William was born December 31, 1808 in Armagh, Ireland. He and four of his siblings emigrated to Canada sometime in the 1830s. The rest of the family moved to Burlington, Vermont in about 1838, but I think William returned to Canada, although he did get married in Burlington.
Burlington, Vermont - Sentinel
Jan. 11, 1838, a list "of letters remaining in the Post Office in Burlington on the first day of January." Included were two addressed to William Bothwell [info supplied by Kearney Bothwell].
He married Dinah Manson who was, according to her obit., born in Canada in 1812. The marriage took place in Burlington on June 17, 1839, and was performed by Rev. J. K. Converse, presumably a relative of his brother James’s new wife, Ruth Converse Bothwell.
It is possible that William was married before he married Dinah. In 1850, there is a Margaret Bothwell living with the family, but she was 20 years old, too old to be one of Dinah and William’s children. She married in 1856 in Dubuque, and then disappeared. I have not found her or her husband in subsequent censuses (well, a coupls possible sightings). When William died, his will did not mention her - but Dinah’s petition to have the will proved did. William’s obit says he had five sons and four daughters; Dinah’s says she had five sons and three daughters. So. Just another of those little genealogical puzzles. [Margaret could also have been a cousin, who wanted to go west for the adventure of it all - that did happen. She wasn’t a sister - William’s sister Margaret is well-accounted for.]
William and Dinah did not stay in Burlington. They returned to Canada long enough for one daughter to be born, and then they moved west, to Illinois - first to Whiteside County, then to Galena, finally to Dubuque.
William’s children and (except for Margaret) Dinah’s were (as well as we can tell):
[Margaret b. Canada about 1830 - m Benj. W Ellis 1856]
Sarah Jane b. Quebec 27 May 1840 - d. 5 June 1911 - never married
Lavinah b. Galena 23 Aug 1842 - d. 20 Feb 1902 - m. George Turner 1867
John R b.1844 Ill -died after 1930 m (1) Alicia Turner (2) Susan or Sally ? (3) Jean Alexandra Ballam
Charles Edward b.1846 Ill - died between 1885 and 1895 - never married?
George W b. 1848 Ill - d. after 1930 - m Lillie Danforth 1880
[Dinah b. 1849 Ill - d. before 1860 census]
Anna b.1851 Ill - died between 1885 and 1895 m. Charles M. Bice 1874
Albert b. 1854 Ill - died after 1920 - m (1) Margaret Church
Frank b. 1856 Iowa - died after 1930 - m. Anna ?
William was a great one for churches (and, like other churchly persons, he had a couple of children who turned out rather spectacularly badly). In Whiteside County, he and Duty Buck were the first deacons chosen for the Albany Congregational Church they helped set up (this was in 1842). In Jo Daviess County, he helped organize a Presbyterian Church. Dubuque already had churches by the time he moved there. In 1859, Dubuque had one Congregational and two Presbyterian Churches. The Congregational Church was organized in 1844; the 1st Presbyterian in 1850. I do not know to which church William and family belonged.
13 February 1842 - organization of the Congregational Church and Society of Albany. Members had withdrawn from the First Presbyterian Church “being dissatisfied with the principles of said church.” Certificate signed by: James Bothwell, William H. Efner, Duty Buck, Erastus Allen, William Bothwell, Mrs. Hannah Allen, Mrs. Ruth Bothwell, Mrs. Fannie Buckingham, G. Buckingham by profession, Mrs. Dinah Bothwell by profession. William Bothwell & Duty Buck chosen deacons.
[Charles Bent, History of Whiteside County, Illinois : from its first settlement to the present time, with numerous biographical and family sketches (Morrison, Ill. : [s.n.], 1877) p. 118-119.]The first Presbyterian preaching was, as has been already stated, by Rev. Aratus Kent, in Ames’ House at Rocky Point, in 1830.
