Bishop: Generation 4

Some Children of James Henry Bishop & Jane Lynch

James Bishop & Lucinda Brasure

Jul 1855: James Bishop Junior was born in Sussex County, Delaware.

He was always called "Jimmy", but his middle name is disputed.  Some researchers have claimed that his middle name was Henry, thus he would be James Henry Bishop Junior.  I've not been able, however, to discover one mention of James with that name (or even an H.) in the records.  Instead, he was referred to as James A. Bishop.

25 Sep 1858: Lucinda H. Brasure, the daughter of Joshua H. and Elizabeth Hudson Brasure, was born in Sussex County, Delaware.[1]  She was called "Cindy".  See photo.

15 Mar 1865: Ebe Walter, John H. Evans, and James Carey were ordered to assess the property of James H. Bishop on behalf of Joshua C., James, William, Hetty, Sarah C., and Maria E. Bishop, minor children under 14 "now under the wardship" of Joshua W. Bishop.  Joshua W. Bishop posted a bond of $600, apparently as guardian, with John H. Hudson as security.[2]

30 Jun 1870 Census, Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County, DE (Roxana P.O.): Farm laborer James Bishop, age 15, residing in the household of Jehu D. and Amanda Bennett.  The household consisted of farmer Jehu age 27, Amanda 24, farmer Peter W. 21, James 15, and Sarah T. 17.[3]

21 Dec 1876: James A. Bishop, age 22, employed as an oysterman, son of Henry and Jane, married Lucinda Brazure, age 17, daughter of Joshua and Elizabeth in Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA.  The ceremony was performed by P. Bowdin Senior.[4]               

3 Jun 1880 Census, Chincoteague, Accomack County, VA: Sailor James Bishop 24, born in DE; Lucinda age 22, born in DE; James H. age 2, born in VA.  They were enumerated next door to the J. B. Lynch family, very close to the Reuben Bishop family.[5]  Joseph B. Lynch's wife Charlotte was the sister of Charles Collins, husband of Hetty Bishop.

25 Jan 1890: Daughter Ethel's birth certificate  listed her father's occupation as "oysterman".

1893: Cindy Bishop was one of the nineteen signatories to The Doctrines and Discipline of Christ's Sanctified Holy Church.  Among the other signatories were [sister] Maria C. and [brother-in-law] William J. Collins.[6]

15 Sep 1894: "Sindy Bishop" was one of the followers of Joseph B. Lynch named in a warrant charging that they had conspired to commit and actually committed acts of indecency, to wit: 1) caused Mary E. Burton [daughter of Charles and Hester Bishop Collins] to leave her lawful husband Woolsey; 2) promulgated the doctrine of "Free Love" teaching married women to disregard their vows; 3) appointed male and female members as "Fellow Watchers" to sit up at night and watch alone together in a room, thus scandalizing the people of Chincoteague Island and counseling the separation of wives from their husbands; 4) formed themselves into an "organized Band" in order to accomplish these indecent works "and otherwise misbehaving themselves".[7] Among others named were Maria Collins, George and John Bishop, and Mary and James Hudson.  They were apparently ordered to appear in court but were not actually arrested.  John Bishop may have been the son of Reuben, but George Bishop's identity isn't known.

What was this "organized band" that so outraged their fellow islanders?  In 1888, Joseph B. Lynch, a prominent leader of the Goodwill [Methodist] Church on Chincoteague Island, had become convinced that the only path to salvation lay in achieving a second "holiness" or "sanctification" through the power of the Holy Ghost, a sanctification that would result in the believer living a moral life.  Many other church members were converted by Lynch, and after several very contentious years, the group withdrew and formed a new congregation they named Christ's Holy Sanctified Church on 14 Feb 1892.  They caused much consternation among their neighbors, not only for their "wild frantics" during services, but because they also began to insist that the their members must leave a spouse who was not "sanctified".  Members were to follow the lead of Joseph Lynch, who put aside wife Charlotte in favor of new "watchmate", Sarah Collins.  In 1894, the court charged Joseph Lynch, Sarah Collins, John Collins and William Chandler with "acts of indecency" and "free love".   (That was the case in which Cindy Bishop was ordered to appear.)  Three were convicted and, while out on bail, the group decided to leave while they could.  There followed three waves of migration out of Chincoteague over the next three years.  Finding a permanent home proved difficult.  In Chowan County, NC, they were driven out with bullets, some members being killed.  They continued, however, to travel the coasts seeking converts to the faith, living in "arks" modeled after that of Noah.  Many of "the Band" wound up in Florida.  Wherever they were, they would work at whatever jobs were available, devoting themselves to spreading the gospel of the "second blessing".[8]  For a 19th century perspective on the "Lynchites", see The New York Times, "Lynch's Sanctified Band".

