YORK 1

In 1987, Janice (York) Beck--a granddaughter of Thomas York--had a search for the English Yorks done by Nick Chorlton, a professional genealogist from Aylesbury in Bucks (Buckinghamshire) in England. The report she received in December of that year is given below. It contains information about Thomas York, who brought his family to America in 1870, his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather--all named Robert!

To assist the reader, I have taken the liberty of color-coding some of the Chorlton information:

I am sorry I have been so long in sending you any information but have been stuck on one or two points in the YORK family, and I tend to hang on to material until it has been sorted out. Unfortunately I have had no success so far, so have decided to send what has been accomplished so far.

I will leave you to decide if you want photocopies of any of the mentioned documents, these can be sent at cost + postage. I have unfortunately used up your deposit on the enclosed researches.

If you decide to carry on with the YORK family I will make a more thorough search of the Olney PRS [PRS = Public Records S? ?], at the moment I have Just taken the baptisms from the IGI as without the Lt. Houghton PRS we have no real proof that we have the correct family.

With regards to the BROWN/BEDFORD details I will have to do this as a seperate entity, and I suggest we start with the following:—

a. Obtain a birth certificate for Naomi BEDFORD, if you do not already have one. This would tell us the names of both her parents, and give us a more concise address to search for In the 184 1/51 censuses. The certificate would cost £5 & a search fee of £1.50 would be added.

b. The list of addresses you gave me for various relatives in London, I would suggest here that we try the ElectoralRolls, to see how many members of each family were living there, and then extend the searches either side of the dateswe have to see how long they remained there, this can be rather time consuming, but sometimes well worth while. At the same time it must be remembered that in the earlier Electoral Rolls no females are recorded, as male chauvenism had not yet allowed them the vote.

I enclose a graph for the York family showing the English part of the family only, and what I have so far been able to verify.

I also enclose a Christmas Greetings card, and apologise if it arrives a little late.

Y21 Edw. YORK 26 Butcher of Lavendon & Elizabeth BISHOP 21 of Oakley. 6 Apr 1757 At Lavendon

Y22 John YORK, Yeoman of Lavendon & Ruth BRIGE of Olney 24 Dec 1796 At Olney

Y23 John YORK, Gent. & Ann OLIVER 20 B.O. Stony Stratford 18 Aug 1802 at Stony Stratford

Y24 Joseph. YORK, Farmer & Eliz. EDMUNDS B.O. Little Wolstone 23 Apr 1765 . At Little Woolstone

Y25 Robt. YORK of Olney Park & Eliz. GOVINGTON 20 of Lavendon 9 May 1831 at Lavendon

10 Apr 1860 Thomas YORKE ofa Bach Farmer of Piddington s. Robert YORKE Farmer & Mary YORKE ofa Sp of Emberton d. William YORKE Farmer Wits. Will W Smith & Christiana YORKE

17 May 1870 John INNS ofa Bach. Farmer of Petsoe s. John INNS Farmer & Christiana YORKE ofa Sp. of Emberton d. William YORKE Farmer Wits. Elizabeth SMITH & E.A . BERRILL

13 Jul 1898 William Howe ROBINSON ofa Bach Chemist of Stony Stratford s. John ROBINSON Farmer & Elizabeth Sarah YORK ofa Sp. of Emberton d. John ROBINSON YORK Farmer. Wits. Charles YORK & Charlotte Ellen IVENS

The following Wills have been picked out as having relevance to this family.

D/A/WE/147/115 John York of Lavendon, Bucks. Yeoman Dated 18 Dec 1842 Proved 23 Jun 1853

It would appear that as William YORK of Emberton was his nephew, and as this John YORK had a daughter old enough to be married, that we are probably talking of the John YORK, brother of Robert YORK born at Lt. Houghton in ca 1810.

This is the last will and Testament of me Robert York of Little Houghton in the County of Northampton, Farmer.

