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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.

Thursday, February 27, 2014

The Founders of the Sudbury Minutemen Marker in The Wayside Inn

The founders of the Sudbury Minutemen

Alfred Bonazzoli
Alberat Berberian
Joseph Brown
Roger Bump
Arthur Fay, Jr.
Maurice Fitzgerald
Frank Koppeis
Edward Kreitsek
Donald MacRae
John Powers
Frank Sherman
Rex Trailer

"On May 21, 1963, according to one Publius, a Committee of Correspondence met in the Old Bar Room of the Wayside Inn. The gentlemen of the Committee were twelve, all told; their intent was to raises a Militia in Sudbury, renewing a centuries-old organization in the Town.

The Militia was to be organized in the fashion of the Minutemen of 1774. They drew inspiration from Colonel Ezekiel Howe, Innkeeper, who had led the men of Sudbury to Concord in the Defenses of Liberty on April 19, 1775.

On this, the Fiftieth Anniversary of that fateful meeting, the officers, enlisted men, and distaff of the Sudbury Companies of Militia and Minute present this plaque in honor of those twelve men. Their love of history, and for the citizens of Sudbury, has brought joy to many, and provided us with some of the brightest moments of our lives."

Dan Meenan, Colonel

May 21, 2013
When I saw this plaque in the historic Wayside Inn* in Sudbury, Massachusetts, I knew I had to take the photo, after all, I assumed it had the names of the original Minutemen from Sudbury. The sunlight was shining brightly (you can see me, the iPad and sunny window above) so a kind man offered to hold up his jacket so I could get my photo (first photo). It wasn't until I began typing this that I discovered, that wasn't the case. These are far more recent names. However, I decided to post this because these individuals probably have descendants, and I wanted to show the restaurant rooms.

"Longfellow's Wayside Inn—a nationally significant Massachusetts Historic Landmark—is the oldest Inn still operating in the United States and has been serving travelers along the old Boston Post Road for almost 300 years. What began as a two-room home in 1707, the Howe family ran a successful tavern and innkeeping business on this site from 1716 to 1861."





  
Side view from the garden.


Wednesday, February 26, 2014

New Books or Reprints at NEHGS -- Wordless Wednesday

Recently displayed books on the 5th and 7th floors in the Library at the New England Historic and Genealogical Society in Boston, Massachusetts. Some are brand new and others are reprinted.
Photo below taken in April 2013.

Monday, February 24, 2014

Westford, Massachusetts -- Memorial


VIETNAM VETS

"WHEN YOUR COUNTRY CALLED YOU CAME.
WHEN YOUR COUNTRY REFUSED YOUR HONOR.
YOU REMAINED SILENT WITH TIME.
OUR NATION'S WOUNDS HEALED. WE
HAVE FINALLY COME TO APPRECIATE
YOUR SACRIFICES."

DEDICATED
MAY 30, 1988

IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE FROM WESTFORD
WHO SERVED IN AND DURING THE
VIETNAM CONFLICT.

1964 - 1975

TO THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME
SACRIFICE.

AARON CHARLES E.
BRUNDRETTE, RICHARD E., JR.
CONNOLLY, RICHARD
HUGHES, KENNETH R.

AND TO ALL AMERICANS MISSING IN ACTION.

IN HONOR OF ALL THOSE FROM WESTFORD
WHO SERVED IN AND DURING THE
KOREAN CONFLICT.

1950 - 1955

TO THOSE WHO MADE THE SUPREME
SACRIFICE.

BLACK, JOHN L.
LANGLEY, ROBERT G.

AND TO ALL AMERICANS MISSING IN ACTION.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Brick Walls of Mine, If you Solve, I Pay

On October 13, 2010, I posted the below request. As yet, my 10 9 big brick walls are still unsolved. I thought it was time to repost this in hopes somebody can help. Thank you.

