Anwyl Owen Gregory and Rachel Archer Bowen Family

Transcription

1 Anwyl Owen Gregory and Rachel Archer Bowen Family Anwyl Owen Gregory and Rachel Archer Bowen Anwyl Owen Gregory and Rachel Archer Bowen were married in Bridgeton, New Jersey on October 14, It is likely they moved in with Rachel s mother when her father died in 1877 since they were living there when the 1880 census was taken. At that time they had a five yearold son named Willie. Rachel s brother Isaac also lived in the home. There is an unsolved mystery about the children born to Anwyl Owen and Rachel Gregory while they lived in Bridgeton, New Jersey. An unnamed baby boy was born to A. Owen and Rachel on June 25, 1871 as recorded in the Return of Births for Bridgeton. Birth record for baby boy Gregory born on June 25, 1871 in the Return of Births for Bridgeton, New Jersey born to Gregory, Photographer 221

2 That same June 1871 on the 15th A. O. and Ray Gregory were listed as parents of a baby in the Return of Deaths. There appears to be an error in the record since the death happened 10 days before the birth of the baby. Death record for a baby of A. O. and Ray Gregory on June 15, 1871 in Return of Deaths for Bridgeton, New Jersey Another baby boy was born to Owen S & Rachel B Gregory, Photographer on July 4, 1875 in Bridgeton. This boy was Willie found in the 1880 census. Birth record for baby boy (Willy) Gregory born on July 4, 1875 in Return of Births for Bridgeton, New Jersey The baby boy born in 1871 did not appear in the 1880 census, only five year-old Willie. Yet in the New Jersey Marriages of 1893 there was an Amvyl B. Gregory who was born in 1871 and married in This marriage appears to be the Gregory baby boy born in Who was the baby that died in June 1871? It is also not clear what happened to Willie. He may have died in New Jersey before the family moved to California around Or, the unnamed baby boy born in 1871 may be Anwyl B. who was married in It might be that Anwyl was Willie, a nick name derived from wyl. Or, there may be a mistake in the age of Willie in the 1880 census record for Bridgeton where his age was recorded as five. The transcription of a Bowen Family Bible record mentions four children born in California: Anwyl B. (Anwyl after his father and B. for Bowen after his mother s maiden name), Julia, Howard, and Waldron. Other records mention Anwyl B. Gregory was born in New Jersey. Transcription of a Bowen Family Bible listing four children born in California to Rachel and Anwyl Gregory: Anwyl B., Julia Ray, Howard, and Waldron 222

3 Most likely Anwyl Bowen Gregory was born in New Jersey. Julia Marie was born in Sacramento in 1885, Howard Isaac (named after Rachel s brother Isaac Howard Bowen) was born in 1887 in Sacramento, and Waldron Ashley was born in 1890 in Sacramento. Anwyl Owen and Rachel Gregory were encouraged by Anwyl s father, Joseph Gregory, to go to California, a land of opportunity. The young family decided to make the move to California. The family s transition probably took place at the time of the 1880 census, because Anwyl Owen appears in the Bridgeton, New Jersey Census, as well as in Washoe Nevada Census where he is staying with his half-brother Richard Ponsonby Moore Kelly. He went on to California and established himself as a successful photographer in San Francisco and Sacramento before he went back to New Jersey and brought his family to Sacramento to live. It was a difficult time during the end of the 1890s for Anwyl Owen Gregory. Soon after the birth of their last child Waldron Ashley Gregory, Anwyl Owen and Rachel were experiencing great financial difficulties. By 1890 the family had filed a voluntary petition of insolvency with the courts. A lawsuit was filed against them. The stress weighed heavily upon Rachel to the point that she must not have been able to manage her young family. By 1893 she had been put in the Stockton State Hospital in Stockton and declared insane. The 1900 census listed her as a patient, born in New Jersey, age 42 (rather than 50), with four living children. Rachel Gregory died in the Stockton State Hospital in 1900 or (See Chapter 2, Anwyl Gregory.) 1900 census: Stockton State Hospital-- Rachel Gregory, patient. The year of 1893 was also the year that Howard and Waldron Gregory were put into the Protestant Orphan Asylum in Sacramento. Howard was six and Waldron was three. When the 1900 census was taken they were listed as inmates in the Orphan Asylum census: Protestant Orphan Asylum-- Howard and Waldron Gregory ages 12 and 9. Anwyl Owen Gregory was struggling to earn a living as a photographer. In 1900 he was living in a hotel in Tucson City in the Arizona Territory. It is unknown where Julia and Anwyl B. were living in Anwyl B. Gregory may have returned to New Jersey because in 1893 he married Ella J. Adams in Atlantic City, New Jersey. 223

