This the the fourth side of the Champlin monument.
Listed here are two sisters, Sarah J. CHAMPLIN who was the wife of Edward LOUDEN and Mary J. CHAMPLIN.
Most notable on this side is the missing death date for Edward. He was born 27 Jan 1852 so he is surely not living! A census record lists him as being born in nearby Connecticut.
His wife Sarah J. 's middle name was Josephine and census records indicate that that is the name she was known by, born on 6 July 1851 and died 8 Aug 1923 may mean that Edward outlived her.
Mary Jane CHAMPLIN was 24 Dec 1850 and died 29 June 1874 died at the age of 20 unmarried. These sisters were the daughters of Nathan CHAMPLIN and his first wife Jane M. CARD.
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Nathan H. CHAMPLIN
The third side of the Champlin monument is inscribed for the son of Nathan CHAMPLIN and his first wife Jane M. CARD (who he divorced as she was adulterous) whose name was Nathan Hoxie CHAMPLIN.
As you might expect, Nathan Hoxie CHAMPLIN, was the first born child in this family as he bears the same first name as his father. Nathan Hoxie Champlin was born 22 Apr 1849 in Hopkinton, Washington, RI and married Susan CLARK in 1874 at the age of 25. He is listed with his parents in the 1870 census and with his wife in the 1880m census. The 1910 census lists this couple as married for 36 years.
Sadly, their daughter Mamy F. was born and died in 1876 and wouldn't be recorded anywhere if it was not for being included on this gravestone but it is indicated in the 1910 census that there was a child who was no longer living. This couple did not have more children.
It is not known who Susan Clark's parents were as there were many families named Clark in this area. I did find her in the 1930 census living alone but owning the house she lived in.
Other sides of this monument are:
Peleg Champlin and wife Hannah Burdick [son of Nathan Champlin and wife Mary Tucker]
Nathan Champlin and 2nd wife Mary Tucker [he was a Civil War veteran]
As you might expect, Nathan Hoxie CHAMPLIN, was the first born child in this family as he bears the same first name as his father. Nathan Hoxie Champlin was born 22 Apr 1849 in Hopkinton, Washington, RI and married Susan CLARK in 1874 at the age of 25. He is listed with his parents in the 1870 census and with his wife in the 1880m census. The 1910 census lists this couple as married for 36 years.
Sadly, their daughter Mamy F. was born and died in 1876 and wouldn't be recorded anywhere if it was not for being included on this gravestone but it is indicated in the 1910 census that there was a child who was no longer living. This couple did not have more children.
It is not known who Susan Clark's parents were as there were many families named Clark in this area. I did find her in the 1930 census living alone but owning the house she lived in.
Other sides of this monument are:
Peleg Champlin and wife Hannah Burdick [son of Nathan Champlin and wife Mary Tucker]
Nathan Champlin and 2nd wife Mary Tucker [he was a Civil War veteran]
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Time to Plan
Carnival of Genealogy, 87th edition: Starting the New Year.
"This is the perfect time to make your New Year resolutions, goals, aims, declarations, intentions, aspirations, objectives, plans, targets, schemes, wishes, or whatever you want to call them!"
I think that this is NOT the time to make decisions about goals. I like to make goals ("resolutions") about the first of March (when the new year was before) and have the next two winter months to do a better plan.
Some ideas for my new plan are:
"This is the perfect time to make your New Year resolutions, goals, aims, declarations, intentions, aspirations, objectives, plans, targets, schemes, wishes, or whatever you want to call them!"
I think that this is NOT the time to make decisions about goals. I like to make goals ("resolutions") about the first of March (when the new year was before) and have the next two winter months to do a better plan.
Some ideas for my new plan are:
- to keep a journal of who I have helped, what we learned and the dates I helped. (most people call these client records and reports).
- to scan (with my new scanner) not only photos and vital records, but many important papers in my surname notebooks to cut down on what I have been printing and filing.
- to make more ancestor timelines and to write short "ancestor stories" for blogging and to make genealogy more interesting for my family.
- to find gravestones that match my ancestors and to make a list of discrepancies in dates (this might be easy as so many are confirming evidence)
- to contribute more gravestones and data to Find-a-Grave.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Peppermint Christmas Dessert
Feeling festive, I made this easy dessert for Christmas Eve and Christmas Dinner. This dessert can be made ahead and frozen.
The recipe is on the box of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers. I don't stand them sideways; I just stand them upright. Check out this article in The Washington Post!
I use Cool Whip (the heavy creme is too rich) with a few drops of red food coloring and add 1 tsp. of peppermint extract added to the other ingredients.
The crushed candies are Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Chocolate Filled Snaps.We have a store at Cape Cod which sells them at Christmastime and my husband picks them up for me while he is working as it saves on the shipping cost.
The recipe is on the box of Nabisco Famous Chocolate Wafers. I don't stand them sideways; I just stand them upright. Check out this article in The Washington Post!
I use Cool Whip (the heavy creme is too rich) with a few drops of red food coloring and add 1 tsp. of peppermint extract added to the other ingredients.
The crushed candies are Williams-Sonoma Peppermint Chocolate Filled Snaps.We have a store at Cape Cod which sells them at Christmastime and my husband picks them up for me while he is working as it saves on the shipping cost.
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Dead as a Doornail
It think it is pretty ironic that I thought I'd listen to Charles Dicken's, A Christmas Carol, a free book from Audible for its members and early in the book I heard the phrase "dead as a doornail".
That would have been a good title for this blog. Apparently, I can't get away from the dead!
That would have been a good title for this blog. Apparently, I can't get away from the dead!
Warmest Holidays to All
Thank you to all the readers of Granite in My Blood and we here in our family hope you have a great holiday season with your families. This is our grandson, the littlest Santa, showing us that he can sit up alone and wait for us to get there to celebrate with him.
