Subject: Frank Pierce Marsh (Dec 1850 – 23 Mar 1918)
Background:
Frank was born in Dec 1850 in New Hampshire or Massachusetts. 24 Feb 1872 he married Susan Zellah Atwood and had 8 children with her. From their marriage date until 1880 they lived in Connecticut. From 1880 to 1895 they lived in New Hampshire. In 1900 they had returned to Connecticut.
Objective:
This report will help us review and extract the information from the many source documents that we currently possess. It will be a single place where all information we know will be available for review and analysis.
Theories:
There is no record of Frank Pierce Marsh prior to his marriage with Susan Zellah Atwood in 1872. From his birth ( we are assuming based upon census and other source data ) in 1850 until 1872 there is no record of his existence. One of our theories involves the Orphan Trains. If he was in fact born in Massachusetts and was orphaned he very easily could have been placed on the train and potentially ended up in Canada. That may explain why his daughters Frances and Edith Mae have ethnicity: Canadian on the New Hampshire Birth Index lists. In the period between 1910 and 1918 (at Frank’s death) Frank and Susan were not living together. Susan lived with her son Daniel in West Hartford in 1910 and Frank in Colebrook on a farm as a laborer. From 1900 through 1918 he lived at several different addresses from Colebrook to Hartford and was employed as a carpenter, a teamster, a wood chopper. Eventually, his listed address was that of Harry Frank Marsh his eldest son. Harry was also the informant on his death certificate. Susan lived another 14 years after Frank died.
Research Notes
1880 United States Federal Census (Census Image)
Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut
22 Jun 1880
Starting line number 33, dwelling number 399, family number 400
Surname | Given | Gender | Age | Birth Year | Relation | Married Status | Occupation | Birth Place | Father | Mother |
| Atwood | Alma | Female | 50 | Abt 1830 | Self | Widowed | Farmer | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Marsh | Susan | Female | 27 | Abt 1853 | Daughter | Married | Keeping House | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Marsh | Frank | Male | 29 | Abt 1851 | Son-In-Law | Married | Farmer | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Atwood | Harry | Male | 2 | Abt 1878 | Grandson | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut | |
| Atwood | Nellie | Female | 17 | Abt 1863 | Daughter | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut | |
| Atwood | Dora | Female | 14 | Abt 1866 | Daughter | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut | |
| Marsh | Susan | Female | 10/12 | Abt 1879 | Granddaughter | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
Notes and Analysis:
Alma Atwood listed as a widow is consistent with information we have on Noble Atwood. He died in 1873. For Frank we have his birth place listed as Massachusetts as well as both of his parents birthplaces. Harry Atwood was actually Harry Frank Marsh and the father’s birthplace was incorrectly listed. Frank is listed as a Farmer for his occupation.
1900 United States Federal Census (Census Image)
Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
04 Jun 1900
Starting line number 39, 97 Block C Madison Ave, dwelling number 58, family number 80
| Surname | Given | Gender | Age | Birth Year | Relation | Married Status | Occupation | Birth Place | Father | Mother |
| Marsh | Susan | Female | 46 | Jul 1853 | Wife | Married | Keeping House | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Marsh | Frank | Male | 49 | Dec 1850 | Head | Married | Carpenter | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
| Marsh | Daniel | Male | 20 | May 1880 | Son | Single | Brazier | Connecticut | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Marsh | Noble | Male | 17 | Dec 1882 | Son | Single | Brazier | Connecticut | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
| Marsh | May | Female | 5 | May 1895 | Daughter | Single | At School | New Hampshire | Massachusetts | Connecticut |
Notes and Analysis:
Susan was listed first then Frank as the Head of the household. Frank’s birthplace listed as Massachusetts as well as both parents. Consistent with the information we have May’s birthplace was listed as New Hampshire. Frank is listed as a Carpenter as his occupation.
