The Ancestors of Joe Biden


by William Addams Reitwiesner


The following material on the immediate ancestry of Joe Biden should not be considered either exhaustive or definitive, but rather as a first draft.

Robert Battle contributed most of this report.



William Addams Reitwiesner


wargs@wargs.com



Ancestry of Joe Biden
1 Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr. ("Joe"), b. Scranton, Pa., 20 Nov. 1942, US Senator from Delaware 1973 to present
PARENTS
2 Joseph Robinette Biden Sr., b. Baltimore, Md., 13 Nov. 1915, d. Wilmington, Del., 2 Sept. 2002 [SSDI 217-09-0364]
m. ... 1941
3 Catherine Eugenia ("Jean") Finnegan, b. Scranton, Pa., ... [ca. June 1918]
GRANDPARENTS
4 Joseph H ... Biden, b. ... , Md., ... June 1893, d. ... [living 1920]
m.
5 Mary Elizabeth Robinette, b. ... , Md., ... Nov. 1894, d. ... [living 1920]
6 Ambrose J ... Finnegan, b. ... , Pa., ... July ... [1883 or 1884], d. ... [living 1930]
m. ... [ca. 1909]
7 Geraldine C ... Blewitt, b. ... , Pa., ... [ca. 1887], d. ... [living 1930]
GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
8 George T ... Biden, b. ... , Md., ... Oct. 1867, d. ... [living 1910]
m. ... [ca. 1888/9]
9 Emily R ... , b. ... , Md., ... Sept. 1870, d. ... [living 1910]
10 George H ... Robinette, b. ... , Va., ... Oct. 1844, d. ... [living 1910]
m2. ... [ca. 1881]
11 Mary A ... , b. ... [Md. or Ohio], ... Aug. 1862 d. ... [between 1900 and 1910]
12 ... Finnegan, b. ... [NY/Ireland], d. ...
m.
13 ... , b. ... [NY/Ireland], d. ...
14 Edward F ... Blewitt, b. ... , La., ... [ca. 1859], d. ... [living 1920]
m.
15 ... , b. ... , Pa., ... , d. ... [before 1910]
GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
16 Joseph J ... Biden, b. ... , Md., ... [ca. 1828], d. ... [living 1880]
m. Baltimore, Md., 23 Dec. 1852
17 Lydia Ann Randle, b. ... , Md., ... [ca. 1833/4], d. ... [living 1880]
18 ... , b. ... , Md., ... , d. ...
m.
19 ... , b. ... , Md., ... , d. ...
20 Moses J ... Robinette, b. ... , Md., ... [ca. 1817/8], d. ... [living 1860]
m.
21 Jane E ... , b. ... , D. C., ... [ca. 1823], d. ... [living 1860]
22 ... , b. ... , Md., ... , d. ...
m.
23 ... , b. ... , Md., ... , d. ...
28 Patrick Blewitt, b. ... , Ireland, ... [Jan. 1830/1836], d. ... [living 1880]
m. Scranton, Luzerne (now Lackawanna) Co., Pa., 24 Nov. 1857
29 Catharine "Kate" Scanlon, b. ... , Ireland, ... [Oct. 1835/1840], d. ... [living 1880]
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
32 William Biden, b. ... , England, ... [ca. 1790-1800], d. ... [between 1840 and 1850, prob. Baltimore, Md.]
m. Baltimore, Md., 13 Feb. 1822
33 Mary Elkin, b. ... , Md., ... [ca. 1799], d. ... [will dated 1863 (and apparently probated 1863/4)]
34 Thomas H ... Randle/Randall, b. ... , Md., ... [ca. 1803/4], d. ... [living 1870]
m. First Methodist Church, Baltimore, Md., 9 June 1830
35 Mary Ann Shoemaker, b. ... , Md., ... [ca. 1813/4], d. ... [living 1870]
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS
GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GREAT-GRANDPARENTS




