In 1846, Maria Stevenson gave birth to a daughter and died. The daughter was named Maria August Stevenson. She was born in Barre, Massachusetts. There is no record for the daughter's death. Reverend Stevenson remarried 18 months later and his new wife gave birth in New Hampshire to a daughter named Maria Augusta Stevenson.
Maria A. Standish had a younger sister named Vrylina. In 1851, Vrylina Standish married John J. Thorndike, the son of Nathaniel R. and Sarah E. (Giles) Thorndike. The Thorndikes had a daughter named Letitia "Lettie" Thorndike who was probably born in 1846 and married Louis E. Granger in 1870.
Perhaps Maria and Lettie are the same person:
- There is no birth record for Lettie (Thorndike) Granger. Both girls were born in 1846.
- The first record we have for Lettie is the 1850 census where she is listed as a four year old boy name Augstius. Should this have been Augusta?
- Massachusetts didn't have an adoption law until 1851. An adoption would have been private and if it were recorded would have been in journals and letters.
- The Thorndikes and Stevesons knew one another by 1851 because of the marriage of Vrylina and John. Did they know each other before then?
- On the 1900 Census, Sarah acknowledges three births with one living child. Three sons' births are recorded and accounted for. John J would have been the living child. Lettie was still alive at the time. Did Sarah speak with the census taker? Did she not count Lettie, or was Lettie adopted?
It's quite likely, Maria Augusta Stevenson is not Lettie Thorndike. Maria Augusta Stevenson could have died and left no death record. Reverend Stevenson could have entrusted his daughter to someone in his Barre congregation. She could have been sent to live with another family member.
