Tombstone Tuesday - Another Reason to Like Find-A-Grave

My photo (above), ca 2000 taken at Grove St. Cemetery, New Haven, Connecticut.

The new photo by Rob, with plaque

I always ask permission to use another's photo, I tell them the purpose, and once permission is granted, I send them the link to my blog.  On my Tombstone, Tuesday post of December 22, 2009, see Tuesday Tombstone - James Bishop, you really couldn't read what was written.  The monument was so old, but since I had a map with his plot marked, I knew it was his, plus I could read a little of the inscription.

After I copied my photo into my genealogy software and published that blog, I then went to  Find-A-Grave.  Once at the site, I checked to see if there was already a picture of the Bishop monument, and if not, I would submit mine.  Talk about luck. I now saw the same cemetery monument with an engraved plaque at the base!  I was thrilled.  Rob graciously let me copy his photo.  See FindAGrave site with the James Bishop tombstone to view that page.

Moral is not a bad idea to often check your ancestor's graves at FindAGrave sites to see if additional photos have been posted.  And, always read the messages left.  I have found distant cousins that way.

Tombstone Tuesday - Erastus Cross and two cemetery markers

 Erastus Cross was murdered and his name is on two different cemetery stones. Is that unusual, perhaps not, but to be in two countries, the United States and Canada, perhaps so.

One cemetery is in Enosburgh Falls, Vermont, see Find A Grave.  (I don't have permission to post the photo here.)


The second is at Pigeon Hill Cemetery in St. Armand, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada.  I don't know the distance between the two, went to the Pigeon Hill Cemetery in August 1999 and was rather surprised to see Erastus's name on the Cross monument.

From newspaper issue of June 21, 1856, Free Press, Burlington, Vt.  "DEATH BY VIOLENCE -- a dispatch from Swanton informs us that Erastus Cross, was killed in Franklin, VT. Monday, by a Frenchman, who struck him with a club, killing him instantly."


Both cemeteries are near the border of Canada and Vermont, but I don't know the distance.

Erastus Cross was my fourth great-granduncle.

Seeing Nahant, Massachusetts

A cold January day in Nahant, Massachusetts.
Boston is in the distance.

Nahant, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Nahant Library (above)

The Historical Society shares office space with several other businesses, in this old school building.

Boston (above)

Nahant is outlined in pink.

A Suicide or a Murder? What Do You Think?

The death certificate of my great grandfather YATES A. ADAMS shows the kind of information I wish I didn't have to read or believe. The fact that I have read the word "suicide" many times over the past 11 years doesn't help ease the pain and wonder. He has been a mystery to me because I have no family records, photos, or stories about him. I have always liked his name, Yates, I think it is unique (imagine if it was John Adams). My soon-to-be grandfather, Clarence F. Poole, was the informant and that is why there was so little personal information (he was dating my grandmother, and they married a year later).

At the time of his death, Yates was living and working in St. Louis, Missouri. His wife and daughter were living in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The death certificate stated he was "out of employment."

His only child, Marjorie Anderson Adams was about 26. Yates had two sisters for whom I have little information, and a brother, John Anderson Adams, for whom I have a wealth of information and a good story for the future. Yates was born in August 1860 possibly at Batavia, Genesee Co., New York. A little more on Yates, he married Sarah Belle Farmer on October 20, 1887, in Battle Creek, Michigan at the home of her father. Per the 1910 census, Yates, his wife, and his daughter were living in Detroit, Michigan.

The newspaper article, written a few days after the death certificate preparation, had differing bits of information.

1. Instead of suicide, the paper states, "His Death Remains a Deep Mystery" (not just a plain mystery, but a deep one).

2. Yates "was found in the basement of the L. M. Rumsey Manufacturing company, by whom he was employed." The death certificate stated he was unemployed. Late at night, at his company of employment, he was writing letters, "in a happy frame of mine" and was planning on meeting somebody in New York City. Yates apparently was asked to resign, but he was still at the company.  If he was writing personal letters and was happy, why would he shoot himself?

According to the newspaper writer, "the supposition is" Yates was shot by a thief. That is what I want to believe. Also research further to see if there is a conclusion. Was the thief ever caught?

From: St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Mar. 7, 1917.

"MAN FOUND DEAD

FROM SHOT WHERE

HE LOST POSITION

Revolver Near Body of Y. A. Adams, Manager,

at Rumsey Olive Street Store.

