Christopher H. Remington

Notes:

(If you use any part of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, Remington researcher.)

I think Christopher may have been named after Christopher Hall, father of Patience (Hall) Matteson, his assumed maternal grandmother.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Christopher is age 12 and living in West Greenwich with the Benoni Matteson family, which includes Alice (Barber) Matteson, and their daughters Phebe, Eunice, & Dorcas. Christopher's father Sheffield is also in the 1850 census at West Greenwich, age 37, living with Sarah Whitford, William N. Whitford, William's two sons, and other individuals who may or may not be related. There is also a Cyrus W. Remington, age 10, living with the Burrill Matteson family. Is he a brother of Christopher? Possibly Sheffield had been widowed and needed help caring for his children.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Christopher & Almira are living in Ward 6, Providence, RI, with their children Cyrus & Esther.

In the 1880 Federal Census, Christopher and family are living at Johnston, RI. They have three children: Cyrus H. 16, Esther W. 13, & Marie L. B. 3. Apparently they had gone to NY for a while, because according to census data Esther was born there.

In the 1885 RI State Census, Christopher H. and his brother Cyrus W. are both living in Johnston; both are carpenters and their birthplace is given as Coventry.

In 1900 the family is at Providence: Christopher Remington 64 (b June 1835 RI; carpenter; md 28 yrs), Almira S. 67 (b Dec 1832 RI; 2 of 4 children still living), Maria L. Hopkins 23 (dtr; b Dec 1876 RI; md 9 yrs; 3 of 5 children still living), May L. Hopkins 8 (b May 1892 RI), Pansy A. Hopkins 6 (b Feb 1894 MA), and Christopher E. Hopkins 2 (b July 1897 MA).

In 1920 Chris Remington is age 82, living in Providence with Maria Hopkins 43, Burton Hopkins 12, and Charles & May Nickolajewk 32 & 27. Maria is his daughter and May is his granddaughter. All were born in RI except Charles in Poland.

For some reason, Christopher is identified as John Remington in the birth record of his daughter Maria L. B. Remington. However, his wife is Almira S. in the birth record, as in the censuses.

Christopher married Almira Searle 18 Aug 1861, Newport, RI. Almira was born Abt 1833, RI; died 27 Apr 1901, RI. [Group Sheet]

1. Warren S. Remington was born Abt 1863; died 3 Nov 1865; was buried , Sarle Lot, Pippin Orchard Rd., Cranston, RI.
2. Cyrus H. Remington was born Abt 1864, RI; died Aft 1 Jun 1910.
3. Esther A. Remington was born Abt 1867, NY.
4. Maria Louisa B. Remington was born 1 Dec 1876, Johnston, Providence Co., RI.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

I am going to make an assumption that Sheffield is a son of Thomas & Patience (Matteson) Remington (needs additional research to confirm). So far the evidence points to this.

In the 1840 Federal Census, Sheffield Remington is listed as residing in Coventry, RI. The household includes: two free white males age 0-5, one free white male age 20-30, and one free white female age 20-30. Census data shows that Sheffield was engaged in agriculture.

In the 1850 Federal Census, he is age 37 and living at West Greenwich, RI, with various family members in the household of Sarah (Nichols) Whitford, mother of Levi who married Sally Ann Remington. Thus, it seems very possible that Sheffield is a younger brother of Sarah Whitford's daughter-in-law, Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford.

In 1850 Sheffield's wife Huldah is not with him, so possibly he is widowed (or divorced?). His son Christopher b.c.1838 is also living in West Greenwich with the Benoni Matteson family. A Cyrus W. Remington, b.c.1840 is living with the Burrill Matteson family. Could Cyrus be another son? It is very likely, especially since Christopher later had a son named Cyrus.

Sheffield named a son Christopher H. He could be named after the maternal grandfather of Patience (Matteson) Remington (Christopher Hall); Patience also had a brother named Christopher. Very possibly Sheffield named a son after this (assumed) uncle and his (assumed) great grandfather.

Another point of interest is that a younger sister of Sally Ann (Remington) Whitford, Susan, married Dr. Cyrus Place, whose first wife was Rosannah Matteson, first cousin of Susan. Thus, the name Cyrus appears among the uncles in the Remington/Matteson extended family.

In 1860 at West Greenwich, the census shows Cyrus, age 19, George, age 17, & Henry C., age 15, living with various families in town. Are these all brothers, possibly sons of Sheffield & Huldah? Possibly.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Sheffield "Remeninto" is age 47 and living in Coventry, RI, at the home of John B. & Ruth Strait, along with several other individuals who may be boarders. In the 1870 Federal Census, Sheffield Remington is age 57 and living alone (keeping house) at West Greenwich, RI. He is living next to Burrill (age 35) & Caroline Matteson and family. Are these folks related to the Burrill Matteson in 1850 in whose household Cyrus Remington, age 10, was living? Probably.

Sheffield Remington was liberated from jail in Jan 1860. I don't know what his offense was -- possibly not paying his debts or taxes -- this needs more research. (source: Acts and Resolves of the General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations Passed at the May Session, 1858; p. 226; Google Books): "Upon the petition of Sheffield Remington, praying to be released from imprisonment in the Kent county jail: Voted and resolved, That the senate do hereby advise and consent to the pardon of the said Sheffield Remington from his said imprisonment, as recommended by His Excellency the Governor."

