Week 12 of the 52 Ancestors Challenge is "Misfortune".

Here is an interesting story I found while searching for my ancestor, Joseph Leavitt, in the Maine newspapers. While this record may refer to my 4th great-grandfather, I believe that, considering the severity of the wounds mentioned in the article, it was instead his uncle, who was a blacksmith in neighboring Milburn (Skowhegan).

​It's 10 pm on a January night in 1834, and Mr Joseph Leavitt of Athens, Maine is walking home with a LIVE raccoon in hand. It gets away and he gives chase into the bushes, where he has the misfortune of being shot by someone on the other side looking for fox!

I found no other newspaper article to follow up on this "shocking occurrence", and the dreadful injuries he received. I did find, however, that Eliza Ann, the widow of Joseph Leavitt, sold her right of dower on his Milburn property on 3 May 1834 [Somerset County Deeds, v.18 p.247], so it seems likely that he did not recover from these wounds.

My 2nd Great-Grandmother was born HANNAH B STEWARD, the daughter of Thomas and Catharine (Young) Steward, on 19 Feb 1872 [adoption papers; age at death calculates to a birth of 2/27] in Skowhegan or Solon, Maine. She was the sixth of seven children born to Thomas and Kate, and the family was living in Athens, Maine when their mother died on 13 July 1875. Unable to care for all of his children, Thomas gave Hannah up for adoption. Luther and Lovisa Rowell of Solon petitioned the Somerset County court on 23 Oct 1875, with Thomas Steward signing over his rights. ​Hannah's name was subsequently changed to ALBERTA ANN ROWELL (she was listed as Annie A on the 1880 census).

The 1880 census for Solon, Maine (pg 20) shows the former Hannah Steward, now Alberta A (or Annie A) Rowell, with adoptive parents.

An image from the 1900 census for Norridgewock, Somerset, Maine (pg 9A), showing the family of Charles and Alberta Leavitt (the children number is wrong, as they had another son, Irving, who died young).

Sadly, similar to what happened to Hannah/Alberta, the widowed Charles Leavitt couldn't care for his family, and left young daughter Gladys in the care of others, including her grandfather, Joseph Leavitt of Solon. In 1907, she would be adopted by Amos and Katie Clarke, and took their surname. 

​See also:
Thomas Steward and Family

JOSEPH GRAY is said to be my 5th Great-Grandfather, the father of Elmira (aka Elmyra, Almyra) Gray, who was married to Joseph Leavitt. This information was passed down to me many decades ago, and I am still looking for the original sources of this. That Elmira was a Gray is shown in records of her children, and at least one says that she was born in Athens, Maine (circa 1813-1817, by her age on census records). Joseph does live with her by 1870, so he could very well be her father, but I would like to be certain of this.
​  

I first find Joseph Gray in the census records of ​1830, living in Athens, Somerset, Maine: "Joseph Gray: 1 male 5-10; 1 M 40-50; 1 female 10-15; 1 F 40-50". Elmira could be the female, born ca 1815-1820. There is also a male, born ca 1820-25, that is in the household, but I know nothing about him.

​In the 1850 census, he was in Brighton, Maine, with Abigail, as well as a pauper child, Granville Grant, living with them.

The 1860 census of Brighton, Maine is very light and hard to read, and not worth posting a clipping here. Joseph (household 65/109) was listed at age 73, a farmer, born NH., while Abigail was age 75, born Maine. Estate value was $350/150. The Agricultural Schedule for 1860 shows Joseph in Brighton, with 40 acres of improved land and 130 acres of unimproved, with a $350. value (as seen on census).

The Somerset County Deeds show that Joseph mortgaged his 20 acre Brighton property in 1862 and again in 1863. In 1864, he sold to William Corson of Brighton this property, as well as another piece of land (the north-west 1/4 of lot 5 in third range) containing 50 acres [Som Deed 105-518]. I did not find the deed where Joseph had previously obtained the latter property. Following this sale, he moved back to Athens, Maine. His wife may have died around this time, as she didn't sign any of these deeds. In 1868, he sold 100 acres of land in Brighton to Elias H Hammond, which was the eastern half of lot in the third range [Som Deed 121-48]. Again, I did not find reference to when Joseph had acquired this land but he had all 170 acres by the time of the 1860 Agriculture Schedule.

