Caroline Atwell Noyes
Caroline Atwell, born 2 Oct 1835 at Waterbury, Washington Co. VT and died 18 April 1894 at Liberal, Barton, Missouri, was married to James Allen Noyes. Learn more about the family here.
This photo was probably taken at Liberal, Missouri.
Nancy Benton, who had this in her collection, notes Caroline Atwell Noyes (line of the blog’s author) had cut apart an envelope that had contained a letter addressed to herself and written this dream on the inside.
The dream concerns her daughter Cora going on a trip, and the numbers 87. It was a powerful dream for her, else she’d not have kept this scrap of paper. Why it was kept throughout her life, and after her death, I expect, was due the fact that on Oct 16, 1887 Cora died bearing her first and only child, Robert Greene Harmon, who survived and was raised by his aunt and uncle.
The dream may have also been powerful to her due the fact she wonders in it if she is a witch. The line of Carrie’s husband, James Allen Noyes, was connected with the Salem witchcraft trials. Timothy Noyes, an ancestor, had a brother who was a clergyman witnessing at least four of the hangings, Rev’d. Nicholas Noyes, and was said to have been cursed.
Wikipedia and other sources note that in folklore, witch’s milk, that taken from the breast of a newborn infant, was believed to be a source of nourishment for witches’ familiar spirits. Caroline may have been aware of this lore, which would have made even stronger for her a sense of prognostication of Cora’s dying in childbirth.
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CARRIE NOYES DREAM Feb. 7 1885 I also dreamed of being at some neighbors |
Carrie Noyes note
Ray Noyes, husband of Elizabeth Jane “Bettie” Brewer, was the son of James Allen Noyes and Caroline Atwell Noyes. He lived in Liberal, Missouri. Ray is of our line.
Lamar Democrat Obituary
LAMAR DEMOCRAT obituary (Tuesday, January 21, 1941) for Ray NOYES reads:
“Ray Noyes dead–Ray NOYES, one of West Barton’s best known men, died at his home just west of Liberal at 4:15 Monday morning. The cause of his death was coronary occlusion, a spasmodic contraction of the arteries of the heart. He had suffered a good deal for several years from cardiac asthma thugh he was always up and about. Ray Noes was born at Anna, Illinois, January 4, 1874. He had just passed his 67th anniversary. He was the son of James A. and Caroline NOYES. When a lad of eight he came to Barton County with his parents, in 1882. The family made the trip in a covered wagon. Ray’s father bought and improved a farm near Liberal, Ray grew up in the Liberal community and was destined to live there for fifty nine years — to the end of his days. In 1895 he married Miss Betty BREWER. He leaves her together with five children, one son and four daughters. The son is Mr. James R. NOYES, northwest Barton’s largest and most successful farmer. The daughters are Mrs. Charles BRYANT of Liberal, Mrs. Cora DICKSON of Shreveport, Mrs. Lloyd MCKINNIE of Ponca City, and Mrs. Phil HURT of Laurenburg, NC.”
Last Rites Were at Home
LAST RITES WERE AT HOME
With All His Childlren and Many Friends Gathered to Pay Final Tribute to Liberal’s Notable Citizens, Ray Noyes, As the Casket Lay In the Home, Final Services Were Held After Which the Casket Was Escorted to Its Last Resting Place in the Liberal Cemetery
Funeral services were held for the late Ray Noyes, at the family home, just west of Liberal, at 11 o’clock Wednesday a.m. Mrs. Noyes was yet unable to sit up and was compelled to be in bed during the services. Her daughters wrapped her warmly and supported her to the side of the casket where she took a last, lingering, loving look at the features of the husband of her youth. They put her back to bed before the services started.
A large group of relatives were present from out of the county. Bob Harmon brought his mother Mrs. O. E. Harmon, Ray’s only sister, from Shreveport. Mrs. Paul Noyes was present from Springfield.
All of the children were present. Mrs. Phil Hurt was there from Laurenburg, North Caroline; Mrs. Cora Dixon was present from Shreveport. Mrs. Lloyd McKennie, with her husband and her two sons, was there from Ponca City.
Carl Kenantz directed the funeral. Rev. Earl Bingham conduced the service. Miss (cut off) Bette Lee Bainter? sang Whispering Hope and Beautiful Isel of Somewhere. They were accompanied upon the piano by Miss Geraldine Sechrist.
