Obituary of Susan Thompson (Davenport) Jarrell (1815-1898)

Obituary from the Athens News and Banner, newspaper dated 5 May 1898:

Jarrell.--Mrs. Susan Thompson Jarrell, relict of the late Stinson S. Jarrell, died in Athens, Ga., May 1st, 1898. She was born in 1815 at Charlottesville, Va., and was descended from the well known families of Thompson, Lewis, Meriwether, and Davenport. In 1821 [a note says should be 1823], her widowed Mother, Mrs. Davenport, moved to Georgia, settling at the "Glade" in Oglethorpe County. The family were Episcopalians, but finding no Church at their new home, they soon enterprised the building of a house of worship, which was set apart as the First Methodist Church in this old community. The mother led the daughter into the membership of the new Church for the erection of which she had largely contributed, and neither removed from its fellowship until transferred to "the house not made with hands". At the time of her death Sister Jarrell had been a Methodist for more than seventy years--the oldest member of the "Glade" Church and one of the oldest Methodists in Georgia although changing her residence for brief seasons to Clark, Madison, and Green Counties, she clung to the old home altar in Oglethorpe, where as a child, she had given her heart to God. It was fitting that at the close of her long, useful life she would have a last resting place in the quiet graveyard of the Church of her early love. She was a lady of the olden type, quiet and dignified in manner, yet of commanding, positive character. Her religious life bore the impress of the former days. She knew that Christ the Lord had formed himself within her the hope of glory, and every day she enjoyed the exhilarating grace of consscious acceptance. Modest of her attainments she was nevertheless emboldened by the assurance of faith and always able to give a reason for the hope she had. The sweetness and beauty of her religious confidence gave a glad cheer to the daily duries of home. and all who came in contact with her knew the comfort of her life and whence it came. Her children rise up to call her blessed, and cherish her memory as God's legacy of love, to give them strength and hope. They know where she has gone, and must themselves enter enter the city of God if they can see her again. -J.W.H.

Obituary of Elizabeth Sydnor (ANDREW) DAVENPORT (1800-1888)

Obituary of Elizabeth Sydnor (ANDREW) DAVENPORT (1800-1888)

Mrs. Elizabeth Sydnor Davenport was born in Elbert County, Ga., October 28, 1800, and died in perfect peace, October 10, 1888, in Campbell County, Ga., where she had lived since 1830. She was the daughter of Rev. John and Mary O. Andrew, and was the last [surviving] of nine children, six daughters and three sons, one of whom is our now glorified Bishop James Andrew of precious memory. She was married to William Davenport, December 10, 1818, by Rev. Gabriel Christian, and survived, in much feebleness, her husband, about nine years. Her educational advantages were few but possessing a strong natural mind, being a lover of books and a constant reader of current literature, particularly that of her church, she developed into more than ordinary intelligence. Converted in childhood, she joined the Methodist Church and lived seventy-three years in its fellowship. Her Christian life was beautiful, devoted to her church and the cause of Christ, she kept all religious interests well in mind. She was hopeful and looked with great faith for the triumph of Christ's Kingdom, and when, because of infirmity of age, she could not attend the public meetings, she wrestled in prayer for the power of the Holy Ghost upon the preacher and congregation. She was affectionate as a mother, and faithful as a wife, but she was fond of the Bishop especially, and watched with amazing interest the points in his life that identified him with the history of the church. Left, as she felt, almost alone in the world, because of the death of the friends of her youth, she became quite taciturn toward the last, but when she did talk it was in beautiful expressions of soon being with the saints in rest. Hers was a life of prayer, of usefulness and of trial, but also of triumph.

