll have to see if the Oneida Count Historical Society has anything on hit and run accidents or policemen's deaths. It does seem apparent that whatever the cause, this occurred about 1926. My Aunt Sarah Humphreys Scholl says Taid was crippled for 7 years before he died, which agrees with the information found in the City Directory. Not having a better date, it would be very time consuming to search the Utica paper for an article on an accident, so that is something I probably won't try for awhile...

More About John Humphreys:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY.
Cause of Death: Bronchitis
Occupation: Shipping Clerk

Notes for Jane (Jennie) Pritchard:
Jane grew up in Pen y Bryn, Tregarth, North Wales. She moved with her husband John to Slatington, PA, Granville, NY, then NY Mills, NY and later to Calder Ave in Yorkville, NY, where John died.

She had gone to school in Wales with Evan, and met him again at the Welsh church. They lived at 1111 West St. in Utica after marrying in 1951. After Evan's death, she lived with her daughter Eleanor's family for seven years. She also stayed with Jessie on occasion and had stayed briefly with her daughter Sarah before going to the Genesee Nursing Home and then to a nursing home in Camden. Prior to marrying Evan, she had lived with her son William for several years.

Once when she was visiting with her daughter Margaret on the St. Lawrence River, Margaret noticed a snake coming down the driveway, but decided not to mention it as she didn't know how her mother would react. Soon the snake went into the brush, and without looking up from her sewing, Jane commented "Hmmph, snake went in the woods..."

She used to tell us that when she was a child, her father gave her a calf. She named the calf Julia, after her best friend, and couldn't understand why Julia did not feel honored!!

Before she married Evan, when I was nine years old, she sometimes took me to the Blatt's house, where she did ironing and such. She also used to take me to downtown Utica by bus. We would go to Woolworth's, where she would buy me some wonderful, warm roasted peanuts. Then I would ride the escalator upstairs to the housewares department, and she would trudge up all the stairs, because she was afraid of the escalator with her bad legs.

Elaine Colacino remembers Nain telling that Buffalo Bill Cody was on the ship when she and Bess came to the U.S. and that he paid quite a bit of attention to pretty little Bess. She also told of seeing an iceberg during the trip. Buffalo Bill's troupe did go to Europe on tour back around the turn of the century, so this could well be a true story.

In volume I of John Cowell's "Pictorial History of Bangor" , I have found a photograph of the train car used by Buffalo Bill and his troupe, taken in May 1903 in Bangor, Wales, where two performances were given. Bangor is only a few miles from Tregarth. Since Nain and Bess emigrated in July 1903, the story seems quite credible.

Further verification of the story came from Nain's sister Nell's daughter Iris in an e-mail message to me dated 17 April 1998:

" I do remember my mother telling us the story and how sad my grandparents were when they waved little Bess and your grandma good bye, on the docks, and how they all waved till the ship went out of sight! There were tears in her eyes as she was telling us all about it. Then she said, rather sadly, how my grandfather died of a broken heart after losing little Bess, whom they both loved and adored as any grandparents would. My mother always said how much they missed them both. I also remember Mother telling us that Buffalo Bill was on the ship, too, and your grandma told her in her letter to Mam that he adored little Bess, and that both got on well throughout the voyage. So what Mother told us must be true, Jane, and I have always believed what Mother said, because they were writing to each other for years after your grandma left Wales. I hope you have some news from the passenger list regarding Buffalo Bill being on that ship. Jane, I still believe what Mother said is true, and if anyone should know, Mother would, because she was at the dock where the ship sailed from, and she always cried after little "Bess". She adored her, Jane."

I have sent for passenger lists for both Nain and William F. Cody.

More About Jane (Jennie) Pritchard:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY., section 59

Marriage Notes for John Humphreys and Jane Pritchard:
I have a postcard sent by Jane's cousin, Anna Pritchard Carroll, dated 12/7/1915 to her at Dayton Hill, Middle Granville, NY. Their son John was born on 11 Feb. 1917 in Yorkville, NY, so they apparently move to Yorkville in 1916.

More About John Humphreys and Jane Pritchard:
Marriage: July 16, 1903, Ellis Island, New York¹³

Children of John Humphreys and Jane Pritchard are:

Elizabeth Mary (Bess) Humphreys, born February 28, 1899 in Bethesda, N. Wales; died May 06, 1996 in Holyoke, MA; married Floyd Harrington December 23, 1916 in Granville, NY; born September 16, 1893 in Granville, NY ¹⁴; died March 08, 1970 in St. Lukes Hospital, Utica NY.

