George Fraser of Jersey City

Mary Frazier (1835-1875) married John Calverley in the earlier 1850s. They had a son, George Frazier Calverley, around 1858 in Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey.

In the continued search for the family of origin of Mary Frazier, I came across an article in the Jersey Journal from 1895. George Frazier or Fraser committed bigamy by marrying Lydia Dennison in 1894 while still married to his first wife, Margaret Cannon.

     "Fraser's first wife charges him with bigamy. She was Margaret Cannon, of Yonkers, before her marriage. She produces a certificate showing that she was married to George Frazier June 14, 1882. He left her December, 1892, and came to Jersey City about two years ago. One child, the result of the union, died several years ago.

     "Frazier spelled his name Fraser in this city. He was for some time in the employ of the Griffin Iron Works. The county records show that he was married June 12, 1894, to Lydia Dennison, of this city, by Rev. D. R. Lowrie.

I did not see a pertinent entry in the index for marriages in New York and New York City for Margaret Cannon and George Fraser or Frazier. I did find the record for the marriage in 1894 of George Fraser, Jr and Lida Denison in Jersey City.

George's address was 612-58th Street in New York City. He was 35 years old (year of birth circa 1859). His parents were George Fraser and Margret Stewart of Scotland.

Lida's address was 98 Jackson Avenue in Jersey City. She was 25 years old (year of birth circa 1869). Her parents were Stephen Denison and Martha Bouker.

This was the first marriage for both of them.

A few years after the newspaper article about George's first wife, this couple was enumerated in the 1900 federal census in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. With them was a daughter, Edith M Fraser, born in March of 1888. On this record, Edith's birth predates the marriage of George and Lyda by six years. As such, Lyda's age was modified from 30 to 39 on the census form and the years of marriage were listed as 12.

In the 1910 census, George, Lydia, and Edith were back in Jersey City, living with Lydia's mother, Martha Dennison. Lydia's age, 40 years, was more consistent with prior records. Even though Edith was 18 years old, the length of marriage for her mother and George was correctly given as 15 years.

Martha died in 1911.

Mrs Martha J Denison

     The death of Mrs Martha Jane Denison, a lifelong resident of Jersey City, which occurred on Sunday at her home, 34 Jewett Avenue, is mourned by a large number of relatives and friends. She was born Oct 31, 1830. Before her marriage she was Martha Bourker, a member of one of the oldest families in this city.

     Mrs Denison is survived by three children, Mrs Lydia Fraser, Charles Denison, and Mrs Lillie Watson, and four grandchildren. Her death leaves but one of Obadiah Bourker's family of five boys and two girls, Andrew Bourker.

In the 1930 census in Jersey City, Lydia Fraser was living with her sister and family. George was not with Lydia, even though her marital status was married and not widowed or divorced.

Who was the father of Lydia's daughter, Edith? On her birth certificate, she was named Edith May Denison. She was born on March 2, 1889 at 111 Union Street in Jersey City. Her father was "O.W." or out of wedlock. Her mother was Lida Denison, age 20.

In 1912, Edith May Fraser married Henry Christopher Heilshorn at 30 Tonnele Avenue, Jersey City. Her parents were listed as George Fraser and Elida Denison.

Edith died in 1967. She had children and grandchildren. If her descendants tested their DNA, it may be possible to ascertain if her biological father was George Fraser; if so, this may yield clues as to the origin of Mary Fraser/Frazier.

HEILSHORN

     Mrs Edith M, 78, of 1618 66th Ave S. Died Thursday Nov 2, 1967. Born in Philadelphia, Pa, here 14 years from Newark, N.J. she is survived by her husband Henery C; 2 sons Howard S, St Petersburg, and Henery C Jr, Kearny, N.Y., and 2 grandchildren. Friends may call from 7-9PM today at c. James Mathews Funeral Home 2025 9th St S where funeral services will be held at 10:30AM Monday Nov 6 with the Rev Jimmy S Jones officiating. Interment in Memorial Park.

Amanuensis Monday: Seventh Avenue Chapel, New York City

66 West 46^th St N.Y.

Oct 6, 1882

Ulyses S Stitt Clerk

My Dear Sir

On Friday Evening Sept 29^th there were received into the membership of the Church through the Seventh Avenue Chapel the following persons who made a satisfactory profession of their Faith.

Christian Hager and Kunigunda Gebhardt his wife.

Edwin Hide Moore. The last named was baptized by me prior to the Communion.

