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Maternal
Lineage: Ada Mae4, John3, Robert2, William1
  STOKES, c.1775-1972 Related Families:  Norman | Bowering | Kennedy | Washburn
Migration: Dorset, ENG>Devon, ENG>Jefferson Co., NY

 

       (1)  William Stokes married 14 February 1797 at Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England Catherine Norman, baptized 24 February 1765 in Powerstock With West Milton, Dorset, England. Whitchurch is very close to Hawkchurch, where their descendants lived; although Stokes families appear in records at Hawkchurch for several years prior to William's, it is not yet clear how he is related to them.

Children:

  1. Sarah, baptized 9 July 1797 at Whitchurch, Dorset, England.
  2. William, born about 1801 in Dorset, England, died 28 March 1871, age 71, in Adams, Jefferson Co., New York; married 3 May 1827 at Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England, Anna Lane, born about 1804, died 12 May 1871.   William is assumed to be a son, though no baptismal record has yet been found; some relation to Robert (below) is known because William's son Robert named (uncle) Robert's son Simeon as a "relation" in his will.

    3.         William and Ann settled in Hounsfield, Jefferson County, New York, sometime after the birth of son John in 1845 and 1850, when they were enumerated in the U.S. federal census.  Thus, they arrived at least five years earlier than his brother Robert Stokes.
            In the 1855 state census of the Town of Hounsfield, William, a farmer age 55, and Ann, age 52, were enumerated with children Robert, George, and Ann.
            William and Ann are buried with family members in the southwesterly portion of Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    Parents of:
    1. William, born 26 November 1829, baptized 18 December 1829 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England; married Cordelia, born about 1832, died 27 March 1882, age 58 years, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor. In the 1880 census, William was enumerated as a resident of Sackets Harbor, keeping a hardware store on Main Street. Next door lived his first cousin, Manuel Jeffrey, and his wife Ida. Manuel ran a dry goods store with William and Manuel's other cousins Albert David Lane. Parents of:
      1. William, born about 1859 in New York, enumerated in the 1880 census as a sailor, with residence in his parents' home at Sackets Harbor.
    2. Robert J., baptized 8 January 1832 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England, died 18 October 1867 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York, buried at Lakeside Cemetery in Sackets Harbor. He married Jane A. Metcalf, daughter of Henry Metcalf and Sarah Ashby of Hounsfield.  They had no children.  In his will, proved on 9 November 1867, Robert named "my relation Simeon Stokes"; Simeon was a son of Robert Stokes, mentioned below, thus proving a relation between immigrants William and Robert Stokes.  She married second Giles W. Tremain.
    3. Elizabeth, baptized 24 September 1834 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England.
    4. Ann S., baptized 7 July 1839 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England.
    5. George, born 13 September 1842, baptized 16 October 1842 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England, died 1901, buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    6. John, baptized 2 March 1845 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England.
  3. Robert, mentioned below
  4. Joan, baptized 1 February 1807 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England.

 

        (2) Robert Stokes, baptized 29 January 1804 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England, died 1863 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York; married in England, Sarah Bowering, christened 13 August 1815 at Wootton Fitzpaine, Dorset, died 1860 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York.
        Around 1838, Robert and Sarah removed from Hawkchurch to the village of Harcombe Bottom, in the ecclesiastical district of Monkton Wyld, parish of Uplyme, Axminster, Devon, where they were living when the 1841 and 1851 censuses was taken.  In both 1841 and 1851, Robert was enumerated as an "Ag Laborer".
        In the 1841 census, Robert, age 35, was living with wife Sarah, age 25, and children Eliza, age 3, Robert, age 2, and Harriett, age 5 months; also in the home that year was Harriett Dunster(?), age 35, of unknown relation, (perhaps a household helper).
        In the 1851 census of Harcombe, Robert Stokes was enumerated as a 46 year old, born at Hawkchurch, living with wife Sarah, 35, born at "Wootton," and children Eliza, age 13 born at Hawkchurch, Robert Jr., age 12, Harriott, age 9, William, age 7, Simeon, age 5, and John, age 8 months, the latter five all born at Uplyme.
        Robert and Sarah stayed in Uplyme for about 16 years.

