The Irish Immigrants, continued: James Markham and Hannah Hennessy

In conversing via Skype with Anne Lucia (Lufkin) Haley today, we found a bit of information.
Some of it has been incorporated into corrections on the previous two posts. But we did find a link to a plan of the ship that James Markham sailed on (as a steerage passenger) from Liverpool to NYC.

And I had a lovely conversation last week with an Irish friend: The Rev. Joseph Bergin is a retired priest in the Episcopal Church whom I have known for the 20 years I've been in this diocese. Joe was raised in Ireland and lived and worked there until his 40s, I think. Joe studied Gaelic in school (it was a required course, but he really loved it,) and tells me that he sees Markham as an Irish name. He pronounced it for me as it would be in Gaelic, with the 'k' as a German 'ch' is pronounced in High German. Joe also said that it would have been very common for Irish persons to ship out from Liverpool, as there is a great deal of coming and going between Ireland and Liverpool, and many Irish living in Liverpool. So it was no surprise to Joe that James would have shipped out from Liverpool.
Here's a photo entitled: The Embarkation: Waterloo Docks, Liverpool 1850. I imagine both James and Hannah making their way through the clamor.

So we know more about James Markham (father of James Edwin Markham, who was my great-grandfather). But what about Hannah? Anne has for many years thought of James Markham's wife as Hannah Hogan, because that is the name on James Edwin Markham's death certificate. But it seems that my research has pointed in the correct direction by identifying her as Hannah Hennessey. Thus the link in the previous post to the list of names in Holy Cross cemetery. But that still leaves the problem of when Hannah crossed over from Ireland, and that mystery is not solved.

Anne and I looked up Irish emigrants on line, and found five Hannah Hennessys (Hannahs Hennessy?) on ship manifests from the era. Two of them arrived a few years before Hannah and James married, and before their first child was born. But the ages of the two Hannahs is not quite right. So often, the handwritten ledgers of the time have been mis-read by transcribers that perhaps the Hannah who is listed as 30 years old was actually 20 years old (so easy to misread a 2 for a 3). In that case, she arrived May 13, 1850, having sailed from Liverpool to New York on the Masonic. That is my current favorite possibility.

However, it is also possible that her name was misspelled on the ship manifest, or, again, mis-transcribed. In which case we probably can't find her.

So for you descendants of James Markham Lufkin, Hennessy and Markham are your Irish antecedents. Go have a Guinness! Or a Hennessy!

James Edwin Markham born in Rochester, NY

I have finally found some useful information, by using a free trial membership of Ancestry.com. As you would expect, James Markham (father of James Edwin Markham, who was my dad's maternal grandfather) shows up in a number of other people's family trees, and at least one of them shows records that he arrived in New York in 1848 on a boat from Liverpool. My sister, Anne L. Haley, says that this was right smack dab in the middle of the great Irish famine (1845-1852).

This is news. The same family tree has James Edwin Markham born in Rochester, NY. So there might not be a lot of point in visiting Belfast, NY, where James and Hannah (Hennessy) Markham settled. But we should do it, anyway.

Anne Haley has found Hannah Hennessy Markham, born 1830 in Ireland, buried in Holy Cross Cemetery in Belfast, NY in 1898. She was married to James Markham.

Other news: Leila's middle name was Browning, so I share that with her. I also found her mother Katherine Browning listed in other family trees as "Katherine J. Browning." Thus, even though the 1910 census has Katherine J. Markham listed as having both parents from Ireland, she could still be Katherine Browning Markham, rather than James E. Markham's widowed sister-in-law. Confusing info, however.

I'll keep looking for more info on the Irish connection. Though we have the name of the boat he came over on, we still don't know where James Markham really came from. I'll check out Hannah Hennessy, next.

Great-grandma found, as well

I was named for my father's mother's mother: Katherine Browning. She married James E. Markham on June 4, 1889 in St. Paul, Minnesota. I do not know where they met, but it is recorded in several places that she was born in Illinois in about 1868, that her mother (maiden name Harlow) was born in Massachusetts, and her father was born in Pennsylvania (or New York -- not clear). Apparently she had limited education: Katherine went to school through the 10th grade, and her sister graduated from high school.

