POOL/POOLE Family History, Part I
1. The POOL/POOLE family originated in Bristol County, Massachusetts with three children, likely grandchildren of the Sibrinus and Lurena POOL family of Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts. The children migrated to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama in 1859, ages about 11 through 16. They arrived in the bustling gold mining town of Coulterville, Mariposa County, California on October 19, 1859, the night of a great fire that razed the town. According to family oral history, Susan and Jacob (and perhaps Caroline) were half-siblings.
| 11. | Susan Maria POOLE2 | 27 May 1843 | 24 Jun 1931 | (88) |
| 12. | Jacob POOLE | (1847) | Aft 1860 | (>16) |
| 13. | Caroline POOLE | (1848) | 2 Feb 1883 | (35) |
Upon review of various census records and Caroline's obituary, the children were likely born in 1843 (Susan), 1847 (Jacob), and 1848 (Caroline). Family tradition holds that Jacob was a younger half-brother but based on these dates it appears that if Jacob was a half-brother then Caroline, being a year younger than Jacob, was likely a half-sister to Susan as well.
Additionally, Emily A. REED (born about 1797), an apparent widow of Alden REED (born about 1792), is enumerated in the 1870 Dartmouth census with Abiathar and Emily A. POOL. This suggests closer ties between both POOL families and the REED family. It also appears that Emily A. REED, the elder, was likely Emily A. POOL's mother, and the REED boys were Emily A. REED's sons and Emily A. POOL's brothers.
According to the 1850 census of Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, children Susan M., Jacob, and Caroline POOL (ages 7, 3, and 2, respectively) are found enumerated with a Mariah POOL, age 45 and head of a household which includes four young REED men, ages 14-24, (perhap sons from an earlier marriage) the elder three annotated as sailors. This household is enumerated adjacent to that of Abiathar and Emily A. POOL, ages 31 and 28, respectively. Later census records of the Abiathar POOL family also note a REED connection.[Cen 1850]
Enumerated along with Mariah and the POOL children in the 1850 census of Dartmouth was John RUSSELL (RUFSELL), age 50.[Cen 1850] John apparently migrated to California along with the POOL children where John and his wife are found with Susan and Caroline in 1860 census of Coulterville, Mariposa County, California.[Cen 1860]
Interestingly, in the 1860 census of Coulterville, an "M. RUSSELL" age 55 is listed, presumably, as John's wife. Did Mariah (POOL) marry John RUSSELL and become the POOL children's foster father or stepfather?
- Cen 1850: 5 Sep 1850 Census, Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts
- Cen 1860: 8 Aug 1860 Census, Coulterville, Mariposa County, California
Susan Maria (POOLE) CONVERSE2 (1843-1931)
11. Susan Maria POOL(E)2 was born in Fall River, Bristol County, Massachusetts on May 27, 1843. She migrated to California by way of the Isthmus of Panama, arriving in Coulterville, Mariposa County on October 19, 1859. That night the town of Coulterville burned down. The following year, Susan married John CONVERSE, Sr., a rugged native of Pennsylvania and Iowa. They had 13 children together!
| 11A. | Jacob H. CONVERSE | 10 Oct 1861 | 1938 | (77) |
| 11B. | William CONVERSE | 22 Nov 1863 | Bef 1900 | (37) |
| 11C. | George Leonard CONVERSE | 28 Aug 1865 | 21 May 1954 | (88) |
| 11D. | Franklin CONVERSE | 26 July 1867 | 6 Nov 1946 | (79) |
| 11E. | Daisy J. CONVERSE | 23 Dec 1869 | 1878 | (9) |
| 11F. | Caroline M. CONVERSE | 17 Jun 1871 | 10 Feb 1963 | (92) |
| 11G. | Charles Albert CONVERSE | 24 Sep 1873 | 1925 | (52) |
| 11H. | Ida Mae CONVERSE | 17 Aug 1875 | 2 Jun 1963 | (87) |
| 11I. | Elizabeth Ann CONVERSE | 3 Jul 1877 | 25 Feb 1958 | (80) |
| 11J. | Alice Lucretia CONVERSE3 | 19 Aug 1879 | 10 Feb 1951 | (71) |
| 11K. | "Infant" | 1881 | Infancy | (0) |
| 11L. | Lottie CONVERSE | 5 Oct 1883 | 1908 | (25) |
| 11M. | John Lyman CONVERSE | 21 Feb 1887 | 1980 | (93) |
From Susan's picture, it appears she was of native American descent. Her daughter Alice claimed native American heritage in her membership with the Pocahontas Club, a club for women of Cherokee blood, however we have yet to isolate what tribe Susan may have been related to.
