Wordless Wednesday -- This Says It All

Forefathers Burying Ground, Chelmsford, MA 1655

U. S. Map Shows which Ancestries Make up that County

From The Washington Post, April 18, 2014. "The history of European colonization of the Americas is still evident today in most of the United States. This very cool map shows which ancestries make up the largest population in each of the country’s 3,144 counties."

United States and every county.

Another map showing the population growth and decline, changes in racial and ethnic concentrations and patterns of housing development appeared in the The New York Times and you can click on every county to get the above information.
Census Bureau; socialexplorer.com

Asking For Help -- Skokie, Illinois area

My husband helping me find a grave.

Do You live in the Skokie, Illinois area?

Follow-up:  An employee of the cemetery took photos for me in September 2011.

My grandparents are buried in the Memorial Park Cemetery and Crematorium, Skokie, Illinois. Many years ago, I wrote the Cemetery for information and received the information below. I sure would love some help if somebody could take photos for me. On March 21st, I submitted a request to FindAGrave...still hoping a volunteer will take a trek to the cemetery. But, if not, maybe a reader can help out.

Clarence Poole
b. 1891, d. 1957
Plot: Mausoleum Annex, Block 4, Lot 2.
Added by Barbara Poole
Mar 21, 2011 Memorial Park Cemetery an...
Skokie Cook County, IL

Marjorie Poole
b. 1891, d. 1953
Plot: Mausoleum Annex, Block 4, Lot 2.
Added by Barbara Poole
Mar 21, 2011 Memorial Park Cemetery an...
Skokie Cook County, IL

Tombstone Tuesday -- SAMUEL PETERS

In Memory of

SAMUEL PETERS

born 1675   died 1736

And of  His Wife

PHEBE FRIE PETERS

born 1680  died 1757

Samuel Peters is my 8th great-granduncle

First Burying Ground, North Andover, Massachusetts

This Is The Face of Genealogy

About 92 years ago, this photo was taken of my mother and her parents.

These are the faces of my genealogy.

BELDEN of Connecticut

The BELDEN surname is another old New England family (Connecticut and Massachusetts). Below are the first three generations of my line (in green) and will be continued next week. If you would like sources or want further information, please contact me.

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Generation No. 1

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1.	JOHN BELDEN (RICHARD BELDEN) was born BEF 8 FEB 1634 in Aryingden, Heptonstall, Yorkshire, England, and died 27 JUN 1677 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married LYDIA STANDISH 24 APR 1657 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of THOMAS STANDISH and LYDIA. She was born about 1635.
	Children of JOHN BELDEN and LYDIA STANDISH were: 2   i. John BELDEN was born 12 JUN 1658 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 10 JAN 1714 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Dorothy WILLARD 15 JUN 1682 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 3   ii. JONATHAN BELDEN was born 21 JAN 1660 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 6 JUL 1734 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 4   iii. Joseph BELDEN was born 23 APR 1663 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 DEC 1724 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 5   iv. Samuel BELDEN was born 3 JAN 1664 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 27 DEC 1733 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 6   v. Sarah BELDEN was born 31 MAR 1668 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 7   vi. Daniel BELDEN was born 12 OCT 1670 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died ABT 1696 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 8   vii. Ebenezer BELDEN was born 8 JAN 1672 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 2 NOV 1739 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 9   viii. Lydia BELDEN was born MAR 1675 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Stephen KELLOGG 8 MAY 1696 in Hadley, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts. 10   ix. Margaret BELDEN was born 29 MAR 1677 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 13 DEC 1747 in Colchester, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Nathaniel KELLOGG 1696 in Hatfield, Hampshire Co., Massachusetts.

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Generation No. 2

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3.	JONATHAN BELDEN (JOHN BELDEN, RICHARD BELDEN) was born 21 JAN 1660 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 6 JUL 1734 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Ancient Burying Ground, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married MARY WRIGHT 10 DEC 1685 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of THOMAS WRIGHT and ELIZABETH CHITTENDEN. She was born 4 MAR 1664 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 8 SEP 1741 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She was buried in Ancient Burying Ground, Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	Children of JONATHAN BELDEN and MARY WRIGHT were: 11   i. Jonathan BELDEN was born 11 NOV 1686 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 12   ii. Mary BELDEN was born 11 SEP 1687 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 10 MAR 1736. She married David WRIGHT 8 JUN 1710 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 13   iii. SILAS BELDEN was born 29 JUL 1691 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died SEP 1742 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 14   iv. Jonathan BELDEN was born 30 MAR 1695 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 20 AUG 1768. He married Martha JAMES 29 DEC 1715. 15   v. Elizabeth BELDEN was born 1 OCT 1698 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 10 MAR 1736. She married Ezra BELDEN15 FEB 1721 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.

