Mary Ann (Chalder) Clifton (1823 - 1876)

Born 1823 in Arkengarthdale, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Wife of Richard Clifton — married 22 Dec 1838 in Grant, Wisconsin, United States

Descendants

Died 25 Aug 1876 at about age 53 in El Dorado, California, United States

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Biography

Mary was born in Arkengarthdale, Yorkshire, England, possibly in Raw or Whaw ^[1] in 1823. (Note: Find a Grave recorded 13 August 1823 ^[2], and FamilySearch/Ancestry gives her birthdate as 19 May 1823 at Arkengarthdale, Yorkshire, England, her name as Ann Chalder. ^[3]. No image of the original documents were provided. Yorkshire Dales Families records her baptism date as 19 May 1823. ^[1]) At least three of her siblings were born in or very near Arkengarthdale. She was a daughter of Joseph Chalder and Alice Waller.

Mary married Richard Clifton on 22 December 1838 at Grant County, Wisconsin, United States, according to "Grant County, Wisconsin Marriages, 1835-1890. County court records located at Lancaster, WI or FHL #1266662 and 1266982-1266988." (Note: Mary was recorded as Anne Chalter, although no copy of the original document was provided.) ^[4] They appear to have had at least seven children together.

1850 U.S. Census, Council Hill Township, Jo Daviess County, Illinois: Mary Ann Clifton, age 28, born in England, living in the household of Richard Clifton, age 37, miner, born in England, living with three children: John G., age 10, born in Wisconsin, Mary Ann, age 8, William, age 4, and Alice Jane Clifton, age 2, all born in Illinois. ^[5]

In an article titled "Pioneer of Eldorado County" in The Mountain Democrat (Placerville, California, 17 July 1947, page 10), the following was recorded: Richard Clifton and his wife Mary Chalders Clifton arrived in Eldorado County late in 1853, having come in a covered wagon and settled soon in Middletown. They traveled with an infant daughter, Mary Clifton, born in about 1853. They opened a "roadhouse" and Richard bought a property on the Hangton Creek where he mined for gold. He eventually sold the property to a Chinese miner for $60,000. The property was reported to have later become a pear orchard. Subsequently Richard bought property along the American River. They had six more children: Minnie, Jane, William, John, Richard and Thomas. The article erroneously records her death year as 1874, but gives the cemetery name as Middletown Cemetery. ^[6]

1860 U.S. Census, Placerville Township, Eldorado County, California: Mary E. Clifton, age 35, born in England, living in the household of Richard Clifton, age 45, miner, born in England with seven children: John G., age 20, born in Wisconsin, Mary A., age 18, born in Illinois, William, age 15, born in Illinois, Jane, age 12, born in Illinois, Elizabeth, age 7, born in California, Richard, age 4, born in California, and Thom Clifton, age 2, born in California. ^[7]

1870 U.S. Census, Placerville Township, El Dorado County, California: May A. Clifton, age 46, farmer, real estate valued at $500, personal estate valued at $200, born in England, parents foreign born, living with John J. Clifton, age 30, miner, born in Wisconsin, William Clifton, age 24, laborer, born in Illinois, attending school, Minnie E. Clifton, age 17, keeping house, born in California, attending school, Richard J. Clifton, age 15, born in California, attending school, and Thomas H. Clifton, age 12, born in California, attending school. ^[8]

Mary died on 25 August (Find a Grave) 1876 and was buried next to her husband Richard at Middletown Cemetery, Placerville Township, El Dorado County, California. (Her headstone reads Died 1876, 55 YRS.) ^[2][9][10]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Yorkshire Dales Families
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} "Find a Grave," database with images, (Find A Grave: Memorial #36826225 : accessed 6 September 2022), Memorial page for Mary Ann Chalder Clifton (13 Aug 1823-25 Aug 1876), citing Middletown Cemetery, Placerville, El Dorado County, California, USA (plot: A-58); Maintained by Paul & Sherida Hodel (contributor 46636795).
3. ↑ England, Select Births and Christenings, 1538-1975. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014.
4. ↑ Wisconsin, U.S., Compiled Marriages for Select Counties, 1835-1900. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2000.
5. ↑ Year: 1850; Census Place: Council Hill, Jo Daviess, Illinois; Roll: 111; Page: 100b
6. ↑ The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, 23 September 1876. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:The Mountain Democrat. Placerville, CA, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.
7. ↑ Year: 1860; Census Place: Placerville, El Dorado, California; Page: 891
8. ↑ Year: 1870; Census Place: Placerville, El Dorado, California; Roll: M593_72; Page: 95A
9. ↑ The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, 23 September 1876. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:The Mountain Democrat. Placerville, CA, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.
10. ↑ The Mountain Democrat, Placerville, California, 15 March 1879. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data:The Mountain Democrat. Placerville, CA, USA. Database created from microfilm copies of the newspaper.