The following is a list of the Colenso immigrants that I know of to the USA, listed in order of their estimated arrival.

 

1848

Elizabeth Colenso (1813 to 1882) arrived in New York with her husband James Woolcock and three sons James, John and Henry. They were aboard the Mountaineer and accompanied by some of James’ brothers and their families. Initially they settled in Pennsylvania and then Dodgeville Wisconsin. They also changed the spelling of their name to Wilcox.

 

Elizabeth was born in Wales, but married when her family had resettled in Crowan, Cornwall. Her parents were John Colenso and Ann. Both her father and her husband were miners.

1850

Robert Colenso (1840 to 1885), with his wife Agnes Webber and three children John, Joseph and Mary Ann arrived in Buffalo in 1850. The family settled in Chatauqua New York, although they spent some time in Pennsylvania. Both sons served in the Northern Army during the Civil War – John with an Ohio unit and Joseph with a Michigan one.

 

 John (1835 to 1926) married Mary Vedda (1860) and then Carrie Brown in 1868. He settled in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Joseph (1836 to 1918) married Mary Leonard in 1858, and then Ellen Trusler. He continued to live in Sinclairsville, Chatauqua, New York.

 

Robert was the son of John Colenso and Blanche Steed, born in Lanteglos-by-Fowey.

Before 1878

John Henry Colenso (1846 to 1917), traveled to Ironwood Michigan sometime before 1878. His wife Elizabeth Jane Eade followed in that year aboard the Britannic to New York with their four children Laura, John Henry, James Eade and William Edward. Elizabeth Jane died soon after.

 

John Henry married again but had no other children. He died in California after working as a miner in Cornwall, Michigan and California.

 

Laura married Thomas Hooper and later Thomas Wright, settling in Illinois. John Henry married Nora May Shaffer and settled in Wisconsin. James married Leola Luby and settled in Seattle. He served in the Spanish War. William married Hattie Ellen Drew and settled in Modesto, California.

 

John Henry was the son of John Colenso and Mary Tyack, born in Breage.

1880

Edwin Colenso (1860 to 1940), immigrated to Hurontown, Michigan via Alabama. He was a mining captain at Isle Royale Mine in Houghton. Edwin married Elizabeth Jane Roberts. They had one daughter. He then married Mary Elizabeth Trathen and had a large family – one of their sons served in the US Army and died in France in 1918.

 Edwin was the son of John Colenso and Mary Tyack, born in Breage.

1886

John Colenso (1849 to ?) emigrated to New York in 1888. He was a mason and left his wife Mary Jane Pearce in Gulval with her brothers. He may have returned as Sybil Colenso, born in 1892 in London, has him described as her father on her birth certificate. There is no further record of his life.

John was the son of James Denithorne Colenso and Elizabeth Grace Hosking. He was born in Holloway, London, but grew up in Penzance.

1889

John Williams Colenso (1856 to 1927) arrived in New York in 1889 with his wife Eliza Jane Corin and daughter Elizabeth Maria. John was a painter, glazier and decorator, who was declared bankrupt in 1887. They settled in Manhattan, with his daughter marrying and having a son called Charles Kane in 1903.

John was the son of Richard Veale Thomas Colenso and Susan Ann Edmondes, born in Penzance. His brother Thomas Veale Colenso also immigrated in the 1890s.

1890

Walter Ernest Colenso (1867 to after 1930), traveled to the USA via Australia. He married Margaret Gibson in 1895. In 1920 he was in Arizona and New Mexico in 1930. There are no records of any children.

Walter was the son of George Colenso and Jane Williams Boardman, born in Liverpool.

1890

William Colenso (1871 to ?), arrived in New York on the Gallia. He married Amelia Ann Carter around 1894 and is recorded in Michigan in 1900 as an iron miner. He and his family are in Seattle in 1920.

William was the son of Thomas Henry Colenso and Grace Skewes and was born in Truro. His brothers Thomas Henry and Albert Thomas also immigrated – 1900 and 1903 respectively.

After 1891

Thomas Veale Colenso (1866 to 1921), traveled to the USA sometime after 1891 and before 1899. He left a wife and three children in Cornwall and married a French Canadian before 1899 and had another son. He was a painter and decorator.

His Cornish wife Phyllis Bodinnar Trahair had him declared dead before remarrying in 1905. This may be why he used the name Richard Veale Colenso in the USA. He died in Minnesota.

Thomas was the son of Richard Veale Thomas and Susan Ann Edmondes, born in Penzance. His brother John Williams Colenso had immigrated in 1889.

1900

Mathilda Colenso (1882 to 1974) traveled to Butte Montana with her mother Mary Emeline Harris, following the death of her father in 1900. She married John W Morgan in 1913.

Mathilda had been born in Illogan – the daughter of Thomas Colenso and Mary Emeline Harris.

