The DeBaufre Origins in America

America’s DeBaufre family 

This article on the DeBaufre Family is to recognize my second great-grandmother, Harriet DeBaufre Sower.

In the early 19^th Century, the DeBaufre surname is found in Maryland and Pennsylvania. To this day, many DeBaufre names are common in the Baltimore area relative to the population. The general assumption in this blog is that the Baltimore DeBaufre descendants originated with the French Huguenots who emigrated to England in the late 1600’s.  As Huguenots were Protestant, the DeBaufre baptism and marriage records are registered in Church of England parishes. Due the lack of corroborating vital records to link America's DeBaufre to the English family, I have relied on references in birth records for the second generation of siblings born between 1818 and 1837.

England DeBaufre References

The British History Online website[1] explains that many French Protestants settled in London’s West End in the later 17^th Century. Among these were a family of skilled French clock makers, named de Beaufre (DeBaufre). There is a reference for Peter (Pierre) DeBaufre (1675 Paris - 1730 London)[2] being admitted into the Clockmaker’s Company in 1689 and receiving a patent with his son, Jacob DeBaufre[3] for the application of jewels to the pivot holes of watches and clocks in 1704.

The Ancestry.com on-line database: "England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975", has several records for baptisms for Jacob and Mary DeBaufre, one being another Peter, on July 3, 1711. There is a James DeBaufre, Jacob’s brother, of Church Street, Soho, who was admitted to the Clockmakers Company in 1712 and carried on the business until 1750. Another James, son of a Richard was indentured as an apprentice to a clockmaker in 1765.  Further research may result in linking all the DeBaufre names and dates into a reliable tree. 

There is a James Debaufre and Ann Wood Marriage Banns in Martin in the Fields, Middlesex for May 1, 1776 in the presence of James and Mary Wood, assumed parents of the bride. This couple were likely born about 1752-1755, thus unlikely to be parents of the first Baltimore sibling group explained below. If related, this couple could reasonably be grandparents. It is possible that the James who was married to Ann is the individual in the 1797 Philadelphia immigration record or the son of this couple. Another marriage bond was made between James Debaufre, widower and Elizabeth Hunt, spinster, July 7, 1794 in Parish of Saint George, Surrey, Southwark, England. Is this the same James who earlier married Ann Wood? Were there children with Ann? If the same or another James, did he emigrate to Pennsylvania in 1797? 

There are many on-line trees and databases with partial relationships. For example, the Genealogieonline.com site links Jacob (17?-1761) his son Peter (1711-?) to James (1770-?) who immigrated to Philadelphia and married Elizabeth Hunt. This seems too convenient and without adequate facts. Peter would have been 59 years old to have James as a son. There could reasonably be another generation between these two individuals or even another family line. Some Ancestry trees show James and Elizabeth as parents of the second  generation siblings detailed below but this assumption doesn’t match with other facts. There are also references (1780’s) to a Joseph and Richard Debaufre, connected to the Hospital for Poor French Protestants in London.[4] These two individuals are not yet genealogically connected to the watchmakers, although one book footnoted states they are descended from them. Note that Richard is the father in the indenture for apprentice above. There is also a Mr. Debaufre, Solicitor often mentioned in the press of the day.[5]

First Generation of DeBaufre in the United States

The first evidence of the surname in America are two 1797 records for immigration and naturalization for James DeBaufre in the city of Philadelphia. It could be the same James DeBaufre who is listed as Assignee in several War Bounty land grants[6], 1798-1800 from the War Department for veterans from the “last war”, assumed to be the 1775-1783 War of independence. The veterans James was representing are from the ‘Maryland Line’. Perhaps James was a notary or lawyer representing the veterans. Perhaps he was the same solicitor mentioned in the London newspapers during the 1780’s. 

