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The Life From The Roots blog topics have changed several times since I began this blog in 2009. I initially wrote only about the family history I had been working on for 20 years. Years later, I was into visiting gardens, historical homes, churches, libraries that had genealogical collections, historical societies, war memorials, and travel/tourism places. I also enjoy posting autographs and photos of famous people I've met or have seen.

Along with my New England roots, other areas include New York, New Jersey, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and the Eastern Townships of Quebec, Canada.

Please check out the labels on the right side for topics (please note, they need work). Below the labels and pageviews is a listing of my top nine posts, according to Google. Four of them pertain to Lowell, MA. These posts change often because they are based on what people are reading.

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Mother and daughters -- Wordless Wednesday

There are three photos of my 2nd great-grandmother, aged 21-22. At first glance, I thought they were all taken the same day. But I noticed she was wearing the same dress, but different collars. Children, are in two of them, and appear to be about the same age.
Frances (Fannie) Gleason Poole, about 1856 (taken after the death of one of her daughters, I believe, because she doesn't look happy and appears to have aged. See photo below.)
Photo from the book, William Frederick Poole and the Modern Library Movement.
A Happy Family above, ca. early 1856.
My cousin said this was Alice Poole, born 17 September 1855. Her twin sister, Helen, died 6 September 1856.
Alice a few years later. I love this picture.

The three photographs belong to David, my 3rd cousin once removed. They are used with his permission. We found each other online about 12 years ago.

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

The Tylers of Andover, MA -- Tombstone Tuesday


Recently, I received an email from Lori, "I really enjoyed the info on your genealogy blog. My maternal side are Tylers, from Job Tyler who was married to Margaret Bradstreet. And from there, we go to the Bradstreets / Dudleys and up the chain to the throne. Another long-lost cousin many times removed. Lori" She also mentioned the Tylers lived in Andover, Massachusetts.

After a little investigating, I discovered there was a memorial marker for Job Tyler, as he was the First Andover (MA) Settler, in the Old North Parish Burying Ground located near me. But, I've been to that cemetery at least 20 times, and never saw it. Why? Because it is at the back of the cemetery, in the area where the grounds were recently cleared away, and it seems to be the only stone that is facing the opposite direction (West) of all the others. It pays to walk around every cemetery stone!
In Memoriam
Job Tyler          Immigrant
First Andover Settler
About  MDCXL (1650)
Born MDCXIX (1619)      Died  MDCC (1700)
_________

Dedicated by His Whole Clan
September 4, 1901
Above is the foot-stone for son Moses Tyler. His headstone, below is facing the opposite way.
Here Lyes Buried
Moses Tyler Who
Died October Ye 2nd
1727 and in the
86 Year Of His Age.
(Note: The stone is similar to the one below.)

Here Lyes Buried
the Body of Mrs.
Abigail Tyler
With Her Child
The Wife of Mr.
Jacob Tyler Who
Died March
The 25th 1722 and
In Ye 23
Year of Her Age.
(Behind the cemetery, the land was recently cleared of many trees and shrubs.)

Monday, February 11, 2013

A Puzzlement


Interest in a redcoat, Bette Davis and a doll seem to be the only things people are checking out on my blog this past week. And I'm curious as to why the doll and Bette Davis's house in Lowell, MA are suddenly of interest. Neither is a recent posts.

The chart below shows four of my top five page-views as of today. The first two is easy to know why, because Dick Eastman posted my blog on his newsletter, regarding the Revolutionary War Red Coat. But why are two simple photos of Bette Davis #3 and The Doll #4

Does anybody have an idea? If so, I'd really love to hear it. Does anybody think I should post this question to the sites #3 and #4?

267
142
Aug 31, 2011, 7 comments
114
Jul 5, 2012, 4 comments
57

Note: The calendar was made by a New Zealand cousin. Sue Greatbanks.

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Potter of Connecticut -- Surname Saturday

The Potter line is another colonial Connecticut line of mine. The emigrant ancestor, William Potter was my 9th great-grandfather. Both his daughters were my 8th great-grandmothers. As usual, my direct lines are in All Caps. If you would like sources, please contact me.

Note: This was revised on July 24, 2015, from my February 2013 posting, since I added about 10 new names and two new sources.

Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1.WILLIAM POTTER was born ABT 1582, and died 14 AUG 1639 in St. Thomas in the Cliffe, Lewes, Sussex, England. He married ANNA \ HANNAH LANGFORD 6 OCT 1607 in St. Thomas in the Cliffe, Lewes, Sussex, England.
Children of WILLIAM POTTER and ANNA \ HANNAH LANGFORD are:
+2  i.WILLIAM POTTER was born ABT 28 AUG 1608 in Lewes, England, and died 6 JUN 1662 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
3  ii.John POTTER was born ABT 18 FEB 1609/10 in England, and died ABT 1643. He married Elizabeth (Potter) (Parker) (--) w\o Robert ROSE ABT 1635.
4  iii.Mary POTTER was born ABT 21 MAR 1611/2 in England.
5  iv.Steven POTTER was born ABT 1 AUG 1614 in England.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

2.WILLIAM POTTER (WILLIAM POTTER1) was born ABT 28 AUG 1608 in Lewes, England, and died 6 JUN 1662 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married FRANCES BEF 1635 in England. She died AFT 7 APR 1663.
Children of WILLIAM POTTER and FRANCES (--) w\o WILLIAM POTTER are:
6  i.Joseph POTTER was born ABT FEB 1635 in England, and died BEF AUG 1670. He married Phebe IVES ABT 1660 in of New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, daughter of William IVES.
+7  ii.MARY POTTER was born BEF 22 AUG 1641 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died ABT 1701.
+8  iii.SARAH POTTER was born BET 1631 AND 1639 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died AFT AUG 1706 in (Prob.) Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
9  iv.Hope POTTER was born BEF 3 OCT 1641 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Daniel ROBINSON 3 FEB 1663 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
10  v.Rebecca POTTER was born BEF JAN 1643 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Thomas ADAMS 27 NOV 1667 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
11  vi.Nathaniel POTTER was born BEF 22 DEC 1644 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth HAWES 1 APR 1675 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 3

7.MARY POTTER (WILLIAM POTTER2, WILLIAM POTTER1) was born BEF 22 AUG 1641 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died ABT 1701. She married JOSEPH MANSFIELD 14 OCT 1652 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, son of RICHARD MANSFIELD and GILLIAN DRAKE. He was born ABT 1637, and died 15 NOV 1692.
Children of MARY POTTER and JOSEPH MANSFIELD are:
12  i.Mary MANSFIELD was born 6 APR 1658 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1712. She married Henry WISE. She married Thomas TURHAND. She married John HILL.
13  ii.Martha MANSFIELD was born 18 APR 1660 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Richard SPERRY 16 DEC 1680 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
14  iii.Mercy MANSFIELD was born 26 JUL 1662 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married John BRISTOL.
+15  iv.SILENCE MANSFIELD was born 24 OCT 1664 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
16  v.Elizabeth MANSFIELD was born 20 SEP 1666 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married William JOHNSON.
17  vi.Comfort MANSFIELD was born 6 DEC 1668 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married John BENHAM.
18  vii.John MANSFIELD was born 8 APR 1671 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 22 DEC 1690 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
19  viii.Joseph MANSFIELD was born 27 DEC 1673 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 8 OCT 1739 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth THOMAS. She was born ABT 1677, and died 4 MAR 1763.
20  ix.Ebenezer MANSFIELD was born 6 FEB 1677 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 3 AUG 1745 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah BASETT 20 APR 1710. She was born 3 OCT 1679 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 22 JAN 1766 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
21  x.Japhet MANSFIELD was born 8 JUL 1681 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1745. He married Hannah BRADLEY 14 JAN 1708 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She was born 8 NOV 1682 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 27 OCT 1768 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
8.SARAH POTTER (WILLIAM POTTER2, WILLIAM POTTER1) was born BET 1631 AND 1639 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died AFT AUG 1706 in (Prob.) Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married ROBERT FOOTE 1659 in New Haven / Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, son of NATHANIEL FOOTE and ELIZABETH DEMING. He was born 8 DEC 1627 in Ipswich, Suffolk, England, and died 1681 in Wallingford or Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Aaron BLACHLEY 1686. He was born in of Branford, Connecticut.
Children of SARAH POTTER and ROBERT FOOTE are:
22  i.Nathaniel FOOTE was born 13 APR 1660 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1714 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Tabitha BISHOP. She was born 14 SEP 1657 in of Branford, Connecticut, and died 1715.
23  ii.Sarah FOOTE was born 12 FEB 1662 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Isaac CURTIS 13 AUG 1682, son of Richard CURTIS. He was born in Of Wallingford, Connecticut, and died 15 JUL 1712. She married Nathaniel HOW 9 AUG 1714. He was born in Of Wallingford, Connecticut, and died 12 FEB 1723.
+24  iii.ELIZABETH FOOTE was born 18 MAR 1663 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 14 MAY 1730 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
25  iv.Joseph FOOTE was born 6 MAR 1665/6 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 6 MAR 1751 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Abigail JOHNSON 1690. He married Sarah ROSE 1710. He married Susanna FRISBIE 8 SEP 1741.
26  v.Samuel FOOTE was born 14 MAY 1668 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1696 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Abigail BARKER.
+27  vi.John FOOTE was born 24 JUL 1670 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 1713 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
28  vii.Stephen FOOTE was born 14 DEC 1672 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 23 OCT 1762 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth NASH 1702. He married Hannah HOWD 27 JUN 1739.
29  viii.Isaac FOOTE was born 14 DEC 1672 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 11 FEB 1758 in Branford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Rebecca DICKERMAN 1709, daughter of ABRAHAM DICKERMAN and MARY COOPER. She was born 27 FEB 1679 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 13 OCT 1757.