Blog posts will resume soon!
Blog posts will resume soon!
Monday, December 21, 2009
Nathan CHAMPLIN
Nathan CHAMPLIN and his wife Mary TUCKER are the names on the front of the CHAMPLIN monument.
Nathan Champlin
Aug. 16, 1830 - Jan. 8, 1901
Pvt. Co. G. 1st RI Lgt. Artillery
His wife
Mary A. Tucker
Oct. 28, 1841 - Nov. 22, 1933
The first and most obvious question answered is that Nathan is the Civil War veteran and hence the Flag Marker.
Imagine my excitement when I found this on his grave because it means he knew my 2nd great grandfather, James A. BARBER as not only did they live in the same town, they fought in the same unit! This brings my aunt's genealogy closer to mine.
Because he was the veteran, this may explain why his father and mother's inscription is on the side of the stone. Perhaps they chose this monument after Peleg and Hannah died and wanted to add their names so they wouldn't be forgotten.
Because of this connection to the Civil War, I looked Nathan up in Robert Grandchamp's new book, The Boys of Adam's Battery G, McFarland & Co. Publishers, North Carolina, 2009. Sure enoough he is mentioned as being the man who returned sick from the War to find out his wife was unfaithful and he subsequently divorced her (from his pension record). [p. 241]
With some digging, I find out she is NOT the wife listed on this gravestone! She was Jane M. CARD (1828-1895), daughter of William Henry Card and his wife Sarah Crandall. Jane bore him 5 children before he married (17 Nov 1866) Mary A. Tucker and their only child together was Peleg Everett Champlin.
Jane married (2) Dyer Kingsley and had one more child with him in 1869.
Nathan Champlin
Aug. 16, 1830 - Jan. 8, 1901
Pvt. Co. G. 1st RI Lgt. Artillery
His wife
Mary A. Tucker
Oct. 28, 1841 - Nov. 22, 1933
The first and most obvious question answered is that Nathan is the Civil War veteran and hence the Flag Marker.
Imagine my excitement when I found this on his grave because it means he knew my 2nd great grandfather, James A. BARBER as not only did they live in the same town, they fought in the same unit! This brings my aunt's genealogy closer to mine.
Because he was the veteran, this may explain why his father and mother's inscription is on the side of the stone. Perhaps they chose this monument after Peleg and Hannah died and wanted to add their names so they wouldn't be forgotten.
Because of this connection to the Civil War, I looked Nathan up in Robert Grandchamp's new book, The Boys of Adam's Battery G, McFarland & Co. Publishers, North Carolina, 2009. Sure enoough he is mentioned as being the man who returned sick from the War to find out his wife was unfaithful and he subsequently divorced her (from his pension record). [p. 241]
With some digging, I find out she is NOT the wife listed on this gravestone! She was Jane M. CARD (1828-1895), daughter of William Henry Card and his wife Sarah Crandall. Jane bore him 5 children before he married (17 Nov 1866) Mary A. Tucker and their only child together was Peleg Everett Champlin.
Jane married (2) Dyer Kingsley and had one more child with him in 1869.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Champlin Monument [front]
This lovely and sturdy four sided granite monument for the CHAMPLIN family tells us much about them. It also doesn't tell us the whole story. But, then, isn't that the fun of investigated gravestones as part of genealogy?
Let's look for a moment at what we know. This gravestone is located in Section 23 of River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. The persons buried here are Christians and somebody is a veteran. This is clear from the clues on the gravestone.
It also looks as if they spelled their name CHAMPLIN consistently, not Champlain or Chapin.
It is possible that this gravestone was erected before some of the people passed away since one side has a missing death date.
I am thinking that the "owners" of the gravestone, that is the ones who paid for it, or where children or grandchildren who placed it here, inscribed their direct line ancestors on the front side where the family surname is carved. I look for this in this style of gravestone to give another piece of evidence about how the family is connected together.
This gravestone faces sideways (not toward the water) like the gravestone nearby which is my ancestor. It is on a slight hill. I noticed this when I walked around it before taking the photos. See the post for one side I have already blogged about)
With this gravestone, I needed both a photograph of the whole monument (to get the cross) and a closeup to try to read the part that is shaded by the top of the monument "roof". I have since purchased a digital voice recorder to record my thoughts and to read aloud the names and dates as I am going along photographing. I find transcribing at the gravesite annoyingly slow.
I took photos of this gravestone at a previous visit because I was trying to connect this family to my own. Remember these are my aunt's ancestors.
Going to my cemetery collection to see those previous photos...
Let's look for a moment at what we know. This gravestone is located in Section 23 of River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. The persons buried here are Christians and somebody is a veteran. This is clear from the clues on the gravestone.
It also looks as if they spelled their name CHAMPLIN consistently, not Champlain or Chapin.
It is possible that this gravestone was erected before some of the people passed away since one side has a missing death date.
I am thinking that the "owners" of the gravestone, that is the ones who paid for it, or where children or grandchildren who placed it here, inscribed their direct line ancestors on the front side where the family surname is carved. I look for this in this style of gravestone to give another piece of evidence about how the family is connected together.
This gravestone faces sideways (not toward the water) like the gravestone nearby which is my ancestor. It is on a slight hill. I noticed this when I walked around it before taking the photos. See the post for one side I have already blogged about)
With this gravestone, I needed both a photograph of the whole monument (to get the cross) and a closeup to try to read the part that is shaded by the top of the monument "roof". I have since purchased a digital voice recorder to record my thoughts and to read aloud the names and dates as I am going along photographing. I find transcribing at the gravesite annoyingly slow.
I took photos of this gravestone at a previous visit because I was trying to connect this family to my own. Remember these are my aunt's ancestors.
Going to my cemetery collection to see those previous photos...
