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Chapter Twelve

OUR AMERICAN COUSINS

During the latter half of the nineteenth century many thousands of people in this country emigrated to the United States of America. Some, I am sure, went just for the excitement of the unknown, others to seek their fortune. Many people must have gone just to improve their lot, as life in this country, to say the least, had been difficult making a respectable living particularly in small agricultural towns and villages.

The area that seemed to appeal to the people of Malmesbury was Cleveland, Ohio, this can be clearly seen from the copy of an old manuscript. Of the fifty eight names entered on the list only five opted for somewhere else. This is applied to the two members of the Lea family, Kate and Fred, who in 1890 decided to take their chance in the new country.

It was during my research of the name Lea that fate crossed my path with that of Mr Leonard Ing of Malmesbury. How fortunate this turned out to be for us both. Although not realised at first by me, I know now that my whole work would be so much poorer without the benefit of his expertise which he willingly shared with me.

I feel it has been a pleasure to have been acquainted with him and I am sure that by including the correspondence that has passed between us will make for a much more comprehensive and interesting coverage of our American cousins.

One other person I have to mention before this particular chapter is finished is that of Edwin Hope Gladwin. Edwin was the brother of my great grandmother Sarah Hannah Gladwin, and emigrated as the official list shows in 1882. He too went to Cleveland. In the effort to obtain a photograph of Sarah Hannah I have currently been making enquiries about Edward’s descendants in America in the hope they can produce for me some family photos that have eluded me here. I have no idea at the moment where they may have been living in the States but have been given reliable information that some twenty years ago a Mr. Gladwin from America asked in the Malmesbury Museum if it were possible for someone to take him to see his grandfather’s or great grandfather’s house in Brokenborough. Hopefully before this family portrait is completed I may have made contact, but feel it rather a tall order.

So on then to the photographs. I am afraid they are rather like a jigsaw puzzle to me and any errors in naming people wrongly will have to be forgiven, also indeed for not knowing names at all.

Transcript of letter sent 31 August 1990

Dear Don
Attached are two collections of papers - first, small items of information that I promised you, viz the list of names (including forenames that are partially missing in the local guide-book) of people who emigrated to America a hundred years ago; a photocopy of the shipping ticked counterfoil paid for by Mr and Mrs Fred LEE (presumably their second such journey) to America in 1911; the interesting Baby’s Introduction P.C. which you lent me for photocopying which is returned with thanks, together with a couple of spare copies (which have not come out too well, but are readable) that you might want to pass on to your newly-discovered relatives.
Secondly, a batch of papers for you to pass on to your relatives in Swindon and, ultimately, for their kin in America. Please feel free to take as many copies as you want before parting with these papers, although I suspect that you have already drawn up a ‘tree’ of James and Kate Exton’s descendants from the detailed information provided by our American kinsfolk. Please convey my appreciation to your Swindon Aunt/Cousin for taking the initiative which resulted in the receipt of so much family information. Thanks too to those diligent folks in USA who must have gone to a lot of trouble in order to collate such a mass of detail.
Just a few passing thoughts arising from this unexpected, but thoroughly welcome, correspondence: I have referred in my notes about how useful it would be to obtain details of James and Kate’s marriage in 1890, which, presumably occurred in U.S.A.; perhaps these new contacts will be able to produce this information. It would also be nice to know whether they and subsequent generations settled in Cleveland permanently or whether they dispersed elsewhere over the years. My own mother was born in Cleveland, Ohio (as a result of my grandparents migrating there - the family returning to Malmesbury a few years later, ie in the mid 1880s); my cousins live mostly (but not entirely) in the Alton/Wood River area in South Illionois and in Portage, Indiana, and are descendants of Malmesbury migrants to Cleveland. With patience, I expect that this information will emerge eventually. From the information already supplied it seems clear that the entry in the Visitors Book for Malmesbury Abbey on 22nd June 1987 (quote): “Edith EXTON (BROESON), Fort Myers, Florida” very likely refers to Edith Ellen younger daughter of J & K; her second marriage was to a Robert BRONSON - the entry in the Visitors Book was not too clear, hence I copied the name incorrectly, which also accounts for the failure of my cousin Adair McGlywn who lives in Kissimmee, Florida, being unable to find Edith in the local directory - I must write to Adair giving her the correct name.
My ramblings have gone on long enough, but before winding up I must thank you, Don, for acting as courier for this correspondence and, primarily, for being instrumental, in part, for opening up what was to me an unexplained and mainly unknown part of EXTON family history. I hope that the exercise has been of use and interest to you too..
Regards, from, Leonard Ing

Mr Leonard Ing is a local family historian, a member of the Wiltshire Family History Society and a guide at Malmesbury Abbey. These are amongSt. Many of the activities he devotes his time to and I am grateful for his help and interest in my own family project. Leonard has also, much to his delight, been accepted through his Grandfather’s right as a Malmesbury Commoner.

