NameEllen GAFFEY
Birth10 Oct 1867, Bowden Close, Helmington Row, Durham, England [3], [5], [29], [30]
Birth MemoOther sources indicate 25 Oct 1868
Death1 Jun 1925, Thayer, Sangamon, Illinois [3], [31] Age: 57
Death MemoDeath Certificate shows 9 p.m. as time of death.
Burial4 Jun 1925, Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, Sangamon, Illinois [3], [31]
Burial MemoBuried by her mother at Auburn Cemetery
Cause of deathHeart Attack On The Front Porch Of Her Home In Thayer, Ill. As She Sat With Youngest Son, Adam, Who Had Just Graduated From 8th Grade. Certified Copy Of Her Death Certificate Shows Cerebral Hemorrhage As The Cause Of Death. [3], [5], [31]
FatherJohn William GAFFEY (~1837-1892)
MotherElizabeth WOLFE (1841-1917)
Misc. Notes
1. From an email from Harry Nash in May of 2002: “The copy of a delayed birth registration for Ruth Wakenshaw you have on the website, states that Ellen ( or Helen ) her mother was born in Durban, England. I do not know of a Durban, England. There is one in the republic of South Africa, but I don't think that is where she was born. It is more likely she originated from County Durham, England. This was a very active coal mining region in England, and the surname Wolfe does appear in this part of the country. I have been looking for the origins of the Gaffeys and Wolfes and have not been able to find any documents to confirm they even existed. Gaffey is certainly an Irish name. It is most common in the county of Westmeath. John Gaffey's family may have been forced to emigrate from Ireland to England due to the great famine in the 1840's. That may be why he is said to be English, but there appear to be no record of his birth in the English records.”

2. From the 1900 US Census, Illinois, LaSalle, Bruce Township (excluding Streator City), Sheet 4A, District 33, Lines 27-39, enumerated 4 June 1900:

Elizabeth Gaffey, Head, b. Feb 1846, Age 54, Widow, Mother of 11 children, Number still living - 4, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Immigrated to US in 1870, Own Home, Free of Morgage.
Helen Wakenshaw [should be Ellen], Daughter, b. Oct 1869, Age 30, Married 15 years, Mother of 5 children, Number still living - 5, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Immigrated 1870.
Anna Nash, Daughter, b. May 1872, Age 28, Married 8 years, Mother of 5 children, Number still living - 5, POB - Ohio, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England.
William Wakenshaw, Grandson, b. May 1888, Age 12, Single, POB - Illinois, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Attends School.
Lizzie Wakenshaw, Grand Daughter, b. Feb 1892, Age 8, POB - Illinois, Attends School.
Eva Wakenshaw, Grand Daughter, b. Mar 1896, Age 4, POB - Montana.
Thomas Wakenshaw, Grandson, b. Feb 1894, Age 6, POB - Illinois, Attends School.
Ruth Wakenshaw, Grand Daughter, b. Dec 1896, Age 3, POB - Montana.
Harry Nash, Grandson, b. Sept 1891, Age 8, POB - Illinois, Father POB - England, Mother POB - Illinois, Attends School.
Culbert Nash, Grandson, b. July 1893, Age 6, POB - Illinois, attends School.
William Nash, Grandson, b. Feb 1896, Age 4, POB - Montana.
Charlotte Nash, Grand Daughter, b. Sept 1896, Age 3, POB - Montana.
John Nash, Grandson, b. May 1900, Age 1/12, POB - Illinois.
Spouses
Birth9 Sep 1861, Tynemouth, Earsdon, Northumberland, England [5], [3], [25]
Birth MemoResidence of Mother as listed on birth certificate is Seghill, Northumberland.
Christen1862, Earsdon, Northumberland, England [26] Age: <1
Death23 Jun 1940, Springfield, Sangamon, Illinois [27], [3] Age: 78
Death Memodied of cancer in Memorial Hospital
Burial28 Jun 1940, Auburn Cemetery, Auburn, Sangamon, Illinois [3], [28]
Cause of deathCancer
OccupationCoal Miner
FatherThomas WAKENSHAW (~1825-1905)
MotherThomasine Ann LEE/FORSYTH (~1827-1895)
Misc. Notes
1. John Thomas Lee Knox Wakenshaw was in Ripley’s Believe-It-Or-Not for being able to touch the ground while standing on a foot tall box, without bending his knees. The reason he could do this is that his hip was broken during a coal mine cave-in. [5]

2. The following information came from the ship’s manifest of the S.S. Cedric, sailing from Liverpool, England on 15 July 1913, and arriving at Ellis Island, N.Y. on 25 July 1913:
John Wakenshaw is listed as a US citizen; male; age 52; Naturalization at the county court of LaSalle County, Illinois on 1 Nov 1890; Home address in the USA is listed as Box 42 (but then “42” is scratched out and under it is written “Box 36”) Thayer, Illinois USA.