Friday, February 8, 2013

Bleeding, He Chased The Enemy Nine Miles, Erected by the Descendants


He 
Was
At
Bunker Hill
He Was
Wounded 
At The
North Bridge
April 19, 1775

Home
of 
Jonas Brown

Born Dec. 15, 1752
Died July 13, 1834

Bleeding
He Chased
The
Enemy
Nine Miles

He
Was
Ensign
and
Lieut.
Erected
in
1887
By
His Descendants

My husband told me about this marker quite a while ago, and recently, on a return trip to home from Concord, MA, we decided to stop. It was quite interesting, and even more so because of what is written on the back. (It is either in Carlisle or Concord, MA, and a quick check on FindAGrave showed it wasn't listed). Strange, considering his history, but soon I found a lot of information (see below), and learned that Jonas is buried in Temple, New Hampshire, See FindAGrave entry.

"Ensign Jonas, eldest son of Thomas (3) and Mary (Flint) Brown, was born at Concord, Mass., Dec. 15, 1752, and died at Temple, N. H., July 13, 1834. He had a notable revolutionary record that is so interesting that we give it in his own words. The statement was made Aug. 17, 1832, before the probate court, then sitting at Amherst, Hillsborough county, N. H. Mr. Brown was seventy-nine years of age at the time, and the statement was made to enable him to secure a pension, according to the act of Congress, passed on June 7 of that year.

Mr. Brown stated that he entered the service of the United States: "That is to say, from the 1st of January, 1775, to the 1st of May. I was enlisted as a minute man (being a native and resident of Concord, Mass.), under Capt. Buttrick, of the Militia, trained twice a week, and with the rest of the company, kept guard most of the time over the public stores, roads, and bridges in Concord. Early on the 19th of April, an alarm was given that the enemy was coming from Boston to Concord, and our company was paraded about daylight, and kept under arms most of the time, until the enemy arrived, and destroyed military stores and provisions, and set a guard at the Bridge, and I was ordered with othes, to rout them, which we did, when several were killed on both sides, and the enemy retreated, and we pursued to Menotomy (West Cambridge), had various skirmishing on the road, and I returned to Concord. Capt. Buttrick went to Cambridge, and several times sent for his company. I went twice or three times and returned next day. On the 1st of May, 1775, I entered the service as a corporal, under Capt. Abisha Brown, in the regiment commanded by Col. Jono. Nickson, Lt. Col. Thomas Nickson, and Maj. Jno. Buttrick in the Massachusetts Line, and served eight months at Cambridge, Charlestown, &c.; was in the battle of Bunker Hill, on the 17th of June, and was dismissed 1st of January, 1776. Again the militia was called for, and on the 1st of Feb., 1776, I enlisted as a volunteer for two months, under Capt. Asel Wheeler, in the Regiment, commanded by Col. Jonathan Reed, in the Mass. Line, in the Brigade, destined for Canada, in which Regt was Lt. Col. Brown and Major Fletcher. I marched from Concord to Keene, N. H., thence by way of Charlestown, N. H., Otter Creek, and Shrewsbury, Vt., where he took boats and went down Lake Champlain, to Ticonderoga, and joined the army under Gen'ls Gates, Arnold and Waterbury, and Gen. Brickett of Mass. was there. I was at Ticonderoga when Arnold and Waterbury went down the Lake with a fleet of gondolas (flat-boats) which were mostly destroyed. I remained at Ticonderoga until about the middle of Dec. 1776, when I entered my name to serve during the war, as a Lt. under Capt. Monroe, of Lexington, Mass., and had leave to return to Concord, until called for. I did so, and about the middle of March, I was called upon to take my appointment as Lt. I obeyed the call, and went to the Capt., who told me there were othes who would like to take my chance. I resigned it and was excused from any further service, making eight months in which I was under orders as an Ensign.

