Capt Michael Vincent 1719-1808

As mentioned, our Vincent family is a complicated blend of Patriots and Loyalists.  

Before the Revolutionary War, our Michael Vincent was Captain of a Militia and was loyal to the Crown for part of the war. 

In the book, "Riot and Revelry in Early America", pg 48, Jeremiah Hunt, Michael Vincent and Ambrose Vincent were all named for contempt, riot and disturbing the peace for being involved in a skimmington in 1751. Jeremiah was Michael's father-in-law, and Ambrose his brother.

A Skimmington is an English tradition of dressing up and making rough music (banging pots and pans etc) to publicly humiliate or embarrass persons or businesses.

When time came that Capt Michael Vincent was forced to act, he would not lead his Company against the British; he was replaced and then arrested.  

Michael was not the only Vincent thwarting the efforts during the war resulting in the Committee for Detecting Conspiracies, naming them 'Notorious Loyalists' ("46 Acres..", pg 25).  

Michael eventually broke out of the jail at Exeter and returned home knowing the risk he faced; however, he was one of the lucky ones who continued to prosper.

GR Vincent surmises that Michael was a practical man who was loyal to the 'establishment' - the order it represented - so near the end of the war, taking an oath was more about recognizing the changes that were coming rather than a matter of the heart.  

This decision enabled him to retain his wealth and property.  

Michael and his wife Ruth Hunt had no children and as many Vincent researchers know, without his generosity, we would be without a will that is a treasure trove of family information!

He died the 5th of August in 1808 and was buried at the Methodist Ground with his wife.

courtsey of Robert Smith - Cenotaph at Verbank Cemetery
Buried at Methodist Ground, LaGrangeville

For the tombstone seekers, many of the Vincent family were moved to the Verbank Cemetery, Union Vale where a large stone was erected.

Front---"Michael Vincent and other of the Vincent family.  He being the first in this County, to which he came from Westchester County, this State, about 1750. He died near Verbank in the 103d year of his age."

Back---"In 1907, the bodies which had been buried in the ancient burial plot on the Vincent farm near Verbank were disinterred &, for greater care, were removed to this ground. Those from the unmarked graves were placed beneath this stone."

It is interesting to note the age listed of 103.  Based on the information from the "Old Gravestones of Dutchess County, New York" by JW Poucher, 1924, the marker at the Methodist Ground indicates that he died 5 Aug 1808, 88-7-23. Using a Birth Calculator, that puts his date of birth at 13 Dec 1719; otherwise, he would need to have been born in 1705.

"Riot and Revelry in Early America" 2002

Will of Capt Michael Vincent

"Old Gravestones of Dutchess County New York"

"The Widow", The Con Men, The Marks - A Family Affair

I love this family's history!!  These types of stories color the patterns of our lives - enrich our family narratives!

The newspaper stories had me laughing especially with the dramatic written flair of the time so links are provided at the bottom.

We start with a humble fisherman captain named James William Mason and his wife Abigail Arbuckle – Abbie was the daughter of Ole Willie Arbuckle and Mary Vincent.  James and Abbie had 11 children but many of them lived anything but humble lives!

Between aliases and misdirection, here's where the it all gets complicated and most intriguing! Let me introduce the stars....

Izella Mason Brown abt 1906

"The Widow" - an unfortunate moniker that becomes clear later - is none other than Izella Willena Mason and was a striking woman with blond hair and hazel eyes - the photo does not do her justice based on all the descriptions.

I found her in New York married to a James Pemberton Brown who was a Topographical Engineer who died in 1899.  

BUT - before his death, he helped her avert jail time in 1891 when she was arrested for forgery - this is a clue to her future.

Her aliases included Mrs J W Wallace and Maria C Mason which was her sister's name.  She used her daughter Lillian & a niece Mary as maids in the schemes.

Rueben 'Robert' C Mason abt 1919

Her brother, the charismatic Reuben C Mason, aka Rufus C, aka Dr John Harvard, aka Sir Wallace Montgomery, aka Lord Bruce, aka Robert C Mason and more. Born in MA, England, Virginia, NS.

Like his sister, his appearance enabled him as he was quite dapper with his brown hair, hazel eyes and fancy dress!

It was reported that he was the mastermind who orchestrated all the events.

He married a Jennit Belle Russell and had one son whose name was changed often as well.

George Allen Mason -  married an Elvena Angell in 1894 at Pontiac, IL, died in California and reported that he was born in MA.  

He not only promoted the imaginary "Kentucky Fuel & Alcohol Co" but also made his father-in-law the VP without his knowledge!

Two other brothers assisted on the sidelines and I believe were the 'secretaries' to Reuben mentioned in one article. 

Samuel W Mason - aka Robert/Samuel on the NS censuses.  Samuel, married an Irish girl named Nellie Shea in 1905 Boston.  He is buried in the Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, NY along with Izella's husband.  

 Joseph A Mason - married an Anna M Schneider in 1905 Manhattan and it appears they may have divorced as fast as they were married.  

Sarah Mason was listed in one paper as an assistant to her sister.  Sarah never married, she was the sole beneficiary of Maria's will in 1914 and returned to Nova Scotia where she passed away in 1927.  Thomas began an application for naturalization in RI but he returned home as well and passed away in 1939.

This tangled web came to light as a result of a poor decision.  

As the story unravels, Izella and her best friend Bina are the center of the controversy, both being charged with larceny.  When Izella met the beautiful brunette Mrs Bina (Finegan) Verrault is unclear.

However, this friendship included conspiracy when Izella & some men (perhaps Izella's brothers) helped Bina horsewhip her husband on the street in 1905 resulting in Bina giving up her home on West 73rd St.  Bina's husband George T Verrault secured a warrant for the two women but in the end the case was dropped.