1851 Census of Harcombe, Devon, England
Head: STOKES, Robert               Neighbors     906
          Address:        Harcombe, Harcombe
          Census Place:   Uplyme Axminster, Devonshire
PRO Reference:  HO/107/1862     Folio:  123     Page:   16      FHL Film:0221010

 

        In the summer of 1854, Robert and Sarah left England aboard the ship Try, bound for the United States; children Isaac, Eliza, Robert, Jr., Harriett, William, Simeon, John and Albert all accompanied them. The ship stopped at Glasgow, Scotland, before finally arriving at New York city on July 1st. The family made their way north to Jefferson County, New York, where within the month they settled in the Town of Hounsfield, near the village of Sackets Harbor, an active port and military post on Lake Ontario, close to the border of Ontario, Canada; there they were no doubt received by friends from their homeland, since by then the area was well populated with natives of Dorset and Devon who had steadily immigrated for several decades.


        In the 1855 census of the town of Hounsfield, taken in June, Robert reported that he had been a resident there for 11 months (roughly July 1854) and that neither he nor Sarah could read or write.  Living with them were children Robert, Jr., age 16, William, age 12, Simeon, age 8, Albert, age 2, and George, who was 10 months old. They lived in a log cabin then valued at $25, situated on 30 improved acres worth $1,150 cash value, next door to the Josiah M. McWain residence.  They owned $164 cash value of stock, and $56 cash value of tools and implements.  They plowed twelve acres their first year in America, held eight acres in pasture, and another ten acres of meadow yielded ten tons of hay.  Four acres of spring wheat were sown yielding a harvest of 80 bushels.  Two and a half acres of oats yielded 60 bushels, and two and a half acres of barley yielded 30 bushels.  They also planted six acres of corn yielding 100 bushels, and one acre of potatoes yielding 70 bushels.  They owned one cow under a year old, two milking cows that produced 150 pounds of butter, two horses, 1 swine under six months old, and five poultry from which they sold 20 eggs.
        According to her tombstone, Sarah died in 1856. She was buried in Lakeside Cemetery, in the village of Sackets Harbor.
        In th 1860 census of Hounsfield, Robert was enumerated as a 48 year old farmer (he was actually 56), born in England, who could not read or write. Living with him was Lydia Stokes, a 34 year old housekeeper, born in New York; she was apparently a second wife whom Robert had just married, as Robert was flagged as having been married within the year (though she was not so indicated). In this year Ada Stokes, age 3, and Vioanta(?) Stokes, age 2, are enumerated in the home; based on the death year of Sarah and the apparent marriage of Robert and Lydia within the year preceeding the 1860 census, it is difficult to determine with certainty the mother of these children, though Ada has teh highest probability of the two to have been Sarah's daughter.


        Robert died in 1861, according to his tombstone, and was buried with his first wife, Sarah, at Lakeside Cemetery in Sackets Harbor. A later local history volume published several years later indicated that the Stokes were members of the local Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics, Robert was a Republican.
        By 1864, when land owners maps were made of Jefferson County, only Robert Jr.'s property was recorded, suggesting that he had taken over his deceased parents' estate.


 

