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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, August 31, 2011

Bette Davis House -- Lowell, Massachusetts




The house is located in Lowell, Massachusetts, about a mile from where I live. Since Bette Davis is one of my favorite actresses, I still love knowing that she lived in Lowell for less than two years. Please see Wikipedia article.


Photo taken May 2019 by Barbara Poole
From The Sun newspaper of Friday, June 29, 2012, there was a section about Bette Davis, called, "One of Hollywood's most successful and feisty actresses born in Lowell."

Bette Davis house on Chester Street off of Westford Street. See the purple line to the Pink House. 

A few things I found interesting:
  • In 1921, after seeing some movies, she she decided to become an actress and also changed the spelling of her name from Betty to Bette.
  • Her first movie was the 1931 The Bad Sister, but her "big break" was in 1932 with her lead female role in The Man Who Played GodShe was nominated 10 times for the Oscar in the Best Actress category, and won 8 times.
  • After three failed marriages, she married Gary Merrill, who adopted one of her children. They then adopted two more.
  • During that marriage, they visited Lowell to do a reading at the Lowell Memorial Auditorium. During this visit, Bette went to the City Hall for copies of her birth certificate.
  • In her later years, she had a stroke and breast cancer. Bette died on October 6, 1989, age 81 in France and was buried in the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood.
  • "Her son, Michael Merrill, attended the plaque unveiling and thanked people for honoring his mother."
1910 census page for Somerville, Massachusetts. Bette Davis was listed as Ruth E. age 2, born in Massachusetts.



Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Churchman, Dunlap, Bartlett, Brown, Leighton, Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

CHURCHMAN
Libbie I.
1881 - 1920
Mary Dunlap
Leighton
1865 - 1935

DUNLAP
Harry
1857 - 1930
Agnes L.
1859 - 1833
Flora E.
1856 - 1934

BARTLETT
Julia
1824 - 1905
Lusylvia
1855 - 1908
Charles W.
1853 - 1867
DARZELLE DUNLAP BROWN
1858 - 1940


LEIGHTON
Walter French Leighton Jr.
1893 -1969

Lowell Cemetery
Lowell, Massachusetts

Friday, August 26, 2011

New England Blogger Bash, the Week Before -- Londonderry, New Hampshire

The lighthouse is in Maine, I took the picture to use as our logo.
Sharing some recent photos of Londonderry, to give you an idea of the town.



Below photos taken last week in Londonderry.
This smiling face will greet you on Saturday.
Vincent Rojo on the left, will also greet you, he is with my husband.

Searching for Roger Clap's Burial Place, Found in Front of Me!

With a detailed map, a photo copied from flickr, what more did I need? The old cemetery is located in Boston, I've been there many times, and have known for at least 10 years that Roger Clap was buried there. So why couldn't I find his grave? The answer will surprise you.

Boston, Massachusetts
King's Chapel photos.

 Shot of some stones from the church cemetery. Once home, I enlarged it, and saw Roger Clap's name on the stone.
Roger Clap
Born:  April 06, 1609, England
Died:  February 02, 1691, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts

His wife,
(buried next to him)
Joanna Ford
Born: June 8, 1619, England
Died:  June 29, 1695, Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts

Map provided by the Church, Roger is in the third line from the bottom, where the dark circle is. I couldn't locate the stone because I was using the photo below as my guide, hunting for a crooked stone.

You can see, the photographer was the problem!

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

Wordless Wednesday -- The Engagement at Table 40

"Table 40 in Parker's Restaurant*  is where John F. Kennedy proposed to Jacqueline Bouvier." 

*Now known as Omni Hotels and Resorts. This location is in Boston, Massachusetts, and it was the first time I was able to take the photo without people in the dining room.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday -- RACHEL NEWELL

In Memory of
Mrs. Rachel Newell
wife of
Mr. James Newell
who departed this life
October 27th AD 1789
in the 26th year
of her Age.

Ancient Burying Ground
Hartford, Connecticut

(I am not sure if James and Rachel are related to me through my large Newell line.)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Mayhew of Massachusetts -- Surname Saturday

My post the other day, titled, "Where An Ancestor Lived" was about Thomas Mayhew of Martha's Vineyard. In addition, I have been posting a lot of pictures of the Island on Massachusetts here and here.  Below, is my descendant report for two generations of Mr. Mayhew. My direct lines are in green.





