Tombstone Tuesday -- MANN (Part 1) of Genesee Co., New York

Byron Cemetery, Byron, Genesee Co., New York

David Mann

Born:  Abt. 1773, Manlius, New York

Died:  August 4, 1850, Probably Genesee Co., New York

His wife, Phebe Parker

Died:  February 11, 1828, Probably Genesee Co., New York

David and Phebe Parker Mann.

Note:  This line belongs to my cousin, Claire, and she took the photos.

Tombstone Tuesday -- ROSENBERGER (NY > Canada)

Peter Rosenberger was living in New York state and became a Loyalist at the time of the American Revolutionary War. He, his wife and four children are all buried in Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada.

Peter Rosenberger

Born:  November 23, 1745, Athens, Greene Co., New York

Died:  April 24, 1829, St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife, Hannah Bockus, is also buried here.

Hannah Bockus

Born:  Abt. May 29, 1752, Albany, Albany Co., New York

Died:  April 19, 1821, St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

They are buried at Krans Cemetery, St. Armand, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

Their son was, Henry Rosenberger

Henry Rosenberger

Born:  September 21, 1784, Brunswick, Rensselaer Co., New York

Died:  March 29, 1845, St. Armand W. (Philipsburg), Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

His wife was Catherine Westover

Catherine Westover
Born:  July 03, 1794, St. Armand, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada
Died:  November 08, 1876, Stanbridge E., Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

They were buried at Ploss Cemetery
Stanbridge E., Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

These photos were taken this same week of 1999.  During this trip, I located 22 of my direct ancestor's tombstones.

On April 4, 2013, I received a complete listing of all those buried at Ploss Cemetery (I had used this booklet during my visit in 1999 to the Missisquoi Historical Society).

Looking Back For August 2010

First, I would like to thank several people who chose me to either receive an Award or Follow Me during the month of August. Please take a peek at their blogs, as they are all good writers and have a lot to share.

Three people chose my blog for their Follow Friday, weekly selection.  Dr. Bill Smith  of  Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories chose my piece about My New Way of Doing Research.

John Newmark of Transylvanian Dutch chose my blog How Can Three Death Records Be Wrong?

Frances aka Hummer of Branching Out Through The Years named her Follow Friday, Follow Friday Inspirations, and listed three people, because we all share our love of plants, flowers and wildlife.  I am happy to share it with Carol at Reflections from the Fence and her Reflection's Flora and Fauna and Linda at Flipside.

I met Jan, at the New England Historic and Genealogical Library (NEHGS), and we struck up a nice conversation. She had just attended the 35th annual Strong Family Reunion in Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  Nothing unusual about that except for the fact, this line is one of the most well-known in Connecticut and Massachusetts.  I had just posted his cemetery memorial the day before, and I know fellow genea-bloggers, T.K. and Becky are also related to Elder John Strong.

So, imagine my surprise when my new cousin Jan told me that only about 40 people attended! Are reunions going out of style?  It was held in my own state, and I hadn't heard about it, but then I am not a member of the Strong Family Association either.  But, I wouldn't have wanted to travel across the country to attend it with just 40 people there, but kudos to Jan who went alone from California.

Three unusual surprises this month happened. The first was, I received a call from my second cousin from Canada.  We never met, but I was aware of her.  Her grandmother and mine were sisters. I really think this good karma came to me because of the posting I did of my grandmother and me in the kitchen about a month ago.  The best thing is, she is now into genealogy, so we exchanged information, some photos, another phone conversation and I gave her a list a mile long of things for her to do, since she lives near where my ancestors lived for four generations in Missisquoi County, Quebec.

My distant cousin, Joyce, called from Michigan to tell me about a family reunion being held on August 27th. Joyce then sent me the invitation.  After the reunion, I received through Google Alerts, a large article about the Historic Family Farm being in the family for 100 years!  This is the same family having the reunion.  The current owner is my 6th cousin.

The third just happened this week, when Linda wrote me for information via Ancestry.com.  Turns out, she lives in my city! We've shared a bit of information, but there will be much more, when I get more time.

Tombstone Tuesday - SIMON BRADSTREET of Salem, Massachusetts

Simon Bradstreet

Born:  March 18, 1603/04, of Horbling, Lincolnshire, England

Died:  March 27, 1697, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts

See Find-A-Grave site.

