- An early draft of -

Part Three:
Descendants of Capt. James Shaw West

WARNING:  Partially unedited!

This is part of a manuscript I am writing titled The Descendants of Capt. Jeruel West and Deborah Shaw of Frog Alley, Tisbury, MA. All sources are available upon request! If you have any additions, corrections, or suggestions, please email me!

300.     Capt. James Shaw West was born on 11 Dec 1777 in Tisbury, Dukes County, Mass. He married Charlotte Hammond on 1 Jun 1797 in Tisbury. He died on 4 Sep 1859 in Holmes Hole, at age 81, of Palsy, and is buried in Village Cemetery.

He appears on the Tisbury census of 1800 with his young wife and two sons. On 1 Oct 1800 "James West of Tisbury, mariner" bought land near Holmes Hole Harbor (bordered on the west by the road from the head to the point and adjacent to the properties of James Winslow, Jethro Hillman, and Jeremiah Crapo) for $100 from Ephraim Harding, blacksmith, and his wife Anna.

On 8 Oct 1803 he and 29 others bought a "lot of land for a burying ground" and a right of way to it, from Isaac and Rebecca Daggett for $60. This is undoubtedly what is now the West Chop Cemetery.

On 4 Jul 1808, "James West of Tisbury, pilot" and his wife Charlotte, sold a corner of his house lot along the road (by the highway from the lower part of Holmes Hole harbor to the head) for $30 to "agents for the proprietors of a School House to be built in the Northern part of the Homes's Hole School District". (The school was indeed built - near what is now the top of Hatch Road.)

James and Charlotte appeared on the census of 1810 in Tisbury with an older woman (perhaps mother-in-law Hammond??) and five children. His listing is adjacent to Peleg Winslow, two listings down from his brother Jeruel, and three down from his mother Deborah.

On 15 Jul 1817 (?), Abijah and Mary Luce of Boston sold about 4 acres of land on West Chop for $200 to the U.S. Government for the purpose of maintaining a lighthouse. (He later sold the 40 acre "Point Lot" on West Chop (except the lighthouse lot) to Timothy Bourne (deed 26/295.) The West Chop Lighthouse was first lighted on 5 Oct 1817, at which time it was a shingled tower. On 17 Oct 1817, Charlotte and "James S. West, of Tisbury, pilot," sold their home next to the schoolhouse, and presumably moved into the lightkeeper’s dwelling, where he maintained the light from 1818 until 1848.

Banks states mentions a "James Shaw West" who was a licensed inn-holder in Holmes Hole and ran the "County House." (Which "James" did he refer to - the father or the son?)

He appeared on the census of 1820 in Tisbury with his wife and children. In 1829 new lamps were added to the lighthouse.

On 28 Aug 1830, "James West of Tisbury, pilot" and his wife bought the Frog Alley land formerly owned by his father Jeruel West (near James Winslow, the harbor, and a "little pond") for $400 from his mother and twelve other heirs of his father. On 22 Jul 1832 he sold this land to his sister’s husband, Thomas H. Smith, trader, for $200 "and to support my Mother, Mrs. Deborah West during her natural life."

On 29 Jun 1836 he purchased grave plots for the family at the Proprietors Burying Ground (now known as the "Village Cemetery") for $10.

On 4 Jul 1837, "James West of Tisbury, lightkeeper" bought a five-acre lot on the north shore of Tisbury (consisting of the east half of "Winston's Lot") for $550 from Ichabod Norton of Edgartown, yeoman. This was probably the "Wood Land" he was taxed for in 1838 and 1842, and was noted as still owning this lot in 1862.

He appeared on the census of 1840 in Tisbury. In 1846 the lighthouse was rebuilt and moved, and a new dwelling built. The old dwelling was given to his son Gustavus and moved to Music Street in West Tisbury.

On 12 Oct 1840 James S. West, his brother-in-law Thomas H. Smith, and five others, "Trustees in trust for the Methodist Episcopal Church in Holmes Hole" bought "a lot of land for the purpose of building a parsonage house thereon" near the lands of James D. Peaks, Jane Luce, Thomas N. Hillman, and the fork in the roads from Holmes Hole to Edgartown and West Tisbury. They paid $100 to Jane Luce of Tisbury, trader.

On 28 Jan 1842, "James West of Tisbury, Light House Keeper" bought a 30-acre lot at Holmes Hole Neck "called the Point Lot at the West Chop" adjacent to Point Pond and the Sound, except for the land owned by the United States "whereon stands a Light and dwelling house." They paid $400 to Timothy and Elizabeth Bourne of Falmouth. The next year they sold this "Point Lot" for $400 to his sons Abner and David P. West of Tisbury, mariners.

Son David Porter West of Tisbury, mariner, appointed his father "James West, lighthouse keeper," his attorney on 8 Jun 1843.

On 28 Apr 1845 an indenture was made between William and Jane Daggett and the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Holmes Hole (consisting Thomas Bradley, Thomas Robinson, Edmund Crowell, Thomas H. Smith, James S. West, George W. Smith, and William Daggett) for $250 for the building of a church. The land was in Holmes Hole where the present stone church now stands, and was bounded on the south by "Methodist Street" (now called "Church Street") on the west by William Street, and on the north by William C. Downs’ lot "now occupied by [James’ son] Albert West."

Jeremiah Pease of Edgartown mentions "Mr. James West, the Keeper of [the West Chop] Light" in his diary, and noted that he "lived near this place" on 11 Jul 1846.

On 19 Nov 1847 James West, "gentleman" and his wife Charlotte sold their woodlot, (formerly the east half of "Winston's Lot") to his son David Porter West of Tisbury. The same day, "James West of Tisbury, gentleman" bought a home across the street from the Methodist Church (on the southeast corner of the intersection of William and Church Streets) from his son Capt. David Porter West for $1270. The following year, he gave up his position as lightkeeper and moved to this home in town. James West was still on the committee of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church when his son David sold the lot next door (containing the former Methodist Meeting House) to the church for $575.

He appeared on the census of 18 Sep 1850 in Tisbury, "Mariner," aged 72.

On 12 Nov 1852, James ("Gentleman") sold his William Street home to his son Capt. Abner West for $1270. On 18 Dec 1854, Capt. Abner sold the house back to his father again for $1150. Finally, on 22 Mar 1855, "James West of Tisbury, Gentleman," sold the same house for $1200 to his son Capt. Leander West of Tisbury! It is unclear what this transaction was all about, however Leander later sued Abner for back rent of this house.

James appeared on the census of 1 Jun 1855 in Tisbury, aged 78, pilot, living with his sons.

Charlotte Hammond (or perhaps Crapo?) was born about 1780-81, in the month of April, possibly in Falmouth. I have found no evidence of a Charlotte Hammond (or Crapo) born in Falmouth around that time after exhaustive searching, however there was one extended Hammond family living in Quissett during this period, and as the Falmouth records have many gaps, it is still possible that she belongs to this family. (Her West Chop neighbor, Jeremiah Crapo, was also a Falmouth resident, although I have no connection of Charlotte to his family, either.)

There are few records of Charlotte except for a handful of deeds and her husband’s census schedules.

Dr. Yale’s diary mentions his patient Mrs. James S. West, aged 60, who was suffering from "Pain in right side, pain in head... pain increased upon motion. Some nausea. ... cough and some bloody sputum ... fever ... cough almost constantly - raises a freely puralent mucous... some soreness of throat + side ... cough almost constant - preventing sleep ... some pain in side with beating pain in right shoulder ..." in entries dated from the 7^th to the 28^th of March, 1841. She died on 19 Jan 1849 of "dyspepsia," and was buried in Village Cemetery.

Children of Capt. James Shaw West and Charlotte Hammond were as follows:

301.  James Shaw West Jr., born 19 Mar 1798 in Tisbury, perhaps on West Chop. He married Eleanora Daggett.

ii.     John West was born in January 1799, probably at Frog Alley, and died on 2 Mar 1801 at age 1. He is buried in Village Cemetery. He appears on the census of 1800 in Tisbury as one of the males under ten living with father James West.

302.  Betsey West was born 25 Oct 1801 in Holmes Hole, probably Frog Alley. She married (1^st) Capt. William West 2d; and married (2^nd) Thomas N. Hillman.

iv.     John West was born on 11 Dec 1804 in Tisbury, probably Frog Alley. He married (1^st) Eliza Butler, daughter of Peter Butler and Polly Luce, on 31 Dec 1843 in Tisbury; and married (2^nd) Mary Bradford, daughter of Cornelius Bradford and Elisabeth Davis(?), on 15 Apr 1871 in Tisbury. He died on 22 Aug 1886 in Vineyard Haven, at age 81, of "Old Age."

Three whaling crew lists describe John as being about 5' 4" tall, with light complexion and brown hair. Although there were many men named "John West" who sailed in the whalers of the area, we can definitely identify this John West (by his age and birthplace) as the one who sailed on the Ship Midas of New Bedford from 25 Jul 1820 to 6 Apr 1821, the Ship Victory of New Bedford from 8 Jul 1823 to 6 Jun 1824, and the Ship William Rotch from 17 Jul 1830 to 17 Jun 1831.

In 1838 he was taxed in Tisbury for the ownership of a boat, and was noted as a Tisbury resident in 1842. He was called a "Mariner" in the 1850 Tisbury census, and a "pilot" in the 1855 census.

He was undoubtedly the owner of the house marked "J. West" on the Walling Map’s Holmes Hole inset, which was located on the south side of Beach Street, west of Lagoon Pond Road, near the site of the present Cumberland Farms.

He was called a Tisbury "mariner" on 26 Sep 1859 when he sued Capt. Edward Harding of Tisbury for assault, claiming he "struck him several blows on his head and shoved him into the water from a wharf upon which the plaintiff stood, to the imminent peril of his life." John West sued for $2000 in damages, and after going to trial, won $100 in damages.

He appeared on the census of 28 Jun 1860 in Holmes Hole, aged 58, "mariner," with his wife; on the census of 20 Jul 1865 in "East" Tisbury, aged 61, "fisherman"; and, following the death of his first wife, on the Tisbury census of 10 Jun 1870, aged 66, "fisherman," living alone, with real estate valued at $450.

He was called a Tisbury "pilot" at the time of his second marriage on 15 Apr 1871 and appeared on the Tisbury census of 18 Jun 1880, aged 76, living with his second wife. His second wife's death record gives her occupation as "Poor Farm [?] " (second word illegible.) Did they die in the poor farm?

303.    Drusilla A. West was born 13 Jan 1806 in Tisbury, probably Frog Alley. She married Capt. Charles Grandison Smith.

304.     Capt. Leander West was born 25 Feb 1809 in Tisbury, probably Frog Alley. He married Love Coffin Robinson.

305.     Capt. Abner West was born 29 Apr 1811 in Holmes Hole, probably Frog Alley. He married Sarah Elizabeth Hodge.

viii.     Capt. David Porter West was born on 22 Jan 1814, probably in Tisbury at Frog Alley. He married (1^st) Charlotte Jones some time before 1840; he married (2^nd) Laura W. Hathaway on 3 Jun 1848 in Stonington, CT. He died on 2 Feb 1886 in New Bedford, at age 72, of paralysis, and was buried in Village Cemetery, Vineyard Haven.

Although he certainly spent his childhood with his family on West Chop, it is unclear where he went upon reaching adulthood and where he met and married his first wife. The first record I have found of him on the Vineyard is the deed by which "David P. West of Tisbury, mariner" and his brother Abner bought the "Point Lot" on West Chop from their father for $400 on 21 Jan 1843. The following June, "David Porter West of Tisbury, mariner" appointed his father as his lawful attorney, in order to be represented in real estate and other transactions while away at sea.

On 31 Oct 1846, Abner West and David P. West of Edgartown [sic], mariners, sold land on West Chop to the United States for $225, but David was evidently away, as his father represented him as his attorney.

On 19 Nov 1847, "David Porter West of Tisbury, master mariner," sold the house on the southeast corner of Church and William Streets to his father for $1270. On the same day his father sold him a wood lot on the north shore of the Neck (formerly the east half of "Winston's Lot").

On 3 Apr 1848, "David Porter West of Tisbury" and his cousin Thomas N. Russell of New Bedford sold the land containing the old Methodist Church (adjacent to their father’s new property) to the committee of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Holmes Hole (composed of his father, his uncle Thomas H. Smith, and William Daggett) for $575.

On 4 May 1848, "David West of Tisbury, mariner," sold 2 acres and 2 rods of "upland" on West Chop, with road privileges, to the U.S. Government for $225. It was bounded on the north by the cliffs and on the northwest by property already owned by the U. S. A month later, David P. West "of Martha's Vineyard" married his second wife in Connecticut. I could not find him in the 1850 census.

He appeared on the census of 1 Jun 1855 in Tisbury, aged 41, "mariner," living with his father and his second wife.

On 1 Oct 1856, Capt. West sailed the whaling ship Rapid from New Bedford to the Pacific Ocean, and on 4 Feb 1858 he wrote a long letter to the Gazette from Hakodadi, Japan regarding the people, customs, geography, and navigation of Japan. It was published in the 12 Nov 1858 issue.