​Whether it happened just after his 1864 property sale, or perhaps soon after that, he moved in with (his daughter?) Elmira and her husband Joseph Leavitt. 

As I was finishing up this blog entry, I continued searching for more information on Joseph. I began looking into a Thomas M Gray who had lived in Athens, and died there in 1904. His parents were listed as Joseph of Wakefield, NH and Betsey Plaisted. His death record said he was born in Newfield, ME. Using these parents in a search, I also found a Sarah Tibbetts, who had died in Madison, ME in 1894. Her death record listed her as born in York, Maine, the same for father Joseph, and said Betsey was born in Kittery (nothing matched that of Thomas, except for parents names). 

In the 1820 census for Newfield, Maine, I see a Joseph Gray there, aged 26-44. With him were 3 females under 10, a female aged 16-25, and a female aged 26-44. Thomas M hadn't been born yet, but Elmira and Sarah could be two of the females. Newfield also borders Wakefield, NH, where Joseph was apparently from, according to Thomas' death record.

​Then I found this, a War of 1812 pension index card:

There was Joseph Gray, with his 1871 residence listed as Athens, Maine, and also listed was his 1811 marriage to Betsey Plaisted in Wolfeboro, NH. His pension file [on Fold3.com] only mentions the wife Betsey, with nothing said about a remarriage to an Abagail. Being 84 when he filed this in 1871, it matches a ca 1787 birth year, as the census ages show, not to mention him being the only Joseph Gray in Athens at that time. 

Within the pension file is a paper showing a Joseph Gray receiving a bounty land, but this does NOT belong to my Joseph. There was another person of this name who served in the War of 1812 AND served in the 33rd US Infantry, but he was from Sedgwick, Maine and was about 7 years younger (the ME Archives index also shows they were two different men). The ME Archives does list Joseph's birthplace as Swansey(sic), NH. A search through Swanzey vital records and history book did not find anyone with the Gray name.

The pension file does not list a death date for Joseph, and does not list any family members, other than wife Betsey, and it also doesn't list a death date for her either. So, I still have no source for Joseph being Elmira's father, so I continue my search.

JEREMIAH BROWN, b. circa 1780-1790, perhaps in Athens, Maine; d. unknown. Married some time after 30 Mar 1820, when cert was issued at Cornville, ME, to CHARLOTTE LEWIS, b. ca 1796 in Cornville, Maine; d. 2 June 1882 in Wakefield, MA. She may have been the daughter of George Lewis, as she and Jeremiah sold a 1/10th part of his estate in Cornville, as heirs, in 1821. I have yet to check with Somerset County for George Lewis's probate, though I did not find one on Family Search.
With most of their children found to be born in Cornville, it seems likely that the Jeremiah seen there during the 1820 and 1830 censuses would be the correct family.
1820 Cornville, Maine census:
2 males -10; 1 M 26-44; 3 females -10; 1 F 16-25
1830 Cornville, ME census:
2 M 5-9; 1 M 10-14; 1 M 40-49; 2 F -5; 1 F 5-9; 2 F 10-14; 1 F 30-39