Dad used to tell us that her father was a big-wig on the railroad and owned his own Pullman car. I have no idea which railroad, though of course St. Paul was the home of J.J. Hill, whose Great Northern railroad went through St. Paul. Owning a Pullman Car spoke of wealth, status and luxury far beyond our humble existence. I've been told by other people with the last name of Browning that all the Brownings in the USA are related, somehow. I'm sure it's true; it's true of the Lufkins, as well. But the connections are not close.

Katherine had two daughters: Arline (1890) and Leila (1892). Though by 1910 her marriage to James E. Markham had ended (whether in divorce or simply separation, I could not tell from the records), she kept the Markham name. I never met her, and she died on Feb 9, 1955, shortly after I was born. But for some years into my childhood I and my two sisters regularly received gifts from "Aunt Jessie" in mysterious California. It turns out that Katherine B. Markham had spent the end of her life with her (apparently never-married) sister Jessie Browning in Laguna Beach, California. They show up together on the 1940 Census. I vividly remember three black lacquer jewelry boxes we received one year. [Correction: My older sister Anne and Suzi say that those jewelry boxes were actually from Leila B. Markham.] Those were wonderful gifts, and I'm sure our mother thanked her very nicely for them. But I wish I could do so myself, now. Jessie was taking an interest in her closest relatives: her nephew James (named for her former brother-in-law), his wife Rosemarie (called "Friday") and three -- soon to be five -- children.

Because she is my namesake, I wish I could find out more about Katherine Browning Markham. Perhaps I can find her and her larger family in another family tree on Ancestry.com. I can see Dad making his French "that's too much money" gesture as I write this.

Lost Grandmothers

Leila B. Markham was James M. Lufkin's mother. My paternal grandmother. And yet, I saw her only once in my life, on a family trip to Concord, California when I was about 5. I know very little about her, but now I know a tad more, thanks to Archives.

Dad loved his mom, but she was famously difficult. She and his dad divorced (scandal!) in 1921; Dad was then about 18 months old.

Leila was born in St. Paul MN, the daughter of James E. Markham and Katherine B. (Browning) Markham, and grew up in St. Paul. James was assistant City Attorney for the City of St. Paul. I'm amused that in the census records, his area of work is transcribed as "Girl Preacher." Looking at the original document as preserved on Archive, I certainly had trouble deciphering the handwriting, but I'm quite sure the real word was "Jurisprudence." The census taker apparently didn't know the word or how to spell it: he made it into two words. And the transcriber could make nothing of the handwriting. A similar problem led the household to be listed as "Marsham" in the transcription of the 1900 census.

Leila shows up in the 1990 Census as a 7 year old in her father's household at 642 Goodrich Ave, St. Paul, a residence listed as rented, not owned. She lives with her mother and father and older sister Arline (b. 1890) and a female servant: Lena Rudley, born in Sweden in 1880, and immigrated in 1892.

In the 1910 Census, Leila is not living with her father, who is now divorced and living as a boarder at 494 Ashland Ave. in St. Paul. With him are now apparently James's widowed sister-in-law, Katherine J. Markham. I say she is his sister, not his wife of a similar name because 1) her parents are both listed as born in Ireland, as are James'; and 2) James is listed as divorced. And with Katherine J. Markham there were two Markham girls, possibly her two children: Caroline Markham, age 24; Manne B. Markham, age 27. Edith's older sister, Arline Markham, age 19, is part of the household, but Leila is not. Was she living with her mother, Katherine B. Markham? The family servant has disappeared, as well.

Years later, Leila is found in the 1940 census at age 48 living as a tenant/boarder in St. Paul at 301 Clayton Ave, with one Clara Lucking, seamstress. In the next door apartment, apparently, is Lena Larson. Lena is listed as having been born in 1880, and having moved here from Sweden. The age difference between the two women is the same as that between Lena Rudley (then 19) and Leila Markham (then 7) back in the 1900 census. Was Leila living next door to her former nanny? Or were there just that many Lenas from Sweden in St. Paul at the time? In any case, Leila was working as a typist at a law firm at that time. She had two years of college.

I haven't found the date of her marriage, to Myron Tandy, whom we all knew as "Chief," but the records show that by 1947, she is listed as Leila B. Tandy. Still living in St. Paul at that time, I believe.

This is what I've found messing around with Archives. I was able to establish Leila's death date and place: 10 Nov 1962 at Contra Costa, California. I owe as much to her, at least genetically, as I do to my maternal grandmother, but I never knew Leila, and she has been a mystery to me most of my life.