4.	Joseph BELDEN (JOHN BELDEN, RICHARD BELDEN) was born 23 APR 1663 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 DEC 1724 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Mary MEAKINS 27 OCT 1693 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She died 17 MAR 1740.
	Children of Joseph BELDEN and Mary MEAKINS were: 16   i. Sarah BELDEN was born 1 JUN 1695. 17   ii. Joseph BELDEN was born 28 DEC 1697. 18   iii. Thomas BELDEN was born 9 SEP 1700. 19   iv. Mary BELDEN was born 23 APR 1704. 20   v. Amos BELDEN was born 15 AUG 1707. 21   vi. Easter BELDEN was born 26 JUN 1710. 22   vii. Eunice BELDEN was born 16 JUN 1714.

5.	Samuel BELDEN (JOHN BELDEN, RICHARD BELDEN) was born 3 JAN 1664 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 27 DEC 1733 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah Elderkin or HANDY 14 JAN 1686 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She died 20 JAN 1742.
	Children of Samuel BELDEN and Hannah Elderkin or HANDY were: 23   i. Samuel BELDEN was born 25 JUL 1689. 24   ii. Daniel BELDEN was born 14 FEB 1691. 25   iii. Gideon BELDEN was born 24 MAR 1693. 26   iv. Prudence BELDEN was born 12 FEB 1694. 27   v. Richard BELDEN was born 18 APR 1699. 28   vi. Mathew BELDEN was born 13 JUN 1701. 29   vii. Hannah BELDEN was born 25 SEP 1704.

8.	Ebenezer BELDEN (JOHN BELDEN, RICHARD BELDEN) was born 8 JAN 1672 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 2 NOV 1739 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Ancient Burying Ground. He married Abigail GRAVES ABT 1696 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	Children of Ebenezer BELDEN and Abigail GRAVES were: 30   i. Ebenezer BELDEN was born 7 SEP 1697. 31   ii. Thankful BELDEN was born 16 NOV 1702.

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Generation No. 3

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13.	SILAS BELDEN (JONATHAN BELDEN, JOHN BELDEN, RICHARD BELDEN) was born 29 JUL 1691 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died SEP 1742 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married ABIGAIL ROBBINS 30 NOV 1716 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of JOSHUA ROBBINS and ELIZABETH ROSE. She was born 12 JUN 1697 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 16 FEB 1783 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She was buried in Newington, Connecticut (Congregational Church).
	Children of SILAS BELDEN and ABIGAIL ROBBINS were: 32   i. Silas BELDEN was born 13 NOV 1717 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 33   ii. Abigail BELDEN was born 4 NOV 1720 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Thomas HURLBURT 12 DEC 1744 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 34   iii. Joshua BELDEN was born 19 JUL 1724 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Anna BELDEN 30 NOV 1749 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 35   iv. Charles BELDEN was born 4 MAY 1728 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 36   v. Lydia BELDEN was born 3 MAY 1730 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 37   vi. OLIVER BELDEN was born 19 NOV 1732 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 16 SEP 1811 in Lenox, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. 38   vii. Jonathan BELDEN was born 16 NOV 1737 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 9 JAN 1778 in Canaan, Litchfield Co., Connecticut. He married Sarah BELDING 22 MAR 1759.

Looking Back -- 5 Historical Societies

LONDONDERRY HISTORICAL SOCIETY

MORRISON HOUSE MUSEUM

LONDONDERRY, NEW HAMPSHIRE

ANDOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS

UNIQUE DOORS ON THE BARN.

TOWNSEND HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE REED HOMESTEAD
TOWNSEND, MASSACHUSETTS

WESTFORD HISTORICAL SOCIETY
WESTFORD, MASSACHUSETTS

BELOW IS THE GROTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY.
GROTON, MASSACHUSETTS

This will be my last Looking Back post. I feel it has run it's course, and there isn't any need to wait until the last day of the month to post the blog. However, all previous photos of Historical Societies may consolidated into their own category. I believe I have 11 other photos, and there are more to take.

Tombstone Tuesday -- Memorial To Solon A. Perkins

"I OFTEN THINK IT MORE BLESSED TO DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR ONES COUNTRY, THAN TO LIVE LONG YEARS IN CIVIL LIFE."

FROM CEMETERY STONE OF SOLON A. PERKINS.

BURIED LOWELL CEMETERY, LOWELL, MASSACHUSETTS

(Front) SOLONA A., SON OF APOLLOS AN D WEALTHY PERKINS, BORN DEC. 6, 1836, KILLED IN BATTLE NEAR PORT HUDSON, JUNE 3, 1863.

