I am looking for any information on the family of William (age 67) and Mary Dansfield (age 53) with John Dansfield (age 15) who lived in Brookfield, LaSalle County on the 1850 Census. I believe that John married a Sarah E. Harris between 1859/1861. John serverd in the Civil War, dying at the Battle of Franklin, Tenn on 11/30/1864. and Sarah drew widows pension on him. She married a William Whiteford sometime in 1865 (I believe). I found her and William Whiteford listed on the 1870 Census for Town of Brookfield. Any help that you could give to me on this family would be greatly appreciated.

Hi Pennie
My John Whitford born in Antrim in Northern Ireland in 1803 s/o John Whitford and Jane Gow; he was transported as a convict from Armagh, Ireland in 1827 to Port Jackson (Sydney) NSW, I have no information on his family before this. The Whiteford spelling was used in the next generation, John Whitford/Whiteford was my grgrgrgrandfather and I have all the Australian information from then, however, I doubt that it would be any use to your research, as none of my lot ended up in the States, sorry. This is not to say that there was not a connection way back.
Good luck with your research! Lesley

Hello. Have received your message. My William Whiteford came from Topsham Devon England. Have no idea if any of his family went to the USA, am still trying to find his family in Devon England. Sorry I cannot be of help. Julie

Hello. As I said my WHITEFORD's came from Devon England, am sure that they did not spell there name WHITFORD. William was born approx. 1893-1900, he married Dinah. Had 3 daughters. Julie

My Gr Grandmother was most definitely a Whiteford, as was her father, I was only able to glean the Whitford spelling from the convict records, John, unfortunately was illiterate which I suppose could account for the spelling of his name, and maybe this was just a consequence of the day, I tend to think they all originated from the same name. As well as Whitefords there are a great number of Whitfords in the Devon/Cornwall area and even a village by the name of Whitford in East Devon: "a delightful village nestling on the bank of the river Axe". I was always under the impression that my guy was Cornish, so did a fair bit of research in the area, until I uncovered the truth of his convict records - possibly covered up in the early days! regards

Hello Lesley. I wish I could be more of help. I have not been able to get any further with my William Henry Whiteford (he was my G.G.G. grandfather) to find his parents and if he had any siblings. As I have not established where he was born possibly he could have been Cornish. They did live in Topsham Devon some time. His wife was Dinah and she was born in Budleigh Salterton. William Henry Whiteford was a Master Mariner (Captain of a boat) he died in 1851. I keep looking for them perhaps I will have some luck. Here is my E-mail address if you should wish to get in touch TONJULM@aol.com. I live in Bristol England