James Dean

     James Dean was born on 17 November 1858 at 2 Brougham Street, Hunslet, Yorkshire, England; On 18 May 1923, James applied for a passport, as a naturalized citizen. At that time, he swore he was born 22 Nov 1857 at Leeds.¹ He was the son of James Dean and Sarah Munday. James Dean was baptized on 15 May 1864 at St John the Baptist, Holbeck, Leeds, Yorkshire, England.² He married Frances Shores Smith, daughter of Edward S. Smith and Elizabeth Curry, on 9 December 1878 at St Peter's Church, Leeds, Yorkshire, England; James was listed as a hackle pin grinder, residing Front Row, son of James Dean, a cloth dresser. Frances was a 20 year old spinster, residing Front Street, daughter of Edward Smith, moulder.^3,4 James Dean died on 7 January 1936 at Everett, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts, at age 77; At the time of his death, James Dean was a resident At 52 Lexington Street, Everett, Massachusetts.⁵ He was buried on 9 January 1936 at Edson Cemetery, Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; He was buried in Lot #2725, Grave 1. Perpetual care was paid for in 1958 with a $150 payment.⁵
     He appeared on the census of 1881 at 30 Haymount Place, Leeds, Yorkshire, England; James was aged 24, head of household, and married. His occupation was listed as a hackle pin grinder and it is stated he was born in Leeds. His wife and young son were living with her sister's family and her parents in Holbeck.⁶ He witnessed the marriage of Thomas Henry Barrow and Rhoda Dean on 4 November 1882 at St Peter with St Cuthbert, Hunslet Moor, Hunslet, Yorkshire, England; Rhoda gave her residence as Derby Place and Thomas gave his as Skilbrick Street. Her father was listed as James Dean, clothdresser and Thomas' father was Thomas Barrow, captain.^7,8 James Dean lived on 3 May 1883 at 27 Hill Side Street (Sub-District of North Leeds), Leeds, Yorkshire, England; Hill Side Street was just a stone's throw away from where James was living at 30 Haymount Place in the 1881 census. James Dean came over to America about July 1885 with his wife and three children: Florence, Thomas Edward and Ernest, settling in Lowell, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. The 1889 directory for Lowell lists a James Dean, hackle-pin grinder as a resident of a house at 35 London Street. Next year's directory lists him with the same occupation, but as living in a house at 578 Gorham Street.
     When a young man, James Dean joined a singing quartet on the R.K.O. circuit touring the U.S. He also worked with his brother, John Dean, in Putnam, Connecticut. During his later years, James Dean was employed as a shipping clerk in Boston, from which he retired in 1926.⁹ He immigrated in 1886 to Massachusetts; James Dean, 28, a "grinder", departed Liverpool, England in 1886, arriving at Boston on 29 July 1886 aboard the ship "Iowa". He was located in "after steerage".¹⁰ He lived in 1889 at 35 London Street, Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts.¹¹ He was naturalized on 22 October 1891 at Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; The citizenship papers were filed the 23rd of October at the courthouse there. These papers list his birthdate as 22 November 1857.¹² He appeared on the census of 7 June 1900 at 244 Lincoln Street, Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; James Dean and wife Frances, both 42, were listed with their children Thomas, Ernest, Bertha, Chester H. and Arthur. James was a naturalized citizen and was a metal grinder.¹³ He and Frances Shores Smith appeared on the census of 22 April 1910 at 72 Main Street, Lowell, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts; James and Frances were both enumerated as being 50 years old. married for 30 years. The census indicates that Frances had ten children, only six surviving at that time. Since we know of only nine, additional birth records in Yorkshire must be checked. Son Ernest, born England, was aged 24, and was a pin grinder as was his father. Bertha was 17, Chester 15 and James was 12 and they were born Massachusetts.^14,12 James Dean appeared on the census of 14 January 1920 at 24 Kingman Avenue, Revere, Suffolk Co, Massachusetts; James Dean, 60, widowed, immigrated to the US in 1887, naturalized in 1892, daughter, Bertha, 26 and son James, 21. James was a shipper in a rubber factory, Bertha was a housekeeper, and son James was a helper as a ship fitter.For some reason, James' mother was listed as born Denmark.¹⁵ This Photo just had to be included; His passport application carried this photo.¹⁶ He appeared on the census of 12 April 1930 at 7 Neilson Avenue, Everett, Middlesex Co, Massachusetts;      
James, 72, Bertha, 37, and James A. Dean, 31 were living together. Strangely enough, the census listed that his father was born England, but his mother was born Denmark. It was listed he came to America in 1887.¹⁷ The obituary for James Dean appeared on 9 January 1936 in the newspaper; James Dean, resident of Everett for near ten years, a prominent member of the Manchester Unity of Odd Fellows, passed away after a two months illness. He was a resident of 52 Lexington Street. He was employed as a grinder and later shipping clerk at a Boston machine shop.^18,19