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Skating on Thin Ice
It is so cold today here in Massachusetts that I am reminded of a family story. As I am the author of an upcoming book on Digital Storytelling for Teachers, I am beginning to think about my genealogy in the context of a family history story.
My maternal grandparents lived near Roger Williams Park on the Cranston/Providence line in Rhode Island. [Bird's Eye View] Much of the park is a preserved area of woods and a lake and a lovely zoo. The winter this photo was taken, the weather was cold for a long period of time, making it safe to skate. This is the only photo I can find of me skating.
My grandmother bought me ice skates for my birthday and my father, ever the sportsman, wanted to teach me to skate but he didn't own any skates.
I can still see in my mind's eye, my grandmother telling my father to go up in the attic and look for her son's ice skates. My uncle, who died by his own hand, was not married very long when he died, so many of his belongings were still in her attic. She did not look up from her Christmas baking to tell him that. I don't remember my uncle but he was alive in my lifetime. He was charming, handsome and personable. No one could believe he was dead.
My father located them and put on several pairs of socks to get them to fit snugly and off we went, camera in hand, to the lake . I can't say that this is that day as I am actually skating but you get the idea. See my father's shadow? I can't believe my father is dead. Where have the years gone?
Dad sat me down on a park bench, put on the skates and told me he needed to practice a bit. He stepped onto the ice, never fell down, and proceeded to skate forward and backwards. I was mesmerized. I didn't know he could do that. He was really a good skater. I mostly fell down.
After we came home, over hot chocolate, my dad told me about his childhood and how skating was a big part of it. His father, an immigrant from Scotland, made curling stones out of the granite he mined for work. He taught my dad to skate and how to play hockey and curling. It was the only time my father had nice things to say about his father.
As that paternal grandfather also committed suicide (which I didn't know at the time), my maternal grandmother said little but listened intently. After I went up to change my clothes, I heard them talking but couldn't make out the words from upstairs. It was just a murmur of voices with no laughter.
The conversations about suicide were few from that point on. The subject was like skating on thin ice.
My maternal grandparents lived near Roger Williams Park on the Cranston/Providence line in Rhode Island. [Bird's Eye View] Much of the park is a preserved area of woods and a lake and a lovely zoo. The winter this photo was taken, the weather was cold for a long period of time, making it safe to skate. This is the only photo I can find of me skating.
My grandmother bought me ice skates for my birthday and my father, ever the sportsman, wanted to teach me to skate but he didn't own any skates.
I can still see in my mind's eye, my grandmother telling my father to go up in the attic and look for her son's ice skates. My uncle, who died by his own hand, was not married very long when he died, so many of his belongings were still in her attic. She did not look up from her Christmas baking to tell him that. I don't remember my uncle but he was alive in my lifetime. He was charming, handsome and personable. No one could believe he was dead.
My father located them and put on several pairs of socks to get them to fit snugly and off we went, camera in hand, to the lake . I can't say that this is that day as I am actually skating but you get the idea. See my father's shadow? I can't believe my father is dead. Where have the years gone?
Dad sat me down on a park bench, put on the skates and told me he needed to practice a bit. He stepped onto the ice, never fell down, and proceeded to skate forward and backwards. I was mesmerized. I didn't know he could do that. He was really a good skater. I mostly fell down.
After we came home, over hot chocolate, my dad told me about his childhood and how skating was a big part of it. His father, an immigrant from Scotland, made curling stones out of the granite he mined for work. He taught my dad to skate and how to play hockey and curling. It was the only time my father had nice things to say about his father.
As that paternal grandfather also committed suicide (which I didn't know at the time), my maternal grandmother said little but listened intently. After I went up to change my clothes, I heard them talking but couldn't make out the words from upstairs. It was just a murmur of voices with no laughter.
The conversations about suicide were few from that point on. The subject was like skating on thin ice.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories
I don't know why it should surprise me but it still does! A bit ago, I has a comment from Dr. Bill on one of my postings and so I checked out his blog and have been following it. Yesterday, I saw the Tombstone Tuesday posting and went back today to take a closer look at the photo. [Dr. Bill Tells Ancestor Stories blog]
It was a great story and I decided to say so. Well, after leaving my comment, I spied the links on the side of the page and it dawned on me [insert V8 commerical slap to the head here] that Dr. Bill and his wife Nancy are my edtech friend, Dr. Annette Lamb's PARENTS. Wow. I knew they were family historians, too. I should have figured this out at my first visit. Duh!
I know it was the photo of Nancy Smith with the gravestone that shook the cobwebs out of my fuzzy December brain.
Isn't that amazing???????
It was a great story and I decided to say so. Well, after leaving my comment, I spied the links on the side of the page and it dawned on me [insert V8 commerical slap to the head here] that Dr. Bill and his wife Nancy are my edtech friend, Dr. Annette Lamb's PARENTS. Wow. I knew they were family historians, too. I should have figured this out at my first visit. Duh!
I know it was the photo of Nancy Smith with the gravestone that shook the cobwebs out of my fuzzy December brain.
Isn't that amazing???????
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Born and Died in December
Ida Elizabeth BLIVEN was born 26 Dec 1857 and died 11 Dec 1893.
My fellow genea-bloggers are participating in an Advent Blogging Theme this year and although I am enjoying the many, many posts, I chose not to particulate in this event because December is just too busy to try to do anymore than I am already doing.
But, I saw this event of finding out how many persons in your charts have a birthday (like myself and my daughter) in December. I expected to have to work quite hard to generate such information but RootsMagic 4 made this task quite easy and enjoyable. I was glad I stopped working on current projects to learn how to do it.
As a former worker in a hospital, I am acutely aware of the number of people who die in December. But, this one made me pause as Ida died in December of "placenta previa" which means this is a double death as her baby must have also died when she did. How sad for the father and the son they already had! As expected, Edwin Barber married again in the same year, and the first child he had with this new wife, was named after his deceased wife.
