Susannah (Deshon) Huff
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Susannah Garey (Deshon) Huff (1828 - 1909)

Susannah Garey "Susan" Huff formerly Deshon
Born in Kennebunkport, Maine, USAmap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 22 Apr 1846 in Kennebunkport, Maine, USAmap
Descendants descendants
Died at age 81 in Kennebunkport, Maine, USAmap
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Profile last modified | Created 5 Mar 2017
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Biography

This profile is part of the Nowell Name Study.

Susan G. Deshon was born on 23 May 1828 in Kennebunkport, Maine. She was the daughter of Stephen Deshon) and Margaret (Garey) Deshon.[1]

Page Out of the Deshon Family Bible

22 Apr 1846 Susan G. Deschon of Sanford, Maine married Ephraim Huff of Kennebunkport, Maine.[2]

Marriage Certificate for Susan G. Deshon & Ephraim Huff

1850 -1880 Susannah and Ephraim are listed in the census records for Kennebunkport along with their children: Lucy J, David, James, Arabella, John F, George, Margaret, William, Elmer E., Annetta, Charles E, Jeri Y, and Bertha A. Based on neighbors the family is living in the same neighborhood and likely the same house during this entire time period. In 1850, the family is living in the household of Eprhaim's parents. His father is a farmer who owns real estate. Ephraim is a mariner. The census does not indicate that Ephraim owns real estate. In 1860, son(?) David is not enumerated in the home. Ephraim is head of houshold; owns real estate; and his occuption is listed as farmer through the 1870 Census. Ephraim's father is living in their home in 1860; he no longer owns real estate; and passes away in 1866. That same year daughter Lucy marries Jacob Townsend Wildes who has been a neighbor living with his parents. Daughters Arabbella and Martha are not living at home in 1870. Daughter Lucy and family are living in adjacent home; and in 1873 Jacob Townsend Wildes is sold piece of proptery by his father that abuts the Huff property. Son James and son-in-law Wildes are fishermen. By 1880 neither James (nor daughter Margaret) are living at home; but Ephraim and sons John, George, Elmer and 12 year old Charles are fishermen.[3][4][5][6]

“Boston Dec 30. 1892

My dear mother
You must excuse me for not righting last night but I will right know and it will do just as well mother the Brooks lies is not true, as Lyda woold been reddy to come home next weak. And dear little Ruby is well as she can bee and fat as a hog, I am have a nice time so don’t think any thing about me. I think I shall bee home next weak Thursday or weansday I do want to stay one or too days know I have got up here. Don’t you tell any one wher I am. Mother then I come home don’t never let me see any more [ ], if you do I never will stay a day. Lyda never thought such a thing as goin too new York, so know I will close with love from all, Lyda will bee glad too se you so good by G Y Huff 58
Thay have got lots off preasents”

Sounds like Susan was worried about George and Lyda moving even further away to New York. Lyda and Ruby were living in Kennebunkport next to Susannah at the time of the 1900 census; and Lyda is listed as head of household and a widow; so George must have died by then.[7] Ruby married Elmer P. Hanscom in Dover in 1903 and listed her father, George, as being deceased. I haven’t been able to locate the death record for George at this point. There was a George V. Huff who married Phoebe Wildes in 1881 and was living in Kennebunkport in 1900 who is easily confused with George, son of Ephraim and Susan. Some of the on-line genealogies list William as being the father to Ruby, however, I can’t find any evidence for this statement.

Letter to Susan Huff from her son George
Letter to Susan Huff from her son George- p. 2

“Lawrence mass Jan 1893
Dear mother
I now set my self down to let you know I am well and hope those few lines will find you all the same I wish you all a happy new year I should like to see you all to night how is all of the folks down home now is Jed a grining now it long days to work up here you go in at half past six in the morning and come out at 6 in evening it is raining up here to night dear mother I should like to see you to night give my love to all of the folks I don’t know when I shall bee home I am liable to come any time what is John doing [ ] now I rote to Charles and he did not answer it Ida sends her love to you and wishes you a happy new year I cant think of any more to rite so good by write soon from your son
Elmer 459 Canall St Lawrence mass”

Letter to Susan Huff from her son Elmer
Letter to Susan Huff from her son Elmer- p. 2

Poor Elmer died the following month and his father died three months after that.

And then there is this letter from Arabella:

“My dear mother and father and all of the rest of my friends I am so lone some and home sick and am awfull miserable & if I could see some of you comeing but I don’t think that any of you thinks much of me none of you don’t so much as write to me I don’t know how I shallget my work done for winter I cant do any think my self I have got a full cough and the children has got the whoopin [ ] and [ ] and [ ] my beding has got to be fix comforters to make and I cant do it and I am getin discrouage an sick I would like to be with you all to day but I don’t never expect to be with you all again but the good lord no wahat is here but I hope that we shall all meet in heaven we shall not be [ ] nor weary nor home sick give my love to all of my dear sisters and all of my brothers to I am getin tired mother send me some more cherries if you can get them for me send them to the steamer get children to pick them for me there is none down here can you get any of pieces if you can get me some and I send you the money nettie told me that she would rite when she got up home and I not heard from her yet and that is all they care for me harmon want to tell grand par that he would like to see him he has got the cough mary is smat and sends her love to all I am afull tierd and shall have to close bidin you all good by give my love to all & this from your daughter A M York

This is from your daughter to mother and father and all of the rest it is no need of tell you to writ as soon as get this leter and tell them all to write to me and not all forsake me for I fell forsaken”

Poor Arabella died two months after her father.

