This is part from 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!
600. WILLIAM WEST was born on 11 Feb 1785 in Tisbury. He married MARY POOLE, daughter of WILLIAM POOLE and ABIGAIL PEASE, on 23 Mar 1809 in Chilmark. He died on 27 Aug 1854 in Holmes Hole, at age 69, of "palsey," and is buried in the Vineyard Haven Village Cemetery next to his wife and daughter Sarah.
He appeared on the census of 1800 in Tisbury with his father. On 25 Mar 1807 William West of Tisbury, pilot, bought a lot near Holmes Hole harbor on the west side of the road to West Chop for $120 from Thomas Whelding. He appeared on the census of 1810 in Tisbury with his wife and son, adjacent to his widowed mother. On 14 Jan 1815 William West of Tisbury, pilot, and his wife Polly sold the Wheldon lot for $120 to their neighbor Jonathan Manter Jr.
There were two men named "William West" who lived in Tisbury during this period, and so there are several ambiguous references to a "William West" which may refer to #600 William's niece's husband Capt. William West "2d" of Tisbury who was about ten years his junior. For instance, an Oct. 1817 deed makes reference to property owned by "William West" which lay two lots south of the schoolhouse lot on the east side of Main Street in Tisbury, and adjacent to the land of the heirs of Jethro Hillman. (This area lies just south of what is now called Owen Little Way.) It is unclear which "William West" owned this lot. Likewise, who was the "William West Junr. of Tisbury, mariner" who bought land and buildings on the west side of harbor (near Jethro Hillman) from Jonathan Manter for $240 on 9 Aug 1822, and then sold a dwelling house and ½ acre of land at Frog Alley (near Jethro Hillman and the "County Road") to Alexander Newcomb for $95 on 28 Oct 1825? There are more references to land owned by "William West" in the deeds of Thomas H. Smith and Isaac Winslow in Dukes County deeds, Vol. 27, pp. 280-281.
William West (#600) appeared on the Tisbury census of 1820 with his wife,
daughter, and three sons, and on the Tisbury census of 1830 with his wife
and seven children, adjacent to his widowed mother. On 28 Aug 1830 mariner
William West of Tisbury, his wife Polly, his mother, and twelve other heirs
of his late father Jeruel sold his Frog Alley land (near James Winslow,
the harbor, and a "little pond") to William's brother James West
for $400. William appears on the 1838 and 1842 Tisbury tax lists (the latter
noting him as a home owner), and on the Tisbury census of 1840 with his
wife, five children, and an unidentified man. He appeared on the Tisbury
census of 1850, aged 65, mariner, with his wife and children. His 1854 death
record calls him a "mariner."
Mary "Polly" Poole was born on 5 May 1786 in Chilmark.
She was listed with her husband on the Tisbury censuses of 1820, 1830 and
1840. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 64, with her husband
and children, and as a widow on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 69, living
in the home of her daughter Mary P. Buckley. She died on 28 Jul 1855 in
Holmes Hole, aged 69, of "acute pulminary oedema," and is buried
in the Vineyard Haven Village Cemetery.
Children of WILLIAM WEST and MARY POOLE were as follows:
i. BENJAMIN P. WEST was born in June 1810, and was listed on the Tisbury census of 1810 with his father. He died on 26 Oct 1815 in Tisbury, aged five, and is buried in the Vineyard Haven Village Cemetery.
601. CAPT. WILLIAM WEST JR. was born 14 Sep 1812 in Tisbury. He married ABRA WASHBURN BLISH.
602. CAPT. CHARLES WEST "2nd" was born in January 1815 in Tisbury. He married BETSEY L. DILLINGHAM.
603. BENJAMIN P. WEST was born 21 Aug 1817 in Tisbury. He married MARTHA JANE WINSLOW.
604. EMILY S. WEST was born 3 May 1820 in Tisbury. She married CAPT. JACOB CLIFFORD.
605. MARY P. WEST was born 18 Jun 1823 in Tisbury. She married JOHN BUCKLEY JR.
606. JERUEL WEST was born 12 May 1827 in Tisbury. He married DEBORAH A. NORTON.
viii. SARAH MERRY WEST was born in September 1829, and was listed on the Tisbury census of 1830. She died on 1 Jul 1832, aged two, and is buried in the Vineyard Haven Village Cemetery.
601. CAPT. WILLIAM WEST JR. (William
1 ) was born on 14 Sep 1812 in Tisbury. He married ABRA WASHBURN BLISH,
daughter of WILLIAM BLISH and KATHARINE LUCE, on 25 Sep 1842 in Tisbury
by Rev. Cyrus Miner. He died on 23 Jun 1861 in Holmes Hole, aged 48, of
"heart disease," and his gravestone can be found in Oak Grove
Cemetery.
William is listed in the Tisbury census of 1820 with his father. Although there are many records of a "William West" sailing on whalers in this area, we can definitely identify this William West (by his age and birthplace) as having sailed on the ship Enterprise of New Bedford which left on 14 Jul 1828 and returned 19 Jun 1829, and on the ship Hope of New Bedford which left on 30 Jan 1830. He was described in the crew list of the Hope (at age "16") as being 5' 2" tall with a light complexion and brown hair. William was listed on the Tisbury censuses of 1830 and 1840 with his father, and on the 1838 and 1842 Tisbury tax lists. He appeared with his wife on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 37, mariner, in the home of his mother-in-law.
