For the annual Denison Day on August 1, I thought I'd break out some of my educator skills and make a display. I have titled this, "Where Does Family History Come From?" as many folks who belong to such "lineage-based societies" often do not know whatt work it is to prove a line of descent from a specific ancestor.
I'll let you know what kind of comments I get if people look at it.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
DAR Kindness
Tombstone Tuesday: Grave of my great-grand aunt Frances (1866-1963)
Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal, fellow geneablogger and fellow daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and I have shared a special event. I think this is the heart of blogging about your family history.
Elizabeth traveled a long way from her coast to mine to go to the DAR events in Washington, DC and was actively producing tweets about her adventure there. It was fun to follow her day-to-day adventures on Twitter.
She asked if anyone wanted anything in the DAR Library and I asked her to get me a "Record Copy" of my ancestors approved application to the DAR. Isn't that a great act of genealogical kindness? It arrived today! It is still exciting to get snail mail.
Last summer, I blogged about finding the gravestone of my DAR ancestor but I never have found the time to send for a copy of her application. Since we used the same ancestor to join, it is more confirming evidence of this special line. The record copy is written in her own handwriting with her signature and I think that is very special.
[Note to self: scan these pages right away!]
Naturally, I paid Elizabeth for the record copy and tried to give her a little extra money for her own little girl's college fund but she wouldn't take the extra money.
Geneabloggers rock! [Applause!]
Elizabeth Swanay O'Neal, fellow geneablogger and fellow daughter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and I have shared a special event. I think this is the heart of blogging about your family history.
Elizabeth traveled a long way from her coast to mine to go to the DAR events in Washington, DC and was actively producing tweets about her adventure there. It was fun to follow her day-to-day adventures on Twitter.
She asked if anyone wanted anything in the DAR Library and I asked her to get me a "Record Copy" of my ancestors approved application to the DAR. Isn't that a great act of genealogical kindness? It arrived today! It is still exciting to get snail mail.
Last summer, I blogged about finding the gravestone of my DAR ancestor but I never have found the time to send for a copy of her application. Since we used the same ancestor to join, it is more confirming evidence of this special line. The record copy is written in her own handwriting with her signature and I think that is very special.
[Note to self: scan these pages right away!]
Naturally, I paid Elizabeth for the record copy and tried to give her a little extra money for her own little girl's college fund but she wouldn't take the extra money.
Geneabloggers rock! [Applause!]
Monday, July 27, 2009
Gravestone Rubbings
As I am getting ready to go to Mystic [Stonington] Connecticut for the annual Denison Day, I am going back through photos I have taken in the past and putting them online. This gravestone rubbing caught my eye at the cottage behind the Denison house and although I could not take a photo of it without the glare, I think it is worth looking at.
I did not take this rubbing, in fact because I live in Massachusetts, I have never done a gravestone rubbing. It is considered gravestone desecration and it against the law here.
I don't know if it is against the law in other states. This rubbing was done in Connecticut and probably many years ago. It is a reminder to all how well preserved this gravestone is to be able to do that.
At a recent meeting of one of my genealogist groups, a local history professor came to speak and talked about how he was having his undergraduate students do gravestone rubbings as part of their course.
I raised my hand and politely informed him that this was an illegal practice in Massachusetts and that he should be teaching gravestone photography instead. He replied that it wasn't the SAME and that he would continue to teach them to rub gravestones.
He quickly wrapped up his talk and headed for the door. Many people afterward remarked to me that he obviously knew it was illegal and they were surprised at how someone with so much education could be so disdainful and disrespectful of the dead and the law.
It occurs to me now that gravestone photography would be quicker and easier for his students to accomplish (and more educationally appropriate for 21st century learning and sharing online) and perhaps the time it took to make the gravestone rubbing and then to hang them somewhere in the college's halls (adding to his fame and reputation) was the point to the assignment in his mind.
I keep my eyes open for a newspaper article with photographs of his students doing rubbings so I can keep it to educate younger genealogists about the pitfalls of listening to educated people who do not have all the updated information they need to teach any subject.
Strangstad, Lynette. A Gravestone Preservation Primer. Altamira Press. 1995. Appendix D. Massachusetts Law Pertaining to Gravestone Preservation.
Massachusetts Law
I did not take this rubbing, in fact because I live in Massachusetts, I have never done a gravestone rubbing. It is considered gravestone desecration and it against the law here.
