Furniss/Furness Families of NH - Part 9 of 10

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The Furniss and Furness Families
of Portsmouth and Durham, New Hampshire

Prepared by Sean Furniss

 

55. Clinton Chollet5 Furniss (William Ponsonby4, William3, William Ponsonby2, Robert1) He was born 18 December 1883 at 16th St., Bayonne, New Jersey. He was buried in the Oakland Fraternal Cemetery in Little Rock, Arkansas, on 12 February 1957. He was raised in the home of his maternal grandparents after his parents separation and divorce. As a result most of his social interactions were with his MacFarland relatives and MacFarland family friends. Clinton C. Furniss was a beneficiary of his aunt's Effie MacFarland's estate. He began studying medicine "after his marriage but soon went into a banking house. Banking did not prove attractive" and he returned to complete his medical studies. He graduated in 1914 from Columbia University, New York, New York, with a degree in medicine. He had state licenses to practice medicine in Maine, New Jersey, Michigan and California.[164] He was a member of the Masonic Lodge.

It was reported that he met his future wife, Ruth Nina Watts, while he was at Mount Sinai Hospital convalesing after an operation for appendicitis. She worked at the hospital as head nurse. Clinton C. Furniss, in a typescript dated 24 March 1927, reported that he married Ruth Watts in 1907. However, Ruth Watts handwritten record indicates that she was married, at an undetermined location, on 20 December 1910 by Justice of the Peace William J. Burke with W. MacFarland Lord (cousin of Clinton C. Furniss) and Cornelius O. Keefe, Jr, as witnesses.[165] One can only speculate as to why Clinton C. Furniss would indicate a 1907 marriage, while his wife, in her own handwriting, indicated a 1910 marriage with a date and witnesses. It is quite possible that, to avoid family disagreement, they were secretly married in 1907, then later remarried with family and friends present. Clinton C. Furniss and Ruth N. Watts apparently were divorced/separated about 1927-28.

Ruth Watts was born 12 October 1881 at Canton, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Thomas Watts and Eva Darling. Ruth Watts died 20 February 1966 at Berkeley, California, funeral services were held 23 February 1966 and her ashes were interred at Sunset View Cemetery, El Cerrito (Berkeley), California. In the 1900 census her occupation was listed as laborer in a toy factory, presumably the same factory where her father worked as a foreman. In the early 1900's she became a registered nurse after graduating from Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and practiced nursing for over 50 years. At Waverly, New York, she worked at Tioga Co. General Hospital. She often worked "20 hour special duty" which meant that she ate/slept there, often at a patient's bedside. She was a member of the California Nurses Association at the time of her death.[166]

They lived in New York City in 1907; Portland, Oregon 1908-09; New York City 1913-1915; Elizabeth, New Jersey in July 1917; Westfield, New Jersey in 1918; South Plainfield, New Jersey 1920-22; Grand Lake, Maine 1923-24; Patten, Maine 1924; Houlton, Maine 1925; and Branchville, New Jersey 1926. Ruth Watts moved to Waverly, New York, to be near her parents, about 1927-28 where she remained until 1944. Her address in Waverly was 513 Waverly St. Her parents address in Waverly was 14 Lincoln St.

"She waited until I [Malcolm Furniss] graduated from Waverly H.S. (last of six children)[there were actually seven children born to this family], then held an auction and she and I went by train to Calif. in 1944. We arrived in Berkeley on Oct. 24 and stayed at the Shattuck Hotel until Dec. 19 when we moved to 2138 Kittredge St. [located less than half a block from the University of California at Berkeley]. ... Mother kept the apartment on Kittredge St. until after William and I returned from military service. He and I lived there while we were both students at U.C. ... She lived at a couple of other places, always with Jackie, and they were living at 2716 Webster St., Berkeley, when mother died."[167]