It is gratifying to know that the old veteran received an annual pension of $117.33, rated from March 1831, though he lived only three years to enjoy it.
Engisn Jonas Brown moved from Concord, Mass., to Temple, N. H., in 1780, and the latter town was his home for more than half a century.
Aug. 10, 1784, Jonas Brown married Hannah, second daughter of Major Ephraim and Sarah (Conant) Heald, who was the first female child born in Temple, N. H. Her birth occurred Dec. 2, 1761, not long after that of her cousin, Peter Heald, son of Deacon Peter, who was the first male child born in Temple. The Healds were long-time residents of Concord, Mass., being descended from John Heald, who came from Berwick, England, and settled in Concord as early as 1635. Ephraim Heald was a noted scout, hunter, and explorer of the wilderness in Maine, N. H., and Mass.

Children:
1. Jonas, b. July 18, 1785, removed to Oppenheim, New York, in 1838.
2. Charles, b. Aug. 16, 1787, married Lydia Woods and removed to Batavia, New York.
3. Ephraim, b. July 13, 1790, married Sarah King, of Wilton, N. H., where he died in 1840.
4. Lucas, b. Sept. 17, 1792, moved to Norridgewock, Maine.
5. John, whose sketch follows.
6. Polly, b. Feb. 17, 1798, married Jeremiah Cutter, of Sebec, Maine.
7. Cyrus, b. Dec. 21, 1800, married Harriet Weston and moved to Bangor, Maine.
8. Thomas Buckley, b. March 16, 1803, married Martha Farnham, and moved to Bangor, Maine."

From: Genealogical and Family History
of the State of Maine
Compiled under the editorial supervision of George Thomas Little, A. M., Litt. D.

Lewis Historical Publishing Company, New York, 1909.

http://dunhamwilcox.net/me/me_bio_brown.htm
Transcribed by Coralynn Brown

Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Peters of North Andover, MA -- Tombstone Tuesday

This is the condition of the Old North Parish Burying Ground in No. Andover, MA. I've often been asked to try and locate a tombstone. This shows why I often don't find it.
Here Lyes The
Body of Mr.
Andrew Peters
Who Deceased
December Ye 14
1713 in Ye 79th
Year of His Age.
(Full monument is below.)

Andrew Peters was my 9th great-grandfather.
Peters lineage was highlighted in my Blog Post.


In Memory of

___

Samuel Peters
born 1675   died 1736
And of His Wife
Phebe Frie Peters
born 1680   died 1757

Samuel Peters was my 8th great-grand uncle.


Phebe Ye Daughter
of Samuel and
Phebe Peeters
Aged 3 Years
Died August
ye 10th 1709.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Peters of Ipswich and Andover, MA -- A Surname Saturday Entry

The Peters line is another very old Massachusetts line. Several of my blogging friends share this family and I'm finally posting my lineage. My direct lines are in All Caps and green. If you should like sources, please contact me. In a few days, I'll be posting some of the Peters family buried in Andover, Massachusetts. The above photo belongs to my #1, Andrew Peters.