Transcript of letter dated 4 April 1991

Dear Don
It was my intention to return the photographs and negatives that you kindly lent me long before this, sorry I’ve kept them until now, but I have had copies made of the photographs which will add further illustration to the ever expanding Exton file.
It is unlikely that I would ever have seen pictures of this branch of the family had you not shown them to me, so I am most grateful. I agree that the young man in the back row looks to be the same generation as Edith and Ciss, so is most likely their brother - I am of course referring to the wedding photograph - and the gentleman in the centre of the back row certainly looks like an Exton.
Should you have a picture of the 1898 football team yourself, like the one you showed me when you last called, I would be grateful if you would allow me to borrow it so that I could have a copy made. Then I could ask around to enquire if any of our very senior citizens could recognise any of the players, particularly the J Exton in the second row.
It has also only just occurred to me that amongst all the information you have passed to me from these newly found American cousins there is no mention of where in the States they currently live. It is improbable that they all still live in the Cleveland, Ohio, area where they first settled. Should you acquire this extra information from your relatives sometime in the future, I would very much like to know about it. I would like to be able to tell my Illinois, Indiana and Florida based cousins that there is another large family group of Extons (to whom they must be distantly related) in various locations out there.
Thanks again for the service.
Sincerely, Leonard.

The following information was sent by Kate Lea’s grand-daughter Kathleen Laditka, living in Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A., in August 1990.

Cleveland, Ohio
James Exton went to the U.S.A. in 1890, Kate Lea followed a short time later and they were married in 1890. They had a son, Wilbert in 1891 or 1892. In 1893 they returned to England as James’ father had a stroke. William was born shortly after October 6th 1893. A baby girl was born after William, her name was Ethel, she died at 9 months old. Winifred Kate (Ciss) was born August 6th 1898, Albert September 26th 1900, Edith December 11, 1906. On March 7th, 1911, James Exton and son Wilbert returned to Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.A.. Kate and Winifred, Albert and Edith went over in 1916. William was in the English Army W.W.I and went over in 1919.

Notes on the Genealogical Chart “Particular Branches of the EXTON Family of Westport and Malmesbury, showing connection between James (HARRIS) EXTON and Leonard ING” (The compiler.)

When constructing a genealogy for the EXTON family of Malmesbury and Westport one of the major problems has been the tracing of both the antecendents and the descendants of James and Kate (nee LEA) EXTON. Thanks to the generous amount of information supplied by relatives on both sides of the Atlantic to Mr Don Lea of Swindon, it has been possible to compile a pedigree of these descendants (please refer to one of the Charts attached).

Determination of the parentage of the above James EXTON met with difficulties. First, no record has yet been found in this country of the Marriage of James and Kate - it is now apparent that this probably took place after the couple migrated to U.S.A. in 1890; further details (if available) of this marriage would be welcome. Secondly, five Baptism entries in Malmesbury/Westport Parish Registers refer to James and Kate as parent, (1893-1907), yet no birth or baptism of a James EXTON could be found in local records that would be appropriate in time.

This second difficulty has been resolved with reasonable certainty after reference to other documents, viz:

(i) Census returns: A James EXTON aged 2, appears in the 1871 Census and, similarly, aged 13 in the 1881 Census. On these Returns he is shown as the son of James and Maria EXTON who lived in the Gastons, Westport St. Mary Parish, with their other children. James junior would therefore have been born about 1868/9, so the year 1893 would be a reasonable year to accept that he could become a father.
(ii) Civil Registration: A search of the Marriage Indexes at the G.R.O., St Catherine’s House, London, was therefore instigated for the period before 1869 for James EXTON senior’s marriage. No such marriage could be found in the Indexes (other entries for that name could be accounted for), so a search was made for the years after 1868/9, from which, ultimately, a marriage certificate was obtained showing that James EXTON married a Maria HARRIS at Westport Congregational Chapel in 1870 (copy attached). Because this marriage date was subsequent to the calculated birth date (1868/9) of James, junior, it was likely that the latter was illegitimate at birth, in which case the birth would be registered in the mother’s name - and so it proved - James HARRIS’ Birth Certificate gives his mother’s name and Maria HARRIS of Gaston Lane, Westport (no father’s name given), date of birth 23 July 1868 (copy attached). Further searches for birth entries for James junior’s 3 sisters - named in the 1871 Census mentioned above - revealed births in 1863, 1864, and 1865. Four children with the same fore-names as recorded in that Census, but under the surname HARRIS, instead of EXTON. It is significant that the birth index entry for the second of these children is shown (in 1864) as Martha Exton HARRIS. One more Birth Certificate was obtained - that for William James EXTON, son of James and Kate; which first provided the information that Kate’s maiden name was LEE (or LEA) (copy of Certificate attached).

