Thomas[1] Lushman of Newfoundland
by
Dr. William Morris Litchman
THOMAS[1] LUSHMAN is the progenitor of at least two families. One began in New (now Parson's) Harbor and Little (now Grey) River, Newfoundland, where many descendants remain. The second began in Louisiana. The Newfoundland family was divided early in the 19th century when Thomas1 took his eldest son to Marblehead, Mass. This work will describe the Marblehead line through the third generation. A second work will detail the Newfoundland family.
Throughout this account, "MarVR" signifies Marblehead vital records, both those published to 1850, and later records at the town clerk's office. "MassVR" signifies Massachusetts vital records at the state Archives at Columbia Point, and, for records after 1920, at 101 Tremont Street, Boston.
1. THOMAS1 LUSHMAN was born in England, probably about 1800 (Letter from Francis2 Lushman; hereafter F. Lushman letter, dated 21 Nov 1883, printed in The Marblehead Messenger [16 Apr 1937], 7). He died, probably in Franklin, Louisiana, after 1842 (letter to J. B. Mason; see below). He married, first, at Newfoundland, SUSANNAH McDONALD, a native of Hermitage Bay, Newfoundland, about 1825 (date inferred from son William's birth; see below). She died at Little River, Newfoundland, about 1874 (F. Lushman letter). She was perhaps Roman Catholic. In the census of St. Johns for 1794-5, there are two families named McDonald: Thomas (married), and Pat (single), both Roman Catholic (census of St. John's, Newfoundland, LDS Family History Center microfilm #1033848; copy at Gosling Memorial Library). Thomas Lushman married, secondly, in Louisiana, a wife whose name is not known and by whom he had at least one child (see below).
Much of the southern coast of Newfoundland was settled by people from Somerset and Dorset in England (Gordon W. Handcock, "English Migration to Newfoundland," in The Peopling of Newfoundland: Essays in Historical Geography, Social and Economic Papers, No. 8, Institute of Social and Economic Research, Memorial University of Newfoundland [1977, 2nd pr., 1986], 15-48). Thomas Lushman, or one of the same (or similar) name, is known to have sailed out of the port of Poole, Dorset (C. Spiegelhalter, Who Was Who of Families engaged in the Fishery and Settlement of Newfoundland, 1660-1840, 1971). This manuscript lists "Lishman, from Dorset: Poole, Class: C." There is no code for class C but 2 classes of B are listed, the second of which is bye-boat keeper.
E. R. Seary, in his Family Names of the Island of Newfoundland [St. John's, Newfoundland, 1977], 299 gives the following:
"Lushman, a surname of England - servant of Lush, or ? for Leachman, Leishman, from Old English luce - servant of the physician. See also Leseman. In Newfoundland: Early instances: Thomas, of New (now Parson's) Harbour, 1825 (parish record of St. Thomas's, Anglican, 1830-40); Francis and Thomas, fishermen of Little (now Grey) River, 1871 (Lovell's Province of Newfoundland Directory for 1871; hereafter Lovell)."
Thomas Lushman and his family lived for a short time near Hermitage Bay or Parson's Harbor; and then settled in Little River, Newfoundland (F. Lushman letter). He probably had arrived in the Newfoundland area several years prior to his marriage, either as a fisherman, or as a bye-boat keeper, an individual hired by a ship-owner to care for the fleet during off-season.
Not much is known of Thomas1 or his contemporary Newfoundland family except through secondary sources such as the tale of Howard Blackburn, who was cared for by Francis Lushman of Little River (Joseph E. Garland, The Lone Voyager [Boston, 1963]; hereafter Garland, 25-31). Thomas[1] was a fisherman working the Grand Banks from the southern coast of Newfoundland. He apparently found life too difficult in Newfoundland as he set out late in the fall of 1833 with his young son, William, to seek better conditions. While the bay was open in summer, fishing was good. There was wood to gather and hunting to bring food into the home. But as soon as the hard winter began and particularly after the bay froze over, many families lived on the edge of starvation.
Thomas and his son traveled through the fall of 1833, staying at homes they encountered and generally living off the land until they came to a family living on the coast by the name of Bennett. Here they found the fishing schooner "Mechanic" out of Marblehead, Mass. under Captain John Russell. (John A. Russell was born about 1797 and lived in Marblehead for many years, his name appearing in the U.S. census for 1840-1860 for that town.) Captain Russell hired Thomas[1] and Mr. Bennett as fishermen for the rest of the season of 1833-4. Thomas left his son William with the Bennett family. When Captain Russell and his ship departed for Marblehead, Thomas, William, and the entire Bennett family sailed with him (Marblehead Messenger [16 Apr 1937] 7). Thomas[1] shipped out of Marblehead to the Banks for three or four years and then went up the coast to Gloucester to find work. He returned to Marblehead in the spring of 1838 rowing a dory (family tale related by Frederick W.5 Litchman; hereafter F. W. Litchman). Then Thomas left Marblehead never to return (Marblehead Messenger, 7).
