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.

Tuesday, February 14, 2012

Tombstone Tuesday -- Names on a Rock at Mount Auburn Cemetery

Mount Auburn Cemetery, Cambridge, Massachusetts

1817	Betsey Mosman	1817
1822	William R. Mosman	1822
1830	Rufus F. Mosman	1831
1844	Emma C. Chamberlin	1848
1817	Betsey A. Sherwin	1849
1847	Francis Sherwin	1852
1792	Betsey Mosman	1850
1843	Rufus Mosman Sherwin	1862
1805	Sarah Lane	1868
1831	Mary Ann Osgood	1868
1814	Charles P. Chamberlin	1872
1788	Rufus Mosman	1872
1822	Sarah F. Chamberlin	1896
1851	Ella May Chamberlin	1915
1841	Sarah E. Chamberlin	1917
1855	Emmagene S. Chamberlin	1925
1852	Frank W. Chamberlin	1938

Saturday, February 11, 2012

Surname Saturday -- Wilcoxson of CT and MA

The Wilcoxson line is another old Connecticut and Massachusetts line. It has been spelled as Willcoxson, and in later years as Wilcox. William Wilcoxson, my first generation, and his wife Margaret had nine children, I descend through three of their children. My direct lines are in green and if you would like sources, please write.

Generation No. 1

WILLIAM WILCOXSON was born CA 1601 in Ilkeston, Derbyshire, England, and died BET 29 MAY 1651 AND 16 JUN 1652 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married MARGARET HARVEY Ca 1633 in Concord, Massachusetts / Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, daughter of JAMES HARVEY. She was born ABT 1611 in St. Albans, Herfordshire, England, and died 1654 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Children of WILLIAM WILCOXSON and MARGARET HARVEY were:

	2	i.	John WILCOXSON was born 1633 in England, and died 19 MAR 1690 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth BOURNE 19 MAR 1661/2 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married Miss TITHERTON BEF 1657, daughter of Daniel TITHERTON.
+	3	ii.	JOSEPH WILCOXSON was born Ca 1635 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 9 FEB 1703 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	4	iii.	Timothy WILCOXSON was born Ca 1637 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., CT or Concord, MA?, and died 13 JAN 1713 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married Joanna BIRDSEY 28 DEC 1664 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, daughter of John BIRDSEY.
+	5	iv.	SAMUEL WILCOXSON was born Ca 1639 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 12 MAR 1713 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	6	v.	Elizabeth WILCOXSON was born Ca 1641 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 22 OCT 1668. She married Henry STILES 16 APR 1663 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of John STILES.
	7	vi.	Hannah WILCOXSON was born Ca 1643 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 19 APR 1722 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married Daniel HAYDEN 17 MAR 1664/5 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, son of William HAYDEN.
+	8	vii.	OBADIAH WILCOXSON was born Ca 1645 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 1 NOV 1714 in East Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
	9	viii.	Sarah WILCOXSON was born Ca 1648 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 24 NOV 1691 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married John MEIGS 7 MAR 1665 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	10	ix.	Phebe WILCOXSON was born Ca 1651, and died 20 SEP 1743 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. She married John BIRDSEY 11 DEC 1669 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, son of John BIRDSEY and Philippa SMITH. She married John BEACH AFT 9 JAN 1698 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Generation No. 2

JOSEPH WILCOXSON (WILLIAM WILCOXSON¹) was born Ca 1635 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 9 FEB 1703 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married HANNAH BEF 1658 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut.

