Marrison, Jane {I2225} (b. 1596)

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1596 Finningley

Christening: 20 JUN 1596 Finningley

Reference: 2225

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Source: (Individual)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Occupation: Place: Clerk

Reference: 2226

Birth: 29 APR 1987

Reference: 2227

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1838 Scotter, Lincs

Reference: 2228

Note: Your Grandpa George Kitson was born October 24, l872 in a small
town
called Rotherham in England, about four miles from Sheffield in
Yorkshire. Now I must explain to you that any word used in this
writing ending with shire
means exactly the same as county. Sheffield was a city in
which the world's finest cutlery was made. I was the son of

Joseph Kitson -born in Sheffield Yorkshire - 1840
Isabel Kitson -born in Blyth Nottinghamshire - 1843
(born Isabel Marrison)

To their union was given eight children - four boys and four
girls As
follows. -

Thomas M. Kitson
Mary E. Kitson
George Kitson -
Joseph Kitson
May E. Kitson-
Alice Kitson -
William M. Kitson
Minnie Kitson

My parents, as also two of my brothers and one of my sisters,
have
passed from this life, so there are five of us still living
About the time I had
reached eight years of age, I went to live with my Aunt and
Uncle in a city
named Doncaster down in Yorkshire. While of course I was too
young to know much about this place, one thing I well remember
is the wonderful race track there, perhaps the finest in
England. One day while attending the races, my Aunt said to me,
"Look George" the lady getting out of that carriage is Queen
Victoria, the Queen of England at that time. She did not even
say hello to me or offer a handshake. Well she was far from
being handsome, and as for me I never was very heavy on
Royalty. She was the Grandmother of England's present King.
After a time I was returned to my parents home who in the
meantime had moved into Nottinghamshire to a small town named
Stapleford about six miles from Nottinghamshire seat All around
here were the many and great factories where they make all
kinds of lace - lace curtains, embroidery,- and lace for all
purposes. One man would operate one of these power driven
machines which would be thirty feet long and-about five feet
high. - Thousands of threads being fed to the- machine from one
side,
the finished -lace winding onto a roller on the other side.
birds, flowers,
trees, or beasts woven into it - just anything a desirable
pattern might call
for. It was -while living here that I first became fascinated
with railroading A
splendid four track system ran on the outskirts of our town and
many a
trip I made down there to watch the trains roll by. Now I must
tell you a
little about England. As I remember, It was a beautiful
country, its climate almost ideal, no extremes in temperature
Never experienced the heat in summer, nor the bitter cold that
we have here in the winter. You undoubtedly know that England
itself is scarcely larger than the State of Ohio Its farms have
been under cultivation for hundreds of years and are very
productive However, there are many things we produce here on
farms that they cannot grow over there. Outdoors their climate
not being adapted to their growth. They have to grow cucumbers,
melons and grapes under glass. The English call their wheat;
"corn" while our corn, of which they import large quantities,
is known to them as "Indian Corn", They who have never eaten
corn off the cob have never found the true meaning of the word
corn. All throughout England there is a great amount of
beautiful scenery together with many places of historic value,
old castles, abbeys, monasteries, and churches; some in ruins,
still some in a good state of preservation - most of them
dating back for centuries and each with a history of its own.
Should you
be in London and visit the Tower of London, they would show you
many
relics of by gone days, Many prominent people of their day were
executed in this Tower.

You could see there the very block and axe used in the
beheading of
Mary Queen of Scots, all kinds of ancient weapons of war
together with armour that was worn in the; days of long ago.

The people of England as a rule are very kind, hospitable and
yet there
are many peculiar characters to be found among them. As a whole
they are very superstitious many having belief in signs, and
even ghosts. In
Stapleford, which I have mentioned before; nearly every man in
that town had a nickname.

Once you had become nicknamed by some wag, you were never
addressed by your real name again While the people throughout
England are supposed to speak English, you would be surprised
to step from one shire into another and find the difference.

Every shire in England has its own dialect or slang. You would
almost
be able to understand German or French as well as some of them.
The fields on the farms are fenced off by hedges of what is as
hawthorn.

Strands of wire supported by stakes make these hedges stock
proof. The
foliage dies in winter, but spring brings out its wax-like
green again. Then in
May, these hedges which are always nicely trimmed, break out
into bloom the
flowers a beautiful white with a pink centre. While the blossom
is there they are so dense that you cannot see the foliage.
Imagine yourself riding across England on a train or by car in
the month of May and seeing the beauty of all this hawthorn.

