New England Families

Newburg Maine, Vital Records, Births, 1854 - 1939
page 204 of their book

Record of Births by Deposition, Newburg, Maine
September 14, 1859
Newburg, Maine
Martha E Cowan
father: Benjamin Cowan, soldier and farmer, born in Salem, Maine
mother: Roseanna Inman, born in Newburg
parents' residence: Newburg

1860 Census, Hampden, Penobscot Co., Maine
Post Office: West Hampden
June 18, 1860
Series M653, Roll 447, Page 357, family 413 and 414
June 18, 1860

Inman, Benjamin, 86, farmer, real estate: $700, personal estate: $600
Inman, Rhoda, 73
Page, Joana, 36, domestic
Page, Abba D., 6
Page, Anne D., 6
Page, Thomas P., 4

Benjamin Cowan, 26, male, laborer, no real estate or personal estate
Rose Cowan, 20, female
Martha E Cowan, 1, female
Sarah Davis, 8, female

All born in Maine

----
Rose Cowan was the daughter of Benjamin and Rhoda (Davis) Inman
Rhoda Inman was a Davis by birth

 

1870 Census Hampden, Penobscot County, Maine
Series M593, Roll 554, Page 61.
June 18, 1870
with others, "inmates of poor house"

Page, Joanna, 48
Cowan, Martha, 12, attended school
Cowan, Augusta, 6, attended school
Cowan, Eva, 3
all born in Maine

note: Joanna (Inman) Page, was the sister of Rosanna (Inman) Cowan, and the aunt of the three Cowan children listed here.

Page 7 of The 1870-71 Report of the Selectmen of the Town of Hampden, Maine lists Martha, Augustus and Cora E Cowan as pauper inmates of the alms house during the year ending March 1871. Page 8 says that Hampden received $351.34 from Salem Maine in the past year for the support of the Cowan children.

Report found at:
https://heirloomsreunited.blogspot.com/2012/03/1870-71-report-of-selectmen-of-town-of.html

1880 United States Census
7th Ward, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine
NA Film Number: T9-0486, Page 241B,
at 5 Fruit Street, same house as his father

house 17, family 19
Oscar S. PAGE Self, 25, laborer, born in Maine, parents also
Martha E. PAGE Wife, 23, keeping house, born in Maine, parents in Massachusetts
Joseph O. PAGE Son, 2, born in Maine, parents also

[note: Martha's parents were not born in Massachusetts]

"United States Census, 1880," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MFQM-KGR : accessed 24 Dec 2013), Oscar S. Page, Bangor, Penobscot, Maine, United States; citing sheet 241B, family 0, NARA microfilm publication T9-0486

listed at 5 Emerson Block, Bangor, in the 1883 City Directory

listed at 50 Waterville, Portland, in the 1884 City Directory

listed at 1 Percival Place, East Boston in the 1886 City Directory

listed at 170 Putnam Street, East Boston, in the 1893 City Directory

1900 Federal Census, MA, Suffolk, Boston, 1st Ward.
Series T623, Roll 675, page 35. house 262, family 394
Vol 64, Enum. Dist. 1155, Sheet 17A, Line 40ff.

Living at 104 Brooks St., (East Boston), renting.

Page, Oscar S, born Sep 1854, 45, married 25 years, fireman-locomotive, born in Maine, parents also, out of work 9 months in past year
----, Martha E, born Sep 1859, 40, married 25 years, five children, five alive, born in Maine, parents also
----, Joseph O, born May 1878, 22, plumber, born in Maine, parents also, out of work 6 months in past year
----, Wm. J, born May 1882, 18, finisher-painter, born in Maine, parents also, out of work 11 months in past year
----, Augustus E L, born Jun 1885, 14, born in Massachusetts, parents in Maine, in school
----, Stover D F, born Apr 1893, 7, born in Massachusetts, parents in Maine, in school

Heies, Abbie E, daughter, born Jul 1880, 19, Widowed, married for 0 years, 1 child, 1 alive, born in Maine, parents also, occupation: millinery, out of work 6 months in past year
Heies, Herman O F, grandson, born Feb 1898, 2, born in Massachusetts, parents in Maine

[note incorrect spelling of Heise]

