Surge of English migration to the U.S. before the Civil War.
The Blencowe Book- Chapter Eighteen authors Mary E. Van Gorden & Oscar Blencoe
“IN THE NINETEENTH CENTURY the small village of Gawcott, some two miles south of the town of Buckingham was home to a number of Blencowe families. Several of the men were stone-masons or bricklayers, many of their wives were lacemakers. A number of the Blencowes emigrated, mostly to the United States .
The first to leave was “John Blenkow.”
Fig 1. Gawcott, Buckinghamshire
Blencowe Book Published 2002 by JW Blencowe
A correction to Chapter 18 of the (Blencowe Book published 2002) – Blencowe families of Gawcott in Buckinghamshire.
The Blencowes: The 19th‑century emigrants from Gawcott bearing the name Blencowe (sic) actually belonged to three distinct family lines, none of which can be shown to be related on the basis of surviving records. Two of these lines are connected by marriage, as the book correctly notes.
However, the pedigree shown in Figure 18.9 of the Blencowe Book, illustrating the marriage of Thomas Blenkow (1810–1880) to Frances “Fanny” Blenko (1808–1884), contains an error. Frances was the daughter of John Blenkow (1764–1846) and Frances Horn, who appears to have died in childbirth in 1808.
The corrected family chart below reflects the relationships as they should be shown.
Gawcott 1798-1832
John Blenkow or Blencowe was born on 20 April 1798 to John and Francis of the parish of Gawcott
In 1808, John was 10 years of age when his mother died. He had older siblings and probably 4 younger ones. France Blencowe born 1808 was the baby born when his mother died. His Father remarried a Jane Amos and no further children were born to the family. John married when 20 years old to Hannah Herring in nearby Buckingham and their first child Robert was born 2 yrs later. William was born 1822 , a daughter Eleanor born in 1824 sadly died, thenJohn 1826 and George 1828. At this point a 4 year gap it seems John and Hannah picking up on the local buzz about opportunities in America must have decided they would emigrate.
Background: In 1830 a mass emigration to United States took place from the nearby parish of Bicester. The town leaders had decided to pay the passage for a number of the town poor. This event increased the local awareness and interest in the Americas.
In 1832 , John and Hannah had somehow managed to raise the capital and pay for the passage to America. This was not an inconsiderable sum , I estimate somewhere between £14 to £16 for the whole family (children were charged at reducing rates by the shipping company). This was the eqivalent of 6 months wages for a Labourer in 1832 so he saved very hard or inherit some money from somewhere.
1832 The Voyage to New York and Settlement
The journey began from Gawcott by Horse and carriage or Cart if they needed to economise and carry more luggage, this would have been a long journey probably as long as 8 days by a horse and cart that could only do 20 miles a day. When they got to Liverpool its entirely likely they spent a similar amount of time in a cheap and dirty boarding house waiting for a ships passage.
The ship that the family boarded in spring of 1832 in Liverpool probably took 45-55 days to cross the Atlantic the family housed in sterage literaly camped below decks and had to cook their own food above decks on communal ovens. They of course could not be used in rough weather. We know that Hannah was 3 months pregnant by the time they arrived in New York so her voyage was even more uncomfortable. Finally on 3 July 1832 they arrived into New York. The family party include
John Blencowe age 34
Hannah Herring his wife age 34 and pregnant
Robert Blencowe age 12
William age 10
John Jr age 6
George Henry age 4
Cholera in New York
The family arrived in New York right in the midst of a Cholera outbreak which occured the month before , the need to get out of New York would have been urgent and why and how John headed for Chenago County we do not know but they probably set out on this journey almost immeadiately . They had to travel roughly 200 miles to Chenago County and this would typically be done by boat via the Hudson River to Albany, then likely the Erie Canal or overland by wagon. This could take 1 to 2 weeks depending on their resources.
In later Census John declares his property a wooden home is value at a modest $100 so he probably wasnt a land owner and while is occupied asa Framer he may have been doing this for others.
In any event in December the first American Blencowe child was born and in relativiley quick succession after the one daughter Fanny, four more boys were to born. Ten years on from arriving everything looks a whole lot better for John and Hannah. It perhaps at this time letters home to Johns older brother Henry start to sow the seed of ambition to come and join then in the land of opportunity.
