Soon after their arrival in the United States, Hugh and Margaret made their way to Delafield Township, Waukesha, Wisconsin, the home of a large Welsh population who had mainly come from Angelsey and Caernarvonshire. The obvious question of course, is why did they go there? Where had they heard of Delafield? Were they following friends, family or acquaintances? If so, whom?
Delafield is a small
community in southeastern Wisconsin near Lake Nagawicka about 30 minutes
west of Milwaukee. It was established in 1837. Like pioneers
elsewhere, those early pioneers faced daunting challenges of extreme
weather. Warm summers frequently gave way to fires, droughts,
storms and disease. Winters brought bone chilling cold and snow.
.
The 1850 census for Delafield was taken on August 6, and they were there at that time. Hugh and Margaret were living with the family of Dan'l. T. Davis, a 52 year old farmer from Wales. His wife was Pamela, age 49, also of Wales. They had two children living with them, John, age 15, and Sarah, age 12. Hugh was listed as a 28 year old laborer, born in Wales. Margaret was age 25, also from Wales. There were no children living with them. As no relationship was given at the time, the relationship between the Davis family and Hugh and Margaret can't be determined.
Within a year and a half after his arrival, on November 4, 1851, Hugh appeared in the Circuit Court of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and filed his intention of becoming a citizen of the US. [ no # 1333] In that document, he said he was born in Wales about 1821 and immigrated to the US on or about the month of May.
While living in Delafield, three children were born to Hugh and Margaret. Their oldest daughter Catherine was born on April 15, 1852. Mary was born in 1853 or 1854. Richard Hugh was born on April 1, 1855.
There were some early birth records for Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Hoping to discover Margaret's name, I checked them for Catherine and Richard's. The records for that early period were scarce and they were not recorded.
Wisconsin held a state census in 1855. It listed head of household by name and divided the others by gender. Hugh Williams was listed with one other male [Hugh and Richard] and three females [Margaret, Catherine and Mary]. Two were listed as foreign born and they would be Hugh and Margaret.
Other William/Jones families in Delafield, neighbors to Hugh and Margaret:
Sarah Williams, one male, 3 females, 3 foreign born
John W Jones, 2 males, 1 female, 2 foreign born,
Lewis Jones, 5 males, and 3 females, 2 foreign born
Morris Jones, 4 males, and 3 females, 4 foreign born
Robert Jones, 2 males, 3 females, 2 foreign born
Morgan Williams, 2 males, 3 females, 5 foreign born
John J. Williams, 3 males,2 females, 2 foreign born
John Jones, 1 male, 4 female, 4 foreign born.
.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:WIMap-doton-Delafield.png
The 1850 census for Delafield was taken on August 6, and they were there at that time. Hugh and Margaret were living with the family of Dan'l. T. Davis, a 52 year old farmer from Wales. His wife was Pamela, age 49, also of Wales. They had two children living with them, John, age 15, and Sarah, age 12. Hugh was listed as a 28 year old laborer, born in Wales. Margaret was age 25, also from Wales. There were no children living with them. As no relationship was given at the time, the relationship between the Davis family and Hugh and Margaret can't be determined.
Within a year and a half after his arrival, on November 4, 1851, Hugh appeared in the Circuit Court of Waukesha County, Wisconsin, and filed his intention of becoming a citizen of the US. [ no # 1333] In that document, he said he was born in Wales about 1821 and immigrated to the US on or about the month of May.
While living in Delafield, three children were born to Hugh and Margaret. Their oldest daughter Catherine was born on April 15, 1852. Mary was born in 1853 or 1854. Richard Hugh was born on April 1, 1855.
There were some early birth records for Waukesha County, Wisconsin. Hoping to discover Margaret's name, I checked them for Catherine and Richard's. The records for that early period were scarce and they were not recorded.
Wisconsin held a state census in 1855. It listed head of household by name and divided the others by gender. Hugh Williams was listed with one other male [Hugh and Richard] and three females [Margaret, Catherine and Mary]. Two were listed as foreign born and they would be Hugh and Margaret.
Other William/Jones families in Delafield, neighbors to Hugh and Margaret:
Sarah Williams, one male, 3 females, 3 foreign born
John W Jones, 2 males, 1 female, 2 foreign born,
Lewis Jones, 5 males, and 3 females, 2 foreign born
Morris Jones, 4 males, and 3 females, 4 foreign born
Robert Jones, 2 males, 3 females, 2 foreign born
Morgan Williams, 2 males, 3 females, 5 foreign born
John J. Williams, 3 males,2 females, 2 foreign born
John Jones, 1 male, 4 female, 4 foreign born.
One thing to remember when researching for Hugh Williams in Wisconsin is that there was a Hugh Williams living in Genesee, Waukesha County and several others throughout Wisconsin. The Hugh Williams of Genesee was about ten years older than Hugh R. Williams. He was married to Ellen and had children named Richard, Robert, Jane, Ellen and Catherine.
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