On 29 Apr 1851 William West Jr. of Tisbury, mariner, bought a house on the south side of Center St. for $1100 from John and Elizabeth Perry. This was probably the house marked "W. West" on the southeast corner of upper Look St. and Centre Street in the 1858 "Walling Map." On 2 Dec 1854 William West ("master mariner") bought another lot on the south side of Centre Street (adjacent to his existing property) for $250 from Richard and Virginia Luce. He appeared with his wife on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 45, mariner, and on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 45, master mariner.
William died in 1861 leaving no heirs other than his wife, as both of
their children had died. He had left a will on 22 May 1854, which was proved
2 Sep 1861. His probate records called him a Tisbury master mariner, and
the Gazette and Mercury noted that he was "late master
of bark Helen Augusta." His real estate was valued at $900 and
his personal estate valued at $3099 at the time of his death. His personal
estate included shares in the barks Helen Augusta and Marcella.
Abra Washburn "Abby" Blish was born on 30 Apr 1821 in
Tisbury. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850 with her husband and
mother, aged 29; on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 35, with her husband;
on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 39; and on the census of 1865 in
East Parish, Tisbury, aged 44, widow, "housewife," living alone.
She does not appear in the Tisbury 1870 census. She died on 25 Aug 1876
in Tisbury, aged 55, and her gravestone can be found in Oak Grove Cemetery,
Tisbury. Her personal estate was valued at her death at $86, and her real
estate at $1700.
Children of CAPT. WILLIAM WEST JR. and ABRA WASHBURN BLISH were as follows:
i. INFANT WEST was born on 12 Jun 1857 in Tisbury. He died on 2 Aug 1857 in Tisbury.
ii. LEANDER WEST was born on 18 Jun 1859 in Tisbury. He died on 7 Aug 1859 in Holmes Hole.
602. CAPT. CHARLES WEST "2nd" (William 1 ) was born in January 1815 in Tisbury. He married BETSEY L. DILLINGHAM, daughter of ZENAS DILLINGHAM and ELIZABETH SLOCUM, on 10 Jul 1837 in Tisbury. He died on 6 Feb 1888 in Vineyard Haven, aged 73, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury (41 Cypress.)
Charles was listed on the Tisbury censuses of 1820 and 1830 with his father. Although there were many men named "Charles West" who signed onto whaling ships in this area, this Charles West can definitely be identified (by his age and birthplace) as the one who sailed on the ship Gen. Pike of New Bedford from 10 Mar 1831 to 5 Mar 1832 and again from 15 Jun 1832 to 14 Mar 1834, as well as on the ship Leonidas of Fairhaven from 16 Jul 1836 to 6 Jun 1837. The 1831 crew list of the Gen. Pike described the 16-year-old Charles as being 5' 1¼" tall with a light complexion and light-colored hair, while the 1836 crew list of the Leonidas describes him as 5' 5" tall at age 21.
Just a month after he returned from his voyage on the Leonidas,
Charles married Betsey Dillingham. He may have been the "Charles West
Jr." who appears in the 1838 and 1842 Tisbury tax lists. He appeared
on the Tisbury census of 1840 with his wife, his occupation categorized
as "Navigation of the Ocean," listed adjacent to his father-in-law
Zenas Dillingham. He was called a Tisbury "master mariner" on
the 1848 birth record of his daughter. He appears in the Tisbury census
of 1850, aged 35, mariner, with his wife and daughters, and again on the
Tisbury census of 1855, aged 40, mariner, with his wife and daughters. He
was probably the owner of the house marked "C. West" on the 1858
Walling Map on the west side of Main street, almost directly across from
what is now Owen Park. He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged
44, master mariner; on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged
50, "seaman," with his wife and children; and on the Tisbury census
of 1870, aged 55, mariner, with his wife and children. (This census valued
his real estate at $1600 and his personal estate at $7500.) He appeared
on the Tisbury census of 1880, aged 65, "retail grocer," with
his wife. His obituary called him "a highly respected citizen and member
of the M. E. Church."
Betsey L. Dillingham was born on 2 Oct 1815 in Tisbury. She was
listed on the Tisbury census of 1840 with her husband; on the Tisbury census
of 1850, aged 34; on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 39; on the Holmes
Hole census of 1860, aged 44; on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury,
aged 49 ("housewife"); on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 54
("keeping house"); and finally on the Tisbury census of 1880,
aged 64, "keeping house," with her husband. She died on 20 Jan
1896 in her home on Main Street, Vineyard Haven, aged 80, of "exhaustion
/ senile dementia" and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury (41
Cypress.)"
Children of CAPT. CHARLES WEST "2nd" and BETSEY L. DILLINGHAM were as follows:
i. MARY JANE WEST was born on 23 Feb 1842 in Tisbury. She married CAPT. OTIS FOSS, son of SILAS FOSS and LOIS KELLEY, on 13 Dec 1863 in Holmes Hole. She died on 12 Feb 1925 in Tisbury, aged 82, of a "cerebral hemorrhage" and was buried on 15 Feb 1925 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury (41 Cypress.)
