Treasure Chest Thursday

Long silver decorative serving  spoon.

Above spoon received the same time I got the Gorham "Fairfax" setting as described in post called A Mixed Table Setting.

The Minutemen of 1861 -- First Soldiers to Die in Civil War Were From Lowell

Ladd and Whitney
Civil War
Monument

Recently, Richard "Dick" Howe Jr.*, the Register of Deeds for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, for No. Middlesex County, gave a talk about Lowell's involvement in the Civil War, which included how the first deaths occurred in the war. Two of the first four soldiers who died in the Civil War were mill workers from Lowell, Massachusetts. Luther C. Ladd age 17 and Addison O. Whitney age 22 eagerly signed up with the Massachusetts 6th regiment of Volunteers and traveled south to Baltimore, Maryland to meet their fate. The talk explains the early history of the war, shows a lot of slides and presents a great narrative. If you are interested in the War, you will enjoy this talk, click HERE.



My title, The Minutemen of 1861, was taken from information from the Commonwealth of Massachusetts's webpage. And, some below information from that site is shared below.

"Massachusetts 6th infantry had been organized in January of 1861. They assembled and moved from Lowell to Boston, where they were outfitted; given their charge by Governor John Andrew and set off for Washington, DC on April 17th.

As was customary from the revolutionary war, Massachusetts's Governor presented the sixth regiment with a distinctive flag to carry in battle. The honor of a regiment was bound to its flag.

The regiment passed through New York and Philadelphia by train, reaching Baltimore on April 19th, 1861 -- the 86th anniversary of the "shot heard round the world" in Lexington and Concord. Little did the troops realize that they would fire their own shots heard round the world, and that the first union casualties in the war of rebellion would come from the sixth regiment later that day.

In Baltimore a local ordinance prevented steam engines from operating within city limits. Paul O'Neil, an interpreter for the Baltimore Civil War Museum, explains this ordinance was likely designed to benefit teamsters, who provided horse service through town to connect the city's train stations. So, the sixth regiment rode in train cars drawn by horses from Baltimore's Presidential Station to the Camden Yards station.

Seven of the ten cars carrying the 6th regiment made it before a growing mob blocked the tracks with sand and ship anchors. Once stopped, the soldiers began marching down Pratt Street in formation.

There on Pratt Street, the Civil War began to be fought. The incensed crowd hurled bricks, cobblestones, and any other objects within reach at the troops.

However, the young troops from Massachusetts disported themselves with military discipline. The regimental color was carried by Color Sergeant Timothy A. Crowley of Lowell.

Chaplain Babbidge, who was with the regiment that day wrote, "paving stones flew thick and fast, some just grazing their heads, and some hitting the standard itself." Shots from handguns came from the crowd, the Massachusetts regiment returned fire.

It is believed that 16 people were killed in the melee, including four soldiers - Luther C. Ladd and Addison Otis Whitney of Lowell, a Mr. Needham of Lawrence, and Mr. Taylor, whose history is unknown. These four became the first to serve and die on the 19th of April, 1861."

Photos and write-ups located on FindAGrave.


From Wikipedia, The History of Lowell, Massachusetts provides valuable information.


Another good site.


Finally, from a Google search, using the key words: "Ladd Whitney Lowell Civil War" I found a wealth of information on these men, Lowell and the Civil War.

The actual dedication was moved to June 17, 1865, due to
President Lincoln's death.

 * Dick is also a local historian for the city. Last year, he gave a tour of the Lowell Cemetery, and that was a blog post of mine.

Ladd and Whitney Monument and the Lowell City Hall.

Tombstone Tuesday -- Keeping it Together

Betsey E. DeWolfe Nichols

Born: 15 Oct 1839  --  Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Married to Alonzo Nichols

Died: 29 Aug 1867  --  Stafford, Genesee Co., New York

Buried at Fargo/Temperance/Pioneer/Old Cemetery, Stafford, Genesee Co., NY

Betsey (above photo) and infant son, Albert Alonzo Nichols

(Photos and information from my cousin Claire.)

Orin Dewolf's Will -- New York -- Amanuensis Monday

GENESEE COUNTY
SURROGATE'S COURT
Orin DeWolf   Deceased
WILL AND CERTIFICATE
Proven May 23rd, 1898


In the name of God, amen: I Orin DeWolf, of the town of Stafford, in the County of Genesee and State of New York of [sic] the age of Seventy-five years, and being of sound mind and memory, do make, publish and declare, this my last Will and Testament in manner following, That is to say.