From this time to the date of the organization of the society, February 9, 1844, there was occasional preaching in private houses by Rev. Kent and Rev. Osias Littlefield, the latter of whom organized the church. At the organization the following trustees were elected: Wm. P Warwick, James B. Watts, Wm. Bothwell and John Rees. . . .
[History of Jo Daviess County,1904 (Jo Daviess County Republican Centennial Committee, 1993) p. 587 - The village of Elizabeth - Churches. I don’t have any more bibliographic information than that, sorry!!! ]
William bought land in Whiteside County in 1840, and sold it to his brother James when he moved on to Jo Daviess County.
31 Aug 1840 Charles Rood to William B WD 100 (A&B-97)
Lot 7, Lower part of Town of Albany Ivy Buck,JP
1 Sep 1840 Jeremiah Rice & wife Abbey to William B WD 100 (A&B-174)
Lots 2 & 11, Block 9, Lower part of Town of Albany Ivy Buck, JP
21 Mar 1844 William Bothwell to James Bothwell WD - 350 (C-342)
Lots two (2) & eleven (11) in Block nine, lower part of town of Albany
Also lot 7 of the lots attached to the lower part ... Ivy Buck - JP
[Recorder’s Office, Whiteside County, Illinois.]
I think William bought this next bit of property to fill out his holdings in that particular section - and it does reach all the way to the river. He had gotten land patents for 80 acres of that section (in 2 bits, one in 1843, one in 1847) - he sold them to Jeremiah in 1859, and then Jeremiah sold (part of) them back to him.
1847 Mar 30 Chandler, John D & Mary his wife to William Bothwell of the county of Joe Davies WD $35 E, 536
3 ½ acres - N end of the NW quarter of the NW half of NW fractional quarter, section 20, Twp 21 N Range 3 E - Ivy Buck JP
1859 April 1 William B. to Jeremiah B WD 1000 (14-35)
NW ½ of NW 1/4 of Section 20, T 21N, R3 E, containing 80 acres - James McKinley NP - Dubuque Co It does say NW ½ but that doesn’t really make any sense, it MUST be a copying mistake. What Jeremiah actually lived on was the East ½ of the NW ¼ - and as far as that goes, that is the land that William obtained in his land patents.
Later still he sold more land, and bought some from Jeremiah. I think this was to help Jeremiah out, who had an new and expensive 2nd wife. He bought the land from Jeremiah, but sold it again as soon as he could.
1875 Aug 16 Jeremiah & wife Emily B to William B WD 2000 (77-377)
E ½ of the NW 1/4 Section 20, T 21 N, R 3E excepting 10 acres sold to Mr Spangler
(part of the property sold to Jeremiah by William 1 Apr 1859) - E C Foster, NP - Clinton Co, Iowa
1875 Aug 16 William B to John W. York WD 100 (77-439)
3 ½ acres of the N end of the NW 1/4 of Section 20 T 21 N R3 E excepting that now appropriated by the RR Co. - EC Foster, NP Clinton Co, IA
1877 May 11 William B to Jesse N. Seeley WD 3500 (77-510)
E ½ of the NW 1/4 Section 20, T 21 N, R 3E excepting 10 acres sold to Mr Spangler
These are all the land records involving William that I found in the Whiteside County Courthouse. I assume there are even more in Jo Daviess County, Illinois, and Dubuque County, Iowa, but I have not looked into them. (For a complete list of all the Bothwells' land dealings in Whiteside County - deals.)
William also managed to obtain some land patents - all the Bothwells were interested in obtaining as much land as possible, it seems. William has two parcels in Whiteside County, and one in Boone.
Boone County - issued 1 May 1843 - doc#10854 - land office Galena - 80.23 acres
W ½ NE, Sec 1/ Twp 44-N R3-8
Whiteside County - issued 1 May 1843 - doc#11651 - land office Galena - 40 acres
NENW, Sec 20, T21N, R3E
Whiteside County - issued 1 Mar 1847 - doc#20669 - land office Dixon - 40 acres
SENW, Sec 20, T21N, R3E
The Whiteside County property is the parcel that Jeremiah Bothwell and family lived on and considered the home farm. I think.
