Growing up in Lexington, Massachusetts

When I began my 4th fourth grade at the Adams School in Lexington, Massachusetts, I knew nothing of my new town's history.  My parents moved there from two previous towns in Connecticut, and from my first fourth grade in California.  I consider Lexington to be my favorite town of all the places I've lived.

Many of us have ancestors who fought in the Revolutionary War, as well as ancestors who were born in Lexington. I've several who fought in the War and were born there, and even my "brick wall" person, John Adams was in Lexington at the time of the war.

During several of my school years, our local history played an important part in our learning. My early classes took field trips down the street to see and learn about what happened. My Girl Scout troop planted flowering bulbs in the fall at some of the historic homes, and the church we attended was the tall one at the Lexington green.

Every April 19th, my Girl Scout troop marched in the Lexington Patriot's Day parade, there were two parades, I marched in the one at 7 AM! Of course, being much younger, I didn't mind, but sometimes it was cold. My mother was ecstatic about one 2 PM parade, when Sen. John F. Kennedy marched. I remember her pointing him out, but I thought, "who is he?" Both the 7 AM and 2 PM parades marched just two blocks from my house, and it was a very big deal. Many years after we moved, my mother always went back on that date to see it and visit with old friends. She even did that on the day she died, on her return trip home from Lexington. And whenever I returned for visits from Virginia, I always visited Lexington. Even now, I take this 30 minute trip frequently.

For eight years, I was in the Lexington school system, until my 11th grade, then we moved again. During my 8th grade, our class got to rename our junior high school, as there was another junior high being built. It had to have a patriotic name. I can't remember what I wrote about and why I chose the name, but the two winners were Diamond and Muzzy, so there were new names for each of the schools.  Many years later, Muzzy Jr. High became condos. Always changing, but then, nothing looks changed. It is a beautiful town, see photos below.

The town, April 11, 2010.

Lexington Green

Cary Memorial Library

Afternoon parade, ca. 1960. I saw JFK march in one of these parades. 

Years after we moved, I had to show a boyfriend where I lived!

The house, photo was taken three years ago.

The post was originally posted on April 18, 2010.

Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

FindAGrave site of Hamilton Cemetery

Hamilton Cemetery (states Searchable Cemetery Database (COMING SOON)!

Other photos from the Cemetery.

The Soldiers, the Runners and the Tourists

April is a busy month in Lexington and Boston. Instead of writing about the reasons, I'll show you in photos.

The famous swan boats begin operating in Boston.

State capitol gets visited a lot.

Boston Marathon Finish Line. Lots of runners, lots of tourists.
I was there last year and  saw a relative finish the race.

About 27,000 runners signed up to run the race on April 18, 2011.

Lexington photos taken two weeks ago, during a rehearsal for the "Battle of Lexington."
Lots of tourists show up for this too.

Originally posted 

Monday, April 18, 2011

Found after 7 Years and 100 Years (Continued)

The experienced genealogists know from my previous post, Found after 7 Years and 100 Years that there was much more research to be done regarding finding information on John Scramlin, the adopted boy. Since that post, I spent much of one afternoon trying to track down where I could get help explaining the legal notice which appeared in the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper Feb. 9, 1978. I was led on a wild goose chase, 4 helpful people tried to connect me with the right person at the First Judicial District Court. At last, I had Jill, since she was the one who could help me. Within minutes, she found the record, his probate. Yes, the probate! After giving her the information and asking a few meek questions as I held my breath, were, can I get a copy? Yes. How much are the pages? Each page was .25. The next day I called, and I was told she had printed the 32 pages and it came to $11.55 (she was certain I wanted them). I had to get a money order, and send a self-addressed stamped envelope. All easy, the worst part was the waiting for the record. I love doing business in New Mexico.

I called my cousin and shared this with her. My imagination went wild. Why would a state ward have a 32 pg. probate. Jill, the employee told me she thought if John, the adopted son, was in her family she would want the papers. So naturally, I thought he must have murdered his father, not his natural, nor his adoptive, but his step-father. Of course, that is why he was in the hospital. Finally, when my envelope arrived, I couldn't even open it, it was so tight, picture 32 pages in a #10 envelope, taped on 3 sides, and with a large stamp saying postage due, I owed $1.66.