Jno. M. Bowden. [from the Wesleyan Christian Advocate Atlanta), Jan. 23, 1889]

Obituary of William DAVENPORT (1796-1877)

OBITUARY of William Davenport (1796-1877)       

WILLIAM DAVENPORT was born in Oglethorpe County, Ga., September 8, 1796; and died in Campbell County, Ga., March 28, 1877. The subject of this notice was married to Miss Andrew (sister of our late bishop [James Osgood] Andrew), who still survives him, and with whom he lived a devoted husband, a bright and shining light in the interests of Church and country. He possessed in a rare degree practical common sense, and an inquiring mind, added to a fair education, that kept him well informed as regards the great political, literary, and ecclesiastical movements of the age. He liked to read. In his house the minister of Jesus could not only find a home, but books of theology and early Methodism. He was wise in counsel, and his great soul was felt in the correctness and cogency of his admonitions. To use his own language, he was "born with an unusually incredulous heart, and for several years made an honest effort to be an infidel." In 1824 he attended the Salem camp meeting, in Clarke County, Ga. At a night service, as he approached the stand, Dr. Lovick Pierce rose and with unusual emphasis read Charles Wesley's hymn, beginning, "Stay, thou insulted Spirit, stay," which produced a strange feeling in his heart. The text was Rom. xi:22 – "Behold the goodness and severity of God." When the sermon closed the last fragment of infidelity was gone, and he, for the first time seeing himself a lost and ruined sinner, knelt for prayer and called on God to be merciful. At that meeting he was converted, and joined the Methodist Episcopal Church, in the communion of which he lived a faithfull and useful member to the end of his life. His views of the plan of salvation were more than ordinarily clear and correct. Although brightly converted, he was often in great doubt and Darkness, which he ascribed to not coming to Jesus when he was a child. But withal, he had the true, Scriptural idea of trust in God. He was an invalid for about six years – for ten months confined to his bed. During all these years of gloom he wrestled in prayer to God for unmistakable assurance of his acceptance with God. Fifteen months before his death, when bathed in penitential tears at the mercy seat for the witness of the Spirit, he said, "If I have never again have it, and am finally lost, I will tell the enemy till doomed, I still trust God." O, how grand such faith! At last the cloud lifted, the shadows fled, and he exclaimed, "My God is reconciled," etc. He never had another doubt – praised God all the time- often saying "Hallelujah" – "Glory be to God" – "Happy, so happy" – "Bright, bright." He had always been devoted to the Sunday-school, the children, and young people, but now he exhorted them, and all who came near him, to meet him in heaven, and not to be discouraged though satan should pursue them to the gates of the city. He had reached "through great tribulation" faith's beatitude in sight of the Jordan, and there rejoiced in hope of an entrance being administered unto him that would be all the sweeter because of the afflictions. His departure was ecstatic. As the ship loosed its moorings he exclaimed distinctly, "Heaven, sweet heaven;" "Farewell;" "Glory, Glory:" and "was not, for God took him."

John M. Bowden [from the Wesleyan Christian Advocate (Atlanta), unknown issue in 1877] Shortened version ran in Southern Christian Advocate 5 Jun 1877.

Will of Dicey KENNEDY DAVENPORT

Last Will and Testament of Dicey Kennedy (Canady) Davenport
Campbell, County, Georgia, August 4, 1834

In the name of God Amen. I Dicey Davenport of the county & state aforesaid being weak of body but of sound mind memory (revoking all others) do make and ordain the following as my last will and Testament.

First I give and bequeath to my Beloved GrandChildren James Warren, John Milton, Harriet Amanda, William Jesse & Charles Warren & Robert Early the Children of my Beloved Son Lovett (Jouett) Davenport an equal interest in a Negro Woman Hannah Secondly, I give & bequeath unto my beloved Grand Children Overton Fletcher, Eliza Garland, Matilda Ann, Dicey Sarah, James Thomas Lovett Harbirt, John Andrew & MaryOverton the children of my Beloved Son William Davenport an equal and joint interest in my negro woman Sarah & her child Amy and it is my will and desire that the said negroes should be subjuct to the control and management of my said two sons respectfully until such time as the youngest child of either comes of age then the said negro woman Hannah to be sold & the money equally divided unless she should have a child or children & in that case they may be divided or sold & divided as my said son Lovett may think best and when the youngest child of my said son William shall become of age then my will is that the said Negro Sarah and child Amy with any increase that may be shall be equally divided amongst the children of my said son William

