Abigail "Abbie" W. CRANSTON

Abigail married David MUNROE 23 Mar 1806, Bristol, RI. David (son of Joseph MUNROE and Mary EDDY) was born 18 Dec 1784, Bristol, RI; died 12 Mar 1861, Bristol, RI; was buried , North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

The Monroe Book, by Joan S. Guilford, Ph. d., has some information on Jeremiah and his family. However, it is both incomplete and incorrect in some crucial points. In fact, I have learned, through viewing Jeremiah's death and marriage records at Bristol, that his parents are David & Abbie, not George & Martha, as the book says. I have made an assumption that the Bristol record are correct.

In the 1850 Federal Census, Jeremiah W. & Elizabeth Munro are living at Bristol, RI, with their daughter Laura, age 9, and Benjamin & Mary M. Wyatt. This Elizabeth is his second wife.

In the 1860 Federal Census, Jeremiah W. & Elizabeth M. Munro are living at Bristol, RI, with their three daughters: Laura A. 16, Mary E. 9, and Julia F. 6.

In the 1870 Federal Census, Jeremiah W. Munro is 52 and his wife Lydia B. is 34, living at Bristol, RI. In the household are two of Jeremiah's daughters, Mary E., 18, and Julia F., 16. Lydia is Jeremiah's third wife.

Jeremiah's wives:
Bristol records list the death of Elizabeth Munro, wife of Jeremiah, at age 29 on 5 Dec 1845. This was presumably Jeremiah's first wife and also the mother of our ancestor Laura. Laura's death record identifies her mother as Elizabeth Barrington (or Parrington?). The RI State Archives has the name on her death record as Barrington. There was a Barrington family in the Portsmouth records during the 1700s, but I have not figured out whether Elizabeth belongs to that family. This needs more research.

Elizabeth (Wyatt) Diman was a widow when she married Jeremiah. I have assumed she was a Wyatt because her (presumed) parents are living with Jeremiah & Elizabeth in the 1850 census. She may have first married James Diman, who died 2 Feb 1845.

Jeremiah married again in 1867, to Lydia Crump. According to the marriage record, it was Jeremiah's third marriage. This was the same year his daughter Laura was married, and at the same church. However, this marriage ended in divorce, as one was granted 10 April 1876. Jeremiah W. was the plaintiff, and Lydia B. was the defendant.

It would seem that Jeremiah married yet another time, because the wife he names as heir in his will, dated 10 Jan 1878, is Mary M. Munroe. To her he gives all household furniture and stores, as well as real estate, remaining after the payment of debts. In the will he also mentions three additional heirs, should his wife die: two daughters, Julia F. Munroe and Mary Elizabeth Gravlin; and one grandson, Frank P. Chafee (he is my great-grandfather); in case all of these should die, he names Frank's brother Samuel as heir. A copy of this will is recorded in the Bristol Probate Will Book No. 6, p. 275f. Also, related documents are in Book 5, p. 149.

Jeremiah died of scarletina at his home on Bourne St. in Bristol.

Jeremiah married Elizabeth BARRINGTON Abt 1840. Elizabeth was born Abt 1816, RI; died 5 Dec 1845, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Jeremiah married Elizabeth M. Wyatt 6 Aug 1846, Bristol, RI. Elizabeth (daughter of Benjamin Wyatt and Mary M. Unknown) was born Abt 1814, RI; died Between 1860 and 1866. [Group Sheet]

Jeremiah married Lydia B. Crump 12 Jan 1867, State St. Methodist Episcopal Church, Bristol, RI; divorced 10 Apr 1876, Bristol, RI. Lydia (daughter of William G. Crump and Hannah Unknown) was born Abt 1836. [Group Sheet]

Jeremiah married Mary M. Unknown Between 1 Jun 1870 and 10 Jan 1878. Mary was born Abt 1833, RI; died Aft 2 Feb 1880. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1850 Federal Census, Jonathan B. & Elisabeth P. Munro are ages 28 & 26, living at Bristol, RI. In 1860 they are ages 38 & 30.

Jonathan married Elizabeth F. Wilson 19 Apr 1849, Bristol, RI. Elizabeth was born 7 Dec 1823; died 1 Jun 1904; was buried , North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

George died at age 26 of nasal hemorrhage.

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.

Laura married Samuel Russel CHAFEE 24 Apr 1867, Bristol, Bristol Co., RI. Samuel (son of George Tew Barker CHAFEE and Harriet Newell AUSTIN) was born 7 Jul 1844, Bristol, RI; died 3 Aug 1934, Fresno, CA; was buried 10 Aug 1934, North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the Federal Census of 1920, Mary E. Gravelin is a widow aged 67, living at Bristol, RI, with her niece and family, Hattie B. & DeWitt E. Bolster and their daughter Mary E.

Mary's death record identifies her parents as Jeremiah W. Munro and Elizabeth Diman.

Mary married John B. Gravelin Between 1 Jun 1870 and 10 Jan 1878. John was born Dec 1842, NY; died Aft 15 Apr 1910. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Is she Julia F. Cahone 25 RI, listed in the 1880 census as a prostitute at a House of Ill Fame in Fall River, MA?

In the Federal Census of 1910, Julia F. Cahoon is living at Bristol, RI, with her sister and husband, Mary & John Gravelin.

In the Federal Census of 1920, she appears to be Julia Cahoon 65 RI wd, living in Fall River, MA, as a servant in the home of Ernst & Gertrude Howard and family.

Julia's death record identifies her parents as Jeremiah Munroe and Elizabeth Dimon.

Julia — Mr. Cahoon. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1920 Federal Census, Samuel A. Chafee is age 49, and is a boarder on Church St., Bristol. The census says he is married, and a laborer at the rubber company.

By 1930 Samuel has died; see notes for Sarah.

Samuel married Sarah "Sadie" E. Cheetham Abt 1897. Sarah was born 1876, MA; died 1947; was buried , North Burial Ground, Bristol, RI. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Eva's birth record at Bristol says she is the third child born to Samuel & Laura.

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:

Harriet's birth record says she is the fifth child born to Samuel & Laura.

Harriet married DeWitt E. Bolster Abt 1899. DeWitt was born Mar 1866, NY; died Aft 1 Jan 1920. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

In the 1900 Federal Census, Lena is age 19, living at Bristol, RI, with her parents and two siblings. In the 1905 RI census she is age 24, still living with her parents at 19 Congregation St., Bristol.

Lena (Chafee) Stairs died in her 75th year at her home, 2425 21st St., Santa Monica, CA. She died at 7:02 pm on 7 July 1957.

Lena and her husband were active in the Salvation Army.

Lena married Cleve Earl Stairs Aft 1904. Cleve was born 8 May 1882, ME; died Mar 1969, CA. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

Cora's birth record says she is the 9th child born to Samuel R. & Laura A. Chafee, but I believe it should say 7th.

In the 1900 Federal Census, Cora is age 17 and living at Bristol, RI, with her parents and two siblings.

In the 1905 RI census she is age 22, still living with her parents in Bristol at 19 Congregation St.

Cora and her husband moved to Pemaquid Point, Maine.

Cora married Elmer Martin Abt 1905. Elmer was born Abt 1884, ME; died Aft 1 Apr 1930. [Group Sheet]

Notes:

William is age 15 (almost 16?) in the 1900 Federal Census, living at Bristol, RI, with his parents and two older sisters. In 1910, he is still living at Bristol, but now is married to Eva and has two children.

The gravestone has his birth year as 1885.

William married Eva A. Dow 25 Dec 1904, RI. Eva was born Abt 1882, Canada; died Abt 1975. [Group Sheet]