WHITEHEAD

 - Family Genealogy -

1814 – 2008 (present), 8 Generations/194 Years

Somerville, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts

from Canada, England and Ireland

(Last updated on January 18, 2008)

 

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[INDEX PAGE] / [HUGHES] / [PELLETIER] / [BELIVEAU] / [CLARK] / [WHITEHEAD]

 


Any WHITEHEAD descendents to this Somerville, MA family PLEASE read the following and contact me at email.

 

At the start of my research for my HUGHES FAMILY GENEALOGY, it was brought my attention that an old family rumor was in the air that my father, Francis James Hughes, was adopted.  The first thing that I did was obtain his birth certificate in Boston, MA as he was born in Dorchester, MA.  I received it and it stated his parents as James Hughes and Ethel Clark, who were always known to be his parents.  At that time, I put this subject to rest. 

 

However, several months to a year later, after speaking with other related family members who knew my grandparents asked me if I knew that my father was adopted?  Well, this of course reopened my investigation into this – it got my curiosity going again!  As my father was born in Dorchester, MA and my grandparents lived in Lawrence, MA, I contacted the Suffolk County Probate Court in Boston, MA and the Essex County Probate Court in Salem, MA.  I submitted a copy of my license, my birth certificate, my father’s birth and death certificates and a letter as requested. 

 

About a year later I received the adoption record from the Essex County Probate Court that a FRANCIS WHITEHEAD, born 06-Oct-1936 (my fathers birth date) was adopted on 12-July-1937 by James and Ethel Hughes at the St. Mary’s Infant Asylum (known today as St. Mary’s Women and Infant Center) of Dorchester, MA.  The mother’s name on the adoption record was a Mary Whitehead of Somerville, MA with a witness signature of a George J. Whitehead.  Further information provided by the St. Mary’s Women and Infant Center, which was hand written in a record log book, showed that this Mary Whitehead was 16 years of age at the time of Francis’ birth.  As the 1930 US Census became available, I came across a Whitehead household in Somerville, MA with a “head of household” being a George J. Whitehead and a 11 year old daughter, Mary Whitehead!  I also came across in the SSDI of a Mary Whitehead of Somerville, MA born 17 Dec 1919-died 24 Apr 1987, age 67!  Also found in my research was an obituary of a Helen F. Whitehead of Somerville, MA who passed in 2002.  By reading the names of her parents, brothers and sisters who pre-deceased Helen, combined with the names indicated in the 1930 US Census of the Whitehead Family household in Somerville, MA – what do you get!!!  All I can say is that everything matches up!!!

 

What I want to say is that I do not want to “intrude” into this family as there was only one sibling left, of nine to Mary Whitehead, in which I had the pleasure to speak with on the phone a few years back.  This woman, Evelyn C. (Whitehead) White, recently passed away at the age of 84 on 11 Jan 2008. 

 

I wish to sit down and talk with someone related to this Whitehead Family and learn more about Mary Whitehead, my biological grandmother, what their heritage was/is and etc. for my own curiosity reasons.  But more importantly, I seek medical/health background for my family.  To make a long story short is that my father had suffered a condition in which was passed down to me and my sons.   I wish to learn if this condition existed within the Whitehead Family and if there was a biological reason why only three of nine siblings to Mary A. Whitehead married and only two had children?  I do have many other questions and would love to talk to descendants of this family.  Some questions include:

 

1.        Only two out of five sisters married.  Only one, Catherine (Whitehead) Graham, had children!  Why was this?  Did it have to do with anything medically?  NOTE:  Sisters of Mary passed at the following ages:  Mary-67 (never married); Catherine-84 (married); Margaret-62 (twin to Mary, never married); Helen-81 (never married) and Evelyn-84 (married).

 

2.        Only one out of four brothers (George Jr.) married.  George Whitehead Jr, had one child!  Why was this?  Did it have to do with anything medically?  NOTE:  Brothers to Mary passed at the following ages:  Joseph-55 (?); George, Jr-77 (married); Robert-43 (never married) and Francis-16 (never married).

 

3.        George J. Whitehead Sr, father to these 9-children, passed at the age of 64.  His sister, Mary E. Whitehead, never married and passed at the age of 90 and a brother, Herbert, passed before the age of 55.  Why was this?  Did it have to do with anything medically?

 

4.        Where does their mother: Catherine M. [Kate] (Connors) Whitehead rest?  What was her death date and where?  NOTE:  Catherine, mother to these 9-children, passed around the age of 50 in about 1935.  Why was this?  Did it have to do with anything medically?

