Henry Harrington Broadfoot, son and oldest child of James and Lillian (Harrington) Broadfoot is buried with his parents at the River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, RI.
Henry was a research scientist at MIT and I have located two papers he co-authored about chemistry and textiles. My father said he was the smartest Broadfoot!
Henry's WWII draft card gives his birth date as 28 June 1893 and place as Cambridge, MA but in the 1900 census he and his family are living in Vermont. They have moved to Westerly, RI by 1910 and Henry lives there until 1920 when he moves to Warwick, RI. In 1930, he lives in New Bedford, MA and he probably died there a single man in 1966.
Henry and both his sisters never marry or have children and so ends this line of Broadfoots.
Friday, January 30, 2009
Thursday, January 29, 2009
James T. BROADFOOT
James T. Broadfoot, brother to Thomas A. Broadfoot and son of Thomas Broadfoot and Margaret Harcomb was born 21 June 1865 in Creetown, Kirkcudbright, Scotland and died in 1915 in Westerly, Washington, RI. He is buried in the Broadfoot section (section 9) of River Bend Cemetery, in Westerly, RI. His brother Thomas and his family are buried in the section too.
At age 15, James in living with his family in Urr. Kirkcudbright, Scotland [1881 Scotland census] and is already working as a general laborer. He and his brother William are the only children left at home. The 1891 Scottish census lists him at 25 living at home with his parents and brother William but the 1900 census in the US lists his year of immigration as 1890 and the 1910 census in the US lists his year of immigration as 1888! The 1900 census lists his year of marriage to Lillian as 1893.
What motivated James to leave home and travel to America must have been his brother Thoams A. Broadfoot who was already established here in business in Westerly, RI. James's gravestone tells us that he lived longer than his brother Tom.
James has a Masonic symbol on his gravestone and must have belonged to the local Masonic Lodge for the area of Pawcatuck (CT) and Westerly (RI).
At age 15, James in living with his family in Urr. Kirkcudbright, Scotland [1881 Scotland census] and is already working as a general laborer. He and his brother William are the only children left at home. The 1891 Scottish census lists him at 25 living at home with his parents and brother William but the 1900 census in the US lists his year of immigration as 1890 and the 1910 census in the US lists his year of immigration as 1888! The 1900 census lists his year of marriage to Lillian as 1893.
What motivated James to leave home and travel to America must have been his brother Thoams A. Broadfoot who was already established here in business in Westerly, RI. James's gravestone tells us that he lived longer than his brother Tom.
James has a Masonic symbol on his gravestone and must have belonged to the local Masonic Lodge for the area of Pawcatuck (CT) and Westerly (RI).
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Brad Jencks, Digital Storyteller
Today, I learned about teenager, Brad Jencks, who for his Eagle Scout Project, who put family history, good research skills and multimedia to good use. His digital story, hosted by RootsWeb Television, is inspirational. [Thanks Lee Drew of FamHist]
Watch his digital story!
Watch his digital story!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Gerda PETERSON
Gerda Peterson, wife of William A. Broadfoot was born 20 Jan 1890 probably in Warwick, RI. It is not clear who her parents were but they were probably Swedish immigrants. Gerda outlived her husband and she died 16 Aug 1961.
William A. Broadfoot and Gerda Peterson had one daughter whose name was Agnes and she was born in 1924. There is a passenger list that shows Gerda and her married daughter traveling back to the US from Southampton, England.
William A. Broadfoot and Gerda Peterson had one daughter whose name was Agnes and she was born in 1924. There is a passenger list that shows Gerda and her married daughter traveling back to the US from Southampton, England.
Monday, January 26, 2009
Lillian M. HARRINGTON
Lillian M. Harrington, wife of James T. Broadfoot was born in Vermont in 1868. At the ages of 2 and 12 [1870 and 1880 census], she is listed with her parents Alden Harrington and wife Sarah Angelina Mason living in Walden, Caledonia VT. The 1900 census says she was married to James in 1893 and they live in Barre, VT. In 1910 they live in Westerly, RI. In 1915, her husband dies and in 1920 she lives with her unmarried son in Warwick, RI. Lillian is buried next to her husband James at River Bend Cemetery.
Children were: Henry H. Broadfoot (1893-1966), Mary (1896-1936) and Lillian (1906-1964)
Children were: Henry H. Broadfoot (1893-1966), Mary (1896-1936) and Lillian (1906-1964)
William A. BROADFOOT
William Alan Broadfoot, son of Thomas A. Broadfoot and his wife Annie Ferguson was born 19 Oct 1892 and died 11 May 1957. Born in Westerly, Washington, RI, William is listed with his parents and siblings on the 1900 and 1910 census.
In 1911, the Westerly City Directory lists him as a driver for a business at 8 Canal St. where it looks like he may have been delivering bakery goods for the company his mother works for as a Annie Broadfoot is listed there as a baker. This is the year his father died and so his mother may have needed the income.
William's draft card for 1917 (WWI), lists his employer as Bradford Dyeing Association, a company that still is in operation today. [My father and my uncle were both employed there at one time and the company was founded in 1911.] William is still single as of that time as he is at the time of the 1920 census at age 28.
In the 1930 census, he has married Gerda Peterson, and has a daughter but they live in Jewett City, New London, CT. He is listed in passenger records in 1936 and 1940 with his wife and in 1942 (WWII) he is listed as continuing to live and work in CT.
William died in 1957 and is buried with his parents, wife and daughter in River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Washington, RI.
In 1911, the Westerly City Directory lists him as a driver for a business at 8 Canal St. where it looks like he may have been delivering bakery goods for the company his mother works for as a Annie Broadfoot is listed there as a baker. This is the year his father died and so his mother may have needed the income.
William's draft card for 1917 (WWI), lists his employer as Bradford Dyeing Association, a company that still is in operation today. [My father and my uncle were both employed there at one time and the company was founded in 1911.] William is still single as of that time as he is at the time of the 1920 census at age 28.
In the 1930 census, he has married Gerda Peterson, and has a daughter but they live in Jewett City, New London, CT. He is listed in passenger records in 1936 and 1940 with his wife and in 1942 (WWII) he is listed as continuing to live and work in CT.
William died in 1957 and is buried with his parents, wife and daughter in River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Washington, RI.
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Hugh BROADFOOT
This is the gravestone of infant Hugh Broadfoot, son of Thomas A. Broadfoot and his wife Annie M. Ferguson. The River Bend Cemetery book lists him as being Thomas A. Broadfoot's son but gives no dates.
