Best Cemetery Ever -- I Hope your Ancestors were Buried Here at Harmony Grove Cemetery, Salem, MA

The first cemetery I visited was 10 years after I began doing research. On a cold but sunny January day, in 1999 I discovered my 2nd great-grandfather was buried in Salem, Massachusetts (after reading his Illinois obituary). When I called the cemetery, I reached the nicest receptionist who confirmed that indeed my ancestor was buried there, along with many other Pooles. Within 45 minutes I was there!

Harmony Grove isn't a small cemetery, it is huge and on a large hill. My ancestor and immediate family were buried feet from the main road, so I was fortunate to locate them quickly, with a help of a map. With too many new names for me to digest, I returned a week later, and was given two detailed packets of information (one shown below), in addition, the receptionist went through their books and wrote out all the information for each individual! Information like their parents, age, cause of death, spouse, and so forth. Must have taken hours to do it. On my 3rd trip, I brought her a box of fudge, and wrote a letter of recommendation for her file.

After all these years, I still remember how helpful she was, and that was the only time I brought a gift or wrote a letter. A few months ago I was thinking about her and called the cemetery, and the same wonderful Administrative Assistant answered. We chatted like old friends...she remembered me, the name, the fudge, and how excited I was. When I found out she was retiring in two years, I said I would be back, and she suggested lunch. What a nice gesture. 


Below are the excellent records for my Poole family as supplied by Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. The earliest was in 1796, a transfer from another cemetery.

Concord Free Library, Concord, Massachusetts -- Archives, History and Genealogy Room

Concord Free Library

Concord, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Photos of the Archives and History / Genealogy room

Main reading room.

Princess Diana, John Strong and Me

People are still interested in Princess Diana, and some people want to know something about her ancestry, especially those who are curious about her American line. I receive quite a number of queries about her, maybe because I've written several posts about her. The most popular one is See Here. I have known of our shared ancestor for over 12 years, thanks to Gary Boyd Roberts who told me, and I share it below. Diana and I are 9th cousins to Thomas Strong (bolded).

For additional photo of Diana, please see: http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2009/11/prince-and-princess-on-veterans-day_12.html

Princess Diana's line

1 JOHN STRONG b: ABT 1610 d: 14 APR 1699

  + ABIGAIL FORD b: ABT 8 OCT 1619 d: 6 JUL 1688

2 THOMAS STRONG b: 1636 d: 3 OCT 1689

  + MARY HEWETT b: ABT 2 AUG 1640 d: 20 FEB 1670 (THIS IS MY LINE.)

  + Rachel HOLTON b: 1645

3 Joseph STRONG b: 2 DEC 1672 d: 23 DEC 1763

  + Sarah ALLEN

4 Joseph STRONG b: 25 JUL 1701

  + Elizabeth STRONG

5 Benajah STRONG b: 13 OCT 1740 d: 25 NOV 1809

  + Lucy BISHOP

6 Joseph STRONG b: 10 MAR 1770 d: 24 APR 1812

  + Rebecca YOUNG b: 5 MAY 1779

7 Eleanor STRONG b: 1802 d: 9 JUL 1863

  + John WOOD b: 29 JUL 1785 d: 29 JAN 1848

8 Ellen WOOD b: 18 JUL 1831 d: 22 FEB 1877 (died New York city)

  + Franklin H. WORK b: 10 FEB 1819 d: 16 MAR 1911 (died new york city)

9 Frances Eleanor WORK b: 27 OCT 1857 d: 26 JAN 1947 (born and died new york city)

   + James Boothby Burke ROCHE b: 28 JUL 1851 (born england) Note: Others below born Great britain.

