Noyes LADD's wife was Harriet Z. WILLIAMS. She was the mother of the young boys who drowned in the Empire Steamship Disaster. She is buried in IL and I hope that someday my new friends who have been corresponding with me about this disaster will be able to find her grave and her son Noyes LADD, Jr. (and her unmarried sister too). Then, I can bring these gravestones together in my blog.
I have had a lot of interest in my blog posts about this family and it is great to be able to share data and photos with those who found my blog by doing a search for their ancestors.
I am going to focus on Harriet's family that she left behind for a few blog posts. This gravestone posted here is compliments of my cousin Fred Burdick who took several photos of people who are related to the family of Thomas Stanton for the Stanton Society.
Wheeler's History of Stonington, states that this gravestone marks the resting place of Harriet Z. Williams Ladd's parents. Capt' Elias WILLIAMS (#279 p. 672, 675) and his wife Thankful Stanton. Notice that her name, based on naming women with the names of virtues, is spelled with two LL's on this gravestone. [It is not spelled that way in the genealogies.]
Elias was born 3 Sept 1773 and died 31 Jan 1809. I think he must have been a sea captain because he died in North Carolina. He was only 34 years old at the time of his death leaving his wife a widow with young children (Harriet was 11 years old). This makes it all the more ironic that someday Harriet would marry a man who died young, leaving her with children to raise.
Thankfull was an only child and lived to be 87 years old, dying 8 Sept 1861. This means that she was alive in 1849 when her grandsons drowned. She may have been a witness to the burial of these boys at Elm Grove Cemetery.
Note: update! Please read the comments left by one of my readers. Capt Elias Williams, was a master of the schooner "Fair Trader" and sailed regularly into the Caribbean and along the Carolinas. My reader spent a lot of time researching this master mariner for me. There are sources for you to follow to learn more about this interesting couple.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Monday, February 23, 2009
Franklin Augustus Denison
Un-answered questions about possible family members are often fascinating, frustrating and mysterious! It is always great to be presented with a puzzle and help another person try to solve it.
I had a question from a researcher about a man named Franklin Augustus Dension. As you can see from this photo, Frank was black. This means that to learn more about this person whose surname is Denison, I must go beyond the information in the Denison genealogy.
Frank was a member of the Eighth Illinois United States Volunteers, a black regiment, who served our country in the Spanish-American War. For this fellow researcher, I located his place of burial from Find-A-Grave and information about his service from a book that has no known copyright at a Web site called Internet Archive.
It is not completely known how this very interesting man fits into the huge family of Denisons that originate from Cap't George Dension who came to America from England in the early 1630s to Massachusetts and to Connecticut.
Proving that this man is a descendant is hard to do since we are not sure who his parents were! Is he an illegitimate child of a Denison who lived in Texas and a black slave? We may never know but it is great to be able to read about him and to see what a handsome, dashing, accomplished person he was.
I had a question from a researcher about a man named Franklin Augustus Dension. As you can see from this photo, Frank was black. This means that to learn more about this person whose surname is Denison, I must go beyond the information in the Denison genealogy.
Frank was a member of the Eighth Illinois United States Volunteers, a black regiment, who served our country in the Spanish-American War. For this fellow researcher, I located his place of burial from Find-A-Grave and information about his service from a book that has no known copyright at a Web site called Internet Archive.
It is not completely known how this very interesting man fits into the huge family of Denisons that originate from Cap't George Dension who came to America from England in the early 1630s to Massachusetts and to Connecticut.
Proving that this man is a descendant is hard to do since we are not sure who his parents were! Is he an illegitimate child of a Denison who lived in Texas and a black slave? We may never know but it is great to be able to read about him and to see what a handsome, dashing, accomplished person he was.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
500th Blog Post
I didn't think I would reach 500 postings so soon but today is the day.
This "scrapbook page" was created with Picnik (the premium version) and is in memory of my maternal grandparents, Evans Stewart and Hannah Josephine Barber.
This is one of those everyday moments frozen in time taken in front of my parent's house in Rhode Island. Grandpa's holding me up and my mother is taking the photo. Grandma is probably saying, "Evans, don't drop the child!"
That's all I remember but I am surprised that I do remember this day.
As I prepare to be a grandparent, I realize I have big shoes to fill.
This "scrapbook page" was created with Picnik (the premium version) and is in memory of my maternal grandparents, Evans Stewart and Hannah Josephine Barber.
This is one of those everyday moments frozen in time taken in front of my parent's house in Rhode Island. Grandpa's holding me up and my mother is taking the photo. Grandma is probably saying, "Evans, don't drop the child!"