I appoint my Brothers William York and Thomas York of Olney, Bucks, my Executors.

I give to my wife Sarah my Household Furniture (but not my Brewing or Dairy Utensils) for her life or Widowhood and, at her decease or marriage again, I give the same to my executors.

I give to my Executors one thousand pounds upon trust to place out the same in their discretion and to pay the interest or dividend to my wife for her life or widowhood, and in the event of my wi fe marrying again, I give to her thirty pounds a year, part of the said interest, and direct the surplus to be applied by my Executors towards the support of my children as they may think proper.

I direct my Executors to apply any part of my monies towards the support of my wife and children until the income for their support shall become payable.

I give to each of my sons William, Robert and John Two Hundred Pounds, and if either should die under the age of twenty-two years when I direct the same to be payable the Legacy of such dying shall fall into my residuary Estate, and I give to each of my daughters, namely Rebecca, Christian, Mary, Hannah, Rachael, Elizabeth and Lucy, one Hundred Pounds payable at the age of twenty-two years, and if either should die under that age, I direct her legacy to form part of my residuary Estate, and I direct the the residue of my property to be converted into money and that it be placed out at interest in the discretion of my Executors to who I give the same, and I further direct that the interest to arise from the respective legacies given to my said children shall be paid to my wife for the support of my children until they shall respectively attain the age of twenty-two years. provided she shall so long continue my widow, but in case my wife shall marry again, I direct my Trustees to apply the whole of the Income given to my children towards their support til the age of twenty-two years, but I further direct that as my children may attain the age of twenty-two years, they shall be entitled to their then distributive part of my personal estate.

In Witness thereof, I have hereunto set my Hand and Seal the Eighteenth day of November, one thousand and twenty-six.

Rob York

Signed and Sealed as the will of Robert York in the presence of

John Garrard --- Olney

John York --- London

On the 13 November, 1827, William York and Thomas York, both of Olney in the County of Buckingham, farmers, the joint Executors named in the within Will, were then sworn well and faithfully to perform the same and that the deceased at the time of his death (which happened on or about the 27th day of November last) was not possessed of Goods, Chattels and Credits for the value of one thousand five hundred Pounds.

1891 Robert YORK of Roade, Northants. Retired Farmer. Died 30 Aug 1891. Administration Northampton 19 Mar to Charles YORK, Farmer Effects £22

The above is taken from the indexes at Somerset House, the original document will give no further details. It is a pity that Robert did not leave a Will.

A search was made for a Will of William YORK of Emberton, In both the Will indexes in the Bucks RO, & in the indexes at Somerset House to 1891,, but none were found. I will extend the search later. Unfortunately the Emberton burial Registers are not deposited for the period we require, so we have no Idea when he died.

NOTES: It is a pity that the PRS for Lt. Houghton are not available for Inspection, this only leaves us with the Will of Robert YORK of Lt. Houghton^'s 1826. In this Will it will be seen that Robert mentions his brothers of Olney, William & Thomas, and a search was made to see if there was a likely baptism for all three brothers, and this appears to be the case, and they all appear to have been baptised at a multiple baptism in 1791. This is further confirmed by the Will of Robert YORK senr. of Olney.

Marriages have now been found for Robert YORK of Lt. Houghton to Sarah JAMES at Olney 14 Nov 1804. Robert YORK, Junr. to Elizabeth COVINGTON, and the marriage of Thomas YORK & Mary Elizabeth YORK in 1860.

Wills - It will be seen that Robert YORK junr. at his death only left an administration. and the Will search for William YORK has so far proved negative.

It is very likely that the branch of the family in which we are interested originated from Lavendon where they first appear in the 1680’s, but I have not yet attempted to take them back this far, a a great deal of tydying up still needs to be done on the later branches of the family.

Because of the lack of Wills it has not yet proved possible to verify that the father of Mary York, William was the brother of Robert York , and therefore an Uncle to the said Mary. An attempt to follow this through by means of census readings will be made as soon as possible.