As the blossom dies away, each petal leaves in its place a
small red
berry which stays until the frosts of winter cause them to
fall. England also has some wonderful song birds, one of which
in particular I will tell you about.
This bird is even smaller than a sparrow. In colour it is very
much like a
Quail The male bird is the singer and is distinguished from the
female by the
tuft or top knot on his head. They are known as the skylark,
build their nest in
the grass in the meadows. When disturbed, they always run away
on the ground, they do not fly like most birds. They flutter
their wings and go straight up. When this little bird has
reached his height he is so small that it takes real
good vision
to see him, but you could never forget his song, so sweet and
beautiful, no
canary could ever equal it. At times on a quiet day I have
heard the
Cuckoo
calling just like the Cuckoo clocks you may have heard, but was
never
able to
see them - they stay in the dense woods. All English industry
at the
time spoken
of came to a stop Saturdays at noon, the labour had the
afternoon to
spend in
sports fishing; playing ball, picnicking, etc. The English
national
ball game is
called Cricket. It used to seem to me to be quite an exciting
game but
after
coming over here and seeing our national game of baseball
played, the
Cricket
could never excite me any more.

The laws of England are about the same as our laws, but are
much better
enforced. We are again coming to the Christmas season, which
reminds of
the way
they celebrated it over there. All industry ceased the day
before
Christmas and
remained closed until after New Year, a whole week in which to
celebrate. And
how they would celebrate. Well, in looking back over the years,
I can
only feel
and say there will always be a love in my heart for the Isle
across the
sea. It
was there my parents were born and raised, it was there where I
was
born and
where I spent a lot of my boyhood days

Now I must tell you about this time my parents had become
disgusted
with
whatever opportunities England held for them, and had decided
to leave
and come
to America. They soon were selling everything they felt they
would not
be able
to bring with them. As for me, I had already been reading about
the
American
Indians, and their great skill with their tomahawk, and was
real busy
feeling
around my head to find out if there was any place there where
these
tomahawks
would fit "ha, ha".

After my farewells had been extended, the day for leaving came,
and
when we
started for the station to take the train, I do believe nearly
one half
of the
populace of the town were escorting us down there. I have never
been
able to
figure out whether they were sorry or glad to see us go. At any
rate
they gave
us a great send off and once on the train we were on our way to
Liverpool,
England's greatest shipping port, where we were to embark on a
steamship for our
trip across the Atlantic Ocean to the land of promise. My
Father had
arranged
for our transportation via The National Line on their steamship
"The
Queen", and
here she is at her dock, taking on supplies and provisions for
the
trip. It is
truly wonderful the great amount of food these ships take on
for the
trip. Now
after credentials had been shown, we were permitted to go
aboard and
was then
shown to our quarters. The Steamship Company had given us space
in
which we
could all be together. All this had taken place around noon. We
were to
sail at
3 P.M. and it seemed a though the time would never come, but at
last it
did.
There are two large tugs holding onto us, lines are released
from the
dock, we
are moving. The tugs are taking us down the Mersey River out
toward the
open
sea. The tugs now have left us they give us a few bon voyage
toots and
we are
now on our way. The sea is calm, the weather beautiful. Am now
on deck
watching
the rapidly fading shore my last glimpse of England. The rest
of the
day was
spent in touring and looking over the ship. Time out for
supper, and
soon dark
and bedtime.

And Calm and Sweet is now my sleep
Rocked in the cradle of the deep

Here I must tell you a little about the ship we are on. The
"Queen" is
a large
ship and an old one too. This is l886 and she has been
ploughing back
and forth
across the Atlantic for 2l Years already. She is considered
very
staunch and
safe. Even at this time there are ships that make the crossing
in six
days, but
the "Queen" was to take fourteen days to do it - slow boat. Now
the
night has
passed - on going up on deck can see we are not far from land.
Upon
inquiry,
find we are steaming along the coast of Ireland. About 9
A.M. we
come to a
stop and drop anchor. We are outside the port of Queens town,
Ireland,
and must
wait for another boat to bring out more passengers and the
mail. While
waiting
for this, I noticed many of our passengers go to the rail of
the ship.
I
went there too, and soon discovered the object of their
excitement.
Down in the
water was a large shark, fully l4 feet long, and as large
around as a
barrel. He
had come there to be fed. Members of the crew came with a lot
of loaves
of
bread. Now the decks of these ships are high from the
water and
the shark
was there very plain to watch. He would be laying there in a
normal
swimming
position, but as a loaf of bread was thrown over the side , he
would
roll over
like a flash on his back. His enormous jaws would fly open and
be would
catch
the loaf just as good as a ball player would catch a ball. I
saw this
fellow
catch perhaps 15 or 20 loaves in this manner without a miss.
The reason
they
must be on their backs to do this is on account of the location
of
their mouth,
which is quite a distance from their nose. I have never forgot
his
powerful
large glistening rows of teeth, which would have meant death to
anyone,
should
they have fallen overboard. The tender with passengers and
mail has come and gone back to shore.