I don't know if it is against the law in other states. This rubbing was done in Connecticut and probably many years ago. It is a reminder to all how well preserved this gravestone is to be able to do that.
At a recent meeting of one of my genealogist groups, a local history professor came to speak and talked about how he was having his undergraduate students do gravestone rubbings as part of their course.
I raised my hand and politely informed him that this was an illegal practice in Massachusetts and that he should be teaching gravestone photography instead. He replied that it wasn't the SAME and that he would continue to teach them to rub gravestones.
He quickly wrapped up his talk and headed for the door. Many people afterward remarked to me that he obviously knew it was illegal and they were surprised at how someone with so much education could be so disdainful and disrespectful of the dead and the law.
It occurs to me now that gravestone photography would be quicker and easier for his students to accomplish (and more educationally appropriate for 21st century learning and sharing online) and perhaps the time it took to make the gravestone rubbing and then to hang them somewhere in the college's halls (adding to his fame and reputation) was the point to the assignment in his mind.
I keep my eyes open for a newspaper article with photographs of his students doing rubbings so I can keep it to educate younger genealogists about the pitfalls of listening to educated people who do not have all the updated information they need to teach any subject.
Strangstad, Lynette. A Gravestone Preservation Primer. Altamira Press. 1995. Appendix D. Massachusetts Law Pertaining to Gravestone Preservation.
Massachusetts Law
Friday, July 24, 2009
Early Denison Records
With all the discussion about proper citation and the "genealogical proof" standard, I went to the online vital records of Massachusetts to 1850 for (the now city of) Roxbury, Massachusetts [at NEHGS] to see what records are there for my early Denison family that came to America in the early 1630s as part of the surge of people that made "The Great Migration".
Much to my surprise, I found many records for the family of William Denison and his wife Margaret. Although, they are not consistent, it is apparent that some vital records do occur for these people.
Margaret 's death [mother of Captain George Denison], is one that is recorded as the "old mother". [CR. 1 is the church records of First Religious Society [Unitarian]
"1645 DENISON Margret [Dennison, old mother. C. R. 1.], w. William, bur. Feb. 3, 1645. [1645-6. C. R. 1.] Death/Roxbury"
The marriage record of George Denison and his first wife Bridget Thompson:
"1640 TOMSON (see also Thompson), Bridget, and George Denison, Mar. —, 1640. Marriage/Roxbury"
Their daughter, Sarah's birth (but not her sister Hannah):
1641 DENISON Sarah, d. George,1 Mar. 20, 1641. [1641-2. C. R. 1.] Birth/Roxbury
And sadly Bridget Thompson Denison's death:
"1643 DENISON (see also Dennison), Bridget, w. George [fever and consumption, C. R. 1.], bur. Aug. —, 1643. Death/Roxbury"
It is wonderful to see these old records!
Much to my surprise, I found many records for the family of William Denison and his wife Margaret. Although, they are not consistent, it is apparent that some vital records do occur for these people.
Margaret 's death [mother of Captain George Denison], is one that is recorded as the "old mother". [CR. 1 is the church records of First Religious Society [Unitarian]
"1645 DENISON Margret [Dennison, old mother. C. R. 1.], w. William, bur. Feb. 3, 1645. [1645-6. C. R. 1.] Death/Roxbury"
The marriage record of George Denison and his first wife Bridget Thompson:
"1640 TOMSON (see also Thompson), Bridget, and George Denison, Mar. —, 1640. Marriage/Roxbury"
Their daughter, Sarah's birth (but not her sister Hannah):
1641 DENISON Sarah, d. George,1 Mar. 20, 1641. [1641-2. C. R. 1.] Birth/Roxbury
And sadly Bridget Thompson Denison's death:
"1643 DENISON (see also Dennison), Bridget, w. George [fever and consumption, C. R. 1.], bur. Aug. —, 1643. Death/Roxbury"
It is wonderful to see these old records!
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
Marriage Record
This is the page that contains the marriage record. Although I had this information, it is always good to have another source to confirm it.
This "annual report" has a lot of great ads and a whole page of those arrested in that year!
Charles Edward Stewart and Ada Ann Evans married December 15, 1885 in North Adams, MA
This "annual report" has a lot of great ads and a whole page of those arrested in that year!
Charles Edward Stewart and Ada Ann Evans married December 15, 1885 in North Adams, MA
Title Page
This is the title page of the book that I found today at Archive.org. I always make a print copy of the title page or a screenshot if I can for my records to make the correct citation.