That's all I remember but I am surprised that I do remember this day.
As I prepare to be a grandparent, I realize I have big shoes to fill.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
Steamship Empire of Troy
Blog Post 6 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
The disaster of the Steamboat or Steamship Empire of Troy [New York] happened in New York when the Schooner Noah Brown, which was carrying lumber collided with the Empire making a gash causing the water to rush in quite quickly. This accident happened at 10 or 10:30 PM when the passengers were sleeping. There were about 260 passengers and 23 of them died.
Captain Tupper of the Empire was cleared of any responsibility as it was felt that the Noah Brown was at fault for being overloaded with lumber. It was dark and ships were not well lit.
The four boys in the Ladd family all died and the mother, Harriet Z. Williams Ladd was hurt when they rescued her from the sinking ship and never fully recovered from this awful experience. One account said they were compensated about $1,000 which may have been used to bury the boys and erect the monument.
One article, titled, "Another Body Found", stated, ..."The body of a boy about 11 years old named Elias W. Ladd, the youngest of the four brothers lost by this terrible disaster has been recovered." He was stuck under a sofa in the cabin.
The 1850 census of Christian County shows the family as they settled there with Noyes Ladd, Jr. and his wife Phebe Williams and their children, the mother Harriet and her unmarried sister Elizabeth and Noyes Ladd sister Ann living there.
With life beginning over again in Illinois, this family from Connecticut, bought land and set to farming. Life does go on but it is never easy.
The disaster of the Steamboat or Steamship Empire of Troy [New York] happened in New York when the Schooner Noah Brown, which was carrying lumber collided with the Empire making a gash causing the water to rush in quite quickly. This accident happened at 10 or 10:30 PM when the passengers were sleeping. There were about 260 passengers and 23 of them died.
Captain Tupper of the Empire was cleared of any responsibility as it was felt that the Noah Brown was at fault for being overloaded with lumber. It was dark and ships were not well lit.
The four boys in the Ladd family all died and the mother, Harriet Z. Williams Ladd was hurt when they rescued her from the sinking ship and never fully recovered from this awful experience. One account said they were compensated about $1,000 which may have been used to bury the boys and erect the monument.
One article, titled, "Another Body Found", stated, ..."The body of a boy about 11 years old named Elias W. Ladd, the youngest of the four brothers lost by this terrible disaster has been recovered." He was stuck under a sofa in the cabin.
The 1850 census of Christian County shows the family as they settled there with Noyes Ladd, Jr. and his wife Phebe Williams and their children, the mother Harriet and her unmarried sister Elizabeth and Noyes Ladd sister Ann living there.
With life beginning over again in Illinois, this family from Connecticut, bought land and set to farming. Life does go on but it is never easy.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Deplorable Calamity!
Blog Post 5 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
Newspapers from all over New England [NEHGS Historical Newspapers] carried stories of the collision of the Steamboat Empire with the schooner Noah Brown with headlines like:
Steamboat Disaster on the Hudson [The Farmer's Cabinet, Amherst NH, 24 May 1849]
Deplorable Calamity. [The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA 24 May 1849 from the Albany Argus, May 19th]
Shocking Steamboat Disaster! Twenty or Thirty Lives Lost! [Semi-Weekly Eagle, 21 May 1849, Brattleboro, VT
The Steamer Empire- Another Body Found. [The Hudson River Chronicle, 19 May 1849]
I have searched the Web and not found a drawing of the Steamship Empire. I have searched the archives of the New York Times and have not found the headline of this horrible disaster. I did find a reference to it at a later day. If anyone can help me then, please let me know.
I will blog about what I found from these newspapers next...
Newspapers from all over New England [NEHGS Historical Newspapers] carried stories of the collision of the Steamboat Empire with the schooner Noah Brown with headlines like:
Steamboat Disaster on the Hudson [The Farmer's Cabinet, Amherst NH, 24 May 1849]
Deplorable Calamity. [The Pittsfield Sun, Pittsfield, MA 24 May 1849 from the Albany Argus, May 19th]
Shocking Steamboat Disaster! Twenty or Thirty Lives Lost! [Semi-Weekly Eagle, 21 May 1849, Brattleboro, VT
The Steamer Empire- Another Body Found. [The Hudson River Chronicle, 19 May 1849]
I have searched the Web and not found a drawing of the Steamship Empire. I have searched the archives of the New York Times and have not found the headline of this horrible disaster. I did find a reference to it at a later day. If anyone can help me then, please let me know.
I will blog about what I found from these newspapers next...
