Family:Whitney, Rebecca (1842-a1900)
Rebecca8 Whitney alias Rebecca Dennis (Hannah M.7, James M.6, Jacob5, Benjamin4, John3, Benjamin2, John1), (probably illegitimate) daughter of William L. and Hannah M.7 (Whitney) Dennis, was born about 1842, ME, and died after 1900, possibly in Michigan.
She married about 1862, Charles Ellis, son of Andrew and Hannah Elizabeth (Mack) Ellis. There is a record of marriage of Charles Ellis with Rebecca "Frepaeil" on 11 Oct 1865, Brown Co., WI,[1] which may refer to this couple. If so, the record could have been misread, or Rebecca could have had an earlier husband. He was born 17 Nov 1808, St. Johnsbury, VT, and died 22 Sep 1888, Brown Co., WI (Cemetery Record). He is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Greenleaf, WI. He had married firstly, Jemima Amelia Wells. She d. 20 Jul 1853, and is buried in Balsam Cemetery, Russell, NY. With Jemima he had six children: Andrew Jackson, John F., Charles Wesley, Aurelia, Mary E., and James Valourus.
Charles Ellis and his first wife lived in Russell, St. Lawrence Co., NY, in 1840, 1850, and 1860.
Children of Charles and Rebecca8 (Whitney/Dennis) Ellis:
i. George Ellis, b. ca. 1863, WI (from 1870 census) or ca. 1857 (gravestone); not in family 1880; d. 21 Dec 1950, Green Bay, WI; bur. Fairview Cemetery, Greenleaf, WI. He could be a nephew, not a son. ii. Rosina Ellis, b. ca. 1867, Greenleaf, WI; m. 27 May 1890, Nadeau, MI, Henry Schetter. iii. Joseph Ellis, b. 5 Sep 1870, Greenleaf, WI; d. 29 Jun 1951, Menominee, WI; m.(1) 30 Oct 1894, Nadeau, MI, Bertha Engel; m.(2) 17 Dec 1904, Carney, MI, Gertie Heuring. iv. Orick Ellis, b. 18 Aug 1873, Greenleaf, WI; d. 10 Mar 1937, Breitung, MI; unmarried. v. Catherine Ellis, b. ca. 1875, Greenleaf, WI; m. 19 Nov 1891, Abrams, WI, Charles Drown. vi. Peter Ellis, b. 9 Mar 1877, WI; d. 19 Aug 1905, Atkinson, MI. vii. Henry A. Ellis, b. ca. Apr 1880, WI; d. 6 May 1945, Sacramento Co., CA; m. 18 Oct 1897, Carney, MI, Elizabeth Stella Flinn. viii. Ella K. Ellis, b. -----, Faribault Co., MN; m. 29 Jul 1891, Abrams, WI, Peter Paranto. ix. (child) Ellis, b. -----; d. bef. 1900; deduced from 1900 census. x. (child) Ellis, b. -----; d. bef. 1900; deduced from 1900 census. xi. (child) Ellis, b. -----; d. bef. 1900; deduced from 1900 census. xii. (child) Ellis, b. -----; d. bef. 1900; deduced from 1900 census. xiii. (child) Ellis, b. -----; d. bef. 1900; deduced from 1900 census. xiv. (child) Ellis, b. -----; d. bef. 1900; deduced from 1900 census.
Notes
The 1870 Census of Wrightstown, WI reveals the household of Charles and Rebecca Ellis. Residing with them are their two children, George and Rosina, as well as Charles Ellis, a child of Charles Ellis’ first marriage. Also in the household are Reliance Whitney, age 76, b. ME, the widow of James M. Whitney of Phillips, ME,“living with granddaughter”; Hannah Whitney, age 51, b. ME, “living with daughter.’ This census establishes Reliance Whitney residing with her daughter Hannah, and Hannah’s daughter Rebecca. Also, the Charles Whitney residing in the family is probably the Charles Dennis found in 1860 In Yellowhead, IL (see below).