Other References:

(a) On a list of Malmesbury people who Emigrated to America during the latter half of the 19th Century is an entry: “James EXTON, Age 21, Date 1890, Destination: Cleveland.”. This clearly identifies the James EXTON at the head of the American branch of the family with the person of that name who married Kate LEA of Charlton. Fred LEA (brother of Kate) also appears on the list.
(b) James EXTON, senior, left a will, proved on 14th August 1896, probate being granted to Maria EXTON, Widow, the sole Executrix and Beneficiary - no children are mentioned in the will.
(c) James EXTON senior’s father also left a Will. His name was also James and is identified in his Will by the description “the elder of the Parish of Westport St. Mary … Gentleman”. His Will, proved 18th August 1869, bequeaths … “unto my sone James EXTON the younger (here, of course, we call him 'senior'). All that other piece or parcel of leasehold land situate in Cowage Lane in the Parish of Westport Saint Mary aforesaid containing by estimation thirty seven perches more or less now in his occupation …”. The residue of his estate was divided between his three sons and two daughters (his other three children did not survive into adulthood).
(d) The EXTON family has a long tradition as Commoners, or Freemen, of Malmesbury going back to at least 1669 in the male line and possibly further in the female line. Over 40 EXTON Heads of Families have been so admitted since that date, and many others have qualified through their (EXTON) wives’ rights. James EXTON, senior, qualified for admission to Commoner in his own right (ie his father James, the elder, was a Capital Burgess) on becoming married in 1870, and is so recorded in the Records of the Old Corporation.

Conclusion: All the evidence collected points to the conclusion that the James EXTON who migrated to Cleveland, U.S.A., in 1890 and married Kate LEA, is the same person, born to Maria HARRIS out of wedlock in 1868. Like his three siblings his surname at birth is registered as HARRIS, but after James senior’s marriage to Maria in 1870 all the children took the EXTON name.

Minor Reservations:

(i) James EXTON senior’s age is repeatedly understated in the records at, and following, his marriage in 1870 by 4/5 years. No particular importance is attached to this except that it militates against complete accuracy.
(ii) The appearance of no less than four HARRIS names in four successive generations (here and in America). This could be the subject for future research.

[To read the following chart, you will need to click on this small picture which will show a larger version. This larger version can be downloaded to your computer and looked at more easily. The file is 145kb.]

Descendants of James & Kate Exton, formerly of Westport, Malmesbury, England. &NBSP; Compiled by Leonard Ing from information supplied by relatives in U.S.A. to members of the LEA family living in Wiltshire, England, August 1990
Click on image to see larger version; download large image to zoom in to see more detail.

Ciss, daughter of Kate and James. Photo: 24 Sept 1916

Edie. Photos: 24 Sept 1916

Marriage of Winifred Kate (Ciss) to Francis Harris, 1919

Edith, daughter of Kate and James Exton. Photo: approx. 1920

Kate Exton nee Lea. Photo: 24 September 1916

Bill and Bertha with their eldest grand-daughter Pamela. Also in the photograph is Paul, Jean and Howard.

Bill and wife Bertha (nee) Bolton.

Left: Edie in pink, Ciss in blue. Photo: Edie’s garden, Florida 1976
Right: Mother and Aunt Mary, Christmas 1972. The bird cage is from Aunt Mary to Mom.

Our first year here, 1964.

Deborah, William & June Dengate with Violet & Ernest Johnson. Photo: 10 Sept. 1992
One of the most satisfying times I have had during the time spent putting my family tree together was on this day, September 10th 1992. This reunion of family from both sides of the Atlantic was a result of this work and a memorable day that will stay with me for the rest of my life. After a day visiting relatives in Malmesbury and the house where her father was born, 66 Bristol Street, June, her daughter Deborah and husband William found themselves in the company of second cousin Violet and her husband Ernest Johnson at their home 322 Cricklade Road, Swindon. They were also welcomed by a dozen or more of my brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews and their spouses at my home in Toothill, Swindon to round off a day they felt was the highlight of their tour of the British Isles. We all hope that we shall meet again one day and hopefully this visit may set an example for other members of the family in America.

June Dengate with Auntie Edie, 10 Sept. 1992
A visit from my father’s cousin, June Dengate, her husband William and daughter Debbie on the 10th September 1992. June and her family live in Bedford, Ohio, U.S.A. After a day of visiting Malmesbury, the birthplace of her father, June meets the oldeSt. Member of our family in England, Auntie Edie.