Clinton C. Furniss was reported to have lived in Michigan in the early 1930's, moving to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada in September 1938, where he lived until at least 1946. Clinton C. Furniss apparently owned a resort called Chateau Pines at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. Clinton C. Furniss apparently owned a resort called Chateau Pines at Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada. An advertisement for the site states "In Full Swing Once More--The Gorgeous CHATEAU PINES `Garden of the Gods' Night Club and Dance Pavilion ... A Classy Show in a Scenic Spot Chateau Pines Open all Fall and Winter." His son Malcolm Furniss remembers visiting him at Chateau Pines about 1938. Malcolm noted "He was a superb canoeist and I can remember him standing upright in a canoe on the ST Mary R. putting on a show for us. Jerry and Clinton were impressed that he was as good as they remembered from Maine."[168] In April of 1946, his son Clinton and his son's second wife Maire came to visit him. During the visit the father cut his Hudson's Bay blanket in two and gave one half to his son and daughter-in-law as a wedding present. The blanket is still possessed by Maire Furniss.

A letter written by Clinton C. Furniss to his son Clinton, dated 21 December 1946, is the only evidence of written communication that may remain between the father and the rest of his family. The letter indicated that he had visited California earlier in the year to see his family but that the meeting between them was fairly hostile and left bad feelings. It also noted that he had received a Christmas card from his daughter Jacqueline.[169]

In 1952, Clinton C. Furniss visited with his son Clinton's family in San Luis Obispo, California and later went to Sacramento to visit his son Jerome. At this time he was apparently living a meager existence and was borrowing money from his sons. His condition was not the best in these years and he was reported to have been jailed at least once as a vagrant in California.[170] His visits to his children were troubled and left both the father and his children uneasy.

In October 1984, the writer and his wife Martha met with several elderly residents of Patten, Maine, who still remembered Doctor Furniss, his driving around town and his cigar smoking. They said that his wife, Ruth Watts, was a good baker, a fact that the writer can also personally vouch for from personal experience in her kitchen and at her table.

+62.iRobert Livingston6 Furniss born 8 September 1908 at Portland, Oregon, died 7 December 1980 in Portland, Oregon.
+63.iiClinton Chollet Furniss born 8 March 1913 at New York City, died 2 May 1984 at Garden Grove, California
+64iiiJerome Bogardus Furniss born 20 November 1914 at New York City, died 25 February 1984 at Carmichael, California, buried 1 March 1984 at East Lawn Cemetery.
65.ivWilliam Wallace Furniss born, died and buried about 1918 at Westfield, New Jersey.
+66.vWilliam Wallace born at South Plainfield, New Jersey.
+67.viJacqueline Jay Furniss born 3 July 1922 at South Plainfield, New Jersey, died 24 December 1987 at Oakland, California.
+68.viiMalcolm MacFarlane Furniss born at Branchville, New Jersey.

 

56. Ruth MacFarland5 Furniss (William Ponsonby4, William3, William Ponsonby2, Robert1) She was born 17 April 1885 at the Sanitarium, in Landis Township, Vineland, Cumberland Co., New Jersey. She died 10 February 1971 at West Stockbridge, Massachusetts.[171] She was never married.  

She was raised in the home of William Wallace MacFarland and Sarah Bailey, her maternal grandparents, after her parents separation and divorce. As a result most of her social interactions were with her MacFarland relatives and MacFarland family friends. She left parts (silver and china) of her estate to many of the children of her brother, Clinton Chollet Furniss, and to William W. Lord (see Spencer-Brainerd-Bailey-MacFarland Families, prepared by Sean Furniss) and his wife Emilie. She lived in West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, from 1915 until her death in 1971.[172]

In a letter of 26 May 1968, Ruth wrote "My brother and I inherited one third of the Trust but it was so dishonestly handled all the bad investment were put on our share which was due to come to us as the third generation called the Remainder. This dishonesty infuriated my father and brother so most of the remaining portion went down the drain in suits against the Trust Company. I realized that fighting lawsuits was not my meat. I invested what finally came to me and it came after I had given my brother ten thousand dollars to stop fighting. My lawyer nearly had a fit but I salvaged a few thousand and built up my own real estate business which has prospered for twenty five years."[173]

Ruth was also a writer. Her personal effects include letters to and from Yankee magazine about stories. Her letter of 20 March 1967 notes that "When I lived in New York I did considerable special article writing, a number of my articles are listed in the Periodical Department of the Forty Second St. Library." [reference to the New York Public Library] She noted that "Real estate crowded out writing for years. I am now using my experiences and will hope to have them in book form." One indication of her previous writing efforts is the book Shadow Fairies and Others[174] which was copyright in 1911 when she was 26 years old. Two of her manuscripts, Greenwich Village and the Giddy Gadders and Pools, Deep and Shallow, were given to the writer by Bill and Emilie Lord. They also have a copy of the previously mentioned book.     