The casket bearers were Robert Sweatt, Ewin Lipscomb, Buford Harkins, Robert Williams, Frank Curless Jr., and Mas Davidson Jr.
The flower bearers were the members of the Friendly Folks club. There was a fine floral offering and upon the casket was a beautiiful piece wrought from lillies and red roses.
Following the service at the home, the casket was escorted to the Liberal cemetery where the frail body of this notable, vibrant and vital poineer of Liberal was reverently lowered to its final rest.
Courtesy Nancy Benton. Transcribed by JMK
Ray Noyes Obituary
FRIDAY, Jaunary 24, 1941
Ray Noyes Dies After One Week’s Illness
Ray Noyes, aged 67, died at his home two and one half miles southeast of Liberal at 4:15 January 20 after a week’s illness of flu and complications.
Mr. Noyes was well known throughout the county as a very successful and prosperous farmer. He was a good man and a substantial citizen. He was worthy of and had the respect of the entire community. He was devoted to his family, by whom he will be greatly missed, and passing represents a loss to the entire commuity.
Ray Noyes was the son of James A. and Caroline Noyes. He was born at Anna, Ill., January 4, 1874. In 1882 he came with his parents to Barton county in a covered wagon. He was marrried to Miss Betty Brewer in 1895. To this union five children were born, namely Mrs. Chas. Bryant of northeast of Liberal; Mrs. Cora Dickson of Shreveport, LA; Mrs. Loyd McKennie, Ponca City, Okla; Mrs. Philip Hurt, Laurinburg, N.C., and Jim Noyes of near Liberal. There are ten grand children and one great grand child. He also leaves a sister, Mrs. Viola Harmon, formerly of Liberal but now of Monroe, La.
Funeral services were held at the home Wednesday morning at 11:00 o’clock with Rev. Earl Bingham of Mapleton, Kans., officiating.
The many beautiful flower sprays expressed the esteem and sympathy the folk of this community have for the family.
Burial was in the Liberal cemetery. The Konantz Funeral Service had charge of the body.
All the children were present for the funeral also his sister, Mrs. Harmon and son Bob Harmon of Monroe, La.
Transcribed by JMK
Obituaries are courtesy of Nancy Benton.
Pacific Mills
Courtesy of Nancy Benton.
The Pacific Mills working regulations document shows that Caroline Atwell was working at the mill in 1854 after the death of her parents. I may be wrong on this but it appearing that Pacific Mills was incorporated 1853, and commenced operation 1854 in Lawrence, Massachusetts. The facility had 1600 looms, 62,000 spindles, 26 overseers, employed 800 males and 1100 females.
Pacific Mills (from the web)
Caroline Atwell was the wife of James Noyes. They ultimately settled in Liberal, Missouri.
A letter from Ray Noyes of Liberal, Missouri to his mother Caroline Atwell Noyes. Paul and Edna Stark had married on June 8 1891 and their daughter Grace was born March of 1892. Paul and his family stayed in Miller, Oklahoma in 1892/93 in preparation for the land run of 1893.
I don’t know where Caroline was staying at the time of the letter.
The letter is courtesy of Nancy Benton.
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Liberal MO Oct 17, 92 Mrs. C. A. Noyes Dear Mother Well Paul has given up the place and he and Edna left today. Now the place is open and free for you to come and live here. I would be glad if you would come and be with us at home again Every thing is getting along fine and we are all well. There is not any news to tell that I know of I will expect to hear from you immediately Ray Noyes |
A letter from Caroline Atwell Noyes to her son Ray in Liberal, Missouri. She was staying with son Allen Marble Noyes who made the land run in 1889.
The letter is courtesy of Nancy Benton.
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Dear Ray. — I thought you would like to hear from Allens place I will write you a little. Allens wheat is looking pretty well. There are twenty acres of wheat twenty seven of corn and dont know how many of oats and plenty of potatoes onions and peas. All up and looking well. The little trees and bushes you sent Allen are growing. Allen has brought a cow and calf. The cow gives about three gallons a day but the calf gets over half and he is fat and pretty. We make butter enough to do us very well. (?) has a nice colt a week old. The mules and pony and (2) colt are all doing well. The grass is up green where it has been burnt. Allen burnt his pasture some time ago. I suppose you have read in the paper about the opening of the new indian land. I have not seen any paper that tell about it but Allen went to Elreno and saw the race. There were five new counties come in and a great many went to get lots in the county seats. Bert went and has not got back yet. There was a hard shower and hail storm here the 19th but it was local. I understand it did not rain at all in the new country. It has rained a little to day and Allen think we will have a hard rain before it gets through. One of Allens hens wants to set. We consider that a great event. Your mother C. A. N. |
CARRIE NOYES LETTER TO ALLEN NOYES 1887
Liberal, Barton Co. Missouri
July 23d 1887
Ray Noyes was 13 at the time of this incident. Allen is noted as being in “Sunny Dale”. Where this was, I’ve not been able to discover, but Allen was in Oklahoma by at least 1889.