The following is what I have currently researched about the known children of Jeremiah and Charlotte (Lewis) Brown of Cornville, Maine and their offspring:
i. TIMOTHY E BROWN, b. abt Nov 1820 [1900 census; age at death calc to Aug 1820 birth date]; d. 22 June 1905 in Fairfield, ME, aged 84 yrs, 10 mos [ME vr]. He was married to LEXAVILLA E YOUNG circa 1850 [1900 census] She was born 1832, perhaps in Skowhegan, ME, and died 17 May 1905 [ME vr]. Lived in Athens, ME, 1870, and removed afterwards to Hodgdon, Aroostook, ME. In Fairfield, ME by 1900. Seven children [1900 census says "ch 6/5"]. Note: The 3 born in Middleton had their mother listed as "Lydia A" on their birth records:
   1. Sophronia F Brown, b. ca 1855 in ME
   2. Warren T Brown, b. 2 Jan 1857 in Middleton; d. 4 Oct 1919 in Gardiner, ME [ME vr]
   3. Freddy Brown, b. 19 May 1859 in Middleton [MA vr]
   4. Arthur Augustus Brown, b. 28 May 1861 in Middleton, MA [MA vr]; d. 1937 [grave]
   5. Elva E Brown, b. ca 1865 in ME
   6. Mary E Brown, b. ca 1868 in ME
   7. Willie Brown, b. ca 1871 in ME

ii. JOSEPH BROWN, b. ca 1820-21 (based on census ages) or 10 July 1818 [calc from age from death rec] in Cornville, Maine; d. 20 Nov 1894 in Skowhegan, ME, aged 76 yrs, 4 mos, 10 das [ME vr]. Married ca Nov 1845 to LUCY A SHATTUCK. Born 1829, she died in Skowhegan on 23 Mar 1897 [ME death rec]. They lived in Athens and Solon, Maine.
Known children of Joseph and Lucy (Shattuck) Brown:
   1. Lucy Ann Brown, b. ca 1847; Marr Joseph Leavitt. Had son Charles F Leavitt b. 1870
   2. Abby "Abba" M Brown, b. ca 1849 in Skowhegan [marr rec] or 9 Jan 1850 in Solon [death rec]; died 16 Nov 1904 in New Ipswich, NH [NH death rec], and buried in Centre Cem, New Ipswich. Married in Boston, MA on 24 Dec 1871 to David Edward Joy. He was born in Braintree, MA.  Living in Cambridge, MA in 1900 census, they moved to New Ipswich two years later.They had an adopted son, Walter E Joy.
   3. Joseph Delmont Brown, b. 28 Jan 1850 [grave; death rec says 1849] in Solon; d. 11 Feb 1918 in Dexter, ME. Buried in Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter.
   4. John D Brown, b. 23 Jan 1854 Solon [VR Solon, pg 274; called 3rd child; marr rec also list birth as Solon]; Married 1st  (unknown). Marr 2nd, 25 June 1905 in Parkman, ME, to Hattie (Devoll) Roberts. She was born in Athens, ME. Marr 3rd, on 25 Dec 1911 in Skowhegan, Maine, to Annie A Pushaw. Both listed as divorced.
   5. Emma D Brown, b. ca 1855
   6. Charles N Brown, b. ca 1857 (age 3 in 1860); not with family in 1870 census
   7. Georgia Anna (Georgianna) Brown, b. 1858-1859 (age 1 in 1860, 12 in 1870) in Solon [Marr rec]; Married in Somerville, MA on 20 Aug 1873 [MA vr] to James Olson, son of Olaf and Sigren Olson. He was b. Sweden.
   8. William N Brown, b. ca 1863. With parents, 1880 census, age 18.
   9. Lilla May Brown, b. ca 1865. May have married Amos Avery in 1884 (more research needed)
   10. Fred Beals Brown, b. 26 Nov 1869 Athens, Maine; d. after 1930. Married Clara E Eames. She was born ca Apr 1874 [1900 census], the dau of Joseph Eames.