William, Dinah and family moved to Galena in about 1844 and lived there for 10 years. They were there for the 1850 census.
1850 census - Jo Daviess Co - Ill - Galena - p. 292 - the census appears to end at 221 or so - several turns of emptiness, then starts again
William Bothwell 42 m hotelkeeper Ireland
Dinah 39 f Canada
Margaret 20 f Canada
Mary J 10? f Canada (this must be Sarah J)
Lovinia 8 f Illinois
John 6 m Illinois
Chas 4 m Illinois
George 2 m Illinois
Dinah 1 f Illinois
William Busy 20 England / Hamish Ryan 14 New York? / 8 other people - hotel guests?
In 1854, according to Dinah Manson Bothwell’s obit, they moved to Dubuque. In 1856, Margaret Bothwell married.
1856 July 16 - marriage license Dubuque - daughter? Margaretta Bothwell and Benj. W Ellis
book 1, p. 432 - record 1292 (236) - No other info on license
They are in the City Directory for 1858 and 1859
1858-9 Commercial Advertiser - Directory, City of Dubuque 1858-59 (R917.77 D821) These city directories were in the Dubuque Library - it’s a Dewey call number. The last time I was in the Dubuque Library, I couldn’t find the actual books - they had a lot of the directories on microfilm - I didn’t ask, but maybe they’ve gotten rid of the books.
Bothwell, Newton clerk bds. Gaines House Bluff bet 4 & 5
I don’t have any idea who this fellow might be
Wm boarding house h. Locust bet 4&5
Boarding Houses - Bothwell House bet 8&9 on Locust
1859-60 - 4th Annual City Directory - Dubuque (R917.77 D821)
Bothwell Wm Bothwell House Locust bet 8&9
and in the 1860 Dubuque census
1860 census - Dubuque Co, Iowa - City of Dubuque - taken 19 June 1860
562/591 - William Bothwell 51 m boarding house 10000 (?) Ireland
Dinah 48 Canada
Sarah J 20 Canada
Dinah??? 17 f Ill b. 1843 - this is Levinah, not Dinah.
John R 10 m Ill b. 1850 (should be 16)
Chas E 14 m Ill b. 1846
Geo M 12 m Ill b. 1848
Anna 9 f Ill
Albt 6 m Ill
Frank 3 m Iowa
Geo L Baum 27 Bookkeeper NY?
Thomas Connelly Wagon maker
EJ Engleman 48 m physician Penn?
Martin Hineman??? 27 engineer
Geo Rauh 20 painter
------John R - also appears on census in Carroll Co, Ill as a teacher. [His aunts lived in Carroll County, which was just across the Mississippi and a little south from Dubuque - although in another town.]
1860 census - Carroll Co, Illinois - 833 Washington
833 - David Morrison 28 mw farmer Ireland (200)
Matilda 23 Ireland
William A 2 Illinois
George 3m Illinois
John Bothwell 16 mw teacher Illinois
William appears sporadically in the City Directories over the next decade.
1861 - Dubuque City Business Directory & Advertiser
no Bothwell
1865-66 - Annual Directory City of Dubuque
Bothwell, CE steamboat clerk r Dodge ne corner Boundary
GW gardener ditto
Wm gardener ditto
from his obit: He was known at one time as proprietor of Bothwell House, but subsequently cultivated a large orchard on Grandview avenue and Dodge street.
1868 - Guide Gazetteer & Directory - nothing
1868-9 - Dubuque City Directory - nothing
In 1867, his daughter Levina married.
1867 Feb 26 - Levina Bothwell 24 - George S Turner 33 married - S G Skees clergyman
Book 3, p. 122 - Dubuque - no further info on license
George and Levina lived all their lives in Dubuque. They had two sons, Fred L and George. George was apparently a wandering soul - his aunt Sarah did not know whether he was alive, or where he was, when she made her will in 1911.