Descendants of Robert of Olney though fIVE generations

Robert YORK ref: 1453, occupation Yeoman (farmer), m. 1770, Mary RUSH, ref: 1454. His will was dated 30 May 1811 and proved 22 OCt 1814.

I. Christiana YORK ref: 1455.

II. Francis YORK ref: 1456. d.s.y.

III. John YORK ref: 1457.

IV. Lucy YORK ref: 1458.

V. Mary YORK ref: 1459.

VI. Robert YORK ref: 1442, occupation farmer, m. 14 Nov 1804, in Olney, Bucks, England, Sarah JAMES, ref: 1443. Robert died 27 Nov 1826. Will dated 18 Nov 1826. He lived in Little Houghton. Northants, England.

A. William YORK ref: 1444.

B. Rebecca YORK b. abt 1807, ref: 1446. Almost certainly one of Harry York's two aunts who lived in Prospect Cottage in Little Houghton. Elizabeth York was the other one.

C. Robert YORK b. 1810, Little Houghton, Northamptonshire, Eng., ref: 1434, occupation farmer, butcher, m. 9 May 1831, in Lavendon, Buckinghamshire, England, Elizabeth COVINGTON, b. 1811, Ravenstone, Buckinghamshire, England, ref: 1435. Robert died 30 Aug 1891, Roade, Northamptonshire, England. He was a farmer in Piddington parish in 1874. Data from parish records by Susan Ranson, genealogist in England. He also ran a general store. Elizabeth: She was alive in 1891.

1. Rachel YORK b. 1833, Emberton, Buckinghamshire, England, ref: 1436.

2. Thomas Robert YORK b. 7 Nov 1835, Emberton, Bucks, England, ref: 26, occupation Carpenter, mason, butcher, m. (1) 1860, Mary Elizabeth YORK, b. 1839, Embarton, England, ref: 27, d. 10 Aug 1870, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: lost cemetery in Junction City, m. (2) 29 Apr 1871, in Junction City, Geary Co., KS, Naomi Bedford BROWN, b. 9 Feb 1842, Aldershot, Hampshire, England, ref: 927, d. 4 Oct 1925, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City. Thomas died 19 Apr 1880, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City. Mary: She was Thomas' 2nd cousin and a sister of Elizabeth York who lived in Prospect Cottage in Little Houghton, Northhamptonshire. Naomi: She had two children: Sadie (1863-1883) & John "Jack" (1864-1947) BROWN. She and her children immigrated to Junction City in 1870.

a. William "Will" YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 1 Jan 1861, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 928, occupation Butcher, m. 1 Mar 1881, in Junction City, Geary Co., KS, Mary PEARSON, b. 4 Oct 1864, Sweden, d. 20 Jan 1936, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City. William died 3 Oct 1947, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

b. Thomas YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 10 Jan 1862, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 929, occupation Bar owner, carpenter, m. 17 Mar 1897, in Salina, Kansas, Mary Louisa KASTNER, b. 26 Oct 1872, Miamisburg, OH, ref: 943, d. 18 Jan 1935, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City. Thomas died 1916, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

c. Robert Charles "Charley" YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 10 Jun 1863, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 930, occupation Cattle feeder & buyer, m. 2 Oct 1892, in Junction City, Geary Co., KS, Isabella A. "Bell" PRITCHARD, b. 16 Mar 1867, Shelby Co., Illinois, ref: 947, d. 17 Jul 1906, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City. Robert died 3 Jan 1925, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

d. Annie YORK (daughter of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 17 Nov 1864, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 931, d. 9 Feb 1865, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England.

e. Frederick YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 2 Dec 1865, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 932, occupation grocer, butcher, m. in Junction City, Geary Co., KS, Ernestina "Tena" THIELE, b. 7 Jul 1866, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, ref: 949, d. 5 Feb 1945, San Antonio, Texas. Frederick died 27 Sep 1928, San Antonio, TX. Ernestina: Daughter of Mr. & Mrs. Ernest Thiele, Junction City pioneers.