"United States Census, 1900," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M9Y7-HNQ : accessed 24 Dec 2013), Oscar S Page, Precinct 2 Boston city Ward 1, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing sheet , family 394, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1240675.

listed at 104 Brooks Street, East Boston, in the 1900 City Directory

living at 104 Brooks Street, East Boston, when the 1900 Census was taken

listed at 144 Webster Street, East Boston, in the 1902 City Directory

listed at 365 Broadway in the 1907 City Directory

listed at 60 Brimmer Street, Brewer, in the 1909 City Directory

1910 Federal Census, Maine, Penobscot Co., 4th Ward of Brewer
Series T624, Roll 544, page 65, house 106, family 123
Renting at 60 Brimmer St., Brewer.

Page, Oscar S.: Head, M, 50, married 1x for 32 years, Fireman, steam railroad, born in Maine, parents also
----, Martha E. Wife, F, 48, married 1x for 32 years, 5 children, 5 living, born in Maine, parents also
---, William J., Son, M, 27, married 1x for 5 years, Fireman, steam railroad, born in Maine, parents also
---, Augustus E., Son, M, 23, married 1x for 2 years, born in Massachusetts, parents in Maine, House painter, out of work for 8 months in 1909 and was out of work when the census was taken on April 15, 1910
---, Stover, D. F., Son, M, 17, single, born in Massachusetts, parents in Maine, didn't work or attend school.

---, Margaret L., daughter in law, (with line and arrow pointing to William J.). F, 21, married 1x for 5 years, 3 children, 3 living. born in Massachusetts, father also, mother in England

---, Ada M., daughter in law, (with line and arrow pointing to Augustus E.), F, 29, married twice, this time for 2 years, 1 child, 1 living, born in Maine, parents also [note: where is her child?]

---, Joseph P., brother, M, 38, divorced, fireman, steam railroad, born in Maine, parents also. Was out of work on April 15, 1910, but not at all in 1909.

---, Mary E., niece, F, 14, S, in school, born in Maine, parents also
[note: almost certainly the daughter of Joseph P. on the line above.]

---, Ezra A., grandson, M, 5, not in school, born in Maine, father also, mother in Massachusetts
---, Lillian M. granddaughter, F, 2 11/12, S, born in Maine, father also, mother in Massachusetts
---, Florence M. granddaughter, F, 11/12, S, born in Maine, father also, mother in Massachusetts
[note: these last three are the children of William J and Margaret L listed in this household.]

All in the household who were old enough could read, write and speak English, all were white.

"United States Census, 1910," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MR3D-Y26 : accessed 24 Dec 2013), Oscar S Page, Brewer Ward 4, Penobscot, Maine, United States; citing sheet , family 123, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1374557.

living at 60 Brimmer Street, Brewer, when the 1910 census was taken

Bangor Daily News
May 4, 1917, page 2
In the municipal court Thursday further hearing was ordered in the case of several Page children, now living with their grandmother in Third street. Complaint was made by Miss Marion Porter, state cruelty officer, that the children were not properly cared for. Postponement was had to May 12. The father is William J Page of Portland and the mother is Margaret Page of Brewer.

Martha was living on Third Street in May 1917, when a court hearing was held regarding custody of the Paige children.

Boston Globe, May 20, 1917, page 15

Mother Wins Tug-of-War in Court Over Her Boy
[dateline:] Bangor, Maine, May 19
Mother and grandmother had a tug-of-war over a 12-year-old boy in the Police Court this morning with so much fierceness that a policeman was called in to separate them, the mother winning by getting away with the boy.
A hearing had been given in the case of Mrs Margaret Page of Brewer, whose five children had been placed in the custody of their grandmother, Mrs Martha Page of Bangor, for proper keeping. The mother applied for custody and while the matter was being considered, she made a quick rush for the boy. No attempt was made to get the boy back today and the case will be given a further hearing next week.

Bangor Daily News
26 May 1917, page 12
LAWYER LIBERATES PAGE CHILDREN
Latest Episode in Peculiarly Persistent Effort to Take Them From Mother.

