Lorenzo Lincoln
Lorenzo Lincoln was the first born of Nedabiah Lincoln II and his first wife, Deborah Wilbor. They were married July 5, 1807 in Norton, Massachusetts and Lorenzo was born in 1808. The given name of Lorenzo appears to be unique to this branch of the Lincoln family; however, there have been several Lorenzo Lincolns. One, born in 1803, was a contemporary and perhaps a namesake. This Lorenzo is often confused with the elder Lorenzo who never left the Taunton area and died there in 1899.
Lorenzo left Massachusetts ca 1833, probably aboard a whaler, and “jumped ship” in Hawaii ca 1836. In the next 3 years he acquired a wife, Kaaia Francis Kuawalu, who he married January 19, 1839, and a ranch of 520 acres. Lorenzo went through the Mehele process receiving a Kul (Land Commission Award or commoner's number) identification of 8513 and a RP (Royal Patent) number of 3605 for the property. They had six children before Lorenzo divorced Kaaia June 1858. Kaaia was probably involved with Lorenzo's acquiring his ranch. Pages 40-42 of Volume II discusses some aspects of the acquisition.
Limited communication between Lorenzo and his Massachusetts family did occur, and by a miracle, created by humans; two of his letters that he wrote home have survived. A copy of an article in the now defunct “Waimea Gazette” was sent to me by Rowena Lincoln. It contained an article about Barbara Killgore who was in Hawaii researching her Lincoln family background. The article reproduced copies of two of Lorenzo’s letters home (see Lorenzo's Letters Home). The original letters are in the possession of Barbara Killgore. The data and names in the letter established that Lorenzo was the son of Nedabiah Lincoln II. I was able to contact Mrs Killgore and she graciously provided the family history that established the provenance of the letters. She also sent me copies of the original letters. That, and subsequent data, including DNA testing, clearly established that Lorenzo was the first known Lincoln to settle in and raise a family in Hawaii. It also put to rest the commonly held theory that the family patriarch was a George Lincoln, English sailor, who had jumped ship and started the Lincoln family in Hawaii.
At some point, Lorenzo had a “falling out” with his children. In 1858 he wrote to his half-brother, Nedabiah Lincoln III, offering him a partnership in his ranch at Kawaihae-uka, South Kohala on the island of Hawaii. The letter implied some health issues. Nedabiah was unable to accept the offer.
Apparently his health continued to be an issue and the estrangement was not resolved as a few years later Lorenzo made attempts to sell the ranch, without success. His health failing, in August of 1865 he arrived in Honolulu, probably seeking treatment in the new state of the art Queens Hospital. He died in Honolulu July 18, 1866. Records indicate cause of death as “Ke mai loihi” - a long illness.
There is an implication of very poor communication within Lorenzo’s family. Many censuses have a column for reporting where the person’s parents were born. This is so for the 1900 and 1910 US Censuses. These are the only two US Censuses that report this information for Lorenzo’s three oldest sons. Fourth son James is unaccounted for. All three of the oldest sons died prior to the 1920 census. The following data, from those censuses as well as the death records, clearly illustrates the confusion and lack of knowledge.
1900 Census 1910 Census Death Record or Obituary
GW’s father born in England Mississippi Unreported
John’s father born in Maine US California
William’s father born in Hawaii US Parents Unknown
Lorenzo left Massachusetts ca 1833, probably aboard a whaler, and “jumped ship” in Hawaii ca 1836. In the next 3 years he acquired a wife, Kaaia Francis Kuawalu, who he married January 19, 1839, and a ranch of 520 acres. Lorenzo went through the Mehele process receiving a Kul (Land Commission Award or commoner's number) identification of 8513 and a RP (Royal Patent) number of 3605 for the property. They had six children before Lorenzo divorced Kaaia June 1858. Kaaia was probably involved with Lorenzo's acquiring his ranch. Pages 40-42 of Volume II discusses some aspects of the acquisition.
Limited communication between Lorenzo and his Massachusetts family did occur, and by a miracle, created by humans; two of his letters that he wrote home have survived. A copy of an article in the now defunct “Waimea Gazette” was sent to me by Rowena Lincoln. It contained an article about Barbara Killgore who was in Hawaii researching her Lincoln family background. The article reproduced copies of two of Lorenzo’s letters home (see Lorenzo's Letters Home). The original letters are in the possession of Barbara Killgore. The data and names in the letter established that Lorenzo was the son of Nedabiah Lincoln II. I was able to contact Mrs Killgore and she graciously provided the family history that established the provenance of the letters. She also sent me copies of the original letters. That, and subsequent data, including DNA testing, clearly established that Lorenzo was the first known Lincoln to settle in and raise a family in Hawaii. It also put to rest the commonly held theory that the family patriarch was a George Lincoln, English sailor, who had jumped ship and started the Lincoln family in Hawaii.
At some point, Lorenzo had a “falling out” with his children. In 1858 he wrote to his half-brother, Nedabiah Lincoln III, offering him a partnership in his ranch at Kawaihae-uka, South Kohala on the island of Hawaii. The letter implied some health issues. Nedabiah was unable to accept the offer.
Apparently his health continued to be an issue and the estrangement was not resolved as a few years later Lorenzo made attempts to sell the ranch, without success. His health failing, in August of 1865 he arrived in Honolulu, probably seeking treatment in the new state of the art Queens Hospital. He died in Honolulu July 18, 1866. Records indicate cause of death as “Ke mai loihi” - a long illness.
There is an implication of very poor communication within Lorenzo’s family. Many censuses have a column for reporting where the person’s parents were born. This is so for the 1900 and 1910 US Censuses. These are the only two US Censuses that report this information for Lorenzo’s three oldest sons. Fourth son James is unaccounted for. All three of the oldest sons died prior to the 1920 census. The following data, from those censuses as well as the death records, clearly illustrates the confusion and lack of knowledge.
1900 Census 1910 Census Death Record or Obituary
GW’s father born in England Mississippi Unreported
John’s father born in Maine US California
William’s father born in Hawaii US Parents Unknown
Updated 11/19/21