0305 William TREFETHEN

Events:

Born in New Castle, New Hampshire [Source 36: Massachusetts Births, Salt Lake City];
Died in Vinalhaven, Maine of Chronic Myocarditis; buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Stonington, Maine
A Fisherman
Left his family when kids were quite young.
Originally resided in Freeport, Maine, but 'moved around a lot.'
Married Miss Lavinia Watson on Nov. 23, 1878 in Yarmouth, Maine [Source 36]. She was born in Canso, Nova Scotia, on 23 December 1862; daughter of Nathaniel K. & Annie (DUKE) WATSON. She died on 08 May 1959, in York, Maine.; buried in Yarmouth (Riverside Cemetery).
Lavinia divorced William in April of 1896 for 'Extreme Cruelty.' In her statement, she said that they were wed by Rev. Jos. Torrey of Yarmouth, Maine on 23 November 1878, and that William. was from Yarmouth or Freeport at the time. They lived 'as husband and wife in sd. Freeport & Yarmouth & in various towns ... in Massachusetts.' He 'contracted gross & confirmed habits of intoxication, been guilty of cruel & abusive treatment towards her, has committed adultery with a lurid[?] woman...' She also states that he 'when having returned from his fishing voyage sometimes tarries in Rowley... Massachusetts. and sometimes in Salem & other towns & places...' I have been informed by a Dep. Sheriff of Essex Co. Massachusetts who is personally acquainted with [William.] that he is a very bad man to find as he goes a fishing in a schooner & it is very uncertain when he will be ashore. She married 2nd Charles Frank Petty on May 25, 1896 (not too long after the divorce, eh?) [Source 64: Deer Island Naube Historical Society]. Mr. Petty was son of Wm. Henry & Ruth Jane (Gross). They had 2 sons, Joseph Earl & Lawrence Franklin. Vene came to Stonington in 1895 as a domestic.
Family Tradition says his kids were raised by Charles & Ada Griffin of Freeport. [Source 64 sic]
He possibly remarried as he was listed as a 'widower' when he died.
NOTE: Death Records indicate his parents were William & Sarah (Collins - b. Rowley, Massachusetts). I believe these facts are incorrect and from the information available have decided Alfred TREFETHEN⁰²⁹² was most likely his father. I am, however, retaining these names in case I'm proven wrong.
ALSO: At least one source has his wife as Sarah Collins (which was his mothers name) [CT].

William TREFETHEN0305 (03 January 1845 - 30 March 1920) Married to unknown and Lavinia 'Vene' WATSON

William TREFETHEN⁰³⁰⁵
(03 January 1845 - 30 March 1920)
Married to unknown and Lavinia 'Vene' WATSON