Top Ten -- Brick Walls

IF ANYBODY CAN SOLVE ANY OF THESE BRICK WALLS, ALL OF THEM WOULD BE GREAT, I WILL PAY YOU $100 FOR BREAKING THROUGH THE WALL.  PLEASE WRITE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION I ALREADY HAVE ON SOME OF THOSE MENTIONED BELOW.

ADAMS, JOHN (Parents information needed.)
Born abt 1757of Wintonbury (now Bloomfield), CT - Lexington, MA - Hamilton, NY - Elba, NY
In Lexington, MA during Revolutionary War
Died September 25, 1830, Elba, Genesee Co., New York
Married to HANNAH SMITH, dau. of Joseph Smith and Eunice Drake of  Windsor, CT

FARMER, ALEXANDER “ALEX” (Parents information needed.)
Born March 05, 1814 in New York or Canada
Died January 27, 1864, Calhoun Co., Michigan
Married HULDAH LAY abt 1833 in prob. Niagara Co., New York
Children 5 born bet. Niagara, NY and Leroy, Michigan

HAWLEY, BENJAMIN (Parents information needed.)    SOLVED BY ME    DECEMBER 2017
Born abt. 1743
Died Jan. 25, 1831, Tompkins, Delaware Co., New York
Married February 05, 1778 to THEODOSIA FITCH at Lebanon, New London Co., Connecticut  (Had 8 children)

HULL, NANCY (Parents information needed.)
Born 1790, Woodbridge, New Haven Co., Connecticut
Married 1807 to JESSE WRIGHT, son of ASHER WRIGHT Prob. Killingworth, Middlesex Co.,Connecticut
She and her husband both died February 07, 1878, one in New Haven, and the other in Killingworth

JAQUAYS, WILLIAM (Parents information needed.)
Born bet. 1784 – 1790, poss. CT or VT (No other information)
Married LUCY CROSS of Windham, Windham Co., Connecticut
Lucy died January 14, 1878 at Cowansville, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada
Children were: Louisa Jane / Elizabeth Jaquays, Thankful, Sarah, William Cross, and Harriet C. (all of Addison, Vermont and Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada

JOHNSON ELIZABETH / BETSEY  (Father was William, need more information and her mother's name)  SOLVED by a reader, AND PAID HIM.
Born November 07, 1751, Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts
Died March 19, 1799, Dublin, Cheshire Co., New Hampshire
Married October 21, 1773 DAVID MEAD / MEED at Lynn, Essex Co., Massachusetts
(Two children born Lynn, Mass., one in New Ipswich, New Hampshire)

JOHNSON, LYDIA (Parents needed, no other information.)
Born Abt. 1822, Vermont
Died March 22, 1858, Dunham, Missisquoi Co., Quebec, Canada
Married WILLIAM CROSS JAQUAYS October 24, 1839 at Franklin Co., Vermont

MUNSON, ANNA or ANN (__) (Surname needed.)
Born Abt. 1731, Died April 18, 1772, Plainview, Hartford Co., Connecticut
Married WAITSTILL MUNSON (They had 2 children, Esther and Anna.)

RICHARDSON, ALMIRA “MIRA”  (Parents names needed.)
Born abt. 1798 of Orange, New Haven Co., Connecticut
She was adopted by JOHN BYRAN.
Died April 22, 1861, New Haven, New Haven Co., Connecticut
Was married to AARON KILBORN of Hamden Co., Connecticut

WYCKOFF, GERRITJE (Parents' names needed.)
Died Abt 1725
Married JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS (his 1st wife of 4 years)
Had son, JOHN (Jan) PIETERSE Van NESS born 1722 Readington, Somerset Co., New Jersey

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Happy Birthday, Ansel Adams

Reprinted from my 1979 negative, March 7, 2014

Today is the birthday of Ansel Adams, born February 20, 1902. I'm sharing a photo I took of him, while he was on a book tour in Washington, DC on September 9, 1979. I knew he was giving a free lecture about his book on that Sunday, so I brought along my camera and the current edition of Time magazine, with his picture on the cover, with the hope that he would sign his autograph. After the lecture and with my newly purchased $15 book and magazine just autographed, I walked around The National Museum of History Museum on Constitution Ave. and saw his chauffeur waiting for him. Nobody was around, just the driver. We conversed for maybe 10 minutes before Mr. Adams came outside.  I asked him if I could take his photo, he was delighted, and I was too.

