Tag Archives: genealogy
Tracing The Hibbards to the Dexters-Part 2
Tracing Hibbards – How Did They Get Here?
So, let’s have a look at the Hibbard family and see if we can put them together in some semblance of order and find links to the Dexter family as well.
Elizabeth Hibbard was born to William and Elizabeth (Dobbins) Hibbard along with her twin sister, Ann on 27 of July 1817 in Oxon (Oxford), Clanfield, England. The date of birth is established through 1851 UK Census, 1860 and 1870 US Federal Census records, the baptismal records confirm the approximate date of the twin’s birth. This much we already know.
What we don’t know, is how they connected!
Possible Link Through The Independent Chapel, Staines
Before her marriage to James, Elizabeth may have already been acquainted through a relation who was in the same Independent Chapel/Church in Staines. This Hibbard family had children at the same frames as Thomas and Susanna Dexter, James’ parents.
The baptismal records of Elizabeth Dexter on 24 January 1805 (daughter of Thomas and Susanna Dexter) and George Hibbard, a son of one James and Ann Hibbard (9 January 1805) were found and noted, and the next page William Dexter-6 September 1806; along with earlier baptisms for Edmund Hibbard (18 June 1803), another son of James and Ann; and John, a son of Thomas and Susanna Dexter (6 November 1803) .
Each of these children were baptized by one John Yockney, pastor of the church. Is It possible the families met at a church function in which the family of William and Elizabeth Dobbins Hibbard came to visit, met and hit it off – building relationships that would span time and continents?
The next thing I found was Elizabeth and James’ wedding, where, in the license it lists her late father William (farmer) and her brother Thomas and sister-in-law Maria (Knapp) as witnesses to the wedding. I may never find definitive proof of a familial connection between the two Hibbard families. Perhaps there really isn’t a connection, but people meet most of the time through common connections, not as strangers.
Perhaps the truth is that James, as a coal dealer – and his father’s representative – met the Hibbard clan through business. Maybe he inquired if there was a connection to the Hibbards from his church. Maybe he just saw William and his family often enough that his attraction to Elizabeth was kindled and grew.
But one thing I do know.
I know that two of Elizabeth’s brothers –Joseph with his wife Rachel and daughter Sarah, immigrated aboard different ships at different times.
- Joseph was on the Danube that arrived 30 August 1849 with wife Rachel and their daughter.
- Thomas, his wife Maria and their 5 kids, arrived 2 October 1850 on board the General Victoria. It is more than likely that this family connection sponsored the others.
- Elizabeth and James came the following year – 1851, leaving London’s port in July and arriving on September 3rd on the Southampton.
And, while Elizabeth and James didn’t stay in Elmira with her brothers any longer than it took for her to birth and wean her 6th child, Henry, Thomas and Joseph both built their lives quickly in Elmira and stayed until their deaths.
Sadly, Thomas only lived to age 47, and passed away in 1860. His wife, Maria finished raising their children, each of whom accomplished some renown –
- William Elisha became a painter in Boston. His mother lived with him and his wife Sarah, through 1865 with Willam’s sons Thomas and Charles.
- Daughter Susan appears to have moved back to England, marrying there.
- Thomas Hibbard Jr. opened a hardware store that remained in the community for many decades.
- Son Joseph was the last child born in England, and daughter Josephine, the first born in New York.
- The last child of Thomas and Maria Knapp Hibbard is perhaps the best known. His name was Charles Henry Hibbard. He served as pastor for several Episcopal churches, and at the age of 82, he passed away, much loved and respected by the accounts.
Elizabeth Hibbard Dexter and Thomas Hibbard’s other brother, Joseph and his wife and daughter, meanwhile established his own thumbprint in the Elmira community. He became known for his architecture and buildings. When he arrived in Chemung county, he made his living as a carpenter and undertaker, much like some of the Dexter clan.
More later!
Connie Spicer
Day 3: #ACS30daysofWriting #storynumberthree
Did you miss the first story? Just Click Here to go back!
Welcome to New Member, Christy Hunter!
Welcome to our newest maternal connection, Christy Hunter. She is going to jump in here shortly and tell you her connection to us and how she found me!
Her story is one we hear over and over, doing this type of thing, but Christy is the first cousin who has agreed to share her story with the world. I find her very brave, and I’m proud to call her my cousin!
Welcome, Christy!
Connie Dexter Spicer, Family History Bio
Connie Dexter Spicer, Family History Bio
Connie Dexter Spicer is a long-time family history buff. Her paternal grandmother got her started when she was a young teen. She took a high school class leading her to collect data and keepsakes over the years. At family reunions, she was the one that collected the family trees.
