Thomas Reynolds was baptized at St. Edburg’s Church, Bicester (pronounced “BISSter”), Oxfordshire, England on 6 April 1831 by Rev. L. G. Dryden of the Church of England.
Double Entry
Thomas’ baptism was recorded twice on the same page, but in different hands.
The first entry lists Thomas’ birth date as 13 March (incorrect) and the residence of his parents as Bicester M. E. (Market End) or Wretchwick. This is presumed to be in Reverend L. G. Dryden’s hand. Wretchwick Hamlet was listed on a later census as the birthplace of Thomas’ father, William.
The second entry, two lines down from the first, lists Thomas’ birth date as 13 November (correct) and residence as Bicester Market End. This is presumed to be in Reverend W. D. Sheard’s hand. The handwriting in the book seems to be that of W. D. Sheard going forward. It is likely that Dryden was transferred and replaced by Sheard and the confusion caused by the change resulted in the double entry. Dryden was later the vicar of Ambrosden, a village not far from Merton and Bicester.
Transcription
Page 199. BAPTISMS solemnized in the Parish of Bicester in the County of Oxford in the Year 1831
When Baptized.
Child’s Christian Name.
Parents Name. Christian
Parents Name. Surname
Abode.
Quality, Trade, or Profession.
By whom the Ceremony was performed
April 6th born March 13 No. 1586
Thomas Son of
William & Elizabeth
Reynolds
Bicester or Wretchwick M. E.
Farmer
L. G. Dryden Offs Minister
April 6 born Nov. 13 1830 No. 1588
Thomas Son of
William Elizabeth
Reynolds
Bicester M. E.
Farmer
By the Revd L. G. Dryden according to his Certificate – W. D. Sheard
Source
Baptism record: Ancestry.com, Oxfordshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1915: St. Edburg’s Church, Bicester, Oxfordshire, 1813-1831, p. 199 Ancestry p. 106), No. 1586 & 1588.
From the Oxford Chronicle and Reading Gazette, 2 Jan 1847, page 3
Transcription
MAGISTRATES CHAMBER, BICESTER, DEC. 29 [1846]. [Before R. B. Marsham and W. Style, Esqs.] -- Gabriel Tew, of Fencot, charged with stealing a duck and drake the property of Edward Stanton of that place. It appeared that Stanton had reason to believe the prisoner had his property; that he obtained a search warrant; that police officers Griffin and Collett, the parish constables, carried the warrant into effect, and found the fowl concealed in a barn belonging to Tew, but in the occupation of Mr. Higgs, and to which he had access. The officers also found two geese, one the property of Mr. Turner, of Merton, and the other belonging to Mr. W. Reynolds, of Merton. A cart rope belonging to Collett, the constable, was also found on the premises. Mr. Turner swore to the goose, and Stanton swore to the ducks. On these two charges Tew was committed to Oxford for trial at the quarter sessions.
Notes
“The Goose” from Harrison Weir’s Pictures of Animals, 1877
A goose was worth between four and six shillings at the time of this occurrence. According to British National Archives, that would be £15-25 GBP in today’s money or $20-30 USD. That would be a day’s wages for a skilled tradesman.
William Reynolds, for whatever reason, did not press charges against Mr. Tew. When the trial came, Mr. Tew only charged in the theft of one goose, that owned by Mr. Tanner, and not in the theft of the ducks belonging to Mr. Stanton (see below, “The Trial,” for follow-up). A jury found him not guilty due to lack of evidence.
Mr. W. Reynolds of Merton was my 4th great-grandfather, William Reynolds (1790–1860). He was the tenant of Merton Grounds Farm near Merton, Oxfordshire, at the time of the theft of his goose. Merton Grounds was a dairy farm, but William seems to have had other livestock. He was a widower, having lost his wife Elizabeth a year before. Three of his children still lived with him at this time: Elizabeth, 21; Edward, 18; and my third great-grandfather, Thomas, 16.
The Trial
The following is a transcript of the court proceedings against Mr. Tew. This appeared in the Oxford Chronicle on 9 Jan 1847:
County Epiphany Sessions.
These sessions commenced on Monday, before J. W. Henley, Esq. and a bench of magistrates, when the county business was transacted...
On Tuesday the trial of prisoners commenced. The grand jury having been sworn, and the royal proclamation against vice and immorality having been read, the chairman, in a few words, addressed the grand jury, by saying that he was sorry that he could not congratulate them (as at the last sessions) on the state of the calendar. The number of prisoners was unusually large. This might probably arise in some measure from the late severity of the weather, which might have led to the commission of smaller offences... There were 40 prisoners in the calendar...
