Mary Jane Robinson Houghton. Maybe

 My great-great-grandmother is Julia Kinney Hancock. We have a lot of documentation about her mother, Mary Elizabeth Houghton Hancock. Mary Elizabeth's parents have always been difficult to securely document. There are a number of family trees out there on the intertubes that make various claims for her parents, but actual proof is sparse. 

Here's what we know for certain:

• There is a marriage recorded for Mary Elizabeth Houghton, age 26, and Thomas F Kenney (we spell it Kinney), age 28, in Boston, MA, for March 20, 1858. This records her parents' names as William and Mary J. Houghton. Hopefully, this is true. I only express doubt because some of the information on the record is clearly false. Both Thomas and Mary Elizabeth claimed to be born in Boston and to be the children of parents born in Boston. In fact, both were born in Nova Scotia and all of their later census records list English Canada as the birthplace of their parents. [Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FC6Q-MCX : accessed 15 February 2016), Thomas F. Kenney and Mary E. Houghton, 20 Mar 1858; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 818,099.]

These are the transcribed marriage records for the city of Boston in 1858. Thomas Kenney/Kinney and Mary Elizabeth Houghton are second from the bottom. I really wish she had included her mother's maiden name and/or that we had the original documents

• The obituary of Julia Kinney Hancock, daughter of Thomas Kinney and Mary Elizabeth Houghton, states that she was born in Hall's Harbor, Nova Scotia, in 1859. Since Thomas Kinney was a mariner, he was away from home frequently. He had grown up in Yarmouth, 150 miles away from Hall's Harbor. If Mary Elizabeth was in Hall's Harbor when her daughter was born, it suggests that her family may have been from the area. Also, Hall's Harbor is small. It's not likely she was there because it was a major hub. The 1861 Canada Census has Thomas and Mary Elizabeth Kinney in Kings County (where Hall's Harbor is located). ["Nova Scotia Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQQD-MY2 : 8 November 2014), Thos F Kenny, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada; citing line 17; Library and Archives Canada film number M-881, Public Archives, Halifax; FHL microfilm 865,126.]

My Great-Aunt Lilian, who is always proven right in the end, has Mary Elizabeth Houghton's mother's maiden name as Robinson. I don't know if that information was handed down in the family or if she found documentation. 

Finding a William and Mary J Houghton living in Kings County, Nova Scotia around the time of Mary Elizabeth's birth in 1831 has been a challenge. The names are quite common. I may have finally come up with a breakthrough, though, and it leads to an unexpected reason why we may know less about Mary Elizabeth's family than we do about the Kinney side, as well as why she and Thomas lied about their birthplaces: it looks like Mary Elizabeth was Catholic. Perhaps the couple eloped in order to avoid familial or religious barriers?

I base this on the most likely records I can find of her parents, a William and Mary Houghton living in Hall's Harbor around the time that Mary Elizabeth would have been living there with her newborn daughter:

• There is a William Howton in the Canadian census in Kings County, Nova Scotia, in 1861. ["Nova Scotia Census, 1861," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MQQD-9K4 : accessed 18 November 2015), William Howton, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada; citing line 10; Library and Archives Canada film number M-881, Public Archives, Halifax; FHL microfilm 865,126.]
• William Howton and his wife Mary J. are recorded in Kings County, Nova Scotia in the 1871 census, along with two daughters, Teressa and Louisa, ages 19 and 17. [http://data2.collectionscanada.ca/1871/pdf/4396663_00061.pdf]. William is listed as 63, Roman Catholic, a farmer, and born in Ireland. Mary J is 60, Roman Catholic, and also listed as born in Ireland. However, when her daughter, Louisa Frances Murphy, died in 1934, her death certificate states that her mother was born in Canada. 
• In the 1891 census, William is recorded in Woodville, Kings, Nova Scotia, as an 87 year old widower. Woodville is about 10 miles from Halls Harbor. ["Canada Census, 1891," database, FamilySearch [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MW23-4FX : accessed 18 November 2015), Wm Houghton, Woodville, Kings, Nova Scotia, Canada; Public Archives, Ottawa, Ontario; Library and Archives Canada film number 30953_148119.] 

Unfortunately, it's hard to tie this William Houghton and Mary J. to Mary Elizabeth Houghton Kinney. There are indications, however, that Mary J.'s maiden name was Robinson, which is the name in Aunt Lil's records. 

In the records of the Catholic church, St. John the Evangelist, in Windsor, Nova Scotia, I found the baptism of Patrick Houghton, son of William Houghton and Jane Houghton nee Robinson. It would not be at all surprising if Mary J went by her middle name. That's incredibly common in Catholic communities where every other woman is named Mary. Patrick's baptism was sponsored by Michael Donahue and Bridget Houghton. Patrick was baptized September 29, 1835. This would make him a perfect age to be the brother of Mary Elizabeth. Windsor, however, is about 30 miles from Hall's Harbor. ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DQJQ-D4MM : 27 May 2021), Patrick Houghton, 1835.]

