Janet’s thread

Grave marker for Lucy Jewett Miller, my grandfather’s first wife.  She was only 27 when she died in 1869.  She left 2 young children – Lucy Jewett Miller age 3 and Charles Dion Miller age 2

I have tried to trace what happened to these infants after their mother died so early in their lives.  From U.S. Census records it would appear that they and their father (my grandfather) were living in the household of Lucy’s parents – at least at the time of the 1870 Census.  This was in Newark.  Lucy’s father’s occupation was given as revenue collector, presumably with sufficient income to support a large household.  There were  many siblings and also Lucy’s father’s parents.

The next Census in 1880 shows Charles Dana and the 2 children in a separate household from the Jewett family.  According to the Census Charles”s sister, 2 years younger, was living with them, listed as a housekeeper.  This was the usual designation for a wife – her occupation was “keeping house”.   They were a household of 4 , Charles Dana, 2 children then 14 and 13 and their Aunt Elizabeth.  Aunt Elizabeth was unmarried or a widow.  Quite possibly a Civil War widow.

The only problem with the above is that upon looking further, Charles Dana did not have a sister named Elizabeth and 2 years younger.  Research continues.