Mary Williams & Ansel M. Gorton, Mead Twp., Crawford Co., PA 1800s
I hope to learn who Mary Williams's ancestors were.Perhaps someone can help me with some missing pieces.Mary's sister Susannah/Susan (Williams) Luper was my great-great-grandmother.Here's what I know about Mary and Ansel Gorton.
Mary Williams was born about 1815 in Mead Township, Crawford County, Pennsylvania.Her parents were Nathan Williams, Jr., and Sarah Jane "Sally" Huff (her father's parents were Mary and Nathan Williams, Sr.).Her middle name was Delilah, according to information in the International Genealogical Index (IGI) at www.familysearch.org, submitter unknown.Mary married Ansel McCall Gorton 1 July 1853.(His name is sometimes given erroneously in old records as Gordon.)Ansel was born in New York State on 22 Sept 1805.His parents were Benjamin Gorton and Rachel Walcott, according to the IGI.Ansel and Mary had one child that I know of:Arthur Clinton Gorton, born 27 Sept 1854.Arthur married Lucy Ann Carr 20 July 1876, and they eventually moved to Alliance, Stark County, Ohio.
Ansel's first wife was Phoebe Jane Root., married 26 Mar 1841, possibly in Crawford Co., PA, and she died 23 Sep 1852 (born about 1825 in PA).Their children were:Helen M., b abt 1842 PA; Charlotte E., b abt 1844 PA; Winfield Scott, b 31 Dec 1847, d 6 Aug 1877; Alice Jane, b 4 Mar 1850 PA, d 15 Aug 1857; and Florence A., b 22 May 1852, d 23 Feb 1853.(Most of this information is from the unknown submitter to the IGI.)
I could not find Mary Williams in the 1850 Crawford Co. census, unless she was there under another name.There was a Mary Williams, born about 1815, who was the wife of Orson Williams, who might have been the correct Mary.This is only speculation on my part, based on the appearance of Mary and Ansel in the 1860 census living near Eliphalet & Hannah Williams, who might have been Orson's parents, as they had lived near Orson earlier -- more speculation only.
Mary and Ansel M. Gordon [Gorton] were in the 1860 census of Mead Twp., Crawford Co., Meadville P.O.With them were Helen, Charlotte, and Scott from Ansel's first marriage, as well as Mary's and Ansel's son, Arthur, and Jennett Leffingwell, age 1, F, PA.Jennett was the daughter of Mary Williams's sister, Naomi, and James Leffingwell, both of whom must have died before 1860.
In 1870 in Mead, Crawford Co. in one household were Mary, age 55 F W Farmer; her son Arthur Gorton, 15 M W works on Farm, PA; and Ansel's brother, Stephen Gorton, 70 M W born in New York.They were living apart from Ansel Gorton, who lived with Charlotte E. and Winfield S. in Mead Twp.
I could not find either Mary or Arthur in the 1880 census in any state.Ansel and his brother Stephen were in the 1880 census of Caton, Steuben Co., NY, living with Larry and Minnie English.Ansel was listed as a farmer and a widower (so Mary appears to have died before 1880); Stephen was single, no occupation.Their relationship to the head of household was uncles, both born in NY, father born in Rhode Island, mother born in New York.