He was my 8th great-grandfather.

Burying Point Cemetery, Salem, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Simon's wife, Anne Dudley was buried in Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

See Find-A-Grave site.

From Sidney Perley's book, The History of Salem 1671-1716, Vol. III,  (Salem, Mass., S. Perley, 1924-28).  Pgs. 345-346.  "Upon the raised masonry of the tomb, was placed a slab, bearing the inscription which covered its surface.  Twenty-five years ago, the slab had become so worn by the elements, that only portion of the inscription were decipherable.  Originally, it read as follows, 'SIMON BRADSTREET, armiger, ex ordine senatoris, in colonial Massachusettensi ab anno 1630, usque ad annum 1673.  Deinde ad annum 1679, vice-gubernator.  Denique ad annum 1686, ejusdem coloniae, communi et constanti populi suffragio, GUBERNATOR.  Vir, jucdiio lynceario praeditus, quem nec numma nec honos allexit.  Regis authortatem, et populi liberatem, aequa lance bibavit.  Religione cordatus, vita innocuus, mundum et vicit, et deseruit, 27 die Martii A.D. 1697, annoque Guliel 31 IX et AEt 94.'"

Google and the Movies -- Georgia O'Keeffe and Adams Extract

We all Google different names; our name, our friends, our enemies and our ancestors.  Along with Google, I am an avid movie fan, and try to imagine my surprise when I Googled two of my distant relatives and saw that movies had recently been made, both shown last year, one on television and one in the theater.

The first was about Georgia O'Keeffe. The movie was made about her life, and it was appropriately titled, "Georgia O'Keeffe" and aired on the Lifetime channel.  I never knew that, until the Google search.  Fortunately for me, I was able to rent the movie from Redbox for $1 and watch the wonderful cast of Joan Allen, Ed Begley Jr., Jeremy Irons and Tyne Daly. The story covered her life, centering on her relationship with her husband. The only genealogy information I gleaned from the movie was how her mother died.  What a thrill to see a movie about my 4th cousin once removed.  A short movie trailer on the movie is on YouTube. I wrote about Georgia in January 2010.


The second name I discovered a movie connection to was, John Anderson Adams, my great-granduncle.  John was originally from Michigan and moved to Beeville, Bee Co., Texas.  In this case, I just googled his name, and up popped a movie called, "Extract" which was released the first week of September 2009,  and it is based a little on his life.  In order to view the movie, I had to obtain it from my local library for free.  I was impressed with the cast of Jason Bateman, Ben Affleck, J.K. Simmons, Gene Simmons and several others.  It was a comedy, and I'll leave the reviews to the professional critics, and public.  The Adams Extract Company issued a press release at the time the movie opened. Below is part of that release.


"Adams Extract traces it beginnings back to 1888 when John Anderson Adams sold extracts in the harsh Michigan climate. In 1905 he moved his family to Texas. At the time, most vanilla was sold to pharmacies and was often labeled “Do not bake or freeze.” John A. Adams, a pharmacist whose imagination was stirred by his wife’s yearning for a flavoring that wouldn’t bake or freeze out, announced that he could produce a better vanilla than the one his wife was currently using. Working with just $6.71 worth of materials on top of an old icebox, Adams discovered the formula he wanted. To test this product, his wife whipped up a cake for the family to try. “John, this is the BEST flavoring I have ever used,” she announced. “Well, that’s old man Adams BEST,” he responded. The name stuck. The double-strength extract was sold door-to-door by sons Fred and Don."

Several years ago, I learned of the Adams vanilla history and a lot about John, but this year, something new was added to Google, that being the movie.  It pays to keep checking or, doing a Google Alert.  Speaking of the Alerts, when that option first became available, I did about ten Alerts.  I've cut three, so still use the same seven for several years now.

John Anderson Adams was the brother of Yates Adams, my great-grandfather.  I've written about Yates and his either Suicide or Murder in 1917.  I've often wondered why Yates didn't move to Texas and work with his brother in his successful business of manufacturing Vanilla Extract.

Treasure Chest Thursday -- New Beginnings

My father, as a freshman, on his way to Union College, Schenectady, New York.

