This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/JEB.2ACE/284.1.1 Message Board Post: I have a Henrietta Kincaid who might be your Rita Sylvester. I have it on somebody else's authority that Henrietta Kincaid's maiden name was Sylvester. In any event she was divorced from him probably before 1900. They were married before 1868. I have not found much information on her. However, this is what I have been able to turn up so far: Henrietta Kincaid came to light as the result of a discovery of a packet of letters and documents found in a trunk which were saved by Ernest Fisk who lived his entire life in Prosser, Washington. Prosser was initially within Yakima county but later within Benton county. It is unknown to this day the relationship between Henrietta and Ernest. In the 1880 census for Cape Elizabeth, Cumberland, Maine; Roll T9_477; Family History Film: I254477; Page 111A; Enumeration District 26; Image 0472: We find Henrietta and William H. Kincaid both age 33, both born in Maine, all their parents are born in Maine. From this we deduce they are both born 1847. In the 1888 Tax List for Yakima Co., Washington there is a James Kincaid, a farmer, who is assessed $1289. On the same list is a W. Kincaid in livestock assessed $45. This Kincaid family is probably unrelated to Henrietta since she was yet in Montana in 1899 and none of the correspondence at the Prosser address mentioned above predates 1905. In Feb. 1890 Mrs. H. Kincaid is living in So. Portland, Maine where she received a letter postmarked in Boston, Massachusetts. Written in pencil on the face of the envelope are the names Coffin and Mott. In Sept. 1899 Mrs. Henrietta Kincaid receives a letter in Anaconda, Montana from The Oregon Mortgage Co. informing her the mortgage is paid in full postmarked in Spokane, Washington. The whereabouts of her property is not made clear. In 1905 Mrs. Henrietta Kincaid receives notices from Becher & Thompson in Spokane, Washington informing her the interest is due on loan #76. In 1905 Mrs. Henrietta Kincaid receives a tax bill for property in the City of South Portland, Maine, for the amount of $10.50. The rate is $21.00 for each $1,000.00. There is a letter from George F. McQuillan, attorney of 98 Exchange St. Portland, Maine, who is assisting her in this matter. In May 1906 Mrs. Henrietta Kincaid receives a notice from Becher & Thompson discussing the difficulties in selling her property on Wild Rose Prairie. Wild Rose Prairie is a flat of land 15 miles north and east of Spokane. An internet search reveal no Kincaids buried in Wild Rose Prairie nor in Spokane county. In Sept. 1906 Mrs. Henrietta Kincaid receives in Prosser, Washington, a tax bill for real estate in the city of South Portland, Maine for the amount of $10.20. The rate was $20.40 on each $1,000.00. In Oct. 1906 there is a notice from Becher & Thompson in Spokane informing Henrietta in Prosser of trouble getting the tenants to vacate the property in order for B&T to take possession. Apparently, the Montana property has been sold; there is no further mention of the property or any more notices from Becher & Thompson. In a census record on page 239 in North Prosser, house number 197 is Henrietta Kincaid age 61, divorced, head of household. Her place of birth is Maine and so is that of her mother and father. The indication she is divorced explains why the real estate transactions above have been addressed to herself and not to her husband. From this one might guess she was divorced before 1899 the earliest known example of such correspondence. In the same census as above and at the same house is William A. Kincaid and James H. Kincaid sons age 38 and 42 respectively also born in Maine. In the 1910 Benton Co., Washington census in house 239 are found Henrietta, James, and William Kincaid in North Prosser. In the same census at White Bluffs we find M. and Willard Kincaid, house 226. White Bluffs is some 60 miles to the Northeast on the Columbia and is nonexistant today. The White Bluffs Kincaids are not thought to be related to Henrietta. In 1911 and 1912 there are 3 bills from Palmquist Brothers, Prosser, Washington for equipment and interest to J. H. Kincaid and to James H. Kincaid. These letters led to the impression they were addressed to the husband of Henrietta. Further research in the census record cited above has proven, however, the addressee was the son of Henrietta. In 1917 Henrietta receives a letter in Prosser, Benton County, Washington from an unknown source. In Mar. 1917 Maggie Fickett in Portland, Maine sends an Easter card to Henrietta Kincaid in Prosser. Maggie mentions Allie. In Feb. 1920 Henrietta receives a letter from Maggie A. Fickett, 356 Woodford St., Portland, Maine. Maggie is a dear and long-time friend. She mentions the recent death of her husband, Frank, who was a police sargent. She mentions 4 sons who are deceased. Ernest is still alive and recently back from the Navy and has a son Ernest Jr. Other people named are Ethel living in Pittsburg and Grace. In Aug. 1924 Maggie A. Fickett writes another letter to Henrietta in Prosser, Washington. Maggie mentions Mrs. Kemp, Mr. Southworth, Harry DeWick who may be boarders with her. She also mentions Effie in Portland, Allie, Harry, Annie, and Julia on Massey St., Portland, Maine. In Dec. 1924 Henrietta in Prosser, Washington, received an envelope which contained Christmas cards from (unreadable because the envelope is torn) Sylvester 1272, Decatur St. Brklyn. This piece is the lone evidence that supports the theory Henrietta's maiden name was Sylvester. In Dec. 1929 Mrs. H. Kincaid received a Christmas card from Walter & Maude in Brooklyn, N.Y. Sta. B. They signed the card "to Aunt Henrietta". In Dec. 1929 Henrietta received in Prosser a letter from Mrs. Wm. Matthews in Lynn, Massachusetts. In Jan. 1930 Henrietta received in Prosser a letter from Julia H. Larrabee in 98 Rackleff St. Portland, Maine. Julia encloses newspaper clippings including the People's Methodist Episcopal Church, a large new building on the corner of High and Congress St. "where the Libby Mansion used to be", and a picture of the harbor. Julia mentions little Gray and John who "is still on his father's boat." She mentions another Julia and that Capt. Andrew York just died. She also mentions Let. Harrington, Fred's widow. There is also mention of Annie whose estate is not yet settled. In Dec. 1930 Henrietta received in Prosser a letter from 2260 Island Ave., San Diego, California. The envelope is empty. There is a funerary poem with the name Maggie Fickett on the reverse. Presumably Henrietta survives Maggie. There is an empty envelope with an unreadable date postmarked in South Portland Maine addressed to Mrs. Henrietta Kincaid, Care Leroy Bowie, So. West Bend, Durham, Me. It is thought this letter was received by Henrietta before she left Maine for the West.