My fellow genea-bloggers are participating in an Advent Blogging Theme this year and although I am enjoying the many, many posts, I chose not to particulate in this event because December is just too busy to try to do anymore than I am already doing.
But, I saw this event of finding out how many persons in your charts have a birthday (like myself and my daughter) in December. I expected to have to work quite hard to generate such information but RootsMagic 4 made this task quite easy and enjoyable. I was glad I stopped working on current projects to learn how to do it.
As a former worker in a hospital, I am acutely aware of the number of people who die in December. But, this one made me pause as Ida died in December of "placenta previa" which means this is a double death as her baby must have also died when she did. How sad for the father and the son they already had! As expected, Edwin Barber married again in the same year, and the first child he had with this new wife, was named after his deceased wife.
Tombstone Tuesday 15 Dec 2009 [Peleg & Hannah]
John Almeron CHAMPLIN's parents: Peleg E. CHAMPLIN and his wife Hannah BURDICK.
This four sided granite monument in River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI can be found in Section 23 quite close to my own ancestors Jabez Champlin GARDINER and his wife Eliza BICKNELL. I have not found out why my ancestor bears the name Champlin for his middle name. When I first discovered Jabez's grave, I made note that the other gravestones very close to his are all of the surname CHAMPLIN (and not Gardiner). I'd love to solve this naming convention mystery.
Peleg Everett CHAMPLIN and his wife Hannah BURDICK are one of my aunt Hannah's set of grandparents. Obviously, Hannah is named for this grandmother. This monument is clearly read and contains the persons buried here exact dates of birth and death.
Peleg was born 22 March 1872 in Westerly, Rhode Island. The RI Vital Records do not contain any records for him so I turned to the LDS Web site to see what is recorded there. The dates match and his places of birth and death are listed. The 1900 federal census lists this couple and states they were married in 1895. They live on Seventh St. in Providence, RI with their son John A. CHAMPLIN. This census gives month and year of birth which matches the gravestone. John is 4 years old. Peleg died 19 Apr 1930 in Cranston, RI [LDS record]. As of today, I have not found him in the 1920 census.
Hannah BURDICK was born 12 Jan 1872 in Westerly, RI. She is listed as the granddaughter of Mary BURDICK in the 1880 census along with another granddaughter in a household of Mary's single sons. Who were Hannah's parents? Can we assume that both were dead by 1880?
Apparently, John was the only child that Peleg and Hannah had. She died 7 June 1912.
There's still much work to be done on this couple?
This four sided granite monument in River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI can be found in Section 23 quite close to my own ancestors Jabez Champlin GARDINER and his wife Eliza BICKNELL. I have not found out why my ancestor bears the name Champlin for his middle name. When I first discovered Jabez's grave, I made note that the other gravestones very close to his are all of the surname CHAMPLIN (and not Gardiner). I'd love to solve this naming convention mystery.
Peleg Everett CHAMPLIN and his wife Hannah BURDICK are one of my aunt Hannah's set of grandparents. Obviously, Hannah is named for this grandmother. This monument is clearly read and contains the persons buried here exact dates of birth and death.
Peleg was born 22 March 1872 in Westerly, Rhode Island. The RI Vital Records do not contain any records for him so I turned to the LDS Web site to see what is recorded there. The dates match and his places of birth and death are listed. The 1900 federal census lists this couple and states they were married in 1895. They live on Seventh St. in Providence, RI with their son John A. CHAMPLIN. This census gives month and year of birth which matches the gravestone. John is 4 years old. Peleg died 19 Apr 1930 in Cranston, RI [LDS record]. As of today, I have not found him in the 1920 census.
Hannah BURDICK was born 12 Jan 1872 in Westerly, RI. She is listed as the granddaughter of Mary BURDICK in the 1880 census along with another granddaughter in a household of Mary's single sons. Who were Hannah's parents? Can we assume that both were dead by 1880?
Apparently, John was the only child that Peleg and Hannah had. She died 7 June 1912.
There's still much work to be done on this couple?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Blog Caroling 2009
footnoteMaven, has asked us to blog about our experiences of Christmas Caroling by participating in "blog caroling", so digging out my pitch pipe, I went in search of my little book of Christmas Carols given to me either by my childhood church or elementary school.
It's a charming little book distributed by John Hancock Insurance Company (which makes me think it was given to local churches by a local insurance salesman). There 's no copyright notice and the carols themselves are traditional. Some are dated by the lyrics and music creator. I was amazed at the dates on them and tried to think about my ancestors born/died in those years.
However, this carol, struck a chord with me. In my senior year of high school, I took first year Latin. The teacher was a mentor teacher with many years of experience having studied "the classics" at Brown University. Teaching was her life. She had us learn the words in Latin and much to the annoyance of the classrooms around us (so noisy) she had us practice. She was a great teacher. She told me that going to "teacher's college" was a waste of time and to prove her point made me take over the class for a week. Alas, she was right. I never did teach in the way they planned.
Whenever I hear this carol, I think of her.
It's a charming little book distributed by John Hancock Insurance Company (which makes me think it was given to local churches by a local insurance salesman). There 's no copyright notice and the carols themselves are traditional. Some are dated by the lyrics and music creator. I was amazed at the dates on them and tried to think about my ancestors born/died in those years.
However, this carol, struck a chord with me. In my senior year of high school, I took first year Latin. The teacher was a mentor teacher with many years of experience having studied "the classics" at Brown University. Teaching was her life. She had us learn the words in Latin and much to the annoyance of the classrooms around us (so noisy) she had us practice. She was a great teacher. She told me that going to "teacher's college" was a waste of time and to prove her point made me take over the class for a week. Alas, she was right. I never did teach in the way they planned.