58. William Frank5 Furness (William Pepperell4, Edward3, Patrick2, unknown1) He was born 29 December 1848 at Lawrence, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died 4 November 1915 and is buried in lot 612 in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts. The headstone records the following information: William Frank Furness Dec. 29, 1848 - Nov. 4, 1915, Marianna Morse Furness Dec. 1, 1847 - Nov. 9, 1916.[175]

Between 1865 and 1887, the Haverhill City Directories reported that William Frank Furness worked as a clerk 1869-1874, a bookkeeper 1885-1897, and in real estate (1898-1899). He lived with his parents until 1872, 81 Portland (1885), 5 Fountain (1887-1894), 17 North Ave (1897-1903), 28 Columbia Park (1910), 8 Newcomb (1911), and 19 Webster (1913-1915). He lived in Stoneham possibly about 1904-1909. His wife lived with his daugher after his death.[176]

He married Marianna Morse (Marianne Le Bosoquet) on 3 November 1880. She was born 1 December 1847 at Haverhill, Massachusetts. She died 9 November 1916 and is buried in Linwood Cemetery, Haverhill, Massachusetts.[177]

69.iMarion5 Morse Furness born 24 January 1887 at Haverhill, Massachusetts. She was listed in the Haverhill City Directories for 1914-1917.[178]

   

59. James Choate5 Furness (William Pepperell4, Edward3, Patrick2, unknown1) He was born 2 August 1854 at Lawrence, Massachusetts. He died on 31 July 1925 at Manchester, New Hampshire. He was listed in the Haverhill, Massachusetts, city directory for 1874 and 1878. A note under the heading New Hampshire Necrology, reads "... one of Manchester's most highly honored citizens and successful wholesale produce merchant, died July 31, after an illness of two years, aged 71. Two years ago failing health compelled Mr. Furness to dispose of his wholesale fruit and produce business. Coming to Manchester from Lawrence where he was born in 1854, Mr. Furness established on Granite street, in 1877, a business he long and continuously conducted there, surrendering it only when ill health made it imperative that he should do so."[179]

He was married by the Rev. John N. Lowell to Lillie May Appleton on 25 January 1883. She was 25 years old and working as a teacher at the time of her marriage. She was born at Hamilton, Massachusetts, to George Appleton and Ester R. [-?-]. Five children are listed in The Choates in America and the New Hampshire Vital Records.[180]

70.iGeorge Choate5 Furness born 11 October 1884 at Manchester, New Hampshire.
71.iiHelen Appleton Furness born 24 May 1887 at Malden, Massachusetts.
72.iiiEsken Furness born 17 September 1890 at Manchester, New Hampshire.
73.ivEster Furness born 17 September 1895 at Manchester, New Hampshire.
74.vRuth Furness born 1 May 1897 at Manchester, New Hampshire.

 


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References

[164] Birth Certification for unnamed child [Clinton Chollet Furniss], 18 Dec. 1883, F26, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, CN 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360; certified copy in possession of writer; Lewis D. Cook, The Furniss Family of New York; phone call 1 December 1994 to Oakland Fraternal Cemetery, 21st & Barber St, Little Rock, AR 72201, tel. 501-372-6429, no other information available at the cemetery, buried under the name Furness; Photocopy of typescript prepared by Clinton Chollet Furniss on 24 March 1927, found in the papers of his son Clinton Chollet Furniss, in possession of the writer.

[165] The World (New York, NY), undated article about 1911-1912, "Aged Women Win in Contest Over A Huge Estate," includes a reference to the marriage of Clinton Furniss and Ruth Watts, copy in possesion of writer; "Ruth Watts Furniss to State Board of Nurse Examiners," 21 August 1936, handwritten, certified original in possession of Malcolm Furniss; copy in possession of writer; Ruth Watts Furniss wrote that she was married to Clinton C. Furniss in requesting a name change for her nurse's registration.

