Weeks
is a name of Saxon origin derived from wic or wye meaning a dwelling place.
There is a possible descent from Robert Le Wrey, a noted knight living
in 1135. The name has been spelled Weekes, Wickes, Wick, Wyck and Week.
The family dwelt in the southern part of England. There were three great
branches. The one from Devonshire became the forebears of most named Weeks
in America.
The
records on this branch begin with Sir Richard Weekes [sic], born ca. 1425,
who married Jane Prideaux. Their son Sir Richard Weekes [sic], born ca.
1445 in Honeychurch, Devon wed Carey.
The
third Richard Weeks was born ca. 1470 also at Honeychurch. The name of
his wife remains unknown. Their son Simon Weekes [sic], born ca. 1500,
wed Hopwood.
Simon
and Hopwood’s son William, born ca. 1526 in Honeychurch, wed Arminell Yeo.
They had a son Simon Weekes [sic], born ca. 1552, who married Mary Stukeley.
Simon died 14 February 1625/26.
Mary
and Simon’s son Francis Weekes [sic], was born 1590 in Broadwood, Devon.
He wed Wilmot Coffin on 16 April 1617. Francis’ son also called Francis
was born ca. 1618 at Broadwood. In all probability Francis had a brother
George and Thomas. It is generally believed that they went together in
1635 to Salem, MA. George settled at Dorchester; Thomas at Huntington and
Francis at Salem.
Francis
became a sympathizer of Roger Williams. Such people were treated as heretics
since they did not believe in infant baptism. When Williams and his believers
were expelled from the Massachusetts Bay Colony, Francis joined the group
as they struggled in the winter snow to reach safety in what was to become
Rhode Island. Francis was part of the establishment of the Seven Day Baptist
Church in North America. In Providence at about age of 20 he wed a woman
most records call Elizabeth Luther.
Here
accounts vary. George W. Cocks wrote in The Cox Family in America that
Elizabeth was the daughter of Samuel Luther of Swansea, MA. Clarence A.
Torrey of Dorchester, MA, a professional genealogist, felt doubtful about
the Luther line. The first Luther to America of proven decent from the
German Reformer Martin Luther was Capt. John Luther who lived in Swansea,
but did not marry until 1644. The woman called Elizabeth Luther by Cocks
was born ca. 1620. Many family researchers place her birth at Musketer
Cove, Oyster Bay, Long Island, NY, but they cite no reliable source. Most
reseachers by 2005 do not accept that Elizabeth was a Luther. They believe
her last name still needs to be found. Elizabeth became the mother of nine
children.
After
1641 Francis removed to Long Island, New York. A plantation lot in Gravesend,
LI was granted to him on 10 August 1648. By 1650 he lived in Oyster Bay,
LI. Francis died 22 June 1689. His son Daniel, born 1655 in Hempstead,
NY, wed during October 1690 Mary Alling. She had five children. Daniel
died 23 March 1698 in Oyster Bay. Daniel’s son Solomon, born 14 January
1696/97 in Oyster Bay, married Nancy Waters. They had four children.
Solomon
and Nancy’s son Abraham, born 1735 in Oyster Bay, married Lamenty Ladue.
They settled in Fishkill, Dutchess Co., NY where they had seven children.
Fishkill was a major Hudson River crossing point between Albany and New
York City. Fish in the Hudson were plentiful, so was the game all about
them in the wooded valley. Life in the small village of rude cabins was
abruptly changed during the Revolutionary War when General George Washington
set up storage areas for supplies there and quartered many troops as they
moved north to defend against Burgoyne’s British Army invading from Canada.
Washington on horseback was often seen visiting the army officers living
there.
Their
son James Weeks, born 1763 in Fishkill, took as a wife on 10 October 1797
Hannah Van Fleck. Fishkill had grown and changed as a result of the war,
but the couple remained there and were enumerated in the 1810 and 1820
censuses. They had nine children. Their sons Abraham, Gilbert and John’s
families all were enumerated at Fishkill in 1820 and/or 1830 censuses.
Before
1827 son Henry Van Fleck Weeks had wed Ruth W. Cooper, a widow whose family
lived in Canada (says a family member). The young couple migrated west
to Oswego, Oswego Co., NY possibly using the newly opened Erie Canal. They
were enumerated in the 1830 Oswego census with two sons and one daughter.
Henry’s father James lived with them.
In
the 1840 Oswego census Henry V. had five sons and two daughters. One son
may have died young in the 1840's. His name was not determined. The grandfather
remained in the household.
The
1850 Oswego census found the family living in Ward 3 with the following
enumeration:
Weeks,
Henry -50-farmer-NY-$2000
Weeks,
Ruth -52-wife-NY
Weeks,
Hannah -22-daughter-NY
Weeks,
Oliver -20-son-NY
Weeks,
Harry -17-son-NY
Weeks,
Cornelia-15-daughter-NY
Weeks,
Jno -11-son-NY
Weeks,
Chas -8-son-NY
Weeks,
James -83-father-MA
More
information is available on these children from the IGI, maintained at
Salt Lake.
