Historian and Genealogist Chat
Wordless Wednesday 30 Sept 2009
Robert Grandchamp of Warwick chats with Pat Tourgee Chappell at the RIGS Meeting.
Robert Grandchamp of Warwick chats with Pat Tourgee Chappell at the RIGS Meeting.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Book Inscription
Rob wrote this very charming inscription inside his book for me and I really appreciate the message. I really didn't contribute that much but as an author myself, I am always glad when people willingly give me help.
Robert's book has many great photos of the men and officers that served with my 2nd great grandfather. I am trying to encourage Robert to make some blog posts about the gravestones of those men.
James A. Barber's oldest son, James Frederick Barber was my great grandfather. He was alive when I was a baby. If James had been killed in the Civil War, I wouldn't be here. It's something to think about.
Robert's book has many great photos of the men and officers that served with my 2nd great grandfather. I am trying to encourage Robert to make some blog posts about the gravestones of those men.
James A. Barber's oldest son, James Frederick Barber was my great grandfather. He was alive when I was a baby. If James had been killed in the Civil War, I wouldn't be here. It's something to think about.
Midge Exists!
Sometimes my friends at Facebook post very funny things. I can see why Robert has questioned my existence as we have been corresponding for some years but we have never actually met before.
We had a great first meeting this Saturday at the RI Genealogical Society Fall Meeting. I came out of hiding to attend. It was hard to miss me as I was wearing my "Cemetery Cravings" shirt.
We had a great first meeting this Saturday at the RI Genealogical Society Fall Meeting. I came out of hiding to attend. It was hard to miss me as I was wearing my "Cemetery Cravings" shirt.
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Authors Meet
It was my great pleasure to meet and enjoy the company of Robert Grandchamp yesterday at the Rhode Island Genealogical Society all day fall meeting held at the Newman Congregational Church in Rumford, RI.
Don't we look pleased to be photographed together?
Robert at 22 is a published author of three books and numerous articles about Rhode Island History. We have been corresponding for several years about my 2nd great grandfather and his Civil War unit. It has been great fun for me as a genealogist to work with a young historian contributing, what I think is a small amount of information to his book, The Boys of Battery G. [Amazon] [McFarland Publisher]
Robert and I share a few coincidences of our own. When he first contacted me about the photo I have posted on my Web site, he was an undergraduate student at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. This is the same college that I attended forty years ago from 1965 to 1969 where I majored in Biology.
He is now a Master's candidate in History there too. Robert lives nearby to where I grew up but it is not where he grew up. Robert also has a close relationship with his grandmother and he also hates tuna fish just as I do!
This friendship has taught me the importance of historical events in the lives of my ancestors and has taught Robert the importance of genealogical events. I continue to be interested in the things that interest Robert because it is rare to find such a mature, brilliant mind in such a young man. He's looking for a job and it seems crazy to me that someone would not immediately snap up such a prize as Robert. [His blog]
Ask yourself this question, what had you accomplished at 22?
His grandmother, who attended with him yesterday, was a delight and she is very devoted to her grandson. She was surprised at my [advanced] age and pleased to discover that I have a grandson too.
I will be blogging this week about this event that I attended. Rhode Island may be the smallest state in our country but the people who lived here past, present and future are not to be underestimated.
Don't we look pleased to be photographed together?
Robert at 22 is a published author of three books and numerous articles about Rhode Island History. We have been corresponding for several years about my 2nd great grandfather and his Civil War unit. It has been great fun for me as a genealogist to work with a young historian contributing, what I think is a small amount of information to his book, The Boys of Battery G. [Amazon] [McFarland Publisher]
Robert and I share a few coincidences of our own. When he first contacted me about the photo I have posted on my Web site, he was an undergraduate student at Rhode Island College in Providence, RI. This is the same college that I attended forty years ago from 1965 to 1969 where I majored in Biology.
He is now a Master's candidate in History there too. Robert lives nearby to where I grew up but it is not where he grew up. Robert also has a close relationship with his grandmother and he also hates tuna fish just as I do!
