I’m not very good at being concise and I have so many questions that I don’t know where to start. The good news is (not included here) I have lots to share about Elizabeth Savage (my great grandmother) and her family after they immigrated to the US. So here goes.
To answer Allan’s questions: 1) Albert Henry Pitt (Harry) was born 18 Dec 1898, I don’t know where. More on my research about him later. 2) Mary Elizabeth Alice Pook was born 15 April 1909 at Axbridge, Somerset (my grandmother).
Gabrielle: Thanks so much for the information on the rest of Alice and John Savages kids. I didn’t know any of that!
I grew up knowing that John Savage and Alice Poulson had three girls: Annie Latham Maud Savage (1861), Elizabeth Harriett Savage (8 Jan 1863) and Ellen Alice Bruce Savage (June 1865).
Annie stayed in England, married Charles Walker, and had at least two children. On the 1891 Census, John Savage, widower, father-in-law, aged 70 lived with them. But how is he was a widower because on the 1901 Census, Alice Savage, widow, is found living with daughters Elizabeth and Ellen and visitor Marie Bruce. Can’t find Alice Savage on any 1891 Census.
Ellen immigrated to the US with the Pook family. She never married. Known as Aunt Nel, she raised my grandmother and (Harry while their mother nursed for other families in the ranching and gold mining communities of south-central Colorado. Mr. Pook died in Colorado 15 April 1918 in the worldwide influenza epidemic. It made an impression on my grandmother because her father died on her ninth birthday.
Elizabeth Savage is found running The Fox establishment at 15 Peter Street in Bristol from 1892-1906. The 1901 Census has Elizabeth as a “licensed victualler, owner”. Mother Alice Savage, sister Ellen Savage and visitor Marie Bruce live with her. Elizabeth married Henry James Pook (b. 1855) on 18 Feb 1906. He may or may not be the Henry James Pook who was previously married to Lucy Learmouth.
Here’s where I start wondering about Harry. My grandmother always called Harry her half-brother and he is listed as Elizabeth’s son with a surname of Pook when they immigrated. But where is Harry on the 1901 Census? On another 1901 Census there is an Albert H Pett, son, b. abt 1899, parents James E Pett and Harriet H (Pett mis-transcribed; should be Pitt). James is the son of Edwin Pitt. And on another 1901 Census, Edwin and Mary Pitt have a 3 year old named Henry Savage, listed as adopted son, living with them!
So I’ve been going in circles trying to figure out how Albert Henry Pitt became part of our family and if he was even biologically related, or perhaps my great grandmother had him out of wedlock.
Henry Pook immigrated to the US in June 1910. Elizabeth, sister Ellen, daughter Mary, son Harry and niece Marie Bruce immigrated on the same ship in October 1910.
Another mystery is Marie Bruce. She was listed as visitor on censuses, living with Elizabeth and is listed as niece on immigration records. My grandmother always said Marie was her cousin. Last name Bruce must be a family name since Aunt Nel was named “Ellen Alice Bruce Savage.”
I knew Marie Bruce as Aunt Marie because my grandmother married Loren Arthur and Marie married Harold Arthur, Loren’s uncle. So where did Marie Bruce come from and why was she living with Elizabeth since she was 7 or younger?
I recently realized that John Savage and Alice Poulson had three boys (James, Joshua and John) as well as the three girls I knew about. It was like they had two families. The youngest boy was about ten years older than the oldest girl. Was John “gone” between 1850 and 1860? Now I'm thrilled to look into the information on this family that Gabrielle provided!
I know that is extreme overload but I really did try to give you the short version! I’ve also veered very much off the Poulson path that this thread intended. Of course, I will continue to work on the Poulson and Savage ancestors. This is all such fun!
Again, I’m very excited to meet some new “cousins”! Thanks for corresponding with me.
Take care. Kathi