Whenever I hear this carol, I think of her.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Mattie (Boss) CHAMPLIN
Mattie A. BOSS headstone
Hannah's mother, Mattie A. BOSS, also has just the year of her birth and death inscribed on the monument. [1892-1935]
She was the wife of John A. CHAMPLIN
Of course, we have no draft cards to help us out with exact dates! She appears with her husband and daughters in the 1920 and 1930 census. As she died before her husband and left him behind in 1935, we won't find her in the 1940 census when it is released.
Mattie's parents, Albertie BOSS and his wife Robie A. PERRY are also buried here and by the kindness of a person, I have a photo of their gravestone.
Mattie is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Hopkinton, RI
Hannah's mother, Mattie A. BOSS, also has just the year of her birth and death inscribed on the monument. [1892-1935]
She was the wife of John A. CHAMPLIN
Of course, we have no draft cards to help us out with exact dates! She appears with her husband and daughters in the 1920 and 1930 census. As she died before her husband and left him behind in 1935, we won't find her in the 1940 census when it is released.
Mattie's parents, Albertie BOSS and his wife Robie A. PERRY are also buried here and by the kindness of a person, I have a photo of their gravestone.
Mattie is buried at Pine Grove Cemetery, Hopkinton, RI
Friday, December 11, 2009
John Almeron CHAMPLIN
John A. Champlin's headstone
John Almeron CHAMPLIN's monument inscription simply gives the year of his birth and death. [1895-1966] so all we really know is that he was 70 years old at the time of his death.
Fortunately, his WWI and WWII draft cards give the full date of his birth and the location.
He was born in the Olneyville section of Providence on the 12th of August 1895. The 1900 census, taken when he was 4 years old lists his parents as Peleg G. CHAMPLIN and Hannah and in 1910 this is confirmed as he is 14 and with the same parents. Turning to the River Bend Cemetery records we find that the Champlin monument there gives us more about these parents.
The WWI draft card tells us he is living in Richmond, a small town in southern RI, where there were a lot of textile mills and he lists as his occupation as textile worker and he works for the Carolina Company. He is married, is age 21, and living in Alton, RI.
The draft card is not dated but it is in the range of 1917-1918 which sets his date of marriage within those years. His daughter, Hannah was born 3 July 1917. In the 1920 census, he and his wife and daughter are living with his wife's widowed mother and her daughter from her second marriage. They live on River Road in Alton, RI so I am assuming that the house must have belonged to his wife's family or been a "mill house" and belonged to the company. John is a "finisher" at the Richmond Lace Works and his mother-in-law is a "presser" at the Richmond Lace Works.
This location of work and home is significant to the story since my uncle's obituary lists his former employer as the Richmond Lace Works. Uncle Bill and Aunt Hannah lived in this house when I was a child and I remember it well. I think they met by working together.
In 1930, the mother-in-law is not living with them but her daughter is still living there. John and his wife have another daughter, Alberta. She must be named for her grandfather on her mother's side since his name was Albertie Boss! Alberta was born in 1928.
John's WWII draft card confirms the previous information and that he is still working at the lace factory. He has two tattoos; one on each arm. He is 5 foot seven inches, has brown eyes, grey hair and has a ruddy complexion. He is 47 years old and the year is 1942.
The SSDI lists him as dying on 10 Jan 1966 in Alton, RI. This means that it is possible that I have actually met him as he probably spent his last years living with his daughter!
John is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hopkinton, Washington, RI
John Almeron CHAMPLIN's monument inscription simply gives the year of his birth and death. [1895-1966] so all we really know is that he was 70 years old at the time of his death.
Fortunately, his WWI and WWII draft cards give the full date of his birth and the location.
He was born in the Olneyville section of Providence on the 12th of August 1895. The 1900 census, taken when he was 4 years old lists his parents as Peleg G. CHAMPLIN and Hannah and in 1910 this is confirmed as he is 14 and with the same parents. Turning to the River Bend Cemetery records we find that the Champlin monument there gives us more about these parents.
The WWI draft card tells us he is living in Richmond, a small town in southern RI, where there were a lot of textile mills and he lists as his occupation as textile worker and he works for the Carolina Company. He is married, is age 21, and living in Alton, RI.
The draft card is not dated but it is in the range of 1917-1918 which sets his date of marriage within those years. His daughter, Hannah was born 3 July 1917. In the 1920 census, he and his wife and daughter are living with his wife's widowed mother and her daughter from her second marriage. They live on River Road in Alton, RI so I am assuming that the house must have belonged to his wife's family or been a "mill house" and belonged to the company. John is a "finisher" at the Richmond Lace Works and his mother-in-law is a "presser" at the Richmond Lace Works.
This location of work and home is significant to the story since my uncle's obituary lists his former employer as the Richmond Lace Works. Uncle Bill and Aunt Hannah lived in this house when I was a child and I remember it well. I think they met by working together.
In 1930, the mother-in-law is not living with them but her daughter is still living there. John and his wife have another daughter, Alberta. She must be named for her grandfather on her mother's side since his name was Albertie Boss! Alberta was born in 1928.
John's WWII draft card confirms the previous information and that he is still working at the lace factory. He has two tattoos; one on each arm. He is 5 foot seven inches, has brown eyes, grey hair and has a ruddy complexion. He is 47 years old and the year is 1942.
The SSDI lists him as dying on 10 Jan 1966 in Alton, RI. This means that it is possible that I have actually met him as he probably spent his last years living with his daughter!
John is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hopkinton, Washington, RI
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Five Faves
As you can see, 14 minutes after I sent out this tweet, I got a reply from another gene-blogger. In it are listed five favorite interactive family tree Web sites. I am NOT familiar with all of them but I will be soon.
Got Trees?
As you can see by this screen shot of today's tweet, I have been asked to blog about family history in a prominent educator's blog. I thought first, I should see what my genea-blogger friends think about what interactive tree Web sites are usable for "non-genealogical folk".
Within 10 minutes, I had a response. More to follow...
