Find My Dead

Genealogy of Sharon & Scotty

McLean/Frith/Brimlow/Brown

McLean/Frith/Brimlow/Brown

A Few More Friths

Ruth Frith Reed (1846-1907) and Mathew Taylor Frith (1850-1929)

Ruth Frith was born in August of 1846, the fifth child of William and Frances. She married Samuel E. Reed in about 1864. Samuel, born about 1839 in Brooklyn, had served for two years in the Civil War with Hawkins’ Zouaves. Ruth provided a statement for her sister Susan Wynn Frith McLean when she applied for her widow’s pension. The family is tracked fairly easily through the census records as they remained in Brooklyn throughout their lives. Samuel died 16 Aug 1894 and Ruth passed away 5 Mar 1907. Both are interred in Cypress Hills Cemetery along with several of their children.
1. Frances Eleanor Reed (1865-1942) m1 Edward Avery (1866-?) m2 James J. Dow (1863-1923)
2. Charles E. Reed (1868-1870)
3. Samuel M. Reed (1870-1870)
4. Edward Milton Reed (1872-1930) m. Catherine C. Toal (1874-1924)
5. Ruth Frith Reed (1874-1900) m. Frederick F. Hoeg (1870-1906)
6. William Maxwell Reed (1876-1939) m. Anna Augustina Boshch (1882-?)
7. Minnie E. Reed (1880-1959) m. Charles Wesley Clark (1880-1967)
8. Susan May Reed (1883-1886) appears as Mary Reed in interment records

Matherw Taylor Frith was the seventh child of William and Frances. He was a painter by trade as were his brother and brother-in-law. He married Mary Louisa Hamill in about 1869. Mary was the daughter of Robert Fulton Hamill (1802-1876) and Mary Louise George (1826-1887). Mary died on 8 May 1917 and was interred with her family in Green-Wood Cemetery. Mathew died 5 Jun 1929 and was interred in a separate plot in Green-Wood.

Mathew, niece Nettie (Frith) McLean Abell, Alfred Abell, Mathew's daughter Fannie (Frith) Seely
Mathew, niece Nettie (Frith) McLean Abell, Alfred Abell, Mathew’s daughter Fannie (Frith) Seely

They had five known children together:
1. Sarah P. Frith (1870-1870) Cypress Hills Cemetery with Mathew’s parents.
2. Fannie E. Frith (1872-1928) m. Welling Seely (1874-1931), one child Raymond Frith Seely (1899-1901) all three are in the Hamlin family plot in Green-Wood with Mary.
3. Mabel Virginia Frith (1876-1961) m. James M. Gormley (1885-1992) both are in Green-Wood with Mathew.
4. Susan Edna Frith (1879-1922) m. Perry L. Ward (1878-1909, on child Doris Mildred (Ward) Oed (1898-1956). Susan and Doris are with Mathew in Green-Wood. Perry’s location is not known.
5. Ruth A. Frith (1883-1912) m. Anderson Reid (1858-1920) Ruth is in the Hamill family plot with mother Mary. Anderson Reid died in San Francisco, burial location unknown.

The headline from The New York Times 14 Nov 1912, p1, c5.
The headline from The New York Times 14 Nov 1912, p1, c5.
Ruth A. Frith Reid was interesting because of the unusual circumstances of her life and death. It seems that on the evening of 13 Nov 1912, Ruth was involved in a car crash in which she died. She was 27 years old and her husband was 54, although one paper wrongly stated he was 76. Ruth was in the car with four men, two of whom fled the scene. The other two were with Ruth when the police arrived. One of the men who fled, apparently called her sister Mabel to tell her of the accident. Mabel hurried to the police station where Ruth had been taken. She found that her sister’s jewelry was missing. The jewelry was found in the coat pocket of one of the men who’d been the car with her. The man was arrested on the spot for grand larceny and both men were arrested on suspicion of homicide. The morning paper had a field day with the news, making it sound as though Ruth were a wild young woman who was stepping out on her older husband with some shady character.
The headline from the Marion Weekly Star, Marion, Ohio, 16 Nov 1912, p1, c4.
The headline from the Marion Weekly Star, Marion, Ohio, 16 Nov 1912, p1, c4.
By the afternoon of the 14th the real story had emerged. The shady characters were old family friends and well-known to Anderson Reid. He had encouraged his wife to go with them to a party at another friend’s home as he had to work that evening. Ruth’s jewelry was actually in a small chamois bag and one of the men had simply picked it up, along with her purse, and put them in his pocket so they wouldn’t get lost. Both Reid and Mabel Frith came to his defense and all the charges were dropped at a hearing on the morning of the 14th. In the afternoon article, the family went to great lengths to make it clear that Ruth and Reid had been married for nine years and Ruth was an active member in her church and even taught Sunday school. They stated they also knew the names of the two men who’d fled but refused to divulge them as enough damage had been done to everyone’s reputations.

