Tombstone Tuesday -- Cemeteries (How could I not take these)

Last month, my husband and I took a little trip to New Hampshire and Quebec, Canada and came upon three lovely cemeteries.  Of course, a quick stop to check out a rainbow proved to be the best thing.  I always wanted a rainbow shot with a cemetery in it.

These two shots were taken in Colebrook, New Hampshire.

Herbert Lawton Memorial Advent Cemetery (above and below)

East Hereford, Compton County, Quebec

(In my haste to get photos uploaded, I deleted the one with the sign, but you can see it via the link above.)

A few miles up the road, another nice cemetery.

Old Hall Steam Cemetery (above and below) (View burials.)

East Hereford, Compton County, Quebec

Within 3 minutes, we went from New Hampshire, to Vermont to Canada.

Vermont on the left and New Hampshire on the right.

The beginning of the Connecticut River.

Connecticut River in Massachusetts (further south of above).

1976 Bicentennial -- July 4th

The nation was counting down to the Bicentennial for many years and Washington, DC intended to make that July 4, 1976 a memorable day for all.  As a matter of fact, events were planned for four days.  Some of the special events I went to were the American Folklife festival, the NARA and saw the Declaration of Independence, Bill of Rights and the Constitution, enjoyed a huge "American Bicentennial Grand Parade" and of course saw the fabulous fireworks.


Since I was living in Alexandria, Virginia, across the Potomac River from Washington, I had no intention of missing anything.  But, there was a problem.  Too many people, and the Metro hadn't opened yet in my area.  Fortunately, my first cousin, lived two blocks away from the Capitol, invited me to spend two nights with her.  How wonderful for me and we spent the entire time together sharing all the great and free activities together. We saw the long parade, went to a concert or two and had a superb location to watch the fireworks, from the Capitol, I think we had passes, because she worked for a Texas politician, and I don't remember fighting for a spot.  And when it was all over on the 4th, we were back at her place within minutes.


My photos aren't the best, actually among my worst, but I thought I would share them.  Happy 4th to everybody.

Surname Saturday -- FLINT of Massachusetts

The Flint line is another old Essex County, Massachusetts line.  The interesting thing with this family is, I descend through three daughters of William Flint and Alice Williams.  My direct lines are in green.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1. WILLIAM FLINT was born 1603, and died 2 APR 1673. He married Alice BOSWORTH. He married ALICE WILLIAMS 1644 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died 5 OCT 1700.


Children of WILLIAM FLINT and ALICE WILLIAMS are:
+ 2 i. Edward FLINT was born ABT 1638, and died AFT MAY 1711.
+ 3 ii. ALICE FLINT was born ABT 1640 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BET 4 MAR 1711/12 AND 13 MAY 1713 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
4 iii. Elizabeth FLINT was born ABT 1641. She married John WOODIS.
+ 5 iv. MARGARET FLINT was born ABT 1642, and died 1705.
6 v. Thomas FLINT was born ABT 1645 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth JOHNSON 22 MAY 1666 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+ 7 vi. HANNAH FLINT was born ABT 1647 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 JAN 1723/24 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

2. Edward FLINT (WILLIAM FLINT) was born ABT 1638, and died AFT MAY 1711. He married Elizabeth HART 20 OCT 1659 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Florence NORMAN.


Children of Edward FLINT and Elizabeth HART are:
8 i. Hannah FLINT was born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Robert ORANGE 18 SEP 1702. He was born in of Boston, Suffolk, MA.
9 ii. Sarah FLINT was born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Jacob WILLARD.
10 iii. Abigail FLINT was born in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Benjamin GERRISH.  She married Edward HOLLOWAY 9 JUN 1704.
11 iv. John FLINT was born 26 MAR 1660 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
12 v. William FLINT was born 12 AUG 1661 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
13 vi. Thomas FLINT was born FEB 1662/63 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
14 vii. Joseph FLINT was born 1671 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Experience DERBY.
15 viii. Deborah FLINT was born 1672 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Thomas LEE. He was born in of Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts.
16 ix. Elizabeth FLINT was born ABT 1673 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph DEANE.
17 x. David FLINT was born ABT 1675 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Ruth FLINT.
18 xi. Benjamin FLINT was born ABT 1679 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 DEC 1732.