This friendship has taught me the importance of historical events in the lives of my ancestors and has taught Robert the importance of genealogical events. I continue to be interested in the things that interest Robert because it is rare to find such a mature, brilliant mind in such a young man. He's looking for a job and it seems crazy to me that someone would not immediately snap up such a prize as Robert. [His blog]
Ask yourself this question, what had you accomplished at 22?
His grandmother, who attended with him yesterday, was a delight and she is very devoted to her grandson. She was surprised at my [advanced] age and pleased to discover that I have a grandson too.
I will be blogging this week about this event that I attended. Rhode Island may be the smallest state in our country but the people who lived here past, present and future are not to be underestimated.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Finding the Way
One sunny August morning on the day I was attending the Gallup reunion, my husband and I went to nearby Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, New London, Connecticut to look for some ancestor's graves to photograph. It was a picture perfect day and almost all the photos I took are spectacular. The reunion was at noon so we had plenty of time for my favorite activity!
While searching for the grave section of Ann Borodell Denison, wife of Nathan Stanton Gates, who was the woman who founded the Denison Society, we noticed this family coming toward us, ambling along looking at gravestones, admiring the view and chatting with each other that the day will be turning out to be a hot one. I remember thinking that this nice looking family must be somehow related to me and how interesting it is that they were doing exactly what a garden cemetery is designed for wandering around enjoying the landscaping and the groups of families buried there.
Remembering that I am professional genealogist interrupted my "musings", and instead of just saying "Good Morrow" to them, I introduced myself and asked if we could help them find anybody in particular. Now, I want you to remember that this is a massive cemetery of 13, 000 interments. I have been photographing graves here for about 4 years and still have not visited all of the sections.
I must have smiled broadly when they said they had visited the Denison Homestead the day before and during the tour were told that Lady Ann Borodell Denison was buried here. Interestingly, this family's surname is Wheeler. After a quick stop at their car for their genealogy list, we showed them the grave they were looking for and I took this photo. We exchanged business cards so I could email it to them (which I have) We also looked at their list and gave them directions to other graveyards of interest nearby.
This is the work of the professional genealogist.
Photo # DSC03197 [collection of the author] taken 15 Aug 9009 [used with permission by the persons in this photo] Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, New London, CT.
While searching for the grave section of Ann Borodell Denison, wife of Nathan Stanton Gates, who was the woman who founded the Denison Society, we noticed this family coming toward us, ambling along looking at gravestones, admiring the view and chatting with each other that the day will be turning out to be a hot one. I remember thinking that this nice looking family must be somehow related to me and how interesting it is that they were doing exactly what a garden cemetery is designed for wandering around enjoying the landscaping and the groups of families buried there.
Remembering that I am professional genealogist interrupted my "musings", and instead of just saying "Good Morrow" to them, I introduced myself and asked if we could help them find anybody in particular. Now, I want you to remember that this is a massive cemetery of 13, 000 interments. I have been photographing graves here for about 4 years and still have not visited all of the sections.
I must have smiled broadly when they said they had visited the Denison Homestead the day before and during the tour were told that Lady Ann Borodell Denison was buried here. Interestingly, this family's surname is Wheeler. After a quick stop at their car for their genealogy list, we showed them the grave they were looking for and I took this photo. We exchanged business cards so I could email it to them (which I have) We also looked at their list and gave them directions to other graveyards of interest nearby.
This is the work of the professional genealogist.
Photo # DSC03197 [collection of the author] taken 15 Aug 9009 [used with permission by the persons in this photo] Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, New London, CT.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Cemetery Sign
I know it is not Wordless Wednesday anymore but I think this sign is worth posting to my blog. You can see that it is placed near the water to discourage people from driving into the cemetery for any of the stated purposes.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Fred Burdick, Historian
My cousin, Fred Burdick, is featured in a local newspaper article about his work with the Stanton-Davis Homestead preservation. He's the man who taught me how to work with gravestone photography.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
George H. GALLUP
While browsing around Flickr the other day, I was startled to see the gravestone of the famous Gallup who is widely known as the Gallup of the Gallup Poll. This photo, which holds a Creative Commons license, was taken by "Tony, the Misfit" (his screename). He was kind enough to share it with me. [I ALWAYS ask permission]
The Gallup Family Association, of which I am now a life member, has a page about the famous Gallup men (and women) and in this case, his lineage from John Gallup.