Dengate and Lea family, 10 Sept. 1992

A most memorable occasion.
June Dengate and Dennis Lea, Sept 1992
Dennis also receives a visit from June at his home in No. 2 St. Mary’s Road, Malmesbury. William Dengate, June’s husband, commented on the age of Dennis’ house which is said to be approximately three hundred years old, almost as old as their country. Dennis and June’s father, Albert, spent much time together before being taken to America by Kate Lea, his mother.

John Finkenagel, father of a quite large family who eventually all migrated to various parts of America, although initially as the list shows they went to Cleveland, John who shortened his name from Finkenagel to Fink lived in a house known even today as ‘the lodging house’ at number 6 St. Marys Road, Malmesbury, just two houses away from where Dennis Lea, son of Annie and Ernest, lives today, albeit some hundred years previous to Dennis’ arrival. The families were distantly related through marriages.

John Finks eldest daughter, Mary, was born on the nineteenth of February 1878 at Malmesbury and was a very close friend of James Exton (also listed) and his wife Kate (Lea). After some movement between the two countries James and Kate resettled in Cleveland, Ohio, and Mary after having married Thomas Henry Davison decided to return there as well. Mary and Thomas were due to return from Liverpool where they had spent an unknown period of time, but at Mary’s request they traveled to Southampton to join the Titanic for their crossing. Well, most people know the ship never reached its destination and although Mary was saved, poor Henry was not. My Aunt Edith Emily had told on more than one occasion of linen, sheets and pillow cases, that Mary was taking over for her Auntie Kate ending up at the bottom of the sea. I wrote to Mr Geoffrey Whitfield, Honorable Secretary of The British Titanic Society for information of Mary and Henry and was surprised to receive such a comprehensive reply, and even more surprised to receive from him a photo taken of them just prior to the Titanic’s departure from Southampton.

Most of the people on the list would have known each other quite well and an awful lot would have been related through marriage, such was the nature of the people of Malmesbury then, and indeed many would argue that it is indeed still that way today.

This photograph of Mary (née Fink) and her husband Thomas Davison was taken just prior to their departure on the ill-fated Titanic
Copy of letter received from Geoff Whitfield, Honorable Secretary, British Titanic Society:

3 July 1997

Dear Mr Lea

There appears to be some confusion after your family, the Godwins. Mary Godwin was married twice and it was her first husband Thomas Henry Davison, who was lost in the Titanic disaster.

According to my records, Mary was born Mary E Finck, her father was John Finck. Her date of birth was 19th February 1878. She first married Thomas Henry Davison, a son of Henry Davison of 10 Park Street, Chippenham, Wiltshire. Henry was a blacksmith which, by 1912 was becoming rather a threatened occupation as a result of the change from horse to motor power. A brother, or possibly an uncle (H J Finck) of Mary’s was prospering in Bedford, Ohio, and suggested that they should join him there were opportunities in the blacksmith trade were still plentiful. At some stage the couple had lived here in Liverpool, but I don’t know when or why.

Mary and Thomas boarded the Titanic on 10th April 1912 at Southampton.

From contemporary press reports, Mary was quite badly injured when, after refusing to leave her husband on the sinking liner, she was dropped into a half lowered lifeboat by a ship’s officer and crewman.

On her arrival in New York, she was looked after by various charities, she had lost all their money and household goods on the ship. Contrary to popular belief, the survivors were treated very well financially and she recurred the following sums:

$1019.95 - from various charities
$1000.00 - from the American Red Cross
$130.00 - from the New York Hebrew Association
£100.00 - from the London Mansion House Fund

She also filed claims in New York against the Titanic’s owners for $20,000 for the loss of her husband and $1,000 for the loss of their household effects. After recovering her health she found employment as a domestic servant (which she had been before her marriage) and married Harry Godwin - I’m not sure when. Mary died 28th March 1939 in Cleveland, Ohio. She had been suffering from cancer. I have a photograph of her somewhere - let me know if you would like a copy. Hope this has helped!

Best wishes
Geoff Whitfield
Honorable Secretary: British Titanic Society

A souvenir photograph taken of Jim Pike, Fred Lea and James Exton, in 1890 at Cleveland Ohio, after emigrating from their birthplace Malmesbury, England.

James and Fred were brothers-in-law, Jim’s involvement is not known and he did not travel over to the United States at the same time as Fred and James. There was a marriage between the Pike and Lea family in Malmesbury, and Jim could well have been a distant member of that family, or at least been a close friend of James and Fred or both.

James Exton (standing, left) with Jim Pike, Fred Lea (Lee)
Photo taken 1890, by ‘Bachelor’, East 9th Street, Cleveland, Ohio

Missing copy of Death Certificate of William F Lee, son of Fred Lea and Annie (née Chappell)

~~oo0oo~~
Additional material in the folder, not showing on this page due to copyright regulations:

: Postcard from America
Testimonials
Certificates - birth, marriage and naturalization

Titles Preface Chapters: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17

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