Seeing Sights -- Old Houses of Newport, Rhode Island

 

In order to get a half decent picture, I had to crop away the power lines, cars and trash containers.

It's Nice to be Back, Connecticut

If you have ancestors in Connecticut, I hope you know about the Connecticut Society of Genealogists, Inc. (CSG). If not, you're in for a nice surprise. This was the first society I joined in 1990, and was a member for about 14 years, I dropped out for a period and then rejoined a few months ago. When I inquired about rejoining, I was happy to learn that my new membership number would be the same as my old one, it's like I never left. The packet I received was huge, boy it's nice to be back with them.

Their online site has great information, so good in fact, that I made a call to the office and received permission to share some of their information with you. They offer a lot to the members, but this post is about what they offer for free, extremely useful for those new to genealogy.

For example:

Under their first tab, Resources, click on Overview. This will bring you to Getting Started in Genealogy. A part of that section includes:
 Detailed Step-by-step Genealogy instructions

 Download free genealogy charts and forms  Join us for one of our upcoming genealogy events

Under the Resources tab is another nice section on Genealogy Basics. I receive quite a few queries about how do I begin. Now, I can point them to this site! Below is used with permission. Note: The "more detail" in red is only accessed by members.

What do you need to get started?
There are a few basic items you should have available as you begin your project. A few sheets of paper or a notebook, a few empty folders, and a pen or pencil. As your research continues, you may also find a tape recorder, camera, and computer to be useful tools, but they certainly are not requirements to get started. Better to get started and add those tools later.

STEP 1 - Start with Yourself
If you haven't already done so, you should download the free Pedigree Chart to make your note taking more organized. Start with yourself by recording your full name (including maiden name if a married female), as well as your date and place of birth. If married, record your date and place of marriage and the name of your spouse. Continue by stepping back one generation and list the same information for your father (called your paternal line) and mother (maternal line). It's also helpful to make a note of your parents siblings (your aunts and uncles). more detail

STEP 2 - Hunt for Clues
You'll quickly learn that this step is never-ending, but can be one of the most interesting components of your research. Over time, you'll recognize that clues are all around you, but you just need to learn to recognize them. An old letter may have a date and names, but the envelope (if it is still with the letter) may also carry a postmark, as well as a destination and return address which can be used to fix two people at specific places for a particular time period. Newspaper clippings, postcards, family bibles, school yearbooks, and old photographs are just some of the sources that may already be in your possession. more detail

STEP 3 - Interview Relatives
This is no time to be shy - seek out the senior members of your various family lines and initiate a dialog about your family history. Whether it's a phone call, a visit, a letter or email - try to establish a connection which can fill in gaps in your pedigree chart or verify some of what you already have found. Sharing certain items from your treasure hunt (step 2, above) can be a great way to get a discussion going. Studying an old photograph and asking who, when, where, and why can help yield valuable clues. Who is pictured in the photo, when and where was it taken, and what was the occasion for the photo. more detail

STEP 4 - Verify Your Findings
Through the first few steps described above, you will have collected information from a variety of sources. Individual memories, government documents, personal notes, and many other sources will provide a collection of names, dates, and places. Some of these sources will point in the same direction, but others will conflict with one another. In this stage of your research, you will set about to verify the accuracy of what you have found to this point. more detail

STEP 5 - Share Your Findings
Depending upon your goals, you may wish to publish your work for the benefit of distant cousins or simply to organize your findings for your immediate family. There are different points of view and no single correct course of action, but you will generally find that sharing at least some of your work will help connect you with someone sharing at least one line of your family. You can choose to share your research on a case-by-case basis, post files on the Internet, or publish a book or manuscript - the decision is entirely up to you. more detail

Tombstone Tuesday -- The Fletcher Family of Westford, MA

In Memory of

Ralph Andrew Fletcher

son of

Herbert Ellery and Carrie Hill Fletcher

May 10, 1866   January 26, 1956    January 22, 1866   November 9, 1933

His Children

John Herbert

Samuel Hill

Rebecca Ann

His Children

Cynthia

Ralph Andrew

Hasbrouck

Emerson Kennard

Fairview Cemetery

Westford, Middlesex Co., Massachusetts

I was very surprised to find this family was not listed in FindAGrave with all the other 107 Fletchers. How could anybody miss this enormous cube. This is a well-known name and granite company, which had a long history, until it closed recently.

http://www.fletchergranite.com/AboutFletcherGranite/History.asp

Did You Know This?

When a friend recently passed away, I read his obituary online before the newspaper was delivered. Imagine my surprise when I scrolled to the bottom of the page, and saw his surname, Ford, in a advertisement by Ancestry.com. It read, "Learn more about the Ford family on Ancestry.com." There is a nice map of the United States, and a breakdown of the states according to the 1920 census where the Ford family lived. Interesting. Are they tempting the descendants to begin genealogy at the time of a loved one's death?

