Benjamin LaVie (abt. 1825 - abt. 1870)

Born about 1825 in Basque Country, Spain [uncertain]

Husband of Sophia (DiCarno) Shute — married 1845 (to 1870) in Spain

Descendants

Died about 1870 at about age 45 in Atlanta, Georgia

Biography

Benjamin LaVie migrated from Spain (Basque Country) to the United States of America in 1850.

Most of what we know of Benjamin is from family lore and the records of his children.

Birth

According to the 1855 New York State Census Benjamin was born in 1825 in Spain and arrived in New York about 1851. The census taker spelled the name Levy but from the particulars there is little doubt concerning the correct identity as LaVie. ^[1] The LaVie (under any spelling) family is absent from the 1860 and 1870 US Censuses. His place of birth is confused in later US Censuses. In 1910^[2] and 1920^[3] son Henry reports his father's place of birth as Spain while in 1900^[4] it is recorded as France. Henry's mother-in-law, Fannie (Pruner) Iron was the respondent and may have been guessing as she also reported Henry's birth as Nov 1848. Son George reports Benjamin's place of birth as France in the 1900 ^[5] and 1910 US Censuses.^[6] In 1880 it is oddly recorded as West India^[7] while in 1920^[8] it is reported simply as United States, probably by George's recent 2nd wife who may not have known the facts. In the four US Passport applications submitted by George between 1917 and 1922 Benjamin's birthplace is uniformly reported as Bordeaux, France.^[9] Family lore handed down by Effie (Thompson) Sprinkle claims Benjamin was an ethnic Basque. She would have heard this either directly from Henry or through her step mother, Carrie (Francis) Thompson.^[10] This could account for some of the confusion between France and Spain as many Basque live in the border region, maintaining their own language and culture. Bordeaux may refer to the region, not just the city.

Emigration

Though nothing is known for certain, there is a record of a Benjamin LaVie arriving at Dover, England from France on January 10, 1850.^[11] This corresponds with the 1850 emigration date reported by son George in his several passport applications^[12] and corresponds to the data in 1855 New York State Census.^[13]

Occupation

Little is known but the 1855 New York Census records his occupation as bookkeeper.

Marriage

Married to Sophia DiCarno(?) probably about 1845. Census records report her birthplace as France or Spain. After Benjamin's death in 1870 Sophia remarried to John D. Shute by 1873. She died about April 1919 in New York City.

Children

1. Charles LaVie b. 1846 in Spain.
2. Terese LaVie b. 1848 in Spain. m. Rafael Lamper.
3. Thomas H. LaVie aka Henry Nicholas Thompson, b. 1854 in New York, d. October 22, 1922 at Cincinnati, Ohio. m. 1) Georgia Lee Lewis on February 19, 1878 at Pittsylvania, Virginia; m. 2) Margaret “Maggie” Frances Iron on January 11, 1887 at Marion, Virginia; m. 3) Carrie M. Francis on September 2, 1900 at Bristol, Virginia.
4. George Andrew LaVie b. September 12, 1856 in New York, d. February 22, 1925 at New York. m. 1) Mary C. Gilbert by 1875 at New York City; m. 2) Mary Maud __________, widow of John Thomas Beard (or Baird) about 1919 in England.
5. Marguarite Isabella LaVie b. December 1857 in New York City, d. March 1951 in New Jersey m. Joshua “John” Bishop on November 3, 1878 at Manhattan, New York.

Death

Benjamin died in 1870 in Atlanta Georgia.^[14] The particulars of why he was in Atlanta are unknown.

Sources

References

Source: #S1 New York, State Census, 1855 Microfilm. New York State Archives, Albany, New York. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2013.

Source: #S2 1880 United States Federal Census. Ancestry.com and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Source: #S3 1900 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2004.

Source: #S4 1910 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.

Source: #S5 1920 United States Federal Census, Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2010.

Source: #S6 Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington D.C.; Ancestry.com. U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.

Source: #S7 England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869 Class: HO 2; Piece: 188; Certificate Number: 80. Ancestry.com. [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2010.

Acknowledgments

Thanks to Daniel Thompson for starting this profile. Click the Changes tab for the details of contributions by Daniel and others.

Footnotes

1. ↑ #S1 1855 New York State Census
2. ↑ #S4 1910 United States Federal Census, Marion, Smyth, Virginia; Roll: T624_1649; Page: 5B; Enumeration District: 0079; FHL microfilm: 1375662.
3. ↑ #S5 1920 United States Federal Census, Cincinnati Ward 4, Hamilton, Ohio; Roll: T625_1389; Page: 2B; Enumeration District: 83; Image: 770.
4. ↑ #S3 1900 United States Federal Census, Marion, Smyth, Virginia; Roll: 1728; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 0082; FHL microfilm: 1241728.
5. ↑ #S3 1900 United States Federal Census, Brooklyn Ward 1, Kings, New York; Roll: 1043; Page: 11A; Enumeration District: 0008; FHL microfilm: 1241043.
6. ↑ #S4 1910 United States Federal Census, Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York; Roll: T624_1028; Page: 2A; Enumeration District: 0746; FHL microfilm: 1375041.
7. ↑ #S2 1880 United States Federal Census, Brooklyn, Kings, New York; Roll: 855; Family History Film: 1254855; Page: 195B; Enumeration District: 228; Image: 0394.
8. ↑ #S4 1920 United States Federal Census, Manhattan Assembly District 9, New York, New York; Roll: T625_1201; Page: 12A; Enumeration District: 666; Image: 157.
9. ↑ #S6 Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 431. 22 Nov 1917; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 654. 12 Dec 1918; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1151. 12 April 1920; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1951. 6 May 1922
10. ↑ Email correspondence from Jim Sprinkle, December 30, 2013
11. ↑ #S7 England, Alien Arrivals, 1810-1811, 1826-1869
12. ↑ #S6 Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 431. 22 Nov 1917; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 654. 12 Dec 1918; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1151. 12 April 1920; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1951. 6 May 1922
13. ↑ #S1 1855 New York State Census
14. ↑ #S6 Passport Applications, January 2, 1906 - March 31, 1925; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 431. 22 Nov 1917; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 654. 12 Dec 1918; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1151. 12 April 1920; Collection Number: ARC Identifier 583830 / MLR Number A1 534; NARA Series: M1490; Roll #: 1951. 6 May 1922