Alton Ellis Sears (1883 - 1967)

Born 29 Sep 1883 in Plymouth, Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Grace Lavinia (Trafton) Sears — married 1 Feb 1912 (to 7 Oct 1931) in Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States

Husband of Marion Gladys (Farrell) Waterman — married 12 Oct 1933 (to 2 Aug 1967) in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States

Descendants

Died 2 Aug 1967 at age 83 in Exeter, Rockingham, New Hampshire, United States

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Biography

Alton Ellis Sears was born in 1883 in Plymouth, MA. He is listed as a single male Lodger working as a bookkeeper in the 1910 Census for Malden MA and was married in 1912 to professional singer Grace Lavinia Trafton in Lynn, MA. They lived in Lynn until building a house in Swampscott, MA where their Daughter Ruth and son Robert were born in 1914 and 1916, respectively.

He was a traveling salesman and Sales Engineer for Lamson Company, 100 Boylston St, Boston MA, until the Great Depression and commuted to and from Swampscott as required. They lived at #7 Wyman Rd, next door to his brother-in-law Fred Alexander Trafton, whose address was #11 Millett Rd. (Wyman Rd was re-designated as Bay View Drive sometime later and the house numbers changed. 7 Wyman Rd became #2 Bay View Drive, and still stands.) He was sent by Lamson Co, accompanied by his family, to work at 136 Simcoe St, Toronto, ON, Canada in December of 1920 and worked there selling and installing overhead rail and pneumatic tube systems in retail establishments there for about a year.

Upon return to the US the family took a brief road trip to St. Petersburg, FL and returned to Massachusetts to purchase the house at 30 Brookhouse Drive in Marblehead, MA, where he continued his commute to Lamson Co in Boston. Grace became ill in the late 20's and required live-in nursing care causing financial strain which became even worse with the arrival of the Great Depression and the loss of his job at Lamson. During her illness Grace became friends with one of her most dedicated nurses, Marion "Pidge" Farrell, who had become a household fixture to the children. Grace passed-away in 1931.

With diminished resources, he decided to sell the house in Marblehead and try his hand at Asparagus farming in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire with the help of his 16 year-old son and 18 year-old daughter. Marion Farrell, the registered Nurse who had cared for Grace kept in contact and joined them in Hampton Falls. She became Alton's 2nd wife in October of 1933. The early years of the 30's were not very good ones for asparagus growing and the farm was not a great success. Before 1940 rolled around, they moved to Georgetown, Massachusetts, Daughter Ruth had relocated to St. Petersburg, Florida and Son Robert had enlisted in the National Guard and was involved in pre-WWII homeland security and later the invasion of Normandy.

During the War, Alton and Marion purchased a house in Kingston, New Hampshire with a large 3-story barn. Alton raised chickens and Marion worked as a registered nurse at the Rockingham County Hospital and Nursing Home.

He passed away in 1967.

Sources

• 1900 US Census - Address: 123 Sandwich St., Plymouth

Name: A E Sears Event Type: Census Event Date: 1900 Event Year: 1900 Event Place: Plymouth Town (Southeast part), Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Event Place (Original): ED 1142 Plymouth Town (Southeast part), Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States Gender: Male Age: 17 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race (Original): W Birth Date: Sep 1883 Birthplace: Massachusetts Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts Relationship to Head of Household: Son Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Son Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 5

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Everett Sears Head M 55 Massachusetts S A Sears Wife F 49 Massachusetts E W Sears Son M 21 Massachusetts A E Sears Son M 17 Massachusetts

District: 1142 Sheet Number and Letter: 5A Household ID: 94 Line Number: 4 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T623 GS Film Number: 1240675 Digital Folder Number: 004114441 Digital Folder Number: 004114441 Image Number: 00121 Indexing Project (Batch) Number: N00680-6 Record Number: 5704

Citing this Record "United States Census, 1900," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M9Y3-KR8 : accessed 24 July 2020), A E Sears in household of Everett Sears, Plymouth Town (Southeast part), Plymouth, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 1142, sheet 5A, family 94, NARA microfilm publication T623 (Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1972.); FHL microfilm 1,240,675.