Civil War letter of Edith Hall Lufkin's father, Warren Hall, to her mother Annie

Letter from Warren Hall to Anna Hall

Written in pencil on one piece of paper folded to make four pages, each 7 ⅞ x 9 ¾ inches

The Battle of Resaca has a page in Wikipedia, but I didn’t find mention (in a quick search) of any skirmishes at Rome.

Head Qtrs 2^nd Division A.C. Near Rome, Ga

May 18, 1864 / Wednesday

My own dear Annie Hall,

            I wrote you night of 15^th from near Resaca [Georgia, about 43 miles SSE from Chattanooga] and after writing most of my letter—which was a sleepy thing with no sense & the pages all mixed up – I received your love letter of 4^th. Two hours after that when we had all gone to sleep – wearied with care & fighting & riding & want of sleep – we were all waked up by hearing firing on the front & jumping into our clothes & mounting in hot haste we dashed down to our lines to brace them up & prepare for the conflict. I believed that the enemy being closely pressed and unable to hold his position had determined to make a night assault carry one centre by a desperate charge & then crash down against one flank from the point of attack south & if possible (& I feared it was) break up our camps & [on?] the 15^th & escape with what he could. But it was after all only one of those night fights which frequently precede an evacuation & on the next morning our skirmishers found only skirmishers on their front. Two days of musketing and artillery even though the engagement was only by our light front lines & batteries had riddled their works and their whole position through and through. On 16^th [Union] Gen [Jefferson Columbus] Davis received early, orders to move with his division alone upon the right of the whole army & in advance against Rome [Georgia]. We arrived within two miles of Rome last night driving the skirmishers in & getting into position for Battle soon enough to receive and repulse an attack from the Rebel defenders of the Historic City of “Seven (fortified) Hills” and then as night approached we went into position near their works, & waited for daylight to examine our position, and advancing this morning we found them across the Coosa [River] with a battery & Infantry, but Rome deserted & the enemy in retreat.

[A small hand-drawn map of the division’s approach shows the confluence of the Coosa, the Oostanaula and the Etowah Rivers at Rome.]

The rebels no doubt retreat along the Etowah River East toward Kingston to reënforce [Confederate Gen] Jo[seph E.] Johnston & as we are away off on the right of our army we are going to try to rebuild the bridge over the Oostanaula and join our forces that side. We are in a land usually beautiful & rich – still beautiful but rich only in beauty, fields, hills, valleys, meadows, groves, rivers, villas, walks, roses, hedges, a fragrance everywhere – but deserted by its owners, who run as if they did not know that friends or foes they will suffer less loss now & in future by staying at home. There are some Union people who are glad to see us, but Streight & his command were captured near here and treated by the Romans with indignity except by the few Union people and the citizens are said to be afraid of our avenging fury. Poor people! I wish they all knew beforehand how glad we’d be to forgive them -- & would accept kindly the Government which – willing or unwilling – every citizen must finally live under and acknowledge.

            We are isolated here & have no news-dispatches from our main army or [Union General U. S.] Grant. I feel anxious about the affairs of both. So much toward our final [?] peace would be accomplished by our continued success in both departments until Richmond & Atlanta are both taken.

            With the army of the Potomac with Richmond as a base to open communication with us, I think we could form concentrations and combinations which I believe are all we need to make us the victors in a decisive battle which I hope may be over this summer.

            God grant we may have no reverses which would only postpone our final victory & make more expensive sacrifices of blood. Dear Love I do believe in God, and you will thank him as I do in my heart for his continual blessing upon our aims and especially to us in my repeated rescue from danger. We had a sharp fight last night and lost a hundred men in a few minutes. I was near the front. We understand that the Rebels had French’s Div. of Infantry, & two Divisions of Cavalry with which they intended to fight us this morning, but we held our ground in their face, & feeling our imminent danger – with no hope of help if attacked by overwhelming force & during the night they were ordered to retreat & burn the bridges. I think of you ever waking moment, & live for you, & am happy in your assurance of constant love & remembrance & prayers for me, God bless you & keep you in the hollow of his hand dear sweet wife! & save me to return to love and happiness with you. I thought of you dear Annie & remembered our day of days on the 13^th, but we were advancing upon Resaca in order of battle on that day, & I could not devote my acts to you, only my silent love & prayers. So write dearest often & send the little souvenir I asked for on 30^th also -- & the photographs -- & know & feel that every moment I love you, darling darling, 

 Warren

Civil War correspondence

This is a transcript of a letter from Hamilton Warren Hall to Annie Martin, his fiancee. He was fighting for the Union Army.