First, after all my lawful debts are paid, I give and bequeath to my wife, Zobeide DeWolf all of my personal estate, goods and chattels of what nature or kind so ever.
Second, I give and bequeath to my said wife, Zobeide DeWolf, all of my Real Estate, that may belong to me at the time of my decease, together with all the hereditaments and appurtenants  thereunto belonging to have and to hold the same--


And I hereby appoint my said wife Zobeide DeWolf to be sole executrix of this my last will and testament hereby revoking all former wills by me made.


In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and Seal this 13 day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty.  Orin DeWolf  (seal)


The above instrument consisting of one sheet was at the date thereof, signed, sealed, published and declared by the said Orin DeWolf as and for his last Will and Testament, in presence of us, who, at his request and in his presence, and in the presence of each other, have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto.


Abner W. King, Stafford, Genesee Co., N. Y.
Henry G. Vallett, Stafford, Genesee County, New York
__________
The People of the State of New York, By the Grace of God Free and Independent :
To Lydia A. Kellogg, Mary C. Tuttle, John H. DeWolf, Sprague P. DeWolf, Emily J. Mann, Albert DeWolf, Sanford E. DeWolf, Helen I. Sprague, Henry C. DeWolf, Nancy A. Ball and Zobeida Gray, (Note: His wife, Zobeide is not listed because she is now deceased.)

heirs at law and next of kin of Orin DeWolf late of the town of Bethany in the County of Genesee, deceased, GREETING :


You and each of you are cited to appear before the Surrogate of the County of Genesee, at his office in the town of Batavia, in said County, on the 23rd day of May 1898, at ten o'clock, in the forenoon of that day, to attend the proof and probate of the last Will and Testament of said deceased, which relates to real and personal estate, and is presented for proof and probate by Orin J. DeWolf  Executor therein named.


And those of you who are under the age of twenty-one years are required to appear by your guardian, if you have one ; if you have none, that you appear and apply for one to be appointed. In the event of your neglect or failure to do so, a guardian will be appointed by the Surrogate to represent and act for you in this proceeding.

IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, we have caused the seal of office of our said Surrogate to be hereunto affixed.
WITNESS, SANFORD E. NORTH, Surrogate of our said County, at the Village of Batavia, the 2nd day of April A. D. 1898
F. A. Lewis, Clerk Surrogate's Court.

Copy of Will obtained by my cousin, Claire.

“State of New York, County of Genesee.

Recorded Feby. 21, 1919, at 3 o’clock P.N. in Liber 235

Of Deeds at page 231, and examined.

C. B. Pixley   Clerk”
___________
Amanuensis Monday was begun by John Newmark of the TransylvanianDutch blog. The term means, "a person employed to write what another dictates or to copy what has been written by another." Many bloggers enjoy doing this because it allows them to freely copy something that has been written.

A Library, A Librarian and Two Cousins

"We have consulted no librarians, not even our own. Librarians are not practical men and have bees in their bonnets," said William W. Greenough, former president of the trustees of the Boston Public Library. I believe many of us will disagree with that statement.

The Reading Room in 1894, the year my
2nd great-grandfather died.
At least he saw it completed.

A good nine years ago, I connected with a distant cousin (she in Michigan, I in Massachusetts), discussing our Schrambling / Scramlin ancestry. Last week, in another conversation, we realized we had a connection to the Newberry Library in Chicago. One provided the funds for the new library and one was the first librarian. It is pretty interesting to think that two people can connect through a building and an occupation, not just through genealogy (we are 5th cousins, once removed). My 2nd great-grandfather, William Frederick Poole, was the first librarian at the Newberry Library and her 2nd great-uncle provided the funds to have the library built. 


From Wikipedia, "The Newberry's first librarian, William Frederick Poole, was a primary force behind the library's non-circulating research and rare book collections, as well as conceptualizing the facility to house them. The present building, designed by Poole^[1] and architect Henry Ives Cobb (1859–1931), opened in 1893.