Within 10 minutes, I had a response. More to follow...
Wednesday, December 09, 2009
Shiny Surface
This close-up of the granite gravestone of Hannah T. Champlin's husband (my uncle) and parents demonstrates the challenge faced by gravestone photographers hoping to get a readable but visually pleasing photo.
Scott Bill Hirst did a great job even though he had not done this before and was using his first digital camera. [Applause]
Classically, this shows how an inscription added to an existing surface of polished granite can look different. When a date is added later to this stone even that will stand out further. This can help a genealogist determine in what order the stone was inscribed. As you know many people have monuments pre-inscribed with everything except the date of death.
The information added here matches the oral and written history I took many years ago from Hannah. She carefully recorded her name, place and dates and marriage for herself and for her husband.
Next, she recorded her parents names and dates. She wrote that her father's middle name was Almeron. I wondered if it was a family surname or a place but my research has yet to confirm any of these thoughts. She also told me she had a sister and gave me her name. She is a sharp cookie and was very interested in what I was doing and why. That was great for me to hear.
She even shared via snail mail a letter she received from a library in Scotland about the origin of the name Broadfoot. Women are not always interested in their husband's name even though they use it for many years beyond their birth surname! You can see why having a photo of her gravestone was important to me.
Scott Bill Hirst did a great job even though he had not done this before and was using his first digital camera. [Applause]
Classically, this shows how an inscription added to an existing surface of polished granite can look different. When a date is added later to this stone even that will stand out further. This can help a genealogist determine in what order the stone was inscribed. As you know many people have monuments pre-inscribed with everything except the date of death.
The information added here matches the oral and written history I took many years ago from Hannah. She carefully recorded her name, place and dates and marriage for herself and for her husband.
Next, she recorded her parents names and dates. She wrote that her father's middle name was Almeron. I wondered if it was a family surname or a place but my research has yet to confirm any of these thoughts. She also told me she had a sister and gave me her name. She is a sharp cookie and was very interested in what I was doing and why. That was great for me to hear.
She even shared via snail mail a letter she received from a library in Scotland about the origin of the name Broadfoot. Women are not always interested in their husband's name even though they use it for many years beyond their birth surname! You can see why having a photo of her gravestone was important to me.
Hannah and Heather
Wordless Wednesday: Hannah T. Champlin Broadfoot holding Heather Anne Frazel.
Photo dated: 25 Nov 1976 [Thanksgiving Day]
Photo dated: 25 Nov 1976 [Thanksgiving Day]
Monday, December 07, 2009
Tombstone Tuesday: Champlin-Broadfoot
Tombstone Tuesday 8 Dec 2009
The is the inscribed side of the granite monument for my Aunt Hannah and Uncle Bill. Hannah chose to have Uncle Bill buried with her parents in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hopkinton, RI. When the time comes she will rest here in this lovely, well kept cemetery in the town of Hopkinton, RI not far from where she grew up and lived with my Uncle Bill on River Road in Alton, RI
Uncle Bill's parents (my grandparents), brother (my father) and his two sisters are all buried in the Broadfoot plot in Section 60 at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI.
I will blog more about these people in tomorrow's post.
Photo taken by Scott Bill Hirst of Ashaway, RI
The is the inscribed side of the granite monument for my Aunt Hannah and Uncle Bill. Hannah chose to have Uncle Bill buried with her parents in Pine Grove Cemetery in Hopkinton, RI. When the time comes she will rest here in this lovely, well kept cemetery in the town of Hopkinton, RI not far from where she grew up and lived with my Uncle Bill on River Road in Alton, RI
Uncle Bill's parents (my grandparents), brother (my father) and his two sisters are all buried in the Broadfoot plot in Section 60 at River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI.
I will blog more about these people in tomorrow's post.
Photo taken by Scott Bill Hirst of Ashaway, RI
Hannah T. CHAMPLIN
This is the headstone which will mark the burial of my aunt Hannah. She is still living.
It is a good idea for people to plan their gravestones/headstones ahead of time if they will have few living descendants.
This headstone is at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hopkinton, RI. It is a large cemetery with two separate sections off two streets!
Photo taken by Scott Bill Hirst of Ashaway, RI
It is a good idea for people to plan their gravestones/headstones ahead of time if they will have few living descendants.
This headstone is at Pine Grove Cemetery in Hopkinton, RI. It is a large cemetery with two separate sections off two streets!
Photo taken by Scott Bill Hirst of Ashaway, RI
Sunday, December 06, 2009
Rudolph's Nose
Last year, I blogged about my mother's door decorations. My husband said, "Hey let's wire up the reindeer's nose!" What a great idea.
Here's the cheerful result.
Here's the cheerful result.
Saturday, December 05, 2009
Pine Grove Cemetery Sign
For the next few days, I thought it would be nice to focus on the family of my only living aunt, Hannah T. CHAMPLIN, widow of William BROADFOOT. Aunt Hannah is still living and although she is no longer living independently she remains as sharp as she was when I was in my twenties and started to interview my father's family.
I designed my own interview form, handwritten on notebook paper and armed with pens and pencils gathered together my aunts and asked them to fill it out for themselves and my uncles. I still have those papers and have more than once gone back and examined what is written there.
I was unsure as to how to locate the cemetery where my uncle is buried so I enlisted the help of Scott Bill Hirst of Ashaway, RI. He found the gravesite and following my directions, photographed the cemetery sign and each grave in the plot. This was the first time he had done any gravestone photography and he did an excellent job. He also wrote directions on how to find the cemetery and the section.
This is where the story begins....
I designed my own interview form, handwritten on notebook paper and armed with pens and pencils gathered together my aunts and asked them to fill it out for themselves and my uncles. I still have those papers and have more than once gone back and examined what is written there.