McLean/Frith/Brimlow/Brown

Frith Strong

Frances C. (Frith) Bagwell Maxwell Maddern

I previously spoke about how strong of a woman Susan Wynn Frith McLean was in managing life with Civil War veteran Peter B. McLean. However, strong women appear to run in the family, including older sister Fanny.

Fanny C. Frith was born 11 Oct 1837 in Brooklyn, Kings, New York, the oldest daughter of William Henry Frith and Frances Catherine Brown.1 Her parents had both passed away before her 18th birthday and as the oldest, Fanny no doubt felt responsible for the care of her younger siblings who ranged in age from 16 down to less than a year. I have not been able to locate Fanny or her siblings definitively on the 1855 New York (NY) State Census.

Searching for Fanny proved difficult at times, but it all came down to marriage records, newspapers, and death and cemetery records. Thank goodness for those cemetery records. When looking at the records for the Brown/Frith Family Plot in Cypress Hills the name William E. Bagwell stood out. Not a Frith or Brown, he had to be the husband of one of the girls. He was interred at the age of 28 on 26 Nov 1863. A search of the 1860 Federal Census turned up William E. Bagwell born about 1835 in New York with wife Fanny C., born about 1937, living in Brooklyn.2 A painter by trade, it is probable they met through her sister Susan’s husband Peter B. McLean who owned a painting business in Brooklyn.

It appears she married William E. Bagwell in about 1858-59. No marriage record has yet been found and it is not known who his parents are. He’s on his own in the 1850 Census,3 but I have not yet been able to locate him on the 1855 NY either. I’ll look into pulling his actual 23 Nov 1863 death certificate4 on my next trip to Salt Lake City in hopes of finding out his parentage. [Update – shown at end of paragraph.] What I did find was a news article about his death.5 William was painting the side of a ship when another ship, under tow, collided with his ship. He was crushed between the two ships. The article is below. I followed the story by searching for information on the ships and learned that the captain of the “propeller” Liberty (tug/push boat) was indeed arrested and charged with recklessness and believed to be intoxicated at the time.
Bagwell BDE tue 24 Nov 1863 p1c1William’s probate records revealed he had a daughter, Annie Elizabeth Bagwell.6 I searched for Fanny and Annie Bagwell in the 1865 NY State Census but had no luck. However, in the 1870 Federal Census, daughter Annie E. Bagwell showed up in with mother Fanny C. Maxwell in the household of William Maxwell. Once I had his name, I easily found the family on the 1865 NY. Annie Bagwell was enumerated as Maxwell.7

1863 Coroner's findings/death certificate for William Bagwell
1863 Coroner’s findings/death certificate for William Bagwell

William H. Maxwell was born about 1840 in Glasgow, Scotland and worked as a carpenter, builder, and a foreman in the Department of City Works in Brooklyn. He’d served in the 84th NY Infantry, Co. H and was injured at Bull Run in 28 Aug 1862 and discharged with a disability on 13 Jan 1863. Once again, it is probable that Peter B. McLean introduced Fanny to her future husband as both men were veterans who’d been injured in the Civil War and were both in the construction industry.8 Fanny and Annie can be found with William Maxwell through the 1880 Census.9

