Rev. Albert Wells Hubbard

Rev. Albert Wells Hubbard

Albert Wells Hubbard was a Presbyterian missionary whose 25 year stay in Sivas, Turkey, along with his wife Emma Spencer Hubbard is described in family correspondence now preserved in special collections at Amherst and BYU Idaho. The letters describe life in the Ottoman Empire in the 1870s to 1890s--"the rigors of travel, diseases, foods, officials and peoples, especially the Armenians of Sivas and environs, including the massacre of 1895."

Albert married Emma Roxanna Spencer (daughter of Judge George Tiley Spencer of Corning, New York) in 1873 at Corning in Corning, Steuben County, New York in 1873. Interestingly, his wife appears to have kept her maiden name on various officials documents.

Albert and Emma had 8 children, all born in Sivas, Turkey.

Children:

Ray Spencer Hubbard (1875 - 1900)
Luke Cressie Hubbard ("Crescens"; 1877 - 1900)
Faith Hubbard (1880 - )
Loyal George Hubbard (1882 - )
Royal Chauncey Hubbard (1882 - )
Hugh Wells Hubbard (1887 - 1908)
Mary Hubbard (1890 - )
Theodore Horace (1892 - 1914)

NOTE: The birthdates for the last 3 children (Hugh, Mary and Theodore) are documented on an 1895 passport application.

Albert worked for two years (1871-73) as pastor of Monaghan Presbyterian Church in Dillsburg, Pennsylvania.

Two days after marrying Emma the couple sailed for Sivas, Turkey as Presbyterian missionaries. Their life in Turkey is described in the family papers (primarily letters between various relatives) which are preserved at two locations: Amherst Archives and Special Collections and the Special Collection of Brigham Young University at Idaho.

Death

Albert died in Sivas, Turkey on April 13, 1899. According to the family papers at Amherst, his death was due to "pneumonia and pleurisy." According to a memorial letter written for the American Board Commission of Foreign Missionaries (ABCFM), he died from complications of an internal abscess.[26] This memorial letter describes in detail his funeral service which was attended by 3,000 people including representatives of a local pasha and an Armenian bishop. "Five Gregorian priests came to the church and went to the grave ... All the Armenians shops were closed for the day." A photo from the early 1900s of the gravesite and memorial marker in Sivas, can be seen on a website set up to preserve the history of Armenians in the 19th century Ottoman empire.

Albert's son Hugh Hubbard, born in Sivas, Turkey, was himself to become a missionary to China.

Albert Wells Hubbard (Amherst College 1867) Family Papers

The Hubbard Family Papers date from circa 1864 to 1909. The majority of the papers represent personal correspondence among Albert Wells Hubbard, his wife Emma Roxanna Spencer Hubbard and their immediate family. Correspondence with friends and colleagues is also included. The papers chronicle A.W. Hubbard's graduate years at Princeton until several years after his death in 1899. The bulk of the material documents his years as a missionary in Turkey
between 1873 and 1899.

Although Albert Wells Hubbard is the central figure in the collection, correspondence of Emma Roxanna Spencer Hubbard is well represented. Emma corresponded regularly with Albert's siblings and parents, and it is through her correspondence that the researcher is introduced to the extended Spencer family; her sisters and parents. Correspondence with their children is located in Series 1 and 2 of the papers.

GEDCOM Source

@R850953539@ New York, State Census, 1855 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,7181::0 1,7181::1653485559

GEDCOM Source

@R850953539@ Nevada, Death Certificates, 1911-1965 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,60974::0 1,60974::600030675

GEDCOM Source

@R850953539@ New York, State Census, 1855 Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,7181::0 1,7181::1653485559

GEDCOM Source

@R850953539@ Ancestry Family Trees Online publication - Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com. Original data: Family Tree files submitted by Ancestry members. Ancestry Family Tree http://trees.ancestry.com/pt/AMTCitationRedir.aspx?tid=117823889&pi...

GEDCOM Source

@R850953539@ 1870 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,7163::0 Year: 1870; Census Place: Cameron, Steuben, New York; Roll: M593_1094; Page: 503B; Family History Library Film: 552593 1,7163::32313359

GEDCOM Source

@R850953539@ 1870 United States Federal Census Ancestry.com Ancestry.com Operations, Inc. 1,7163::0 Year: 1870; Census Place: Cameron, Steuben, New York; Roll: M593_1094; Page: 503B; Family History Library Film: 552593 1,7163::32313359