Gabriel Tew, 47, was charged with stealing one goose, the property of Wm. Tanner, of the parish of Merton.
Mr. Pigott defended the prisoner.
The first witness was William Tanner, who deposed that he lived at Merton, in this county. Last December had twelve geese; saw them on Friday, Dec. 18; missed two on the Saturday. They were old ones; worth 5s. or 6s. each. Saw one about a fortnight after in the possession of Griffin, the policeman. It was dead; that was the brown one. Saw the white one in possession of Jackson; it was picked.
In reply to Mr. Piggot. -- Both were picked except the head and wings. Knew it by the white feathers and brown feathers round the head. Could not swear to the white one.
Anne Edwards, servant to William Tanner. -- Had the care of his poultry. He had twelve geese on the 18th of December. She put them into the house without locking them up. Next morning missed two. Saw a brown goose at Mr. Griffin's on the 28th of Dec. She knew it by its head. Had looked after them two years.
In reply to Mr. Pigott. -- She did not miss them till told they were gone. The one she saw on the 28th was picked; it had a brown and white head. Other people in the parish kept geese.
Fracis Griffin, policeman, Bicester. -- He produced the head and wings of a goose. He found the goose belonging to them in a barn of Mr. Higgs, of Fencott, in a bag. It is the prisoner's barn, and Mr. Higgs rents it. Prisoner lives in a house near the barn. Searched the prisoner's house first; found nothing. Then, by leave of Mr. Higg's daughter, searched the barn. It was unlocked; no one was at work in it. There was some wheat straw in the barn. There were two doors to the barn, neither of which open into the street. Prisoner was present when he searched, and in turning out the goose, witness said, this must be Mr. Tanner's goose, and prisoner said, yes. Had told prisoner what he came to search his house for. Shewed the goose to Mr. Tanner the same day, the 28th of December.
Mr. Tanner swore to the head.
In reply to Mr. Pigott. -- Did not know that geese were often brown. Ganders were generally white. Did not often feed the poultry. Mr. Reynolds lived at Merton grounds. He had lost a white goose, and he swore the white one was his. Witness was sure it was his.
Francis Griffin, in reply to Mr. Pigott, said, Higgs rented his barn and house of prisoner; it was his own property. He allowed him to search his house; he said, "search and welcome." When the goose was found he (witness) said, this is Tanner's goose; prisoner said, yes. He (witness) had not stolen the goose (laughter).
Anne Edwards said, the goose's head was her master's.
Richard Collett, constable of Fencott, was with Griffin, when two geese were found in a bag, in Mr. Higg's barn.
John Higgs. -- Lives at Fencott; rented a barn there of Tew, and occupied it. The prisoner had the privilege to go in the barn at any time. If he chose to lock him out he could. Made no bargain that he should have a right to go into it, when he let it to witness. He could go into it when unlocked, the same as anybody else might. Sometimes put corn into the barn, then locked it by night only. He had some wood in the barn.
In reply to Mr. Pigott: -- Had a son and daughter grown up. Went through a stable into the barn.
Mr. Pigott submitted there was no evidence.
The Chairman said he thought it very slight.
Mr. Pigott then said he was willing the case should [go to?] the jury as it was.
The Chairman, then said, the evidence was indeed slight, and the jury immediately returned a verdict of not guilty.
From The Bicester Herald, Bicester, Oxfordshire, England, 17 Jan 1857, page 8
Transcription
THE ANNUAL BALL AT THE ASSEMBLY ROOMS, AT THE BLACK BOY INN, BICESTER took place on the evening of Tuesday last [13 Jan 1857], when between 60 and 70 ladies and gentlemen of the town and neighbourhood, enjoyed the festive dance. The arrangments, and the superior way in which they were carried out, gave general satisfaction. The room was decorated with taste, and had a pleasing effect. Bell's Leamington Quadrille Band acquitted itself to the full satisfaction of the company. The refreshments, supplied by Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds, were all that could be desired, and displayed their ability as purveyors. Dancing commenced at nine, and was kept up with spirit for some hours. The meeting was of the most agreeable character, and hopes were expressed that the anticipated one for 1858 might be no less so.
Notes
The ball occurred in the second-floor assembly rooms of the Black Boy Inn. The Black Boy seems to have been a popular venue for meetings, dinners, and other gatherings in Bicester. My 3rd great-uncle, John Reynolds (1823–1878), and wife, Sarah Claridge Reynolds (1798–1873), hosted these events and ran their pub and butcher shop downstairs.