But as the said negro woman Hannah is at this time as I understand ________ ________ by virtue of any execution from Clark County and may sold under said executions my will & desire is that in case she should be sold that all the above named children of both my sons aforesaid shall be jointly and equally interested in the remaining negroes and it is my will and desire that my two beloved sons Lovett Davenport and William Davenport be the executors of this my Last will and Testament and likewise that they equally divide between themselves the remaining part of my property & that they sell acertain Lot of Land lying in this county to wit number Thirty five in the first District (formally Carroll) in such manner and at such time as they may judge proper and divide the money between themselves

In Testimony whereof I have hereunto let my hand & seal this fourth day of August one thousand eight hundred and thirty four

Test Dicey Davenport
Thomas B. Watts L Berry Watts Hugh Longino


 Georgia
 Campbell

Personally Appeared before us Johnson (?) County B. Thompson and David D. Smith Justices of the Inferior Court of Said County Berry Watts and Hugh Longino who after being sworn saith on oath that they saw Dicey Davenport sign the within will for the purposes therein contained and that at the time she assigned she was of sound mind Sworn to us Subscribed
L BerryWatts
Before us this 1st January 1836
Hugh A. Longino, P. B.Thompson J.J.C David D. Smith J.J.C., S. P. Bonion (?) C.C.O.

Will of William Hewell

Will of William Hewell
9 Sep 1818
Oglethorpe County, GA, Will Book B, pages 166

In the name of God amen. I William Hewell of Oglethorpe County Being in my perfect senses do make & ordain this as my last will and Testament --- First my will & desire is that my son Jas D Hewell (Should he live to return from the army) have my beast & saddle & all my carpenters tools of every description for money lent & services done heretofore.

2ndly, my will  & desire is that my beloved wife Susannah Hewell have one Bed & furniture during her life.

3rdly my will & desire is that all the residue of my property be sold & all my just debts be paid, & the overplus be equally divided among my four children (to wit) Frances Rosberry Charlotte Pass Jas D Hewell and Susanah Davenport –

4thly I appoint Wyatte Hewell & Jouett Davenport my executors to this my last will & testament revoking all others, to which I hereunto set my hand & seal this 9th day of Septr 1818

Signed and acknowledged In presence of

            his
William X Hewell
          mark

John Andrew
Gabriel Christian
Josa Ragan

Probate of will follow:
State of Georgia }
Oglethorpe County }

You John Andrew & Josa Ragan do solemnly sware that
you saw the within named William Hewell sign seal
publish & declare the within Instrement of writing to be his last will &
testament & at the time of his so doing he was of sound mind & memory to the
best of your knowledge & belief, so help us God

John Andrew
Josa Ragan
NB Ragan did not see him sign
But heard him declare this his will
Sworn to & subscribed in open
Court novr term 1818
Ordered to be recorded
MaRainey C. C. O.
Recorded the 6th of November 1818
MaRainey C.C.O.

suanj  originally submitted this to Turkett/Johnson Family Tree on 8 Aug 2009 on Ancestry.com

Abstract of Will of Martin DAVENPORT (24 May 1735 Hanover County, Vriginia)

Virginia Land Records, Gen. Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1982 p 82 and 99, Records of Hanover county, The Small Book, 1734-5:

May 24, 1735 Martin Davenport's Will. sons David, James Martin, and Wm Davenport (best land in King Wm) my father Davis Davenport decd. Wife Dorothy Davenport administrator, security Paul Harrelson.

Will of James DAVENPORT (01 Dec 1803 Oglethorpe County, GA)

Transcription of the Will by SharonDavenport60 on Ancestry.com 1 Jan 2010:


Transcription of the Will of James Davenport by SharonDavenport60 on Ancestry.com 1 Jan 2010:

Will of James Davenport 01 Dec 1803 Oglethorpe County, GA

In the name of God Amen -

I James Davenport of the County of Oglethorpe and state of

Georgia being of sound mind and memory, do make constitute, and

appoint this my Last Will & testament, in manner & form following that is

to say, first -

I give my beloved wife Frances Davenport one negro girl Amelia

with her futer (sic) Increase, with all my household & Kitching (sic)

Furniture to her, her heirs & assigns forever.