iii. EMILY ANN BROWN, b. ca 13 Dec 1820 (based on age at death) in Cornville; d. 7 May 1871 in Middleton, MA, aged 50 yrs, 4 mos, 24 das from typhoid fever [MA vr]. Married first, on 25 Nov 1841 in Danvers, MA, to JOSEPH MERRILL Jr. Marr 2nd, on 11 June 1845 in Danvers, MA, to JASON RICHARDSON, son of David Richardson. He was born in Middleton, MA, and  died 27 Nov 1896, aged 80 yrs [MA vr]. Known children of Emily:
   1. Charlotte Merrill, b. Holderness, NH; d. 27 Jan 1893 in Middleton, aged 49 yrs, 4 mos, 3 das, from pneumonia [MA vr]. Marr 1st to Samuel F Foss, 4/14/1865 in Middleton.  Marr 2nd to Levi Frank Atwood, 12/2/1872 Middleton, MA (another rec says they marr 9 Jan 1867 in Concord, NH).
   2. Eunice Helen Richardson, b. 20 Dec 1847 Middleton, MA; Marr 11/5/1865 in Middleton to William H Wildes.
   3. Clara Josephine Richardson, b. 23 Nov 1848 Middleton; d. 23 Jan 1866, aged 17 yrs, from typhoid fever
   4. Emma Celia Richardson, b. 25 May 1852, Middleton. Marr 8/31/1873 to Lewis W Gault.
   5. Willianna Esther Richardson, b. 20 Apr 1857 in Middleton [town vr]. Marr 4/4/1883, John Milbery.
   6. Mary Rogers Richardson, b. 11 Nov 1861

iv. MARY JANE BROWN, b. abt Aug 1824 in Cornville; d. aft 1920 census. Married first, in Somersworth, NH on 2 Aug 1846 [NH vr], to JAMES C WEED. She secondly married, in Danvers, MA on 25 Dec 1851 [MA vr], to HENRY D HOYT (b. Thornton, NH 1832; d.16 May 1879 in Wakefield, MA). Mary lived in Somersworth, NH in 1850 w/ infant son George and sister Clara. She later lived in South Reading and Wakefield, MA. she had 3 children:
   1. George C Weed, b.ca.1848; d. 10 May 1914 in Rochester, Minn.
   2. Frank P Hoyt, b. May 1854 in Thornton, NH; Marr Nellie J Oliver on 12/20/1888 in Wakefield, MA
   3. Lee D  Hoyt, b. 8 Mar 1855 in MA; d. 26 Oct 1921 Bexar County, TX [TX Deaths] 

v. CLARA Y BROWN, b. ca 1827 in Cornville; d. 2 July 1887 in Milton, MA, from heart dis, aged 60 [MA vr]. Married WILLIAM H ROBERTS. He died 13 Mar 1883 in Milton, MA and bur in Milton Cem. He was a Civil War veteran, having served in Co E, 1st MA Heavy Artillery. Clara filed for a pension in 1885. They lived in Milton, MA.

vi. JOHN S BROWN, (possibly fits here as a child, as he also lived in Danvers and Middleton, and widow Charlotte lived with him in 1860 census) b. abt 1829 [1870,'80 census ages] or Apr 1827 [1900 census] in Cornville, ME [son Charles's birth rec] or in Skowhegan, Maine [Frank and Luella's marr recs; also seen as Biddeford and Augusta]; d. Gardner, MA on 19 Oct 1905, aged "84 yrs" from heart disease (called a widow, but looks like he was separated from wife, as they were living apart in 1900 census). He was married to LUCINDA F FLAGG, who was born in Mason, NH ca Oct 1833 [1900 census] and died in Mason, NH on 5 Nov 1917 [NH vr]. Both were buried in Greenville, NH.
They had 10 children [1900 census]:
   1. Charles Henry Brown, b. 6 Apr 1853 in North reading, MA [MA vr]. Liv w/ parents in Mason, 1880,single. 
   2. Clarence Eugene Brown, b. 6 Oct 1854 in Lynnfield, MA [MA vr]. Marr 1st Julia A Jeffrey; 2nd on 11/28/1909 to Harriet E (Fairfield) Felch, her 3rd marr.
   3. Alfred W Brown, b. Andover, MA [marr rec]. Marr 11/6/1883 in Townsend, MA [NH vr], Ellen M Goldsmith.
   4. Eben Brown, b. 16 Aug 1859 in Danvers, MA [MA vr]; not w/ fam in 1870
   5. Frank Elmer Brown, b. 1862 in Danvers. Marr 12/26/1892 in Greenville, NH   . Marr 2nd, Gertrude R Adams, 2/5/1906 in Westminster, MA
   6. William N C (aka Wilbur; Wilburn N) Brown, b. 28 Aug 1864 in Danvers [MA vr]; d. 25 Sept 1948, San Diego [CA Death Index].
   7. Florence "Flora" E Brown, b. ca 1867 in Mason, NH. Marr in Greenville, NH on 6/5/1890 to Herbert O Elliott of Princeton, MA. They lived in Ashburnham, MA. 
   8. George J (or A) Brown, b. Oct 1869 in NH [1870 census; 1900 census]
   9. Luella Lizzie Brown, b. 12 Mar 1872 in Mason [NH vr]. Marr 11/21/1892 in Greenville, NH, Howard C Mathews [NH vr]. Liv in Gardner, MA, 1910 and 1920 censuses.
   10. Fred L Brown, b. 16 Feb 1875 in Mason, NH [Nh vr]. Marr Emily A Vatcher on 27 June 1912 in Ayer, MA.