EXTRACTS from the U.S. FEDERAL DECENNIAL CENSUS




1930 - 13th Ward, Scranton, Lackawanna Co., PA, e.d. 52, sheet 6a

Finnegan, Ambrose J.Head      M W 45 M 24  PA NY NY    Advertising Mgr.   Newspaper office
___, Geraldine B.     Wife    F W 42 M 21  PA LA PA
___, Gerald J.        Son     M W 20 S     PA PA PA
___, Blewitt E.       Son     M W 18 S     PA PA PA
___, Ambrose J.       Son     M W 15 S     PA PA PA
___, Catherine E.     Dau     F W 12 S     PA PA PA
___, John A.          Son     M W  9 S     PA PA PA
Blewitt, Gertrude M.  Si-i-L  F W 46 S 26  PA LA PA    Lace Maker         Lace Mill

Gertrude Blewitt has "26" in age-at-first-marriage column, but faint (erased?);
next person down has a bolder "26" in that column.  Probably the number was
originally written in the wrong row, since Gertrude's marital state was
"single."

--------

1920 - Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD, e.d. 277, sheet 32a

Biden, Joseph H.   Head   M W 27        M  MD MD MD    Salesman      Oil Co.
___, Mary E.       Wife   F W 25        M  MD WV WV
___, Joseph R.     Son    M W  4 6/12   S  MD MD MD
___, Mary A.       Dau    F W  2 11/12  S  MD MD MD
___, Frank H.      Son    M W  1 4/12   S  MD MD MD

--------

1920 - 6th Division, 1st Ward, Scranton, Lackawanna Co., PA, e.d. 102, sheet 1a [2 Jan]

Finnegan, Ambrose J.   Head    M W 35       M  PA Ire NY    advertising solicitor    newspaper
___, Geraldine         Wife    F W 33       F  PA LA  PA
___, Gerald            Son     M W  9       S  PA PA  PA
___, Edward            Son     M W  7       S  PA PA  PA
___, Ambrose J.        Son     M W  5       S  PA PA  PA
___, Eugenia           Dau     F W  2 6/12  S  PA PA  PA
Blewitt, Edward        F-i-L   M W 61       M  LA Ire Ire    --- and mining[?] engineer
___, Gertrude          Si-i-L  F W 39       S  PA LA  PA

--------

1910 - 16th Ward, Baltimore, MD, e.d. 270, sheet 8a

Biden, George T.   Head  M W 43 M1 21       MD MD MD      Produce Dealer
___, Emily R.      Wife  F W 39 M1 21 2 2   MD MD MD
___, Eugenee M.    Dau   F W 18 S           MD MD MD
___, Joseph H.     Son   M W 16 S           MD MD MD

--------

1910 - 22nd Ward, Baltimore, MD, e.d. 365, sheet 5b

Robinette, George H.  Head    M W 65 M1 33      MD MD MD  Inspector Rail Road
___, Mary A.          Wife    F W 48 M1 33 3 3  OH OH MD
Sheene, Alice M.      Dau     F W 22 M1  1 0 0  MD MD OH
Robinette, Mamie      Dau     F W 15 S          MD MD OH
Sheene, Wm. E.        So-i-L  M W 26 M1  1      MA MA MA  Salesman Manf. Estat.

--------

1910 - 6th Ward, Dunmore, Lackawanna Co., PA, e.d. 30, sheet 6b

Blewitt, Edward F. Head    M W 49      Wd 28      LA Ire Ire     civil engineer
___, Gertrude V.   Dau     F W 27      S          PA LA  PA
___, Patrick R.    Son     M W 26      S          PA LA  PA      civil engineer
___, Arthur J.     Son     M W 24      S          PA LA  PA      civil engineer
Finegan, Ambrose   So-i-L  M W 25      M1  0      PA PA  PA      civil engineer
___, Geraldina C.  Dau     F W 23      M1  0 1 1  PA LA  PA
___, Gerard J.     GSon    M W    1/12 S          PA PA  PA

--------

1900 - 18th Ward, Baltimore, Baltimore Co., MD, e.d. 233, sheet 2a

Biden, George T.   Head  W M  Oct 1867 32 M 11      MD MD MD  Produce Dealer
___, Emily         Wife  W F  Sep 1870 29 M 11 2 2  MD MD MD
___, Eugenia M.    Dau   W F  Sep 1891  8 S         MD MD MD
___, Joseph H.     Son   W M  Jun 1893  6 S         MD MD MD
(1 boarder)

