Synopsis
From a desperately poor start in life, losing his father when seven and possibly living on Poor Relief until adult, this is a story that reflects the rewards of emigration when circumstance cannot be easily improved. Henry left on his own in the 1830s for America, uneducated and a labourer he was to struggle and work very hard all his life. However, he met an American woman Mary Durcher and they together made a good life in the upper New York State. The fact that Henry when he died left his wife comfortable attest to his success/ He prospered in New York albeit at a modest level but compared to his beginnings he had a life he wouldn’t have conceived possible when a child.
Life In England
I have to preface this description with the following facts, genealogist Daphne Austin isn’t sure of Henry’s background and thats always a concern because she spends a great deal of time establishing the Blencowe facts. Daphne has, and I am following her logic plumped for; this is the son of Edward Blencowe 1773-1821 and Mary Macwar (abt 1775-1846) of Middleton Cheney.
Growing up in Middleton Cheney in the early 19th Century, would have been very similar to the emigrants written about others in the rural towns of Northamptionshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. That is the napoleonic wars , the Corn law and the difficukty to find employement led to a great deal of poverty. Henry’s father Edward Blencowe 1773 died when he was just 7 years his mother Mary (Macwar) Blencowe was thus a widow without means for most of the time was growing up. He would have been no stranger to starvation, and its telling in the 1841 census of Middleton Cheney he isn’t to be found , his mother living with his sister and described as a Pauper. The scene is thus set for Henry a labourer seeking work to move away from Middleton Cheney and sometime between 1835-1840 seems likely (see Marriage date Westford USA) he moved to USA having found or saved the fare for a passage
Emigration 1835-1839?
Henry could have travelled to the USA earlier, but he was 18 yrs in 1836 and we know he married in Jan 1841 in the USA. So, estimating he travelled between 1835-1839 for his arrival in New York this allows time for the voyage, settlement in New York State and finding a wife. Arriving in the port of New York, he made his way to the small rural town of Middlefield population about 3,000. Henry would have been most likely hired as a farm labourer on one of the wheat or hops farms of the district.
Timeline- Henry’s life at a glance
| Event | Date Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Birth Date | 1814 | |
| Birth Place | Middleton Cheney, Northants | |
| Christening Date | 17 Jul 1814 at the All Saints Church, Middleton Cheney |  |
| Christening Place | Middleton Cheney, Northants | |
| Emigration | Abt 1835-39 | Estimated based on Marriage in 1841 and the need to settle before finding a wife |
| Residence | Middlefield, , Otsego County New York abt 1835-1839 | Estimated no records |
| Marriage Date | 1 Jan 1841 | The source is the The Freeman’s Journal (Cooperstown, NY) Jan 1841 Marriage Notice "In Westford, on the 1st inst., by the Rev. Mr. [Name], Mr. Henry Blencowe of Middlefield, to Miss Mary Dutcher of the former place." |
| Marriage Place | Westford Otsego | |
| Spouse Name | Mary Ann Dutcher | |
| Birth of Son Harry | Jul 1847, Middlefield | |
| Birth of Daughter Mary F | May 1849, Middlefield | |
| Census US 1850 | Middlefield, Otsego, New York Henry Blinco 34 Labourer England Mary A Blinco 27 New York Harry Blinco 3 New York Mary F Blinco 1 New York | |
| Birth of Daughter Henrietta (N) | 2 July 1851, Middlefield | |
| Birth of Son John D | 3 Aug 1852, Middlefield | |
| Census 1855 New York | Middlefield . Henry Blinco 40 Farmer Mary Blinco 34 Harry Blinco 8 Mary H Blinco 6 Henriette Blinco 4 John Blinco 2 William Harvey 14 | |
| Residence | before 1856 Westford, Otsego, New York | Henry and family moved to Mary's hometown of Westford just a few miles away. Henry is still working as a day Labourer but maybe they had an idea they may prosper better in Westford |
| Birth of Son William W | 29 Dec 1856, Westford |  |
| Birth of Son Thomas | 2 Dec 1858, Westford | |
| Census US 1860 | Westford, Otsego, New York Henry Blinks 50 Day Labourer Mary Blinks 40 Henry Blinks 13 Mary Blinks 10 Kate Blinks 9 John Blinks 9 Willie Blinks 6 Thomas Blinks 1 | |
| Birth of Son Frank | 27 Sep 1860, Westford | |
| Birth of Son Cyrus | 1863, Westford | |
| Birth of Daughter Rose H | Mar 1867, Westford | |
| Census US 1870 | Henry Blencoe 56 Farmer Mary A Blencoe 46 William Blencoe 14 Thomas Blencoe 11 Frank Blencoe 9 Cyrus Blencoe 6 Rose Blencoe 4 | |
| Census US 1880 (1 Jun) | Henry Blencoe 65 Farmer Mary A. Blencoe 57 Wife Rose H. Blencoe 14 Daughter | Real Estate Value $800 Personal estate $125 these are comparitively modest means compared to neighbours. But from humble beginnings they represent a lifetime of increasing prosperity |
| Last Will and Testament 1881 | Westford | Henry makes a last will see below for detail |
| Occupation | Labourer later a Farmer in 1870 | |
| Death Date | 22 Mar 1882 | |
| Death Place | Middlefield, Otsego County, New York | |
| Burial Place | Middlefield Baptist Church and Cemetery |
Descendants
The descendants of Henry and Mary were many, and they predominantly for the next generation (at least) lived in Ostego County, a recent record for a Great Granddaughter, Blanche Blencoe (Ernest C Blencoe, Cyrus Blencoe) shows she was a resident as late as 2002 in the county
| Name | Blanche A Blencoe |
|---|---|
| Birth Date | 6 Mar. 1915 |
| Death Date | 17 Dec. 2002 |
| Death Place | Florida, United States of America |
| Cemetery | Maryland Cemetery |
| Burial or Cremation Place | Maryland, Otsego County, New York, United States of America |
Gallery
Will of Henry Blencowe (1881)
Note that while he died in 1883, he actually signed this document in 1881.
In the name of God, Amen. I, Henry Blencowe of the town of Westford, in the County of Otsego and State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last Will and Testament in manner following, that is to say:
1st That all my honest debts be paid.
2nd I give and devise to my sons and daughters Henry, Mary F., Henrietta, John, William, Thomas, Frank, Cyrus, Rose H. one dollar each. (note a device to protect spouse inheritance and normally used)
3rd I give and bequeath to my wife Mary Ann all the rest and remainder of my real and personal estate of every name and nature whatsoever to have and hold the same herself, her heirs and assigns forever.
I hereby revoke all other wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 9th day of September in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Henry Blencowe (L.S.)
The above instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof sealed, published and declared by the said Henry Blencowe as and for his last will and testament in presence of us who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.
Thomas H. Ream, Middlefield, Otsego Co. N.Y. Jordan E. Follett, Middlefield, Otsego Co. N.Y.
Sources
- Ancestry and the Blencowe Database
- Cooperstown Journal