Michigan Family Group Sheet

William LAFERTY Family

Counties: Kent & Van Buren


 HUSBAND & WIFE
Husband: William LAFERTY
Birth Date: Abt 1836
Birth Place: NY
Death date: 25 May 1891
Death Place: Van Buren, MI
Burial Place: 
Father: Alexander LAFERTY (Abt 1803-1870)
Mother: Jemina A. LAWRENCE (Abt 1811-1886)
Other Spouse:  Cathryn (Abt 1839-         )  
Other Spouse:  Mentoria Bennett Rockwell BAILEY 
Wife: Harriet PAGE
Birth Date: 31 Jan 1847
Birth Place: MI
Death date: 15 Aug 1934
Death Place: Ferndale, Whatcom, WA
Burial Place: 
Father: Nathaniel PAGE (Abt 1807-1872)
Mother: Wealthy Matilda PECK (Abt 1808-         )
Other Spouse:  Charles HOUSE 
Marriage Date: 8 Sep 1863Marriage Place: Colombia, Van Buren, MI

CHILDREN
Child No. 1: Frances LAFERTY
Sex: F
Birth Date: Abt 1865 
Birth Place: Van Buren, MI
Death Date: 9 Jun 1946
Death Place: Seattle, King, WA
Burial Place: 
Marriage Date: Abt 1885
Marriage Place: Van Buren, MI,
Spouse's Name: Ransom David MEACHAM (1864-1935)
Child No. 2: Sanford Edgar (Edward) LAFERTY
Sex: M
Birth Date: 1867
Birth Place: Breedsville, Van Buren, MI
Death Date:  25 Sep 1868
Death Place: Breedsville, Van Buren, MI
Burial Place: 
Marriage Date: 
Marriage Place: 
Spouse's Name: 
Child No. 3: Mentoria LAFERTY
Sex: 
Birth Date: 10 Dec 1871
Birth Place: Van Buren, MI
Death Date: 20 Mar 1875
Death Place: Breedsville, Van Buren, MI
Burial Place: 
Marriage Date: 
Marriage Place: 
Spouse's Name: 

Documentation:
General Notes (Husband)
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The 6 Jun 1855 Census for Barre Township, Albion, Orleans County,NYshows that William Lafferty was married to a 16 year old woman named Cathryn.He was the father of a baby girl who was listed as 1 year old.  Williamlisted his occupation as "shoemaker" and stated that he had lived in thetown of Barre, Albion for 18 years. This would indicate that the Laffertyfamily was in Orleans County at least by 1837.   Living in thesame home was a young man who stated his occupation was that of "clerk". His name was Henry French, age 17. 
He could possibly have been a relation to Cathryn Lafferty, however hewas born and raised in Orleans and Cathryn was not.

The family lived next door to the Hugh Lavery Family who had livedin Orleans for 16 years.  
The Lavery family lived in St. Lawrence prior to this as their older childrenwere born there.  
The wife of Hugh Lavery, Cynetha Lavery was 43 years old and was also bornin St. Lawrence.

Nothing more is known of this first marriage or any subsequent childrenborn to the couple.  
It also is not clear where William was in 1860 as he is not listed in the1860 Census for MI or NY.

However, on 8 Sep 1863, he was in Columbia, Van Buren County, MIwhere he married Harriet Page, the daughter of Nathaniel and Wealthy PeckPage. The marriage was witnessed by Andrew Shiner of Columbia and AbramPeck of Columbia. They were married by S. B. Truesdel, Justice of the Peace.William was 27 years old and Harriet was 17.

Children born to this couple include the following:

     Frances                 born:     abt 1865       died:      9 Jun 1946
     Edward Lafferty         born:     abt. Apr 1867   died:     25 Sep 1868
     Sanford Edgar           (Breedsville Cemetery -died at the age of 1 year 5 mo
     Mentoria (Minnie)       born:     10 Dec 1871     died:     20 Mar 1875

William was a Town Constable for the Township of Columbia for theyears 1865 -1867 and the years 1876 - 1879 an office that was elected annually.

(Other possible relatives or friends who served as township officerswere: Thomas P. Page (1861), Jerome Rockwell (1866), William Peck (1872)and  Charles F. Peck (1879);   also Amos S. Brown (1858-59 and 1862-64),  and Amasa Brown (1873 and (1875-79), who marriedElizabeth Lafferty, were Supervisors for the township.)
 

1870 Census - Breedsville, Columbia Twp., Van Buren County, MI.
     Lafferty, William    35years      Farmer           b. NY
              Harriet    24 years      KeepingHse       b. MI
              Frances     5 years      AtHome             MI

According to the IGI, 1988 Edition, (Film #1019201 Batch C518833Serial 3093) a Minnie Lafferty was born 10 Dec 1871 in Van Buren, MI, toWilliam and Harriet Lafferty.  This child died 20 Mar 1875 at theage of 3 years.  She is buried in Breedsville Cemetery in Columbia,Van Buren County, MI.  Grave location is near the northwest cornerto the flagpole area.

A son, Sanford Edgar, son of William and Harriet Lafferty is alsoburied near Minnie.  He died at the age of 1 year, 5 months, dateunknown. State of Michigan death record #211 for 25 Sep 1868 list the deathof a son of William and Harriet Lafferty.  His name was listed as"Edward Lafferty, 1 year 5 months.  Cause of death was listed as "congestionof the brain".   This death was recorded 29 May 1869.

