In Search of ...?

Thursday, January 29, 2015

Those Places Thursday --continuing with #9 Mounsey LITTLE- Marriage

..........of all the information I have not found yet is the Marriage Date and Place for Mounsey and Mary (Brownrigg) LITTLE. Here are pictures of both of them labeled wedding pictures but no date........
I will add this to my already lengthy TO-DO list for the Library in February.

I am making a few assumption for the time being so I have a time line to research by ............

Mounsey and Mary met in Tompkins County, New York (possibly Dryden, Virgil, Ithaca or Cortland) according to several newspaper articles. So this is where I will concentrate my efforts. I looked to see where Mary's parents lived and they never came to the US at that time. They were still in England. She came over alone or with someone else around 1868 when she was around 12 years old. Who did she come to live with at that age? I have searched and searched the 1870 US census with no luck. I may have to actually go line by line in these specific areas.

.......and the year/date of marriage: The couple had 4 children that I know about. The first child was born 21 July 1878........... I would normally look 2-5 years on either side of 1878 in the area's above. I see that every US and State Census Mounsey appears in was in Dryden, Tompkins, New York. So I am pretty sure that they were married in the area that they lived for their entire adult lives and they are buried there too.
NOW there is a family story that a Wedding Certificate was seen on the wall in Mounsey and Mary's farmhouse by the daughter. She noticed that it was dated a year after Mounsey & Marys's first son Isaac was born- 1879 ........ the story is believable but no proof yet....... everyone that may know about it have passed away or memories are very vague now. What happened to that Wedding Certificate on the wall? ...... the farm and property were sold between 1930-1940, after Mary's death 1929 and before Mounsey's death in 1940..

TO-DO List ::
Marriage information - date and place for Mounsey and Mary LITTLE- checking 1879 Dryden, Tompkins Co., New York

Wednesday, January 28, 2015

Wishful Wednesday -continuing with #9 Mounsey Little - Naturalization

Joseph LITTLE (1852-1932) [Great Grand Uncle]

.........and of course of all things I was able to locate Mounsey LITTLE'S naturalization papers. At 57 years of age he applies and receives his Certificate of Naturalization. Why? Why at this time was it necessary to become an American citizen. He has been in this country and in one place since age 21. Now 36 years later he feels he needs to be an American citizen. It is 1908.

What was going on in 1908? What prompted him at this point in his life to apply & receive his Naturalization Papers. I did a quick look at 1908 as a whole and I didn't see anything going on that would prompt someone to apply for their citizenship papers. World War I was coming in a couple of years but I am not sure that there is an urgency immediately for that.

The Naturalization Paper I have is a copy of the notarized copy my cousin had in her collection of papers.

As you can see (maybe not read) below it tells me about the man Mounsey and his family.. Mounsey is 57 years old, 5'9" tall, skin color is white, complexion is fair, color of eyes are blue, color of hair gray and visible distinguishing marks include a scar on left thumb.

State of New York, City of Ithaca #11170, petition volume 1, page 21, sub volume 1117, page 10

It also gives the name, age, place of residence of

.....wife, Mary Little, 47, Dryden, NY

.... Isaac M Little, 30, Cortland, NY

..... Joseph Hudson Little, 28, Dryden, NY

..... Jennie E Little, 25, Dryden, NY

..... Burton H Little, 16, Dryden, NY [my grandfather]

WOW, an original signature ([ok a copy of the signature] Mounsey Little

dated ...... 30 November 1908 signed by the County Clerk

............and yes that is a snapshot of Mounsey Little in approximately 1910-1920. Sorry it is so hard to see clearly.

Tuesday, January 27, 2015

Tuesday Travel........ continuing with #9 Mounsey LITTLE -Immigration

Joseph LITTLE (1852-1932) [Great Grand Uncle]

I have not located an actual passenger list for Mounsey's arrival into the United States but I have a lot of references to it.
There are several obituaries for Mounsey's, which is good because there is additional information in each one.
-........... he came to this country in 1872
-2x....... Mr Little came to Dryden [Tompkins Co., New York] in 1872 from Cumberland County in the north of England

From news article about starving cattle in Kansas
-.......... Mounsey Little was born in Bassenthwaite, County of Cumberland in the rugged foothills of the Scottish mountains. Coming to this country in '72. Mr Little soon found his way to Dryden village where he...........etc.