In 1874, a search among the papers of Jonathan B. Mason of Marblehead, with whom Thomas's son William lived, and who died in 1861, revealed a letter written by Thomas Lichman, thirty-two years earlier, and quoted in the Marblehead Messenger:
"March 27, 1842.
At Home.
Honorable Sir:
Having located myself in Louisiana, St. Mary's Parish, and wishing to get some information of my son that I left with you, I take this liberty to write this letter, and which you to answer me and state to me where he is. In so doing you will much oblige me, as I wish him to come to this country. I expect to continue here some time, and if he will come I shall be able to do something for him.
Direct your letter to me, Franklin, Louisiana.
Thomas Lichman.
N.B. My health is good as my age can expect. Am pleased with my country. T.L.
Thomas married again in Louisiana, and had at least one child, a daughter, Molly, who married Albee Smith and lived in Chicago and then Minneapolis, Minnesota. (ibid.; Frank C. Damon article in Salem Evening News, 15 Sept 1932).
Children b. at Little River (data from F. Lushman letter unless stated otherwise):
2.i. WILLIAM2, b. 24 Aug 1825; m. SARAH ELIZABETH BARTLETT.
ii. BRIDGET[2] Lushman, b. c 1828, d. at at Little River, c1877; m. there, Ephraim Young and had children (Letter from Ruby6 Lushman, Grey River).
iii. THOMAS[2] Lushman, b. c1830; married; 3 children by 1883. He was a fisherman (Lovell).
iv. FRANCIS[2] Lushman, b. c1833; a fisherman by trade (Lovell); married and had 8 children. In 1883, 4 were married and had children. The other 4 included Frank, Willie (the youngest) and Nan. Willie later died at sea. Upon the death of his youngest son, Francis Lushman committed suicide by shooting himself with his gun (Garland, 31).
Child by second wife, b. in Louisiana:
v. MOLLY, m. ALBEE SMITH; lived in Chicago, then Minneapolis, Minn. (Marblehead Messenger; Salem Evening News, 15 Sept 1932).
2. WILLIAM2 LUSHMAN/LITCHMAN (Thomas1) was born at Little River (possibly Hermitage Bay or New Harbor), 24 Aug 1825 (date inferred from age at death in MassVR), and died at Marblehead, 2 May 1895, age 69 years, 8 mos., 9 days (ibid.). He married there, 26 Oct 1845, SARAH ELIZABETH BARTLETT (MarVR), who was born at Marblehead, 19 Feb 1820 (ibid.) and died there 17 July 1909, the daughter of Eli V. and Rebecca B. Florance Bartlett (death certificate).
When William arrived in Marblehead with his father, he was placed with the Thomas Follett (Marblehead Messenger 7) family to learn the trade of cordwainer. The 1840 U.S. census for Marblehead, gives under Thomas Follett: males: 1 age 20-30, 1 age 30-40; females: 1 age 15-20, 1 age 50-60. There is no entry for Thomas Follett in either the 1830 or 1850 U.S. census for Marblehead. Since William2 Lushman was 15 this year, he was not included in this listing.
William didn't see much of his father for several years as Thomas made extensive trips to the Banks fishing. Then Thomas1 moved to Gloucester to better ply his trade. By the spring of 1838, when Thomas Lushman returned to Marblehead, son William was placed with Jonathan B. Mason (Marblehead Messenger, 7) to continue his apprenticeship training (see letter to Jonathan Mason from Thomas Lushman above). The 1840 U.S. census for Marblehead gives Jonathan B. Mason: males: 1 age 10-15, 3 age 15-20, 5 age 20-30, 1 age 30-40, 1 age 40-50, 1 age 50-60; females: 1 age 10-15, 1 age 20-30, 1 age 30-40. Jonathan B. Mason is also listed in the 1850 and 1860 census.