I could not find him listed in the 1860 census, but in April 1861 he bought property in Holmes Hole (adjacent to the "the Company farms") from his sister Charlotte. In August 1862 he witnessed the will of Charles Hardenburg. He appeared on the census of 20 Jul 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 50, "seaman," with his wife, adjacent to his brother Abner.

I have no records of David Porter West between 1865 and 1886, when the following article was published:

A HUMAN WRECK.
Sad Condition of a Once Successful Whaling Master.
[Special Dispatch to the Boston Herald.] New Bedford, Jan. 20, 1886.

There arrived in this city this afternoon, on the 1:45 o'clock train, an old man, evidently suffering from paralysis, whose articulation was very indistinct. When asked where he wanted to go, he could only reply, 'Anywhere.' Officer Wing took him to the central police station, after which he was taken to the office of the overseers of the poor, but as the secretary was unable to do anything for him, he was again taken to the central station, and is now in the sick bay at that institution. After getting to the station, the man gave the name of John Blake, and said he was 74 years old and was born here. He added that he had sailed from this port in the whaling business many years. He has been in Providence, where he met with an accident, and had been an inmate of the Rhode Island hospital in that city for treatment, and was this morning sent to this city without an attendant. In answer to a dispatch to Supt. Charles E. Woodbury, Chief of Police Tompkins was informed that Blake was removed by order of George W. Wightman, overseer of the poor in that city. Afterward, upon examination, he gave his name as David P. West, and said his father's name was James. At one time he was mate of the ship Franklin and master for two voyages, each in the Isaac Howland and the Heroine, the last named vessel belonging in Fairhaven. He also claims to have been master of the ship William Hamilton when she was lost on the coast of Chili in 1858. The old man says he has brought a good deal of oil into this port, having made one or two great voyages, and is only anxious to end his days in some hospital. The reason he changed his name from West to Blake was owing to some trouble about a patent in the manufacture of soap. Upon further inquiry by a Herald correspondent, it was learned that West's home was in Vineyard Haven, and he is known here as having been a most successful whaling captain from this port, and in the palmy days of whaling, was R. Mott Robinson's crack whaling master. At one time, Mr. Robinson built for him a new clipper whaler, the Rapid. West was also a man of considerable wealth."

His obituary was published shortly afterwards:

"Capt. David P. West, who was sent to this city some two weeks ago from the Rhode Island Hospital by the Providence Overseers of the Poor, alone and unattended, while in a paralyzed condition, died at the Almshouse in this city Tuesday. He had been in an unconscious condition for two or three days. His remains were taken to Tisbury for interment.

"It will be remembered that Capt. West was an old an well-known whaleman from this port, and on arriving here from Providence was cared for as best he could be at the police station before being sent to the Alms-house. He formerly commanded the following vessels, as we find in Starbuck's History of the American Whale Fishery:

Ship Heroine, which sailed from Fairhaven June 14, 1843, and arrived Feb. 24, 1845...
Ship Heroine, which sailed from Fairhaven June 4, 1845, and arrived Sept. 14, 1847...
Ship Isaac Howland, which sailed from New Bedford June 30, 1848, and arrived March 26, 1851...
Ship Isaac Howland, which sailed from New Bedford July 23, 1851, and arrived April 24, 1854...
Ship Wm. Hamilton, which sailed from New Bedford June 19, 1855, and returned July 16 with captain hurt. Sailed again Sept. 11th and sent home a small quantity of oil. The ship was lost off the Coast of Chili Jan. 27, 1856.
Ship Rapid, built in Fairhaven in 1856, and sailed from New Bedford Oct. 1, 1856. Had a series of reverses in 1860, was fired by the men, struck on a sunken rock, ran into the Jeannette, and was condemned in 1860. Sent home 1512 barrels whale oil and 15,600 pounds bone.

Nathan Church was agent of the Heroine, and I. Howland, Jr., & Co. of the other vessels".

 

306.    Charlotte E. West was born 15 Apr 1817 in Tisbury, probably Frog Alley. She married (1^st) Capt. Thomas Foster; she married (2^nd) Capt. Charles B. Hardenburg.

x.     Lenora West was born on 4 May 1822, probably at West Chop. and died on 19 Jul 1825 in Tisbury, at age 3. She is buried in Village Cemetery.

307.    Gustavus Lewis West was born 22 Jan 1826 at West Chop. He married Deborah R. Allen.

 

301.    James Shaw West Jr. (James1) was born on 19 Mar 1798 in Tisbury, perhaps on West Chop. He married Eleanora Daggett, daughter of Peter Daggett and Martha Luce, on 5 May 1822 in Tisbury. He died on 24 May 1871 in Tisbury, at age 73, of Apoplexy., town) and is buried in Village Cemetery.

James Jr., eldest son of James Shaw West, grew up at Frog Alley. Although there were many men named "James West" who sailed on the whalers in this area, we can definitely identify this James (by his age and birthplace) as the one who sailed on the Ship Maria of New Bedford from 11 Sep 1817 to 18 May 1819, and again from 17 Jul 1819 to 23 Sep 1820. In the crew lists he was noted as being 5' 7 1/2" tall at the age of 21 (having grown from 5' 6" tall at the age of 19), with a fair complexion and brown hair.

Following his marriage he appears on the census of 1830 in Tisbury with his wife and three children, and again in 1840. He appeared on the 1850 Tisbury census as a "mariner," and in 1855 as a "pilot." The 1860 Tisbury census calls him a Holmes Hole "Master Mariner," and in 1865 the census-taker found him as a 64-year-old widower "pilot" living with his daughter Jane.

He appeared on the census of 9 Jun 1870 in Tisbury, aged 73, "mariner," living alone, listed next to the home of his brother Abner. His 1871 death record calls him a Tisbury "pilot."

Banks notes that a "James Shaw West" was a licensed inn-holder in Holmes Hole (and ran the "County House"). Which "James" did he refer to, the father or the son?

Eleanora Daggett was born on 28 Jun 1806 in Tisbury. She appeared on each of the censuses from 1830 to 1855 with her husband and children. She died on 16 Aug 1857 in Holmes Hole, at age 51, of "Consumption," "after a long and distressing sickness of nineteen months, which she bore with Christian fortitude." She was buried in Village Cemetery adjacent to her parents.

Children of James Shaw West Jr. and Eleanora Daggett were as follows:

i.     Jane Luce West was born on 21 Aug 1823 in Tisbury, and died on 9 Mar 1920 in the home of Ornan J. Slocum, Franklin St., Vineyard Haven, at age 96, of "Debility and Exhaustion from old age" (The Gazette reported, "Since an accident deprived Miss West of the use of one hip and leg; confinement to bed and the infirmities of her age made her much of a sufferer, though tenderly cared for, but she was the patient, exemplary, uncomplaining Christian and unselfish woman throughout, that she had been all her life; though longing and praying for rest if God willed.") She was buried in Village Cemetery.

Her obituary reads, "Those living in this town twenty or more years will remember often seeing an elderly, high bred little lady on her way to church, or out calling or for tea with a friend.…This lady was Miss Jane Luce West, one of the long surviving children of the late James Shaw West and Ellenora (Daggett) West, his wife. We well recollect her lady-like manner in particular, indicating as it did to even a casual passer, culture and refinement, and, also the typical school teacher of the older days who taught the highest and best morals and manners, not alone by precept, but by example. … She was for over seventy years a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Tisbury".

Jane grew up in Tisbury and remained a single woman living in her parents’ Holmes Hole house, working as a seamstress, a school teacher, and eventually caring for her aging father. I have no record of her between 1865 and 1910. By 1910 she was boarding with her sister Eleanora on Woodlawn Ave. She appeared on the census of 7 Jan 1920 on Franklin St., Tisbury, aged 96, boarding with family of Ornan J. and Annie M. Slocum. (Ornan was the brother of the famous circumnavigator, Joshua Slocum.)

308.     Eleanora Daggett West was born 2 Jun 1825 in Tisbury. She married William Cook Luce.

309.    Capt. Philander Daggett West was born 22 Sep 1827 in Holmes Hole. He married Mary Cleveland.

iv.     Capt. Timothy L. West was born on 19 May 1831 in Tisbury. He died on 25 Feb 1861 on board ship Martha's Vineyard, at sea, aged 29, cause "unknown."

He was described as 5' 1" tall with light complexion, light hair, and blue eyes. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 19, "sailmaker," living with his parents, and again as a "mariner" in 1855. He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1860 as a 28-year-old "master mariner" living with his father and his two sisters. He was called a "mariner" in his 1861 death record.

310.     Drusilla N. West was born on 24 Dec 1841 in Tisbury. She married (1^st) Edward Stanton Mitchel; (2^nd) Austin Green; and (3^rd) (--?--) Van Gieson.

 

302.     Betsey West (James1) was born on 25 Oct 1801 in Holmes Hole, probably at Frog Alley. She married (1^st) Capt. William West 2d, son of Thomas West and Sarah Butler, on 21 Nov 1820 in Tisbury. She married (2^nd) Thomas N. Hillman, son of Elijah Hillman and Charlotte Coffin, on 25 Nov 1834 in Holmes Hole. She died on 5 Jan 1883 in Vineyard Haven, at age 81, of "Infirmities of Old Age."

See The Descendants of Betsey West Hillman.

303.     Drusilla A. West (James1) was born on 13 Jan 1806, probably at Frog Alley. She married Capt. Charles Grandison Smith, son of Ebenezer Smith and Mary Hulsart, on 31 Jan 1829 in Holmes Hole. She died on 1 Jan 1861 in Holmes Hole, at age 54, of "Adynamic Peretonitis" and is buried at Oak Grove.

Drusilla is reflected in the Tisbury censuses of 1810 and 1820 of her father, and the 1840 Tisbury census of her first husband. She appeared on the census of 1850 in Tisbury (aged 44), the census of 1855 in Tisbury (aged 49, with her husband and children), and the census of 1860 in Holmes Hole (aged 54, with her husband and children).

Capt. Charles Grandison Smith was born on 17 Feb 1802 in Eastville.

Although there were many, many "Charles Smiths" who sailed from New Bedford, he was undoubtedly the Charles G. Smith, Edgartown native, who sailed on the ship Iris of New Bedford from 13 Sep 1821 to 2 Feb 1824, the ship Abigail of New Bedford from 12 Dec 1825 to 13 Dec 1828, and the ship Hector of New Bedford from 18 Oct 1831 to 2 Oct 1834. He may also have been the Charles G. Smith who was the captain of the ship Roman of New Bedford from 29 Jun 1839 to 22 Dec 1842. The records suggest he was about 5' 7" tall with a light complexion and brown or black hair.

He resided in Edgartown at the time of his 1829 marriage, but was called a Holmes Hole "master mariner" in the birth records of his children between 1829 and 1836.

On 19 Jul 1838 in Holmes Hole, Betsey West (widow of Charles’ wife’s uncle) and her children sold there home "in Tisbury at the head waters of the Holmes Hole harbor" near the "county road leading to the head the wharf" [sic] for $1400 to "Charles G. Smith of Tisbury, mariner." This was undoubtedly the house that is now called likely the "1785 House." This house remained in the family until at least 1915.

He appeared on the census of 1840 in Tisbury, where his occupation was categorized under "Navigation of the Ocean."

On 18 Mar 1842 the widow Betsey West and her children made a four-year, $400 mortgage of land and buildings on the south side of Union Street (between John Daggett and Charles G. Smith, "it being the same premises formerly occupied by the said Betsey West and now occupied by Mr. Enoch Cook") with "Charles Smith of Tisbury."

He was called a Tisbury "master mariner" in 1844 and 1846 records, and a "mariner" in 1849. He appeared on the census of 1850 in Tisbury as a 48-year-old "mariner" and again in the 1855 census.

Although there are three houses marked "C. Smith" on the 1858 Walling Map’s Holmes Hole inset (two on Main Street, one near the site of the present A&P or Police Station) he is undoubtedly the owner of the house marked "C. G. Smith" on the south side of Union Street (the "1785 House.")

He appeared on the census of 29 Jun 1860 in Holmes Hole, aged 58, "master mariner," with his wife and children. His real estate was valued at $2000 and his personal estate at $4000. He appeared on the census of 17 Jul 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 63, "seaman," widower, with his children.

Charles G. Smith married (2^nd) Caroline (--?--) between 1865 and 1870. They appear together with two children from his first marriage on the Tisbury census of 7 Jun 1870.

He died on 21 Apr 1874 in Vineyard Haven, at age 72, "suddenly," of "disease of heart." His civil death record calls him a Vineyard Haven "mariner."