Max Thu 28 Jun 1883 p3Something went terribly wrong in the evening hours of 27 Jun 1883 and William H. Maxwell shot himself in the head at his home. The circumstances of the event were unclear as noted in the article SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle the following day.10 He succumbed to the wound 13 days later, 10 Jul 1883, remaining at home in the care of his wife and doctor during that time. They were unable to remove the bullet and his death came from traumatic meningitis. He didn’t fall unconscious until three days before his death.11,12Max Tue 10 Jul 1883 BDE, p4 c3 Due to the questionable circumstances, the coroner held an inquest on 11 July and the jury found that the shooting was accidental.13
Max Wed 11 Jul 1883 BDE p4 c8
I’m still fascinated by the fact that in the first article, Fanny refused to let in the police or their surgeon, but surrendered the weapon to them. William Maxwell appeared to be well-liked and respected in the family as step-daughter Annie used his name throughout her life, and Fanny’s sister Ruth and her husband named son William Maxwell Reed for him. Almost twenty years after the death of her first husband, Fanny buried her second husband. William was laid to rest in Green-Wood Cemetery on 13 Jul 1883.14

Meanwhile, Fanny’s only child had married Ernest Albert (1857-1946) in about 1882. Ernest was a distinguished theatrical and scenic set designer, and it is probable that Fanny met her next husband Richard H. Maddern through him. Richard was a well-known musician and orchestra leader and both men were working in the same theaters during this time.

On 29 Jun 1885, Fanny married Richard Henry Maddern.15 Richard was born 18 Dec 1839, in England, the son of Richard and Grace (Thomas) Maddern.16 According to information found in an obituary for his niece, Minnie Maddern Fiske, the family ran a touring theatrical company known as the Maddern Family Band. On 2 Aug 1861, he enlisted in the Union Army from Keokuk, Iowa, and was mustered out on 16 Aug 1862 in Memphis, Tennessee, having served as the band director in Band 6 of the Iowa Infantry. He applied for and received an invalid pension on 13 May 1905 for that service.17 According to one of his obituaries published in New York, “Mr. Maddern for many years was successively in charge of the orchestra of the Grand Opera House and Pope’s Theater, St Louis, the Chicago Opera House and later that at Daly’s in this city.”18 Richard passed away on 24 Dec 1917 in the Bronx and was laid to rest 27 Dec 1917 in Woodlawn Cemetery.19

Fanny passed away 11 Feb 1918 in the Bronx and was buried the following day in Woodlawn with Richard.20 Her passing was noted in The New York Tribune.21Fanny NYTrib 12 Feb 1918 p13c7