Annual Record of North Adams, MA in 1885
Annual Record of North Adams, MA in 1885
North Adams
Sometimes when I just have a few minutes, I do a Google Search on an ancestor's name. Today, I pick Ada Ann Evans who married my great grandfather Charles Evans Stewart. I don't have a photograph of her in my family collection.
I searched for her name and the town that she lived in North Adams, MA and came up with something that looked promising at the Web site, Archive.org. Before reading any further, I noted that the resource I was about to look at was "Not In Copyright". I love it when it says that!
I used the online browser choice to page through this and then chose the download in PDF choice so that I could print pages. I learned very quickly that the "snapshot" feature of Adobe Reader allowed me to select a section/page of the book and copy it to be able to paste it into my graphics application to make a JPG.
I searched for her name and the town that she lived in North Adams, MA and came up with something that looked promising at the Web site, Archive.org. Before reading any further, I noted that the resource I was about to look at was "Not In Copyright". I love it when it says that!
I used the online browser choice to page through this and then chose the download in PDF choice so that I could print pages. I learned very quickly that the "snapshot" feature of Adobe Reader allowed me to select a section/page of the book and copy it to be able to paste it into my graphics application to make a JPG.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Denison Family Reunion
Every year since about 1930, the Denison Society holds an event called "Coming Home" at the Denison Homestead grounds in Mystic, CT. The Denison Society members are descendants of Capt. George Denison.
This year the weekend begins on July 31 and ends on August 2. I hope that all family reunions have as lovely weather as the day I took this photo.
This year the weekend begins on July 31 and ends on August 2. I hope that all family reunions have as lovely weather as the day I took this photo.
Tom in 1940
It would be seven years until I am born so I guess I am still the twinkle in his eye in this 1940 photo of my father taken in the summertime.
My father was an early to bed early to rise person (as am I) but he made an exception on the night of July 20, 1969 to see the "walk on the moon" broadcast. He made no comment except to say that he didn't think that would happen in his lifetime. As we lived in the East, it was after midnight when we were done with that historic event and then we went to bed.
I said,"Happy Birthday" to him because we had stayed up long enough for it to be 21 July. I was 21 years old. Ten days later, I was to meet the man I married. And the rest, as is said, is history.
My father was an early to bed early to rise person (as am I) but he made an exception on the night of July 20, 1969 to see the "walk on the moon" broadcast. He made no comment except to say that he didn't think that would happen in his lifetime. As we lived in the East, it was after midnight when we were done with that historic event and then we went to bed.
I said,"Happy Birthday" to him because we had stayed up long enough for it to be 21 July. I was 21 years old. Ten days later, I was to meet the man I married. And the rest, as is said, is history.
Monday, July 20, 2009
Myles Standish Sign
If you went to a cemetery [burying ground] that was named Miles/Myles Standish, I should think that you'd be expecting to see the gravestone or memorial gravestone of Miles/Myles Standish, of Pilgrim fame, right?
Well, not to disappoint is this sign and cannon display of the gravesite of Myles Standish but really is it just comprised of three large rocks? Yes, it is!
Well, not to disappoint is this sign and cannon display of the gravesite of Myles Standish but really is it just comprised of three large rocks? Yes, it is!
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Hurricane Books
Carnival of Genealogy 77th edition: "Disasters"
Although no one in my family was killed, many were in the surrounding communities of "South County", Rhode Island. [Memorial rock in Westerly in previous blog post]
Every year, probably forever, native Rhode Islanders, stop and think about the hurricanes that plague us in these the summer and fall months of May through November. No year is safe.
Most people who remember 1938 are gone (except for my in-laws who are in their 90s) but people still talk about this in my native Rhode Island as if it was yesterday.
I clearly remember "Hurricane Carol of 1954". It was exciting to me until we went a few days later to the beach and I saw the thundering surf for myself. I am still afraid of the water.
Before I could compost this blog posting, twelve people have already looked at this photo of just a few of the books I own about this hurricane. [That amazes me!]
Historic news footage is widely available on the Web about "The Long Island Express" that roared through New England in September 1938. Don't blame me if you can't sleep after viewing that video.
Without our modern weather forecasting, we too, would be dead from disasters like this.
