James Ratchford DeWolf (1823 - 1888)

Born 19 May 1823 in Horton Township, Kings, Colony of Nova Scotia

Ancestors

Husband of Ellen Fisher (Bibby) DeWolf — married 27 Dec 1849 in St Paul's Church, Seacombe, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 16 Aug 1888 at age 65 in Liverpool, Lancashire, England, United Kingdom

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Biography

James was born 19 May 1823 in Horton Township, Kings, Colony of Nova Scotia. He was the fifth son of William DeWolf and Amelia Fitch.^[1][2]

James Ratchford entered into the shipping  business, with his brother John Starr, probably, in the 1830's, and became large ship owners in Liverpool, England.

He went to Liverpool, England, by 1849, and became associated with his brother John Starr DeWolf and the company J. S. DeWolf & Co. He lived in Brunswick St., Liverpool, England and a shipowner of Salacres, Upton near Birkenhead.

John Starr DeWolf founded the firm of J. S. DeWolf and Co., in 1840, and in association with his brother James Ratchford DeWolf, it evolved into a medium sized shipping company. A majority of their vessels were constructed in the colonies in eastern British North America. In the beginning they specialized in the Atlantic run and later operated a packet route to Australia in partnership with Bingle, White & Co, of Newcastle and Sydney.^[3]

James Ratchford DeWolf, of Clifon Park, on 27 Dec 1849, was married in St Paul's Church, Seacombe, to Ellen Fisher Bibby, of Seacombe.^[4]citing the Liverpool Mercury newspaper, 1 Jan 1850, Liverpool, England.^[5] They had the following children:

1. Robert Bibby DeWolf (1851-1939)^[6]
2. Elizabeth Amelia DeWolf (1852-1934)^[7]
3. Charles Edward DeWolf (1853-aft. 1934)^[8]
4. Walter Harding DeWolf (1856-1928)^[9]
5. Ellen Lydia (DeWolf) Petrie (1859-1947)^[10]

James Ratchford DeWolf was the first mayor of Birkenhead, England.^[11]

He died 16 August 1888 at his residence, "The Salacres," in Upton.^[12][13]

His family didn't carry on the shipping business, for his will, directed that all his  ships should be sold.  His will, dated 1 September 1885 was probated 1 October 1888 as follows:

• For his wife: £500 and his furniture and household effects, and the sale of all his wooden ships, as well as the sale of his estate of The Salacres, the payment from the investment of the proceeds to be an allotment of £500 a year. (It does not appear, from subsequent records, that Salacres was sold until after Ellen's death.)
• He created a charge of £30,000 upon his property in iron ships for the payment of a further £1000, making a total of £1500 per year, for life, to his widow.
• He also provided a life annuity of £40 to Mrs. William deWolf in Nova Scotia.
• The management of his shipping property was to remain upon the usual terms with the firm of his son Mr. Walter deWolf.
• The residuary estate, real and personal, was divided (one-fifth each) to his daughters Elizabeth Amelia, Ellen Lydia, and his sons Rev. Robert Bibby, Charles Edward, and Walter. The value of the estate was £52,501.^[14][15][16]

