Family history
for John S. Tomlinson c1823-1888
We know through many Philadelphia Area Quaker records that John and Catherine
Gaulbert Tomlinson’s family included a John Tomlinson. The Quaker records thus
far have not revealed birth dates for the 11 children, these being inferred from
Census declarations, death certificates or other means. Several Quaker meeting
records[1] of
1833 list the first five children (in order) as being John, George, Susana,
Jesse and Reuben, so presumably born between 1823 and 1833. John is listed first
in these records, so likely the first born.
Thus it is assumed that the son John above is the person in
the Delaware death record of October 8, 1888 listing John and Catherine of
Philadelphia as parents and age 65, this born in 1823. The certificate lists
John as a native of Radnor County which ties to several Quaker meeting records.
Additional family information is contained in The Morning
News published in Wilmington, Delaware[2].
The obituary of Oct 10, 1888 gives some history for John S. this is the first
time the S. is in the name of which it is not known what the S is for. The
obituary lists locales where John lived, such as Pottstown, Harrisburg and
Scranton, all in Pennsylvania. John’s occupation is described as newspaperman and publisher
of the Pottstown Republican. His politics were likely progressive since a
“prominent labor reformer’ and ‘associated with papers of that party in
Schuylkill County”. He also reported sessions of the Pennsylvania legislature
for the Scranton (State Capital) papers.
Some family connections are mentioned in the obituary as John
is survived by one son and two daughters, with one daughter a resident of
Pottstown and the other a schoolteacher in West Conshokocken. Thus his wife and
any other children could have predeceased him. These clues helped locate the
family in earlier Census records.
CENSUS RECORDS
The 1860 Census for Wilmington, Delaware has one family that
may be helpful,[3]
containing this family. On its own, it is not sufficient evidence, but when
taken into account with further items, it could be John S. Note the declared
ages puts birth year at 1825, not 1823. Occupation is ‘Co worker’, which may
mean colliery worker and is a long way from Newspaperman in the obituary. John
is born in Pennsylvania, Mary Jane in Delaware and the children vary between
the two.
Name
|
Age
|
John
Tomlinson
|
35
|
Mary
Jane Tomlinson
|
35
|
Elizabeth
Tomlinson
|
14
|
George
Tomlinson
|
12
|
John
Tomlinson
|
5
|
Mary
Jane Tomlinson
|
2
|
Ancestry provides 8 Census records for 1870 in Pennsylvania,
none in Delaware for John Tomlinson. Several do not match with John’s age. Only
one has similarities to the 1860 family.[4]
Name
|
Age
|
John
Tomlinson
|
46
|
Mary
Tomlinson
|
48
|
John
Tomlinson
|
15
|
Marcy
Tomlinson
|
12
|
Ella Tomlinson
|
10
|
In 1870, John is described as a Clerk at the colliery, is
this a promotion or was he always in an office capacity? The ages for young
John and Marcy (Mary?) match 1860 ages and there is a new child born in
Delaware in 1860. Note the residence is in Schuylkill, Pa., which is referenced
in the obituary. The work in the colliery could have motivated this John to be
involved in the worker’s rights movement.
In 1880, there are two Census records to examine. One[5] is
for Mary Jane and two children in Pottstown, Pa. and one[6]
for John in Scranton. The Pottstown Census has:
Name
|
Age
|
55
|
|
22
|
|
19
|
|
John is age 56, occupation as Editor, but curiously shown as
single, boarding in the A.A. Chase residence who is a lawyer. The second
boarder is a Frank Kreslir, a printer.
The 1890 Census does not exist in most part, and by 1900, he
had died.
WHO WAS JOHN S. TOMLINSON?
Based on above records, he was born into a Quaker family,
received some level of education to be employed in the coal industry in
Pennsylvania and Delaware while in his mid 30’s as a clerk, married in his 20’s
and moved around between the two states. But sometime in the 1870’s his
interest in politics and public speaking on labour and industrial issues came
to the forebear. There are several newspaper articles of this transitional
period describing John as a primary supporter of the National Party, independent
of the Republican or Democratic Parties. He was a delegate and often quoted in
local papers. Also in this period he was one of the founders of the Pottstown
Republican newspaper, as a supporter of progressive social issues. The paper
folded in 1877[7]
and he moved on the Scranton, the State Capital and wrote for the Scranton
Times, becoming its editor after 1880. In 1887, he was reported in ill health
and retired to Wilmington to live with his ‘son-in-law’.