3. ALICE FLINT (WILLIAM FLINT) was born ABT 1640 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BET 4 MAR 1711/12 AND 13 MAY 1713 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Henry BULLOCK BEF 1654, son of Henry BULLOCK and Susan. He was born ABT 1627. She married JOHN PICKERING AFT 22 AUG 1657 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of JOHN PICKERING and ELIZABETH w\o JOHN PICKERING.  He was born 1637 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 MAY 1694 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Broad St. Burying Ground, Salem.


Children of ALICE FLINT and JOHN PICKERING are:
19 i. John PICKERING was born 10 SEP 1658 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 9 JUN 1722 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Sarah BURRILL 14 JUN 1683 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
20 ii. Jonathan PICKERING was born 27 SEP 1660.
21 iii. Joseph PICKERING was born 9 SEP 1663 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
22 iv. Benjamin PICKERING was born 15 JAN 1665/66 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 6 NOV 1718. He married Jane HOBBY 27 APR 1695 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+ 23 v. Sarah PICKERING was born 7 SEP 1668 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 JAN 1717/18 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
24 vi. William PICKERING was born 11 JAN 1669/70 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Hannah BROWNE 19 JUN 1695 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
25 vii. Elizabeth PICKERING was born 7 SEP 1674 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel NICHOLS BEF 1696 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married James BROWN 22 FEB 1697/98 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+ 26 viii. HANNAH PICKERING was born 2 JUL 1677 in Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 29 JUL 1714.
27 ix. Edward PICKERING was born 1679.



5. MARGARET FLINT (WILLIAM FLINT) was born ABT 1642, and died 1705. She married RICHARD NORMAN 28 MAR 1660 in Marblehead, Essex, MA, son of RICHARD NORMAN. He was born ABT 1623, and died ABT 11 AUG 1683 in Misery Island (Marblehead area), Massachusetts. She married Robert GOODWIN 15 OCT 1685 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts.


Children of MARGARET FLINT and RICHARD NORMAN are:
28 i. Richard NORMAN.
29 ii. Elizabeth NORMAN died 15 OCT 1716 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Aboliab DIAMOND 8 JAN 1684/85 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married William HINE 13 NOV 1688 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
30 iii. Benjamin NORMAN.
31 iv. Jonathan NORMAN.
+ 32 v. REBECCA NORMAN was born ABT 1650, and died 1732 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
33 vi. Joseph NORMAN was born 1656, and died BEF 18 NOV 1691. He married Mary COLLINS 24 JAN 1688/89 in Massachusetts Vital Records for Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts..
34 vii. John NORMAN was born ABT 1658, and died 1709. He married Sarah MAVERICK 10 NOV 1683 in Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
35 viii. William NORMAN was born 1658, and died 1699. He married Rebecca ABT 1680 in Salem / Marblehead, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was born 1657, and died 1729.


7. HANNAH FLINT (WILLIAM FLINT) was born ABT 1647 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 JAN 1723/24 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married JOSHUA WARD 18 JAN 1668/69 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of MILES WARD and MARGARET. He was born ABT 25 APR 1641 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1680. She married Eleazer KEYZER AFT 1680 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.