6 Jun 1900 Census, Lee County, FL (Precinct 4): Roomer Lucinda H. Bishop, born Feb 1858 in DE, married 24 years, mother of 4 children, all still living, in house headed by W. H. Workman; Flonie B. Green born Mar 1885 in VA, married less than one year; Ethel  M. Bishop, born Jan 1890 in VA; Ezra Bishop born Feb 1900 in FL; John R. Green born 1882 in FL.  There was a total of 15 people in this household; the census taker had written "Holiness Band" in the left-hand margin.[9]  Lee lies just south of Ft. Myers, 40-50 miles from Manatee where James Bishop was enumerated.

14 Jun 1900 Census, Manatee County, FL (Precinct 1): Farm laborer James Bishop, born Jul 1854 in DE, married for 22 years; wife Lucinda, born Sep 1851 in DE, mother of 8 children, 4 living. They were renting a home with boarders Eliza and Susan Dozier, ages 49 and 14.[10]  Manatee County lies just south of St. Petersburg.  Was Lucinda enumerated twice?  If so, why were children Ethel and Ezra not present? 

26 Apr 1910 Census, Parragoula City, Jackson County, MS: House painter Elias Stokes 35, FL FL FL, married for 12 years; Fannie E. 30, FL FL FL, mother of one child, still living; Dewey A. 10, FL FL FL; boarder Joseph Birch 60, MD MD MD, a laborer at odd jobs; boarder Lucinda H. Bishop 52, DE DE DE, married for 25 years, mother of 5 children, 3 living; boarder Laura  Brasier 67, a widow, DE DE DE, servant.  Laura Tubbs Brasier was the second wife of Lucinda's father Joshua Brasure.  The house next door [on Riverfront] was occupied by Charlie and Annie Bishop.[11]  Charlie Bishop was probably the son of Reuben West Bishop.  His wife was Angeline Conner Bishop. 

Jimmy's whereabouts in 1910 aren't known.

7 Jan 1920 Census, Pascagoula, Jackson County, MS: Vegetable peddler James A. Bishop 65, DE DE DE; Annie 66, MD MD MD.  They were listed close to Charlie and Demiah Bishop and Joseph R. and Angie Lynch.[12]   Once again, Charlie Bishop is almost certainly the son of Reuben West Bishop, enumerated with second wife Mime Smith.

9 Jan 1920 Census, Pascagoula, Jackson County, MS (International Shipyard): House painter Elias Stokes 44, FL FL FL; wife Lucinda 55, DE DE DE; son-in-law John R. Green 38, FL FL FL, employed as house plasterer; daughter Flonie 34, VA FL DE.[13]

Although Lucinda left Jimmy because he was not "sanctified", she may never have obtained a divorce.  They remained on friendly terms.  When did Cindy and Jimmy actually part?  If before 1900, why did Jimmy seem to follow the Band?

Betty Denty Gitchel only saw him a few times but remembers him as "a small, likeable man".  Milton Green recalls that "Uncle Jimmy" was "small in stature, very precise and neat".    According to Doris Hamilton, Jimmy was a carpenter.

When the Denty grandchildren were young, Ethel Bishop Denty used to take them to Birmingham, AL for about six weeks every summer to visit Lucinda, who then lived on Schloss Avenue. Cindy was always in bed, waited upon by Elias and Ethel whenever the latter visited.  Betty Denty Gitchel never knew the reason. 

The Stokes had moved to Birmingham, AL by 1922.

11 Apr 1930 Census, Birmingham, Jefferson County, AL: Widower James Bishop 75, DE DE DE, no occupation, boarding in the household of Charles L. and Maggie Tingle on 85th Street South.  Charles 43, VA DE VA, was listed as a housepainter.  In spite of the designation of "Widowed", this must surely be our Jimmy.[14]  Tingle was a surname associated with Christ's Sanctified Holy Church.

