William Cayea (1862 - 1933)

Born 1 Sep 1862 in Champlain, Clinton, New York

Ancestors

Husband of Marie-Louise (Kirby) Cayea — married 15 Jan 1884 in Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont

Descendants

Died 28 Jul 1933 at age 70 in Crystal Lake, Ellington, Tolland, Connecticut

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Krista Cayea [send private message]

Biography

William was born 1 Sept 1862 in Champlain, NY^[1] and baptized 7 Sept 1862 at St. Mary's Church in the village of Champlain.^[2] He was the third of seven children born to Julienne (Julia) Falcon and Aimé (James) Cayea. Only four of the children survived to adulthood. Both of his parents were born in Quebec, Canada, with French being their native language. Both parents immigrated to northern New York State with their parents in the early 1800's. The town of Champlain is located on the western shore of Lake Champlain and borders Canada. In fact, it was part of Canada until 1763.^[3] William spoke with a slight French accent throughout his life.^[4] According to various census records, his father James worked as a "laborer" at various jobs. The family rented the homes they lived in as he was growing up.

In the summer of 1870 when William was 8 years old, he and his family moved to Burlington, Vermont, a relatively short distance away.^[5] The move was likely due to the fact that Burlington was a growing city with many job opportunities. Burlington was described in 1889 as "the metropolis of Vermont, the capital of Chittenden County, and the trade center of Lake Champlain."^[6] By 1880, French Canadians made up 44% of the population in Vermont! Three years after the move, William’s father died at the age of 39. His father's death left mother Julia alone to take care of three young children; James Jr.13, William 10, and Nellie 6 (William’s older sister Julia left home after marrying a month after her father’s death).

William was 17 at the time of the 1880 census, living with his mother, older brother James and 13-year-old sister, Nellie. The census record shows that he could read and write English and that he worked in a “box factory.”^[7]The Burlington City Directory shows that he was working at Matthews & Hickok, a wooden box manufacturing company in 1884. From a book on the manufacturers in Burlington, written in 1889, we find the following: "Matthews & Hickok have a large factory on Pine Street, near the southern limit of the lumber district [the northwest corner of Pine and Howard], where they manufacture packing boxes, cloth boards, etc. The firm has been in existence since 1871. Employment is given to about fifty men."^[6]Nothing remains of the factory today as it was destroyed by fire in the late 1890's.

At the age of 21, William married Louise Kirby age 22, at St. Joseph's Church in Burlington, VT on 15 Jan 1884.^{[1][8][9][10]} Louise is the daughter of Sophia Delorme and William Corbeil (Kirby). Both of her parents were born in Quebec, Canada. Magloire's name was Anglicized to William Kirby when he came to the US. Louise was born in Burlington, Vermont in 1861.

Children of William and Louise, all born in Burlington:

1. Guillaume (1884^[11] - before 1888^[12])
2. Francis Albert (Frank) (1887^[11] - 1968^[13]) married Rose Albe (Gadbois) Woods in 1910^[14], they lived in Queens, NY
3. William Adelard (1888^[15]- 1950^[16]) married Alice Marie Marrier in 1908^[17]
4. Corinne Louise (1891^[18] - 1980^[19]) married William Henry Rochford in 1915^[20], they lived in Queens, NY
5. Helene Philomene (Nellie) (1893^[21][22] - 1942^[23]) married Frank Joseph Holder in 1920^[24], they lived in Queens, NY
6. Joseph Eugene (1896^[25] - 1896) died at 5 mos of "Cholera Infantum"^[26]
7. George Arthur (1897^[27] - 1978^[28]) married Mary Ernestine Schmidt in 1922^[29], they lived in Ozone Park, Queens, NY
8. Alice (1898? - before 1900)^[30]
9. unknown (c. 1898 - before 1899)
10. Marie Louise (Irene) (1899^[31] - 1992^[32]) married Roy Everett Wendell in 1919,^[33] they lived in Woodhaven, Queens, NY and Garden City, Nassua, NY
11. Walter Arthur (Dubby) (1901^[34] - 1990^[35]) married Viola Brand in 1945^[36], they lived in Red Hook, NY and Ocala, FL
12. Madeline Eva (1903^[11] - 1994^[37])married Robert William Kingsbury in 1926^[11]
13. Harry Jerome (1905^[38] - 1907^[39]) died of pneumonia at age 2