If you have Ancestry, you've probably already seen the map, with the colored states and corresponding legend. For some reason, I couldn't copy to this site.

So, I guess, when I die, people can see where the Poole's lived in 1920 according to the census. I just realized that the search box below is "live" so go ahead and put in a name and try it out.

According to the 1920 census there were 27,001 families with the Ford surname in the United States.

During the Civil War the Ford name was found in 1,924 Confederate Records and 2,789 Union Records.

Find out more about the Ford surname.

Learn about your family name: 

MAP:

Sunday Sights -- Lowell, Massachusetts #3

Several photos of the Boot Cotton Mills, maintained by the National Park Service.

 Father John's Medicine Company (large bldg. on left.) where I worked for 10 years.

 Merrimack Street (above)

 Canals, trolleys and gatehouses

Boat and trolley tours by National Park Service.

See More Photos:
Part 1
Part 2

Surname Saturday -- Post of Connecticut

The Post surname entry is my 107th posting for Saturdays, that's two years straight. This family is another line from Connecticut. My direct lines are in green and if you would like additional information, please contact me.

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Generation No. 1

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1.	ABRAHAM POST (THOMAS POST1) was born ABT 18 MAY 1566 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died 22 JUL 1639 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England. He married ANN HURST 8 JUL 1596 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England. She died 11 APR 1626 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England.
	Children of ABRAHAM POST and ANN HURST were: 2   i. Margery POST was born ABT 9 MAR 1600 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England. + 3   ii. STEPHEN POST was born ABT 24 JUN 1604 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died 16 AUG 1659 in Oyster River Quarter, Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 4   iii. Mary POST was born ABT 17 JUL 1608 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England. She married Allen WENN 14 MAR 1632 in Bredgar, Kent, England. 5   iv. Ann POST was born ABT 14 SEP 1610 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died 14 SEP 1610 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England.

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Generation No. 2

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3.	STEPHEN POST (ABRAHAM POST2, THOMAS POST1) was born ABT 24 JUN 1604 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died 16 AUG 1659 in Oyster River Quarter, Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married ELINOR PANTON 17 OCT 1625 in Langley, Kent, England. She was born ABT 1605 in (Poss.) Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died 13 NOV 1670 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	Children of STEPHEN POST and ELINOR PANTON were: + 6   i. Katherine POST was born ABT 15 SEP 1627 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died BET 9 JAN 1694 AND 18 SEP 1694. 7   ii. John POST was born ABT 13 SEP 1629 in Otham, Kent, England, and died 10 FEB 1711 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Hester HYDE 31 MAR 1652 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of WILLIAM HYDE and HESTER TROTT. She was born in England, and died 13 NOV 1703 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut. 8   iii. Thomas POST was born ABT 1 NOV 1631 in Otham, Kent, England, and died 5 SEP 1701. He married Mary ANDREWS JAN 1657 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut. He married Rebecca BRUEN SEP 1663 in Norwich, New London Co., Connecticut, daughter of Obadiah BRUEN and Sarah. She died 15 APR 1721. 9   iv. Joseph POST was born ABT 9 AUG 1633 in Otham, Kent, England, and died 3 SEP 1633 in Otham, Kent, England. + 10   v. ABRAHAM POST was born ABT 1640 in Prob. Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

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Generation No. 3

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6.	Katherine POST (STEPHEN POST3, ABRAHAM POST2, THOMAS POST1) was born ABT 15 SEP 1627 in Hollingbourne, Kent, England, and died BET 9 JAN 1694 AND 18 SEP 1694. She married Alexander CHALKER 29 SEP 1649 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He died FEB 1673 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married John HILL 23 DEC 1673 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He died 8 JUN 1689.
	Child of Katherine POST and Alexander CHALKER was: + 11   i. Jane CHALKER was born 25 MAR 1662 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 26 MAR 1742 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