From his 86th birthday celebration article ........... Mr Little was born in England. Having relatives in Cortland [Tompkins Co. New York - unknown relatives YET] he and a brother [Joseph] came to America in 1872. The brother returned to his native land two months later but Mr Little himself has never been back.

I did search on Joseph as Mounsey's traveling companion but nothing comes up. I did use Stephen Morse One Step webpages..... put in the information and ended up in Ancestry.com. But still no luck. I have also checked FamilySearch.org but again nothing.

When you think about it, Mounsey was only 21 years of age and with his 22 year old brother Joseph, they sailed off to a new and mysterious place. That is very brave to me. Apparently there were relatives already in Cortland, New York which is not too far from Dryden and Virgil where he ended up. I don't know who the relatives are right now but that is another mystery to put on my to-do list.

Another Mystery......
........ it goes on my 'getting pretty lengthy' TO-DO Library list

entered USA where?
passenger list,
ship name,
picture of ship
relatives already in Cortland New York

Monday, January 26, 2015

Mystery Monday -continuing with #9 Mounsey LITTLE US Census

continuing ........ oh the mystery of the census- is this information correct? an ongoing question!

"LITTLE'S" are my Mothers Fathers line
PARENTS
Isaac (1806-1863) & Jane (Mounsey) (1812-1867) LITTLE [2nd Great Grandparents ]

Siblings of Hudson's.........
doneMary LITTLE (1831- ?) - [Great Grand Aunt]
doneJohn LITTLE (1832-1861) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneAnne LITTLE (1835-?) [Great Grand Aunt]
doneWilliam LITTLE (1837-1843) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneIsaac LITTLE (1840-?) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneHUDSON LITTLE 1843-1934) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneJane Eliza LITTLE 1846-1867) [Great Grand Aunt]
doneJames LITTLE 1849-1855) [Great Grand Uncle]
Mounsey LITTLE (1851-1940) ...........[My Great Grandfather]

Joseph LITTLE (1852-1932) [Great Grand Uncle]

I have been able to capture every census for Mounsey (Munsey) LITTLE...... from 1861 & 1871 in England as a young man and 1880 -1940 in United States plus two New York State Census 1892 & 1926. He was a butcher with a retail Meat Shop and then became a farmer. According to the census, Mounsey and Mary had 4 children (3 boys and 1 girl). Sons Isaac and Joseph helped in the meat market. His wife Mary passed away in 1929 [big thanks for NY State 1926 census], and by 1930 US Census Mounsey had moved in with his daughter's family.

1880C NY Tompkins Dryden ed:226 sh: 40 no address 17 Jun 1880 Ancestry.com
1. LITTLE Munsey w m 28 head-M Meat Market Eng3x
2. Mary w f 23 wife -M K-house Eng3x
3. Isac w m 2/s son NY Eng 2x
4. Frank? w m 1/s son NY Eng2x
======================================= ?? Frank should be Joseph??

1892 New York State Census, Dryden
LITTLE, Mounsey 40 England citizen butcher
Mary 35 England citizen
Isaac M 14 US
Joseph H 13 US
Jennie E 10 US
plus two men (butchers living with them)

=================================

1900C NY Tompkins Dryden Twp/Village ed:141 st: 2b & 3a no address 2 Jun 1900 Ancestry.com