vii. HARRIET JUDKINS BROWN, b. Feb 1830; d. 28 Nov 1911 in Wakefield, MA, aged 70 yrs, 8 mos, 24 das (age way off). Bur Centre Cemetery, Randolph, MA. Married HARRISON S HUNT on 11 Mar 1849 in Stoughton, MA [MA vr]. Harrison was born in Quincy, MA, and died there 14 Apr 1894 [MA vr]. He served with the 40th MA Infantry during the Civil War. They had four children [1900 census]:
   1.Charles S Alphonso Hunt, b. 22 Jan 1851 in Canton, MA [MA vr]. Marr 1st, 8/6/1875 in Milton, to Annie M Kingham. Marr 2nd, 3/12/1879 in Quincy, to Annie B Simpson.
   2. Aubigne Augustus Hunt, b. 20 Sept 1853 in Stoughton, MA [MA vr]; d. 7 Feb 1920, Hudson, MI. Marr Alice B Page 6/27/1882 in Quincy. Moved to Michigan.
   3. Stillman Frank (Stillman Arthur on birth rec) Hunt, b. 23 Oct 1860 in Milton [MA vr]
   4. Ella E Hunt, b. abt 1867 (age 3 in 1870); didn't find birth rec

viii. WILLIAM N BROWN, b. abt June 1831 in Cornville; d. aft 1920 census. Married 11 June 1854 in Danvers, MA to SARAH F MESSER, b.Billerica, MA ca June 1834 [1900 census]). Lived in Middleton, MA, seen as a shoeworker and a teamster in census recs. They had five children, according to 1900 census data:
   1. Charles J Brown, b. ca 1857 (age 3 in 1860); d. 7 Sept 1917 [1918 Middleton St Dir]. Marr Ida M
   2. Liola(sp?) Nelson Brown, b. ca 1860; d. 7 Feb 1901 in Danvers, MA, aged 41 yrs.
   3. Harriet Estella Brown, b. 15 Dec 1861 in Middleton, MA
   4. Etta F Brown, b. 30 May 1864 in Middleton
   5. Everett L Brown, b.ca 1871 (age 9 in 1880)

ix. GEORGE SYLVESTER BROWN, b. Cornville ca 1839; d. 21 Mar 1863 in Danvers, MA, aged 24, from an ulcer of stomach [MA vr]. Have not found in records prior to his death.  
​

UPDATE (9/29/2015)
With the recent release of the probate collection on Ancestry, I was able to get copies of Charlotte's will from Middlesex county, Massachusetts without having to make a trip there. All of the names found in this record confirmed those names I had listed above. Below are three of the pages from the probate file:

JOSEPH BROWN of Cornville and LUCY A SHATTUCK (aka SHATTOCK) of Solon filed intents to marry on 10 Nov 1845, with certificate to marry issued on 25 Nov '45.