Two things, I told him where to stand and I only took one photo (35mm camera that I had to focus. 

The book I had with me was bought at a Yosemite Falls gift shop in May 1978, and I just now looked at it again. Ansel wrote the date 9-9-79 with his name. Perfect documentation. The Sunday was a little cloudy at a little after 4. I don't think I'll ever forget a thing about that afternoon. 
He passed away five years later.



The first printed picture shown below could be used as a postcard! Guess that is what they did in 1979.






Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Watertown, Massachusetts -- War Memorial




FIRST WORLD WAR

Ernest M. Allen
David Brodette
Ivan E. Ellis
Domenico Filippelli
Vincent Gorman
Eugene Guihan
Edward Hooks
Edwin G. Keith
Peter J. McHugh
Ernest R. McNamara
James Morgan
Timothy J. Mullen
Jeremiah O'Toole
Luigi Romano
Pasquale Talarico

SECOND WORLD WAR

George E. Bellehumeur
James R. Bermingham
John J. Bindon
Frank C. Brennan
Aldo J. Callarino
Albert Camarra
James W. Campbell
Alfred F. Cole
Arthur Cole
Rosario C. Colella
Louis DeMilia
Anthony English
SECOND WORLD WAR

James J. Donovan
Warren R. Donovan
Chester Dorant
Raymond G. Dougan
James P. Duffy
Edward A. Dunlap III
George H. Elms
John M. A. Falco
Patrick S. Feroleto
Daniel J. Gorham
Lawrence J. Jenkins Jr.
Carlton H. Joy
Andrew J. Kinsella
Minas L. Loisou
Richard M. Miller
Domenick A. Molinelli
Edward F. Moran
Thomas J. Mullins
Frank Novick
Michael Pappas
Pasquale G. Patuto
George R. Peacock
Harold D. Pohl
Vincent J. Ranucci
Lawrence N. Rice
Donald T. Robinson
Angelo M. Russo
Walter A. Swanson
John Thomas
Peter J. Webber
Wendall L. Stonehouse

Tuesday, February 18, 2014

Edwards, Bean, Tripp, Butman, Lowell, Massachusetts -- Tombstone Tuesday


 EDWARDS

Lucy C. Bean
Born Aug. 12, 1794
Died Oct. 29, 1864

Elizabeth H.
Daur of Jabez and
Elizabeth H. Edwards
Born. Feb. 22, 1844
Died July 4, 1869

Jabez Edwards
Born Feb. 14, 1815
Died Oct. 9, 1893

Elizabeth H. Edwards
Oct. 9, 188_
Aug. 29, 1902
 John H. Tripp
Died
Mar. 28, 1849
Aged 9 Mos.
-----
G. F. Tripp
Died
Sept. 30, 1869
Aged 34 Yrs.
 TRIPP
Josiah M. Butman
 May 10, 1835 -- Aug. 14, 1915

Elma M. Butman
May 7, 1842 -- Jan. 6, 1925

Saturday, February 15, 2014

Lee Harvey Oswald's Wife and my Uncle, a Connection

My aunt, uncle and mother
I've never written about any living members of my family, but when I found out that a story I heard many years ago is indeed true, I thought maybe just this once I could write something. My uncle is a retired doctor, and a former obstetrician. Every once in a while I google my name, and members of my family, who are quite scattered around the country, there is mention of one of the names, but there isn't anything that would cause me to break my promise to myself about not writing about them. But, I found something a few weeks ago, and am breaking that promise.

