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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, April 22, 2015

Lexington Revolutionary War Marker -- Anybody Ever Seen This?


Near this spot
the Eight Minute Men
killed April 19, 1775
were first buried.
Their remains
were removed to the
Battle Green.
"The Old Burying Ground, established in 1690, lies northwest of the Battle Green. The burial ground contains the remains of Lexington Minutemen who were killed in the battle, as well as a British Soldier."
From:  http://www.freedomsway.org/towns/lexington/lexington.html

I returned to the cemetery today, April 22, 2015 and my photos are below. The fence was broken in several places, my personal feeling is, they were broken from snow weight or a snow plow. Patriot's Day was celebrated three days ago on the 19th, so, I was surprised there were no flags.



Tuesday, April 14, 2015

Three Generations in My Family Wrote to the Same Cemetery


Yates and Belle Adams
My great-grandparents buried in Oak Hill Cemetery.

Several years ago, I requested information from the Oak Hill Cemetery in Battle Creek, Michigan to see if they had any information on quite a few ancestors and family members buried there. Since this post is about three generations contacting the same cemetery about the same question, I am making me as generation one. My father is generation two and my grandfather is generation three.

They responded by providing plat cards, a map of the cemetery, and enclosing copies of letters written to them by my father, grandfather, and grandmother! The most recent letter was written in 1961 by my father, as shown below. Clearly, my father wasn't into genealogy because he had question marks on four names.

Through the years, I managed to get cemetery photos of my direct ancestors buried there, solved the relationships, and now know all their full names. I loved knowing that my grandparents and father had an interest in those buried in the plot.

But, the best part of all this is what my grandfather wrote, "So far as I know, the statement in the letter above is correct since Mrs. Poole had never been able to find any trace of the John A. Adams branch of the family." It is because of this statement that I'm doing this post.

Naturally, I was up to the challenge, since this was my great-granduncle. My ancestor stayed in Michigan whereas his brother moved to Texas. Tracing the family was rather simple, but I never tried to contact family members, although I think I could have because of their business. Then one day, a few months ago.....my third cousin wrote me! She was thrilled that I knew the answers to some of her questions, and I was beyond excited to hear from her line and to get answers to some of mine. She mailed me a manuscript, and I've gotten together copies of all my Adams papers to mail to her. Because of my new cousin, I ordered and just received last week, the will and probate of our 3rd great-grandfather who died in 1879 in Wisconsin. It will be a treat to share it with her.

THE LETTERS

Letter to Oak Hill Cemetery from my father:

April 5, 1961

Oak Hill Cemetery Company

255 South Ave.
Battle Creek, Mich.

Gentlemen:


In [sic] working up a genealogy for the Adams branch of my family, I have come across records stating that my grandfather and grandmother, also some great grandparents are buried at Oak Hill. I have very little information on them and would appreciate any data you might have on the following;


1.  Sarah Belle Adams
2.  Yates Adams
3.   Martha Anderson Adams
4.   Charles A. Hamilton, first husband of Sarah (1.)
5.   John Adams, brother? of Yates (2)
6.   Wife of John (5.)

A letter from my mother, Marjorie Anderson Adams Poole, indicates that the lot number is 797 for the above.


In lot 665, are my great grandparents as follows:

7.   John N. Farmer
8.   Lana? Scramlin wife of (7.)
9.   Elsie Farmer
10. Nannie? Farmer
11. Mary? second wife of (7.)

I would greatly appreciate any vital statistics of the above families. To my knowledge, no plats were ever made up for my family as indicated in your letter to my father Clarence F. Poole, Chicago, Ill., dated Feb. 3, 1953. If these plats are available, I would appreciate a copy of them.


Sincerely yours,

John A. Poole

Copy of original letter my father wrote.

I also received a copy of what my grandfather wrote in 1953, shortly after my grandmother's death. She had been interested in the family plot as well.

My grandfather, Clarence F. Poole wrote to Oak Hill Cemetery on January 30, 1953.

