Happy New Year and Don't Forget to Stop and Smell the Roses.
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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.
Saturday, December 31, 2011
Surname Saturday -- ROOT
1. | JOHN ROOT (JOHN ROOT1) was born 26 FEB 1608 in Northampton, England, and died 16 AUG 1684 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married MARY KILBORN ABT 1639 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of THOMAS KILBORN and FRANCES MOODY. She was born ABT 1619 in Wood Ditton, Cambridgeshire, England, and died 1697 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children of JOHN ROOT and MARY KILBORN were:
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2. | Joseph ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) died 18 DEC 1739. He married Elizabeth WARNER 17 SEP 1691. He married Ruth PORTER 3 MAY 1727, daughter of Thomas PORTER. | ||||||||||||
Children of Joseph ROOT and Ruth PORTER are:
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3. | John ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born 1642, and died 24 SEP 1687 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Mechanic St. Cemetery. Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary ASHLEY 18 OCT 1664 in Deerfield / Westfield / Wethersfield / Farmington, daughter of Robert ASHLEY. She was born 6 APR 1641, and died 9 MAR 1702. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children of John ROOT and Mary ASHLEY were:
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5. | THOMAS ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born ABT 1648 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 16 AUG 1709. He married MARY SPENCER 7 OCT 1675 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, daughter of THOMAS SPENCER and SARAH BEARDING. She was born 18 MAY 1655 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 4 NOV 1690. He married Sarah DUMBLETON 25 JAN 1692 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. She died 3 JAN 1694. He married Mary GRIDLEY 1670 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. She died 1673. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children of THOMAS ROOT and MARY SPENCER were:
Children of THOMAS ROOT and Sarah DUMBLETON were:
Children of THOMAS ROOT and Mary GRIDLEY were:
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6. | Mary ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born ABT 1650. She married Isaac BRONSON 1669 in Farmington / Woodbury, Connecticut. He died AFT 1719. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children of Mary ROOT and Isaac BRONSON were:
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7. | Stephen ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born ABT 1652, and died 6 JAN 1717. He married Sarah WADSWORTH BEF 1681 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of John WADSWORTH. She died 20 MAR 1740. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Children of Stephen ROOT and Sarah WADSWORTH were:
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8. | Susannah ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born ABT 1654 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 5 DEC 1712 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Joseph LANGDON 1 OCT 1683 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of John LANGDON and Mary SEYMOUR. He died 31 MAR 1736 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. | ||||
Child of Susannah ROOT and Joseph LANGDON was:
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9. | Caleb ROOT (JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born 1658, and died 10 JUN 1712. He married Elizabeth SALMON 9 AUG 1693 in Farmington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Miss GILETTE. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Children of Caleb ROOT and Elizabeth SALMON were:
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15. | John ROOT (John ROOT3, JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born 28 DEC 1672 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 MAY 1731. He married Elizabeth SACKETT SEP 1713. He married Sarah STEBBINS 8 JAN 1701. She was born in of Springfield, Massachusetts. | ||||||||||||||||||||
Children of John ROOT and Elizabeth SACKETT were:
Child of John ROOT and Sarah STEBBINS is:
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22. | JOHN ROOT (THOMAS ROOT3, JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born 25 DEC 1676 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 OCT 1744 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts. He married MARY LEONARD 14 APR 1703 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, daughter of JOSIAH LEONARD and SARAH DUMBLETON. She was born 12 MAR 1678 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 MAY 1766. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children of JOHN ROOT and MARY LEONARD were:
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51. | Elizabeth ROOT (Caleb ROOT3, JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born 8 APR 1706, and died 27 JAN 1746. She married Ebenezer ORVIS 23 JAN 1733. | ||||
Child of Elizabeth ROOT and Ebenezer ORVIS was:
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65. | NAOMI ROOT (JOHN ROOT4, THOMAS ROOT3, JOHN ROOT2, JOHN ROOT1) was born 19 JUN 1718 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, and died 29 JAN 1800 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Pittsfield Cemetery, Pilgrim's Rest section, Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. She married DANIEL HUBBARD 2 DEC 1736 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, son of JOHN HUBBARD and RUTH. He was born ABT 1713 in Westfield, Hampden Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 DEC 1777 in Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Pittsfield Cemetery, Pilgrim's Rest section, Pittsfield, Berkshire Co., Massachusetts. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children of NAOMI ROOT and DANIEL HUBBARD were:
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Thursday, December 29, 2011
Was it a Revolutionary War Red Coat, or Made Before?