Family Reunion
In 1852 ,after 20 years of separation older brother Henry 1791 emigrates to Chenango County from Gawcott. Henry is 61 years and is old to start a new pioneering life but he did and with his sons help persevered, soon dairy farming in Guilford. Henry’s wife Ann and son Jesse join his brother the next year 1853 and one year after the family is extended further by nephew Henry 1825 and his wife and family.
Brother Henry 1791 died not that long after 1855 and in the 1860 Census sister-in-law Ann age 68 years is living with John and Hannah, in Bainbridge. Nephew Jesse continued a dairy farm in Guilford and by 1865 his mother Ann was back living with him.
Tree showing brother Henry’s family
The eldest son Robert Blencowe
In 1845 Robert age 27 married Lucy Ann main a resident of Black River, Jefferson County 70 kms away from Bainbridge and possibly by this time he was working in the area rather that near his parents. The birth of the first child Laura in 1847 was in Black River confirming this.
Early Fatherhood: Their first child, Laura, was born in Black River in 1847.
1850 Guilford. Robert Lucy and Laura are living two lots from his father. A comparision in the value of the land they own and farm, is John B $200 and son Robert $300, both smallish farms it seems. Note John B had moved also from Bainbridge in 1840 to Guilford.
Robert Blencoe was the eldest son of John B. Blencowe and Hannah Herring. His life reflects the restless ambition of 19th-century emigrants who, having once crossed an ocean, were willing to move again to secure better land for their children.
The Movement West
By 1850, Robert was farming in Guilford, Chenango County, living just two lots away from his father, John B.. His farm was then valued at $300. However, the family continued west; by 1870, Robert had settled in Galesburg Township, Knox County, Illinois. This move proved successful, as his land value rose to $1,800 with personal wealth of $600.
Timeline- John B Blencowe life at a glance
Event
Date/Location
Details
Full Name
John B Blencowe
Birth Place
Gawcott, Buckinghamshire
Birth Date
20 Apr 1798
Marriage
24 Dec 1818, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
Birth of Son Robert
12 Nov 1820, Gawcott, Buckinghamshire
Birth of Son William A
1822, Gawcott, Buckinghamshire
Birth of Daughter Eleanor
1824, Gawcott, Buckinghamshire
Birth of Son John
1826, Gawcott, Buckinghamshire
Birth of Son George Henry
2 Dec1828, Buckingham, Buckinghamshire
Emigrated a Blencowe variant
1832, New York, New York
3 Jul 1832 Brig Prince Leboo from Liverpool
John Blinco 33 born abt 1799
Hannah 32 born abt 1800
Robert 11 born abt 1821
William 9 born abt 1823
John 6 born abt 1825
George 4
Birth of Daughter Fannie A
6 JUL 1832, Guilford, Chenango County, New York
Birth of Son Henry
1835, New Yor, New York
Birth of Son James
Feb 1836, Masonville, New York
Birth of Son Thomas
Apr 1838, Guilford, Chenango,
Census1840 US
1840, Chenago, New York
John Blenca with the folowing
Children under 5 Two James and Thomas?
Children between 5-10 One Fannie?
Children between 10-15 One Henry?
Children between 15-20 One Unknown
Adult 30-35 One Unknown
Birth of Son Nathan
ABT 1842, New York, New York
Brother Henry joins the family from Gawcott
12 Aug 1852, New York
Brother Henry 61 trs age his wife Ann 60yrs and son Jesse 20yr
Nephew Henry joins the family from Gawcott
10 Aug 1853, New York
Nephew Henry age 31 his wife 33yrs and dau. Anna 2 yrs
Census 1855 New York
1855, Bainbridge, Chenago, NY
John Head
Nathan Blinco son 13
Hannah Blinco Wife 56 years
Henry Blinco Son 20 years
James Blinco Son 19 years
Thomas Blinco Son 17 years
Census US 1860
Bainbridge, Chenango County NY
John Blenco 64
Hannah Blenco 61
Nathan Blenco19
Ann Blenco 68
Proof that brother Henry has died. sister in law Ann is with the family
Death of wife Hannah
6 Sep 1867, New York, New York
Death
3 Feb 1890, Masonville, New York
Descendants
William A. Blencoe (1822–1875) Pioneer of the Wisconsin Prairie
Marriage: In 1853, he married Mary Ann Marks in New York. Mary Ann, born 10 September 1835, had also come from Gawcott, moving to Gilbertsville, NY, in 1849.