Although no one in my family was killed, many were in the surrounding communities of "South County", Rhode Island. [Memorial rock in Westerly in previous blog post]
Every year, probably forever, native Rhode Islanders, stop and think about the hurricanes that plague us in these the summer and fall months of May through November. No year is safe.
Most people who remember 1938 are gone (except for my in-laws who are in their 90s) but people still talk about this in my native Rhode Island as if it was yesterday.
I clearly remember "Hurricane Carol of 1954". It was exciting to me until we went a few days later to the beach and I saw the thundering surf for myself. I am still afraid of the water.
Before I could compost this blog posting, twelve people have already looked at this photo of just a few of the books I own about this hurricane. [That amazes me!]
Historic news footage is widely available on the Web about "The Long Island Express" that roared through New England in September 1938. Don't blame me if you can't sleep after viewing that video.
Without our modern weather forecasting, we too, would be dead from disasters like this.
Watch Hill Bracelet
Smile For The Camera, 16th Edition: "Bling, ancestor Bling"
Charming. That's my favorite word for this bracelet bought for my mother when she was a little girl of 10, probably by her doting grandfather, Charles Edward Stewart, about 1926.
It may not be "bling" quality and I am sure it was not expensive but it is real gold and has coral charms. It was bought at one of the "New York" trendy shops along the waterfront of Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
My mother used to let me wear it on special occasions in the summertime and I let my daughter play with it when she played dress-up. It still fits both of us. I hope that it will be kept and worn by next generations. When I see it in my jewelry box, I can't help but smile.
I photographed it on top of a book that I bought just a few years ago in a book shop at Watch Hill. I bought it for my graduate work as it features scientific explanations and economic data of the "Great Gale" hurricane of 1938 in Rhode Island and nearby Connecticut. The book is filled with disaster photos and features the front page of the newspaper "The Westerly Sun" for the awful day of Friday, September 23, 1938. This is my digital story of Watch Hil, Rhode Island.
Charming. That's my favorite word for this bracelet bought for my mother when she was a little girl of 10, probably by her doting grandfather, Charles Edward Stewart, about 1926.
It may not be "bling" quality and I am sure it was not expensive but it is real gold and has coral charms. It was bought at one of the "New York" trendy shops along the waterfront of Watch Hill, Rhode Island.
My mother used to let me wear it on special occasions in the summertime and I let my daughter play with it when she played dress-up. It still fits both of us. I hope that it will be kept and worn by next generations. When I see it in my jewelry box, I can't help but smile.
I photographed it on top of a book that I bought just a few years ago in a book shop at Watch Hill. I bought it for my graduate work as it features scientific explanations and economic data of the "Great Gale" hurricane of 1938 in Rhode Island and nearby Connecticut. The book is filled with disaster photos and features the front page of the newspaper "The Westerly Sun" for the awful day of Friday, September 23, 1938. This is my digital story of Watch Hil, Rhode Island.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
John Crandall
Graveyard Rabbits Carnival, August 2009 edition
When I first started to take gravestone photographs, I took this photograph not knowing anything about the surname Crandall [Crandal]. I took this photo because I was surprised to see how remarkably clear and unbroken this gravestone was compared to the other gravestones in this burying ground. It has to be special, I thought!
Because I have so many ancestors buried in this, the Whitehall Burying Ground #21 in Mystic, CT, I kept it in my gravestone folder and never researched it.
When my cousin, Fred Burdick, showed me his photographs, on CD, all researched and browse-able and shared his method and map of how he went about organizing his work to take the photos, I started to work on the gravestones that he couldn't find out anymore about (at that time).
This is the problem with research. It is never done and once you put what you know "out there" in print or on the Web, people think that is all there is to find out.
Last summer, my cousin, Scott Bill Hirst, kept asking me if I was a Crandall descendant. He was so insistent that I look into this, I began to feel that probably he was right. Not long after that, I found out that I was, yes indeedy, a Crandall descendant!
Suddenly, I remembered this gravestone. I pulled up the genealogy of Elder John Crandall and found the entry for this young man. His parents were Samuel Crandall (son of Elder John) and his wife Sarah COLBY. [Crandall Family Burial Ground]
John is listed in the genealogy as being born 11 January 1693 and there is nothing else written there. I am assuming John was born in Rhode Island, so why he was in Mystic at the time of his death? I don't know. Was he an apprentice to a family in Mystic? I guess we will never know.
