Derbyshire | Contents & Site Map |
UK & Ireland Emigration and Immigration |
NOTE: This page records information about people leaving Derbyshire to settle in Colonial and British North America. My intention is to illustrate the very wide range of "emigration experience"; hopefully also to spur the reader to look for similar information regarding his or her own immigrant ancestor. It is not intended as an advertising medium for research interests, although of course inclusion in the list may result in further information being forthcoming as a consequence.
WHITTINGTON, Charles Ellis - b.1836 Newcastle upon Tyne, wife Julia WHITTINGTON nee COOKE b.1837 Rotherham, with children, Mary Ann b.1856 Chesterfield, Emma b.1861 Hundon, Elizabeth b.1863 Dronfield, Charles Edward b.1866 Chesterfield, arrived New York 11 May 1867 on the Ship Chicago. 2 further children Charlotte b.1868 Pennsylvania, and Laura b.1870 Pennsylvania. Charles was a coal miner, and the family settled in Elizabeth Township, Allegheny, Pennsylvania.
Submitted 12th March 2007.
KNOWLES, Mathew - b.1850 Pinxton, wife Salome Ann KNOWLES nee HILL b.1850 Ashover, and daughter Annie b.1870 Pinxton arrived in the USA in 1872 to settle in Michigan after short spells in Indiana and Pennsylvania. Mathew started out as a Coalminer, later becoming a Congregational Minister. They had a further six children born in Michigan.
HILL, George - b.1864 Old Brampton. Arrived New York 23 Jul 1888 on the ship Aurania. He married Ellen JONES b.1873 Ohio, and they had 7 children: Ellen b.1893 Ohio, Alice b.1895 Ohio, Miriam b.1897 Old Brampton, Olive A b.1898 Ohio, Dorothy b.1901 Ohio, John Joseph b.1903 Old Brampton, George Edward b. 1908 Michigan. Like Mathew KNOWLES above, George was a Congregational Minister.
Submitted 20/21st February 2007.
HILL, Thomas - b. Crich 1792; with wife Mary HILL nee PEAT and children Ann (1815), Mary (1817), Elizabeth (1819), William (1821), Thomas (1823), George (1825), and John (1827), born in Crich - arrived in Boston MA on 15 Sep 1829 on board the Ship Navy. After a few years in Pennsylvania, they settled in Sturgis, St. Joseph, Michigan.
Submitted 9th February 2007.
FAIRBBANKS, Joseph William Sr. Born in Derby, Derbyshire, on 13 May 1831, married to Sarah ROGERS of Salop, Shifnal, Shropshire, in September 1849. After her death in 1873, he married Emily HARDING. In 1881, the census shows Joseph at (the) Crown & Cushion 35 & 36 at Wednesbury, Stafford, England. In about 1882, they emigrated to the United States, first to Bement, Illinois, and then on to Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa, where they settled, with their son Samuel James FAIRBANKS and some of Joseph's children from first marriage: Joseph William FAIRBANKS Jr., Venus Mary FAIRBANKS and Clement FAIRBANKS.
He left behind his adult sons Alfred George FAIRBANKS and Ernest Arthur FAIRBANKS and one son, Arthur James FAIRBANKS went to Canada, not to be heard from again. Joseph William FAIRBANKS Sr's brothers, James W. FAIRBANKS, William J. FAIRBANKS and Samuel FAIRBANKS had also emigrated to the U. S. between 1870 and 1883, settling in Bement, Piatt Co., Illinois, U.S.
Ancestral Note: Joseph FAIRBANKS Sr. was the son of James FAIRBANKS of Derby (1811-1863) and Martha née HANCOCK (-1844). His grandparents were James FAIRBANKS and Sarah née SIMPSON, and John HANCOCK and Sarah née WALKER. In his turn, Joseph was the submitter's gt*2 grandfather.
Submitted 6th May 2006.
POTTS, Thomas - baptized 12 Jul 1647 at Chesterfield, was the fourth and only surviving son of Richard and Ann POTT(S) of Chesterfield, Derbyshire. He and his family were among the 234 who left Hull, England, on the Shield of Stockton in September 1678. They are believed to have purchased land from William PENN in 1676 - see the Old Mill Hill Society website, History section.
The intention was to sail up the Delaware River to the Falls in West Jersey, but the ship became icebound in early December when the river froze. So they landed at Burlington, New Jersey, now commemorated with a plaque where they tied the ship up to a Buttonwood tree. They continued their journey to Delaware Falls in spring, where their leader, Quaker Mahlon STACY was to found a Quaker settlement.
