Bessie E. Paterson (1886 - 1946)

Born 9 Nov 1886 in Rochester, New York

Ancestors

Wife of Wyatt D. Hull — married 1915 in Ohio

Died Jan 1946 at age 59 in New York, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Fred Nix [send private message]

Biography

Bessie E. Paterson is born on November 9, 1886 in Rochester, New York [2]. Her parents are Thomas Hugh Paterson (1858-1937) and Carrie Knickerbocker (1861-1906) [1]. Her father, Thomas, was born in Oxford County, Canada West (which became the province of Ontario in 1867). Thomas was descended from Scottish settlers who had cleared the land in what is now the northeast part of Toronto. Her mother, Carrie Knickerbocker, was also born in Rochester. Her parents were Judson Knickerbocker (1833-1914) and Helen Mar Howes (1838-?). Judson Knickerbocker had been a Lieutenant for the Union Army in the civil war.

Bessie is 14 years old in the 1900 census where she is living with her family in Niagara Falls, New York [3]. She is 18 years old in the New York State census of 1905 when the family has moved to Parma to live with her grandparents [4] – Judson and Helen Knickerbocker. Parma is between Rochester and Brockport.

Bessie’s mother dies in 1906 and her father re-marries in 1907. His new wife, Bessie’s stepmother, is Mary Hall (1863-1949).

From a newspaper clipping, it is known that Bessie lived in North Tonawanda, the northern outskirts of Buffalo, in 1910 [5]. It is not known what she was doing there (?school, ?work). It must have been a relatively short stay in North Tonawanda as the 1910 census shows her living with her parents in Sweden (probably in Brockport, which is a village within the town of Sweden) [6].

On December 22, 1910 she marries Harlow P. White (1882-1912) in the Presbyterian Church in Brockport [7][8]. They have one child:

• Harlow Parker White 1912-1980

After the marriage the couple lives at 67 Adams Street in Brockport. This is a few blocks from the Erie Canal and, today, is almost beside Brockport College. Harlow dies in November 1912 after suffering from a long illness. He had been ill for most of the two years he was married to Bessie. He leaves his new wife and an infant son behind.

On March 15, 1915 Bessie marries her second husband, Wyatt Dana Hull (1889-1963) in Cuyahoga County, Ohio [10]. This is about 400 kilometres to the west of Brockport. It is not known why the wedding is in Ohio as the New York State census of 1915 shows that Wyatt lives in Sweden, New York – that is, next door to Bessie. It is quite likely that Bessie, Wyatt and Harlow all new each other as teenagers, since they all lived in the same area. One possible reason the wedding was held somewhere in Cuyahoga County is that is where Bessie’s brother, Charles Judson Paterson, lives (Cleveland Heights). Bessie and Wyatt have two children:

• Robert T. Hull 1918-? + Genevieve Clark 1918-?

• Elizabeth C. Hull 1921-1991

Bessie and Wyatt can be found in the census records of 1920, 1930 and 1940, living in Brockport [11][12][13]. Wyatt works for the Eastman Kodak Company in Rochester for 32 years. While Wyatt works, Bessie raises a family of three children. From a scan of local newspaper articles from Brockport, it is apparent that Bessie was musical as her name appears on several occasions as the piano player at a church function, a school event, or some other assembly. Although she attended the Presbyterian Church, she also was the organist at the St Luke’s Episcopal Church for 20 years [14].

Bessie dies in January 1946 and is buried in the Lakeview Cemetery [14][15]. Wyatt lives on until 1963. In the spring of 1954 he marries Ruth E. Welch of Rochester.

Can you add any information on Bessie Paterson? Please help grow her WikiTree profile. Everything you see here is a collaborative work-in-progress.

Sources

[1] The 1968 Paterson family tree by Marjorie Paterson shows Bessie as the 2nd child of Thomas Paterson. The way the tree is drawn, it appears that Bessie’s mother is Mary Jewell [Mary Hall]. The tree shows Bessie’s first husband as Harlow Wright and they have one child, Harlow. It shows Bessie’s 2nd husband as Wyatt Hull and they have 2 children: Robert & Elizabeth.

