Henry Blencowe (1825, Gawcott, Buckinghamshire) → New York ,New York. Arrived: 10 Aug 1853.
Gawcott before 1853
Henry Blencowe age 28 yrs a Blacksmith married to Jane, followed his father and uncle to New York State.
In 1850 Henry married Jane Hailey (nee Yeates) a widow with three young children from Little Horwood (a village close by) Jane 5 years older had lost here husband 2 years before and had Charles 9 , Louisa, 5 and Austin 2 when they married at Little Horwood.
Henry’s uncle John Blencowe had emigrated 21 years before Henry and had with his sons established a strong present in Chenago County. Henry’s father mother and younger brother emigrating the year before was the families plan to all take the the opportunities that they had heard were plentiful in America. Henry had completed an apprenticeship 10 years or so before and was a skilled Blacksmith very much in demand in both England and America. He and his family paid there passages, and the previous family experiences put them in a good position regards understanding bot the task ahead and also the likely expenses. Gawcott in 1852 was not that much different to 1832 when Uncle John had emigrated. The Railways had come to Buckinghamshire so movement was improved but the Agricultural of the village hadnt change that much and emigrations was at its height in the mid century.
Tragedy followed the marriage when eldest stepson Charles Hailey died in 1851 age 10 yrs.
In what seems to be a plan Henry went ahead of Jane and the family and joined in father in Plymouth, Chenago County in 1853
The Voyage
Arriving in New York on the ship Ohio , Henry would have literaly walked off the ship into New Yorks central district and short was from the Railway that would take him from New York to Albany then onto Utica and then on the branch line to Norwich which was a a trap ride of 6-8 miles to Guldford, where his father and mother were living. A journey that he may have taken over two days stopping overnight in Albany. It seem that at first Henry decided to pursue his Blacksmithing in Norwich, Chenango County a urban area of 40,000 people, compared to rural Guilford. In 1855 the family have two events; birth of Daughter in June; and the NY Census both confirming they were residents there. Norwich was the largest town in Chenango County A market town serving surrounding farming communities, A hub for trade, milling, blacksmithing, wagon‑making, and small manufacturing, Connected to the region by early rail lines and well‑travelled roads
Jane and children join their Father
The plan was for Jane to emigrate with the family in 1854 and join Henry in New York State. Jane most like had with her daughters, Louisa Hailey (the oldest), Ann Blencowe and son Austin Hailey. The family was listed on arrival in New York as John 9, Mary 6, Anne 3. I suspect then this was mistranscribed and could have only been, Louisa age 9 Austin age 6 and Anne age 3.
They arrived at the Piers along the Battery in New York after travelling on the new ship Star of the West from Liverpool. The voyage would have been 10-16 days . Henry would have been met them off the ship directly at that time and take them by Train to Plymouth, New York a journey in those days of 15-20 hours.
Plymouth 1854-1892
There are several census that the family appear in New York State over the next few years. The New Yorks census of 1855 and 1865 the US census of 1860, 70, 80 etc.
The first census that shows the family together in Plymouth is the 1855 Census . Louis is missing from this census she is only 10 years so could be an omission, sick in hospital or somewhere else. She does appear in the 1860 census.
The Civil war broke out in 1861 and Henry and stepson Austin being Blacksmiths were strongly wanted by the Union army which had a high level of need for Blacksmiths in the battlefield. Cousin George Henry Blencoe b. 1828 had been in New York for 28 years so he was recruited and served for the Union Army, Cousin James Blencoe b.1836 also a Blacksmith was born in New York and served as a civilian Blacksmith.
In 1863 Henry appears on the draft listing for the Union Army, however he was not a citizen and it was noted he he had not ststed is intention about sides etc and it seems he wasn’t pursued for recruitment.