My ancestor, Thomas Reynolds (1830–1894), was John’s younger brother. I have no doubt that Thomas, who was then twenty-seven years old and unmarried, attended this ball. The following June, he boarded a ship for America.
Ball gowns from Peterson’s Magazine, Les Modes Parisiennes, January 1857 (the same month as the ball) From LAPL, found on Pinterest
The word “ball” conjures visions of exquisite gowns, tuxedos, and waltzing in a grand ballroom. But this would have been an event for the commoners of Bicester—what we might call a “dance.”
"All ... social classes tended to refer to the dances they held as balls. By the mid-[19th] century, the majority of the dances performed in a typical ball were waltzes, quadrilles, polkas, galops, and schottisches with a few country dances and other older dances included."
This was an item from Helen Light Thomson’s notebook I scanned in 2001 at a Light Reunion. There is no source information, but based on Tice’s age, this can be dated to 1862. It supports the family story that Tice was rejected locally and then went to Indianapolis later to try to volunteer. He was rejected then, too.
Here is a transcription I made of the document. Names starting and ending with “-” are crossed through on the original. The two with x’s beside their names are annotated as later volunteering. Pleasant Franklin did not make it back home to Indiana.
Militia Enrollment
State of Indiana, Owen County, Franklin Township
Roll of able-bodied white male citizens resident in Franklin Township, Owen County, Indiana, over 18 years and under 45 years of age, subject to military duty.
Enrolled in pursuance of orders from the Secretary of War, by James M. Johnson [illegible], Commissioner for said Township.
No. Names Age Occupation Not Able Bodied,
and why
85 Thomas Wood 19 Farmer
86 -A J Hicks- 30 " Right eye out
87 John McIntosh 28 "
88 John Ooley 25 "
89 Pleasant Franklin X 32 "
90 William R. Johnson 36 "
91 Abner Johnson 26 "
92 Phillip Carpenter X 30 "
93 John McGee 30 "
94 Wilson Zellers 26 "
95 Abner Light < 19 "
96 John Burns 32 "
97 Gideon B. Potter 20 "
98 Jucson(?) Slough 18 "
99 T. J. Gentry 40 "
100 Silas E. Deem 21 "
101 Isaac Ooley 22 "
102 -Edmond Vandeventer- 19 " Right arm broke
Weak generally
103 Lowry Deem 22 "
104 -John R. Brown- 24 " Heart disease
105 Galen Bray 37 "
106 -George A. Hogan- 41 " Frequent Piles
107 -Tice Light- 35 " Rheumatism
108 Henry Carter 25 "
Abner Light’s name is circled and has an arrow pointing to it. Abner was the brother of Tice Light. He ended up enlisting in 1864 and serving about four months. Here is his Find-A-Grave memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/42835328
John Ooley, age 25, was married to Hester Ann Light in 1858. She was the sister of Abner and Tice. John’s maternal grandfather was the brother of Davy Crockett’s father. His paternal grandfather, John Ooley, was the maternal grandfather of Tice Light’s wife, Sarah Johnson Light.
William R. Johnson’s mother, Hester Hallie Light Johnson, was the sister of Tice, Abner, and Hester’s father. His father is likely connected to Tice’s wife.
Perhaps I’ll revisit this and fill in more details in the future.
The following information is from Helen’s notebook:
"She could shear a sheep as quick as a man and carded all her wool. She used a handmade loom to weave and design her own bed clothes. The sample here was woven by her when she was 18 years old for her hope chest." ~ Notes from Uncle Elvin (Light, Sarah Johnson Light's son)
"Piece of homespun coverlet made by Grandmother Sarah Light, who carded the wool and dyed the red and blue yarn with berrie. Many years ago, Uncle Elven Light cut this piece off for me when I was asking about the family. He said there are so many descendants the primitive handiwork should be shared among the grandchildren. ~Helen Light"
"Carded, spun, woven and dyed by Sarah Johnson at 18 years of age in 1850. Design is hand-made by process of weaving."
Helen passed in 2012. I’m sure that the piece of coverlet was passed down to someone. I don’t know who has it now, but I would like to have the information for my records.
This is Hugh Moore Light (1801-1885). I am assuming that this is a copy of a cased image like a daguerreotype. I’d date this to the 1860s, but it could be a bit earlier.
I would like to know if the original still exists and who has it, just for my records. Jerry had three children. Hopefully, the image of Hugh Moore Light is safe with them.