Hd Qts. 1st Division 20th A Corps
Murfreesboro, [Tennessee] May 24th 1983

Darling,
After tea this evening I sad down with Captain Sherrer to play a game or two of chess, and when we had played with the usual result of a 'mate each, which makes us equal, he went to his quarters; and in the twinkling of an eye, when I was alone, and the strain was removed from my mind--for the game had been closely contested & the Captain had gained the start early in the game & pressed me rather closely, and finally "mated" me -- I felt an indescribable oppression upon my heart, a loneliness & longing which is unusual to me, and I took a cigar and walked out in the moon-light and under the shade of the oaks -- out to the creek, where I sat down, and watched the fireflies and the signal light -- which waves right & left & front and tells of the state of our front, -- and listened to the sweet melody of distant bands as they played their Goodnight "Tattoo," and all the time I was thinking of you dearest and yearning for your dear presence, and I knew I was sad because I had heard no word from you since the letter of May 10th, and then I thought I'd come home & tell you of all my yearning for you, and that I must hear from you to make me happy, And now I'm going to say "goodnight" and hope that the morning train will bring the news of the fall of Vicksburg -- and -- a letter from dear dear Annie -- And then, I will be happy!

Tenderly
Hamilton

We're back!

It’s been a long while since you have heard from me about the Lufkin Family Archive. I confess to being both distracted by everything else in my life, and by feeling overwhelmed by the project. However, I am starting anew, and this post is intended to recruit my extended family's moral support, time and energy.

My commitment is to preserve, index, store and make readily available to you (and your heirs) all the materials in the Lufkin Family Archive. Here is what I can tell you right now:

1.      I have letters, photos and papers from Edith Hall Lufkin, Harry, Anne, and Bernardine and many others. These include letters and journals.

2.      These items have come to me over time from Anne High, Edie Sanchez, Jim Lufkin and others.

3.      I am preserving them with archival-grade storage, along the lines recommended by the Society of American Archivists.

4.      These items are stored safely in a climate-controlled space: my second-floor study. They are on shelves, not the floor, and the air is not humid or overly-dry. They are in a good place, in other words, and will not degrade more than absolutely necessary.

5.      I have broken down the major tasks of the project into smaller pieces so I can get a grip on them. First, I have to finish getting all the pieces boxed properly for preservation. Then I can start scanning everything so that it is all available digitally. Much still needs to be done to complete the process of indexing and boxing the materials.

Here is how Lufkin family members can help:

1.      An advisory board: I would like to have an advisory board of perhaps four people, at least one from each branch of Edith and Harry’s family (Ham’s, Nat’s, Dexter’s, Anne’s) to help with steering the Archive. In particular, I think such a board should make the decision about where the Archive goes when I can no longer keep it. Also, if any funding is needed, the Board can decide how to fund it. Are you interested in serving on such a Board? We would not need to meet in person, but could meet by Skype quarterly, perhaps. Each Board member could be succeeded when necessary by someone else in their branch of the family.

2.      Transcription: If you are interested in helping to transcribe handwritten letters, you can help make these items much more accessible for everyone. I will supply the digital files, you can let me know your contact info and how much you might be willing to do.

3.      Web site development: We talked about this years ago, and I really dropped the ball. But I need help to get all the materials out there. The vision is to develop a web site that will include several parts:

a.      genealogical information;

b.      current family news – which I hope will include ways for family to get together, as well as births and deaths;

c.      catalog and index of the Archive;

d.      the letters, photos and papers themselves in digital form;

e.      this blog, attached to the web site.

For this to work, we probably need several functions to be filled: Administrator of the site; editor of family news; editor of genealogical information. I’m happy to do the blog and edit the materials themselves and the indices thereof.

4.      Visit: Yes, my hope is that people will actually come see the archive and use it for research. The digital versions will all be out and available to the public. But if you’re like me, you like to see the items in person. You are welcome to do so. It’s not cheap to fly to Syracuse, but it is cheap to stay in Syracuse. And if you’re just one person or two, you can stay in our house.

You'll be hearing from me more often now. So spread the word, and tell the people on your side of the family.