A Dr. Clark is mentioned in the letter. This would be Dr. J. W. Clark who arrived in Liberal in 1884. He and Dr. Gish, for a number of years, were the only two doctors in Liberal. Dr. Clark graduated from the Medical School at Ann Arbor, Michigan. The Noyes family had also lived in Ann Arbor, so it may very well be that they knew each other from Michigan.
Carrie Noyes letter 1887 page 1
Carrie Noyes letter, 1887, pages 2 and 3
CARRIE NOYES LETTER TO ALLEN NOYES 1887
Liberal, Barton Co. Missouri
July 23d 1887
Ray Noyes was 13 at the time of this incident.
Dear Allen
You said if anything happened to write you at Sunny Dale. Something serious has happened. The colt Rustus (?) kicked Ray in the belly yesterday morning between half past six and seven o’clock. We had Dr. Clark here by half past eight. He said there were no bones broken and it was not a serious case. He dont get any better. We gave him a pack last night and a pill this morning. He has pain in the bowels all the time and sometimes it is very bad for a short time. He had a pail on his arm when he was kicked and Rustus foot hit the pail and the pail pressed against the side and belly. It knocked him over, but he got up himself and ran out of the yard and laid down on the ground outside of the gate, afterwards he walked in the house. Your Father saw it all and came in the house with him. I would have waited longer before writing you but am afraid you will not get my letter if I delay as they only get mail at Sunny Dale two or three times a week. I must not spend any more time writing. Hope you are well and having a good time.
Your mother
Carrie A. Noyes
Courtesy of Nancy Benton. Transcribed by JMK.
The 1900 census for Ozark, Barton, Missouri shows Dr. Clark as Joseph W. Clark from Vermont:
43/43 CLARK Joseph W. head w m July 1850 49 married 16 years b. VT father b. TN mother b. Spain physician and surgeon
Louisa J. wife wf Aug 1863 34 1 child (living) b. KY parents b. KY
Frederick A. son wm April 1878 22 single b. MO father b. VT mother b. MO engineer (stationery?)
Macon B. son wm April 1880 20 single ” ” blacksmith and machinist
Sidney G. son wm July 1885 14 single ” ” at school
Sarah Ann Lydia Atwell Gilbert was Caroline Atwell Noyes’ sister.
Mention is made of a number of people in the letter. Viola, who had been apparently ill, was Caroline’s daughter and would have been about sixteen.
Sarah’s husband, to the best of my knowledge, was a dentist.
Uncle Best was Thomas Best Scagel b. 1805 in Vermont. His wife was Chloe Fisk Dillingham who died August 11 1876 in Vermont. Emery was their son, born in 1835 and died December 27 1872 at Hoosick Falls, New York. In the 1870 census Emery Scagel, a manufacturer of clap board, is living with his parents, Thomas and Chloe, their daughter Mary E., 16, and Dora, 6, and Flora, 4. Dora and Flora were children of Emery and Eliza Betsey Henry who had died March 11 1866. So Sarah is bringing up here the deaths of Mary and Emery and how they were difficult on Chloe who had died the previous summer.
Lorenzo R. is possibly Lorenzo Randolph Bryan, b. 1832 in Waterbury, Vermont to Orson Patrick Bryan and Sarah Sally Scagel, an aunt to Caroline and Sarah, sister of their long deceased mother and Thomas Best Scagel. Sarah Scagel, Lorenzo’s mother, had died Jan 7 1873 in Waterbury and Sarah Gilbert appears to not remember whether she was living or not, which I find peculiar with so close a relative. But Lorenzo Randolph Bryan is my best guess.
I’ve decided Marge/Mary Carlton is Marge (Margaret) Fisk, sister of Lorenzo, who I believe married a Major Alfred Lanthrop Carlton. He had died in Montpelier on May 29 1874.
Who Katie and Carrie are I’ve not been able to determine. I’ve checked for names like this in the Randolph, Orange County census and am finding nothing.
