Joseph Ponsford




unknown Grandparent
(1736-1809)
unknown Grandparent
(1747-1829)
unknown Grandparent
(-)
unknown Grandparent
(-)
unknown Parent
(-)
unknown Parent
(-)

Sarah Vawer






Joseph's siblings are unknown

Joseph Ponsford had travelled to America in 1830 at the age of 21. He returned to England two years later. He and Sarah Vawer were married on 13th February 1837 in St. Mary Redcliffe Cathedral, Bristol, England, and lived in Nailsea where seven of their children were born. In 1852 Joseph had difficulty in finding employment in his trade as a tanner, and returned to America. He stayed in Herkimer, New York state. Once settled in 1854 he sent for Sarah and their family. Sarah spent eight weeks on the crossing to America, which seems a particularly ardouos task for a mother travelling alone. She landed in New York city on 30th June 1854.

The spent almost six years living in Herkimer, and then moved in the Spring of 1860 they moved we are told "coming to Minnesota in the spring of 1860 via the great Lakes to Milwaukee thence to LaCrosse up the Mississippi to St. Paul and from there by boat to Clearwater, MN".

Joseph took up a claim of 160 acres which he farmed sucessfully for many years, and where Sarah died in 1882.

Sarah and Joseph's known children are

Our guide to information about Joseph and Sarah Vawer Ponsford was via the findagrave website where details were added by Jim Childers and Rebecca Frank. The website has pictures of the grave monument to Sarah and Joseph, and a very old photograph of the two of them sitting together. We do not have permission yet to duplicate this picture or those of the memorial on this site but interested people should follow the link to the excellent findagrave site. Becky has very kindly supplied us with further information about the Ponsford family, including a transcript of the Civil War diary of Sarah and Joseph's son, John Delano Ponsford. We have no permission to release the fascinating file here, but interested parties should contact us via our contact page.






Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate
Death Certificate
Other Certificates

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