The Venable Name

The following letter was received in December, 1990 by my brother David from my Dad's (Paul Venable's) cousin Lawrence detailing what he knew concerning my great grandfather, Peter Nicklin Venables. Some minor punctuation has been added, but the grammar is as originally written.
G. L. Venables
(Return address omitted
for this posting)
Sunday, 11/18/90
Dear David,
      I have to presume you have copies of the various papers that I sent to your father. The copies of the birth of both Peter Nicklin and Sarah are all the info I have on them, however the story is "word of mouth" that Peter (your great grandfather) came to USA very young with one or two young brothers - they were indentured. Apparently the parents died leaving the boys destitute, thus their passage was paid for the trip - they were to work for the person to whom they were indentured for x years and to be educated and/or apprenticed. Apparently Peter lost track of his brothers we don't even know their names or ages. He ran away from this person who didn't live up to his bargain as to educating him (this was from Niagara Falls.) As you can see on the birth certificate the name was Venable(s). As was so often the case, this was the result of the immigration people (it happened often). The name comes from the parish of Venables which is on the Eure River near Paris, France.
      The Venables came to England in 1066 with William the Conqueror. He was Sir Gilbert De Venables who was granted land in around Chester and was made the Baron of Kinderton.
      Sometime, years ago, the family for some reason became Vernon Venables and another branch. Venables. Why, I don't know. I do have a family history listing of this but can't figure it out as the English apparently don't use the family name of Venables in the listings - they are the 3rd Baron of whatever.
      Nicklin is the correct spelling, we knew and enjoyed cousin Mary Nicklin, her father was at one time Speaker of the New Jersey State Assembly.
      Peter Nicklin Venables was very clever mechanic who in railroading, worked on perfecting Locomotive to convert from coal to oil etc. He was Superintendent of the Erie repair shop in Paterson. You may know Paterson had several well known manufacturing of Locomotives. One was Rogers my Dad designed one theirs shown at the Colombian Exposition in 1893.
      The locomotives were when finished were sent right down the main drag market street in Paterson and then put on the Erie tracks to places all over the world.
      George Addy father of Sarah owned textile mills in Paterson as well as tenements there. He had a farm and brickyard in Preakness (I believe). He was what is know as harded Englishman, I read in a history of Paterson how cantankerous he was. My dad told me of the time they were going to set up a pole by his house - he sat on the roof with a gun and kept them from doing it.
      To this day the Addy Venable mill is down by the river with sign still on it. I don't know Peter and Sarahs wedding date - get other dates from your dad. Sarah was run over by a horse and wagon on Straight Street and died some weeks later in 1923. Peter died a year or so later. Both were buried at Cedar Grove Cemetery, Paterson, NJ. Peter was a Mason, I have some of his and my father's pins, etc. I have never attempted to ask the Grand Lodge of New Jersey secretary to ask of his Masonic activities. I do assure you they both were good practicing Masons.
      George Nicklin Venables born 3/14/72 died 2/14/44.
      Caroline Van Note Gowdy Venables born in Toms River NJ 11/12/77 died 11/70. They were married in Toms River in 1905.
      Daughter Dorothea Nicklin Venables born in Long Branch NJ 10/6/09 married John Atwood 6/30/47 in N.Y.C. - no children.
      George Lawrence Venables born 11/1/11 at Long Branch married Graced Ritchie Chree 1/20/43 in Mt. Olive N.C. Our Daughter Jean Stuart Venables born 10/5/46 in Englewood N.J. married Thomas E. Taylor 6/7/69 daughter Allison Taylor born 8/43/73 son Robt Taylor1/9/78.
      Our daughter Barbara Ann Venables born 12/24/53 married Jonathan Carrara 6/7/69 in Brandon VT. Sons Samuel James Carrara born 6/17/76 and Jeffrey Jonathan Carrera 12/5/78.
      I sent your father this info? as well as copies of Peter and Sarah's Birth Cert. but if you wish will send you copies of same.
      Hope some of the above will assist you. There is an organization Assoc. for Culture and Sports in Venables, France Member fee 40 F. For ACSV correspondence: Monsieur Bernard Oger, 27 Rue deLa Mare, 27940 Venables, France.
Love to All
Larry Venables

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