Historical Society -- Windsor, Connecticut

Windsor Historical Society, Windsor, Connecticut

Please see my post about the Founders of Windsor.

Joseph Mullin and a Ten Eyck Connection -- Tombstone Tuesday

JOSEPH MULLIN.

DIED

MAY 17, 1882.

AGED 70 YRS.

LYDIA MARIA TEN EYCK.

HIS WIFE

DIED OCT. 14, 1884.

AGED 69 YRS.

BROOKSIDE CEMETERY

WATERTOWN, NEW YORK

Recently, I received a number of photos of cemetery stones for two individuals. Since I didn't ask for them, I was delighted when they appeared in the inbox from David Derrigo. The ones shown here were for the husband of my 5th cousin, 4 times removed...a quite distant cousin, but when you are trying to enter all things related to the Ten Eyck family, everything is note worthy. In addition, I had already found the death notice for Judge Joseph Mullin which appeared in the New York Times (see below) and his bios in Wikipedia and FindAGrave.

From FindAGrave: US Representative from New York. Immigrated to the United States in 1820 with his parents, who settled in Watertown, Jefferson County, New York. He graduated from Union College, Schenectady, in 1833, was principal of Union Academy, studied law and was admitted to the bar in 1837. In 1841 he was appointed examiner of chancery, supreme court commissioner, and commissioner in bankruptcy and was prosecuting attorney of Jefferson County, 1843 to 1849. He was elected as a Republican to the Thirtieth Congress, March 4, 1847 to March 3, 1849, president of the village of Watertown in 1853 and 1854. His last public service was associate justice of the supreme court 1857 to 1881 and served as it's presiding justice till his death.  (bio by:John "J-Cat" Griffith, permission granted to use.)


From the New York Times, published Sept. 3, 1897.
SENATOR MULLIN IS DEAD; Stricken by Heart Disease in His Room in the University Clubhouse. BODY FOUND BY A SERVANT He Was Lying, Almost Fully Dressed, Across the Bed, with His Spectacles On -- Watertown's Representative in the Senate Since 1891.

State Senator Joseph Mullin was found dead in his bedroom at the University Club yesterday morning by the servant who went to awaken him. He retired about 1:15 A.M. He was known as an early riser, and when he was not seen at breakfast a servant was sent at 10:50 o'clock to learn the cause of his tardiness.  Continuation of the New York Times article seen HERE.

Two Soldiers Connect

There have been many wonderful stories on Memorial Day about our American soldiers. This one happened recently, and I had a part in it, so I am rather emotional writing about it. I am just afraid I am not doing this story true justice. There are four people involved; Jo, Bob, Gary, and Larry. Jo is the sister of Bob (soldier, still living, and who held dying soldier and buddy Gary in his arms). Jo is trying to locate Gary's brother as a favor to her brother Bob. The story began on May 02, 1967 in Vietnam when Gary died in the arms of Bob. Last month, I received a letter from Bob’s sister Jo.

What would you do if you received a letter like this, "Barbara. My name is Jo ___. My brother (Bob) served in the service with Gary. They were good friends and he, Bob, wants to connect up with his (Gary) family. Could you contact me. JO"

I wrote back, and the outcome was the most rewarding thing I have ever done. It turns out that Jo wrote me because I had the brothers, Gary and Larry in my genealogy program. The brothers are my 5th cousins. Jo googled their names and came across my information.

From Jo, I learned, "My brother Bob, served in the Vietnam War with Gary. He was there when he died. They were really close friends. I think they trained together and went over together. He talks about Gary after all these years and still grieves over his death. He grieved terribly when Gary died. He has been trying to find his family for years. He asked me to help find them. He knew that Gary was from Detroit, Mich. My brother was from Ohio. My brother has Agent Orange. He got it in Nam. He is under constant medical care from the VA."