10.	ABRAHAM POST (STEPHEN POST3, ABRAHAM POST2, THOMAS POST1) was born ABT 1640 in Prob. Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married MARY JORDAN ABT 1663 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of JOHN JORDAN and ANN BISHOP. She was born ABT 1640, and died 23 MAR 1684 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She was buried in Saybrook Point Cemetery. He married Lydia BUCKLAND, daughter of William BUCKLAND and Mary BOSWORTH. She was born ABT 1637, and died BEF 3 MAR 1691.
	Children of ABRAHAM POST and MARY JORDAN were: 12   i. Stephen POST was born 3 DEC 1664 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 16 MAY 1752 in Hebron, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Hannah HOSMER 14 JUN 1692 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She was born 1670. 13   ii. Ann POST was born 4 MAY 1667 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died ABT 1690. 14   iii. Abraham POST was born 7 JUN 1669 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 31 JAN 1748 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth STEEVENS 7 APR 1692 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of THOMAS STEEVENS and MARY FLETCHER. She was born 14 JUL 1668 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 15 NOV 1738 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 15   iv. James POST was born 14 MAR 1671 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 20 JUN 1727 in Westbrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Sarah DOUGLAS 29 JAN 1700 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 16   v. Hester POST was born 14 DEC 1672 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 1 JAN 1673 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. + 17   vi. Daniel POST was born 28 NOV 1673 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 8 DEC 1736. 18   vii. Jordan POST was born 27 MAY 1676 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 20 JAN 1748 in Hebron, Tolland Co., Connecticut. He married Phebe LAY 17 NOV 1703 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 19   viii. Joseph POST was born 6 FEB 1678 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 5 DEC 1728 in Westbrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Elizabeth NETTLETON 20 NOV 1717 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of John NETTLETON and Martha HULL. She was born ABT 1680, and died AFT 8 MAY 1753. + 20   ix. MARY POST was born 24 FEB 1680 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 21   x. Elinor POST was born 10 FEB 1682 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 25 DEC 1740 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married Jonathan PARKER 10 FEB 1708 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

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Generation No. 4

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11.	Jane CHALKER (Katherine POST4, STEPHEN POST3, ABRAHAM POST2, THOMAS POST1) was born 25 MAR 1662 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 26 MAR 1742 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married Daniel KELSEY BEF 1693, son of WILLIAM KELSEY and BETHIA HOPKINS. He was born 6 JUL 1650 in Hartford, Hartford Co., Connecticut, and died 5 JUN 1727 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	Children of Jane CHALKER and Daniel KELSEY were: 22   i. Katherine KELSEY was born 5 JUN 1693 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died ABT OCT 1751. She married John BUSHNELL18 JUN 1724. He died ABT JAN 1738. 23   ii. Sarah KELSEY was born 10 JAN 1696 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 24   iii. Jane KELSEY was born 7 MAY 1699 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died FEB 1762. She married Benjamin CARTER 18 JAN 1728 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, son of Robert CARTER. He was born ABT 1703, and died AUG 1759 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. + 25   iv. Samuel KELSEY was born 14 JAN 1702 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 12 AUG 1787. + 26   v. Stephen KELSEY was born 1 MAY 1697 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died BET 1732 AND 1733.

17.	Daniel POST (ABRAHAM POST4, STEPHEN POST3, ABRAHAM POST2, THOMAS POST1) was born 28 NOV 1673 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died AFT 8 DEC 1736. He married Mary RUTTY 29 AUG 1699 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of Edward RUTTY and Rebecca STEEVENS. She was born 16 FEB 1679 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died BEF 31 DEC 1754 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.
	Children of Daniel POST and Mary RUTTY were: 27   i. Daniel POST was born 26 FEB 1701 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Sarah STEEVENS 28 JAN 1725 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 28   ii. Benjamin POST was born 3 JAN 1704 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Mary COLT 2 DEC 1734. 29   iii. Samuel POST was born 7 JUN 1708 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 30   iv. Isaac POST was born 19 JUN 1713 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 10 MAR 1791 in Westbrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Rebecca. 31   v. Cornelius POST was born 22 SEP 1717 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Sarah KELSEY 12 JAN 1744 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, daughter of William KELSEY and Sarah WILCOXSON. She was born 16 DEC 1721 in Killingworth, Middlesex Co., Connecticut.

20.	MARY POST (ABRAHAM POST4, STEPHEN POST3, ABRAHAM POST2, THOMAS POST1) was born 24 FEB 1680 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married EDWARD BULL 16 NOV 1704 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, son of JOHN BULL and SARAH JORDAN. He was born 12 SEP 1682 in Dunington, Stow, Gloucester, England, and died 30 AUG 1717 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He was buried in Cypress Cemetery, Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. She married Benjamin PRATT 8 MAY 1719.
	Children of MARY POST and EDWARD BULL were: 32   i. John BULL was born 3 APR 1706 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. + 33   ii. Mary BULL was born 22 APR 1709 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 20 SEP 1775 in Westbrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 34   iii. Sarah BULL was born 25 MAR 1711 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 25 JAN 1716 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. + 35   iv. ANNE \ HANNAH BULL was born 11 MAR 1713 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 5 MAR 1790 in Westbrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 36   v. Hannah BULL was born 11 MAR 1713 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. 37   vi. Edward BULL was born 16 AUG 1717 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, and died 1 JUL 1782 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. He married Temperance CLARK 24 MAY 1739 in Saybrook, Middlesex Co., Connecticut. Children of MARY POST and Benjamin PRATT are: 38   i. Prudence PRATT was born 31 JAN 1720. 39   ii. Zephaniah PRATT was born 13 JAN 1724.

