Alice Grinnell (1) Remington

Notes:

New Bedford files (seamen's insurance records) show that Abner Remington b. Tiverton, RI, applied for insurance three times: on 16 Dec 1840 he was age 21, 5'4", and said to have a light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes; on 22 Nov 1848 he was age 28, 5' 4 3/4" and was described as having a light complexion, brown hair, and grey eyes. Another record dated 2 Dec 1848 again shows him to be age 28, but is described as having dark skin, dark hair, and dark eyes. One can only speculate why there are two applications so close together, and why he is described differently, even though the age and birthplace are the same. Two of the descriptions more or less agree.

Abner's last voyage on record ended in 1860, so he must have headed out to Michigan right after that. In the 1860 Federal Census, he is age 37, a sailor, and living at Fenton, MI, with brother William and his family. He was married in Michigan in 1863, and he is in the 1870 census for Fenton, Genesee County, MI, with his wife Eliza and two youngest daughters, Minnie 6 & Alice 2, apparently living next door to his nephew Eben and family.

In the 1860 census, Abner is also listed at New Bedford, MA, living with sister Phebe Pearce and three of her children. The census gives his age as 41, b RI.

In the 1880 Federal Census, Abner, Eliza, and daughter Alice (the second Alice), 8, are living at Mundy, Genesee Co., MI. Also in the household are Thomas Steel, age 4, stepson; and John Hunt, 20.

His obituary in The Fenton Independent:
"Abner Remington, age 80, a resident of Fenton about 50 years, died 6 March 1900 at the home of his nephew, Ebin Remington. Born in New Bedford, MA, during young manhood he was a sailor, making several trips to the whaling grounds. After retiring from the sea, he came to Fenton and purchased a farm in Mundy."

One genealogy at Rootsweb has his date of birth as 13 March 1820 (re: Kim Hawkins).

Abner married Eliza A. Bennett 18 Feb 1863, Flint, Genessee County, MI. Eliza (daughter of Charles Bennett and Caroline Thurston) was born 4 Oct 1845, Ohio; died 5 Sep 1896, Mundy Township, Genesee County, MI; was buried , Oakwood Cemetery, Fenton, MI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eliza was half Sioux Indian. According to descendant Patti Brewer, it is said that Eliza's father traded a team of oxen for her mother.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Eliza A. Bennett is age 7, living with her family at Augusta, Washtenaw Co., MI. In 1860 she is age 17, living with her family at Fenton, Genesee Co., MI.

Eliza married at age 19+, to Abner, who was not quite 43.

According to some genealogies, her name was Sarah Elizabeth. However, she is Eliza A. in the 1850 census, and Eliza in 1860 & 1870.

Notes:

When they were married, Abner was not quite 43 years of age and Eliza was not yet 20.

Notes:

Thomas Remington of Tiverton was appointed to serve on the grand jury, along with Isaac Negus, for the November term 1797, to attend the Court of Common Pleas. (Tiverton Probate Records No 5 p 56)

Thomas served in the military during the Revolutionary War. He first enlisted at Tiverton in January 1777, and when he was discharged in March 1778, re-enlisted right away, and was subsequently discharged about a year later. During much of that time his company was encamped at Bristol and at Ft. Barton in Tiverton. He was in the action during the Battle of RI under General Sullivan.

In his deposition as part of the pension application in 1832, he said he had been born in South Kingstown, but that his family had moved to Tiverton when he was very young. After the war he returned to Tiverton, where he is most likely the other adult male in his father's household in 1790, which includes 2 free white males 16+, and one free white female -- probably his mother or a sister.

In 1832 he mentions that he is a neighbor of Job and Charles Durfee, Esquires. Thomas Remington is in the 1830 RI Census, residing in Tiverton (Newport County, p. 071). He is also there in 1840, and is listed as a Revolutionary War Pensioner, at age 79 1/2. However, he seems to be living alone at that time. Perhaps Alice is in ill health, and has gone to live with one of her children? She will pass away in 1848 at Dartmouth; their son Joseph and family are probably there in 1840, but appear in New Bedford by 1850. I have not yet found a date of death for Thomas, but apparently he died before Alice because she is described as his widow; also, since his last pension payment was in March 1842, he probably died in Feb or March of that year. "Thomas Remington residing in Tiverton collected a pension until March 2, 1842." (source for quote: George Sermuksnis, Archives Technician at Waltham National Archives).