Clark who moved to Burlington Kansas? His last name appears to begin with a B. I’m unable to id him or his family.
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LETTER FROM SARAH GILBERT TO CARRIE NOYES
Before Jan 3 1877
417 Showmont (?) Ave.
My dear Sister
It has been a long time since I have written you still I have not forgotten you I think of you every day and wonder when I am to see you again I hope you & Viola are back to health and the rest of the family well – I am much better than in the summer. West is not very well – his partner was sick for near three months this summer & it was very hard for him. He is talking of selling out again although no one knows it here and if he does he will take a long rest perhaps go out west – if he was not so miserable I should feel terribly about it – he has done very well since he went back into the office and
if I could feel sure that he was going to be able to work for two years to come I should feel terribly but I don’t want him to work on the confined (?) when he is not able to be we are fated to be unsettled all the time if he does go out of business I shall try to get out of the store by the way how many (unintelligible) has been & is there a chance for another some time when you are in town wish you would work out the (unintelligible) but some good responsible person that would know what the chances would be there for the spring trade – I can’t sell to Mrs. Fill (?) because she has not got any thing to buy with and I may be obliged to take the goods somewhere to set them up and perhaps (unintelligible) & then sell out – I can’t tell what I shall do would go to (unintelligible) I could hear of where there was a good chance – there are many things I like about being in a store
but if West is going to be miserable (unintelligible) go to be here – I don’t get home until after he is in bed almost every night – I have had so much (unintelligible) for the last year that I shall like to be relieved of some of it for a while – business is at a stand still here as well as at other places – don’t expect much until the Election is settled you probably hear (have?) more than I do for you are in a democratic district I believe – West went to VT this summer went to (illegible) at Waterbury took dinner with Uncle Best – Aunt Chloe is not there any more she died the last of July with softening of the brain Uncle Best said and that it was too much for her burying Mary and Emory I never have seen her since Mary was buried – the girls were there with him keeping home & going to school West went to the school house to see them said that Dora was
quite slight and stooping but Flora was plump & very pretty. They have a little old house at the Mill Village. West met Lorenzo R. between the center & streets said he had moved and that I should know where he lived if he sold the Baxler-Whitney place but I do not – West did not ask him for his mother so don’t know whether she is living or not & had forgotten (?) he said he had five or six children – Marge (Mary)? Carlton (?) is trying to sell out her store don’t know whether she will succeed or not – she was at Philadelphia and did not see her but a little while he went to Randolph to see Katie & Carrie they have each of them a good place he said Katie was taller than I am. The man their (?) mother married does not do any thing for them and the people that have them took them out of sympathy because they had no where to go
you will remember (..) Clark (…) used to be at Bradford one year ago he sold out of Bradford and went out to Burlington Kansas we did all we could to prevent his going but he went – He thought he had got into the (…) of the world he brought him a horse a small one and after a little he bought (…) house & 20 acres of land right in the heart of the town (…) $1800 for it – then he went in to different kinds of speculations such as hogs & (…) but in Aug. he was taken sick had the fever that is peculiar to that climate – we kept hearing from them by way of his wife that he was getting better then he would be worse until news came that he had got through with this life he leaves a wife & four children its oldest thirteen its youngest little more than one (…) she probably will have about 2000, not any more, and the last we heard from them
she was sick with this fever & two of the children how she is going to get along I don’t know but Clark had never been sick in his life I am so sorry that one of us did not go to them for Clark would have come to us if we had been sick he was a true friend. I remember this (?) ago this fall (?) when West was feeling so badly and was sick that I wrote him and asked him to write him he was (always full of fun) and say something that would encourage him but instead of doing that he took the first train of course and came right here to the store that he might know just how every thing was before he saw West he staied a week and it did West ever so much good he was always read to help but (…) now he is gone I know it must have been so hard for him to give up his family – I think his will will be a poor person to get along for the reason that she can do so few things she is an excellent teacher & that is about all she can do no housekeeper neither can she doe any sewing if (….) for her if West goes out of business he probably will go out there and see if he can help her to dispense of the business then I (…) wish I was at liberty so I could go with him & go and see you – he will stop at your place if I don’t go if he goes either in going or coming – Let us hear from you just how you are & if Viola has got well wish she was a little older I would set her up in business that is if she wanted to but she ought to go to school some longer – my love to them all remember me to your neighbors (…) you think (…) sister
Sara A. Gilbert
Nov. 21
This is the last letter I ever received from her. She died January 3, 1877, was buried at … the 5 day of January.
