Research Interests Forum Entry for REUBEN PARSONS at UNITED STATES

Contact: Chris Edwards
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Research Interest: Hi everyone, Reuben PARSONS b.1857 married Emily BOXLEY at Cradley, Worcestershire, England, April 7 1895. Reuben, one of eleven children, was Cradley born and bred and like all his brothers and sisters he was baptised at Cradley church I have his family-tree going back to the sixteenth century and his ancestors all came from the English midlands. Emily BOXLEY was Reuben PARSONS second wife. Nothing strange in that, and the 1901 census, shows Reuben was still living in the village of Cradley as were all his siblings and their families. However, a closer look at that census entry reveals that Reuben s children from his first marriage, John PARSONS born c.1892 and Elizabeth PARSONS born c.1894 were both born in the United States. Reuben, from a family that never went further than the back gate had crossed the Atlantic had children then brought them back home. I can't help wondering, which came first, Rueben's first marriage or his move to America. Did his wife return to Engla nd, with him and the children, or did she die over there. I assume she did die, divorce was not about then , not even in U.S.A - was it And even more importantly did he have other children that remained in the America and started a new line of Parso ns The answers to these questions can only be found somewhere in the U.S.A. If anyone over there has any information or ideas to help me solve this mystery please get in touch. Kind regards, Chris Brierley Hill, 2 miles from Cradley Engla nd