According to the Burlington City Directories of 1884 - 1886, William and Louise lived on Peru St. with his mother, sister Nellie and brother James. William continued to work for Matthews & Hickok, the box manufacturing company. William and Louise attended the "old" St. Joseph’s Catholic Church on the Hill in Burlington. It was in this church (old St. Joseph's) that Louise had been baptized in 1862, William received his first communion and they were married.^[40] William and Louise are listed in the church census of 1884. With the exception of their first two children, Guillaume and Francis, all of their children were baptized in the "new" St. Joseph's Church on Allen St. (construction on the new church began in 1884). It is likely that William Cayea and William Kirby donated their time and talent to help build the church, which was inaugurated on Easter Sunday in 1887. "Many parishioners with skills as carpenters, stone and brick masons, plasterers and glaziers worked on the project full time or donated one or more days a week of labor to it."^[41] William Kirby was a stone and brick mason, while William Cayea was working as a carpenter by 1889.

According to their daughter-in-law, Mary (Schmidt) Cayea, Louise gave birth to 13 children, with 8 living into adulthood.^[30] The US census for 1900 confirms that Louise was the mother of 10, with 6 living (Walter, Madeline and Harry were born after 1900).^[42] Their first child, Guillame (William), was born in 1884, but did not survive past age two. Son Joseph and daughter Alice also died young. According to Burlington Birth Records, the family was living at "Battery and North Ave" in 1888 when William Adelard was born. By 1893, they had moved to #88 Rose St. in Burlington.

The family was still living at #88 Rose St. at the time of the 1900 Federal Census.^[42] William now listed his occupation as carpenter in the city directory. It's about this time that their fortunes changed and they were finally able to buy their own home.^[42]Two related newspaper articles appeared in Burlington in 1900 and 1901. The first shows that William was awarded a contract to build the new parsonage for the First United Methodist Church in August 1900. It was to be built near the church, at the 25 Buell St. for $6,000^[43] (it sold in 2019 for $572,000).^[44] The following year he was given a major contract to build the new Adams Elementary School for $28,200.^[45]The school, located at #444 South Union Street, was built in the Romanesque style with a facade of brick, a detailed roof line and rows of arched windows. It served as a south end elementary school until 1980.^[46]The former school, now an office building, is part of the South Union Street Historic District.^[47]

In 1905, Harry Jerome, the last of their thirteen children, was born. Sadly, he died at age 2 of pneumonia.^[39] Between 1906 and 1909, the family lived at #22 North Battery St. (now Park St.). The house (a rental in 2018), overlooks Battery Park with views of Lake Champlain.^[48]

The family moved to Toronto, Canada in 1910 for about two years.^[49][30] They may have left Burlington at the same time as William’s mother, Julia Cayea and sisters Nellie Lavoie and Julia Moss. William Adelard also moved to Canada with his wife, Alice and son, Harry (according to the 1920 census, Harry was born in Vermont in 1909 and his sister Doris was born in Canada about 1913).

By 1912, the family moved back to the US, but did not return to Burlington. Instead, they settled in Woodhaven, Queens, New York where William again established his own business as a "Carpenter & Builder."^[50] William Adelard also returned to the US and settled in Woodhaven, NY around the same time. Mother Julia remained in Canada where she died in 1912 at the age of seventy-nine. Six children were living with Louise and William at the time of the NY State 1915 Census, including 18-year-old son, George.^[50] The two youngest, Walter and Madeline were attending school, while the oldest three were working.

Sometime before 1920, William and Louise bought their home at #8014 88th Road in Woodhaven.^[51] They had moved at least eight times in 36 years and this would be the last. The census for that year shows that Nellie, George, Walter and Madeline were still living with them.