Children (of fifteen alleged, thirteen have been identified):
  1. Isaac, born about 1833, died 1918; married Sophia, born about 1835 in Scotland, died 1917. In the 1855 state census of Hounsfield, at age 22, he and his sister Eliza were enumerated as servants in the home of Henry Bridges, a 30 year old native of England. Isaac served during the Civil War. Parents of:
    1. Isaac "Ike" W. Stokes, born 1874 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York, died 1957 in Hounsfield; married Jannie E., born 1887, died 1953.  Ike and Jannie lived in Sackets where he was mayor several years.  He played the violin and Jannie played the organ at dances and at church.  Both are buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Hounsfield.
  2. Eliza, born about 1838 in Hawkchurch, Dorset, England; married 1870 Clay Holden, one of ten children born to Aaron Holden and Orvilla Root.  In 1855, only months after the family's arrival in America, she was enumerated in the 1855 state census of Hounsfield, along with brother Isaac, as a servant in the home of Henry Bridges, a 30 year old Englishman. Parents of:
    1. Jesse E. Holden, born about 1872.
    2. Erwin/Irving C. Holden, born about 1875.
    3. Marian Holden, born about 1877.
    4. Annie E. Holden
  3. Robert H., born 27 February 1840 in Uplyme, Devonshire, England, died 29 July 1891 in Jefferson Co., New York; married 2 September 1862, Harriet Elizabeth McWain, born 11 September 1844, died 1915.  They are both buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor. During the Civil War, Robert served Co. B of the 186th NY Infantry. Parents of:
    1. Franklin Robert Stokes, born 8 October 1867, died 11 April 1868
    2. Luther J. Stokes, born about 1869, died 29 April 1910, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor.
    3. Norman D. Stokes, born 16 July 1871, died 12 March 1914, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor.
    4. Arthur E. Stokes, born 31 March 1878, died 2 May 1878.
  4. Harriet, born about 1842 in Uplyme, Devonshire, England. In the 1855 state census of Hounsfield, she was enumerated as a 12 year old servant in the home of 76 year old Henry Metcalfe, also from England.
  5. William E., born 1844 in Uplyme, Devonshire, England, died 1928; married Mary McKeag, born 1844 in Scotland, died 1912.  They are buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Hounsfield.
    1. Eva F. Stokes, born 1870 in Jefferson Co., New York, died 1954; married Fred M. Gibbons, born 1862, died 1948
    2. Harriet "Hattie" Frances Stokes, born 30 September 1872 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York, died 28 September 1924; married 3 November 1898 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., Daniel Hall Signor, born 31 August 1873 in Hounsfield, died 1946.  Both are buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Hounsfield.
    3. Grace "Gracie" Stokes, born about 1877 in Jefferson Co., New York; married Mr. ? Hooley.
  6. Simeon, born about 1846 in Uplyme, Devonshire, England; married Anna, born about 1851, from Ireland.  Parents of:
    1. Cora A. Stokes, born about 1879 in New York.
  7. John L., mentioned below
  8. Albert, born about 1853 in England; married Agnes, born about 1860 in Michigan to parents from New York. In the 1880 census of Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York, Albert was enumerated as a Coachman. It is perhaps possible that he learned the trade from his cousin, Manuel Jeffrey, who drove coaches between Sackets Harbor and Watertown throughout the Civil War. Parents of:
    1. Sophia, born about 1879.
  9. George, born about August 1854 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York; married Matilda, born about 1836 in New York to Scottish parents, died 1906. In the 1880 census of Town of Adams, Jefferson Co., they were enumerated as farmers. Matilda is buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield. Parents of:
    1. George W., born about 1871.
    2. Nathaniel, born about 1873.
    3. John R., born about 1874, died 1949, buried at Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    4. Melvin, born 1876, died 1876, buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    5. Lily, born 1877, died 1877, buried in Sulpher Srings Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    6. Lewis, born about 1879.
    7. Mervin, born 1881, died 1881, buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    8. Watson, born 1882, died 1887, buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery, Town of Hounsfield.
    9. Alfred, born 1885, died 1887, buried in Sulpher Springs Cemetery.
  10. Henry G., born 25 September 1856 in Jefferson Co., New York; married 25 December 1879 in Jefferson Co., Nellie Hovey, daughter of Joseph Hovey and Minerva McQuain.  Henry, a farmer, was the only one of the Stokes children to move West.  In July 1883, he took up a homestead in the southeast corner of section 22, township 17, consisting of a tree claim and pre-emption claim, near Sargent, Custer Co., Nebraska.  He subsequently increased the property to include 1,300 acres.  "History, Reminiscence & Biography of Nebraska: A History of the State of Nebraska," (Chicago: Alden, 1912), page 303 of "Biographies" says this about Henry:
    HENRY GEORGE STOKES
        Henry George Stokes came to Custer county in an early day and was one of the first homesteaders in his locality. He and his family are well known in social and educational circles and he is successful as a farmer and business man. Mr. Stokes was born in Jefferson county, New York, September 24, 1856, next to the youngest of the fifteen children of Robert and Sarah (Bowering) Stokes, natives of England. The parents were married in England, where all except the two youngest of their children were born, and came to the United States in 1855, settling in Jefferson county, New York. The father died in New York state in 1863 and the mother in 1860. Henry G. Stokes has five brothers and a sister who reside in New York state.
              On December 24, 1879, Mr. Stokes was united in marriage with Nellie, daughter of Joseph and Minerva (McWayne) Hovey. She was the second in order of birth of their five children and has two brothers and one sister living in New York. Mr. Hovey died about 1869 and his widow still resides in New York.
              In July, 1883, Mr. Stokes left his native state and came to Custer county, taking up a homestead on the southeast quarter of section twenty-two, township nineteen, range eighteen, which is still his home. He was joined by his wife and one child in October of the same year. He has continued to improve and develop his land and add to its acreage until he is now the owner of a well equipped small grain and stock farm. He has twelve hundred acres of desirable land and is successful in his operations. He makes a specialty of feeding and shipping cattle and hogs and is progressive along all lines. He has aided much in the growth and development of his portion of the county and has been active in township. affairs. He served for a number of years on the local school board. He is a stockholder and director of the Farmers' State bank, of Sargent. He has a fine modern residence building on his farm, which is surrounded by trees, lawn and orchard, one of the most beautiful farm homes in the county.