"Gentlemen:

I am writing to inquire regarding the status of Lot 797 which, I believe, is entered in the names of John A. Adams and Yates A. Adams, and the East 1/2 of Lot 665 which, I believe is entered in the name of John N. Farmer.

I am executor of the estate of Marjorie A. Poole who passed away a few weeks ago. (There are two more paragraphs about what he is trying to find out.)



Small note by my grandmother, never mailed by her, but was sent by her husband five years later.

"Among her (my grandmother) papers, I find a letter which was hand written to you but never mailed, this letter being dated June 6, 1948, and reading as follows:

'Oak Hill Cemetery Co:

Dear Sirs:

I have made an effort to trace the heirs of John A. Adams wo whom is ascribed the ownership of Lot 797, W 1/2 and have not been able to trace them. They were last in Texas - Beeville - in 1910 or 1912 and there was a Howard Adams and two daughters, but I have heard nothing of them since. I have hoped to go to Battle Creek before this time to settle the matter of perpetual care, etc., but have been ill and unable to do so. However, I expect to be in Battle Creek in the near future. Yours Sincerely,  /s/ Marjorie A. Poole'


So far as I know, the statement in the letter above is correct since Mrs. Poole had never been able to find any trace of the John A. Adams branch of the family."

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Jennison of Massachusetts

My Jennison line is from England and they settled in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts before 1637. This is a recently discovered line, and I'm happy to add this family to my tree. As in the past, my direct lines are in All Caps. I will be glad to share what I used as sources.

Note: This was revised on July 24, 2015, from my April 2015 posting, since I added eight new names and used quite a number of new sources.



Descendant Register, Generation No. 1

1.ROBERT JENNISON ( JENNISON1) was born in England, and died 4 JUL 1690 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married GRACE ABT 1630. She died 26 NOV 1686 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth. She died 10 OCT 1638 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of ROBERT JENNISON and GRACE (--) w\o ROBERT JENNISON are:
 2  i.Elizabeth JENNISON was born 12 APR 1637. She married George REED 4 OCT 1652 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was born 1629.
+3  ii.Micael (Michael) JENNISON was born 17 DEC 1640 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 JUL 1713 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
+4  iii.SAMUEL JENNISON was born 1645 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 OCT 1701 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
Child of ROBERT JENNISON and Elizabeth (--) w\o ROBERT JENNISON is:
 5  i.Elizabeth JENNISON was born 12 APR 1637 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 26 FEB 1665. She married George REED 2 OCT 1652 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of William REED and Mabel KENDALL.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 2

3.Micael (Michael) JENNISON was born 17 DEC 1640 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 14 JUL 1713 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Richard BLOSS \ BLOYS 10 FEB 1658 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of Edmund BLOSS \ BLOYS and Mary (--) w\o Richard BLOSS. He was born 1623 in England, and died 7 AUG 1665. She married John WARREN 11 JUL 1667 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of JOHN WARREN and MARGARET (--) w\o JOHN WARREN. He was born ABT 12 MAY 1622 in Nayland, Suffolk, England, and died BET 12 JAN 1703 AND 15 FEB 1703 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of Micael (Michael) JENNISON and John WARREN are:
 6  i.Margaret WARREN was born 6 MAY 1668 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 7  ii.Sarah WARREN was born 25 JAN 1671 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 8  iii.Elizabeth WARREN was born 8 JUL 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 9  iv.Mary WARREN was born 25 MAY 1675 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 10  v.John WARREN was born 21 MAY 1678 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 11  vi.Grace WARREN was born 12 MAR 1680 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 12  vii.Samuel WARREN was born 23 JAN 1684 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
4.SAMUEL JENNISON (ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 1645 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 15 OCT 1701 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married JUDITH NEWCOMB 30 OCT 1666 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of FRANCIS NEWCOMB and RACHEL BRACKETT. She was born 16 JAN 1646 in Braintree, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts, and died 1 MAR 1723 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of SAMUEL JENNISON and JUDITH NEWCOMB are:
 13  i.Judith JENNISON was born 13 AUG 1667 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married James BARNARD 16 DEC 1692 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of John BARNARD. He died 23 JAN 1725/6. She married James BEMIS 30 MAY 1726.
 14  ii.Mercy JENNISON was born 23 JAN 1669/70 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 FEB 1671/2.
 15  iii.Rachel JENNISON was born 8 OCT 1671 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Timothy BARRON 10 MAR 1699 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of Ellis BARRON. She married John KING.
+16  iv.SAMUEL JENNISON was born 12 OCT 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 DEC 1730 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
+17  v.William JENNISON was born 17 OCT 1676 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 SEP 1741 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 18  vi.Elizabeth JENNISON was born 17 OCT 1676 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died BEF 1701.
 19  vii.Grace JENNISON was born 11 FEB 1678 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 7 JAN 1757 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married John HOLDEN 7 NOV 1699 in Watertown / Concord, Massachusetts.
+20  viii.Peter JENNISON was born 1 OCT 1681 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 JAN 1723 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
+21  ix.Robert JENNISON was born 24 JUL 1684 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1779 in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 22  x.Lydia JENNISON was born 18 MAY 1688 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married John TRAINE 5 MAY 1705 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of John TRAINE.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 3