The Revolutionary War Red Coat Worn by my Ancestor Blog has received a large number of hits over the two years since I posted it. When I recently received my copy of a newsletter From Missisquoi Heritage News, the Missisquoi Historical Society, Fall 2011 issue, I immediately noticed an article about my ancestor's coat. (Missisquoi County is in Quebec, Canada, just over the Vermont border, the area is referred to as The Eastern Townships.)
"Restoration Granted
Earlier this year an application was sent to the Centre de conservation du Quebec (CCQ) requesting restoration for the red wool Ten Eyck coat housed in our museum. The coat was donated by the Ten Eyck family many years ago and dates from the pre-Revolutionary War period (circa 1760s) and was brought into Missisquoi County by United Empire Loyalists Andres Ten Eyck in the 1790s. The coat is one of the artefacts in our collection which serves to represent our museum on a national scale.
The application to the CCQ was successful and before the end of 2011 the coat will be leaving our museum and will travel to the CCQ in Quebec for the many months it will take to have the coat restored to an excellent condition."
I then wrote the curator at the Museum to ask a few questions. Heather Darch, wrote back with quite a bit of additional information. I have included some of her information below:
"Thank you for your interest in the Ten Eyck Red Coat. It is a fascinating artefact and over the years since the museum obtained it from Mrs. Ellis, there has been a lot of study on it by myself and Revolutionary War experts. The cut of the coat is what makes it a particular mystery as it reflects an earlier time period than the late 1770s era. It is also free of any accessories such as cuffs and collars very typical of the Revolutionary War coats. A great deal of searching has been done on the first owner Andres Ten Eyck as well and his military records are a little unclear. So the provenance of the coat and its date of fabrication was widened to allow me and researchers other avenues of study and possibility. Andres Ten Eyck appears in earlier records than the Revolutionary War so there is a very strong possibility that the coat was made during the French-Indian Wars of the late 1750s -1760s a decade earlier. The style of the coat suggests this is a possibility. I have dismissed the oral legend that was attached to the coat for many years that Andres Ten Eyck wore the coat to avoid being pressed into military service by the British Navy. The military records that have been uncovered reveal that he was very much in favour of the King's army and served in good faith in the King's service and did not avoid active service. His true story is much more fascinating than the "press-gang" story." She wrote more, which I will share in another blog.
The above two articles were written by Heather Darch, Curator of the Missisquoi Historical Society/Missisquoi Museum, and were used with permission. The photo is from the Society / Museum and permission was granted two years ago.
"Restoration Granted
Earlier this year an application was sent to the Centre de conservation du Quebec (CCQ) requesting restoration for the red wool Ten Eyck coat housed in our museum. The coat was donated by the Ten Eyck family many years ago and dates from the pre-Revolutionary War period (circa 1760s) and was brought into Missisquoi County by United Empire Loyalists Andres Ten Eyck in the 1790s. The coat is one of the artefacts in our collection which serves to represent our museum on a national scale.
The application to the CCQ was successful and before the end of 2011 the coat will be leaving our museum and will travel to the CCQ in Quebec for the many months it will take to have the coat restored to an excellent condition."
