Harvey Lincoln takes a Hawaiian Bride
My “retirement career” rapidly settled into becoming a genealogist. While exploring the history of my home, built by Dr. Harry Martin Lincoln in 1898, it took little time for me to become addicted. Since my brother was already focusing on our family (and doing a super job), and Doc Lincoln seemed like a rather interesting character (life-long drug addict and convicted murder), I decided to adopt the Lincoln family and my life was totally changed.
While into research for Volume I about the Lincoln family (here on the mainland) it became clear that here was a very strong connection to the Hawaiian Islands (This connection led to Volume II with its focus on the Lincolns of Hawaii.) This research resulted in an automatic interest in information that combined the surname of Lincoln and the site location of Hawaii (Sandwich Islands). One of the research projects involved the analysis of some US and Hawaiian censuses to determine the distribution of Hawaiians on the mainland over an extended period of time. This data became part of the book as Appendix X “Some Observations About the Hawaiian Population” - page 342. It was during this research that I discovered a Hawaiian born lady who, in 1860, lived in Illinois and was married to a Lincoln. I had to know the story and here it is.
Joseph Goodrich was born July 3, 1794 in Wethersfield, Connecticut and was the youngest child of Isaac and Elizabeth (Raymond) Goodrich. He studied theology privately and was licensed to preach in June of 1822. On November 7, 1822 he married Martha Barnes. They had both been accepted by the American Board as missionaries and left for Hawaii on November 19/20, 1822 on board the “Thames”, as part of the second group of missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands. It was required that these early missionaries be married; hence the mutual missionary goals resulted in several marriages just before departure. They arrived in Honolulu April 27, 1823 and were stationed in Hilo.
Joseph and Elizabeth had several children while stationed in Hawaii. Joseph and the family left the Islands, arriving home in 1836. He joined a group from Wethersfield who had moved to Henry County, Illinois. (19th century census records post many names listed as born in Connecticut, as well as New England in general.) Elizabeth died there in 1840. Joseph returned to Wethersfield, where he married Rachael Curtis in June 1841. They then returned to Henry County. Joseph died in 1852 and Rachael died in 1873. Joseph and both wives are buried in the Wethersfield Cemetery in Henry County, Illinois.
One of Joseph and Elizabeth’s children was Nancy (born on the Sandwich Islands July 25, 1825) and Illinois Marriage Records list her as marrying Lucius Arnold May 20, 1847. Because of the US Census format, the first identifiable listing for Nancy Goodrich occurs in 1850. In September of 1850 she was with her family (in Henry County) and listed as Nancy Arnold 25, born Sandwich Isles and Joseph Arnold age 20 born Sandwich Isles (unlikely). In November she is listed in Morgan County as Nancy Goodrich 23, born Sandwich Isles, living with another Connecticut born resident - Dr. Brown and family.
December 26, 1854 Nancy married Harvey Lincoln. The family appears in the 1860 U S census for Illinois, in Henry County. Harvey is listed as age 27 born Connecticut and Nancy as age 30, born Sandwich Isles. Nancy’s step-mother Rachael was living with them.
In the 1860 census; Harvey age 27, born Connecticut; Nancy age 30 born Sandwich Isles; and her step-mother Rachael widowed, born Connecticut and age 65 were living in Henry County, Illinois.
Harvey died January 28 1864 and was buried in the Kewanee Cemetery, Henry Co Illinois. His stone identifies the death of an infant daughter (Nettie?) Feb 1862.
On Feb 12, 1867 Nancy married a Dr. William Day (Nancy was his second wife) and by the 1870 census they were living in Henry County. The family included 3 children from William’s first marriage; Harvey Lincoln age 7 and Nancy’s step-mother Rachael Goodrich age 75.
Nancy’s son Harvey Lincoln took his step father’s surname of Day. He married Bertha Pratt, 1889, in Henry County. They had one child, Lois, and Harvey died August 31 1935, still in Henry County.