On 7 September 1832, two friends/neighbors and fellow-Revolutionary-soldiers testified on his behalf; they were William Cook, and John Manchester, our ancestor.

Thomas Remington is on the list of persons who united with the Amicable Congregational Society, associated with the Amicable Congregational Church, Tiverton, RI. (ref: "The History of Amicable Congregational Church 1746 - 1946" p.83) He probably was buried from this church, but there were no death records kept for the church at this time. The location of his grave is unknown. I suspect he may be buried with his parents and their Brayton relatives, in one of the unknown gravesites in the family plot at Pleasant View Cemetery, Stone Church Rd., Tiverton, RI (formerly buried on a family farm and relocated to this cemetery).

Revolutionary War Pension file # S21938

He is listed on the Pension Roll of 1835: Remington, Thomas, private of Artillery, Newport county, all $90, rec $270, R.I. Cont. Line, pl July 9, 1833, com March 4, 1831, age 74

In the 1840 Federal Census, Thomas is listed in Tiverton, RI, as a Revolutionary War Veteran/Pensioner age 79 and 1/2.

The list of Thomas and Alice's children came to me from a distant cousin in Michigan. This agreed with names I already had found in the New Bedford whaling crew lists and in marriage, census, and death records in RI and MA.

On 2 March 1791 Thomas Remington mariner of Tiverton received 250 in Spanish milled dollars from Thomas Barker of Tiverton, for the 13th 50-acre lot in the Pocasset Purchase, bounded easterly and westerly on highway, north by the 12th lot and south by the 14th lot. Witnessed by Joseph Barker and Abraham Barker. (Tiverton Deed Book 4)

See this note from cousin Russ Shaw (I am not sure if it pertains to this particular Thomas Remington, our ancestor, but it probably does):
"Last time I was at the RIHS archives I came across an interesting document that I think you may want to check on. It involves Thomas Remington and his son John. I found them both as crew members on the brig Eliza out of Bristol, bound for Trinidad de Cuba, 5 Jan 1818. Reference: MS 28,sg 2, Box 7 (1819-1820), Bristol Custom House records, RIHS."

Thomas married Alice "Elce" GRINNELL Abt 1793. Alice (daughter of Daniel GRINNELL and Sarah Unknown) was born Abt Mar 1777, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI; died 1 Jan 1848, Dartmouth, MA; was buried , Rural Cemetery, New Bedford, MA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Her death announcement was in The Daily Mercury, New Bedford, on Monday 3 Jan 1848:
"Died, in Dartmouth, the 1st, Mrs. Alice Remington, the widow of the late Thomas Remington, formerly of Tiverton, RI, aged 72. Funeral this afternoon at 2 o'clock from No. 59 Grinnell Street. Relatives and friends are respectfully invited to attend."

A similar announcement was in the New Bedford Mercury (not the daily), Friday, 7 Jan 1848:
"In Dartmouth, the 1st, Mrs. Alice, widow of the late Thomas Remington, formerly of Tiverton, RI, aged 72."

According to the New Bedford death record, Alice died of consumption at age 70 y 10 m.

She may have died at the home of her daughter Mary Rounds.

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, the Bennett family is living at Augusta, Washtenaw Co., MI.

In 1860 they appear in the census as Charles & Caroline Bent. They are living at Fenton, Genesee Co., MI. Four children are in the household; perhaps their children Caroline & Paul have died, because they are not there. According to this census data, Charles Sr. is a farmer, born in VT; but the 1850 census says he was born in MA.

In 1870 they are Chas & Caroline Bennet, still at Fenton, MI. Their two youngest sons are with them, and they are next door to son Charles, Jr., and his wife. According to the census data, Charles, Sr., is a sailor born in MA.

In 1880 they are at Lasalle, Monroe Co., MI. Also with them are a daughter-in-law and grandson.

Charles married Caroline Thurston Abt 1832. Caroline was born 14 Nov 1813, Oswego County, NY; died Aft 1 Jun 1880. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

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

Please be advised that I do not know for sure that Joseph is a son of William, or that these other individuals also placed here as children of William and siblings of Joseph actually belong here. At the present time this family group is merely a possible family constructed from individuals known to be living at Portsmouth in the 1700s, as was our ancestor Joseph. Research is ongoing to determine the parentage of these individuals, including Joseph. From location and family names, it seems very possible that Joseph was a descendant of Thomas Remington & Mary Allen, and also of a William Remington, as that name is found in a future generation.