Children of JOSEPH WILCOXSON and HANNAH were:

+	11	i.	JOSEPH WILCOXSON was born 29 OCT 1659 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 29 SEP 1747 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	12	ii.	Thomas WILCOXSON was born 13 NOV 1661 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died MAY 1694 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	13	iii.	Samuel WILCOXSON was born ABT 1663 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut. He married Ruth WESTCOTT 1 JAN 1696 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
+	14	iv.	HANNAH WILCOXSON was born 19 JAN 1665 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 6 FEB 1708 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
	15	v.	Nathaniel WILCOXSON was born 29 AUG 1668 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 13 JUN 1712 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah LANE 21 NOV 1695 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of ROBERT LANE and SARAH PICKETT. She was born 28 DEC 1668 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 21 DEC 1727 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	16	vi.	William WILCOXSON was born 9 JAN 1670 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 22 MAR 1733 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth WILSON 18 JAN 1698 in Simsbury / Windsor, Connecticut.
	17	vii.	Margaret WILCOXSON was born 1672 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 9 FEB 1763 in No. Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Joseph GRAVES BEF 1699 in Hartford / Guilford, Connecticut, son of JOHN GRAVES and ELIZABETH CRUTTENDEN. He was born 27 AUG 1672 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died BEF 1716.
	18	viii.	John WILCOXSON was born 1675 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 27 MAR 1732 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah SHEATHER\SHETHER 1703 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

SAMUEL WILCOXSON (WILLIAM WILCOXSON¹) was born Ca 1639 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 12 MAR 1713 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married HANNAH RICE 1666 in Cambridge, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts?, daughter of RICHARD RICE and ELIZABETH. She was born ABT 1646 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died BET 1708 AND 12 MAR 1713.

Children of SAMUEL WILCOXSON and HANNAH RICE were:

+	19	i.	SAMUEL WILCOXSON was born 15 SEP 1666 in Windsor, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 13 SEP 1713 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	20	ii.	William WILCOXSON was born 1668, and died 22 MAR 1783 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth WILSON.
	21	iii.	Joseph WILCOXSON was born 1674 in Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts, and died 4 DEC 1720. He married Abigal THRAIL 29 APR 1703 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut.
	22	iv.	Margaret WILCOXSON was born 1676 in Simsbury, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 21 DEC 1714. She married Mr. VIETS?.

OBADIAH WILCOXSON (WILLIAM WILCOXSON¹) was born Ca 1645 in Stratford, Fairfield Co., Connecticut, and died 1 NOV 1714 in East Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Lydia ALLING BEF 1676, daughter of John ALLING and Ellen BRADLEY. She was born 26 DEC 1656 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married SILENCE MANSFIELD CA 1690, daughter of JOSEPH MANSFIELD and MARY POTTER. She was born 24 OCT 1664 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Mary GRISWOLD ABT 1670, daughter of Michael GRISWOLD and Anne. She was born 28 JAN 1651 in Wethersfield, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 8 AUG 1670 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

Children of OBADIAH WILCOXSON and Lydia ALLING were:

23	i.	Mary WILCOXSON was born 11 DEC 1676 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Thomas MUNSON 15 SEP 1694 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, son of SAMUEL MUNSON and MARTHA BRADLEY. He was born 12 MAR 1671 in New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 28 SEP 1746.
24	ii.	Lydia WILCOXSON was born 14 OCT 1678 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 4 NOV 1678 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
25	iii.	Obadiah WILCOXSON was born 14 DEC 1679 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
26	iv.	Ebenezer WILCOXSON was born 20 SEP 1682 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. He married Martha GAYLORD.

Children of OBADIAH WILCOXSON and SILENCE MANSFIELD were:

	27	i.	Timothy WILCOXSON was born 15 NOV 1690 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died BEF 1710.
+	28	ii.	JOHN WILCOXSON was born 9 NOV 1692, and died 1 MAY 1753 in East Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
+	29	iii.	Joseph WILCOXSON was born 1694 in E. Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 15 JUL 1770 in East Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut.
	30	iv.	Mindwell WILCOXSON was born ABT 1696 in E. Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 3 FEB 1770 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Daniel HILL 20 APR 1714.
	31	v.	Jemima WILCOXSON was born 30 OCT 1699 in E. Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, and died 11 OCT 1764 in Southington, Hartford Co., Connecticut. She married John MERRIMAN 24 FEB 1726 in Wallingford, New Haven Co., CT.
	32	vi.	Thankful WILCOXSON was born 4 APR 1702 in E. Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut. She married Samuel NORTON 6 SEP 1722 in Guilford, New Haven Co., Connecticut, son of Samuel NORTON.