Hannah
Weeks b. 3 November 1827, Oswego, NY
Oliver
W. [sic] Weeks b. 1 July 1830, Oswego, NY
Henry
Van Vleck [sic] Weeks b. 28 August 1832, Buffalo, NY
Cornelia
O. Weeks b. 19 July 1835, Buffalo, NY
John
O. Weeks b. 6 May 1839, Buffalo, NY
Charles
C. Weeks b. 2 November 1841, Kingston, Greene Co., NY
However,
it is doubtful that any child was born at Buffalo or Kingston. The family
remained in Oswego through the 1850's. Some of the family did take a trip
in 1850 when Grandfather James Weeks died. He was buried back in Fishkill.
One descendant has a photograph of his grave there.
Daughter
Hannah died on 3 October 1855. Before 1858 brothers Oliver and Henry set
off for the west. They settled at Rensselaer, Jasper Co., IN where Oliver
wed Allie M. The Rensselaer 1860 census showed the following:
Weeks,
Oliver M. -29-carpenter-NY-$150
Weeks,
Allie M. -26-wife-IN
Weeks,
Wm. H. -2-son-IN
Weeks,
Genyman [sic] C. -1-daughter-IN
Brother
Henry, age 27, had taken a job nearby at Barkley, Jasper co., IN working
as a hired hand for Andrew J. Reed. When the Civil War began, Henry V.,
Jr. enlisted as a corporal on 5 September 1861 in Company G of the 9th
Indiana Infantry Regiment. He was wounded on 19 September 1863 at Chickamauga,
GA. It is unclear if he returned to Oswego or not, but on 1 December 1867
in Neoga, IL he took as his wife Mahala Caroline Bruce, born 2 October
1843 in Georgia.
The
Town of Oswego did acknowledge that Henry V. Weeks, Jr., was a local boy
who had fought for the union. Historian Crisfield Johnson in his 1878 publication,
History of Oswego County, New York noted the name of Henry V. Weeks, Jr.
of the 9th Indiana Volunteers and placed it with all the other local men
along with several men who fought with troops from Illinois and Michigan.
By
1870 Henry and Ruth lived in the 7th Ward when the census was taken. Son
Charles had died on 2 March 1863.
Weeks,
Henry V -71-farmer-NY
Weeks,
Ruth W -72-wife-NY
Weeks,
Cornelia O -35-daughter-NY
Henry
died on 16 September 1873. His body was taken back to Fishkill for burial.
Cornelia
wed George Neiper, born in England, but a resident of Oswego. The family
was enumerated in the Oswego 1880 census. Cornelia’s mother spent her last
years in this household.
Neiper,
George -57-farmer-ENG
Neiper,
Cornelia O -44-wife-NY
Neiper,
Annie H -13-daughter-NY
Weeks,
Ruth W -82-mother-in-law-NY
Cornelia
was still single in 1870, so it is doubtful that she was the mother of
Annie H. Neiper, if Annie was really age 13. Ruth Weeks died on 26 September
1882. She was buried at Fishkill also. A family member has a photograph
of her grave and her husband Henry’s. Contact Jana Pawlowski <[email protected]>
about the photos.
In
1870 Henry V., Jr. resided in Neoga, Cumberland Co., IL. The census showed
the following:
Weeks,
Henry V. -36-carpenter-NY-$300
Weeks,
Caroline -25-wife-GA
Weeks,
Louisa C. -1-daughter-IL
On
21 September 1874 in Indianapolis, IN a son Henry was born. Then the family
removed to Trinidad, Las Animas Co., CO where on 1 November 1879 Henry
died. LDS records use the name Henry Von Weeks which was not accurate,
yet may have been used commonly by Henry, Jr.
Henry’s
wife Mahala took her family to Clifty, Madison Co., AR where she received
a widow’s Civil War pension. She died there on 14 January 1903 according
to the LDS Ancestral File. Daughter Louisa Cornelia Weeks wed John A. Pottorf.
Son Henry resided in Hageman, Gooding Co., ID in the 1920 census.
Weeks,
Henry -47-farm laborer -IN
Weeks,
Mattie -40-wife-KS
Weeks,
Henry -16-son-MO
Weeks,
George -14-son-MO
Weeks,
Sherman -12-son-MO
Weeks,
Nora -7-daughter-MO
Weeks,
Pershing -1-son-MO
Henry
died in Jerome, ID on 21 August 1929.
After
his death his widow Mattie removed to Shoshone, Lincoln Co., ID where in
the 1930 census she resided, age 48, with her son Arlan P., age 11. He
had been called Pershing in the previous census. She worked as a saleslady,
selling household brushes.
Nearby
in Shoshone lived her son Henry. His family was enumerated in the 1930
census.