Notes for Elizabeth Mary (Bess) Humphreys:
Bess moved to Slatington, PA from Wales in July 1903, having arrived at Ellis Island with her mother on July 16. The family later moved to Granville, NY, where she received her education. She was employed as a seamstress for Lynch and Kelly in Utica, NY, where she made robes for the Knights of Columbus.

The 1920 Federal Census says she was naturalized, but does not give a date for that. The date would probably be the date of her marriage to Floyd, as she would become a citizen upon marrying one. The census was taken in January. Her parents were not naturalized until June 1920, having filed the final Petition in March.

More About Elizabeth Mary (Bess) Humphreys:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY., section 67, Lot 6222

Notes for Floyd Harrington:
Floyd was a electrician (Lineman) in Granville, NY at the time of his marriage. He and Bess moved to Utica, NY in 1933, where he worked at the Utica Drop Forge and Tool Corp. from 1933 to 1946.

Floyd seriously injured his leg while working on a houseboat in the St. Lawrence River. This houseboat is a point of interest for the boat tours in the Thousand Islands. He was in the hospital in New York City (where his daughter was a Registered Nurse) because of this injury for several months, having extensive surgeries over a period of 2 to 3 years, resulting in the saving of his leg.

He was a laundry supervisor at Oneida County Hospital (Broadacres) in Deerfield, NY from 1951 until 1964, when he retired.

Floyd was born Sept. 16, 1893, but his birth was not registered at the Town of Granville Clerk's Office until March 5, 1894, so the index entry is under 1894.

More About Floyd Harrington:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY., Section 67 Lot 6222

More About Floyd Harrington and Elizabeth Humphreys:
Marriage: December 23, 1916, Granville, NY

ii.

William J. Humphreys, born December 19, 1905 in Slatington, PA; died May 30, 1987 in 13 Balsam Cres New Hartford NY; married Ceinwen Williams September 18, 1926 in Utica, NY ¹⁵; born November 02, 1903 in Granville, NY ¹⁶; died January 28, 1998 in Eden Park Nursing Home, Utica, NY¹⁶.

Notes for William J. Humphreys:
His daughter Elaine said that he was born William Humphreys, but added a middle initial J. at the advice of the Post Office, because he was getting mail (mostly bills) for another William Humphreys, and this became part of his legal name. However, the US Census for 1910 lists him as William J. Humphreys, when he was a small child.

Bill was a member of Calvary Baptist Church where he served as a Deacon.
He was also a member of Liberty Lodge #959 F&AM, the Shrine Club of Utica AAONMS of Ziyara Temple.

Bill worked at one time for Pfleeger's Office Equipment. He also worked at GLF and retired from American Hard Wall & Plaster in 1966. He was raised and educated in Granville, NY.

He was a bowling enthusiast.

His gravestone says he was born in 1904, but the correct year is 1905. Their daughter, Elaine says that Ceinwen did not want anyone to know that she was older than him!! Helen Harrington Fraser thinks that at one time he had lied about his date of birth in order to get a job, and had stuck with 1904 since that time.

More About William J. Humphreys:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY., section 59
Cause of Death: Prostate Cancer

Notes for Ceinwen Williams:
Ceinwen was at one time employed at H. L. Green Co.

More About Ceinwen Williams:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY, section 59

Marriage Notes for William Humphreys and Ceinwen Williams:
Married September 18, 1926... or earlier?...

Their daughter, Elaine, said her mother became very angry one time when she found some papers in the attic that indicated that Bill and Ceinwen were married a year earlier than anyone thought.

Their children gave them a 60th wedding anniversary party on September 21, 1986 at Grimaldi's Restaurant, Utica, NY. They also were honored at a 55th anniversary party at Trinkaus Manor.

More About William Humphreys and Ceinwen Williams:
Marriage: September 18, 1926, Utica, NY ¹⁷

iii.

Margaret Humphreys, born July 29, 1907 in Slatington, PA ¹⁸; died March 12, 1989 in New Hartford, NY¹⁸; married (1) Albert Newell October 02, 1926 in Herkimer, NY ¹⁹; born Bet. 1904 - 1907; married (2) Stewart Elting Burke February 28, 1943 in Utica, NY; born October 12, 1900 in Poughkeepsie, NY ²⁰; died February 17, 1970²⁰.