Hugh is not listed in the 1900 census as being alive, so he must be the child not living in his mother's record in the census. I am guessing he was born in 1890 or 1891 after his brother Josiah F. Broadfoot [born in 1899] and before his brother William [born in 1892] both of whom are listed in the 1900 census with their family.
Hugh is not listed in the 1900 census as being alive, so he must be the child not living in his mother's record in the census. I am guessing he was born in 1890 or 1891 after his brother Josiah F. Broadfoot [born in 1899] and before his brother William [born in 1892] both of whom are listed in the 1900 census with their family.
Saturday, January 24, 2009
Annie H. FERGUSON
Annie H. Ferguson, wife of Thomas A. Broadfoot, was born in Dumfries, Scotland [passport application] came to America in 1887 and lived her married life in Westerly. She obtained a passport in 1919 to travel back to Scotland to see her ailing and aged parents who are not named. However there is a photo of her taken for the passport.
Her gravestone lists her dates of birth [30 Oct 1863] and her death [9 May 1945].
In 1900, Annie Ferguson Broadfoot is listed with 6 children but only 5 living so this probably means that baby Hugh was the child who lived and died in this time period. In 1910, she is listed with 8 children, 6 living.
Her son, Josiah F. Broadfoot the WWI hero who died in France and is buried there died in 1918. Son Howard was born in 1904. Daughter Agnes is listed in the 1900 and 1910 census and has no dates in the River Bend Cemetery Book. Notes from my family interview say she died in 1918 but that is not a proven fact as her gravestone lists only her first name.
Annie (Ferguson) Broadfoot lived in Westerly until about 1930 when she is listed in the census living in Providence, RI with her youngest child, Howard. C. Broadfoot who at the time was unmarried. He married Eliza Bell Button after this date but it is not known if there were any children.
Her gravestone lists her dates of birth [30 Oct 1863] and her death [9 May 1945].
In 1900, Annie Ferguson Broadfoot is listed with 6 children but only 5 living so this probably means that baby Hugh was the child who lived and died in this time period. In 1910, she is listed with 8 children, 6 living.
Her son, Josiah F. Broadfoot the WWI hero who died in France and is buried there died in 1918. Son Howard was born in 1904. Daughter Agnes is listed in the 1900 and 1910 census and has no dates in the River Bend Cemetery Book. Notes from my family interview say she died in 1918 but that is not a proven fact as her gravestone lists only her first name.
Annie (Ferguson) Broadfoot lived in Westerly until about 1930 when she is listed in the census living in Providence, RI with her youngest child, Howard. C. Broadfoot who at the time was unmarried. He married Eliza Bell Button after this date but it is not known if there were any children.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Thomas A. BROADFOOT
Thomas4 A. BROADFOOT (Thomas3, John2, David1) was the fourth child, third son born to Thomas Broadfoot and his wife Margaret Harcomb Broadfoot. [Thomas was my great grand uncle]
This grave tells us he was born Nov. 11, 1862 and died March 8, 1911. This stone is a lovely white color and is rough on all but one side. The location and the dates are correct in Brown's River Bend Cemetery Book.
Tom was born in Creetown, Kirkcudbright, Scotland [1881 Scotland Census] He was the first of his siblings to arrive in America. He came into the port of New York at Castle Garden. His occupation is listed as mason [was an apprentice hewer at 18 in 1881] and he was 20 years old on 2 April 1883 when he sailed from Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland to New York. His passenger list is brief but it looks like it says 2 under the heading steerage. I found this record both at Ancestry.com in the NY Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 and confirmed it at the Castle Garden Web site. Tom's 1900 and 1910 census records both state he came here in 1883.
Luckily for me, Westerly RI has excellent city directories for me to search (at Ancestry.com) to add to the information in the 1900 and 1910 census records of Thomas and his family in Westerly, RI. But, the best piece of information is that Thomas was a monument maker being owner [1901-1902 city directory] with Faverio in the Westerly & Niantic Monument Works.
Thomas married in 1888, Annie Ferguson who arrived here the year before in 1887. Both the 1900 and 1910 census list his status as a naturalized citizen. In his later years, this Thomas was the one that other Broadfoot men who came to America listed as the person they were "going to see".
Learn more about Thomas in the blog post for his wife, Annie.
This grave tells us he was born Nov. 11, 1862 and died March 8, 1911. This stone is a lovely white color and is rough on all but one side. The location and the dates are correct in Brown's River Bend Cemetery Book.
Tom was born in Creetown, Kirkcudbright, Scotland [1881 Scotland Census] He was the first of his siblings to arrive in America. He came into the port of New York at Castle Garden. His occupation is listed as mason [was an apprentice hewer at 18 in 1881] and he was 20 years old on 2 April 1883 when he sailed from Liverpool, England and Queenstown, Ireland to New York. His passenger list is brief but it looks like it says 2 under the heading steerage. I found this record both at Ancestry.com in the NY Passenger Lists, 1820-1957 and confirmed it at the Castle Garden Web site. Tom's 1900 and 1910 census records both state he came here in 1883.
Luckily for me, Westerly RI has excellent city directories for me to search (at Ancestry.com) to add to the information in the 1900 and 1910 census records of Thomas and his family in Westerly, RI. But, the best piece of information is that Thomas was a monument maker being owner [1901-1902 city directory] with Faverio in the Westerly & Niantic Monument Works.
Thomas married in 1888, Annie Ferguson who arrived here the year before in 1887. Both the 1900 and 1910 census list his status as a naturalized citizen. In his later years, this Thomas was the one that other Broadfoot men who came to America listed as the person they were "going to see".
Learn more about Thomas in the blog post for his wife, Annie.
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Back in Scotland
After many years of working with family members and doing research (a for-pay Web site) at Scotland's People, I can say that I may never know more than I do today about my Broadfoot ancestors in Scotland. I am amused at the fable that the name Braidfute comes from Marion Braidfute, the wife or mistress of William Wallace. Isn't that fun?
In reality, I only can go back to David Broadfoot who was born about 1785 and his wife Jane who were the parents of John Broadfoot (1808-1880). John married a woman named Mary Reynolds of either England or Ireland (census records differ). They had three sons and a daughter, and all I know is dates of birth for these four so far except for their son Thomas, who is my ancestor.