--------

1900 - 1st Ward, 15th Precinct, Baltimore, MD, e.d. 15, sheet 12b

Robinette, George H.  Head  W M  Oct 1844 55       M 18       MD MD MD    Locomotive Engineer
___, Mary A.          Wife  W F  Aug 1862 37       M 18 5 5   MD MD MD
___, Mary             Dau   W F  Nov 1894  5       S          MD MD MD
___, John H.          Son   W M  Jul 1886 13       S          MD MD MD
___, Alice M.         Dau   W F  Nov 1882  7[sic]  S          MD MD MD

--------

1900 - 7th Ward, Scranton, Lackawanna Co., PA, e.d. 70, sheet 11b

Roche, Peter        Head  W M  Oct 1855  44      M 24      NY Ire Ire   Switchman
___, Bridget        Wife  W F  Apr 1857  42      M 24 8 6  PA Ire Ire
___, Mary           Dau   W F  Oct 1876  23      S         PA NY  PA
___, Thomas         Son   W M  Jul 1879  20      S         PA NY  PA    Shoe Clerk
___, Annie          Dau   W F  Jun 1881  18      S         PA NY  PA
___, Peter Jr.      Son   W M  Aug 1886  13      S         PA NY  PA
___, Nellie         Dau   W F  Sep 1890   9      S         PA NY  PA
___, Margaret       Dau   W F  Feb 1900     4/12 S         PA NY  PA
Finnegan, Ambrose   Neph  W M  Jul 1883  16      S         PA Ire Ire   Errand Boy

--------

1900 - 7th Ward, Scranton, Lackawanna Co., PA, e.d. 70, sheet 10a

Blewitt, Patrick   Head  W M  Jan 1836  64 M 41       Ire Ire Ire  1850 50 Na    Sawyer
___, Catherine     Wife  W F  Oct 1840  60 M 41 4 4   Ire Ire Ire
___, Julia         Dau   W F  Feb 1871  29 S          WV Ire Ire
___, Teresa        Dau   W F  Dec 1872  27 S          PA Ire Ire
___, Francis       Dau   W F  Feb 1877  23 S          PA Ire Ire
___, Angela        Dau   W F  May 1881  19 S          PA Ire Ire
(1 servant)

--------

1880 - 9th Precinct, 18th Ward, Baltimore, MD, e.d. 181, sheet 45 (p. 655a)

Biden, Joseph   W M 51        Packer                MD Eng Eng
___, Lydia      W F 46  Wife                        MD MD  MD
___, Mary E.    W F 24  Dau            neuralgia    MD MD  MD
___, Emma       W F 21  Dau                         MD MD  MD
___, Ada        W F 18  Dau                         MD MD  MD
___, Lee        W F 17  Son                         MD MD  MD
___, George     W M 14  Son                         MD MD  MD
___, Harry      W M 10  Son                         MD MD  MD
Biden, Ed       W M 41  Bro   Packer                MD Eng Eng
___, Eugenia    W F 10                              MD MD  MD
(1 boarder)

--------

1880 - Dist. 81, Grafton, Taylor Co., WV, e.d. 81, sheets 34-35 (pp. 316b-317c)

Robinett, George H.  W M 35           Engineer for R.R. Co.    VA MD DC
___, Anna M.         W F 28   Wife                             PA PA PA
Robinette, Ella J.   W F  8   Dau                              WV VA PA
___, John H.         W M  4   Son                              WV VA PA
Clayton, Jennie B.   W F 11   Niece                            WV VA PA
Rexroad, Alice A.    W F 33   Sister  Seamstress               VA MD DC
Rexroad, Lander      W M 13   Neph                             IA VA VA

--------

1880 - 7th Ward, Scranton, Lackawanna Co., PA, e.d. 61, sheet 52 (p. 208d)