• 1910 US Census: Address 29 Concord St., Malden MA

Name: Alton E Sears Event Type: Census Event Date: 1910 Event Place: Malden Ward 5, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States Event Place (Original): Malden Ward 5, , Massachusetts Gender: Male Age: 26 Marital Status: Single Race: White Race (Original): White Birth Year (Estimated): 1884 Birthplace: Massachusetts Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's Birthplace: Maine Relationship to Head of Household: Lodger Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Lodger Sheet Letter: B Sheet Number: 2

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Mary C Patch Head F 56 Massachusetts Florence L Patch Daughter F 32 Massachusetts Helen C Patch Daughter F 23 Massachusetts Margaret S Patch Daughter F 17 Massachusetts Alton E Sears Lodger M 26 Massachusetts

District: ED 900 Sheet Number and Letter: 2B Household ID: 56 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T624 Affiliate Film Number: 601 GS Film Number: 1374614 Digital Folder Number: 004972432 Image Number: 01000 Indexing Project (Batch) Number: N03409-5 Record Number: 46925

Citing this Record "United States Census, 1910," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:M2VJ-T7B : accessed 24 July 2020), Alton E Sears in household of Mary C Patch, Malden Ward 5, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 900, sheet 2B, family 56, NARA microfilm publication T624 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1982), roll 601; FHL microfilm 1,374,614.

• Marriage to Grace Lavinia Trafton

Name: Alton E Sears Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 1 Feb 1912 Event Place: Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Registration Place: Lynn, , Massachusetts Gender: Male Age: 28 Birth Date: 1884 Birth Year (Estimated): 1884 Birthplace: Plymouth, , Massachusetts Marriage Date: 1 Feb 1912 Father's Name: Everett H Sears Mother's Name: Sarah A Tripp Spouse's Name: Grace L Trafton Spouse's Gender: Female Spouse's Age: 24 Spouse's Birth Date: 1888 Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1888 Spouse's Birthplace: Lynn, , Massachusetts Spouse's Father's Name: Edward S Trafton Spouse's Mother's Name: Lizzie A Peckham Number of Images: 1

Page: 5 Line Number: 87 Reference ID: p 5 no 87 GS Film Number: 002409943 Digital Folder Number: 004329368 Image Number: 00089 Record Number: 1465

Citing this Record "Massachusetts Marriages, 1841-1915," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N4XG-3CT : 25 May 2018), Lizzie A Peckham in entry for Alton E Sears and Grace L Trafton, 1 Feb 1912; citing Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States, State Archives, Boston; FHL microfilm 2,409,943.

• 1920 US Census - Address: 7 Wyman Rd, Swampscott, MA

Name: Alton E Sears Event Type: Census Event Date: 1920 Event Place: Swampscott, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Event Place (Original): Swampscott, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Gender: Male Age: 36 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Can Read: Yes Can Write: Yes Own or Rent: Own Birth Year (Estimated): 1884 Birthplace: Massachusetts Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 15

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Alton E Sears Head M 36 Massachusetts Grace T Sears Wife F 32 Massachusetts Ruth L Sears Daughter F 5 Massachusetts Robert A Sears Son M 3 Massachusetts

District: ED 290 Sheet Number and Letter: 15A Household ID: 357 Line Number: 19 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T625 Affiliate Film Number: 697 GS Film Number: 1820697 Digital Folder Number: 004966075 Image Number: 00919 Indexing Project (Batch) Number: N01868-6 Record Number: 44366

Citing this Record "United States Census, 1920," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MXYB-NX8 : accessed 24 July 2020), Robert A Sears in household of Alton E Sears, Swampscott, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing ED 290, sheet 15A, line 22, family 357, NARA microfilm publication T625 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 1992), roll 697; FHL microfilm 1,820,697.