After going through the nicely typed pages, I discovered a few interesting things. The state of New Mexico wanted to be reimbursed for John's care for 40 years, because he had an estate of $12,981. He was hospitalized from 1934 to 1974...40 years, and it took three years to get to probate. There were no known heirs. (He had a living sister and quite a few nephews and nieces.) John died August 11, 1974, there was no will, personal property valued at $1,751 and real property valued at $6,000. I learned where John's property (2 lots) on Candelario Street was, and looked up the site on Google Earth. The month following his death, his home was rented for two years at $25 per month. John's two lots were sold for $12,100 to Albert Gonzales and John Tena of Santa Fe.

Upon further investigation, I found discovered his step-father, William G. Hockman, was the father of three sons, Marvin Hockman, Edward Hockman and Albert Hockman. His adopted son, John Scramlin was the same age as Edward. There are things I don't know, like where did John receive his money to buy the lots, did his step-father die and leave him some money? But one thing I do know, is, he didn't kill his step-father.

Margaret Thatcher, February 26, 1981 -- Wordless Wednesday

 

I attended this ceremony, and every attendee received a copy of this program. I was lucky to have gone to two other welcoming ceremonies at the White House.

Found after 7 Years and 100 Years

Did you ever have the desire to help a friend find somebody? How about trying to locate a young child who was adopted? That is what I did, and my quest began in February 2006 when I responded to a query from Linda, she was looking for her great-uncle, John Scramlin, born on March 2, 1904, in Michigan, the youngest of eight living children. When his father died in 1908 (in a sawmill accident), young John was adopted by Charles and Susan Shoemaker, and John then became George Shoemaker and the new family moved to New Mexico. Not long after, Charles died, and Susan remarried a Mr. Hockman. This is pretty easy to follow, and it is basically what my friend and 6th cousin told me 7 years ago. In her initial letter to me, she said, "For 90 years our family has wondered about and prayed for John/George. We could like to know if he was happy, did he marry, did he have a family and where is he buried?"

Over the seven years, I tried to find George Shoemaker or George Hockman, and even George Scramlin in the 1940 census. Linda and I stayed in contact, even though there wasn't anything new to give to her. Fast forward to a few weeks ago, I rediscovered newspaper collections online. My blog post explains several sites HERE.

One of the first searches I did was for all the above names, then I threw in his original name of John Scramlin. Wow, a legal notice appeared From the Santa Fe New Mexican newspaper Feb. 9, 1978. That indicated to me he had gone back to his original name, and was still living in New Mexico. Through Ancestry, I found him in the 1930 and 1932 city directories for Santa Fe. Three new sources within 1/2 hour! I've never done research for New Mexico, so went to the San Miguel County site, and what a page that is...the top 3 tabs provided everything I needed...where John died, the date and his listing in the 1940 census! Why couldn't I find him in the 1940, well his name is spelled incorrectly, instead of Scramlin, it was Scromlin, now 34, single, and living in a state hospital.

I mailed the information to Linda, and even called her to discuss the next step. In her email to me, she wrote, "Miracles of Miracles!  This time it came through. THANKS!!!!!! Our family has looked for him for over one hundred years. At least now we know, even though it appears he had a pretty difficult life. He must have had some functioning skills because he had been a laborer and janitor at the hospital.  I hope he was content there.  Thank you so much for all your work.  We've been wanting to know what happened to him for over a century.  I’m very disappointed, not for me, but for him.  We had hoped better for him."

But, I wanted to know more....so, stay tuned for the next post.

Ray of Salem, Massachusetts -- Surname Saturday

The Ray line is another old Massachusetts line of mine. The emigrant ancestor, John Putnam was my 10^th great-grandfather. As usual, my direct lines are in All Caps and in green. If you would like sources, please contact me.

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Generation No. 1

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1.	DANIEL RAY was born ABT 1597 in Suffolk, England and died ABT 24 JUN 1662 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married BETHIAH  BET 1627 AND 1637 in Plymouth / Salem, Massachusetts. She was born ABT 1606 in Suffolk, England, and died in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of DANIEL RAY and BETHIAH were: + 2   i. JOSHUA RAY was born ABT 1628 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died ABT 1701 in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 3   ii. Bethia RAY was born ABT 1625 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 DEC 1688 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Thomas LOTHROP BET 1637 AND 1662 in Prob. Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died 18 SEP 1675 in Battle of Bloody Brook, near Deerfield, Massachusetts. She married Joseph GRAFTON ABT MAY 1676 in Prob. Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died 1683 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married William GOODHUE 26 JUL 1682 in Ipswich, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He died AFT 31 JUL 1694.