Recently, cousin Joyce Luscomb provided me with some information on her side, "The Newberry Library was founded in 1887 by a bequest of Chicago land developer and city leader Walter Loomis Newberry (1804-1868). Newberry was an early Chicago resident, arriving in the city in 1833 from Detroit. He quickly became involved in a variety of business ventures and made his fortune in railroads, real estate, and banking. The young city also counted on Newberry's involvement in other ways: he helped found Chicago's Young Men's Library Association in 1841, served on the city boards of health and education and was president of the Chicago Historical Society from 1860 until his death.

Newberry's will provided for the establishment of a free public library on the north side of Chicago— but only if his surviving daughters died without issue. (At the time of Newberry's death, Chicago did not have a public library. The Chicago Public Library was founded six years after Newberry died, in 1874.) The daughters, Mary Louisa Newberry and Julia Rose Newberry, both died within 10 years of their father. Newberry's wife, Julia Clapp Newberry, died in 1885. Newberry's wishes for a library were finally honored two years later when half of his estate ($2.1 million) went towards the founding of the Newberry Library. By this time, the Chicago Public Library was thriving. The Library's first trustees, therefore, decided to devote Newberry's bequest to the establishment of a "library for scholars and people desiring to make careful researches." Over the next few years, the Library's collecting scope was further refined, and the Newberry became dedicated to the humanities."

Amanuensis Monday -- Ratification of Will of Moses Westover

The 1809 will of Moses Westover was posted March 14, 2011.


Transcription of 
Ratification by Elizabeth Holmes, Widow of Moses Westover
From files of Notary Leon Lalanne,
St. Armand, Quebec


Notary Leon Lalanne
5 Mar 1827
Film #500.62


Before Notary E. Gray (no date)
John Westover deposited a document for lot #9
Caldwell Manor - Missisquoi Bay
By Henry Caldwell
(E. Gray stopped work in 1798)


5 March 1827
Ratification 
By Elizabeth
Holmes Widow
        of
Moses Westover
Exhs.[?]


Be it known and remembered that on the Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord, One Thousand Eight Hundred and Twenty Seven; Before this Subscribing Notary Public, residing in St. Armand in the District of Montreal, in the Province of Lower Canada, personally appeared Elizabeth Holmes, of the Township of Sutton, in the said District, widow of Moses Westover, late of Sutton aforesaid, Gentleman, deceased, which said Elizabeth exhibited to the said Notary an authentic Copy of the Last Will and Testament of the said late Moses, dated the Twenty Second day of July AD One Thousand Eight Hundred and Nine executed before [crossed out: "the"] Louis Barbeau, Notary Public, and certain Witnesses, which said Will the undersigned Notary, in the presence of the Witnesses hereinafter named read to the said Elizabeth, who declared to have well understood its contents and to be [crossed out: "the"] content & satisfied with every the provisions [crossed out "th"] & dispositions therefore consents and agrees that it be executed according to the intent & meaning of the Testator, and declares[d?] further that whereas Stephen Westover, her son, late of Sutton aforesaid, Esquire, hath departed this life, and was by the said late Moses, his father, constituted his residuary Devise and Legatee, and by the said Will enjoined to fulfill and perform certain charges and conditions therein set forth, which since his decease Dorinda Ball his Widow hath undertaken & actually commenced performing the [word "the" written twice] said Elizabeth therefore doth hereby voluntarily declare that she is willing and even desirous that the said Dorinda for herself and the Children issue of her marriage with the said late Stephen avail herself of every the dispositions of the said Will which were meant for the benefit and advantage of the said late Stephen, the Same as he would have done if he had survived his said father.


Moreover, by the request of the said Elizabeth, the said Notary next read to [crossed out: "the said"] her an authentic copy of a Deed executed under private Signatures, dated the 21st day of October last past and afterwards, to wit, the 23d day of the same month, deposited in the office of the said Notary, by which the said late Moses Westover hath transferred to and vested in the said Dorinda Ball, in trust for Roswell Westover and Stephen Egbert Westover, his sons, minors, all his the said Moses Westover's Rights, Titles and Claims whatsoever in and to the equal Southwesterly, Southeasterly & Northeasterly quarters or fourth part[s?] of Lot Number fifteen in the tenth Range of Lots in the Township of Sutton aforesaid, which said Deed the said Elizabeth declared she had also well understood the contents of and forthwith did and doth hereby approve ratify and confirm.