Their son Thomas is the ancestor of interest as I have managed (with some expense) to find out his birth and death and his marriage to Margaret Harcomb. I sent to Scotland for their marriage record and discovered they were married on 7 Nov 1851. [my husband and I were married on 6 November in 1971]. It is nice to have a certified marriage record for the first names I had in my hand drawn chart from when I was in my 20s.
When you can find them, and afford the expensive searching, the records from Scotland are wonderful and put our USA records to shame. People were obviously expected to know a lot about their dead parents since as maiden names, dates of birth and even dates of marriage. I love the names of their occupations. [one of mine? cottar]
As my father's name was Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot, you can see why I know I have been on the right trail. But, I didn't know who was the first Broadfoot in this family to come to America! As usual, it took the gravestones to motivate me to find this out.
Thomas Broadfoot (1829-1899) and his wife Margaret Harcomb (1832-1922) lived in Alpine Cottage in Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. They had seven children and perhaps others that died in infancy. Their children range in birth dates from 1853 to 1871. Margaret outlived Thomas, who was both an agricultural laborer, and a quarry worker. At one time, they lived in a house that had three rooms with more than one window! [census records offer information we think is funny today]
Judging from passenger and census records, their son Thomas was the first of their family to leave Scotland for America. He left behind his brother John (the oldest) who was my great-grandfather. I know that John lived there his whole life.
It is amazing to me that I have actually found this out. My maternal ancestors came to America was early as the 1620s and I know more about them than all the people combined in this Broadfoot family!
But, for now, this story of granite cutters in America begins with Thomas A. Broadfoot....
In reality, I only can go back to David Broadfoot who was born about 1785 and his wife Jane who were the parents of John Broadfoot (1808-1880). John married a woman named Mary Reynolds of either England or Ireland (census records differ). They had three sons and a daughter, and all I know is dates of birth for these four so far except for their son Thomas, who is my ancestor.
Their son Thomas is the ancestor of interest as I have managed (with some expense) to find out his birth and death and his marriage to Margaret Harcomb. I sent to Scotland for their marriage record and discovered they were married on 7 Nov 1851. [my husband and I were married on 6 November in 1971]. It is nice to have a certified marriage record for the first names I had in my hand drawn chart from when I was in my 20s.
When you can find them, and afford the expensive searching, the records from Scotland are wonderful and put our USA records to shame. People were obviously expected to know a lot about their dead parents since as maiden names, dates of birth and even dates of marriage. I love the names of their occupations. [one of mine? cottar]
As my father's name was Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot, you can see why I know I have been on the right trail. But, I didn't know who was the first Broadfoot in this family to come to America! As usual, it took the gravestones to motivate me to find this out.
Thomas Broadfoot (1829-1899) and his wife Margaret Harcomb (1832-1922) lived in Alpine Cottage in Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbright, Scotland. They had seven children and perhaps others that died in infancy. Their children range in birth dates from 1853 to 1871. Margaret outlived Thomas, who was both an agricultural laborer, and a quarry worker. At one time, they lived in a house that had three rooms with more than one window! [census records offer information we think is funny today]
Judging from passenger and census records, their son Thomas was the first of their family to leave Scotland for America. He left behind his brother John (the oldest) who was my great-grandfather. I know that John lived there his whole life.
It is amazing to me that I have actually found this out. My maternal ancestors came to America was early as the 1620s and I know more about them than all the people combined in this Broadfoot family!
But, for now, this story of granite cutters in America begins with Thomas A. Broadfoot....
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
River Bend Cemetery Book
Of the utmost importance to my ancestral and gravestone research is a spiral bound, self-published book by Mr. Dwight C. Brown, Jr. and his wife Anna Riley Brown of Westerly, RI. These researchers are still living in Westerly, RI.
River Bend is a large, garden style cemetery in what is known as South County RI, which is not a county at all, but a part of Washington County in southern RI near the CT border. This area was originally called Kings County. Both my immigrant Scottish ancestors and many of my Rhode Island ancestors (including my parents) are buried here.
As chance would have it, a visit to the cemetery office by a man (who is no relation but was performing a RAOGK for me) who walks this peaceful resting place, emailed me that the office told him that he should get the "Brown book" to help him locate any burials.
Hence the dilemma, is the book "brown in color" or was the "person who wrote it named Brown"? Hmmm, food for thought. I picked up the telephone and called a relative who lives in this town. She knew right away what it meant and actually knew the man!
She called him on the phone and he told her he only had one copy of Vol. 1 left to sell. With my OK, she drove over and paid him for it. I immediately sent off a check plus some "lunch money" for her trouble. She said it was very interesting to her so I let her keep it a few weeks to do family lookups and then she mailed it to me.
This is a cropped photo of one page. This is a copyrighted book, written in 1993 and I respect Mr. Brown's right to it. I am showing you this sample section to show you how valuable it can be to researchers. Notice the headings at the top of the page which helps define the names, birth and death dates, section where buried and a relationship if known.
Inside the cover is a history of the cemetery. It's a real genealogical treasure and I don't know what I would do without it!
For the next few blog posts, you will travel with me to Section 9 where some of the Broadfoot family is resting. With the aid of this book, the gravestone photos, census and city directories and of course passenger lists, together we will find out about this immigrant family from Scotland.
Thank you, Mr. Brown!
River Bend is a large, garden style cemetery in what is known as South County RI, which is not a county at all, but a part of Washington County in southern RI near the CT border. This area was originally called Kings County. Both my immigrant Scottish ancestors and many of my Rhode Island ancestors (including my parents) are buried here.
As chance would have it, a visit to the cemetery office by a man (who is no relation but was performing a RAOGK for me) who walks this peaceful resting place, emailed me that the office told him that he should get the "Brown book" to help him locate any burials.
Hence the dilemma, is the book "brown in color" or was the "person who wrote it named Brown"? Hmmm, food for thought. I picked up the telephone and called a relative who lives in this town. She knew right away what it meant and actually knew the man!
She called him on the phone and he told her he only had one copy of Vol. 1 left to sell. With my OK, she drove over and paid him for it. I immediately sent off a check plus some "lunch money" for her trouble. She said it was very interesting to her so I let her keep it a few weeks to do family lookups and then she mailed it to me.
This is a cropped photo of one page. This is a copyrighted book, written in 1993 and I respect Mr. Brown's right to it. I am showing you this sample section to show you how valuable it can be to researchers. Notice the headings at the top of the page which helps define the names, birth and death dates, section where buried and a relationship if known.
