"Father"
Benjamin Franklin HOXIE, son of Lodowick HOXIE (1772-1856) and his wife Ruth TAYLOR (1775-1844) of "South County" Rhode Island, was born 10 May 1810 and died 5 Mar 1899. He was born in Rhode Island and died in Mystic, CT.
Benjamin was a prominent businessman and hotel owner in Mystic. He had a fire engine company named after him in 1875, in honor of his generous donation to the community. (source: A History of Mystic Connecticut by Leigh Fought. History Press: 2007 p.117)
See Before the Gravestones: Hoxie family for more information
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: HOXIE Family
Tombstone Tuesday: The HOXIE section at Elm Grove Cemetery, Mystic, New London, CT. Close-up of statue.
Note the two headstones situated in front of the monument which are marked on the top with FATHER and MOTHER.
See Before the Gravestones: Hoxie family for more information
Note the two headstones situated in front of the monument which are marked on the top with FATHER and MOTHER.
See Before the Gravestones: Hoxie family for more information
Monday, March 29, 2010
Before the Gravestones : The HOXIE family
I'm beginning a new feature here at Granite-in-my-Blood called Before the Gravestones. It will be a blog post that gives the basic information on a particular group of gravestones that I have photographed. With this in place, readers can find out and contribute to my research.
My large and prolific DENISON family married into many of the families in the "Mystic" or Stonington, New London, Connecticut area. In this case, the plot nearby to my Denison family is one of the surname HOXIE. As "neighbors" in this large garden cemetery called Elm Grove in Mystic, CT, I thought this well laid-out plot was one that my readers may enjoy viewing.
Soon, I discovered a fellow researcher who was willing to help me with puzzling out the CLIFT and HOXIE ancestors.That always motivates me to do research when I know somebody's family will benefit from my efforts.
Turning first, to Wheeler's History of Stonington, Connecticut, I find only one page devoted to this family. Wheeler gives the immigrant ancestor as Lodowick HAWKSIE, who came to Sandwich, Massachusetts probably soon after 1650, lived on the south side of Spring Hill. He married Mary PRESBURY, daughter of John, in June 1664.
As the Sandwich (MA) Vital Records to 1850 are not ones that are included online at NEHGS, I am going to have to reference other sources for this family. Working backwards from Harriet E. CLIFT's husband Benjamin Franklin HOXIE toward Lodowick and Mary (Presbury) HAWKSIE, we find several generations of folks who lived in Sandwich, MA.
Ancestry.com's message board system lists a book by Leslie Hoxie, "The Hoxie Family; Three Centuries In America" probably written in 1950. While I search for this, we will take a look at what Judge Wheeler lists for direct descendants to Benjamin Frankline HOXIE.
Lodowick HAWKSIE (#1) and Mary PRESBURY
Joseph HOXIE (#3) and Sarah TUCKER
Joseph HOXIE (#9) and Mary
Gideon HOXIE (#10) and Dorcas CONGDON
Lodowick HOXIE (#13) and Ruth ( probably TAYLOR)
their son Benjamin Franklin HOXIE married Harriet Elizabeth CLIFT
I did locate a HOXIE family Web site with this interesting information: "Lodowick’s name appears in the early records of Plymouth Colony and is variously spelled Hawkes, Hakse, Hackse, Hauksie, Hoxie, Hoxsie, Hox and Hawksie. The name lends itself well to spelling perversions, especially since early records typically went by how a name sounds, not to mention in that era a man spelled his name the way he pleased."
My large and prolific DENISON family married into many of the families in the "Mystic" or Stonington, New London, Connecticut area. In this case, the plot nearby to my Denison family is one of the surname HOXIE. As "neighbors" in this large garden cemetery called Elm Grove in Mystic, CT, I thought this well laid-out plot was one that my readers may enjoy viewing.
Soon, I discovered a fellow researcher who was willing to help me with puzzling out the CLIFT and HOXIE ancestors.That always motivates me to do research when I know somebody's family will benefit from my efforts.