16.SAMUEL JENNISON (SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 12 OCT 1673 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 2 DEC 1730 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married MARY STEARNS 2 NOV 1699 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of SAMUEL STEARNS and HANNAH MANNING. She was born 5 APR 1679 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1732.
  
Children of SAMUEL JENNISON and MARY STEARNS are:
 23  i.Mary JENNISON was born 17 AUG 1700. She married John GERRISH 8 NOV 1733 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 24  ii.Hannah JENNISON was born 17 JUL 1702, and died 10 DEC 1777 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Jonathan STONE 15 FEB 1724/5. She married John GODDARD.
 25  iii.Samuel JENNISON was born 26 SEP 1704. He married Abigail HOLDEN 13 FEB 1733 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 26  iv.William JENNISON was born 6 FEB 1706/7, and died 1 APR 1750 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Abigail LINDALL.
+27  v.Nathaniel JENNISON was born 5 APR 1709 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 MAY 1769 in Barre, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 28  vi.John JENNISON was born 19 FEB 1710/1, and died AFT MAR 1755. He married Mary HUBBARD 21 JUL 1740 in Lunenburg, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 29  vii.Lydia JENNISON was born 2 APR 1712, and died 28 MAR 1749. She married Ebenezer WHITE 11 JAN 1736/7.
 30  viii.Abigail JENNISON was born 22 APR 1715. She married Jonathan HUBBARD.
 31  ix.Mercy JENNISON was born 11 MAR 1717/8, and died 26 OCT 1756. She married Stanton PRENTICE 26 JUN 1740.
 32  x.Sarah JENNISON was born AUG 1720 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 NOV 1720.
+33  xi.EUNICE JENNISON was born FEB 1721/2 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 FEB 1750/1 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
17.William JENNISON (SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 17 OCT 1676 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 SEP 1741 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Elizabeth GOLDING 20 JUN 1700 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Peter GOLDING. She died 2 DEC 1766.
  
Children of William JENNISON and Elizabeth GOLDING are:
 34  i.Elizabeth JENNISON was born 12 JUL 1704 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 35  ii.Mary JENNISON was born 21 AUG 1708 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 36  iii.Marcy JENNISON was born 9 MAR 1709/10 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
20.Peter JENNISON (SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 1 OCT 1681 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 JAN 1723 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Wayland, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Jane. She was born 1689 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 16 NOV 1753. She was buried in Lincoln, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of Peter JENNISON and Jane are:
 37  i.Peter JENNISON was born 27 MAR 1710 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 38  ii.Sarah JENNISON was born 8 OCT 1711 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 SEP 1791.
+39  iii.Israel JENNISON was born 4 MAR 1713 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 FEB 1782 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
+40  iv.Robert JENNISON was born 9 JUL 1715 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 41  v.Jane JENNISON was born 15 MAR 1716/7 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died ABT 1790 in Massachusetts.
+42  vi.Eunice JENNISON was born 16 APR 1719 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 13 APR 1748 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 43  vii.Samuel JENNISON was born 16 AUG 1722 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 MAY 1804.
21.Robert JENNISON (SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 24 JUL 1684 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 1779 in Sutton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Dorothy (Thomas) WHITTEMORE ABT 1719.
  