Generation No. 1




1.THOMAS MAYHEW was born BEF 1 APR 1593 in Tisbury, Wiltshire, England, and died 25 MAR 1682 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. He married ABT 1620 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. She died BEF 1635. He married JANE GALLION BEF 1635 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She died BET 1666 AND 25 MAR 1682 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts.
Child of THOMAS MAYHEW and wife was:
2  i.Thomas MAYHEW was born ABT 1620, and died 1657 in At Sea. He married Jane PAINE ABT 1648.


Children of THOMAS MAYHEW and JANE GALLION were:
+3  i.HANNAH MAYHEW was born 15 JUN 1635 in Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
4  ii.Bethiah MAYHEW was born 6 DEC 1636 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1678 in Boston, Suffolk Co., Massachusetts. She married Thomas HARLOCK BEF 1659 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. She married Richard WAY ABT 1677.
5  iii.Mary MAYHEW was born 14 JAN 1640 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
6  iv.Martha MAYHEW was born ABT 1641, and died AFT 1717. She married Thomas TUPPER 27 DEC 1661 in Sandwich, Bristol Co., Massachusetts.





Generation No. 2




3.HANNAH MAYHEW (THOMAS MAYHEW1) was born 15 JUN 1635 in Medford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married THOMAS DOGGETT 23 SEP 1657 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, son of JOHN DOGGETT and ALICE BROTHERTON. He was born 1630 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 AUG 1691 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel SMITH.
Children of HANNAH MAYHEW and THOMAS DOGGETT were:
7  i.Thomas DAGGETT was born 1658 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, and died 25 AUG 1726 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. She married Elizabeth HAWES 22 JAN 1683 in Bristol, Bristol Co., Rhode Island.
8  ii.Samuel DAGGETT was born 1660 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 FEB 1718 in Marshfield, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary ROGERS 24 JAN 1682 in Marshfield, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He married Bathsheba HOLMES 21 JAN 1690.
9  iii.John DAGGETT was born 7 SEP 1662 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, and died 7 SEP 1724 in Attleboro, Bristol Co., Massachusetts. He married Sarah PEASE 1685 in Attleboro, Massachusetts / Tisbury, Rhode Island. She was born ABT 1668.
10  iv.Joshua DAGGETT was born 1664 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. He married Hannah NORTON ABT 1685 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts.
11  v.Jemima DAGGETT was born 1666 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. She married Thomas BUTLER 27 NOV 1682 in Martha's Vineyard, Dukes Co., Massachusetts.
12  vi.Mary DAGGETT was born 1668 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, and died AFT 1708. She married Israel LUCE. She married Thomas HOWE 1693. She married Jeremiah HOWE 1693.
13  vii.Patience DAGGETT was born 1670 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, and died 11 OCT 1760. She married Samuel ANNABLE 11 APR 1695 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts.
+14  viii.MARTHA DOGGETT was born 1672 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts.
15  ix.Israel DAGGETT was born 1674 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 AUG 1756. He married Ruth NORTON 31 JAN 1701. She was born ABT 1681.
16  x.Ruth DAGGETT was born 1674 in Edgartown, Dukes Co., Massachusetts. She married Nathaniel BACON 11 NOV 1696 in Barnstable, Barnstable Co., Massachusetts.
17  xi.Mercy DAGGETT was born 1678 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

Those Places Thursday -- Where an Ancestor Lived

Whenever I travel to a distant town, state or an island, I always check my genealogy records to see if an ancestor had ties to that location. So I was delighted when I discovered that my ancestor Thomas Mayhew (large wikipedia article*) was an early settler of Martha's Vineyard (island) in Massachusetts.


Many of the photos will be shown on my Flowers From My Area blog, but a few new ones are below. Naturally, the houses were not there in 1647, when Thomas moved from Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts to Martha's Vineyard. But, I believe he probably saw the bluffs.


*"In 1641, Thomas secured Martha's Vineyard, Nantucket, the Elizabeth Islands, and other islands as a proprietorship from Sir Ferdinando Gorges and Lord Sterling. This enabled him to transfer his business operations there. With the help of son Thomas, a settlement was established. Farming and whaling enterprises began."







Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Wordless Wednesday -- Painted at age 80

This painting isn't particularly beautiful or unusual, but it hangs in my dining room and I look at it every day. My grandfather painted it when he was 80. I have the copper jug shown in the photo and it displayed below the painting in that room. Apparently, he used it for holding water and swishing the paint off of his brushes! The evidence is on the inside rim. What was he thinking?


I believe the jug was purchased by him during one of his many trips overseas. Imagine Paris in 1927, bet he had fun. In the 30 years I've had it, I cleaned it once.
Very worn around rim, and thin band about to fall off.
Bottom of pot.