James may have arrived in 1797 in Philadelphia with a young family, as there is another James DeBaufre born about 1797 who is thought to be the father of a group of  6 children for which there are more complete records. The James that arrived in Philadelphia in 1797 may have been the same who married Elizabeth Hunt in England in 1794.Thus James and Elizabeth may have been the first arrivals with children. Some of these may have been older as from an earlier marriage between James and Ann Wood, since James was a widower when he married Elizabeth, who was a spinster. Census and baptismal records from Philadelphia prior to 1840 suggest that there could have been at least 3 children with James and Elizabeth. 

The three are: James (b. 1797), William (b. ?) and Ann b. about 1795. William married Maria Sullender who died in 1844.[7] William is mentioned in several Philadelphia papers during the 1830 to 1850 period in a hotel business with Brook Watson Sower (Sr) [8]. He as also involved with a rowing club, railroad and restaurant. That William’s niece, Harriet DeBaufre, married Brook Watson Sower Jr. could be coincidence or further circumstantial evidence linking the two generations. William’s death date is unknown. Ann married William Chemenver in Philadelphia 8 Jan 1823.[9] Both these couples likely spent most of their lives in Philadelphia, although no other records have been found for Ann and her husband. 

James is assumed to be the father of the second Baltimore generation. Some genealogies show his birth as 24 Mar 1797 in Middlesex, England and the James death reported in the Baltimore Sun (Index) for 6 Nov 1837 could be for him as well. James could have been the carriage maker described in the an 1828 parade as part of the history of Baltimore coach and railroad history. His wife Ann was reported in the newspapers as a prominent contributor to many public causes. Her death was in 1854.

Second DeBaufre Generation in Baltimore

The records for this second 19^th C. generation of DeBaufre siblings provide the best clues as to their parents. Although the parental generation are shown in several public family trees, very little evidence is available to prove the proposed connections. Sometimes an Ann Wood is described as the mother, sometimes just Ann and on other trees Elizabeth Hunt. This group of siblings were born between 1818 and 1837, so it is doubtful that the Ann Wood from the 1770 England marriage is the mother. However, five of the possible six siblings list James DeBaufre and Ann ______ as parents on Baptismal records.  Record details of the six siblings are related below. It is noteworthy that Harriet (now Sower), James M., Anne, and William H. are listed together in a Baltimore 1847 court case over a suit for real estate from a trustee sale.[10] This generation includes:

      Harriet Elvina, b. 1818 d. 1895; Baptismal record[11] has James and Ann as parents; the 1880 Census shows father from France, mother from Ireland[12]. Harriet married Brook Watson Sower Jr. 21 Dec 1837 and had two girls, Virginia and Emma. Harriet died in Atlantic City 28 Oct 1895. There is a family held ceremony book listing her as a guest at the 1894 Minneapolis marriage of her grandson William Tomlinson. Her daughter Emma has many descendants in Canada and the U.S.A., including the author of this blog site.

       James M. b. 1821 d. 1850; Baptismal at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church[13]; parents James and Ann. James died in New York, presumably on business or at school and unmarried. James’ obituary[14] describes him as a “young man, in the full bloom of manhood, 30^th year of age.... leaving an ageing mother, one brother and three sisters”. This description fits with the rest of the sibling group. 

       William H. b. 1823 d. 1894? Baptismal at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church[15]; (same day as James) parents James and Ann. the 1880 Census shows father from France, mother from Ireland. William married Sarah Ann Lee (when?) and had eight children. Many of his descendents live in the Baltimore area presently, some of whom have corresponded on family history.

    

      Anna Maria b. 1825 d.?; Baptismal at Christ Church Parish[16]; parents James and Ann; no later Census. Anna married Charles Robinson Jackson and had one girl, Ella. Anna and her husband are not found in later records and descendents are unknown. There is a record of burial for Charles and Ella in Ohio, but not for Anna. 

Mary Matilda b. 1830 d. 1837; Baptismal at Christ Church Parish[17]; parents as James and Ann. The Index to deaths in the Baltimore Sun 1837-1850[18] has the death of a Mary M . Debaufre, dau. of James on 27 Feb 1837. With only one Debaufre family established in Baltimore with a father James, this could well be a sibling. 