1. New York City of New York death certificate 1177 (1918), Fanny C. Maddern, 11 Feb 1918. Cit. Date: 26 Jun 2014.
2. 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, p. 395, dwelling 616, family 1120, William Bagwell, 26, Fanney Bagwell, 20; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 12 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll M653 774. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
3. 1850 U.S. census, population schedule, Williamsburg, Kings, New York, p. 403B, family 1091, Wm Bagwell, 16, New York; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 30 Oct 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M432, roll M432 522.
4. “New York Death Records,” database, Certificate #7018, William E. Bagwell, died 23 Nov 1863, age 30, buried Cypress Hills Cemetery.
5. “FATAL ACCIDENT AT THE NAVY YARD,” Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 24 Nov 1863, p. 1, col. 1; digital images(accessed 13 May 2014). Cit. Date: 13 May 2014.
6. William E. Bagwell, 19 Dec 1863, Kings, New York, Letters of Administration for widow Fanny C. Bagwell, also named daughter Annie Elizabeth Bagwell; digital images.
7. 1865 New York State Census, Brooklyn, Kings, p. 51, family 371, line 1, William Maxwell, 26, Scotland, Builder, Frances Maxwell, 27, Wife, Kings, Anna E. Maxwell, 6, Child, Kings; digital images (accessed 30 Oct 2015). Cit. Date: 30 Oct 2015.
8. New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, New York; New York Civil War Muster Roll Abstracts, 1861-1900; Archive Collection #: 13775-83; Box #: 353; Roll #: 122-1228
9. 1880 U.S. census, population schedule, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, enumeration district (ED) 224, p. 78B, dwelling 25, family 58, Maxwell, William H., Fanny C., Bagwell, Annie E.; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 12 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T9, roll 855. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
10. “SUICIDE OR ACCIDENT,” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 28 Jun 1883, p. 3, col. 3; digital images (bklyn.newspapers.com : accessed 30 Oct 2015).
11. “New York Death Records,” database(accessed 30 Oct 2015), Certificate #7332, William Maxwell, died 10 Jul 1883, age 43, buried Green-Wood.
12. “IT PROVED FATAL,” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 10 Jul 1883, p. 4, col. 3; digital images (bklyn.newspapers.com : accessed 30 Oct 2015).
13. “WILLIAM H. MAXWELL’S DEATH,” The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 11 Jul 1883, p. 4, col. 8; (bklyn.newspapers.com: accessed 30 Oct 2015).
14. “New York Death Records,” database (accessed 30 Oct 2015), Certificate #7332, William Maxwell, died 10 Jul 1883, age 43, buried Green-Wood.
15. “New York, New York, Marriage Indexes 1866-1937,” database (accessed 13 May 2014), Fannie Maxwell to Richard H. Maddern, 29 Jun 1885, Kings, Cert #1990. Cit. Date: 13 May 2014.
16. “New York Death Records,” database(accessed 30 Oct 2015), Certificate 8372, Richard Henry Madder, b. 18 Dec 1839, d. 24 Dec 1917, parents Richard Maddern, Grace Thomas, buried 27 Dec 1917 Woodlawn.
17. Civil War Pension Index: General Index to Pension Files, 1861-1934
18. “MADDERN. – Richard H. Maddern,” The Drama Mirror, 4 Jan 1917, p. 28, col. 4;
19. “New York Death Records,” database (accessed 30 Oct 2015), Certificate 8372, Richard Henry Madder, b. 18 Dec 1839, d. 24 Dec 1917, parents Richard Maddern, Grace Thomas, buried 27 Dec 1917 Woodlawn.
20. New York City of New York death certificate 1177 (1918), Fanny C. Maddern, 11 Feb 1918. Cit. Date: 26 Jun 2014.
21. “MADDERN.–” The New York Tribune, 12 Feb 1918, p. 13, col. 7;

McLean/Frith/Brimlow/Brown

More Darn Friths

The Family of William Frith the Immigrant Ancestor

I have a love/hate relationship with William Frith. He’s an open book and yet annoyingly devoid of records that would lead me further or provide much help in an ancestor search. He rudely dies in 1855 so there is only one census record to work from and no death notice or death certificate.

William Frith was born in England about 1806. One of William’s children stated his full name was William Henry Frith1 and the name William Henry appears frequently in this line, including his oldest known son. However, both are common names of the time. His oldest definitive record with a birth year is the passenger list from the Hampton which arrived in New York on 14 Jul 1837. His stated age is 31.2

On 15 Aug 1836, William Frith married Frances Brown in Saint James, Westminster, London, England.3 I have not yet looked at the original record to see if it provides further information such as parents or a birth location for William. [Update May 2016 – the source record provided no further information.]

Wm Frith 1837 Pass - excerpt On the Hampton’s passenger list, William states his profession as “Gentleman.” He is accompanied by wife Frances, age 23. They are not accompanied by any children; however, based on the 11 Oct 1837 birth date of daughter Fanny C., Frances was pregnant at the time of their immigration.

The 1840 census is consistent with his known family and also states that one person (has to be him) is involved in manufacturing or trade.4 On the 1850 census, William’s occupation is stated as “Hardware.”5 He never appears in the New York or Brooklyn City Directories, although there are several Friths of about the same age from England who work in trade jobs such as cabinetmaking and steel. I have not been able to tie any of these Friths together yet.