She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged eight, with her parents; on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 13, with her parents; and again on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 18, with her parents. Her 1863 marriage record called her a Tisbury resident. ,
Mary appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 23, with husband, "boarder" in the home of her parents. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 28 (no occupation), with her husband and parents. By May 1888 she was residing with her husband in Cottage City, where they evidently spent their summers. She was a founding member of the Vineyard Haven D.A.R., chartered in 1897. She appeared on the census of June 1900 in Cottage City, aged 58, with her husband.
Mary's husband died in September 1905 and a few weeks later Mr. and Mrs. Lorenzo Luce moved into the Foss' Main Street home to live with Mary for the winter. She was listed in the 1907 and 1910-11 Tisbury directories on Main Street ("widow of Otis"), and she evidently suffered a stroke or injury about this time, as on 17 Oct 1907 the Gazette reported that "Mrs. Mary J. Foss has returned from her visit to West Dennis and is occupying her house, having so far recovered the use of her limb as to care for herself." She appears in the Tisbury census of April 1910 on Main Street, aged 68, living on "own income," "widow," living alone. She was called a resident of Vineyard Haven in 1913.
On 15 Jan 1919 the Gazette reported that on "Saturday evening, about nine-thirty, a blaze started at the home of Mrs. Mary J. Foss, on Main St. which did considerable damage to house and furniture." She appeared on the census of 1920 on Main Street, Tisbury, aged 77, living alone.
Mary Foss died in 1925, and her death record called her a "retired housewife." The Gazette reported that "her suffering of the last year or more must be felt to give her a blessed release after torturing pain. Devoted care was hers but at last she sleeps, after her life work faithfully performed is over."
Capt. Otis Foss was born on 4 Oct 1838 in West Gouldsboro, ME. His obituary calls him "a prominent citizen of Martha's Vineyard. …Captain Foss has been one of the most prominent figures in Vineyard politics. Always a staunch Republican, he had seen long service in the government of his home town, Cottage City, and was thrice elected a member of the house of representatives. …Captain Foss was born in the town of Gouldsboro, Maine, on Oct. 4, 1838. He was educated in the public schools. In the Civil war he was in the United States navy, and was present at the capture of the New Orleans. From 1863 to 1868 he was a master mariner, and since that time until retirement a short time ago has been in trade."
He does not appear in the 1860 Tisbury census nor on the September 1862 Tisbury "enrollment" list, but Dr. Charles Banks notes that he served as a seaman on the ship Fearnought in the Navy during the Civil War. According to Massachusetts Soldiers, Sailors, and Marines in the Civil War, Otis Foss enlisted on 5 Aug 1861 for one year as Ord. Seaman ("credit Boston") and served on the Receiving Ship Ohio and the U.S.S. Fear Not. He was discharged from ship Ohio as Ord. Seaman on 10 Nov 1862. Otis' December 1863 marriage records called him a Boston mariner.
Otis appeared with his wife on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 26, "seaman," living in the home of Mary's parents, and again on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 31, "peddler," with his wife and her parents. (This census valued his real estate at $1000.) On 6 May 1881 the Gazette reported that the "Sch. Almeda, removed from Muskeget by Capt. Otis Foss and others, has been sold at private sale." He was listed in the 1897 Tisbury directory on Main St.
Otis and his wife evidently summered in Cottage City, as Otis and Mary appeared on the census of June 1900 in Cottage City, aged 61, and the Gazette reported on 15 May 1902 that "Capt. and Mrs. Otis Foss are moving to Cottage City for the summer season."
He died on 21 Sep 1905 in his home on Main Street, Vineyard Haven, aged 66, of "apoplexy," "after an illness of several months," and was buried on 24 Sep 1905 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury (41 Cypress.) (The Gazette reported that "The funeral...was in charge of the Grand Army of the Republic.") His death record calls him a "retired grocer." **Insert his portrait from newspaper files here**
Otis and Mary Foss had no children.
ii. ALICE ANN WEST was born on 2 May 1848 in Tisbury. She married CAPT. JOSIAH TABER DAGGETT, son of HENRY DAGGETT and MARY ANN TABER, on 9 Jul 1869 in Holmes Hole. She died on 23 Oct 1877 in Vineyard Haven, aged 29, of breast cancer, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury (41 Cypress.) Alice appeared on Tisbury census of 1850, aged two, with her parents; on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged seven, with her parents; on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged 12, with her parents; and on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 17, "pupil," with her parents. Her July 1869 marriage record calls her a resident of Tisbury. She appeared on the Tisbury census of June 1870, aged 28 (no occupation), with her husband and parents.
Capt. Josiah Taber Daggett was born on 16 Dec 1844 in Tisbury. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged seven, with his parents, and on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged ten, with his parents. His 1869 marriage record calls him a Tisbury mariner. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 25, mariner, with his wife in the home of her parents.
After Alice's death in 1877, Josiah left the Island, and he did not appear in the 1880 Vineyard censuses nor in the 1897 or 1907 directories. He married (2nd) GRACE L. LAMBERT. Josiah died on 6 Sep 1909 at his home in Montclair, NJ, aged 64, of Bright's Disease. His obituary states that "For the last 15 years he commanded ships of the Savannah line. For 30 years before entering the Savannah service he was in command of ships of Thomas Dunham's Nephews & Co. of New York. While in command of the steamship Caravan of that firm's line he saved the lives of the crew of the German ship Lohengrin and received from Emporer Wilhelm a marine glass. Captain Daggett was born in Martha's Vineyard in 1844. He married Grace Lambert of Brooklyn, who survives him, with two daughters and one son." Roy Norton notes "Master Mariner. For thirty years he commanded ships of the New York firm of Thomas Dunham's Nephews and Co. and later of the Ocean Steamship Co. of Savannah."
