Marion Laura Chafee

Notes:

In the 1920 Federal Census, Frank is age 24 and living at Brooklyn, New York, working at the Kings Co. Hospital.

In the 1930 Federal Census, the family is living on Plain St. in Providence, RI. Frank, the father, is noted as "absent."

Frank left his family in Rhode Island and moved to southern California, where he became a bus driver for Greyhound Bus Co.

The birth record at Bristol says he is the first child of Frank & Mary Chafee. It may be that he was the first child who lived, since I believe there was an earlier child, perhaps a miscarriage or death in very early infancy.

Frank married Mae Agnes Johnston Abt 1920. Mae was born Abt 1893, Canada; died 1956; was buried , North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Frank's birth record is on a 3 x 5 card in a file cabinet in the Bristol Town Hall.

Frank & Mary's 50th wedding anniversary celebration was at Cousin Lida's house in Graniteville. (Lida Jenckes was Mary's niece.)

In the 1900 Federal Census, Frank & Mary "Chaffee" are living in Bristol, RI. With them are children Frank, 2, and Laura, 1.

In 1910, Frank & Mary E. "Chaffe" are living at Coventry, RI. In the household are: John 13, Frank 12, Laura 11, Ruth 9, Hattie 7, & Charles 4 months (?). Who is John? I think he may have been a child who died in infancy. Also, Hattie has already died by 1910. Perhaps the census taker listed all the children, past and present, born to the family.

In 1920, Frank P. & Mary E. Chafee are living at 357 Atlantic Ave. in the Longmeadow section of Warwick, RI. In the household are Ruth A., 19, and Charles A., 10. Frank is a foreman at the freighthouse. Daughter Ruth works as a jeweler in a factory.

In 1930 the family is at 632 Heights Ave. in the Riverview section of Warwick. Son Charles, 20, is the only one of the children still at home. Frank is a brakeman on the electric railway.

According to Frank's obituary, he moved to California only two months before he died (of metastic carcinoma). Formerly he had lived at 184 Potters Ave., Providence, RI, and had been a resident of Providence for 22 years. He was employed at the Davol Rubber Co. for 20 years.

I can remember seeing off my Great-grandfather and Great-grandmother Chafee on the train when they left Providence for California. I was just four years old.

Frank died at 1506 Imperial Ave., Jacumba, CA.

Frank married Mary Elizabeth ANDREWS 17 Jul 1896, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI. Mary (daughter of William ANDREWS and Eliza Jane EDWARDS) was born 13 Nov 1870, Lymansville, North Providence, RI; died 20 Mar 1959, Sunland, CA; was buried 23 Mar 1959, Mt. Hope Cemetery, 3751 Market St., San Diego, CA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

She was "Mamie" to Great-grandpa Chafee.

Mary was born in Lymansville, North Providence, which is now part of Pawtucket. Her original birth record is at the Pawtucket City Hall.

Her address at the time of her death was 9645 Green Verdugo Rd., Sunland, CA. According to a notation on the funeral memorial, Mary's grave is in Section 1, Div. 8, Lot 116.

My dad, Norman, saved many of the letters she wrote to my family when she lived in California in the mid-1950s. In one of them she writes: "Everything seems queer to me here in the West. It's lovely up here in these mountains though -- I only wish Grandpa could have lived long enough for the Lord to heal him -- and he take a little comfort in his old age. I am quite alone here in this house -- Frankie's trailer is quite near (and they look after me and do all my errands) so I don't have to leave the place. I am lonely at times -- and wish things could have been different. But God's spirit is here and in me. Bless his name. I am trying to be contented. It's the best all around -- for not any of my children could take the burden of me like Frankie."

She tells how Frank took her with him to Arizona for a fishing trip on the Colorado River. She writes: "It was some trip (but part of it was rough) and some of it was lovely -- would like to have had all my people here to enjoy it with me. Love to you all and God's blessings on you, Grandma Chafee" [this was a couple of months after her husband died]

In another letter, she says: "Laura writes -- she must have looked like Lois when she was a little girl. (Not quite) She was very light -- with hair very sunny and fine." In another letter she says something similar: "Laura thinks she must have looked like Lois (when she was little) (not quite) she had a look like her dad (even then) where the blue eyes come from (is away back -- so Grandma Chafee says -- in the Chafee family) as Grandma Chafee was a Monrow, with brown eyes -- and Grandpa Chafee's eyes were a dark grey, like Aunt Lena's. Well that's all I can remember about it. The blue eyes didn't come from the Andrews either (my father's were a light grey -- not blue -- so it will remain a mystery I guess). Love to all of you -- God's blessings on you all. Grandma Chafee"

Notes:

In the 1870 Federal Census, Samuel R. Chaffee, 25, is a bootmaker, living at Bristol, RI. His wife, Laura A., is age 26. They have two young sons, Raymond & Samuel.