I then wrote the curator at the Museum to ask a few questions. Heather Darch, wrote back with quite a bit of additional information. I have included some of her information below:
"Thank you for your interest in the Ten Eyck Red Coat. It is a fascinating artefact and over the years since the museum obtained it from Mrs. Ellis, there has been a lot of study on it by myself and Revolutionary War experts. The cut of the coat is what makes it a particular mystery as it reflects an earlier time period than the late 1770s era. It is also free of any accessories such as cuffs and collars very typical of the Revolutionary War coats. A great deal of searching has been done on the first owner Andres Ten Eyck as well and his military records are a little unclear. So the provenance of the coat and its date of fabrication was widened to allow me and researchers other avenues of study and possibility. Andres Ten Eyck appears in earlier records than the Revolutionary War so there is a very strong possibility that the coat was made during the French-Indian Wars of the late 1750s -1760s a decade earlier. The style of the coat suggests this is a possibility. I have dismissed the oral legend that was attached to the coat for many years that Andres Ten Eyck wore the coat to avoid being pressed into military service by the British Navy. The military records that have been uncovered reveal that he was very much in favour of the King's army and served in good faith in the King's service and did not avoid active service. His true story is much more fascinating than the "press-gang" story." She wrote more, which I will share in another blog.
The above two articles were written by Heather Darch, Curator of the Missisquoi Historical Society/Missisquoi Museum, and were used with permission. The photo is from the Society / Museum and permission was granted two years ago.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Wordless Wednesday -- Share and Share Alike
The photos of Mary Jane Westover and her husband, James Albert Ryckman were sent to me by Jeannie Slater, after she found a cemetery photo of mine on Find-A-Grave recently. On that site, I have a statement where I allow anybody permission to copy my photos, and they don’t have to ask. I’ve learned it’s better to share, if you don’t you could be limiting yourself from receiving from others.
Jeannie wrote me, we exchanged information and, in-turn, has allowed me to share her photos. I have over 900 Westovers in my tree, and I'm hoping to place Mary Jane Westover into it, and maybe Jeannie and I will be related.
Mary Jane Westover Ryckman
James Albert Ryckman
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Tombstone Tuesday -- PECKENS of Westford, Massachusetts
MARCUS PECKENS
BORN APRIL 11, 1784 - DIED APRIL 18, 1862
SALLY PECKENS
BORN SEPT. 26, 1785 - DIED MAR. 3, 1860
FLETCHER PECKENS
BORN JUNE 3, 1819 - DIED JUNE 11, 1905
CAROLINE M. CUREY
BORN AUG. 3, 1829 - DIED JUNE 22, 1913
FAIRVIEW CEMETERY
WESTFORD, MIDDLESEX CO., MASSACHUSETTS
Monday, December 26, 2011
Amanuensis Monday -- Finding the Will of Charles Adams
When I found the below document on microfilm at the Family History Center in Salt Lake City, I quickly wrote down the page number and went to the scanning room where it was printed on two sheets, sized 11" x 17". For over three years, it has been in a pile. How embarrassing now to discover I never wrote down the source, as in the film number or name of the book. All I have are pages numbered 45 and 46.
However, sometimes my memory bank works. I thought maybe I got the volume number from David Samuelsen's website SAMPUBCO, covering New York Counties Will Testators Indexes, so I went to that site and selected Genesee County, then went to another page where I selected the A-D tab with hope to find my ADAMS surname. Bingo. I now had a listing of surnames in Genesee County, with headings for Name of Testator, Place of Residence of Testator and the last column had County #, Volume # and Page #.
I looked for Adams and found my person: ADAMS, CHARLES W. STAFFORD NY-19-25-45-48. It showed page 45, which matches what I wrote on the printed will. Researchers are not always so lucky when backtracking to find their original source, but I was lucky. However, I still don't know the FHL film number, but it shouldn't be difficult to find out.
Charles was my first cousin, four times removed.
