Re: [POYTHRESS] POYTHRESS Digest, Vol 9, Issue 11
by Debbie Poythress-Concepcion
FYI - The Poythresses in Clovis, Madera & Fresno, are my distant cousins.
Their ancestor, Robert Lamar Poythress, is the younger brother to my G-great grandfather, Thomas Boston Poythress; sons of William E Poythress & Martha J. Usher
I had heard of other Poytresses in the Fresno area and had determined that they were directly from England, therefore, not from my Wm E. line.
I would be interested to know if the Poytresses from England had submitted a sample to the Poythress DNA project. I'd be curious to see if we are indeed related to the Poytress family from the 1600's. That would be exciting to learn.
Regards!
Debbie Poythress-Concepcion
> From: poythress-request(a)rootsweb.com
> Subject: POYTHRESS Digest, Vol 9, Issue 11
> To: poythress(a)rootsweb.com
> Date: Sun, 23 Feb 2014 01:00:36 -0700
>
>
>
> Today's Topics:
>
> 1. Info from S C Hawksworth 2/22 re his Fresno Poytress inquiry
> 2/9/14 (Barbara Neal)
>
>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Message: 1
> Date: Sat, 22 Feb 2014 14:35:29 -0700
> From: Barbara Neal <barbpoy.neal(a)gmail.com>
> Subject: [POYTHRESS] Info from S C Hawksworth 2/22 re his Fresno
> Poytress inquiry 2/9/14
> To: S C Hawksworth Ltd <schawksworth(a)blueyonder.co.uk>, Poythress List
> <poythress(a)rootsweb.com>
> Message-ID:
> <CADssRdvo8p0i9KSKGdefg9UCi4cZwP=vjwzv8fyS4MfMq=b-6Q(a)mail.gmail.com>
> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=ISO-8859-1
>
> Good to hear back from you, Steve. I'm again copying our Poythress List,
> and strongly encourage you to use "Reply All" so that others of our group
> who may have helpful info, can respond to help both of us, as well as
> more people in the future.
>
> It's great that your Aunt (who you think would have met John Albert
> Poytress, who came to Fresno, CA) and his wife Annie, is still living at
> 90+ and still so mentally sharp. It is great that you will be talking
> further with her -- do so as soon as you can. Many of us who have now lost
> the elders of our own family lines wish we had asked so many more questions
> of them.
>
> I got a bit lost in the info you mentioned having earlier gotten from your
> Aunt, so I have several points needing clearing up, for clarification.
>
> You wrote that your Aunt has previously told you:
>
> 1. "John [John Albert Poytress, right?] and his brother had both gone out
> to USA. John lost his wife in child birth [It sounds like this is a wife
> who initially accompanied him from England, right?]. He returned to UK and
> visited Ma's family [The maiden name and married name of your Aunt's mother
> would help clarify who this is]. He met and fell in love with Annie -
> daughter of Ma's sister Jane [again, names would help here: from context
> of your next quote from your Aunt, I'm assuming that this is the Jane who
> was married Will Hopkins, and thus that Jane's daughter, Annie, had the
> maiden name of Annie Hopkins]. John married her [Annie Hopkins] and took
> her to Fresno [which you, Steve, notes suggests the marriage was at
> Staunton]. Annie was the eldest of five children."
>
> 2. "Jane was married to Will Hopkins. Jane and Will subsequently went out
> to Fresno. This is the Uncle Will [Hopkins, right?] on Wesley (my
> grandfather) immigration record from Staunton of 1929."
> [Lower in your email today, not quoting your Aunt, you mentioned a
> Will/William who I think is different from this Will Hopkins: you said:
> "My grandfather, Wesley [Am I correct in understanding from your email
> yesterday that your grandfather's surname was Hawksworth?], had a brother
> William [thus William Hawksworth?]. He left Staunton in 1914. His Draft
> Card has him as "Declared" and working as a farmer, for J.A Poytress, Route
> 6(?) Box 62, Fresno, California. I think Will may have left UK to run one
> of John's farms. In doing so he avoided WW1. This may have been because of
> religious/pacifist beliefs. Wesley left Staunton, with his sister Mabel,
> for Fresno in 1915. His Draft Card has him as a farm labourer for Chas
> Dack, R.R.H. Box 196, Fresno."
>
> 3. "John was in American Colony [Was this an area in Fresno County, CA?].
> Uncle Will was in Easton [Easton, CA is a small town on the south side of
> Fresno, both of which are in Fresno County, CA]. Uncle Will lost three
> bungalows in fires, John had a two storey house next door to the farm, this
> was also lost by fire."
>
> 4. "John's wife was killed in a motor accident" [I understand this to be
> John Albert Poytress' wife whose maiden name was Annie Hopkins, thanks to
> your mention in today's email that you think you have somewhere the
> newspaper obituaries for John and the road accident for Annie. Do you know
> if I'm correct to assume that this accident, in which Annie died, was at
> some point after their youngest child, John Robert Poytress, was born 10
> June 1910 -- about 2 months after the official 1910 Census date of April
> 15th.]