Monday, February 16, 2009
William Stanton LADD
Blog Post 4 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
William Stanton LADD died at age 15 and is buried near to his baby sister, his brothers who drowned and his father.
William was born in 1827 in Franklin, New London, CT and died 12 May 1843 in Franklin, New London, CT but he is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, New London, CT
William's middle name reflects some of this family's connection to other Stonington families.
William Stanton LADD died at age 15 and is buried near to his baby sister, his brothers who drowned and his father.
William was born in 1827 in Franklin, New London, CT and died 12 May 1843 in Franklin, New London, CT but he is buried in Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, New London, CT
William's middle name reflects some of this family's connection to other Stonington families.
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Zurviah LADD
Blog Post 3 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
Little Zurviah Williams LADD, baby daughter of Noyes LADD, Sr. and his wife Harriet Zurviah WILLIAMS was the first child born to this couple on 28 Oct 1823 in Franklin, New London, CT.
Her birth is recorded in the Barbour Index for the town of Franklin. [1:92]. Her gravestone, with its lovely script lettering lists only her death month and year as Aug 1826.
She is buried behind her father Noyes LADD, Sr. and her brother William Stanton LADD and the monument for her drowned brothers.
Little Zurviah Williams LADD, baby daughter of Noyes LADD, Sr. and his wife Harriet Zurviah WILLIAMS was the first child born to this couple on 28 Oct 1823 in Franklin, New London, CT.
Her birth is recorded in the Barbour Index for the town of Franklin. [1:92]. Her gravestone, with its lovely script lettering lists only her death month and year as Aug 1826.
She is buried behind her father Noyes LADD, Sr. and her brother William Stanton LADD and the monument for her drowned brothers.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Drowned on the steamship Empire
Blog Post 2 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family
This large monument is the resting place of the four sons of Noyes LADD. Sr. [desceased] and his wife Harriet Z. WILLIAMS who drowned while aboard the steamboat Empire on the night of 17 May 1849.
Cyrus S. [16Y/6M/14D], Darius [14Y8M/3D], Nathan S. [12y/6M] and Elias W. [10Y/8M/20D] LADD "who were drowned on board the Steam boat Empire which was sunk by collision with a Schooner on the Hudson River opposite Newburgh May 17 AD 1849. Their bodies were taken from the cabin and rest here beneath this mound."
Stone further reads:
"Mysterious providence! It was an eve of loveliest spring vesper looked fourth [sic] and smiled. And all the stars, gazed on earth intense. Such was the night so lovely, still serene. When with a mighty crash; the steamer sunk, And their spirits fled away to their God."
This large monument is the resting place of the four sons of Noyes LADD. Sr. [desceased] and his wife Harriet Z. WILLIAMS who drowned while aboard the steamboat Empire on the night of 17 May 1849.
Cyrus S. [16Y/6M/14D], Darius [14Y8M/3D], Nathan S. [12y/6M] and Elias W. [10Y/8M/20D] LADD "who were drowned on board the Steam boat Empire which was sunk by collision with a Schooner on the Hudson River opposite Newburgh May 17 AD 1849. Their bodies were taken from the cabin and rest here beneath this mound."
Stone further reads:
"Mysterious providence! It was an eve of loveliest spring vesper looked fourth [sic] and smiled. And all the stars, gazed on earth intense. Such was the night so lovely, still serene. When with a mighty crash; the steamer sunk, And their spirits fled away to their God."
Friday, February 13, 2009
Noyes LADD
Blog Post 1 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family [first posted 8/14/08]
Because of my posting entitled, "The Dangers of Historical Books", Randy Seaver blogged about it as one of his top reads of the week! It caught the eye of a researcher in Illinois who emailed me about there being a town in his county named Stonington after the town of my ancestors who moved there from Stonington, CT. (Wow!)
Stonington and North Stonington CT folk moved around a lot, this we know, as many moved to New York.
Here's the thing..., as the obsessive detective Monk would say, it seems there was a man named Noyes Ladd who lived in that county after being born in CT. I was stunned!
Just two weeks ago I took photos of gravestones in a Stanton plot of the family of a Noyes Ladd. His wife was Harriet, whose mother was Thankful6 Stanton (William5, Joseph4, Joseph3, John2, Thomas1). This is why this family named Ladd is in the same plot with Stantons.
I found references to this family (besides the Stanton genealogy) in the Barbour Index of Vital records and I found a person's tree at Ancestry. That tree tells me that this man had a son named Noyes who lived in that very county in IL and is buried there. What an amazing coincidence?
Thanks, Randy.