Children of Drusilla A. West and Capt. Charles Grandison Smith all born in Holmes Hole, were as follows:

314.    Eliza C. Smith was born 7 Nov 1829. She married Thomas N. Russell.

ii.    Nancy H. Smith was born on 24 Jul 1832. She died on 14 Jul 1834 in Tisbury, at age 1. (Dr. Yale wrote in his journal on July 14, 1834 "...This morning a child of Chas. G. Smith died about 2 years, after an illness of 3 or 4 days. She was attacked with diarrhea which continued very urgent till she died + a few hours after she was attacked 2 or 3 small blisters appeared on the chin + cheek, which soon spread very rapidly + ... together assuming a gangrenous appearance, black, +c. The evening before she died these patched extended all over the chin and under lip - about half of our[?] cheek, + from the chin on to the Neck as far as the ponum[?] adami - besides one or two distinct patches on the nastoic[?] process[?]").

315.    Charles Grandison Smith Jr. was born 8 Jul 1836. He married Drusilla W. Crocker.

iv.     David Porter Smith was born on 8 Jul 1836. He died after 1876 and before Dec. 1905 (probably closer to the latter date) probably in Chicago, IL.

He was recorded in the Tisbury census of 1840 with his father, and again in 1850. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 19, "mariner," living with his parents.

He may have been the "David P. Smith" listed in whaling crew lists who sailed as a "Seaman" on the Ship Rapid of New Bedford which sailed on 29 Sep 1856 and was subsequently "condemned." He could also have been the "Greenhand" on the Ship Minerva Lmyth of New Bedford which sailed 22 Nov 1858 and returned 22 Apr 1862 (although this may have been another David P. Smith of New Bedford who was too young to have sailed on the Rapid, but was old enough to sail on this other voyage.)

He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 22, "mariner," with his parents, and was probably the "David P. Smith" described as "at sea" in the September 1862 Tisbury draft list. He appeared on the census of 17 Jul 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 29, "seaman," living with his father. I could not find him in the 1870 census.

He resided on 1 Jun 1874 in Buffalo, NY, and on 5 Jun 1876 in Chicago, IL. He died before December 1905, when he was called "David P. Smith late of Chicago."

He had two children by an unknown spouse:

Marion E. Smith was probably born before 1888. She married George A. Page before December 1905, and was living in Fork Union, Virginia on that date. She was presumed to be still living in July 1919, although a letter mailed to her in Staunton, Virginia in August 1918 was returned stamped "not known." Her Vineyard relatives stated her residence as "unknown" in 1921.

Jessie E. Smith was probably born before 1888. She was living in Fork Union, Virginia in December 1905. A letter mailed to her at Staunton, Virginia in August 1918 was returned stamped "not known," but was still believed to be living in July 1919. Her Vineyard relatives stated her residence as "unknown" in 1921.

316.     Capt. George Fowler Smith was born 12 Jul 1838. He married Elizabeth Holmes Downs.

iv.     Charlotte Porter "Lottie" Smith was born on 8 Feb 1844. She never married. She died on 30 Mar 1915 in Tisbury, at age 71, of "Chronic Bronchitis," and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

She appeared on the Tisbury censuses of 1850, and 1855, and 1860 with her parents, and on the Holmes Hole census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 20, "house-maid," with her father). She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870, "no occupation," with her father and stepmother. She appeared on the census of 1880 in Tisbury, aged 36, single, "keeping house." She was called a Tisbury resident in 1905. By about 1910 she was living on Union St., and in the 1910 census she was living on Water Street, single, "own income", aged 65, living with her brother Edward and his family. Her real estate (1/6^th interest in her father’s Union St. homestead) was valued at her death at $833.33, and her personal estate at $255.60, which was insufficient to pay her debts, so the sale of her father’s homestead was forced upon the family.

317.     Capt. Edward Jones Smith was born 17 Oct 1846. He married Sarah E. Pease.

318.     Henry H. Smith was born 10 Mar 1849. He married Olivia Boardman Nye.

 

304.     Capt. Leander West (James1) was born on 25 Feb 1809 in Tisbury, probably Frog Alley. He married Love Coffin Robinson, daughter of John Robinson and Jane Allen, on 12 Nov 1837 in Holmes Hole. He died on 15 Jan 1870 in Holmes Hole, at age 60, of apoplexy, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

He was described physically in at least five different crew lists, and although there are some contradictions, they suggest that he was probably about 5' 6" tall with a light complexion and brown hair.

He moved with his family from Frog Alley to West Chop when he was about nine, and is represented on the early censuses of his father’s household.

Although there are many records of a "Leander West" aboard the whalers of the area, we can definitely identify this Leander (by his age and birthplace) as being the one who first sailed on the Ship Midas of New Bedford, which left on 30 Jun 1825 and returned Mar 1826, followed by voyages on the Brig Emily of New Bedford from 9 Aug 1826 to 24 Dec 1827, the Ship Lancaster of New Bedford from 19 Jul 1828 to 22 Aug 1831, the Ship So. Carolina of Fairhaven from 11 Jun 1831 to 22 Feb 1832(?), and the Ship Washington of Dartmouth from 18 Jun 1836 to 5 Jun 1837. His widow's obituary notes that "Capt. Leander West, of Martha's Vineyard, was a whaling master long in service of the Howland family, New Bedford, ship owners."

He appears in the Tisbury tax lists of 1838 and 1842, the latter record showing ownership of a house. He was called a Tisbury "mariner" in his son’s 1843 birth record, the Tisbury census of 1850, and his daughter’s 1853 birth record.

An ad appears in the 25 May 1854 issue of the Vineyard Gazette: "Two dollars reward. Absconded from the subscriber, an apprenticed boy, by the name of Mark Minor. - Whoever will return said boy to me shal receive the above reward. Leander West. Holmes Hole, May 25, 1854." I don’t know whether his apprentice ever returned.

On 22 Mar 1855 his father James West, Gentleman, sold his home on the southeast corner of William and "Methodist" (Church) streets (next to the "Old Methodist Meeting House Lot") for $1200 to "Leander West of Tisbury, Master Mariner."

His daughter Grace's obituary notes that her parents were "once keepers of the Mansion House" and that Grace's "youth was spent in and about that establishment". Although I am not sure when they entered the hotel business, Leander does appear on the Tisbury census of 1855 as a 44-year-old "hotel keeper" living with his wife, children, father, brother, mother-in-law, brother-in-law(?), and a number of boarders. (His father is listed first, suggesting the home may be his, but there are a few miscellaneous boarders who suggest guests of the hotel.)

"Leander West of Tisbury, master mariner," left a will on 15 Aug 1855, "being about to depart on a voyage to sea." He named his wife executrix and left her his entire estate "provided she remains unmarried and my widow".

He appears in Walling’s 1858 Holmes Hole map as the owner of a house marked "L. West" on the southeast corner of William and Church Street. On 8 Apr 1859 the Gazette made reference to "the hotel of Capt. Leander West."

He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, "master mariner," aged 48, with his wife and two children.

On 30 Sep 1861 Leander ("master mariner") sued his brother Abner for $61.25 for use and occupation of a rented building, plus $100 in damages. The suit was eventually dismissed.

He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 56, "Proprietor of Hotel Mansion House", with his wife, two children, and three hotel employees.

His 1870 death records called him both a Holmes Hole "mariner", "Hotel Keeper," and "Master Mariner." At his death he owned real estate valued at $2250 (a house, barn, and outhouses on two lots) and $740 in personal estate (furniture.)

Love Coffin Robinson was born on 7 Sep 1819 in Chilmark. She appeared on the Tisbury censuses of 1850 and 1855 with her husband and children, (the latter census including her mother), and in 1860 her household also included others from her Robinson family. She appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 45, "housewife," with her husband, children, and a number of hotel employees.

She continued to run the hotel after the death of her husband in 1870. Her obituary notes that she "became widely known for her proprietorship of the 'Mansion House,' which until the great Vineyard Haven fire of 1883 was the sole hostelry of the busy port." She appeared on the census of 7 Jun 1870 in Tisbury, aged 49, "landlady." with her daughter and six boarders, and her real estate was valued at $3500 and her personal estate at $1000.

On 16 Oct 1872 "Love C. West of Tisbury, widow," sold a lot and buildings in Vineyard Haven (near the "County Road") and a lot and barn to Samuel Look for $3000. She appeared on the census of 1880 in Tisbury, aged 61, "widow," "Boarding House," with her daughter Grace.

A note in the 2 Feb 1883 issue of the Gazette notes that "Mrs. Love C. West, the genial hostess of the popular Grove Hill House, informs us that it has been reported - in some quarter - that the hotel is closed," but it goes on to say that her hotel is indeed open.

The Mansion House burned down in the Great Fire of 1883.

Her obituary continues, "When the 'Mansion House' was destroyed, the 'Grove Hill House,' under her guidance, became a favorite summer rendezvous for Washington officers of both the U. S. Army and Navy and their families. She was a woman of rare amiability and graciousness, charitable to generosity, and held in rarely wide personal regard. ..".

On 28 Nov 1883 she married Joseph Nickerson, son of David Nickerson and Polly (--?--), in Tisbury.

She died on 17 Nov 1900 at 16 Appleton St., Malden, MA, at age 81, of "of heart failure after a brief illness," and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Children of Capt. Leander West and Love Coffin Robinson were as follows:

i.    Leander E. West Jr. was born on 7 Jun 1843 in Tisbury. He died about 19 Nov 1867 off the coast of Africa, at age 24.

He appeared on the Tisbury censuses of 1850, 1855, and 1860 as a child with his parents.

Although there are many records of a Leander West sailing on whalers of the area (many being his father, Leander West Sr.), we can definitely identify this Leander (by his age and birthplace) as being the one who sailed on the Bark Morning Star which left 7 Aug 1862 and returned 21 Apr 1863, followed by a voyage on the Brig Mercy Taylor which left 11 May 1867 and returned on 20 Sep 1868. Presumably he died on the latter voyage.

He was described as "at sea" in September 1862 and appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 22, "seaman," with his parents.

ii.     Lenora West was born on 22 Jul 1848 in Tisbury. She died on 5 Aug 1849 in Tisbury, at age 1, of "disentary," and is buried at Oak Grove.

iii.     Grace Cook West was born on 30 Dec 1853 in Holmes Hole. She married (1^st) Adolphus Bradford, son of Alexander W. Bradford and Marianna (--?--), on 5 Jan 1882 in Tisbury. She married (2^nd) Capt. Albert Wheaton Cooke, son of Albert A. Cooke and Maria F. Talbot, on 17 May 1890 at the home of her mother in Tisbury (Gazette: "...The presents were numerous and costly.") She died on 6 Jul 1936 at Crocker Ave., Tisbury, at age 82, of a "cerebral hemorrhage," and was buried on 13 Jul 1936 at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Her obituary says, "She had made her home in Vineyard Haven during the greater part of her life. … The daughter of Leander and Love W. West, once keepers of the Mansion House, her youth was spent in and about that establishment. She was a near relative of the opera singer, Lillian Nordica, and she was intimate with the singer and traveled with her to some extent."

She appeared as a child with her parents on the Tisbury census of 1855, 1860, and 1865. She appeared on the 1870 Tisbury census, aged 16, "Attending School," living with her widowed mother, and on the 1880 Tisbury census, aged 26, single, "at home," living with her mother.

On 15 Mar 1889 (following the death of her first husband) the Gazette noted: "Mrs. Grace C. Bradford returned to Providence Monday. She will return in a few weeks with a full line of Millinery, which she will sell at very low prices".

She joined the Vineyard Haven chapter of the DAR in 1898, and was "admitted" to this organization on Mar. 16, 1899.

She resided in Malden, MA by 1903, and does not appear in the 1910 Tisbury census, but eventually she returned to Vineyard Haven. Her obituary notes that "For many years she made her home with the late Mrs. William E. Whittemore, and, following her death, she had lived in the Whittemore home."

 

305.     Capt. Abner West (James1) was born on 29 Apr 1811 in Holmes Hole, probably Frog Alley. He married Sarah Elizabeth Hodge, daughter of Elijah S. Hodge and Sarah Anthony, on 15 Mar 1847 in Troy, NY. He died on 20 Apr 1902 in Vineyard Haven, at age 90, of "Infirmities of old age," "chronic valvular disease of heart," and "pulmonary hyperaemia." and was buried on 23 Apr 1902 in Village Cemetery.

His obituary notes, "Many years of the life of Capt. West were passed upon the ocean. We learn that his first voyage at sea was made when he was but ten years of age, sailing as what was termed then mess boy." He was described as 5' 5 ½" tall with light complexion and brown hair in two records made when he was 16 and 17 years old. His first recorded whaling voyage was on the Ship Enterprise of New Bedford, which left on 14 Sep 1828 and returned 19 Jun 1829. This was followed by a voyage on the Ship George Porter of New Bedford, which left 29 Jul 1829 and returned 31 May 1830.

His first recorded voyage as Captain was on the Brig Pocahontas of New Bedford, which left on 9 Apr 1836 and returned on 18 Nov 1836 following a mutiny, after only seven months at sea. (This episode seems to have been conveniently forgotten, as neither of his obituaries mention the Pocahontas.) The Gazette, referring to what was likely his second voyage as Captain, states: "According to the best authorities among our older seamen Captain West made his first voyage as commander on the brig Delight of New Bedford, in 1839, Mr. Mosher, of the toll bridge, being owner and agent. She lay while in port at the wharf of John Avery Parker. This was in the flourishing days of the whaling industry at that city. One of our old sea captains now in his 77th year, relates that when he was a boy he well remembered the brig Delight as she was being made ready for this voyage, his father with a large gang of workmen being busy fitting her for this cruise." The Gazette also makes reference to a second voyage on the Delight.