William continued to work for Mr. Mason until 1843 when he set out to make his own way. It is said that Mr. Mason gave him 50 cents when he left his employ. Upon leaving his shop, William turned and threw the coin back through the open door! He wanted to follow the fishing trade but before he could sail with his ship, his friend Sarah Elizabeth Bartlett warned him not to embark in that ship (F. W. Litchman). Following this premonition, he declined to sail. The ship was lost with all hands. The loss of this ship has not been proved since its name is not known although many ships had been lost during this time. Perhaps the "story tellers" were thinking of the great gale which took so many lives in 1846. Partly out of gratitude, William married Sarah. In the marriage record, William's name is spelled "Lusman" (MassVR). One of the controversies concerning the name from which Litchman came is that it could have been Lishman or Lushman originally. The Newfoundland branch of the family continues to spell the name Lushman and, as far as they know, thename was always spelled with a "u." This vital record substantiates that claim.
According to a family story, William changed the spelling of his name to "Litchman" because of difficulties in pronouncing and spelling his name. The name change occurred in 1845 (probably after his marriage). No official (legal) record of a name change has been found although all records showing his name after his marriage show it spelled "Litchman." His marriage record gives his age as 21 and occupation as cordwainer. Sarah's age was listed as 18 although she was actually 25!
In various census records, and children's birth records, William is listed as a shoemaker (1846), as a cordwainer (1849), a shoe manufacturer (1870) and a seaman (1850).
In February of 1883, a series of newspaper articles appeared in the Cape Ann Advertiser (rerun in the Boston Globe and the Marblehead Messenger, 16 Apr 1937), describing a miraculous survival of Howard Blackburn, who was cared for by a Francis Lushman of Little River, Newfoundland.
In January of 1883, Howard Blackburn, a fisherman working on the Burgeo Banks with the Grace L. Fears out of Gloucester, Mass., left his ship with his dory-mate, Thomas Welch, to haul their trawl lines when a storm came up and quickly obscured their vision of the mother ship. The wind hampered their rowing back and when dark came, they threw out a sea anchor to keep from drifting. In the morning the ship was not in sight and the pair began rowing for the Newfoundland shore, 30 miles to the north. By the next night, Thomas had almost given up hope and during the night froze to death. Howard continued through the next day and night allowing his hands to freeze around the oar handles. By the next morning, the third from losing the mother ship, land was sighted and Howard made for shore. He found no one through that day and night but by the next morning was able to make some headway into a bay from which a strong river current was flowing (condensed from Howard Blackburn's Fearful Experience of a Gloucester Halibut Fisherman, by Capt. J. W. Collins, Boston:F. A. Varnum, 1884, reprint Gloucester (MA):Ten Pound Book Company, 1987).
"Blackburn, keeping near the eastern shore, pulled up the river, and had the good fortune, about dark, to see three houses, which he had failed to discover before, because they had been shut in behind the high land on the western side. He was doubtful about these being occupied. Nevertheless, he persevered in his efforts... It was a moonlight night, and some persons, who were crossing the cove on the ice, on their way from one house to another, saw the little dory, with it's single occupant... [they took him] to the house of Mr. Frank Lishman... Four days after Blackburn's arrival at Little River a boat succeeded in reaching Burgeo, and the Rev. John Cunningham was made acquainted with the details of the sad story.." (ibid, pp. 19-20).
After remaining in Little River until 23 April, Howard went to Burgeo and from there on 23 May to Gloucester via St. Pierre, Halifax, and Boston. After reading of the exploits of Howard Blackburn, William Litchman wrote to Francis Lushman [Frank Lishman], asking if they might be related, and received the following letter in reply.
"Little River, N. F., November 21, 1883.
My Dear Sir:
Your valued favor of June 5, received and read with great interest... I think it's all likely you are my brother. If so, you are minus a part of one of your fingers, as I remember a man named Organ cut it off by accident making kindling. I am fifty years of age and my brother Thomas is fifty-three. If you are a brother you should be between 57 and 58 years... With kind regards, I remain yours, very truly, Francis Lishman" (ibid, p. 24, also Marblehead Messenger 7).
William Litchman answered the description given in the letter perfectly.
Later, with the publicity surrounding the reunion of brothers after 50 years, newspaper articles appeared in papers of the midwest, including Chicago, Ill. Albee Smith, husband of Molly [Lushman] Smith wrote to Howard Blackburn and William Litchman indicating that Molly was a daughter of Thomas Lushman, this time from a family in Louisiana. She visited Marblehead to see her half-brother (ibid.).
Children of William2 Litchman, b. at Marblehead (date from MarVR unless stated otherwise):
3.i. WILLIAM THOMAS3, b. 25 Apr 1846; m. (1) REBECCA SUSAN MARTIN; m. (2) JEMIMA (DODD) STONE.