Sources

1. ↑ Evans, Township Books p. 96.
2. ↑ Horton Township Book, page 84 : accessed 5 Jan 2024.
3. ↑ Munro, Doug: Tom DeWolf's Pacific Venture, The Life History of a Commercial Enterprise in Samoa, pe 22-40, http://ojs-dev.byuh.edu/index.php/pacific/article/download/2373/2299
4. ↑ Liverpool Mercury newspaper marriages index, https://www.old-merseytimes.co.uk/marriages1850.html
5. ↑ Marriage Bond: "England, Cheshire, Marriage Bonds and Allegations, 1606-1900," database, citing St. Paul, Seacombe, Cheshire, England, item 2 p 213, Cheshire Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 1,885,410, FamilySearch Record: FB29-Q3P (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratchford De-Wolf marriage on 10 Dec 1849 in St. Paul, Seacombe, Cheshire, England.
6. ↑ Baptism of son Robert Bibby DeWolf: "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, citing item 6 p 85, St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,104,042, FamilySearch Record: F3R8-9BK (accessed 1 June 2023), James Retchford Dewolf's son Robert Bibby Dewolf baptism on 3 Jun 1851 in St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.
7. ↑ Baptism of daughter Elizabeth Amelia DeWolf: "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, citing item 6 p 102, St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,104,042, FamilySearch Record: F3R8-SJG (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratchford Dewolf's daughter Elizabeth Amelia Dewolf baptism on 16 Sep 1852 in St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.
8. ↑ Baptism of son Charles Edward DeWolf: "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, citing item 6 p 136, St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,104,042, FamilySearch Record: F3R8-3G7 (accessed 1 June 2023), James Retchford Dewolf's son Charles Edward Dewolf baptism on 23 May 1854 in St Mary, Birkenhead, Cheshire, England.
9. ↑ Baptism of son Walter Dewolf: "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, citing item 4 p 20, , Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,298,979, FamilySearch Record: FQWD-K8P (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratatyne Dewolf's son Walter Dewolf baptism on 28 Jan 1857 in Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England.
10. ↑ Baptism of daughter Ellen Lydia De Wolf: "England, Cheshire Parish Registers, 1538-2000," database, citing item 4 p 37, , Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England, Record Office, Chester; FHL microfilm 2,298,979, FamilySearch Record: FQWD-GJ4 (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratchford De Wolf's daughter Ellen Lydia De Wolf baptism on 5 Jun 1859 in Claughton-cum-Grange, Cheshire, England.
11. ↑ On the Track of Czechs in Canada, 18th Century Visitors and Colonists pe 6-7. https://www.academia.edu/26218111/On_the_Track_of_Czechs_in_Canada
12. ↑ Funeral: "Funeral of J. R. de Wolf" Newspapers.com, Liverpool Mercury, etc., August 22, 1888, page 6, Newspapers Clip: 125734563 (accessed 5 January 2024)
13. ↑ Death Registration: "England and Wales Death Registration Index 1837-2007," database, citing Death, Wirral, Cheshire, England, General Register Office, Southport, England, FamilySearch Record: 2VSF-5HS (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratchford De Wolf death registered Jul-Aug-Sep 1888 in Wirral (age 65).
14. ↑ Probate of James Ratchford de Wolf: "Local Wills and Bequests," database with images, Liverpool Mercury, etc. (Liverpool, Merseyside, England) Wed, Nov 14, 1888, page 7.
15. ↑ Probate: "England and Wales, Index to Death Duty Registers, 1796-1903," database, FamilySearch Record: 6ZK7-WG2D (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratchford Dewolf probate in 1888 in United Kingdom.
16. ↑ Probate: "England and Wales, National Index of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1957," database, citing Probate, United Kingdom, Her Majesty's Stationery Office, Great Britain.; FHL microfilm , Ancestry Image: Ancestry Sharing Link, FamilySearch Record: QPL4-WP28 (accessed 1 June 2023), James Ratchford Dewolf probate 1 Oct 1888 in Chester.

• Lorna Woodman Evans, compiler, Township Books Kings County, Nova Scotia: Aylesford, Cornwallis, Horton (Kentville, Nova Scotia: Kings Historical Society, 1996).
• "Horton Township record book," Acadia Archives, Acadia University,.

• 1851 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1851," database, citing Tranmere, Cheshire, England, p. 49; citing PRO HO 107, The National Archives of the UK, Kew, Surrey, FamilySearch Record: SGK1-HJJ (accessed 1 June 2023), James R Dewolf (27), married, Merchant, head of household in Tranmere in Wirral registration district in Cheshire, England. Born in Wolfville Nova Scotia.

• 1861 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1861," database, citing PRO RG 9, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey, FamilySearch Record: M7GC-F4T (accessed 1 June 2023), James R De Wolfe (37), married, Merchant & Ship Owner, head of household in Oxton in Birkenhead registration district in Cheshire, England. Born in Horton, NS

• 1871 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1871," database, citing The National Archives of the UK, FamilySearch Record: VBNG-GQ8 (accessed 1 June 2023), James R Dewolf (47), married, Merchant, head of household in Oxton, Cheshire, England, United Kingdom. Born in Nova Scotia.

• 1881 Census: "England and Wales Census, 1881," database, citing p. 4, Piece/Folio 3588/54, The National Archives, Kew, Surrey; FHL microfilm 101,775,039, FamilySearch Record: Q272-Y2YL (accessed 1 June 2023), James R Dewolf (57), married, Shipowner (Nav Serving On Shore), head of household in Oxton in Birkenhead registration district in Cheshire, England. Born in Nova Scotia, Canada.

See also:

• FamilySearch Person: KJPK-Z8T
• Charles DeWolf of Guadaloupe, his ancestors and descendants : being a complete genealogy of the & Rhode Island DeWolfs the descendants of Simon De Wolf, with their common descent from Balthasar de Wolf, of Lyme, Conn. (1668) : with a biographical introduction and appendices on the Nova Scotian de Wolfs and other allied families, with a preface by Bradford Colt de Wolf. https://archive.org/details/charlesdwolfofgu00perr/page/254/mode/1up?q=Ellen

• Ancestry.com, UK & Ireland, Medical Directories, 1845-1942 (Ancestry.com Operations, Inc.) Wellcome Trust; London, England; Collection: The Medical Directory, 1880; Reference: b21330724_i13765401