CONNIE LENZEN, CG

E-mail: clenzen@oregonvos.net

The Search for David Lufkin and Caroline Kelsey,

Parents of Susan Josephine (Dudley) Titus

By Connie Lenzen

Page 2, The Search for David Lufkin

With precise information about David Lufkin, it would seem the search for him should be relatively easy. He was:

  • Born in Ipswich Mass, formerly a seaman, latterly a boot maker
  • Living in Charlestown, Massachusetts in 1865

    • Boston Research:

    Assuming the birth information sent by Matilda Goddard is correct Milla Tzilla Lufkin, David's child, was born in Boston, 12 May 1865. Indexes to Boston births and the records were searched. No Lufkin or Kelsey child of the right birth date was found. [1]

    City Directories:

    We look at the Boston city directories. A number of Lufkin and Kelsey entries were found, but no David or Caroline.

    Boston City Directories, years as noted:

    1863 [2]

    Kelsey, Dennis, laborer, house 48 Broadway
    Kelsey, Dennis, laborer, house 48 Broadway
    Kelsey, John B., tinman, 15 School, house 47 Joy
    Kelsey Rosewell, engineer, house 120 Saratoga, E.B.
    Kelsey William, upholsterer, 82 Lincoln, house at E. Cambridge
    Kelsey William jr, upholsterer, 82 Lincoln, house at East Cambridge
    Lufkin, Deborah, widow, house 64 Albion
    Lufkin George W, house Athens, near E
    Lufkin John, engineer, h National, n. Thomas
    Lufkin Leroy C. police station 4, h 136 Albany
    Lufkin Nath'l, anchor maker, 100 Bremen, h do
    Lufkin Randall, teamster, Quincy Hall, h 53 Oak
    Lufkin Samuel S. cooper, h 141 Meridian. E. B.
    Lufkin Wm. H. fireman, house D, near Athens.

    1864 [3]

    Lufkin, Deborah, widow, house 64 Albion
    Lufkin George W, clerk, 40 March row, h Hanover
    Lufkin John, engineer, h National, n. Thomas
    Lufkin Leroy C. police station 4, h 136 Albany
    Lufkin Nath'l, anchor maker, 100 Bremen, h do
    Lufkin Samuel A. cooper, h 141 Meridian. E. B.
    Lufkin Wm. H. fireman, house Dorch, c Quincy

    1865 [4]

    Kelsey, John B., tinsmith, 15 School, house 47 Joy
    Kelsey, Wm., upholsterer, 82 Lincoln, house at East Cambridge
    Kelsey Wm. Jr upholsterer, 82 Lincoln, house at East Cambridge
    Lufkin, Geo. W. house 311 third
    Lufkin John, engineer, h. National near Thomas
    Lufkin John N. bds. 141 Meridian, E.B.
    Lufkin Leroy C. police station 4, h 52 Harvard
    Lufkin Martha W. seamstress, house 64 Albion
    Lufkin Nathaniel, anchor maker, 98 Bremen, house 100 do.
    Lufkin Samuel S. cooper, house 141 Meridian
    Lufkin Stephen, salesman, boards 45 Leverett
    Lufkin Stephen w. clerk, 34 Hanover, b. 63 Allen

    Search for a Marriage Record:

    Did David and Caroline marry in Boston? Boston marriage indexes were searched. They were not found. [5]

    Probate:

    The adoption record mentions "Home and Probate papers signed Sep 23/65."

    Middlesex County probate records were searched to see if the papers were submitted to that court. Nothing was found, nor was there a probate for David Lufkin. [6]

    Ipswich Research:

    David Lufkin was said to have been born in Ipswich. The published vital records for Ipswich were searched, but no David of the right age. [7]

    Massachusetts Census:

    The author read every entry on the 1850 and 1860 Massachusetts census indexes. There were two David Lufkins; David Lufkin and David Lufkin, Jr. From the 1860 census:

    Essex County, Gloucester Pct, page 390, dwelling 879, family 1149

    Lufkin, David, 53, born Massachusetts, lighthouse keeper
    Lufkin, Louisa, 46, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, Joseph W, 23, born Massachusetts, sail maker
    Lufkin, Frank C, 13, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, Florence, 10, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, David W, 7, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, Clarabell, 1, born Massachusetts

    Essex County, Gloucester Pct, page 467, dwelling 1305, family 1826

    Lufkin, David, Jr., 38, born Massachusetts, fisherman
    Lufkin, Eliza, 31, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, Francis A., 11, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, Eliza J., 9, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, William H., 8, born Massachusetts
    Lufkin, Lauretta, 4, born Massachusetts

    We must rule out David Lufkin, Jr. Apparently he died in 1862, a victim of the Civil War. [8]   The elder David Lufkin appears to be too old to be the father of our Milla/Susan.

    Turn to page 3, Caroline Kelsey.


    [1] Massachusetts Vital Records Index, Births 1861-1865 - Boston FHL #492863. Boston Births, 1863-1866. FHL 592870. Read all entries for 1865.

    [2] The Boston Directory by Sampson Adams. FHL #1376557.

    [3] The Boston Directory by Sampson Adams. FHL #1376557.

    [4] The Boston Directory by Sampson Adams. FHL #1376558.

    [5] Boston City Registrar, Out of Town Marriages, Index, 1858-1883. FHL Film 818081. Arranged alphabetically by male.

    Boston Marriages, Index 1860-1869. FHL Film 818091. Arranged alphabetical, both female and male. Carrie W. Lufkin, int. no. 1859, year 1867, marriage #1698 to Walter D. Miller

    Marriages, Index, 1849-1859. FHL Film. 818088. Arranged alphabetically, both female and male.Nothing.

    [6] Index to the Probate Records of the county of Middlesex, Massachusetts, 1st Series from 1648-1878.

    [7] Ipswich Town Clerk, Births, Baptisms, Marriages, Publishments, Deaths, 1635-1871. FHL Film 777636

    Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts, to the end of the year 1849 Three volumes. (Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1910-1919). FHL #873749, item 4, 547505, item 1, 169776, item 14.

    [8] Thirtieth Regiment Mass. Volunteer Infantry, page 389.

    Lufkin, David, Jr. " Priv. " Res. Gloucester; 40; seaman; enl. Jany. 14, 1862; must. Jany. 20, 1862; died of disease, Aug. 12, 1862, New Orleans, La.

    Sixth Battery mass. Vol. Light Artillery, page 421.

    Lufkin, David M. " Priv. " Res. Boston; stabler; 45; enl. and must. Feb. 3, 1862; disch. Dec. 9, 1862, for disability, at New Orleans, La.; died on way home, Jany. 18, 1863.

    © 2002-2006

    Connie Lenzen, CG


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