Following this, he evidently commanded two voyages of the brig Popmonnitt of Mattapoisett and Fairhaven. He then sailed as master of the Bark Chase of New Bedford and Mattapoisett which left for Atlantic whaling grounds on 5 Jun 1841 and returned on 12 Oct 1842. He sailed twice more on this vessel as master: from 27 Dec 1842 to 7 Jul 1844, and from 7 Nov 1844 to 9 Sep 1846.

On 21 Jan 1843, his father ("James West, light keeper") sold the "Point Lot" on West Chop for $400 to Abner and his brother David P. West of Tisbury, Tisbury mariners.

One source notes "Captain West and his brothers were stalwart, fearless seafaring men. He and his two brothers built [c. 1846?] the house in which I am living for their aged father who had been for many years Light Keeper of West Chop Light House. Captain West and his family lived in the house on Center Street, Vineyard Haven, next to the tennis courts…"

On 31 Oct 1846 Abner and David P. West sold land on West Chop to the United States for $225.

The story has been nearly forgotten about how Abner met his wife, Sarah Hodge, who he married in Troy, NY in 1847. It is thought that Abner sailed with one of Sarah Hodge’s uncles (perhaps Samuel Anthony of Troy.) Abner was 35 and Sarah was15 at the time of their marriage. Sarah had lost her father, Troy carpenter Elijah Hodge, in a suicide a couple of years earlier.

On 4 May 1848, Abner (and wife Sarah) and David P. West, Tisbury mariners, sold land on West Chop to the U.S. Government for $225. It was 2 acres and 2 rods of "upland" bounded on the north by the cliffs and sea, along with road privileges, and was bounded on the northwest by land already owned by the U.S.

He was called a Tisbury "master mariner" in his son’s 1850 birth record, and appears as a 39-year-old "mariner" on the census of that year.

He next sailed as master on three voyages of the Bark America of New Bedford and Mattapoisett, from 24 Jul 1851 to 1 Oct 1852, from 7 May 1853 to 22 Sep 1854, and again from 28 Sep 1855 to 24 Aug 1858.

On 12 Nov 1852, James West ("Gentleman") sold a house on the southeast corner of William and "Methodist" (Church) streets to his son Abner West, "master mariner," for $1270.

He was called a Holmes Hole "mariner" on his son’s 1853 birth record.

On 18 Dec 1854 Abner West, Tisbury master mariner, and his wife Sarah sold the William Street home for $1150 back to his father James West, "Gentleman."

He appeared on the census of 1 Jun 1855 in Tisbury, aged 45, mariner, living with his wife, and was called a "mariner" on his son’s 1859 birth record. He appeared on the 1860 Holmes Hole census as a "Master Mariner," aged 49, with his wife, son Frederick, and brother-in-law. Abner was again called a "master mariner" on his son’s 1861 birth record, as well as on his daughter’s 1864 birth record. He was a "mariner" on his youngest daughter’s 1869 birth record.

On 30 Sep 1861 Leander West sued his brother Abner for $61.25 for use and occupation of a rented building, plus $100 in damages. The suit was eventually dismissed.

The Gazette continues, "During the Civil War [Abner] served as Acting Master on the flagship Roanoke, and assisted in taking several prizes. He was an eyewitness of the celebrated naval battle between the Monitor and the Merrimac."

He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 54, "seaman," with his wife, children, and brother-in-law, and again on the Tisbury census of 1870, "mariner," aged 59.

On 2 Sep 1873, Abner and Sarah sold land at West Chop on the northwest (or northeast?) corner of the intersection of Pine Street and Broadway for $200 to Mary S. Grafton of Boston. The following year, on 21 Jan 1874, they sold a lot on West Chop at #4 Broadway Avenue (bounded on the east by Broadway and on the south by Mary Grafton) for $265 to Emma G. Whyte of Boston.

He appeared on the census of 18 Jun 1880 in Tisbury, aged 69, unemployed, living with his wife and children.

The Gazette reported "Capt. Abner West has been making a sidewalk in front of his residence" on 25 Mar 1881, and that "Capt. Abner West has raised and will make an addition to the porch of his residence in our village" on 13 May 1881. On 14 Oct 1881 they reported "The premises occupied by Capt. Abner West were sold at auction a few days since."

The Gazette noted: "We learn that Capt. Abner West is recovering from a recent severe illness" on 15 Jan 1886.

He resided in 1897 on Centre St., Tisbury, and appeared on the 1900 Tisbury census on Center Street, aged 89, living with his wife. (His son Ernest and his family were living in the same dwelling.)

His death 1902 record called him a "retired sea captain." The Gazette reported in his obituary: "Captain West retired from the sea many years ago and his latter years have been tranquil and contented. He was a man of many estimable qualities, and many a young man owes him a debt of gratitude for his solicitude in his early welfare." "Capt. West delighted in the companionship of young people, and on his return from his voyages was several times accompanied home by some young lad who had been one of his crew. In those days many runaway boys were found on board ship, where desire for a sailor life overcame all home affection."

Sarah Elizabeth Hodge was born on 20 Oct 1832 in Troy, Rensselaer Co., NY. She appeared on the 1850, 1855, 1860, and 1865 Tisbury censuses with her husband, joined in 1865 by her younger brother Samuel Hodge from Troy. On 3 Oct 1865 Sarah West of Holmes Hole, and her brother John S. Hodge of Troy (and his wife Maggie A. Hodge) sold land at #18 Ferry Street, Troy to Thomas Halligan of Troy for $300. She appeared on the 1870 Tisbury census, aged 38, "keeping house," with her husband, children, and brother, and on the 1880 Tisbury census, aged 48, "keeping house," with her husband and children. She appeared on the census of 1900 in Center Street, Tisbury, aged 54, living with her husband and son Ernest and his family.

After Abner’s death, she remained at the Center Street home, where she was listed in 1907 and 1910. She appeared on the 1910 Tisbury census on Center St., aged 77, widow, in the home of her daughter.

Sarah died on 22 Jun 1914 in Vineyard Haven, at age 81, of "Myocarditis," and had been cared for in her last years by her daughter Marion. She owned a home on the north side of Center Street at the time of her death valued at $700 (which was sold to her daughter for $1100 to pay off her debts.) She was buried in Village Cemetery.

Children of Capt. Abner West and Sarah Elizabeth Hodge were as follows:

i.     Henry Wade West was born on 7 Apr 1850 in Tisbury. He died on 13 Sep 1853 in Holmes Hole, at age 3, of dysentery. (The Gazette death notice called him "an interesting and much beloved son of Capt. Abner and Sarah West.") He is buried in Village Cemetery. He appeared on the census of 18 Sep 1850 in Tisbury, aged "1/12".)

ii.     Abner West Jr. was born on 2 Jul 1853 in Holmes Hole. He died on 26 Jan 1854 in Tisbury and is buried in Village Cemetery.

iii.     Frederick Mortimer West was born on 2 Jul 1859 in Holmes Hole. He married Nettie M. Snell, daughter of Francis J. Snell and Adeline (--?--), on 1 Oct 1885 in Boston, MA. He died in March 1939 in Malden, MA, at age 79. ("Death came in his sleep.")

He Obituary: "Fred M. West, formerly of Vineyard Haven, died this week in Malden, where he has made his home for many years... for many years had conducted cleaning and dyeing establishments in Malden ... [He] spent his boyhood and early life in [Vineyard Haven.] He was a musician, and celebrated in his younger days for his talent as an amateur minstrel. He had been a member of Odd Fellows for forty-two years, serving in all offices, and was the leader in all the lodge minstrel and variety shows..."

Nephew Stan Lair recalled, "One of my fond recollections is the Fourth of July. I had an uncle who lived in Malden, lived around Boston anyway, Fred West, my mother's brother. And just before the Fourth of July, nearly every year, an expressman would arrive with a great big wooden box. We knew what was in it but we wouldn't open it until he arrived, like the day before the Fourth. He always brought a whole lot of fireworks, and we'd spend Fourth of July evening in the school yard (which was next-door) shooting them off. That was always a big event for us. All kinds of stuff in there. Firecrackers, skyrockets, you name it. … He was also a great showman. In his early days he had a combination called F. M. West's Great Ethiopian Combination, a minstrel show that traveled quite a few places and put on shows. Quite a sizable group of people. ...And he could do about anything. He could make a stump speech, he could play a banjo, sing a song. I would've liked to have heard some of those shows." He also recalled that Fred was a ventriloquist, and could "throw his voice" into a closet.

Fred appeared as a child on the 1860, 1865, and 1870 Holmes Hole censuses with his parents. He appeared on the 1880 Tisbury census, aged 21, "laborer" (unemployed 3 months of the previous year), living with his parents.

The Gazette gives us a few glimpses of him before he left for Malden: Vineyard Haven column, 13 May 1881: "We understand that F. M. West intends leaving for Silver Cliff, Col., where he will enter the employ of W. W. Douglas, Esq." Vineyard Haven Column, 20 May 1881: "We understand that F. M. West has reconsidered his determination in regard to visiting Colorado." Vineyard Haven column, 27 May 1881: "Fred M. West has been fitting up the upper story of his house for an ice cream saloon." Vineyard Haven Column, 21 Oct 1881: "Fred M. West has opened a shooting gallery over his oyster saloon."

His Vineyard Haven enterprises were short-lived, and was listed as a "gardener" living in Boston at the time of his 1885 marriage. He appeared on the census of 1900 in Malden, Middlesex Co., MA, aged 40, with wife, and was listed as a resident of Malden in 1914 and 1916.

His obituary mentions no children, although I recall my grandfather mentioning an adopted daughter.

319.     Ernest Chester West was born 28 Oct 1861 in Holmes Hole. He married Mary Ann Hatch.

320.    Sarah Elizabeth West was born 24 May 1864 in Holmes Hole. She married John Holman.

321.     Marion Hodge West was born 1 Aug 1869 in Holmes Hole. She married Leroy Crosby Lair.

 

306.     Charlotte E. West (James1) was born on 15 Apr 1817 in Tisbury. She married (1^st) Capt. Thomas Foster, son of John Foster and Jane (--?--), on 15 Jul 1833 in Holmes Hole. She married (2^nd) Capt. Charles B. Hardenburg, son of Benjamin Hardenburg and Rebecca (--?--), on 25 May 1862 in Holmes Hole. She died on 17 Feb 1869 in Holmes Hole, at age 51, of hepatitis, and was buried in Village Cemetery.

She is included in the 1840 Tisbury census with her first husband Thomas Foster, and appears on the 1850 and 1855 Tisbury censuses, with Thomas and their children. She appeared as a widow on the Holmes Hole 1860 census, aged 40, with her children. (Her real estate was valued at $1300, and her personal estate at $150.)

In April 1861 She sold her husband’s property in Holmes Hole (adjacent to the "the Company farms") to David P. West. She was called a Tisbury resident in her 1862 marriage records, and appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 48, "housewife," with her second husband Charles Hardenburgh and her sons.

She left a will in 1869, bequeathing $1 each to sons Thomas, Henry, and Gustavus, and the remainder to Abner. Her inventory totaled $400 (or $600?) for a dwelling house and lot, $203.45 in personal estate, and substantial debts ($506.70?) Her brother Abner West helped appraise the estate.

Capt. Thomas Foster was born about May 1808(?) in Farmington, ME. He was described as about 5' 7" tall with light complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes.

He sailed on the brig Juno of New Bedford from 6 May 1820 to 19 Jan 1821, four voyages on the ship Victory of New Bedford from July 1823 to 7 Jun 1824, 30 Jul 1824 to 29 Jun 1825, Aug. 1825 to 17 Jul 1826, and 22 Sep 1826 to 9 Jul 1829. He then sailed on the ship Young Phenix of New Bedford from 5 Feb 1830 to 15 May 1833, and the ship Wilmington Liverpool Packet of New Bedford from 11 Nov 1833 to 13 May 1837. He may also have been the Thomas Foster who sailed as master of the St. Peter of New Bedford from 3 Oct 1842 to 22 Sep 1846, as first mate of the ship Mercury of New Bedford from 29 May 1848 to 1 Sep 1852, and first mate of the bark Morning Star of New Bedford from 7 Nov 1853 to 27 Jun 1857.

He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1840 with his wife and sons. In January 1842 Timothy and Eliza Bourne of Falmouth sold a lot to Thomas Foster, "master mariner," adjacent to the lands of James West and Thomas H. Smith. He was called a Tisbury "master mariner" in his son’s 1847 birth record. He appears on the 1850 Tisbury census, "mariner," aged 42, with his wife and children, and again on the 1855 Tisbury census (aged 45, "mariner.")

He is undoubtedly the "T. Foster" whose home is listed on the 1858 Walling map on the east side of South Main street - perhaps in the house to the right of what is now Educomp.