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Because of my posting entitled, "The Dangers of Historical Books", Randy Seaver blogged about it as one of his top reads of the week! It caught the eye of a researcher in Illinois who emailed me about there being a town in his county named Stonington after the town of my ancestors who moved there from Stonington, CT. (Wow!)
Stonington and North Stonington CT folk moved around a lot, this we know, as many moved to New York.
Here's the thing..., as the obsessive detective Monk would say, it seems there was a man named Noyes Ladd who lived in that county after being born in CT. I was stunned!
Just two weeks ago I took photos of gravestones in a Stanton plot of the family of a Noyes Ladd. His wife was Harriet, whose mother was Thankful6 Stanton (William5, Joseph4, Joseph3, John2, Thomas1). This is why this family named Ladd is in the same plot with Stantons.
I found references to this family (besides the Stanton genealogy) in the Barbour Index of Vital records and I found a person's tree at Ancestry. That tree tells me that this man had a son named Noyes who lived in that very county in IL and is buried there. What an amazing coincidence?
Thanks, Randy.
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Monday, February 09, 2009
Elm Grove Cemetery Association
It pays to keep looking to see if the larger cemeteries where your ancestors are buried have created Web sites even if you go there frequently. Important historical information about the location itself, the street address (for successful GPS location) and the telephone number are important essentials. If you are really lucky, there will be photographs of the cemetery, perhaps in a season where you have not visited so you can see the snow or the early spring.
This is the beautiful Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT
This is the beautiful Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Jane SMITH
Graveyard Rabbits Carnival Entry for March, 2009
"It's not unusual to be loved by anyone..." [Tom Jones] {YouTube}
Not a plain Jane, that's for sure and I'm sure that Jane was quite the lady but she might have been shocked by Tom Jones!
Jane SMITH lived to be 98 years old and while that is not that unusual [especially in my family], it is an unusual lesson in knowing just how many descendants you could have if you lived to be nearly 100 in times long ago! No wonder, genealogists fingers are tired typing in family history data!
I am entranced by this gravestone as it is a great lesson in genealogy math! The fact that Jane's maiden name was SMITH, which I read somewhere is the most common surname in America, we know exactly who her ancestors were, so that may be unusual.
Another unusual thing is the fact that Jane and her husband George were both Denison descendants.
Jane4 Smith (Nathan3, Nehemiah2, Nehemiah1) was born 13 Jan 1730/31 in Groton, CT, one of nine children born to Nathan SMITH and his wife Mary4 DENISON (Dea. Daniel3, John3 Borodell, Capt. George1). She married George DENISON (Cap't George3, William2, Capt. George1) on 23 Feb 1747/48. He was born 3 July 1725 in Stonington, CT.
George and Jane were the parents of eleven children (one set of twins). So, you can see where 350 descendants would be possible. George died 19 Jun 1808 and Jane died 11 May 1829. It was not unusual for the men to died first, leaving a widow, just as it is today.
Jane and her husband are buried in the Denison Burying Ground in Mystic, CT on the Cove nearby to Elm Grove Cemetery, a beautiful, gigantic, garden cemetery and Mystic Seaport. The Denison Homestead is not far away.
"To add to their happiness was her most ardent wish..."
"It's not unusual to be loved by anyone..." [Tom Jones] {YouTube}
Not a plain Jane, that's for sure and I'm sure that Jane was quite the lady but she might have been shocked by Tom Jones!
Jane SMITH lived to be 98 years old and while that is not that unusual [especially in my family], it is an unusual lesson in knowing just how many descendants you could have if you lived to be nearly 100 in times long ago! No wonder, genealogists fingers are tired typing in family history data!
I am entranced by this gravestone as it is a great lesson in genealogy math! The fact that Jane's maiden name was SMITH, which I read somewhere is the most common surname in America, we know exactly who her ancestors were, so that may be unusual.
Another unusual thing is the fact that Jane and her husband George were both Denison descendants.
Jane4 Smith (Nathan3, Nehemiah2, Nehemiah1) was born 13 Jan 1730/31 in Groton, CT, one of nine children born to Nathan SMITH and his wife Mary4 DENISON (Dea. Daniel3, John3 Borodell, Capt. George1). She married George DENISON (Cap't George3, William2, Capt. George1) on 23 Feb 1747/48. He was born 3 July 1725 in Stonington, CT.
George and Jane were the parents of eleven children (one set of twins). So, you can see where 350 descendants would be possible. George died 19 Jun 1808 and Jane died 11 May 1829. It was not unusual for the men to died first, leaving a widow, just as it is today.