This gravestone photograph is a favorite because it was carved by John Stevens I (1647-1736) of Newport, RI. The engraving looks scratched in and the top of the skull is described as a "baker's hat". The Farber Collection of gravestones carved by this gravestone carber seems to confirm this. I am not an expert in who the carvers were but I am reading "Graven Images" and it is an interesting textbook of New England Gravestone research.
I am wondering today if the genealogist for the Crandall Family Association knows that young John's gravestone exists?
When I first started to take gravestone photographs, I took this photograph not knowing anything about the surname Crandall [Crandal]. I took this photo because I was surprised to see how remarkably clear and unbroken this gravestone was compared to the other gravestones in this burying ground. It has to be special, I thought!
Because I have so many ancestors buried in this, the Whitehall Burying Ground #21 in Mystic, CT, I kept it in my gravestone folder and never researched it.
When my cousin, Fred Burdick, showed me his photographs, on CD, all researched and browse-able and shared his method and map of how he went about organizing his work to take the photos, I started to work on the gravestones that he couldn't find out anymore about (at that time).
This is the problem with research. It is never done and once you put what you know "out there" in print or on the Web, people think that is all there is to find out.
Last summer, my cousin, Scott Bill Hirst, kept asking me if I was a Crandall descendant. He was so insistent that I look into this, I began to feel that probably he was right. Not long after that, I found out that I was, yes indeedy, a Crandall descendant!
Suddenly, I remembered this gravestone. I pulled up the genealogy of Elder John Crandall and found the entry for this young man. His parents were Samuel Crandall (son of Elder John) and his wife Sarah COLBY. [Crandall Family Burial Ground]
John is listed in the genealogy as being born 11 January 1693 and there is nothing else written there. I am assuming John was born in Rhode Island, so why he was in Mystic at the time of his death? I don't know. Was he an apprentice to a family in Mystic? I guess we will never know.
This gravestone photograph is a favorite because it was carved by John Stevens I (1647-1736) of Newport, RI. The engraving looks scratched in and the top of the skull is described as a "baker's hat". The Farber Collection of gravestones carved by this gravestone carber seems to confirm this. I am not an expert in who the carvers were but I am reading "Graven Images" and it is an interesting textbook of New England Gravestone research.
I am wondering today if the genealogist for the Crandall Family Association knows that young John's gravestone exists?
Sunday, July 12, 2009
John and Priscilla ALDEN
Only a few feet away from the directional sign are the memorial gravestone for John ALDEN and his wife Priscilla MULLINS. The pole in this photo has a matching sign (up high) to the directional sign stating that these are the graves of John and Priscilla Alden.
When photographing graves, it is a good idea to take a few shots of graves nearby. Sometimes, there are clues on them that will help you with the research.
When photographing graves, it is a good idea to take a few shots of graves nearby. Sometimes, there are clues on them that will help you with the research.
Friday, July 10, 2009
Direction Sign
Seldom seen in ancient burying grounds are signs like this one.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a sign pointing to (even the section) the grave of the people are are looking for?
Actually, this is misleading. This sign points to the MEMORIAL stones for the Aldens.
Maybe they are buried here and maybe only nearby? No one is sure.
Wouldn't it be nice if there was a sign pointing to (even the section) the grave of the people are are looking for?
Actually, this is misleading. This sign points to the MEMORIAL stones for the Aldens.
Maybe they are buried here and maybe only nearby? No one is sure.
Thursday, July 09, 2009
No Place to Park
With a land-locked burying ground such as this one [Miles Standish Burying Ground], it is important to find a safe place to put your car while you explore. It is NOT OK to park on private property such as the nice driveway you see here.
This photo also shows that there is NO memorial stone for George Soule's wife and there is no marker sign for visitors to locate this gravestone.
[Click on the photo here to see a larger image.]
Information about George Soule from Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History Web site.
Related posts: Entrance, Memorial Gravestone, Genealogist and George
This photo also shows that there is NO memorial stone for George Soule's wife and there is no marker sign for visitors to locate this gravestone.
[Click on the photo here to see a larger image.]
Information about George Soule from Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History Web site.
Related posts: Entrance, Memorial Gravestone, Genealogist and George
Miles Standish Burying Ground Entrance
This is the entrance to the Miles Standish Burying Ground in South Duxbury, MA. I liked the way they created a sign for locating the specific memorial stones and for the location of what used to be the meeting house that this ancient graveyard was next to. Naturally, some of the people buried here were ministers of that church.