More about Hugh Moore Light — He was born in Pendleton, Anderson, South Carolina. The Light family had a plantation there which, according to family lore, was burned down during a slave revolt. I’ve failed to find anything specific about when this happened, but there were many such revolts in that area over the years.
The family left South Carolina for Kentucky at some point between 1803 and 1805 (birth of brother Israel in 1803 and Baird in 1805). Hugh likely wouldn’t have had any memories of South Carolina as they left when he was a toddler.
They didn’t stay long — they were in Owen County, Indiana by 1808. Hugh was seven at that point. He lived there for the rest of his life.
My 2nd great-grandmother, Margaret McCarty Light, was born 16 February 1866 to James S. McCarty (1825-1902) and Nancy Jane Hull McCarty (1832-1908).
James and Nancy are buried in Morris Chapel Cemetery in Iroquois County, Illinois.
I have heard and read a story that Margaret was born in a house that once stood where Morris Chapel Cemetery is now. For instance, I have a hand-written note by my grandmother which says the following:
Info from Morris Chapel Cemetery as of 10/6/1996
Church was located across the road to the east
Where cemetery is now -- there was a house where Margaret McCarty Light was born.
This note was written when my great-grandmother, Clara Light Schlotman (1905-2001) was still living. I suspect the location information came from her, and it could be that my memory of this information came from her directly. She was the youngest child of Margaret McCarty Light, and so would have gotten this information from her mother.
According to Find-a-Grave memorials, there are burials in Morris Chapel Cemetery that are from before 1866. This might be explained by the following information found on the Find-a-Grave memorial for Sarah Myers Murray (1805-1840):
...Sarah was originally buried at Courtright Cemetery in Iroquois County, Illinois. Around 1870 she was reburied in Morris Chapel Cemetery at Donovan, Illinois.
(From Find-a-Grave member M. Richards)
There are two possibilities…
Grandma Schlotman was correct — her mother, Margaret McCarty Light was born in 1866 in a house which once stood at the current location of Morris Chapel Cemetery in Iroquois County, Illinois. The house was torn down at some point before 1870 and burials took place at the site from that point on. Some burials were of remains previously buried at other locations, and so their death date, which predates Margaret’s 1866 birth, doesn’t necessarily conflict with the house location story.
Grandma Schlotman was incorrect — the house was near to but not at the current location of the Morris Chapel Cemetery. I know that the McCartys later lived across the state line and to the north of the cemetery, about one mile away. This was the location of a house that is no longer standing that James and Nancy McCarty lived in in their final years. But, we know that Margaret was not born there, as she was born in Illinois.
The solution to this, if there is one, is to look at land records, if they still exist. This would probably require on-site research in Iroquois County, as online searches have yielded no results.
The note included these names and dates of family members buried at Morris Chapel Cemetery. I have linked them to Find-A-Grave memorials:
I purchased this card mounted photo with others at a flea market in Oak Ridge, Tennessee in about 2000. It is 7.25″ x 5″.
If you are a relative of J. Earle Brown or the photographer Herbert Randall, I would be willing to part with this photo. Please contact me via email at erinfamilyhistory.com@gmail.com and let me know how you are related and/or what your interest is in obtaining this item.
J. Earle Brown, June 1896 The photographer, Herbert Randall, signed the portrait at bottom-left
The Subject
“Very truly, your nephew, J. Earle Brown, Ann Arbor, Mich., June 1896”
J. Earle Brown was born 27 January 1872 in Clinton County, Michigan to Ezekial and Louise Tallman Brown. His father was a farmer and teacher.
In 1896, at the age of twenty-three, J. Earle Browne graduated from the University of Michigan. That June, the above photo was taken at the Ann Arbor studio of Herbert Randall.
J. Earle seems to have been restless after graduation. He first opened a law office in Bay City, Michigan. By 1897, he was in Alaska, where he spent the next two years. Upon his return to Michigan, he worked as a newspaper reporter in Lansing. That was short-lived, as by 1899 he had opened a law practice in St. John’s, Michigan. At some point later, he opened a practice in Lansing while maintaining the one in St. John’s. He was city attorney for St. John’s at some point during this era.
At the time of the 1900 census, J. Earle Browne lived at Mrs. Wiggin’s boarding house in Bingham, Michigan, a village a short way from his office in St. John’s. Three years later on 18 February 1903, J. Earle, then thirty-one, married Mrs. Wiggin’s daughter, Cecelia M “Birdaline” Wiggins, aged twenty-four. Sadly, Birdaline died 25 June 1908 from Cerebrospinal Meningitis at age thirty. She was buried at Mount Rest Cemetery in St. John’s. J. Earle and Birdaline had no known children.
