Life From The Roots: 10/01/2018

Wednesday, October 31, 2018

Happy Halloween

HAPPY HALLOWEEN

Tuesday, October 30, 2018

10th Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge!

Every year prior to Thanksgiving, I enter Bill West's 10th Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge! as described on his blog, West in New England. This is my 9th poem entry. To participate in this challenge, you have to follow several rules, the first being:

"Find a poem by a poet, famous or obscure, about the region
one of your ancestors lived in. It can be about an historical event, a
legend, a person, or even about some place (like a river)or a local
animal."

Finding a poem this year, didn't take much research on my part because I've known for over 25 years that my ancestor, Anne Bradstreet, "America's First Poet" was my 8th great-grandmother. She wrote poems, and I'm sharing a few as my entry. I attended a dedication of her memorial stone (see what the invitees received) in September 2000, in North Andover, Massachusetts at the Old North Parish Burying Ground.

I bought the above small 47 page book at a book sale in Ipswich, Massachusetts about 10 years ago. It was published by the Library for 47 pages, sold for $1. original price $8.95. The first four pages were scanned, because I wanted to show the Published information, Forward, Acknowledgements and a list of some of her poems.

An Epitaph on My Dear and Ever-honoured
Mother, Mrs. Dorothy Dudley Who Deceased
December 27, 1643, and of her Age 61.

A worthy Matron of unspotted life,
A loving Mother and obedient wife,
A friendly Neighbor, pitiful to poor,
Whom oft she fed, and clothed with her store;
To Servants wisely awful, but yet kind,
And as they did, so they reward did find:
A true Instructor of her Family,
The which she ordered with dexterity.
The public meetings ever did frequent,
And in her Closet constant hours she spent;
Religious in all her words and ways,
Preparing still for death, till end of days:
Of all her Children, Children, lived to see,
Then dying, left a blessed memory.

To My Dear and Loving Husband (Simon Bradstreet)

If ever two were one, then surely we.

If ever man were loved by wife, then thee.

If ever wife was happy in a man,

Compare with me, ye women, if you can.

I prize thy love more than whole mines of gold,

Or all the riches that the East doth hold.

My love is such that rivers cannot quench,

Nor ought but love from thee give recompense.

Thy love is such I can no way repay;

The heavens reward thee manifold, I pray.

Then while we live, in love let’s so persever,

That when we live no more, we may live ever.

Upon My Daughter Hannah Wiggin

Her Recovery from a Dangerous Fever

Blest be Thy name who didn't restore

To Health my daughter dear,

When death did seem ev'n to approach,

And life was ended near.

Grant she remember what Thous't done

And celebrate Thy praise

And let her conversation say

She loves Thee all Thy days.

Photo taken 10/2000 by Barbara Poole

Memorial stone for Anne Dudley Bradstreet

Other poems in this book, pertaining to her family, were:

Upon My Son Samuel His Going For England, Nov. 6, 1657.

To the Memory of My Dear Daughter-in-Law, Mrs. Mercy Bradstreet,

Who Deceased Sept. 6, 1669, in the 28th Year of Her Age. (Mercy Tyng).

In Reference to Her Children 23 June 1659.

I have decided not to use the Comment feature for my blog. If you would like to leave a comment for me or ask a question, please write me at my email: BarbaraPoole@Gmail.com. Thank you.

My reason is because since November 2017 to May 2018, I received no comments, but upon investigating I found that I had indeed received 167 legitimate ones and 1,000 were in the spam folder. Google Blogger had made some changes that I was unaware of. Please be aware that I do not know who reads my blog, I may know who subscribes, but that is all.

Sunday, October 28, 2018

Halloween Greetings from Three Historic Massachusetts Spooky Cemeteries

Greetings From Three Historic Cemeteries in Massachusetts.

Old Burying Ground, Lexington

To research Lexington cemetery, go to If All Cemeteries Would do This.

Forefathers Burying Ground, Chelmsford

Thursday, October 25, 2018

Castle Tucker -- Is That a Person's Name, Castle or a Place?

Castle Tucker

2 Lee Street

Wiscasset, Maine 04578

https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/castle-tucker/

Ever since my planned visit to the Wiscasset Library in 2015, I was intrigued by this house, a stone's throw away from the library. When my husband and I joined HistoricNewEngland.org, I was thrilled to see this was one of their houses, and as a member, we could tour for free. We visited in the summer, and all the interior photos were taken then, but I wanted to see the foliage, so we returned in late October for more photos. I guess by now, you realize Castle Tucker, built in 1807, is not a name, a castle or a place, but the name of a house owned by the Tuckers.

Visitors center in the old tool shed, so unique.

Our tour began through the door below.

Beautiful view, I thought.

Information from: https://www.historicnewengland.org/property/castle-tucker/.

"Dramatically sited on a hill overlooking the Sheepscot River, Castle Tucker tells the story of a prominent shipping family’s life on the coast of Maine over a period of 150 years. From 1858 until the end of the twentieth century, both the Tucker family and their imposing house survived economic upheavals, emotional turmoil, and a rapidly changing outside world.

Built in 1807, the house was later redecorated and furnished to satisfy modern Victorian tastes and sensibilities. A visit to Castle Tucker offers a glimpse into the everyday life of Mollie and Richard Tucker and their five children at the turn of the twentieth century. With three generations of family possessions on view, Castle Tucker is a time capsule that echoes with the voices of a remarkable Maine family."

Wikipedia has some condensed useful information. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Castle_Tucker

The tour guide told us how the name came about. After Mr. Tuecker's death, the wife and daughters tried to find ways to make money. One of their methods was to raise squab for local restaurants, one restaurant was at the Poland Springs Resort. One day, while the crates of squab were being unloaded at the resort, somebody decided to write "Castle Tucker" on the boxes, and the rest is history.

All the furnishings in this room were bought during the Civil War.

This room had many items displayed around the pool table. The bureau is not as it seems, but it's a Murphy bed, that can be pulled out and used as a bed.

Looking into the Piazza, which is two stories high.

In most of the old houses, visitors have to wear blue booties to protect the rugs and/or wood floors. The ceiling in the piazza had some water damage. The house is slated to get a new roof.

So much to see in a hallway.

Dining room, with a sewing machine, larger photo below.

Around the corner, we were taken to the kitchen. Wow, is all I can say.

Kitchen sink (see the very detailed description).

1905 Empire Crawford stove.

A Hoosier cabinet. I loved the message from Jane to her brother Dick.

Pantry, with everything a cook would need.

The stairs led us up to the 2nd floor.

I love the carpet above, and the wallpaper in the next bedroom.

Circular driveway for parking.

House and several additions, make it hard to capture in one photo.

Overlooking the Sheepscot River.

Wiscasset is probably most known for its Red's Eats, "the World's Best Lobster Shack." Since we were staying in this town for a couple of nights, I saw my first NO LINE. Seriously, the lines are always long. The Shack is shown below at the foot of the bridge, left side.

Google map, showing Castle Tucker on the lower left.