I took a photo of the street sign at the corner so that people could more easily find this cemetery. It is located facing Chestnut St. and the intersecting street is appropriately called Pilgrim By Way. This one had no place to park which is all too common here in New England.
Wouldn't it be great if all cemeteries were given a street address so we could find them better?
The larger cemeteries I frequent do have street address, both have Web pages, and a list of rules and regulations for visitors. It is cemeteries like this one that are hard to find.
I took a photo of the street sign at the corner so that people could more easily find this cemetery. It is located facing Chestnut St. and the intersecting street is appropriately called Pilgrim By Way. This one had no place to park which is all too common here in New England.
Wouldn't it be great if all cemeteries were given a street address so we could find them better?
The larger cemeteries I frequent do have street address, both have Web pages, and a list of rules and regulations for visitors. It is cemeteries like this one that are hard to find.
Wednesday, July 08, 2009
Tuesday, July 07, 2009
George SOULE [gravestone]
Just so any descendants of George Soule, who read my blog, and would rather have a photo of his gravestone without me in it, I am posting this here. [One reader notes that the photo of me and the grave might be more valuable LOL!]
I have proved my Mayflower line to George Soule so even though this is not an "old" gravestone, it is nice to have for my collection and fun to have my picture taken with.
Please feel free to click on it and go to my Flickr account and keep it for your collection.
"Nearby Rests/George Soule/Pilgrim/A signer of/ The Mayflower Compact/on Nov the 11th 1620/who died in/ January 1679/80/ Erected by the Soule Kindred/ 1971
I have proved my Mayflower line to George Soule so even though this is not an "old" gravestone, it is nice to have for my collection and fun to have my picture taken with.
Please feel free to click on it and go to my Flickr account and keep it for your collection.
"Nearby Rests/George Soule/Pilgrim/A signer of/ The Mayflower Compact/on Nov the 11th 1620/who died in/ January 1679/80/ Erected by the Soule Kindred/ 1971
George SOULE
Tombstone Tuesday
Gravestone Hunting at Miles Standish Burying Ground, Duxbury, MA ["America's Oldest Maintained Cemetery"]
This is the MEMORIAL gravestone for my direct line ancestor, George SOULE located in the graveyard in South Duxbury, Plymouth County, MA. Please note that he is not really buried here but was buried "somewhere" nearby.
This graveyard is also called, "Old Cemetery at South Duxbury", "Old Burying Ground" and "Standish Cemetery". It is surrounded on three sides by houses and the former location of the Second Meeting House of Duxbury, MA. A lady has posted a scan of an old postcard of this graveyard and it looks as if there was nothing but trees at that time. [Source: Find A Grave]
Luckily for us gravestone hunters, this graveyard was transcribed by Charles M. Thacher in the late 1800s and that transcription is publicly available as a PDF file from the Middleboro, MA public library. Needless to say, this reproduction of a gravestone for George Soule is not included in that record as it was placed here in 1971. (That was the year I got married). There is NO gravestone for his wife.
The town where I reside, Bridgewater, MA was set off from Duxbury in 1656 so Duxbury is the second oldest location in Massachusetts, the first, of course, being Plymouth.
Gravestone Hunting at Miles Standish Burying Ground, Duxbury, MA ["America's Oldest Maintained Cemetery"]
This is the MEMORIAL gravestone for my direct line ancestor, George SOULE located in the graveyard in South Duxbury, Plymouth County, MA. Please note that he is not really buried here but was buried "somewhere" nearby.
This graveyard is also called, "Old Cemetery at South Duxbury", "Old Burying Ground" and "Standish Cemetery". It is surrounded on three sides by houses and the former location of the Second Meeting House of Duxbury, MA. A lady has posted a scan of an old postcard of this graveyard and it looks as if there was nothing but trees at that time. [Source: Find A Grave]
Luckily for us gravestone hunters, this graveyard was transcribed by Charles M. Thacher in the late 1800s and that transcription is publicly available as a PDF file from the Middleboro, MA public library. Needless to say, this reproduction of a gravestone for George Soule is not included in that record as it was placed here in 1971. (That was the year I got married). There is NO gravestone for his wife.
The town where I reside, Bridgewater, MA was set off from Duxbury in 1656 so Duxbury is the second oldest location in Massachusetts, the first, of course, being Plymouth.
Monday, July 06, 2009
Lovely Day
It was a beautiful day to to to Rhode Island and take some gravestone photos. The cemetery office was locked up tight with no explanation so we will have to go back this summer.