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Children Died Young -- Tombstone Tuesday

Young children of Ward and Rebecca Seccomb Poole
Buried at:
Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts
Sally Poole
Born:  18 Apr. 1802
Died:  27 Feb. 1809.
Joseph
Born:  30 Dec. 1797
Died:  11 May 1798

Rebecca
Born:  4 Oct 1800
Died:  15 Oct 1801.
Children in the row on the right of their parents.

Monday, August 15, 2011

Will of Amos H. Adams of Batavia, New York -- Amanuensis Monday

Amos Adams left a very detailed will; naming 10 people, a cemetery and a church as beneficiaries. Most interesting to me, were all the books he wanted his niece to have, and she was fortunate to receive pictures of her grandparents as well. A copy of the will was obtained by my cousin, Claire and sent to me. Amos was my 1st cousin, 4 times removed.
-----------------
I, Amos H. Adams, of the town of Batavia, County of Genesee and State of New York, being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, in manner following, that is to say:-

1st  I direct that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid.

            2nd  I give and bequeath to my niece, Ada Sherwin the following articles of personal property, to wit:-

Six hair cloth chairs and one hair cloth rocker; six cane seat chairs, one black walnut upholstered rocker, one upholstered chair, one gold chair, hair cloth sofa, marble top table, three round top Bible stands, two card stands, 1 whatnot, picture of Mrs. Adams and easel as it stands, two brussels carpets, grey rug 36 x 72 inches, “Christ weeping over Jerusalem”, “Orient Landscape”; “The birth of Christ”; “Christ before Pilate”; oil painting of Calla lilies; oil painting 36 x 21; pictures of my father and mother Adams; 4 pictures of Voyage of life; picture of Lincoln and three generals; 20 views of Centennial Exposition; Poem read by the Rev. C. A. Johnson at the fiftieth anniversary of the marriage of myself and wife. Also books, Missionary sketches, Rainsford’s Sermons, Odd Fellows keep sake, Bible vs. Tradition, Life Of Adoniram Judson, “Cast adrift”, “The Pillar of Fire”, “Pilgrims Progress”, “The two-fold life”, “Life of Martha and Mary Washington”, “The great cities of the world”, “God against Slavery”, “Gensie Walton”, “ Samantha among the brethren’, “A wind flower”, Cyclopedia Vols. I, II, III, Lady’s book, “Museum of Antiquities”; “ Genesee County, N.Y.”, Barnes notes I, II Vols. “Prohibition”, Wendell Philips, “American Wheat Culturist”, Sermons Fifth Series”; Ladies Wreath, Field Dungeon and escape; “History of the Secret Service”, “The Psalmist”, Theodosia Vols. I, II, “Fleetwood’s Life of Christ”, “Glory of Immortal Life” “Odd Fellows Offering,” “Home of the Bible”, “Life of Charles H. Spurgeon,” “Around the world with eyes wide open”, Dictionary of the Bible, Compendium of Cooking and reliable receipts, Webster’s Dictionary, 5 pairs lace curtains in parlor, one pair chenille draperies, The old family Bible, Pictures of A.H. Adams and pictures of Mrs. A.H. Adams and frames in sitting-room, sewing machine, hanging lamp, side board, writing desk, 6 silver table spoons, 9 silver tea spoons, 3 Albums (ends without a period, and a lot of free space). (Note: Typed as written.)

            3rd  To Ella Sherwin, daughter of the said Ada Sherwin, I give and bequeath the following articles of personal property, to wit:-
1 china set, 1 cake basket, 1 castor, 1 pickle dish, 1 water pitcher, 1 mug, 1 goblet, 1 bedstead and bedding in back chamber, up stairs.

            4th  To Mrs. Albert Fanchier of Bethany, N.Y., I give and bequeath the following articles of personal property, to wit:-
1 bedroom dresser, 1 commode and stool in my sleeping room, 1 couch in kitchen, 1 bedstead up stairs, sitting room carpet, 3 pairs lace curtains in my sleeping room.

            5th  To Charles DeWolf of Batavia, N.Y., (my nephew) I give and bequeath the following articles of personal property, to wit:-
1 dresser, stand and commode in chamber and all my wearing apparel, setting room table and lamp, 1 couch in sitting-room, 6 flag bottom chairs, 1 cracker dish, a Boston rocker, 1 patent rocker, 3 camp chairs, also two hundred dollars in cash.

            6th  To Addie DeWolf, daughter of Charles DeWolf I give and bequeath the following article of personal property, to wit:-
1 bed and bedding, in room over sitting room.