A DUTIFUL SON AND AFFECTIONATE BROTHER. WELL HE PERFORMED HIS DUTY IN LIFE, AND DIED BRAVELY IN THE DEFENCE [sic] OF HIS COUNTRY AND OF LIBERTY.


(2nd side) HE HELPED RECRUIT A COMPANY OF CAVALRY IN THE FALL OF 1861 AND RECEIVING THE COMMISSION OF I' LIEUT. WENT OUT WITH GEN. BUTLERS EXPEDITION TO THE GULF. HIS CAPTAIN BEING LOST OVERBOARD NEAR FORT JACKSON APRIL '62, HE COMMANDED THE COMPANY FROM THAT TIME TILL HE FELL. HE WAS A TRUE TYPE OF THE CAVALRY OFFICER, DASHING, BRILLIANT, BRAVE AND HIGHLY STRATEGIC AND FOR THESE QUALITIES WAS OFTEN COMPLIMENTED BY HIS SUPERIOR OFFICERS. IN A LETTER URGING HIS PROMOTION TO THE RANK OF MAJOR. GEN. WEITZEL SPOKE OF HIM AS;

(Back) "THE MAN WHO TO-DAY HAS THE FINEST AND MOST SERVICEABLE CAVALRY COMPANY TO WHOM IS DUE THE HONOR OF MAKING IT WHAT IT IS. WHO IS THE BRAVEST AND ABLEST OF OFFICERS, AND HAS ACCOMPLISHED MORE THAN ANY OFFICER IN THIS DEPARTMENT. HE HAD DESERVED PROMOTION (HE SAID) BY HIS ABILITY, HIS INDUSTRY, HIS EFFICIENCY, HIS BRAVERY AND HIS SUCCESS." THIS RECOMMENDATION WAS APPROVED BY GEN. BANKS, AND THE MAJORS COMMISSION MADE OUT BUT NEVER REACHED HIM. DURING THE LAST YEAR OF HIS SERVICE HE WAS CONSTANTLY SKIRMISHING WITH THE ENEMY:

(4th side) HE LED GEN. BANKS' ADVANCE TO RED RIVER AND PORT HUDSON WAS FOUR TIMES WOUNDED AND HAD SEVEN HORSES KILLED UNDER HIM. VERY FEW COULD BEAR HARDSHIP TO THE SAME EXTENT OR WITH LESS INJURY: YET IN A LETTER CLOSED THE DAY BEFORE HE FELL, HE SAID, "I WOULD RATHER LOSE AN ARM THAN ENDURE WHAT I HAVE ASIDE FROM MY WOUNDS, THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS."
THE CHANGES OF WAR HE COUNTED FROM THE START AND IN THAT LAST LETTER HE SAID, "I OFTEN THINK IT MORE BLESSED TO DIE ON THE BATTLEFIELD FOR ONES COUNTRY, THAN TO LIVE LONG YEARS IN CIVIL LIFE."

Update: March 26, 2015  --  https://www.facebook.com/lowellvets/photos/a.660695387330671.1073741827.660652214001655/962288920504648/?type=1&fref=nf

Perkins Flag Rededication 
When: Sunday, May 31, 2015 10:00am to Noon 
Where: Lowell Memorial Auditorium Home of the Greater Lowell Veterans’ Council East Merrimack St. – Lowell, MA 01852 
Remarks by: Mayor Rodney Elliott
Perkins’ History by: Richard P. Howe Jr.

Vermont Vietnam Veterans Memorial

THE VERMONT VIETNAM MEMORIAL

THE FIRST MEMORIAL IN THE

COUNTRY TO HONOR THOSE WHO

GAVE THEIR LIVES IN SERVICE

IN THE VIETNAM WAR WAS FIRST

DEDICATED ON THIS SITE ON

OCTOBER 30, 1982.

IN MEMORY OF THE

MEN AND WOMEN

FROM VERMONT

WHO SERVED

IN THE VIETNAM WAR

AND LATER DIED.

WE HONOR AND REMEMBER

THEIR SACRIFICE.

VERMONT VIETNAM VETERANS MEMORIAL

WE SHALL NEVER FORGET

MIA

2005


The memorial is located at the new Sharon, Vermont rest area.

"What we believe to be the first state sanctioned Vietnam Veterans Memorial in the nation was dedicated at 10:30 AM on October 30, 1982 at the northbound rest area on interstate 89, the Vietnam Veterans Memorial highway, in Sharon, Vermont. Since it dedication, an all night vigil has been held at the memorial on memorial day eve every year since.