The much discussed and oft-continued case of the five Page children was before the municipal court on Friday for still another hearing. The action was brought by Miss Marion Porter, state cruelty officer, who alleged that the children were being neglected. Miss Porter was represented by O'Connor & Conquest and Harry J Chapman represented the grandmother of the children. The father is William J Page, now in Portland.

Judge Blanchard decided that the children be placed in the custody of Miss Porter until further order, but Attorney Chapman entered an appeal and informed the mother that she could take her children with her. To this Miss Porter objected, and the door of the judge's room was closed to corral the flock, but Mr Chapman opened another door and told the mother and children to go out that way, the appeal to the supreme court being sufficient to take the matter out of the jurisdiction of the lower court, in his opinion. And the Page family departed in triumph.

1920 Census, Bangor, Maine, Ward 3
Series T625, Roll 645, Page 1B. E.D. 63, Sheet 1B
January 2, 1920

renting at 18 Sanford St.

Gray, William M., head, 60, born in Maine, parents also, car worker, railroad
-----, Martha E., wife, 53, born in Maine, parents also
Page, Lillian M., Step-granddaughter, 12, school, born in Maine, father in Maine, mother in Massachusetts
Page, Florence M., Step-granddaughter, 10, school, born in Maine, father in Maine, mother in Massachusetts
Page, Jerome O., Step-grandson, 6, not in school, born in Maine, father in Maine, mother in Massachusetts

and 4 lodgers

 

living at 18 Sanford St when the 1920 census was taken

Bangor Daily News, August 6, 1929, page 12, column 4:
Miss Florence L Paige of Roxbury, Mass. arrived Monday morning for a visit with her grandparents, Mr and Mrs William M Gray on Main Street.

Bangor Daily News, Tuesday, August 20, 1929, page 8, column 1:
Miss Florence L Paige and W. H. Mumbar left Saturday for their homes in Roxbury, Mass. after a few weeks visit with their grandparents, Mr and Mrs William M Gray on Main Street. They were accompanied by their grandmother, Mrs Gray, who will spend several days with relatives in Roxbury, Mass.

notes: William M Mumler, age 21, was living at 140 Walnut Ave, Roxbury, not far from Alpine Street where the Paiges were living in 1929. On the 1930 census his occupation was "mapper in an office" and on the List of Residences in Boston it was "clerk." His father, William M Mumler, Sr., was a "musician, orchestra", born in Maine.

question: Did Zeke go back to Maine with his sister Florence and William Mumler? They probably wouldn't have traveled unaccompanied back then. Zeke was on the List of Residents of Boston in 1928 but was back in Maine by the 1930 census.

1930 Census Bucksport, Hancock, Maine;
Roll 833, Page 1A, Enumeration District 8.
this enumeration was taken Apr 7, 1930
Renting $10/mo on Main Street, river side

William M. Gray, 71, married 1st at 14, born in Maine, parents also, laborer, odd jobs, out of work at present, and for 2 months in past year,
Martha E. Gray, 61, married 1st at 15, born in Maine, father in Massachusetts, mother in Maine, proprietress, boarding house
Charles E. Patten, 20, Boarder, carpenter
Augustus E. Page, 23, Grandson, single, born in Maine, parents in Massachusetts, chauffeur, construction co.

"United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XM8T-519 : accessed 29 Mar 2014), Augustus E Page in household of William M Gray, Bucksport, Hancock, Maine, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0008, sheet 1A, family 10, NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 833

living on Main Street when the 1930 census was taken

Boston City Directory, 1933
Gray William M painter (Martha E) 19 Creston Rox (usually reflects the situation the year before)
Note: Martha's granddaughter Lillian (Paige) Walsh and her husband were living at that address in 1930, but were on Galena Street in 1931 and 1932.
William and Martha Gray are not in the 1931 or 1932 Boston City Directory

Their 1934 information in the Boston List of Residents 20 years of age and over said that on Apr 1, 1933 they were living at 9 Tupelo Street.