[note]:
It is unsure why John traveled to the UK in 1913.

3. In an email from Jeanette WALKINSHAW Brunlees, (Member of Guild of One Name Studies, researching all references world-wide of Walkinshaw, Walkingshaw, Wakenshaw, Walkenshaw, Wicketshaw and all other variant spellings), June 2002, she sends this report:

THOMAS2 WAKENSHAW (JOHN1) was born c. 1825 in Longframlington, Northumberland, England. He married THOMASINA A.. She was born c. 1829 in Unthank Sq, Northumberland, England.

More About THOMAS WAKENSHAW:
Bapt/Chrs: Batch number: C000942
Baptism: 30 January 1825, Longframlington, Northumberland, England
Census: 1881, Bedlington, Northumberland, England
Occupation: 1881, Coal Miner

More About THOMASINA A.:
Census: 1881, Bedlington, Northumberland, England

Children of THOMAS WAKENSHAW and THOMASINA A. are:
i. JOHN3 WAKENSHAW, b. c. 1862, Earsdon, Northumberland, England.

More About JOHN WAKENSHAW:
Census: 1881, Bedlington, Northumberland, England
Occupation: 1881, Coal Miner

ii. ADAM WAKENSHAW, b. c. 1871, Writing, Durham, England.

More About ADAM WAKENSHAW:
Census: 1881, Bedlington, Northumberland, England

4. From the 1900 US Census, Sedro Woolley, Skagit, Washington, District 198, Sheet 9, Lines 38-50 are from St. Elizabeth Hospital; taken 11 June 1900: John Wakenshaw, Patient, White, Male, b. Feb 1861, Age 39, Single, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB -England, Occupation - Coal Miner, Months not employed - 2.

Note: I have no idea why John was in the hospital, or even why he was in Washington state for that matter. The rest of his family was in LaSalle County, Illinois at this time, according to the 1900 US Census for Illinois.

Information on St. Elizabeth Hospital:
1892: The first county hospital opens. This large building stood at the southwest corner of Fidalgo and Township streets. It was originally called the Sedro Hotel, not to be confused with the grander Hotel Sedro on Third street. It housed the construction teams of the Fairhaven & Southern railroad along with some of the principals of the landclearing companies who were preparing the residential lots between old- and new-Sedro. After that activity died down, the hotel was bought by the Episcopal church of Sedro-Woolley. New-Sedro developer Junius B. Alexander paid to transform it to a hospital, which he named St. Elizabeth's for his ailing mother.

5. In an email from Bob Wakenshaw, 24 June 2002, he writes: “On our trip to Seattle we had a couple of days to wait for the Graduation, so Jeanne, Lori and I drove up to Sedro-Woolley, WA. The only hospital there now is the United General Hospital. So I figured we would check with them to see if they had info on the St. Elizabeth Hospital. While looking for that hospital we had to make a restroom stop and we stopped at a city municipal bldg. There was a lady at the reception desk so I asked her for directions to the U.G. Hospital. As an afterthought I asked if she had ever heard of the St. Elizabeth Hospital which was there in 1900. She said she did not recognize the name but did remember that in 1927 her uncle was in a small hospital on Ferry Street which was about 5 blocks from where we were. She said you can't miss it as it has a big rock in the front yard. "Rocks" seem to have a way of working into the past of this clan. Coal can be considered as rocks also. Anyway we found the rock and there was a fairly large old 2 story house. I knocked on the door, front and back, but no answer. I was going to leave but I decided to check at the house next door. A young lady answered and I told her what I was doing in the neighborhood and if she knew if that house had been the St. Elizabeth Hospital and she said, OH yes, there was just a new family that bought it and moved in, but the last family had told her that it had been the St. Elizabeth Hospital in the early 1900's and they had shown her some old articles about it. She said maybe the library about 4 blocks away would have some info on the hospital. The librarian was familiar with the hospital but had no info on it, except she was sure that all records had been destroyed. She believed it was actually a Doctor’s home which he turned into a hospital for a time. The librarian also said the main industry in the early days was logging, but that there was also a coal mine in the area in the early days.”