I was quite surprised to see the Gallup motto on this gravestone, "Be Bolde, Be Wyse" which marks him as a descendant of the Gallup family. [I too, am bolde and wyse...]
This gravestone is located in Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey.
The current Gallup genealogy [1987] (p. 131 # 10-556) lists him as George Horace Gallup, son of George H. and Nellie (Davenport) Gallup. He was born 18 Nov, 1901 in Jefferson, Iowa and married in Washington, Iowa to Ophelia Smith MILLER on 27 Dec 1925. Her birth date was 24 Nov 1899.
He held a bachelor's, a master's and a doctorate plus many honorary degrees. Dr. Gallup's death date is not listed but probably will be in the new edition of the Gallup genealogy due out next month since the Gallup Family Association lists his death date on the Web page.
They had three children. Two of them had descendants.
Thanks, Tony for sharing this great photo of one of my Gallup cousins gravestones with me!
The Gallup Family Association, of which I am now a life member, has a page about the famous Gallup men (and women) and in this case, his lineage from John Gallup.
I was quite surprised to see the Gallup motto on this gravestone, "Be Bolde, Be Wyse" which marks him as a descendant of the Gallup family. [I too, am bolde and wyse...]
This gravestone is located in Princeton Cemetery, Princeton, Mercer, New Jersey.
The current Gallup genealogy [1987] (p. 131 # 10-556) lists him as George Horace Gallup, son of George H. and Nellie (Davenport) Gallup. He was born 18 Nov, 1901 in Jefferson, Iowa and married in Washington, Iowa to Ophelia Smith MILLER on 27 Dec 1925. Her birth date was 24 Nov 1899.
He held a bachelor's, a master's and a doctorate plus many honorary degrees. Dr. Gallup's death date is not listed but probably will be in the new edition of the Gallup genealogy due out next month since the Gallup Family Association lists his death date on the Web page.
They had three children. Two of them had descendants.
Thanks, Tony for sharing this great photo of one of my Gallup cousins gravestones with me!
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
South St. Cemetery Hyannis
Tombstone Tuesday, 15 Sept. 2009
Yearly, I see this small cemetery on the opposite side of the street from a nice restaurant where we eat dinner but I have never been inside the fence. This time I watched a young man take a shortcut through it.
Dave Lambert's Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries, 2nd ed. lists this as the South Street Cemetery aka Pauper's Cemetery (1737) on page 15 as being a cemetery in Barnstable. I think it looks very interesting so I have put it back on my list of graveyards to visit.
Yearly, I see this small cemetery on the opposite side of the street from a nice restaurant where we eat dinner but I have never been inside the fence. This time I watched a young man take a shortcut through it.
Dave Lambert's Guide to Massachusetts Cemeteries, 2nd ed. lists this as the South Street Cemetery aka Pauper's Cemetery (1737) on page 15 as being a cemetery in Barnstable. I think it looks very interesting so I have put it back on my list of graveyards to visit.
Vacation Thoughts
Despite mostly bad weather, we managed to enjoy our yearly vacation to Cape Cod. I was going to visit a cemetery but I actually forgot about it. I think that's a good thing.
I always take technology with me as it is important to my life in many ways. I think it enhances all of the things I enjoy doing.
It may take some time to get back to work I think.
I always take technology with me as it is important to my life in many ways. I think it enhances all of the things I enjoy doing.
It may take some time to get back to work I think.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Flag 9/11/09
On 9/11, we were on vacation just as we were today. This hotel next door to ours lowered the flag this morning
Never forget.
Never forget.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Digging Deeper
Tombstone Tuesday 8 Sept 2009
Dudley Wheeler Stewart
Dudley Wheeler Stewart, brother to my maternal grandfather, Evans Stewart, lies buried next to my grandparents. I have no photograph of him even though it seems that I should. His father, Charles Edward Stewart, named this second son after HIS father. It may be that his wife named her first child and he named the next.