The 1930 census shows another first for William and Louise – they finally owned a home debt free.^[52] At the time of the census, their youngest daughter Madeline and her husband Robert Kingsbury rented a room with them. Youngest son, Walter also lived at home, working as a store clerk. William, now 68 years old, continued to work out of his house as a self-employed carpenter.

According to his grandson, John (Jack) Cayea, William's grandchildren called him “Pip” for Pepére and Louise “Mim.” for Memére. Jack recalls spending time at their home in Woodhaven and describes his grandfather as being of medium height (about 5’ 10”), thin and bowlegged. Pip did not speak with a French accent, but “my grandmother had a very heavy accent,” says Jack. “When she got excited, she would suddenly switch from English to French and we couldn’t understand her. Pip would have to remind her to speak English so we could understand and she would laugh. Memére was the life of the party. And she made great apple pies! I also remember playing the card game Euchre with them on a card table in the living room.”

William died at age seventy-one on 28 July 1933 while on vacation^[30] at Crystal Lake, Tolland, CT.^[53][54] He is buried with Louise in Saint John Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens, NY (sec 34, row G, grave 128).^[55]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Ancestry.com. Vermont, U.S., Vital Records, 1720-1908 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records through 1870. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts. State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records, 1871–1908. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

   William Cayea age 21, born Champlain, NY, married 15 Jan 1884 Louisa Kirby, parents of the groom James Cayea & Julia Falsone, residence of groom Burlington, occupation labour.

2. ↑ St. Mary's Church Births and Baptisms, 1860 - 1899, Champlain, NY, Guillaume Cahair born 1 Sep 1862, bapt 7 Sep 1862, parents Aimé Cahair and Julia Falcon, witnesses Jules Falcon and Henreitte Lafontaine. p. 14. Copy available at Vermont Genealogy Library, Burlington, VT.
3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Champlain, New York," Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, [1] (accessed May 2, 2020).
4. ↑ Cayea, John. Personal Recollection, April 2020, as told to Krista Auyer Cayea via in person interview. Notes in the possession of Krista Auyer Cayea.
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8X6-BDC : 12 April 2016), William Cayea in household of James Cayea, New York, United States; citing p. 75, family 561, NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.); FHL microfilm 552,436.
6. ↑ ^{6.0 6.1} Burlington, VT As A Manufacturing, Business and Commercial Center, Burlington Board of Trade, Burlington, VT (1889) p 54
7. ↑ "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M8WC-KN2 : 15 July 2017), William Cayea in household of Julia Cayea, Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, United States; citing enumeration district ED 68, sheet 90A, NARA microfilm publication T9 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 1343; FHL microfilm 1,255,343.
8. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSP-W3P : 11 February 2018), William Cayea and Lousia Kirby, 15 Jan 1884, Marriage; State Capitol Building, Montpelier; FHL microfilm 540,071.
9. ↑ "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQL-NMND : 14 February 2020), William Cayea and Louisa Kirby, 15 Jan 1884, brides parents Magloire or William Kirby and Sophia Delorine, grooms parents James Cayea and Julia Falcon; citing Marriage, Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, United States, various town clerks and records divisions, Vermont; FHL microfilm 005487752.
10. ↑ Marriages de St. Joseph de Burlington VT, 1834-1930, pub #50, Editions Bergeron, Quebec, 1978. Copy located at Vermont Genealogy Library, Burlington, VT.
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2 11.3} St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Burlington VT Baptisms, 1834-1963, Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society 2004, p 276
12. ↑ presumably Guillaume (or William) died before his brother William Adelard was born in 1888
13. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBPW-J2X : 7 January 2021), Frank Cayea, Dec 1968; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
14. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XF2L-8F8 : 14 April 2020), William Cayea in entry for Frank Albert Cayea and Rose Alba Woods, 1910
15. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSY-LRM : 14 April 2020), William Cayea in entry for Cayea, 1888.
16. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. William Cayea, born 22 Oct 1888, died 4 Sept 1950. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
17. ↑ "Vermont, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1732-2005," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPQL-XNC5 : 14 February 2020), William Cayea in entry for William A Cayea and Alice M Marier, 24 Nov 1908; citing Marriage, Burlington, Chittenden, Vermont, United States, various town clerks and records divisions, Vermont; FHL microfilm 005487755.
18. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSY-LP5 : 14 April 2020), William Cayea in entry for female Cayea, 1891, father's occupation, carpenter.
19. ↑ Social Security Administration; Washington D.C., USA; Social Security Death Index, Master File. Corrine Rochford, born 31 July 1891, died Nov 1980, NY. Ancestry.com. U.S., Social Security Death Index, 1935-2014 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2014.
20. ↑ New York, New York, Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Corrine L Cayea and Wm H Jr Rochford, 14 Nov 1915, Kings, NY. Original data: Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives.
21. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XF3W-735 : 14 April 2020), William Coyea in entry for female Coyea, 1893.
22. ↑ St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Burlington VT Baptisms, 1834-1963, Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society 2004, p 276