[166] Oakland Tribune (Oakland, CA), 22 Feb. 1966, p. 31, col. 3; copy in possession of writer; "Malcolm Furniss to Sean Furniss," 13 Nov. 1989, in possession of writer.

[167] "Malcolm Furniss to Sean Furniss," 13 Nov. 1989, in possession of writer.

[168] Complaint of Irving Trust Company against Clinton C. Furniss, et al., 21 Nov 1938, notes change of residence to Sault Ste. Marie, Canada, copy in possession of writer; Advertisment for Chateau Pines, source unkown, in possession of writer; "Malcolm Furniss to Sean Furniss," 8 May 1988, in possession of writer.

[169] "Clinton C. Furniss to son Clinton C. Funriss," 21 December 1946, in possession of writer.

[170] "Interview with Maire Furniss," Nov. 1988; "Interview with William Furniss," Nov. 1988.

[171] Birth Certification for unnamed child [Ruth MacFarland Furniss], 17 Apr. 1885, F14, Department of Health, Bureau of Vital Statistics, CN 360, Trenton, NJ 08625-0360; Birth Registration Certificate for Ruth MacFarland Furniss issued 23 July 1956 by City of Vineland, NJ; copies in possession of writer; Pettion for probate of the estate of Ruth MacFarland Furniss, 19 Feb. 1971, Berkshire Probate Court, MA; Bill and Emilie Lord to author, letter dated 11 Nov. 1991; copies of both documents in possession of writer.

[172] Will of Ruth MacFarland Furniss, 15 Sept. 1969, copy in possession of writer; Lewis Cook, "The Furniss Family of New York."

[173] Bill and Emilie Lord to writer, letter of 11 Nov 1991, letter cites a letter from Ruth MacFarland Furniss to William Lord, dated 26 May 1968.

[174] Ruth MacFarland Furniss, Shadow Faireies and Others (New York: Hermann Lechner, 1911); copy of cover, inner pages and one story photocopied by Bill and Emilie Lord and sent to writer.

[175] E.O. Jameson, The Choates in America, 1643-1896, John Choate and His Descendants (Boston, Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers: 1896), p. 299, seen in the Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Massachusetts Vital Records Births, Vol. 34, p. 271, entry 24, birth of William F. Furness, LDS microfilm 1,420,729; William W. Roberts, compiler, Records of Interments in Linwood Cemetery 1845-1945, typescript, Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, MA; Headstone seen by writer on a visit to the cemetery on 21 August 1993.

[176] Haverhill City Directories, 1865-1942, Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, MA.

[177] E.O. Jameson, The Choates in America, 1643-1896, John Choate and His Descendants (Boston, Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers: 1896), p. 299, seen in the Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution; William W. Roberts, compiler, Records of Interments in Linwood Cemetery 1845-1945, typescript, Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, MA; Massachusetts Vital Records Births, Vol. 376, p. 254, entry 41, birth of Marion Morse Furness, LDS microfilm 1,428,239, includes information about place of birth of mother.

[178] Haverhill City Directories, 1865-1942, Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, MA; Massachusetts Vital Records Births, Vol. 376, p. 254, entry 41, birth of Marion Morse Furness, LDS microfilm 1,428,239.

[179] E.O. Jameson, The Choates in America, 1643-1896, John Choate and His Descendants (Boston, Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers: 1896), p. 299, lists date and place of birth, seen in the Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution; New Hampshire Vital Records, New Hampshire Archives, Concord, New Hampshire; Haverhill City Directories, 1865-1942, Haverhill Public Library, Haverhill, MA; New Hampshire Necrology.

[180] E.O. Jameson, The Choates in America, 1643-1896, John Choate and His Descendants (Boston, Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers: 1896), p. 299, seen in the Library of the Daughters of the American Revolution; Massachusetts Vital Records Marriages, Vol. 343, p. 238, entry 19, Marriage of James Choate Furness and Lillie May Appleton, LDS microfilm 1,432,996; New Hampshire Vital Records, New Hampshire Archives, Concord, New Hampshire.


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