Yours Very Truly

Joseph R Duryee

Minister in Charge

Seventh Avenue Chapel

 

Elder Bolby were present

 

Report from

7^th Av Chapel 29 Sept ‘82

Read Nov 3 1882

 

George S Stitt Esqr

113 Fulton Street

N.Y. City

The Remarriage of Frank ODonnell in 1940

Francis "Frank" Patrick ODonnell (1888-1959) was one of my great grandfathers. In the prior article, I wrote about the death of his first wife, my great grandmother, Anna Preston, in 1921.

On August 7, 1940, Frank remarried to Gertrude Farman, the widow of James Paradine, in Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey. This marriage certificate is below.

The prior week, Frank had arrived in New York City from Bombat, India.

I did not know what Frank may have been doing so far away from Bayonne until I saw this story published at Ancestry:

Eddie O’Donnell told Kelly on 5/4/09

Posted 04 May 2009 by Joy Peck

Frances O’donnell (Frank) first wife died when the kids were young. The kids were raised by Aunt “Kate” Catherine.
Then Frances re married Getrude Last name unsure but thinks Paradine
Frances worked in the oil fields in Saudi Arabia when they first discovered oil there.

[Links to tree: ancestry.com/family-tree/tree/11067954/

Frank died October 31, 1959 in Bayonne. He was 69 years old. Gertrude was listed as his wife. 

Frank was buried at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City. Nobody is in this plot with him.

Gertrude was the daughter of Miles Farman and Mary Doyle. Her first marriage was to James Paradine in Bayonne on July 19, 1925. She was 21 years old; he was 27. Their marriage certificate is below.

Four and a half months after marrying, James died. An article appeared in the Jersey Journal about an accident at James' job with the Petroleum Terminal Corporation in Bayonne on December 2, 1925.

Gasoline Fumes From Tank Car Kill Workman

Overcome by gasoline fumes in a tank car which he was cleaning at the plant of the Petroleum Terminal Corporation, First Street and Avenue A, Bayonne, at 9 a.m. today [December 2, 1925]. James Paradine, 26, of 11 Cottage Street, Bayonne, died an hour later in Bayonne Hospital, despite the efforts of two physicians, who had labored over him constantly.

Two men working near Paradine saw him topple over. They summoned the company physician, Dr Duffy, and a Bayonne Hospital ambulance. Dr A E Solomon came from the hospital. Paradine died shortly afterwards, at 10 o’clock. His body was taken to Nugent’s morgue.

---The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. Wednesday, December 2, 1925, page 1.

James' death certificate gives the cause of death as "accidental inhalation of gasoline fumes while cleaning tank car." He was 27 years old. Burial was at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City in the Farman plot.

The following month, Gertrude was awarded money for James' death, with a provision to increase the award pending birth of their child.

$3,675 Award for Widow of Gas Victim

Compensation Given Widow of Oil Company Worker  - Other Awards

James Paradine of 11 Cottage Street, Bayonne, employed as a pipe fitter by the Petroleum Terminal Corporation of Bayonne was asphyxiated by gas fumes while repairing a car on December 2, 1925. Referee John J Stahl of the Compensation Bureau, State Department of Labor, in his court at 571 Jersey Avenue yesterday afternoon handed down a decision awarding $3,675 and an allowance for funeral expenses of $150. The compensation may be increased for the benefit of a dependent child yet unborn.

---The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. Friday, January 22, 1926, page 2.

As of this writing, birth records are not publicly available in New Jersey past 1923, but an index of births was recently made public. James Paradine was born January 29, 1926 in Bayonne.

archive.org/details/njgeographicbirthindex

In the 1930 census, Gertrude, age 26, was living with her son, James, age 4, and her mother and brother at 297 Avenue C in Bayonne.

James, the son of James and Gertrude, died in 1982. He was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington, Bergen County, New Jersey. His mother was buried with him, though she is not on the stone and her obituary lists her place of burial as Holy Name.

Gertrude died June 28, 1987. Her obituary is below.

Paradine-O’Donnell

Gertrude Paradine-O’Donnell, 84, a lifelong Bayonne resident, died Sunday at the Jersey City Medical Center after a long illness.

She worked for General Cable Company, formerly of Bayonne.

Mass will be offered 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at St Andrew’s Church, Bayonne. Internment will be at Holy Name Cemetery in Jersey City.

Kohoot Funeral Home of Bayonne is handling the arrangements.

---The Jersey Journal, Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey. Monday, June 29, 1987, page 12.

www.rcancem.org/find-a-loved-one-search/

I don't know what relationship, if any, my grandmother had with her stepmother. She never told me about Gertrude.