Expert: Frances Sampey Deak - 8/26/2009

Question
QUESTION: I'm trying to research my father's side of the family. Benjamin Fearn/Fern, born Ireland, Aug 1827, was my ggf. He is shown living in Dubuque, IA in the 1850 census.

Records indicate his parents were both born in England. I was given information that the 1850 records show a Mary Fern, then 50, and Benjamin, then 23. I'm guessing Mary was his mother.

I also find a Robert Fearn, b 1789 England, d 12 Apr 1842, Dubuque, IA, with Mary Osborne, b abt. 1800, as his spouse, married 23 Sep 1822, England. There's a possibility that Fearn was changed to Fern, and that this Robert/Mary reference is Benjamin's parents.

Going back further, a Samuel Fearn, born abt 1756, in London, England, marries a Jane?, born abt 1760, London, England. They have 8 children, one of which is a Robert Fearn, born 08 Jan 1789, London, England. This is a possible match for Robert's parents.

John Fearn, born abt 1824, England, is Benjamin's older brother. The 1880 census shows a John Fern, age 53, apparently widowed, living in Hazel Green, Grant, WI, born Eng., both parents born Eng., with 7 children, 1 a grand child, ages 22 to 14, all born in Iowa. I'm guessing this to be a possible match, and that John Fern moved from Iowa to Wisconsin after 1860. The Fern children, from oldest to youngest were William, Ellen, Lilly, Frank, Charles, Robert, and grand son, Leo.

Would like to contact anyone who can provide information in tracing the Fearn/Fern line back to England.

ANSWER: You and your cousins have done a marvelous job of getting this information together.  I saw some of the work on-line.  I believe you are on the right track.
Mary is buried in the same cemetery as Robert showing dates 3/7/1800-6/10/60. This should prove the connection of Mary and Robert.  Was it your Benjamin or one of his descendents that was struck by lightning in 1896?
You asked for help in England.  There is very little on-line but there is more every day.  I would regularly check rootsweb.com Free Reg (UK) as they are adding parish records every week.  Also look on-line at The London Gazette for Fearns.  I checked the library records at the Society of Genealogists (SOG)and there is nothing in their indexes.  But if you can get to London or hire someone, SOG has Boyd's marriages, Boyd's London Burials, Boyd's Inhabitants of London and Musgrave's Obituary (prior to 1800).  
To find others interested in Fern/Fearn name, continue to post to every web site you can.  Also see if you can find a copy of Genealogical Research Directory by Johnson and Sainty.  There is a new addition every year.

Good luck and keep up the good research!



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QUESTION: Sorry, but I don't know what you mean about the 1896 lightning strike. Who are Boyd and Musgrave? Can you clarify? I did most of this without cousins. I'm not sure who you speak of. I have nothing posted on line. Most of my review was done back in 2003-4 time frame. Thanks for the idea about rootsweb.com.

Answer
It is mentioned in several Iowa papers that Benjamin Fern was struck by lightning.  The papers are all in July 1896 (Oelwein Register, for one on the 2nd of July).
Boyd and Musgrave compiled listings and copies of the marriages, burials, or who was living in London at the time you need to search.  I don't know anyone except the Society that has copies of these bound books.  You need someone to check them out.
I assume the people who posted at Ancestry.com are your relatives since the information is similar if not exact. Genforum.com has 2 people who seemed to be looking for your family.  Go to the web site and put Fern in the top right hand box and when you get to the Fern page, type in Robert and the two people's messages will come up.