There were very few facts, but I was up to the challenge. Once I realized this was a real life situation of a soldier trying to find another soldier's family, this was my priority until all the pieces came together. Was I ever in luck Or I should say, we were all in luck.

I located Larry, via internet, but didn’t want to write him, because if this was a true event, I thought an email stating, “I know who the person is who held your dying brother” would be too painful. Fortunately, Larry and Gary’s cousin, also found via internet, is a movie director / producer, so I wrotePamela Peak for information and to see if the story was true.

An immediate reply came from her, and yes, the story was true. Being a writer in addition to her director / producer roll, Pamela had a lot to say. “WOW! I was 10 when Gary died and we, as family, always wanted even more clarification about his death. Gary was such a patriotic person and received many more medals than what we could comprehend based on what was told to the family about his death. I attended many of those medal ceremonies.” Pamela and I wrote many letters and everything came together.

From Jo (the sister of Bob):
“My brother Bob was only about 17 or 18 when this happened and Gary was only a couple years older. Bob said he cried for his mother when he was dying and that memory was burned in my brothers mind as he was so close to our Mom. What happened in the last minutes of his death was important to him and helped him get closure also.”


A week or so later, I received this message from Jo. “My brother and Gary’s brother talked a long time on the phone and my brother got some closure on Gary's death. My brother held Gary in his arms when he died. They were best friends in Vietnam. My brother has grieved over his death for years and talking to Gary's family has helped them all. The war was really bad for my brother and when he came home he was a mess. I am glad we finally found someone who knew Gary that he could talk to about him. We wish to thank you for all the help you gave us in finding this family. Barbara, again we thank you so much. You were a life saver for my family."

From Pamela (the cousin):
“Of course you can write about this on your blog. I am a writer and I totally want you to write about it. In fact, I'm due to give a speech at the foot of the Polar Bear Monument on Memorial Day in Troy, Michigan, just a short step away from where Gary is buried. The speech is about my film dedicated to the Polar Bears, and I will now be telling this incredible story about how you contacted me and how we found Bob so he could deliver his communication after all these years. It's quite a story isn't it? (I still have chills and tears in my eyes as I am writing this).”

“Thank you for all the work you do and for being the wonderful person you are to put us all in communication. Please let me know when you write about this on your blog. I would love to see it and I love knowing that others will now share this incredible story and pass it on.”

Bob, Larry, Jo, Pamela this is for you, and for Gary who will forever be in our hearts. Pamela, I am sorry I waited so long to write this, it was extremely difficult, but at last, I quote you, “I love knowing that others will now share this incredible story and pass it on.”

Note: This was originally posted, May 30, 2010.

Griswold of Connecticut -- Surname Saturday

Several readers gave suggestions as to the surnames they wanted me to post. In my blog, "Help, Please Tell Me Which Surnames You'd Like to See" of May 19, 2012, I received a few responses. Two of them suggested GRISWOLD, yes, another old Connecticut line and of course, from Windsor and Killingworth. In my first generation, I have three direct lines of Griswold. My direct lines are bolded in green. Please write if you would like more information or sources.