>
> Can you please confirm for me, that the unnamed brother, who you mentioned
> in #1 above, and who came from England with John Albert Poytress may have
> been William J Poytress? I ask, because in the 1910 Fresno CA Census
> (transcription below) William J Poytress lived near J.A. Poytress on Fruit
> Ave and was enumerated the day before J.A. Poytress was. As you'll see
> below, William J Poytress was then age 40, and also had come from England,
> reportedly in 1905, which is 14 years after John Albert Poytress came in
> 1891.
>
> US Census, 1910, for Fresno, CA, Twp 4, Supv Dist 6, Enum Dist 53, Sheet
> 10-A, enumerated [as of 15 Apr] on 10 May 1910, dwelling 240, family 242,
> Lines 34-40:
> Household on Fruit Avenue, dwelling 240, family 242:
> -- William J Poytress, head, age 40, male, white, m-1 [in his first
> marriage], married 19 years, born "Eng.-English" and father & mother also
> "Eng.-English,", immigrated to US 1905, "Pa" indicates he had filed Papers
> for Naturalization, born "Eng.-English" and father & mother also
> "Eng.-English," Farmer, general farm, working on Own Account, can read, can
> write, Rents, Farm, #421 on farm schedule
> -- Emma, wife, female, white, age 41, m-1 [her first marriage], married
> 19 yrs, mother of 7 children, 5 of whom are living, born "Eng.-English,"
> father & mother born "Eng.-English," immigrated to US 1905, [Naturalization
> status blank], speaks English, "None" employment, can read, can write;
> -- William H, son, male, white, age 18, single, born "Eng.-English,"
> father & mother born "Eng.-English," immigrated to US 1905, speaks English;
> "None" employment, father & mother born "Eng-England," speaks English,
> "None" employment, can read, can write, yes attended school any time since
> Sep 1, 1909;
> -- Sidney J, son, male, white, age 15, single, born "Eng.-English,"
> father & mother born "Eng.-English," immigrated to US 1905, speaks English;
> "None" employment, father & mother born "Eng-England," speaks English,
> "None" employment, can read, can write, yes attended school any time since
> Sep 1, 1909;
> -- Francis E, son, male, white, age 11, single, born "Eng.-English,"
> father & mother born "Eng.-English," immigrated to US 1905, speaks English;
> "None" employment, father & mother born "Eng-England," speaks English,
> "None" employment, can read, can write, yes attended school any time since
> Sep 1, 1909;
> -- May, daughter, female, white, age 6, single, born "Eng.-English,"
> father & mother born "Eng.-English," immigrated to US 1905, speaks English;
> "None" employment, father & mother born "Eng-England," [blank re whether
> she speaks English], "None" employment, can read, can write, no did not
> attend school any time since Sep 1, 1909;
> -- John T, son, male, white, age 1/12, single, born CA, father & mother
> born "Eng.-English" [remainder of line blank]
>
> US Census, 1910, for Fresno, CA, Twp 4, Supv Dist 6, Enum Dist 53, Sheet
> 10-B, enumerated as of 15 April on 11 May 1910, dwellings 251 & 252
> (families 253 & 254), Lines 85-91:
> [This first household appears to logically be that of a younger brother
> Annie Hopkins, wife of John Albert Poytress, below, and likely worked for
> him]
> Household on Fruit Avenue, dwelling 251, family 253
> -- Harry Hopkins, head, male, white, age 26, m-1 [his first marriage],
> been married 2 yrs, born "Eng.-English" and father & mother also
> "Eng.-English," immigrated to US in 1909, "Pa" indicates he had filed
> Papers for Naturalization; speaks English; Farm laborer, working out,
> working on own account, was not out of work on Apr 15, 1910; 3 wks out of
> work during 1900, can read, can write, [blank re attended school any time
> since Sep 1, 1909], home rented, [blank re own free or mtg], home, [blank
> re # on farm schedule], [not soldier of Union or Conf Army or Navy], [not
> blind], [not deaf & dumb]
> -- Florence L, wife, female, white, age 32, m-1 [her first marriage],
> been married 2 yrs, born "Eng.-English" and father & mother also
> "Eng.-English," immigrated to US in 1909, [Naturalization status blank],
> speaks English, "None" employment, can read, can write, [blank re attended
> school since Sept 1, 1909]
> -- Ivy G, daughter, female, white, age 12/12 mo, single, born
> "Eng.-English" and father & mother also "Eng.-English," immigrated to US in
> 1909, [Naturalization status blank], speaks English, "None" employment;
> remainder of line blank.
