The 1st document above shows the birth of John Richardson, illegitimate, December 31, 1869. Then the 2nd document shows John Richardson Jr.’s death, March 22, 1870 of whooping cough. Its interesting the death beside John Richardson Jr.’s is Mary Ecfort (Eckfort). This is Leah’s sister who died 4 days prior of TB which she’d had for a year.
Above is Leah’s 2nd illegitimate son born April 11, 1873 without a name. Leah’s Aunt Annie is the “accouchure” (midwife) and her mother is the “informant”.
I searched through all the 1881 Horton Township census, looking for an 8-year-old. Below is the one only that fits the unnamed birth above. Robert Eady and Annie Burwell already have a son Robert B. b. 1847. They are too old to have an 8-year-old, so this Robert (age 8) is odd to be with them and I cannot find this young Robert Eady in any of the following census. He seems to disappear. Leah’s illegitimate son born 1873 is likely this 8-year-old Robert.
I’ve tossed around the idea that perhaps this Robert is really Adoniram. But its difficult to believe that at the age of 8 or 9, Leah would change her son’s name from Robert to Adoniram. Its also hard to believe Leah & Philander would report Adoniram as 10 in the 1891 Census if he was really 18. (see below).
It seems more likely that the illegitimate male born in 1873, who may be the 8-year-old Robert in the 1881 Census, is another son Leah had, and not the same person as Adoniram. So that being said, this would reveal that Adoniram had another half-brother.
I received this letter from Florence Eagle, March 5, 1992. Florence was the daughter of Thomas Henry Smith, son of Philander and Ann Smith, thought to be a half-brother of Adoniram.
Of particular interest, and shock at the time, was this:
Your grandfather is not a blood brother of my Father, Henry Smith. … Grandads 3rd wife … No 3 came to work for Grandad bring[ing] a little boy with her who was later your Grandad. … When your Grandad was very young he also took on the name Smith.
When I asked my aunt about this (can’t remember if it was Aunt Edna or Aunty Jo), she said that she had always known this but considered herself a Smith – end of story.
H. Thomas Smith is Henry (Florence Eagle’s father). He is the “Head” of the household as Philander died in 1900.
Admiram is Adoniram. Possible error in his birthdate of Feb 19, as we always celebrated Feb 18.
Orin and Julia are twins. Orin never married. Julia married William Scobie.
E. George is actually Georgina. The only birth AFTER the marriage of Leah and Philander. Georgina married her cousin, Walter Eady. They later divorced.
Philander’s marriage to Leah was delayed for legal reasons. He promised to marry Mary Jamieson, the daughter of Mary Eady, Leah’s first cousin. It seems by refusing to give up her engagement ring, Mary could prevent Philander from marrying someone else. Only when Mary finally married Arthur Humphries, did that free Philander to marry Leah. Another source informed me that Philander was actually sued by Mary Jamieson for Breach of Promise.
Leah and Philander were finally married July 16, 1887. Leah was 38 and Philander was 53.
In my search to find answers to my grandfather’s heritage, I became somewhat of a “penpal” with Hazel Eady. She became my spy into the Eady clan of Horton Township. So Hazel set about attempting to find out information about Leah and my grandfather.
The mystery continues to this day – where did the nickname “Nide” come from?