1. LITTLE, Mounsey head w m May/1851-49m-22 Eng3x Butcher r/f

2. Mary wife w f Nov/1856-43m-22 4/4 Eng3x

3. Isaac son w m Jul/1878-21/s NY3x Butcher

4. Joseph son w m Feb/1880-20/s NY Eng2x Meat peddler

5. Jane E dau w f Feb/1883-17/s NY Eng2x

6. Burton H son w m Apr/1892-8/s NY3x

7. Brownrigg, Isaac BIL w m Dec/1863-36/s Eng3x farm laborer

8. Eliza MIL w f Oct/1824-75wd Eng3x

=================================

1910C NY Tompkins Dryden Twp ed:172 sh: 5b no address 30 Apr 1910 Ancestry.com

1. LITTLE, Mounsey head m w 55/m1-32 Eng3x 1872-na farmer/farming-oa o f f

2. Mary wife f w 43/m1-32 4/4 Eng3x

3. Jennie E dau f w 26/s NY3x

4. Burton H son m w 17/s NY3x

5. Joseph W nephew m w31/s Eng3x market/market meat-oa

=============================================

1920 C NY Tompkins Dryden Twp ed:175 st:4a farm/hayden rd 8 Jan 1920 Ancestry.com

1. LITTLE, Munsey head O/F m w 68/m 1872-na 1882 Eng3x farmer/general-oa

2. Mary wife f w 63/m 1872-na 1882 Eng3x [she entered US in 1868 NOT 1872]

====================== first name spelled Munsey this time

1926 New York State Census, Dryden June 1 1925
LITTLE Mounsey 74 head England farmer 53yr in USA citizen naturalized/1908/Ithaca
Mary 68 wife England hwife 58yr in USA citizen

============================== wife Mary passed away in 1929

1930C NY Tompkins Dryden Twp ED 55-12, sht 3a 10,11,12 Apr 1930 ... Harford Hill... Ancestry.com

1. Little, Mounsey H O/$5000 R live/Farm m w 78/wd England3x farmer/gen

2. Jennie dau f w 47/m 27 yo NY Eng2x

3. Joseph son m w 50/m 30 yo England3x RetMeatMkt

4. Paul A grdson m w 18/s NY Eng NY - student/college

5. Mary Jane grddau f w 9/s NY Eng NY

============================================

1940C NY Tompkins Dryden Twp ED 55-6 sht 1-A April 16, 1940 Parker Sullivan

South Street #9 owned home /$3500 value / Yes live on farm

LITTLE, Joseph W head M W 60 M No b: England NA 1935 lived in Same House/ yes- working

Meat Cutter/ Retail Market E

LITTLE, Jennie C wife F W 57 M No b: New York

LITTLE, Mounsey FIL M W 88 WD NO b: England NA 1935/Same House
=========================================

In 1920 my mother, Mary Jane Little, was born and was moved in with her aunt and uncle. They are all together on the 1920 US Census.[not shown here] Then on the 1930 US Census when Mounsey as a widower moved in with his son in law and daughter my mother and another nephew were part of the family group.

Need to look at a marriage record for Mounsey and Mary (Brownrigg) Little approximately 1878. first child was born 1878.

AND, Mounsey arrived in America in 1872 ..... so he was not on the 1870 US Census but first shows on the 1880 US Census........ And he died in July 1940, and the 1940 Census was taken in April......... so he was captured during his last year.

Sunday, January 25, 2015

Census Sunday -continuing with #9 Mounsey LITTLE - UK Census

Looking at the census records certainly gives you a better understanding of their lives.
==============
1861 England, Wales, & Scotland Census Transcription
House name: Halls, Street: High Side, Parish & Ecclesiastical district: Bassenthwaite, Registration district: Cockermouth, County: Cumberland, England Enumeration district 13, piece # 3933, folio # 67, page # 9, record set: 1861 England, Wales, & Scotland Census

ISAAC LITTLE - 55, abt 1806, head male;school master; spouse:Jane; where born: Castle Sowerby, Cumberland,England; civil parish: Bassenthwaite; ecclesiastical parish: Bassenthwaite; couny: Cumberland, country: England; registration district: Cockermouth; sub-registration district: Keswick, ED 13; household schedule # 46;
Others in resident:
Jane wife 48 school mistress
Mounsey son 9 scholar
Joseph son 7 scholar
===================================

1871 England Census - civil parish: Egremont; county/country: Cumberland, England; reg dist:Whitehaven; sub-reg: Egrement; ED: 4k; household schedule: 21

1. MOUNSEY LITTLE - 19; abt 1852; farm SERVANT; male, B: Bassenthwaite, Cumberland, England;
2. Jeremiah Ganson - head- 44 - farm of 215 acres
3. Sarah Ganson - wife- 39
4. Mary Ganson- dau - 9 -scholar
5. William Ganson- son - 3
6. Sarah Ann Ganson - dau - 1
7. William Simpson - farmers assistant -19
8. Robert Jackson- farm servant - 25
9. Allen Southwaite - farm servant - 18
10.William Southwaite - farm servant - 24
11.Jane Storey - farm servant - 18
12.Ann Armstrong - Nurse - 14
=========================================

I keep thinking of Jane Mounsey and thinking what a strong brave woman she would have been. She had at least 10 children that we know about. Just think about that for the women in the audience who have had children already...... she has given birth to 10 children over a 22 years of her life - probably did it all natural and where ever she was at the time and then turned around and cleaned house, prepared dinner, took care of all the other children. No rest No time off. ......... YUK!!! that was a very hard life. And to the men in this audience ..... how would you support all these children over those 22 plus years? It looks to me after researching all these children that most were leaving the home at very early ages.