Notes made by Kathy's grandmother whose great-grandmother Catherine POTTS died in Casa Grande, Arizona Territories in 1897 record that Thomas POTTS was a Tanner. This information is confirmed on the Old Mill Hill Society web site, where it also says that Thomas POTTS established a tannery business in Burlington. On his retirement he removed to Philadelphia, where he died in 1726, at aged 79.
[Ed: the interesting thing about this one is the list of names of others also on the Voyage - see Mill Hill History It looks to me as if there may be one or two other names from Chesterfield there!]
Submitted 23rd March 2006.
DERBYSHIRE, William Ewart - b. 14 Aug 1902 in Darley (The Flash) son of William Derbyshire and Annie Elizabeth HANSON, emigrated from Matlock to Prince Albert, Canada on the ship Regina, later residing in Calgary, AB. William was Patricia's father.
Submitted 7th February 2006.
HENFREY, Benjamin - b. Sheffield c1750; apprentised to his brother as a scissorsmith, he became a hardwareman and factor in Sheffield, but was declared bankrupt in 1784. He is then known to have moved to Dublin, emigrating subsequently to the United States and living in Baltimore, Maryland in 1796. In the summer of that year he visited the copper mining country around Lake Superior and in 1797 published a book on the subject. In 1802 he produced coal-gas lighting on limited scale, but failed to attract investors.
The connection with Derbyshire? He married Mary OWTRAM 15 Apr 1776 at "Saint Mary At Hill", in London (q.v. IGI); Mary was the daughter of Francis OWTRAM, who was born at Barlow in 1725, and she is named as wife of Benjamin in the Will of Frances OWTRAM, her mother, dated 1791, at which time she was in Dublin. We might assume that Mary accompanied Benjamin when he emigrated, although this is by no means certain. It is also known that she predeceased him, and that he died without issue some time after the 1810 Census of Virginia, at which time he lived in Botetourt County.
Also of note is that he corresponded with Jefferson, and 3 letters from him, in 1801/2, and 1807 may be viewed online in the The Thomas Jefferson Papers at the Library of Congress.
Submitted 6th February 2006.
FLINT, Robert, b. 1782 at Bolehill near Wirksworth, and family. Robert had married Sarah ALLEN daughter of William and Mary ALLEN née FERNE in 1805, and emigrated in 1850 to Kaysville, Utah on the Marie Ellen, a Mormon booked ship sailing from Liverpool under command of Captain John KNOWLES. He was accompanied with his two sons William and John, and their children, his wife Sarah having died in 1829. He converted to Latter Day Saints from being an Independent Christian (latterly Congregationalist) soon after she died.
Their sons were 1. William Allen FLINT who married Elizabeth SLACK in 1840 daughter of Samuel and Sarah SLACK née LAND of Middleton (Sarah was Stuart's 4*gt Aunt); and 2. John FLINT b. 1816 who married Mary SPENCER in 1838 (Mary was Stuart's wife's 5*gt Aunt). They also had a daughter Letitia who married Elijah WEST, a Mormon Missioner born at Borrowash near Derby. John FLINT became a successful farmer and business man in Kaysville.
Additional Note: Many families from Bolehill, Middleton, and Wirksworth emigrated to Kaysville - LAYTON, OGDEN &c. .with the Flints on the ship Marie Ellen, among whom are other local names such as SLACK and DOXEY.
Submitted 30th December 2005.
FERNE, Henry - of Bonsall came with the Jamestown colonists (1606/7). Died Elizabeth Town.
EGGINTON, Elizabeth - a Quaker, b. Ible, widow of Robert FERNE, Bonsall. Departed on The Welcome with William PENN for Darby, Chester Co. Pennsylvania (arriving 8 Nov 1682). Coming with her were children, Josiah, Joshua, Rebecca, Elizabeth and Sara. Joshua became high sherriff, justice of the court and member of Provincial Assembly
Submitted 23rd June 2005.
MANN, William - b. 1854 in Nottingham; d. 30 Jun 1931 in Schram City, Illinois. He married Maria Woodhouse LOWE 6 Jan 1878 in Nottingham, d/o John WOODHOUSE and Ann LOWE. She b. 1860 Nottingham; d. 1932 in Kortcamp, Illinois. Emigrated in 1913 arriving on the SS Mauretania. They were accompanied by children: William (b.1878 Nottingham; d. 1945 Chicago), Walter (b.1882 Nottingham; d. 1954 Chicago), Ernest (b. 1883 Ilkeston; m. 1907 Ilkeston Elizabeth Ann BRITTAN), John (b. 1895 Ilkeston), Eric (b. 1896 Ilkeston), and Mary Lily (b. 1899 Ilkeston; d. 1964 Illinois. Mar (1) John BROOKS; (2) Joseph Louis ANDRIGHETTI). Other children predeceased their emigration.