The family lived in Solon, Maine during the 1850 and 1860 censuses, and had removed to Athens, Maine by 1870. He was a farmer. Joseph died in Skowhegan on 20 Nov 1894, according to his Maine death record, though stone says Oct 21st. His age on stone shown as "AE 76 yrs", putting his birth year at circa 1818. His age in the censuses would seem to indicate an 1820-21 birth year. Wife Lucy died in Skowhegan on 23 Mar 1897 [ME death rec], her stone shows 22 March. Her age at death, "AE 66 yrs", is also off, as she was born in 1829, according to Solon VR. They are both buried in the South Solon Village Cemetery.

Known children of Joseph and Lucy (Shattuck) Brown:
i. LUCY ANN BROWN, b. ca 1847; Married JOSEPH LEAVITT. Had son Charles F Leavitt, b. 1870

ii. ABBY "Abba" M BROWN, b. ca 1849 in Skowhegan [marr rec] or 9 Jan 1850 in Solon [death rec]; died 16 Nov 1904 in New Ipswich, NH [NH death rec], and buried in Centre Cem, New Ipswich. Married in Boston, MA on 24 Dec 1871 to DAVID EDWARD JOY. He was born in Braintree, MA.  Living in Cambridge, MA in 1900 census, they moved to New Ipswich two years later.They had an adopted son, Walter E Joy.

iii. JOSEPH DELMONT BROWN, b. 28 Jan 1850 [grave; death rec says 1849] in Solon; d. 11 Feb 1918 in Dexter, ME. Buried in Mt Pleasant Cemetery, Dexter.

iv. JOHN D BROWN, b. 23 Jan 1854 Solon [VR Solon, pg 274; called 3rd child; marr rec also list birth as Solon]; Married 1st  (unknown). Marr 2nd, 25 June 1905 in Parkman, ME, to HATTIE (DEVOLL) ROBERTS. She was born in Athens, ME. Marr 3rd, on 25 Dec 1911 in Skowhegan, Maine, to ANNIE A PUSHAW. Both listed as divorced.

v. EMMA D BROWN, b. ca 1855

vi. CHARLES N BROWN, b. ca 1857 (age 3 in 1860); not with family in 1870 census

vii. GEORGIA ANNA (GEORGIANNA) BROWN, b. 1858-1859 (age 1 in 1860, 12 in 1870) in Solon [Marr rec]; Married in Somerville, MA on 20 Aug 1873 [MA vr] to JAMES OLSON, son of Olaf and Sigren Olson. He was b. Sweden. Whereabouts after marriage date unknown.

viii. INFANT BROWN, b. about March 1861; died 1 Oct 1862, aged 19 mos [Lewiston Daily Journal, 10/14/62]

ix. WILLIAM N BROWN, b. ca 1863. With parents, 1880 census, age 18.

x. LILLA MAY BROWN, b. ca 1865. Perhaps the same who married AMOS AVERY (1862-1940) in Norridgewock on 28 June 1884. His wife died in 1938 (need to look up this death record to verify this is correct person)

xi. FRED BEALS BROWN, b. 26 Nov 1869 Athens, Maine; d. after 1930. Married CLARA E EAMES. She was born ca Apr 1874 [1900 census], the dau of Joseph Eames.
   1. Charles Howard Brown, b. 4 May 1891 in Cornville [WWI Draft Card]. Marr Lizzie Leona Noyes, 6/11/1917 in Solon. Liv Cornville, 1917.
   2. Clifford P Brown, b. 6 July 1893 in Cornville; died there 16 Jan 1894, from overdose of morphine [ME death rec].
   3. Perley Peter Brown, b. 8 Feb 1895 [ME birth rec; 14 Feb 1895 on WWI Draft Card] in Cornville, ME. Marr 12/30/1919 in Madison to Ina E Wilbur. Liv Moscow, ME, 1930 and Bingham, 1940.
   4. Joseph A Brown, b. 24 May 1897 in Cornville
   5. Eva S Brown, b. Apr 1899
   6. Leon W Brown, b. 2 Dec 1901 in Cornville [ME birth rec]