c. 1890 Walter Lewarn's daughter Cabinet Baby Photo, MA to California

#941 Lewarn or LeWarne Genealogy:

On reverse: "Walter Lewarn's daughter" is boldly handwritten in old dip pen ink. It also has the name "John" handwritten in a different old early hand. Photo type: Victorian Cabinet Card Photograph. Photographers: California Art Company, J.A. Harliss and J.O. Valpey, San Jose, California on the southern shore of San Francisco Bay, Santa Clara County CA. (known to be photographers J.A. Harliss and J.O. Valpey, who operated the California Art Company in 1890 in San Jose, CA: James Alva Harliss 1862–1935 and John Ormiston Valpey 1868–1917.

Found in Public Genealogy Records:
We believe we have found Walter LeWarne, the father of this baby girl, who died before 1909 in San Jose, Santa Clara County, California. We do not know the identity of his parents, but we believe his siblings were Benjamin F. LeWarne 1842–1906 and L.B. LeWarne, gender unknown. We also believe her father Walter to have been born in Devon, England or possibly nearby Cornwall.

Walter's wife and the baby's mother would be Elizabeth Truscott LeWarne 1865–1943. They had at least 3 daughters and a son: Charity Marie LeWarne 1886–1970, Mamie L. LeWarne 1891–1977, Elizabeth LeWarne known as "Bessie" born 1893. We know they had son, George D. Lewarne 1893–1979. There may be more children.

Walter Lewarne in the California Marriage Records from 1850-1941
Name: Walter Lewarne
Marriage Date: 6 May 1885
Marriage Place: Alameda, California
Spouse: E. Truscott (known as Bessie)
Record Type: Index to Marriage Certificates

Walter's wife Bessie lived at 247 8th Street in the 1911 San Jose Directory with Anna LeWarne and George D. Lewarne and is listed as a widow. Walter's possible brother: Benjamin Franks Lewarn 1841–1906 born in Devonport, Devon, England and died in Colma, San Mateo County, California.

The spelling appears to goes between LeWarn and LeWarne within the family. We find the LeWarne family present in Devon and Cornwall, England. It is also possible her father's name was Walter Avery Lewarn, born in Plymouth, Devon England, but there are no real trails to follow other than this conjecture. Much more good LeWarne genealogy work needs to be done.

Walter's 3 daughters:
1. Charity Marie LeWarne Prout 1886–1970 was born in West Stockbridge, Berkshire, Massachusetts, not far from where this photo was found in Greenfield, Mass. Is this her? She died in Campbell, Santa Clara County, California and was married to James Henry Prout 1882–1965 of New Almaden, Santa Clara, California, who also died in San Jose. She is buried in Oak Hill Memorial Park in San Jose. her grave bio says that she arrived in California from Massachusetts at age 5.

2. Mamie L. LeWarne McHatton 1891–1977 was born in New Almaden, Santa Clara County, California and married Forrest Lee McHatton 1891–1960 of Opessa, Missouri, who died in Alameda County, California.

3. Elizabeth LeWarne Meeks, born 1893 in New Almaden, Santa Clara County, California married Friendless Meeks 1893–1981.

Other possible relevant genealogy info:
Walter Lewarne in the Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915
Age: 28
Birth Year: abt 1857
Birth Place: England
Marriage Date: 3 May 1885
Marriage Place: West Stockbridge, Massachusetts, USA
Father: William Lewarne
Mother: Jane Lewarne
Spouse: Bessie Wescott (is this incorrect, Truscott or Trescott?)

Walter Lewarne in the 1861 England Census
Age: 8
Estimated birth year: 1853
Relation: Son
Father's name: William Lewarne
Mother's name: Jane Lewarne
Where born: St Austle, Cornwall, England
Civil Parish: St Austell
Ecclesiastical parish: Charlestown
County/Island: Cornwall
Country: England
Household Members: Name Age
William Lewarne 54
Jane Lewarne 30
William J Lewarne 9
Walter Lewarne 8
Jane A Lewarne 5
Charity Lewarne 1
Walter Bilkey 18

Overall, we feel this photo is one of Walter's daughters listed above: Charity, Mamie or Bessie Lewarne. We lean more towards Charity, taken about 1886 as she is documented as being born in Massachusetts. This photo was recently found in Greenfield, Franklin County, Massachusetts in October 2019.

The surname is spelled in census records as Le Warne, LeWarn, and Le Warne. This is a much loved baby girl propped in a beautiful Victorian era wooden high chair, wearing a homemade lace gown. Any help or family info correction appreciated on this beautiful LeWarne babe, email Debra here. We had fun researching this great looking kid!

Size: 4.5 by 7 inches
    Note: Hello from ~debra. I have spent years collecting over 10,000 ID’d lost family photos & paper from US flea markets & antique shops. I do the best gen research I can, but am always open to corrections. This is an original antique item, not a reprint. A new high quality rigid sleeve is included for extra protection, especially during shipping. You may buy a piece alone, or large intimate 300 dpi scans of the front and back sent immediately via email, or both. Please search carefully, as they are often found together and many may be related. I also invite you to join me at Ancestorville Genealogy on facebook. Thank you, enjoy! ~Debra Clifford (contact info on top bar)