Blewitt, Patrick   W M 46         Civil Engineer    Ire Ire Ire
___, Catherine     W F 42  Wife                     Ire Ire Ire
___, Honora        W F 19  Dau    School Teacher    PA  Ire Ire
___, Julia         W F 16  Dau                      PA  Ire Ire
___, Jenny         W F 11  Dau                      PA  Ire Ire
___, Theresa       W F  8  Dau                      PA  Ire Ire
___, Frances       W F  6  Dau                      PA  Ire Ire
___, William       W M  4  Son                      PA  Ire Ire
___, Angelina      W F  1  Dau                      PA  Ire Ire
(1 servant)

--------

1870 - 13th Dist., Baltimore, MD, pp. 22-23 (802b-803a)

Biden, Joseph      42       M W     H. Carpenter    4000    500    MD
___, Lydia         36       F W                                    MD
___, Mary          17       F W                                    MD
___, William       15       M W                                    MD
___, Annie         13       F W                                    MD
___, Emma          11       F W                                    MD
___, Ada            9       F W                                    MD
___, Joseph         7       M W                                    MD
___, George         4       M W                                    MD
___, Henry            8/12  M W                                    MD
[Richard Randall family]
Randall, Thomas    66       M W     Farmer         15000   1200    MD
___, Mary          56       F W                                    MD
___, William       40       M W     F. Laborer                     MD
___, George        28       M W     F. Laborer                     MD
___, Joseph        23       M W     F. Laborer                     MD
Randall, Laura     17       F W                                    MD
___, Roseby        15       M W     F. Laborer                     MD
___, Charles       12       M W                                    MD
High, William      25       M W     F. Laborer                     MD

--------

1870 - Grafton Twp., Taylor Co., WV, p. 22

Clayton, Thos.       54 M W   Retired Merchant                    VA
     Ruth            49 F W                           2000 300    VA
     John            29 M W   Engineman                           VA
     Sarah E.        10 F W                                       VA
Tibbettts, Jas. W.   21 M W   Laborer                             VA
Robinett, Geo. H.    25 M W   Fireman on B&O RR        300        VA
Conty, Laura         16 F W   Domestic Servt.                     VA
Fenton, Eleanor      72 F W                                       VA

--------

1870 - 2nd Ward, Scranton, Luzerne Co., PA, p. 58

Blewitt, Patrick    40 M W    Civil Engineer     1800     200    Ireland
___, Kate           35 F W                                       Ireland
___, Edward         11 M W                                       PA
___, Honora          9 F W                                       PA
___, Julia           6 F W                                       PA
___, Anne            4 F W                                       PA
___, Genevieve       2 F W                                       PA
Terrill, Temera[?]  17 F W                                       PA
Terrill, John       25 M W    Carpenter                   200    Ireland

--------

1860 - 13th Dist., Baltimore, MD, p. 247 (867)

Joseph Byden       33 M        Farmer          4000        MD
Lidia     "        27 F                                    MD
William   "         9 M                                    MD
Mary      "        10 F                                    MD
Joseph    "         6 M                                    MD
Sarah     "         4 F                                    MD
Jane      "         3 F                                    MD

--------

1860 - 13th Dist., Baltimore, MD, p. 263 (883)

James Biden      33 M   Farmer    3000    200   MD
Mary     "       61 F                           MD
Henry    "       29 M                           MD
George   "       22 M                           MD
Edward   "       21 M                           MD
Mary     "       18 F                           MD
Joseph   "        9 M                           MD
Mary     "        7 F                           MD
Sarah    "        6 F                           MD
James    "        4 M                           MD
Jane     "       22 F                           MD
Fanny    "        1 F                           MD

--------

1860 - Taylor Co., VA, p. 110

Moses J. Robinett    42 M     Hotel Keeper            500     MD
Jane E. Robinett     37 F                                     DC
Mary D. Robinett     18 F                                     VA
George D. Robinett   15 M                                     VA
Alice A. Robinett    13 F                                     VA
W. S. Robinett       11 M                                     VA
Sarah E. Robinett     8 F                                     VA
Florence Robinett     3 F                                     VA
Robert Wade          17 M     Day Laborer                     VA
Charles Sterill[?]   23 M     Fireman on R. R.                MD