The baptismal record of Patrick Houghton from the 1835 records of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church in Windsor, Nova Scotia. The relevant record is in the upper right corner

The same church records have evidence for a likely sibling of Patrick's, Jane. Again, the parents names are listed as William Houghton and Jane Robinson. She was baptized August 27, 1837. Her sponsors were Patrick Lyons and Elizabeth Doye (or Dolyle?) ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DXMX-4SMM : 27 May 2021), William Hauton in entry for Jane or Janne Hauton, 1837.]

The record of Jane Houghton's baptism at St. John the Evangelist in Windsor, Nova Scotia, in 1837. Her record is on the bottom right of the page.

OK, but if these are siblings of Mary Elizabeth's, this begs two questions: 1) why isn't Mary Elizabeth's baptism in the records?; and 2) why are these records from a church so far from Hall's Harbor?

The answer to the first question is just depressing: the records don't go back far enough to catch Mary Elizabeth's birth. The answer to the second question, though, may be that Kings County didn't have a church of its own and relied on an itinerant priest. Another possible sibling of Mary Elizabeth's is listed in the baptismal records of the same church, St. John the Evangelist in Windsor, in 1840. This record book, however, actually lists the locations in which the weddings, funerals, and baptisms took place. They are from a variety of areas around Windsor, such as Kentville and Horton. The record for the baptism of Lavinia Houton [sic], daughter of William Houghton and Jane Robinson, specifically states it took place in Cornwallis. Cornwallis was one of the original townships of Kings County. She was sponsored by James Houghton and Mary Porter ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DWHV-8JMM : 27 May 2021), William Houton in entry for Lavinia Houton, 1840.]

Baptismal record of Lavinia Houghton, March 24, 1840, in Kings County, Nova Scotia. Her record is on the right near the center.

Other children baptized at the same church to William Houghton and Jane Robinson include:

• Henry, on July 1, 1849, at 10(?) months old, sponsored by James Lyons and Mary Sullivan ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DWHG-V6N2 : 27 May 2021), Wm Houghton in entry for Henry Houghton, 1849.] 
• Agnes (baptized at 5 months old on May 30, 1850), sponsored by Joseph Henderson and Bridget Thompson ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:D7BM-YY2M : 27 May 2021), William Haughton in entry for Agnes Haughton, 30 May.]
• Theresa, on October 17, 1851, sponsored by . In this record, the mother's name is listed as Mary Jane Robinson and the location is Cornwallis. Her sponsors names are hard to read, but I think it says Patt Sarsfield and Johanna Sulivan. ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DW2P-9DMM : 27 May 2021), William Haughton in entry for Teresa Haughton, 1850.] 

Are Henry, Agnes, and Theresa from the same family? Are they all (or any of them) siblings of Mary Elizabeth? It's hard to tell. I suspect not, though, since they do not show up in the census with our "target" William and Mary J. Houghton in 1861. With such common last names, though, it's hard to tell. 

One last record that might be relevant:

The baptism of Anne Houghton, lawful daughter of William Houghton and Janet Robinson, on Oct 22, 1833. She was sponsored by Neil Kelly and Bridget Lyons. Note that Patrick had been sponsored by a Bridget Houghton and Jane Houghton was sponsored by a Patrick Lyons. Could these be relatives? Or just frustratingly common Irish names? Anne was not baptized in the same church as the others. She was baptized in St. Gregory, Liverpool, Nova Scotia, which is on the opposite side of the peninsula from Kings County. ["Canada, Nova Scotia Church Records, 1720-2001", database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:DH6S-SPMM : 27 May 2021), Wiliam Houton in entry for Anne Houton, 1833.]

Here's what I'd really like for Christmas: a baptismal record for Mary Elizabeth Houghton herself. Short of that, I'd at least like the baptismal records for the daughters listed in the 1861 census (Theresa and Louisa) so I can directly connect them to the same family. 

Killers of the King

I just finished an interesting book called Killers of the King by Charles Spencer. It follows the history of the men who were directly involved in the execution of Charles I and what happened to them afterward. (Spoiler alert: they were mostly killed in horrible ways. To quote the immortal Omar Little, "You come at the king, you best not miss.") 

The book is interesting in its own right but I kept thinking about the relationship this history had to our own genealogy. A large chunk of our ancestors -- the Kinney line but also some on the Manary side -- came to New England through the Great Puritan Migration. That migration took place in the context of the English Civil War, the Protectorate, and the Restoration. After the Restoration, some of the regicides fled to the Massachusetts colonies where they were protected by the authorities and population alike. The colonists were mostly not big fans of the Stuarts. 