Secondly, I give to my son John Davenport one negro boy Cart

to him his heirs and assigns for ever -

3rdly I give to my son James Davenport the tract of land

whereon he now lives, to him his heirs & assigns forever -

4thly I give to my son William Davenport five hundred Dollars in

lieu of & for money advanced me; & other services some years past, & if

the aforesaid sum of five hundred Dollars should not be sufficent, when

an Equaltable adjustment can be obtained, including the Interest of the

money advanced - it is my disire that a sufficent sum be drawn, out of

that part of my Estate lent to my beloved wife, at her death as shall be

sufficent.

5th I lend to my beloved wife Frances Davenport, all my Estate

of every kind whatsoever both real & personal (not heretofore Disposed

of)during her natural life; and at her Death to be equally divided,

amongst my children William, & Jesse Davenport, one sixth part each of

what there may be at my said wifes Death, to them, their heirs & assigns

for ever -

I also give to my three daughters Susanah Hewell Frances

Hewell & Henritta Johnson one sixth part each of what there may be at

my said wifes death During their natural lives & at their or either of

their Deaths their or either of their parts to be divided amongst their

respective children & their heirs & assigns forever

Lastly I do nominate & appoint my beloved wife Frances

Davenport Executrix John Davenport & Jesse Davenport - Executors of

this my last will & testament hereby Revoking all others heretofore by

me made; in testamony whereof I have hereunto affixed my seal &

subscribed my name this first Day of December 1803

Signd & seald & acknowledged " Jas. Davenport

in prisents of ---

Wm. Harvie }

J. W. Moore } Recorded Feby. 3rd day 1804

Wm. Moore }

Will of Francis (JOUETT) Davenport

Some Georgia County Records Vol 2, Rev. Silas B. Lucas, Jr., Southern Historical Press, 1977, Easley, SC, Will Book B p. 14, will abstract:

Francis Davenport of Oglethorpe Co. Last Will and Testament dated July 24, 1820; probated March Term, 1822. He gives his slaves to his five grandchildren, viz., Richard Rosbery's son John; Jesse Howell's son John; Joliett Davenport's daughter Mary Frances; Jesse Davenport's daughter Mary Francis; and John Poss' daughter, Francis, when they become of age or marry. He gives his son Jesse Davenport the homeplace where "I now live," provided he moves to this State. Executors: Hezekiah Luckey and Joliett Davenport

[Note: The abstractor put "he" and "him" but Francis is female, the widow of James Martin Davenport]

James DAVENPORT's Will (recorded 3 Feb 1804)

Two abstracts of James Davenport's Will.
Some Georgia County Records Vol 2, Rev. Silas B. Lucas, Jr., Southern Historical Press, 1977, Easley, SC, p. 131-2, will abstract:

James Davenport of Oglethorpe Co. To my beloved wife Francis Davenport one Negro girl Amelia, & furniture. To my son John Davenport one Negro boy Carr. To my son James Davenport the tract of land where he now lives. To my son William Davenport $500 in lieu of, and for money advance me, and other services some years past. At my wife's death the remainer of my estate to be divided among my children, one sixth each to sons James, William, and Jesse Davenport, and my daughters, Susanah Hewell, Frances Hewell, and Henrietta Johnson. Exor: Wife Frances and John, James, William and Jesse Davenport. Dated 1 Dec 1803. Signed: Jas. Davenport. Wit: Wm. Harvie, Jno. Moore, Wm. Moore. Rec. 3 Feb. 1804.

Oglethorpe Co. (GA), by Sarah Quinn Smith, 1962, Wills: Will Book A, p 131

pg. 14 Abstract of James Davenport will:

Davenport, James. Recorded Feb. 3 1804.

To beloved wife Frances gifts, including all household furniture. To son John Davenport. To my son James Davenport the tract of land he now lives on. To my son William Davenport five hundred dollars and other considerations. Lands to beloved wife Frances all my estate both real and personal during her life and at her death to be equally divided amongst my children hereafter named. I give to sons James, William, and Jesse Davenport one sixth part of residue. To my daus. Susannah Hewell, Frances Hewell, and Henrietta Johnson one sixth part. Exrs: Wife Frances Davenport, John Davenport, James, William, and Jesse Davenport. Wit: William Harvie, J.W. Moon, William Moore.

