Thursday, March 18, 2021

Some Additional Biographical Details On Kinsman

Above is a photo of the residence on Kinsman's Maine estate, Birchmere, which currently operates as a bed and breakfast. There are other photos at the link. You can rent the place for $490 per night. A Facebook post indicates the place had been vacant for some years prior to 1985, and its current condition reflects considerable renovation, so that very little of the interior would be how it was when Kinsman lived there. If I had the means, I'd certainly want to stay there now.

At the time Kinsman lived there, the place could be reached only by boat across the pond. There is now a four-wheel-drive accessible road. Kinsman also built a tower on the property that later served as a mausoleum for him and his family. At this point, I can't locate any photos of the tower/mausoleum on the web. This appears to be where he did his studying and writing.

Census data indicates that both of Kinsman's parents and his sister lived in the Wilmington, DE bishop's residence in 1910 when he was bishop there. However, the 1900 census shows only his mother and sister living with him in the rectory at St Martin's parish in New Bedford, MA. His father in that census was living in the patriarchal home on Mahoning Ave in Warren, OH, which at that time was owned by his brother Thomas. Thomas's wife and another brother, Charles, also lived there at that time. Frederick Jr's occupation was listed as banker. The reason for the separation is not known, as Frederick Jr's death certificate shows he passed away in Maine and was still married to Frederick Joseph's mother. (Click on the image for a larger copy.)