Turning first, to Wheeler's History of Stonington, Connecticut, I find only one page devoted to this family. Wheeler gives the immigrant ancestor as Lodowick HAWKSIE, who came to Sandwich, Massachusetts probably soon after 1650, lived on the south side of Spring Hill. He married Mary PRESBURY, daughter of John, in June 1664.
As the Sandwich (MA) Vital Records to 1850 are not ones that are included online at NEHGS, I am going to have to reference other sources for this family. Working backwards from Harriet E. CLIFT's husband Benjamin Franklin HOXIE toward Lodowick and Mary (Presbury) HAWKSIE, we find several generations of folks who lived in Sandwich, MA.
Ancestry.com's message board system lists a book by Leslie Hoxie, "The Hoxie Family; Three Centuries In America" probably written in 1950. While I search for this, we will take a look at what Judge Wheeler lists for direct descendants to Benjamin Frankline HOXIE.
Lodowick HAWKSIE (#1) and Mary PRESBURY
Joseph HOXIE (#3) and Sarah TUCKER
Joseph HOXIE (#9) and Mary
Gideon HOXIE (#10) and Dorcas CONGDON
Lodowick HOXIE (#13) and Ruth ( probably TAYLOR)
their son Benjamin Franklin HOXIE married Harriet Elizabeth CLIFT
I did locate a HOXIE family Web site with this interesting information: "Lodowick’s name appears in the early records of Plymouth Colony and is variously spelled Hawkes, Hakse, Hackse, Hauksie, Hoxie, Hoxsie, Hox and Hawksie. The name lends itself well to spelling perversions, especially since early records typically went by how a name sounds, not to mention in that era a man spelled his name the way he pleased."
Sunday, March 28, 2010
Sentimental Sunday: Jazzy Leopard Coat
Sentimental Sunday 28 Mar 2010
From the envelope marked "Our Honeymoon" comes this photo of my young mother dressed very fashionably in her leopard coat. I remember this coat and my mother used to let me play dress up in it. My mother's father bought it for her. [Daddy's presents are always the best, right ladies?]
From the envelope marked "Our Honeymoon" comes this photo of my young mother dressed very fashionably in her leopard coat. I remember this coat and my mother used to let me play dress up in it. My mother's father bought it for her. [Daddy's presents are always the best, right ladies?]
Saturday, March 27, 2010
WDYTYA: American Cemetery in France
I was stunned to see the cemetery in France where MY ancestor, Josiah F. BROADFOOT is buried! I thought I would re post this entry and this entry I made sometime back.
Since I have been researching my maiden surname this past couple weeks, I am amazed how MY family and my research fit into this episode!
Since I have been researching my maiden surname this past couple weeks, I am amazed how MY family and my research fit into this episode!
Friday, March 26, 2010
Finding Thomas
After the finding of my grandfather coming to America through Ellis Island on 1 April 1904 at age 20, I was overjoyed! I finally had an Ellis Island ancestor!
But, more questions have arisen since that time.
Here he is living in Edinburgh with his step-mother Helen Tait's brother and his family in Edinburgh in 1901. Thomas was 17 (or possibly 15 or 16) when he left home and went to live in this city. In addition to this information, I found out the street address of this family.
It may be that my grandmother, whose family moved back to Scotland by 1901, lived nearby to this Tait family. As my grandmother is not listed in the household of her parents, she too was probably on her own somewhere in Edinburgh working as a domestic. I have not found her as yet but I will.
But, it is rewarding and sad to think that my teenage grandfather left home, and lived in a big city before coming to Westerly, RI. Was he adventurous or just angry with his family? We may never know. But, it does add to the Granite-in-My-Blood story!
But, more questions have arisen since that time.
- Why was he alone?
- How did he meet my grandmother?
- Why was he living in Edinburgh?
- Why was he a car conductor?
- Why did he leave Dalbeattie?
Here he is living in Edinburgh with his step-mother Helen Tait's brother and his family in Edinburgh in 1901. Thomas was 17 (or possibly 15 or 16) when he left home and went to live in this city. In addition to this information, I found out the street address of this family.