Wikipedia has a list of all the regicides here. They were all major supporters of Parliament in the Civil War and many of them were Puritans, so I ran the names through Wikitree to see if we're related to any of them. Not surprisingly, we are, although mostly not in the ways I had expected. Many of our colonial ancestors were 2nd-5th cousins of these men, but in most cases it was our ancestors in colonial Virginia, not Massachusetts. My guess is that is because our colonial Virginian ancestors (the Hancock line, essentially) was more "aristocratic" and the leaders of the Parliamentarians were still fairly aristocratic/wealthy, despite their opposition to the king. By marriage, however, we're more likely to be related to these men through our Kinney or Manary connections, since their family members often ended up moving to the Massachusetts Puritan colonies.

We're distantly related to many of the regicides, but here are a few who have closer ties:

General Edmund Ludlow was my 12th great-uncle and one of Cromwell's great supporters. Cromwell named him military commander in Ireland until he objected when Cromwell declared himself Lord Protector. Ludlow was a member of the jury that convicted Charles I and he signed the death warrant. His brother Gabriel's grandchildren moved to Virginia and became our ancestors. Ludlow fled England after the restoration and lived the rest of his life in Switzerland. He was the only regicide who is known to have survived long enough to see the downfall of the Stuarts. He kept chronicles and letters and so his work is one of the main sources cited in the Killers of the King. He's the only regicide with anything like a direct relationship to us. Sara Ludlow Carter, my 10th great-grandmother, who moved with her brothers to the Virginia colony sometime around 1660, was the great niece of Edmund Ludlow. Her descendants married into the Hancock family.

Edmund Ludlow

Colonel Adrian Scrope is a 2nd cousin many times removed, again through our relationship to Edmund Ludlow, who was his uncle (or maybe great uncle?). Cromwell appointed Scrope head of security during the trial of Charles I, and he signed the death warrant. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Charing Cross in 1660. Parliament had originally just fined him for his role in the trial, but was executed after Richard Browne, Mayor of London, testified that he had confessed that he was unrepentant. Browne, incidentally, was a distant relative of ours by marriage. We're related to his uncle's wife. 

Adrian Scrope

Adrian Scrope in more difficult times (he's being disembowled in the lower picture)

Edward Wallop, another signatory, was found guilty but sentenced to life in prison and to a trip by sledge to the gallows at Tyburn. The sledge ride was the foreplay to execution at that time period, but Wallop was merely dragged through the city on the sledge and shown the gallows before being returned to prison. He was also some kind of 2nd or 3rd cousin of Edmund Ludlow, and therefore of ours, but it doesn't seem worth figuring out the details since he's even farther from us than Adrian Scrope. Spencer quotes a Dutch visitor's letter about January 27, 1662, "We walked with thousands of people to Tyburn and saw there Lord Monson, Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr. Wallop lying in their tabards on a little straw on a hurdle being dragged through under the gallows, where some articles were read to them and then torn up. After that they were again dragged through the streets back to the Tower." (p. 245)

My husband and children are first cousins (many times removed) of the wife of Colonel John Dixwell. Dixwell escaped by claiming to be unwell and asking Parliament for an extension before he handed himself into the court. He was granted the extension but he used it to liquidate some assets and flee to Europe. He was mistakenly reported as dead to the Royalists so he moved again to the Americas and managed to live a long and happy life in Connecticut under the assumed named of James Davids. Joe and the kids to are related to Dixwell through his third wife Bathsheba Howe.

They are also direct descendants of Augustine Garland's brother in law, William Newbold. Augustine Garland was a lawyer and the first committee chairman for Charles I's trial. Surprisingly, he was granted life in prison, perhaps because he pleaded he had no real choice. In his own trial he told the judge, "My Lord, I did not know which way to be safe in any thing, without doors was misery, within doors was mischief" (Spencer p.244). He forfeited his estate and was transported to a prison in Tangiers where he died.

We're not really related to the Big Cheese, Oliver Cromwell, but we do have connections through marriage. The Manary line is descended from Sarah Bucknam Dexter, who lived in the Massachusetts colony in the mid-1700's. Her brother Samuel was married to one of Cromwell's sister's descendants, Deborah Sprague. Through that same connection to Cromwell's sister, Frances, we are related by marriage to two other signatories of the death warrant: her husband Colonel Edward Whalley and their son-in-law, Lieutenant William Goffee. Both had been powerful members of Cromwell's inner circle. Whalley and Goffee fled to Connecticut after the Restoration and lived in hiding for the rest of their lives.

Death warrant of Charles I