Re: Francis Everard Roche/Utah
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In reply to:
Re: Francis Everard Roche/Utah
Angie Porter 2/20/07
Hi Angie,
Capt. James would also be my grt grt grandfather. Caroline and Frances E. had a large (2,000 acre? or so)ranch near Promontory Point in Utah he bought in hopes the railroad would come through and make them rich. They were fairly well off anyway as he was a doctor and they also ran a store and a couple of other businesses in Ogden and Corrine? Utah. At some point in time, he also practiced medicine in Oakland California and it seems like some of the older kids stayed in Calif. Fr. E. and Caroline had many 10? children. A couple died young. My grandfather, Maurice was, I believe, the youngest. Fr. E. got blood poisoning after one of the kids scratched his leg playing in bed and died, I have heard because he was too stubborn to let them amputate.
Therefore, Caroline was left with the ranch, the businesses and all the kids to raise on her own. I don't know the details of when the ranch was sold, but eventually a lot of the family lived in Salt Lake City. Caroline died at the age of 97 in 1952 in Napa California, where I still live. She died 10 years before I was born, but I did know several great aunts that lived into their 90's and a couple to over
100 years old! One of these, my spinster gr aunt Rose took care of Caroline until she passed away.
Of all the "kids" I know some moved to Southern California, and I assume there are still relations in Utah, but I am not currently in contact with any of them. Some of my siblings and cousins have done a lot of research and have way more information than me. One distant cousin, Ross Pearson lives in Australia and has probably the most complete history. He has even travelled all over England and Ireland in his quest.
There are Roche's from my "branch" of the tree all over the US and Canada. My family followed some of Caroline's children's generation to California from Canada when I was 2 months old.
I will be happy to gather more of the information for you. Imagine my surprise on a chance look on the genealogy site and seeing someone asking about my great grandfather. I think I can also get Ross Pearson's contact info for you, because I know he is the person with the best information. Clearly, he must be even more closely related to you than me.
If the site doesn't display my email address it's [email protected]. Please feel free to email me directly. I was excited to see you saw my message and responded.
Best,
Richard
(your somehow cousin, however distant that may be)