JOHN & MARTHA (WILKINSON) LUPTON;

IMMIGRANT ANCESTORS FROM YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND

TO COUNCIL HILL TOWNSHIP, JO DAVIESS COUNTY, ILLINOIS

 

John Lupton and Martha Wilkinson were my 2nd great-grandparents.  When their marriage occurred October 3, 1824 at the Anglican Church in the parish of LEAKE, both resided in the village of BORROWBY, Yorkshire, England where John Lupton's occupation was recorded as "weaver."   John Lupton, Jr., William and Joseph were all baptized at Leake, as the family continued to reside in Borrowby for a period of time.

 

So far, I have been unable to locate a birth record for their next eldest child, Sarah, who was born around 1832, died June 10, 1851, and is buried at Council Hill Cemetery, in Jo Daviess County along with her parents, four brothers and two sisters.  However, by 1836, the family resided in Monk Bretton near Royston, approximately two miles west of Barnsley. The births of the four youngest children, Thomas, Samuel, Julia and Mary have been documented as occurring in Monk Bretton either through the records of baptism at St. John the Baptist Church in Royston, or certificates of birth registration from the General Registrar's office in London.  In the case of the latter, John Lupton signed his signature with an "X," an indication that he could neither read nor write at the time.  In the 1841 census records of the parish of Royston, John, and two of his sons, John Lupton, Jr. and Joseph, age 10, were all recorded as weavers.  His son, William, was employed at a hotel in Barnsley, just as his obituary indicates.

 

In 1846, the families of John and Martha (Wilkinson) Lupton, and their son, John Lupton, Jr., his wife Mary Ann, (Jackson) plus their infant son, left their native shores and immigrated to America.  Embarking at Liverpool, they sailed on the LAPLAND, arriving at New Orleans on May 27.  Shipping records recorded them as follows:  John Lupton, 40 years;  Mrs. Lupton, 43;  John, 21;  Mary Ann, 21;  infant;  William, 18;  "Joshua," 16; (Should read Joseph)  Sarah, 13;  Thomas, 10;  Samuel, 7;  Judith, 5;  and Mary, aged 3.  The intended occupation of John Lupton, Sr. and his older sons was "farmer," and according to the obituaries of my great-grandfather, Samuel Lupton and his brother, William, the ultimate destination was Galena, Jo Daviess County, Illinois, where friends had already settled.  They reportedly traveled up the Mississippi River by steamer, arriving in Galena on June 6, 1846, according to records of the OLD SETTLER'S ASSOCIATION of Jo Daviess County.   

 

Jo Daviess County land records indicate that John Lupton, Sr., and his two oldest sons, John Jr., and William, all purchased land in Council Hill Township during the 1850's, and henceforth became tillers of the soil.  This tradition was   followed by my own great grandfather, Samuel, when he and his first wife, Elizabeth Reynolds moved to Felix Township in Grundy County, Iowa in 1871.  The Last Will and Testament of John Lupton, Sr., dated April 29, 1881, listed the total land holdings as 213½ acres in Council Hill, and 120 acres near Norfolk, Nebraska.  His "real and personal property" consisted of " farming implements, horses, cattle, hogs, sheep, household furniture, a life insurance policy worth $1000, and a certain promissory note of 1200 dollars held against his son, William.

 

In 1849, Mary Ann Lupton, described as a “relative” in the census records, arrived in Jo Daviess County where she was raised in the household of John and Mary Ann (Jackson) Lupton, Jr.  However, the obituaries of my great-grandfather, Samuel Lupton, and his sister, Mary (Lupton) Spencer specifically refer to Mary Ann Lupton who married Charles Reed, as a cousin.  Through the use of census records, the International Genealogical Index and the burial record of Charles and Mary Ann (Lupton) Reed, eventually I felt that I had been able to pinpoint an approximate date and location of birth, and therefore I obtained her official registration of birth from the General Registrar’s Office in London. She was born in Knaresborough, Yorkshire, England on May 23, 1839, daughter of Samuel and Jane (Stubbs) Lupton.  (According to her gravestone inscription at the cemetery north of Apple River, Mary Ann Lupton, wife of Charles Reed, was born May 26, 1839.)  According to Loren Meissner who discovered the shipping record, Samuel and Jane Lupton, plus three children, Mary Ann, Charles and John Cornelius left England aboard the Brandon, in order to immigrate to the United States, specifically Jo Daviess County, Illinois. The ship arrived in New Orleans on April 27, 1849, but by the time Mary Ann Lupton arrived in Galena, she had become an orphan.  Many years ago, Hazel (Kleeberger) Meissner, a niece of Mary Ann’s husband, inscribed the following on the back of Charles Reed’s photograph:

