Recently, I showed you the piece of ceramic that I found in the dirt surrounding a broken gravestone in the cemetery. Now, I thought I'd share a little bit about the owner of the gravestone, Parthenia Sarles. The mother of nine children - only five of whom I've identified - Parthenia was born around 1788 and died at the age of 70 in 1858, outliving her husband Stephen by ten years.
Stephen and Parthenia's three oldest children - J. Merritt, Hannah, and Caroline - are buried in the cemetery. Hannah and Caroline, who were born in 1813 and 1815 respectively, never left home, but continued to live in the family's house on Sarles Street until their deaths in the 1880s. According to Caroline's obituary, the sisters "spent many happy days" together.
The census below is from the year 1850, when the sisters and their widowed mother shared their home with their younger brother Albert and an eight-year-old boy named Edward.
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| 1850 |
MISS CAROLINE G. SARLES
Miss Caroline G. Sarles died at her home near New Castle Corners on Friday last, February 24.
She was the daughter of Stephen and Parthenia Sarles, and was born in Sarles street, in the town of Bedford, on Feb. 16, 1815, and had therefore reached the advanced age of seventy-three years and eight days. Miss Sarles was one of a family of nine children, five boys and four girls, of whom only two were older than herself. Of this large family but three are now living - Mr. J. Merritt Sarles, of Middle Patent; Jonathan H., of Brooklyn, and A. B. Sarles of Greenpoint. "Aunt Carrie," as she was familiarly called, had lived all her life in or very near the town of Bedford, and with her sister Hannah, spent many happy days in the house which was her home until she died.
By industry and frugality she accumulated considerable property, and won the respect and confidence of a large circle of friends, by her firm principles and goodness of heart.
When quite young she united with the Methodist Church, and ever after lived the life of a true and conscientious Christian. Through a long and painful illness she bore her sufferings with patience, and her greatest wish seemed to be to make the least possible trouble for her friends.
The funeral service was held on Tuesday last, from the New Castle M. E. Church, and her remains were interred in the old Episcopal Church yard.
The sisters' younger brother Albert died in Brooklyn in 1894. Their older brother J. Merritt outlived his sisters and brother, dying in 1897.
Thank you to Mike for the information on Albert Baker Sarles!
- Stephen Sarles (1790-1848) m. Parthenia (1788-1858)
- J. Merritt Sarles (1810-1897)
- Hannah Sarles (1813-1881)
- Caroline G. Sarles (1815-1888)
- Jonathan H. Sarles
- Albert Baker Sarles (1831-1894)
Hey Madeline,
ReplyDeleteFirst I just want to say I love the work you are doing with this blog and the project in general!
My grandmother's family (the Steinhausers) lived in Mount Kisco for years at New Castle Corners. I have been researching my family for years, and that led to to a little research on Parthenia. My 3rd-great grandfather, John, bought land once owned by her son Albert B(aker) Sarles, and in fact my 2nd great grandfather was named Albert Baker Steinhauser, seemingly in Albert B. Sarles' honor.
Just fyi, Albert B. Sarles died in Brooklyn on June 23, 1894 and is buried in Oakwood Cemetery in Mt. Kisco. Just thought I would share that little bit of information :).
Hi Mike! Thanks so much for the information - I have incorporated it into the post.
ReplyDeleteHey Madeline,
ReplyDeleteSeems you have found a relative of mine. Here is what I have been working on for them.
Stephen Baker Sarles Birth 13 Oct 1788 in Bedford, Westchester, New York, USA Death 22 Oct 1848 Burial unknown at this time. (My 4th Great Grandparent)
Parthenia Sarles Birth 2 July 1787 in New York, USA Death 17 May 1858 Burial was unknown but you seem to have her (My 4th Great Grandparent). May I ask what cemetery she is buried in?
Children I have for them so far:
James Merritt Sarles 1810 –
Hannah Sarles 1811 –
Caroline Sarles 1813 –
Thomas W Sarles 1814 – 1881
Jonathan S Searles 1816 – 1891 (My 3rd Great Grandparent)
Elizabeth H Sarles 1818 –
Stephen Baker Sarles Jr 1822 – 1881
Esther Jane Sarles 1828 –
Albert Baker Sarles 1830 – 1894
It has taken a long time to do this line and am still working on it. I had a breakthrough a few years back and had someone tell me this was the correct line but am still trying to verify all of it and it is taking a while to do. My 2nd great Grandfather was Eugene Searles and he had at least 2 wives. The children from his 2nd wife (my great grandfather and his siblings) were given to their maternal grandparents to be raised. They saw the father a few times after that then nothing. So whether he died or just moved on we still don't know. We have not been able to track the children from the 1st marriage either. So either he left them with their maternal family or else who knows what happened to them. The only family story pertaining to the Searles line that was somehow passed down was that they came over on the ship after the Mayflower. Which I haven't found a Sarles coming over until 1635 on the Francis. So that story has been disproved so far. The only other thing that may confirm is if it was someone else associated with the Searles line like a mother's line. I have not found a maiden name also for Parthenia. Nor has anyone else to my knowledge.
I have found out that Jonathan moved from NY to CT and that is where he is buried along with his wife Jemima.
Both articles I saw are amazing. So glad you were able to share them with us.
Lisa
Lisa, Just saw your post about the Sarles family and was wondering if you would like the remembrance card that I found for Clarissa Sarles, the wife of Thomas W. Sarles. I found it at an antique mall in New Bern, NC and would like to see it reunited with the Sarles family. christinalcarlton@gmail.com
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