Generation No. 1

1.ANDREW PETERS (WILLIAM PETERS1) was born 1634 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 4 DEC 1713 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in First Burying Ground, No. Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married MERCY BEAMSLEY BEF 18 NOV 1659 in Ipswich / Andover, Massachusetts, daughter of WILLIAM BEAMSLEY and ANN  She was born 9 DEC 1637 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 NOV 1726 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
Children of ANDREW PETERS and MERCY BEAMSLEY were:
2  i.John PETERS was born 28 FEB 1660 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 AUG 1689 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary EDWARDS 25 MAY 1680 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
3  ii.Elizabeth PETERS was born 26 AUG 1662 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 31 OCT 1703. She married John SADY 25 NOV 1678 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
4  iii.Andrew PETERS was born 26 AUG 1662 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 AUG 1689 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth FARNHAM 8 FEB 1685 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+5  iv.MARY PETERS was born 12 JUN 1668 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 21 JUL 1753 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
6  v.Mercy PETERS was born 27 JAN 1670 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 25 DEC 1690 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married John ALLEN 22 MAY 1686 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+7  vi.Samuel PETERS was born ABT 1675 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 MAY 1735 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
8  vii.William PETERS was born 7 FEB 1677 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 13 AUG 1696 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Margaret RUSS 1694 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.



Generation No. 2

5.MARY PETERS (ANDREW PETERS2, WILLIAM PETERS1) was born 12 JUN 1668 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 21 JUL 1753 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married THOMAS CHANDLER 22 MAY 1686 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of THOMAS CHANDLER and HANNAH \ ANN BREWER. He was born 9 OCT 1664 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 JAN 1737 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
Children of MARY PETERS and THOMAS CHANDLER were:
9  i.Phebe CHANDLER was born in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 JAN 1720 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
10  ii.Mary CHANDLER was born 18 FEB 1687 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
11  iii.Annis CHANDLER was born 24 MAR 1689 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Benjamin ROBBINS. She married Josiah JOHNSON 19 JUN 1711 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
12  iv.Thomas CHANDLER was born 4 JUN 1691 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 10 FEB 1714 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
13  v.Elizabeth CHANDLER was born 14 JUL 1693 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
14  vi.Timothy CHANDLER was born 29 MAR 1695 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Hepzibah CHANDLER 2 NOV 1724 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
15  vii.Ephraim CHANDLER was born 2 OCT 1696 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Sarah ADAMS. He married Abigail BLOOD 16 FEB 1748 in Groton, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
16  viii.David CHANDLER was born 11 JAN 1699 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 SEP 1699 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
17  ix.Hannah CHANDLER was born 23 AUG 1700 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Andrew JOHNSON 21 AUG 1723 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
+18  x.MARY CHANDLER was born 8 MAR 1702 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 APR 1779 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
19  xi.Lydia CHANDLER was born 1709 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 MAY 1731 in Reading, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Ebenezer FELCH 17 MAY 1728 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.


7.Samuel PETERS (ANDREW PETERS2, WILLIAM PETERS1) was born ABT 1675 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 MAY 1735 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in First Burying Ground, No. Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Phebe FRIE 15 DEC 1696 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was born 1680, and died 1757 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in First Burying Ground, No. Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
Child of Samuel PETERS and Phebe FRIE was:
20  i.Phebe PETERS was born ABT 1699, and died 10 AUG 1702 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Tuesday, January 29, 2013

Constantly Surprising Me, From California to Massachusetts

Signature of  Charles H. Poole
See enlarged below.
Half of my information about my great-great-grandfather was found the usual way...I found vital records, city directories, the cemetery stone, will, and probate records. I didn't find his entire life history online, but pretty much everything I needed, except where he was married on March 26, 1850. Charles H. Poole with his facts of life, now surprises me in three ways.

The first amazing thing was my discovery eight years ago of the family genealogy manuscript he wrote, now located at the New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) in Boston. Because it is 257 fragile legal-sized pages, I wasn't allowed to copy it. Two weeks ago, I began taking photos with my iPad and sending pages to a cousin who offered to type them. Fortunately, the manuscript is typewritten, which makes it easy to read, and comes complete with a huge genealogy and transcripts of wills and deeds.