Yates A. Adams, 56 years old, who was notified the first of the month that his services would no longer be required as manager of the display room of the L. M. Rumsey Manufacturing Co., 3554 Olive Street, was found dead in the basement under the office at 12:15 o'clock this morning. There was a bullet wound in his right temple and nearby lay a revolver.

A few minutes earlier a private watchman had seen him sitting at a desk in the office writing letters. In the typewriter was an unfinished letter to friends in San Antonio, in which Adams complained that he had laid plans to make a great showing for himself, but lost his position before he had an opportunity to display his ability. He had held the job for seven months. Four pennies was the only money found in his possession.

Before leaving the desk, Adams had removed his spectacles and laid them beside the typewriter. His coat and hat still hung on a hook, and the lights in the office remained burning. The police were convinced that he was not attacked, because the outer doors of the basement were fastened, the gate of the yard in the rear was locked, and there were no footprints in the soft earth.

The watchman, making his rounds at midnight, asked Adams how much longer he would be there and was answered that he had only one more letter to finish. Finding on his return that Adams had disappeared, the watchman called policemen, who discovered the body.

At Adams' rooming house, 4345 Westminster Place, it was learned that he had a daughter, Miss Marjorie A. Adams, a student at Ann Arbor, Mich."

* "CAUSE OF DEATH STILL UNKNOWN. (handwritten "Mar. 10-1917"). Funeral services for late Yates Adams will be held at 2:30 Saturday. Just how the former Battle Creek man came to his death remains a deep mystery.

Funeral services for the late Yates Adams, whose death occurred in St. Louis Wednesday, will be held at Hebble's chapel Saturday afternoon at 2:30 o'clock. Rev. Thornton Anthony Mills of the First Congregational church will be in charge and committal will be made in Oak Hill cemetery. The body was brought to this city today, arriving at noon on the Michigan Central railway. Mrs. Adams and her daughter Miss Marjorie arrived this morning from Ann Arbor.

Much mystery seems to surround the death of Mr. Adams, whose lifeless body was found in the basement of the L. M. Rumsey Manufacturing Company, by whom he was employed, by the night watchman, Patrick Harnett. Harnett told the police he had seen Adams in the lighted display rooms about 10:30 and in reply to a query Adams explained he had some letters to write.

When the watchman came back there at a little after midnight the rooms were dark but the door to the basement was open, and going down the stairs, he found the body of Adams with a bullet hole through the right temple. A revolver lay several feet away containing two empty and two loaded cartridges. The door leading to the alley, which had been locked during the day to keep out thieves who had been stealing brass was ajar about six inches. The supposition is that Adams, upon hearing sounds in the basement, had switched off the lights in the showroom and crept down thinking to apprehend the thieves.

Powder marks were plainly visible about the temple through which the bullet had passed. An unfinished letter in his typewriter evidenced the fact that Mr. Adams had been in a particularly happy frame of mind with his writing. The letter was addressed to Truman S. Foote, Hotel Elton Waterbury, Conn., and stated that Adams would meet him at the Manhattan New York City when he would have a deal to tell him. Reference was made, to a little party which he had been asked in September. Then the letter ended abruptly.

The secretary of the company made the statement that Adams had been asked to resign on March 1 when the Standard Sanitary Manufacturing company was to take over the concern. Only one cent was found in the dead man's pocket along with an identification card from the Commercial Travelers' Life Insurance company and a bill from Dr. C. B. Renoe for $10. The Insurance policy paid on February 28 was due April 1.

Mr. Adams left Battle Creek (can't read) years ago. Prior to his going he was in the plumbing business on South Jefferson Avenue, first in company with the late A. F. Bock and alone. He was a member of the Athelstan club and had many friends throughout the city."

From the Willard Library, Battle Creek, Michigan, Coller Collection 1.261. From: The Battle Creek Moon Journal 9 March 1917 page 12 columns 3 and 4. Thanks to Brenda Leyndyke.

The photo of wife, Sarah Belle Farmer Adams, wife of Yates, is the second from the left. On the back of this picture is written "my dear mother, Sarah Belle Adams, with the girls who lived with her (she had a rooming house) in Ann Arbor, Michigan--1918" --Marjorie Poole (the year Marjorie married my grandfather).

Can't Get to a Conference?