In 1870, most of the family was still in Dubuque, but the boys had started to branch out (and the whereabouts of Margaret Bothwell Ellis are - is? - still only guessed at).
1870 census - Iowa, Dubuque Co - 1st ward Dubuque, p. 88
Bothwell, William 61 gardener 1000 real 2000 personal b. Ireland ps foreign citizen
Dinah 57 Canada East ps foreign
Sarah J 30 music teacher Canada East
Albert 16 Ill
Frank 14 Ill
Son John R Bothwell had married Alicia Turner, and was in the army - but he had quite a checkered career eventually.
1870 Colorado - Bent - Ft Lyon p. 94b - 24 Aug
Bothwell, JR 26 - 1st Lieut 5th Infy Il / Alicia 26 Housewife Il / Maggie 3 Colorado
Sons Charles and George had also moved on to Colorado.
1870 Colorado - Huerfano - Huerfano River (Butte Valley, Colo Terr) p. 318 - 11 Aug
Bothwell, CE 24 mw farmer Il
Geo W 22 $400 Il
William was still a gardener in the 1870s.
1870-71 - Dubuque City Directory
Bothwell Albert cashier Grover & Smith res head Dodge near City Limits
William res n s Dodge w S Dodge
1873-4 - Dubuque City Directory
Bothwell Wm fruit garden res Dodge n s 6 w South Dodge
1874-5 - Hawley’s City Directory - nothing
1877-78 Dubuque Directory - Pryor & Co (DIR 68-2191)
Bothweil, Wm, fruit raiser, res se cor Grand View Av & Dodge
1878-9 - Dubuque Directory pub Pyne
Bothwell Wm res 21 Hill
Frank ditto
In 1874, William and Dinah’s daughter Anna married.
1874 Dec 29 - Anna Bothwell 24 - Charles M. Bice 25 - Book 4, p. 48 - no further info on license
Newspaper (I forgot to write page, date and name of paper!!! It was on microfilm in the Dubuque library)
Bice Bothwell wedding
the marriage of the handsome and accomplished Miss Anna, only remaining daughter of Wm. Bothwell, Esq., to Mr. Charles M. Bice, a bright and promising attorney from Clinton Iowa . . .held at residence of brides’s father, NE corner of Grand View and Southern Avenue . . . Rev LA Ostrander
Among those present were Mrs. Fred Benson, Mrs Webster, Mrs. Col. Henderson, Mr and Mrs Wing, of Monticello, and cousins of the bride, Mrs. George L Turner, Miss Ella Amaden, Miss Sadie Provost and Miss Patterson.
future home - Clinton.
I have no idea why the newspaper called Anna “the only remaining daughter” - Sarah outlived Anna by nearly 20 years, and Levina was still alive too (she was present at the wedding as "Mrs. George L Turner") - to say nothing of the elusive Margaret Bothwell Ellis. Mr and Mrs Wing were Lucy Fink Wing and her husband John Q; Lucy was the daughter of William's sister Margaret.
In the 1880 census, William, Dinah and Sarah are together in Dubuque. Levina is also still in Dubuque. Anna and her husband were in Kansas City, and the boys were scattered, mostly in Colorado.