Our anchor has been raised and we are proceeding again For some
time we
are
steaming along the coast of Ireland. Later in the day; off the
other
side; we
see the mountainous coast of Wales. By sundown we were out of
sight of
any land,
and sighted land no more for about 10 days. Nothing to see but
water or
an
occasionally passing ship. Once in a while a school of porpoise
would
come to
amuse us. They are a large fish probably weighing 3 to 4
hundred
pounds. They
have a long bill, would say about 2 feet long. When you first
see them
they are
apt to be half a mile away, but are coming directly toward the
ship.
They leap
clear out of the water with the precision of a regiment of
soldiers,
then dive
in the same manner. They will dive right under the bottom of
these deep
drafted
vessels and be coming up on the opposite side as fast as a
person can
run across
the deck.

Life aboard this ship would have been monotonous for a while
now, but
for the
fact that people from all parts of the world were on this ship.
The way
some of
them were dressed, the manner some of them would eat, or
worship was
quite
entertaining and I suppose we looked and acted quite peculiar
to them.
Well,
about the 5th day out we were in a terrible storm, and were
tossed
around for
four days. All passengers were kept on lower decks. We could
only
wonder how any
ship could ride such a storm . You could see wherever you
looked men,
women,
children. laying helpless on the decks with seasickness. I
contracted
this and
for the next five days really thought that the end for me as
near, even
to look
at the best food was sickening and I was becoming weak. Father,
in our
whole
family was the only one who was not affected But about 3 or 4
days from
New
York, I felt lots better and could eat everything offered.
About this
time, we
saw many flying fish. They are not a large fish perhaps 2 or 3
pounds.
They can
only fly about l yards before submerging, but were interesting
to
watch. One day
I noticed two men looking into the distance with a field glass.
I Could
see the
object with my own vision. It was a whale. Every once in a
while he
would blow,
which would look much like a fountain. Could see enough of his
carcass
above the
water line to tell that he was a big one I had heard the story
of the
whale that
swallowed Jonah, and after seeing this one out there in the
Atlantic
would never
question their ability to. swallow Jonah or any other person.
About one
day from
New York, a trim sail yacht hailed Out ship, and when we
stopped, came
alongside
and a man was taken aboard. This man was a pilot who was to
take us
through the
treacherous waters off New York , through what is known as
"Hell's
Gate".