Children of Robert JENNISON and Dorothy (Thomas) WHITTEMORE are:
 44  i.Joseph JENNISON was born 6 DEC 1720 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 45  ii.Elias JENNISON was born 23 SEP 1724 in Framingham, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died in of Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Hannah TWIST 1748.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 4

27.Nathaniel JENNISON (SAMUEL JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 5 APR 1709 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 18 MAY 1769 in Barre, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Abigail MEAD 23 OCT 1729 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, daughter of Hopestill MEAD and Elizabeth HASTINGS. She was born ABT 30 AUG 1713 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of Nathaniel JENNISON and Abigail MEAD are:
 46  i.Josiah JENNISON was born 22 JAN 1730 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 47  ii.Elizabeth JENNISON was born 23 MAY 1731 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 48  iii.Nathaniel JENNISON was born ABT 10 DEC 1732 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 49  iv.Mary JENNISON was born ABT 6 APR 1735 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 50  v.Abigail JENNISON was born 22 APR 1737 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Andrew PARKER 29 NOV 1759, son of Andrew PARKER and Sarah WHITNEY. He was born 11 APR 1738 in Lexington, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 51  vi.Sarah JENNISON was born 22 APR 1737 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 52  vii.Anna JENNISON was born ABT 5 AUG 1739 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
+53  viii.Eunice JENNISON was born ABT 28 JAN 1742 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 54  ix.Abijah JENNISON was born ABT 5 OCT 1746 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 JAN 1747 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 55  x.Abijah JENNISON was born ABT 21 DEC 1747 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 56  xi.Hopestill JENNISON was born ABT 6 OCT 1751 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
33.EUNICE JENNISON (SAMUEL JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born FEB 1721/2 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 FEB 1750/1 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She was buried in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married DAVID WILDER ABT 16 JUN 1744 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, son of EBENEZER WILDER and MERCY HOUGHTON. He was born ABT 27 JAN 1714 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 17 NOV 1776 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He was buried in Leominster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of EUNICE JENNISON and DAVID WILDER are:
+57  i.SAMUEL WILDER was born 13 JUN 1745 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 OCT 1824 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 58  ii.John WILDER was born 1747.
39.Israel JENNISON (Peter JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 4 MAR 1713 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 19 FEB 1782 in Worcester, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married Mary HEYWOOD FEB 1739. She died 19 JUN 1775. He married Margaret  9 DEC 1775.
  