Carrie A. Noyes
Courtesy of Nancy Benton. Transcribed by JMK.
Sarah Atwell Gilbert letter, page 1
Sarah Atwell Gilbert letter, b
Sarah Atwell Gilbert letter, c
Sarah Atwell Gilbert letter, d
The Noyes family of the socialist Alphadelphia Association, and the free thought community of Liberal, preserved many of the family papers and correspondence, but with the McCarthy scare in the 1950s, my Noyes grandmother, with her sister, Pansy, burned almost the entirety of the collection, fearful of exposure and retribution. A very few letters were preserved, and it has confused me how they came to select some of the few documents that survived. Amongst a very few purely personal documents, two letters make reference to Spiritualism, one shows the link to Berlin Heights, and another concerns dream precognition. It seems that the family purged nearly all associations with socialist communities but were reluctant to discard these several documents concerning Spiritualism, and I’m glad we have them as I’ve long said that I don’t believe Spiritualism was a sudden and drastic change in the direction of the free thought community of Liberal, but that there was an enduring interest in some members of its community beforehand.
That prior interest is evidenced in the below letter written by Norman Gilbert to his sister-in-law Caroline Atwell Noyes. Liberal wouldn’t be founded until 1880. Settlement wouldn’t begin until 1881. Caroline was still in Illinois and the Noyes family would stay there until 1882, though having purchased land in Liberal in 1881. Caroline’s sister, Sarah Ann Lydia Atwell Gilbert, had died in 1877 in Boston. Two years later Caroline was communicating with Sarah’s surviving husband, Norman West Gilbert, that she was interested in making a visit. We don’t have her letter but we do have his response, and in it he mentions having been to a seance, which he believed to be a fraud, but the letter seems to at least indicate an interest and perhaps a belief in Spiritualism. My assumption is that he communicated this to Caroline because of her own personal interest, and we know from a later letter from her son, Victor Hugo Noyes, written in 1885, that the family was very interested in Spiritualism. I also know this just from being a member of the family and the passing along of family stories. James Allen Noyes, Caroline’s husband, was certainly a Spiritualist, and associates at Alphadelphia had been as well.
My belief is that the Noyes were of a type of free thoughter that saw no conflict between free thought ideals and spiritualism…or even agnosticism, if they were agnostic. The Noyes Family Constitution, written in 1882, at Liberal, shows they were using the dating system advocated by the National Liberal League, which was followed in Liberal. They were no doubt believers in separation of church and state. They were not Christians, and likely felt some stress from immersion in Christian society, else they wouldn’t have moved to Liberal where churches were initially banned. But to say that Liberal was thus only an atheist community and that its turn to Spiritualism was disappointingly against original ideals? I think it’s more likely that perhaps a fair number of settlers instead hoped for a living situation outside the constraints of theisms and codified religion, feeling there was ample room in freethought principles for science residing side by side with an individual belief in some sort of after life and Spiritualism. After all, these believers in Spiritualism partook in the initial settlement of Liberal, sending their children to schools where religion was not taught.
O. E. Harmon, a son-in-law of the Noyes, in his book on Liberal testified to this mixed assortment of freethoughters who simply wished to live “unmolested”.
He (Walser) had broken away from the Calvinistic religion, and had become a Free-thinker. It dawned upon him one day that it would be a good thing to found a town where Free-thinkers could live in a sort of colony and enjoy their belief in a quiet, unmolested way.
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Various shades of Free thinkers first settled in Liberal. They ranged from out-and-out Agnostics to the more spiritual minded Deists and Spiritualists. Mr. Walser, himself an Agnostic when he founded the town, became in the course of years a Spiritualist, and there was quite a group in the town minded the same way.
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620 Tremant St.
Boston Friday April 18, 1879.
My Dear Sister –
It is a long time since I heard from you, but longer since you have heard from me. Your letter of November and December reached me in a short time, being forwarded from Northfield to me here. I came here in December, and after a few weeks opened an office in the house where we used to live. I haven’t come to stay, however, as I like the country too well to want to stay here, and besides, I have not the physical ability to endure the confinement and strain of a long continued city practice.