            7th  To Loren Cooper, daughter of Fred Cooper, Batavia, N.Y.
I give and bequeath one silver tea set of five pieces, presented to me on the 25th anniversary of my marriage.

`           8th  To Arden Smith, daughter of Fred W. Smith, of Batavia, N.Y.
I give and bequeath one silver tea set of five pieces presented to me on the fiftieth anniversary of my marriage.

            9th  To Thirza Hawley of Batavia, N.Y., I give and bequeath the following articles of personal property, to wit:-
            The carpet in my bed-room, mirror in sitting-room, 1 willow rocker, 1 sitting-room coal stove, 1 picture of Mt. Vernon, also books: “Battle of the Union”, “The Great Rebellion”, “To the Work” by D.L. Moody, “Life and Times of Abraham Lincoln,” From the Manger to the Throne”, “Pathway of Life”, “What can a woman do”, “Ministry of Healing”, "Penticost”.

            10th  To Nellie Fox and Marea Fox, nieces of my deceased wife, I give and bequeath the following personal property, to wit:-
Bed stead and bedding in my bedroom.

11th  To Lulu E. Fox niece of my deceased wife, I give the following personal property, to wit:-
1 bed stead and bedding in front room up stairs.

            12th  I give and bequeath the use and income of five hundred dollars to the First Baptist Church of Batavia, N.Y., formerly known as the Baptist Society of Batavia Village, N.Y., during its corporate existence – the income from said fund to be used for charitable purposes and for such other necessary wants as said Church shall stand in need; and said Church is hereby through its proper officers authorized to receive, in trust, such fund of $500, from my executor hereinafter named, but on condition that it gives security for the safe keeping and investment of the same in safe securities or by deposit in some reliable Savings Bank of this state.

            And in case it shall appear that said Church can not legally act as trustee to receive said $500, and disburse its income as above provided, then said fund of $500, to remain in the hands of my said executor as such trustee or his legally appointed successor or successors, to be invested in safe securities or deposited in such Saving Bank as he may select and he is hereby directed to pay over the income from time to time to said Church during its said Corporate existence.

            13th  I hereby give and bequeath to The Elmwood Cemetery Association of Batavia, N.Y. one hundred dollars in trust to invest the same and use the annual interest or income to be derived therefrom for the care of my burial lot.

            14th  I hereby devise and bequeath to “The Baptist Education Society of the State of New York”, located at Hamilton, N.Y., all the rest and residue of my estate both real and personal, in trust, to be invested in safe securities or deposited in some safe Savings Bank of this State to use the interest or income to be derived therefrom for charitable purposes for the support of indigent young men who desire to enter the Baptist Ministry under the auspices of the said “The Baptist Education Society of the State of New York” subject to such provisions as to the sale of the real estate by my executor as is hereinafter provided.

            I hereby authorize my executor hereinafter named to sell all the real estate that I may own at the time of my decease, wherever the same may be situated, and to rent and collect the income from the same, until sold, for the purpose of carrying out all the provisions of this Will, which may require the payment of money, including the devise and bequest to “The Baptist Education Society of the State of New York” to use the income therefrom according to the conditions provided for in the 14th provision of this Will; and my said executor is further authorized to deed and convey said real estate or any part thereof unsold by him to the said “The Baptist Education Society of the State of New York:, in trust, for the purposes of aforesaid.

            Lastly I hereby nominate and appoint my friend Charles R. Gould of Batavia, N.Y. to be the executor of this my last Will and Testament, to give security required by law, as in cases of Administration, hereby revoking all former Wills by me made.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 29th day of June, A.D., 1901.

                                                            Amos H. Adams

We, whose names are hereto subscribed, do certify that Amos H. Adams the testator, subscribed his name to this instrument in our presence and in the presence of each of us, and at the same time, in our presence and hearing, declared the same to be his last will and testament, and requested us and each of us, to sign our names thereto as witnesses to the execution thereof, which we hereby do in the presence of the testator and of each other, on the day of the date of the said Will and write opposite our names our respective places of residence.

                                                            Geo. D. Williamson
                                                            Batavia, N.Y.

                                                            Charles E. Reed
                                                            Batavia, N.Y.
H.B. Cone
Batavia, N.Y.

GENESEE COUNTY
Surrogate’s Court
Amos H. Adams, DECEASED

WILL AND CERTIFICATE.