In testimony of all which the said Elizabeth hath requested this act and after it being duly read, hath there under set her usual mark, a cross …
in the presence of Michael Preston[?];John Porter [?or Foster?] Esqs the said Witnesses [crossed out: "and"], who with me the said Notary have also set their names there under the day & year aforewritten.
     her
[signature:] John Foster [?] Elizabeth   X   Holmes
    mark
[signature:] Michael Preston
[illegible word]


(Typed by my court stenographer cousin, James Johnson, abt. 2001 and unable to locate for permission to use.)

Follow Friday -- Research to do Only Once on my Parents

In the past week, I've been thinking about the lives of my parents before I was born. A blogger, Remembering Those Who Came Before Us and Facebook friend, Sara Campbell mentioned Union College. Hum, that is where my father went, and a thinking out loud thought to myself was written to Sara. I was curious to know if I could get a yearbook photo of him and any other information from his file. Sara sent me a link to the college, and the process began. After calling Union College in Schenectady, I called my mother's college, Skidmore in Saratoga Springs, both in New York. Below are some of the things I received.


Three days after my call to Union, I was looking at his yearbook page, and other copied files. I discovered my father was in the Choir, Dramatic, Track and Camera Clubs. Who was this person? He never sang, did any sports, didn't attend plays, and took very few photos. As my father, he collected old maps, old guns, old stamps and was an avid ham operator.  His nickname was "Pud," what kind of name is that, where did it come from, well, I'll never know.


The file contained my birth announcement, printed in two newspapers, and a few other pieces about his service. His obituary was in the file, and date stamped at the college a week after he died. Seems my mother knew what to do, as she sent all these articles to Union. He majored in Science/ Chemistry and became a Chemist, working at several Boston area companies.


My mother's  file, Jane Ten Eyck Bishop, was similar, with a yearbook photo and listing of her clubs. Since she majored in Costume and Textiles, she was quoted as saying, "Have to make a sweater to match the socks I knitted for the game tomorrow" Looking at her photos reminded me of the movie, Mona Lisa Smile, since Skidmore was a woman's college. (She was her class agent 15 years up to the time of her death.) Many years later, she attended Northeastern University and received her Masters Degree in Education, and became a teacher.


If your parents went to college, this might be a nice resource. I found out more than what is mentioned above. Neither college asked me for any information, perhaps because obituaries (with my name mentioned) were in their files. The process was so painless, and I got a huge payoff. Photos below are of my mother.

My mother holding the magazine.

My mother on the ladder.

Looking Back -- May 2011

I like to acknowledge those who enjoy my blog and thought I should have an award. Some bloggers mentioned they knew I don't accept them, but wanted me to have one anyway. I understand why people love giving them, as well as receiving them. However, from the very first day I received one, I decided that wasn't the route I wanted to take. But thank you ladies for the three different awards. Please check out their blogs, you will be so glad you did.

The Ancestor Approved award was given to me on Jan. 20th, and I didn't discover it until months later. It was embarrassing that I didn't catch it earlier, and it pays to read each and every blog you follow, you just never know what might be in a post. And, I think it is important for recipients to also thank the sender, which I don't see happening very often.

My Ancestor Approved award came from: Suz of The Hunt for Henrietta

One Lovely Blog awards from:
Cyndi Beane Henry of Mountain Genealogy                     
Leslie Albrecht Huber of The Journey Takers Blog
Leslie Ann of Ancestors Live Here
Yvonne Mashburn Schmidt of ATCO, Georgia, The Village


and Betty Huber Tartas of Betty's Boneyard Genealogy presented me with the Genea-Angel award.


The past month has been busy, and I will be blogging about some of the events in the next few weeks. One interesting thing, I hate to admit, is I didn't learn all I could about my parents and grandparents first and then work backward. I instead by-passed them and steam rolled through each generation rather quickly, (which took about 21 years). But, I realized I didn't know the first thing about my parents, especially before I was born. During the past week, I discovered some great information about them, and will share that. If I had asked questions about the last two generations years ago, some relatives were around to answer what I wanted to know.


Much of this winter-like month has been devoted to webinars, I love them and in one week attended five, and one day there were two. I'm getting a great free education, learning about things such as: Using Twitter, Backing up your Genealogy Data, Tracing Female Ancestors, Writing your Personal History, two on Blogging, and several on RootsMagic4. I hope you have been able to take advantage of them, some are still available to listen to/see and new ones have been scheduled. Most are FREE, so please visit the above webinar site.