The Swan Tavern and Jack Jouett's Ride

The Swan Tavern and Jack Jouett's Ride, written by Teresa McVeigh, 16 May 2010

The Swan Tavern in Charlottesville, Virginia was owned by Capt. John Jouett, Sr. in 1781. He was a Captain in the Virginia State Militia, as was his son, Capt. John "Jack" Jouett, Jr., who later ran the tavern.

In June 1781 British General Cornwallis ordered the capture of Governor Thomas Jefferson and Virginia’s government who had fled Richmond and reconvened in Charlottesville. On the third of June Jack Jouett saw the approach of the British under Lieutenant-Colonel Banastre Tarlton from the Cuckoo Tavern in Louisa County, Virginia. Jack captured a British dragoon and stripped him of his uniform. He rode forty miles through the night on back roads to warn Governor Thomas Jefferson, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee and other members of the General Assembly of the approach of British forces. All along the way he spread the alarm. On the morning of the fourth of June the stopped at Monticello to warn Jefferson's wife and family, only pausing for a glass of Jefferson's Maderia. In his old age he used to laugh and say he would "do it again for a glass of Mr. Jefferson's Maderia." Then he rode on the Charlottesville and warned the Assembly. Eluding capture, most legislators fled to safety in Staunton, Virginia. Tarleton’s men destroyed some court records and military stores, but spared the town from destruction.

One of the Delegates had the narrowest escape of all. General Stevens had been ill at the Swan Tavern. He and Jack Jouett started out on the road to Staunton. Captain Jack had on an officer's cap with a showy plume. General Stevens was shabbily dressed and road on leisurely and unconcerned when they were spied by the British. Jack led the British on a merry chase while the "old farmer" escaped into the woods.

After the War, Jack Jouett was awarded two pistols and and a sword by the Virginia Assembly in gratitude. He ran the Swan Tavern and he and his cronies would smoke pipes and tell tales around the fireplace or out on the large front porch on summer evenings. He moved to Kentucky in the Spring of 1782 and took up a military land grant there in what became Mercer County, Kentucky. Kentucky was then a county of Virginia and he served as elected representative to the Virginia and Kentucky legislatures for five terms. He died 1 Mar 1822 in Bath County, Kentucky.

At some later date, the running of the Tavern was taken on by John Jouett, Sr's nephew, Jesse Davenport, son of his sister Frances Jouett and James Martin Davenport. John Hammond Moore writes in "Albemarle, Jefferson's County" (page 97):

Those who went to Charlottesville on Court Day frequently gathered in taverns....A more convenient rendevous for many was Jesse Davenport's Swan Tavern on Court Square. It was so popular that early in January 1822 the harrassed owner published this sad notice in the Central Gazette:


It was the misfortune of the subscriber to have taken a stand, which from its conveniency to the Court House, and from its rooted habits, for houses have habits, too, was the open and convenient resort of the idle and noisy. He has long known that this was an annoyance to travellers and his friends, and he has attempted to remove it. But he has found that the crowd will gather, whilst the attraction remains, and to root out the evil forever, he has nailed up his Bar-Room. To his friends, to travellers, to the public, he promises in their ROOMS the best of liquors--he promises his ardent assiduity to please, and a calm and quiet house. To those who have patronized his Bar-Room exclusively, he returns his thanks for their punctuality of attendance, and kindly begs them to remember the hearth by which they so often reposed, is without a fire!

Jesse Davenport died 28 Sep 1822 and his family moved to Oglethorpe County, Georgia to take possession of land left to him in his mother's will.

The historic Swan Tavern marker. This photograph is taken from the Historical Marker Database: http://www.hmdb.org/Marker.asp?Marker=18552

Inscription: Site of old Swan Tavern where lived and died Jack Jouett, whose heroic ride saved Mr. Jefferson, the Governor, and the Virginia Assembly from capture by Tarleton June 1781.