The Stokes moved from Birmingham, AL to Columbus, GA with the Green family to found a "Sanctified Church" in Columbus, apparently when Doris Green was about seven, which would  have meant a move very shortly after the 1930 Census.

29 Dec 1931: Jimmy died of pneumonia in Muscogee County, GA.[15]  He is buried in Riverside Cemetery, Columbus, GA.  But once again, the name on the death certificate is James A. Bishop. Betty Gitchel believed that he probably died and was buried in Birmingham, AL.

                1 Apr 1949: Lucinda Brasure Bishop Stokes died in Columbus, Muscogee County, GA.  She is buried in Park Hill Cemetery in Columbus.[16]

15 Aug 1949: Elias Stokes died in Muscogee County, GA.

Children of James and Lucinda Brasure Bishop: In addition, they had two males who died in infancy, one born on 15 Dec 1883 and one born on 30 Dec 1893.

James Henry Bishop (14 Mar 1878 -     ; m. Mary Ann Lewis 1899)

Flonie Bell "Flo" Bishop (4 Mar 1885 - 27 May 1959; m. John Riley Green c. 1900)

Ethel May Bishop (25 Jan 1890 - 15 Jan 1973; m. Samuel Johnston Denty 24 Dec 1907)

Ezra Bishop (c. Feb 1900 -     )

Hester Bishop & Ebe Townsend Chandler

23 Oct 1858: Hester Jane Bishop was born in Sussex County, DE.[17]  She was called "Hettie" or "Hattie".

25 Oct 1858: Ebe Townsend Chandler was born in Sussex County, DE.[18]

7 Jun 1870 Census, Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County, DE (Selbyville P.O.): Hettie J. Bishop age 11, was enumerated in the household of William and Martha McCabe.[19]

15 Apr 1877: "Hetty J. Bishop", age 18, born in Rosanna, DE, daughter of Henry and Jane Bishop, married "Eba" Chandler, age 18, an oysterman born in Rosanna, DE, son of Joshua L. and Catherine M. Chandler, in Chincoteague, Accomack county, VA.[20]   Rosana probably refers to Roxana P.O. in Baltimore Hundred, Sussex County, DE.

22 Jun 1880 Census, Frankford, Dagsboro Hundred, Sussex County, DE: Sailor Ebe T. Chandler 21, DE DE DE; Hattie J. 21, DE DE DE; Birda M. age 1.[21]

1900 Census, Frankford, Sussex County, DE: Ebe Chandler 58, born Oct 1858, DE DE DE, married 23 years, employed in "engines"; Hetty 41, born Oct 1858, DE DE DE, mother of 4 children, 2 living; daughter Birdie 21, born May 1879, DE DE DE; son Norman E. 4, born Oct 1895.[22]

21 Apr 1910 Census, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA: U. T. Chandler 51, DE DE DE, married for 33 years, profession illegible; Hattie J. 51, DE DE DE.[23]  The name is strange, but it must be Ebe and Hattie, see 1920.

1920 Census, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, PA: Retired sea captain Eve Chandler 62, DE DE DE; Hattie 62, DE DE DE; son Norman 23, a bookkeeper; maid Minnie Bishop 34, VA DE VA.[24]  Minnie Lou Bishop was the daughter of Reuben West Bishop.

14 Apr 1930 Census, Frankford, Sussex County, DE: Poultry farmer Ebe T. Chandler 71, , DE DE DE, married at age 19; Hettie J. 71, DE DE DE, married at age 19; son Norman E. 32, DE DE DE, married at age 24, employed as a fruit buyer; daughter-in-law Helen E. 30, married at age 22; granddaughter Jean L. 3 5/12; granddaughter Virginia L. McCabe 14, DE DE DE.

19 Jul 1936: Hetty Bishop Chandler died and was buried in Frankford Cemetery.              

12 Oct 1956: Ebe died.

Children of Hetty J. Bishop and Ebe T. Chandler:

Birdie M. Chandler (May 1879 -     ; m. ______ McCabe)

Norman E. Chandler (Oct 1895 -     ; m. Helen E. ______ c. 1922)

If you have material about or photos of any individuals included in Nancy's Dead Relatives, can add well-documented family lines, have corrections and/or comments, or wish to establish a link to or from this site, please contact me at nancy@nancysdeadrelatives.com.  However, the decision whether or not to include any submitted material is the webmaster's (mine) alone. 

Nancy Denty Breidenthal

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