Tuesday 12 June 2007

Saddingtons in Brooklyn, New York (Part 2)

Apologies for the gap in postings, but Real Life, in the form of my sister moving house and a temporary loss of Internet access, have intervened.

Following on from my first post on this subject, the Brooklyn Daily Eagle newspaper also had a number of references to a second Saddington family.

This was the family of William S Saddington, and his wife, Jennie. According to the 1880 United States census, William was an Englishman, who had emigrated to the States, and Jennie's parents were both English. It is likely that Jennie's maiden name was Adams, as the household contains one Phoeby S Adams, a single woman, who is described as 'SisterL', and whose parents were also both English.

This Saddington family were also involved in the social life of Brooklyn, but perhaps to a less publicised extent.

The Brooklyn Eagle tells us that, in July 1896, William S Saddington was installed as Noble Grand in the Principle Lodge, No. 48, I.O.O.F. - I believe that this is likely to be some kind of fraternal society like the Foresters or the Freemasons.

In September 1896, William was appointed as a delegate of the Twenty-Sixth Ward Prohibition Association to attend the County convention to be held the following month. The article states that the members of the Association 'take considerable interest in the party of their choice', which leads me to believe that the County convention would be either a Republican or Democrat political convention.

The William S Saddingtons attended the Bedford Avenue Congregational Church, as evidenced by a reference to Mrs William Saddington hosting a cake sale to raise money for the building fund in the autumn of 1897.

The last reference to the family to be found in the on-line archive tells us that Miss Lillian M Saddington, daughter of Mr and Mrs Wm. S. Saddington has become engaged to a Mr Frank B Kerby. As the notice is dated 26 December 1901, perhaps Miss Lillian found a diamond ring under the Christmas tree that year.

If anyone can confirm, correct or add to any of the above information, please let me know.

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