 

5.        And the $1,000,000,000 Question:  Any clue to who my father’s biological father was?  (A relationship that 16 year old Mary A. Whitehead would have had around in early 1936 (January 1936?) as my father was born in October 1936).

 


The family genealogy for WHITEHEAD ancestors/descendants from Boston/Somerville, Suffolk County, Massachusetts below is incomplete.  Information was gathered from Ancestry.com, Familysearch.com, the Lawrence, MA Public Library, the Lawrence, MA City Clerk’s Office, the Massachusetts Registry, Essex County Probate Court, Salem, MA, Bellevue Cemetery Office in Lawrence, MA, the Boston, MA Public Library, St. Mary’s Women and Infant Center in Dorchester, MA, the Somerville, MA Public Library, Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, MA, Oak Grove Cemetery in Medford, MA, St. Paul’s Cemetery in Arlington, MA, Mt. Auburn Cemetery in Cambridge, MA, The Boston Globe, The Somerville Journal and genealogy members from various message boards.  I’m currently looking for the following information.  Feel free to email me if you have any questions and/or information to provide to this history chain.  Thanks.

 

*      WHITEHEAD - Who was Francis J. Hughes’ [see #6] (born as: Francis Whitehead) Biological Father?  (See mother [#5] Mary A. Whitehead).

 


WHITEHEAD 1800’s-present    (Underlined names link to that person’s obituary).

 

Biological GGG-Grandfather of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:

1 GEORGE WHITEHEAD  b.Abt.1814, England-d.Bef.1860, age <46, Charlestown, Massachusetts

Biological GGG-Grandmother of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:

+ ELIZA (______) WHITEHEAD  b.Abt.1814, New Hampshire-d.Aft.1880, age 66+, Wakefield, Massachusetts
 

Biological GGG-Grandfather of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:

- ROBERT L. BYERS, SR.  b.17 Apr 1808, Kinnelbridge, Scotland-d.02 Oct 1892, age 84, Bell Gift Cemetery, New Annan, Nova Scotia, Canada

Biological GGG-Grandmother of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:

- ISABELLA (Little) BYERS  b.20 May 1816, Dumphrieshire, Scotland-d.09 May 1904, age 87, Bell Gift Cemetery, New Annan, Nova Scotia, Canada
 

Biological GG-Grandfather of My Father - Francis J. Hughes and son of George Whiteehead and Eliza (_____):

2 DANIEL WHITEHEAD  b.1838, Charlestown, Massachusetts-d.Aft.1910, age 71+, Somerville, Massachusetts

Biological GG-Grandmother of My Father - Francis J. Hughes and daughter of Robert Byers, Sr. and Isabella Little:

+ MARGARET Little (Byers) WHITEHEAD  b.20 Sep 1842, Nova Scotia, Canada-d.13 Jan 1930, age 87, Somerville, Massachusetts

(Married April 10, 1865 in Boston, Massachusetts)

 

Son of Daniel Whitehead and Margaret Byers:

3 GEORGE Daniel WHITEHEAD  b.01 May 1870, New York-d.Aft.1880, age >10, Somerville, Massachusetts

 

Biological G-Grandfather of My Father - Francis J. Hughes and Son of Daniel Whiteehead and Margaret Byers:

3 WILLIAM WHITEHEAD  b.1872, New York-d.Aft.1930, age 58+, Somerville, Massachusetts

Biological G-Grandmother of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:

+ ELLEN (________) WHITEHEAD  b.1870, County Cork, Ireland-d.Aft.1930, age 60+, Somerville, Massachusetts

 

Daughter of William Whitehead and Ellen (______):

4 MARY E. [Mamie] WHITEHEAD  b.27 Apr 1895, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.01 May 1985, age 90, St. Paul’s Cemetery, Arlington, Massachusetts

 

Son of William Whitehead and Ellen (______):

4 HERBERT L. WHITEHEAD  b.1899-d.Bef.1955, age <55, Somerville, Massachusetts

 

Biological Grandfather of My Father - Francis J. Hughes and Son of William Whittehead and Ellen (______):

4 GEORGE J. WHITEHEAD, Sr.  b.1890, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.03 Mar 1955, age 64, Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, Massachusetts

Biological Grandmother of My Father - Francis J. Hughes and daughter of Frank Connors and Maria (_____):

+ CATHERINE M. [Kate] (Connors) WHITEHEAD  b.27 Nov 1885-d.Abt.1935, age Abt.50, Somerville, Massachusetts (See Connors Family Below)

(George J. Whitehead’s 1st Wife)

 

Daughter of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

Biological Mother of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:

5 MARY Agnes WHITEHEAD  b.17 Dec 1919, Somerville, Massachusetts (twin of Margaret)-d.24 Apr 1987, age 67, Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts

Biological Father of My Father - Francis J. Hughes:<

+ (_________) (_________)  b.?-d.?, age ?, ?