He died on 2 Sep 1858 in Holmes Hole of an "internal injury" and is buried in the Vineyard Haven Village Cemetery. He died intestate and insolvent, "insufficient to pay all the just debts which said deceased owned," with an estate valued at $1150 in real estate. His Holmes Hole home was valued at $600, 50 acres of woodland at $550, $178.30 in personal estate (furniture) and debts totaling $882.38. The property was sold to pay his debts. His wife inherited 1/3 of their house and all of his personal estate.

Children of Charlotte E. West and Capt. Thomas Foster were as follows:

322.     Capt. Thomas Foster Jr. was born 21 Apr 1834 in Holmes Hole. He married Virginia L. Manchester.

323.     Capt. Henry Dearborn Foster was born 7 Mar 1838 in Holmes Hole. He married Mary Ann Williams.

iii.     Abner West Foster was born on 26 Jun 1842 in West Chop. He married Esther B. Ware, daughter of Gilman T. Ware and Patience Merrill, on 8 Mar 1899 in Tisbury. He died on 28 Oct 1919 in Vineyard Haven, at age 77, of "disease of the prostate gland, probably cancer." (The Gazette reported "Mr. Abner Foster, who, after an illness of only two weeks, in spite of physicians' skill and tenderest ministrations of a devoted wife, succumbed to the destroyer not so much dreaded as by some, for Mr. Foster felt it better that he should depart before the infirmities of age rendered him helpless who had been so helpful.") He was buried on 28 Oct 1919 in Oak Grove.

He appeared on the Tisbury censuses of 1850 and 1855 as a child with his parents, and on the 1860 Holmes Hole census, aged 18, with his mother. He appeared on the 1865 census of East Parish, Tisbury aged 21, "seaman," with his mother and stepfather. He was not in the 1870 Tisbury census, although he was called a Tisbury resident in 1873, when he and his brothers sold a fifty-acre lot at Holmes Hole Neck. (He signed this deed with an "X", as he did his will, suggesting that he was illiterate.) He appeared in the Tisbury census of 1880, aged 36, "laborer" (unemployed six of the last twelve months), single, boarding with widow Julia Worth. He resided in 1897 on Beach Street.

Following his marriage, he appeared on the 1900 census on Main St., Tisbury, aged 53, "lodging house keeper," with wife. He was described in 1907 and again in 1910 as living on "Beach Street, cor. Main," occupation "painter." He appeared on the census of 1910 on Beach Street, "no occupation," aged 64, living with his wife, a nephew, and a lodger. He resided in April 1915 on Main St., occupation "retired."

In his will, dated 31 Oct 1914 and signed with an "X," he bequeathed all of his estate to his widow. The probate records value his real estate (a house, out buildings, and a lot) at $4140 and his personal estate (furniture) at $602.

324.     Capt. Gustavus W. Foster was born 20 May 1847 in Tisbury. He married (--?--).

 

Capt. Charles B. Hardenburg was born about 1830 in Sullivan Co., NY. He was a New York mariner at the time of his marriage in 1862, and there is no evidence that he had lived on the Island before. He was "attached to [a] ship" in September 1862 in Tisbury, and during this same month he was called a Tisbury "mariner" when he mortgaged property at Holmes Hole Neck near his in-laws James West and Thomas H. Smith. He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury aged 34, "seaman," with his wife and stepsons. He died on 20 Aug 1866 in New Orleans, LA, of cholera. His probate is drawn out and confused, appearing as two dockets, dated 1874 and 1876 (long after his death and the death of his widow), as the first probate attempt apparently was rejected. His only estate was $1930 "cash from United States Government" and debts totaling $1843.69 (including money owed to stepsons Abner W. Foster and Thomas Foster.) In his will (dated 25 Aug 1862, filed 11 March 1869 and proved 17 July 1876) he left small amounts of money to his three brothers.

There were no children of Charlotte E. West and Capt. Charles B. Hardenburg.

307.     Gustavus Lewis West (James1) was born on 22 Jan 1826 in West Chop. He married Deborah R. Allen, daughter of Benjamin Allen Jr. and Delia Robinson, on 24 Feb 1848 in Tisbury. He died on 26 Jan 1906 in West Tisbury, at age 80, of "blood poison." (The Gazette reported that "Mr. West has been in feeble health for the last 3 years, but only during the last two weeks of his life has he been confined to his bed.") He was buried on 28 Jan 1906 in West Tisbury Village Cemetery.

Gustavus was described as being 5' 4" tall with a "dark" complexion, brown hair, and blue eyes. His obituary calls him "another one of the old standbys of West Tisbury. ...He was born at West Chop, Vineyard Haven, Jan. 22, 1826, where his father was the keeper of the lighthouse."

After the West Chop Light was moved and renovated in 1846, Gustavus’ father gave him the old lightkeeper’s dwelling. Following Gustavus’ marriage, they lived for a short time in Chilmark and Vineyard Haven before moving this old lightkeeper’s dwelling to Music Street in West Tisbury about 1850, on land paid for in part by money borrowed from his older brother Abner.

He appears in the 1850 census of Tisbury, aged 24, "painter." He had held this occupation since at least the time of his marriage, but left this trade briefly to sail as Seaman on the ship Isaac Howland of New Bedford, which left 22 May 1851 and returned 26 Apr 1854. Meanwhile, his Music Street home was sold in 1853 to Hannah Look, and he mortgaged a new house in West(?) Tisbury from Abner West (adjacent to the "district schoolhouse lot) on 28 Apr 1853.

After returning from sea, he returned to painting and remained in this profession - and in West Tisbury - until his death. He appeared on the 1855 (West) Tisbury census, aged 29, "painter," with his wife and children,and on the census of 1860 in West Tisbury, aged 35, "painter," with his wife and four kids. He appeared on the census of 1865 in West Parish, Tisbury, aged 39, "painter," and on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 43, "painter," with his wife and children. The 1870 census valued his real estate at $500. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1880, aged 53, "painter," (six months unemployed during the past year), with his wife and children He and his wife were called West Tisbury residents in 1895, and appeared on the census of 1900 in West Tisbury, age 74, "painter," living with his wife, daughter, son, and granddaughter. (6 months employed during the previous year).

Deborah R. Allen was born on 18 Dec 1828 in Chilmark. Her obituary states, "she learned tailoring as a young woman, and was one of several employed by Abram Anthony, Vineyard Haven." She appeared on the census of 1850 in Tisbury, aged 20, with her husband, and on the censuses of 1855, 1860, 1865, 1870, 1880, and 1900 with her husband and children in West Tisbury.

Following the death of her husband in 1906, she was called a resident of West Tisbury in 1907, and appeared on the census of 1910 in West Tisbury as an 81-year-old widow living on her "own income" with her son Charles and his family. She finally appeared on the census of 1920 on Edgartown Road, West Tisbury, aged 91, with her son Henry B. West.

She died on 7 Jan 1920 in West Tisbury, at age 91, of a cerebral hemorrhage. She was buried on 10 Jan 1920 in West Tisbury. (The Gazette reported, "Funeral services were held in Saturday. Rev. Newton I. Jones, pastor of the West Tisbury Congregational Church, of which Mrs. West was a member, officiating .")

Children of Gustavus Lewis West and Deborah R. Allen were as follows:

325.     James Porter West was born 8 Oct 1849 in Chilmark. He married Nettie B. Marchant.

326.     Gilbert Roy West was born 3 Sep 1852 in West Tisbury. He married Mary Eagleston Norton.

iii.     Maurice Jones West (sometimes spelled "Morris") was born on 8 Mar 1855, probably in West Tisbury. He died on 5 Nov 1895 in West Tisbury, at age 40, of "Apoplexy and Accident." (The Gazette explains: "Tuesday afternoon the body of Maurice Jones West was found in the edge of the Tisbury Great Pond. It is thought he was not drowned, but from appearances he had been ashore to eat dinner and that death was caused from heart trouble.") He was buried in West Tisbury.

He appeared as a child on the censuses of 1855, 1860, 1865, and 1870 in West Tisbury with his parents, and on the census of 1880 in (West) Tisbury, aged 24, single "laborer" (3 months unemployed during the past year), with his parents. In his 1895 death record he was called an unmarried West Tisbury "fisherman."

iv.     Maria Jones West was born on 24 Mar 1858 in West Tisbury. She married (1^st) Otis Saville, son of Elisha Saville and Lydia L. Gardener, on 30 Jun 1892, at the residence of her father in West Tisbury. She married (2^nd) William C. Deming, son of Owen H. Deming and Susan Mitchell, on 31 May 1917 in West Tisbury. She died sometime after 1930. She had no children.

She appeared as a child with her parents on the West Tisbury censuses of 1860, 1865, and 1870, and appeared as well on the census of 1880 in (West) Tisbury, aged 21, "at home" with her parents. By about 1892 she had moved to Brockton, MA, but was living in West Tisbury in January 1896. She appeared on the 1900 census in West Tisbury, aged 42, living with her parents and her brother. By February 1906 she was again in Brockton, and does not seem to be in 1910 Tisbury census. She resided "at home" in West Tisbury at the time of her second marriage in May 1917, and by January 1920 was living in Winthrop, MA. She resided in March 1930 in Boston, and I have no record of her after this date.

v.     Henry Bertrand West was born on 2 Jun 1861 in West Tisbury. He died on 8 Mar 1930 in Oak Bluffs, at age 68, of a cerebral hemorrhage. (The Gazette reported that he "died suddenly. ...He was in his usual state of health on Saturday morning and had been about town for some little time. He had returned home and was removing his coat when stricken.") He was buried on 10 Mar 1930 in West Tisbury.

He appeared as a child with his parents on the West Tisbury censuses of 1865 and 1870. And again on the census of 1880 in (West) Tisbury, aged 19, "laborer" (unemployed six of the last twelve months), with his parents. By October 1894 he was living in Vineyard Haven. His obituary notes that "as a young man he went to Vineyard Haven where he was employed in the harness factory. Later he engaged in gardening and the care of lawns and by reason of his occupation gained a wide acquaintance among summer and permanent residents." He appeared on the census of 1900 on Main St., Vineyard Haven, age 37, "day laborer," boarding with Frank and Rebecca Vincent. The census also notes that he was unable to read and write and that he had been unemployed three months during the past year. In 1907 he was again listed as boarding on Main Street, on the corner of Woodlawn Ave. By about 1910 he was boarding at the Mansion House in Vineyard Haven, where he appeared on the census of 1910 as a 48-year-old "servant", a hotel dishwasher, living with a number of other servants and boarders in the hotel. He was listed again in April 1915 on Main St. as a 52-year-old "laborer." He appeared on the census of Jan 1920 on Edgartown Road, West Tisbury, aged 56, no occupation, single, living with his mother. He was called a single "laborer" at the time of his death.

327.    Charles Hardenburg West was born 29 May 1864 in West Tisbury. He married Lavinia F. Brush.

 

308.     Eleanora Daggett West (James2, James1) was born on 2 Jun 1825 in Tisbury. She married William Cook Luce, son of Jonathan Luce Jr. and Sarah Holmes Dunham, on 3 Jan 1841 in Tisbury. She died on 23 Apr 1925 in Tisbury, at age 99, of "old age." (The Gazette reported, "It had been hoped that Mrs. Eleanora Luce would be spared to round out a century - which had she lived till June she would have done - but such was not to be the case. Until within a few months she maintained her always vigorous mind and her heart was strong. She passed on the same day as her daughter, Mrs. S. Jennie D. Munroe.") She is buried in Village Cemetery.

Eleanora appeared on the 1850 and 1855 Tisbury censuses with her husband and children, although I couldn’t find her listing in the 1860 census. Following the 1863 murder of her husband, she appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 39, "housewife," widow, with two children. She appeared on the census of 1870 in Edgartown, aged 45, living with her daughter Mattie's family, but by 1880 had returned to Tisbury, where she was living with her son.

During the Great Fire of 1883, "Mrs. Elnora D. Luce occupied a house which was at the extreme northern end of the line of fire. It's escape was miraculous, for it was near the hottest of the fire which raged in the harness shop, located where the Martha's Vineyard National Bank now stands and the paint shop next door. This house, the sole survivor for some two blocks down Main street, still stands [1920] , its trip white charms indicative of the beauty of the winding old street which was largely lost in the rush to rebuild."

In 1889, the Gazette reported that "Mr. and Mrs. Howes Norris came from Boston...as the guests of Mrs. Norris' mother, Mrs. E. D. Luce, at Bennington Heights." Eleanora next appeared on the census of 1900 on Woodlawn Ave., age 75, living with her son and daughter. She appeared on the census of 1910 as the owner of a home on Woodlawn (or Water?) Street, Tisbury, aged 84, living with her sister, son, and daughter, and on the census of 1920 on Woodlawn Ave., age 94, living with her daughter Sophia and her son William. By April, 1920, the Gazette reported, "Mrs. Luce is confined to her own home by a broken hip since some years ago."