[2] “Pedigree Resource File," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/2:2:SRL1-WFW : accessed 22 July 2022), entry for Bessie /Patterson/; file (2:2:2:MM31-DBW), submitted 12 May 2011 by BoydPowell1 [identity withheld for privacy]. Bessie Patterson (sic) was born 9 Nov 1886 in Rochester, New York. Her parents were Thomas Patterson (sic) and Carried Knickerbrocker.

[3] United States Census, 1900, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MS2X-5MS : accessed 08 Dec 2013), Thomas H Paterson, Election District 1 Niagara Falls city Ward 3, Niagara, New York, United States; citing sheet , family 75, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241129. The record shows a 42-yr old Thomas H Paterson with his wife, Carey [Carrie] who he married in 1882; his 17-yr old son, Charles J. Paterson; his 14-yr old daughter, Bessie E. Paterson; and the nephew, Percy R. Paterson from Canada. The record shows that Thomas was born in Canada in April 1858 and that his father was born in Scotland his mother was born in Canada. [Both parents were born in Canada.]

[4] New York, State Census, 1905, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MKM8-PD4 : accessed 1 March 2015), Charles J Paterson, Parma, A.D. 04, E.D. 01, Monroe, New York; citing p. , line , county offices, New York.; FHL microfilm . The record shows Judson Knickerbocker (73) and his wife, Helen (67) living on a farm in Parma County, New York. Judson is a farmer. Both Judson & his wife were born in the USA. Living with them is Thomas H. Paterson (46), the son-in-law. The record shows that he was born in the USA [he was born in Canada]. His occupation is shown as “salesman (hardware)”. His wife, the daughter of Mrs & Mrs Knickerbocker, is Carrie (43). Thomas & Carrie have 2 children living with them: Charles J. (21) who is in school; and Bessie (?) E. (18) who is also in school.

[5] The Brockport Republic, Feb 17, 1910: “Miss Bessie Paterson, of North Tonawanda, spent Saturday and Sunday with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. T.H. Paterson.”

[6] United States Census, 1910, index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/M5H3-48D : accessed 08 Dec 2013), Thomas H Patterson, Sweden, Monroe, New York, United States; citing sheet , family 145, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375006. This census record shows the 51-yr old Thomas H. Patterson (sic) was born in New York in abt 1859. It shows both of his parents were born in Canada. It shows a 47-yr old wife, Mary Patterson, born in New York; a 23-yr old daughter, Bessie; a 71-yr old mother-in-law, Phoebe Hall; and a 16-yr old servant, Ada Pratt.

[7] The Brockport Republic, Dec 29, 1910: “At the Presbyterian Church last Thursday afternoon . . . when Miss Bessie Paterson daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas H. Paterson and Mr. Harlow P. White, both of this village, were joined in holy bonds of matrimony.” Maid of honour, Miss Helen Paterson of Brantford, Canada . . . best man Charles J. Paterson of Youngstown, Ohio . . . . bridal trip to New York, Washington and other cities . . . .[returning to ] 67 Adams Street. . . out of town guests Mrs. William Hoagg and Miss Helen Paterson of Brantford, Mrs ? E. Paterson and Miss Mabel Paterson of Niagara Falls, NY.