    11. Henry & Nellie (Hovey) Stokes were parents of:
    1. Ethel; married E.M. Boss, the assistant school inspector of Lincoln, Nebraska
    2. Georgia; married William Bondurant, a wholesaler and retailer in confections at Kirksville, Missouri
    3. Marie
    4. Anna
    5. Edward
       
  11. Edward, (at right), born about 1856 or before, died 1932, buried North Smithville cemetery, Henderson; married Rose Westcott, about 1902. In the 1880 census of Hounsfield, Edward was enumerated as a 23 year old farm laborer in the home of his oldest sister Eliza Stokes and her husband Clay Holden, born to a mother from England, fixing him as a child of Sarah, not of Robert's second wife, Lydia. Edward and Rose were enumerated in the 1910 census of the Town of Henderson, Jefferson Co., New York. In the 1920 census, Ray Wescott, a 25 year old boarder, was living with them. In the 1930 census of Henderson, Edward was enumerated as a 70 year old dairy farmer, and Rose was enumerated as a 69 year old housewife.
  12. Ada, born about 1857, death unknown; she appears only in the 1860 census of her parents' household.
  13. Vioanta, born about 1858, death unknown; she appears only in the 1860 census of her parents' household.

1864 Map of Hounsfield Lot #24,
showing the residence of Robert Stokes, Jr., in relation to Lake Ontario (left) and his in-laws the Holdens (bottom).  The road leads south from Sackets Harbor and today is the main access road to Westcott's Beach.



Norman D. Stokes, son of Robert Stokes, Jr., and Harriet E. McWain.

 


Harriet F. Stokes, daughter of Willam Stokes and Mary McKeag; wife of Daniel Signor.

Edward Stokes, c.1880,
by Johnson Bros., Van Namee Block, Watertown, Jefferson Co., New York

     

        (3) John L. Stokes, born 12 August 1851 in Uplyme, Devonshire, England, died 1931 in Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York; married 1 December 1875, Lydia A. Kennedy, born in 1856 in Ontario, Canada, of the neighboring town of Henderson. The wedding occurred at her parents' home in Henderson.
        John immigrated as a child from England in 1854 with his parents and siblings.  His children would always relate that their father "came over on the boat when he was four years old."
        In Child's 1890 Business Directory of the Town of Adams, John L. Stokes is listed as a gardener, residing in Smithville, and leasing the Fields place.
        Lydia was born in Canada and resided with her parents in the Town of Henderson, where her marriage to John took place.
        In the 1920 census of the Town of Hounsfield, John L. Stokes and Lydia A. Stokes were listed as residents on the Campbells Road.  John indicated that both of his parents were from England and spoke English as their mother tongue.  Lydia reported that she was born in Canada, that her father was from Ireland and spoke "Irish," and that her mother was born in Canada and spoke English.
        John Stokes died in 1931 and Lydia followed him five years later in 1936.
        The Stokes home was subsequently destroyed by fire during the 1940s.