603. BENJAMIN P. WEST (William 1 ) was born on 21 Aug 1817 in Tisbury. He married his first cousin MARTHA JANE WINSLOW (#103), daughter of JAMES WEST WINSLOW (#101) and JANE D. MERRY, on 21 Sep 1854 in Tisbury. He died on 19 Mar 1877 in Tisbury, aged 59, of Bright's disease.
Benjamin was listed on the Tisbury censuses of 1820 and 1830 with his father. He was described in a 1833 crew list of the ship Java at age 16 as being 4' 10½" tall with a light complexion and brown hair. The ship Java of New Bedford left 24 Jun 1833 and returned 12 Mar 1834. He then sailed on the ship Virginia from 23 Aug 1840 to 4 Sep 1843(??*), followed(?) by a voyage as a boatsteerer on the ship Moctezuma from 28 Aug 1841 to 5 May 1844, and then as first mate of the bark Chase from 7 Nov 1844 to 9 Sep 1846 (captained by his cousin Capt. Abner West.) He was listed on the Tisbury census of 1840 with his father, and on the Tisbury tax list in 1842. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, single mariner, with his parents. His 1854 marriage records calls him a Tisbury mariner.
Benjamin appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 37, mariner, living
with his wife in the home of her parents. The 1859 birth record of his son
calls him a Tisbury mariner. He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1860,
aged 40, mariner, with his wife and son in the home of his father-in-law,
James W. Winslow. The September 1862 Tisbury "enrollment list"
calls him "at sea." He appeared on the census of 1865 in East
Parish, Tisbury, aged 47, "seaman," with his wife and son, and
on the Tisbury census of 187, aged 52, mariner, with his wife and son. His
1877 death record calls him a Tisbury mariner.
See Part Two: Descendants of Betsey Winslow for information
about #103 Martha Jane Winslow (1836-1925).
The only child of BENJAMIN P. WEST and MARTHA JANE WINSLOW was:
607. JAMES WINSLOW WEST was born 15 Mar 1859 in Tisbury. He married (1st) BERTHA E. HALL; he married (2nd) ______________.
604. EMILY S. WEST (William 1 ) was born on 3 May 1820 in Tisbury. She married CAPT. JACOB CLIFFORD, son of JACOB CLIFFORD and ABIGAIL LUCE, on 30 Apr 1848 in Tisbury. She died on 22 Feb 1873 in Vineyard Haven, aged 52, of "cancer of the uterus."
She was listed on the Tisbury censuses of 1820, 1830, and 1840 with her father. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 30, with her husband, daughter, and parents; and on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 34, with her husband and daughter.
Her husband died in 1859, and I could not find Emily or her daughter
Helen in the 1860 census. She appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish,
Tisbury, aged 44, "seamstress," with her daughter in the home
of her sister, Mary Buckley. She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1870,
aged 49, "keeping house," living with her daughter Helen Littlefield
and family (next door to her sister Mary.)
Capt. Jacob Clifford was born on 22 Oct 1825 in Tisbury. His 1848
marriage record (well as the 1849 birth record of his daughter) call him
a Tisbury mariner. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 24, mariner,
with his wife and daughter, and on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 29,
mariner, with his wife and daughter in the home of his widowed mother. He
died on 8 Nov 1859 in Holmes Hole, aged 34, of consumption. His death record
calls him a Tisbury mariner.
The only child of EMILY S. WEST and CAPT. JACOB CLIFFORD was:
608. HELEN M. CLIFFORD was born 14 Aug 1849 in Tisbury. She married CAPT. EDWIN P. LITTLEFIELD.
605. MARY P. WEST (William 1 ) was born on 18 Jun 1823 in Tisbury. She married JOHN BUCKLEY JR., son of JOHN BUCKLEY and SALLY NORTON, on 1 Jun 1852 in Holmes Hole. She died on 18 May 1876 in Tisbury, aged 52, of apoplexy.
She was listed on the Tisbury censuses of 1830 and 1840 with her father,
and appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 26, with her parents. Her
1852 marriage record called her a resident of Holmes Hole. She appeared
on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged 32, with her husband; on the Holmes
Hole census of 1860, aged 37, with her husband and daughter; on the census
of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 40, "seamstress," with her
husband and children (her sister Emily was also living in the house; and
on the Tisbury census of 1870, aged 47, with her husband, daughter, and
mother-in-law. (Her sister Emily was listed next door.)
John Buckley Jr. was born on 23 Aug 1826 in Tisbury. He appeared
on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 23, mariner, with his parents. His 1852
marriage records called him a Tisbury mariner. He appeared on the Tisbury
census of 1855, aged 29, mariner, with his wife. The 1857 birth record of
his daughter called him a Holmes Hole mariner. He appeared on the Holmes
Hole census of 1860, aged 33, with his wife and daughter (and real estate
valued at $500.) He was probably the "John Buckley, attached to a vessel"
mentioned in the September 1862 Tisbury "enrollment list." He
appeared on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 38, "seaman,"
with his wife and daughter, and on the Tisbury census of 1870 in Holmes
Hole, aged 48, mariner, with his wife, daughter, and mother. He died on
15 Mar 1871 in Tisbury, aged 44, of "chronic disease of kidney,"
and his death record called him a Tisbury mariner. His estate was probated
in 1872, with real estate valued at $900 and personal estate valued at $100.