f. Alfred YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 6 Jan 1867, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 933, d. 30 Dec 1932, Kansas City, Missouri, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

g. Henry "Harry" YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. 17 Oct 1868, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 25, m. 5 Oct 1896, in Breckenridge, Summit Co., CO, Linnie May PEABODY, b. 11 May 1877, Preston, Summit Co., CO, (daughter of Edwin Judson PEABODY and Almeda Deborah SMITH) ref: 28, d. 7 Dec 1956, Colorado Springs, El Paso Co., CO, buried: 10 Dec 1956, Evergreen Cem., Colorado Springs, CO. Henry died 28 Feb 1954, Colorado Springs, El Paso Co., CO, buried: 2 Mar 1954, Evergreen Cem., Colorado Springs, CO.

h. Mary Elizabeth YORK (daughter of Thomas Robert YORK and Mary Elizabeth YORK) b. Feb. 1870, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England, ref: 934, d. 24 Jul 1870, Junction City, Geary Co., KS.

i. Clarence YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Naomi Bedford BROWN) b. 1 Mar 1872, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, ref: 935, m. 18 Aug 1899, Nellie CAMPBELL, b. 30 Mar 1879, ref: 950, d. 3 Apr 1962. Clarence died 13 Feb 1952, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

j. Frank O. YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Naomi Bedford BROWN) b. 22 May 1874, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, ref: 936, m. 1 Nov 1905, Fannie HOLMGREN, b. 14 Jul 1884, ref: 951, d. 2 Sep 1963. Frank died 28 Dec 1965, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

k. George Walter YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Naomi Bedford BROWN) b. 4 Nov 1875, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, ref: 937, m. 23 Feb 1901, Una Pearl Van Winkle, b. 19 Feb 1885, ref: 952, d. 8 Aug 1958. George died 11 Apr 1963, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Good Hope Cemetery, w. of Junction City.

l. Edward James YORK (son of Thomas Robert YORK and Naomi Bedford BROWN) b. 26 Sep 1877, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, ref: 938, m. (1) 4 Apr 1907, Margaret Agnes McCORMICK, b. 28 Aug 1880, ref: 953, d. 24 Jul 1922, m. (2) 14 Jul 1954, Anna Wells, ref: 954. Edward died 2 Apr 1961, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City.

m. Nellie Florence YORK (daughter of Thomas Robert YORK and Naomi Bedford BROWN) b. 4 Aug 1879, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, ref: 939, d. 18 Jul 1972, Junction City, Geary Co., KS, buried: Highland Cemetery, Junction City. Unmarried

3. Sarah YORK b. 1837, ref: 1462, d. 1839.

4. Robert YORK b. 1840, ref: 1463.

5. William YORK b. 1842, Stoke Goldington, Bucks, England, ref: 1437.

6. Elizabeth YORK b. 1845, Stoke Goldington, Bucks, England, ref: 1441.

7. Sarah Anne YORK b. 1846, Stoke Goldington, Bucks, England, ref: 1438.

8. Mary Jane YORK b. 1850, Stoke Goldington, Bucks, England, ref: 1439.

9. John YORK b. 1850/51, Piddington, Northamptonshire, England.

D. John YORK ref: 1445.

E. Christian YORK ref: 1447.

F. Mary YORK ref: 1448.

G. Hannah YORK ref: 1449.

H. Rachael YORK ref: 1450.

I. Elizabeth YORK b. abt 1827, ref: 1451. Almost certainly one of Harry York's two aunts who corresponded with him. Rebecca York was the other one.

J. Lucy YORK ref: 1452.

VII. Thomas YORK ref: 1460.

VIII. William YORK ref: 1461.