She built her family history well past her grandparents and great grandparents on both sides of her family. Like many amateur historians, she ventured out to courthouses and cemeteries, learned what to look for, collected documents and photos.
At the start, her family tree was just over 80 people. It soon had proven relatives from the US to England, Ireland, Scotland, New Zealand, Turkey, Australia, Germany and even Japan. It became an international family history project.
A New Family History Goal
Her mother, Karen Dexter, asked whether she had any Revolutionary War Patriots in her lineage.
Her mother, Karen Dexter, asked whether she had any Revolutionary War Patriots in her lineage. Karen wanted to join the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) before it was too late. She views it as a great honor to be part of the society.
That request led Connie to research potential patriots. Although not familiar with the process, she got help from her cousin, Barb Johns, long involved with the society. Barb identified Patriot Ensign Mitchell, Pvt., of New York.
So, Connie pulled together the data proving hers and her mother’s lineage to Ensign Mitchell. Both she and her mother were approved just weeks later.
Now focused on building the stories of her people, she researches their lives through newspapers, Google and DNA sources. She hopes sharing the stories as part of her blogs encourage the younger folks in her life to take over one day.
Work Life
Connie’s background is in arts/media. She’s been a disc jockey, AV producer and podcaster. She still maintains blogs in multiple family genealogy websites for her and her husband, David’s families.
Between them are 6 grown kids and 8 grandkids. They enjoy karaoke, photography and hiking together when they can get away.
You can read her blogs at DexterGenealogy.com, OurSpicerFamily.com or hear the first episodes of her podcast “Speaking in Relative Terms” on the DexterGenealogy website.
Speaking In Relative Terms Ep 001
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 26:04 — 23.9MB) | Embed
Speaking in Relative Terms – A Family Podcast is a new podcast offered by Connie and David Spicer in order to enrich our children and all cousins out there on the history and genealogy of our respective families. We’ll explore DNA questions and situations, and see find out about our family but we will focus on the stories of our ancestors and our own descendants. Yes, you’ll hear from cousins near and far – and grandkids and folks of all ages, starting with today’s episode!
Today, I tell 3 stories about different members of my family – past and present. The first story is about my 3X great grandmother Arabella Swan. The second features an “anonymous” cousin and our DNA match research to verify her parentage. The third story starts the long story of 2 and 3X great grandfather Dexters and how they came to America.
Then, our granddaughter, Jolene Law, all of 4 years old, visits me. Jojo is starting to figure out if she ever wants to do this again. I think you’ll enjoy the conversation – and I hope Jojo gets to hear it again in a half century! Can you imagine?
Join us next time for another episode of Speaking in Relative Terms. Be sure to find and follow us on Facebook and Twitter @RelativeTerms.
Dexter Research and History
The Start of My Dexter Research
In 1976, Alex Haley published “Roots“, an autobiographical story about an African American learning who he was through his people. It started a craze in our country, and I was one who got the bug. I took a social studies class about it, and got an A- in my Dexter research for my report along with the genealogy bug.
It became a life-long passion to learn more about my own history and people. I believe in the importance of knowing where I came from. My dad’s mother was instrumental in creating this “genealogy junkie” by giving me a number of (mostly) unbelievable stories about our family. After high school, however, I mostly put family history away. Other than a few reunions over the years, Dexter research went on the back burner.
Then came home computers.
Passing Brings Rekindled Interest In Dexter Research
In February of 1999, my grandmother, Marjorie E. (Huston) Dexter passed away. No matter whatever else may have happened to her during her lifetime, she gave me this gift – an interest in our heritage that I will never forget. The skeletons and the joys that crop up are what they are — pieces of a history – OUR history – that made us up in one way or another.
Documentation Needed!
Before she died, I did family research using Grandma’s mythology — family stories and anecdotes with no documentation to go along with them. I learned quickly how important validating the information was.
In 1997, 20 years after I started, I got my first computer and discovered FamilySearch.org and Ancestry.com. I learned Cyndi’s List and other online sites are dedicated to helping people put family documents into their hands to validate connections and eliminate myths.
The ahnentafel I created (the family tree itself) was built to a few hundred individuals. It was primarily my direct family on both sides. I had tons of questions. Brick walls kept coming, because I hadn’t yet made a valid connection across the pond. There were a few primary families I questioned-some in Leicestershire, some in Staines. I just didn’t know which family was the right one.
I didn’t connect with the right person to help me validate those ideas and families – until one day, when I got an email.