---

Generation No. 1

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1.	EDWARD GRISWOLD (GEORGE GRISWOLD1) was born ABT 26 JUL 1607 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died 1690 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married MARGARET HICKS BEF 1629 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She was born ABT 1609, and died 23 AUG 1670 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut (now Clinton). She was buried in the Indian River Cemetery, Clinton. He married SARAH DIMOND ABT 1672. She was born ABT 1620 in Kenilworth, Warwick, England.
	Children of EDWARD GRISWOLD and MARGARET HICKS were: + 2   i. FRANCIS GRISWOLD was born ABT 1629 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died OCT 1671 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut. 3   ii. Sarah GRISWOLD was born ABT 29 JAN 1631 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died 6 NOV 1715. She married Samuel PHELPS 10 NOV 1650 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of WILLIAM PHELPS and MARY. He was born ABT 5 AUG 1621 in Crewkerne, England, and died 15 MAY 1669 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Nathaniel PINNEY 21 JUL 1670 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was born DEC 1640 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 AUG 1676 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 4   iii. John GRISWOLD was born ABT 10 JAN 1633 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died 1642 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 5   iv. George GRISWOLD was born ABT 19 MAY 1633 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died 3 SEP 1704 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Mary HOLCOMB 3 OCT 1655 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 6   v. Lydia GRISWOLD was born ABT 17 NOV 1637 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died BEF 1639 in England. + 7   vi. HANNAH GRISWOLD was born 19 JUN 1642 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 3 MAY 1714 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 8   vii. Mary GRISWOLD was born 5 OCT 1644 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 9   viii. Joseph GRISWOLD was born ABT 12 MAR 1647 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 14 NOV 1716 in Hartford County, Connecticut. He married Mary GAYLORD 16 JUL 1670 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 10   ix. Samuel GRISWOLD was born ABT 18 NOV 1649 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 6 JUL 1672. + 11   x. JOHN GRISWOLD was born ABT 1 AUG 1652 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 AUG 1717 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 12   xi. Deborah GRISWOLD was born ABT 28 JUN 1646 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 FEB 1717.

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Generation No. 2

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2.	FRANCIS GRISWOLD (EDWARD GRISWOLD2, GEORGE GRISWOLD1) was born ABT 1629 in Kenilworth, Warwickshire, England, and died OCT 1671 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Old Post-Gager Cemetery. He married MARY \ Sarah? POST BEF 1653 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	Children of FRANCIS GRISWOLD and MARY \ Sarah? POST were: + 13   i. SARAH GRISWOLD was born 28 MAR 1653 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 7 APR 1692 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 14   ii. Joseph GRISWOLD was born 4 JUN 1655, and died JUL 1655. 15   iii. Mary GRISWOLD was born 26 AUG 1656, and died 24 APR 1711 in Preston, New London Co., Connecticut. She married Jonathan TRACY 11 JUL 1672 in Saybrook / Preston, Connecticut. 16   iv. Hannah GRISWOLD was born 11 DEC 1658, and died 20 FEB 1687 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. She married William CLARK 7 MAR 1678 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 17   v. Deborah GRISWOLD was born 6 MAY 1661. She married Jonathan CRANE 19 DEC 1678 in Norwich / Windham, Connecticut. 18   vi. Lydia GRISWOLD was born JUN 1663, and died APR 1664. + 19   vii. Samuel GRISWOLD was born 16 SEP 1664 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 2 DEC 1740. 20   viii. Margaret GRISWOLD was born OCT 1668. She married Thomas BUCKINGHAM 16 DEC 1691 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 21   ix. Lydia GRISWOLD was born OCT 1671, and died JAN 1752 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts. She married Joseph HOLMES. She married Joseph BARTLETT 6 JUN 1692 in Plymouth, Plymouth Co., Massachusetts.

7.	HANNAH GRISWOLD (EDWARD GRISWOLD2, GEORGE GRISWOLD1) was born 19 JUN 1642 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 3 MAY 1714 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married JONAS WESTOVER 19 NOV 1663 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of GABRIEL WESTOVER and JOAN GIFFORD or JEFFORD. He was born 4 MAY 1628 in Taunton, Somersetshire, England, and died 15 JAN 1709 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	Children of HANNAH GRISWOLD and JONAS WESTOVER were: 22   i. Samuel WESTOVER was born in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. + 23   ii. Jonathan WESTOVER was born 1674 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 24   iii. Joanna WESTOVER. She married Stephen WILTON 27 JAN 1713 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was born in of Waterbury, Connecticut. 25   iv. Mary WESTOVER was born ABT 1660 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 27 SEP 1713 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Samuel CASE BEF 1696 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of JOHN CASE and SARAH SPENCER. He was born 1 JUN 1667 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 30 JUL 1725 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. + 26   v. JONAH WESTOVER was born 20 SEP 1664 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 3 JUN 1714 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 27   vi. Margaret WESTOVER was born 19 FEB 1666 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 28   vii. Hannah WESTOVER was born 8 APR 1668 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married Josiah ALVORD 22 MAY 1693 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 29   viii. Elizabeth WESTOVER was born 3 MAY 1670 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 1753. She married Thomas BAKER 1 MAY 1695 in East Hampton, Long Island, New York. 30   ix. Jane WESTOVER was born 26 MAR 1672 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 1720. She married John SWAYNE BEF 1698. She married John BYINGTON BEF 1699 in Branford, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