In the recent National Genealogical Society's (NGS) magazine there is an article which really caught my eye. It was the President's message and she suggested that if you can't get to a conference or if you want to hear a lecture, why not purchase a copy of the lecture on a CD. However, I think the price is pretty steep at $12 per CD. Reading her article reminded me of the NGS conference I attended in Providence, Rhode Island in 2000. There were many lectures I missed, because I was attending another one at the same time. So, I ordered a set of 12 cassettes for about $99 and came home with the neat package of recorded lectures I chose. It took a good year or two before I ever opened it up to listen to the first cassette. And it was probably because of a long distance road trip we were on.  As my husband and I casually listened to one, the speaker mentioned my ancestor! I almost died, and when I got home, I emailed her to see if my ancestor was related to her. The lecturer was Brenda Dougall Merriman, the topic was "The World's Friendliest Border, 1766 - 1866." She replied back, and no, we weren't related, darn. What she was discussing in the lecture were some of the Canadian records, one being my ancestor's Declaration of Aliens, 1794.

The tapes and now CDs can prove to be educational as well as surprising. But what if you can't afford $12 per CD?


I was aware that the New England Historical Genealogical Library (NEHGS) houses the syllabus for each year the NGS had a national conference. I think most people would love to attend an annual conference, but due to other constraints, they just can't. Well, I can't afford $12 for each lecture, especially if I want to hear a lot of them. The other day, while at NEHGS, I did the next best thing, I copied the lecture pages in the syllabus, five lectures to read about, four from a very well known speaker. Total cost about $3.50.


I still have the syllabus to the 2000 conference lecture, mentioned above. However, if I hadn’t heard the lecture I wouldn’t have known that my ancestor, Andries Ten Eyck was mentioned. So, it pays to hear the lecture, but if you just can’t swing the $12, then try to copy some of the syllabus pages.

Surname Saturday - Westover

My 5th great-grandfather, Moses WESTOVER was both a Loyalist and a Revolutionary War Patriot.  WESTOVER is one of my favorite surnames because of the number of connections I have made through this name, their traceable history and it is one of two surnames that I follow the entire line.


The Westover line has a very long history.  Jonas Westover from England, married November 19, 1663 in Windsor, Connecticut and there is quite a bit of information on this line.  However, my more direct line left Connecticut around 1735 for western Massachusetts, then on to Quebec.


My Westover names on RootsWeb total over 900.  My direct lines are in All Caps.  For my American and Canadian ancestor, mentioned above, I have 18 sources for Moses Westover.  I even have a Google alert on the name Westover + obituary.  However, I am not actively searching for more information on this family, but will analyze anything that drops in my lap.  Over the years, about 25 people have contacted me and information was exchanged.


In future blogs, I will provide more information, including cemetery stone photos.


Note: Since this early post, I have written quite a few posts pertaining to the Westover line, including a will.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy Challenge #1

Ever hear of The Simpson's TV show? Did you know there is a connection between my library, the Adams Library in Chelmsford, Massachusetts and the TV show? Regarding the connection, I will explain it below.



Amy Coffin of We Tree is challenging us for 52 weeks! To begin the year, her first challenge is: "Go to your local public library branch. Make a note of the genealogy books in the collection that may help you gain research knowledge."

In the area where I live, there are many local libraries and all have a good deal of genealogy information.  My mind wondered about selecting which library to write about. Should it be the Concord Free Library in historic Concord, Massachusetts, that I absolutely love, or one in Boston? I chose the closest and the one I go to 3-4 times a month...but not for genealogy. As a matter of fact, it has been several years since I've gone into the Family History Room of the Adams Library in Chelmsford. My visits there are to keep my goal of reading a book a week in check, so I am always picking up and dropping off books.

At one time, I was always at the library especially when I was giving genealogy classes, through the library, for 4 years. I taught Genealogy for Beginners (about 12 times), Google Research, and Using the Census. They kept me busy.

The Local History section has information and links for the history and genealogy buffs. The Genealogy web page lists the resources available, pertaining to genealogy.  First listed are the online subscriptions to be used in the library only. In the past, there were more, as well as several for home usage, but times have changed, so we make do with less. I already subscribe to several databases, so there isn't a need to use their computers. When they first got the library edition of Ancestry.com it was quite an event because the reference personnel didn't know how to use it. It seems that many of these subscriptions were bought by the Friends of the Library, someone must have been into genealogy, but none in the library. I often showed them the ropes with Ancestry Library.

