Jane Blewett

[zibetha]

Jane Blewett was born in Crowan in 1837, and according to her marriage (husband Henry Symons) info on the OPC site was illegitimate. There is a corresponding birth record on the GRO site for a Jane Thomas Blewett (mother's maiden name withheld) that I suspect is a match.

Henry went to the US to work while Jane remained in Cornwall with her children until they went to Upper Michigan in 1882.

I suspect I am related to Jane. The story evolves regarding her daughter, Amelia. I have begun participating in a group co-administered by a cousin that collects photographs and other documents by receiving donations of photographs - particularly cabinet cards, buying them at flea markets, on Ebay, etc. and attempts to identify the subject and return the photos to their families at no charge. If that is not possible, they donate them to a local historical agency. I am focusing on areas I know best, i.e. the states of Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Photos of Amelia Symons and her children popped up on the Michigan page, and I decided to attempt to identify her. What a surprise! She married a man named John Edwards whose first wife (another Amelia) turned out to be my great-great-grandmother, Bessie Sampson Mitchell's sister, Amelia Jane Sampson. I knew Amelia Jane married Thomas Nichols, but I was not aware her first child, Alice, had a different father. As I review marriage records for Alice's children, I do find her maiden name listed as "Edwards."

Then I discovered I already had John Edwards on my tree as a Bartle descendent - my 4th cousin 4 times removed. It's a small (Cornish) world after all

Jane and Henry's son John married Mary Elizabeth Williams, a Trevarthen descendent whose family connects to the Tremayne family.

I would appreciate any information to help identify Jane. Her son listed her parents as John and Elizabeth on her death certificate. I don't know if that is correct.

Zib

[Cornish Terrier]

The 1841 Census shows the following family at Tregoose, Sithney

Jane Blewett age 30, ag lab
Jane Blewett age 4
Elizabeth Blewett age 8 months

This corresponds with the following two GRO Index entries:-

December Qtr 1837 Vol 9 Page 103
BLEWETT, Jane Thomas Blewett

December Qtr 1840 Vol 9 Page 130
BLEWETT, Elizabeth

From the Breage Parish Register:-

Jane daughter of Jane Blewett of workhouse, singlewoman baptized 12th November 1837, private baptism (received Jan. 5)

From the Sithney Parish Register:-

Elizabeth daughter of Jane Blewett of Sithney Green (base) baptized 1st September 1843

Tregoose, where Jane was in 1841, is close to Sithney Green - in fact they are both on the same page of the Census - and I can so far find nothing to suggest the baptism of Elizabeth at Sithney might be for any other child. (i.e. no other GRO entry)

Elizabeth Bluett of Sithney Green age 3 was buried at Sithney 4th September 1843

I cannot find the mother in 1851 but daughter Jane 'might be' the Jane Blewett age 14 employed as a servant at Stithians. Problem with her is that her birthplace is stated as Helston.

Being unable to find mother Jane in 1851 makes it difficult to identify her but using information from the 1841 Census (i.e. age 30 and location Breage) might help provide some potential identification:-

Jenifer daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Blewett baptized 5th July 1812 Crowan (born 6th June) - as she was age 30 in 1841 I would think this one is unlikely however a search between 1804 and 1815 using both Jane and Jen as forenames and 'bl' for the surname in the CRO database does not provide any other likely candidates. (The exception might be a baptism over at St Levan in 1811 to Thomas and Jane Blewett)

CT

[Cornish Terrier]

Zib - if Jane Blewett (mother of the illegitimate children) was indeed the 1812 daughter of Benjamin and Elizabeth Blewett then I think I have found your connection.

There are two Benjamin Blewett marriages in 1794 and 1805 where the wife was an Elizabeth but at this stage information in my database suggests Jane to be the daughter of Benjamin (Bennatt) Blewett and Elizabeth Reynolds who married at Crowan in 1805.
This Benjamin (Bennatt) was a son of Gabriel Bluett and Elizabeth Phillips with Gabriel being brother to Martha Blewett (Thomas Trewhela).

CT

BTW - I may need to have you fill in some gaps regarding the identity of John Edwards. I have entered his marriage to Amelia Sampson but have not yet found a record of his marriage to Amelia Symons.

[zibetha]

Thanks, CT -- I am "digesting" this information.

I think I am encountering the second time an Amelia is recorded as a Mary, the first being my 3x great-grandmother, Amelia Williams Sampson on the record of her voyage to the US. John Edwards married "Mary" Symons at Beacon, Michigan in 1883 -- she was very young and just off the boat! Their children were born in 1885 and 1887. John Edwards was a miner, and moved the family to Minnesota and later Tennessee. His parents were William H Edwards and Hannah Richards. Both have Bastard/Bastian ancestors, but my connection is to his mother, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Bastard and Mary Williams. Thomas' parents were John Bastard and Mary Bartle, my 7x great-aunt. Whew!

Zib

[Cornish Terrier]

Thanks Zib, I'll look more closely at this tomorrow (hopefully) and have a look at whatever original records I can find. I downloaded the previously mentioned marriage records earlier and have just now downloaded the same for John Edwards and Mary Symonds.

CT

[Cornish Terrier]

His parents were William H Edwards and Hannah Richards. Both have Bastard/Bastian ancestors, but my connection is to his mother, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Bastard and Mary Williams.

Zib - after checking a few images I think that by this comment you mean his 'grandmother' Hannah daughter of Thomas Bastard etc. She married Francis Richards and it was their daughter Hannah who married William Edwards if I have got all the links right.

BTW - All the records so far indicate it was 'William Edwards' who married Hannah Richards with that marriage taking place at St Pinnock. I can find no reference in the Cornish records to a middle initial or middle name so where does the 'H' come from?

CT

[zibetha]

You are correct, CT; the younger Hannah was the granddaughter of Thomas and Mary.

I have the same marriage information for William Edwards and Hannah Richards. The middle initial "H" for William was indicated on son Thomas' Michigan marriage record. I will double-check the other children's marriages to see if it recurs.

Zib

[Cornish Terrier]

I will double-check the other children's marriages to see if it recurs.

That might be interesting. The marriage record is an OPC transcript but there is certainly no middle initial/name mentioned there and nor is there in the 1828 baptism record - assuming I have the correct William son of John Edwards and Ann Bastin baptized at Sithney.

CT

[Cornish Terrier]

but my connection is to his mother, Hannah, daughter of Thomas Bastard and Mary Williams.

Have you been able to prove beyond doubt that Hannah's mother was Mary Williams? The reason I ask is because from the 1841 Census when her age was recorded as 35 it appears Hannah was probably born at Crowan in 1803 although there was an earlier Hannah in 1798. The 1803 birth brings up a problem because of this:-

Thomas Bastard and Mary Williams married 9th August 1788 Crowan
Thomas Bastard and Mary EUSTIS married 3rd December 1801 Crowan

CT

[zibetha]

It's been a long, cold winter, and now we have snowfall-- about every other day. I have updated my first post adding the lovely picture found. I see the problem you mention and will contact my cousin on the Bastard/Bastian side.

Zib

[Cornish Terrier]

Hi Zib - I will await further developments.

CT