Emma b. 1834 d. 1882; no Baptismal record; the 1880 Census shows father from England, mother from Ireland. Emma married Dowling Thomas Lumley, an engineer and after the Civil War moved to Georgia and North Carolina for reconstruction projects. Many descendants now in the South, some who have also corresponded on this current genealogy.

 Correspondence with several descendants has produced some unique historical family held photos. These are shown here: left to right, Harriet, Emma and Anna

---

[1] https://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/middx/vol2/pp158-165

[2] Watchmakers and Clockmakers of the World", by G.H. Baillie vol. I, Edinburgh/London, 1947,

[3] Proceedings of the Huguenot Society of Great Britain & Ireland, Volume 26, Issues 1-4; Huguenot Society of Great Britain and Ireland, The Society, 1997

[4] The Charter and By-laws of the Corporation of the Governor and Directors of the Hospital for Poor French Protestants and    Their Descendants Residing in Great Britain

[5] The Public Advertiser (London, Greater London, England) · Wed, Jul 7, 1790 · Page 1

[6] Ancestry.com. U.S. War Bounty Land Warrants, 1789-1858 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2007.

[7] Newspapers.com - Public Ledger - 31 Dec 1844 - Page 2

[8] Public Ledger, 24 Jan 1850, Thu, Page 4 

[9] Historical Society of Pennsylvania; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Collection Name: Historic Pennsylvania Church and Town Records; Reel: 240

[10] The Baltimore Sun (Baltimore, Maryland) · Sat, Jun 19, 1847 · Page 3

[11] Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911; 20 Feb 1820

[12] Year: 1880; Census Place: Baltimore, Baltimore (Independent City), Maryland; Roll: 504; Family History Film: 1254504; Page: 590C; Enumeration District: 178; Image: 0201

[13] Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911; 28 Nov 1824

[14]

[15] Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911; 28 Nov 1824

[16] Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911; 4 Jan 1829

[17] Maryland, Births and Christenings Index, 1662-1911; 26 Apr 1831

[18] Index to Marriages and Deaths in the Baltimore Sun, 1837-1850

 

The Parents of the Tomlinson Focus Generation: John and Catherine Tomlinson

The Parents of the Tomlinson Focus Generation: John and Catherine Tomlinson

John Tomlinson 

Corroborated vital documents for John are scarce. Circumstantial evidence indicates a birth in 1797, marriage prior to 1824, and death in 1859. No birth or marriage record has been located. There is an obituary dated 31 January 1859[1].  John was likely a Quaker, certainly Catherine his wife was a practicing Quaker as documented in many records.

Shown is a cropped photo from a metallic plate as described to me by his granddaughter, Margaret Tomlinson, as John Tomlinson lying in state. 

John was a common name for Pennsylvania Tomlinsons, whether or not Quakers. A John thought to be the person of interest here, comes up in many Quaker records but always described as the husband of Catherine, as if she was the devout Quaker and his role in the faith was questionable. Quaker minutes[2] and indexes for the Radnor, PA meeting house for 1833 and subsequent years refer to John only as "the husband of Catherine". However a letter[3] dated 3 August 1849, from the Radnor Monthly meeting of Friends introduces Catherine and John to the Philadelphia Meeting. However, John was not listed in the family group in the 1860 Census[4], nor is the family group found in the 1850 Census. The 1870 Census refers to Catherine as a widow.[6]

John is presumed  deceased by 1860, and there are 3 John Tomlinson deaths recorded in 1858 and 1859. A Find-a-Grave member has added a Memorial[5], based on the 1859 obituary. There is some corroborating evidence that it is the right John. An 1850 Philadelphia Quaker meeting record lists Catherine with Reuben and Jesse (sons) at corner of 15^th and Barclay Street. The obituary for John Tomlinson who died on 27 Jan 1859, age 63 years, also states his late residence as “corner of 15^th and Barclay”. 