4.ii. CHARLES HENRY, b. 9 Apr 1849; m. MARY ABBY SHIRLEY.
iii. JOHN BARTLETT, b. 17 Sept 1850 (MassVR); d. at Marblehead, 2 Oct 1851 (ibid.).
5.iv. JOHN B., b. 26 Dec 1852; m. LOUISA JANE DENNIS.
6.v. DAVID HUMPHREY, b. 8 Mar 1855; m. ELLA INGALLS.
vi. FRANK M., b. 2 Jun 1857 (ibid.); d. unm. at Marblehead, 22 Nov 1881 (ibid.). He was classified as "idiotic" in the U.S. census for Marblehead, 1870.
vii. JAMES F., b. 8 Nov 1858; d. at Marblehead, 31 Jan 1929 (ibid.). He m. (1) at Marblehead, 21 Dec 1909, NELLIE M. (WEEKS) RANDLETT, b. at Frieburg, ME, d. at Marblehead, 24 Nov 1917 (MassVR). She was the daughter of Moses R. and Ursula Drew Weeks (ibid.). James F. Litchman m. (2), at Marblehead, 29 Dec 1923, LOTTA MAY LaFLOWER.
3. WILLIAM THOMAS3 LITCHMAN (William2, Thomas1) was born at Marblehead, 25 Apr 1846 (MarVR), and died there 16 May 1924 (date given in military pension application). He married, first, at Marblehead, REBECCA SUSAN MARTIN (MassVR), who was born at Marblehead, 24 November 1868, daughter of Peter and Rebecca B. (Smethurst) Martin (MarVR). William married, second, at Marblehead, 8 November 1919, JEMIMA (DODD) STONE (ibid.). She had married, first, at Marblehead, Samuel Jonas Stone (ibid.).
William served in Co. A, 4th Reg't, Mass. Heavy Artillery during the Civil War. He enrolled as a private at Marblehead 5 Aug 1864, age 18, and was honorably discharged at Ft. Richardson, Va., 17 Jun 1865. At that time, his physical description was: 5 foot, 5 inches, with dark complexion, hazel eyes and black hair; occupation, shoe cutter. He was Town Clerk for Marblehead, living at 3 Circle Street, in 1908 (military pension application). That was still his residence in 1921 (Assessed Valuation of the town of Marblehead... for 1921, 70).
In 1870, William was living with his wife and in-laws in their home. He was listed as working in a shoe factory at that time (probably his father's) (U.S. Census, Marblehead, 143). His wife was listed as Susan B. Litchman. In 1912, she was listed as Susan R. Litchman (Valuation of Marblehead, 92). William served as an enumerator for the 1900 U. S. Census for Marblehead.
Child, b. at Marblehead:
i. Sarah R.4, b. 14 Apr 1869, d. 15 Apr 1869 (MarVR).
4. CHARLES HENRY3 LITCHMAN (William2, Thomas1) was born at Marblehead, 9 Apr 1849 (MarVR) and died at Washington, D.C. 20 June 1902 (MassVR); was buried at Marblehead Waterside Cemetery, 24 June 1902 (ibid.). He married, 5 February 1868, MARY ABBY SHIRLEY (ibid.). She was born at Marblehead, 21 March 1848 (MarVR), and died there 21 October 1930, daughter of William Henry and Mary Abigail (Hamson) Shirley (MassVR).
Charles Henry Litchman attended public schools in Marblehead until age 15, and spent two years at Marblehead Academy (see Richard Gerry Durnin, "Marblehead Academy, 1788-1865," in Essex Institute Historical Collections, 100 [July 1964]: 145-154). From 1864 to 1870 he was a salesman for his father's firm, Litchman & Bartlett, shoe manufacturers. He was listed as a salesman in 1868 when he married Mary Abby Shirley and later that year when his first child Annie was born. From 1870 to 1874 he was in partnership to make shoes with his brother William Thomas Litchman. The partnership was known as Litchman Brothers. On the birth certificates for his first two sons, his occupation was listed as shoe manufacturer.
Beginning in 1874, he studied law for 15 months while still working, but he had to stop his studies for lack of funds. In 1875, he joined Lodge 38, Knights of St. Crispin, beginning a long career in politics. He was elected a delegate to the Knights of St. Crispin convention in 1876. There he was elected Grand Scribe of Massachusetts.