The only child of MARY P. WEST and JOHN BUCKLEY JR. was:
609. SARAH B. BUCKLEY was born 4 May 1857 in Holmes Hole. She married GEORGE AUGUSTUS MERRY.
606. JERUEL WEST (William 1 ) was probably born on 12 May 1827 in Tisbury. He married DEBORAH A. NORTON, daughter of SHUBAEL CLAGHORN NORTON and POLLY DAVIS NORTON, on 1 Jan 1852 in Edgartown. He died on 27 Aug 1913 at his home on 28 North Pleasant St., Taunton, Bristol Co., MA, aged 86. (The Gazette reported that he died "after an illness of but a few days duration. Mr. West was taken suddenly ill Monday noon and in the course of a few hours, lapsed into unconsciousness the end coming peacefully early last evening.")
His obituary stated that "Jeruel West, or 'uncle Jeruel' as he was affectionately known to his hundreds of friends about the city, was 86 years of age and for 63 years was a resident of Taunton. He was born in Vineyard Haven and came to this city when a young man, immediately after his marriage. ...Immediately after their marriage they came to this city and have since resided here, the last forty years of their life being spent at their comfortable home which they built on North Pleasant street [c. 1873]. Mr. West was one of the pioneer masons of the city, having learned his trade with Samuel Pierce of Vineyard Haven previous to his coming here. He had charge of the building of the lighthouse at Key West previous to coming to this city and was first employed at his trade here with Levi Hale with whom he worked for five or six years. He then became employed at the Taunton Insane hospital and for 57 years had worked at that institution, establishing a record, which for efficiency and faithfulness, has been seldom equaled. …During his long connection with that institution, he had charge of all masonry work and in the construction of the big wing to the hospital, he had supervision of the forty men who were employed on the job at that time. …Always faithful and conscientious in the performance of his duty, he endeared himself to employers and employees alike. Kindness was one of his chief characteristics and when, thirteen months ago, he was pensioned off by the state, there was genuine regret among the physicians, officials and all others at the institution who felt a personal loss at his departure from that field of activity which he loved so well. …Mr. West was a familiar figure on the streets of the city for despite his advanced age, he was extremely active and never failed up to the time of his last illness to take his daily walks. Along Main street and throughout the neighborhood in which he lived so long he was affectionately known as "Uncle Jeruel" to men, women, and children and there are none among those who were accustomed to the kindly smile and friendly greeting of their old friend, who will not feel a sense of great personal loss in the passing of "Uncle Jeruel." His popularity was shared equally by his kindly widow who as 'Aunt Deborah' is known to everyone in the vicinity where she has lived so long. ...Mr. West was affiliated with no societies, preferring the companionship of his family and the quiet of his home to active membership in any society. For the same reason, he never aspired to political office, but lived his good and long life in a quiet, unassuming way, realizing all his ambitions in life in possessing the respect and friendship of all his fellow men. ...Both were active and beloved members of the Grace M.E. church."
Jeruel appeared on the Tisbury censuses of 1830 and 1840 with his father,
and on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged 23, mason, with his parents. His
1852 marriage records called him a Tisbury "bricklayer." I could
not find him in the 1855 census of any Vineyard town. He appeared on the
census of June 1860 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA, aged 31, mason, with his
wife Anna and personal estate valued at $150. The October 1860 birth record
of his son called him a Taunton "plasterer and mason." He was
called a Taunton resident in his uncle's 1864 probate. He appeared on the
census of July 1870 in Ward 4, Taunton, aged 40, brick mason, with wife
and family in the house of John and Helen Reynolds, and on the census of
June 1900 at 28 Mt. Pleasant St., Taunton, aged 74, with his wife, son,
and daughter-in-law.
Deborah A. "Anna" Norton was probably born on 25 Feb 1833 in Edgartown. She appeared on the Edgartown census of August 1850, aged 17, with her parents, and was called a resident of Edgartown in her 1852 marriage records. She appeared on the census of June 1860 in Taunton, Bristol Co., MA, aged 28, with her husband.
About 1871 "Jeruel West of Taunton," Charles M. Vincent, and Mary D. Smith of Edgartown sold (or mortgaged?) "Potters Field" in Edgartown to Zebulon Pratt and Russell Sturgis for $1000, and on 26 Jun 1873 Jeruel and Deborah A. West of Taunton (along with Mary D. Smith, Henry O. Adlington, Cordelia B. Adlington, Charles M. Vincent, and Sarah C. Vincent) sold land in Edgartown (part of the estate of the late Shubael C. Norton) for $125 to George Jernegan. All of this property was evidently left to her by her deceased father.
She appeared on the census of June 1900 at 28 Mt. Pleasant St., Taunton,
aged 70, with her husband and son. She died in 1917 in Taunton.