10 Edmund Maurice Burke ROCHE b: 15 MAY 1885 d: 8 JUL 1955

   + Ruth Sylvia GILL b: 2 OCT 1908

11 Frances Ruth Burke ROCHE b: 20 JAN 1936

   + John Edward SPENCER  b: 24 JAN 1924

12 Diana Frances SPENCER b: 1 JUL 1961  d: AUG 30, 1997

  + Charles Philip Arthur George WINDSOR b: 14 NOV 1948

--------------------

My Line

1 JOHN STRONG b: ABT 1610 d: 14 APR 1699

  + ABIGAIL FORD b: ABT 8 OCT 1619 d: 6 JUL 1688

2 THOMAS STRONG b: 1636 d: 3 OCT 1689

  + MARY HEWETT b: ABT 2 AUG 1640 d: 20 FEB 1670

3 THOMAS STRONG b: 16 NOV 1661 d: 30 SEP 1735

  + MARY STEBBINS b: 10 SEP 1666 d: 8 AUG 1735

4 ELIAKIM STRONG b: 26 SEP 1688 d: 24 JAN 1745

  + MEHITABLE KING b: 13 MAR 1690

5 ELIAKIM STRONG b: 7 MAR 1720 d: 14 MAY 1800

  + HANNAH SEWARD b: 21 FEB 1730 d: 1815

6 BEULAH STRONG b: 12 MAR 1757 d: AFT 1836

  + ASHER WRIGHT b: 9 MAY 1755 d: 12 MAR 1833

7 JESSE WRIGHT b: 7 FEB 1786 d: 7 FEB 1878

  + NANCY HULL b: 1790 d: 7 FEB 1878

8 JULIA LOUISA WRIGHT b: 3 JUN 1807 d: 30 JUL 1886

  + ALVIN DAVIS b: 16 DEC 1807 d: 14 DEC 1860

9 SOPHIA POLLY DAVIS b: 11 JAN 1831 d: 3 MAY 1928

  + GEORGE FRANKLIN KILBORN b: 30 OCT 1832 d: 16 DEC 1910

10 MIRA JULIA KILBORN b: 7 OCT 1861 d: 1 SEP 1929

   + EVERETT RUSSELL BISHOP b: 7 FEB 1860 d: 20 AUG 1926

11 EARLE KILBORN BISHOP b: 22 DEC 1891 d: 23 AUG 1981

   + SARAH DUMONT TENEYCK b: 30 JUN 1890 d: 20 APR 1953

12 JANE T. BISHOP b: 27 SEP 1919 d: 16 APR 1990

   + JOHN ADAMS POOLE b: 12 DEC 1919 d: 16 MAR 1989

13 BARBARA POOLE

Sources:

Roberts, Gary Boyd, American Ancestors and Cousins of the Princess of Wales, 
(Baltimore : Genealogical Pub. Co., 1984). Pg. 25.

Roberts, Gary Boyd, The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants to the American 
Colonies, (Baltimore, Maryland : Genealogical Pub. Co., c1993). Pg. 469.

First row: Prince William, George, The Duchess of Cambridge, daughter Charlotte and Queen Elizabeth.

Second row: Michael Middleton, Pippa Middleton, James Middleton, Carole Middleton, Prince Charles, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duke of Edinburg.

Parker Memorial Library / Dracut Public Library Dracut, Massachusetts -- History and Genealogy Section

Parker Memorial Library

28 Arlington St, Dracut, MA 01826

Dracut, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

Made a Second trip to this library 10 years later. working on the blog now.

The Local History and Genealogy section of the Parker Memorial Library in Dracut, Massachusetts. Cabinets contain microfilm of newspapers.

Library was remodeled and enlarged around 2005.

This room used to house the local history and genealogy, but not any more.

Genealogy & Local History

• Services
• Genealogy & Local History

Online Resources

	American Ancestors In-Library Only: http://www.americanancestors.org/search/advanced-search/ The New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is the oldest genealogical society in the country. For over 150 years, NEHGS has helped new and experienced researchers trace their heritage in New England and around the world. Their databases contain a wide assortment of genealogical information, some overlapping what Ancestry Library provides.
	Ancestry Library Edition Contains the U.S. Census Collection; U.S. Data Collection; U.K. and Ireland Collection; Birth, Marriage, and Death Records; Immigration Collection; Military Collection; Family and Local History Records; Court, Land, and Probate Records; and more. Access in the Dracut Library http://ancestrylibrary.proquest.com
	FamilySearch Historical Records http://familysearch.org The Parker Memorial Library is an Affiliate Library of the Family History Center of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. This affiliate status allows patrons to view restricted online records when in the Library. Start your search at the FamilySearch catalog.
	Heritage Quest Online – At home with your Dracut library card. http://www.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/library/do/login/barcode?aid=13380 A comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources—rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research guides, interactive census maps, and more.
	Heritage Quest Online – In-library only. https://libraries.state.ma.us/login?db=pq_heritage&locid=mlin_n_moses A comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources—rich in unique primary sources, local and family histories, convenient research guides, interactive census maps, and more.

Circulating Genealogy Books

Reference Area, 2nd Floor
These books are shelved in the Reference Area in the right front corner next to the Town Records. They include genealogy guides and circulating copies of some items in the Local History Collection.