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Generation No. 2

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2.	JOSHUA RAY (DANIEL RAY1) was born ABT 1628 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died ABT 1701 in Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married SARAH WATERS 26 FEB 1652 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of RICHARD WATERS and JOYCE \ REJOICE PLASSE. She was born ABT 1630 in England, and died 19 MAY 1700 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
	Children of JOSHUA RAY and SARAH WATERS were: 4   i. Daniel RAY was born 30 MAR 1654 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 MAR 1716 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Hepzibah PEABODY 10 APR 1678 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary TOMPKINS FEB 1709 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 5   ii. REBECKAH RAY was born 4 SEP 1656 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 11 FEB 1740 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 6   iii. Sarah RAY was born 10 NOV 1658 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BET 1658 AND 1661. 7   iv. Elizabeth RAY was born 3 JAN 1660 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 8   v. Sarah RAY was born 4 JUN 1661 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died in of Salem Co., New Jersey. 9   vi. Bethiah RAY was born 3 JAN 1663 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph GOULD 12 MAY 1685 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of Thomas GOULD and Elizabeth w\o Thomas GOULD. He was born 15 JAN 1662 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph HUTCHINSON 19 OCT 1710 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of Joseph HUTCHINSON and Bethia GEDNEY. He died MAY 1751. 10   vii. Joshua RAY was born 6 AUG 1664 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1710 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth LEACH OCT 1684 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 11   viii. Samuel RAY was born BET MAY 1665 AND AUG 1665 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1717 in Prob. Salem Village, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary BET 1685 AND 1688 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 12   ix. John RAY was born 23 MAY 1666 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1732 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Ruth ABT 1690 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She died 11 SEP 1722 in Beverly, Essex Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary HOLTON 3 OCT 1723 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 13   x. Hannah\Sarah RAY was born 1 AUG 1668 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

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Generation No. 3

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5.	REBECKAH RAY (JOSHUA RAY2, DANIEL RAY1) was born 4 SEP 1656 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 11 FEB 1740 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married JOSEPH BALLARD 15 NOV 1692 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of WILLIAM BALLARD and GRACE BERWICK. He was born ABT 1645 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 SEP 1722 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel STEVENS 17 DEC 1672 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of William STEVENS and Elizabeth BIDFIELD. He was born 18 NOV 1652 in Newbury, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 SEP 1675 in Battle of Bloody Brook, near Deerfield, Massachusetts. She married Simon HORNE 28 FEB 1676 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of John HORNE and Frances GREEN. He was born ABT 28 OCT 1649 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF NOV 1692.
	Children of REBECKAH RAY and JOSEPH BALLARD were: 14   i. Benjamin BALLARD died 21 FEB 1703 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 15   ii. Joseph BALLARD died 29 AUG 1703 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 16   iii. Samuel BALLARD died 13 SEP 1718 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 17   iv. Sarah BALLARD was born 31 AUG 1693 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 JAN 1716 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. 18   v. Jeremiah BALLARD was born 29 MAR 1697 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 8 SEP 1761. He married Mary DANE 29 DEC 1721 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts. + 19   vi. JOSIAH BALLARD was born 22 JUN 1699 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 DEC 1780 in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

8.	Sarah RAY (JOSHUA RAY2, DANIEL RAY1) was born 4 JUN 1661 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, and died in of Salem Co., New Jersey. She married Thomas HAINES 15 DEC 1676 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts, son of William HAINES and Sarah INGERSOLL. He died in of Salem Co., New Jersey.
	Child of Sarah RAY and Thomas HAINES was: 20   i. Daniel HAYNES died 30 JUN 1689 in Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

Antionette Potter wife of Oren Scramlin, of Momence, Illinois

Antionette was married to my 1st cousin, 4x removed.

DIED.

