John William Burtchaell (1832 - bef. 1890)

Born 1832 in Ireland

Ancestors

Husband of Dorthea (Tunstead) Burtchaell — married 22 May 1853 in Orange, New Jersey, USA

Descendants

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Jason Everett [send private message]

Biography

John William Burtchaell, 1832-

Married Dorthea Tunstead (1834-1893), 22 May 1853, Orange, Essex, New Jersey,

Naturalized 27 Oct 1852, New Jersey.

Residing Newark, NJ in 1860 & 1870, occupation Cabinetmaker/Carpenter.

1870 Census lists him in Novato, California with several other Burtchaells and a few Tunsteads.

1872 residing Alameda, California.

1878, Marin County.

1896 & 1918 working as Gas Lighting Fixtures in San Francisco.

Notes

Essex Co., New Jersey Naturalization records report a Thomas Burtchaell and a George Burtchaell became citizens, sponsored by a John Burtchaell, on 10 Oct 1854, two years after this John was naturalized.

A family memoir of Samual Water Burtchaell records that John and Dorthea brought seven of their children with them from Newark to California. The 1860 City Directory of Newark lists John as a cabinetmaker living at #6 Milton Street; the 1870 edition lists him as a carpenter at #16. Thus Dorcas and Bartholomew were born in California.

Memoir relates their journey: "The family took a steamer from New York to Panama, then across the Isthmus by rail an then another steamer to San Francisco. Mr. Burtchaell often told about their steamer stopping off at Acapulco, Mexico, to pick up survivors of a wreck and of seeing the survivors lined up on the beach."

1870 US Census, Novato, Marin, California: James Tunstead (29), born Ireland, Farmer, both parents foreign born, citizen over 21, personal estate 1600. Dora Burtchall (35), born Ireland, Keeping House, both parents foreign born. Jno Burchall (38), born Ireland, Carpenter, both parents foreign birth, citizen over 21, denied voting rights. Peter Burtchall (15), born New Jersey, At school, both parents foreign born. Deborah Burtchall 913) William Burtchall (11) Dora Burtchall (9) Samuel Burtchall (5) Mary Burtchall (3) James Burtchall (1), both parents foreign born. Thos Tunstead (60), born Ireland, Farm Laborer, both parents forieign born. Isaac Newton (24), born England, Farm Laborer, both parents foreign born.

Albert Field Burtchaell, Sam's younger brother, wrote John and Dorthea "moved west in 1872 and upon arrival at San Francisco, went to live at James Tunstead's ranch. This land is now part of Hamilton Air Force Base, township of Novato, in Marin County, north of San Francisco. Dorcas was born on the ranch. Shortly afterward the family moved to San Francisco where there were good work opportunities for father John who was an expert cabinet maker and worked at decorating and finishing the interiors of passenger cars."

"In 1878 the family moved back to Marin County and lived on their own farm where the town of Larkspur now stands. Father John was getting into his age and the whole family liked the pretty country and salubrious climate. Here they operated a dairy farm of about 40 cows and a large pear orchard. They lived there until 1893 when mother Dora passed away, having been preceded by father John by some years."

His wife, Dorthea Tunstead, died 30 Aug 1893; also given as 30 Oct 1893.

1896 San Francisco, California, City Directory: John W Burtchaell, Gas Fixtures and Art Brass Works,13 Trinity, h 2828 Bush. Bart, James & Samuel also listed.^[1]

1918 U.S. Voter Registration, San Francisco, California: John William Burtchaell, Republican, Lighting Cons; Percy S Burchaell, Clerk; Mrs. Laura Burtchaell, Housewife, at 1249 29th Av.^[2]

"The Burtchaell home, a rather imposing old place is still standing [1971] on what is now the main street of Larkspur and is now known as the Costello House. The Costello family has been there several generations."

Al says Burtchaell Park in Larkspur is the site of the old Dolliver House; Tunstead Avenue in San Anselmo, honors James, who gave land for the city hall, fire house, etc.

Sam says his father, Sam, was instrumental in having both parks dedicated, and that he visited the original log cabin in Larkspur where the family used to summer.

Larkspur Past and Present reports: [to be entered]

Date of Death uncertain, but was "some years" before Dorthea who died 30 Oct 1893

• Fact: Residence (1870) California, United States

Sources

1. ↑ Ancestry.com. U.S., City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
2. ↑ Ancestry.com. California, U.S., Voter Registrations, 1900-1968 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2017.

• James Tunstead Burtchaell III, C.S.C, ‘’The Genealogy of the Burtchaell Family’’, (2002), p. 35, 61-63
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 09 June 2016, 23:38), entry for John William Burtchaell(PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:LKP6-28N); contributed by various users.
• "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MN6J-ZT9 : 12 April 2016), Jno Burtchall in household of James Tunstead, California, United States; citing p. 1, family 6, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 545,573.