Louisa Adeline Herrick Varney

Louisa Adeline Herrick was born, according to most historians, on May 19, 1819 in Londonderry, Windham, Vermont. The census records place the date between 1816 and 1819. She was the daughter of Erastus Herrick and Sybel Barney. Louisa married George C Varney. The history of the marriage takes place in and around Munson, Geauga County, Ohio. ----------- He get a hint concerning the time frame for the move from Vermont to Ohio from the autobiography of Charles Emerson Griffin. Charles’ mother was Abigail Varney, George Varney’s sister. The Griffin family history places the move in May 1837. The history of the Varney family is well documented in Colchester, Chittenden County, Vermont. Abigail Varney of Colchester married Albert Bailey Griffin of nearby Essex. The Griffins made the move to Ohio in May 1837. There is nothing in the family history that makes mention that they traveled with the extended Varney family but it seem a logical conclusion. Charles in his autobiography speaks of his Varney grandparents as neighbors in Ohio as well as his Varney Uncles, George, William and Hamilton. He also speaks of his Aunt Artemesia. ---------- Evidence suggests that the couple married in Vermont placing the date around 1835. Their daughter Caroline was born July 5, 1836 in Vermont. The birth of their second child, Ann in the 1850 census, was born about 1838/40 in Ohio. Given the Vermont connection a more detailed search of the Chittenden County, Vermont records turns up a marriage record’ ---------- “Be it remembered that at Essex on the 9th Day of Sept 1835 George C Varney and Adaline L Herrick both of Milton County and State aforesaid were duly joined in marriage by me. R….. Noble Justice Pease.” ---------- Some of Louisa’s siblings were born in Milton, Vermont. Milton, Colchester and Essex all share a border. ---------- The 1850 census in Munson lists children; Cornelia, Ann, Franklin, Charles, Allison and Ira. George C Varney died October 22, 1852 in Munson. The Munson town history describes his death in an accident at his lumber mill. Caught while effecting repairs he was crushed when he was dragged into the turning wheels of the mill. ---------- His untimely death had an impact on his family. We find his children scattered in the 1860 census records. Caroline and Charles are living in Gerard, Erie, Penn in the household of Louisa’s brothers Lucius and Franklin as is her father Erastus. Gerard is 80 miles east of Munson. Allison is living with his Uncle Paul Hamilton’s daughter Lucinda and her husband Charles Avery. George is found in the household of Charles Knight in Munson. ---------- Given the nature of life on the frontier it was very unlikely that such a young widow would remain unmarried. In fact there is a marriage recorded in Geauga County between Louisa Varney and Morgan Parks dated September 18, 1855. The couple is found in the 1870 census in Mendon, Lake, Ohio. Louisa Parks is listed as age 51 (1819), born in Vermont. There are no Varney children as part of the household. ---------- There are no other records for this couple. Records from the Park family suggest that Morgan died in Michigan in 1888. ---------- The story takes another turn with another marriage record in Geauga County. This marriage is between David Thwing and Louisa A Parks. The marriage is dated November 10th 1871. The Thwing family has published a detailed family history that contains a biography on David. The history notes that David made the move from Massachusetts to Chardon, Ohio in 1825. He raised a large family in Munson, Ohio with his first wife Sally Thompson. The history writes; ---------- He married second, Louisa A Parks, Nov 11, 1871. She was born May 9, 1817.” ---------- There are no records for what may or may not have happened to the marriage between Morgan Parks and Louis Varney. There are no census records for Louisa Thwing that allows us to cross-reference known ages and place of birth. There is an account in the Geauga Republican, the local newspaper, dated 10 Nov 1880. On page 5 is an entry for the death of Louisa A Thwing, wife of David. The date given is October 5, 1880. The birth date in the Thwing history is a close approximation for the recognized date of birth for our Louis A Herrick. Such small variations are common in many of these histories. The death date for Louisa Thwing is an exact match for the recognized date of death for our Louis A Herrick. ---------- David Thwing is buried with his first wife, Sally Thompson in the Chardon Center Cemetery. There is no headstone for a Louisa Thwing. Louisa A Herrick and her husband, George C Varney, are buried together in the Maple Hills Cemetery in North Munson. ---------- As you research early American census records one fact jumps out. You always find a widowed or elderly parent listed in the household of a child or grandchild. Such is not the case for Louisa. This simple fact argues for the reality of these two marriages being our Louisa. ------------------------- Reference; --------- There are a number of well-researched Trees on Ancestry.Com for the family of Louisa Adeline Herrick and George Charles Varney. The Tree titled “Main Hand Family” is particularly well researched. ---------- This monograph and original records are posted on, Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog or samuelgriffingenealogy.blogspot.com