    Cayer, Helene Philomene born 6 Mar 1893, baptized 10 Mar 1893, parents; Wm. Cayer & Louise Corbeil, godparents; Alfred Corbeil & Philomene Pariseau.

23. ↑ Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Death Index, 1862-1948 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Index to New York City Deaths 1862-1948. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives.

    Nellie Holder age 48, born abt 1894, died 19 May 1942, Manhattan, NY.

24. ↑ New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Brooklyn, Source information, New York, New York, U.S., Marriage License Indexes, 1907-2018, Ancestry.com, 2017, Ellen P Cayea & Frank J Holder, marriage license date 28 Jun 1920, Brooklyn, NY.
25. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSY-L55 : 14 April 2020), Louisa and William Cayea in entry for Cayea, 1896, Burlington, VT.
26. ↑ Ancestry.com. Vermont, U.S., Vital Records, 1720-1908 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013. Original data: State of Vermont. Vermont Vital Records through 1870. New England Historic Genealogical Society, Boston, Massachusetts.

    Joseph E Cayea died 7 Jul 1896 Burlington, VT, parents William & Louise, cause of death Cholera Infantum

27. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSY-L5L : 14 April 2020), William Cayea in entry for Cayea, 1897.
28. ↑ "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JBG1-XX7 : 7 January 2021), George Cayea, Oct 1978; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
29. ↑ Marriage Certificate, George A Cayea and Mary E Schmidt, 9 Oct 1922, St. Malachy's Church, Brooklyn, NY. Copy in the possession of Krista Auyer Cayea.
30. ↑ ^{30.0 30.1 30.2 30.3} Cayea (Schmidt), Mary. Personal recollections, 1995 & 1997, as told to Krista Auyer Cayea via in person interviews. Notes in the possession of Krista Auyer Cayea.
31. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSY-L5M : 14 April 2020), William Cayea in entry for Marie L. I. Cayea, 1899.
32. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Irene P Wendell, born 10 Nov 1899, died 3 Nov 1992, parents William Cayea and Louisa Kirby. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007.
33. ↑ Ancestry.com. New York, New York, U.S., Extracted Marriage Index, 1866-1937 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2014. Original data: Index to New York City Marriages, 1866-1937. Indices prepared by the Italian Genealogical Group and the German Genealogy Group, and used with permission of the New York City Department of Records/Municipal Archives.

    Irene P Cayea & Roy E Wendell married 12 Jan 1919, Queens, NY, certificate #48.

34. ↑ "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSY-LRC : 14 April 2020), William Cayea in entry for Walter A. Cayea, 1901.
35. ↑ Ancestry.com. Florida, U.S., Death Index, 1877-1998 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
36. ↑ St. Joseph’s Catholic Church, Burlington VT Baptisms, 1834-1963, Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society 2004, p 276

    Cayer, Walter born 28 Aug 1901, baptized 31 Aug 1901, parents; Wm. Cayea & M. Louise Corbeil, godparents; Elie Corbeil & Ida Prevost. Married Viola G Brand 5 May 1945, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Richmond Hill South, [Queens] NY.