Frances Frith 1854 probate 1 - CopyFrances (Brown) Frith died 20 Feb 1854 in Brooklyn, and on 9 March William filed for Letters of Administration for her estate.6 In that application, he named their eight surviving children. She was interred in grave 8 of the Brown/Frith family plot, Sec 2, Lot 161 in Cypress Hills Cemetery.7 Sadly, youngest daughter Anna died only a few months later in Jul 1854 at the age of 7 months and was interred with her mother.8 There are no headstones in the family plot.

William passed away in April 1855 and was interred with his wife on 17 April in Cypress Hills Cemetery in grave 12.9

William and Frances (Brown) Frith had eight known children together:
Fanny C. Frith Bagwell Maxwell Maddern (1837-1918)
Susan Wynn Frith McLean (1839-1915)
William Henry Frith (1841-1858)
Ellen E. Frith (1844-1857)
Ruth Frith Reed (1846-1907)
George Richard Frith (1848-1903)
Matthew Taylor Frith (1850-1929)
Anna Frith (1853-1854)

Even though he left behind 7 children under the age of 18, I have not yet found a probate file for him. It appears that the children were taken in by Ellen Winn (1784-1860). Ellen and William Winn (d. bef 1850) traveled with William and Frances from England aboard the Hampton and is most likely a relation, but I have not yet figured out how. The Winns were close enough that William and Frances named second daughter, Susan Wynn Frith for one of them. I have not been able to locate Ellen or any of the children on the 1855 New York State Census, but in 1860, Ruth, George, and Matthew are enumerated under the name Winn in Brooklyn with Ellen.10 Unfortunately, the 1860 does not prove relationships. [Update May 2016 – A search of films of guardianship records showed no entries for the Frith children or Ellen Winn.]


1. “New York Death Records,” database(accessed 29 Oct 2015), Mathew Taylor Frith, died 5 Jun 1929, buried 7 Jun 1929 Greenwood, parents: William Henry Frith and Frances Katherine Brown. Cit. Date: 29 Oct 2015.
2. “New York, Passenger Lists, 1820-1957,” online images(accessed 12 May 2014), manifest, Hampton, 14 Jul 1837, William Frith, 31, gentleman. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
3. Marriage Record, England Select Marriages, 1538-1973, Ancestry, William Frith/Frances Brown, 15 Aug 1836, Saint James, Westminister, London, England. FHL Film #1042320. Cit. Date: 5 May 2014.
4. 1840 U.S. census, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, p. 652, line 26, Wm Frith; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 12 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M704, roll 289. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
5. 1840 U.S. census, Brooklyn, Kings, New York, p. 652, line 26, Wm Frith; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 12 May 2014); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M704, roll 289. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
6. New York, Probate, Frances Frith, Application for Letters of Administration by William Frith, stating Frances Frith died 20 Feb 1854, Brooklyn, Kings, minor children: Fanny, Susan, William, Ellen, Ruth, George, Matthew, Ann; digital images, Ancestry(accessed 29 Oct 2015). Cit. Date: 29 Oct 2015.
7. Interment Records, Mrs. Frances Frith, age 38, interred 23 Feb 1854, William Brown Family Plot Lot 161, Sec 2, Cypress Hills Cemetery. Cit. Date: 12 May 2014.
8. Interment Records, Anna Frith, age 7 mo., interred 12 Jul 1854, grave 8, William Brown Family Plot, Lot 161, Sec 2, Cypress Hills Cemetery. Cit. Date: 14 May 2014.
9. William Frith, age 48, interred 17 Apr 1855, grave 12.William Brown Family Plot, Lot 168, Sec 2, Cypress Hills Cemetery.
10. 1860 U.S. census, population schedule, Brooklyn, Kings, New York,, p. 403, family 1194, George Winn [Frith] with Ellen Winn, Ruth Frith, Mathew Frith; digital images, Ancestry (accessed 29 Oct 2015); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm M653, roll M653 774.