Hannah (Snow) Dews (1810 - 1864)

Born 13 Mar 1810 in Harewood, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of George Dews — married 23 Feb 1835 in Harewood, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Descendants

Died 1864 at about age 53 in Illinois, United States

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Biography

Hannah (Snow) Dews migrated from England to United States.

Hannah (Anna) was born in England circa 1810. In 1844 she was living in Yorkshire England where her daughter Frances Dews was born. By 1849, Hannah Dews was living in Harewood Leeds, England where her daughter Martha Dews was born.

In 1850, she immigrated to the United States with her husband and daughters. (Date provided in Martha Dews Smith's 1920 US Census.) By 1860, her husband George isn't living in her household but her two youngest children, Martha and Richard, remain living with her.

Note: Her daughter Frances' death record establishes her maiden name as Hannah Snow. However, the 1860 US Census may say her given name was Anna.

Letter from her husband

Thank you to Sandra Hall for providing this transcription.

This letter was written by George Dews to his wife Hannah, telling her the route and provisions she must get together for her voyage from Liverpool, England, to America in 1849. He was already here, living near Chesterfield, Ill. There seems to be little or no punctuation. This is as it was written:

My Dearest Hannah, It is with pleasure I again write to give you all the information respecting our present prospects in this place and what you must gather for your voyage I hope you will not think of coming any other way, but by New Orleans. I will just give you the route take your fare at Liverpool for New Orleans. I hope Bro Easterly or one of your Brothers will see you all safe on board hope all the children except Sara Anna will come at half price the Baby will be nothing. this is the list of things you want on board 10 lb. of flour 3 lb. of Oatmeal 2 lb. of Biscuits 1 quart of peas for soup you will get rice on board After the first week 3 pecks of Potatoes you must be your own judge of Bacon we shall have plenty when you get here 2 or 3 dozen of Herring a piece of good cheese will be very useful a lb of butler Hogs lard the eggs packed with salt in small box will keep all the way over -- one peck of onions. Oatmeal gruel was our first recipe for the first month if you are seasick it is the best thing you and the children can take. Bring plenty of good Tea and Coffee you should bring a stone of sugar and a sone of Treacle Currants make good bread pudding You will have to get 2 tin bottles to hold your water 1 tin boiler 2 good frying pans tin chamber vessel with lid.

At New Orleans take a steamboat to Alton that will save you shifting your luggage at S. Louis be sure to have your luggage well packed and corded. I hope your Brother Wm will give you that 10 he kept back last year. Try to sell my share in the library get a few good books.

Give my love to all your dear brothers and sisters. I send my best love to all Dear Children & accept the same yourself from your ever affectionate Husband George Dews. Illinois.

Family helps her children

" The Snows seem to have been rather wealthy and, as I said before, did a good deal to help Hannah, especially after the death of her husband. Also after the Civil War was over; the children each received several hundred dollars. Charles used his money to come to Kansas. He learned of an English settlement in Jefferson Co. and went up there and joined them. He worked for Matt Edmonds for awhile, later went to farming for himself and in 1874 was married to Tabitha Frances Rice. Your grandfather himself [Charles] dropped the extra "e" from the name. I think is cousin in Illinois spelled it "Dewse." ^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ Reverand Arthur Ward letter, Hackney United Brethren Church, Winfield, Kansas

• "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JMLL-KZ9 : 11 February 2018, Hannah Snow, 13 Mar 1810); citing , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 0844555 IT 5.
• "England Marriages, 1538–1973 ," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N2M5-PWL : 10 February 2018), George Dews and Hannah Snow, 23 Feb 1835; citing Harewood,York,England, reference , index based upon data collected by the Genealogical Society of Utah, Salt Lake City; FHL microfilm 918,342.
• 1860 US Census in Eastern District, Greene County, Illinois (attached) "United States Census, 1860", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXC3-YPY : 13 December 2017), Anna Dews, 1860.
• Hannah's daughter Frances' death record establishes her maiden name. (attached) "Illinois Deaths and Stillbirths, 1916-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:NQQD-M8Q : 8 March 2018), Hannah Snow in entry for Frances Spear, 04 Jun 1926; Public Board of Health, Archives, Springfield; FHL microfilm 1,613,375.
• Hannah's death year taken from a letter about her son Charles T. Dews, which says she died 5 weeks after Charles T. Dews enlisted in the Civil War. This letter was written by Reverand Arthur Ward letter; Hackney United Brethren Church, Winfield, Kansas.