 

 

 

 

Children (all born in Hounsfield):

  1. Ada Mae, born 8 October 1876, died 6 May 1972 in Jefferson Co., New York; married 20 December 1905 at her parents' home in Hounsfield William Wallace Washburn, of Hounsfield.
  2. Reta, born about 1879; married Fred Fawdrey.  Parents of:
    1. Dorothy Fawdrey
    2. Gordon Fawdrey
  3. John "Johnnie" L., born 1891, died 1971; married Mabel Miner, born 1894, died 1981 (both at right).  They are both buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor. Parents of:
    1. Donald L., born 1916, died 1976, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor; married Leona Taskett, born 1915, resident of Taskett Farms in East Hounsfield. Father of:
      1. Lloyd Stokes
      2. Sharon Stokes
  4. Edward "Eddie"; married Evelyn Sutherland, born 1889, died 1940, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor.  Parents of:
    1. Vera Stokes; married Arthur Westcott, and resides in Jefferson Co., New York.
    2. Earl A. Stokes, born 24 April 1916, died 15 November 1995, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor; married 22 June 1940 Orpha Jean Barkley, born 22 April 1921, died 31 March 1999, buried in Lakeside Cemetery at Sackets Harbor.  Parents of:
      1. Evelyn Stokes

 
Evelyn (Sutherland) Stokes, Ada (Stokes) Washburn, Reta (Stokes) Fawdrey, and Lydia (Kennedy) Stokes
in 1931 at the Washburn Home Farm in Camps Mills.

 

The Stokes Siblings, c.1945, from left, Ada Washburn, Reta Fawdrey, Eddie & Johnnie Stokes.

This is the only known photo of all four children of Robert & Lydia together.

 
 
FAMILY GATHERING AT THE OLD STOKES HOME, c. 1932
Sulpher Springs, Hounsfield, Jefferson Co., New York

Standing on porch:  Beulah Washburn, Vera Stokes, Margery Washburn
Sitting on porch: Johnnie Stokes, Fred Fawdrey, William Washburn
Standing in back: Reta (Stokes) Fawdrey, Earl Stokes
Standing in front: Leon Washburn, Donald Stokes, Eddie Stokes, Lydia Stokes
Foreground: Chicken Stokes

 
 
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Last updated 8 April 2007

STOKES Families of Hawkchurch

William Stokes of Hawkchurch, Dorset England married Elizabeth and they had the following children:

  1. Mary, baptized 25 March 1741 at Hawkchurch.
  2. Robert, baptized 25 December 1753 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England.
  3. William, baptized 6 May 1764 at Hawkchurch.


Robert Stokes; married on 16 March 1755 at Whitchurch Canonicorum, Dorset, England, Joan Wood.  Parents of:

  1. William, baptized 15 June 1755 at Hawkchurch.
  2. Mary, baptized 1759 at Hawkchurch.


John Stokes married 20 June 1757 at Hawkchurch, Joan Bowditch.  Parents of:

  1. Jane, baptized 11 December 1757 at Hawkchurch.

    2. Hannah, baptized 23 March 1760 at Hawkchurch.


John Stokes, perhaps he baptized 25 December 1745 at Hawkchurch, son of Mary; married 21 April 1772 at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England, Deborah Tucker.  Parents of:

  1. Mary, baptized 25 December 1772 at Hawkchurch.
  2. John, baptized 16 July 1775 at Hawkchurch.
  3. Ann, baptized 31 August 1777 at Hawkchurch.
  4. Robert, baptized 29 August 1779 at Hawkchurch.
  5. James, baptized 9 June 1782 at Hawkchurch.


Note: The preceeding generations were composed from extracts of vital records made at Hawkchurch, Dorset, England, for research purposes only.  Any relations between these groups require further documentation.