From Gawcott to Blencowe Hill, New York
All family Photos kindly supplied by Larry Gorges
A family emigration to New York State
In 1872 two Blencowe brothers John Henry Blencowe b. 1843 and William Blencow b. 1841. They and their families sailed together, to New York, no records have been found that show the details and the ship of this voyage. The travel party consisted of; brother William Blencowe 1841, his wife Elizabeth Blencowe (nee Paragreen), their sons Frederick Blencowe 1864 and Alfred W Blencowe 1872; John Henry Blencowe 1843 and his family, wife Rachel Elizabeth Blencowe (nee Whitehead) 1845, sons William George Blencowe 1865 and Walter Thomas Blencowe 1871.
Life before Emigration
John Henry and his siblings were born in Gawcott, all the ceremonies baptism, marriage and funerals were conducted at the relatively new Holy Trinity Church in the village.
Life changed for William and John Henry when their Mother Martha (Collier) died in 1847, probably in the childbirth of Edwin Blencowe in 1847. This baby Edwin, died 3 months after his birth as well. Their father Henry having young children to look after, needed to re-marry, which he did very quickly to Ann Smith from nearby Padbury. Ann took on the young children but quickly she and Henry began to have children of their own.
In 1851 Census. There is a new stepsister named Susan for the two brothers, but unfortunately, she died young, however more siblings Martha and Joseph came along in the next few years. In the 1861 Census the family is in High St. Gawcott the children ranged from Joseph 2 to William age 20. Their Father Henry was a labourer in the census (but a mason it seems from other sources), eldest son William is classed a labourer, stepmother Ann a Lacemaker. The Lacemaker occupation for women of the household which was a fairly common at this time, especially in the county of Bucks.
In 1871 Census the two brothers were now both married and with children, and they have moved out of the family home, but not gone that far. John Henry is next door to the family at number 38 High St. and brother William and his family at number 68 High St.
Catalyst for the emigration decision
Both brothers in 1871 were agricultural labourers, dependent on daily work most likely and unlike their father who had a masons skill, they would have been subject to changing demands and supply of labour. The village tales and history of other Blencowe emigrants from the village would have been well known. Cousin Jesse Blencowe 5 years younger than John Henry had emigrated just 4 years prior to New York State. I think this is, the most likely to have influenced not only the move, but also the destination.
In Gawcott, the family dynamics had changed, their father with a wife and young family was obviously preoccipied with them, and the brothers own struggles to provide for their families, possibly caused a feeling that “they had nothing to lose” in trying emigration. What is most likely, is the two brothers had a plan for some time to make this trip and that New York State was the chosen destination. However, they needed to save the fares and relocation expenses, because they paid their own passage, as all emigrants to USA did. A steerage ticket from Liverpool to New York in 1872 cost: £4–£6 (one month’s wages for a labourer). For John Henry this means that his family of four would be in the range £16-£24 or 4 months wages (very possible over 1-2 yrs of saving).
Family Tragedy Spring 1871
Baby Walter Thomas died before the family were to leave Gawcott. The baby was buried and registered as Edward Thomas Blencowe. While the first name is wrong, it is almost certainly him, there is no sign of Walter Thomas 1871 in American records. The registraion is Buckingham, but a paupers grave in Gawcott is also why he has been sadly forgotten. The Blencowes though had no choice but to pick themselves up and travel on as planned.
The Voyage and Entry to New York State- Castle Garden
Travelling first from Gawcott to Liverpool 1872 was travel done relatively comfortably and quick (in a day) by rail as compared to John B Blencowe and family voyage in 1832. By 1872 Steam Liner Companies were establish and competitive rates and tickets could be bought well beforehand. An example of the type of ticket that the brothers would have bought shown below:
The RMS Germanic Agent’s Record for Prepaid Steerage Passage, dated 29 May 1880, is an important historical document reflecting the migration of working-class Europeans to the United States during the late 19th century.