This has nothing to do with genealogy, but to illustrate how quickly time flies. When I heard it was 30 years ago that President Reagan was shot, to me, it was like yesterday.
I was working at the Veteran's Administration, my office on the first floor of a 14-floor building, and on the L Street side in Washington, DC. When we heard the sirens and saw police cars fly by, we knew something serious had happened. We grouped together, and imagined a disaster at the White House, which was a few blocks away. Soon we knew the real story. Now, it's hard to believe it was 30 years ago. Did I age, what was I doing as a hobby (not genealogy yet), no idea what I was doing, but I remember that freeze in time.

Animals for the Young and Old -- Wordless Wednesday

1921
My mother was 22 months old.

1942
Her father, my grandfather, was 52.

First Man Married in Utah -- Westover - Sunday Obituary

Charles Beal Westover was my 2nd cousin, 5 times removed.  See FindAGrave for copy of cemetery stone, and death certificate.


"Charles Westover, Sr.
First Man Married in Utah Passes Away
Charles Westover, Sr. passed peacefully away in this city at about 11:30 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, 1919, of the infirmities of old age. He managed to get about until the day before he died, getting out on to the porch of his home to get his photograph taken, along with his wife on the Friday preceding his death.


Charles Westover, Sr., was born at Licking, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1827, a son of Alexander and Electa Westover. His mother and brother joined the church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and went to Winter quarters, Charles accompanying them and being baptized into the church at Winter Quarters by Apostle Erastus Snow in the spring of 1848. He crossed the plains in Capt. Brigham Young’s company and it was while crossing the plains that he met his wife, Eliza Ann Haven, who was loading oxen when he first met her. 


Mrs. Westover, whose memory is still very keen, relates what she considers the most exciting incident during the long toilsome journey as follows: The company was encamped near the Platte River when a very large herd of buffalo, estimated at between four and five thousand came to the river to drink. The whole company were afraid that this vast number of animals might stampede in their direction and felt considerably relieved when they left. When arriving in Utah Mr. Westover settled in Great Salt Lake City. 


When Apostle Erastus Snow was about to leave on a mission for Denmark in the fall of 1849, he asked young Westover to take charge of his place while he was away, and advised him to get married. Westover and Miss Haven were agreeable and they were married by President Brigham Young in Apostle Erastus Snow’s house on Oct. 14, 1849. 


They were the first couple to be married in Utah and celebrated their 70th Anniversary of their wedding day on Oct. 14th this year. 


Of this marriage there were 11 children, seven of whom are living, also 45 grandchildren, 67 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren. The children are Charles Westover Jr., of Washington; Mrs. L. Redd, of Bluff, San Juan Co.; Mrs. H. A. Gracey of San Francisco, CA,; who is here taking care of her parents; Mrs. L. S. conger of this city; William A. Westover of Washington; L. B. Westover of Lewiston, Utah; and Mrs. A. A. Paxman of Washington. 


Besides this family a second wife and family are living at Huntington, Utah, they are: Mrs. Mary Shumway Westover, wife; two sons George and Alberto; and two daughters, Mrs. Julia Rowley and Mrs. Louisa Johnson. 


Mrs. Eliza Westover is the only person living who received her endowments in the Nauvoo Temple. She is 90 years old and enjoys good health; she spends most of her time knitting; her memory is keen, but she is deaf to a considerable extent. While her husband was engaged in the Indian War in the early days she melted lead in a spoon and made the bullets which he used. 


Mr. Westover was granted an Indian War pension in Jun, 1918. 


Mr. and Mrs. Westover came to Saint George in the fall of 1861, being called to the Dixie Mission to settle this country. They moved to Pinto in 1869 and stayed there 13 years, moving thence to Washington where they resided until three years ago when they made their home here. All the children by the first wife except Lewis were here with their father when he passed away. 


Mr. Westover was of a kindly disposition and a cheerful temperament. He suffered considerably toward the last with severe pains in his chest, but bore up with fortitude and looked longingly toward the end when he would go to meet his reward. He was faithful to the end and sought a glorious home in the great beyond. 


Funeral services will be held in the tabernacle this afternoon."

Obituary of Charles Westover.  Permission granted to use photo by Travis Elder (author of article with obituary).