Thursday, March 29, 2012

Benjamin Bailey Parentage

I will be adding some information on the theory of Benjamin Bailey's (3d) parentage. I made a New Year’s resolution of sorts to do whatever I could to try and solve the question as to who Benjamin’s parents were.
I started working my way forward from Bailey descendants in the Maine area.
I began to focus on Deacon John (John, Joseph, John, John) and Rachel Leadiary.
From the log that Benjamin Bailey, ( I will refer to him as the third - 3d) kept from Boston to San Francisco I determined he was well educated and had a solid religious foundation. I felt Deacon John might hold some answers when I discovered he had a second marriage to Jane Curtis and gave issue to a son Benjamin Bailey (1st) b Apr 15 1746.
Benjamin married Mary Blake, they had issue of 14 children.
One of these was Capt. Benjamin Bailey (2d) b March 23 1789 d March 18 1828
He married Susan Riley March 27 1817/18 she was born March 25 1791 Dover, NH d June 5 1871 Boston, MA. She was the daughter of Capt. John Riley and Mary Hanson.
Benjamin and Susan had issue of 2 documented children.
1.Julia Adelaide b 182? Portland, ME (census records vary putting her birth between 1822-26)
She married James M Drew.
2. Susan Elizabeth b 182? Portland, ME (census records vary putting her birth between 1822-26)
She married 1) Hazen K Riley Had issue 3 children 2) John C Sargent had issue 1 child later adopted the youngest child of previous marriage (may have been his child??)
This is where I believe my Benjamin fits in, as third child of Benjamin Bailey and Susan Riley.
Benjamin Bailey b June 5 1826 Portland, ME
Here are my reasons. Benjamin’s passport was witnessed by a Joseph Hartwell. Susan’s sister Betsey Riley married Joseph Hartwell. Susan, Benjamin, Joseph and Betsey are all buried together in a plot in Pine Hill Cemetery, Dover, NH. I believe Joseph Hartwell is Uncle to Benjamin Bailey (3d).
Benjamin Bailey (3d) named his first daughter Susan Adelaide. (possibly for Mother and or Sisters??)
The Mystic Seaport gives a listing of passengers aboard the Sweden (this is the log my Benjamin kept) including Benjamin Bailey, James M Drew (possibly brother-in-law to Ben) and Luther Drew (brother of James).
In the directories of San Francisco 1850 I found
Benjamin Bailey, miner
James M Drew
Hazen K Riley, clerk
I am now at a point where I am going to try and see if Benjamin’s education may hold a clue to his parentage.
I think he may have attended Franklin Academy in Dover, NH.
John Riley Varney was principal from 1843-1846.
Susan Riley’s sister Sarah Byles Riley married James Bowdoin Varney.
They had a son John Riley Varney.
This would make him Benjamin Bailey’s (3d) cousin.
Another interesting find was Joseph Hartwell’s brother David married Joanna Drew.
She is the sister of Lydia Drew (daughter or Enoch Drew and Dorcas Heard) and grandmother
to Abby Locke. It would appear a number of Drew, Riley, and Hanson’s married Bailey’s or collateral lines of the Bailey family.

Another avenue would be to try and find a will for Benjamin Bailey's (3d) father. Apparently all of these records were burnt in a town fire?? (according to another researcher).
Now in the process of trying to see if Susan Riley had a will and perhaps this could lead to a mention of my Benjamin Bailey (3d).

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Marriage June 26, 1855


At San Francisco, June 26th, Mr Benjamin Bailey, of Boston, to Miss Sarah M., daughter of Capt. P. Paterson, of Hobart Town.

1852 State Census

California State Census 1852, pg 162
Bailey, Benj, 28 Massachusetts, Residence: Boston

Passport


Unite Staes of America.

Commonwealth of Massachusetts. County of Suffolk, City of Boston,

On the seventh day of February AD 1849 before me, Charles B. F. Adams, a Notary Public, duly commissioned and sworn, in and for said County and City personally appeared Benjamin Bailey and declared that he was born in Portland in the State of Maine and that his age is twenty two, years, height five, feet, 6 6/8 inches, forehead high, eyes light blue, nose roman, mouth medium, chin large, hair brown, complexion light, face medium.

Also appeared before me, Joseph Hartwell and declared that the above described Benjamin Bailey is a native citizen of the United States.

In Witness Whereof, I have subscribed my name, and affixed my seal of office, the day and year above written. Charles Adams Notary Public.

Benjamin Bailey passenger list


Benjamin Bailey lists himself as a Clerk, age 23, Residence Boston, Mass.

Benjamin Bailey Log Title page


Benjamin Bailey kept a log of his journey from Boston to San Francisco. The log is held at the Mystic Seaport Museum Inc, Connecticut. It is available online for viewing at http://library.mysticseaport.org/initiative/PageImage.cfm?BibID=31716

Sarah Margaret Patterson Photo


Sarah Margaret Patterson circa late 1870's - early 1880's