Timeline
| Event | Date/Location | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Full Name | Henry Blencowe | |
| Birth Date | 1825 | |
| Birth Place | Gawcott, Buckinghamshire | |
| Census UK 1841 (6 Jun) | 6 Jun 1841, Gawcott, Buckinghamshire | Apprenticed to John Freeman Blacksmith |
| Marriage | 29 Sep 1850, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire | To Jane Hailey Widow of Little Horwood, Father William Yeates Adopted these children Charles Hailey b. 1841. Louisa Hailey b. 1845 and Austin Hailey b. 1848 |
| Birth of Daughter Anne | Mar Q 1851, Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire | |
| Census UK 1851 | Little Horwood, Buckinghamshire | Henry Blencowe 26 Blacksmith Jane Blencowe 32 Charles Hailey 10 Stepson Louisa Hailey 6 Stepdaughter Austin Hailey 2 Stepson Ann Blencowe 3 Mo Daughter |
| Death of Stepson Charles Hailey | Mar 1851, Little Horwood | |
| Emigrated | 10 August 1853, New York, New York | Henry Blencool passenger 28 (1825) laborer leaving Liverpool arrival Battery, New York aboard ship Ohio |
| Wife and Children Emigrate | 17 Aug. 1854 New York, New York | Jane Blencow 35, John (Austin) 9?, Mary 6, Jane 3 onboard the Star of the West |
| Birth of Daughter Jane Leah | 10 June 1855, Norwich, NY | |
| Census NY 1855 | 1855 Norwich, NY | Henry Blenco 30, Jane Blenco 30, Austin Blenco 7, Ann Blenco 4 |
| Birth of Son William Henry | 1857, Plymouth, Chenango County, New York | |
| Census US 1860 | 1860, Plymouth Chenango N.Y. | Henry Blinco 38 Blacksmith born England Austin Blinco 12, Louisa Blinco 16,Ann Blinco 10,Leah Blinco 5,William M Blinco,Mary E Blinco 1,Jane 40 born England |
| US Civil War | 1 Jul 1863, Plymouth, New York, | On the Draft -Noted Not a Citizen not filed his intentions Blacksmith |
| Census 1865 NY | 1865, Preston, Chenango, New York | Henry Blincoe Blacksmith invested Capital $300 materials 500lbs worth $30 Jane Blencow 44 Wife,Leah J Blencow 10 Daughter,Wm H Blencow 8 Son,Mary E Blencow 6 Daughter,Lucy M Blencow 4 Daughter,Austin Haley 17 Stepson (Step Son) Blacksmith |
| Census US 1870 | 1870, Plymouth Chenango New York | Henry Blinco 45 Blacksmith born England ,Jane L Blinco 15,William H Blinco 13,Mary E Blinco 11,Lucy M Blinco,Jane 45 born England |
| Census US 1880 (1 Jun) | 1880, Plymouth, Chenango, New York | Henry 56 Blacksmith Jane 62 Jane Dau 24 |
| Death | 10 Aug 1892, Chicago, Illinois | |
| Death of Wife | Buried 22 Nov 1897 | Chenago County NY Burial Plymouth Cemetery |
South Plymouth Cemetery
South Plymouth, Chenango County, New York
Descendants
Wiliam Henry Blencoe 1857-1955
William followed his father into the Blacksmith trade and in 1880 he was living in Illinois practising that trade. However, very soon he was to get into the buying and selling of Lumber. In the following Census he is a wholesaler. In 1881 he married Matilda Agnes Geist a Chicago native and they raised a family in Cook County. By 1900 William was a superintendent in a factory and by 1910 back in the Wholesale trade again. He became prominent through his commercial activity and was in 1927 the Mayor of Geneva Illinois.(ref newspaper True Republican, 12 May 1937) . He and Matilda had good long lives he 84 years she 89. Both buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Geneva, Kane County, Illinois
Great Grandson – William Arthur Blencoe 1913-2003
William A. Blencoe, 90, Garden City, S.C., died Monday, May 19, 2003. He was born April 4, 1913, in Chicago, a son of the late Arthur Jay. and Viola Rowe Blencoe.
He moved to Garden City Beach in 1975 from Aurora, Illinois. He was a noted musician who played the tuba for over 60 years. He played for the original Long Bay Symphony Orchestra and was a member of the Grand Strand Concert Band. He was a founding member of the present Festive Brass Group. He had many friends from his musical organizations and the Surfside United Methodist Church, where he was a member. He worked on the North Western Railroad and for Commonwealth Edison as a power substation operator until his retirement in 1975. He was an avid golfer and bowler and sang in the barbershop choir.
Sources
- Daphne Austin genealogist’s Blencowe Database 2026
- Blencowe Book, JW Jack Blencowe, Published 2002
- Library of Congress- Civil War Collections
- National Archives United States
- Ancestry
- Free BMD
- Family Search
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