Second, I was rather excited upon learning that he surveyed parts of San Diego, California. A Google search brought up The History of San Diego, which said about him, "An engineer, Charles H. Poole, was hired and he surveyed a 200-mile railroad route to Yuma that followed the bed of the San Diego River, climbing 1087 feet gradually in thirty-nine miles through Mission Gorge, Santee, Lakeside, and Capitan Gorge and northeast through the steep-walled canyon to the base of Eagle Peak. From there the grade became increasingly steep for the next seven and a half miles, climbing 1255 feet out of the can­yon to the floor of Santa Ysabel Valley, near where Coleman Creek flows into the San Diego River. The last mile and a half from the canyon to the southern edge of the valley floor was to be a climb of 452.7 feet per mile through what Poole called Santa Ysabel Gulch. But the grade was more than 8.5 percent, virtually impassable. From Santa Ysabel, the route was to follow the wagon route to Warner's and down San Felipe Pass. Other surveys were to be made and many arguments advanced, and the hopes of San Diego lingered on until buried by the Civil War."  I also learned he was the Surveyor for San Diego County, then for other areas in California, and wrote with several others, a book, Reports of Explorations and Surveys, To Ascertain the Most Practicable and Economic Route for a Railroad from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean. Made Under the Direction of the Secretary of War, In 1853-6, According to Acts of Congress of March 3" by Parke, John G.; Albert H. Campbell and Charles H. Poole.

Third, I now learn he is back in Massachusetts, near where he was born, about 34 miles from me. This was my huge surprise last week. For somebody who had children born in San Diego, northern California, and Mobile, Alabama, I now find him in Roxbury, Massachusetts, per the city directory for 1852! Still in Roxbury in 1856, he drew a "Foldout map of City of Roxbury (Boston), 1856: by Charles H. Poole, engraved by E.A. Teulon. The book contains many pages of advertisements in the front section, along with lunar tables, a calendar, a fold-out map, and a city directory with Last name, First name, and street address location." See Northwest Press Books for a photo of the directory, description, and sale price. The dealer just gave me permission to show the book, so thanks to Eric Brown. (See Below.)

"Charles H. Poole was born in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1825, and while receiving his education at West Point, became a civil engineer and passed his entire life in the service of the United States government. His duties called him much of the time to Washington, D. C, where he passed away in the year 1880. His wife bore the maiden name of Mary A. Daniels and they were residents of Benicia, California, at the time of the birth of Charles Clarence Poole on the 27th of November, 1856." This short bio was from Chicago: its history and its builders, a century of marvelous growth, Volume 5  By Josiah Seymour Currey.

If I had not done Google searches on his name, I would not have known about his surveying career, nor known that he was sent to Massachusetts for a short period, before settling long-term at the Interior Dept. in Washington, D.C., where he worked and died. So, don't stop with the basic information, but dig deeper, and use combinations of keywords on Google.

Two mysteries are now solved because of what I discovered about him last week. First, he did maps, okay that was new to me, and it is probably why my father had a large map collection. Some were framed, and most were flat in a map drawer. Dad must have inherited them, and I've got one hanging on my wall. Second, I believe he began the Poole manuscript while he was working in the Boston area (Roxbury), and I wouldn't be surprised if he wasn't one of the earliest members of NEHGS, he had ties with the Society, his death notice was in the Register and he made sure his manuscript was donated there.


Sunday, January 27, 2013

Chelmsford, Massachusestts -- Revolutionary War Memorial



The War Memorial is on the Chelmsford, MA common. Across the street is the 1655 Forefathers Burial Grounds (photos from last week).
In Honor
Of The
Townsmen Of Chelmsford
Who Served Their Country
In The
War Of The Revolution
This Monument Is Erected
By A
Grateful Posterity.

L. Chamberlain
Builder.


Lt. Col. Moses Parker
And
Capt. Benj. Walker
Wounded at Bunker Hill
June 17. 75.
Died Prisoners in Boston
July 4 & Augt. 75.

Lt. Robert Spalding
Died At Milford, CT. 70.


John Bates
Died In Army at Cambridge.

David Spalding Jr.
Died In Army At Ticonderoga.

Pelatiah Adams
Killed At Cherry Valley.

Noah Foster
Shot At Capture of Burgoyne.

Henry Fletcher
Killed At White Plains.

1859.
Let The Children Guard
What The Sires Have Won.

C. S. Curtis
Architect
(4th Side)