I was unsure as to how to locate the cemetery where my uncle is buried so I enlisted the help of Scott Bill Hirst of Ashaway, RI. He found the gravesite and following my directions, photographed the cemetery sign and each grave in the plot. This was the first time he had done any gravestone photography and he did an excellent job. He also wrote directions on how to find the cemetery and the section.
This is where the story begins....
Friday, December 04, 2009
Happy Birthday
You Can Go Home Again! Use City Directories....
This is a photo of the only birthday party I had as a child. Having a December birthday has always annoyed me. People actually have given me Christmas decorations for my birthday gift. I read somewhere that if this happens to you, you should go right out and buy a decoration for that gift giver and give it to them for their spring, summer or fall birthdays until they get the message.
Sadly, I have lost track of three of the little girls in this photograph. All of them were neighborhood friends. The "bigger" little girl is my Facebook friend, Linda Worcester Chappell who lives in California. She tells me she remembers this party. I do remember this dress and that my mother fixed my ponytailed hair with a bow. Hey, I am only 7 years old (it is 1954). Fashion was different then.
I have no idea why my mother is opening my gifts. She loved parties. I love being alone, doing what I like to do without doing what others tell me I should be doing. I am 62 today and plan to do exactly what I want all day. [Pout!]
I have studied the Cranston, Rhode Island City Directories [via Ancestry.com] for my old neighborhood (and of that of my grandparents too) They are a real genealogical treasure. It lists the parents names of these little girls. One of these girls had a terrible family. They moved out in the middle of the night. Twenty years later, the neighbors were still talking about it.
Oddly, my parents are not listed in the 1950 directory even though they bought the house and moved into it in September of 1947. ( I found the title to the house after my parents died!) The rest of the years listed, are a fascinating look at life in a neighborhood plat where all the houses were built within two years. They even put a tiny telephone symbol next to the houses that had telephones. How antique!
This is a photo of the only birthday party I had as a child. Having a December birthday has always annoyed me. People actually have given me Christmas decorations for my birthday gift. I read somewhere that if this happens to you, you should go right out and buy a decoration for that gift giver and give it to them for their spring, summer or fall birthdays until they get the message.
Sadly, I have lost track of three of the little girls in this photograph. All of them were neighborhood friends. The "bigger" little girl is my Facebook friend, Linda Worcester Chappell who lives in California. She tells me she remembers this party. I do remember this dress and that my mother fixed my ponytailed hair with a bow. Hey, I am only 7 years old (it is 1954). Fashion was different then.
I have no idea why my mother is opening my gifts. She loved parties. I love being alone, doing what I like to do without doing what others tell me I should be doing. I am 62 today and plan to do exactly what I want all day. [Pout!]
I have studied the Cranston, Rhode Island City Directories [via Ancestry.com] for my old neighborhood (and of that of my grandparents too) They are a real genealogical treasure. It lists the parents names of these little girls. One of these girls had a terrible family. They moved out in the middle of the night. Twenty years later, the neighbors were still talking about it.
Oddly, my parents are not listed in the 1950 directory even though they bought the house and moved into it in September of 1947. ( I found the title to the house after my parents died!) The rest of the years listed, are a fascinating look at life in a neighborhood plat where all the houses were built within two years. They even put a tiny telephone symbol next to the houses that had telephones. How antique!
Thursday, December 03, 2009
The Final Resting Place
GYR Carnival January 2010 "Final Resting Place"
This is a very interesting topic for the start of the new year for the Graveyard Rabbits and I am finding that I have had to give it a lot of thought before I selected a photo and blog my ideas. This is what it is proposed that we blog about:
"In today's mobile society, does one choose a place near where they last lived? Or do they return to the place of their roots? Do they rest in a family plot? If so, and if married, whose family plot? How has the determination of the final resting place changed between the time of our ancestors and now?"
Traditionally, my family has been buried with their family or in a location that is not too far from family. I have been able to figure out where they were resting either through locations they lived or from notes in my family records. My parents chose their own burial location, paid for the plot and put up the headstone. All I had to do was enter the years of death. Just that alone was hard enough. [Are you nodding in agreement, dear reader?]
My in-laws have chosen to be cremated and those ashes discarded. They are in their middle nineties. I am wondering how this is going to go when my husband's brothers find this out. I am still trying to find out exactly where the other generations are buried in their family! We have been to the right cemetery and walked around for quite some time and not located the plot. Apparently, psychic roots only works with finding your own family gravestones as I can't find his?
I have not decided about my own final resting place because I am planning to move away from where I am now. I do wish to be cremated. The last person to be buried in a coffin was my grandfather in 1955 and those following him have chosen cremation. Most of the women are buried with their husbands in their family plots. The graves are inconsistently marked with maiden or married names, right down to my own mother who didn't want her maiden name on her gravestone.
I am in the process of recording the exact location of burial of my parents and grandparents for my family records. I have been taking photos, like the one here to help them find the right spot. This photo is where my parents, my godparents, my aunt and uncle and my paternal grandparents are buried. Oddly, at the end of the plot near the tree is my maternal great-grandparents with their daughter, son, daughter in law and young granddaughter. I am always been amazed that in this huge cemetery, they are also buried in section 60!
This is a very interesting topic for the start of the new year for the Graveyard Rabbits and I am finding that I have had to give it a lot of thought before I selected a photo and blog my ideas. This is what it is proposed that we blog about:
"In today's mobile society, does one choose a place near where they last lived? Or do they return to the place of their roots? Do they rest in a family plot? If so, and if married, whose family plot? How has the determination of the final resting place changed between the time of our ancestors and now?"
Traditionally, my family has been buried with their family or in a location that is not too far from family. I have been able to figure out where they were resting either through locations they lived or from notes in my family records. My parents chose their own burial location, paid for the plot and put up the headstone. All I had to do was enter the years of death. Just that alone was hard enough. [Are you nodding in agreement, dear reader?]