I'll share what I was told by somebody, who, I don't know. Either my mother, aunt, or even the doctor/uncle. He was Marina Oswald's doctor, she being the wife of Lee Harvey Oswald who shot President John F. Kennedy. I don't remember my reaction upon hearing this, nor do I remember when, maybe the 60s, 70s, or 80s...I just don't know. Over the years, I forgot about it and even wondered if it was a dream because I forgot so much.

During this time of google searching, my uncle's name came up several times in a document, Oswald, Marina Protective Custody of Sec. Service, Records of the John F. Kennedy Assassination Collection: Key Persons Files. I wasn't totally surprised but was glad there was proof that the old story was true. Once I found his name, I skimmed through the 80-page document and thought I'd just share a few lines from it. When Marina was protected by the Secret Service, everything was documented and may be read in the released document by the NARA seen HERE. My uncle's name is on the page dated January 10, 1964 (page 37 on the tab), and since many of you probably know the surname, you will see it (I'm trying to protect his name from the internet), or just look for the word doctor. Also, reading the historical document might be of interest to you. Perhaps my uncle was her doctor for many years, maybe her husband's? children's? or just Marina's for those months after the assassination, I'll never know. But, in a little over two months, she saw him at least twice. In addition to her hour-by-hour schedule during these months, Marina answers many questions regarding her husband, before November 22, 1963, most things I never knew about, a lot about his rifle.  https://www.archives.gov/research/jfk/finding-aids/jfk-key-persons

From the pdf document, I'll share the below:

Protection of the Oswald Family
"In the early afternoon of November 24, 1963, while at the Parkland Hospital, after the death of Lee Harvey Oswald, I received a telephone call from Headquarters stating that the President had issued orders that the entire Oswald family should be protected to prevent any harm befalling the mother, brother, widow, or children of Lee Harvey Oswald.

At the time the Oswald family was at the hospital retrieving the remains of Oswald and were discussing funeral arrangements, and receiving spiritual consolation from the chaplain at the hospital. They had been brought to the hospital by Special Agents Howard and Kunkel who previously had arranged to interview the Oswalds with the assistance of Mr. Peter Paul Gregory. I instructed SA Howard and Kunkel to accompany Oswald to safe destinations when their visit to the hospital had been completed and to continue their attempts to interview each of them. They indicated to me that they had made prior arrangements at a motel."

Feb. 7, 1964: the Protective Detail assigned to Mrs. Marina. Oswald was discontinued at the Willard Hotel.

Wikipedia article about Marina Oswald Porter.
Wikipedia article about Lee Harvey Oswald

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Concord, Massachusetts Memorial, World War I


In Memory of
These Concord Men
Who Gave Their Lives in the
World War
_______

Capt. Howard B. Jackson
1st. Lt. James J. Mansfield
1st. Lt. James D. Beame
1st. Lt. Percy A. Rideout
1st. Lt. Charles S. Spencer
2nd. Lt. Orville P. Johnson
2nd. Lt. Whipple H. Parker
Ensign Henry J. Lund
Sergt. James J. Lane
Sergt. J. Alvord Rose
Corp. Gordon M. Channell
Corp. Philip H. Toomey
Farrier Edward F. Donovan
Cook Sylvester F. Gaudet
Pvt. 1Cl. Angelo Leberace
Pvt. 1Cl. Gordon K. MacKenzie
Fireman 1Cl. Adolph C. Nelson
Pvt. Henry J. Bergeron
Pvt. Frank Bernier
Pvt. Hiram G. Garfield
Pvt. Clemente Napolitano
Pvt. Herbert J. Nealey
Pvt. Carl Nolan
Pvt. William J. White
Pvt. Frank E. Wright
_______

So Nigh is Grandeur to Our Dust
So Near is God to Man
When Duty Whispers Low Thou Must
The Youth Replies I Can
                                                                Emerson