In 1860, my ancestor Austin Pomeroy Dibble married Betsey M. Doolittle. She was likely the widow of Seth Doolittle of Barkhamsted, Connecticut. Betsey M. Healey/Healy married Seth Doolittle in 1826. The Doolitle Family in America states she had four marriages, named three of her four husbands and indicated she was living in New Jersey when she died. Doolittle Family in America lists Seth Doolittle, Stillman, unknown and Skinner. This family reported information has expected discrepancies. I tend to remember my aunts and uncles in matched sets - Herb and Lois, Beverley and Bill, Tracy and Donna. I can only remember some of the maiden names. I would be hard pressed to remember my uncle's first wife's name. My Uncle and his first wife were married as teenagers and had parted ways long before I was around. Asking about my cousins can be hit or miss.
Using Census, City Directory, Newspaper and public records, you can identify four husbands for a woman named Betsey M. Healy:
- Seth H Doolittle (1802-1853) - m. 1826
- Austin P. Dibble (1811-1861) - m. 1860
- Almeron Allen (1834-1913) - m. 1862
- Horace Skinner (1802-1878) - m. before 1870
This matches the description given in Doolittle in broad details. The 1860 is listed as a second marriage for Betsey Doolittle. The 1862 marriage is listed as a third marriage.
Almeron Allen stands out on the list because he is much younger than the other husbands. Researching Almeron in the context of the other information raises some interesting questions. Almeron Allen appears in the probate records for Austin P. Dibble's estate. Austin died in Agawam on December 13th. Bestsy M. Dibble notified the probate court on January 7th, Betsey M. Dibble submits Austin's will written in June 1860, listing his three heirs: his wife Betsey M. Dibble and his adult children, Oratio Philander Dibble and Emmarett Coleman wife of Horatio Coleman. On April 1 Betsey M. Allen, the widow of Austin P. Dibble files a petition with the court having married Almeron Allen January 14. Almeron Allen is one of the three individuals inventorying the estate and Almeron Allen and Bestey M. Allen his wife purchase the assets of the estate. The woman who presented herself as the widow of Austin Dibble clearly married Almeron Allen.
The 1862 marriage record in Agawam lists Betsey's age as 39 years old. He birth place is listed as Pleasantville CT which is part of Barkhamsted where Betsey Doolittle lived with her first husband Seth. Her parent are listed as Nathaniel and Betsey Healey. It is her third marriage. In 1870, Almeron Allen is living with Betsey Allen born about 1824 and Evaline Allen born in 1863. In 1880, Almeron Allen is living with Betsey M Allen born about 1821. Betsey M. Allen the wife of Almeron dies in Southbury in 1893. If we viewed this information independently from Doolittle Family in America and the estate papers for Austin Dibble, we would come to the conclusion Betsey M. Allen is likely the young widow Betsey M. Healey, previous married names unknown. This family in Somers, CT appears to be the couple married in Agawam in 1862.
In 1880 we find the widowed Betsey Skinner, born 1807 living with Sarah Stillman in Southington, CT. Sarah Stillman is likely a daughter of Seth and Betsey Doolittle. Southington City directories list Betsey Skinner as the widow of Horace Skinner. In 1870, Betsey Skinner is living with Horace Skinner in New Hartford as are daughters from his previous marriages. Records indicate there are two separate women, Betsey M. Skinner nee Healy (1808-1898) and Betsey M. Allen (1821-1893). How we reconcile the contradictions in the records depends on when we believe we started having two women.
Possible Scenarios
Austin Dibble did not marry the widow of Seth Doolittle. Betsey Dibble is living with A. P. Dibble in 1860. She is 48 years old. This is closer to the probable age of Betsey M. Allen - 39 than the probable age of Betsey Skinner - 58. If this is the case we have two women named Betsey M. Healy, the younger is likely the daughter of Nathan(iel) and Betsey born in Barkhamsted around 1821. She married Doolittle probably around 1840. It would strengthen the identification of Nathaniel Haley of Sandisfield, MA with the Nathaniel Healey of Barkhamsted by allowing us to reconcile the family with the ages and genders reported in the 1820 census. This same family is possibly in Hartland, CT in 1830. If this scenario correct, the wife of Seth Doolittle could be as some researchers posited, the daughter of William Healy (1774-1874). She would be born in Rhode Island as some records indicate. It would explain the brief sojourn of Seth Doolittle's family in Chenango County, NY and the pair of land transactions there with William Healy (possibly Betsey's father or brother). It would partially explain William Jr.'s (1798-1865) move from Chenango to Barkhamsted.
The problems with this scenario are:
- There are now two missing marriages for the older Betsey M. Healy to Stillman and unknown
- There are no records for a younger Betsey M. Healy or Betsey M. Doolittle, the probable names, prior to 1870
- There are no records for Nathaniel Healy in Barkhamsted prior to 1836
The woman who presented herself as Betsy Dibble was someone else. The woman who filed the will for Austin P. Dibble was an imposter. Someone else step in and administered the estate. For this to be even plausible the individual would need to know Betsey Healy/Doolittle/Dibble. This would limit the person to a neighbor or family member. In such a scenario, Betsey would have left Agawam around the time of Austin's death and not returned if she did until after the probate proceedings were complete. This woman married Almeron and left with him. He may or may not have been an accomplice. This would explain the apparent age difference and the lack of details about Betsey's third husband in Doolittle Family in America.
The problems with this scenario are:
- The other heirs are likely in close proximity: Philo was living in Westfield when he was married in 1858 and his first wife is interred in Westfield. Emmarette is in Nassau, NY. Either could travel to Agawam if needed.
- There is no report of fraud or other concerns.
- There is no relative of the older Betsey or close neighbor who would be an obvious suspect.
The woman in the 1870 census is not Betsey M. Healy. Almeron married Betsey M. Healy, the widow of Austin Dibble and Seth Doolittle. Shortly there after they parted ways. Almeron then starting living with married another woman named Betsey.
The problems with this scenario are:
- The age of Evaline indicates her parents were together in 1862 - this would make for a very short marriage. We know they were together through the end of the probate process. The would not preclude a relationship with the younger woman causing the break.
Parting Thoughts
We have two women in 1870 who based on earlier records should be the same person and clearly are not. Complicating matters, it is not clear if Doolittle Family in America has a source with first
hand knowledge or if they are using a combination of oral tradition and
primary sources. This would resolve quickly if we could reject Doolittle or identify other sources. For example a record showing the younger Betsey M. Healy/Betsey Doolittle prior to 1860 or a marriage between Betsey Doolittle and Horace B. Skinner indicating it is her second marriage.
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