He served on the Marblehead School Committee from 1876-79. In 1877 he was elected Grand Scribe of Grand Lodge of the U. S., Knights of St. Crispin. In 1877 he joined Local Assembly 221, Knights of Labor, in New York City. and he organized local groups in Massachusetts. He was in Assembly no. 30, Knights of Labor. In various accounts, Charles is listed as an auctioneer (Marblehead Messenger, 1877), shoemaker (1878), clerk (1879) and publisher (1881).
In 1878, he was sent as representative to the first session of the General Assembly of the Knights of Labor at Reading, Pennsylvania; he was elected General Secretary from 1878 to 1881. The Greenback Agitation of 1879 produced the election of General Butler as Governor of Massachusetts and Charles became a Republican. He served a short time as Secretary of the Railroad Commission. Charles served two terms in the Massachusetts State Legislature beginning in 1879 and in 1881. He also served from 1879-81 as editor of the Knights of Labor Journal.
He was an enumerator for the U. S. census in 1880. From 1880 to 1882, he was the Great Incohonee of the Improved Order of Red Men and served as editor of the Official History, published at Boston, 1893.
Due to his service in the Massachusetts State Legislature in 1881, he declined to be elected General Secretary of Knights of Labor at the Detroit General Assembly. In that year he began publishing the Essec County Statesman, a newspaper in Marblehead.
In 1883, Charles, representing the Knights of Labor, was appointed to accompany a congressional investigating committee during the strike on Gould Southwest Systems. From 1886 to 1888 he was again elected General Secretary for the Knights of Labor and in 1888, he resigned as General Secretary to "take the stump" all over "the west" for Harrison.
In 1888, he was appointed by Pres. Harrison as immigration inspector, a special agent of the Treasury Department, and was stationed at Boston until 1893. He was again involved in the Republican presidential campaign of 1892.
From 1894 to 1902 he lived in Newark, New Jersey, and was associated with Republic Savings & Loan Association. His family remained in Marblehead. In 1896 he was in the unsuccessful McKinley presidential campaign and on 29 March, 1900, he spoke at a Republican Convention at Newark to nominate Richard C. Jenkinson for mayor of Newark. He was friends with Vice President Garret A. Hobart and as a result of his energetic participation in McKinley's 1900 campaign, he was chosen to be a member of the government's Industrial Commission (Newark, NJ, and other newspaper obits., 1902).
On 22 February, 1902, he delivered an address at the Masonic Temple in Washington, D.C. He was asked by President McKinley to come to Washington but when he arrived there, he was already ill. On 17 June, 1902, he visited President McKinley against medical advice, and returned to his boarding house to bed. He died three days later on Friday, 20 June, 1902. The next day, his son Frederic arrived in Washington to return the body to Marblehead. On Tuesday, 24 June, a funeral was held in Marblehead and he was buried at the Brown Street burial ground (Waterside Cemetery).
He was known as "Charley" for most of his life. In addition to the memberships and activities mentioned above, Charles was also a member of the Atlantic Lodge of the International Order of Odd Fellows. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge, the Daughters of Pocahontas, the Samaritan Tent of Rechabites Society, and the Mugford Association of Marblehead. He was a member of the Amity Lodge of Danvers, the Neptune Lodge of Knights of Pythias of Boston, the Philanthropic Lodge, FAM, and a correspondent to the Boston Journal (Who's Who in America, 1903-1905; obituaries in Newark, NJ, and other newspapers).
Children born at Marblehead (all data from MassVR, unless stated otherwise):
i. ANNIE4, b. 6 Apr 1868; d. at Marblehead 7 Apr 1868.
ii. FREDERIC BRIGHAM, b. 28 Aug 1869 (ibid.); d. at Salem, Mass., 9 Apr (bur. 11 Apr) 1945 (ibid.). He married CORALIE MASON (ibid.). She was born at Marblehead, 2 Nov 1875 (MarVR) and died there 13 Oct 1933 (MassVR). She was the daughter of Isaac W., Jr., and Elizabeth Ellen (Cole) Mason.
iii. CHARLES HENRY, b. 28 Feb 1871 (ibid.); d. at Marblehead, 18 Mar 1871 (ibid.).
iv. ARTHUR SHIRLEY, b. 10 May 1872 (ibid.); d. at Marblehead, 9 Apr 1877 (ibid.).