Unfortunately, the death record at Coventry does not identify his parents, or his age. In fact, it gives no information at all about him. I have no idea where he could have been buried, as there is no record of a gravestone in the RI Cemetery Database. Of course, he may be buried in the family plot without a stone.

As an alternative to the above notes, Sheffield may be a son of Tiddeman Remington & Elizabeth Sheffield, but I have no other evidence with which to confirm this. The death record of George, Sheffield's son, says Sheffield was born in Coventry, so this leads me to favor the possibility that he is a son of Thomas & Patience.

Sheffield married Huldah Macomber Abt 1836. Huldah was born Abt 1815; died Between 1839 and 1865. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I do not know what became of Huldah Remington. She may have died before the 1850 census, which would explain why her husband and sons are scattered in different households in West Greenwich. However, the RI Death Index has a Huldah Remington listed, who died on 9 Oct 1865, at the age of 48. I can't find her in either the 1850 or 1860 census -- so who is she? The age would be right for this Huldah. Unfortunately, the RI Death Index does not identify her parents.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

I believe this Thomas Remington, Jr., is the one mentioned as a cousin in the will of Thomas Collins of Foster, dated 24 May 1805. The word cousin can mean relative, or he could mean first cousin, as we use the term today.

Information on some individuals in this family group came from "Representative Men & Old Families of Rhode Island," Vol. I (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1908), p. 591. The dates for Thomas came from the RI Cemetery Database, Coventry Historical Cemetery #148.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Thomas & Patience are in their 70s and living at Coventry, RI, with their daughters Eliza and Susan.

I am not sure that Sheffield belongs in this family -- see notes for him. However, evidence of location, dates, and names strongly supports this conclusion.

Thomas married Patience Matteson Abt 1797. Patience (daughter of Silas Matteson and Patience Hall) was born 20 Sep 1779, West Greenwich, Kent Co., RI; died 1 Nov 1860, Coventry, Kent Co., RI; was buried , Remington Family Cemetery, David Dr., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1860 Federal Census, Patience is age 80 living, with her daughter Eliza age 50, and with Robert & Mary Williams and their three children, at Kent County, RI.

Her grave is in Coventry Historical Cemetery #148.

Notes:

(If you use any portion of these notes, please give credit to me, Lois Sorensen, and to other sources as noted herein.)

Thomas may have been from Prudence Island. See notes below.

His will mentions his wife Lydia, sons Thomas and Richmond, and daughters Mary Cruff, Elizabeth LeValley, and Sarah Sheldon (see Rhode Island Genealogical Register" Vol. 9 # 3, p. 237).

Thomas Remmington of Prudence is listed at Coventry, RI, in the 1790 Federal Census (1 free white male age 16 and over; 2 free white males under age 16; 1 free white female; and 2 other free persons).

He probably is also listed as Thomas Remmington in the 1800 census.

His gravestone indicates that he was a veteran of the Revolutionary War. I have photographed his gravestone.

This is one of the mystery Remingtons, as I don't know who his parents were. One theory is that he may be a son of Prudence, b.c.1706, daughter of Thomas. In the 1790 Federal Census, there is listed "Thomas Remington, of Prudence" at Coventry. My question is, does this mean Prudence Island, or Prudence, his mother? If it is the name of his mother, possibly it means he was illegitimate, the son of Prudence Remington and the grandson of Thomas Remington of Warwick. However, there remain the other possibilities that his mother was a widow named Prudence Remington, or, that he was from Prudence Island, where there were Remington families in the 1700s (possibly including the family of our ancestor, Joseph). I am leaning toward this latter explanation, that he was from Prudence Island.

Could he have been the Thomas born 1732, s/o Jonathan & Lorana (Arnold) Remington?

Could he have been a son of William Remington & Mary Manton, who lived on Prudence Island in the 1700s?

Or, could he be the son of Matthew Remington & Rachel Estabrook, Thomas b 23 May 1736? I am tending toward this solution, especially since the Thomas born on that date had a sister Rachel who married William Allen in Portsmouth. Also, Matthew himself was possibly born in Portsmouth.

Thomas married Lydia Collins Aft 14 Feb 1757, RI. Lydia (daughter of Thankful Collins and Lydia Burgess) was born 19 Jan 1735/36, Warwick, Kent Co., RI; died 30 Nov 1819, RI; was buried , Remington Family Cemetery, David Dr., Coventry, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

I have photographed Lydia's gravestone.

Notes:

Silas is mentioned as being under 21 in the will of his grandfather John Greene, dated 15 Aug 1754.His will mentions his wife and ten children by name (see "Rhode Island Genealogical Register" Vol. 4, #2, pp. 188 & 189) .

Silas married Patience Hall 18 Dec 1766, West Greenwich, RI. Patience (daughter of Christopher Hall and Rosannah Matteson Sweet) was born 17 Jun 1749; died 25 Sep 1822. [Group Sheet]