Movie Still from Harry Houdini movie "Let's Elope"

The women lived in a large estate in the Upper West Side and together, they ran the "Love Syndicate" or the "Matrimonial Syndicate."  

The ruse included placing ads for 'widows' looking to find a new husband, writing stirring letters and bilking rich men for money & gifts. 

The mistake was the admission into the club of one James V MaClellan who became so enthralled with Mrs Verrault that the rejection resulted in him notifying the district attorney.  As the papers dug deeper, it was estimated that at least 100 men fell victim to the beautiful women.

At the same time, they investigated the brothers as a result of  a Mr Bunker lodging theft charges against Reuben for stealing sea shells and an oil patent that in fact belonged to a legitimate company in Philadelphia.

The brothers promoted fake oil and lumber opportunities from near and far.  Reuben milked the rich in Nova Scotia for money to finance a lumber scheme and George helped him with the Kentucky Fuel Co.  They all stayed at Izella's at one time or another & helped with the syndicate - it's reported both Bina & Reuben wrote the love letters.  

The papers report that a couple of brothers spent time in jail but I haven't been able to figure out who the other one(s) was - Reuben was one.  And there is more to uncover such as what became of Izella, her brothers Joseph & Rueben and her daughter Lillian?  Were her siblings Thomas, Sarah & Maria ever involved?

It looks like they out grew their wicked ways but ooh how wonderfully delicious the dinner table stories must have been!

Naple News, Wed, 26 Sep 1906 - "Dashing Women Operate Love Syndicate in New York" 

The Evening Telegram, Thurs, 30 Aug 1906 - "Says He's Brother of Love Widow" 

The New York World, Mon, 15 Feb 1909 - "New York Crook Caught Wealthy Canadians" 

Bina's Story and the Horsewhipping
Izella's sister Sarah may have been involved? 
Philadelphia Inquirer, Fri, 24 Aug 1906 - "Miss Brown Also Has Been To Court"

1871 Nova Scotia Census - Halifax East 
1881 Nova Scotia Census - New Glasgow, Pictou Co, NS 

Shutterbug Saturday

I can’t help myself – I collect pictures – pictures of tombstones and faces, treasures and more as I work through my tree – maps, buildings – I love it all!

Maps help me put places and migration into perspective, especially if I can transport my mind back in time to imagine how they would have travelled.  For example, I can’t remember the name of the gold miner I was working on but it took me forever to figure out why it would take a year to get to Alaska until I realized the fella had hitched a ride on a boat!

Here’s a map of the Thirteen Colonies, during the American Revolution – I like this particular map because it includes the Maritimes – we Vincents may have started in New York but we have migrated all across North America since the beginning 
 
Thirteen Colonies 1763-1775

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New Map of North America “shewing” all new discoveries 1797


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And this last one is my favorite!  

This map was given to the Maine Historical Society.  It is of New Amsterdam, aka New York.

If you follow the “Common Ditch” – you’ll find Adrian Vincent in yellow, s/e side – this map is important because there is a possibility that Adrian is Charles Sr’s father – the first to the new land and he hailed from Belgium.   

As mentioned, I am not far enough into my research to say yay or nay to that idea and there are conflicting theories – if anyone knows for sure, I would love to hear from you!!  

 

New-Amsterdam Original Land Grants 1642



[click on map for full view]

Early Female Legal Eagle and JFK again!

We continue our family trek thru the Arbuckle garden with an ambitious young lady named Anne E Mason, a pioneer of the early 20^th century!

Anne was the daughter of John Stephen Mason and Margaret Jane Arbuckle, the great granddaughter of Ole Willie Arbuckle and Mary Vincent.

In the early 1900s, women were becoming more independent and many knew they were capable of more than just needlepoint.  Anne was one of those girls, and she struck off to Massachusetts around 1913 at the age of 17.

Drawing of school on Trenton St

She eventually enrolled in a private school, more accurately, the only law school for women at the time, the Portia Law School in Cambridge, MA (now known as the New England School of Law).  

Imagine tuition in 1908 was about $75yr – as of 2014, it was approx $67k/yr – gotta love inflation!

Another historical note to hammer home how extraordinary Anne was, in 1920 women were granted the right to vote in the US.   

I do not know when Anne graduated but she was a practicing attorney in Boston, Massachusetts at a very exciting time in history to be sure!

In 1926, Anne met and married an ambitious New Yorker, Dr Joseph Armao Brusch – the son of Anthony Brusch and Mary Armao who immigrated from Santo Stefano, Palermo, Italy and settled in Troy, NY.   

In the “Leading Americans, of Italian Descent in Massachusetts” by Joseph W Carlevale (1946), the short biography for Joseph indicated that he was an MD of Internal Medicine and a Heart Specialist having graduated from Manhattan College and Tufts Medical College.  He interned at a few hospitals and then was on staff at Cambridge City Hospital and Charlesgate Hospital.  He was a Public Health Officer and a local school physician.  He and his younger brother Charles both worked as Medical Examiners for insurance companies for a while as well.

Joseph’s equally ambitious brother Charles was reported to have been JFK’s family doctor before he was elected into office and was godfather to a child of the Morrisseys – Francis Morrissey was secretary to US Senator, JFK!

Despite their ambitions, Joseph and Charles were both very civic minded – such as they both worked to erect the Church of the Infant Jesus in Brookline, NH and donated to the diocesan.

They joined forces to open the “Brusch Medical Center” in Cambridge, Massachusetts and it appears that the center’s focus was on research and alternatives to traditional or popular medical treatments of the time.  

Troy Record, 23 Jan 1963

I couldn’t find an obit for Anne but she died 11 months after her husband on the 17^th of December in 1963.  

 

History of the Portia Law School