Other listings are about print materials in the History Room, Microfilm Periodicals (which I've never used), and information about some of their genealogy books. A quick look at the card catalog indicated there are 5997 titles that pertain to genealogy. One thing I was very happy to see on the Library's web page was this statement, "Interlibrary Loan - The Chelmsford Public Library can obtain items for you from other Merrimack Valley Library Consortium (MVLC) libraries as well as books from other United States libraries." I have used this service several times in the past, but not during the last two years. Naturally, I thought they dropped this service because of the cost, but I see they haven't. Hooray.

One link totally surprised me, and I wouldn't have thought it would be in the "Local History" area. It is about the "Simpson's TV Show", and here you will see photos of Chelmsford, and how they appear in the TV show. I wanted to post some of the artwork done for the show, but because it is copyrighted, it is best you use the above link.

I looked around but didn't see anything new, but still, it was nice checking out the little room.  Some students were in there, so I didn't take photos. I left with a copy of Professional Genealogy: a manual for researchers, writers, editors, lecturers, and librarians/editor, Elizabeth Shown Mills; editorial board, Donn Devine, James L. Hansen, Helen F.M. Leary. Baltimore: Genealogical Pub. Co., 2001. I have heard so much about the book but never checked it out. I ordered it on Monday, and picked it up today!

Another article was written about the Genealogy and Local History Room at this library, see HERE.

The new entrance is to the right of the original 1894 library.

Dr. Manasseh Cutler - A minister, doctor, statesman, botanist and ancestor

Manasseh Cutler was probably the most accomplished of all my ancestors.

Pastor at Hamilton Congregational Church for 52 years.

This is where he lived in Hamilton, Massachusetts. His church is next door, and the cemetery is across the street.

From Wikipedia you can read about Manasseh Cutler

CUTLER PARK

Dedicated to the Memory of

Dr. MANASSEH CUTLER

Born at Killingly, Conn. May 13, 1742

Graduate of Yale College 1765

Ordained at Ipswich Hamlet Now Hamilton

September 11, 1771

During his Pastorate Hamilton was set

off from Ipswich and incorporated as

the town of Hamilton in 1793.

He chose the name Hamilton in honor of

the statesman he so much admired.

Interested in the drawing of the

ordinance of 1787 and the formation

of the Ohio Company.

Died at Hamilton July 28, 1823 and

was buried in the Hamilton Cemetery

opposite the church in which he

practiced fifty-two years.

The Ordinance of 1787, and Dr. Manasseh Cutler was written by William Frederick Poole in 1876.  This little 52-page book is a downloadable Google book  The Ordinance of 1787.  Imagine my surprise when I noted that my 2nd great-grandfather wrote a book about my 4th great-grandfather, and they aren't even related!  Small world.

It is very interesting that the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is the only place where I have seen his name misspelled!  They spell it as Manassah Cutler, everywhere else it is Manasseh.  Pitty the poor researcher trying to locate Manasseh in the DAR records.

For those of you who may want to read more, I selected certain passages from Essex Institute Historical Collections, (Salem, MA: 1859+). Vol. XC (April 1954) No. 2. Pgs. 111-122. "Reverand Manasseh Cutler, LL.D., 1742-1825 His Career as a Botanist" by Mrs. William Darrach and Mrs. Ernest G. Vietor.

Pg. 112. Cutler kept a journal, a daily record of his personal affairs, from 1765 to the year of his death in 1823. Nine years only of this journal are missing. It may have been lost in 1812 when a fire in his study destroyed many of his valuable papers.

Pg. 113. Cutler felt that the wild plants of the New England states were too little known and believed that much could be learned from the Indians about the medicinal value of these plants. His later research along these lines resulted in an article in the first volume of the Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. In this same volume appear two other articles of his, one on meteorology and another on astronomy.

Pg. 115. One is puzzled how it was possible for him to keep so many glittering balls in the air at one and the same time, theology, the law, medicine, astronomy, meteorology, a chaplain in the War for Independence, pastor of a Congregational church, headmaster of a private boarding school, a representative to Congress and last but not least, his contributions to botanical research. His versatility and what he accomplished during his eight-one years is nothing short of amazing.

Pg. 116. The American Academy of Arts and Sciences was incorporated on May 4, 1780. At its first meeting in the Philosophy Chambers in the University of Cambridge, Dr. Cutler was elected a Fellow. He faithfully attended the meetings which alternated between Boston and Cambridge.