When visiting North Stonington, CT where both boys were born, the North Stonington Historical Library has family group sheets created by local genealogist and Stewart family member, Mrs. A. Morgan Stewart and I had several generations copied for me. It is amazing how accurate the information on them has proved to be.
Dudley was considered a "black sheep" of the family but I have found no juicy tidbits to confirm this oral story. As you can see by his gravestone, he is a WWI Veteran, serving for RI. His draft cards for WWI and WWI give me a general description of him and I can tell you he looked nothing like his brother, my grandfather.
It says in Mrs. Stewart's work, that he was a "singing cop" and yet, none of the census records, city directories or draft cards say anything about that! I admit to being intrigued, so I am "digging deeper". Why? Because my daughter asked me who he was when she was standing at his grave. I think there is a story here and I'd like to know more!
First question in my mind is why is he not buried with his wife Stella and why can't I find him in the 1930 census?
Dudley Wheeler Stewart
Dudley Wheeler Stewart, brother to my maternal grandfather, Evans Stewart, lies buried next to my grandparents. I have no photograph of him even though it seems that I should. His father, Charles Edward Stewart, named this second son after HIS father. It may be that his wife named her first child and he named the next.
When visiting North Stonington, CT where both boys were born, the North Stonington Historical Library has family group sheets created by local genealogist and Stewart family member, Mrs. A. Morgan Stewart and I had several generations copied for me. It is amazing how accurate the information on them has proved to be.
Dudley was considered a "black sheep" of the family but I have found no juicy tidbits to confirm this oral story. As you can see by his gravestone, he is a WWI Veteran, serving for RI. His draft cards for WWI and WWI give me a general description of him and I can tell you he looked nothing like his brother, my grandfather.
It says in Mrs. Stewart's work, that he was a "singing cop" and yet, none of the census records, city directories or draft cards say anything about that! I admit to being intrigued, so I am "digging deeper". Why? Because my daughter asked me who he was when she was standing at his grave. I think there is a story here and I'd like to know more!
First question in my mind is why is he not buried with his wife Stella and why can't I find him in the 1930 census?
Sunday, September 06, 2009
Harry M. Bliven
Black Sheep Sunday 6 Sept 2009
Harry M. BLIVEN was the black sheep of my maternal side of the family. He was married briefly to my great aunt whose name was Dorothy Palmer BARBER. They were divorced after their daughter Gloria was born. Gloria only lived to be ten years old as she died of pneumonia. It's a sad family story. I always pat her gravestone when I go by.
My mother told me he had a snazzy car and drove it too fast. This may not be much to go on but it is meaningful. Dorothy's father, James Frederick Barber, loved automobiles and owned a garage and later a chauffeur service. Dorothy worked for her father as she was a bookkeeper. It looks like Harry was a traveling salesman for an auto parts company. That's probably how they met.
I think I have his parents identified correctly and that he married again after his divorce. Judging from the tight timeframe, the second wife might have been the cause of the problem. Well, we may never know.
I adored my great aunt. She was smart with math, very independent and worked for the local Electric Company. I loved going to her house which was on the Westerly-Pawcatuck line. It had a great attic and she let me play up there. She gave me great presents and lived long enough to see my daughter. I am sad that she had such a hard life for a woman of her time. We think that her black sheep husband stole the Medal of Honor that belonged to her grandfather from her house.
I am going to search for his WWI or WWII draft card....the rat.
Saturday, September 05, 2009
Remembering Friends
This week I lost a friend. My grandmother told me that it was just as awful to lose friends as family especially when you are getting old. She was right.
One of my first childhood friends died when she was only 14 of a brain tumor. She lived in my neighborhood until she was about ten, and then she and her parents moved to another part of the same city. It wasn't like today where we can contact our friends easily. I only saw her once more before she died when she came back to visit her cousin who coincidentally lived in my neighborhood. (note to self: research that family as the fathers were brothers)
The 1957 Cranston City Directory lists her father and mother living at 49 Rose Hill Dr. Her father's name was Joseph P. Rivelli and the mother's name was Jean L. My friend's name was Linda Jean Rivelli. The 1920 census lists him (probably) as being one year old then, born in Connecticut to immigrant parents Siberato and Teresa Rivelli from Italy. This seems to fit for dates.