[8] "New York, County Marriages, 1908-1935," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XVGG-9DT : accessed 9 March 2015), Henry L. White in entry for Harlow P. White and Bessie E. Paterson, 22 Dec 1910; citing , New York, United States, county offices, New York; FHL microfilm 831,340. The record shows that Harlow P. White married Bessie E.. Paterson in New York State on 22 Dec 1910. It indicates that Harlow’s occupation was a travelling salesman. It shows his parents as Henry L. White and Helen M. Parker. It shows Bessie’s parents are Thos. H. Paterson & Carrie K. Bocler [Knickerbocker]. The residence of both Harlow and Bessie is shown as Brockport, NY. The witnesses are Helen Paterson & Charles J. Paterson

[9 ] The Brockport Republic Nov 14, 1912, pg 1: “After a long illness covering the greater part of the past two years, Harlow P. White passed away on Wednesday evening of last week. . . . the young wife and infant son from whom he is so early separated. As all of his thirty years of his life had been spent in this village and vicinity, . . . the son of the late Henry L. White, Harlow P. White was born at the family home in Sweden on Aug 13, 1882 . . . On Dec 22nd, 1910, his marriage to Miss Bessie Patterson (sic) . . . A short time after his marriage, Mr. White suffered a long and serious illness from the effects of which he never fully recovered.” [Brockport is a village in the town of Sweden.]

[10] "Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-1997," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X8K8-HY2 : accessed 2 March 2015), Wyatt D. Hull and Bessie P. White, 15 Mar 1915; citing Cuyahoga, Ohio, United States, reference 99535; county courthouses, Ohio; FHL microfilm 886,232. The record shows that Bessie P. White married Wyatt D. Hull on 15 Mar 1915 in Cuyahoga, Ohio. The parents of Bessie are Thomas H. Paterson & Caroline Knickerbocker. The parents of Wyatt are Robert C. Hull & Lillian C. Smith. The record also shows that Wyatt was born in Brockport, NY in abt 1890.

[11] "United States Census, 1920," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/MJLB-282 : accessed 2 March 2015), Wyatt D Hull, Sweden, Monroe, New York, United States; citing sheet 4B, family 107, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 1,821,120. The record shows Wyatt D. Hull (30) living in Sweden, New York. It shows that he was born in New York in abt 1890 and that his father was born in Michigan and his mother in New York. His wife is Bessie Hull (33) and they have 2 children: Harold (sic) P. White (7) who is listed as a stepson to Wyatt, and Robert T (2).

[12] "United States Census, 1930," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/X78S-TX7 : accessed 08 Dec 2013), Wyatt Hull, Brockport, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 0257, sheet , family 612, NARA microfilm publication The record shows Wyatt Hull (41) and Bessie Hull (44) living in Brockport, NY. They have 3 children: Robert Hull (12), Betty C. Hull (9) & Harlow White (18).

[13] United States Census, 1940," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/KQTB-PCH : accessed 2 March 2015), Wyatt D Hull, Brockport, Sweden Town, Monroe, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 28-91, sheet 7B, family 148, NARA digital publication T627 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012), roll 2680. The record shows Wyatt D. Hull (50) living in Brockport, NY. He is a ‘tester” at the Kodak Works. His wife is Bessie P. (53) and they have one child living with them: Elizabeth C. (18).

[14] Brockport Rebublic, Vol XC, no 16 Jan 31, 1946: Obituary for a Mrs Hull (Bess P. Hull) , daughter of Thomas H. Paterson and Carrie Knickerbacker [sic] She was born in Rochester. Her husband was Wyatt D. Hull. She spent most of her life in Brockport. She had one daughter, Elizabeth C. Hull, and two sons – Harlow White of Chicago & Robert T. Hull of Brockport. Her step-mother was Mary H. Paterson of Rochester. She has a brother, Charles J. Paterson of Cleveland. She was the organist in St Luke’s Episcopal Church for 20 years.

[15] Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/74744047/bessie-e-hull: accessed 23 July 2022), memorial page for Bessie E. Paterson Hull (9 Nov 1886–28 Jan 1946), Find a Grave Memorial ID 74744047, citing Lakeview Cemetery, Brockport, Monroe County, New York, USA; Maintained by Ron West (contributor 47389384).

Footnotes

Acknowledgments

Thank you to Fred Nix for creating Paterson-772 on 29 Sep 13. Click the Changes tab for the details on contributions by Fred and others. Fred and Bessie are second cousins, twice removed.