Jane and her husband are buried in the Denison Burying Ground in Mystic, CT on the Cove nearby to Elm Grove Cemetery, a beautiful, gigantic, garden cemetery and Mystic Seaport. The Denison Homestead is not far away.
"To add to their happiness was her most ardent wish..."
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Lizzie's Dress
10th ed. Smile for the Camera "Costume"
Lizzie Schofield (Elizabeth Lyon Schofield) was my 2nd great grand aunt. Her brother Joseph was one of my 2nd great grandfathers. This photo of her in this dress comes to me from the kindness of Joe Bott at DeadFred.com with the photo of her brother Joseph and probably was taken at the Schofield Photography Studio in Westerly, RI. which was owned by family members. [Blog Post of Digital Story]
Elizabeth's ancestors came from England and opened the first woolen textile mill in America. [Blog Post: Wild and Wooley] I expect she was fond of dresses.
I pulled out Maureen Taylor's book, More Dating Old Photographs 1840-1929, to see if I could inexpertly (that's guess) figure out if this dress was of Civil War era or a bit later. She is wearing hoops and a cameo pin. The sleeves are quite different and the trim seems like velvet so it looks about this period. Lizzie is not smiling. She displays the same dark circles under her eyes as her brother and her brother's daughter my great-grandmother Nellie.
Lizzie was the wife of Charles L. Mann and her gravestone is on my list to locate next spring. She is buried with her husband and her son. When I find these gravestones, I plan to blog more about them as I found out quite a lot in just a few hours.
For now, Elizabeth is just a lovely example of family photos and as there are no descendants to remember her, she's mine to keep. I am glad I don't have to wear hoops, aren't you?
Lizzie Schofield (Elizabeth Lyon Schofield) was my 2nd great grand aunt. Her brother Joseph was one of my 2nd great grandfathers. This photo of her in this dress comes to me from the kindness of Joe Bott at DeadFred.com with the photo of her brother Joseph and probably was taken at the Schofield Photography Studio in Westerly, RI. which was owned by family members. [Blog Post of Digital Story]
Elizabeth's ancestors came from England and opened the first woolen textile mill in America. [Blog Post: Wild and Wooley] I expect she was fond of dresses.
I pulled out Maureen Taylor's book, More Dating Old Photographs 1840-1929, to see if I could inexpertly (that's guess) figure out if this dress was of Civil War era or a bit later. She is wearing hoops and a cameo pin. The sleeves are quite different and the trim seems like velvet so it looks about this period. Lizzie is not smiling. She displays the same dark circles under her eyes as her brother and her brother's daughter my great-grandmother Nellie.
Lizzie was the wife of Charles L. Mann and her gravestone is on my list to locate next spring. She is buried with her husband and her son. When I find these gravestones, I plan to blog more about them as I found out quite a lot in just a few hours.
For now, Elizabeth is just a lovely example of family photos and as there are no descendants to remember her, she's mine to keep. I am glad I don't have to wear hoops, aren't you?
Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Mary M. BROADFOOT
Mary M. Broadfoot, daughter of James T. Broadfoot and his wife Lillian (Harrington) Broadfoot was born while her parents were living in Vermont in 1896. She lived with her brother Henry and sister Lillian until she died in 1938 leaving them alone together. Mary is buried next to her parents and siblings at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI
Monday, February 02, 2009
Lillian A. BROADFOOT
Lillian A. Broadfoot, daughter and youngest child of James Broadfoot and his wife Lillian (Harrington) Broadfoot was born in 1906 and died in 1964. She never married or had children.
After her father died, she and her sister and brother lived with their widowed mother and when she died in 1926, they continued to live with their brother Henry. In 1936, sister Mary, died and Lillian and Henry stayed together.
After her father died, she and her sister and brother lived with their widowed mother and when she died in 1926, they continued to live with their brother Henry. In 1936, sister Mary, died and Lillian and Henry stayed together.
Sunday, February 01, 2009
Update!
A kind reader has posted a comment on my blog posting about the wives of Col. John Williams. It is so exciting to get more information about one of my gravestones!
Mary's maiden surname was DYER, and she was the daughter of Edward DYER and Mary GREENE of North Kingstown, RI and that she was born in Scituate, RI in 1704. Mary DYER married first, Christopher HELME.
I already have the surname Greene, and Helme in my charts. It will be fun putting this new information into my database and connecting it to what I already know.
Mary's maiden surname was DYER, and she was the daughter of Edward DYER and Mary GREENE of North Kingstown, RI and that she was born in Scituate, RI in 1704. Mary DYER married first, Christopher HELME.
I already have the surname Greene, and Helme in my charts. It will be fun putting this new information into my database and connecting it to what I already know.
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