52 Ancestors: #16, Simon Sukeforth

Simon Sukeforth, my great-great-grandfather, was born ca 1813^{2, 3} in Washington, Maine,⁵ in the part of Lincoln County that is now Knox County. He was a grandson of the Hessian-mercenary-turned-Maine-farmer, Andreas Suchfort (Andrew Sukeforth). While it's difficult to sort out the prolific progeny of Andreas's sons in those days of spotty vital records and censuses that named only the heads of households,  Simon's parents were most likely Robert Suckforth and Mary "Polly" Miller; if so, he was probably their fourth or fifth child. (It's also possible, but not as likely, that his parents were John Suckforth and Hannah Maddocks.)

1840 U.S. census, Washington, Lincoln County, Maine, Simon "Sucforth" household
(also Henry, Edward, and William "Sucforth" households)

Simon first appeared as head of his own household in the 1840 census, in close proximity to three other members of the Sukeforth clan, Henry, Edward, and William.¹ By that time he had married Jane Miller of Friendship, Maine⁵ (probably around 1832-33, judging by the birth date of their first child), and they had three children; they would have five more over the next 15 years.

Children of Simon Sukeforth and Jane Miller:^{2, 3}

1. Thomas Sukeforth, b. 1834, married (1) Sarah A. Sprague, (2) Sarah A. Norwood
2. James Llewellyn Sukeforth, b. ca 1834-38, married Eliza M. Clapp
3. Sarah C. Sukeforth, b. 1838, married Silas Kirk
4. Mary C. Sukeforth, b. 1845, married George H. Chadwick
5. Addie E. Sukeforth, b. 1846, married Lyman B. Weever
6. William A. Sukeforth, b. 1850, married Mae Isadora Moolekamp
7. Franklin M. Sukeforth, b. ca 1851-52, d. 1875 unmarried
8. Lawrenton M. Sukeforth, b. ca 1854-56, married Abbie H. Clark

Though some of his children ventured away from home after marrying – Sarah to Auburn and then Freeport, Maine; Mary and Addie to Augusta; and William to Boston – Simon lived in Washington for his entire life. He died 13 Aug 1874, and was buried in Maple Grove Cemetery in Washington,⁴ together with his son Frank, who died the following year, and his wife Jane, who died in 1879.

Gravestones of Simon and Jane (Miller) Sukeforth and son Frank, Maple Grove Cemetery, Washington, Maine⁴

My descent from Simon Sukeforth:

• Simon Sukeforth and Jane Miller
• Sarah C. Sukeforth and Silas Kirk
• Chester F. Kirk and Mary M. Hodsdon (my paternal grandparents)

(Note: This post is in response to Amy Johnson Crow's "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" challenge at No Story Too Small.)

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SOURCES

1. 1840 U.S. Census, Lincoln County, Maine, Washington, p. 51 (stamped), unnumbered line 19, Simon “Sucforth” household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com : accessed 8 Jun 2012). Edward and William are probably two of Simon's brothers; Henry might be another brother, but more likely is an uncle (a brother of Robert).
2. 1850 U.S. Census, Lincoln County, Maine, Washington, p. 576 (penned), dwelling 296, family 296, Simon Suckforth household; digital image, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org : accessed 14 Apr 2012). The first six children are enumerated in this census.
3. 1860 U.S. Census, Knox County, Maine, Washington, p. 37, dwelling 281, family 292, Simon Sukeforth household; digital image, ProQuest, HeritageQuest Online (access through participating libraries : accessed 14 Apr 2012). Thomas and Sarah had both married and left home by the time of this census, and the last two children had been born.
4. Maple Grove Cemetery (Washington, Knox County, Maine), gravestones of Simon Sukeforth, Jane (Miller) Sukeforth, and Frank M. Sukeforth, read and photographed by the author, 14 Aug 2012. 
5. “Maine, Death Records, 1617-1922,” database and digital images, Ancestry.com (http://search.ancestry.com : accessed 14 Dec 2012), entries for Lawrenton Sukeforth (1907) and Addie E. Weever (1915); both list parents as Simon Sukeforth, born Washington, Maine, and Jane Miller, born Friendship, Maine.