               

Adopting Father of Francis J. Hughes and Son of Robert Hughes and Barbara Melvin:

- JAMES Joseph [Jimmy] HUGHES  b.09 Feb 1895-d.22 Jan 1958, age 62, (MAS PFC US Army WWI PH), St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence, Massachusetts.  [parents, see HUGHES Family Genealogy page]

 James J. Hughes, age 62 in 1957 (picture courtesy of M.Hughes)

Adopting Mother of Francis J. Hughes and Daughter of Jacob Clark and Amanda Callahan:

- ETHEL G. (Clark) HUGHES  b.14 Jan 1903-d.26 Nov 1975, age 72, St. Mary’s Immaculate Conception Cemetery, Lawrence, Massachusetts [parents, see CLARK Family Genealogy page]

(Married July 17, 1926 in Lawrence, Massachusetts)

 Ethel G. Clark) Hughes, age 54 in 1957 (picture courtesy of M.Hughes)

               

My Father; Adopted Son of James Hughes and Ethel Clark/Biological Mother - Mary A. Whitehead:

6 FRANCIS James [Buddy] HUGHES  b.06 Oct 1936, Dorchester, Massachusetts as FRANCIS WHITEHEAD (adopted 12 July 1937)-d.08 Mar 1987, age 50, (MAS SSGT US Air Force Vietnam), Bellevue Cemetery Veteran’s Lot, Lawrence, Massachusetts

 Francis J. Hughes, age 17 in 1954 (picture courtesy of M.Hughes)

My Mother; Daughter of Rene Pelletier and Eva Beliveau:

+ Living Female- (Pelletier) Hughes, North Andover, Massachusetts [parents, see PELLETIER Family Genealogy page]

(Married June 01, 1957 in North Andover, Massachusetts)

 

7 Living Male- Hughes, North Andover, Massachusetts

+ Living Female- (Hadlock) Hughes, North Andover, Massachusetts

(Married April 26, 1980 in North Andover, Massachusetts)

 

8 Living Female- Hughes, North Andover, Massachusetts

 

7 Living Female- (Hughes) Andruchuk, Goffstown, New Hampshire

+ Living Male- Andruchuk, Goffstown, New Hampshire

(Married August 28, 1982 in North Andover, Massachusetts)

                                               

8 Living Female- Andruchuk, Goffstown, New Hampshire

                                                                               

8 Living Male- Andruchuk, Goffstown, New Hampshire

 

7 Living Male- Hughes, Derry, New Hampshire

+ Living Female- (Hull) Hughes, Derry, New Hampshire

(Married May 06, 1995 in North Andover, Massachusetts)

                                                               

8 Living Male- Hughes, Derry, New Hampshire

                               

8 Living Male- Hughes, Derry, New Hampshire

 

8 Living Male- Hughes, Derry, New Hampshire

 

Son of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 JOSEPH R. WHITEHEAD  b.24 Jun 1915, Boston, Massachusetts-d.14 May 1971, age 55, Hollywood/Los Angeles, California

 

Son of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 GEORGE J. WHITEHEAD, Jr.  b.07 Feb 1917, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.03 Mar 1987, age 70, Mt. Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts

+ Living Female- (Peters) Whitehead  b.Abt.1917, Massachusetts-d.?, age ?, ?

 

6 Living Female- (Whitehead) McCusker, Cambridge, Massachusetts

- Living Male- McCusker, Cambridge, Massachusetts

 

7 Living Male- McCusker, Cambridge, Massachusetts

 

Son of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 CATHERINE M. (Whitehead) GRAHAM  b.06 Sep 1918, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.22 May 2003, age 84, Alta Loma, San Bernardino, California

+ FRANCIS D. GRAHAM  b.15 Jun 1911-d.21 Dec 2002, age 91, Alta Loma, San Bernardino, California

 

Son of Catherine Whitehead and Francis Graham:

6 HAROLD GRAHAM  b.Aft.1938, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.Bef.1987, age ?, ?

 

Daughter of Catherine Whitehead and Francis Graham:

6 Living Female- (Graham) Frederick, California

+ Living Male- Frederick, California

 

Daughter of Catherine Whitehead and Francis Graham:

6 Living Female- (Graham) Myers, California

+ Living Male- Myers, California

 

Daughter of Catherine Whitehead and Francis Graham:

6 Living Female- (Graham) Dabney, California

+ Living Male- Dabney, California

 

Son of Catherine Whitehead and Francis Graham:

6 Living Male- Graham, California

 

Son of Catherine Whitehead and Francis Graham:

6 Living Male- Graham, California

 

Daughter of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 MARGARET C. [Peg] WHITEHEAD  b.17 Dec 1919, Somerville, Massachusetts (twin of Mary)-d.09 Jul 1982, age 62, Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts

 

Daughter of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 HELEN F. WHITEHEAD  b.15 Dec 1920, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.06 Mar 2002, age 81, Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts

 

Daughter of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 EVELYN C. (Whitehead) WHITE  b.1923, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.11 Jan 2008,  age 84, Forest Hill Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts

+ AUGUSTINE WHITE  b.23 Nov 1892, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.Sept 1970, age 77, Forest Hill Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts

 

Son of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 ROBERT J. WHITEHEAD  b.1924, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.02 Mar 1968, age 43, Woodlawn Cemetery, Everett, Massachusetts

 

Son of George Whitehead and Catherine Connors:

5 FRANCIS J. WHITEHEAD  b. Jun 1926, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.12 Apr 1943, age 16, Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, Massachusetts

 

Mary E. (Dix) Whitehead’s Parents:

- FREDERICK DIX  b.Abt.1870-d.Bef.1930, age <60, Boston, Massachusetts

- MARY E. (_______) DIX  b.Abt.1870-d.Aft.1930, age >60, Boston, Massachusetts

 

George J. Whitehead’s 2nd Wife and daughter of Frederick Dix and Mary E. (______):

+ MARY E. (Dix) (Lightburn) WHITEHEAD  b.16 Nov 1891, Boston, Massachusetts-d.04 Jan 1969, age 77, Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, Massachusetts

- THOMAS LIGHTBURN  b.Abt.1885, Boston, Massachusetts-d.Bet.1920-1930, age <45, Massachusetts

(Married 1918 in Boston, Massachusetts)

 

Son of Mary Dix and (____) Lightburn:

+ THOMAS E. LIGHTBURN  b.11 Jul 1921, Boston, Massachusetts-d.May 1979, age 57, Cambridge, Massachusetts

+ ALICE M. (_______) LIGHTBURN  b.27 Apr 1924-d.21 Jun 1995, age 71, Cambridge, Massachusetts

 

Son of Mary Dix and (____) Lightburn:

+ JOHN F. LIGHTBURN  b.1923, Boston, Massachusetts-d.11 Feb 1965, age 41, Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, Massachusetts

 


*    CONNORS

 

- MICHAEL CONNORS  b.Abt.1827, Ireland-d.Aft.1880, age 53+, Milford, Worcester, Massachusetts

- BRIDGET (Ryan) CONNORS  b.Abt.1826, Ireland-d.1900, age Abt.74, Milford, Worcester, Massachusetts

 

                Daughter of Michael Connors and Bridget Ryan:

- ELLEN CONNORS  b.Abt.1858, Ireland-d.Aft.1880, age 22+, Milford, Worcester, Massachusetts

 

                Son of Michael Connors and Bridget Ryan:

- HENRY CONNORS  b.Abt.1866-d.Aft.1880, age 14+, Milford, Worcester, Massachusetts

 

                Son of Michael Connors and Bridget Ryan:

- FRANK CONNORS  b.Abt.1863, Ireland-d.Aft.1920, age 57+, Somerville, Massachusetts

- MARIA (______) CONNORS  b.Abt.1863, Ireland-d.Bef.1920, age <57, Somerville, Massachusetts

 

Son of Frank Connors and Maria (_______):

-  JOHN CONNORS  b.18 Jul 1884, Somerville, Massachusetts-d.Mar 1971, age 86, Cambridge, Massachusetts

 

Daughter of Frank Connors and Maria (_______):

+ CATHERINE M. [Kate} (Connors) WHITEHEAD  (See Whitehead Family above)

 

Daughter of Frank Connors and Maria (_______):

-  HARRIET B. CONNORS  b.10 Jan 1887-d.?, age ?, Somerville, Massachusetts

 

Son of Frank Connors and Maria (_______):

- THOMAS Frank CONNORS  b.19 Dec 1896-d.Jan 1971, age 75, Quincy, Norfolk, Massachusetts

 

               

Last updated on January 18, 2008

Copyright 2002-2008 “Michael A Hughes”.  All Rights Reserved.

 

[INDEX PAGE] / [HUGHES] / [PELLETIER] / [BELIVEAU] / [CLARK] / [WHITEHEAD]

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