Biography of William Vickery, a 19th Century Resident of City Island in the Town of Pelham

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Today's Historic Pelham Blog posting continues a recent series of postings that transcribe biographies of 19th century residents of City Island when it was part of the Town of Pelham. Today's posting provides biographical data regarding William Vickery and his wife.


"WILLIAM VICKERY.


William Vickery, deceased, for many years a useful and highly respected citizen of City Island, where he was for many years engaged in garden farming, which line of pursuit was his chief employment, was born in the parish of Withel Flory, in Somersetshire, England, in May, 1824.


He was there educated and reared to manhood and trained [Page 249 / Page 250] to the routine of farm life. In 1854 he decided to come to the United States, hoping to find a broader field for his skill and labor, and upon arriving in New York city settled at City Island, where he entered the employ of Bruce Hunter, and then came to Pelham, where he found employment with Joshua Leviness, at garden farming. After working two years and saving his capital, Mr. Vickery purchased land from Joshua Leviness, upon which he erected the house where the family now resides on Maine street, City Island. Soon after locating there Mrs. Vickery engaged in storekeeping, and two years later purchased the lot and store adjacent to the old house and has since conducted the mercantile business on these premises. In addition to the storekeeping business Mr. and Mrs. Vickery had leased over sixty acres on City Island, where they conducted a successful garden farm, shipping nearly all their products to the markets of New York city. They both continued in this line of work until the death of Mr. Vickery, which occurred October 27, 1871, and for nine years after her husband's death Mrs. Vickery conducted the garden farm in connection with the store. William Vickery was a consistent member of the Episcopal church at City Island, and during the many years of his active and busy life became well and favorably known and was highly respected.


William Vickery married, at St. John's Episcopal Church, Bristol, England, 1854, Jane Vickery, born September 1, 1821, daughter of John and Sarah (Redler) Vickery, she being of no kin or relationship. Of this marriage were born the following children: 1. Ellen, born 1854, died August 25,1870, aged sixteen years. 2. Robert J., born March 13, 1856, died June 7, 1902; he married Mary L. Prout, born December 14, 1861, died December 22,1881; she was of Newark, New Jersey; they had one daughter, Ellen Jane Vickery. Robert J. Vickery married (second), January 6, 1886, Marian Horton, born January 27, 1856, daughter of [Page 250 / Page 251] Captain Benjamin Franklin and Delia (Abbott) Horton, and three children were born of this union, namely: Jane Roseland, born October 13, 1886, died January 7, 1888; William F., born April 25,1888; Marian Horton, born November 8, 1890. 3. William Frederick, born December 17,1859, died November 25, 1885; he married Emma A. McClennon, born September 8, 1858, died August 13, 1889, daughter of Charles and Amelia McClennon, and had children: Robert William, born July 5, 1878; Annette, born November 12, 1880, married Edward Williams and has children: Robert Lewis and Roland Vickery Williams. Charles Evison, born September 26, 1883."


Source: Pelletreau, William S., Historic Homes and Institutions and Genealogical and Family History of New York, Vol. IV, pp. 249-51 (NY and Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1907).


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