Susan also a younger half-sister Caroline, and a younger half-brother, Jacob. Jacob died soon after their arrival in Coulterville, and was the first to be buried at the Smith & Dudley's Mill cemetery.
Susan lived with her widowed daughter Ida and next door to her youngest son John. They were enumerated together in the 1920 census of Stanislaus Forest Reserve (Township 2) in Mariposa County.
Susan Maria POOLE-CONVERSE died on June 24, 1931 of a cerebral hemorrage and is buried in Dudley's Cemetery, Coulterville. She was 88 years old.
- Zoa I. ALBERT, May 27, 1926
"We're Celebrating here today,
This 27th day of May,
The Birthday of a Friend and Mother,
The Likes of which there is no other."
"She's bright and spry as she can be,
Although today she's 83,
And to her credit be it known,
Are thirteen children, all her own."
"The most of whom are here today,
Except the five who went away,
There's grand and great grand children here,
With Gifts, and Smiles, for Grandma dear."
"And in Red Cloud community,
At picnic, dance, or social tea,
This lady with the cane and shawl,
Is Grandma, she attends them all."
"The old red house with huge fireplace,
Where Grandma rocks with placid face,
Living again those 60 years,
Of Joys, and Pleasure, Hopes, and Tears."
"So let us rise and Honor give,
And wish that she'd a hundred live,
For all will miss her kindly face,
When summoned to the Higher Place."
Dedicated to Grandma CONVERSE In Honor of her 83rd Birthday
- Cen 1850: 5 Sep 1850 Census, Dartmouth, Bristol County, Massachusetts
- Cen 1860: 8 Aug 1860 Census, Coulterville, Mariposa County, California
- Cen 1870: 21 Jul 1870 Census, Maxwell Creek, Mariposa County, California
- Cen 1880: 24 Jun 1880 Census, Coulterville Precinct, Mariposa County, California
- Cen 1900: 15 Jun 1900 Census, Redcloud Precinct, Mariposa County, California
- Cen 1910: 10 May 1910 Census, Stanislaus Forest Reserve (Township 2), Mariposa County, California
- Cen 1920: 1 Mar 1920 Census, Township 2, Mariposa County, California
- Cen 1930: 12 Apr 1930 Census, Stanislaus Forest Reserve (Township 2), Mariposa County, California
Jacob POOLE (~1847-)
12. Jacob POOLE was born about 1847, in Massachusetts. He migrated with his sisters to California in 1859 and soon after died in Coulterville, Mariposa County while a teenager. Jacob is said to have been the first person buried at the Dudley Cemetery on Greeley Hill.
Caroline (POOLE) OLNEY (~1848-1883)
13. Caroline POOLE was born in Massachusetts about 1848. She migrated to California in 1859 by way of the Isthmus of Panama. Upon arriving in Coulterville, Mariposa County, California, she and her sister lived with the John RUSSELL family.
Caroline married Augustus OLNEY, Sr. of Rhode Island about 1862 and had at least 11 children:
| 13A. | Jane M. OLNEY | 5 Mar 1863 | ||
| 13B. | Edward M. OLNEY | 2 Mar 1865 | 29 Dec 1919 | (54) |
| 13C. | Cynthia OLNEY | 8 Jan 1867 | 15 Feb 1867 | (1 mo.) |
| 13D. | Cyrus OLNEY | 7 Jan 1869 | ||
| 13E. | Annie S. OLNEY | 3 Jul 1871 | (Aug) 1901 | (30) |
| 13F. | George OLNEY | 27 Nov 1872 | 4 Jul 1944 | (71) |
| 13G. | Augustus OLNEY, Jr. | 27 Sep 1875 | 18 Jul 1906 | (30) |
| 13H. | Ella OLNEY | 8 Feb 1878 | Infancy | (-) |
| 13I. | Walter F. OLNEY | 6 Mar 1880 | ||
| 13J. | Alexander M. OLNEY | 7 Sep 1882 | 28 Apr 1971 | (88) |
| 13K. | OLNEY | 12 Sep 1882 | Infancy | (-) |