 

“Uncle Charlie Reed...He married Mary Ann Lupton (Aunt Mary) when she was 45 years old.  Aunt Mary came from England when she was 12 years old. [Actually almost 10 –LPM] When they left England there was the mother, father, and at least 3 children. One child was buried at sea. Father and mother died at New Orleans of cholera and Mary and her brother came up Mississippi on steamer - brother died enroute. Mary was met by relatives in Illinois.”

Beginning October 4, 1895, one of the two villages that comprised Council Hill Township, was renamed LUPTON, ILLINOIS.  The History of Jo Daviess County, published in 1904 states:  "There are within the township two villages, neither of which has ever been incorporated, one being called Council Hill and the other Council Hill Station on the line of the Illinois Central Railroad. The latter place, however, is now called Lupton in honor of one of her prominent citizens. There is considerable business done at both villages and vast quantities of lead ore have been taken from the mines in this township."  The Lupton post office was disestablished on June 15, 1907, and the remaining post office was discontinued in 1931. The township is now known as Rural Route, Scales Mound, Illinois.

 

 As of 1980, the original home where the immigrant Lupton family once lived still remained.  Some years ago when the old homestead was undergoing extensive renovation, a drawing of a SKUNK, dated 1909, was discovered within the rafters of the wall bearing these words:  "Whoever shall dare tear down these walls!"  The artist from the past was John Spencer, a grandson of John and Martha Lupton!

 

By Karen L. Giblin, a 2nd great-granddaughter of John and Martha (Wilkinson) Lupton

 

THE LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF JOHN LUPTON, SR.

 

I John Lupton of the town of Council Hill in the county of Jo Daviess and State of Illinois of the age of Seventy five years, and being of Sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following:

 

First:  It is my will that all my just debs and funeral expenses be fully paid.

 

Second:  I give and devise to my son Joseph Lupton and my daughter Mary Spencer, their heirs and assigns my homestead farm, consisting of about 213½ acres of land situated in the Town of Council Hill in the County of Jo Daviess and State of Illinois and being all the land owned by me in said County of Jo Daviess, together with all the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining:  To have and to hold the premises above described to the said Joseph Lupton and Mary Spencer their heirs and Assigns forever.

 

Third:  I give and bequeath unto my said son Joseph Lupton and to my said daughter Mary Spencer all my personal property on my said homestead farm or that may be upon said farm at the time of my death, consisting of Such personal property as farming implements, horses, cattle, hogs, Sheep, household furniture etc; to have and to hold said personal property to the said Joseph Lupton and Mary Spencer their heirs and assigns forever.

 

Fourth:  I give and bequeath to each of my grandchildren named as follows: Sophia Spencer, James Spencer and Samuel Spencer the sum of two hundred dollars to be paid to them by my said son Joseph Lupton and my said daughter Mary Spencer out of the property above bequeathed and devised to them---said grandchildren being the children of my deceased daughter Julia.

 

Fifth:  I give and devise to my three sons named as follows: John Lupton, William Lupton and Samuel Lupton one hundred and twenty acres of land situated in the State of Nebraska, being all the land owned by me in said State of Nebraska and hereby devising to my three sons Last above mentioned all the land and real estate owned by me in said State of Nebraska, together with all the hereditaments and appurtenances thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining: to have and to hold the premises above described to the said John Lupton, William Lupton and Samuel Lupton their heirs and assigns forever.

 

Sixth:  I also give and bequeath to my said three sons John Lupton, William Lupton and Samuel Lupton a certain promissory note of twelve hundred dollars which I hold against the said William Lupton and all the Insurance on my life amounting to the Sum of One Thousand Dollars, providing they pay all my funeral expenses---it being my express intention that all my funeral expenses shall be paid out of the insurance on my life. 

 

Item:  The said Joseph Lupton and Mary Spencer shall share equally in all that is given to them under this will: and the Said John Lupton, William Lupton and Samuel Lupton shall share equally in all that is given to them under this will.

