John Holroyd Bagley and John Holroyd

John Holroyd Bagley (1806 - 1891) was a Hudson riverboat captain who was born in Providence, Rhode Island.₁ He died in Catskill, New York.₂ His grand-daughter, Emma (Bagley) Speed claimed he was the son of Luther and Sarah "Sally" (Baker) Bagley in 1911.₃ Emma informs us "Luther Bagley, born about 1775 in Providence, Rhode Island, was a marble cutter and dealt in monuments; was justice of the peace; prominent in the Masonic order." From available records we know Luther Bagley married Sally Baker in 1804,₄ and he died in 1809.₅ His wife, Sarah Bagley died the next year leaving three small children.₆ Two people claim to be children of this couple: Mary Malan (Bagley) Mason (1805-1891)₇ and John H. Bagley. It is possible the third child was too young to remember and identify their parents or they died without leaving a clear record. It is also possible based on the 1810 census there was another child in the household who died before Sally.₈ This leaves the following mysteries:

• Who are the parents of Luther Bagley and Sarah Baker? John H. Bagley's family believed Luther was likely descended from Orlando Bagley's family.₉ I think it is more likely Luther is the great grandson of Joseph Bagley(1672 -1743) the son of Samuel Bagley. Joseph has at least three grandsons (David, William and Joseph)  who could be the father of Luther Bagley and were living in the area when they died. The descendants of John Bagley could prove or disprove this with a genetic test. Of course, Luther Bagley may not be related to either of these Bagley families.
• Where did John Bagley's middle name come from? John Holroyd was prominent in the Providence, Rhode Island Masonic Lodge. He was a local minister and the son-in-law of Reverend Gano.₁₀ John H. Bagley's family speculates John Holroyd was a family friend.₁₁ Another possibility is John Holroyd is the foster father of John Bagley. Emma Speed's description of her great-grandfather might be a blending of Luther Bagley and John Holroyd. The Freemasons may very well have taken it on themselves to look after the Bagley orphans either as a general civic duty, or because the family had a connection to Freemasonry.
• Who cared for the Bagley children from the time of their mother's death to when they appear again in the public record? The records are thin for orphans. They are not listed in either parents estate papers. There are no records appointing guardians. There mother's obituary imply a community responsibility rather than individual responsibilities.₁₂ If the guess that John Holroyd fostered John Bagley. It is possible someone named Malan fostered his older sister Mary.
• How did fourteen year old John Bagley move from Providence, Rhode Island to Hudson, New York? The 1855 New York state census indicates John Bagley moved to Hudson 35 years before.₁₃ In 1820, John would have been 14. Did he move with a guardian? Was he apprenticed to a ships captain? Was he sent as an indentured servant?

Notes
1. "Locals." Windham Journal. February 19, 1891.; Culyer Reynolds. Hudson-Mohawk Genealogical and Family Memoirs. (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1911) 1681.
2. "Locals."; Reynolds. 1681.; "Death of John H. Bagley, Senior." Hudson Daily Evening Register. February 6, 1891.
3. Reynolds. 1681. Emma Speed is clearly the source for this information since it lists her father's Bagley ancestors and her mother's Van Hoesen ancestors.
4. James N. Arnold. Vital record of Rhode Island : 1636-1850 : first series : births, marriages and deaths : a family register for the people. (Providence: Narragansett Historical Publishing Company, 1895) Volume 7. 410.; "Rhode Island Town Marriages Index, 1639-1916," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8VY-5MB : accessed 16 June 2017), Luther Bagley and Sally Baker, 09 Aug 1804; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, United States, town halls, Rhode Island, and Rhode Island Historical Society, Providence; FHL microfilm 387.
5. Arnold. (1909) Volume 18. 246.; "Died." Providence Gazette. February 25, 1809. Volume XLV. Issue 2556. 3.; "Deaths." Columbia Phenix. February 25, 1809. Volume VII. Issue 370. 3.
6. "Died." Providence Gazette. December 1, 1810. Volume XLVI. Issue 2449. 3.; "Died." Rhode-Island American. November 30, 1810. Volume III. Issue 13. 3.
7. "Rhode Island Deaths and Burials, 1802-1950," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8ZZ-BFT : 6 December 2014), Sarah Bagley in entry for Mary Malam Mason, 21 Jun 1891; citing Providence, Providence, Rhode Island, reference ; FHL microfilm 2,023,154.
8."United States Census, 1810," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/XH2H-LG2 : accessed 20 June 2017), Sarah Bagley, North District, Providence, Rhode Island, United States; citing p. 78, NARA microfilm publication M252 (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll 58; FHL microfilm 281,232. The 1810 lists 2 males under 5 and 2 females under 5 in the household of Sarah Bagley. They appear to be living in the right location based on Sarah's obituary.
9. Reynolds. 1681.
10. Henry Warren Rugg, History of Freemasonry in Rhode Island. (Providence: E.L. Freeman and Son. 1895) 84. 365. 491. 820. 822.
11. RossBagley, Octtober 24,  2011 (03:06PM), reponse to dave3114, "John Holroyd BAGLEY Jr, Hudson / Catskill NY" Ancestry Message Boards.  February 16, 2011. https://www.ancestry.com/boards/surnames.bagley/920/mb.ashx
12."Died." Providence Gazette.; "Died." Rhode-Island American.
13, "New York State Census, 1855," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/K6S2-FB4 : 19 November 2014), John H Bagley, Ward 1, Hudson City, Columbia, New York, United States; count clerk offices, New York; FHL microfilm 479,098.