So was John a seaman, hence not available for Quaker meetings, as he was not recorded in minutes reviewed so far? Nor was he in residence on Barclay Street in the 1850 listing with Catherine, Reuben and Jesse. There is a Seaman’s Oath for service[7] taken by a John Tomlinson 7 May 1818 at 21 years of age and witnessed by his brother Jesse. There is also an earlier oath taken in 1815. He is described as 5’7” tall, dark hair, hazel eyes, stout nose, round chin, smooth face and dark complexion. The document states that John was born in the County of Chester, which included the township of Radnor, or did up to 1789, when Delaware County was split from Chester.[8] That Jesse’s name as a brother is interesting. The name Jesse also appears on the 1843 Quaker marriage record explained below.

Thus Jumping ahead to 1877, there is a Quaker death notice[9] for Lydia Tomlinson in Minneapolis, age 78. She was buried adjacent to William and Reuben Tomlinson, known to be sons of Catherine and John Tomlinson. The plots were purchased by William’s widow, Emma Sower Tomlinson Secombe when he died in 1873. Lydia’s obituary states that she was a sister of the late Eliza T. (Tomlinson) Wayne. The Quaker Philadelphia (Cherry Street) marriage record[10] of Eliza Tomlinson to William Wayne 6 March 1834 states Eliza as the daughter of John and Lydia Tomlinson, ‘both deceased’. In attendance at the wedding were Jesse and Lydia Tomlinson presumed siblings of Eliza, and perhaps siblings of John who did not attend. 

Origins of John Tomlinson

Presume there is a sibling group of John, Eliza, Lydia and Jesse. There may be more siblings, but not yet found. Their parents could have been John and Lydia Bailey as recorded in Eliza’s marriage record of 1834, but predeceased her. There is a marriage record out of unity where a Lydia Baily is disowned 2 October 1784[11], but no confirmation as married to whom. There is also a Lydia Tomlinson, “wife of John” whose death is recorded as 7 November 1807[12].  The extensive obituary for Harry Ashton Tomlinson, a grandson of John and Catherine Tomlinson, states that he was descended from Irish Quakers who landed in Lewes, Delaware about 1759 and later located to Philadelphia[13]. In fact large numbers of Quakers from Ireland emigrated to Pennsylvania and New Jersey in the late 17^th and early 18^th Centuries. The author of this blog tested Y-111 DNA and was matched with several others who have recorded descent from Irish Quakers. However, direct ties to their trees have not been substantiated.

Catherine Tomlinson's history will be described in another blog posting.

---

[1] Press (Philadelphia, PA). Monday, January 31, 1859. Page 4]

[2] Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1827-1851; Collection: Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 539

[3] Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Record of Certificates; Collection: Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: RG2/Ph/R31 3.5

[4] Year: 1860; Census Place: Philadelphia Ward 1 Precincts 6, 7, and 9, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Roll: M653_1151; Page: 604; Image: 610; Family History Library Film: 805151

[5] https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/172149538

[6] Year: 1870; Census Place: Minneapolis Ward 3, Hennepin, Minnesota; Roll: T132_5; Page: 484; Image: 569; Family History Library Film: 830425

[7] National Archives and Records Administration; Washington, D.C.; Proofs of Citizenship Used to Apply for Seamen's Certificates for the Port of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 1792-1881, Publ. Ancestry.com

[8] Wikipedia, County history, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chester_County,_Pennsylvania

[9] Quaker Periodicals, Haverford College; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; The Journal; Volumes: 1877 Jan - 1881 Jan (Vol 5 - 8)

[10] Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Certificates of Marriage, 1828; Collection: Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: MR Ph:366

[11] U.S., Hinshaw Index to Selected Quaker Records, 1680-1940

[12] Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Certificate of Removal, 1681-1758; Collection: Quaker Meeting Records; Call Number: MR Ph:396

[13] Library of Congress. Pioneering the Upper Midwest: Books from Michigan, Minnesota, and Wisconsin, ca. 1820-1910. [database on-line] Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress, 1999. Shutter, Marion Daniel. Progressive Men of Minnesota. Minneapolis, MN: Minneapolis Journal, 1897.