Submitted 30th May 2005.
PRITCHARD, Charles - bookbinder and dealer of Rotten Row, Derby, emigrated with his family from Liverpool on August 10, 1818 aboard the ship The Magnet. They settled first in Bedford, Pennsylvania, and eventually moved to Worthington township, Richland County, Ohio. Charles was married to Ann NEWTON; their children included William, James, John, Edward, Selena, and Ruth. Daughter Mary Ann remained in Derbyshire with her grandparents Rev. William and Ann PRITCHARD.
Submitted 29th Jan 2005.
BONSALL, Richard - bap Hartington 17 Mar 1642, son of Joseph and Joanna née STONE. At a Quaker meeting in Ashford on 12 Dec 1682 Richard signed a certificate 'to remove himself to America with his whole familye'. The following year Richard and his wife Mary (née WOOD), their 5 daughters and a nephew Obediah BONSALL emigrated from Mouldridge Grange (Bradbourne parish) and settled in Upper Darby, Pennsylvania. Mary died on 24 Jun 1698 and Richard 13 Jul 1699. [Ref: 'From the Peak to Pennsylvania' - Peak Advertiser, 12th July 2004, p.49; but details recorded originally in a Church News letter of 1983 following a tri-centenial reunion of 900 descendants from the US]
Note: I am not researching this family personally, but someone might be; and it is of further interest in demonstrating the events which influenced 17th century Peakland dwellers, the paths they chose in life, and the records which are available to tell us about them.
Submitted 2nd August 2004.
SHERLOCK, Thomas - b. Roston 1811 with his wife Emma (DONCASTER) emigrated to Iowa via Ohio around 1850. Also, his cousin Luke SHERLOCK b. Roston 1821 and his wife Elizabeth (SMITH) followed the same route around the same time. They eventually settled in Homestead, Iowa. but their families spread to Nebraska, and Kansas. Following the death of his wife, Thomas came back to England at the age of 68, married his second wife Ann WATSON at Allestree in 1880 and took her back to Iowa. Thomas died at the age of 86.
Submitted 17th Jul 2004.
THORNLEY, Francis Elisabeth (Fanny) was born 1857 in Ripley, Derby. She married John WEBB (From Northampton) in Manchester 1877. Fanny's parents were Thomas THORNLEY born 1820 Kirk Ireton, Derby, Eng. and Mary HARRISON born 1833 Castle Donnington.
Fanny and husband John, came to the United States between 1883 and 1886. They settled in Monongahela, Washington Co., Pennsylvania. They had two children in Derby, England, and 5 more after coming to the U.S.
Submitted 28th Jun 2004.
MARSHALL, Abraham - was born at Gratton in Derbyshire circa 1670. At the age of about fifteen, while with his kinsman, John BUXTON, at Aldwork, he was converted to the Society of Friends. He emmigrated to the Pennsylvania Colony circa 1697.
In Pennsylvania, in 1703, he married Mary HUNT, daughter of James HUNT and Mary CHAMBERS, of Kent. Eliza HUNT, sister of Mary Hunt MARSHALL, married William BARTRAM.
Abraham and Mary Hunt Marshall were the parents of famed botanist, Humphrey MARSHALL. William and Eliza Hunt Bartram were the parents of Royal Botanist, John BARTRAM, and grandparents of equally famous William BARTRAM.
Submitted 15th Jun 2004.
SHAW, John - arrived in America c.1819. His wife Hannah [WHEATCROFT] and two sons John Jr and Samuel came in 1820. They settled in Rhode Island but in c.1837 they moved to Bureau County, IL. John was born in Glossop and married Hannah WHEATCROFT on 8 Feb 1815 at St Peter's, Derby. Does anyone have any other record of this family? [Viola is a ggranddaughter]
Submitted 9th May 2004.
BLUNSTON, John and Michael - from Little Hallam.
WOOD, George - from Bonsall.
FEARNE, Joshua - from Darley.
GIBBINS, Henry - from Parwich.
SELLERS, Samuel - from Belper.
BONSALL, Richard - from 'Mouldridge'.
CARTLIDGE, Edmund - from Riding [parish of Alfreton].
HOOD, Thomas - from Breaston.
BARTRAM, John - from Ashbourne.
NAYLOR, Robert from Monyash.
