Family/Spouse: Edward M. Cain. Edward was born in private. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. E. Robert Cain was born in private.
2. Karem M. Cain was born in private.

Alfred married Bertha Cleis Boots WFT est 1897-1923. Bertha (daughter of John Wesley Boots and Catherine Jane Fombelle) was born on 22 Apr 1884 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; died on 31 Jan 1935. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Bertha Cleis Boots was born 22 April 1884, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and died 31 January 1935. She married 1st, Earl ECKLES, from whom she was later divorced. She married 2nd, 7 June 1906, Alfred M. DURNELL, who was born 11 April 1877, and died 12 October 1938. She and her second husband are buried in the North Sewickley Cemetery, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. They had five children.
-----
The Obituary of Bertha C. Durnell appeared in the Ellwood City Ledger, Friday, 1 February 1935:

" Funeral Services for Mrs. A. M. Durnell
Saturday Afternoon

"Funeral services of Mrs. A. M. Durnell, of Wurtemburg, who died yesterday morning at 7:45 in her home after an illness of two weeks will be held Saturday afternoon at 2:30.

"The services will be from the home, with the Rev. A. M. Doak officiating. Burial will be in the North Sewickley Cemetery."
----

Notes:

John Wesley Boots was born 26 October 1837, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, where he died 8 January 1925. He married, 22 April 1875, Catherine Jane FOMBELLE, daughter of Theophilus Emusilach FOMBELLE and Elizabeth MAGAW, who was born 18 March 1851, in New Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, and died 12 July 1914. They are buried in the North Sewickley Cemetery, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. They had eight children.

The Obituary of Catherine Jane Boots appeared in the Ellwood Citizen, Thursday, 16 July 1914:

" Mrs. Cath. Jane Boots

"Mrs. Catherine Jane Boots, a well known resident, died at her home near Portersville on Sunday afternoon last, aged 64 years. Her funeral was held Tuesday, conducted by Rev. Heazelton. Interment at North Sewickley. She is survived by her husband and eight children. Also by ten brothers and sisters, one of whom is Mrs. S. A. Stamm of this city."

The Obituary of John Wesley Boots appeared in the Ellwood City Ledger, Friday 9 January 1925:

" John W. Boots of Pleasant Hill Dies

"John W. Boots, for many years a resident of Pleasant Hill, died at his home there yesterday, following a long illness. He was 88 years old.

"Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o;clock, with burial in North Sewickley Cemetery. One brother, Warren Boots, of this city, survives him."

The descendants of John Wesley Boots and Catherine Jane Fombelle have held an annual reunion at Thanksgiving every year since 1931. Minutes have been kept of each reunion, detailing events of the day, and more importantly, listing births, marriages, and deaths for the preceding year. These minutes have been carefully preserved, and are in the possession of the current Secretary of the group, Susan (Mrs. Frank) Boots, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania. An outline of this family was prepared from the information contained in these minutes, which was furnished to the author by Elizabeth R. (Mrs. H. N.) Boots, in 1978

John married Catherine Jane Fombelle on 22 Apr 1875. Catherine (daughter of Theophilus Emusilach Fombelle and Elizabeth Magaw) was born on 18 Mar 1851 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; died on 12 Jul 1914 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; was buried in North Sewickley Cemetery, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

John Boots was born in 1810 (the baptismal records of St. James Church, Ewhurst, Sussex County, England, show his baptism dated 17 June 1810), in Sussex County, England, and died 20 September 1853, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

He married, in Sussex County, by license issued 7 April 1829, Sylvia COLEMAN, daughter of William COLEMAN and Lucy _____, who was born 13 September 1809, in Sussex County, England, and died 2 August 1884, in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Baptismal records of the parish church of St. James the Great, Ewhurst, Sussex County, England, reflect her baptism on Septemger 27, 1808. They are buried in the North Sewickley Cemetery, North Sewickley Township, Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

A search of the public records of Beaver and Lawrence Counties, Pennsylvania, reveals no record of a last Will and Testament of John Boots.

Contained in the Concord Methodist Church booklet is the following:

"The following notes were written from memory about the year 1907 by Mary J. Belles, deceased, eldest sister of W. J. Horner: 'Among the original members I would mention:...John Boots, a local preacher, and the first Sabbath school superintendent that I have any recollection of. He died in the prime of life, just when his friends felt that they needed him most. He left a wife and a large family of children.'"