Inside the cover is a history of the cemetery. It's a real genealogical treasure and I don't know what I would do without it!
For the next few blog posts, you will travel with me to Section 9 where some of the Broadfoot family is resting. With the aid of this book, the gravestone photos, census and city directories and of course passenger lists, together we will find out about this immigrant family from Scotland.
Thank you, Mr. Brown!
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Broadfoot Monument
For the next few posts, my Broadfoot family will be the subject. Broadfoot is my maiden name and I started researching my Scottish family when I was in my early twenties. I learned the value of oral history with this family; discovering that the generation before me did not know all of the answers!
My father and my aunt spent a lot of time helping me puzzle out the generations before then and quickly decided that we should travel to Massachusetts to see Great Auntie Peg who could tell us more. I was so surprised to learn that I had a great aunt that I had never seen! She was delightful. I remember that she had siblings back in Scotland that she had never seen and knew little about. I still have a hard time imagining having family I didn't know about. She seemed sad but accepted this fact of her life.
This is the lovely monument for the Broadfoot family in Section 9 of the River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. Here rest family members that I never knew. My father listened to stories about them; this much he told me. I wouldn't know about them if I had not started working on this branch of my tree early in my own life.
I took a course in Scottish genealogy online and it was a wonderful experience. The instructor, David Webster, lives in Scotland and was very intrigued by the surname Broadfoot. He was a huge help finding records for me and tracing this line back as far as we ever think it will go. In turn, I helped him with some technology skills. What a team we were. I still use the Scotland's People Web site and hope someday to be able to find out more about this interesting family of stonecutters.
My father and my aunt spent a lot of time helping me puzzle out the generations before then and quickly decided that we should travel to Massachusetts to see Great Auntie Peg who could tell us more. I was so surprised to learn that I had a great aunt that I had never seen! She was delightful. I remember that she had siblings back in Scotland that she had never seen and knew little about. I still have a hard time imagining having family I didn't know about. She seemed sad but accepted this fact of her life.
This is the lovely monument for the Broadfoot family in Section 9 of the River Bend Cemetery in Westerly, Rhode Island. Here rest family members that I never knew. My father listened to stories about them; this much he told me. I wouldn't know about them if I had not started working on this branch of my tree early in my own life.
I took a course in Scottish genealogy online and it was a wonderful experience. The instructor, David Webster, lives in Scotland and was very intrigued by the surname Broadfoot. He was a huge help finding records for me and tracing this line back as far as we ever think it will go. In turn, I helped him with some technology skills. What a team we were. I still use the Scotland's People Web site and hope someday to be able to find out more about this interesting family of stonecutters.
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Williams Family Genealogies
Col. John Williams is descended from Robert Williams of Roxbury, MA and the family genealogies written about this family disagree quite a bit.
The first genealogy is now in the public domain at Google Books. Written by Dr. Stephen West Williams, MD. in 1847, it is a classic example of the family genealogies written (and mostly self published or locally published) in the 1800s. It is also available by subrsciption at Ancestry.com and Genealogy.com. Please note that Dr. Williams was a physician and because of his livelihood he could afford to publish a genealogy.
In 1891, Edward H. Williams, Jr. [of Bethlehem, PA)wrote another family history about the family of Robert Williams which is available at Ancestry.com. It is an old copy and it faded and not easily searchable, has a loss of text (means it is unreadable, I guess) and only covers four generations.
In 1897, a small combined genealogy of the families of Williams and Gallup was produced by Charles Fish Williams. It is of interest to me as I am decended from both Robert Williams and John Gallup. It is available at Google Books and at Ancestry.com.
But, wait! In 1934 another descendant of Robert Williams, Harrison Williams, LLB, another person with professional standing as a lawyer, published yet another Williams genealogy. He remarkes several times that earlier genealogies did not take information from the vital records. It has taken a lot of reading on my part to go through this at Ancestry.com and glean the information from it an compare the data to what the other sources have given.
This is a great learning adventure and one everyone should take heed. You can't just rely on on print resource when researching your ancestors. I continue to look for vital records associated with this family and add that information to my records.
The first genealogy is now in the public domain at Google Books. Written by Dr. Stephen West Williams, MD. in 1847, it is a classic example of the family genealogies written (and mostly self published or locally published) in the 1800s. It is also available by subrsciption at Ancestry.com and Genealogy.com. Please note that Dr. Williams was a physician and because of his livelihood he could afford to publish a genealogy.
In 1891, Edward H. Williams, Jr. [of Bethlehem, PA)wrote another family history about the family of Robert Williams which is available at Ancestry.com. It is an old copy and it faded and not easily searchable, has a loss of text (means it is unreadable, I guess) and only covers four generations.
In 1897, a small combined genealogy of the families of Williams and Gallup was produced by Charles Fish Williams. It is of interest to me as I am decended from both Robert Williams and John Gallup. It is available at Google Books and at Ancestry.com.
But, wait! In 1934 another descendant of Robert Williams, Harrison Williams, LLB, another person with professional standing as a lawyer, published yet another Williams genealogy. He remarkes several times that earlier genealogies did not take information from the vital records. It has taken a lot of reading on my part to go through this at Ancestry.com and glean the information from it an compare the data to what the other sources have given.
This is a great learning adventure and one everyone should take heed. You can't just rely on on print resource when researching your ancestors. I continue to look for vital records associated with this family and add that information to my records.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Col John WILLIAMS monument
This is a photo of one side of a memorial monument for Col. John Williams. This side faces the back of the row of headstones of he and his three wives.
Col. John Williams
Died Dec. 30, 1761
Aged 71 Years
"He possessed energy and enterprise, public sorite and influence"
I have learned from only photographing the front of this monument, that it was a mistake to not have photographed all four sides!
Grace Denison Wheeler's book, "Old Homes of Stonington" has an listing of many of the ancient burial grounds in the area. (See my blog post, "The Danger of Historical Books") and now that I have those pages to refer to, I can see that to research just one section of one family you must have all the data at hand before working!
According to GD Wheeler's book: Prudence's side reads "Prudence, widow of Col. John Williams, died Sept. 25th 1762 aged 32 years" Doesn't her headstone read she was in her 62nd year?
Col. John Williams
Died Dec. 30, 1761
Aged 71 Years
"He possessed energy and enterprise, public sorite and influence"
I have learned from only photographing the front of this monument, that it was a mistake to not have photographed all four sides!