Thursday, February 9, 2012

NARA Separation Form 214 For Free

The National Personnel Records Center (NPRC) is located in St. Louis, Missouri. If you are looking for your father's, mother's or brother's military record, you might be able to find it here, at a ridiculous low price of FREE. After going to the home page of the NPRC, click on the Personnel Records, Quick Find, shown below. My example is for "the veteran separated from military service before 1951 (for my father).

Personnel Records, Quick Find:

MILITARY PERSONNEL RECORDS
If the veteran separated from military service before 1951	If the veteran separated from military service after 1950

CIVILIAN PERSONNEL RECORDS
If the Federal civil servant's employment ended before 1952	If the Federal civil servant's employment ended after 1951

Step two is click on the link in this sentence. Please order these records by using the process outlined in, "How to Access Archival Records, Official Military Personnel Files (OMPF)". (Even though there is considerable information, you probably won't need to figure anything out. I found it was easier to put in information about my father, then just see if I qualified for the information, and more importantly, see if there was information.

After clicking on the "How to Access..." (above link) you will be brought to How do I request copies of records? Read everything, then click on REQUEST RECORDS ONLINE!

You are brought to: Online Requests Using eVetRecs

“Our online eVetRecs system creates a customized order form to request information from your, or your relative's, military personnel records. You may use this system if you are:

· A military veteran, or

· Next of kin of a deceased, former member of the military. The next of kin can be any of the following:

o Surviving spouse that has not remarried

o Father

o Mother

o Son

o Daughter

o Sister

o Brother

Please note: Records are accessioned into the National Archives, and become archival, 62 years after the service member's separation from the military. This is a rolling date; hence, the current year, 2012, minus 62 years is 1950. Records with a discharge date of 1950 or prior are archival and are open to the public. Records with a discharge date of 1950 or after are non-archival and are maintained under the Federal Records Center program. Non-archival records are subject to access restrictions. Learn more”

Click on: Launch theeVetRecs System to start your requestOnline.

This is where you begin filling out your information, such as: Your relationship to the Deceased, Branch of Service, Officer or Enlisted, Reason for information, such as medical, genealogy, retirement, and others. I selected medical since I wasn't sure what would happen with the genealogy option. I also needed to provide the name, birth date, and other bits of information, nothing too difficult. Since this was done in August 2010, I don't recall everything, but do know it was very easy. I received immediate online verification, just to be sure they had a record for my father, and a form, shown below. I had to sign it, and mail it to them before I could receive two copies of the record.

A few weeks later, I received Form 214, Report of Separation (shown below) with information on my father. (I used white-out on some of his personal information.)

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Reuben Hoar Library, Littleton, Massachusetts (See the Resources for Genealogists)

Reuben Hoar Library

35 Shattuck St, Littleton, MA

(978) 540-2600

Website: https://www.littletonma.org/160/Library

I couldn't get a wide-angle shot of the library from outside because there were too many cars parked in front and across the street, there was major construction (a new senior center was being built). I didn't take many interior pictures because there were a lot of patrons.

Many large windows with a view of trees in the back. It must be breathtaking in spring, summer, and fall. A pathway is being created as is a new senior center in front of the library.

Quiet study rooms are above.

This room is on the lower level, right by the elevator.

I'm glad they kept the old file cabinet. I used it many years ago.

Just outside the locked (key is needed) Houghton Historical Room is this bookcase with genealogy books for a patron to check out. I was happy to finally see this room, but once again, the well-known Massachusetts tan books were missing. I asked the reference librarian about it, and he said there wasn't room. It's too bad because this library is huge! He said the only people who use this room are students working on a history project.