Letter to Susan Huff from her daughter Arabella
Letter to Susan Huff from her daughter Arabella- p. 2

“Kennebunk may 2
Dear mother I thought I would right to you to let you know how I am I hant eny better yet I have not had eny thing done yet and don’t know when I shall I have suffered everything since I have been in hear I don’t like in heare nor never shell I wish I was home I should be just as well of and if I had the money I would come to for god knows how I suffer laying hear in paine and know one to speek to I did not feel so bad at home and if I was there to day I would give all this wourld I have not seen gilbert since I got the letter but he want come after the children oh if I could see little Elijah and rady to day what would I give and willie and Love tell them to be good children and go to school and mama will be home [ ] if it is god will and if not I pray that we will met in a better place by and by tell the girls to [ ] right for you don’t know how good it made me feel when I got that letter from jane but I have felt so bad that I could not right to her I cant think of eny thing more for I am dread full teard this time but right all and take good care of my children and if I dye don’t forsake them so good by all this is to you all your loving daughter Annetta to mama god bless you all write and tell me all the news tell jane not to be [ ] but right agane and I will answer it as soon as I get a little better so I can set up”

Letter to Susan Huff from her daughter Annetta
Letter to Susan Huff from her daughter Annetta- p. 2

Poor Annetta died at the Maine General Hospital of an intestinal obstruction six days later, age 33… how sad for that poor family.[8] Fortunately, we have this letter that tells her story… how remarkable is that. Poor Susan. Over ten years from 1893 until 1903 she lost her husband, Ephraim, six of her children, James, Arabella, George, Elmer, Annetta and Jeremiah, and two sons-in-law, Jacob Wildes and David Dobson.

Aunt Bessie (Nunan) Eaton compiled the following list of people who are buried in the Dobson Cemetery next to Aunt Bertha's house. Unfortunately, most of the graves are unmarked as the family was poor and couldn’t afford headstones. This list is the only evidence of their final resting place.

List of Burials in the Wildes District Cemetery- Compiled by Aunt Bessie Nunan Eaton

Susannah was living with her son John and John's niece (Susannah's daughter Annetta's daugher) Josie Doughty Kennebunkport at the time of the 1900 census. It seems likely they are living in the same home where Susannah has lived since 1850. On the same census page are his sisters Lucy (Huff) Wildes; and Margaret (Huff) Dobson; Richard Nunan; and brother-in-law Howard Nunan with John's sister Bertha (Huff) Nunan and their families; as well as George 's widow Lida Huff and their daughter Ruby.[7]

It says “DON’T DESTROY”… somebody took that seriously and that’s why we have this piece of family history today:

Ephraim P. Huff heirs- Tax Receipt for 1906

A property tax bill of $9.10... imagine. Now, the mil rate was a bit stiff back then (the mil rate around here runs $10-$15 today depending on the town).

Susannah passed away on 21 Nov 1909 at the age of 81 years, 5 months, and 27 days from a apoplexy in Kennebunkport, Maine.[1]

Sources

  1. 1.0 1.1 "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," Kennebunkport, York County, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33SQ-GRYK-979C?cc=1803978 : 27 November 2017), > image 1 of 1; multiple sources, Maine. Cause of death coded 64, 21 Nov 1909 Susanna Huff Record of Death.
  2. "Maine Marriages, 1771-1907", Kennebunkport, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F48V-99V : 14 January 2020), Image 530, Page 31. Reported date of 15 Feb 1847, Ephraim Huff of Kennebunkport and Susan G. Deshon of Sanford, Marriage date 22 Apr 1846.
  3. "United States Census, 1850," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6Q77-G1H?cc=1401638&wc=95RX-PY9%3A1031308201%2C1032214901%2C1032684801 : 9 April 2016), Maine > York > Kennebunkport > image 5 of 66; citing NARA microfilm publication M432 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Handwritten No. 2, 223 and stamped 111. Lines 21 - 27.
  4. "United States Census, 1860," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9B9V-RVT?cc=1473181&wc=73BR-CW2%3A1589428278%2C1589428513%2C1589428593 : 24 March 2017), Maine > York > Kennebunkport > image 12 of 68; from "1860 U.S. Federal Census - Population," database, Fold3.com (http://www.fold3.com : n.d.); citing NARA microfilm publication M653 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Page 12. Lines 10 - 19.
  5. "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6WV3-8GH?cc=1438024&wc=KK1W-K68%3A518654601%2C518810401%2C518854401 : 12 June 2019), Maine > York > Kennebunkport > image 31 of 62; citing NARA microfilm publication M593 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). Page 31, lines 1 - 11 with his daughter Lucy (Huff) Wildes family on lines 12 - 14.
  6. "United States Census, 1880," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-9YBJ-9DBC?cc=1417683&wc=XWC5-7M9%3A1589404979%2C1589405535%2C1589405629%2C1589395029 : 24 December 2015), Maine > York > Kennebunkport > ED 193 > image 15 of 54; citing NARA microfilm publication T9, (National Archives and Records Administration, Washington, D.C., n.d.) Page No. 15, stamped 304 C, lines 23 - 33 and lines 12 - 18.
  7. 7.0 7.1 "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HT-6W3S-BN3?cc=1325221&wc=9B7W-F93%3A1030551401%2C1032351301%2C1032424601 : 5 August 2014), Maine > York > ED 238 Kennebunkport town > image 28 of 43; citing NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.). B Sheet No. 14, Lines 8 - 83.
  8. "Maine Vital Records, 1670-1921," Portland, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:9398-4D9B-WY?cc=1803978&wc=71R8-F9R%3A1029440301%2C1029456501 : 20 May 2014), Vital records 1892-1907 > Dort-Doxalesky > image 964 of 4002; multiple sources, Maine. 8 May 1898, Annette Doughty, Record of Death.




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Susannah by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Susannah:

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Categories: Kennebunkport, Maine | Maine, Nowell Name Study | Nowell Name Study