Abner Wilcox

Notes:

Notes from John Wilcox on his family tree at Rootsweb's Worldconnect:
"Abner and Comfort Wilcox apparently suffered from marital problems, as documented in the following announcement that appeared in the The Newport Mercury November 30, 1805: 'Whereas Comfort Wilcox, Wife of the subscriber, has eloped from his bed and board, and has otherwise behaved in a very improper and unbecoming manner - this is therefore to forbid all persons from trusting or harbouring her on my account, as I am determined to pay no debts of her contracting from this date. [signed] Abner X Wilcox (his mark), Tiverton, Nov. 25, 1805.' Abner Wilcox is presumably the person referred to in the newspaper announcement that appeared in the The Newport Mercury November 07, 1829.

"Commissioners' Notice: We the Subscribers having been appointed by the Hon. Court of Probate for the town of Tiverton, Commissioners to receive the claims of the Creditors against the estate of ABNER WILCOX, late of Tiverton, dec. represented insolvent...[signed] Job Cory, John Gray, Peleg Stafford, Comm'rs...George Wilcox, Adminis'r, Tiverton, Oct 7, 1829."

The same newspaper had a prior notice of submission to probate was dated Sept. 7, 1829, establishing the approximate date of his death.

(both quotes from NEHGS, Early American Newspapers, Series I 1690-1876, ht tp://infoweb.newsbank.com)

My note: I am wondering if he is the Abner Wilcox who fathered a child with Lydia Manchester: Jeremiah Manchester born 20 Dec 1810, Tiverton, d 10 Sep 1891 Tiverton. I have not yet found another Abner Wilcox, so for the time being I am assuming he is the same individual, so I am linking Lydia and her son Jeremiah to his name, with Lydia as a second wife (possibly common law wife or not; his wife Comfort had apparently left him).

I am not sure which Lydia it was, as there were two (at least), one born in 1781 and the other born in 1791.

Abner married Comfort Brownell 17 Nov 1779, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Abner married Lydia Manchester Abt 1810, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. Lydia (daughter of Job Manchester and Zilpha Woodman) was born 1781. [Group Sheet]

Clarissa — Mr. Chase. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Benjamin is mentioned in the will of his grandfather William Wilcox.

Notes:

See notes for Jeremiah's parents Abner and Lydia.

The record for Jeremiah's marriage to Lydia Ann (Lake) Manchester identifies him as "son of Lydia."

The record for Jeremiah's marriage to Eliza (Pettey) Lake identifies him as "illegitimate son of Lydia Manchester."

His death record says he died at age 80 y 8 m 21 d and was son of Abner Wilcox and Lydia Manchester.

In the 1840 Federal Census, there are two Jeremiah Manchesters living at Tiverton. I believe this one has 1 male under 5, 1 male 30-40, 1 female under 5, a female 5-10, and 1 female 30-40.

In the Federal Census of 1850, Jeremiah Manchester is age 42 RI (c1808) living in Tiverton, RI, and appears to be widowed, as no wife is in the home. With him are: Elizabeth 17, Susan 15, Harrington 12, and Mary J. 9.

Jeremiah appears to be in the 1860 Federal Census, still at Tiverton. His age is given as 50, which is about right for this Jeremiah. His wife's at this time is Eliza; her age is given as 48. Also in the household are: Meribah Lake 20, Thomas Lake 18, & Jerod Lake 16 (likely Eliza's children, see her in 1850 census). Next door on either side are two Sarah Lakes, one age 50 and the other age 68.

Jeremiah's wife here in 1860 is the Eliza Manchester who died 27 Mar 1895, age 81, d/o Elias Pettey (see RIDI and Tiverton Deaths; also the marriage record identifies her parents). There is marriage record at Westport, MA, for Elizabeth Pettey and Job Lake. A family tree online shows her first husband as Job Lake III (not sure who his parents are). Eliza appears to be in the 1850 census as Eliza Lake, age 35, with children William 18, Marybe 10, Thomas 9, and Jared 5; plus other Lake relatives.

In 1870, Jeremiah & Eliza, ages 50 RI & 54 MA, are still in Tiverton. With them is Jerome W. Lake age 9. Could this be Eliza's grandson? It seems that Jeremiah's age should say 60 here.

In 1880, Jeremiah & Eliza, ages 70 & 66, are still living at Tiverton. They are next to Abner Lake and family.

A Jeremiah Manchester age 74 is listed at Tiverton in the 1885 RI State Census. This would make his birth year c1811. If this is the same individual as Eliza's husband in the previous censuses, it must be Lydia Manchester and Abner Wilcox's son, as mentioned above.

* * * * *

Various individuals named Jeremiah Manchester about the same age who lived during this time period:

Jeremiah Manchester b 22 March 1786 to Zebedee & Deborah (Briggs) Manchester, Little Compton. Little Compton has no further records on him.

Jeremiah Manchester b c1798-1800 possibly RI (see 1870 census, Putnam, IA; see his sons Jabez & William in 1880), married Tryphena, lived at Providence, Saratoga, NY in 1860; had children Jabez, Myron, Josephine, Helen, possibly others. This Jeremiah is probably a son of Jabez Manchester born c1765 RI (see 1850 census at Providence, NY); Jabez is possibly a son of Archer.

Jeremiah Manchester, b Dec 1804, s/o John & Rhoda. Is he the one at Glocester in the 1850 census, living as a single man, a cook? One family tree online speculates that he is our ancestor, the one who married Mary Dennis. However, no divorce record exists at the Judicial Archives, so he cannot be the same individual.

Jeremiah A. Manchester (our ancestor) b c1804 if he is indeed s/o John & Lucy (or if parentage is unknown, could be b 1795-1808).

Jeremiah Manchester, b 20 Dec 1810, s/o Abner Wilcox and Lydia Manchester (not a married couple); he married three times and is found in the town vital records and censuses; marriage and death record identify him as illegitimate son of AW & LM.

Jeremiah D. Manchester, b c 1814, s/o John & Rebecca. He died 2 Oct 1881 at age 67 (RIDI). According to an online family tree, John Mancester and his wife Rebecca P. Taber went west. (Rebecca born 23 Mar 1782) They may have had another son Job.

Jeremiah Manchester, b 11 Sep 1815, s/o John & Rebecca of Bristol. I believe he is Jerem Manchester, carpenter, single, at Providence in 1850, 1870, and at Bristol in 1880.

Jeremiah married Esther Amanda Unknown Abt 1830, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. Esther died Between 1840 and 1850. [Group Sheet]

Jeremiah married Lydia Ann Lake 23 Oct 1852, Tiverton, RI. Lydia (daughter of Silas Lake and Lydia Gifford Manchester) was born Abt 1829. [Group Sheet]

Jeremiah married Elizabeth "Eliza" Pettey 24 Jan 1856, Tiverton, Newport Co., RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Elias Pettey and Delilah Unknown) was born Abt 1815, Westport, MA; died 27 Mar 1895, RI. [Group Sheet]

Elizabeth married Benjamin E. Brownell 13 Jan 1851, Portsmouth, Newport Co., RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In 1850 Mary J. appears to be age 19, a servant living in the Sawyer household in Little Compton.