The death records of two children of Charles and Rebecca Ellis are available at present: Orick and Peter. Joseph’s Social Security application is also available. All three records state that Rebecca’s maiden name was Dennis. In the 1900 Census, Rebecca says her father was born in Nova Scotia. So, who can be found in a Phillips, ME census, last name Dennis, born in Nova Scotia, who could be the father of Rebecca, born in 1842? The 1850 Census of Township 3, Range 2 (now Dallas Plantation, near Phillips), Franklin Co., ME reveals William L. Dennis, age 32, b. Nova Scotia residing with Hannah Dennis, age 30, born ME. They fit the profile of Rebecca’s parents. In 1850, Rebecca resides in Phillips, ME in the household of Hannah’s parents, James M. & Reliance Whitney.
The following scenario could have developed (speculation): Hannah Whitney has the child Rebecca with William L. Dennis. As was common in those days, Rebecca was struck off to Hannah’s parents. Shortly after the 1850 census, the whole family, including William and Hannah Dennis, removed to Brown Co., Wisconsin. There, Rebecca remained with Hannah’s parents, and Hannah and William had the son Charles. William and Hannah then removed to Yellowhead, IL, where the twins were born and died in 1860. Sometime between 1860 and 1870, William either died, or he and Hannah split up. Hannah and Charles (who became a Whitney, like his sister Rebecca) moved back to her family in Wrightstown, WI.
Census
73 73 Ellis, Charles 61 M W Farmer $500 $172 Vermont -----, Rebecca 28 F W Keeping house Maine -----, George 7 M W Wisconsin -----, Rosan 3 F W Wisconsin Whitney, Reliance 76 F W Lives with Granddaughter Maine -----, Hanah 51 F W Lives with daughter Maine -----, Charles 16 M W Works on farm Wisconsin
- 1880, Wrightstown, Brown Co., WI:
93 94 Ellis, Charles W M 71 ---- mar Carpenter New York Massachusetts Vermont " , Rebecca W F 37 Wife mar Keeping House Maine -- -- " , Rosina W F 12 Dau sgl Wisconsin New York Maine Attended school " , Joseph W M 9 Son sgl Wisconsin New York Maine Attended school " , Arie W M 7 Son sgl Wisconsin New York Maine Attended school " , Catherine W F 5 Dau sgl Wisconsin New York Maine " , Peter W M 3 Son sgl Wisconsin New York Maine " , Fredrick W M 2 Son sgl Wisconsin New York Maine " , Henry W M 2m Son sgl Wisconsin New York Maine b. Apr
- 1900, Iron River, Iron Co., MI: Rebecca Ellis, widow; resides with 3 sons; says her father was born in Nova Scotia.
XXX XXX XXXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXX X X XXX XXXX XX XXX XX Xch Xliv XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXXXXXXX XXXXX 55 62 Nault, Seney Head W M Aug 1836 63 mar 43 Canada Fr. Canada Fr. Canada Fr. Boarding house, Owns free house, Immig. 1874, Na. -----, Philomene Wife W F Sep 1841 59 mar 43 14ch 9liv Canada Fr. Canada Fr. Canada Fr. Immig. 1874 -----, George Son W M Oct 1879 20 sgl Michigan Canada Fr. Canada Fr. Day laborer -----, William Son W M Aug 1881 18 sgl Michigan Canada Fr. Canada Fr. Day laborer 63 Lamphere, Ruany Head W F Sep 1829 70 wid 32 2ch 1liv New York Vermont Vermont N.G., Rents house -----, Alva Son W M Nov 1868 32 sgl New York New York New York Day laborer 64 Ellis, Rebecca Head W F Jun 1843 57 wid 34 14ch 5liv Maine Nova Scotia Maine N.G., Rents house -----, Joseph Son W M Sep 1869 30 mar 2 Wisconsin Maine Vermont Day laborer -----, Orick Son W M Aug 1872 27 sgl Wisconsin Maine Vermont Day laborer -----, Peter Son W M Mar 1878 22 sgl Wisconsin Maine Vermont Day laborer
References
- Census records.
- U.S., Chicago and North Western Railroad Employment Records, 1935-1970; Ancestry.com
- Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1952; Ancestry.com
1.^ Wisconsin, County Marriages, 1836-1911, from FamilySearch.org.
Copyright © 2019, Kenneth L. Whitney, Robert L. Ward, and the Whitney Research Group.
