Wiley/Brant/Harrison/Beebe from New London Co CT/Brooklyn NY, whaling, rigger, mariner
Replies: 0
Wiley/Brant/Harrison/Beebe from New London Co CT/Brooklyn NY, whaling, rigger, mariner
| starbaby_s (View posts) | Posted: 22 Jul 2008 3:34AM GMT |
Classification: Query
Surnames: Wiley/Brant/Beebe/Harrison/Collins/
Hello,
I am looking for information on a Wiley family from New London County, Connecticut. I have James Wiley, born in Scotland approximately 1807, found in the 1850 New London Co, CT census married to Rebecca, born in CT around 1807. They have two kids, Ellen B Wiley, age 9 and James Wiley, age 5. I do not know if they had any other kids. James Wiley, the father is also found in New London CT in the 1840 census, living with a female of Rebecca's age so I assume it is her. I don't remember the exact date of marriage but it was around 1837 give or take. I will have to look that up again. Rebecca's maiden name was Harrison. James Wiley Sr is a Rigger in 1850. There is a Lucretia Miller with two "sons"? living next door with an older man, Henry Harrison and Martha Harrison living with her. I am wondering if Henry is Rebecca's dad since he is living next door.
James and Rebecca Wiley disappear after the 1850 census. I can not find any other record for them. I do find the kids, Ellen and James, living in Brooklyn NY in 1860. They are living in a rather large boarding-like house with several families in it. It appears that Ellen is married to Zeno C. Brant and is going by the name of Mary E. (although this is still an issue I am working on because she goes back to Ellen again in later years...so I am not sure why she is listed as Mary E here). Anyways...she is married to Zeno C. Brant who is a Cooper. They have a son Tommy C. or Thomas C. and James Wiley is living there too.
Story has it Zeno went out on a whaling ship never to be seen again. A newspaper article from 1906, quoting Ellen, states that he left on a whaling ship over 45 years ago and what happened to him has ever remained a mystery of the sea. That is wrong. We believe this happened but not around 1860-61 but instead sometime between 1865-1869. That is a guess though. We have records of him putting Tommy in the Home for Seamen's Children in 1865. When Tommy turned 10 in 1869, he was transferred to the Children's Aid Society and shipped on the Orphan Trains to Michigan and taken in by the Eugene Mack family. Ellen married Joseph Daniels approximately 1869-1871 according to the 1900 census. They lived in East Lyme CT and Joseph was a Blacksmith. We have found no sign of Ellen in 1870. I would love to find her. Ellen finally tracked Tommy down in Michigan in 1906. Family rumor tells me that Zeno had hid Tommy from Ellen way back in the 1860s with the help of his sister (the reason for this is not known).
Brother James Wiley went into the Civil War. He later married Maryetta Beebe of New London County CT. They lived for some time in Montville CT and had two sons. Harry and Fred. Mystery...where is Fred in the 1880 census. He is no where to be found but there is a boy living with another women by the name of Fanny Collins names James Wiley who is the right age. Another mystery...Harry's father is listed as born in RI. James Wiley is listed as born in CT but his mother Rebecca is listed as born in RI. I assume there is some kind of Rhode Island connection to the family. I just have not figured it out yet.
So many mysteries...what became of James and Rebecca Wiley, What became of Zeno Brant and how do I search for whalers lost at sea, Where is Ellen in 1870, Why is Ellen listed as Mary E. when her name is Ellen B. (is it really her), who is Zeno's family, etc etc
If anyone has more information on this family or is a living member from this family, or has advice on researching New London County, Brooklyn, or whalers from the 1860s, etc...PLEASE contact me. I would love to hear from you.
I am looking for information on a Wiley family from New London County, Connecticut. I have James Wiley, born in Scotland approximately 1807, found in the 1850 New London Co, CT census married to Rebecca, born in CT around 1807. They have two kids, Ellen B Wiley, age 9 and James Wiley, age 5. I do not know if they had any other kids. James Wiley, the father is also found in New London CT in the 1840 census, living with a female of Rebecca's age so I assume it is her. I don't remember the exact date of marriage but it was around 1837 give or take. I will have to look that up again. Rebecca's maiden name was Harrison. James Wiley Sr is a Rigger in 1850. There is a Lucretia Miller with two "sons"? living next door with an older man, Henry Harrison and Martha Harrison living with her. I am wondering if Henry is Rebecca's dad since he is living next door.
James and Rebecca Wiley disappear after the 1850 census. I can not find any other record for them. I do find the kids, Ellen and James, living in Brooklyn NY in 1860. They are living in a rather large boarding-like house with several families in it. It appears that Ellen is married to Zeno C. Brant and is going by the name of Mary E. (although this is still an issue I am working on because she goes back to Ellen again in later years...so I am not sure why she is listed as Mary E here). Anyways...she is married to Zeno C. Brant who is a Cooper. They have a son Tommy C. or Thomas C. and James Wiley is living there too.
Story has it Zeno went out on a whaling ship never to be seen again. A newspaper article from 1906, quoting Ellen, states that he left on a whaling ship over 45 years ago and what happened to him has ever remained a mystery of the sea. That is wrong. We believe this happened but not around 1860-61 but instead sometime between 1865-1869. That is a guess though. We have records of him putting Tommy in the Home for Seamen's Children in 1865. When Tommy turned 10 in 1869, he was transferred to the Children's Aid Society and shipped on the Orphan Trains to Michigan and taken in by the Eugene Mack family. Ellen married Joseph Daniels approximately 1869-1871 according to the 1900 census. They lived in East Lyme CT and Joseph was a Blacksmith. We have found no sign of Ellen in 1870. I would love to find her. Ellen finally tracked Tommy down in Michigan in 1906. Family rumor tells me that Zeno had hid Tommy from Ellen way back in the 1860s with the help of his sister (the reason for this is not known).
Brother James Wiley went into the Civil War. He later married Maryetta Beebe of New London County CT. They lived for some time in Montville CT and had two sons. Harry and Fred. Mystery...where is Fred in the 1880 census. He is no where to be found but there is a boy living with another women by the name of Fanny Collins names James Wiley who is the right age. Another mystery...Harry's father is listed as born in RI. James Wiley is listed as born in CT but his mother Rebecca is listed as born in RI. I assume there is some kind of Rhode Island connection to the family. I just have not figured it out yet.
So many mysteries...what became of James and Rebecca Wiley, What became of Zeno Brant and how do I search for whalers lost at sea, Where is Ellen in 1870, Why is Ellen listed as Mary E. when her name is Ellen B. (is it really her), who is Zeno's family, etc etc
If anyone has more information on this family or is a living member from this family, or has advice on researching New London County, Brooklyn, or whalers from the 1860s, etc...PLEASE contact me. I would love to hear from you.