Grace Denison Wheeler's book, "Old Homes of Stonington" has an listing of many of the ancient burial grounds in the area. (See my blog post, "The Danger of Historical Books") and now that I have those pages to refer to, I can see that to research just one section of one family you must have all the data at hand before working!
According to GD Wheeler's book: Prudence's side reads "Prudence, widow of Col. John Williams, died Sept. 25th 1762 aged 32 years" Doesn't her headstone read she was in her 62nd year?
Monday, January 12, 2009
Col. John WILLIAMS
John4 WILLIAMS (John3, Isaac2, Robert1) was the son of John Williams and his wife Martha Wheeler. This is the family of the ancestor of Robert Williams who came to America from England and settled in Roxbury, MA.
John had eight brothers and sisters.
His gravestone reads: "To the Memory of/ Colln John Williams/ Who Departed this/Life Decbr 30th/ 1761 in ye 71st/year of his age" Memento mori
Col. John WILLIAMS was in the colonial wars and a deputy to the town of Stonington for many terms. One record lists him as a Major of the 8th Regiment in October 1739.
He was born on 31 Oct 1692 and died 30 Dec 1761 in Stonington.
John had nine children by his first wife and tow more with his second wife. The three Williams family genealogies disagree on many listings of name and dates. One is in the public domain at Google Books.
It looks like Mary HELMS was the widow of a man named Christopher HELME and I can't see to find out much more about her. The HELME family's records are all intermingled with other families and I know this as I have another line of HELME and they are in Rhode Island.
Update! A reader has left a comment that Mary's maiden surname was DYER, and she was the daughter of Edward DYER and Mary GREENE of North Kingstown, RI and that she was born in Scituate, RI in 1704. Mary DYER married first, Christopher HELME.
It is a bit unusual for John and his three wives not to have any children buried near them. There was a child named Prudence (daughter of John and Desire) that lived only a week but she doesn't have a grave here.
John and Desire's daughter, Thankful, married Avery Denison and they are buried in a small cemetery in Stonington. Their graves are not in as good condition as these. Avery's gravestone was used for target practice by an elderly man who lived across the street. Isn't that something?
John had eight brothers and sisters.
His gravestone reads: "To the Memory of/ Colln John Williams/ Who Departed this/Life Decbr 30th/ 1761 in ye 71st/year of his age" Memento mori
Col. John WILLIAMS was in the colonial wars and a deputy to the town of Stonington for many terms. One record lists him as a Major of the 8th Regiment in October 1739.
He was born on 31 Oct 1692 and died 30 Dec 1761 in Stonington.
John had nine children by his first wife and tow more with his second wife. The three Williams family genealogies disagree on many listings of name and dates. One is in the public domain at Google Books.
It looks like Mary HELMS was the widow of a man named Christopher HELME and I can't see to find out much more about her. The HELME family's records are all intermingled with other families and I know this as I have another line of HELME and they are in Rhode Island.
Update! A reader has left a comment that Mary's maiden surname was DYER, and she was the daughter of Edward DYER and Mary GREENE of North Kingstown, RI and that she was born in Scituate, RI in 1704. Mary DYER married first, Christopher HELME.
It is a bit unusual for John and his three wives not to have any children buried near them. There was a child named Prudence (daughter of John and Desire) that lived only a week but she doesn't have a grave here.
John and Desire's daughter, Thankful, married Avery Denison and they are buried in a small cemetery in Stonington. Their graves are not in as good condition as these. Avery's gravestone was used for target practice by an elderly man who lived across the street. Isn't that something?
Gravestone Positions
From the cemetery diagram created by Fred Burdick in 2001, I have drawn this chart of the placement of the monument and the burial positions of Col. John Williams and his three wives.
You can see the monument in this photo of this section of Whitehall cemetery that I have blogged about at a previous date. The stones are all in a row but some are leaning forward due to the settling of the ground of the past two hundred years.
Wheeler's History of Stonington, states that John's second wife was Mary HELMS of Kingston, RI. It may be that her maiden surname was HELME as there was a family of that name in that area. Mary's gravestone reads, "In Memory of/ Mary ye Wife of/ Col. John Williams/ died Decemr ye 20th/ 1740 in ye 39th year/ of her Age. If she was 39 in 1740, that would calculate her birth year as 1701. She and John have no marriage date but it was after Desire died in 1737 and before 1740 when he and Mary had their first child Edward. They had another child Mary, who was baptised after (25 Jan 1741) her mother's death. Mary died 20 Dec 1740, her son Edward had been born that July and it is possible that he was Mary's twin as she has no birth date.
Edward married Mary5 Stanton (Daniel4, Daniel3, Samuel2, Thomas1) and had children but little is know of Mary.
Col. John married a third time (notice he is buried between the two first wives) to Prudence POTTER. Wheeler's History of Stonington, states she was of Portsmouth, RI. She outlived him as he died 30 Dec 1761 and she died 25 Sept 1762 after marrying him on 21 Nov 1761.
Her gravestone reads, "In Memory of Mrs. / Prudence, wife to/ Col. John Williams/ she died Sept. 25th/ 1762 in ye 62d /year of her age"
You can see the monument in this photo of this section of Whitehall cemetery that I have blogged about at a previous date. The stones are all in a row but some are leaning forward due to the settling of the ground of the past two hundred years.
Wheeler's History of Stonington, states that John's second wife was Mary HELMS of Kingston, RI. It may be that her maiden surname was HELME as there was a family of that name in that area. Mary's gravestone reads, "In Memory of/ Mary ye Wife of/ Col. John Williams/ died Decemr ye 20th/ 1740 in ye 39th year/ of her Age. If she was 39 in 1740, that would calculate her birth year as 1701. She and John have no marriage date but it was after Desire died in 1737 and before 1740 when he and Mary had their first child Edward. They had another child Mary, who was baptised after (25 Jan 1741) her mother's death. Mary died 20 Dec 1740, her son Edward had been born that July and it is possible that he was Mary's twin as she has no birth date.
Edward married Mary5 Stanton (Daniel4, Daniel3, Samuel2, Thomas1) and had children but little is know of Mary.
Col. John married a third time (notice he is buried between the two first wives) to Prudence POTTER. Wheeler's History of Stonington, states she was of Portsmouth, RI. She outlived him as he died 30 Dec 1761 and she died 25 Sept 1762 after marrying him on 21 Nov 1761.
