The Proeger Family · Generation 6 — earliest known

William J. Henderson

Father of Henry Henderson · farmer of Ryegate, Vermont

William J. Henderson

Confirmed

Father of Henry Henderson · farmer of Ryegate, Vermont

Married
Caroline Kent Gilfillan
Sources
4

Research status

Research status: CONFIRMED father of Henry Henderson. Evidence: Henry’s 1887 marriage card, read from the image, names his parents as William J. Henderson and Carrie K. (Gilfillan) S357; his 1949 death card, read from the image, names his father as William J. Henderson, born at Ryegate S361; and the 1880 census of Ryegate enters William J. Henderson, 51, farmer, with Caroline K., 43, wife, and Henry W., 15, son S1087. In 1870 he is William J. Henderson, 41, farmer, at Ryegate with Caroline, 32, and Henry W., 6 S963. Added to the family tree on 10 October 2026

Family parents, marriages, children, siblings

Marriage
His wife was Caroline Kent Gilfillan; her card sets out why her link to the Barnet birth record is still probable

Open questions what is probable, weak or missing — confirm or correct it

Weak or missing
What is weak or missing: no birth, marriage or death record of his own has been read, so no dates are given for him; the two census ages put his birth about 1829. The parents on Henry’s death card are his daughter’s statement, 84 years after the birth. His own parents are not known. Know more? Use “Add to this record”.

In the record Generation 6 — earliest known

William J. Henderson · Sources

Citations

Sources cited on this card

4 of the record's sources are cited here. The numbering is the record's own; the full list, with where else each is cited, is at Sources.

  1. S357Vermont marriage card (groom) — Henry W. Henderson and Artie H. Morrison, Ryegate, Vermont, 1 January 1887. Ancestry record 925750. Image examined, read 24 September 2026. Confirmed Henry W. Henderson, 22, farmer, born Ryegate, son of William J. Henderson and Carrie K. (Gilfillan), married Artie H. Morrison; C. H. Farnsworth, clergyman; Alex Cochran, town clerk. The first image of the marriage and of Henry's parents. His age, 22 on 1 January 1887, fits a birth of 12 June 1864.
  2. S361Vermont death card — Henry William Henderson, Ryegate, 30 March 1949. Ancestry record 124148. Image examined, read 24 September 2026. Confirmed Henry William Henderson, retired farmer of Pleasant St., South Ryegate, widowed, died 30 March 1949 aged 84 years 9 months 19 days; born Ryegate 12 June; father William J. Henderson, born Ryegate; mother Carolyn Gillfillan, born Barnet; informant Winona M. Sulham. The card writes the birth year as 1865, but its own age line and every census give 1864.
  3. S9631870 United States Federal Census — Ryegate, Caledonia County, Vermont (P.O. McIndoes Falls), page 6, dwelling 40, family 42 (30 July 1870). Ancestry record 36853529. Image examined in the Stage 2 reading, 24 September 2026. Confirmed Henderson, William J., 41, farmer, real estate $5,000, personal $2,000, born Vermont; Caroline, 32, keeping house; Capitola, 10; Henry W., 6; Sarah, 72, at home, born Maine; Virginia, 14. All but Sarah born Vermont; the three children at school. The 1870 census states no relationships. His parents William J. Henderson and Carrie K. (Gilfillan) are named by his marriage and death records (S357, S361). Sarah, 72, is perhaps his grandmother, but nothing here says so. His age, 6, fits the June 1864 birth. Collection: 1870 United States Federal Census.
  4. S10871880 United States Federal Census — Ryegate, Caledonia County, Vermont, page 16, dwelling 144, family 154. Ancestry record 22412397. Image examined in the Stage 2 reading, 1 October 2026. Confirmed Enumerated 15–16 June 1880: William J. Henderson, 51, farmer; Caroline K., 43, wife; Virginia J., 24, daughter; Henry W., 15, son, at school; all born Vermont. Henry W. Henderson of Ryegate married Artie Morrison there on 1 January 1887 (S357). It is the first census read for this page that states the relationship; the 1870 census [S963] states none. His marriage card [S357] and death card [S361] already name the same parents.

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Compiled for the Proeger family

Living adults appear by name and relationship, with the year only: no full date of birth and no home town on any page that search engines index, and a living person’s own page is kept out of search engines. Minors appear by name only — no date of birth, no birth year, no age, no school, no place, no address, no other identifying detail. A minor may be named and may appear in a family photograph; nothing further about them is published. Where it is not established whether someone is an adult or a minor, the minor rule applies.

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