Paxton's emigrated to US

[shewhoseeks]

My ancestor Benjamin Paxton died in 1903 in the state of New York. His obituary stated he was born in Birminghamshire in 1823 (Aug 06, 1823) and came to the states in 1835. Fortunately, and unusually, his civl war enlistment by the clerk in his town names his parents as William Paxton and Mary Brown, but a birth place of Oxfordshire.

I can find no William and Mary Brown as parents or married nor a Benjamin Paxton in the IGI or on the ancestry online registers. So I am kind of stuck, don't know where to start.

In 1850 census, of NY, USA Benjamin also has a woman named Martha born about 1831 in his home. I presume this is a sister.

None of the passenger lists list these folks coming in 1830's on ancestry either.

Any ideas?

[pattenwalsh]

I can see a Benjamin Paxton christening Mixbury Oxford 20 Nov 1825 on IGI.
Parents Thomas & Catharine

[shewhoseeks]

Yeah, I saw that as well, I don't think it's the right one though. I have the exact birthdate, and it doesn't match who he names as his parents in 1862. I know his eldest son is William Henry Paxton. I also know he had a sister Martha born in 1831, unless Thomas had a daughter then, I don't think it's the same one...and I don't have a clue on William Paxton.

[shewhoseeks]

I can see a Benjamin Paxton christening Mixbury Oxford 20 Nov 1825 on IGI.
Parents Thomas & Catharine

I found the 1841 with that particular family, no ages, but not very many so far on the entire film, and they all have a large x on the page, is this maybe workhouse? I know the top is blank as well, just shows district 8, Mixbury on the link for ancestry.com, the first 10 pages of the film are that way, there is a note on page 11, the foregoing sheets were filled in by the R ? W. I. Palince, the rector of Mixbury, but being incorrect, and Isaac Bayliss the enumerator not being qualified for the duty W. Thomas Bradley was appointed in his stead.

So that's why, anyhow, definitely not the right family..but am looking into the 1841 for maybe clues..

[AdeleE]

Given that Benjamin Paxton was born in 1823 and came to the USA in 1835, according to his obituary, there is a good chance that his parents immigrated as well.

This family I found in the 1850 US census may be worth further research as their places of birth imply an immigration date of around the same time as Benjamin.

Indexed on Ancestry as Pexton:

Village of Augusta, Oneida, New York

William Paxton, 50, Farmer, b. England
Elizabeth Paxton, 52, b. England
Edward Paxton, 22, laborer, b. England
William Paxton, 13, b. New York
Henry Paxton, 21, laborer, b. England
Charles Paxton, 10, b. New York
Sarah Ann Newton, 16, b. New York

Roll M432_562; Page: 4B

Sarah Ann Newton may be the daughter of John (b 1786 England) and Hannah (b 1800 England) Newton who also live in Augusta village with their four children.

[AdeleE]

Just for reference, here is Benjamin Paxton on the 1850 US Census:

Benj. Paxton, 26, shoemaker, b. England
Mary Paxton, 23, b. Canada
Wm H Paxton, 2, b. New York
Martha Paxton, 19, b. England

Parishville, St Lawrence, New York
Roll M432_590; Page: 123A

Parishville is about 190 miles from Augusta, New York.

[AdeleE]

His obituary stated he was born in Birminghamshire in 1823 (Aug 06, 1823) and came to the states in 1835.


According to an obituary transcribed on Facebook, he was born in Buckinghamshire.

[AdeleE]

I may be heading down the wrong path. On the 1870 census for Augusta, New York, the surname of the William Paxton/Pexton family does look like Pexton, and I've found two Pexton baptisms on the IGI that could account for sons Charles & Henry.

Edward Cockerill Pexton - Christening: 04 FEB 1828 Brompton By Sawdon, Yorkshire, England
Henry Dickinson Pexton - Christening: 31 MAY 1829 Brompton By Sawdon, Yorkshire, England

Parents William & Elizabeth

[Geoffers]

My ancestor Benjamin Paxton died in 1903 in the state of New York. His obituary stated he was born in Birminghamshire in 1823 (Aug 06, 1823) and came to the states in 1835. Fortunately, and unusually, his civl war enlistment by the clerk in his town names his parents as William Paxton and Mary Brown, but a birth place of Oxfordshire.

Oxfordshire makes more sense than 'Birminghamshire'.

Mixbury is not far from the border with Buckinghamshire (see the message above from Adele) so that may entry not be discounted at this stage.

Is there any record of Benjamin or his parents having sought American citizenship? If so, does anything exist in the papers which identify where he came from?

Any record over your side of the pond of the family disembarking in North America?

Any useful information on USGENWEB?

[pattenwalsh]

Yes I can see the Mixbury Benjamin in 1841 at home with parents Thomas & Catharine.And then in 1851 he's married and living in Cottisford with a wife and two children so he's not your man.

[shewhoseeks]

Oxfordshire makes more sense than 'Birminghamshire'.

Mixbury is not far from the border with Buckinghamshire (see the message above from Adele) so that may entry not be discounted at this stage.

Is there any record of Benjamin or his parents having sought American citizenship? If so, does anything exist in the papers which identify where he came from?

Any record over your side of the pond of the family disembarking in North America?

Any useful information on USGENWEB?

The obit is Buckinhamshire, it was a brain ****, sorry. I am the one with the obit on Facebook.

[shewhoseeks]

Oxfordshire makes more sense than 'Birminghamshire'.

Mixbury is not far from the border with Buckinghamshire (see the message above from Adele) so that may entry not be discounted at this stage.

Is there any record of Benjamin or his parents having sought American citizenship? If so, does anything exist in the papers which identify where he came from?

Any record over your side of the pond of the family disembarking in North America?

Any useful information on USGENWEB?

No naturalization records. He stopped being a shoemaker after the civil war. The county he was in recorded the enlistments, VERY unusual for us, so at least I have names for his parents. I pursued the William in Oneida and Erie, but I don't think they are right, the Onieda County group is Pexton, and the Erie just doesn't match. I am thinking maybe Canada, but I don't even have a clue what area is above St. Lawrence to look in.

I can track him from 1850 to his death.

[Geoffers]

No naturalization records

Curses


I pursued the William in Oneida and Erie, but I don't think they are right, the Onieda County group is Pexton

I wouldn't dismiss the PEXTON family entirely. Depending on his level of literacy and strength of his accent, it may jut be what the name sounded like to the census enumerator.


I can track him from 1850 to his death.

Are there by any chance, any other PAXTONs nearby who are recorded in the post-1850 censuses as being English? Especially someone with a more unusual forename? There was a great increase in emigration following the Poor law Amendment Act of 1834; someone emigrated and wrote home to say it wasn't such a bad place and ecnouraged others to join them. If you can find other recent arrivals in America after the 1851 census was held in Britain - it may be possible to then trace them in this side of the pond. (I hope that make sense).

The ultimate hope is to find a parish from which a family emigrated and see if they obtained passage with parish assistance. The records of assisted pasage are held at The National Archives (TNA) at Kwe in document class MH12 and can be very helpful (though acces from America is a problem with which I cannot help).

So you basically need something over there which will point to a lcoation over here.

Were there any wills left by this family? In which case do they mention anything about the English side of the family?

[shewhoseeks]

My doubts about the Pexton's has more to do with location than anything, and the family has no Benjamin's. Most of the Paxton's aren't in NY, so there aren't too many, but there is a George in Syracuse that I am keeping my eye on...