1844 Deaths at Cornish, New Hampshire; from a Handwritten Journal Covering the Years 1826-1850

Note:  Please let me know if you find errors in transcription or information - thanks in advance!

Page from a journal handwritten by an unknown person, but likely by a descendant of William Ripley, that lists the deaths at Cornish, New Hampshire from 1826 to 1850.  This post covers deaths in 1844.

Interestingly, an article in the New England Historical and Genealogical Register of 1917, pages 338-342, describes the project undertaken by William Ripley to record deaths in Cornish, New Hampshire, from 1775 until his death in 1818, upon which the task was given over to subsequent descendants.

The journal here is, I believe, either a copy of the original records, by a descendant of William Ripley, or was kept as the deaths happened by William Ripley's son Col. James Ripley until his death in 1842, leaving no descendants, and then by William Ripley's grandson Deacon James Ripley Wellman, son of Alethea (Ripley) Wellman.

See other posts that list deaths in the years:

• 1826; 1827; 1828; 1829; 1830; 1831; 1832; 1833; 1834; 1835; 1836; 1837; 1838; 1839; 1840; 1841; 1842; 1843; 1845; 1846; 1847; 1848; 1849; 1850

The journal measures approximately 9-3/4" by 8" and consists of the covers, 8 interior pages, with entries also on the inside back cover.

"Con" might refer to "Consumption", whether tuberculosis or an all-inclusive term for wasting away.  "OA" is presumably "Old Age".  Chm or Cm presumably refer to "Church Member".  Some pages mention "Bm", which might be "Baptist member".

If you notice spelling and interpretation errors and/or if you have clarifying information or alternative identities for any of the people mentioned, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Sources for the information, hopefully correct, that I've added to the listings:

• History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2, published about 1911 by William Henry Child
• FindaGrave.com
• FamilySearch.org

The entries are a bit jumbled, so be forewarned that the deaths might not have occurred in the month noted, and some dates don't match other sources, but are close and may even be more dependable, if this journal is truly a primary source.

February

• 24 - Wife of William F. Comings.  Abigail (Bryant) Comings, born in 1808, daughter of Israel and Mehitable Bryant and first wife of Maj. William Farris Comings, as mentioned on pages 35-36 and 113 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.

April

• 4 - A daughter of Deacon Jonathan Wakefield - 18.  I found a Rebecca Wakefield, born June 19, 1826, daughter of Jonathan Wakefield and Rebecca (Haven) Wakefield, but this Rebecca died on April 13, 1844; as mentioned on pages 383 and 384 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.  Her Find a Grave memorial gives her death date as April 3, 1844; a photograph of her stone is attached, but I can't read the date.
• 14 [looks like 11, but could be 14, and other records show 14] - Wife of Elder A. Kendrick - 75.  Penelope (Cotton) Kendrick, born December 25, 1869, first wife of Rev. Ariel Kendrick, as mentioned on page 239 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.

May

• 23 or 24 - At Claremont, recently of Cornish, Newton Whittelsey, Esq., Cm, aged 66.  Alternatively spelled Newton Whittlesey, mentioned as having died on May 23, 1844, in a sketch on pages 417 and 418 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.
• 31 - Widow Thankful Fitch, Chm.  Thankful (Royce) Fitch, born in 1760, widow of Samuel Fitch.  Thankful's death date is given as May 30, 1844 in a sketch on page 155 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.

June

• 10 - James Batchelder, Suddenly, 30 yrs.  His name was spelled James Prentice Bachelor, son of Silas and Dorcas Bachelor, in their sketch on pages 12 and 13 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2. 

July

• 8 or 9 - Mr. John Watson (Blacksmith), Bm; noted as having died from a smithing accident on July 8, 1844 in his sketch on page 391 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.

August

• Last week in August - Joseph Wood, Jr., son of Capt. Joseph Wood - aged about 25; mentioned in the sketch of his parents Capt. Joseph Wood and Sarah W. (Dana) Wood on page 427 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.
• Last week in August - Mrs. Muzzey, wife of Jonathan M [the word deceased appears but might be crossed out.]  Possibly Lettis or Lettice (Alld) Muzzey

September

• 4 - Wife of Luther Newton.  First wife of Luther Newton, as mentioned on page 278 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.
• 26 or 27 - Deacon Silas Spaulding, on the river road, Chm, 72 years; mentioned as having died on September 26, 1844, in a sketch on page 338 and 339 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.

November

• 30 - Mr. John Edminster, 27; shown as having died on November 3, 1844 in a sketch of his parents, Zebedee Edminster and Tirzah (York) Edminster on pages 145 and 146 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.  John's gravestone, however, shows a date of November 30, 1844.

December

• 14 - Deacon John Chase, Chm, 89; see his sketch on pages 77 and 78 in History of the Town of Cornish, New Hampshire, with Genealogical Record, 1763-1910, Volume 2.

Whole No in 1844 - 12

If you notice errors in the transcription or if you have information on any of the people mentioned above, please leave a comment or contact me directly.

Front Cover