Royal M. Weller

!Census 1860: New Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, familySearch.org index: Penney, Mary, 56, NY --, Huldah, 53, NY --, Laura S, 42, NY Miller, Roger M [sic - Weller, Royal M], 7, Connecticut. [Note: 1880 census shows Huldah 76 and her sister Laura 56 in same household, with "sister" stated explicitly] !Census, 1870: New Fairfield, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, enum , household 34/37, enum 1 July 1870: Penny, Laura, 55, housekeeping, $500/300, b. NY --, Mary, 66, works for shirt factory, b. NY --, Huldah, 65, Tailoress, NY --, Edward, 26, Agent Life Ins., CT Weller, Royal, 17, Farm Laborer, CT !Census 1880, New Fairfield Twp., Fairfield Co., CT, film T9-0094 p. 11D. Taken from familySearch.com. Royal M. Weller, age 26 b. CT, farmer, married, father b. CT, mother b. NY. Edith Weller, wife, age 21 b. CT, keeping house, father b. CT, mother b. NY. Emma Weller, dau., age 3, b. CT Fannie Weller, dau., age 1, b. CT Sidney Gorham, laborer, relation=other, single, age 28 b. CT, parents b. CT. BIRTH: Note: One entry (dau birth 7 Sep 1876) in New Fairfield VRs says Royal Weller is b. in "Nalistown, CT" age 23. Unfortunately, I cannot locate this town.. It also indicates he is older, b. c1853. Another record (first daughter 6 Oct 1874) gives his birthplace as Watertown, CT -- presumably that is what the first says also. !Death-parentage: Pauline found the death record in Danbury town records: Royal M. Weller, died 2 Jan 1890, age 36 years, 3 months, married white male. Born New Fairfield, CT [sic]. Horse trainer, died of pneumonia. Parents: Royal M. Weller and Maria Weller. [age and birth place seem a bit off] 1886-1887, 1887-1888 Danbury City Directory: Royal M. Weller, at 8 Balmforth Avenue, occupation: Livery Stable. 1888-1889: Weller, Royal M., livery stable, h 11 Maple Ave. 1889-1890: Weller, Royal M., livery stable, h 286 Main. Pauline <bmd101@netzero.net> uncovered key records in Jan 2014 and shared them with me. Laura Penny died 11 April 1888, her estate probated in Danbury, CT. Royal M. Weller petitioned to be the executor of her estate, calling himself her nephew. He is listed among other family members who may be in line for distribution of her assets, including the children of William Penny, her brother. Pauline also found a death record for Royal M. Weller of Jan 1890 age 36. William Penny of the probate married the sister of Royal M. Weller Sr. One theory is that Royal M. Weller (jr) is the biological son of Royal M. Weller and Maria his wife, but that Maria died during childbirth of Royal (jr), or soon thereafter, and Royal M. (sr) felt he couldn't raise the child, so Royal M (jr) was raised by one of Royal M. (sr)'s siblings. Royal M. Weller sr. (b 1818) had a sister named Julia who married William Penney. So this might be the family that raised Royal M. Weller Jr. ____ Research: The 1860 census shows a Royal M. Weller age 37 b. Conn, occ: Agent, in Dist 2, Hartford CT, enum 31 July 1860. He is household 2212 with almost two dozen people that appear unrelated. In 1870, East Granby, Hartford Co., CT, p. , household 96, family 93: Weller, Royal M., 51 b. Conn, traveling agent $500 --, Katharine, 54 Conn, keeping house, $1000/$500, Grinwold, Sarah M., 23 b. Conn, home keeper, $1000 --, James A., 22 Conn, farmer, $6000/$2000 In 1870, a Royal M. Weller, age 51 b. CT, occ: traveling agent, prop $500, is found Pauline says the census taker misspelled his name -- wrote it as "Roger Miller", and in 1870 as "Royal Wellar". Both times he is living with three older women, all with the last name of Penny or Penney.