My cousin Radford Cecil Hope – the old fellow with the walrus mustache – was born in England, then emigrated to the States in the 1870s to seek his fortune.
Radford was looking to strike it rich mining for gold, but landed up farming the rich land in Horse Cove, North Carolina, nestled in the scenic Blue Ridge Mountains. These are my notes about the history of his family from rural country life to the city lights of Boston.
In the 1870s, the Hope family began sowing seeds as farmers in the mountains of North Carolina. A few cousins from England joined them planting crops and running the family farm.
Around 1890, the Hopes moved north to the seaport town of Chelsea, Massachusetts – apparently for the job opportunities, affordable homes and good public schools. After uprooting the family from the fields, the children became successful educators and business people in Boston and New York City.
Helen Bathrick and Radford Cecil Hope raised four children in the tiny Boston suburb of Chelsea, across the Mystic River. Helen was born in New York, lived in the Michigan, then moved to a farm in North Carolina. Apparently, Helen and Radford met in the romantic Blue Ridge Mountains.
In 1879, the couple married in the home of S. F. Bathrick located in the remote village of Horse Cove, NC. Radford was 26 and Helen was 20 years old. Witnesses included cousins William and John Nield who worked with Radford Hope on the family farm and vineyards.
Frank, Ralph, Arthur, and Evelyn – were Radford and Helen Bathrick Hope’s four children.
Cover photo: Whiteside Mountain near Highlands, NC
The Hope Family Tree
Radford Cecil Hope was born to Thomas Radford Hope and Mary Anne Manning in Lancashire, England.
I am related to both the Hope and Manning families.
Thomas Radford Hope was the brother of Mary Louisa Hope (1820-1897) – my 3rd great-grandmother.
Mary Anne Manning was the sister of Samuel Manning (1821-1881) – my 3rd great-grandfather.
Radford Cecil Hope
BIRTH 6 OCT 1854 • West Derby, Lancashire, England
DEATH 2 DEC 1907 • Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts
– 1st cousin 4x removed
Parents of Radford:
Thomas Radford Hope (1824–1896)
– my 4th great-uncle
Mary Ann Manning (1826–1898)
– my 4th great-uncle
Spouse of Radford:
Helen Adelaide Bathrick 1858–1923
BIRTH OCT 1858 • Phoenix, Oswego, New York
DEATH 1923 • Chelsea, Suffolk, Massachusetts
Parents of Helen:
Servetus Frank Bathrick (1836–1897)
Jeannette Elizabeth Northrup (1839–1897)
Emigration from England to the States
Memories shared by Helen Nina Hope Dibbell (in quotes)
“Cecil Hope, my father Frank’s father, had come to Horse Cove, North Carolina, from England – for a gold rush, but he went to the wrong mountain.”(according to family legend)
The discovery of a 17-pound gold nugget in Cabarrus County, NC in 1799 marked the beginning the North Carolina Gold Rush.
“Cecil’s father, Thomas Radford Hope, had already been to America on a trip. He’d been all over the place. He’d been to South America. The story is that Thomas was sent to the Americas to forget a girl, Mary Anne Manning, but after his travels, he went home and married her anyway. But that was the beginning of his interest in America. He always thought his son should go there.”
Cecil married Helen Bathrick in Horse Cove where they farmed the rich land. Farms in the area grew vegetables, peach trees and grapes – used for winemaking.
Cecil = Radford Cecil Hope
source: Helen’s Story
Mountains of Gold
The Carolina Gold Rush, the first gold rush in the United States, followed discovery of gold in North Carolina in 1799. It was not until a few years later that word of the gold spread and men started coming to North Carolina from other states.
I think that Radford was actually late for the gold rush, since the gold was found decades earlier in the area.
However, the land was fertile and only $1 to $2 an acres so farming brought the next wave of pioneers to Horse Cove.
Scenic Horse Cove, North Carolina
In the late 1700’s Horse Cove was used as a pasture for livestock, hence the name. Later it was a destination for both tired and weary travelers and their horses as they headed north to the Highlands Plateau.
The Town of Highlands
Horse Cove is a remote forested area near Highlands, NC. Located on a plateau in the southern Appalachian mountains, within the Nantahala National Forest, Highlands has a population of 909, that increases to 10,000+ during the vacation season.
The area is popular for fishing, hiking and golfing.
High Elevation = Mild Weather
Astride the Eastern Continental Divide, at just over 4,100 ft (1,200 m), the town’s elevation contributes to its relatively cool summers and abundant rainfall, averaging 87.57 inches (2,224 mm) per year. It has an average high of 78°F or 26°C in July, far lower than the rest of the American South.
source: thelaurelmagazine.com
1880 United States Federal Census
The young Hope family had a newborn son in 1880. The three Nield cousins were farming the land in Horse Cove. The Nields are related to me as 1st cousins, 4x removed (1C4R) via Elizabeth Bakewell Manning of Leicester, England.
Radford Cecil – R. C. Hope 26, Head
Helen – H. A. Hope 21, Wife
Frank Radford – F. R. Hope 2 months, Son
William – Wm. Nield 26, Cousin, born 1854 (1C4R)
Charles Manning – C. M. Nield 20, Cousin, born 1860 (1C4R)
John Manning – J. M. Nield 30, Cousin, born 1850 (1C4R)
Home in 1880: Blue Ridge, Macon, North Carolina
Farm in Horse Cove
The Cultivator & Country Gentleman, Volume 45
Albany, N.Y. September 2, 1880
For Sale – FARM of 220 acres, near Highlands, N.C.