“This particular prepaid ticket was purchased for John Price, a 43-year-old British laborer, traveling from Cardiff, Wales, to Scranton, Pennsylvania via steerage class on the RMS Germanic of the White Star Line. For genealogists, this passage record offers valuable details on an ancestor’s migration journey, including who purchased the ticket, where the journey started, and the ultimate destination.”
“The prepaid ticket was a lifeline for many working-class immigrants, as it allowed families already in America to send money for loved ones to join them, facilitating family reunification and the growth of immigrant communities in the United States.” Note: There is no evidence of anyone from the family sponsoring, meeting the two brothers in the USA two cousins were in USA by 1872 William Henry 1834 and Jesse 1848, Jesse was actually in Wisconsin by this time even further away. I dont believe they met up in America.
The Blencowes arrived in New York between spring and summer of 1872, and disembarked to the immigration processing facility of the Castle Garden.
The immigration building was originally a fort, situated on a small island off the New York Battery it was where all immigrants were processed. The process was relatively relaxed compared to the 20th-century. The Blencowes were allowed when disembarked from the ship into the Castle Garden to freely roam the interior of the building. Although subjected to a immigration officer interogation, mainly questions were about planned destination and how the family was going to pay for the travel and shipping of their baggage to the destination. One could speculate that they gave their cousins Norwich, NY adress but did not intend to go there, because it seems in fairly short order they are instead in Erwin/Corning, Steuben County, NY some 170 miles away Norwich.
The New home- Mulholland Road and its farming plots
We know from later census information that the brothers John Henry 1843 and William 1841 each obtained land to farm in the hilly forested land that borders this Mullholland road and creek and the Corning Town boundary. Research shows, this land was all sold by the Pulteney Estate. and in the case of both brothers, I believe we have the evidence to suggest it was originally ‘leased to buy’. The land was poor forested land and clearing for farming would have been back breaking work. The timber was taken to the nearby Gang Mills I suspect and this was income was originally derived for the two families from this. Later farming of crops was probably the most likely income that sustained the families. The green area of this section of the 1873 survey map shows the plots that the Blencowes were to settle from later census information its plot 4 or 5 on this map.
1875 New York Census
Erwin County. John Blinko (as recorded) is in a location with three neighbours between him and brother William. John Henry’s property is valued at $200 whilst Williams is $50, perhaps indicative of lot size. The family has grown by one since arrival, Thomas the baby is 8 months old. Note at this stage the brothers refer to themselves as Labourers which may translate to leasees of the land as I previously speculated.
1876 John Henry in the News
1880 US Census
Erwin Township. John Henry is located with next door neighbours of Cowen and Ludwig. The other side of Ludwig is William Blencowe.
| John Blinco | 36 | Head Occ. Labourer |
| Rachel Blinco | 36 | Wife |
| William Blinco | 15 | Son Labourer |
| Anna Blinco | 8 | Daughter |
| Thomas Blinco | 5 | Son |
| John Blinco | 3 | Son |
| Martha Blinco | 6/12 | Daughter |
The District 6 Rural Schoolhouse
The children would have attended this school on Mullholland Rd. For John Blencowe’s children in 1880, William 15 Anna 8 and Thomas 5 this was the one school room they attended all together, the walk to the District 6 schoolhouse would have been roughly 1 to 2 miles along the dirt path of Mulholland Road.
1884 Widower
The death of Rachel his wife at age 39 on 10 July 1884, must have beeen a big shock to John Henry, still with children as young as Martha age 5 it would have been a very difficult time.
1888 Eldest son marries
William George the eldest son at 23 years marries an American born woman Grace Irene Blodgett and its the beginning of the family migrating to their own farms.
1892 New York State Census
Erwin Township. Note: John Henry and William neighbours both now calling themselves farmers. This looks to set a time when the lease was converted to ownership.