William Cook Luce was born on 4 Jul 1812 in Tisbury. He became a grocer and wharfinger about 1840. He was called a Holmes Hole "merchant" in 1842, and a Tisbury "merchant" in 1845. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850 as a 37-year-old "trader" living with his wife and daughter. He was called a Tisbury "trader" in 1851. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 44, "trader," living with his wife and children. He was called a Tisbury "merchant" in 1855. He was listed in the 1858 Walling Map Business Directory for Holmes Hole as owing a "Dry Goods & Groceries" business on the Union Street Wharf. I was unable to find him in the 1860 census. He lived in the house across the alley from the Free Mason's Lodge at the time of his death.

William Cook Luce was murdered on 23 Dec 1863 in Tisbury, at age 51. He was found "lying on his back in a pool of blood, a hatchet buried in his head" by his daughter. He had apparently been murdered in his store while he was closing for the day. Gustavus D. Smith was arrested and tried for the murder, but later acquitted.

Children of Eleanora Daggett West and William Cook Luce all born in Holmes Hole, were as follows:

i.     Charles Granville Luce was born on 25 Aug 1842. He died on 23 Mar 1847 in Tisbury, at age 4, of scarlet fever.

328.    Martha Daggett Luce was born 27 Apr 1845. She married Howes Norris.

iii.     Sophia Jane Daggett "Jennie" Luce was born on 18 Sep 1851. She married Russell Munroe before June 1900. She died on 23 Apr 1925 in Tisbury, at age 73 of "paralysis agitam"[?] on the same day as her mother. She is buried in Village Cemetery.

She appeared on the Tisbury census 1855, aged 4, with her parents, and was the "little daughter" who found her father murdered in 1863 at the age of twelve. She appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 14, with her mother and brother, and on the census of 1870 in Edgartown aged 18, with her mother and sister. Although I couldn’t find her in the 1880 census (was she married and off-Island?), she did appear on the census of 1900 on Woodlawn Ave., age 48, "widow," living with her mother and brother. She was admitted to the Vineyard Haven D.A.R. chapter on 1 Oct 1896, and resigned on 18 Feb 1919. She resided in 1910 on Woodlawn Ave., and appeared there on the 1910 census on Woodlawn (Water?) Street, "widow," aged 58, living with her mother, aunt, and brother. The Gazette described her as being "in delicate health" on 9 May 1918. She appeared on the census of 1920 on Woodlawn Ave., age 68, widow, with her mother and brother. She had no children. At the time of her death she owned no real estate, but had a personal estate (mostly savings accounts) valued at $5075, all of which she bequeathed to her brother William.

iv.     William Holmes "Willie" Luce was born on 1 Nov 1855. He died on 10 Jun 1938 at Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, aged 82, of "coronary sclerosis." (The Gazette reported that "He had been an inmate of the hospital for some time, following a gradual breaking down of his health."). He was buried on 13 Jun 1938 in Village Cemetery.

He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 9, with his widowed mother and sister. He was absent from his household of his mother and sister in the 1870 Edgartown census; he may have been the "William H. Luce," aged 13 living with Alphonso and Sarah Smith in Tisbury.

He appeared on the census of 16 Jun 1880 in Tisbury, aged 24, "harness maker" (4 months unemployed during the past year), single, living with his mother. By 1897 he resided on Woodlawn Ave., where he appeared on the census of 1900, age 44, "house painter," single, living with his mother and sister. He was listed again in 1907 on Woodlawn Ave., "painter." He appeared on the census of 1910 in Woodlawn (Water?) Street, aged 54, single, self-employed painter, with his mother, aunt, and sister. He was listed again in April 1915 on Woodlawn Ave., "painter," aged 59, and again on that street in the census of 1920, age 64, single, no occupation, with his mother and sister. He was called a Vineyard Haven resident in 1925. He was called a Tisbury "painter" in his 1938 death record, and his obituary called him a "retired Vineyard Haven painter ... For many years he was employed as a painter, and was an active member of Grace Episcopal Church."

At the time of his death he owned the home on the southeast corner of Woodlawn and Franklin streets, which was valued at $3000 and sold (by nephew Howes Norris Jr.) shortly after his death. His personal estate was valued at $6474.25 (mostly in various savings accounts) much of which he had inherited from his sister Jennie.

 

309.     Capt. Philander Daggett West (James2, James1) was born on 22 Sep 1827(?) in Holmes Hole. He married Mary Cleveland, daughter of Warren Cleveland and Lucretia Luce, on 3 Oct 1849 in Tisbury. He died on 26 May 1903 in Tisbury, at age 75, of "senile dementia" and "exhaustion." (The Gazette reported he died "at his home on William Street Monday night after a long and painful sickness.") He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (at 33 Chestnut).

He was represented in his father’s household on the Tisbury censuses of 1830 and 1840, and was called a Tisbury "mariner" on his 1849 marriage record, as well as the 1850, 1852, and 1856, and 1863 birth records of his children. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850as a 21-year-old "mariner".

He was probably the "Philander D. West" who sailed as master of the Ship William Hamilton of New Bedford which left 18 Jun 1855, and/or the mate on the Bark America of Mattapoisett (captained by his cousin Abner), which left 28 Jul 1855 and returned 24 Aug 1858.

He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 27, "mariner," with his wife and children, apparently in home of Grafton C. and Elizabeth Daggett. He did not appear in the 1860 Tisbury census, and was called "at sea" in September 1862. He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 36, "seaman," with his wife and children, living in the home of his mother-in-law. He was called a Tisbury "seaman" on his youngest daughter’s 1866 birth record, and a Holmes Hole "mariner" on his youngest son’s 1868 birth record. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 43, "mariner," with his wife and kids, and again in the census of 1880, aged 52, "sailor." He resided in 1889 in Vineyard Haven, and was listed in 1897 on Williams St. In 1890 he was mentioned as the owner of a home on the west side of William Street, near the intersection of Center Street, and adjacent to the schoolhouse. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1900 on William St., aged 72, "day laborer," with his wife and grandson.

C. G. Hine mentions Philander West in several places in his book, The History of Cedar Neck. Hines calls Philander "an old boatman, and accounted able" and mentions that "Philander seems to have used all sorts of language when he got excited".

The Gazette reported that "Capt. Phildander [sic.] West has for a long time been seriously ill" on 5 Mar 1903. He was called Vineyard Haven "retired mariner" on his 26 May 1903 death record.

Mary Cleveland was born on 11 Oct 1830 in Tisbury, at a house on "Main street near the State and Edgartown Roads." Her obituary states that "Mrs. West was of the early stock and blood which peopled our island towns, having been the granddaughter of Zebdiel and Abigail Cleveland and the daughter of Warren and Lucretia Luce, and one of a family of eight sons and daughters all but one of whom lived to years of manhood and womanhood." "Mrs. West was early member of the First Baptist church of this town, for had a few more days or weeks of life been hers it would have counted 69 of membership in that body, uniting, with 40 other converts, of whom, naturally after this lapse of years, few remain."

She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850 with her husband, aged 19, as well as on the 1855 Tisbury census, aged 24, with her husband and daughter. Although she did not appear in the 1860 Tisbury census, she is listed in the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 33, "housewife," with her husband and children, living in home of her mother. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 39, "keeping house," with her husband and kids, and again in 1880, aged 49, "keeping house." She resided on 18 Feb 1897 in Vineyard Haven, and appeared on the census of 5 Jun 1900 on William St., age 68, with her husband and grandson.

Following the death of her husband, she appeared on the census of 1910 on Main St., Vineyard Haven as an 80-year-old widow, living with son Luther and his family. She died on 5 Feb 1918 in the Vineyard Haven home of her birth, at age 87, of "arterio sclerosis," and was buried on 8 Feb 1918 in Oak Grove Cemetery (33 Chestnut.)

Children of Capt. Philander Daggett West and Mary Cleveland were as follows:

i.     Cornelia Frances "Nellie" West was born on 12 Mar 1850 in Tisbury. She died on 27 Dec 1856 in Tisbury, at age six, of croup. She was buried in Oak Grove. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged two months, and on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged five.

ii.     Martin Luce West was born on 10 Apr 1852 in Holmes Hole. He died on 9 Aug 1854 in Holmes Hole, at age two, of "cholera infantum." He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (33 Chestnut).

329.     Mary Cleveland West was born 2 Mar 1856 in Tisbury. She married (1^st) Capt. Robert Theodore Albert Hagen; she married (2^nd) Dr. Lyman Horace Luce.

330.    Luther Pember West was born 23 Nov 1863 in Main St., Holmes Hole. He married Mary Taber Smith.

331.     Lucretia Warren West was born 2 Apr 1866 in Holmes Hole. She married Edmund W. Fuller.

vi.     Philander Daggett West was born on 8 Apr 1868 in Holmes Hole and died on 14 Apr 1868 in Tisbury. He was buried in Oak Grove.

 

310.     Drusilla N. West (James2, James1) was born on 24 Dec 1841 in Tisbury. She married (1^st) Edward Stanton Mitchel after 1860; she married (2^nd) Austin Green; she married (3^rd) --?-- Van Gieson before 1 Apr 1920. She died in 1924 in Madison, CT.

She appeared on the Tisbury census of 20 Sep 1850 ("Drusilla A.", aged 7), on the Tisbury census of 1855 (aged 13), and on the census of 1860 in Holmes Hole (aged 18, single, with her father, sister and brother). She did not appear in the 1870 Tisbury census in 1870. According to a note written by her granddaughter, Drusilla "moved to New York, and later lived in Montclair, NJ in early 1900's, died in Madison, CT in 1924." The Gazette reported that she was living in April 1920 in Montclair, NJ.

Children of Drusilla N. West and Edward Stanton Mitchel were as follows:

i.     Mary Mitchel was born before 1887, and died after 1920. She resided, evidently unmarried, in April 1920 in Guilford, CT.

ii.     Ormsby McKnight Mitchel was born before 1887, and died after 1920. The Gazette reported that he was "a prominent and wealthy resident of Montclair, N. J., doing business in New City" in April 1920.

There were no known children of Drusilla N. West by Austin Green or (--?--) Van Gieson.

314.     Eliza C. Smith (Drusilla2 West, James1) was born on 7 Nov 1829 in Holmes Hole. She married Thomas N. Russell, son of Lewis and Sarah Russell, on 3 Jun 1851 in Holmes Hole. She died on 27 May 1863 in New Bedford, MA, at age 33, of "childbed." (Her stillborn son's death record is listed after hers.)

See the Dukes County Intelligencer, Vol. 36, No. 1, "The Sad Voyage of Eliza Russell", by Joan Druett.

She was counted in her father’s 1840 Tisbury census entry, and appeared there on the 1850 census, aged 20. She was a resident of Holmes Hole at the time of her 1851 marriage. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 25, living with her husband in her parents' home. She appeared on the census of 1860 in Ward 4, New Bedford, aged 35, with her husband, son and her husband's family. She was listed at 9 Cottage St., New Bedford in her 1863 death record.

Thomas N. Russell was born between 1820 and 1825 in New Bedford, MA. He was probably the "Thomas N. Russell" who sailed on the following voyages: as cooper on the Ship Heroine of New Bedford from 1845 to 22 May 1848; as 3rd mate and cooper on the Ship Isaac Howland of New Bedford from 28 Jun 1848 to 26 Mar 1851; as 1st mate of the Ship Isaac Howland from 22 Jul 1851 to 24 Apr 1854; and as master of the ship Corinthian of New Bedford from 10 Oct 1854 to 6 Apr 1858. "Whaling Masters" confirms that he was master of the Corinthian in 1854, and that he sailed as captain of the Lancaster of New Bedford in 1858. Starbuck also confirms his voyage on the Corinthian, and also notes some interesting details about his voyage on the Ship Lancaster. The Ship Lancaster, 383 tons, agent/owner T. & A. R. Nye, sailed to the North Pacific on 26 Oct 1858. "It sent home 264 Sperm, 600 whale, 6952 bone; condemned at Saint Thomas 1861." His son was born in Hawaii, probably during the Corinthian voyage.

On 3 Apr 1848, "Thomas N. Russell of New Bedford" and his future wife’s uncle, David Porter West of Tisbury sold land to the committee of the trustees of the Methodist Episcopal Church of Holmes Hole (composed of William Daggett, James West, and Thomas H. Smith of Tisbury) for $575. He was called a New Bedford "mariner" in 1851. He was listed in 1852 as a "mariner" at 40 South Second, New Bedford. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 30, "mariner," living with his wife in her parents' home. He resided in 1856 as a "master mariner" at 40 South Second, New Bedford, and again in 1859 on the corner of Court and Cottage, New Bedford, master mariner. He appeared on the New Bedford Ward Four census of 1860, age 39, "master mariner," with his wife, son, and parents. I have no record of Thomas Russell after his daughter’s birth in 1862.

Children of Eliza C. Smith and Thomas N. Russell were as follows:

i.     Thomas Russell was born in Jun 1859 in Sandwich Islands [Hawaii]. He died on 13 Apr 1861 in Honolulu, at age 1.

ii.    Katherine S. "Katie" Russell was born on 14 Feb 1862 on board Ship Lancaster at Santa Cruz, Peru. She resided on 5 Jun 1876 in Providence, RI. She married Frank Clapp before December 1905, and was living in Norton, MA in 1905, 1915, 1916, 1918, and 1919, and 1921. I have no record of her after July 1921.