• 1930 US Census- Address: 30 Brookhouse Drive, Mablehead, MA

Name: Alton E Sears Event Type: Census Event Date: 1930 Event Place: Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Gender: Male Age: 46 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Birth Year (Estimated): 1884 Birthplace: Massachusetts Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts Mother's Birthplace: Massachusetts Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head Sheet Letter: B Sheet Number: 6

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Alton E Sears Head M 46 Massachusetts Grace T Sears Wife F 42 Massachusetts Ruth L Sears Daughter F 16 Massachusetts Robert A Sears Son M 13 Massachusetts

District: ED 193 Sheet Number and Letter: 6B Household ID: 163 Line Number: 91 Affiliate Name: The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) Affiliate Publication Number: T626 Affiliate Film Number: 901 GS Film Number: 2340636 Digital Folder Number: 004951082 Image Number: 00018 Indexing Project (Batch) Number: N03852-6 Record Number: 597

Citing this Record "United States Census, 1930," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XQLR-8CM : accessed 24 July 2020), Robert A Sears in household of Alton E Sears, Marblehead, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) ED 193, sheet 6B, line 94, family 163, NARA microfilm publication T626 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2002), roll 901; FHL microfilm 2,340,636.

• Marriage to Marion Gladys Farrell

Name: Alton E. Sears Event Type: Marriage Event Date: 12 Oct 1933 Event Place: Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire Gender: Male Age: 50 Age: 50y Birth Year (Estimated): 1883 Father's Name: Everett H. Sears Mother's Name: Sarah A. Tripp Spouse's Name: Marion G. Farrell Spouse's Gender: Female Spouse's Age: 26 Spouse's Age: 26y Spouse's Birth Year (Estimated): 1907 Spouse's Father's Name: Joseph P. Farrell Spouse's Mother's Name: Annie Martin Record Number: 327

Reference ID: item 1 GS Film Number: 2070083 Digital Folder Number: 4245959 Digital Folder Number: 004245959 Image Number: 826 Indexing Project (Batch) Number: I09900-2

Citing this Record "New Hampshire Marriage Records, 1637-1947," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:FL61-94F : 2 April 2020), Annie Martin in entry for Alton E. Sears and Marion G. Farrell, 12 Oct 1933; citing Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, Bureau of Vital Records and Health Statistics, Concord; FHL microfilm 2,070,083.

• 1940 US Census - Address: North Street, Georgetown, MA - also listing prior (1935) residence in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire.

Name: Alton E Sears Event Type: Census Event Date: 1940 Event Place: Georgetown Town, Essex, Massachusetts, United States Last Place of Residence: Hampton Falls, Rockingham, New Hampshire Gender: Male Age: 56 Marital Status: Married Race: White Race (Original): White Birth Year (Estimated): 1884 Birthplace: Massachusetts Relationship to Head of Household: Head Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Head

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace Alton E Sears Head M 56 Massachusetts Marion F Sears Wife F 33 Massachusetts Robert A Sears Son M 23 Massachusetts

District: 5-65 Sheet Letter: A Sheet Number: 9 Sheet Number and Letter: 9A Household ID: 195 Line Number: 8 Affiliate Publication Number: T627 Affiliate Film Number: 1579 Digital Folder Number: 005460851 Digital Folder Number: 005460851 Image Number: 00240

Citing this Record "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K4XC-Z5J : 29 July 2019), Robert A Sears in household of Alton E Sears, Georgetown Town, Essex, Massachusetts, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 5-65, sheet 9A, line 10, family 195, Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012, roll 1579.

• "Find A Grave Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV2W-FM8J : 13 December 2015), Alton Ellis Sears, ; Burial, Lynn, Essex, Massachusetts, United States of America, Pine Grove Cemetery; citing record ID 60729700, Find a Grave, http://www.findagrave.com.

• "United States Social Security Death Index," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VMXT-PPG : 20 May 2014), Alton Sears, Aug 1967; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing).
  • Alton Sears

United States Social Security Death Index Name: Alton Sears Given Name: Alton Surname: Sears Event Date: Aug 1967 Event Place: Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire Event Place (Original): Kingston, Rockingham, New Hampshire Age: 84 Birth Date: 29 Sep 1883