v. HAROLD BARTLETT, b. 15 Mar 1878 (ibid.); d. at Marblehead, 28 Nov (bur. 1 Dec.) 1950 (ibid.). He m. there, 21 July 1909, CARRIE PEACH TUCKER (ibid.), b. at Marblehead, 20 Feb 1883 (MarVR); d. c1964 (MassVR), the dau. of Samuel and Sarah A. (Peach) Tucker (ibid.).
vi. JOHN LATHAM, b. 17 Jul 1879 (ibid.); d. 31 Aug (bur. 3 Sept) 1954, Waterside Cemetery (ibid.). He m. at Marblehead, 27 Mar 1902, ELLEN PAINE WILLIAMS (ibid.), b. there 10 Aug 1885 (ibid.); d. there, 3 July 1947 (ibid.), dau. of John Francis and Sarah Lizzie (Gilbert) Williams (marriage record).
vii. BESSIE SHIRLEY, b. 1 Aug 1881 (ibid.); d. there 5 July 1945 (ibid.). She m. at Marblehead, 21 July 1907, CHARLES CROUCHER McINTOSH (ibid.), b. at Shelburne, Nova Scotia, 14 July 1882, son of James and Olivia (Enslow) McIntosh (Int. of Citizenship, 12584, 6 July 1917, Mass. Superior Court).
viii. ANNA GARDNER, b. 25 Apr 1883 (MarVR); died young.
5. JOHN B.3 LITCHMAN (William2, Thomas1) was born at Marblehead, 26 Dec 1852 (MassVR), and died there 4 April (buried 7 April) 1907 (ibid.). He married at Marblehead, 12 August 1880, LOUISA JANE DENNIS (ibid.), b. at Marblehead, 21 Sept 1861 (MarVR), and died there 3 July 1931 (ibid.).
In the 1870 U. S. Census, John B. is listed as working in a shoe factory, probably his father's as he was living at home (1870 U.S. census for Marblehead, p. 103).
Children, b. at Marblehead (all data from MarVR unless stated otherwise):
i. SARAH LOUISE, b. 16 Oct 1880; d. at Marblehead, 16 Feb 1952. She m. there, 17 May 1900, HARRY REED CHAPMAN, b. at Marblehead, 21 Sept 1861; d. there 4 Dec 1938, son of John F. and Martha (Tucker) Chapman.
ii. WILLIAM T., 2nd, b. 24 Aug 1883, d. at Marblehead, 5 May 1924; m. there, 28 June 1911, ANNIE MABEL DWYER, b. c 1885.
iii. ALICE MAY, b. 9 Sep 1886; d. at Marblehead, 26 Mar 1929. She m. there RALPH M. JOHNSON, b. 12 Sept 1881 (figured from age at death); d. at Marblehead, 12 Mar 1965.
iv. ANNIE, b. 2 Aug 1889. She m. at Marblehead JOSEPH HIDDEN ROBINSON, b. at Marblehead, 7 July 1880; d. there 3 Mar 1953, son of Charles and Sarah E. (Dodd) Robinson.
v. ARCHER S., b. 14 Aug 1892; d. at Marblehead, 18 May 1909.
6. DAVID HUMPHREY3 LITCHMAN, (William2, Thomas1) was born at Marblehead, 8 Mar 1855 (MarVR) and died there in 1916. He married there, 22 September 1887, ELLA INGALLS, b. 1868, daughter of John and Elizabeth Ingalls (marriage certificate).
David and his family lived in Marblehead until 1900 (U.S. census), but then moved to the Lynn-Swampscott area.
A Lynn newspaper dated 1900 states:
David Litchman of Swampscott, was before the local court this morning charged with assault upon his wife. He pleaded guilty. Mrs. Litchman, a very respectable appearing woman, testified that her husband had been habitually assaulting her during a number of the 13 years of their married life, and that the climax was reached yesterday, when he struck her twice, and knocked her down. She said that her little boy saved her from a worse beating, by coming between them and pleading with his father not to hurt his 'mamma.' Litchman admitted striking his wife, but claimed that it was not as bad as represented. The case was continued for one week, to give Chief Dunlap an opportunity to inquire into the case.
Child, b. at Marblehead:
i. ARTHUR POTTER4, b. 2 Feb 1894; d. at San Francisco, CA, 22 Dec 1978 (death certificate). He m. (1) at Lynn, 22 Dec 1917, GLADYS ELIZABETH COFFIN, b. 17 June 1894; d. 18 June 1986, dau. of George W. and Harriet (Steeves) Coffin (data from Mark Arthur6 Litchman, grandson of Arthur and Gladys [Coffin] Litchman). Arthur Potter Litchman m. (2) Olga Dausse.
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