1938

Joined the Navy in 1942.

Corpus Christi, Texas

Prescott Park, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

Prescott Park
Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Website: https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/prescottpark

From the above website, "Prescott Park was created and has been maintained by the terms of the last will and testament of Josie F. Prescott, a life long resident of the City of Portsmouth. It was her wish that a public park, free and accessible to all, be established along the Portsmouth waterfront replacing what had become a run down industrial area of Portsmouth.

The land to be acquired was designated to be along the Piscataqua River between lower State Street and Pickering Street. Once acquired the land was to be given to the City for the use as a public park."

I love this garden, because it's beautifully maintained, is next to the Piscataqua River and feet from the Strawberry Banke Museum (see my blog with photos).

Unfortunately, I can't share more photos of the garden or the waterfront, because they were on another server and were deleted. Below is a map, showing the size and location.

Tombstone Tuesday -- DEWOLF (2 Generations) New York

Stafford Rural Cemetery, Stafford, Batavia Co., New York

The DeWolf Family

Orin J. DeWolf

Born:  March 14, 1830, New York

Died:  1899, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

His wife below.

Betsey E. Adams DeWolf

Born:  November 1830, New York

Died:  February 18, 1906, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Father and mother above.

Their son below.

Charles Freemond DeWolf

Born:  October 1861, New York

Died:  Abt. March 12, 1913, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

and first wife, Rose Kibler.

Born:  1864

Died:  Abt. February 02, 1892, Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Betsey E. Adams DeWolf was my 1st cousin, 4 times removed.

Notes:  Photos taken by Claire (O'Donnell) Andrews (my 5th cousin, once removed) and used with permission.

Tombstone Tuesday -- WILDER (New Hampshire)

Old Cemetery, Washington St., Keene, New Hampshire

Able Wilder

Born:  August 11, 1770, Templeton, Worcester Co., Massachusetts

Died:  April 03, 1862, April 03, 1862

Abel Wilder was my 4th great-grandfather.

His Wife,

MARY "Polly" MEAD*

Born:  1777, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts

Died:  July 19, 1813, Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

*From:  Hurd, D. Hamilton, History of Cheshire and Sullivan Counties, NH, Philadelphia: J.W. Lewis & Co., 1886. Pg. 67. "In memory of Mrs. Mary, wife of Abel Wilder, who departed this life July 19, 1813, aged 36 years." I believe over 100 years ago, there was a stone.

"Very Poor and of a Lo Make" Abner Sanger

Unusual title, I know.  The Very Poor and of a Lo Make is a title of a wonderful book that had it's beginnings back in 1774. It is comprised from a set of journals that Abner Sanger kept from 1774-1782 in Keene, New Hampshire and 1791-1794 in Dublin, New Hampshire.  His papers were kept for 44 years, then were passed down from generation to generation until they were put up for auction in 1914.  From Page XI, "The Library of Congress bought the collection of Sanger papers.  Taken to Washington, the pages of the little booklets were cut apart, silked and bound (with the letters from father to son) between hard covers.  The journal was placed in the Manuscript Division."

"Abner Sanger once referred to in a legal proceeding as a man, 'being very poor and of a lo make.'"  When he died, the local newspaper wrote, "Died in this town, Mr. Abner Sanger, aged 83."  It is nice to know that his life is still being read about.

Other than providing valuable insight into the life of a farmer living in Keene and Dublin, New Hampshire for much of his life, there is a nice chronology of his life and some genealogical information. However, Abner didn't write much about his family, but the author incorporated a small three generation genealogy section of the Sanger family and that has helped me tremendously. While I am not directly related to him, I am to his second wife, when Elizabeth "Betsey" Johnson married again in April 01, 1784. Abner and Elizabeth had seven children together.

Buried at Old Cemetery, (Known as Washington St. Cemetery)

Keene, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire

His wife, Elizabeth is buried in Dublin, photo below and it is on

 Find-A-Grave.

Source:  Sanger, Abner, Lois  K. Stabler, editor, Very Poor and of a Lo Make: The Journal of Abner Sanger, Pub. for the Historical Soc. of Cheshire County, Portsmouth, NH: 1986.

Recently, (Oct. 2010) I found my flyer for the book, and copied it below.