> Household on West Avenue, dwelling 252, family 254
> -- John A Poytress, head, male, white, age 39, m-2 [his 2nd marriage],
> married "0" years [so married since 15 April of 1909], born "Eng.-English"
> and father & mother also "Eng.-English," immigrated to US in 1891,
> Naturalized, speaks English, Farmer, general farm, Employer, can read, can
> write, Owns, mortgaged, Farm, #215 on farm schedule
> -- Annie, wife, female, white, age 32, m-2 [her 2nd marriage], married
> "0" years [so married since 15 April of 1909], born "Eng.-English" and
> father & mother also "Eng.-English," immigrated to US in 1909,
> [Naturalization status blank], speaks English, "None" employment, can read,
> can write, [blank re attended school since Sept 1, 1909]
> -- Ellener M, daughter, female, white, age 15, single, born CA, father &
> mother born "Eng-England," speaks English, "None" employment, can read, can
> write, yes attended school any time since Sep 1, 1909
> -- Alice Hopkins, sister-in-law, female, white, age 30, single, born
> "Eng.-English" and father & mother also "Eng.-English,", immigrated to US
> in 1909, speaks English, "None" employment, can read, can write, [blank re
> attended school since Sept 1, 1909]
>
>
> It's good to learn from you about Staunton, in Gloucestershire, where John
> Albert Poytress was brought up. I don't recall having heard of "Chartism"
> and its non-conformist, strong religious beliefs, somewhat alternative
> thinkings, so read up a bit more, thanks to a google search.
>
> >From another google search, I learned of the Fresno Historical Society at
> valleyhistory.org which shows some archived photos from their extensive
> collection, such as the ones you mentioned.
>
> Thanks again for writing.
> Barbara
>
>
> On Sat, Feb 22, 2014 at 3:22 AM, S C Hawksworth Ltd <
> schawksworth(a)blueyonder.co.uk> wrote:
>
> > Hello Barbara
> > Thank you for this incredibly detailed response. I am just starting
> > piecing the family history together - as an amateur! I do not have family
> > trees - these might come later. Your information will take some digesting
> > and thought!
> >
> > I have an aunt who would on numerous occasions, I suspect, have met John
> > Albert and Annie.
> >
> > Your details tie in with my Aunt's comments to me. We have, somewhere I
> > believe, the newspaper obituaries for John and the road accident for Annie.
> > I have recently seen a postcard from the raisin(?) HQ plus a photo of a
> > national radio club. (I do not know where in Fresno this was taken. Any
> > thoughts?)
> >
> > The Hawksworth family was from Staunton. John Albert was brought up in
> > Staunton. Staunton is an area of non-conformists, strong religious beliefs,
> > somewhat alternative thinking - it is a community set up by Chartist
> > beliefs/followers. The Hawksworths were at the inception of the Chartist
> > community, and had a number of Chartist properties.
> >
> > My great grandmother was Alice Watts. The Watts were local farmers, and
> > land owners. The Watts had mixed in the highest echelons of UK society.
> > However, John Watts lived opposite Alice (in a Chartist home), her sister
> > Jane lived nearby. Possibly in a Chartist property (?)
> >
> > My Aunt has previously told me
> >
> > "John
> > [John Albert Poytress]
> > and his brother had both gone out to USA. John lost his wife in child
> > birth. He returned to UK and visited Ma's family. He met and fell in love
> > with Annie - daughter of Ma's sister Jane. John married her and took her to
> > Fresno. (This suggests the marriage was at Staunton). Annie was the eldest
> > of five children."
> >
> > "Jane was married to Will Hopkins. Jane and Will subsequently went out to
> > Fresno. This is the Uncle Will on Wesley (my grandfather) immigration
> > record from Staunton of 1929."
> >
> > " John was in American Colony. Uncle Will was in Easton. Uncle Will lost
> > three bungalows in fires, John had a two storey house next door to the
> > farm, this was also lost by fire."
> >
> > " John's wife was killed in a motor accident"
> >
> > My grandfather, Wesley, had a brother William. He left Staunton in 1914.
> > His Draft Card has him as "Declared" and working as a farmer, for J.A
> > Poytress, Route 6(?) Box 62, Fresno, California. I think Will may have left
> > UK to run one of John's farms. In doing so he avoided WW1. This may have
> > benn because of religuous/pacifist beliefs.
> >
> > Wesley left Staunton, with his sister Mabel, for Fresno in 1915. His Draft
> > Card has has him as a farm labourer for Chas Dack, R.R.H. Box196, Fresno.
> >
> > I do not know if any of the above can be verified, or if it is of any
> > interest to anyone in USA? Over to you on these queries!
> >
> > There is information coming to light from my Aunt - a remarkable, active
> > 90+ years old, and an Uncle also with a remarkable memory and 90+ years
> > old. I will speak further with my Aunt and Uncle.
> >
> > Kind Regards
> > Steve
> >
> >
>
>
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> End of POYTHRESS Digest, Vol 9, Issue 11
> ****************************************