Lansing State Journal, Lansing, Michigan, 17 Jun 1916, Sat, Page 5
Two years after the death of his wife, J. Earle was enumerated as a roomer in the 1910 census in the St. John’s household of Bert Vanseler. Also in the household were Bert’s mother and sister. J. Earle was working as a lawyer and his marriage status was widowed.
In 1912, J. Earle Brown was a delegate to the Democratic national convention.
Eight years after the death of Birdaline, in 1916, J. Earle Brown remarried. His new wife was Miss Maud Stewart, a thirty-six-year-old stenographer for the state insurance department and a native of England. J. Earle, then forty-four, was a partner in the law firm, Brown, Walbridge, Kelley & Seelye in Lansing. A newspaper article about the wedding described the couple as “popular in Lansing,” and J. Earle as “well-known.”
The wedding was a small affair, taking place in the parlors of the Hotel Tuller in Detroit at 4 o’clock on 17 Jun 1916. Among the few friends and family in attendance at the private ceremony were Judge and Mrs. Dean W. Kelley of St. John’s.
J. Earle Brown closed his St. John’s, Michigan practice in 1916 and settled permanently in Lansing with his new wife. 1920 saw the Browns living in Lansing at 323 W. Hillsdale Street. They rented this home and Maud likely had the job of keeping it. She was no longer working as a stenographer. J. Earle was still practicing law with offices in the 608 American State Savings Bank building. The Brown’s home on Hillsdale no longer stands. Parking lots occupy the entire 300 block odd-numbered addresses as of 2022.
By 1930, Mr. and Mrs. Brown owned the home J. Earle would spend the rest of his life in. 1132 S. Genessee in Lansing still stands and is well maintained. The neighborhood is quaint and quiet-looking with many mature trees. Homes there look to have been built in the 1910s to 20s. The Brown’s house is a craftsman style one, with an eyebrow dormer.
By 1940, J. Earle Brown was apparently not practicing law. His profession was general manager of a refrigeration company. He was sixty-eight years old.
Gravestone of J. Earle Brown by Find-A-Grave contributor Linda Hughes
J. Earle Brown passed away at the age of seventy on 13 June 1943. He died at home from a heart attack. His remains rest at Deepdale Memorial Park in Eaton County, Michigan.
Maud left Lansing shortly after the death of J. Earle. She died of a heart attack at her home in Eaton County, Michigan at the age of seventy-nine on 5 March, 1957. She rests next to her husband at Deepdale. Their simple stones bear only their names and the phrase, “God is love.”
The back has no label, but shows the shadow of another photo it was once stored with.
I bought this image in about 2000 at a flea market in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. It was in a box among other images. There are other Michigan images, but this is the only one from Big Rapids.
The photographer was William Eliphalet Marshall (1852-1923). He seems to have spent his entire life in Michigan, having been born in Ottawa County in 1852 to farmers. His mother was from Canada.
Mr. Marshall was operating his Big Rapids photography studio by at least 1900 and until at least 1910. At some point around the mid-1910s, he relocated to Grand Rapids where he seems to have had a studio.
I have found a great-granddaughter of William E. Marshall who is collecting images taken by her ancestor and will be mailing this to her next week.
When I must leave you for a little while, Please do not grieve and shed wild tears And hug your sorrow to you through the years, But start out bravely with a gallant smile; And for my sake and for my name Live on and do all things the same, Feed not your loneliness on empty days, But fill each waking hour in useful ways, Reach out your hand in comfort and in cheer And I in turn will comfort you and hold you near; And never, never be afraid to die, For I am waiting for you in the sky!
by Helen Steiner Rice
IN MEMORY OF CLARA M. SCHLOTMAN
DATE OF BIRTH March 30, 1905 Sheldon, Illinois
DATE OF DEATH January 24, 2001 Watseka, Illinois
SERVICES 1:30 p.m., Sunday, January 28, 2001 United Methodist Church Sheldon, Illinois
OFFICIATING Rev. Joe Scheets, Rev. Hubert Lytle & Rev. Karen Martin
CEMETERY Sheldon Cemetery Sheldon, Illinois
PALLBEARERS Matt Stone, Curt Sowers, Randall Kingdon, Rory Sowers, Doug Sowers & Dean Sowers
HONORARY PALLBEARERS Caleb Stone & Doug Stone
ARRANGEMENTS BY Segur-Knapp Funeral Home – Watseka, IL