 

315.     Charles Grandison Smith Jr. (Drusilla2 West, James1) was born on 8 Jul 1836 in Holmes Hole. He married Drusilla W. Crocker, daughter of Rodolphus W. and Sarah E. Crocker, on 25 Apr 1863 in Holmes Hole. He died on 17 Dec 1910 in the Soldier's Home at Chelsea, MA, at age 74, of "carcinoma rectum." He was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (55 Cypress).

He was counted in his father’s 1840 Tisbury census entry, appeared on the 1850 census of Tisbury, aged 13, on the 1855 census, aged 19, "mariner," living with his parents, and again on the 1860 Holmes Hole census, "mariner," aged 24, with his parents.

Charles was a veteran of the Civil War. He enlisted as a Seaman in the Navy on 19 Oct 1861 in New Bedford. He was discharged on Dec. 31, 1862, as Yeoman, and appointed Acting Master's Mate on June 3, 1863. He resigned, as Mate, on 8 May 1865.. He served on Receiving Ships Ohio and North Carolina, U.S.S. Powhatan and served as Master's Mate on the Tuscadora, and Penguin (East Gulf Squadron.)

He was still serving in the military at the time of his marriage. He appeared on the census of July 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 28, "US Navy," with his wife, living in the home of his wife's parents.

Upon leaving the Navy he also quit the sea. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870 "peddler," aged 33, and was called a Tisbury resident in 1874 and 1876. He was called a Tisbury "harness maker" in his daughter’s 1876 birth record. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1880, aged 40, "saddle maker," with his wife and daughter.

He may have been the "Charles Smith" in a story about the Fire of 1883: "Charles Smith, whose house stood where Lane's block is, [was] forced to vacate his house in a hurry, [and] carried out one thing with great care. It was a box of Gay Head clay."

He resided in Jun 1890 in Vineyard Haven, and was remembered as living in a house at the corner of Church and William Streets. He resided in 1897 on Church St., occupation: "harness maker." He was called a Tisbury resident in December 1905. He probably entered the Soldier’s Home sometime before 1907, as he was not listed in the 1907 directory or the 1910 census. His December 1910 death record calls him a "farmer." At the time of his death his only property of value was 1/7^th interest in four shares on inherited railroad stock valued at $56, and he owned no real estate.

Drusilla W. Crocker was born on 16 Aug 1841 in Massachusetts, but it’s uncertain whether she was born in Wareham, Plymouth, or Hyannis. She appeared on the 1850 and 1855 Tisbury censuses with her parents. She appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 18, living with her father. Following her marriage, she appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury aged 23, "music teacher," with her husband in her parents’ home. She appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1870, aged 27, and on the Tisbury census of 1880, aged 35, "keeping house," with her husband and daughter. She died on 5 Sep 1891(?) at age 50 and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (55 Cypress).

Children of Charles Grandison Smith Jr. and Drusilla W. Crocker were:

337.     Maud Crocker Smith was born 28 Feb 1876 in Tisbury. She married Loriston Stockwell.

 

316.     Capt. George Fowler Smith (Drusilla2 West, James1) was born on 12 Jul 1838 in Holmes Hole. He married Elizabeth Holmes Downs, daughter of Capt. Charles Downs and Mary P. Manter, on 28 Oct 1863 in Holmes Hole. He died on 18 Nov 1913 in Sailors' Snug Harbor, New York City, at age 75, of "Myocarditis," and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (39 Cypress.)

George was probably one of the males under five listed with his father Charles Smith in the 1840 census of Tisbury, and he appeared in that household on the 1850 Tisbury census, aged 11. He appeared on the 1855 Tisbury census, aged 17, mariner, living with his parents, and again on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 21. He was called "at sea" in the Sep 1862 Tisbury draft list. He was called a Tisbury "mariner" in his 1863 marriage records. He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 26, "seaman," living with his wife in the home of her parents.

He was master of the Ship Jireh Perry of New Bedford, which voyaged to the Pacific and whose log exists at the Martha’s Vineyard Historical Society for the dates 12 May 1868 to 27 Jun 1868 (still at sea).

He was called a Holmes Hole "mariner" on his daughter’s 1868 birth record. He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1870, aged 31, "mariner," living with his wife and daughter in home of her parents. He was listed as a Tisbury resident in records dating 1874 and 1876. He appeared on the census of 18 Jun 1880 in Tisbury, aged 40, "sailor," with his wife and daughter.

On 11 Mar 1881, the Gazette reported that "Capt. Geo. F. Smith, of bark Lucretia, was reported at sea with 2200 bbls. sperm oil all told." On 29 Apr 1881: "A letter to the Captain's wife reports bark Lucretia, Capt. Geo. F. Smith, at Talcahuana March 13th, with 2800 bbls. sperm oil, 700 bbls. last cruise. Fitting for home. All well". On 29 Jul 1881: "Capt. Geo. F. Smith arrived home on Wednesday last from a four year voyage as master of bark Lucretia, of New Bedford." He was master of the Steam-Whaler Belvedere of San Francisco, to the Pacific and Arctic Oceans. The log exists in Book 37 of the DCHS for the dates 10 Dec 1883 to 3 Nov 1884.

He resided in 1897 in Forest Ave., Tisbury, and appeared on the census of 1900 on Pine St., Tisbury, aged 36, "master mariner" (steam), living with his wife, daughter, and grandson. He was listed in 1907 and c. 1910 again on Pine St., "master mariner". He appeared on the census of 1910 on Pine St., aged 69, "own income", with his wife and grandson. He was called a "retired seaman" in his 1913 death record.

Elizabeth Holmes "Lizzie" Downs was born on 24 Jul 1841 in Holmes Hole. Her obituary reported, "Mrs. Smith was born in Vineyard Haven and always lived there, and while she never took any prominent part in public life, always prided herself on being a good wife and mother, a pride which is shared be her surviving relatives". She appeared as a child with her parents on the 1850 census of Tisbury, again on the Tisbury census of 1855 (aged 13), and again on the census of 1860 in Holmes Hole (aged 18). She was listed as a Tisbury resident in her 1863 marriage record.

She appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 22, "boarder", living with her husband in the home of her parents. She appeared on the census of 1870 in Holmes Hole, aged 28, no occupation, living with her husband, daughter, and parents. She appeared on the census of 1880 in Tisbury, aged 39, "keeping house," with her husband and one daughter).She appeared on the census of 1900 on Pine St., Tisbury, aged 36, with her husband. She appeared on the census of 1910 on Pine St., aged 66, with her husband and son. She appeared on the census of 1920 on State Road, Tisbury, aged 77, widow, living with her grandson George T. Tilton. She resided in 1925 on Pine Street. She died on 30 Jun 1925 in Vineyard Haven, at age 83 from "an illness lasting about two weeks," and was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery (39 Cypress.)

Children of Capt. George Fowler Smith and Elizabeth Holmes Downs were:

338.    Luella May Smith was born 5 Oct 1868 in Holmes Hole. She married (1^st) Capt. Charles Osborn Tilton; she married (2^nd) Charles Hunt Brown.

 

317.     Capt. Edward Jones Smith (Drusilla2 West, James1) was born on 17 Oct 1846 in Holmes Hole. He married Sarah E. Pease, daughter of John Pease and Elizabeth Dyer, on 17 Jun 1874 in New Bedford, MA. He died on 17 Jul 1921 in the U. S. Marine Hospital, Tisbury, at age 74, of "Angio Neurotic Oedema / Gangrene, Left Leg." (The Gazette reported that "The captain had been seriously ill for some months, and had undergone treatment in Boston hospitals. In a final effort to save his life, his foot and part of his leg were amputated. His weakened condition and his age made his recovery impossible. With him at the end were his devoted wife and his son, Lieut. Edward Hanson Smith, U. S. N. of the Seneca.") He is buried in Oak Grove.

Banks notes that he was a "resident of Vineyard Haven for many years and local agent of the New England Steamship Lines." His obituary stated that "Captain Smith was well known in Vineyard Haven, where for many years he was agent for the steamship company. He was also one of the town's longest surviving master mariners." A 1990 article in the Dukes County Intelligencer notes that "Edward Jones Smith was the owner of the steamship wharf in Vineyard Haven and served as the local agent for the New England Steamship Lines. ... The family lived in the stately old house, now known as the '1785 House,' a hundred yards or so from the today's ferry slips." Stan Lair remembered that "he was a wharfinger, a very gruff old gentleman, not too well liked by the kids… ‘Get out of there! What the Hell you doin’ there?!’ He would chase us off the dock - we liked to go down there and jump over the spiles that are on the end-board side of the dock there and he'd chase us off. Old Ed Jones Smith." Ralph Look referred to him as "the Admiral" but remembered that "his bark was worse than his bite."

He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850 (aged 3), on the census of 1855 in Tisbury (aged 11), and on the Holmes Hole census of 1860 (aged 13) with his parents. He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 18, "seaman," with his father. Although he does not appear in the 1870 Tisbury census, he is listed as a Tisbury resident in documents dated 1874 and 1876.

In the book Whaling Wives, he is noted as being master of the Stamboul which voyaged to the Arctic in 1888, and is called "an able whaleman and indeed an old-style Vineyarder; he had [previously] commanded the Ohio in 1878, and then the Lydia on two voyages." Contemporary Capt. Parnell Pease described him as "an old style Vineyarder" in a log about 1886.

He resided in 1881 in New Bedford, and in 1886 in Fairhaven. He was called a Vineyard Haven "master mariner" in the 1889 birth record of his son. He resided in 1897 on Main St., Tisbury, and appeared on the census of 1900 on Union Street, Tisbury, aged 54, with his wife and son. He was listed in 1907 and c. 1910 as "treas. Vineyard Haven Wharf Co., h. Union." He appeared on the census of 21 Apr 1910 on Water Street, Tisbury, "Freight Agent / Steamship Co.", aged 63, with his wife, son and sister. He resided in April 1915 on Union St., "wharfinger," aged 68. He was called a Vineyard Haven resident in 1915 and a Tisbury resident in 1918. He appeared on the census of 1920 in Tisbury, aged 73, no occupation, living with his wife. An October 1920 Gazette reported that "Captain Edward Jones Smith has returned home much improved after hospital treatment, and rest cure in New Jersey." He was called a "retired sea captain" in his July 1921 death record. At his death he owned no real estate, and his personal estate consisted of two spy-glasses and one watch, valued at $165.

Sarah E. Pease was born on 20 May 1850 in Fairhaven, MA. Her obituary states, "Mrs. Smith was the daughter of John Pease and Elizabeth Dyer of Fairhaven, in which town she was born and spent her early life. Visiting on the Vineyard as a young woman she met Captain Smith, and they married in New Bedford on June 17, 1874. … Shortly after her marriage she came to Vineyard Haven, where she lived up to the time of her death. Her life has been quiet. She was a member of the Methodist Church, and attended regularly when her health permitted, but she was not affiliated with any clubs or societies". She appeared on the census of 1900 on Union Street, Tisbury, aged 50, with her husband and son, and again on the census of 1910 on Water St., aged 59. She appeared on the census of 1920 in Tisbury, aged 69, living with her husband. She died on 8 Oct 1926 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, at age 76, of "chronic islertitial nephritis" "following a gradual decline which had kept her confined for about a month" and is buried in Oak Grove.

Children of Capt. Edward Jones Smith and Sarah E. Pease were as follows:

339.     Rear Admiral Edward Hanson Smith U.S.C.G was born 29 Oct 1889 in Vineyard Haven. He married Isabel Brier.

318.     "Dr." Henry H. Smith (Drusilla2 West, James1) was born on 10 Mar 1849 in Holmes Hole. He married Olivia Boardman Nye, daughter of Francis Nye and Mary P. Downs, on 15 Jun 1876 in Tisbury. He died on 1 Nov 1888 in Vineyard Haven, at age 39, of pneumonia, and was buried on 7 Nov 1888 in Vineyard Haven. (The Gazette noted that the burial took place at his residence.)

His obituary states that "...Mr. Smith was very well and favorably known all over the Island, and his loss to the town, his family and to all, will be keenly felt. He served the town of Tisbury as school committee for six years with great credit to himself, and those whom he served in this capacity were well pleased with the result of his labor. As a businessman he was one of the most active in this county".