The Lafferty family by 1880 consisted of the following members:

1880 Census - Columbia, Van Buren County, MI
     Lafferty,  William   46years (married)  Livery Stable  b. NY
               Harriet   28 years (married)  House Keeper   b.MI
               Fannie    15 years (daughter) does hsework   b.MI
           Page, Wealthy 72 years (wife's m.) does hsework  b. CT

He and Harriet eventually separated and divorced after 1880 she remarriedCharles House prior to 1889.

He married Mentoria Bailey Bennett Rockwell Eckler Laferty on June24, 1889. She had been married four times previously and he wrote thathe had been married twice. His daughter, Fannie Laferty Meacham was a witnessat this wedding.  Two years later, William Laferty died on 25 May1891. The cause of death was listed as "consumption".  His place ofbirth was listed as New York. His occupation was that of "shoemaker" andAlexander Laferty was listed as his father.  The death was recorded31 May 1892. (Film #1019195)

William was born sometime between 1831 and 1836 as his age varieswith the census.

Seven months after William died, Mentoria Laferty, widow of WilliamLafferty, of Van Buren, MI was married 17 Dec 1891 to Nelson Vandecar (Film#1019198 Batch M518832).
 

Siblings of William Lafferty also living in Van Buren County, MI,include:

Elizabeth Lafferty  (Film#1019198)   married AmasaM. Brown (b.1848)
                                       14 Nov 1867
                   The Breedsville Cemetery lists an Elizabeth Brown 1850-1921
                   buried with Amasa M. Brown 8 Oct 1845 - 25 Feb 1913
Mary M. Lafferty    (Film #1019197)    married Hinckley Moore  29 Aug 1864
Charles Lafferty    (Film#1019201) married Matilda
                   child: Nora Lafferty (b. 19 Oct 1869)
         (1870 Census forColumbia lists Charles age as 25; Matilda as 17 years;
         Norah or Sarahas 10 months old, born in August of 1869).
Alexander Laferty   served in Civil War 13th MichiganInfantry 1862-1865
                   applied 21 Jun 1886  for a Civil War Pension; appl. #559,726;
                   cert.#504,141.
                   (1900 Census - Alexander Laferty was enumerated with Amasa
                   Brown, brother-in-law; born N.Y., Aug 1847, 56 years of age.)
                   Vol 74 ED 136, Sheet 6, Line 90.
Robert Lafferty     born Jun 1853 , NY Lived with Ransom Meacham 1900/03,
                   WA- Seattle City Directories, 1900-03.

William Lafferty was divorced from Harriet Page Lafferty sometimearound 1889

1891 - Probate Records:  MI, Van Buren County.     William Lafferty died 25 May 1891

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General Notes (Wife)
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Harriet Page            b. abt 1845 in MI
1850 - Census (taken Sept 14th, 1850) - Byron twsp, Kent County,MI
     Nathaniel     45   farmer    b. MI
     Mathilda      43        b. ? CT
     James         21        b. Canada
     Rosanna       18        b. Canada
     Ephraim       15        b. Canada
     Mary          10        b. MI
     John           9        b. MI
     Sarah          7        b. MI
     Harriet        5        b. MI
     Franklin       3        b. MI
     Charles        1        b. MI

1860 Census - Breedsville, Van Buren County, MI, July, 1860
     Nathaniel Page     52 years  farmer         b.N.J.
     Matilda Page       52 years                b. CT
          Ephraim       23 years  farmer    b. Canada
          John          19   farmer
          Sarah         18   domestic
          Harriet       15   domestic
          Mary          20   domestic
          Franklin      13
          Charles       10
          George         7 years      b. MI
          William        3 years      b. MI
          Stewart,Mary E.19 years     Teacher   b. NY

1863 -    MI, Van Buren County.  Book A, Page456
     Date of Marriage: 8 Sep 1863;  Placeof Marriage: Nathaniel Page's.
              William Lafferty, age 27, of Columbia
                   Harriet Page, age 17 of Columbia
              Marriage performed by:  S.B. Trusdel, J.P.
              Witnesses: Andrew Shiner & Abram Peck
              Children:
                        Frances "Fannie" Laferty
                        Sanford Edgar (Edward) Laferty
                        Mentoria "Minnie" Laferty

Harriet Laferty and George W. Page were witnesses at the weddingof Ephraim R. Page and Mary E. Ostrander on July 28, 1879.  Ephraimwas 38 years old and Mary was 26 years old.

She and William Laferty eventually separated sometime between 1880and 1889. However they were still together in 1880.

1880 Census - Van Buren County, MI
     Lafferty, William            46 years       occupation:  livery stable
              Harriet            28 years
              Page, Wealthy           72 years        wife's mother

1882 -    When Nathaniel's estate was settled, Harrietand Wealthy were residing in Van Buren County.

Harriet and William Lafferty were divorced prior to 1889 as she marriedCharles House about that time.Harriet and Charles House lived in Seattlefrom 1900 to about 1930.  About 1930 Harriet must have moved to Ferndalewith Ransom and Frances Lafferty Meacham as she died there on 15 Aug 1934.Burial was at Enterprise Cemetery, 7041 Vista Drive,  Ferndale, WA,grave 6, lot 2, 8 G in the Meacham family plot of four sites.  Sheis buried next to one John Johnson (1885 - 1934), the next space is unoccupiedand the fourth belongs to Ransom Meacham.

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Submitted by: Donna Mullen
Please contact submitter with any questions or to exchange dataon this family.