I stopped taking photos and stepped in the shade to cool off and anapped this lovely peaceful scene of the gravestones and the water.
It is a wonderful for my parents to be resting.
I stopped taking photos and stepped in the shade to cool off and anapped this lovely peaceful scene of the gravestones and the water.
It is a wonderful for my parents to be resting.
Saturday, July 04, 2009
Revolutionary War Patriot
This is the humble grave of Cuff ASHPORT who was also known as Cuff MITCHELL. He is the only person of color buried in this the oldest cemetery (Old Parish Cemetery) in Bridgewater, Massachusetts. [graveyard established in 1717]
According to the research done for his grave listing at Find a Grave, Cuff bought his freedom from Nathan Mitchell in 1775 and enlisted to fight in the Revolution.
He was married and had children and his wife collected his pension. The document is many pages long with many depositions as to his service, his character and to his service in the Revolution.
His grave, now weathered and unreadable, simply said, "Cuff Ashford, 1827. " He was almost 81 when he died.
This is a Patriot of our country and we should be proud of him!
Update! I posted this to Find a Grave and the person who posted all the information about him was delighted. How nice it is to see that!
According to the research done for his grave listing at Find a Grave, Cuff bought his freedom from Nathan Mitchell in 1775 and enlisted to fight in the Revolution.
He was married and had children and his wife collected his pension. The document is many pages long with many depositions as to his service, his character and to his service in the Revolution.
His grave, now weathered and unreadable, simply said, "Cuff Ashford, 1827. " He was almost 81 when he died.
This is a Patriot of our country and we should be proud of him!
Update! I posted this to Find a Grave and the person who posted all the information about him was delighted. How nice it is to see that!
Thursday, July 02, 2009
Victor Cleansing Co.
15th Edition of Smile For The Camera is "they WORKED hard for the family."
This massive tank must have been for the fuel that was stored at the laundry and dry cleaning plant operated by my grandfather, Evans Stewart, in the late 1910s, the 1920s and the 1930s. This photo was shared with me by Jim Ricci whose grandfather and grandfather's brother worked side by side with mine. I think this is a very unique photograph, don't you?
I would not be surprised the tank was lettered and the photo taken for the Providence Journal! [the major newspaper of Rhode Island still to this day] My grandfather, always seen in a dress shirt with vest or a jacket and tie, never liked to get dirty.
I certainly would like to know who the old man standing in front of the tank was!
Trust me, the people who worked at Victor Laundry and later at Victor Cleansing Co. worked hard. Inside the "plant", as we called it, was HOT beyond words. But, these people were employed even during The Great Depression. It was honest, steady work. Many of them were immigrants struggling to make a living in America. They were always nice to me, especially the truck drivers, the ladies of the sewing room, and the office workers. I remember the chatter of the women while they worked and Max, the tailor, who let me try on the fur coats. I think they would be amazed at how much I remember.
I have enjoyed working with the Westerly and Providence RI City Directories, looking for the listings for the business and the ads. As the business was started by my grandfather's father, Charles Stewart, these ads go back as early as 1892!
This massive tank must have been for the fuel that was stored at the laundry and dry cleaning plant operated by my grandfather, Evans Stewart, in the late 1910s, the 1920s and the 1930s. This photo was shared with me by Jim Ricci whose grandfather and grandfather's brother worked side by side with mine. I think this is a very unique photograph, don't you?
I would not be surprised the tank was lettered and the photo taken for the Providence Journal! [the major newspaper of Rhode Island still to this day] My grandfather, always seen in a dress shirt with vest or a jacket and tie, never liked to get dirty.
I certainly would like to know who the old man standing in front of the tank was!
Trust me, the people who worked at Victor Laundry and later at Victor Cleansing Co. worked hard. Inside the "plant", as we called it, was HOT beyond words. But, these people were employed even during The Great Depression. It was honest, steady work. Many of them were immigrants struggling to make a living in America. They were always nice to me, especially the truck drivers, the ladies of the sewing room, and the office workers. I remember the chatter of the women while they worked and Max, the tailor, who let me try on the fur coats. I think they would be amazed at how much I remember.
I have enjoyed working with the Westerly and Providence RI City Directories, looking for the listings for the business and the ads. As the business was started by my grandfather's father, Charles Stewart, these ads go back as early as 1892!
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