In addition to his obituary, a Philadelphia writer published[8] a
long history of John upon hearing of his death. The write recounts much of the
summary above, and adds detail history of John as an active abolitionist and participated
in the Underground Railroad. He is even described as a major ‘conductor for
this railroad, assisting many escaping slaves from their plight. Much of his
strong and ethical character is described in the article attached at the end of
this biography.
JOHN’S FAMILY
The marriage record for John has not been found, but the names
of his wife and himself is recorded on the death certificate of his children.
Ella D. Tomlinson (born 16 July 1861) died in Wilmington on 5 Feb 1915 listing
her parents as Mary J. Magee (born Delaware) and John Tomlinson (born Pa.).
Ella was single and Occupation as clerk in the Post Office.
May Jane (daughter) born 1858, is listed as a school teach in
the Pottstown 1880 Census. In 1900, she is listed as a boarder in Philadelphia,
10th ward and a school teacher. Similarly in 1910 listed as a
teacher, but in ‘domestic service’ likely as a private tutor. Mary has moved to
Cleveland, 26th ward in Ohio.
Ohio death index lists Mary J. Died on 4 Feb 1920. Mary J. Was single.
The 1888 obituary for John S. mentioned three surviving
children, a boy and two girls, likely Ella and Mary Jane, the school teacher.
The male was assumedly John (Jr.) since a 1914 Philadelphia death certificate
lists his parents as John and Mary J. Tragically, his death was due to ‘gas
poisoning, suicide while temp (sic) deranged”. His dates were born 13 May 1856,
died 20 October 1914. The certificate lists John as married.
Other than the Census information, no other records have been
located for John and Mary Jane’s other two children, being Elizabeth and
George. An 1887 newspaper announcement[9]
states that John S. has retired to Wilmington to live with his son-in-law,
presumably Elizabeth’s spouse, but no name. John’s 1888 obituary leaves out
George and Elizabeth as surviving offspring.
What of the wife of John S? There
are several references to her name being Mary Jane. Only the death certificate
of their daughter Ella lists her maiden name as Magee from Delaware. There is a
history[10]
of Magee in Delaware and Pennsylvania (Irish variation: McGee) but does not
include an origin for Mary Jane. Thus far (Sep 2017) no record of her birth,
marriage, or death has been found. A contributor to Find-a-grave has created a
memorial[11]
for Mary Jane based on a Will and Probate Index for Mary Jane Tomlinson[12].
Being that her residence at death on 10 March 1885 is Conshohocken, Pa. Where
her daughter taught school, this is likely Mary Magee.
CEMETERY RECORDS
Mary Jane Magee Tomlinson’s grave is in Montgomery Cemetery
West Norriton, Montgomery County, Pa. Her plot is Lot Q-64 as is for her
daughters, Ella and Mary Jane.[13]
George and Elizabeth’s graves have yet to be found.
John S. Tomlinson has a grave recorded in Riverview Cemetery[14]
in Wilmington, Delaware, as noted on his death certificate. Question: why not
buried with his family? Was he estranged from them as hinted in the 1880 Census
where he is noted as single?
This biography updated Sep 7, 2017.
[1]
Swarthmore College; Swarthmore, Pennsylvania; Minutes, 1827-1851; Collection:
Philadelphia Yearly Meeting Minutes; Call Number: MR-Ph 539
[3]
Year: 1860; Census Place: Wilmington Ward 2, New Castle, Delaware; Roll:
M653_98; Page: 785; Family History Library Film: 803098
[4]
Year: 1870; Census Place: Reilly, Schuylkill, Pennsylvania; Roll: M593_1448;
Page: 404B; Family History Library Film: 552947
[5]
Year: 1880; Census Place: Pottstown, Montgomery, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1160;
Family History Film: 1255160; Page: 524B; Enumeration District: 053
[6]
Year: 1880; Census Place: Scranton, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; Roll: 1139;
Family History Film: 1255139; Page: 486D; Enumeration District: 076
[7] Reading Times
(Reading, Pennsylvania) · Fri, Aug 31, 1877 · Page 4
[8] Harrisburg Telegraph
(Harrisburg, Pennsylvania) · Tue, Oct 9, 1888 · Page 1
[9] Evening Gazette
(Pittston, Pennsylvania) · Tue, Sep 27, 1887 · Page 4
[10] http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~smcgee/genealogy.texts/mcgee_origins.html
[11] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=166613189
[12]
Index to Administrations, 1784-1941; Author: Montgomery County (Pennsylvania).
Register of Wills; Probate Place: Montgomery, Pennsylvania
[13] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSvcid=750521&GRid=166613197&
[14] https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=172150604&justMadeEdit=1
