Isabella Woodhurst


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Brief biography

Isabella Woodhurst was born at Sittingbourne in 1863 [Birth Index: Milton 2a 639, 1863 (Sept)] to parents Daniel Woodhurst and Priscilla Hales.

The 1871 Census finds her at age "7" living with her parents at 20, Springfield Road in Tunbridge, Kent.

The 1881 Census finds her at age "17" living with her parents at 210, Shortlands Road, South Side in Sittingbourne, Kent.

In 1884 she emigrated with her mother and siblings to America, sailing from Liverpool on the RMS City of Montreal and arriving at Michigan on July 26th 1884.

She married Levi Wing in Leslie township, Ingham County, Michigan on August 6th 1884 [IGI: Batch M518453]. The register of Marriage Returns states that she was aged "21", born in England and residing in Jackson, Michigan; Levi is described as aged "36", born in Jackson, residing in Portland, Oregon and occupied as a policeman.

It follows that she had married less than a fortnight after first stepping onto American soil and moreover to someone not even living in the state in which she had taken up residence; it seems almost inexplicable.

Levi was born in Michigan to parents Calvin Wing and Nancy (nee Reed), both of whom came from the state of Maine.

During the 1880s she and Levi produced two (known) children, Priscilla and Freeman. The US 1900 Census finds them living in Blackman township, Jackson Co. with just these children. Levi was now occupied as a farmer.

The US 1910 Census finds them living in Jackson City with their two children, together with Freeman's wife Mamie. Levi had no occupation but Freeman was employed as a railroad fireman.

Levi died on January 12th 1917. The death certificate states that the cause was a form of pneumonia. He is described as a retired patrolman residing in Waverly Street, Highland Park in Wayne Co., Michigan. The informant was his son Freeman, living in the same street. The certificate gives Levi's age as "67 years and 5 months" and his birthdate as "July 15th", implying that he was born on July 15th 1849.

On December 9th 1919 Isabella married in Royal Oak, Oakland Co., Michigan to a Canadian named Tim Marleau. The register of Marriage Returns describes him as aged "56", previously married and occupied in real estate; Isabella was described as aged "56", previously married and occupied as a nurse. His parents are named as Ephraim Marleau and Effie (nee Dickie).

The US 1920 Census finds Isabella living with Tim Marleau at 324, Baldwin Avenue in Royal Oak where he was a sales manager in real estate. Their ages are both given as "54", and so one year of marriage had evidently made them two years younger. Living with them was Isabella's son Freeman, described as aged "31" and married, but without his wife present; he also was a sales manager in real estate, probably working for Tim.

It seems that this marriage did not work out, as in 1922 Isabella was listed in the Royal Oak City Directory by the name "Wing, Isabella (wid. Levi)" living at the same address in Baldwin Avenue, where her son Freeman was also listed as living. Tim Marleau was meanwhile listed at a different address (S. Main) in Royal Oak.

Isabella died on August 21st 1929. The death certificate describes her as aged "66" and her address as 1478, Garfield Avenue in Lincoln Park, Wayne Co., Michigan. The cause of death was "paralysis following arteriosclerosis". Her parents are correctly named and her birthdate is given as August 3rd 1863. She was described as a widow whose husband had been Levi Wing, with no mention made of her marriage to Marleau.

Tim Marleau returned to Canada where he died in 1933. He had been living at South Porcupine, Tisdale in Cochrane Co., Ontario. He died at the Presbyterian Hospital there. His death certificate states that he was aged "73" and gives the cause of death as cardiac failure arising from endocarditis. His occupation is given as real estate agent. He had been living at his latest address for six years. His marital status is not stated.

Her children by Levi Wing

  1. Priscilla C. Wing - born in July 1885
  2. Freeman Calvin Wing - born in August 1888

Her children by Tim Marleau

  1. there were none ...