EDGOOSE:
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WRENCH, John Henry Kirke
1867 - 1960 (92 years) Has 4 ancestors and 8 descendants in this family tree.
1831 - 1920 (88 years)-
Name WRENCH, John Henry Kirke Birth 16 Dec 1867 Baslow, Derbyshire, England 
Gender Male Death 1960 Greenville, Montcalm County, Michigan, USA Person ID I974 Edgoose Last Modified 3 Feb 2026
Father WRENCH, Edward Mason, b. 1 Jul 1833, Chelsea, County of London (from 01.04.1889) d. 12 Mar 1912, Buxton, Derbyshire, England (Age 78 years) Mother KIRKE, Anne Eliza, b. 20 Jul 1831, Retford, Nottinghamshire, England d. 8 Feb 1920, Bakewell Registration District, Derbyshire (Age 88 years) Marriage 9 Apr 1861 East Retford, Nottinghamshire, England Family ID F667 Group Sheet | Family Chart
Family EDGOOSE, Elizabeth (Lizzie), b. 4 Dec 1863, Boston, Lincolnshire, England d. 14 Jun 1942, Illinois, USA (Age 78 years) Marriage 25 Dec 1889 Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA Children 1. WRENCH, Edward Kirke, b. 12 Feb 1891, Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota, USA d. 15 Jan 1952, Rockford, Winnebago County, Illinois, USA (Age 60 years)2. WRENCH, Colonel Harry Kirke, b. 5 Nov 1893, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA d. 13 Aug 1963, Frankfort, Benzie County, Michigan, USA (Age 69 years)3. WRENCH, Dorothy Kirke, b. 22 Dec 1896, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA d. 8 Aug 1966, Kissimmee, Osceola County, Florida, USA (Age 69 years)4. WRENCH, William Kirke, b. 13 Oct 1899, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA d. 28 Mar 1972, West Allis, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, USA (Age 72 years) [Father: natural] [Mother: natural]5. WRENCH, Mervyn Kirke, b. 20 Jun 1903, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA d. 29 Nov 1992, Nashville, Davidson County, Tennessee, USA (Age 89 years)6. WRENCH, Grace Kirke, b. 23 Oct 1905, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA d. 1930 (Age 24 years)Family ID F451 Group Sheet | Family Chart Last Modified 27 Jan 2026
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Notes
JOHN HENRY KIRKE WRENCH 1867-1960
The birth of John Henry K. WRENCH was registered in 1867.
(GRO December Q 1867 Bakewell 7b 564)
The 1871 census of Park Lodge, Baslow, Derbyshire:
Edward Mason WRENCH, head, aged 37, FRCS & general practitioner, born at Chelsea;
Anne Eliza WRENCH, wife, aged 39, born at Retford, Nottinghamshire;
Ann D. M. WRENCH, daughter, aged 8, scholar, born at Markham, Nottinghamshire;
William M. WRENCH, son, aged 7, scholar, born at Baslow;
Eliza Letitia WRENCH, daughter, aged 6, scholar, born at Baslow;
Edward Branson WRENCH, son, aged 4, scholar, born at Baslow;
*John Henry K. WRENCH, son, aged 3, born at Baslow;
Francis H. WRENCH, son, aged 1, born at Baslow;
Alfred J. S. WRENCH, brother, aged 19, architect, unmarried, born at St. Michael's Cornhill, Middlesex.
Anne Kathleen KIRKE, niece, aged 6, scholar, born at Tonghee, Burmah;
Helen Maud H. KIRKE, niece, aged 3, scholar, born at Bangalore, India;
Alice LAPLANCHE, aged 32, unmarried, teacher of French, born at Geneva, Switzerland;
Mary CORRILL, aged 31, unmarried, cook, born at Sibsey, Lincolnshire;
Georgina ADCOCK, aged 20, unmarried, housemaid, born at Thurlby, Lincolnshire;
Maryanne KAY, aged 21, unmarried, laundry maid, born at Baslow.
(Genuki, Baslow)
John Henry K. WRENCH has not been traced in the 1881 census. However the census returns for the Grammar School, Staveley, Derbyshire, list the following boy of the right age:
Anko WRENCH, aged 13, scholar, boarder, born at Baslow, Derbyshire.
He was a tool and die maker.
(Source: peterwrench@yahoo.com)
Nottingham University Library has an envelope addressed to J. H. K. WRENCH Esq., Broad Oaks Iron Works, Chesterfield, and postmarked '26 Fe 89'.