At her residence in the Village of Momence, Wednesday, May 31, of consumption, D. Antionette, consort of Oren Scramlin, aged 48 years, 11 months and 23 days.

Mrs. Scramlin, whose maiden name was Potter, was born at Bellevue, Ohio, June 8, 1833.

When she was about the age of her oldest daughter, Agnes, her mother, who had moved to Peru, Ill., died of cholera. Mrs. Scramlin was at the time attending school at Oberlin, Ohio, and was within a few weeks of graduating. She returned home to Peru after her mother's death and moved with her father and his family to Momence about thirty years ago. Her father was Orange S. Potter, and his family at that time consisted of his son Orange and his daughters Clara, Antionette, Helen and Leonora.

Clara died in Momence twenty-five years ago, and Orange a year afterwards. Helen is now Mrs. Leavitte, and lives at Centralia, and Leonora is Mrs. Peabody and lives at St. Louis.

Mr. and Mrs. Scramlin were married at Kankakee, February 3, 1859. They have lived in Momence ever since.

Five children survive her, Arvis, Agnes, Glenny, Elva, and Belle.

Mrs. Scramlin early developed a tendency to consumption, but she lived an active busy life. Her care for her family for whom she labored, and her wisdom in fitting them for honorable and useful manhood and womanhood, were remarkable. She herself was a woman of more than ordinary mental endowments and noble instincts. She was an exemplary christian and a most loving and faithful wife and mother. Her force and decision of character were remarkable, and the character of the family she leaves behind shows how her firm, judicious and loving hand has successfully guided them thus far.

Several weeks ago she commenced to fail, and from that time she traveled rapidly towards the grave. On Wednesday, May 31, a little before 4 o'clock in the morning, she passed to her rest. She died surrounded by her family and her two sisters.

Her funeral was held the next day at the residence, Elder Hoover officiating, and her remains were buried in the Momence Cemetery.

"Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord for they rest from their labors and their works do follow them."

Henry William Scramlin, Family and Farm

Henry William Scramlin, father of Wealthy Melvina Scramlin and 12 other children. He was my 3rd great-granduncle.

(Permission to use given by Gary Hanna)

Photos of Farmon Scramlin (twin to Harmon) his parents, Henry and Mary Scramlin and the Scramlin farm in Momence, Illinois.

You Plan and Plan, then, Say What? Tombstone Tuesday

For years, at least 10, I've wanted to visit a cemetery in an area of Massachusetts I've never been, and never wanted to see. On a map, it looked like a complicated trip, not particularly long but the unfamiliar roads in a heavily populated city near Boston just scared me. I had to put it off until I felt comfortable to drive and I ran out of taking most of my direct-line ancestor's cemetery photos (I've taken about 150 so far).

The trip was mapped out, and my husband and I headed for Revere, 5 miles from Boston and next to the Atlantic Ocean. From Google maps, I saw the Ye Olde Rumney Marsh Burial Ground, established in 1693, was in the middle of a block of houses, yes, I knew the houses surrounded the cemetery. It wasn't difficult to find this residential area, but I never expected a high stone wall completely surrounding the cemetery with a iron-tight gate, locked at that! Hey, my ancestors (three directs) were in there and there was no way to get in, no phone number, nothing. Should I have knocked on all the house doors, who has the key? We sat there for a bit, I took the two photos below, but what good is that, I can't even read what it says.

Ye Ole Rumney March Burial Ground

 Sarah Doolittle Floyd

My 8th great-grandmother.

Hugh Floyd

My 7th great-grandfather.

Samuel Pratt

My 6th great-grandfather

Fortunately, there were photos on Find-A-Grave and I contacted the two photographers who took pictures before the cemetery was restored several years ago prior to its re-dedication in 2009. Photos were taken by Bill Boyington (top two) and Kevin O. (bottom only), and permission was granted to use on this blog.

Below are tidbits from Wikipedia about Revere, Massachusetts

It is named after the American Revolutionary War patriot Paul Revere.

In 1775, the area played a role in the American Revolution as the site of the first naval battle, at Rumney Marsh, and other locations.

Revere’s first inhabitants were Native Americans who belonged to the Pawtucket tribe and were known as the Rumney Marsh Indians.

Revere Beach is the oldest public beach in the United States. It has a fairly active beach front district.