Weeks,
Henry C -38-farm laborer -MO
Weeks,
May E -35-wife-IN
Weeks,
Fay F -16-son-MO
Weeks,
Ruby J -14-daughter-MO
Weeks,
Emmett W -10-son-MO
Weeks,
Ray L -4-son-MO
Brother
Sherman stayed in Jerome County at Hazelton. He was counted there in the
1930 census.
Weeks,
Therman [sic] -23-farm laborer-MO
Weeks,
Ima L -27-wife-IL
Weeks,
Dorothy E -7-daughter-ID
Weeks,
Donald L -2-son-ID
Weeks,
Doris L -3 months -daughter-ID
By
1880 Oliver M. Weeks resided in Goodland, Newton Co., IN. The family was
enumerated there.
Weeks,
Oliver -52-wagon maker-NY
Weeks,
Allie M –46-wife-IN
Weeks,
William H –22-son-IN
Weeks,
Robert W -18-son-IN
Weeks,
Charles C -16-son-IN
Weeks,
Frederick U -12-son-IN
Weeks,
Jennie -11-daughter-IN
Weeks,
Nancy O -6-daughter-IN
Robert
W. Weeks worked as a painter. Wiloliam and Charles hired out as extra hands
on farms.
By
1900 both brothers Robert and Charles resided in Urbana, IL. Robert O.
Weeks, age 38, a painter, lived with two male carpenters who were called
"partners" at 206 W. Main Street. In another household there was this enumeration.
Weeks,
Charles C -36-house painter-IN
Weeks,
Carrie A -32-wife-PA
Weeks,
Osbone [sic] -12-son-IN
Weeks,
Arnold -10-son-IN
They
lived at 901 Springfield, having been married 14 years. Carrie stated she
had borne three children, but only two had survived.
This
same household was enumerated in 1910 at Urbana’s 2nd Ward. Osborne worked
as a house painter. Arnold was a railroad ticket clerk.
By
the 1920 Urbana census Osborne’s family was included. They lived at 1010
W. University.
Weeks,
Osborne -32-railroad brakeman -IN
Weeks,
Nellie -27-wife-IL
Weeks,
Robert -7-son-IL
plus
1 lodger
Still
living at Urbana Charles C. Weeks, age 65, and his wife Clara [sic], age
60, lived at 212 N. Washington. He operated a paint contracting business.
Many
thanks are due Monty Lee <[email protected]> for sharing his research
with all.
Sources:
American
Civil War Soldiers. Available [online] http://ancestry.com
[23 April 2005].
Ancestral
File. Available [online] http://familysearch.org
[24 April 2005].
Arnold,
Samuel Greene. History of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations,
1636-1790. Spartanburg: Reprint, 1970.
Carpenter,
Daniel Hoogland. History and Genealogy of the Carpenter Family in America
from the settlement of Providence, Rhode Island, 1637-1901. Jamaica, NY:
Marion, 1901.
Civil
War Pension Index. Available [online] http://ancestry.com
[24 April 2005].
Cox,
Henry Miller. The Cox Family in America. (LDS microfilm #1571760 item 4).
Daughters
of the American Colonists. Dutchess of York Chapter (Poughkeepsie, New
York) typewritten (LDS microfilm #1307514 item 36).
International
Genealogical Index. Available [online] http://familysearch.org
[22 April 2005].
Johnson,
Crisfield. History of Oswego County, New York. Philadelphia: Everett, 1878.
Luther,
Gunter. Das Luther-Nachkommend.Martin Luther. Germany: 1987.
N.Y.
Oyster Bay. Town Clerk. Oyster Bay Town Records, 1653-1878. (LDS microfilm
#0844548 item 2; #0844549 item 1-2; #08444550 item 1-2; and #0844551 item
1-3).
U.S.
Census Hageman, Gooding Co., ID 1920.
U.S.
Census Hazelton, Jerome Co., ID 1930.
U.S.
Census Shoshone, Lincoln Co., ID 1930.
U.S.
Census Barkley, Jasper Co., IN 1860.
U.S.
Census Rensselaer, Jasper Co., IN 1860.
U.S.
Census Goodland, Newton Co., IN 1880.
U.S.
Census Fishkill, Dutchess Co., NY 1810, 1820 & 1830.
U.S.
Census Oswego, Oswego Co., NY 1830, 1840, 1850, 1870 & 1880.
U.S.
Census Urbana, Champaign Co., IL 1900, 1910, 1920 & 1930.
Weekes,
Robert D. Geo. Weeks: Genealogy of the Family of George Weekes of Dorchester,
Mass., 1635-1650. Newark: Handham, 1885.
Weeks,
F. E. Genealogy of Francis Weekes of Providence, R.I., Gravesend, Hempstead
and Oyster Bay, L.I., ca. 1345-1938. Washington: L.C. Photoduplication
Service, 1985 (LDS microfilm #1429817 item 2).
Weeks
Family Genealogy Forum. Available [online] http://genforum.genealogy.com/weeks
[22 April 2005].
WorldConnect
Project. Available [online] http://worldconnect.genealogy.
rootsweb.com [22 April 2005].