 

And lastly I hereby appoint my sons John Lupton and Joseph Lupton the executors of this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me made, and especially revoking a certain will made by me and now in the possession of my said son John Lupton.  In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal this 29th day of April A.D. 1881.

 

Signed: John Lupton

 

The above instrument was at the date thereof Sealed, published and declared by the said John Lupton as and for his last will and testament, in the presence of us, who, at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

 

Thomas J. Shean, Galena, Illinois

Joseph H. Cary, Galena, Illinois

(Pat?) W. Shader, Galena, Illinois

 

Codicil to Last Will and Testament:

 

Whereas John Lupton named in the foregoing will has died since the same was made, therefore I the undersigned John Lupton the father of said deceased and the maker of the foregoing will do hereby by this codicil thereto give, devise and bequeath to my said sons William Lupton and Samuel Lupton alone the land situated in Nebraska mentioned in the fifth clause of said will and the twelve hundred dollars mentioned in the sixth clause of said will, to have and to hold the same unto said William Lupton and Samuel Lupton their heirs and assigns forever and I hereby nominate and appoint my said daughter Mary Spencer the executrix of this my codicil and said will with said Joseph Lupton executor thereof.  Witness my hand and seal this 21st day of January A.D., 1882.

 

Signed: John Lupton (seal)

 

The foregoing codicil was at the date thereof, signed, sealed, published and declared by the said John Lupton as and for a codicil to his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other, subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.

David Sheean

Will. F. McHugh

 

THE FAMILY OF JOHN LUPTON, SR., AND HIS WIFE, MARTHA WILKINSON

 

Generation No. 1

 

      1.  John4 Lupton, Sr.  (John3, John2, John1) was born Bef. Nov 27, 1805 in Hartwith Cum Winsley, Yorkshire, England1,2, and died Dec 31, 1883 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL3,4.  He married Martha Wilkinson5,6 Oct 3, 1824 in St. Mary's Church, Leake, Yorkshire, England7,8, daughter of William Wilkinson and Ann Wilson.  She was born Bef. Jul 24, 1802 in South Kilvington, Yorkshire, England9, and died Dec 12, 1876 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL10.

     

Children of John Lupton and Martha Wilkinson are:

       2              i.   John5 Lupton, Jr., born Dec 15, 1824 in Borrowby near Leake,  Yorkshire, England11,12; died Sep 8, 1881 in East Galena, Jo Daviess Co., IL13,14.  He married Mary Ann Jackson Bet. Mar - Jun 1844 in Union of Wakefield, Yorkshire, England15; born Jun 3, 1823 in Monk Bretton, Yorkshire, England16; died Nov 28, 1908 in East Galena, Jo Daviess Co., IL.

       3             ii.   William Lupton, born Apr 11, 1827 in Borrowby near Leake, Yorkshire, England17,18; died Jul 28, 1900 in Galena, Jo Daviess Co., IL19,20.  He married Margaret Redfearn Sep 9, 1852 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL20,21; born Dec 12, 1832 in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., PA22,23; died Jan 27, 1915 in Galena, Jo Daviess Co., IL24.

       4             iii.   Joseph Lupton, born Bef. Feb 18, 1830 in Borrowby, Leake, Yorkshire, England25; died Feb 28, 1905 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL.

       5            iv.   Sarah Lupton, born Abt. 1832 in Yorkshire, England26, 27; died Jun 10, 1851 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL28.

       6             v.   Thomas Lupton, born Bef. Feb 21, 1836 in Monk Bretton, Royston, Yorkshire, England29; died Jan 23, 1852 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL.

       7            vi.   Samuel Lupton30, born Apr 13, 1838 in Monk Bretton, Royston, Yorkshire, England31,32,33; died Jun 16, 1906 in Toledo, Tama Co., IA34.  He married (1) Elizabeth Reynolds Jun 25, 1864 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL35,36; born Mar 18, 1843 in Ireland37,38; died Sep 12, 1871 in Grundy Co., Iowa39,40.  He married (2) Harriett Freer Mar 5, 1873 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL41,42,43; born Aug 26, 1853 in Slingsby, Yorkshire, England44; died Bef. Apr 29, 1933 in Toledo, Tama Co., IA45.

