Monday, April 15, 2013

 James Lewis Roscorla                                 

James was born in March 1834 in St Columb Major, Cornwall, England. He was baptized on 14 September 1834.
In the 1841 England census he was listed as James Rosella, but it was corrected to James Rescorla. He was living on Bank Street in St Columb Major with his father, Lewis, and his mother Fanny. Both were 40 years old. Lewis' father and mother, Thomas and Ann also lived in the household. The children were Thomas 14, John 11, William 9, James 7, Edwin 5, Richard 3 and Lousia (Louisa) 1.
At the time of the 1851 census, James is 17 and is listed as a servant in the Charles Pedlar family of 8. Charles employed two blacksmiths, James and Richard Vercoe. The house was on Churchtown in Roche.
James married Elizabeth Ann Hocking January 19, 1856 in the Registration District of St Austell. The entry is in Volume 5c, page 213. James is listed as James Lewas Rescorla and Elizabeth is listed as Elizabeth Hockin. He is a bachelor and she is a spinster. James' occupation was a blacksmith. Her father, John , is a laborer and his father, Lewis, is a roper.
James and Elizabeth's oldest daughter, Fanny, was born in Roche two months after James and Elizabeth were married. Is Kisenda her father's name, a family name or what? Is James the father?
A son, Richard, was born 7 February 1858 in Roche, Cornwall, England.
James was on trial 19 October 1858 in Bodmin, Cornwall for timber larceny. He was imprisoned for 2 months. Many others were on the docket for timber larceny. Matthew Cole was found not guilty and Paul Martin was imprisoned for 6 months. These may or may not have been friends of James.
Another son, Alfred, was born March 1861 in St Columb Major.
The 1861 England census lists the Rescorlas with James as the head and he is a master blacksmith. They live in the Village of Bridge. Elizabeth's brother, William, is an apprentice working with James.
A daughter, Maria, was christened 9 November 1862 in Roche.
A son, James Louis, was christened 25 December 1863.
A daughter, Louisa Jane, was born 22 February 1865 in St Columb Major.
According to the 1880 US Federal Census, Ann M. was born in New York in 1867. This should mean that they sailed from England between 1865 and 1867. Searching further, I've found more about Ann who also went by Anna Mary when I found the certificate of marriage for her oldest daughter Mary Elizabeth Connor. I also found where Ann says she was born in England in 1861 and her gravestone is engraved with 1861. However, I can find no record of her birth in England. Another puzzle!
James and his family are missing between 1865 and 1880 when I found them on the 1880 census in Essex County, New York. However, I can locate the oldest daughter, Fanny, on the 1870 census in Albany, New York. She is working as a servant in a household. If the story I've heard is correct, James and his daughters should have come to the United States together. His wife, Elizabeth, and the sons supposedly came after James.
By the time of the 1880 US Federal Census, the household consisted of James, Elizabeth, Ann M.(13), Francalia or Frances (9), James Lewis (5) and Florence M., my grandmother (1 month). They were living in Mineville, Essex County, New York and James worked in the mines.
James became a naturalized citizen 19 October 1880.
The 1892 New York State Census shows four household members--James (59), Elizabeth (54), Lewis (17) and Flora (13). James is a miner and Lewis is a laborer. Listed on the census just before James' family is their oldest daughter, Fanny, her husband, John Reed, and their six children.
The 1900 US Federal Census lists James (68) and Elizabeth (61). James is still an iron ore miner.
The 1910 US Federal Census lists James (75) and Elizabeth (74). James is no longer working in the mines. Living in the same household are Frank, Flora and Gerald Thayer (Thair). Frank and Flora are 29 and Gerald is 1-1/2.
James died in 1917 and is buried in Union Cemetery in Moriah, New York.