Emma (Emily) Sears (1856-1932)
– Looking for the Rest of Her Story
We are missing 53 years of the story of Ruth’s great grandmother. Can we fill in some of the blanks? For our family there are large gaps in what we know about Emma (Emily) Sears. Known to the Templeton family as Emily, she was born to William Sears and Edith Kirk on 12 February 1856 in Monson, Piscataquis, Maine. On 29 June 1873 she married John Frank Templeton in Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine. They had two children, Herman Orman Templeton, born 14 May 1874, and Fred Frank Templeton, b. 15 Feb 1876. Both children were born in Willimantic, Piscataquis, Maine. When Herman was only 5 and Fred 3, their father, John Frank died, leaving Emily a widow at the age of 23. The next part of Emily’s story is not known to the Templeton family. What we do know is that shortly after his father’s death Fred went to live with John Frank’s brother, Enoch Templeton and his new bride, Calista Ridley. Hermon went to live with Calista’s mother and father, Joseph and Mary (Robbins) Ridley. To the best of our knowledge the Templeton family had little, if any, further contact with Emily. There is a family story that at some point Emily tried to make contact, but that these overtures were rebuffed by Calista. Calista remained a part of the Fred Templeton household until her death in 1949.
Family notes passed down say only that Emily later married a man named “Jenkins,” that she died in 1932 and is buried with her parents at Riverside Cemetery in Willimantic, Maine. Indeed a tombstone at the cemetery confirms that “Emma Jenkins” 1856-1932 is buried with William and Edith. A search of records at the Maine State Archives in Augusta, Maine produced a record of death for Emma E Jenkins. Emma died on 24 August 1932 in Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine, where she had been a resident for 2 weeks. Her previous residence was Bangor, Penobscot, Maine. The record stated her parents as William Sears and Edith Kirk. Her marital status is listed as “widow”.
A search of the Bangor Daily News for 27 August 1932 produced an obituary for Emma Jenkins. It states that she was the widow of Frank Jenkins.
She died at the home of her sister, Lillian Wise; that she was a native of Monson; that she previously lived in Bangor and Waterville. The big question: what more can we learn about Emily’s story during the 53 years following the death of John Frank Templeton? Additional pieces of the puzzle: Do they fit and how?
- E. Templeton married a Dennis Jenkins in Willimantic, Piscataquis, Maine on 14 Jun 1890 (Maine Marriages, 1771-1907 from FamilySearch.org)
- A 1904 town census from the Guilford and Sangerville (Maine) Town Register shows that Edith Kirk Sears’ daughter Emma (Templeton) living in Waterville.
- At the time of the 1900 US Census an Emma E. Templeton is living in the household of William Chipman in Waterville, Maine. Her relationship is listed as “housekeeper.” Also in the household is Harry C Templeton, b. Mar 1880 in Maine.
- In the 1910 and 1920 US Census an “Ella” Templeton is living in the household of William Chipman in Waterville
- A WWI US Draft Registration Card dated 12 Sep 1918 for Harry Carl Templeton shows his nearest living relative as Mrs. Emma E Templeton of Waterville, Maine. His birth date is listed as 29 Apr 1880.
Discussion
- The 1904 town census record (above) places Emma Sears Templeton in Waterville.
- It is interesting that she is using the name Templeton from 1900 – 1920. In 1910 she states her marital status as divorced.
- Is Emma this M. E. Templeton that married Dennis Jenkins in Willimantic in 1890? Was it a short marriage? I have not found any record of a divorce. If she was divorced, that could explain why she returned to the name Templeton.
- Who is the father of Harry Carl Templeton? John Frank Templeton died in 1879 (date unknown). Harry was born in April of 1880, which means that the father could be John Frank. Or his father could be someone else, which could be one reason the Templeton family did not choose to maintain a relationship with Emily.
- I just found the obituary. It is interesting that at the time of her death she (or her family) was using the name Jenkins. Who was Frank Jenkins? Could it be Dennis Frank Jenkins, or is the 1890 marriage record not Emma?
- There is no mention in the obituary of any children. What do we conclude from this?
Next Steps
Check out the Social Security application for Harry Carl to see if I can find any other clues. Based on that information continue looking for more information about him and any family. (See what I found on the SS Application at this link. Harry Carl was a brother to Fred and Hermon!)
Explore the Bangor, Maine period – after 1920 until 1932.
Explore other Sears family lines, especially the family of Lillian Wise to see if there are any clues, or researchers who may have information.
Solicit comments, questions, and information