The RI 1777 Military Census lists Joseph Remington age 50-60 U (unable to serve) at Tiverton, but notes "res. Portsmouth." This probably means that he originally had been from Portsmouth but later moved to Tiverton. (see next note).

14 May 1750: Joseph Remington qualified with certificate for himself and family from Portsmouth to reside in Tiverton (Po Town Council Bk 4 P 49).

Did they ever go from Portsmouth to Tiverton that year? (see next note)

From the town records of Portsmouth, RI: "The Ear Mark of the Creatures of Joseph Remmington is a fork on the Right Ear and a hapenny under ye same Ear and a Hapenny before & behind the Left Ear -- Entered on Record June ye 18th AD 1754 By Robt Dennis Tn Clerk." This very likely refers to our ancestor, which means that the family -- or at least his farm -- was in Portsmouth during the 1750s.

20 Jun 1757: Joseph Remington, wife & children, were given a certificate from Portsmouth to reside in Richmond (Po Town Council Bk 4 p 118).

According to a statement by his son Thomas, our ancestor, the family lived in South Kingstown but later moved to Tiverton sometime after 1760. According to son David's pension file, the family lived in Richmond when he was born.

I am not sure of his date of death -- needs more research. A Joseph Remington is living at Tiverton in the 1782 RI Census and 1790 Federal Census; he is not listed in 1800. This may indicate he died between 1790 and 1800.

A Joseph Remington witnessed the 22 Nov 1788 will of Mary Anthony, spinster, of Tiverton. Probably it was this Joseph. This needs more research.

According to the Burlingame Manuscript, he resided at Scituate and Tiverton. However, the Joseph Remington who was a son of Margaret (Burlingame) Remington lived at Scituate (not Tiverton) and was a different Joseph, based on research by Barbara Chase. Our Joseph lived at Portsmouth, South Kingstown and/or Richmond, and Tiverton.

As a result of reading Barbara's research into Scituate and Cranston land evidence, I have come to the conclusion that the published genealogies have confused two Josephs. One of them apparently was born in Warwick 21 Jan 1720/21 and moved to Scituate, where he died 6 Jul 1800. The other was born around the same time (location unknown but possibly Prudence Island), was married in Portsmouth, apparently lived in both Portsmouth and South Kingstown (or Richmond) and later moved to Tiverton (and possibly again Portsmouth for a while?), where he died between 1790 and 1800 (based on census records). However, his date of birth on the gravestone plaque at Tiverton is exactly the same as the date of birth for the one who died at Scituate. It appears that the descendants who had the plaque made were in error about Joseph's date of birth, having used the information for the other Joseph.

As a result of this research provided by Barbara, we now must do further research to determine who Joseph's parents are. Any leads are appreciated. Clues might be the names of his sons Benjamin, Joseph, & Thomas; and the names of his daughters Abigail, Phebe, Sarah, & Mary. David was most likely named after David Lake, father of Innocent.

David Lake was a resident of Portsmouth, which strengthens the likelihood that Joseph's parents lived there.

"There were three REMINGTONs in eighteenth century SK, based on the tax lists: David, John Jr., and Joseph."
(source: RIWASHIN-L Archives, 15 May 2007)

Joseph married Innocent LAKE 10 Jul 1744, Portsmouth, RI. Innocent (daughter of David LAKE, Jr. and Mary WILCOX) was born Between 1718 and 1722, Portsmouth, RI; died 15 Apr 1809, Tiverton, RI; was buried , Pleasant View Cemetery, Stone Church Rd., Tiverton, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the Remington Family book, Martha A. Benns gives her name as Innocent Taylor. From the records, it appears that this marriage to Benjamin Taylor was a first marriage for our Innocent, and that these are not two different Innocent Taylors. In any case, David Lake named his daughter as Innocent Remington in his will, so that has been documented.

Her year of birth is given as 1722 on the Brayton plaque at the Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Tiverton, RI.

One genealogy has her age at death as 91, which places her birth year at c1718.

Notes:

Joseph & Innocent were married by Robert Lawton, Justice.

Notes:

In October 1768 Daniel was "a mariner, of Tiverton."

Daniel's will mentions his wife Sarah, sons Anson & David, and daughters Hope Robertson, Alice Remington, Elizabeth Tripp, & Mary Hart; also grandchildren Abel Grinnell, George Grinnell, Rhoda Grinnell Lake, & Sarah Grinnell.

Daniel married Sarah Unknown Abt 1762. [Group Sheet]