He appeared as a child with his parents on the Tisbury censuses of 1850, 1855, and 1860. He appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 15, "pupil," with his father, and on the census of 1870 in Tisbury, "harness maker," aged 21, living with his father and stepmother. He was called a resident of Tisbury in documents dated 1874 and 1876, and was called a Tisbury "M. D." on his 1876 marriage record. He appeared on the census of 1880 in Tisbury, aged 31, "druggist," living with his wife. In June 1881 the Gazette reported that "H. H. Smith and wife have moved to Cottage City, where they will remain during the season." In October 1881 they reported that "Mrs. H. H. Smith has moved to Boston, where her husband is engaged in business." And in December 1881: "It is rumored that Mr. H. H. Smith is to return home and devote his time to his insurance business, his position in the Boston Mercantile Agency not proving sufficiently remunerative." He was called a Vineyard Haven "Ins. Agt. and Druggist" in his son’s 1882 birth record. In February 1883, the Gazette reported that "Mr. H. H. Smith is agent for the Massachusetts Benefit Association, for Boston." In June, 1885 the Gazette reported that he had recently purchased a home on the corner of Spring and William streets, Tisbury and had it "neatly fitted up." In November 1888 the Gazette reported that "J. H. Gorham, of Cottage City is caring for Dr. Henry H. Smith during his illness." He was called a Tisbury "Insurance Agent" on his death record. His real estate (his home, a cemetery plot, and his interest in his father’s homestead) was valued at $2600, and his personal estate (stock, savings accounts, furniture, etc.) at $8316.89.

Olivia Boardman Nye was born on 20 Sep 1848 in Holmes Hole. Her obituary notes that she was "born in Vineyard Haven, she lived her entire life in that town, widely known and beloved by all who knew her. She was a member of Christ M. E. Church and belonged to the various church societies, taking an active interest in all matters pertaining to the institution as long as her health and strength would permit." She appeared on the census of 1850 in Tisbury, aged 1, with her parents, but I couldn't find her in the 1855 census of any Island town nor in the 1860 Tisbury census. She did appear on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 21, no occupation, living with James and Mary Taber, and was called a Tisbury resident in her 1876 marriage record. She appeared on the census of 18 Jun 1880 in Tisbury, "Octavia B.," aged "3.", "keeping house," with her husband. In October 1905 the Gazette reported that "Mrs. O. B. Smith has been in town for a few days arranging her [Vineyard Haven] house which has been rented for the winter by Mrs. Jason Luce." She was listed on the corner of Spring and William streets in 1907 and about 1910. She appeared on the census of 1910 on William St., aged 61(?), no occupation, with a boarder. She appeared alone on the census of 1920 on Spring Street, aged 71. She died on 2 Oct 1937 at her home on Look Street, Tisbury, at age 89, of "cardiac disease / arteriosclerosis" "following a lengthy period of failing health" and was buried on 4 Oct 1937 in Oak Grove. She was called a widowed Tisbury "housewife" on her death record.

The only child of Henry H. Smith and Olivia Boardman Nye was:

i.     Capt. Francis Nye Grandison "Frank" Smith was born on 22 Mar 1882 in Vineyard Haven. He married Bessie M. Cushman in 1910 at "75 Campbell St." (New Bedford?) (The newspaper reported that "They will be at home at 68 Parker street, after Oct. 1st. Mr. Smith is wire chief for the Southern Massachusetts Telephone company.") He was called a New Bedford resident in 1915 and 1918. The Gazette reported that he was promoted from Lieutenant to Captain on 15 Jan 1919. He was called a New Bedford resident in 1921. He was called a resident of Melrose, MA in 1937. He died in Melrose on 26 Apr 1939, at age 57, of "Hodgkin’s Disease" "following a lengthy period of illness" and is buried in Oak Grove. His obituary called him "...of Melrose, formerly of Vineyard Haven ... He was 58 years old, and had been in the employ of the New England Telephone and Telegraph company since his youth. … The son of Henry and Olivia Smith of Vineyard Haven, he was born in that town and lived there until he was about twenty years of age." His occupation was listed as a "Telephone Supt. New [?] Eng. [?] Tel. Co." in his death record. He had no children.

 

319.     Ernest Chester West (Abner2, James1) was born on 28 Oct 1861 in Holmes Hole. He married Mary Ann Hatch, daughter of William F. Hatch and Margaret (--?--), in September 1882 (?) in Tisbury. He died on 15 Jan 1941 in Tujunga, CA, at age 79.

His obituary calls him "formerly of [Vineyard Haven] ... [he] left his birthplace for the west between thirty and forty years ago…" He appeared as a child with his parents on the Tisbury censuses of 1865 and 1870. On 19 May 1879 he sailed on the Bark Ocean of New Bedford, which returned 13 Sep 1882. He was noted in the crew list as being 5' 8" tall with a black complexion and black hair. (Was this in error?) He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1880, aged 19, "laborer" (unemployed four of the past twelve months) listed with his parents.

He was called a Tisbury "mariner" in his 1882 marriage record, a Tisbury "laborer" on their first child’s 1883 birth record, and a Tisbury "farmer" on daughter Marion’s May 1885 birth record. In June 1885 the Gazette reported that "Mr. E. C. West and family have returned to this village [Vineyard Haven] to reside." He was called a Tisbury "harness maker" on daughter Marjorie’s 1886 birth record, a Tisbury "laborer" in 1887, 1890, 1894, and 1898 birth records, and a Tisbury "seaman" on daughter Sarah’s 1892 birth record.

He resided on the Cape in December 1895, but was listed as a "laborer" in 1897 on Centre St., Tisbury. (This was the Center Street home of his parents, in which he and his large family lived on the bottom floor.) He appeared on the 1900 Tisbury census again on Center Street, "hard line fisherman," aged 38, listed with his wife and eight children in his parents’ home. In May, 1902, the Gazette reported that "Mr. Ernest West and Mr. Leroy Lair came from Cuttyhunk where they are employed at the wreck of Str. Indian …"

Between May 1902 and December 1904 he and his family left the Vineyard for good. In December 1904 they were in Pierport, Michigan, and in June 1907 in Campbellsport, Wisconsin. He resided in 1914 in Turtle Lake, Wisconsin. and was again listed there in March 1939.

Mary Ann Hatch was born on 20 Jan 1862 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

She visited her Aunt Hattie Legg. (See the 1881 notes of her father.)

She was called "at home" in Tisbury in her September 1882 marriage record. Her grandmother Laura A. (West) Hatch wrote her will in December 1882, and bequeathed Mary 25 cents. She appeared with her husband and children on the census of 1900 on Center Street, Tisbury, aged 38. She resided on 15 Jan 1941 in Tujunga, CA, and died between about 1956-57 in Santa Anna, CA.

Children of Ernest Chester West and Mary Ann Hatch were as follows:

(Ernest’s 1941 obituary notes that all of his surviving children except Marion were living in Los Angeles at the time of his death.)

i.     Ernestina May West was born on 19 May 1883 in Tisbury. She married Peter Fredrickson on 15 Jan 1908 in Superior, Wisconsin. She died on 12 Apr 1940 in Glidden, Wisconsin, at age 56. She appeared with her parents on the census of 1900 in Center Street, Tisbury, aged 17, "at school." I don’t know if she had any children.

340.    Marion Hatch West was born 6 May 1885 in Vineyard Haven. She married Theodor Hurll Couch.

iii.     Marjorie Spencer West was born on 22 Apr 1886 in Tisbury. She married Peter DeWitt on 21 Feb 1905 in Hingham, Wisconsin. She died on 2 Mar 1905 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, at age 18. She appeared with her parents on the census of 1900 in Center Street, Tisbury, aged 14, "at school."

iv.     Luretta Camp West was born on 15 Dec 1887 in Vineyard Haven. She appeared with her parents on the census of 1900 on Center Street, aged 12, "at school." I have no record of her after 1900.

341.     Anna Lucille West was born 11 Mar 1890 in Tisbury. She married Clyde C. Kesler.

vi.     Sarah Elizabeth West was born on 19 Mar 1892 in Tisbury. She appeared with her parents on the census of 1900 on Center Street, aged 8, "at school." I have no record of her after 1900.

vii.     Gladys Turner West was born on 2 Jun 1894 in Vineyard Haven. She appeared with her parents on the census of 1900 on Center Street, aged 5. I have no record of her after 1900.

viii.     Esther Hughina West was born on 8 Apr 1898 in Tisbury. She appeared with her parents on the census of 1900 on Center Street, aged 2. I have no record of her after 1900.

342.     Ernest Mortimer West was born 8 Sep 1900 in Tisbury.

x.     William John West was born on 16 Dec 1904 in Pierport, Michigan. I have no further record of him.

343.    Rudolph Holman West was born 9 Jun 1907 in Campbellsport, Wisconsin.

 

320.     Sarah Elizabeth "Sadie" West (Abner2, James1) was born on 24 May 1864 in Holmes Hole. She married John Holman, son of John Holman and Matilda C. (--?--), on 18 Nov 1887 in Boston, MA. She died after 1949.

Sarah appeared as a child with her parents on the Tisbury censuses of 1865, 1870, and 1880, and she was called a Tisbury resident in her 1887 marriage record.

It is unclear where she and her husband lived after 1887, but the 1 May 1902 issue of the Gazette mentions that "Miss Sara Holman, of Salem, has been visiting relatives in this village." (Sarah's father had died the week before.) She is not listed in the 1910 Tisbury census. She was called a resident of Deer Trail, Arapahoe Co., CO in 1914 and 1916, when her letterhead read "S. E. Holman, dealer in General Merchandise and Best Canon City Oil. Successor to Maher Mercantile Company. Dear Trail, Colo." She was called a resident of Denver, CO in March 1939, again on 15 Jan 1941, and again on 5 Mar 1943. I believe she was living in Deertrail, CO in 1949.

John Holman was born about 1853-54 in Sweden. He was employed as a "dyer" in Watertown in 1887. I have no records of him after his marriage.

Children of Sarah Elizabeth West and John Holman were:

i.     Leah Holman was probably born after 1887.

321.     Marion Hodge West (Abner2, James1) was born on 1 Aug 1869 in Holmes Hole. She married Leroy Crosby Lair, son of Peter J. Lair and Fannie Bradford Fish, on 6 Jun 1889 at Rev. Daniel W. Stevens’ home in Vineyard Haven. She died on 27 Feb 1943 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital, Oak Bluffs, at age 73, of "arteriosclerosis" "…following a week's confinement at the [hospital.] Mrs. Lair had been in poor health for a number of years, previous to entering the hospital." She was buried on 1 Mar 1943 in an unmarked grave in Village Cemetery. Her Center Street home was valued at $1800 and her personal estate at $100 in her probate records.

Her obituary notes that she "had lived virtually all her life in Vineyard Haven, the town of her birth. The daughter of Abner and Sarah West, she received her education in the local schools, and she and her husband were married fifty-three years ago, each being 18 years of age at the time. … Mrs. Lair will be remembered chiefly for her kindness and generosity, and the intimate interest that she took in all her friends and neighbors in time of illness or trouble, and her passing is mourned by many who have received kindnesses from her hand during her active years…"

She appeared as a child with her parents on the Tisbury censuses of 1870 and 1880, and was called a Vineyard Haven resident on her 1889 marriage records. She appeared on the census of 1900 on William St., aged 30, with her husband and three kids, and on the census of 1910 on Center St., aged 40, with her husband and four children. She was called a resident of Tisbury in 1914. She appeared on the census of 1920 on Centre Street, aged 51, with her husband and children. Gazette articles in 1939 and 1941 refer to her as a Vineyard Haven resident. Her 1943 death record calls her a "housewife."

Capt. Leroy Crosby Lair was born on 30 Sep 1869 in Mattapoisett, MA. His son Stan remembered: "He was in several business. He was in the trucking business at one time. He came here as a harness maker, worked at the Crocker Harness Shop. He ran a fish market at one time, he had a little cat boat he ran for partying, he had various things. He had a license for steamboating. He was a yachting skipper for several years for the Fuller family on East Chop, and other people." "At one time he got the idea of peddling hulled corn. I hated the stuff. He would boil the stuff on the stove, and he'd dump it in lye to take the husks off and all that stuff. I don't know how they made it, but anyway. It was flat - I never liked that stuff. And lot of the people - the old timers - loved that. But anyway he would peddle that, he had a little automobile, and he would peddle around. I hated to meet him on a road, though! It didn't matter to him whether he was driving on the left side or the right side! I think he told me once he was coming back from Oak Bluffs and he looked out the side and he saw a wheel going along the side of him. One of the wheels had dropped off, or something, going along right along side of the car. He lived to a ripe old age. He was 86 when he died." "Brooks Carter built a small building which was a fish market. It was operated by...Captain Lair, and then a little later by Ralph Look. (That is, young Ralph Look.)" [This was on Union Street, just east of Carter Park.]. He was also remembered as having run a harness store on the northwest corner of Main and Spring streets, in the building that later became Issokson's cleaners. (Was this Crocker Harness Shop?)

Leroy came to the Vineyard as a boy with his mother and stepfather. He was called a Vineyard Haven "harness maker" in his 1889 marriage records, as well as on the 1891 birth record of his daughter. In October 1894 the Gazette reported that "the Lair brothers [Leroy and Carlton] have opened a fish market for the winter opposite Capt. Oliver's store" in Vineyard Haven. He was called a Tisbury "harness maker" on the November 1894 birth record of his oldest son. He was listed as a "harness maker" living on Williams St. in 1897. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1900 on William St., age 30, "harness market," with his wife, three children, and (adopted) grand