In the 1880 Federal Census, the family is living at Middletown, CT, where Samuel is a saloon keeper -- probably at the Chafee Hotel.

In 1900, Samuel & Laura are living on Congregational St. in Bristol, RI, age 54, with three of their children -- Lena, Cora, & William. They have been married 34 years, according to the census figures. Samuel is a cutter in the rubber mill.

In 1910 Samuel & Laura are both age 65, still living on Congregational St., and have been married 42 years, according to census data.

In the 1930 Federal Census, Samuel is a widower, age 86, living in Bristol, Lincoln Co., ME, with his married daughter Cora Martin and family.

According to the gravestone inscription, Samuel was in Co. G Second Regt. RI Vols. The gravestone has been photographed.

Samuel married Laura Anne MUNROE 24 Apr 1867, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI. Laura (daughter of Jeremiah William MUNROE and Elizabeth BARRINGTON) was born Abt 16 Mar 1844, Bristol, Bristol; Co., RI; died 20 Oct 1911, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI; was buried , North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1860 Federal Census at Bristol, RI, Laura A. Munro is age 16, a "factory operative," living with her parents and two sisters. However, in the 1850 Federal Census, her age is given as 9.

According to Laura's death record, Laura's mother was Elizabeth Barrington (or Parrington), who apparently was the first wife of Jeremiah.

According to the death record at Bristol, RI, Laura Anne Chafee died at age 67 y 7 m 4 d. She died at 19 Constitution St.

The gravestone has her birth year as 1844. The 1905 RI Census has her dob as 15 March 1844. It says she has had 10 children of whom 6 are still living.

Notes:

According to "The Monroe Book," by Joan S. Guilford, Samuel & Laura were married at State Street Methodist Episcopal Church of Bristol. This is also recorded as such in James N. Arnold's "Vital Record of RI," Bristol Church Marriage Records. It is also in the Bristol town records, book of Marriages 1850 - 1902, p. 70.

Guilford's book has Laura in the section titled "Unconnected Monroes."

Notes:

According to my great-grandma's writings, her father William "was only 13 years old when his mother died -- and he used to work in the factory as a weaver until he went to sea as a cabin boy and followed the sea until his family came to America -- and while they were all working in the factories of Hebronville, for one place, and Central Falls and Pawtucket, I think it was while my aunts -- my father's sisters -- were there, he would go into the mill to see them and my mother was working there also and it was there he met her first."

William probably came to America with his father and sister Mary c1847 (see notes for John Andrews).

In the 1860 Federal Census, William & Eliza J. Andrews, ages 27 & 23, are living at North Providence, RI. He is a weaver. They have two children: William H., 3, and Carrie J., 1 month. In 1870 the family is still at North Providence, Centredale Post Office District.

The family was listed in the 1880 census for Providence / Graniteville; also known as District 1 Johnston:
William Andrews 47 born England
Eliza J Andrews 42 born England
Clara J. 20
James E. 15
Joseph C. 11
Mary E. 8
John F. 6
Estella M. 4
William H. 22

According to Mary's letter, her father William was in the Civil War, and also became an overseer at a mill in Centredale. She said his trade was "boss weaver" -- did she mean a manager of weavers?

His death record at Bristol, RI, identifies him as s/o John & Catherine. According to the record, he died at age 66.

William married Eliza Jane EDWARDS 2 Sep 1856, RI. Eliza (daughter of George EDWARDS and Abigail Abby WRAY) was born 4 Mar 1836, Clones, Monaghan, Ireland; died 2 Dec 1894, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eliza Jane Edwards: born 4 March 1836 baptized 13 March 1836 Clones, Monaghan, Ireland; father George Edwards, mother Abegail.

Susan Edwards 19 and Eliza Jane Edwards 18, both born Scotland, sailed on the ship Saratoga from Liverpool and arrived at New York City on 27 July 1854.

Her mother and brother James arrived in August 1855.

The RI Death Index identifies her as d/o George & Abigail Edwards. She died at age 56.