My in-laws have chosen to be cremated and those ashes discarded. They are in their middle nineties. I am wondering how this is going to go when my husband's brothers find this out. I am still trying to find out exactly where the other generations are buried in their family! We have been to the right cemetery and walked around for quite some time and not located the plot. Apparently, psychic roots only works with finding your own family gravestones as I can't find his?
I have not decided about my own final resting place because I am planning to move away from where I am now. I do wish to be cremated. The last person to be buried in a coffin was my grandfather in 1955 and those following him have chosen cremation. Most of the women are buried with their husbands in their family plots. The graves are inconsistently marked with maiden or married names, right down to my own mother who didn't want her maiden name on her gravestone.
I am in the process of recording the exact location of burial of my parents and grandparents for my family records. I have been taking photos, like the one here to help them find the right spot. This photo is where my parents, my godparents, my aunt and uncle and my paternal grandparents are buried. Oddly, at the end of the plot near the tree is my maternal great-grandparents with their daughter, son, daughter in law and young granddaughter. I am always been amazed that in this huge cemetery, they are also buried in section 60!
Belton Allyn BURROWS
Dr. BURROWS, WWII veteran.
Second Row, Middle Section [Grave #19 Photo # 3028]
Belton Allyn BURROW's gravestone is rich with information about him, his wife and service to his country in World War II.
Dr. BURROWS was born 3 Mar 1918 in the Poquonock Bridge section of Groton, CT. His father was Judge Warren BURROWS and his wife Emily A. COPP. He was educated at Phillips Academy, Yale University (1937), Columbia University (1943). Dr. BURROWS was a Captain in France during WWII and a member of the Episcopal church. He died 18 Nov 2007. His wife is still living.
New information (thanks to a reader) lists 6 children. This information is probably from an obit:
"Dr. Belton is survived and will be sorely missed by his wife
of 64 years, Dorinda McKenzie (Bell) and his six children,
Calvin B. Burrows, Warren B. Burrows, M.D., Ellen Bur-
rows, Emily A. Burrows, Sarah M. Burrows, and B. Allyn
Burrows, Jr. and 12 grandchildren. "
He married Dorinda on 6 Nov 1943 in New York City and they haveseven six children.
[Source: Burrows genealogy p. 160]
[Obit: Mary Emerson-Smith]
Second Row, Middle Section [Grave #19 Photo # 3028]
Belton Allyn BURROW's gravestone is rich with information about him, his wife and service to his country in World War II.
Dr. BURROWS was born 3 Mar 1918 in the Poquonock Bridge section of Groton, CT. His father was Judge Warren BURROWS and his wife Emily A. COPP. He was educated at Phillips Academy, Yale University (1937), Columbia University (1943). Dr. BURROWS was a Captain in France during WWII and a member of the Episcopal church. He died 18 Nov 2007. His wife is still living.
New information (thanks to a reader) lists 6 children. This information is probably from an obit:
"Dr. Belton is survived and will be sorely missed by his wife
of 64 years, Dorinda McKenzie (Bell) and his six children,
Calvin B. Burrows, Warren B. Burrows, M.D., Ellen Bur-
rows, Emily A. Burrows, Sarah M. Burrows, and B. Allyn
Burrows, Jr. and 12 grandchildren. "
He married Dorinda on 6 Nov 1943 in New York City and they have
[Source: Burrows genealogy p. 160]
[Obit: Mary Emerson-Smith]
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
The Gift of Bathrobes
Smile for the Camera 19th edition: "Gift"
I will be the first to admit that in our long, dark New England winters, I am prone to get into my pj's, slippers and bathrobe as soon as supper is over and the dishwasher is chugging away. Honestly, when it gets dark here starting at 3:15, I am ready for bed. I would be a good candidate for hibernation. Wake me when it is springtime.
As a young child, I received a gift of new pjs or a bathrobe to be worn Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. This is a photo of my favorite bathrobe which I am wearing just to have my photo taken. It is Christmas 1960 and I am in the 8th grade and yes, I still love my stuffed animals.
I continued this tradition of buying new pjs for my daughter until recently and I think that next year, Anthony will be getting new Pjs for Christmas from me, his Grammie. Of course, that means I will need to buy new ones for me too. Maybe I can get ones that match his? Don't laugh.
Excuse me now while, I go put on my bathrobe. Oh, it is only 12:50 PM. Darn.
I will be the first to admit that in our long, dark New England winters, I am prone to get into my pj's, slippers and bathrobe as soon as supper is over and the dishwasher is chugging away. Honestly, when it gets dark here starting at 3:15, I am ready for bed. I would be a good candidate for hibernation. Wake me when it is springtime.
As a young child, I received a gift of new pjs or a bathrobe to be worn Christmas Eve and Christmas morning. This is a photo of my favorite bathrobe which I am wearing just to have my photo taken. It is Christmas 1960 and I am in the 8th grade and yes, I still love my stuffed animals.
I continued this tradition of buying new pjs for my daughter until recently and I think that next year, Anthony will be getting new Pjs for Christmas from me, his Grammie. Of course, that means I will need to buy new ones for me too. Maybe I can get ones that match his? Don't laugh.
Excuse me now while, I go put on my bathrobe. Oh, it is only 12:50 PM. Darn.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Lovely Lady
Tombstone Tuesday 1 Dec 2009
This lovely female holding a wreath adorns the top of the HOXIE monument. The monument is surrounded by many headstones with names and dates on them. It is a typical setting in a garden cemetery like the beautiful Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT.
This lady watches over her family and probably has a great view of the water and Mystic Seaport.
This lovely female holding a wreath adorns the top of the HOXIE monument. The monument is surrounded by many headstones with names and dates on them. It is a typical setting in a garden cemetery like the beautiful Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT.
This lady watches over her family and probably has a great view of the water and Mystic Seaport.
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