Person:John Trainer (2)

Problem: Censuses show the father of the John Trainer who was born in 1850 was born in Pennsylvania (1850 census), Connecticut (1880 census), England (1900 census), Scotland or England (1910 census), and New York (1920 census). The history from Ida Trainer Toughey says the ancestor who came to America was one of the three brothers who came to America from England. The majority of these records say the ancestor who was an immigrant was born in England.

A Trainer history as compiled by Ida Trainer Toughey

Three Trainer brothers came to America from England. Two settled near Chester, PA, near Philadelphia, now called Trainers. One settled in New York state on a sugarcane plantation. He had slaves. His son John ran away from home with his personal slave and came to Summit Hill, PA. He worked for the coal mines as a carrider. His work was to bring two cars down the Switch Back railroad. One car contained coal, the other had two mules in it. The empty cars were hauled back to the mine. The coal was shipped from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia and New York City by boat on the Canal, that being the only way of transportation at the time.

At the age of 19, John Trainer married Mary Fulton, age fourteen, daughter of schoolmaster Fulton of Newquehoning, PA. Later, John Trainer, with his family, moved to Weissport, PA. When the freshet, or spring flood came, John Trainer lost his household goods and livestock. He afterward moved to Lehighton opposite the Lehighton Fairgrounds. He went into the boating business on the Canal, with two boats and six mules, hauling coal from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia and New York City. At the age of 47, John Trainer died on his knees in his barn, praying. He had been bitten by a poisonous snake while on his way home.

John Trainer left a wife and twelve children, eight boys and four girls. Four boys died natural deaths, and four met tragic deaths.

1. ↑ Paul Milton Krater. F2024 Personal Pedigree including family traits.
2. ↑ C1015 1850 Census Mahoning, Carbon, PA.

   shows birthplace in Pennsylvania

3. ↑ ^3.0 3.1 Ida Toughey Trainer. F2029 Trainer Family History.
4. ↑ C1017 US Census 1900 PA Lehighton, Carbon county.

   shows birthplace in England

5. ↑ United States Census, 1880, Packer, Carbon, Pennsylvania.

   shows birthplace in Connecticut

6. ↑ United States Census, 1910, Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, United States.

   shows birthplace in Scotland or England

7. ↑ United States Census, 1920, Allentown, Lehigh, Pennsylvania, United States.

   shows birthplace in New York

8. ↑ United States Census, 1860, Mahoning Township, Carbon, Pennsylvania.

   This census happened after the father of the family, John Trainer, died. This is seen in that his wife Mary is the head of the household and he is not present, and his youngest son, Wilson, is six years old in 1860. Wilson's birth about 1854, and John's death at age 47 (according to Ida Trainer Toughey), points to John being born in about 1807.

9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2} Gravestone: John Trainer.

   Bunker Hill Cemetery (Weissport, Carbon County, Pennsylvania, USA). Grave marker data. https://pennsylvaniagravestones.org/view.php?id=27745
   Born May 17th, A.D. 1807.
   Died January 7 A.D. 1855.
   Aged 47 Years 77 Mo. & 20 Days.