Children of Israel JENNISON and Mary HEYWOOD are:
 59  i.Abigail JENNISON was born 30 JUL 1744, and died 29 JUN 1798.
 60  ii.John JENNISON was born ABT 1748, and died 15 JAN 1755.
 61  iii.Faith JENNISON was born 30 AUG 1751, and died 24 SEP 1782.
 62  iv.Relief JENNISON. She married Abel STOWELL.
 63  v.Betsey JENNISON. She married Peter STOWELL.
40.Robert JENNISON (Peter JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 9 JUL 1715 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. He married Sibilla BRINTNALL 18 JAN 1738/9 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of Robert JENNISON and Sibilla BRINTNALL are:
 64  i.Eunice JENNISON was born 20 OCT 1739 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
 65  ii.Phinehas JENNISON was born in Natick, Middlesex Co., Massachusestts.
 66  iii.Lot JENNISON.
 67  iv.Nathaniel JENNISON.
 68  v.Hannah JENNISON. She married William GROUT 1779 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
42.Eunice JENNISON (Peter JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 16 APR 1719 in Sudbury, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 13 APR 1748 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Joshua RICHARDSON 11 JUL 1739 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, son of Joshua RICHARDSON. He was born 18 OCT 1716 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 13 MAR 1774 in Woburn, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of Eunice JENNISON and Joshua RICHARDSON are:
 69  i.Lucy RICHARDSON was born 21 JUL 1740, and died 2 DEC 1741.
 70  ii.Nathaniel RICHARDSON was born 20 MAR 1742. He married Eunice PUTNAM.
 71  iii.Lucy RICHARDSON was born 13 NOV 1746.
 72  iv.Joshua RICHARDSON was born 14 FEB 1745/6. He married Anstice CHIPMAN.
 73  v.Israel RICHARDSON was born 29 MAR 1748 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 APR 1748 in Watertown, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.


Descendant Register, Generation No. 5

53.Eunice JENNISON (Nathaniel JENNISON5, SAMUEL JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born ABT 28 JAN 1742 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts. She married Josiah PRIEST 11 DEC 1758 in Weston, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts.
  
Child of Eunice JENNISON and Josiah PRIEST is:
+74  i.Faithful PRIEST was born ABT 1782 in Marlborough, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 10 AUG 1865 in Danvers, Essex Co., Massachusetts.
57.SAMUEL WILDER (EUNICE JENNISON5, SAMUEL JENNISON4, SAMUEL JENNISON3, ROBERT JENNISON2, JENNISON1) was born 13 JUN 1745 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 22 OCT 1824 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. He married SARAH BALLARD 1 AUG 1768 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, daughter of JOSIAH BALLARD and SARAH CARTER. She was born 30 NOV 1747 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 28 JAN 1843 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
  
Children of SAMUEL WILDER and SARAH BALLARD are:
+75  i.Samuel WILDER was born 25 JUN 1769 in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 20 AUG 1849 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
+76  ii.ABEL WILDER was born 11 AUG 1770 in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 3 APR 1862 in Bridport, Addison Co., Vermont.
+77  iii.Sarah WILDER was born 25 FEB 1772 in Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1852 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
 78  iv.Eunice WILDER was born 6 JUN 1774 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
+79  v.David WILDER was born 1 APR 1776 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 23 JUL 1813 in Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire.
+80  vi.Mary WILDER was born 12 NOV 1779 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 6 NOV 1853 in Westminster, Windham Co., Vermont.
 81  vii.John WILDER was born 16 AUG 1781 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 5 MAR 1831. He married Mary KNIGHT.
 82  viii.Josiah WILDER was born 22 OCT 1782 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts.
+83  ix.Luke WILDER was born 25 SEP 1785 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts, and died 1869.
 84  x.Dolly WILDER was born 18 MAY 1788 in Lancaster, Worcester Co., Massachusetts. She married Samuel HOWE.

Wednesday, April 8, 2015

Father John's Medicine Co., Inc. -- My First Job (for 10 years)




Father John's Medicine Co., Inc.
73 - 93 Market Street
Lowell, Massachusetts

The photo above was taken sometime in 1922, about 40 years before I began my job there. In 1962, the area above looked quite different. There was a private room (for the president) on the right, with a wall between the wall clock and beyond the post, the wall continued to the wall shown. A door was installed. From the new wall on the right, a new oak railing went right to left (to behind the lady in the foreground). This area is where the vice president and treasurer sat, and I was several feet away. My desk is shown below. So when I typed, I would face the front of the building and my bosses.
Photo by Barbara Poole
 My desk, shown above, was on the first floor.

One of my duties was to open all mail. I decided to keep this envelope from 1965 because I was a stamp collector.

The below employees were working on the second floor, doing assembly line work. Employees shown: Margaret Jones, Anna M. Maloney, Ray Wylie, Lila Shannon.