Children of HANNAH FLINT and JOSHUA WARD are:
36 i. Mary WARD. She married Adoniram COLLINS 20 NOV 1701 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
37 ii. Margaret WARD. She married John PICKMAN.
38 iii. Joshua WARD was born 16 JAN 1668/69 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1680.
39 iv. Hannah WARD was born 2 JAN 1670/71 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Eleazer MOSES 24 JUN 1687 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+ 40 v. MILES WARD was born 11 MAR 1673/74 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 AUG 1764 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Follow Friday -- Riverdale, Michigan

Why write about Riverdale, Michigan you might ask.  My 6th cousin recently sent me a 75 page Centennial booklet for her town with a "population of 300-400 if everyone is home."  She lives in this town.  We began sharing our family information a good four years ago and we stopped, some time passed and we started up, this has happened several times.  Nice to have relatives like that, somebody you are comfortable with and who will share.


Because I knew nothing about Riverdale in Seville Township, I checked with google and found a site about
Gratiot County, Michigan, it appears to be in the center of the state, and the Pine River runs through it.  From the booklet, I learned that lumbering was abundant, and the finest pines could be found there in the early days. "In 1854, lured here by the forest of pines, white people started to settle in the area.  Large log drives used to take place where millions of feet of logs were floated downstream to the mills which soon started along the banks."


My ancestors on our shared Schrambling / Scramlin line settled in Michigan, but not this town.  However, cousin Linda had several generations who live there, and currently her parents have a life-lease on a farm, and Linda also resides there.


The town celebrated their Centennial in 1974, and then in 1999 this book was published, which contains some of the original material as well as updates from the past 25 years.  Throughout the book are old and new photos of schools, houses, churches, banks, old sawmills and other buildings. And, many old family photos.  Linda kindly went through each page and wrote on stickies additional bits of information.  There is even a photo of her 130+ year old house, one of oldest in the town!


I particularly enjoyed the piece about the Riverdale Library. "It was started in June of 1941 by Mrs. Josephine Scramlin Bradley.  She collected a few books from the townspeople and borrowed a number of books from the State Library in Lansing." This wonderful lady was Linda's great-aunt!


While trying to locate additional information about the town, I found a listing of some burials at Riverdale Cemetery from Google images.


I no longer have the need to keep her book, and Linda has allowed me to donate it to the New England Historic and Genealogical Soceity's Library (NEHGS).  It will have a safe home, and perhaps others will use it.

Tombstone Tuesday -- KILBORN of New Haven, Connecticut

Aaron Kilborn

Born:  September 03, 1798, Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut

Died:  August 29, 1876, Orange, New Haven Co., Connecticut

His wife, Almira Richardson

Born:  Abt. 1798, Orange, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Died:  April 22, 1861, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut

 

They were my 3rd great-grandparents. 

They are buried at Evergreen Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.

Their son was George Franklin Kilborn

George Franklin Kilborn

Born:  October 30, 1832, Hamden, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Died:  December 16, 1910, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut

His wife, Sophia Polly Davis

Born:  January 11, 1831, Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut

Died:  May 03, 1928, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut

 They were my 2nd great-grandparents.

They are buried at Grove Street Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut
Note:  Yale University is in the background.

Saturday Night Genealogy Fun

Randy Seaver at Genea-Musings has given us his weekly Saturday Night Genealogy Fun challenge for today.  It is: "Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:
1) Think about the question: Why do I pursue genealogy and family history research? and  2) Tell us about it on your own blog post, in a comment to this blog post, or in a comment on Facebook."


There are too many reasons, so let's begin with the obvious. I want to know who all my ancestors were, and I mean all of them.
Also,
I want to be late for just about every appointment, because I need that last bit of information.
I want to be glued to the computer or have my nose in a library book.
I want to starve myself, because I won't get up to eat.
I want to get fat because I won't exercise because I want to be at the computer.
I want to get a sore back, sore hands and have eye problems because of the computer...need to blame the problems on something.
I want a messy house, because other things take priority.
I want a hobby that makes me appear smart.
I want to talk about genealogy and have others look strangely at me.
I want a hobby that doesn't cost too much.
I want to wear Genea-Blogger beads one of these days.
I want my non-genealogy fb friends to see all my fb friends, and think, "she knows a lot of people all over the United States, Canada, and So. Korea."
I want to meet somebody just like me.
I want people to think, "This doesn't sound like Barbara."