(WR D33/10)
He emigrated from England to the USA in 1889.
(US Federal Census 1900)
Henry, his wife Annie, a son Edward and a daughter Marian (= Miriam?), together with an Eliza EDGOOSE (?), Elizabeth DAWSON (=Lizzie?), Kirke WRENCH, and James HAYNES sailed on the ship City of New York travelling 2nd Cabin Class from Gloucester in May 1889 [a passenger is noted as having jumped overboard on 17 May 1889]. Henry was described as a farmer:
Hy EDGOOSE, aged 31, farmer;
Annie EDGOOSE, aged 36, wife;
Edward EDGOOSE, aged 10, child;
Marian EDGOOSE, aged 4, infant;
Eliza EDGOOSE, aged 36, wife [the identity of Eliza is unknown at present];
Eliz. DAWSON, aged 25, wife;
*Kirke WRENCH, aged 21, labourer;
Jas. HAYNES, aged 26, labourer;
(FindMyPast: New York Passenger Lists & Arrivals)
In 1889 he was in Aberdeen, Brown County, South Dakota. From 1900-1912 he lived at 303 North 51st Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
Married.
"WRENCH -- EDGOOSE -- At the residence of R. BURGITT, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, Dec. 30th, 1889, by Rev. Dr. KEELING, Mr. J. H. K. WRENCH, of Pierre, and Miss Elizabeth EDGOOSE, of Aberdeen.
The couple have gone to Pierre to make their future home. The bride is a niece of Miss EDGOOSE, the proprietress of the C. O. D. Laundry. May the richest blessings of life be theirs."
"WRENCH -- DAWSON At the residence of R. BURGITT in Aberdeen, South Dakota, December 30th. 1889, by Rev. Dr. KEELING, Mr. J. H. KIRK WRENCH of Boslow [sic], England, and Miss Elizabeth Edgoose DAWSON, of Chicago.
The couple have gone to Pierre to make their future home. The bride is a neice of Miss EDGOOSE of this city."
(www.genealogybank.com: 6Aberdeen Daily News, 2 January 1890)
James WESTMORELAND, John Henry Kirke WRENCH, and James L. HAYNES, all of Brown County, South Dakota, sought naturalisation on 3 November 1890 (source: South Dakota Naturalization Records First Papers). James WESTMORELAND was granted US citizenship on 24 October 1903.
The 1900 US Federal Census for North 51st Court, Chicago, Illinois:
*John WRENCH, head, aged 32, draftsman, immigrated 1889, naturalised, born in England;
Elizabeth WRENCH, wife, aged 36, immigrated 1879, born in England;
Edward K. WRENCH, son, aged 9, at school, born in N.(?) Dakota;
Harry K. WRENCH, son, aged 6, at school, born in Illinois;
Dorothy K. WRENCH, daughter, aged 3, born in Illinois;
William K. WRENCH, son, aged 1(?), born in Illinois.
(T623/279/14A/841)
He was at one time a "Design engineer for Allis Chalmers Company, a farm equipment manufacturer, for some of which designs he held patents, including one for a unique mining hoist".
(e-mail from Peter Wrench 02.04.2002)
The 1920 Federal Census of West Allis, Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
*John H. K. WRENCH, head, aged 53, immigrated 1889, naturalised 1894, born in England;
Elizabeth WRENCH, wife, aged 56, immigrated 1889(?), naturalised 1894, born in England;
William K. WRENCH, son, aged 20, apprentice draftsman, born in Illinois;
Mervin K. WRENCH, son, aged 16, born in Illinois;
Grace K. WRENCH, daughter, aged 14, born in Wisconsin.
(T625/2006/18B/328)
The 1930 US Federal Census of Washington Street, Eureka, Montcalm County, Michigan:
*J. KIRKE WRENCH, head, aged 63, retired, owner of a house worth $9,000, aged 22 at first marriage, immigrated 1889, naturalised, born in England;
Elizabeth WRENCH, wife, aged 65, aged 24 at first marriage, immigrated 1891 (sic), naturalised, born in England;
Daniel J. PLANK, grandson, aged 3 years 9 months, born in Illinois.
(1013/10A/18)
His date of death has been variously listed as 17 June 1960 and 22 September 1960 (peterwrench@yahoo.com).
(revised 01.10.2010)