4 1900 census Tucson City in Arizona Territory: Hotel Hall where Anwyl O. Gregory, photographer, age 54 was living Anwyl O. Gregory married Ada M. in 1901 and they lived in Los Angeles. Anwyl O. Gregory was found in the Los Angeles Times classified section as proprietor of apartments for rent. The 1910 census indicates they resided in a boarding house and he was a hotel keeper census Los Angeles Township, California: Anny O. Gregory and Ada, Anny O. is a hotel keeper, age 63. In 1920 Anwyl O. Gregory was living in Alameda County, California in the Masonic Home. He died there in Anwyl O. Gregory continued to have some contact with his children and family over the years. When he placed Howard and Waldron in the Protestant Orphan Asylum in Sacramento, he promised to pay $12 per month for their upkeep. An article in the Oakland Tribune in 1889 shows he attended his step-sister Jane s 25th wedding anniversary in Oakland. While living in Los Angeles, he drove a car in a parade to benefit orphanages. Waldron Ashley Gregory s daughter, Gloria Gregory, at one time wrote a short account of what she had heard about her father and his family. It was clear she did not know names, but only a few stories. It gives strong indication that A. O. Gregory was in contact with his children throughout Anwyl Owen Gregory their lives. She gave a brief account of each of A. O. Gregory s siblings. Research shows that much of her recollections were correct. 4 children from Sacramento? 1 nurse [Julia Marie] - he paid schooling She s married to a farmer in Montana. 1 brother flew air photography last war [Howard Isaac] went to San Quentin? For theft Dad paid attorney fees then later when he called on phone, Dad told him never to call family again 1 famous Dr. in New Orleans [Anwyl Bowen?] [the 4th child she referred to as Dad Waldron Ashley Gregory, father of Gloria became a doctor]. 224

5 Short history of A. O. Gregory and his four children as remembered by Gloria Gregory, granddaughter of A. O. Gregory 225

6 Page 2 of short history of A. O. Gregory and his four children by Gloria Gregory 226

7 Four Surviving Children of Anwyl Owen and Rachel Archer Bowen Anwyl Bowen Gregory was probably born in 1871 in New Jersey. It appears that he was back in New Jersey when the family had difficulties. The only official record on Anwyl B. Gregory was his marriage to Ella Adams in 1893 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. According to the history written by Gloria Gregory, Anwyl B. was a doctor in New Orleans. No record has been found. Julia Marie Gregory was born in August 1885 in Sacramento, California according to a delayed birth certificate was filed with the state. It is not known what happened to eight year-old Julia when her two younger brothers were put in the orphanage in She must have been in the Sacramento area. In 1900 she attended a social event for the family of her father s half-brother, Richard Kelly. In 1912 Julia graduated from the Providence Hospital Nursing School. Julia Gregory graduation from Providence Hospital Nursing School recorded in the San Francisco Call in April 1912 Julia helped care for the wife of Harry Boston Height. When Harry s wife died, he married Julia. Together they had a daughter, Harriett Lucille Height. Julia Gregory Julia Gregory Height (left), Harry Boston Height (right), Harry s daughter-in-law and children Howard Isaac Gregory was born in June 1887 in Sacramento, California. Six year-old Howard and three year-old Waldron were placed in the Protestant Orphan Asylum in The brothers attended school during the years in the orphanage. In 1917 Howard registered for the draft and listed his occupation as photographer. He must have been influenced by his father A. O. Gregory in his choice of occupation. Howard was a Private in the United States Army and was, as indicated by Gloria Ellis, an aerial photographer for the Army during World War II. Howard married Margaret M. Brown and they had one child, Katherine. Howard Isaac Gregory died during the war on December 13, He was buried in the Los Angeles National Cemetery. Waldron Ashley Gregory Sr. See Chapter 5, Waldron Ashley Gregory Sr. 227