(2)
But what I did come for was to start an office here, and after a little while let another man enter it, and I slip away and go back into the country. I don’t (?) but my scheme will prove a failure, but am in life’s net. I shall finally go back to Northfield by (?) and let the Northfield man live this. We don’t say that yet but that was the plan between him and me, as I had acquaintances here and we thought I could start a place better than he could. A great many of my old customers are dead and moved away and changed so I can’t find them but I have found some of them.
So much for myself and what I am doing. I got the house where we used to live ready furnished, so have not put very much money into it, so will not lose much if I don’t succeed; but
(3)
shall make it succeed if we can.
I was very glad to hear that you were thinking more or less about coming east once more. And hope your plans in reference to it may be carried out, and that you will come. But why not come before “next Fall” – or is the weather too hot for you in the Summer. If you will come towards the last of June – or sometime in June – and stay here till first of July, I will go with you to Vermont, though I don’t suppose I could be with you much after we had got up there. I shall probably be up there the most of July and August, and may not come back though I may have to come back and stay a while longer. But if you don’t come till Fall, of course you will come and stay with me a while wherever I am. I want to see you, and would be very glad to have you come to New England again.
If it is not too late to send congratulations to Viola on her accession to the married fraternity, she will please accept mine
(4)
I hope she has a happy life before her, and that her husband will prove to be a good one, and will succeed in his profession when he gets ready to practice it. Please remember me kindly to them, as well, as to Mr. Noyes and the rest of the children. As ever yours,
N.W.G.
(5)
Of course you always remember when the 18th of April comes, that it was Sarah’s birthday. Today she would have been fortyfive years old. And do you know how unattractive old age looked to her. Not in other people, as I know of, but she looked upon it as it slowly approached her, though yet quite in the distance, with great disfavor. Will, it never came to her in this life, and perhaps now she is where nobody grows old. I was at a Spiritualistic circle — by invitation of the man who got it up — and it was whispered by what purported to be a spirit that she was there, but I was satisfied that the whole thing
(6)
was a cheat and a fraud. I have gathered a little testimony lately, however, that tends to show the spirits communicate, but does not prove it by any means.
I am quite strong in my faith in a hereafter, but can get (?) that will remove the everlasting doubt. However, if there is none, we never shall find it out, and nobody can ever prove that there isn’t.
Please write me and let me know how you get along, and about your coming east. I suppose you are picking strawberries – or nearly ready to pick them by this time. They are here some now but come from the south. The season is very cold and backward. Has been snowing a little here today, though only a few stray flakes. It rains when it doesn’t snow. That the sunshine will come by (?).
Truly yours, N.W.G.
N. W. Gilbert letter, 1879, 1
N. W. Gilbert letter, 1879, 2
N. W. Gilbert letter, 1879, 3
N. W. Gilbert letter, 1879, 4
Caroline Atwell Noyes’ address book shows:
J.A. Noyes Anna, Union Co., Illinois
N.W. Gilbert Montpelier, Vermont
Hannah M. Wolger 87 Hampshire St., Lawrence, Massachusetts
Mary Chilton Franklinville, N.C.
Marilla Wells Lawrence, MassachusettsWritten at another time:
Hannah M. Wolger No. 42 Broadway, South Lawrence, Massachusetts
Francis Barry Berlin Heights, OhioOn second sheet, sometime later, in blue ink
Miss Carrie A. Hunkins Box 453 Waukesha, WisconsinSOURCE: Nancy Benton April 26 2003
J. A. Noyes in Anna, Union County, Illinois would seem to be noting when she and her husband James Allen Noyes were living in Anna.
The N. W. Gilbert is Norman West Gilbert, husband of her sister Sarah Ann Lydia Atwell who died in 1877. The 1870 census shows them in Montpelier.
I’ve no information on Mary Chilton or Marilla Wells.
The entry for Hannah Wolger on Broadway is likely to be at an earlier point in time than the Hampshire Street address, as her husband is seen on Hamphsire Street in the 1880 census, and Hannah appears to have died as her husband is then married to a Mary E. who was born in NY, not England.
The 1870 census for Lawrence Ward 3, Essex, Massachsetts shows:
280/579 WOLGER James G. 37 cotton weaver b. England
Hannah U. 31 b. NH
George A. 9/12 b. MA Sept.