Erected 1910 by the Monticello Branch of the Association for the Preservation of Virginia Antiquities.

Location. 38° 1.892′ N, 78° 28.626′ W. Marker is in Charlottesville, Virginia. Marker is on Park Street north of Jefferson Street, on the right when traveling north.

[Note: This marker is incorrect. Jack Jouett later moved to Kentucky and died there.]

Site of the old Swan Tavern, Charlottesville, Virginia. This picture is taken from the Charlottesville city website:
http://www.charlottesville.org/Index.aspx?page=1962
 This townhouse was later built on the site.

 
 
 
 
Copywrite
Teresa McVeigh 2010

Herman Waldermar BORGKVIST

Herman M BORGKVIST was my friend Ben's step-grandfather. He married Ben's grandmother Sybel DAVENPORT. They lived on a farm outside Kittery, Maine. Ben says Herman "taught him the way of the world with the toe of his boot." Herman didn't talk much, but he was a strict discipinarian. Herman was good at making things and had his own blacksmith shop as a hobby. He made bells in different sizes which he would tune with a tuning fork, boat propellers, and custom engraved swords for West Point graduates. He handmade Ben a pair of wooded skis.

According to his passport application in 1920, Herman was born 7 Jan 1892 in Malmo, Skane, Sweden, the son of N H BORGKVIST of Sweden. He immigrated to the US in 1910, coming on a ship from Rosario, Argentina. Ben says he was a Merchant Marine. Soon after he arrived he must have met a woman from Canada because the 1930 Census says he was first married in 1910. His son Joseph BORGKVIST was born in Boston, MA 27 Apr 1911 and his daughter Eva BORGKVIST was born 21 Feb 1917 in Boston, MA.

On 2 Oct 1913 Herman applied for naturalization in the Western District of New York.

Selected U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes, 1822-1855 and 1906-1966 (Indexed in World Archives Project) On-line database on Ancestry.com.
Name: Herman Waldermar Borgkvist
Place of Residence: New York
Date of Action: 2 Oct 1913
Collection Title: Index, 1906-1966 Petitions for Naturalization, U.S. District Court, Western Dist. of New York, M1677
NARA Series #: M1677
Roll #: 2
Roll Description: Bakewell, Elizabeth to Borvsiuk, Michael

Then he enlisted in the Marine Corps. According to US Marine Corps Muster Rolls, Herman enlisted as a private on 20 Oct 1913 in Buffalo, NY and was transferred to Norfolk, VA. He was assigned to serve on the USS New Jersey. On 23 Mar 1915 he qualified as Sharpshooter and won a $3.00 prize on the 31st. By April 1917 he was transferred to Port Royal, Beauford County, SC where he worked as "mechanic in charge of the laundry." By Aug 1917 he had been promoted to  Sergeant at the Naval Prison, Navy Yard, Portsmouth, NH.

Herman must have left the Marine Corps in 1917 because the next record I find for him is his World War I Draft Card 31 Dec 1917 where he says he has a wife and 2 children and served 4 years in the Marine Corps. He is described as medium tall, stout, brown eyes, brown hair, not bald, and no disabilites.

On 14 Mar 1918 in Portland Maine at the US District court, Herman became a naturalized citizen of the USA.

By the 1920 Census on Jan 16 Herman's first wife had died and he was listed as widowed with his two children. He was working as a "Clipper Caulker" at the Navy Yard in Kittery, ME.

1920 United States Federal Census

Name: Herman W Borgkvist
Home in 1920: Kittery, York, Maine
Age: 28 years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1892
Birthplace: Sweden
Relation to Head of House: Head
Father's Birth Place: Sweden
Mother's Birth Place: Sweden
Marital Status: Widow
Race: White
Sex: Male
Home owned: Own
Year of Immigration: 1910
Able to read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Image: 428
Household Members: Name Age
Herman W Borgkeist 28 Swede
Eva Borgkeist 6 MA
Joseph Borgkeist 8 MA

By August Herman had decided to take the children to see his mother and applied for a passport. The passport contains a picture of him and his two children. [First picture, Herman's information ins on the right; second picture Herman is on the left.]