Aspinock Historical Society -- Putnam, Connecticut

Aspinock Historical Society, Putnam, Connecticut

Over the past two years, I've taken a lot of Historical Society photos. Below, is a running list of all the societies with appropriate links. (The list will be applied to each new Historical Society photo I post.)

CONNECTICUT

Granby, Connecticut

Simsbury, Connecticut

Wethersfield, Connecticut

Windsor, Connecticut

MAINE

Boothbay, Maine

Brunswick, Maine

Wells and Ogunquit, Maine

MASSACHUSETTS

Acton, Massachusetts

Andover, Massachusetts

Billerica, Massachusetts

Bolton, Massachusetts

W. Boylston, Massachusetts

Carlisle, Massachusetts

Chelmsford, Massachusetts

Cohasset, Massachusetts

Dracut, Massachusetts

Groton, Massachusetts

Harvard, Massachusetts

Lexington, Massachusetts

Nahant, Massachusetts

No. Andover, Massachusetts

Southwick, Massachusetts

Townsend, Massachusetts

Westford, Massachusetts

NEW HAMPSHIRE

Ashland, New Hampshire
Cheshire, New Hampshire
Exeter, New Hampshire
Fitzwilliam, New Hampshire

Hampton, New Hampshire
Londonderry, New Hampshire
Nashua, New Hampshire
New Castle, New Hampshire
New Ipswich, New Hampshire
Rindge, New Hampshire

RHODE ISLAND
Newport, Rhode Island
Providence, Rhode Island

VERMONT

Whitingham, Vermont

CANADA
Quebec
Missisquoi County Historical Society

Boston Public Library has a Microtext Department

The Boston Public Library at Copley Square has a new large Microtext Department. And, I've recently rediscovered it. If you plan on using it to look up Massachusetts Newspapers on microfilm, you should go to their website first before leaving home, at http://www.bpl.org/research/microtext/news.htm from this page scroll to Massachusetts Newspapers. A pdf of the towns, name of paper, years available and call number appears (72 pages long).

An example for Salem, Massachusetts:

S18 American Gazette, or Constitutional Journal  1776
      Salem Chronicle, and Essex Advertiser  1786
S23 Le Courrier de Salem 1908-1921
C1183 Essex Gazette (with New England Chronicle) 1768-1775
S238 Friend  1807
S2733 Salem Daily Gazette 1892-1908
  aka Salem Gazette 1875-1889
1861-1873
1790-1858
Salem Mercury 1788-1789

I had already prepared a chart with the names, dates of death, and locations of the people I wanted to look up obituaries for. See * for my example.

Once at the library, and with the necessary library card, I filled out the form, and patiently waited. You know the usual questions, name, call number, your library card number, name and date of newspaper, etc.

Request form
Fill out in duplicate

About two years ago, the Library moved their microfilm department from the lovely office on the first floor to the humongous one on the second floor. And, I don't like it. The photos below will help illustrate why.

• There is way too much light, light from the windows and light from the ceiling. When I put the reel on, I couldn't even read it, not a single page was readable.
• The area isn't just for genealogists, but for the entire public, so there were a couple of kids at the table I was at, entertaining me with their noise.
• Naturally, some of the machines didn't work, I know that happens everywhere. The two men in the last photo were using the printer machines to look at their reels, but even with those, there is too much light (see man's machine on the right). I chatted with both, and they complained right along with me.
• I discussed the change in location with the librarian, and she was very sad about it, didn't like their new location at all.

This is now the cafe on the first floor, used to be called the Map Room where the microfilm readers were. Everybody loves this room.

The microfilm readers are on the 2nd floor. The above shot was taken when blogger, Diane MacLean Boumenot and I met to chat. At that time, I asked the reference librarian just a few questions as I knew I would be back.

My second visit, and the two men who were also upset.

* Form I prepared for my research.

Town and Name of Person

Date of Newspaper

Remarks

Brookline
Zephania Swift	23 Oct. 1901
Frances G. Poole	19 Jan. 1904
Canton
William F. Poole	19 Sept. 1926
Danvers
Mary Poole	21 May 1932
Ward Poole	22 May 1864
Duxbury
Elizabeth Christopher	14 April 2007
Salem
Stephen Daniels	17 Mar. 1805
	17 Jan. 1832
	6 Aug. 1872
Ward Poole	Nov. 14, 1828