1880 Iowa Dubuque Dubuque 4th ward (from the LDS site)
William Bothwell 71 Ire Ire Ire
Dana 68 Can Can Can
Sarah 38 Can Ire Can
ME Connelley 37 physician Ny Ire Ire
1880 Iowa Dubuque Dubuque 3rd ward (from the LDS site)
George L Turner mw 45 m Md Ire Ire bookkeeper
Lavina 36 Il Ire Ire keeping house
George L 9 Ia Md Il at school
Frederick 7 Ia Md Il at school
Mary Cadman servant 20 Ia Ire IreJohn R 36 - Colorado - Custer Co - Silver Cliff Twp brother Kearney says he found John in this place; I have not been able to - ah, the joys of indexes. There is also a John R Bothwell in New Jersey
1880 New Jersey. Essex, East Orange p. 547
Bothwell, John R wm38 publisher Daylee News Il Scot Va (sic)
Susan 36 keeping house Mass Mass Mass
Minnie 11 at school Ny Il Mass
Manning, William 20 servant (gardener)
Rogers, Rosa 35 servant (house keeper)
Chas E 34
1880 Colorado, Custer, Rosita, District 34 p. 319
25 Carr, Frank wm 22 innkeeper
Rugger, Lemuel 34 innkeeper
Bothwell, Chas E 34 clerk Il Ire Can
also on the same page, but not related as far as we can tell
31 Bothwell, Fred 22 printer? Me Me Me
Geo M 32
1880 Colorado, Custer, Silver Cliff Twp, District 33 (SD12, ED33) p. 26 - Main Street - Pond House?
Bothwell, George W boarder wm 32 mineral borer? Il Scot English Canada
Anna
1880 Missouri Jackson Kansas City 5th ward (index list)
Charles M Bice mw31 Can Ny Can attorney
Anna 25 Il Ire Can
Albert
1880 Colorado, Custer, Wet Mountain p. 313 (ED33, pl 39) - 18 June
line 8 30-31 Bothwell, Albert wm 26 stockman Ia Ia Ia
Frank 23
1880 Colorado, Custer, Silver Cliff Twp p. 28 SD12, ED33
line 5 Bothwell, Frank wm 23 brick maker Iowa Ire English Canada
William continued in Dubuque, until he died in 1885.
1880 Ham & Carver directory
Bothwell Wm res 863 Locust
1881 Marble’s City Directory - nothing
1883 Leckie
Bothwell Wm res 863 Locust
He died on June 8, 1885.
1885 June 8
Death Certificate, Dubuque, Dubuque, Iowa
record 1749, reported 3 Nov 1885
William Bothwell, Male, White
Age 76 years, 5 months, 8 days
Married
Died, 8 Jun 1885, 6:30 pm
Born, Armagh, Ireland
Naturalized --->Years in Iowa- 31
cause of death Nervous Exhaustion
Buried, 10 Jun 1885, Linwood Cemetery
Physician E.R. Jackson.
His will was recorded in Book 41, p. 301 in Dubuque County, Iowa:
I William Bothwell of the City and County of Dubuque and State of Iowa being of sound mind and memory do make declare and publish this my last will and testament. I hereby give and bequeath to each one of my children, Sarah Jane Bothwell, Mrs. Levinah Turner, John R. Bothwell, Charles Edward Bothwell, George W. Bothwell, Mrs. Anna Bice, Albert J Bothwell and Frank Bothwell the sum of Five Dollars.
Also I hereby give bequeath and devise to my brother Jeremiah of the City of Clinton, Clinton County Iowa the following described real estate, to wit: Lot fifteen (15) Block Two (2) and Lot fourteen (14) Block Two (2) in the City of Clinton Iowa as (made?) and stated and recorded in the Recorder's Office of Clinton, Clinton County Iowa to be used by him or for him and for his benefit as long as he lives. in the condition that he will pay all taxes levied therein; it is the understanding also that he shall have the use and benefit of all the improvements that are now or may hereafter be made upon the above described property. [This seems like the property was only Jeremiah’s for life, but later on J. willed it to be sold . . .]
All the rest and residue of (and now there's a line missing, duh - my fault at the copy machine)
and I hereby appoint my said wife the executrix of this my will and provide that she shall not be required to give a bond as such executrix.Witness my hand this 15th day of December 1877
Information about the estate continues for several more pages, and on page 303 it says, "It appears from said petition that deceased left surviving him the following named children Levinah Turner, John R Bothwell, Charles Edward Bothwell, George A. Bothwell, Anna Bice, Frank Bothwell and Margaret Ellis all of who are of age . . . ."
---William left out Margaret Ellis in his will, and Dinah left Sarah Jane out of her petition.?????
