George Hewitt
Status: looking for family
In our last post, we read about the life of Catherine Peterson Dolbow, whose photograph noted that she was the grandmother of Maria, who married a Hewitt. It was then that I put two and two together: could this 'Hewitt' possibly be the George Hewitt of whom I found a photo along with Catherine's?
It was. And this is George’s story.
George Hewitt married Maria Clark on 18 February 1868. We find them next in the 1880 census in Upper Penns Neck, New Jersey, the same community as the Dolbow family. What we learn from the 1880 census is that our subject, George, with his fantastic mutton chops reminiscent of Martin Van Buren, was a teacher (it also says this on his marriage certificate). George was born in 1846, and by the 1880 census, George and Maria had two daughters: Lizzie, born 1871, and Mary, born 1877.
The family lived together in the same area in the 1885 New Jersey state census. Interestingly, ten years later in the 1895 New Jersey state census, George has...a new wife? He is married to Katie, and has a son, named George. In fact, Katie and little George are the ones listed on our George's tombstone.
This same family unit lives together in the 1900 federal census, which informs us that little George was born in 1890. If this is indeed the same George Hewitt, it would mean his first wife, Maria, died between 1885 and 1890.
But the kicker? I'm pretty sure Maria didn't die. Our Maria was born about 1849, based on the 1880 census when she lives with George. And, well, a woman by the name of Maria Hewitt, born in the same year and living in the same small township of Penns Neck, shows up in the 1910 Federal Census, the 1915 New Jersey State Census, and the 1930 Federal Census.
There is a tombstone for a Maria Hewitt, with a middle initial of D, with the same birth date. And you know what Maria's middle name was in the 1880 federal census, when she was living with George and her daughters? D.
The other reason I don't think Maria died? Whoever labeled Catherine Dolbow's photo knew their grandmother, Maria. They labeled it "grandmother Maria's grandmother". If Maria had died before 1890, she wouldn't have had grandchildren (or at least grandchildren old enough to remember her): her daughters Lizzie and Mary would have only been, at most, 19 and 13 respectively.
So, operating on the assumption that this is the same Maria, what happened to her? Well, in the 1910 federal census, as well as the 1915 New Jersey state census, and the 1930 federal census, she is listed as a housekeeper for a Mr. Jacob Lanning. She lists herself as a widow in each census, which is factually correct as George died in 1907 - what we really need is to find her in the 1900 census and see her marital status. If she listed herself as divorced, it would confirm the leading theory that the two separated with no formal proceedings (which would also explain the lack of marriage certificate for George and Kate).
Although, "back in the day" it was common for people to claim they were widowed when they were, actually, separated. Less stigma around death than divorce.
Maria died in 1935 and is buried alone in a cemetery in Penns Grove. But what her death certificate does confirm? Her daughter's married name...but more on that later.
Because before we research George and Maria's children (of whom we have photos of too!!!) we should first go back one generation, to George's mother: Mary Ann Humphries.
Because we have her photo, too.