They returned to Boston 16 Feb 1921 from Copenhagen on the ship United States.

Boston Passenger Lists, 1820-1943
Name: Herman Borgkvist
Arrival Date: 16 Feb 1921
Age: 28 Years
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1893
Gender: Male
Port of Departure: Copenhagen, Denmark
Ship Name: United States
Port of Arrival: Boston, Massachusetts
Microfilm Roll Number: 259
Also
Joseph Borgkvist age 9 b. abt 1912 Boston, MA
Eva Borgkvist age 4 b. abt 1917 Boston, MA
Departure Feb 4, 1928

By the 1930 Census Herman had remarried. He is listed with Pearle M. and the children. Pearl is listed as age 34 and first marriage age 34, so they must have been newly weds when the census  was taken on April 4th.

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Herman M Borgkvist
Home in 1930: Kittery, York, Maine
Age: 39
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1891
Birthplace: Sweden
Relation to Head of House: Head
Spouse's Name: Pearle M
Race: White
Occupation: Chauffeur. Retail Coal Co.
Age at first marriage: 18
Parents' birthplace: Sweden
Household Members: Name Age
Herman M Borgkvist 39 Sweden
Pearle M Borgkvist 34 NH
Joseph Borgkvist 18 MA
Eva E Borgkvish 13 MA

I have not found out yet what happened to Pearle.
18 July 1936 Eva married Francis A DOUGLAS in Maine.
2 Jun 1941 Joseph married Virginia M Moulton in Maine

At some point after the 1930 Census Herman met Sybel DAVENPORT. They had two daughters: Annet H and Ebba L BORGKVIST.

Sybel DAVENPORT ROARK BORGKVIST Genealogy

My friend Ben asked me to help him with his genealogy. His grandmother, Sybel, was "the most remarkable woman." She was the first Passamaquoddy Indian to finish college. Ben said that Teddy Roosevelt had an initiative to educate the Indians. Sybel took advantage of it, went to college, and became a school teacher in Barre, Vermont. Ben said the school house was heated by a coal stove and one time Sybel had to chase a bear out with a broom. When Ben knew her she was retired and never left the farm, but she would know everything that was going on by telephone. She would go out in the fields and collect herbs, weeds, and barks to make teas--clover, birch bark, and sumac root. She would bake "green chocolate cakes" from honey and roots. She would make sumac root porridge. In the winter she would find ants frozen under the bark in the maple trees and "eat them like candy." There is a book somewhere written about her named "Sybel", but Ben has been unable to find it, so I'm helping him with the research. I set up a tree on Ancestry named Sybel's Family Tree and started searching.

This is an interesting and challenging bit of research. Ben did not know his grandmother's maiden name and had a number of things incorrect. Her maiden name turned out to be DAVENPORT. He knew the name, but he thought that had been a first husband's name before his grandfather. Ben's grandfather was not talked about in the family and they were forbidden to ask about him. By the time Ben came along Sybel was married to Herman BORGKVIST, a Swede (Ben thought he was Norwegian and did not know how to spell the name).

Ben gave me Sybel's children's names, but got some wrong. At first I thought some of them were named Davenport, but they turned out to be ROARK and BORGKVIST. So far the BORGKVISTs have been the easiest to find.

I have been working on this a couple of weeks now. I think this is the first record I found, Herman in the SSDI:

Social Security Death Index
Name: Herman Borgkvist
SSN: 005-36-1966
Last Residence: 03904 Kittery, York, Maine, United States of America
Born: 7 Jan 1892
Died: Aug 1967
State (Year) SSN issued: Maine (1954)

Then I found Sybel in the SSDI:

Social Security Death Index
Name: Sybel Borgkvist
SSN: 004-64-9505
Last Residence: 03904 Kittery, York, Maine, United States of America
Born: 28 Sep 1894
Died: Apr 1973
State (Year) SSN issued: Maine (1973)

A wonderful start! I now had some dates and a last name for Sybel.