Subject: AMERICA SEARCH

From South Wales UK

I have been trying to trace my Ancestors. I am hoping you will be able to help with this!

Jane Middlehurst born 1822 in Lancashire England, was - Sister Mary of Saint Anne, the 10th Nun in the Order of 'Sisters of the Good Shepherd' in America in Louisville, Kentucky. In 1859 she went to a Convent in Cincinnati, then in 1868 to the Convent on Bank St there, where she died on January 1st 1867 age 47.

I have been attempting to trace what happened to the rest of her family who emigrated with her from England in 1849. I have done this up to 1862.

The Family consisted of Thomas Middlehurst born 1826 in England, his wife Elizabeth born 1826 in England, Thomas born 1856 in Louisville, John Henry born 1858 in Louisville and James born 1861 in Louisville (at least two other children we know of, were buried in Louisville and there may have been others not recorded) they all disappeared in 1862 after submitting their Tax return. They were devout Catholics, their local Church being the 'Church of our lady of the Port'.

The three boys emerged in 1871 on the Census in England!

The Family story is that they were on a Wagon train and were attacked by Indians, only the 3 boys of the Family survived and found their way to England.

When the massacre happened the boys must either have hidden or been rescued, perhaps by soldiers, but how did they get to England and WHY?
Everyone they knew other than fellow travellers were back in Louisville, their Aunt Jane (the Nun) was in Cincinnati. Who other than Jane and the Church could have looked after them and sent them to Family in England? Remember these boys would be quite young at that time, Thomas the eldest was only 14 in 1871 the youngest a 2 year old in 1862!

Would not an event such as this have been recorded in papers or by Jane's Order, or at least in the Church?
I contacted Sister Marjorie Hamilton ( MHAMILTON@gspmna.org ) in 2005, she was very helpful and gave me most of the information I have stated above about Jane, most other details were provided by the Filson Historical Institute in Louisville

The period of them missing was between 1862 and 1871. We have been unable to find any record of when they actually entered the UK to cut back the latter date!

BUT just today I found out about the dreadful SIOUX Santee Tribe uprising along the Minnesota River in August 18-23 1862 under Chief Little Crow, provoked by the Government restrictions, which resulted in at least 400 deaths.
Could this be when my Ancestors died? Is there a list of dead, or a list of very young survivors named? Can anyone please help me find the Family?

Any information you could give me could be of help, but in particular I am trying to find out exactly where the tragedy took place and when the events happened and when the boys were sent to England and of course how.

Not much I know!!!! But I do hope you can help me in some way, even if only to refer me on to others who may be able to help.

Thank you very much for your time.

Marcus I Middlehurst, Tynewydd, Treorchy, South Wales UK.