1903 – Rattlesnake Hunt
1905 New York Census
In this census the families of Tom Blencowe 1875 and John Blencowe 1877 are adjacent. My speculation is then that John Henry sold the plot to Tom it was divided for living purposes and John Henry and John are working for Tom.
John Blencowe 61 Father Farm Labourer
John Blencowe 28 Day Labourer
Grace E Blencowe 25
Charlotte M Blencowe 9
Fannie G Blencowe 3
Lillie Blencowe 1
1910 US Census
John Henry is retired and living with son Tom and his family at 98 Mullholland Rd. and at number 97 is son John 1877 and his family.
Number 98 Mulholland Rd.
| Tom Blencowe | 35 | Head Farmer |
| May Blencowe | 33 | Wife |
| Thomas J Blencowe | 13 | Son |
| Mary A Blencowe | 11 | Daughter |
| Flossie M Blencowe | 9 | Daughter |
| Herald Blencowe | 7 | Son |
| John Blencowe Sr | 65 | Father |
Number 97 Mulholland Rd.
| John Blencowe Jr | 32 | Head Farmer |
| Grace Blencowe | 30 | Wife |
| Charlotte M Blencowe | 13 | Daughter |
| Fanny G Blencowe | 8 | Daughter |
| Lilly Blencowe | 6 | Daughter |
| Nelson Blencowe | 1 | Son |
World War One 1917-18
While John Henry’s children were too old for this war, his grandsons were not and three grandsons served.
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George William 1890-1942. Private, 3673940, 59th Infantry US Army 1918 France |
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John Elmer Blencowe 1893-1953. Private First Class, 1737424, 312th Infantry Coy F, 78th Division. 1918 France and Belgium |
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Thomas James Michael Blencowe 1896 – 1959. Sergeant, 336th Infantry, 84th Infantry Division. 1917-1918 France |
1920 US Census
6 January 1920 Erwin Township
| Thomas Bleucowe | 45 | Head |
| Rozilla M Bleucowe | 43 | Wife |
| Harold A Bleucowe | 16 | Son |
| John Bleucowe | 80 | Father |
Death 1922
Died Sunday, 15th January 1922
From the Evening Leader, Corning, N.Y. – Monday, 16-Jan-1922. Pg. 9. John Blencowe died suddenly at his home on Blencowe Hill Sunday morning. Mr. Blencowe was 81 years old and had been a life long resident in this vicinity, coming here from England when a young boy. He is survived by four sons, John, Joseph, Thomas, and William Blencowe and two daughters, Mrs. Anna Allen and Mrs. Martha Blodgett. There are 26 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren also surviving. The funeral will be held Tuesday at 3 o’clock at the Mulhollen school house. The Rev. F.R. Hawley, pastor of the Gospel Tabernacle will officiate. Burial will be made in the Erwins Cemetery.
John Henry Blencowe’s Legacy
When he died all of his four sons had farms of their own, thus his and Rachels decision to move to America can only be seen as highly successful and created a generation of independent Blencowes in a increasingly properous society. However, the future for the Blencowe farms was less bright. The land was great for initial settlement, but over time the expansion of large farms meant the small plots were less viable. The great depression arrived in the 1920s and little by little the farms were sold. The ‘New Deal’ reforestation finally reclaimed much of the land. The Blencowes though, had new prospects at the Corning Glassworks, which was growing at a rate and employed many of John Henry’s descendants.
Snapshot facts
- Born: Gawcott, 1843
- Married: Rachel Whitehead, Gawcott
- Arrived: New York, USA, 1872
- Main occupations: Agricultural Labourer, Farmer
- Died: Erwin, NY, 1922
- Burial: 1922
Sources
- Blencowe Book, chapter 18
- GG Archives: Castle Garden Immigration
- Errata – The Blencowe Book, chapter 18 page 306 describes George William Blencowe 1865 grandparents as John and Hannah Herring; they were in fact William Blencowe 1788 and Hannah Smith 1790
- Ancestry Family Tree, L Gorges. Many photos and stories