Notes for Margaret Humphreys:
Maragret graduated from Whitesboro Central High School (and the Utica School of Commerce ?)

She was a bookkeeper for many years, as well as owner and operator of Chula Vista Cottages in Cape Vincent, NY.

She was married to Stewart in and her funeral service was at Central United Methodist Church, Utica, NY. Her last address, 17 Singleton Dr, New Hartford, NY, was where she died.
[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Dec 30, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.5.33674.97]

Individual: Burke, Margaret
Social Security #: 075-01-9581
SS# issued in: New York

Birth date: Jul 29, 1907
Death date: Mar 1989

ZIP Code of last known residence: 13502
Primary location associated with this ZIP Code:

Utica, New York

More About Margaret Humphreys:
Burial: Crown Hill Cemetery, New Hartford, NY
Cause of Death: Cancer
Fact 5: Social Security #: 075-01-9581 ²¹
Medical Information: Margaret had cataract surgery.

Notes for Stewart Elting Burke:
Stewart married Margaret in the Central Methodist Church. He served in the U.S. Air Force in WW II. Moved to Utica in 1925 from Poughkeepsie area. He and
Margaret lived at 1020 Downer Ave, Utica. They owned and operated Chula
Vista Cottages in Cape Vincent, NY.

Some references in the Utica City Directory list him as Stuart, others as Stewart. The NY State Archives birth index record shows Stuart, but his obituary says Stewart.

Stewart worked for the Foster Paper Co. for 37 years, retiring in 1962. He was a member of the Central Methodist Church, Utica, NY and Colon Couch Post 821, American Legion, Clayton, NY.

He is buried in Crown Hill Memorial Gardens. He had a brother, Edwin W. Burke, also of Utica, NY.
[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Dec 30, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.5.33709.21]

Individual: Burke, Stewart
Social Security #: 075-03-4872
SS# issued in: New York

Birth date: Oct 12, 1900
Death date: Feb 1970

Residence code: New York

ZIP Code of last known residence: 13502
Primary location associated with this ZIP Code:

Utica, New York

More About Stewart Elting Burke:
Burial: Crown Hill Memorial Park, New Hartford, NY
Fact 5: Social Security #: 075-03-4872 ²²

More About Stewart Burke and Margaret Humphreys:
Marriage: February 28, 1943, Utica, NY

iv.

Sarah Ann (Sally) Humphreys, born September 13, 1909 in Granville, NY; married August Ernest Scholl December 30, 1928 in Utica, NY ²³; born December 08, 1911 in Utica, NY ²⁴; died June 20, 1985 in St. Elizabeth Hospital, Utica, NY.

Notes for Sarah Ann (Sally) Humphreys:
After Augie died, Sarah move in with her sister Margaret in Apt. 14B, also in Sadaquada Apts., until Margaret bought a home at 17 Singleton Drive, New Hartford, where they moved together.

Notes for August Ernest Scholl:
August Ernest Francis Joseph Scholl received his education in the Utica School system. He was a member of St. Anne's Church, Whitesboro, NY, and an Army Infantry veteran of World War II. Augie was honored by the Yorkville Bicentennial Celebration with a plaque in recognition of his outstanding sportsmanship for several years of sponsorship of various trophy-winning athletic teams in bowling, baseball, basketball, softball and shuffle board, as well as his charitable contributions to the community.

More About August Ernest Scholl:
Burial: St. Joseph's Cemetery
Cause of Death: Cancer

Marriage Notes for Sarah Humphreys and August Scholl:
Sarah and Augie ran Scholl's Hotel, famous for their Friday night fish fry, for 30 years. The business was in Yorkville, NY, on Whitesboro Street, just over the village line from Utica. They lived just around the corner from the Hotel at 909 Inman Place, before moving to Apt. 9C in the Sadaquada Apts. on Clinton St. in Whitesboro, NY.

More About August Scholl and Sarah Humphreys:
Marriage: December 30, 1928, Utica, NY ²⁵

	3	v.		Jessie Humphreys, born February 18, 1911 in Granville, NY; died November 1987; met (1) Karl Nerschl 1929; married (2) Daniel Thomas Spotten December 25, 1936 in Utica, NY.
		vi.		Richard Humphreys, born November 18, 1912 in Granville, NY; died October 19, 1926 in Yorkville, NY.

More About Richard Humphreys:
Burial: Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY.
Cause of Death: Blood poisoning
Medical Information: From the dye in his socks infecting an open wound.

vii.