Her gravestone reads, "In Memory of Mrs. / Prudence, wife to/ Col. John Williams/ she died Sept. 25th/ 1762 in ye 62d /year of her age"
Sunday, January 11, 2009
Desire Denison
Desire3 Dension (George2, George1) was the daughter of George Denison, Jr and his wife Mercy Gorham. She was the granddaughter of Capt. George Denison and Lady Ann Borodell and Capt. John Gorham and his wife Desire Howland. It is probably a safe assumption that she is named for her Howland grandmother, however, Desire was the second baby with this name in the children of George and Mercy Denison. The first Desire, was baptised on 15 July 1688 and all records say she died young. This naming pattern is not uncommon in New England families.
As you might surmise, Desire Howland (1623-1683) was the daughter of the Pilgrim John Howland and his wife Elizabeth Tilley.
Desire Denison's birth is unrecorded in the vital records of either Connecticut or Rhode Island. It is known that George Denison, Jr and his wife Mercy Gorham lived in Westerly, RI. This couple died in Westerly, RI and are buried in a cemetery called Denison Ground (#WY042). George and Mercy had their children baptised (some on the same day) in Stonington, CT at the First Church of Stonington. Desire was baptized 16 April 1693. [1693 Apr 16 George Jr had dr Desire bapt Baptism]
Desire had nine siblings including the first sister named Desire. (Edward, Joseph, Mercy, Samuel, Desire (I), Elizabeth, Thankful and George III). She was the seventh child.
Her sister Thankful married Thomas Stanton, grandson of the famous Thomas Stanton. This couple was known for their meanness and mistreatment of Venture Smith. [It is hard to love everyone in your collateral family.]
Desire, was the first wife of Col John WILLIAMS. She married him on 19 Feb 1712 when she was about 18 years old and most likely spent the rest of her life in Stonington. She was the mother of nine children. Desire died on 13 Aug 1737 and is buried at the Whitehall Cemetery in Stonington.
As you might surmise, Desire Howland (1623-1683) was the daughter of the Pilgrim John Howland and his wife Elizabeth Tilley.
Desire Denison's birth is unrecorded in the vital records of either Connecticut or Rhode Island. It is known that George Denison, Jr and his wife Mercy Gorham lived in Westerly, RI. This couple died in Westerly, RI and are buried in a cemetery called Denison Ground (#WY042). George and Mercy had their children baptised (some on the same day) in Stonington, CT at the First Church of Stonington. Desire was baptized 16 April 1693. [1693 Apr 16 George Jr had dr Desire bapt Baptism]
Desire had nine siblings including the first sister named Desire. (Edward, Joseph, Mercy, Samuel, Desire (I), Elizabeth, Thankful and George III). She was the seventh child.
Her sister Thankful married Thomas Stanton, grandson of the famous Thomas Stanton. This couple was known for their meanness and mistreatment of Venture Smith. [It is hard to love everyone in your collateral family.]
Desire, was the first wife of Col John WILLIAMS. She married him on 19 Feb 1712 when she was about 18 years old and most likely spent the rest of her life in Stonington. She was the mother of nine children. Desire died on 13 Aug 1737 and is buried at the Whitehall Cemetery in Stonington.
Thursday, January 08, 2009
Desire DENISON
Desire DENISON was one of my 6th great grandmothers. She is buried at the Whitehall Burying Ground #21, in Stonington [Mystic], Connecticut.
This photograph by Fred Burdick, and used with this permission, is one of a collection of photographs of the cemetery, which he has completely photographed and researched and sells with his collection of other historical cemeteries of Stonington. Please contact me if you would like to purchase that CD and I will forward your request to Fred.
His photograph is far superior to mine and he lives locally so if he is not happy with a photograph, he hops in his car and returns to retake it.
This gravestone, which is blue-gray slate, seems unchanged by time. I wish all gravestone of this composition and time period were this lovely! We all would have excellent records for our genealogical work. The gravestone's condition would have to be rated as exceptionally excellent. The carvings are unblemished and the wording is simple and clear. It is a fine example of work and probably was expensive. I don't think we think about how much slate stones must have cost. It will be 272 years old in August of 2009!
"Here Lyes Buried/ The Body of Mrs/ Desire Williams Wife/ To Capt. John Williams/ Decd Augt ye 13. 1737./ In ye 44th Year of her Age."
The winged soul effigy or death head with the two hourglasses were meant to remind us who look at it that life is fleeting and we should think carefully about the time we have been given.
I have chosen this stone to begin a more in-depth study of the gravestones I have found that are in my direct line ancestry.
This photograph by Fred Burdick, and used with this permission, is one of a collection of photographs of the cemetery, which he has completely photographed and researched and sells with his collection of other historical cemeteries of Stonington. Please contact me if you would like to purchase that CD and I will forward your request to Fred.
His photograph is far superior to mine and he lives locally so if he is not happy with a photograph, he hops in his car and returns to retake it.
This gravestone, which is blue-gray slate, seems unchanged by time. I wish all gravestone of this composition and time period were this lovely! We all would have excellent records for our genealogical work. The gravestone's condition would have to be rated as exceptionally excellent. The carvings are unblemished and the wording is simple and clear. It is a fine example of work and probably was expensive. I don't think we think about how much slate stones must have cost. It will be 272 years old in August of 2009!
"Here Lyes Buried/ The Body of Mrs/ Desire Williams Wife/ To Capt. John Williams/ Decd Augt ye 13. 1737./ In ye 44th Year of her Age."
The winged soul effigy or death head with the two hourglasses were meant to remind us who look at it that life is fleeting and we should think carefully about the time we have been given.
I have chosen this stone to begin a more in-depth study of the gravestones I have found that are in my direct line ancestry.
Wednesday, January 07, 2009
Zinc Gravestone
This gravestone of a Civil War solider buried in the Old Packer Burrows Burying Ground in Groton, CT is metal. Notice that it has been set into a granite base probably for stability.
Called "white bronze", these types of gravestones are really cast zinc. Zinc is not magnetic like iron so you can tell if you have found one by trying to get a magnet to stick to it. (I must put a magnet in my gravestone bag!)
These types of gravestones have an interesting history and a short period of time of manufacture. When I spot one in a cemetery, I am always drawn to them. The AGS has a wonderful article about them.
I have found some of these in the Stewart Cemetery, River Bend Cemetery and locally in Beaver Cemetery in my next town.
Called "white bronze", these types of gravestones are really cast zinc. Zinc is not magnetic like iron so you can tell if you have found one by trying to get a magnet to stick to it. (I must put a magnet in my gravestone bag!)
