Person:George Thorpe (3)

1850 Federal Census shows George, age 59, and family living in Dist.#1, Adair Co., MO. Occupation noted as blacksmith. Others in household are Sarah, age 56, and five children age 7 - 18 yrs. Confirming this is an Adair Co. Historical Society Register of Old Settlers of Adair Co. MO, which shows each of the Thorpe family members by exact name, age and birthplace attending an 1850 reunion. (SFT) 1840 Federal Census shows George, between age 40-50, and family living in Liberty Twnshp., Macon Co., MO. Free white males under age 5, one; 5-10, two; 10-15, one; 15-20, one; 20-30, one. Free white females under age 5, one; 10-15, two; 15-20, one; 40-50, one. (SFT) 1830 Federal Census shows George, between age 30-40, and family living in Howard Co., MO. Free white males age 10-15, one. Free white females under age 5, two; age 5-10, two; age 10-15, one; age 30-40, one. (SFT) Research Notes from genealogist Suzanne L. Mendel, The Orchard, Main Road, Utterby, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0TQ, England.

Record of christening found in Coningsby Parish register, Lincoln Archives Office--Chr. 29 May 1791, George, son of George & Mary Thorpe (photocopy on file).

Record of marriage found in Coningsby Parish register, Lincoln Archives Office--Mar 30 Nov 1813, George Thorpe, of this parish, Blacksmith & Sarah Hare, of this parish, spinster. Banns with consent of parents. Both Signed. Witnesses: Richard Hollingsworth, Thomas Cuthburgh (photocopy on file). (N.B. The banns with consent of parents, indicate that Sarah Hare was under 21 years of age at the time of marriage. She was 19)

George and Sarah Thorpe and family emigrated to the United States in early 1830. Speculation as to the reasons may be given credence by the following news accounts of the time.

"After the last agrarian rebellion in the early 1830's, rural Britain was not again aroused to revolution, but rather to expatriation." British Emigration to North America, W.S. Shepperson.

"The pressure of the times (taxation) still shows itself to a grievous extent in many parts of this country. Between 20 and 30 families are emigrating to America from Coningsby, Dogdike and the fens in the neighbourhood, principally middle farmers and mechanics. The parishes are holding vestry meetings, to devise plans for assisting the industrious poor . . . to follow their rather better off neighbours in this migration." Stamford Mercury, 19 March 1830.

"On Friday last three families (Anderson, Parker, Burton) took their departure from Coningsby for America. They were about 30 in number and went by Mr. Babbington's boat to Liverpool. The parish agreed to be at the expence of this emigration (in order to relieve the rates) . . . " Stamford Mercury, 18 June 1830.

" . . . the party of emigrants who booked themselves for America through Mr. Noble of Boston went out from Liverpool in a fine vessel, in high spirits, having a room appropriated to their use like a commodious dining room . . . A number of individuals who neglected the necessary precaution of booking at Boston, are still living at great expence at Liverpool." 14 May 1830. "On Monday moring about 20 families left Boston in a Humber Kedl called the "True Blue," for Lincoln, whence they propose proceeding by canals to Liverpool, whence they will finally embark." 9 April 1830. "Many families are still continuing to emigrate from the villages north of Lincoln, proceeding to the United States, and chiefly directing their course to the old settled parts of that country, and prudently avoiding the great transition from their habits to the arduous and novel condition of backwoodsmen. In Pennsylvania and County Rochester small famers can easily meet with desirable farms, good roads, good markets, and a freedom from those tremendous burdens and restrictions which are rapidly driving the 'thews and sinews' and real wealth of this country into the arms of a rival - and England will have to regret her policy . . . most of those emigrating are respectable capitalists, who will speedily invest in useful undertakings in America . . ." Stamford Mercury 31 August 1832.

. . . and so George and Sarah Thorpe and family emigrated to the U.S. arriving in Howard Co., Missouri by summer or, at the latest early Fall, of 1830.