David Pritchard Humphrey, born August 29, 1914 in Granville, NY; married Anna Katherine Follett February 20, 1937 in Marcy, NY ²⁶; born August 13, 1916 in Skaneateles, NY ²⁷; died May 07, 1981 in St. Elizabeth's Hosp, Utica NY.

Notes for David Pritchard Humphrey:
David was a Real Estate agent for a number of years. According to a telephone conversation with Elaine Colacino on Sept. 23, 1997, he has gone to live with his daughter Peg. She has taken his car keys away from him as he has had too many fender benders!

Notes for Anna Katherine Follett:
Kay's funeral was from St. Peter's Church, Utica, NY. She is buried in Carr Cemetery, Marcy, NY. Her obituary says she was born in 1917, but her gravestone says 1916.

More About Anna Katherine Follett:
Burial: Carr Cemetery, Marcy NY
Cause of Death: Cancer

More About David Humphrey and Anna Follett:
Marriage: February 20, 1937, Marcy, NY ²⁸

viii.

John Humphreys, born February 11, 1917 in Yorkville, NY ²⁹; died June 1972 in St. Lukes Hosp, New Hartford; married Bernice W. (Bronislawa) Baister November 21, 1940 in Utica, NY ³⁰; born September 18, 1916 in Utica, NY ³¹; died January 25, 1985 in 2207 Whitesboro St., Yorkville, NY³¹.

Notes for John Humphreys:
[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Dec 30, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.5.114880.86]

Individual: Humphreys, John
Social Security #: 075-03-5217
SS# issued in: New York

Birth date: Feb 11, 1917
Death date: Jul 1972

More About John Humphreys:
Burial: Carr Cemetery, Marcy NY
Cause of Death: Bone cancer
Fact 5: Social Security #: 075-03-5217 ³²

Notes for Bernice W. (Bronislawa) Baister:
Her father's Petition for Naturalization gives her birth date as Sept. 16, 1916, in Utica, NY, and her name as Bronislawa.

The 1925 NY State Census lists her as Bertha.[Broderbund Family Archive #110, Vol. 1 A-L, Ed. 5, Social Security Death Index: U.S., Date of Import: Dec 30, 1997, Internal Ref. #1.111.5.114871.120]

Individual: Humphreys, Bernice
Social Security #: 075-03-1613
SS# issued in: New York
Birth date: Sep 18, 1916
Death date: Jan 1985
Residence code: New York
ZIP Code of last known residence: 13502
Primary location associated with this ZIP Code: Utica, New York

More About Bernice W. (Bronislawa) Baister:
Burial: Carr Cemetery, Marcy NY
Fact 5: Social Security #: 075-03-1613 ³³

More About John Humphreys and Bernice Baister:
Marriage: November 21, 1940, Utica, NY ³⁴

ix.

Eleanor Jane Humphreys, born July 10, 1920 in Yorkville, NY ³⁵; married John Henry Graham December 21, 1940 in Yorkville, NY ³⁶; born April 16, 1920 in Marcy, NY; died February 04, 1977 in St. Luke's Hospital, New Hartford, NY.

Notes for Eleanor Jane Humphreys:
Eleanor graduated from Whitesboro Central High School in 1939 and from the Utica School of Nursing as a Licensed Practical Nurse in 1955.

She helped her daughter, Jane, with her side business, the Chula Vista Cottages, from 1973 through 1982.

More About Eleanor Jane Humphreys:
Medical Information: Eleanor had open heart surgery in 1976 at Strong Memorial Hospital in Rochester, NY to repair a hole that had been present since birth. She had cataract surgey on both eyes in 1994.

Notes for John Henry Graham:
John was employed at Oneida Community Silversmiths in Sherrill, NY for over 32 years, until his death, when he was a cost analyst. He had previously been in time study. During World War II, he worked for Savage Arms in Utica.

John was valedictorian of his high school class at Whitesboro Central, despite graduating just after his sixteenth birthday. He attended Hamilton College in Clinton, NY for a brief period, but had to drop out due to lack of funds.

At one point, he single-handedly added on rooms to his family's home, though he had no prior experience with such a project. It stood him in good stead when Jane needed him to help make repairs on her summer cottages!

More About John Henry Graham:
Burial: Carr Cemetery, Marcy NY
Cause of Death: Bone cancer, lung cancer

More About John Graham and Eleanor Humphreys:
Marriage: December 21, 1940, Yorkville, NY³⁶

Generation No. 4

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