The Concord Church booklet contains the following obituaries of John and Sylvia Boots:

"OBITUARY of John Boots: "ADVOCATE, Friday, October 14, 1853. John Boots departed this life on the 20th of Sept., 1853, aged 45 years, after an illness of five days. Brother Boots was born in Sussex County, England. Came to this Country at the age of 19; experienced religion and united with the M. E. Church some four or five years after his arrival; was subsequently appointed to the charge of a class, and after filling that office with acceptability and usefulness for some time he was licensed to exhort and afterwards to preach as a local preacher.
J. Monroe, Beaver, Sept. 26, 1853."

OBITUARY of Sylvia Boots: "Advocate, Aug. 21, 1884. Sylvia Coleman was born in Sussex County, England, Sept. 13, 1809. She was married to John Boots in 1829, and soon after with a large party sailed for America. They settled in Western Pennsylvania, where she lived until her death, which occurred Aug. 2, 1884. In early life, Sister Boots gave her heart to her Saviour and joined the Wesleyan's, but on coming to this country, she soon found a home in the M. E. Church, in which she has ever adorned her profession. Her sainted husband, who for many years was a devout and useful local preacher in our church, preceded his wife to the spirit land, in Sept., 1853. Since then Sister Boots has lived a widow. Her last sickness was very short. Only five minutes. But her lamp was trimmed and burning. By the kindness of our Presbyterian brethren we buried her from their church in North Sewickley, Aug. 3rd. Surely a Princess has fallen in Israel.
Andrew L. Kendall."

United States Census Records of 1840, for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, show the following:
North Sewickley Township - Page 67:
Head of family - John Boots. Members of family, including head of family:
2 males under 5
1 male aged 5-10
1 male aged 30-40
1 female under 5
1 female aged 30-40
1 female aged 60-70.
The two males under 5 were probably John Wesley Boots, born 26 October 1837, and William D. Boots, born 16 February 1840; the male aged 5-10 would have been Edward Nicholas Boots, born c1834; the identity of the female under 5 is unknown, perhaps a child who did not survive infancy, perhaps even a visiting relative; the female aged 30-40 would have been Sylvia Boots; and the female aged 60-70 was undoubtedly Elizabeth Boots, John's widowed mother.

United States Census Records of 1850, for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, show the following:
Name of Individual Age Sex Occupation Value of R/Est Birthplace
Marion Township - Page 182, Family No. 74
John Boots 40 M Farmer England
Sylvia Boots 42 F England
Edw. N. Boots 16 M Farmer Pa
John W. Boots 12 M Pa
William Boots 10 M Pa
Horace Boots 8 M Pa
Sylvia Boots 6 F Pa
Lucy Boots 4 F Pa
Richmond Boots 3 M Pa
Daniel Boots 1 M Pa.

United States Census Records of 1860, for Beaver County, Pennsylvania, show the following:
Name of Individual Age Sex Occupation Value of R/Est Birthplace
Marion Township, Page 429, Family No. 976.
Sylvia Boots 57 F 800 England
Edward N. Boots 27 M Teacher Penna
John W. Boots 23 M Farmhand Penna
William Boots 20 M Farmhand Penna
Horace Boots 18 M Farmhand Penna
Sylvia Boots 16 F Penna
Lucy Boots 14 F Penna
Smith Boots 12 M Penna
Jabez Boots 10 M Penna.

It is interesting to note that in 1850 the family referred to the youngest son as Daniel Boots, aged 1, but in 1860, he shows up as Smith Boots, aged 12. The casual researcher might conclude that these were two different children when, in fact, both records actually refer to Smith McDanel Boots, born in 1849, who, according to family members, was commonly referred to as 'Dan'.

Ewhurst, Sussex, England

John married Sylvia Coleman on 7 Apr 1829 in Sussex County, England. Sylvia (daughter of William Coleman and Lucy ?) was born on 13 Sep 1809 in Sussex County, England; was christened on 27 Sep 1808; died on 2 Aug 1884 in Beaver County, Pennsylvania; was buried in North Sewickley Cemetery, Beaver County, Pennsylvania. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Ewhurst, Sussex, England

Theophilus married Elizabeth Magaw WFT est 1826-1869. Elizabeth was born WFT est 1809-1832; died WFT est 1854-1920. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]