ROADES, Adam - from Codnor.
KIRKE, John - from Alfreton.
MARSHALL, John - from Elton.
BALL, John - from Darley.
SMITH, Robert - from Sawley.
Submitted 28th April 2004.
BADGLEY, Anthony - b.1660 Bakewell, Derbyshire, England d.1720 Flushing, NY, America. (Ref 1: Online database of Church of Latter-Day Saints; Ref 2: Virkus, 'Compendium of American Genealogy'; Ref 2: Royalist Clarks, Badgleys, and Allied Families). Anthony BADGLEY arrived in the US in 1688 and is believed to be the ancestor of all US BADGLEYs. He m Elizabeth THORNE; they had seven children. He served in the militia, paid taxes, and purchased land.
Submitted 25th March 2004.
TURNER, Reuben George - born 13 Nov 1867 in Kilburn, apparently
the eldest son of William Henry TURNER of Little Eaton, Derbyshire
(born March, 1845) and Mary _______ (born about 1843 in Horsley).
Reuben TURNER came to America, probably in the 1880's, and worked
for the railroads. He met his bride as she was on a visit to Canyon
City, Colorado on holiday. He was working in nearby Pueblo, Colorado,
as a woodcarver making interiors for passenger cars for what is believed
to be now the Missouri-Pacific Railroad.
They married, and were sent by the railroad down to the wild area of
Laredo, Texas, where there was frequent fighting between the
Mexicans and Americans of the area. The Mexicans wanted to keep Laredo
as a part of Mexico.
A few years later, the TURNER family moved to Childress, Texas, up
on the windy Texas Panhandle Plains, where Reuben spent the rest of his
life, again, working for the railroad in the area. It's uncertain what he
did there, exactly. They had 11 children, some of whom died as infants
or when very young. Most moved to Dallas, Texas, after Reuben died in
1919, as did his wife, Mary Jane Clark TURNER, who died in 1969. It is
believed she had spent her youth at Barnard's Castle, in Yorkshire,
although she was born in Pennsylvania.
[Note: Reuben was La Quitta's husband's great grandfather]
Submitted 16th January 2004.
WASS, John - born 24 Sep 1819 in Belper. He was a staunch Methodist. His father, Thomas, died 17 Nov 1824. His mother, Mary SHAW Wass, died in 1836. John went to work in the cotton factory at age 10. At age 21, a brother paid his passage to the U.S., aboard the E. Thornton from Liverpool. He worked as a machinist, building locomotives, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. On 3 Dec 1844, he married Mary Jane McGREW. They had 11 children. In 1856 the family moved to a farm near Morrow, in Warren County, Ohio. John worked as a locomotive builder at Pendleton Yard in Cincinnati for 30 years. He died 18 Nov 1902. He and his wife were buried in Uniondale Cemetery, Pittsburgh.
Submitted 14th September 2002.
DRABBLE, George Fawcett. George was born in Barlow in 1833, the son of Thomas DRABBLE and Eliza née FAWCETT, and grandson of Joseph DRABBLE of Moor Hall, Barlow, d. 1860 (q.v. Derbyshire Wills - D). In 1861, George was a prosperous farmer in Ossington, Nottinghamshire, but in 1862 had gone to Liverpool to say goodbye to friends who were sailing to British Columbia for the Cariboo gold rush. On impulse he boarded the China Clipper Ship the Silistria, causing quite a stir, saying "Wait Boys! I'm going with you!" He left behind a wife Louisa née BURNBY who died soon after he left, and three young children.
Richard's book The Wilderness Profound, published in March 2002 by the Sono Nis Press documents George's life as a road builder and surveyor in his new country.
Submitted 27th April 2002.
BLUDWORTH, Joshua, of Chesterfield, co Derby, mariner, age 20 in 1685, was on a voyage to Sierra Leone (in Africa).
Submitted 8th March 2002.
Further additions to this list of Emigrants from Derbyshire to Colonial and British North America will be most welcome. Please keep submissions to between 6 and 10 lines of plain text - typed directly into an email is just fine, with a link to your own web site address if appropriate. Please send to:
Thank you. Please note: I regret I am unable to answer enquiries about specific emigrants.
© Copyright GENUKI and Contributors 1996-2006, &c.
GENUKI is a registered trade mark of the charitable trust GENUKI, see
About GENUKI as an Organisation
Are you lost in the Genuki hierarchy or arrived here from a Search Engine?
If so, use the up-arrow(s) at the top of the page to go up the hierarchy.
URL of this page: http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/GLS/EmigrantsUS.html