Obit: The Dubuque Daily Times - June 10, 1885
William Bothwell, a respected resident of Dubuque for the past thirty years, died Monday evening at 6:30 O’clock at the family residence, No. 863 Locust street. He was born in Armagh, Ireland, and was 78 years of age. He was the owner of a large orchard at the corner of Grandview avenue and Dodge street, which he cultivated until the past year. He leaves several children, one of whom is the wife of George Turner, of this city, book-keeper for Andrew Tredway & Co. Mr. Bothwell was well known to our citizens as a quiet, honest, honorable Christian gentleman, of blameless life and revered by all who knew him. His death was easy and peaceful and took place so quietly that it was hardly known by the anxious friends around his bedside.Another obit, also dated Wednesday, 10 Jun 1885, was supplied by Kearney Bothwell; I don’t know what publication it came from:
Mr William Bothwell, a honored citizen of Dubuque for the past 31 years, died at his residence 867 Locust street, Tuesday evening, age 76 years and 5 months. Mr Bothwell was born in Armagh, Ireland, and emigrated to this country when quite a young man. He was known at one time as proprietor of Bothwell House, but subsequently cultivated a large orchard on Grandview avenue and Dodge street. He leaves a widow, five sons and four daughters. The funeral will be from the family residence at 3 p.m. today. Interment private.
Dinah continued in Dubuque until she died in 1895. Charles Bothwell and Anna Bothwell Bice had died sometime between their father’s death and their mother’s.
1886-7 Dubuque City Directory
Bothwell, Mrs D widow res 863 Locust
Sarah J bds 863 Locust
1895 12 Apr
Death Certificate #6234 registered 5 Sep 1895
Dinah Bothwell, female, white, 83 y, 3 m old, d. 12 Apr 1895, 9pm, widow, b. Canada, 41 years in county, 863 Locust, cause of death - old age, buried Linwood, ER Jackson, doctor
Dinah's Will - Will book 59 page 86
Know all men by these presents that I Dinah Bothwell, of the City and County of Dubuque and State of Iowa, relict of the deceased William Bothwell of said City of Dubuque, being of sound mind and impressed the necessity of settling my affairs during my life so as to prevent disputes arising after my death. Do now publish and declare this my last will and testament in manner following that is to say:
First. I give bequeath and devise to my daughter Sarah Jane Bothwell, presently residing with me, all my real and personal property of every kind, now belonging or that may belong to me at the time of my death, but she shall pay all by just debts.
Second. I hereby nominate and appoint her the said Sarah Jane Bothwell to be my sole executrix of this my last will and testament, on condition that she shall not require to grant bond or other security, to entitle her to letters testamentary, nor shall she be required to have my personal estate inventoried nor appraised nor to account to the probate or other court for her actions or doings with my said estate. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this eighth day of October A.D. 1889.
Dinah's obit - Tuesday 16 Apr 1895 supplied by Kearney Bothwell
Friday evening, 12 Apr 1895, at her home in Dubuque, Mrs Dinah Manson Bothwell died, thus closing a long and useful life. Mrs Bothwell was born in Canada in 1812 and married in Burlington, Vermont in June 1839. Mr and Mrs Bothwell came west in 1840 to Illinois and eventually settled in Galena, Illinois, which was their home for 10 years. In 1854 they removed to Dubuque, where 10 years ago Mr Bothwell died.
They were blessed with eight children--- five sons and three daughters, two of whom, Charles E. Bothwell and Mrs Anna Bice, with the father, rest in Linwood.
The children left to mourn the loss of a beloved mother are, John R., George W. Albert J., Frank, Sarah J. Bothwell and Mrs Louisa Turner. She is also survived by an older sister and four grandsons and a grand-daughter.
Back to:
Top | Bothwell Home | Lee's Genes Home
Sideways to siblings:
Sarah | James | Margaret | Jeremiah
Forward to children
Comments, questions, corrections?
contact me at : lee@leesgenes.com