The only child of JERUEL WEST and DEBORAH A. NORTON was:
i. CLARENCE N. WEST was born on 29 Oct 1860 in Taunton. He married NELLIE B. GREEN, daughter of JOHN GREEN and NELLIE (--?--),on 3 Mar 1887 in Taunton. His marriage record called him a Taunton "clerk." He appeared on the census of June 1900 at 28 Mt. Pleasant St., Taunton, aged 39, living with his wife in the home of his parents. He probably died in late 1913 in Taunton.
Nellie B. Green was born in June 1867(?) in London, England. Her 1887 marriage record called her a resident of West Newton, MA. She appeared on the census of June 1900 at 28 Mt. Pleasant St., Taunton, aged 32, with her husband. I have no record of her after 1900.
I have no record of any children of Clarence and Nellie West, but the 1900 census states that the 32-year-old Nellie had had no children, living or dead, by that year.
607. JAMES WINSLOW WEST (Benjamin 2 , William 1 ) also
went by the name of "JUMP SPARK JIM." He was born on 15 Mar 1859
in Tisbury. He married (1st) ___________ before 1896. He married (2nd) BERTHA
E. HALL, daughter of CHARLES F. HALL and EMMA SEARS, about 1895-6, possibly
in Dennis or elsewhere in southeastern Massachusetts. He died on 19 Nov
1948 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs, aged 89, of "myocardial
failure / arterioscerotic heart disease - aremia[?] terminal." He is
buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury.
He was probably the one-year-old boy listed as "James H. Winslow" in the Holmes Hole census of July 1860, living with his parents in the home of his Winslow grandparents. He appeared on the census of July 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged six, with his parents, and on the Holmes Hole census of 1870, aged 11, "attending school," with his parents. I couldn't find him in the 1880 census of Tisbury, Cottage City, or Edgartown.
His second marriage about 1895-6 was to his step-sister, Bertha Hall. (Bertha's father had married James' mother a couple of years earlier.) I was unable to find them in the 1900 census of Vineyard Haven, West Tisbury or Oak Bluffs, however he was listed in both the 1907 and 1910-11 Tisbury directories at "The Neck," occupation: "motor boat." He appeared on the census of April 1910 at the "Water Front" in Tisbury, aged 51, engineer of a dredging company, with his wife and three children. He was called a Vineyard Haven resident in August 1913, and appeared in the April 1915 Tisbury tax list on Hatch Road, aged 56, engineer. He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1920, aged 61, "upholster" (with his own shop), with his wife, son, and mother. In the 1920's he ran a series of ads in the Gazette for his antique shop (always headed by a different quote attributed to "Jump Spark Jim") for "J. W. West / Antiques / The Shop of Unusual Things."
In the 12 Sep 1930 issue of the Gazette Jim was profiled in the "Interesting Vineyarders" column. This profile describes him as having a "short, ruddy-face" and calls him a story-teller and epigram author as well as a Vineyard Haven businessman. It also notes: "He has lived in the south, Florida and elsewhere. ...He followed the crowd into the Klondike at the time of the gold-strike [winter of 1898] ...He has been a fisherman, learned the upholsterer's trade, sold furniture and now ...he conducts an establishment that combines furniture repairing in its various branches and deals in antiques. ...Mr. West is short in stature, but his chest is like a drum and his shoulders broad and square despite his years. And his temper is like that of Standish, hot and strong, when it rises. But his hospitality is unbounded, and he loves the company that comes to his shop to talk over old times and listen to his tales. ...Mr. West is an artist of no mean ability, and has done a great deal of work with both charcoal and paint. He understands the finer branches of wood-working as all furniture repairers must do, and he exercises this and much other knowledge and skill in the pursuit of his regular business. ... He is ...the dean of all story-tellers and father of the quaintest philosophy that ever was put in print."
Jim was called a resident of Tisbury in April 1937 when he inherited
his late wife's property. Directly under the obituary of his wife in the
23 Apr 1937 issue of the Gazette is the following advertisement:
"WEST'S MATRESS SHOP / Continuing the business and policies of James
W. West, founder of the establishment twenty-four years ago. / Howard Avenue
Vineyard Haven." (His shop was on the southeast corner of Beech Street
and what is now called Lagoon Pond Road, at "Five Corners.") His
1948 death record calls him a retired antique dealer.
His first wife, ___________, was born before 1875 in Maine. I
have no records of her.
Children of JAMES WINSLOW WEST and his first wife were as follows:
i. B. WINSLOW WEST went by the name of "WINSLOW." He was born about 1891-2 in Florida. He died on 4 Feb 1984, probably on Martha's Vineyard. He appeared on the Tisbury census of April 1910 at the "Water Front," aged 18, "salesman at grocery store," living with father and stepmother. He was called a Vineyard Haven resident in April 1937, and was employed at the "cooperative market" in October 1956.
ii. ELLIS WEST was born before 1896. He resided on 23 Apr 1937 in Boston, MA. I have no further record of him.
Bertha E. Hall was born on 1 Apr 1877 in Dennis, Barnstable Co., MA. Her obituary notes that she "had been a resident of Vineyard Haven for many years. …The daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Charles F. Hall of South Dennis, she was born and spent her early life in that town. She was married about forty-one years ago and since that time she and her husband had lived in various places in southeastern Massachusetts before coming to the Vineyard. …She was a member of Christ M.E. church, Celestia chapter, O.E.S., Seacoast Defense Chapter, D.A.R., and the W.C.T.U. and Want to Know Club."
Bertha appeared on the Tisbury census of April 1910 at the "Water Front" in Tisbury, aged 33, with her husband and children. She wrote her will on 27 Mar 1920 in which she stipulated that her stepmother Martha Hall (who was also her mother-in-law) may reside on Bertha's property in Dennis after the death of Charles Hall if she wished to do so.
Bertha died on 22 Apr 1937 at the Martha's Vineyard Hospital in Oak Bluffs,
aged 60, of "labar pneumonia" "…following a brief illness."
Her death record called her a "housewife." Her probate notes that
she owned a "store and tenement in Tisbury" valued at $5750 (which
her husband inherited) along with $35 in personal estate. She is buried
in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury.
Children of JAMES WINSLOW WEST and BERTHA E. HALL were as follows:
i. MALCOLM WEST
ii. FRANCES EMILY WEST was born on 24 Jul 1905 in Dennis. She appeared on the Tisbury census of April 1910 on the "Water Front," aged four, with her parents. She died on 10 Feb 1911 in Tisbury, aged five, of colitis, and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury.
iii. NOT NAMED WEST was born on 4 Mar 1916 in Tisbury. She died on 7 Mar 1916 in Tisbury of "premature birth" and is buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury.
608. HELEN M. "NELLIE" CLIFFORD (Emily 2 West, William 1 ) was born on 14 Aug 1849 in Tisbury. She married CAPT. EDWIN P. LITTLEFIELD, son of JAMES LITTLEFIELD and CHARLOTTE (--?--),on 16 Oct 1866 in Tisbury. I have no record of her after 8 Oct 1892.
She appeared on the Tisbury census of 1850, aged four months, with her parents, and on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged six, with her parents. Neither she nor her parents are listed in the 1860 Tisbury census, but she did appear with her mother on the census of July 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged 15, "pupil," in the home of her aunt Mary. Her 1866 marriage record calls her a Tisbury resident.
Helen appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1870, aged 20, "keeping house," with her husband, son, and mother. No Littlefields appear in the 1880 census of Tisbury, Cottage City, or Chilmark, but on 15 Sep 1881 she and her husband were called residents of Boston when they sold land at Holmes Hole Neck (adjacent to the land of her uncle Benjamin West and the harbor) to James Littlefield of Boston for $300. She bought land on 15 Sep 1881 Helen M. Clifford of Boston bought land at the Neck (adj. to beach, Joseph Dias, and late Benjamin West) for $300 from Calvin and Mary B. Austin of Boston "being the same premises as conveyed to myself [Calvin Austin] by Edward Dillingham" in deed 69/104. She bought land on 8 Oct 1892 in Tisbury, Helen M. Littlefield, of Tisbury, bought a lot with buildings at Holmes Hole neck (adjacent to the harbor and the property of her uncle Benjamin West) for $1 from James and Charlotte Littlefield of Boston.
I have no records of Helen after 1892, although there is a "Mrs.
S. J. Littlefield of 38 Fairfield, Boston," who is listed in the 1907
Vineyard Haven Directory on West Chop Road. Helen was not mentioned as a
surviving niece of her uncle Jeruel West in his August 1913 obituary.
Capt. Edwin P. Littlefield was born about 1845-6 in Bangor, ME. Edwin is referred to as "Edward" in some records, and this tendency is complicated by the fact that there was another "Edward Littlefield" living in Tisbury and Boston around the same time (besides his son, Edward) who seems to be a relative.
I have found no references to Edwin before his 1866 marriage record, which called him a mariner of Bangor, ME. The 1867 birth record of their first child calls him a Tisbury mariner. He appeared on the Holmes Hole census of 1870 as "E. P. Littlefield," aged 24, mariner, with his wife and son. (His real estate was valued then at $750.) The birth records of his second and third children in 1873 and 1878 also call him a Tisbury mariner. On 4 Feb 1879, "Edwin L. Littlefield" and his wife sold land in Holmes Hole Neck to Edward Littlefield of Tisbury for $300. In the October 1879 session of the Dukes County Superior Court, George W. Eldridge of Vineyard Haven recovered judgement against "Edwin L. Littlefield" of Vineyard Haven for $1119.14. Edwin's land in North Tisbury was subsequently appraised at $376 and seized Nov. 2, 1879.
On 1 Jul 1881, the Gazette reported that "Capt. Littlefield and wife, of the Neck, have arrived home from a voyage to the East Indies." (Was this our Edwin?)
I have no further record of Edwin. He is not listed in the 1897 Tisbury
directory, nor in the 1910 Tisbury census.
Children of HELEN M. CLIFFORD and CAPT. EDWIN P. LITTLEFIELD were as
follows:
i. JAMES MURRAY LITTLEFIELD was born on 30 Jul 1867 in Tisbury. Was he the James Littlefield of Boston (husband of Charlotte _____) who sold the lot at Holmes Hole neck for $1 to Helen M. Littlefield, of Tisbury?
ii. EDWARD P. LITTLEFIELD was born on 25 Mar 1873 in Tisbury. I have no further record of him.
iii. EMILY MAUD LITTLEFIELD was born on 19 Oct 1878 in Tisbury.
609. SARAH B. BUCKLEY (Mary 2 West, William 1 ) was born on 4 May 1857 in Holmes Hole. She married GEORGE AUGUSTUS MERRY, son of BENJAMIN MERRY and REBECCA ROBINSON, on 21 Oct 1885. She died on 12 May 1935 in Tisbury, aged 78, of arteriosclerosis, "at her home ...following an illness of several weeks," and was buried on 15 May 1935 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury.