William and Nancy were still living in Henry County in the 1880 and 1900 censuses. Find A Grave lists William Day as dying in 1901 and being buried in the Kewanee Cemetery. Nancy was buried with William in 1915.
While into research for Volume I about the Lincoln family (here on the mainland) it became clear that here was a very strong connection to the Hawaiian Islands (This connection led to Volume II with its focus on the Lincolns of Hawaii.) This research resulted in an automatic interest in information that combined the surname of Lincoln and the site location of Hawaii (Sandwich Islands). One of the research projects involved the analysis of some US and Hawaiian censuses to determine the distribution of Hawaiians on the mainland over an extended period of time. This data became part of the book as Appendix X “Some Observations About the Hawaiian Population” - page 342. It was during this research that I discovered a Hawaiian born lady who, in 1860, lived in Illinois and was married to a Lincoln. I had to know the story and here it is.
Joseph Goodrich was born July 3, 1794 in Wethersfield, Connecticut and was the youngest child of Isaac and Elizabeth (Raymond) Goodrich. He studied theology privately and was licensed to preach in June of 1822. On November 7, 1822 he married Martha Barnes. They had both been accepted by the American Board as missionaries and left for Hawaii on November 19/20, 1822 on board the “Thames”, as part of the second group of missionaries to the Hawaiian Islands. It was required that these early missionaries be married; hence the mutual missionary goals resulted in several marriages just before departure. They arrived in Honolulu April 27, 1823 and were stationed in Hilo.
Joseph and Elizabeth had several children while stationed in Hawaii. Joseph and the family left the Islands, arriving home in 1836. He joined a group from Wethersfield who had moved to Henry County, Illinois. (19th century census records post many names listed as born in Connecticut, as well as New England in general.) Elizabeth died there in 1840. Joseph returned to Wethersfield, where he married Rachael Curtis in June 1841. They then returned to Henry County. Joseph died in 1852 and Rachael died in 1873. Joseph and both wives are buried in the Wethersfield Cemetery in Henry County, Illinois.
One of Joseph and Elizabeth’s children was Nancy (born on the Sandwich Islands July 25, 1825) and Illinois Marriage Records list her as marrying Lucius Arnold May 20, 1847. Because of the US Census format, the first identifiable listing for Nancy Goodrich occurs in 1850. In September of 1850 she was with her family (in Henry County) and listed as Nancy Arnold 25, born Sandwich Isles and Joseph Arnold age 20 born Sandwich Isles (unlikely). In November she is listed in Morgan County as Nancy Goodrich 23, born Sandwich Isles, living with another Connecticut born resident - Dr. Brown and family.
December 26, 1854 Nancy married Harvey Lincoln. The family appears in the 1860 U S census for Illinois, in Henry County. Harvey is listed as age 27 born Connecticut and Nancy as age 30, born Sandwich Isles. Nancy’s step-mother Rachael was living with them.
In the 1860 census; Harvey age 27, born Connecticut; Nancy age 30 born Sandwich Isles; and her step-mother Rachael widowed, born Connecticut and age 65 were living in Henry County, Illinois.
Harvey died January 28 1864 and was buried in the Kewanee Cemetery, Henry Co Illinois. His stone identifies the death of an infant daughter (Nettie?) Feb 1862.
On Feb 12, 1867 Nancy married a Dr. William Day (Nancy was his second wife) and by the 1870 census they were living in Henry County. The family included 3 children from William’s first marriage; Harvey Lincoln age 7 and Nancy’s step-mother Rachael Goodrich age 75.
Nancy’s son Harvey Lincoln took his step father’s surname of Day. He married Bertha Pratt, 1889, in Henry County. They had one child, Lois, and Harvey died August 31 1935, still in Henry County.
William and Nancy were still living in Henry County in the 1880 and 1900 censuses. Find A Grave lists William Day as dying in 1901 and being buried in the Kewanee Cemetery. Nancy was buried with William in 1915.
Updated 02/24/22