City of Boston, List of Residents 20 years of age and over
Apr 1, 1934
48 Cobden St., Roxbury, Ward 11, precinct 7
Francis John W clerk 22
Gray Martha E housewife 74
Gray William M painter 75
their residence Apr 1, 1933: 9 Tupelo

City of Boston, List of Residents 20 years of age and over

Jan 1, 1935
48 Cobden St., Roxbury, Ward 11, precinct 7
Francis Florence housewife 25
Francis John laborer 24
Gray Martha housewife 76
Gray William retired 75
Page Jerome O laborer 21
their residence Apr 1, 1934: here

City of Boston, List of Residents 20 years of age and over
Jan 1, 1936
95 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Francis John laundryman 24
Gray Martha housewife 76
Gray William M retired 75
Page Jerome laundryman 24
their residence Jan 1, 1935: 48 Cobden

Jan 1, 1937
95-97 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Gray Martha housewife 77
Gray William M retired 76
Page Jerome laundryman 23
their residence Jan 1, 1936: here

Jan 1, 1938
95-97 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Francis Florence housewife 28
Francis John laundryman 27
Gray Martha housewife 78
Gray William M retired 77
Page Jerome laundryman 24
their residence Jan 1, 1937: here

Jan 1, 1939
95-97 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Francis Florence M housewife 30
Francis John W laundryman 27
Gray Martha E housewife 79
Gray William M retired 78
Page Jerome O salesman 25
their residence Jan 1, 1938: here

Jan 1, 1940
95-97 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Francis Florence M housewife 30
Francis John W foreman 28
Gray Martha E at home 80
Gray William M retired 79
Page Jerome O chauffeur 27
their residence Jan 1, 1939: here

Jan 1, 1941
95-97 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Francis Florence M housewife 31
Francis John W foreman 29
Gray Martha E at home 81
Gray William M retired 81
Page Jerome O salesman 28
their residence Jan 1, 1940: here

Jan 1, 1942
95-97 Rossmore Road, JP, Ward 11, precinct 14
Francis Florence M housewife 32
Francis John W foreman 30
Gray Martha M housewife 82
Gray William M retired 81
Page Jerome O salesman 28
their residence Jan 1, 1941: here

1940 Census, Ward 11, Boston, Massachusetts
renting at 95 Rossmore Road
Apr 16, 1940

John Frances, head, 28, 4 yrs HS, born in Massachusetts, foreman, laundry
Florence, wife, 30, 8 yrs school, born in Maine
John W, son, 2, born in Massachusetts
Donald R, son, 2/12, 3/12, 7/12?, born in Massachusetts
Paige, Jerome, brother in law, 24, 1 yr HS, born in Maine, truck driver, laundry
Gray, William, lodger, 82, 8 yrs school, born in Maine
Martha, lodger's wife, 82, 8 yrs school, born in Maine

all lived in Boston in 1935, but not in the same house

"United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K4JB-W9R : accessed 27 Mar 2014), John Frances, Ward 11, Boston, Boston City, Suffolk, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 15-419C, sheet 2B, family 35, NARA digital publication of T627, roll 1669.

living at 95 Rossmore Road when the 1940 census was taken

1941 Boston City Directory
Gray William M (Martha) h 95 Rossmore Road, JP

1942 Boston City Directory
Gray William M (Martha) h 95 Rossmore Road, JP

Martha and William Gray were on the 1942 "List of residents of Boston 20 years of age and over" but not listed in 1943.

1943: the page for Gray is missing in ancestry's images of the Boston City Directory

1944 not listed

 

Martha had been in Melrose for 8 months when she died, according to her death record.

died at 21 Orient Ave, Melrose

Death Record, Martha Ellen (Cowan) Page Gray

Full Name: Martha Ellen Gray (Cowan)
Date of Death: October 14, 1943
Place of Death: 21 Orient Avenue, Melrose, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts
Residence: 21 Orient Avenue
in community: 8 months
Sex: Female
Color or Race: White
Marital status: Widowed
Name of spouse: William Gray
Age : 84 years 1 month
Occupation: at home
Name of Father: Benjamin Cowan
Birthplace of Father: Newburg, Maine
Maiden Name of Mother: Rosanna Abbott
Birthplace of Mother: Newburg, Maine
Informant: Augustus E. Page
Relationship: Son
Address: 21 Orient Ave, Melrose
Cause of Death: Uremia (duration 3 days), Due to Renal Arterio Sclerosis (1YR)
Generalized Arterio Sclerosis (years)
Date of burial: October 16, 1943
Place of burial: Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose