Hearnes in the California Death Index

Found a great source for the California Death Index on line. Guess what? There's bunches of Hearnes in the index. I was already able to find a match to Hearne:

HEARNE, FRANCES WILD, FEMALE, b 08/14/1863, OHIO, d. 07/21/1940, ALAMEDA, mother's name AMES.

Frances Wild is found on page 247 of Hearne.

New format at the Hearne History site

I'm trying something new with the addition of new information from Betty Crockford on page 478 of Hearne's History.
For the first time, I've included content directly into the History.

Prior to this, I've always left Hearne's original text exactly as it was, putting all new content only in the Notes sections at the bottom of each page. The original thought was Hearne's text was priceless in its original form. Perhaps also was the question whether our facts were better than his. It seemed a little presumptive to just change his content.

After doing research over the years it's clear there are many errors and omissions in his text. More than once, now, I've been bitten by typos in the text, searching for names that aren't real because they aren't spelled correctly. Initially I struggled with even changing these spelling errors. Even though they were wrong, it felt like I was somehow altering a canonical work.

Yet, Hearne's book is not a bible, rather, it is a collection of facts and stories. His purpose was first to gather the family into one, then inspire the upcoming generations with evidence of a noble heritage. Neither of those purposes is lost by adding new information. Indeed, Hearne himself was constantly adding new information. He published a second edition of the book. He published and addendum with hundreds of new names. Had he not died, I suspect he would have produced another addendum in 10 years.

The question is not whether the corrections should be noted; that is already done via footnotes. They question is whether they should be corrected in-line, directly in the text. After consideration, I think it is a good way to go. The modern additions are clearly identified. The original pages are available for view any time. What's more, I think Hearne would have wanted it that way.

Here are some examples of changes, both the old and the new way:

• Pages done with old style, footnote only content are: page 109,page 664,page 54, and page 646.
  
• A page done the new way with in-line corrections is page 478.
  

Let me know what you think of doing it this way. Contact me via email, or leave a comment here.

Rachel Drewrey Hearne and Henry C. Irby

Betty Crockford, a descendant of Rachel Drewrey Hearne and Henry C. Irby has sent information about them, and their descendants. This and supporting documentation has been integrated into the original information on page 478 of Hearne's History.

Some other notes from Betty:

A note regarding Henry C. Irby whom Rachel Drewry Hearn married in 1855 (I have a copy of their license.) Just this week I found a notation that an H. C. Irby married a P. J. Reeves in 1878 in Hopkins County, TX. If validated would be the first reference past the 1870 Texas census. Other descendants of his second marriage have run into brick walls along with me. Also note I have never found any evidence that Henry served in the Civil War, although his first cousin, also called H. C. Irby, served as a Captain from Fayette Co., Tennessee. The two are frequently confused in various databases.

There has also been confusion concerning Sallie L. Irby Hopkins' death reported as 1929 in Harris Co., TX. I obtained the death certificate for that Sally Hopkins and it is not "my" Sallie who goes missing after 1880, Lamar Co., TX.

Henry and Rachel (Hearne) Irby

Found Henry and Rachel Irby in the 1860 Census:

H. C. Irby, 25, M, Constable, Tennessee;
Rachel Irby, 35, F, Tennessee;
Sallie Irby, 3, F, Tennessee;
U.S. Census, 1860 United States Federal Census, Tennessee, Wilson, District
10, page 114
NOTE: This page on the census has no family or dwelling numbers apparently
because they are all boarders at a hotel.

Breckinridge Tremaine

The oldest son of William C and Lillias (Kenney) Tremaine is Breckinridge Tremaine. Fascinating name because it's so unusual. Yet searches across records have found nothing about him.

There are a couple of records that are interesting and may be our Breckinridge Tremaine.

A search of the Internet turns up this interesting tidbit. The only Breckinridge Tremaine in any Internet search I can find is the following out-of-print book.

The Fourth Evil ~ See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil, Smell No Evil
by Tremaine, Breckinridge K., By Breckinridge K. Tremaine
Date Published: 1969 Description: VERY GOOD. USED Paperback ~ Very good copy. OCLC(OCoLC)ocm00081498 Bibliography: p. 143-145. Commissioning organisation: by Breckinridge K. Tremaine. viii, 146 p. illus. 22 cm

A search of death records turns up no Breckinridge. But the following record is interesting because the intials match the middle initial of the author above.

B K Tremaine died in Lee County, Florida, 4 Nov 1984, aged 79. He was born 25 May 1905.

I'm pretty certain that B K Tremaine of Lee, Florida is the author above. I just don't know if he is the Breckinrigde we're looking for.

There is also a Social Security Death Index record, which is the same as the death record above.

B TREMAINE
Birth Date: 25 May 1905
Death Date: Nov 1984
Social Security Number: 163-05-7488
State or Territory Where Number Was Issued: Pennsylvania
Death Residence Localities
ZIP Code: 33957
Localities: Sanibel, Lee, Florida

The birth date is close. Really close and useful. The other census records show our Breckinridges ages as:

• 1910: 4 (b. ca. 1906; census taken April 19, 1910)
• 1920: 14 (b. ca. 1906; census taken Jan 17, 1920)
• 1930: 24 (b. ca. 1906; census taken April 4, 1930)

In each of those, a May 1905 birth date would correctly have an age of 4, 14, and 14 in the respective year. I'm 95% sure it's the same person. I just need some way to confirm, either by birth place (Vermont), or relative's name.

8/20/2007 Found some more information on Breckinridge:
PATENT: Breckinridge Kenney Tremaine of Wilmington, Delware was granted US 2,462,341 "Cleaning Composition for Rust Stained Lacquered Surfaces" on 22 Feb 1949. This patent tells us his location on September 24, 1946. He was working for DuPont, who is the assignee of the patent.
http://www.google.com/patents?id=1SRsAAAAEBAJ

PATENT: "ELIMINATION OF MALODORS FROM PULPING LIGNO-CELLULOSIC MATERIAL" granted in Canada Patent 554699 to Walter C. Meuly and Breckenridge K. Tremaine, Assignee: Rhodia, Inc. Issued Mar 18, 1958

MARRIAGE: 27 June 1935 "Married - Brickinbridge Kenney Tremaine, son of W. C. Tremaine to Lucile Frances Barbara Kaulbach, daughter of V. E. R. Kaulbach" Recorded in the St. Thomas Journal, St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada http://www.elginogs.ca/newsindexes/timesjournal/sttj1935aprthrujune.htm

An email from an old acquaintance:
"known as kenny tremaine was the industrial technical director of rhodia aromatics division in parsippany, nj some google searches feature his name at times. he later became a salesman for them. he may have had a chemistry backround and did write that book. i believe he lived in nj and did later move to fla. his wife was still alive about 16 yrs. ago... kenny worked for dupont and dupont acqured the rhodia division and later sold it back to rhone poulenc of france. kenny was a personal friend of my uncle. no need to cite me. thanks! i believe his wife's name may have been hanna?"

Senator Richard Rolland Kenney (Senator)

Finding the Tremaine children led me back to their Grandfather, Richard Rolland Kenney. I knew he was a Senator from Delaware based on reading Hearne History 185-187. What I didn't realize was how much information on the web would be available based on this, as well as images.

Senator Kenney has his own Wikipedia article, except it doesn't mention anything about his family. I think I'll add a few facts to Wikipedia. He's in the official list of Senators from Delaware, Political Graveyard, and a Congressional Biographical site.

There's lot's more information out there on this family.

Here is the family in the 1900 census. His first wife, Harriet (Pennewill) is still living. She died in 1907.

Family 82
Richard R. Kenney, head, W, M, Sept, 1856, 43, Md, 18, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware, U.S. Senator;
Harriett Kenney, wife, W, F, Sept 1860, 39, Md, 18, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Lillias B. Kenney, dau, W, F, Aug 1882, 17, sgl, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Caleb S. Kenney, son, W, M, Oct 1888, 11, sgl, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1900 Delaware Kent Dover Dist 69 pg 7

Here is the family in the 1910 census. Richard has now married Marianita Walker, who was a childhood friend of Harriet.

Family 70, 204 N State Street
Richard R. Kenney, head, M, W, 53, Marriage 2, 2 years, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware, Lawyer, General practice;
Margerita W. Kenney, F, W, 50, Marriage 1, 2 years, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Caleb Kenney, son, M, W, 21, sgl, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1910 Delaware Kent Dover page 148 sheet 3

So far, I can't find the family in the 1920 census. The 1930 census is shown in the previous blog post "William and Lillias (Kenney) Tremaine".

At a wonderful site called www.findagrave.com I found more accurate birth, death, and name spelling information.

Richard Rolland Kenney
Birth: Sep. 9, 1856
Death: Aug. 14, 1931
US Senator. Served as a United States Senator from Delaware from 1895 to 1901.
Burial:
Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery
Dover
Kent County
Delaware, USA
Record added: Apr 19 2003

Harriet C. Pennewill Kenney
Birth: Sep. 17, 1860
Death: Feb. 10, 1907
Inscription: Wife of Richard Kenney
Burial:
Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery
Dover
Kent County
Delaware, USA
Record added: Oct 9 2005
By: Russ Pickett

Marianita Walker Kenney
Birth: Jun. 12, 1859
Death: Jan. 28, 1946
Inscription: Wife of Richard Rolland Kenney.
Burial:
Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery
Dover
Kent County
Delaware, USA
Record added: Oct 9 2005
By: Russ Pickett

Plus I found a surprise. Next to Richard and his first wife is the grave of a child, Richard Rolland Kenney [Jr.] I knew there was another child because the 1900 census says Harriet had two children, but only two were living. This is clearly the third child.

Richard Rolland Kenney [Jr]
Birth: Dec. 23, 1883
Death: May 30, 1895
Inscription: Son of Harriet & Richard Kenney.
Burial:
Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery
Dover
Kent County
Delaware, USA
Record added: Oct 9 2005
By: Russ Pickett

Richard [Jr's] birth makes the birth year of Lillias clear. Hearne says Lillias was born Aug 28, 1883. But from the grave stone, Richard Jr.'s birth is Dec 23, 1883. That's too close. Gravestones are a pretty good source. The 1900 census also lists the birth year as Aug 1882. That is consistent with Richard's birth, and the parents' wedding date of Dec 21, 1881. I conclude the birth is correctly Aug 28, 1882.

William and Lillias (Kenney) Tremaine

I've been going nuts trying to find William Sremain, who married Lillias Kenney (Hearne History page 187). The name didn't show up anywhere in any census. A little luck and the the unusual name of the son, Breckinridge, led me to them living in New York in 1920. Sremain is a typo; the real name of the family is Tremaine. There are other identifying aspects of this family. William was stationed at Fort Ethan Allen near Burlington Vermont. The census shows that Richard was born in Vermont.

Family 558, West 143rd Street.
William Tremaine, head, M, W, 54, Md, Wisconsin, New York, Wisconsin;
Lillias Tremaine, wife, F, W, 34, Md, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Breckinridge Tremaine, son, M, W, 14, sgl, Delaware, Wisconsin, Delaware;
Richard R. Tremaine, son, M, W, 11, sgl, Vermont, Wisconsin, Delaware;
Lavinia Johnson, servant F, W, 24, sgl, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1920, New York, New York, Manhattan, Assembly District 21, District 1428, pg 45.

Ha! If I'd paid attention I would have noticed that Hearne corrected the name in the 1912 Addendum to his book on page 766. I guess it shows my logic was correct. "Page 187. On March 3, 1908, Richard Rolland Kenney, married Miss Marionetta Walker, who was a girl friend of his first wife, and of same age, also Sremain, should be Tremain."

I also found Breckinridge and Richard in the 1930 census, but they are living with their grandparents, Senator Richard Rolland Kenney and Marianita (Walker) Kenney. Wow! Look at the size of that stately house. Twice as big as the next biggest house on the block!

Family 91, 11 North State
Richard R. Kenney, head, house $30000, M, W, 72, Md 24, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware, employment none, veteran WW(I)
Margeta W. Kenny, wife, F, W, 70, Md 12, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Richard Tremaine, grandson, M, W, 27, sgl, Delaware, Wisconsin, Delaware, utility man, oil;
Breckenridge Tremaine, grandson, M, W, 24, sgl, Vermont, Wisconsin, Delaware, utility man, powder;
Census 1930 Delaware Kent Dover City Ward 3 Pg 59

William and Lillias seem absent in the 1930 census. Why? Perhaps both of them died between 1920 and 1930, or perhaps the children lived with grandparents during the depression.

Mystery Hearns living near Samuel Kenney

In the 1880 census, there are two Hearn families living near Samuel Kenney, father of Samuel L. Kenney.

I've gone over the information in Hearne's book, and I can't place them. Do you know who they are?

Family 684
Wm S Hearn, W, M, 46, Carpenter, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Julia Hearn, W, F, 45, wife, at home, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Nancy Y Hearn, W, F, 19, dau, at home, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Rosa Hearn, W, F, 17, day, at home, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;

Family 685
T Hearn, W, M, 43, Farming, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Annie Hearn, W, F, 17, Keeping house, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
E G Hearn, W, M, 10, Farming, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1880, Delaware, Sussex, Little Creek District 54

Samuel L. Kenney and wife Alda E (Moore)

Samuel L. Kenney is mentioned several times in Hearne's book, pages 183, 187, and 276.

He and his wife, Alda are found in several censuses.

First as a child with his parents in 1880:
Family 677
S Kenney, W, M, 47, Farming, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Hettie Kenney, W, F, 44, wife, Keeping house, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Samuel L Kenney, W, M, 22, son, Farminig, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Solomon S. Kenney, W, M, 20, son, Farming, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Sidney Kenney, W, M, 18, son, Farming, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Rose Kenney, B, F, 17, Servent, Servent, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Laura Kenney, B, F, 6, , Servent, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1880, Delaware, Sussex, Little Creek District 54, page 68

Then, with wife Alda, and child Paul in 1900:
Family 660
Samuel L. Kenney, head, M, W, Oct 1858, 41, Md, 15 yr, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Alda E. Kenney, wife, W, F, Aug 1859, 40, Md, 15, 3 children, 1 living, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Paul R. Kenny, son, W, M, Oct, 1885, 14 Sgl, Delaware, Delaware, Delware;
1900 Census Delaware, Sussex, Laurel, District 84

Again in 1920 (looks like Paul is still at home):
Family 189
Samuel L Kenney, head, M, W, 61, Md, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Alda Kenney, wife, F, W, 60, Md, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Paul Kenny, son, M, W, 33, Sgl, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1920, Delaware, Sussex, Laurel District 191,

Finally as empty nesters in 1930:
Family 505
Samuel L. Kenney, head, M, W, 71, Md 25, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Alda E. Kenney, wife, F, W, 69, Md 23, Delaware, Delaware, Delaware;
Census 1930, Delaware, Sussex, Laurel 19