8.	Mary GRISWOLD (EDWARD GRISWOLD2, GEORGE GRISWOLD1) was born 5 OCT 1644 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Timothy PHELPS 19 MAR 1662 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of WILLIAM PHELPS and Mary DOVER. He was born 1 SEP 1639 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 1719 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	Child of Mary GRISWOLD and Timothy PHELPS was: + 31   i. William PHELPS.

11.	JOHN GRISWOLD (EDWARD GRISWOLD2, GEORGE GRISWOLD1) was born ABT 1 AUG 1652 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 AUG 1717 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Indian River Cemetery, Clinton. He married MARY BEMIS 18 NOV 1672 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of JAMES BEMIS and SARAH DIMOND. She was born 18 NOV 1654 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut, and died 27 OCT 1679. He married Bathsheba NORTH, daughter of Thomas NORTH. She was born 1654, and died 19 MAR 1736.
	Children of JOHN GRISWOLD and MARY BEMIS were: 32   i. Mary GRISWOLD was born 1 FEB 1673 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 26 NOV 1750. She married James AVERY 1696 in New London, New London Co., Connecticut. + 33   ii. MARGARET GRISWOLD was born 10 DEC 1675 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 21 FEB 1750 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 34   iii. Hannah GRISWOLD was born 25 OCT 1677 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married Abraham CRANE. He died 5 JUL 1713. 35   iv. John GRISWOLD was born 22 SEP 1679 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 14 DEC 1679 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Child of JOHN GRISWOLD and Bathsheba NORTH was: + 36   i. Joseph GRISWOLD was born 26 SEP 1691 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

12.	Deborah GRISWOLD (EDWARD GRISWOLD2, GEORGE GRISWOLD1) was born ABT 28 JUN 1646 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 7 FEB 1717. She married Samuel BUELL 13 NOV 1662 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of WILLIAM BUELL and MARY POST. He was born 2 SEP 1641 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 11 JUL 1720 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	Children of Deborah GRISWOLD and Samuel BUELL were: 37   i. Samuel BUELL was born 20 JUL 1663 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 2 NOV 1732 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Judith STEEVENS, daughter of William STEEVENS and Mary MEIGS. She was born 1 OCT 1668 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 38   ii. Deborah BUELL was born 18 OCT 1665 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Nathaniel PORTER 1700, son of John PORTER. 39   iii. Hannah BUELL was born 6 SEP 1667 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. 40   iv. Mary BUELL was born 28 NOV 1669 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married Hezekiah PORTER BET 28 SEP 1699 AND 27 JUN 1700, son of John PORTER. He was born 9 NOV 1673, and died 29 JUN 1717. 41   v. John BUELL was born 17 FEB 1672 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 9 APR 1746 in Litchfield, Connecticut. He married Mary LOOMIS 20 NOV 1695 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, daughter of John LOOMIS. She was born 20 MAR 1672, and died 4 NOV 1768. 42   vi. Hannah BUELL was born 7 FEB 1675 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 29 SEP 1741. She married Joseph PORTER 5 DEC 1699, son of John PORTER. 43   vii. William BUELL was born 18 OCT 1676 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 7 APR 1763 in Lebanon, Connecticut. He married Elizabeth COLLIER 1705, daughter of Joseph COLLIER and Elizabeth SANFORD. 44   viii. David BUELL was born 15 FEB 1679 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 25 FEB 1749. He married Phebe FARMER 4 MAY 1701. She was born in of Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 45   ix. Josiah BUELL was born 17 MAR 1681 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 11 NOV 1732. He married Martha JEFFERS 20 JUN 1716. She died 19 JAN 1740. 46   x. Mehitable BUELL was born 22 AUG 1682 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 30 APR 1704. 47   xi. Peter BUELL was born 3 DEC 1684 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died MAR 1769 in Coventry, Connecticut. He married Hannah WELLES 8 DEC 1713, daughter of John WELLES and Mary HOLLISTER. She was born 22 NOV 1689, and died 20 FEB 1719. 48   xii. Benjamin BUELL was born 1686, and died MAR 1769 in Coventry, Connecticut. He married Hannah HUTCHINSON 28 JUN 1718.