Proven December 23, 1907
State of New York
County of Genesse
Recorded on the 18th
Day of January, 1908 at 11:15 o’clock, a.m. in Liber
202 of Deeds, at page 33
And examined.
C. B. Pixley, Clerk
______________________
Amanuensis Monday was begun by John Newmark of the TransylvanianDutch blog. The term means, "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." Many bloggers enjoy doing this because it allows them to freely copy something that has been written.

Friday, August 12, 2011

Two Death Certificates For Same Person -- Why?

There is nothing unusual about the death certificates (below)  for my great-grandparents. They were obtained in 1999 and you can see that the state loved red stamps. If you look closely, you can see that they died in Illinois and were buried in Washington, D.C.

The third certificate is for my great-grandmother, recently found on the internet, is from the District of Columbia. Her information was "furnished by transit permit." If you ever have a "transit permit" certificate of death, you will see there is very little information provided, so try and obtain the original certificate from where that person died.

The saddest thing is, I haven't a clue where I found her second certificate on the internet. And, I can't even locate my great-grandfather's "transit permit" (his record of death, does state transit permit), although I saw a shorter one and copied to my computer, somewhere. Lesson learned to myself...pay more attention and keep better records, even after all these years, I mess up.
Click to enlarge.


Thursday, August 11, 2011

Those Places Thursday -- Concord, MA

Thomas Pellet
1670s / 1728
Cyrus Pierce
1850
Capt. John Adams
c. 1817

I have no idea how many historical houses there are in Concord, but I will try and find out. If a sign is for your ancestor, please let me know, and I will take a photo of the house.
Downtown Concord, MA on a nice rainy day. (To me, the best time for taking photos, esp. cemetery stones.)


Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Tombstone Tuesday -- SHERWIN family of Stafford, New York

Stafford Rural Cemetery, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Herbert C. Sherwin
1844  --  1935
His wife,
Ada L. Dewolf
1859  --  1943

Their daughter below.
Ella M. Sherwin
1883  --  1959

Photos taken by my cousin Claire, and used with permission.

Monday, August 8, 2011

Lucius Poole Could Split Hairs


This Man Could Split Hairs.

Lucius Poole, whose den in Springfield St., Boston, is famous among antiquarians, can do more wonderful things with a sheet of paper than any one else in America--perhaps in the world. Not only can be dovetail, skive, splice and inlay, but he can split. This is the most difficult achievement in the whole art of book patching. Mr. Poole will take a leaf from any of the current magazines and slice it three times through its entire length and width, thereby making four sheets instead of one, each of just one-quarter the thickness of the original. Splitting hairs is rough work beside a job like that.

One of Mr. Poole's tricks is to cut an imperfect picture from a page and then insert one in its stead so deftly that only the closest scrutiny will discover that a fiber has been disturbed. Another is to "plant" a photograph on the page of a book so that one cannot tell that it was not printed there originally.

When Mr. Poole is asked to tell how he performs his feats, he says: "Oh, it's just by work, partly natural and partly acquired. It would take a year to explain the detail."--New York Press.

Lucius was my 2nd great-granduncle.

(Above article sent to me by Carol Merriman.)

Lucius was my 2nd great-grand uncle.

Sunday, August 7, 2011

Sunday's Obituary -- Mrs. George S. Poole


Mrs. George S. Poole

Mrs. Sarah Poor Poole, widow of George S. Poole, who was president of the Warren Institution for Savings, died Tuesday at her home at 9 Washington ave. Mrs. Poole was born in Peabody, May 5, 1850, the daughter of Franklin Osborne and Nancy Poor Jacobs. She was a graduate of Abbott academy in Andover and throughout her life had been much interested in the affairs of that school.

Mrs. Poole was a resident of Mt. Vernon st., Somerville, for 40 years and had been a summer resident of Marblehead neck for more than 50 years. She was a member of and for many years active in the affairs of Winthrop church, Charlestown. Mrs. Poole leaves three children, Franklin Osborn Poole, librarian of the Bar association of New York; Mrs. Edith Poole Merriman of this city and Irving Poole of Arlington, and nine grandchildren.

The funeral was held Thursday morning at the Blake Memorial chapel, Rev. R. E. Bailey officiating. The interment was in Harmony grove cemetery. Salem.

POOLE--Aug. 26, Sarah Poor Osborn, widow of George S. Poole, age 80 years, at her home, 9 Washington av., Cambridge, Mass. Funeral service at the Blake Memorial Chapel, at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, Mass., Thursday, Aug. 28, at 11 a. m. The family requests that no flowers be sent.
(Above article sent to me by Carol Merriman.)

Sarah was the wife of my 2nd great-grand uncle.