In 1961, the City Directory lists this family as having moved to 185 Maplewood Ave. in the Arlington Section of Cranston. His occupation is lithographer for Color Craft, Inc. in Pawtucket. This must be the right family as the house was full of pads of paper. I love paper.
This is more than I knew before today and it shows how valuable city directories can be. I don't know where my friend is buried. I wish I'd saved the obituary.
I hope my long departed friend and my newly departed friend are enjoying Heaven.
Thursday, September 03, 2009
Grandmother's School Photo
I Smile for the Camera Carnival, 16th edition: "School Days"
One of the sweetest photos in my family collection is this one of little girls sitting on the steps of a house. My mother told me that this was the elementary school photo of my grandmother, Hannah Josephine Barber (1893-1992) who married Evans Stewart and her sister, my great aunt, Dorothy Palmer Barber (1895-1981), who married and divorced Harry Bliven.
If you click on this photo, it will take you to my Flickr account where you can see that I have placed a "note" on their faces so you can see who is who.
I don't know if there were two photos taken, one for the boys and one for the girls, or if this was just an "all girls" school or a Sunday School group photo. It must have been in Westerly, Rhode Island where my grandmother, her sister and her older brother lived for most of their youth.
I have tracked all three as far as I can with city directories and census records. My great aunt I knew but my great uncle, Harold (1890-1944) and his wife Martha (1879-1968) , I don't remember but a family member tells me that I did meet her when I was a little girl.
As I hold a Master's Degree in Education and my daughter is a Kindgergarten teacher, "school days" are very important. This fall I am attending the 40th reunion of my college class. Of course, I have not changed much. Guess I should look at my own school photos...
One of the sweetest photos in my family collection is this one of little girls sitting on the steps of a house. My mother told me that this was the elementary school photo of my grandmother, Hannah Josephine Barber (1893-1992) who married Evans Stewart and her sister, my great aunt, Dorothy Palmer Barber (1895-1981), who married and divorced Harry Bliven.
If you click on this photo, it will take you to my Flickr account where you can see that I have placed a "note" on their faces so you can see who is who.
I don't know if there were two photos taken, one for the boys and one for the girls, or if this was just an "all girls" school or a Sunday School group photo. It must have been in Westerly, Rhode Island where my grandmother, her sister and her older brother lived for most of their youth.
I have tracked all three as far as I can with city directories and census records. My great aunt I knew but my great uncle, Harold (1890-1944) and his wife Martha (1879-1968) , I don't remember but a family member tells me that I did meet her when I was a little girl.
As I hold a Master's Degree in Education and my daughter is a Kindgergarten teacher, "school days" are very important. This fall I am attending the 40th reunion of my college class. Of course, I have not changed much. Guess I should look at my own school photos...
Tuesday, September 01, 2009
Elizabeth A. BURROWS
Burrows Cemetery Transcription Project
Tombstone Tuesday. 1 Sept 2009
Elizabeth A. BURROWS / April 20, 1856 / Dec. 29, 1946
Elizabeth Avery BURROWS was born in Groton, New London, CT and died at 5 West Mystic Ave. in the house she was born in and where she had lived her whole life.
She was the first born child and unmarried daughter of Benjamin BURROWS and his second wife Ann Marie AVERY. The 1870 census lists her as "Lizzie"
The Burrows genealogy says that she joined the Union Baptist Church in Mystic when she was ten years old and was a devoted member all her life.
Burrows genealogy, p. 153
Tombstone Tuesday. 1 Sept 2009
Elizabeth A. BURROWS / April 20, 1856 / Dec. 29, 1946
Elizabeth Avery BURROWS was born in Groton, New London, CT and died at 5 West Mystic Ave. in the house she was born in and where she had lived her whole life.
She was the first born child and unmarried daughter of Benjamin BURROWS and his second wife Ann Marie AVERY. The 1870 census lists her as "Lizzie"
The Burrows genealogy says that she joined the Union Baptist Church in Mystic when she was ten years old and was a devoted member all her life.
Burrows genealogy, p. 153
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