We arrived in sight of port the next day? but was too late to
enter and
dock.
The gun on shore was fired, and announced the closing of the
Port of
New York
for that day. No ships could now enter until the gun firing the
next
morning
would open the port to shipping for that day. From where we lay
at
anchor, all
you can see over on shore is beautiful. In the evening scores
of
pleasure craft
are buzzing and dancing over the water all around us. Nearly
all have
music
aboard The larger ones with orchestras and bands, smaller ones
with
mechanical
organs or pianos. Now it is dark and looking down not far from
us we
see the
famous Brooklyn Bridge all illuminated with myriads of electric
lights.
This
would have to be seen to be appreciated. It looked like an
enormous
jewel. Now
we are in for a whole night of wild orgy and celebration our
last night
on this
ship. All night long this noise and confusion of merry-making
continues, but
thanks to morning when the gun on the hill is fired and makes
the
announcement
port open. Here come two large and powerful tugs to take us in.
On our
way up
the East River, our attention is called to the great "Statue of
Liberty". This
was truly inspiring, and has been undoubtedly to many thousands
who
have passed
by from that day to this. After a lot of cussing by the crew,
our ship
is at her
dock. We are now disembarking and the first place we have to go
is to
Castle
Garden where the custom officers look over all your belongings,
and
search
everyone for any hidden valuables you might he trying to
smuggle in.
Also each
person must be represented by a certain amount of money,
sufficient to
purchase
your fare and provide your food to your destination. All this
having
been taken
care of, we are now taken to the Delaware, Lackawanna Station
to get
our train
for Buffalo. As we went along, countless fields of corn were to
be
seen. Never
having seen any of this before; I thought it might be sugar
cane. I was
wrong
again, it was corn. Our trip now was becoming tiresome, but we
finally
reached
Buffalo, where we without a change, were turned over to the Old
Lake
Shore and
Michigan Southern Ry, now the New York Central, of which in
years to
come, I was
be a part of. Well, this aside from new scenery and places we
passed,
was just
another ride and after a 28 hour ride were finally at Ashtabula
which
was our
destination, and which has been my home since. Just think of
it, have
lived here
now for 57 years. Could not have been a very bad place to come
to. When
my
parents arrived here, they had very little money left, but they
came
with a
determination to have a home, and so started right away to get
it. My
Mother had
two brother here already who were good carpenters. We had
arrived here
in July.
They had their eight room house all completed and lived in it
their
first winter
here. Can you see their determination? Every dollar represented
in this
home was
debt, even the one acre of ground on which the home stood was
unpaid
for at that
time, but through their will to work, their perseverance, the
day came
when the
debts were paid they had reached their goal. I was very
homesick for a
time
after we came here - lonesome for the boys and girls with whom
I used
to go to
school but after a time this all wore away. In fact, time flew
fast for
seven
years after our arrival I had met and married a girl who was
born here.
This was
1893. The next year brought big events a little girl was born
to us,
and in that
year I became naturalized citizen of the United States. We also
built a
home -
l894. 1895 was not so good, our little girl, who was then 20
months,
was taken
from us in death Her name was Florence. 1896 Clarence was born
and in
1899
Forrest came to us. 1900 I changed my employment, going; to
work for
the Lake
Shore Ry. in the roundhouse as a machinist helper. Stayed at
this for
one year,
and then was employed by the same company, but as a locomotive
fireman.
In the
spring of 1905 was sent up to Cleveland for examination for
position of
locomotive engineer. Will have to tell you of this. Men were
being sent
there
from all railroads under control of the Lake Shore for these
exams.
They took
place in a company building a room fitted up as a schoolroom
each man
having his
own desk. Seemed just like going to school again. Each man was
given a
number.
My number was 283. Each man had been given a book containing
all the
questions
to be answered. The company furnished paper , pencils, and
erasers;
each man
being required to write on paper an answer for each question.
There
were 350
questions in the book. After the papers were completed, then
came an
oral exam.
There were three subjects - The Simple Locomotive, Compound
Loco, and
Air Brake
Equipment. This took me a whole week, but when I left, I had a
card
whose
percentage tied me with a man from Buffalo for the best card
given in
the class
of 1905. Our record was:

Simple Locomotive 100
Compound Locomotive 100
Air Brake Equipment 99-6/10

In 1906 I received an engine, and for a little more than 32
years I ran
engines
of various sizes and in all branches of the service, both on
the Old
Lake Shore
and New York Central; until my retirement 1938 During my
railroad
career, never
had any accident, and was never injured.

December 31, 1938, I stepped down from Engine 5812 and said
goodbye to
the
railroad. Must step back now quite a number of years to tell
you
Virginia, where
you came in. December 16 1912, one of our
freight train struck a street car at center street crossing
Ashtabula,
causing a
very bad wreck. Seven people were killed - others injured. My
first
wife, Rose,
was one of those killed. Four years after I remarried your
Grandma
Bessie, and
you joined us in 1928.

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Death: 1946

Reference: 2229

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1847 Gringley On The Hill

Reference: 2230

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1848

Christening: 03 AUG 1848 Gringley On The Hill

Death: 1926

Reference: 2231

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1851

Christening: 30 MAR 1851 Gringley On The Hill

Death: 1937

Reference: 2232

Birth: 24 OCT 1934 Manton, Wexford Co, Michigan

Reference: 2233

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1843

Christening: 27 JUL 1843

Reference: 2234

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Death: 1890

Reference: 2235

Reference: 2236

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1859

Reference: 2237

Birth: 1869

Reference: 2238

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1873

Reference: 2239

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1875

Reference: 2240

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1880

Death: 1885

Reference: 2241

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Birth: 1900

Death: 1949

Reference: 2242

Reference: 2243

Source: (Name)
Title: UK Marrison.FTW
Abbreviation: UK Marrison.FTW
Repository:

Name: Unknown

Page: Date of Import: Dec 21, 1998

Reference: 2244