Please help with this mysterious cousin

Question

[[Unknown-537645|Susan Spence]] was born about 1838 in Massachusetts and died in 1913 in Stanislaus county, California. She is is associated with my great-grandfather's family, and is listed in the 1910 census as "cousin" of the head, although we think probably she was a cousin of his wife, my great-aunt, because she is buried in a plot which includes my great-grandfather, Harry James Kelley, his father, Henry S. Kelley, and two of his siblings.

We would love to know more, her maiden name & birth parents, when and whom she married, how she came to be in California, and, of course, any details to bring her to life. Everything I am sure of is on her profile, except some mentions in newspapers which are "Memories" on her FamilySearch profile. That profile is linked on her WikiTree profile.

The FS profile includes a 1900 census source which may be correct, although I am not sure and haven't put it here on WikiTree. It is also linked to a William Spence who may have been her husband, although, again, I am not convinced.

Thank you for any help you can give!

Comments

She is listed in the California death index, so her death certificate should be available and may answer some of these questions. Contact the Stanislaus County Clerk’s office http://www.stancounty.com/clerkrecorder/ If you meet specific requirements you can get an authorized copy (this is valid for legal purposes) or if you do not meet those requirements an informational copy (suitable for genealogical purposes). In either case the fee is the same $21. The website has the form.

Edit ...

There is some confusion .... her profile and FamilySearch says she died in Stanislaus Co., CA. Ancestry says she died in Alameda, which is a city in Alameda Co., CA. Before requesting the record make sure of the right county. The county will charge you for the search, even if they do not find the record.

This is the FamilySearch entry

Name: Susan F Spence
Event Type: Death
Event Date: 08 Feb 1913
Event Place: , Stanislaus, California, United States
Gender: Unknown
Age: 75
Birth Year (Estimated): 1838
Certificate Number: 7471

GS Film Number: 001686047
Digital Folder Number: 005240841
Image Number: 00253
 

Citing this Record
"California Death Index, 1905-1939," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QKSM-68P2 : 8 November 2017), Susan F Spence, 08 Feb 1913; citing 7471, Department of Health Services, Vital Statistics Department, Sacramento; FHL microfilm 1,686,047.

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Thanks, I have ordered the death certificate. Now to wait...

P.S. I think the Ancestry record transcription must be wrong, as it refers to the same image as FamilySearch, and the image gives only a code for the county of death, with no reference to the city.

Answer 1

see Newspaper clip here Susan F. Spence Is Called By Death and Susan F. Spence Died Saturday

See: Remains Are Shipped To San Jose For Interment

The surname “Kelley” caught my attention as I have this name in my family tree see Amelia A (Kelley) Gibbs (abt. 1850 - 1920)

Comments

Oh that Barnstable tip really narrows it down! Looks like Susan F Crocker born August 1837 is a good candidate.

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Thanks, these are good!

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It definitely says she is a native of Barnstable Massachusetts