These types of gravestones have an interesting history and a short period of time of manufacture. When I spot one in a cemetery, I am always drawn to them. The AGS has a wonderful article about them.
I have found some of these in the Stewart Cemetery, River Bend Cemetery and locally in Beaver Cemetery in my next town.
Everyday Life
Wordless Wednesday:
To celebrate January 7th which was my mother's birthday, I'm posting a photo of my parents taken in their backyard the summer before my wedding in 1971. It's my favorite.
To celebrate January 7th which was my mother's birthday, I'm posting a photo of my parents taken in their backyard the summer before my wedding in 1971. It's my favorite.
Tuesday, January 06, 2009
Meant to Last
As you can see by clicking on this collage of commonly found gravestones from a presentation by Fred Burdick of Stonington, CT, there are 6 clearly identified types of gravestones found in many graveyards or cemeteries.
What is not listed here are wooden grave markers and metal markers. Needless to say, no wooden grave markers last long enough to have photos taken of them but that doesn't mean they weren't used in America. It is commonly accepted that the graves of the Pilgrim Forefathers were marked with wooden markers or maybe fieldstones. There are probably still wooden markers in some places in America and there are whole cemeteries were there are no markers at all. (Quaker burying places, as an example.) Remember, religion plays a part in the burial customs of the time period.
From various books and Web sites it can be roughly estimated:
Fieldstones: before 1650s into the 1700s
Sandstone (brown or red): 1660s-1850s
Slate: 1600s -1730s (sometimes in to the 1850s)
Schist: 1730s-1780s
Marble: 1800s (1830s-1880s)
Metal: mid 1870s-1912
Granite: 1900s to present day
From the three basic rock groups, we know that rocks on this planet are igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic and except for metal stones (which are cast zinc), gravestones fall into two of these three groups.
Sandstone and brown stone are sedimentary, Schist, slate and marble are metamorphic.
I am amazed at the gravestones made of red or brown sandstone as most are deteriorating rapidly but some look positively untouched. Slate stones are my favorite because they are so "New England" and have the wonderful scary symbols on them. Granite stones can be very hard to photograph. I find it hard to identify graves that are marble and not white and I don't have many schist gravestone in my collection.
Gravestones are supposed to last forever. I think that was the intent. But, why some do and others don't is not clearly definable.
What is not listed here are wooden grave markers and metal markers. Needless to say, no wooden grave markers last long enough to have photos taken of them but that doesn't mean they weren't used in America. It is commonly accepted that the graves of the Pilgrim Forefathers were marked with wooden markers or maybe fieldstones. There are probably still wooden markers in some places in America and there are whole cemeteries were there are no markers at all. (Quaker burying places, as an example.) Remember, religion plays a part in the burial customs of the time period.
From various books and Web sites it can be roughly estimated:
Fieldstones: before 1650s into the 1700s
Sandstone (brown or red): 1660s-1850s
Slate: 1600s -1730s (sometimes in to the 1850s)
Schist: 1730s-1780s
Marble: 1800s (1830s-1880s)
Metal: mid 1870s-1912
Granite: 1900s to present day
From the three basic rock groups, we know that rocks on this planet are igneous, sedimentary or metamorphic and except for metal stones (which are cast zinc), gravestones fall into two of these three groups.
Sandstone and brown stone are sedimentary, Schist, slate and marble are metamorphic.
I am amazed at the gravestones made of red or brown sandstone as most are deteriorating rapidly but some look positively untouched. Slate stones are my favorite because they are so "New England" and have the wonderful scary symbols on them. Granite stones can be very hard to photograph. I find it hard to identify graves that are marble and not white and I don't have many schist gravestone in my collection.
Gravestones are supposed to last forever. I think that was the intent. But, why some do and others don't is not clearly definable.
Gravestone Wanderings
As one reader pointed out, you can't wander through any graveyard without questioning, wondering and musing. This is why many people walk through the cemetery to enjoy the peace and solitude that the dead offer to us. If you aren't careful, you might actually be able to hear yourself think and hear your own heartbeat. It's not for everyone.
I spent a good amount of time yesterday, working with the books I own on gravestone research and even more time performing Web searches on the composition of gravestones.
An educator friend (who is gone but not forgotten) had a wonderful sense of humor and a very unique method of organization. As he was teaching 4th graders, he had to be sharp and quick. He put up a blank bulletin board in his classroom, with a border, and some cut-out letters at the top that read, "Famous Rock Groups".
He left it this way for a week. The students asked him a lot of questions about it. He smiled and said nothing. Then, he began the required science unit.
Can you guess what it was?
[Tombstone Tuesday: Grave of little Sarah Gallup, died in 1805 and is buried at the Gallup Hill Cemetery in CT. Grave composition: Sandstone]
I spent a good amount of time yesterday, working with the books I own on gravestone research and even more time performing Web searches on the composition of gravestones.
An educator friend (who is gone but not forgotten) had a wonderful sense of humor and a very unique method of organization. As he was teaching 4th graders, he had to be sharp and quick. He put up a blank bulletin board in his classroom, with a border, and some cut-out letters at the top that read, "Famous Rock Groups".
He left it this way for a week. The students asked him a lot of questions about it. He smiled and said nothing. Then, he began the required science unit.
Can you guess what it was?
[Tombstone Tuesday: Grave of little Sarah Gallup, died in 1805 and is buried at the Gallup Hill Cemetery in CT. Grave composition: Sandstone]
Monday, January 05, 2009
Types of Gravestones
This is a photographs of some of the small markers that are near the edge of the Denison Burying Ground (#19) in Mystic, CT. These stones probably mark the graves of infants. Notice that they are really quite different. It needs to be noted that many children are buried in this burying ground with cut, carved gravestone in the style of adult gravestones but smaller.
The two small ones on the left are rough and uncut stones without any carvings. The next stone is clearly shaped like a gravestone but is small. The one on the right is smaller yet but is smooth on the top. It is possible that the two on the right had carved inscriptions at one time.
These gravestones and the ones out of range to the right are set in a row indicating to me that they were placed there intentionally to mark the resting place of a dead loved one.
This is a private burying ground of mostly persons related to the Denison family. Some of those buried here have been relocated to the large Elm Grove Cemetery nearby. Recently, I learned that some of them were Stanton gravestones.