William A. Blencoe was the second son of John B. Blencowe and Hannah Herring. While his brother Robert sought the Illinois prairies, William became a prominent pioneer and builder in Jackson County, Wisconsin, where his legacy—the “Brick Block”—still stands today.
The Trek to Wisconsin (1854)
In 1854, the young couple decided to head west, perhaps persuaded by recruitment leaflets promising a glowing future in the new state of Wisconsin. Their journey was a marathon of 19th-century travel almost 800 miles :
The Route: They traveled by train to Chicago, stagecoach to the Mississippi River, and riverboat upstream to the small trading station of La Crosse. The Cow Story: Legend has it that to reach their destination in Garden Valley, William walked all the way from La Crosse to Alma Center leading a cow. The Land: William purchased a Quarter Section (160 acres) from the Federal Government for $1.25 per acre. The land was appealing because it was at the edge of the great forest where the prairie began, meaning there were no stumps to clear before plowing.
The Land: William purchased a Quarter Section (160 acres) from the Federal Government for $1.25 per acre. The land was appealing because it was at the edge of the great forest where the prairie began, meaning there were no stumps to clear before plowing.
Life in Garden Valley
The family’s first home was a log house William built himself. His daughter Ella later recalled that the “pioneer home” had only a blanket for a door, and they could hear wolves howling in the distance.
William was a community builder from the start:
Education: Before the end of 1854, he and a helper built the area’s first schoolhouse, a small structure only 16 x 12 ft. Subsequently, a more substantial frame house was constructed for the family, and in 1866, he acquired another 80 acres of land.
The “Blencoe Block” and a Tragic End (1873–1875)
In 1873, the Green Bay and Minnesota Railroad was built through William’s property. Seeing an opportunity, William accepted $300 for the right-of-way and began constructing a massive three-story inn known as the “Blencoe Brick Block”. It was designed to be a grand hotel with guest rooms, a tavern, and even a third-floor ballroom.
On Christmas Eve, 1875, a Grand Opening Ball was held in the ballroom. However, tragedy struck just days later:
Research Note
Built for an inn by William A. Blencoe in the hopes that a village would grow around it, this large structure contained a ballroom, a store, a tavern, and an ice house. The first ball was held on Christmas Eve, 1875; the owner died 4 days later. A ‘site file’ exists for this property. It contains additional information such as correspondence, newspaper clippings, or historical information. It is a public record and may be viewed in person at the State Historical Society, Division of Historic Preservation. 2024 – The Blencoe Block, located at 12201 State Highway 95 on the western outskirts of Alma Center, was constructed by William Blencoe, a successful businessman from Alma Center in the mid-nineteenth century. He was born in England in 1822. A tradesman, he married his wife Mary in 1855 and had eight children with her. In 1860, the family immigrated to the U.S.[sic], settling in Alma Center, Wisconsin. With his wealth and local prestige, he constructed a large brick inn at the western edge of the village in 1875, near where the railroad passed through his farm, hoping that Alma Center would grow around it. The inn contained several boarding rooms, a store, tavern, ballroom, and an icehouse. On Christmas Eve 1875, Blencoe threw an inaugural ball at the building, but sadly, he died only a few days later. Known locally as the “Brick Block,” Mary and her children continued to live in the building to operate the surrounding Blencoe Farm but were forced to abandon all plans for the inn, store and ballroom due to financial constraints. She eventually sold the property before her death in 1921, which continued to be used as a residence and farm throughout the twentieth century. The Blencoe Block is a rectangular, two-story commercial building with a raised basement along the north elevation. Constructed in 1875 as a roadside inn on a mixed stone and brick foundation, the large building has a brick parapet roof capped with metal flashing. The brick exterior is laid in American bond that appears to have been painted several times. A cornice line with a dentils and a water table course is located below the metal flashing. Windows throughout are primarily four-over-four double-hung wood with stone sills and brick, segmental arch openings and molds. Some of the fenestration has been significantly altered: there is evidence of a series of masonry openings being added, enclosed