       8            vii.   Julia Ann Lupton, born May 15, 1840 in Monk Bretton, Royston, Yorkshire, England46; died Bef. Mar 22, 187447,48.  She married William Spencer Sep 4, 1859 in Council Hill, Jo Daviess Co., IL49; born Bef. Jul 27, 1834 in Bingham, Nottingham Co., England50,51; died Bef. 1903 in Portland, Multnomah Co., OR.

       9           viii.   Mary Lupton, born May 23, 1842 in Monk Bretton, Royston, Yorkshire, England52,53; died Jun 15, 1911 in Scales Mound, Jo Daviess Co., IL54.  She married Simeon Spencer Dec 25, 1863 in Jo Daviess Co., IL54; born Mar 9, 1840 in Bingham, Nottingham Co., England; died Dec 30, 1928 in Galena, Jo Daviess Co., IL55,56.

 

Endnotes

 

1.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL, John Lupton was 78 years old, when he died December 31, 1883, placing his year of birth around 1805.

2.  FAMILYSEARCH web site: International Genealogical Index plus Ancestral & Pedigree Resource files..

3.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL.

4.  Obituary of John Lupton, Sr. which appeared in the Galena Gazette.

5.  Parish records of Leake, Yorkshire, England on Microfilm. (LDS Church Family History Center), "Wilkinson" was recorded as Martha's maiden name.

6.  Registration of Births, Deaths & Marriages from the General Registrar's Office in London, England, Record of birth for Samuel Lupton, my great-grandfather., "Wilkinson” was recorded as the maiden surname of Martha, mother of Samuel.

7.  International genealogical index: LDS Church Family History Center..

8.  Parish records of Leake, Yorkshire, England on Microfilm. (LDS Church Family History Center), John Lupton and Martha Wilkinson of this Parish were married by Banns, Oct. 3, 1824 in the presence of Thomas Pattison, Charles Cheeseman & Joseph Wright.

9.  International genealogical index: LDS Church Family History Center.

10.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL.

11.  Obituary of John Lupton, Jr., Galena (Illinois) Gazette, His date of birth was recorded as Dec 15, 1824 in England.

12.  Parish records of Leake, Yorkshire, England on Microfilm. (LDS Church Family History Center), John's record of Baptism which occurred Dec. 29, 1824 at Leake, indicates that his parents, John and Martha Wilkinson resided in Borrowby near Leake..

13.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL, The epitaph on the tombstone stated that he died in 1881.

14.  Jo Daviess County Courthouse: probate records., The affidavit of death states that he died Sep 8, 1881.

15.  Civil Registration of Births, Marriages & Deaths in England & Wales: Free BMD Search web site.

16.  Ancestry.com; 1900 U.S. Federal Census Index. (State of Illinois), Mary (Lupton) Jackson was born in June, 1823.

17.  Obituary of William Lupton, which appeared in the Galena (Illinois) Gazette on Thursday, August 2, 1900, Galena (Illinois) Gazette., "William Lupton was a native of Yorkshire, England where he first saw the light of day April 11, 1827."

18.  Parish records of Leake, Yorkshire, England on Microfilm. (LDS Church Family History Center), William Lupton's record of Date of Baptism which occurred April 13, 1827, indicates that his parents, John and Martha Lupton resided in Borrowby within the parish of Leake.

19.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL.

20.  Obituary of William Lupton, which appeared in the Galena (Illinois) Gazette on Thursday, August 2, 1900.

21.  Illinois State Archives; Statewide Marriage Index, 1763 - 1900.  (Online database).

22.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL.

23.  History of Jo Daviess County, published in 1878: A biographical sketch of George Redfearn, Sr., father of Margaret (Redfearn) Lupton , states that his children were all born in Pottsville, Pennsylvania.

24.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL.

25.  Parish records of Leake, Yorkshire, England on Microfilm. (LDS Church Family History Center).

26.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL, Sarah Lupton’s approximate year of birth was inferred by the fact that she was 19 years old when she died June 10, 1851.

27.  Lapland shipping record of the family of John and Martha (Wilkinson) Lupton. Sarah Lupton was 13 years old when she and her family arrived in New Orleans from Liverpool, aboard the Lapland, on May 27, 1846.

28.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL, The epitaph records the exact date of death.