George and Sarah sailed from Princess Dock, Liverpool, England, March 30, 1830 on the ship Charly Wharton. They landed in New Orleans on July 3, 1830 then came up the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers to Keyesvill, Chariton County , Missouri. From there they went to St. Louis where they stopped for a short time. From St. Louis to Winchester, Illinois. It is known that they stayed there for a considerable length of time. William Thorpe was born there in 1834, Sarah Thorpe Rich in 1838, Harriet Thorpe Dogget and Eliza Thorpe Bush were married there. The Thorpe family moved to Winchester, MO for a short time before coming to Spring Creek in the western part of Adair County, MO about 1840. They bought land direct from the Government and made their home. A large maple sugar orchard was on their farm. In 1849 Grandfather Thorpe went to California where he worked at the blacksmith trade. He went by the way of Kansas City and Salt Lake City and returned by way of Panama. He walked across the Isthmus a distance of 13 miles. Returning to Adair Co. he continued with his blacksmith trade and farmed his ground. (Compiled by Sarah Tipton, 83, Watrous, NM, Luella Custer, 80, Ozark, MO, Effie Allen, 67, Novinger, MO, George Thorpe III, 81, Ashley, MO, James Thorpe, 87, Louisiana, MO, Newton Capps, 80, Kirksville, MO.)

Birth, death dates from gravestone as indicated in The Cemeteries of Adair Co., MO, 1980--Adair Co. Historical Society. Also on gravestone, "Rev. Age 67." (See wife Sarah's notes).

Visited MeGrew Cemetery, located approximately 4 mi. northwest of Novinger, MO on Cty HW O. George and Sarah's gravestones are legible and in relatively good condition considering their age. (SFT, 5/27/92)

Review of source material in Adair Co. Library, 5/27/92:

Microfilm of Adair Co. Circuit Court records. Book A, pg. 42. Entry indicating George Thorpe admitted to U.S. citizenship May 1, 1843. Wills, Settlements, Letters of Administration, Adair Co., MO, 1857-1868. Will of George Thorpe:

"In the name of God Amen, I, George Thorpe, of Township of Morrow, in the County of Adair, Missouri, being of sound and disposing mind, memory and judgment, and calling to mind the uncertainty of life do make, constitute and ordain this my last will and testament in the manner and form following: First, I order all my legal debts, funeral charges and costs of administering this testament to be paid out of the chattels in my possession at my death, a sufficiency of which I order to be sold for that purpose. Secondly, I leave, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Sarah, all my estate real and personal except as heretofore mentioned and hereafter excepted. Thirdly, I bequeath to each of my sons, George, Charles, William and John, five dollars. Fourthly, I bequeath to my daughters, Harriet, Elizabeth, Charlotte, Matilda, Louisa, Sarah and Mary each five dollars. The two preceding bequests are to be paid out of the money arising from the sale of my personal property and within twelve months after my death. The tract of land on which I have my dwelling house, and other buildings, with a portion of my farm was entered in the district land office at Milan, Missouri by my son William in his own name out of money that I sent home while in California. My son, William, having left the state without making me a conveyance for the same, therefore, it is my will that my wife apply to the Circuit Court of the County of Adair for a deed for the same in her own name and enjoy and hold the same as if the said tract of land had entered in my name. I nominate and appoint my wife, Sarah, and Henry Capps sole and joint executors of this my last will and testament. I hereby revoke and make void every former will or wills by me heretofore made and I allow, and appoint this instrument only as my last will and testament in witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this 28th day of June, 1858." s/George Thorpe

Witnesses present: John McAllister Arthur Lay Recorded August 19th, 1858 B. G. Barrow, Clerk

Probate Court Records, 1841-1864 File # 7087 Thorpe, Geo--Book A, Pgs. 130,169,170,176,184,195,197,198,203,205,215,217, Bk. B, 91,208 8/18/1858--Now at this day came before me, B.G. Barrow, Clerk of Probate, Sarah Thorpe and exhibited and made proof of the will of George Thorpe, dec'd by John McAllister, Arthur Lay and files her affadavit of the death of said Geo. Thorpe and said proof being sufficient said will is admitted to be recorded.

11/12/1860--Real estate sale, $740.

4/14/1865--Final settlement of George Thorpe estate.

1. ↑ ^1.0 1.1 Suzanne L. Mendel, The Orchard, Main Road, Utterby, Louth, Lincolnshire LN11 0TQ, England.
2.   Gravestone, MeGrew Cem., Adair Co., MO.
3.   Ship’s Passenger List, FHL Film number 0200137.
4. ↑ Rev George Thorpe II, in Find A Grave.