--------

1860 - Scranton, Luzerne Co., PA, p. 162

Patrick Bluitt     27 M     Sawyer     500    150     Ireland
Catharine  "       22 F                               Ireland
Edward     "        1 M                               LA
Mary Farrell       10 F                               PA

--------

1850 - 1st Dist., Baltimore, MD, p. 130 (284b)

Mary Byden      49 F                            MD
James    "      24 M   Laborer                  MD
Joseph   "      23 M   Laborer                  MD
Henry    "      20 M   Laborer                  MD
Geo      "      13 M                            MD
Edward   "      11 M                            MD
Mary     "       7 F                            MD

--------

1850 - 1st Dist., Baltimore, MD, p. 312a

Thos. H. Randle    46 M          Farmer         MD
Mary A.      "     36 F                         MD
Wm.          "     19 M                         MD
Lidia A.     "     17 F                         MD
George W.    "     11 M                         MD
Mary S.      "      9 F                         MD
John W.      "      6 M                         MD
Joseph       "      3 F[sic]                    MD
Sarah        "      1 F                         MD
Elizabeth Oble     17 F                         Germany

--------

1850 - 45th Dist., Preston Co., VA, p. 376a (753)

William Hamilton     27 M      Constable         1000       VA
Mary A.     "        25 F                                   VA
Moses J. Robinett    32 M      Inn Keeper        3000       MD
Jane E.              26 F                                   MD
Mary D.               9 F                                   VA
John D.               8 M                                   VA
George H.             4 M                                   VA
Alice                 3 F                                   VA
Windfield S.          1 M                                   VA

--------

1840 - 1st Dist., Baltimore, MD, p. 5

William Biden: 2 males    0-5 
               1 male     5-10 
               2 males   10-15 
               1 male    15-20 
               1 male    20-30 
               1 male    40-50 
               1 female  40-50

--------

1830 - 1st Dist., Baltimore, MD, p. 37

William Biden: 2 males   0-5
               1 male    5-10 
               1 male   10-15 
               1 male   30-40 
               1 female 15-20 
               1 female 30-40

--------



NOTES






3 -- She has a brother named Ambrose J. Finnegan. See http://www.fas.org/man/nato/congress/1998/s980428-3687.htm.



10 -- See http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=shelb68&id=I1809.



14 -- See http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2950237&id=I234.



16 -- He is probably the Joseph Biden who was visited in Baltimore in 1868 by a cousin named Henry Biden, along with Henry's wife and children. Henry's diary of their travel has not been published, but a typescript has been provided by Gavin Maidment.

Henry Biden was born in 1834 in Westbourne, Sussex. This may provide a clue for the origin of William Biden, Joseph's father.



20 -- See http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=:2458153&id=I543652901 and http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ehaven&id=I2574.



28 -- possibly the Patk Blewitt, age 16, from Ireland, who arrived in New York 10 Nov 1849 on the Liverpool; or possibly the Patrick Bluet, age 20, from Ireland, who arrived in New York 8 Apr 1850 on the Washington.



32 -- http://www.mdhs.org/library/Mss/pedleyB.html (in Maryland Historical Society Library manuscript collection): "BIDEN PAPERS, MS.1203 Three documents relating to the settlement of the estate of William Biden, 1863-1864. Last will and testament of Mary Biden, 1863. Lease from Owen McManus to William Biden, August 28, 1820. Deed from Charles Warfield to William Biden, 1838."



34 -- According to Virkus 6:529, he was b. 1803, d. 1880, son of William Randle (b. c1770 England, to Baltimore 1798).



35 -- According to Virkus 6:529, she was b. 1813, d. 1902, dau. of Capt. George Shoemaker and ___ Herbert (perhaps the George Shoemaker who m. Rachel Walton 24 Nov 1808 in Methodist Episcopal Church, Baltimore; see http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/SHOEMAKER/1999-02/0919526683).











FURTHER NOTES












SOURCES CONSULTED AND CITED


See above.



William Addams Reitwiesner

wargs@wargs.com