GOULD Martha 63 b. MA
1860 shows:
Lawrence Ward 4, Essex, Massachusetts
1829/2592 Thomas HASELDIN 38 m Operator $75 pesonal property b. England
Alice 29 House keeper b. NH
Mary 18 Operator b.MA
1829/2593 James G. WOLGER 26 Operator b. England (Essex Co. 4 West Lawrence, page 342)
Hannah W. or M. (looks like a W but could be an M) 21 House keeper b. England
Martha GOULD 53 House keeper b. England4th Ward (Essex Co., 5 West Lawrence, page 382)
1907/2710 George WOLGER 43 Laborer b. England
Annie 45 Housekeeper b. England
May A. 33 Operative b. England
Sarah 29 Operative b. England
James 26 Operative b. England
Hannah 24 Operative b. England
William 14 b. England
Elizabeth A. 4 b. England
Emmanuel CHARTSWORTH 37 Operative b. England
1850 shows:
Malden, Middlesex, Massachusetts
66/83 Martha Gould 43 b. MA
Nehemiah 14 b. NH
Israel 13
Hannah W. 11
It is the Hannah Wolger, wife of James Wolger, who is in Carrie’s address book. James G. Wolger appears in the 1880 census living at 87 (or may read 89) Hampshire Street, but his wife is given as a Mary E., 42, born NY and her parents b. NY, so it seems Hannah may have died by 1880. Curiously, Wolger is a rare enough name and the 1880 census shows them in four areas. Wolgers from Germany are in Patterson, Pasaic, NJ. There is a pocket of Wolgers in, as mentioned, Lawrence, MA. There is a family with Wolgers in Thornapple, Barry Co., MI, and a family from England in Van Buren, Wayne County, MI.
It would seem Carrie knew the Wolgers from her time at the mill. The youngest child in the Lawrence Massachusetts Wolger families is 4 in 1860 and is given as born in England. If this is correct the Wolgers didn’t arrive in MA until at least 1856 and as Carrie wouldn’t have had an opportunity to meet them until at least 1856. Carrie was at Pacific Mills in Lawrence by 1854.
The Wolgers in Michigan in 1880 are a family that were in NY by 1845 and in Michigan by at least 1854, according to birthdates of children. I note this because it’s interesting they were in Michigan and Massachusetts, but it’s likely coincidental.
Francis Barry at Berlin Heights, Ohio, records her association with the free love community there. It was at Berlin Heights, Ohio that Carrie met James Allen Noyes.
As for Carrie Hunkins in Wisconsin, the 1880 census shows:
WI, Waukesha Co. Waukesha
A. S. HUNKINS widowed female 55 b. VT parents b. VT
W. F. son 23 b. WI
A. L. daughter in law 19 b. WI
Carrie daughter 24 b. WI
J. W. DRUITT other 26 b. MA merchant father b. VT
E. W. CHAPIN other 28 b. WI lawyer parents b. VT
This family would be that of Hazen Hastins Hunkins b. 19 May 1820 in Danville, Caledonia Co. VT, died 29 March 1879 Waukesha, Waukesha Co. WI and Aurelia Seymour Scagel (daughter of George Scagel and Deborah Hunkins) b. 4 Sept 1825 in Waterbury, Washington Co. VT, married 25 Nov 1847 in New Berlin, Waukesha Co. WI.
Carrie Hunkins was married in 1881 so this would have been noted previous to her marriage.
The family of Deborah Hunkins Scagel (mother of Aurelia) is the one Carrie would have stayed with in New Berlin, Waukesha, Wisconsin, after her time at the mill, which was why I was interested in when it seemed the Wolgers were first in Massachusetts.
Carrie Hunkins was related to Caroline Atwell Noyes in 3 ways. They were first cousins through Caroline’s mother, Rachel Scagel, and Carrie’s father, George Scagel Jr. They were 2nd cousins through Jacob Scagel and Rachel Lee (Aurelia as daughter of Deborah Hunkins who was daughter of Hannah Scagel, daughter of Jacob, while Caroline was daughter of Rachel Scagel who was daughter of George who was son of Jacob Scagel and Rachel Lee). And 2nd cousins through Captain Robert Hunkins and Lydia Chamberlain (Aurelia’s mother was Deborah Hunkins, Deborah’s father was Moses Hunkins son of Capt. Robert, while Caroline’s father was Hiram Atwell, son of Lydia Hunkins who was sister of Moses Hunkins).
Also, among some of (Caroline Atwell Noye’s) belongings I found a calling card for Mrs. H. H. Hunkins, edged in black, as though in mourning.
SOURCE: Nancy Benton 2 May 2003
Hazen Hastings Hunkins died 29 March 1879.