       This site for the memorial was chosen for several reasons. Interstate 89 was named the vietnam veterans memorial highway because the summer scenery closely resembles that of highway one in the central highlands of Vietnam. The site for the memorial was selected to be along the highway as a joint symbol of recognition of the highway's name and familiarity to highway one in Vietnam. interstate 89 was the highway taken by draft evaders as the most direct route into Canada and so stands as the "road less traveled" by Vietnam veterans. The location of the memorial is closest to the 138 mile marker from the Canadian border, symbolizing the 138 men whose names appear on the Vermont Granite." (Taken from link above.)

Sentimental Sunday -- Two Soldiers Connect

There have been many wonderful stories on Memorial Day about our American soldiers. This one happened recently, and I had a part in it, so I am rather emotional writing about it. I am just afraid I am not doing this story true justice. There are four people involved; Jo, Bob, Gary, and Larry. Jo is the sister of Bob (soldier, still living, and who held dying soldier and buddy Gary in his arms). Jo is trying to locate Gary's brother as a favor to her brother Bob. The story began on May 02, 1967 in Vietnam when Gary died in the arms of Bob. Last month, I received a letter from Bob’s sister Jo.

What would you do if you received a letter like this, "Barbara. My name is Jo ___. My brother (Bob) served in the service with Gary. They were good friends and he, Bob, wants to connect up with his (Gary) family. Could you contact me. JO"

I wrote back, and the outcome was the most rewarding thing I have ever done. It turns out that Jo wrote me because I had the brothers, Gary and Larry in my genealogy program. The brothers are my 5th cousins. Jo googled their names and came across my information.

From Jo, I learned, "My brother Bob, served in the Vietnam War with Gary. He was there when he died. They were really close friends. I think they trained together and went over together. He talks about Gary after all these years and still grieves over his death. He grieved terribly when Gary died. He has been trying to find his family for years. He asked me to help find them. He knew that Gary was from Detroit, Mich. My brother was from Ohio. My brother has Agent Orange. He got it in Nam. He is under constant medical care from the VA."

There were very few facts, but I was up to the challenge. Once I realized this was a real life situation of a soldier trying to find another soldier's family, this was my priority until all the pieces came together. Was I ever in luck Or I should say, we were all in luck.

I located Larry, via internet, but didn’t want to write him, because if this was a true event, I thought an email stating, “I know who the person is who held your dying brother” would be too painful. Fortunately, Larry and Gary’s cousin, also found via internet, is a movie director / producer, so I wrote Pamela Peak for information and to see if the story was true.

An immediate reply came from her, and yes, the story was true. Being a writer in addition to her director / producer roll, Pamela had a lot to say. “WOW! I was 10 when Gary died and we, as family, always wanted even more clarification about his death. Gary was such a patriotic person and received many more medals than what we could comprehend based on what was told to the family about his death. I attended many of those medal ceremonies.” Pamela and I wrote many letters and everything came together.

From Jo (the sister of Bob):
“My brother Bob was only about 17 or 18 when this happened and Gary was only a couple years older. Bob said he cried for his mother when he was dying and that memory was burned in my brothers mind as he was so close to our Mom. What happened in the last minutes of his death was important to him and helped him get closure also.”


A week or so later, I received this message from Jo. “My brother and Gary’s brother talked a long time on the phone and my brother got some closure on Gary's death. My brother held Gary in his arms when he died. They were best friends in Vietnam. My brother has grieved over his death for years and talking to Gary's family has helped them all. The war was really bad for my brother and when he came home he was a mess. I am glad we finally found someone who knew Gary that he could talk to about him. We wish to thank you for all the help you gave us in finding this family. Barbara, again we thank you so much. You were a life saver for my family."

From Pamela (the cousin):
“Of course you can write about this on your blog. I am a writer and I totally want you to write about it. In fact, I'm due to give a speech at the foot of the Polar Bear Monument on Memorial Day in Troy, Michigan, just a short step away from where Gary is buried. The speech is about my film dedicated to the Polar Bears, and I will now be telling this incredible story about how you contacted me and how we found Bob so he could deliver his communication after all these years. It's quite a story isn't it? (I still have chills and tears in my eyes as I am writing this).”

“Thank you for all the work you do and for being the wonderful person you are to put us all in communication. Please let me know when you write about this on your blog. I would love to see it and I love knowing that others will now share this incredible story and pass it on.”

Bob, Larry, Jo, Pamela this is for you, and for Gary who will forever be in our hearts. Pamela, I am sorry I waited so long to write this, it was extremely difficult, but at last, I quote you, “I love knowing that others will now share this incredible story and pass it on.”

Note: This was originally posted last year, May 30, 2010.