Seeing the Bridge and Some Babies -- Wordless Wednesday

The Old North Bridge at Concord, Massachusetts.

Read and Reed of Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

ELIJAH M. READ

DIED

DEC. 31, 1878.

AGED 79 YEARS.

 _____

BETSEY P.

HIS WIFE

DIED

FEB. 13, 1873

AGED 81 YEARS

 RUFUS REED

1818 --  1886

 ____

MARTHA S. DODGE

HIS WIFE

1924  --  1902

Left side of monument.

ELIZABETH

REED

1850  - 192_

WILLIAM

REED

1862 - 1905

WILLIAM I.

SON OF

W. L. AND M. P. REED

1885 - 1886

Buried at the Lowell Cemetery, Lowell, Massachusetts

(They are not related to me.)

Heritage Museums and Gardens -- Sandwich, Cape Cod, Massachusetts

My photos were taken at Heritage Museums and Gardens, Sandwich, Massachusetts on May 22, 2012.

Even though we had a rainy day, the weather was warm and all the rhododendrons were in full bloom. There was a special exhibit by Norman Rockwell. In addition we saw a collection of antique cars.

 

Pollard / Lowell Memorial Library, Lowell, Massachusetts

Pollard Memorial Library
401 Merrimack St.
Lowell, MA. 01852

(978) 674-4120 (press 5)

Genealogy overview: https://lowelllibrary.org/research/genealogy/

All reference materials are located on the second floor.

Genealogies are located in this section. Reference books are in another area, and the city directories are near the reference librarian. There is a genealogist librarian, and if you are lucky, she might be working the time you are there. On September 17, 2017, the Lowell Sun newspaper wrote an article about the above painting, Lee's Surrender.

Hallway and stairs.

There is a separate room with readers, I believe there are 2-3.
(Reflection on screen shows the street behind.)

The film is located in the above file cabinets.

Permission granted to take the photos above. (April 2012, June 2014)

Birth index from 1915-1955; Marriage Index from 1901-1950; Death Index from 1876-1934 from local newspapers were prepared by a dedicated genealogist/volunteer Shirley E. (Johnson) Rathbun in 1999 and are stored on the above shelf.

Stained glass window looks quite different with light shining on it at night.

Photos below taken from the 2nd floor.

In 2016 I wrote another blog about doing Lowell research at another location in the city. I wrote: "Patrick J. Mogan Cultural Center) is maintained by the University of Massachusetts Lowell. The building is owned by the Lowell National Historical Park. In the building are also office space, restrooms, and the entrance to the Mill Girls and Immigrants Exhibit (see 3rd picture for a full picture of the building). There is no close parking, but a block away there is on-street parking with meters and a parking garage on John Street. During the summer and class breaks is the very best time to use this library because school is out (a 4,000 student high school is a block away), and parking could be tight." To see my photos and read more information, see: Doing Genealogy in Lowell, Massachusetts? Here is Help.