1900

Thomas Henry Colenso (1877 to 1950), traveled to the USA around 1900 and is recorded with his brother and family in Michigan in that year’s census. He married Sara Frances Kay and they had a number of children in Michigan. They then settled in Rossland, British Columbia.

Thomas was the son of Thomas Henry Colenso and Grace Skewes, born in Truro.

1903

Albert Thomas Colenso (1885 to 1920), immigrated to the USA in 1903, settling in Butte Montana as a copper miner. He married Bessie Florence Davey in 1909, but died young in 1920.

Albert was the son of Thomas Henry Colenso and Grace Skewes, born in Truro.

1905

William John Colenso (1880 to ?) traveled frequently between England and the USA with his wife Laura Mary Oliver. Three of his daughters were born in Devon and on the other possibly in the US. He returned to England to serve in WW1 in the Duke of Cornwall Like Infantry.

Not sure where he settled, but his daughters married in England.

William was the son of Richard James Colenso and Sarah Ann Jenkin, born in Hayle and his trade was that of an engine fitter and turner. His brother Edgar settled in the USA.

1907

George Colenso (1886 to 1986), arrived in the USA. He married Aline Leclercq around 1913 and settled in Pittsburgh. He was recorded there in 1920 and 1930. He died in Tacoma Washington.

George was the son of George Colenso and Mary Jane Halliwell, born in Liverpool. His brother Ralph Stanley also immigrated to the USA.

In 1923 his brother Thomas Harold Colenso (1880 to 1949) is shown visiting with his sons George and Ronald.

1910

Edgar Colenso (1890 to 1981), arrived at Ellis Island in 1910. He married Ellen Richards in 1912 and settled in Birmingham Michigan, although the eldest of their three sons was born in North Carolina.

Edgar was the son of Richard James Colenso and Sarah Ann Jenkin, born in Hayle and his trade was that of a machinist. His brother William also spent some time in the USA.

1910

Ralph Stanley Colenso (1893 to 1979), arrived in the USA for the first time in 1910. He served in the King’s Liverpool Regiment during WW1, but returned via Ellis Island in 1919. He married Emma Josephine Witry and they were in New York in 1930. Ralph died in Roseland Florida. They don not appear to have had any children.

Ralph was the son of George Colenso and Mary Jane Halliwell, born in Liverpool. His brother George also immigrated to the USA.

1911

Harry W Colenso (1888 to 1970) arrived in the USA in 1911. He married Esther about 1916. Harry was a Methodist minister assigned to various places in Michigan but finally settling in Flint.

Harry was the son of Henry Colenso and Elizabeth Jane Dower, born in Burnley Lancashire. His brother Arthur and sister Maud also immigrated to the USA. Maud Colenso (1886 to 1916), was buried in Pine Grove Michigan.

1920

John Philip Colenso (1894 to 1979) arrived in the USA in 1920.He died in South Lyon, Michigan in 1979. He does not appeared to married or had children.

John was the son of John Colenso and Sophia Andrew, born in Illogan. His grandparents were Thomas Colenso and Mary Emeline Harris. His grandmother and aunt Mathilda had settled in Montana previously. His brother Thomas and mother after her remarriage followed in 1923.

1920

Charles Colenso (1893 to ?) arrived in USA in 1920. He is shown living in 1930 in Flint Michigan.

Charles is the son of Albert Charles Colenso and Clarinda Dunstan, born in Illogan.

1928

Arthur Colenso (1883 to 1968), with his wife Rhoda Richardson and three children Henry, Thora and Rhoda, arrived in the USA in 1928. They settled in Michigan.

Arthur was the son of Henry Colenso and Elizabeth Jane Dower, born in Burnley Lancashire. His brother Harry and sister Maud also immigrated to the USA.

1922

George T Colenso (1893 to 1967), Walter Samuel Colenso (1899 to 1971) and William Charles Colenso (1885 to 1963), were the sons of Henry Colenso and Elizabeth Evans. They were born in Toxteth park in Lancaster. William and George were in Manhatten for the 1930 census.

1923

Thomas Stone Colenso (1893 to ?) with wife Elizabeth Ellen Seymour and daughter Elizabeth Mary arrive at Ellis Island in 1923. His mother Sophia Andrew Colenso Eppey also accompanied them. They settled in Detroit Michigan.

He was the brother of John Philip and nephew of Mathilda, born in Illogan.

After 1945

Mildred Florence Colenso (1929 to 2003) was the war bride of Benjamin Franklin Ricks. Her parents were Joseph George Colenso and Winifred Mary Collard, born in Bristol.

Before 1985

Hilary Colenso (living) migrated from England to California before 1985 and then to New York. She is the daughter of Alexander Colenso and Katherine Waldron.