29.  Parish records of Royston, Yorkshire, England on Microfilm. (LDS Church Family History Center).

30.  Obituary of Samuel Lupton:, Samuel's obituary states the exact date of birth.

31.  Obituary of Samuel Lupton:, the date and location of Samuel's birth was recorded as April 13, in 1838 in Yorkshire, England.

32.  International genealogical index: LDS Church Family History Center. According to the IGI, Samuel Lupton, son of John Lupton, weaver, and Martha Wilkinson of Monk Bretton, was baptized at Royston, Yorkshire England on May 4, 1838.

33.  General Registrar's Office, London, England.  The Registration of birth for Samuel, son of John Lupton, weaver, and Martha Wilkinson, his wife, indicates that he was born April 13, 1838 in Monk Bretton, Yorkshire, England.

34.  Tama County (Iowa) Courthouse: Probate record of Samuel Lupton., In the "Affidavit of Death" Harriett {Freer) Lupton, wife of the deceased stated under oath that Samuel died June 16, 1906.

35.  Obituary of Samuel Lupton:, The Marriage date and location of the marriage of Samuel Lupton to Elizabeth Reynolds was noted.

36.  Illinois State Archives; Statewide Marriage Index, 1763 - 1900.  (On-line database).

37.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL, The date of birth was inferred by the fact that she was 28 years, 5 months when she died Sept 12, 1871.

38.  WorldConnect Family Tree Project: "Schroetter." (RootsWeb.com).

39. Jo Daviess County Cemeteries, Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL, according to the inscription, Elizabeth died September 12, 1871.

40.  Obituary of Samuel Lupton:, "In 1871 they (Samuel, Elizabeth, and their only surviving daughter) moved to Grundy Co., Iowa where Mrs. Lupton died the same year."

41. Obituary of Samuel Lupton., the date and location of the marriage of Samuel Lupton to Harriett Freer, his second wife was recorded.

42.  Jo Daviess County Courthouse records of marriage.

43.  Illinois State Archives; Statewide Marriage Index, 1763 - 1900.  (On-line database).

44.  Registration of Births, Deaths & Marriages from the General Registrar's Office in London, England, Harriett Freer's birth registration indicates that she was born Aug 26, 1853  in Slingsby, Yorkshire, England, daughter of Elizabeth Freer. (No father was named).

45.  Probate proceedings for Harriett (Freer} Lupton, in and for Tama Co., Iowa., Ralph L. Lupton was appointed Administrator of the "estate of Harriett Lupton, deceased...with Will annexed...by virtue (sic) of the Court, on April 29, 1933."

46.  Registration of Births, Deaths & Marriages from the General Registrar's Office in London, England, Judith Lupton's official registration of birth states that she was born May 15, 1840 in Monk Bretton, Yorkshire, England, daughter of John Lupton, weaver and his wife Martha, formerly Wilkinson.

47.  Probate record of John Lupton, Sr., His will dated April 29, 1881 bequeathed the sum of 200 dollars each to Sophia Spencer, James Spencer and Samuel Spencer, "said grandchildren being the children of my deceased daughter Julia."

48.  Illinois State Archives; Statewide Marriage Index, 1763 - 1900.  (On-line database), William Spencer and Anna Maria Negus married Mar 22, 1874 in Jo Daviess County, Illinois.

49.  Illinois State Archives; Statewide Marriage Index, 1763 - 1900.  (On-line database).

50. Census records of Jo Daviess Co., Illinois. According to the 1870 census record of Council Hill, William Spencer was 37 years old and born in England.

51.  International Genealogical Index batch numbers for Nottingham County, England. (FamilySearch), Batch no. C045421.

52.  Obituary of Mary (Lupton) Spencer, which appeared in the Galena (Illinois) Gazette., Her date of birth was recorded as occurring May 23, 1842 in Yorkshire, England.

53.  Registration of Births, Deaths & Marriages from the General Registrar's Office in London, England, According to her official registration of birth, Mary Lupton was born May 23, 1842 in Monk Bretton, Yorkshire, England, daughter of John Lupton and Martha Wilkinson.

54.  Obituary of Mary (Lupton) Spencer, which appeared in the Galena (Illinois) Gazette.

55.  Illinois State Archives; Statewide Death Index, 1916 - 1950.  (On-line database).

56.  Jo Daviess County Cemeteries Online database: Inscriptions - Council Hill Cemetery, Council Hill, IL.