Sarah's obituary states that she "had lived in the town of Tisbury for the greater part of her life… [and] obtained her education in the schools of Vineyard Haven. During her childhood, when she was orphaned by the death of both parents, she lived for various brief periods on the mainland. …As a resident of Vineyard Haven, she was a member of the Baptist Church, and at one time held membership in the American Legion Auxiliary. In general, her life was quiet and retired, being devoted to her family, her husband and two sons."
She appeared on the Holmes Hole census of July 1860, aged three, with her parents; on the census of 1865 in East Parish, Tisbury, aged eight, with her parents; and on the Holmes Hole census of 1870, aged 13, "attending school," with her parents.
Sarah moved to Attleboro after the death of her widowed mother in 1876, although the Gazette's "Vineyard Haven" column frequently reported her visits to her old home on the Neck. She returned to the Vineyard permanently after her marriage in October 1885.
She appeared on the census of May 1910 in Tisbury, aged 53, with her husband and sons, and was mentioned as a Vineyard Haven resident in August 1913. The 14 Oct 1920 issue of the Gazette reported that they were living at Mount Aldworth, Tisbury. She continued to take frequent trips off-island in her later life, and her grandniece Kathryn Stewart recalls that Sarah "ate her breakfast the night before" whenever she was to catch the 6:10 am ferry.
Sarah Merry died on 13 May 1935 in Tisbury and her death record called
her a "housewife."
George Augustus Merry was born on 10 Apr 1852 in Tisbury. His obituary notes that "Born in Vineyard Haven, he was the son of Benjamin and Rebecca Robinson Merry, and it was in the town of Tisbury that he received his education. While still in his twenties he went to California, where for eight years he was engaged in sheep ranching in the Yosemite Valley. Returning east, he entered the employ of the C. H. Robinson company in Boston, and remained there for twenty years. In 1905 he returned to Vineyard Haven to become a member of the Owen Farms staff, and had remained in the town of his birth ever since. …For some time before his first illness, he had been employed as caretaker of an estate, but since that time he had been unable to indulge in any activity. …Mr. Merry was a life member of the Barnacle Club. He was well known for his genial disposition and the homespun philosophy which enabled him to accept life with a smile, regardless of the misfortunes and trials that beset his path."
He appeared on the Tisbury census of 1855, aged three, with his parents, and on the Holmes Hole census of 1860, aged eight, with his parents. He is not listed in the 1870 Tisbury census. The 1886 birth record of his first child calls him a Boston, MA "clerk," and the 1889 birth record of his second child calls him a Somerville clerk. He was not listed in the 1897 Tisbury Directory, but he does appear in the 1907 Tisbury directory, living near the U. S. Marine Hospital, employed as a leather worker. He appeared on the Tisbury census of May 1910, aged 58, with his wife and sons, and was listed in the April 1915 Tisbury tax list as a 62-year-old laborer living at Company Place.
George died on 15 Oct 1936 at his home at Mount Aldworth, Tisbury, aged
84 of arteriosclerosis. (The Gazette noted that his death followed
"a lengthy period of ill health. He had suffered a stroke eight years
ago, from which he had never recovered, and suffered a second stroke a month
ago.") His death record called him a "furniture salesman + caretaker."
He was buried on 17 Oct 1936 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury.
Children of SARAH B. BUCKLEY and GEORGE AUGUSTUS MERRY were as follows:
i. AUGUSTUS BRADFORD MERRY was born on 29 Aug 1886 in Tisbury. Augustus was listed in the 1907 Tisbury directory as a "student," boarding at his father's house near the U. S. Marine Hospital. He appeared on the Tisbury census of May 1910, aged 23, with his parents, and was listed as a 29-year-old civil engineer living at Company Place in the April 1915 Tisbury tax list. By October 1920 he was married and living in Cleveland, OH. In October 1936 he was called a resident of Vineyard Haven, and in November 1949 of Philadelphia, PA. He was remembered as being a photographer, and his wife, _________, a librarian.
ii. GEORGE CARLETON "CARL" MERRY was born on 27 Aug 1889 in Vineyard Haven. He died on 24 Nov 1949 at Rocky Hill Veterans Hospital in Connecticut, aged 60, of "meloma of choroid / left eye, with metastasis to liver, lungs, and kidneys." He was buried on 28 Nov 1949 in Oak Grove Cemetery, Tisbury. He was unmarried.
Carl's obituary states that "Mr. Merry...spent his early years in Vineyard Haven. He served in France with the Army in World War I, seeing a good deal of active warfare. Upon his return, he was employed at the Delano poultry farm in Vineyard Haven, and by Capt. Henry Stevenson on the Eben A. Thatcher, for a considerable period both before and after the war. In recent years he had been with Stanley Tool Works in New Britain, Conn. …Mr. Merry belonged to the Tashmoo Tribe of Red Men and to the Gen. George W. Goethals Post, American Legion. …He never married."
Carl appeared on the Tisbury census of May 1910, aged 20, with his parents, and he was listed in the April 1915 Tisbury tax list as a "laborer" residing at Company Place. He was called a Vineyard Haven resident in October 1936.