and/or removed. The façade, which faces north to the highway, has a fenestration pattern comprised of X-D-D-X-D-X, with two wood doors set in brick, segmental arch openings at the ground level. There is an overhead garage door centered along the façade in an opening that has been partially enclosed. The first-floor level of the façade has six windows, covered with aluminum storm windows; this level also has a central, enclosed door or window opening that is set lower than the other windows along the first floor. The second floor of the façade has seven matching windows, spaced unevenly apart. The west elevation has two windows on the first floor and a single, smaller sliding metal window at the south end in a formerly larger opening. There are four windows on the second floor of the west elevation. The south elevation has five windows on the first floor; this southern façade also has a partially enclosed wood porch with a shed roof towards its western end. The second floor has seven windows, spaced equally apart. The east elevation has two windows on the first floor; it additionally has a contemporary sunroom addition at the south end, complete with vinyl siding, vinyl windows, and a shed roof that opens onto a wood deck. The second floor of the east elevation has four windows. The property around the building to the south is relatively flat. There are ruins of a frame machine shed, clad with corrugated metal to the south of the Blencoe Block building. To the west of the Blencoe Block is a metal windmill, a clay tile silo, and stone foundation ruins, implying that the property was used as a farm for some time. Given the changes to the building over time, it is likely that the Blencoe Block was used for different purposes at different times, including as an inn, as an industrial building, as storage, and as a farmhouse. The Blencoe Block as an intact example of a late-nineteenth-century rural commercial building in Jackson County. The building was constructed as an ambitious and large masonry inn on the outskirts of Alma Center in 1875. The Blencoe Block property has likely served several uses since its construction, including an agricultural one, given the collection of farm-related outbuildings around it. While there have been a few changes over time, the building as a whole retains its integrity of location, setting, association, feeling, materials, and workmanship. source https://www.wisconsinhistory.org
Death and Legacy
William fell ill with pneumonia and died on 30 December 1875.
Cause: It was believed he contracted the illness due to the dampness of the fresh plaster in the new building.
Legacy: His widow Mary Ann and their children remained in the home, but abandoned plans for the inn. William is buried in Stanford Cemetery, Alma Center
A notable grandson of William and Mary Ann is Colonel Shirley Guy Miller Blencoe, BSc
Guy served in World War 2, Korea and Vietnam in a long and distinguished military career . In 1973 (100 yrs after the death of his Grandfather) he retired from the U. S. Army, was awarded the Legion of Merit medal during a recent ceremony in the office of the Director of Defense Communications Agency in Arlington. To see his full story go here
Acknowledgement: Some of this material for William A. Blencoe was created by Mary E. Van Gorden & Oscar Blencoe for Chapter 18 of the Blencowe Book published in 2020. The image of the Brick Block and also of William A Blencoe come from that Publication
The Family and The Civil War
John and his family, arrived into a United States that was both growing westwards and through industrialisation, but with some long term weaknesses. The Souths dependency on cheap slave labour clashed on many levels with the North, about the direction of social and political future for the country. John’s boy grew up into the time this difference rendered the country apart. The result was four of the sons served the Union Army in the devastating war, and one gave the unltimate sacrifice for his country.
James story is very much similar to elder brother George because he was also a Blacksmith when the war broke out. They were very much sought after, to assist the Union Army in the war, and he joined up as a travelling civilian Blacksmith. Like brother George, his and his families story is told here
Thomas Blencoe, 1838 – 1870
Thomas a Cooper in Chenago county was recruited by Captain Gordon in 1863 . His story is here
Nathan Blencoe, 1842-1863
The youngest of the family, Nathan signed up for the Union Army before his brothers, he was killed in action in September 1863 . See his war story here
Reference and Source
Parliamentary Papers (UK), 1834 parliamentary inquiry into emigration, reported steerage fares from Liverpool to New York