Surname Saturday -- JOHNSON, MEAD / MEED and SANGER

Elizabeth / Betsey Johnson is one of my "Brick Walls" and unlike some others, her ancestry is pretty much unknown. She was born Nov. 7, 1751 in Lynn, Massachusetts, married David Mead / Meed on October 21, 1773 in Lynn.  They had three children and moved to New Hampshire.  After his death, she married Abner Sanger and had seven children.  Her marriage record is written as: "Mrs. Elisabeth Johnson and David Meed, Oct. 21, 1773."  Does anybody know if that really meant she was previously married or was she an older single woman, and it was a title of respect (she was just 22)?

+ 2 i. ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON was born 7 NOV 1751 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 MAR 1799 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

2. ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON (WILLIAM JOHNSON) was born 7 NOV 1751 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 MAR 1799 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. She was buried in Town Cemetery, Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. She married DAVID MEAD 21 OCT 1773 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of BENJAMIN MEAD and HEPHZIBAH. He was born 19 NOV 1749 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 1784 in New Ipswich, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire. She married Abner SANGER 1 APR 1784, son of Eleazer SANGER and Mary DIKE. He was born 12 MAR 1738/39 in Hardwick, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 OCT 1822 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire. He was buried in Old Cemetery, (Known as Washington St. Cemetery) Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.


Children of ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON and DAVID MEAD are:

+ 3 i. Elizabeth (Betsey) MEAD was born 11 OCT 1774 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 APR 1868 in Glover, Orleans Co., Vermont.
+ 4 ii. MARY "Polly" MEAD was born 1777 in Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 JUL 1813 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 5 iii. David MEAD was born 1779 in New Ipswich, Hillsborough Co., New Hampshire, and died BET 1850 AND 1860 in of Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.


Children of ELIZABETH \ BETSEY JOHNSON and Abner SANGER are:


6 i. Hepzibah SANGER was born 16 MAR 1785 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 25 APR 1785 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 7 ii. Abner SANGER was born 19 APR 1786 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 15 APR 1867 in So. Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+ 8 iii. Hepzibah Meed SANGER was born 24 JUL 1788 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died NOV 1861 in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada.
9 iv. Abigail (Nabby) SANGER was born 1 AUG 1790 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 1 APR 1791 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 10 v. Abigail Willey SANGER was born 27 MAY 1792 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 23 NOV 1878 in Swanzey, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+ 11 vi. Rhoda Jackson SANGER was born 12 AUG 1794 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 7 APR 1871 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
12 vii. Sally SANGER was born 8 OCT 1796 in Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire, and died 21 AUG 1883 in Peabody, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Conversation -- Part 3

My letter began with, “Dear Mr. Barnes” unfortunately, I didn’t save a copy of my letter nor did the recipient.  Now for the beginning. About 1996, I used a genealogy book, The Genealogy of Thomas Barnes of Hartford, Connecticut, and was so happy to discover that my ancestors were listed in the book, with a source! It was for the marriage of ESTHER BARNES and NATHANIEL BISHOP of Connecticut. 

Immediately, I wrote the author a letter, since his address was printed in the book. Within days, I received a reply.  It seemed he was more excited than me. Why?  He was born and brought up in my home town. Even though he now lives in California, some of his family is still living here in my town in Massachusetts.

When I decided to write about the letter, his book and our meetings, I contacted him and his wonderful wife, Edna.  Edna replied back, “As far as we can determine, it looks as if we first met in October 1997 at the Library. I remember when you came bouncing in all enthused. It was such a pleasure to meet you. Also, we believe that Fred has visited with you in person four or five times. He has visited with you twice by himself. In August 2009, I returned back to CA earlier than Fred so he met with you and did some additional visiting with relatives and "old" classmates. He also was able to see you when he went back to his 50th High School Class Reunion in 2001. When we both went back for his 55th High School Reunion in 2006 you met us in Andover, MA. I'm not sure what year it was that you welcomed us into your home. You were doing some remodeling but wanted to share some of your genealogy material with us at that time.  Please let us know if you have any questions regarding Fred and his home town as he was "growing up".