July 3, 1780. Visited the sick. Saw Saturn's rings through my glass.' One cannot help wondering whether his scientific instruments, constant traveling by chaise or on horseback, and the many specimen plants he purchased for his garden and herbarium may not have been one reason why it was difficult to provide for his family. Eventually, he had eight children whom he scarcely mentions in his diary.

Pg. 117. In 1782, Dr. Cutler established a private boarding school which he conducted for about a quarter of a century.

Pg. 118. Throughout his life, he was close to the most cultured and conspicuous men of his day, men who shared his intense interest in science, religion, and politics, and he corresponded with scientists and statesmen both in the United States and abroad.

Pg. 120. Cutler continued on to Philadelphia where he was graciously received and dined and wined. He took tea with Benjamin Franklin.

Pg. 121. He was given an LL.D. degree at Yale in 1789, doubtless in recognition of his service to his country as well as for his scientific attainment.

Serving as a legislator from 1801 to 1805, he boarded with friends in Washington. He describes frequent trips to Mount Vernon to call upon Mrs. Washington who had become a disconsolate widow. The years in Washington were busy ones, but he found time to carry on his botanical interests and to keep in close touch with the distinguished scientists and famous men of the day.

Pg. 122. He died in his eight-second year having been a botanist, lawyer, parson, doctor, school teacher, merchant, a chaplain in the Army, and legislator!

In 2019, David McCullough published his last book, The Pioneers The Heroic Story of the Settlers Who Brought The American Ideal West. The cover of the book is below and the painted bust of Manasseh Cutler is below.

Tombstone Tuesday - Manassah Cutler and Mary Balch

Manasseh Cutler

Hamilton Cemetery, Hamilton, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Born:  May 13, 1742, Killingly, Windham Co., Connecticut

Died:  July 28, 1823, Hamilton, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Manassah Cutler and his wife, Mary Balch were my 4th great-grandparents.

Written on top of his tomb.

"Rev. Manasseh Cutler L.L.D.

He died July 28, 1823,

in the 81st year of his age.

He was beloved for his domestic and

social virtues. His talents were of a

high order. He was eminent for his

Botanical, Medical, Political and

Theological knowledge. He was a

member of literary and scientific

societies in both Europe and America.

After a useful ministry of 52 years

in this place, he expired with a firm

and peaceful reliance on his Redeemer.

"They that trust in the Lord shall be

as Mount Zion, which cannot be removed

but abideth forever."

Mary Balch (stone next to Manassah)

Born:  November 16, 1740, Dedham, Norfolk Co., Massachusetts

Died:  November 03, 1815, Hamilton, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Entrance to Cemetery.

Georgia O'Keeffe and Me

No words could explain my delight when I found out about a year ago that Georgia O'Keeffe and I are related.  Fourth cousin once removed.  The discovery came about in a rather haphazard way.  I had already completed my grandmother's line, that being Ten Eyck, spelled several ways, like Ten Eyk, Ten Eick, TenEyck and so forth.  But I believe all of us who share this name are related.  Last year I was breaking down a "Brick Wall," and in the process discovered that one of my ancestor's had married a Ten Eyck.  That isn't such a big deal to some, but it really was for me, because it meant that my mother and father were related before their marriage.  This new Ten Eyck line was now on my father's side.  It was a matter of minutes before I discovered that Georgia was of that line.  Andries Ten Eyck was the 5th great-grandfather to my mother, my father and Georgia!


For those of you who want to read about this famous American artist, two sites are:  PBS show on American Masters and Georgia's information on wikipedia.



Georgia's father was Francis Calyxtus O'Keeffe and her mother was Ida Ten Eyck Totto. The Ten Eyck surname in her line belongs to her 2nd great-grandmother, Ida Ten Eyck. Ida and my direct ancestor, Violetta Ten Eyck were sisters, children of Jeremiah Field Ten Eyck and Jane Van Arsdalen.  My mother's line was in Canada for four generations, and my father's was in New Jersey.

November 18, 2013. I subscribe to a blog, Ephemeral New York, and was surprised to see her post, "The modern metropolis of Georgia O’Keeffe" the link is: http://ephemeralnewyork.wordpress.com/2013/11/18/the-modern-metropolis-of-georgia-okeeffe/. It is very informative, I loved reading about Georgia's days in New York City, and seeing photos of her NYC artwork.