Mounsey was already out of the house on his own by age 19, who knows how much earlier he was working. He has stayed in the same area as his parents and siblings. Mounsey's father was a School Master and his mother was a School Mistress but he turned to work with a family living on a farm. And there is a nurse too. Probably neighbors of the LITTLES. There are 5 others that live with this family and are also farm servants. Unfortunately, the GANSON family is not familar to me.

1881 census next or is it?

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Sibling Saturday - continuing with #9 Mounsey LITTLE ........ BIRTH

continuing ........

"LITTLE'S" are my Mothers Fathers line
PARENTS
Isaac (1806-1863) & Jane (Mounsey) (1812-1867) LITTLE [2nd Great Grandparents ]

Siblings of Hudson's.........
doneMary LITTLE (1831- ?) - [Great Grand Aunt]
doneJohn LITTLE (1832-1861) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneAnne LITTLE (1835-?) [Great Grand Aunt]
doneWilliam LITTLE (1837-1843) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneIsaac LITTLE (1840-?) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneHUDSON LITTLE 1843-1934) [Great Grand Uncle]
doneJane Eliza LITTLE 1846-1867) [Great Grand Aunt]
doneJames LITTLE 1849-1855) [Great Grand Uncle]
Mounsey LITTLE (1851-1940) ...........[My Great Grandfather]
Joseph LITTLE (1852-1932) [Great Grand Uncle]

This has been a heck of a two months chasing down items and documents for my Isaac/Jane LITTLE family. I have research as much as possible the first 8 children. All the information I have collected so far has been pretty new and informative information BUT NOW we come to my line in the LITTLE family - MOUNSEY LITTLE my great grandfather on my mothers fathers side.

Mounsey Little is the 9th of 10 children, 6th of 7 sons, named for his mothers side of the family - Jane Mounsey. He was born in Bassenthwaite, Cumberland, England in 1851 and died in Dryden, Tompkins, New York, in 1940 aged 89 years.

I did find several references to Mounsey's birth place..........
There are several obituaries for Mounsey's
2x....... Mr Little came to Dryden [Tompkins Co., New York] in 1872 from Cumberland County in the north of England

From news aricle about starving cattle in Kansas
-.......... Mounsey Little was born in Bassenthwaite, County of Cumberland in the rugged foothills of the Scottish mountains.

From his 86th birthday celebration article ........... Mr Little was born in England.

England & Wales births 1837-2006 Transcription....... (Find My Past Nov 2014)
First Name: Mounsey Last name: Little Birth Year: 1851 Birth Quarter: 2
District: Cockermouth County: Cumberland Country: England
Volume: 25 page: 106 Record set: England & Wales births 1837-2006
Category: birth, marriage & death (parish registers)
record collection: births & baptism collections from: United Kingdom
===============================
Ancestry.com

....from the Wikipedia: Bassenthwaite is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Allerdale in Cumbria, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 412.[1] The village is about 7 miles (11 km) east of Cockermouth, and is approximately 1 mile (1.6 km) from Bassenthwaite Lake. Containing just a single pub and no shops, it is largely an agricultural community, with two farms within the village itself, with a number of holiday homes.

Friday, January 23, 2015

Friday's Faces From the Past -continuing with #8 James LITTLE

According to dates James only lived for 6 1/2 years. Unfortunately I don't know why James is not listed among their children in the only census he was alive for -- 1851. The other children of the time were listed but not JAMES. Any one have any suggestions?

Death Information

How sad! Such a short life with very little evidence that he existed. I wonder what happened, what was wrong with him to shorten his life. I hope when I find where Isaac and Jane are buried that I will find a stone for him too...............

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