New frame house, 500 peach trees, excellent vineyard, rich land. Price $1,000; easy terms. J. M. Nield
Horse Cove, Mason Co., N.C.
J.M. Nield was the cousin of Radford Hope. John Manning Nield is my 1st cousin 4x removed.
source: The Highlander Macon County and Western North Carolina Advertiser 22 Oct 1886
Bargin in Land
Farm of 400 acres, 20 bottom, 200 under fence; about 75 cleared. Good bearing and young orchards. Six roomed house, and outbuildings. Splendid range.
Edn. E. Nield, Horse Cove, Macon Co., N.C. (Edward Earnest Nield is my 1st cousin 4x removed. )
source: newspapers.com
Hope Children
Frank Radford Hope (1880-1953)
Alice Evelyn Hope (1883-1978)
Arthur Manning Hope (1886-1936)
Ralph Kenyon Hope (1888-1937)
What they did for work …
Frank worked as a stock clerk at a bank, then became a Stock Broker a Staket Bonds Co. He worked his way up to be a Controller for Paine Webber & Co. a stock brokerage and asset management firm.
Evelyn was a high school teacher in Chelsea.
Arthur was clerk for a rubber factory.
Ralph was clerk for a coffee merchant.
Where they lived …
Frank, the eldest, lived with his family in a mansion in Fairfield, Connecticut. They had four servants, including a cook, house maid, butler and chauffeur. For years, they had an estate in Tarrytown, New York – on the eastern bank of the Hudson River, about 25 miles north of midtown Manhattan where Frank worked.
The youngest three siblings lived in their parents spacious home at 45 Garland Street in Chelsea, MA.
Frank, Arthur, Ralph and Evelyn
“Frank had to leave high school when his father died, to help the family by working. Cecil had died in an elevator crash.
Arthur was crippled. His friends would come pick him up and carry him to the car. He worked for Revere rubber as long as he could.
Ralph went into the Navy. He was big and round, just a plain gob–he always looked so cute, because, you know, you didn’t usually see fat ones. He married the girl across the street, another Evelyn, and they had two kids, and one was Barbie, and one was Bobbit. They had a bungalow and I was entranced.
Evelyn taught typing and stenography and perhaps a language, too. Evelyn played the cello. Ralph sang to entertain people.”
– Helen Nina Hope Dibbell, daughter of Frank Hope
American Citizenship
Radford Cecil Hope became an American citizen in 1888 – after his four children were born in the States.
Naturalization Oath taken on 4 Aug 1888
in Boston, Massachusetts
Immigration Year: 1872
OccupationsRadford Cecil Hope was talented and wore many hats – from miller, to farmer, packer, and electrician.
1871 Wales Census for Radford Cecil Hope (age 17)
Occupation: Miller, Newmarket, Wales
[worked at his fathers 160 acre farm and grain mill]
1880 United States Federal Census for R. C. Hope
Occupation: Farmer, Blue Ridge, Macon, North Carolina
[worked the farm with his three cousins – Nield family]
1890 U.S. City Directories for Radford C Hope
Occupation: Packer, Chelsea, Massachusetts
[worked as a packer and shipper for 10+ years]
1900 United States Federal Census for Radford C Hope – Occupation: Electrician, Chelsea, Massachusetts
1902 U.S. City Directories for Radford C Hope
Occupation: Electrical Engineer, Chelsea, Massachusetts
1907 Death Record for Radford C Hope
Occupation: Elevator Man, Boston, Massachusetts
Tragic Elevator Accident
Sadly, Radford C Hope died in an elevator accident at the Relief Station of the Boston City Hospital – Haymarket square in 1907. Only 54 years old, he was listed as an “Elevator Man”. He might have been an elevator mechanic, since he previously worked as an electrician.
Cause of Death:
“Shock caused by multiple injuries due to being crushed by an elevator.” See the Death Record.
A little history on passenger elevators…
1854 Elisha Grave Otis demonstrated the first safety elevator at the New York exposition in the Crystal Palace proving elevator travel for passengers was safe.
1857 Otis Elevator Company received the first order for a passenger elevator. They had only made freight elevators since 1853 when they opened.
1857 The first elevator for public use was a steam-driven type installed by Otis Brothers in the five-story department store on Broadway for E.W Haughtwhat & Company.
source: http://www.theelevatormuseum.org
Probate (Will)
HOPE Radford Cecil of 50 Garland-street Chelsea Massachusetts United States of America died 2 December 1907 at the relief station of the Boston City Hospital Haymarket-square Boston Massachusetts Administration limited London 12 August to Walter Bayard Hope physician the attorney of Helen A. Hope widow.
Effect £414 14s.
2016 value = £45540 or $60,085 USD
Probate: the official proving of a will.
45 Garland Street in Chelsea MA
The large Hope family home was at 45 Garland Street in Chelsea, Massachusetts.
The stately home was eventually replaced by a new 4-bedroom home in 1955. The location of the old home is marked on the map. There was another family home down the block at 50 Garland Street.
The town of Chelsea is directly across the Mystic River from the city of Boston. In 1900, the population of Chelsea was 34,072.
Fire of 1908
On April 12, 1908, nearly half the city was destroyed in the first of two great fires that would devastate Chelsea in the 20th century. The fire left 18,000 people, 56 percent of the population, homeless.
References
Helen’s Story about the Hope Family
– told by Helen Nina Hope Dibbell (1908-2004),
who was my 3rd cousin 2x removed
Knight Family of Seattle 