I own several books to be used for gravestone research and I am working on a list of the composition of gravestones. I am hoping to get together a list of the types of materials used to make them and approximate years in which they were used.
The two small ones on the left are rough and uncut stones without any carvings. The next stone is clearly shaped like a gravestone but is small. The one on the right is smaller yet but is smooth on the top. It is possible that the two on the right had carved inscriptions at one time.
These gravestones and the ones out of range to the right are set in a row indicating to me that they were placed there intentionally to mark the resting place of a dead loved one.
This is a private burying ground of mostly persons related to the Denison family. Some of those buried here have been relocated to the large Elm Grove Cemetery nearby. Recently, I learned that some of them were Stanton gravestones.
I own several books to be used for gravestone research and I am working on a list of the composition of gravestones. I am hoping to get together a list of the types of materials used to make them and approximate years in which they were used.
Sunday, January 04, 2009
Newsflash!
It's a BIG honor to receive an award for this blog and I am very excited about it.
Bob Franks of the Itawamba Historical Society in Mississippi has given me a great review in the blog, Itawamba History Review. Check it out here.
Thanks for starting off my New Year on a positive note.
Bob Franks of the Itawamba Historical Society in Mississippi has given me a great review in the blog, Itawamba History Review. Check it out here.
Thanks for starting off my New Year on a positive note.
Backyard with Cemetery
Carnival of Genealogy - 64th Edition, 'Walking In A Winter Wonderland"
After my father died, I tried to keep my mother busy with "sorting" the family photographs. For her January 7th birthday, I bought her a laminated cardboard box designed for photographs and a box of envelopes. Being artsy, my mother was not known for her organization skills but she did what she could and I am still marveling at the results of her photograph dating, labeling and sorting skills!
One envelope is filled with snowstorm photos! As New Englanders, we are always impressed with the amount, type (fluffy or wet) and depth of our snowfall. I think it makes us look more sane for having endured here for as much as 10 generations. Well, maybe not.
Today, I set up my scanner and chose some to scan. This shot is of the backyard at my grandparent's house. (This is the front yard.) Just beyond the birdbath is a fence. See it? Behind that fence is a very large cemetery. I looked it up today and it is called Oakland Cemetery and it is 4 acres in size. I have never been in it but I used to ask if we could walk around and look at the stones. What a wierd kid I was!
If you are good at Google Maps, you can find it by searching for the cemetery name in Cranston, Rhode Island. If you zoom( in satellite view) in you can clearly see the gravestones in a birds-eye view.
I am not a big fan of snow. Just to prove I can shovel, look at me in my parent's yard pretending I am working to help clear the driveway area. Right. Is it spring, yet?
After my father died, I tried to keep my mother busy with "sorting" the family photographs. For her January 7th birthday, I bought her a laminated cardboard box designed for photographs and a box of envelopes. Being artsy, my mother was not known for her organization skills but she did what she could and I am still marveling at the results of her photograph dating, labeling and sorting skills!
One envelope is filled with snowstorm photos! As New Englanders, we are always impressed with the amount, type (fluffy or wet) and depth of our snowfall. I think it makes us look more sane for having endured here for as much as 10 generations. Well, maybe not.
Today, I set up my scanner and chose some to scan. This shot is of the backyard at my grandparent's house. (This is the front yard.) Just beyond the birdbath is a fence. See it? Behind that fence is a very large cemetery. I looked it up today and it is called Oakland Cemetery and it is 4 acres in size. I have never been in it but I used to ask if we could walk around and look at the stones. What a wierd kid I was!
If you are good at Google Maps, you can find it by searching for the cemetery name in Cranston, Rhode Island. If you zoom( in satellite view) in you can clearly see the gravestones in a birds-eye view.
I am not a big fan of snow. Just to prove I can shovel, look at me in my parent's yard pretending I am working to help clear the driveway area. Right. Is it spring, yet?
Thursday, January 01, 2009
A Grave Resolution
As it is January 1, 2009, I realize that most people are busy trying to make and keep resolutions, which is something I seldom get involved with!
But, still the catchy title of "A Grave Resolution" is something I could not pass up. This blog, which I started as a way to organize my gravestone research is not very sequential and that is on purpose. I wanted to try to keep from getting "blog-boredom" and only write about the gravestones I felt like writing about at that moment or about ones in which there is little known. I always hope to find connections to other people related to that gravestone.
As I have gone along, I realize that posting photos of people in my family and linking their photos to their gravestones is of interest to those who read this. I have several books about gravestone types and belong to the AGS but I still have questions about types of gravestones and which periods of time correspond to them.
I chose this photo because it is the path that I walked down instinctively as a child and then watched my daughter do the same thing as a teenager. I think it is draw of the water. I didn't know this was called Pilgrim Path which I think is appropriate as I am a Mayflower Descendant.
I am going to try in the next month to post photos with more information about them. My cousin Fred Burdick, a gravestone expert and town historian is going to allow me to post some of his photographs. His shots are far superior to mine! He lives in Stonington and since he grew up there he knows more. This way, I can focus better on my Rhode Island ancestors. 2009 is the year of collaboration.
Interestingly, Fred bought and restored a mausoleum on Pilgrim Path. It doesn't show in this photo but I do think he will be in good company when the time comes. Some things are meant to be.
But, still the catchy title of "A Grave Resolution" is something I could not pass up. This blog, which I started as a way to organize my gravestone research is not very sequential and that is on purpose. I wanted to try to keep from getting "blog-boredom" and only write about the gravestones I felt like writing about at that moment or about ones in which there is little known. I always hope to find connections to other people related to that gravestone.
As I have gone along, I realize that posting photos of people in my family and linking their photos to their gravestones is of interest to those who read this. I have several books about gravestone types and belong to the AGS but I still have questions about types of gravestones and which periods of time correspond to them.
I chose this photo because it is the path that I walked down instinctively as a child and then watched my daughter do the same thing as a teenager. I think it is draw of the water. I didn't know this was called Pilgrim Path which I think is appropriate as I am a Mayflower Descendant.
I am going to try in the next month to post photos with more information about them. My cousin Fred Burdick, a gravestone expert and town historian is going to allow me to post some of his photographs. His shots are far superior to mine! He lives in Stonington and since he grew up there he knows more. This way, I can focus better on my Rhode Island ancestors. 2009 is the year of collaboration.
Interestingly, Fred bought and restored a mausoleum on Pilgrim Path. It doesn't show in this photo but I do think he will be in good company when the time comes. Some things are meant to be.
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