6. From the 1930 US Census, Illinois, Sangamon, Auburn Township, Village of Thayer, District 21, Sheet 7B, Enumerated 8 April 1930:
John Wakenshaw; Head; Owns Home; Value $1,000; Owns Radio; Age 68; Widower; Age at first marriage 25; POB England; Father POB England; Mother POB England; Year of Immigration 1883; Naturalized; Occupation - Coal Miner
Ruth Tunell Wakenshaw; Daughter; Age 32; Widow; Age at first marriage 24; POB Illinois; Father POB England; Mother POB England; Occupation - Factory Worker

7. From the Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950, Illinois State Archives:
John Thomas Wakenshaw; White; Male; Age - unknown; Certificate #0000635; Death Date 06-23-1940; County - Sangamon; City - Capitol Twp; Date Filed - unknown.

8. From a certified copy of John Thomas’ death certificate: He was hospitalized for 9 days prior to his death. The death certificate lists “unknown LEE” as his mother’s name. Informer on certificate was his youngest child, Adam F. Wakenshaw of Thayer, Illinois. I am surprised Adam did not know his grandmother’s name. The father is listed as John Thomas Wakenshaw, but we know him as just Thomas. Occupation on the death certificate is listed as coalminer, and his employer is listed as the Peabody Coal Co. so I must assume John Thomas was still working before his death, even though he was 78 years old.
Marriage22 Sep 1888, Streator, LaSalle, Illinois [32], [33]
Misc. Notes
1. Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763 - 1900:
Groom: WAKENSHAW, JOHN; Bride: GAFFEY, ELLEN; County: LA SALLE; Date: 09/22/1886; Vol/Page: 2 /238; Lic #4102

2. Marriage License and Certificate from the Illinois State Board of Health: Full name of groom, John Wakenshaw; Residence Reading, Livingston Co., Illinois; Occupation Miner; Age next birthday 28 years; Birth place England; Father’s name Thomas Wakenshaw; Mother’s maiden name Ann Lee; Number of groom’s marriage 1st; Full name of bride Ellen Gaffey; Place of residence Streator, Illinois; Age next birthday 22 years; Birth place England; Father’s name John Gaffey; Mother’s maiden name Elizabeth Wolfe; Number of bride’s marriage 1st; Married at Streator, in the county of LaSalle, State of Illinois, on the 22nd day of September, 1888. Witnesses William Williams and Annie Gaffey.

3. From the 1900 US Census, Sedro Woolley, Skagit, Washington, District 198, Sheet 9, Lines 38-50 are from St. Elizabeth Hospital; taken 11 June 1900:
John Wakenshaw, Patient, White, Male, b. Feb 1861, Age 39, Single, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB -England, Occupation - Coal Miner, Months not employed - 2.

Note: I have no idea why John was in the hospital, or even why he was in Washington state for that matter. The rest of his family was in LaSalle County, Illinois at this time, according to the 1900 US Census for Illinois.

4. From the 1900 US Census, Illinois, LaSalle, Bruce Township (excluding Streator City), Sheet 4A, District 33, Lines 27-39, enumerated 4 June 1900:

Elizabeth Gaffey, Head, b. Feb 1846, Age 54, Widow, Mother of 11 children, Number still living - 4, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Immigrated to US in 1870, Own Home, Free of Morgage.
Helen Wakenshaw [should be Ellen], Daughter, b. Oct 1869, Age 30, Married 15 years, Mother of 5 children, Number still living - 5, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Immigrated 1870.
Anna Nash, Daughter, b. May 1872, Age 28, Married 8 years, Mother of 5 children, Number still living - 5, POB - Ohio, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England.
William Wakenshaw, Grandson, b. May 1888, Age 12, Single, POB - Illinois, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Attends School.
Lizzie Wakenshaw, Grand Daughter, b. Feb 1892, Age 8, POB - Illinois, Attends School.
Eva Wakenshaw, Grand Daughter, b. Mar 1896, Age 4, POB - Montana.
Thomas Wakenshaw, Grandson, b. Feb 1894, Age 6, POB - Illinois, Attends School.
Ruth Wakenshaw, Grand Daughter, b. Dec 1896, Age 3, POB - Montana.
Harry Nash, Grandson, b. Sept 1891, Age 8, POB - Illinois, Father POB - England, Mother POB - Illinois, Attends School.
Culbert Nash, Grandson, b. July 1893, Age 6, POB - Illinois, attends School.
William Nash, Grandson, b. Feb 1896, Age 4, POB - Montana.
Charlotte Nash, Grand Daughter, b. Sept 1896, Age 3, POB - Montana.
John Nash, Grandson, b. May 1900, Age 1/12, POB - Illinois.

5.
From the 1910 US Census, Auburn Township, Thayer Village (part of), Sangamon, Illinois, District 113, Sheet 9, Lines 32-41, taken 19 April 1910:

John Wakenshaw, Head, Male, White, Age 49, Married 24 years, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Year of Immigration to the US - 1882, Naturalized or Alien? - Naturalized, Trade or Profession - Miner, Working on own account, Unemployed on April 15th 1910, Out of work 9 months in 1909, Own home.
Ellen Wakenshaw, Wife, Female, White, Age 42, Married 24 years, Mother of 11 children, Number of children living - 8, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Trade or Profession - None
William Wakenshaw, Son, Age 23, Single, POB - Illinois, Miner, Working on own account, Unemployed on April 15th 1910, Out of work 9 months in 1909
Lizzie Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 18, Single, POB - Illinois
Thomas Wakenshaw, Son, Age 16, Single, POB - Illinois, Miner, Working on own account, Unemployed on April 15th 1910, Out of work 9 months in 1909
Eva Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 14, Single, POB - Montana, Attend school - yes
Ruth Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 12, Single, POB - Montana, Attend school - yes
Annie Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 7, Single, POB - Illinois, Attend school - yes
Robert Wakenshaw, Son, Age 5
Adam Wakenshaw, Son, Age 2 months

6. From the 1920 US Census, Illinois, Sangamon, Auburn Township (part of), Thayer Village (part of), Sheet 11B, District 116, taken 14 Jan 1920:

John Wakenshaw, Head, Own Home, Free of Morgage, Age 59, Married, Immigrated 1881, Naturalized 1898 (? - this date may be wrong), POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England, Trade - Loader, coal mine, working on own account.
Ellen Wakenshaw, Wife, Age 51, Immigrated 1870, Naturalized 1898, POB - England, Father POB - England, Mother POB - England.
Thos. J. Wakenshaw, Son, Age 25, Single, POB - Illinois, Trade - Lock Boss, coal mine, working on own account.
Eva Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 23, Single, POB - Montana, Trade - Clerk, Grocery Store.
Ruth Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 21, Single, POB - Montana.
Annie G. Wakenshaw, Daughter, Age 16, Single, POB - Illinois, Attends School - yes.
Robert L. Wakenshaw, Son, Age 14, Single, POB - Illinois, Attends School - yes.
Adam F. Wakenshaw, Son, Age 9, Single, POB - Illinois, Attends School - yes.

7. From the 1930 US Census, Illinois, Sangamon, Auburn Township, Village of Thayer, District 21, Sheet 7B, Enumerated 8 April 1930:
John Wakenshaw; Head; Owns Home; Value $1,000; Owns Radio; Age 68; Widower; Age at first marriage 25; POB England; Father POB England; Mother POB England; Year of Immigration 1883; Naturalized; Occupation - Coal Miner
Ruth Tunell Wakenshaw; Daughter; Age 32; Widow; Age at first marriage 24; POB Illinois; Father POB England; Mother POB England; Occupation - Factory Worker
ChildrenWilliam “Bill” (1888-1959)
 Robert (1889-1890)
 Freddy (1891-1891)
 John Thomas “Tom” (1894-1940)
 Eve (1897-1962)
 Ruth (1898-1977)
 Adam Lee (1900-1906)
 Annie Gaffey (1903-1956)
 Robert Lee (1905-1969)
 Adam Forsyth (1910-1965)
Last Modified 1 Jun 2005Created 7 Mar 2011 Mark C. Wakenshaw