1910 United States Federal Census (Census Image)
Colebrook, Litchfield, Connecticut
Apr 1910
Starting line number 31, Colebrook District 0253, dwelling number 35, family number 35
| Surname | Given | Gender | Age | Birth Year | Relation | Married Status | Occupation | Birth Place | Father | Mother |
| Laurence | WP | Male | 76 | 1834 | Head | Married | Ice Merchant | Connecticut | ||
| Laurence | Evelen Sarah | Female | 72 | 1838 | Wife | Married | Connecticut | |||
| Laurence | Chas D | Male | 48 | 1862 | Son | Married | Ice Wagon Driver | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Laurence | Lester | Male | 21 | 1889 | Grandson | Single | Farmer | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Butler | Clara | Female | 15 | 1895 | Adopted Daughter | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut | |
| Bownes | George Anna | Female | 25 | 1885 | Servant | Single | House Keeping | New Jersey | New Jersey | New Jersey |
| Fowler | Thadius | Male | 49 | 1861 | Boarder | Single | Saw Mill Labor | Connecticut | Connecticut | New York |
| Marsh | Frank | Male | 59 | 1851 | Servant | Married | Farm Labor | Massachusetts | Massachusetts | Massachusetts |
Notes and Analysis:
Frank living in Colebrook as a Farm Laborer with the Laurence family. Frank’s birthplace is Massachusetts as well as both his parents. Susan was living in West Hartford with their son Daniel and his wife. Susan is listed as Widowed in the West Hartford 1910 Census.
1910 United States Federal Census (Census Image)
West Hartford Hartford District 0243 Connecticut
5 May 1910
Starting line number 81, New Britian Ave, West Hartford, dwelling 408, family 577
| Surname | Given Name | Relationship | Gender | Race | Age | Estimated Birth Year | Marital Status | Birthplace | Father’s Birthplace | Mother’s Birthplace |
| Marsh | Daniel | Head | White | 29 | 1881 | Married | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut | |
| Marsh | Lillian | Wife | Female | White | 22 | 1888 | Married | Indiana | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Marsh | Francis | Son | Male | White | 2 | 1908 | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Marsh | Susan | Mother | Female | White | 55 | 1855 | Widowed | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Marsh | May | Sister | Female | White | 15 | 1895 | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Andrews | Stella | Mother-in-law | Female | White | 53 | 1857 | Widowed | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
| Stone | Dorothy | Servant | Female | White | 14 | 1896 | Single | Connecticut | Connecticut | Connecticut |
Notes and Analysis:
Susan living with Daniel and Lillian along with May, Daniel’s sister and his mother in law Stella. She is listed as Widowed
Marriage Record
Feb. 24 1872, Frank Pierce Marsh, Woodbury,and Susan Zilla Atwood, Woodbury (Sharpe, 1908)
Children
| Rosa Marsh | born: ~ 1873 | Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut | |
| died: 4 Mar 1874 | Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut | ||
| Harry Frank Marsh | born: 26 Oct 1877 | Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut | |
| died: 11 Dec 1936 | Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut | ||
| married: 24 May 1899 | West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut | ||
| Sarah H Paradise | |||
| Susan Marsh | born: 7 Sep 1879 | Woodbury, Litchfield, Connecticut | |
| died: | |||
| Daniel Marsh | born: 26 May 1880 | Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut | |
| died: May 1957 | Union Township, Union, New Jersey | ||
| married: 17 Mar 1906 | Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut | ||
| Lillian Andrews | |||
| married: (#2) 12 Nov 1924 | Newark, New Jersey | ||
| Emma L. Haid | |||
| Noble Atwood Marsh | born: 7 Dec 1882 | Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire | |
| died: 22 Apr 1959 | Westfield, Hampden, Massachusetts | ||
| married: 4 Apr 1906 | West Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut | ||
| Eva Shippee | |||
| David Andrews Marsh | born: 1887 | Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire | |
| died: 22 Sep 1889 | Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire | ||
| Frances Marsh * | born: 1 Feb 1892 | Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire | |
| died: 4 Oct 1892 | Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire | ||
| Edith Mae Marsh * | born: 29 May 1895 | Concord, Merrimack, New Hampshire | |
| died: 5 Jul 1984 | Portland, Cumberland, Maine | ||
| married: 30 Sep 1920 | Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut | ||
| Francis Edward McCarthy | |||
| divorced: ? | |||
| * New Hampshire Birth Index lists Ethnicity: Canadian | |||