Julia R Hunt and Cassius M Booth, Essex, Vermont

Julia Rosetta Hunt was born May 19, 1843 in Hopkinton, New York the daughter of Rosetta Lois Griffin and Eleazer Hunt. There is very little to be found in the family records to explain the Hunt families’ sojourn in New York were both Julia and her brother Jason were born. In the census records she is listed as, Julia R., born in New York. The birth records for her children, Ernest and Jessie, list their mother as, Julia Hunt, born Hopkinton, NY. Julia’s own death record gives her date of birth as May 19, 1943, born in New York, State. Hopkinton is 130 miles from the family home in Essex, VT. ----------- The marriage of, “Cassius M. Booth and Miss Julia R Hunt both of Essex” is found in the Essex records, the date is, “21st of Nov. 1865”. ---------- Cassius M. Booth was born in Essex August 7, 1843. He was the son of Samuel Booth and Eunice Woodworth. Both Cassius’s father and grandfather had long made Essex their home. Cassius served in the Civil War from 1862 to 1865. He was discharged June 25, 1865 giving him a summer to romance his future bride. ---------- Their first child, Ernest H. Booth was born in Essex on July 14, 1869. The birth record, from Essex, lists his parents as Cassius M and Julia Hunt Booth. The record lists a birthplace for his mother as Hopkinton, NY. In the 1870 census the family is living in Colchester. The entry lists Ernest, age 9/12. This fact has led some family historian to incorrectly list Colchester as his place of birth. ---------- The second child born in the family is Alba Cassius Booth. There are a number of documents from his life that place his birth in St Albans, VT on April 10, 1873. By then Alba’s father was probably working as a customs inspector. St Albans is a port on Lake Champlain. In the 1880 census the census enumerator recorded his name as “Alva”. That mistake in spelling has found its way into a number of family histories. There are no surviving birth records from the time frame. ---------- The third child was Jessie Julia Booth. Her birth is also recorded in the Essex records. The entry is dated April 4, 1882. Again her parents are identified as Cassius M and Julia Hunt Booth. Her mother’s place of birth is again identified as Hopkinton, NY. ---------- In 1870 the family is listed in the census for Colchester. The enumerator mistakenly used the name Charles for Cassius. Listed are Cassius/ Charles, Julia R and Ernest. Cassius’s occupation is give as cheese maker. In a family letter his mother-in-law wrote that, “Cassius dislikes farming he is working in a cheese factory for $80 per month”. ----------- In 1880 the family is living in Essex. By now Cassius is referred to as a Custom House Official a profession he would follow for the rest of his life. ---------- In 1900 the family is living in Essex/ Essex Junction. Previous to 1900 both places were listed as being one and the same. After 1900 the two places began to assume separate identities. Even though family records are found in the archives of the original Essex evidence supports the idea that they always lived in the area that is now Essex Junction. The 1900 census gives us some interesting insights into American life in 1900. Listed in the household of Cassius Booth are his wife, Julia, his daughter, Jessie, his mother, Eunice, and his father-in-law Eleazer Hunt. ---------- Ernest Hunt Booth was born in Essex July 14, 1869. The marriage of Ernest H Booth, age 21, born in Essex and Emma A Myers, age 19, of East Washington is recorded in the Essex records February 11, 1891. The record notes that they were married in Essex Junction. The couple is found living in Burlington, VT up until the time of his death. Starting with his marriage record he is always referred to as a clerk/ bookkeeper. The Burlington City Director lists him as “bkpr Burl Trust Co”. Ernest and his brother, Alba, are listed a few lines apart in the directory. The death of “Ernest Hunt Booth” is recorded in the Burlington records. Dated January 15, 1929, Ernest Hunt Booth, age 59, born Essex, parents, Cassius M “Hunt”, a transcription error, and Julia Hunt. Ernest is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington. ----------- Alba Cassius Booth was born in St. Albans April 10, 1873. Alba C Booth age 25, born St Albans married Emma S Harkness, age 25, born Hinesburgh, Vt on October 10 1901 in Burlington, VT. The couple lived in Burlington for most of their lives. The surviving records list his occupation as “Druggist” the owner of his own shop. The Burlington City Directory lists him as “prop Park Drug Store”. Alba married Winona Left, April 30, 1921 in Burlington. One of the few places we find the full spelling for his name is on his draft registration card “Alba Cassius Booth”. Alba’s death is recorded in Fairfax, VT. July 17, 1942. The record notes that he had lived there for six weeks. Alba is buried with his brother in the Lakeview Cemetery in Burlington. ---------- Jessie Julia Booth was born in Essex, April 4, 1882. She is living with her parents in the 1900 census and with her mother in Essex in the 1910 census. The census records note that she was an invalid. The death of “Jessie Julia Booth” is recorded on May 10, 1917. Jessie is buried with her parents in the Village Cemetery in Essex Junction. ----------- Julia Rosetta Hunt Booth was born in Hopkinton, NY, May 19, 1843. Julia’s Certificate of Death records her death on September 5, 1929 in Essex Junction. Alba C Booth furnished the information listed on the certificate. Her birth was recorded, as May 19, 1843 in New York State. Her parents are listed as Eleazer Hunt and Rosetta Griffin. ---------- There are no original records documenting the birth and death of Cassius M Booth. Lucky for us as family historians his life is well documented in the local histories. In particular his service in the Civil War is well document. The highlight of his Civil War service is his duty in the Union Navy during the Mississippi River campaigns. Those biographies provide a date of birth August 7, 1843 in Essex and a date of death of June 24, 1903. His headstone in the Village Cemetery in Essex Junction lists the dates 1843-1903. ---------------------------------------- Julia Hunt / Rosetta Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin / Samuel Griffin of Killingworth. ------------------------------------- Reference; Samuel Griffin Genealogy Blog