This wonderful friendship developed because of a simple letter.  In addition, Fred is also my 8^th cousin, but it feels like a 1^st cousin with both of them. They are both members of my local genealogy club, long-distance from California.

If you have a BARNES line in your family, chances are pretty good, that person is in Fred’s two-volume set, reprinted 2001.  Please contact me if you wish further information.

 

Conversation -- Part 2

After three hours of looking through microfilm at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society’s Library (NEHGS) in Boston, I was getting pretty tired. In addition, I wondered about the man who was sitting next to me, who was also doing the same thing. There we were for all those hours, getting up to get a new reel, making copies, putting it back to get another one. Finally, I decided to start a simple light conversation. Something like, “what are you working on?” You know the answer, don’t you? Turns out, we were both working on Canadian censuses, for the exact same location…and the same family! We might have been looking for other names as well, but we were both looking for Westover names. Yes, the exact same surname as Gail (from yesterday's blog) and I have. My new found cousin, Jim and I couldn’t believe our luck, and I couldn’t wait to call Gail to share the news.

Unfortunately, Jim lives in New York City, and he was leaving in a few days. He took a temporary court stenographer’s position in Boston, so he could use the library for his Canadian research. We of course shared much information after he returned home. On two trips to NYC, before September 11, 2001, my husband and I met Jim at the New York Public Library for quick visits. He obtained some legal documents through the Missisquoi Historical Society in E. Stanbridge, Quebec, typed them up, and sent me a copy.

These encounters had surprising results, but to have two, with the same surname is pretty much unbelievable, I think. But they are both true, and that is why these blogs on Conversation were the very first I was going to blog about.

In the past, when I attended conventions, I always had my major surnames printed on the back of my business cards to hand out. Doing that simple step might help make a connection. Although, I think most people at conventions aren’t really looking to find cousins (that is what the internet is for), but it could work, either with the cards, or with chatting with the person next to you.  Part 3 of Conversation has to do with writing to an author.

Conversation -- Part 1

Close to 12 years ago, our new local genealogy club had their first annual pot-luck dinner at a sports club.  At least 30 people were there, and I only knew a handful of them.  Fortunately, my husband was sitting next to an older lady and they struck up a conversation.  I suppose one thing led to another, and they exchanged names.  Low and behold, her married surname was familiar to my husband because I was working on that surname for my tree.  Gail, the daughter, came over and she was also working on that exact same line!  We had so much to chat about. She was my first found cousin, a 6th one at that. The most exciting thing was, mother and daughter were planning on going to the Eastern Townships in Quebec, Canada the following summer to find cemetery stones and to do some research.

When they returned from their trip to Sutton, Dunham, and Frelighsburg, Quebec, Gail had duplicate copies of all her photos made for me, and a written copy of the inscriptions.  How could a person get any luckier?

Now, you can probably guess that I also had to make the same trip.  So three months later, my husband and I, using Gail’s local map for that area, retraced part their trip.  From Massachusetts, we went through Vermont and into Canada north of Burlington, it probably took close to six hours. We spent three nights at a lovely modern bed and breakfast, and managed to understand the inn keepers, who spoke mainly French.  Although this area is mostly English speaking, there are a fair number who speak French.

Years later, my cousin bought a series of books, the vital records for the above named towns, and I was able to borrow them.  It sure helped that I didn’t have to buy them as well.

When I first began blogging, this story was one of the first things I was going to write about, and now many months later, I am finally sharing it. The point of all this is, it is important to communicate with others who share your hobby.  I have learned this twice.  Part 2 will illustrate another example.