by: nancy.bliven.3
As a child my Mom used to tell me stories about my Dad's family, especially about his Grandmother Christina Elizabeth Vincent or 'Grandma Liz'.
When I decided to research my family history, I tried to collaborate the stories I could remember my Mom telling me.
This is what I found.
Christina Elizabeth Nicholls was born on 19 Sep 1855 in Lexden &Winstree Union, Peldon, Essex, UK, the 6th child of John Nicholls (Jean Nicholle) and Ann Elizabeth Collins.
You had to wonder if she had a difficult childhood because she was less than 5 years old when her mother was institutionalized at Essex Lunatic Asylum, suffering from Tuberculosis. In fact, her youngest sister was born there.
When Christina was 21, she married Charles James Vincent at St Peter's Catholic Church in Dover, Kent. Charles was stationed there with the 2nd Division of the 10th Foot Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment.
According to Charles' Army Records, the family traveled to a number of the British colonies:
Malta - 1878-1881
Gilbralter - 1881 - 1882
India - 1882 - 1884
Home (Lincoln, Lincolnshire) 1884 - 1892
Christina Elizabeth and their children followed Charles to all of these sites.
When Charles retired from the Royal Army, the family settled in St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. This is where Christina's father had been born and raised and had moved back to when his naval career was over.
While here on the island, Christina gave birth to her last 3 children and her oldest Daughter and Son were married. Her first Grandchild was also born here.
1907 brings the first of several major events for the Vincent Family.
Herbert Henry leaves St Peter Port and travels the the United States via Liverpool on the RMS Saxonia. His final destination is Lansing, Michigan, where he will meet up with his Brother-in-Law Ernest Avis.
His brother Frank joins him in June. His wife Florence and son Herbert join him in July.
In May of 1908 Charles, Christina and their children James, Kathleen, Dorothy and Margaret emigrate to join Herbert and Frank in Lansing, Michigan.
3 months before the family emigrated, Ivy married Michael J. Devaney. In March 1909 Ivy, Michael and the 4 month old Frederick left Liverpool to join the family.
Nellie is the only Vincent child to not emigrate to the United States. She is living in Ireland with her husband Charles Howlette and their 6 children.
One of the stories I remember my Mom telling me involved the burial of a child in the Mediterranean Sea.
On 22 Jan 1882 while the 2nd Linconshire Regiment was traveling from Gilbralter to India, Florence Vincent (age 1 1/2) died of Broncitis. She was buried at sea and her death reported at the time the ship arrived in India.
Another story I remember being told is about how Grandma Liz was very strict about how young women dressed.
I've not been able to prove or disprove this about Liz, but this photo must be a part of the story...