(Transcribed by Barbara Poole)
Charles W. Adams Testator
At a Surrogate's Court, held in and for the County of Genesee, at the Surrogate's Office in the Town of Batavia, in said county, on the 1st day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety-seven.
Present Hon. Stafford E. North Surrogate
Genesee County, }SS.
Be it remembered, that heretofore, to wit : on the 14th day of S___ in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and ninety ___ Marietta Adams, one of the Executors named in the Last Will and Testament of Charles W. Adams late of the town of Stafford. in the county of Genesee, deceased, appeared in open court before the Surrogate of said county, and made application to the said Last Will and Testament, which relates to real and personal estate, proved ; and on such application the Surrogate did ascertain, by satisfactory evidence, who were the heirs and next of kin of the said Testator and their respective residences.
And said Surrogate did thereupon issue a citation in due form of law, directed to certain of the said heirs and next of kin by their respective names, stating therein their respective places of residence, requiring them to appear before the said Surrogate at his office in the town of Batavia in said county, on the 1st day of November 1897, to attend the probate of such said Will.
And afterwards on the 1st day of November aforesaid, satisfactory evidence by affidavit was produced and presented to said Surrogate, of the due service of said citation, in the mode prescribed by law, and said Marietta Adams and E. W. Moulthrop Executors as aforesaid, appearing for the purposes of proving said Will and all the remaining heirs at law and next of kin, being of full age, having severally duly in writing waived the issue and service upon them of a citation to appear in this court and attend the proof and probate of said will, and no one appearing to contest the probate of such Will, such proceedings were thereupon had, that the Surrogate took the proof of said Will hereinafter set forth, upon this 1st day of November A. D. 1897, and adjudges and proofs are as follows, that is to say :
In the name of God Amen I Charles W. Adams of Batavia New York being of sound mind and memory do make publish and declare the following as and for my last will and testament.
First I direct all my just debts and funeral expenses to be paid
Second I direct my executors hereinafter names to place a suitable tombstone over my grave
Third I hereby give devise and bequeath the use and income of my farm where I now reside to my beloved wife and after her death to my brothers and sisters Horace Adams Quincy Adams George Adams Jane Jones and Mary Blair
Fourth I hereby bequeath to Jane Adams the sum of three hundred dollars
Fifth I hereby bequeath to Mary Jones Hattie Blatchford Ada Sherwin Emma Blair and Charles Adams each the sum of one hundred and fifty dollars.
Sixth I hereby give devise and bequeath all the rest residue and remainder of my estate of whatsoever name or native to my beloved wife Marietta Adams absolutely.
Lastly, I hereby nominate and appointment my wife Marietta Adams and E. W. Moulthrop executors of this last will hereby revoking all former wills by me made.
In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand and seal this this [sic] 14th day of August 1897.
C. W. Adams (L.S.)
We the undersigned do hereby certify that Charles W. Adams duly signed published and declared the above instrument as and for his last will and testament and we at his request and in his presence and in the presence of each other duly signed our names as witnesses hereto.
L.E. Curtice Buffalo, N. Y.
Frederick G. Bagley, Buffalo, N. Y.
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.
Obituaries -- Lowell, Massachusetts
The below listed names were taken from The Lowell Sun newspaper's obituary section for this week. (If there is an * by the name, it means I knew that person, and you may write me if you have questions.)
MONDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2011
STEPHEN WOJNAR, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, USPS RETIREE, ARMY VET; 70GERTRUDE A. SANCHEZ OF LOWELL, FORMERLY OF BILLERICA, MA
ELRENE I. FREEMAN, LOVING MOTHER, NAN, AND GREAT-GRANDMOTHER; 95
VENUS (KOUTSOS) ZIAGOS MATCZAK, OF LOWELL, BELOVED WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER
WILLIAM J. POITRAS, OF TYNGSBORO, RAYTHEON RETIREE, WWII VET; 95
IRENE C. HARNDEN, LONGTIME TEWKSBURY RESIDENT; 89
ANNA T. FEDERICO BLUE, LIFELONG RESIDENT OF LYNN; 84
DOROTHY 'MA' (VELMURE) (DUMAS) LARSEN, LOVING WIFE, MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER; 77
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2011
MARY W. KANDROTAS, HOLY TRINITY POLISH CHURCH; 94
TERESA (AREIAS) NUNES, LONGTIME RESIDENT OF LOWELL; 80
RALPH F. LALLY, OF DRACUT, MA; 63
JOANNE C. COLLINS, OF TYNGSBORO, MASS; 58
DELMONT E. "GENE" HILL, FORMERLY OF WALTHAM, OF BILLERICA; 78
CHARLES L. TIRONE SR., OF LITTLETON; 78
ELRENE I. FREEMAN, FORMERLY OF CHELMSFORD, OF WINDHAM, NH; 95
ELEANOR 'GIBBI' GIBBONS, FORMERLY OF READING, MA AND PELHAM, MA; 72
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2011
ROBERT L. LAJEUNESSE, HUSBAND, DAD, "PEPERE" OF WEEKI WACHEE, FL AND DRACUT, MA; 87
EDITH R. RICARD, OF DRACUT, MA; 79
STEPHEN M. DUNBAR, OF FITCHBURG, MA; 59
JOANNE L. (CHARRON) DAVIS, OF NASHUA, NH; 68
NORMAND K. BEAUDRY OF DRACUT, MA; 64
ELIZABETH R. CONVERSE, OF ANDOVER, MA; 94
JEAN HOWLAND, OF PEPPERELL, MA; 82
ROBERT H. GITSCHIER, OF LAWRENCE; FORMERLY OF DRACUT; 88
CHARLES L. TIRONE SR., OF LITTLETON; 78
CHARLES P. PETROPOULOS, OF DRACUT, MA; 93
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 2011
VIRGINIA ECONOMOU, DEVOTED WIFE AND MOTHER, MEMBER OF ST. GEORGE GREEK ORTHODOX CHURCH; 91
JOSEPH S. HAYES JR., RETIRED AIR FORCE VETERAN; 91
FRANCIS JOSEPH MURPHY, OF BILLERICA, MA
DAVID ROBERT CORCORAN, FORMERLY OF LOWELL, MA; 58
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23, 2011
MARY A. MORRIS, OF AYER, MA, LOVING SISTER; 51
JOHN M. FERREIRA, JR., OF TEWKSBURY, MA, ANTIQUE AUTO ENTHUSIAST; 79
SALLY A. LORDEN, OF FORT WAYNE, INDIANA, FAMILY IN MA; 61
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2011
MARY LOU (McGARRY) GEOFFROY, LOWELL, MA NATIVE, WAS BANK TELLER; 55
MARGARET E. (DOODY) McGRATH, OF SALEM, NH, TOWN OF GROTON, MA RETIREE; 83
CHARLES E. WHEELER, FORMER GROTON, MACHINE CO. OWNER; 83
MARGARET 'MEG' MARY O'COIN, OF TYNGSBOROUGH, MA, WORKED FOR THE USPS
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2011
FRANCES JOSEPH WIDMAYER JR., OF WEST ACTON, MA, BUSINESSMAN; 82
BENJAMIN R. ANTHONY, OF LITTLETON, MA, LOVING HUSBAND, FATHER, SON AND BROTHER; 55
BRENDA PATTERSON, OF DRACUT, MA, LOVING DAUGHTER, WIFE, MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, AND SISTER; 66
JOHN J. 'JACK' COREY, LONGTIME LOWELL RESIDENT; 83
THEODORA (KOKINACIS) DEMOGENES, LONGTIME LOWELL RESIDENT; LOVING AND DEVOTED MOTHER, GRANDMOTHER, GREAT-GRANDMOTHER; 91
EVA D. RICCI OF WILMINGTON, MA; 85
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