37. ↑ U.S., Social Security Applications and Claims Index, 1936-2007 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2015. Madeline E Kingsbury, born 22 June 1903 died 30 Jan 1994, parents William Cayea and Louise Kirby. Original data: Social Security Applications and Claims, 1936-2007
38. ↑ "Vermont Births and Christenings, 1765-1908", database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F82X-68S : 16 December 2019), Wm. Cayea in entry for Harry Jerome Cayea, 1905.
39. ↑ ^{39.0 39.1} "Vermont Vital Records, 1760-1954", database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XFSJ-NBK : 14 April 2020), Louise Kirby and Wm. Cayea in entry for Harry J. Cayea, death 25 July 1907.
40. ↑ Cayea, James, Family Notes, Red Hook, NY, 1995, notes in the possession of Krista Auyer Cayea, May 2018.
41. ↑ Unknown Contributor. Cathedral of St. Joseph's History, The Cathedral of St. Joseph Church Burlington, VT. [2] accessed 2 May 2020.
42. ↑ ^{42.0 42.1 42.2} United States Census,1900; Census Place: Burlington Ward 3, Chittenden, Vermont; Page: 19; Enumeration District: 0067; FHL microfilm: 1241690. William Cayea age 37 head of household. Ancestry.com. 1900 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.
43. ↑ Burlington Clipper, 11 Aug 1900, Burlington, VT, p 1.
44. ↑ zillow.com[3]
45. ↑ "New Adams School Building." Burlington Free Press, 18 June 1901, Burlington, VT, p 6.
46. ↑ 6th Annual Homes Tour Booklet, Preservation Burlington, Burlington, VT, 2005, p 9.
47. ↑ National Register of Historic Places, Burlington, VT.[4]
48. ↑ hotpads.com, Zillow Group, rental listings, Burlington, VT. [5]
49. ↑ U.S. City Directories, 1822-1995 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011. William Cayea, carpenter, removed to Toronto, Can. Burlington, VT, 1910
50. ↑ ^{50.0 50.1} New York Census, 1915. New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1915; Election District: 02; Assembly District: 04; City: New York; County: Queens; Page: 39. William Cayea age 52, head of household. Ancestry.com. New York, State Census, 1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
51. ↑ "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MVM6-DDK : accessed 28 March 2018), William Cayea, Queens Assembly District 6, Queens, New York, United States; citing ED 437, sheet 3B, line 53, family 63, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 1237; FHL microfilm 1,821,237.
52. ↑ United States Census, 1930; Census Place: Queens, Queens, New York; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 0592; FHL microfilm: 2341344. William Cayer age 68, carpenter, 88th Rd. Queens, NY. Ancestry.com. 1930 United States Federal Census [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2002.
53. ↑ State Vital Records Office; Hartford, Connecticut; Connecticut Vital Records — Index of Deaths, 1897-1968. William Cayea, 28 July 1933 in Ellington, CT. Ancestry.com. WEB: Connecticut Death Records, 1897-1968 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019. Original data: Connecticut Vital Records — Index of Deaths, 1897-1968. Connecticut State Library. https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/death-records/: accessed 7 May 2019.
54. ↑ Hartford Courant; Publication Date: 30/ Jul/ 1933; Publication Place: Hartford, Connecticut, United States of America; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/370161020/?article=07535c35-67eb-462f-bfb2-f766ba6f2711&focus=0.7323163,0.21103969,0.8493134,0.28721318&xid=2378. William Cayea, obituary date 30 July 1933, death place Crystal Lake, CT. Ancestry.com. Newspapers.com Obituary Index, 1800s-current [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2019.
55. ↑ Find a Grave, database and images (accessed 11 May 2020), memorial page for William Cayea (unknown–1933), Find a Grave Memorial no. 161941491, citing Saint John Cemetery, Middle Village, Queens County, New York, USA ; Maintained by Athanatos (contributor 46907585). [6]