Missing are Frank Shannon, Theodore "Ted" Villandry, Lucien "Sonny" Villandry, Agnes Mellen, Winnie McKuen? and Tommy Fox. In the office were Helen "Mary" McNamara, Annette Tartre, and myself, plus the Donehue brothers, Gerald and George. Chemist, Thomas Casey, Eddie O'Hare, and several men in shipping; Paul Morin, Bill Cheetham, and Joe Carty. Does anybody know any of these people?
Photo by Barbara Poole
Photo by Barbara Poole
Photo by Barbara Poole

Photo by Barbara Poole

Photo by Barbara Poole
The company was sold in 1977 and is now used for senior housing.

Photo by Barbara Poole

Photo by Barbara Poole

Photo by Barbara Poole
Back alley, where the trains would pull up to unload boxes, bottles, and other materials used for manufacturing. The tracks have been removed, and there is now an entrance to a new small park.

Over the years, I've come to realize how lucky I was to have had certain jobs, including this one. Of course at the time, I probably didn't think so.  Imagine these days, going to a building, ringing a doorbell, and asking for a job.

That is what I did, one cold October Friday afternoon.  The vice president met with me and gave me an interview, of sorts, no resume or anything.  I was right out of high school. Then his father spoke with me, the elderly president and vice-president.  I began work the following Monday learning the job from Bessie Wallach who had given her notice hours earlier.  That would rarely happen these days.  No references, no experience, nothing. And, I stayed 10 years!

Father John's Medicine Company was in a huge building, with very few employees.  The office where I worked as a secretary had two much older, single women, the president, vice-president, and secretary/ treasurer (father and two sons).  Every day for all those years, the job was pretty much the same. It was like working in a museum, my 1943 manual typewriter was my pride and joy. I used carbon paper and learned to type perfectly very quickly.  Each day, after lunch, my boss, the vp, dictated letters to me, which I really enjoyed (I took shorthand in school).  Before I forget, this medicine company was established in 1855 and since the cough medicine was made in the building, I could smell the ingredients, such as cod liver oil, all the time.  You got used to it.

It was the kind of job where there was a lot of flexibility and tons of fun.  I met and dated two guys who worked there, one I am now married to. Yes, it was fun. It was also the kind of job that was impossible to leave.  My regular hours were 8:30 to 4:30 with an hour for lunch.  In the summer it was 9-4, an hour for lunch. Same pay, so I could never leave in the summer since I was only working 30 hours a week. Every Christmas, we received a week's pay as a bonus and received time off for Christmas shopping.  Every July we received a special bonus, depending on sales, it was usually three week's pay. I was happily stuck there, the benefits were too good, and we even had free health insurance. However, I did finally leave after ten years.

On March 15, 1995, we attended an exhibit of Father John's Medicine memorabilia. It was sponsored by The Archives of St. Patrick Parish between March - April 1995. Below is a large flyer for that event.

 


Tuesday, April 7, 2015

Jennison of Watertown, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday

The Old Burying Place, the small cemetery in the center of Watertown, Massachusetts was the first cemetery I visited in 2015. Samuel Jennison, my 7th great-grandfather is buried here. If you have old Watertown roots, your ancestors might be here as well. Jane Devlin typed a list of all Epitaphs Collected by William Thaddeus Harris, L. L. B. in 1869. You may see the names on her website HERE.


Here lyes Buried
Ye Body of Mr.
Samuel Jenison
Who Departed this
Life Decembr 2nd, 1730
Aged 57 Years.

Samuel Jenison / Jennison was my 7th great-grandfather


Rev. William Jennison (above) was the son of Samuel.

Here lyes Interrd ye Body
of ye Revd Mr. William Jennison; Formerly Pastor
of ye 2d Ch'h of Christ in Salem
(but late of Watertown) Who
Died April ye 1st 1750 in ye
45th Year of His Age.

Samuel and his son William were buried in the center of the small cemetery.