Roger Connelly, a Chamberlin Cousin
When Grandma died, I remembered the old research and decided my computer would be a great tool. I issued questions through online bulletin boards and one response to one of my online queries from Roger Connelly came back.
Roger identified himself as a cousin on the Dexter side — his connection was through his mother and my great grandfather’s mother, Mary. They were Dunlap sisters. Roger developed his Chamberlin/Chamberlain family lineage and George James Dexter cropped up as the spouse of one of his aunts.
He passed on a copy of George James’s obituary and the clues within were invaluable to connecting the families! I discovered his military history – the first time I learned someone in my family served in the Civil War! I learned about his death and burial. The hints about his family’s immigration were not entirely correct but close enough to work with, and his birth location gave me a direct verification to the Staines clan.
Enter Alan King, Noel Bye and Bill Guest
At that point, things really started happening. I quickly connected with Alan King of Shepperton, England. Alan is now a cousin-by-proxy.
As a local historian, he conducted walking tours of the area and noticed the Dexter name — and then my inquiries.
Alan corresponded with me and provided more fleshed out details after visiting the local churches that kept cropping up in Dexter stories, specifically the Independent Chapel that the family was so instrumental in building and growing.
Noel Bye (then of Tasmania) and Bill Guest (Karori, NZ) then connected with me – all of which significantly helped put puzzle pieces together and added to my list of cousins and interested Dexter family researchers and historians.
Noel confirmed his connection with the Staines clan and then somewhat fell off the radar. I later found out he has had health issues and moved to mainland Australia to benefit from the weather.
Bill connects to Noel’s same root family lineage. He was able to give me the appropriate 1850 Census records that started bringing more of the Staines clan to reality.
If you haven’t yet, read Bill and his wife Sue’s story put together from the letters of Eric Standring, you should. They are available for Site Members to read.
David Leonard Dexter Group Joins the Fray
More details emerged as David Leonard Dexter (Newent, England) and Dave V. Dexter (Neenah, Wisconsin) brought more information out. The ancestral Dexters of Staines remained involved in their community and church. They started the first fire brigade of Staines. The Spelthorne Museum has a dedicated area for the Fire Brigade and contains a great deal of information about Dexter involvement.
David L. was, for much of this particular time frame, serving in Japan with his wife, Esther as part of their christian mission. They found time to correspond and kept in touch, sharing the beautiful countryside and history of Ashiya along with David’s wonderful photography.
Kenneth Dexter Wrote His Own Story
With help from David L., I was soon in touch with Kenneth Dexter. Ken’s family line had a bakery with wonderful reputation – the Dexter Cafe (imagine!). Ken grew up in that environment and wrote his family’s story, (currently available on Amazon.com), “A Fleury Business“.
More Cousins Add Depth
About this same time, I corresponded with Mary Dexter Heighway, Tony Dexter and Malcolm Robert Dexter – the latter who was living in Turkey. We have since lost Malcolm Robert, but he is with us in spirit, if not in person.
Tony had another first cousin (another Malcolm)– and in short order got me corresponding with the juggernaut of our Dexter family research in the UK, George Dexter.
Juggernaut George Dexter, Researcher Extraordinaire!
George Dexter (not George James, but this generations’ own George) is also a significant gatherer of our family’s history. It was he who got us past George Dexter, the tallow chandler and his son Thomas and Susannah, among the earliest founders of this family line that we have uncovered so far.
Calling All Family Writers and Photographers!
I hope you will come back and read up more on the family. Our collaborative efforts are great fun and full of wonderful information (and occasional surprises). Despite the writing and research, this is part of what helps build the site.
There are many more of you outside of the Dexter direct family that I have not yet mentioned. I apologize – you are not being ignored. We will focus on those family branches too. Where would we be without our mother’s own families, after all?
If your research is outside of the direct Dexter lineage, your stories are still part of the heritage of the family. It should be included! Your information as a group and are invaluable.
Grow your branches here, as well. Rutherford, Keifer, and Huston; Bruer/Brewer, Bye or Standring; Pease, Taylor, Connelly/Conley, Chamberlain and Swan all need representation. Through the richest old stories our own new history unfolds!
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How To Participate In The Site
Take some time and author your own stories here. If you have questions on how to do it, let me know. All who have joined here can write and submit your articles easily. You retain authorship and copyright remains in your name.
I suggest you each write a brief author’s statement. Include:
- Who you are.
- Where you are
- How long you’ve been researching and
- How someone can contact you for more information (if you wish to be contacted). Feel free to include social media @usernames.
For all involved, our site grows richer with every piece of information. Please join in often with articles, photos and comments.