It may be that my grandmother, whose family moved back to Scotland by 1901, lived nearby to this Tait family. As my grandmother is not listed in the household of her parents, she too was probably on her own somewhere in Edinburgh working as a domestic. I have not found her as yet but I will.
But, it is rewarding and sad to think that my teenage grandfather left home, and lived in a big city before coming to Westerly, RI. Was he adventurous or just angry with his family? We may never know. But, it does add to the Granite-in-My-Blood story!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
John & Helen Broadfoot
Some time ago, I posted a blog post about my great grandfather John ("The Monument Maker") and his first wife Jane Hannah, who was my ancestor.
After Jane died in 1895, John was left alone with children to raise as usually happened in those days. So, he married a woman named Helen Tait on 6 Jun 1896. In those days, it paid to have a woman "waiting in the wings". Keeping the household was a lot of hard work.
John and Helen quickly had four more children. I corresponded with one whose name was Walter Patterson TAIT and his wife Ruby CUTLER. The were living in England at that time.(I must scan those letters and post them here!) It was really fun getting mail from "the old country".
What I didn't know and just found out recently really sparked up the revisit to this line...
After Jane died in 1895, John was left alone with children to raise as usually happened in those days. So, he married a woman named Helen Tait on 6 Jun 1896. In those days, it paid to have a woman "waiting in the wings". Keeping the household was a lot of hard work.
John and Helen quickly had four more children. I corresponded with one whose name was Walter Patterson TAIT and his wife Ruby CUTLER. The were living in England at that time.(I must scan those letters and post them here!) It was really fun getting mail from "the old country".
What I didn't know and just found out recently really sparked up the revisit to this line...
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Census Postcard
Today in my post office box, I received this postcard. After examining it, I asked for the postmaster. She didn't seem to understand that I was asking her for the mail that did not get delivered to me. She got a bit upset when I took back this postcard and told her it was a legal document.
All of the people working in the post office were listening after I said the word LEGAL.
She said the form got sent back because it was undeliverable! What this really means is they couldn't be bothered sending it from the East Bridgewater, MA post office to the small post office in Bridgewater. MA. We have rural mail delivery in my neighborhood and after years of not receiving the mail correctly I got a post office box.
I decided that this may be the only (legal) proof that I have that I DID NOT COMPLY with the census.
The phone number for the census is quite useless. They need a number that is on the form to do anything about the fact that you did not get a form. Call back after April 12 if I still don't get a form.
Wow, just think how many people will not get counted. Apparently, all the people who have post office boxes.
All of the people working in the post office were listening after I said the word LEGAL.
She said the form got sent back because it was undeliverable! What this really means is they couldn't be bothered sending it from the East Bridgewater, MA post office to the small post office in Bridgewater. MA. We have rural mail delivery in my neighborhood and after years of not receiving the mail correctly I got a post office box.
I decided that this may be the only (legal) proof that I have that I DID NOT COMPLY with the census.
The phone number for the census is quite useless. They need a number that is on the form to do anything about the fact that you did not get a form. Call back after April 12 if I still don't get a form.
Wow, just think how many people will not get counted. Apparently, all the people who have post office boxes.
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: Broadfoot Monument
Tombstone Tuesday
River Bend Cemetery, Westerly, Washington, RI [Section 9]
One of my favorite gravestones because it is granite, solid and beautiful all at the same time.
River Bend Cemetery, Westerly, Washington, RI [Section 9]
One of my favorite gravestones because it is granite, solid and beautiful all at the same time.
Monday, March 22, 2010
Wee Scottish Recap
The previous few posts begin to tell the adventure of my paternal ancestor line. With genealogy, like science, there is always questions. The main question so far is how many men in my family were involved with granite work?
Thomas Broadfoot's (1829-1899) father John Broadfoot's (1806-1880) father David ( born abt 1785) is probably as far back as I will get but Thomas Broadfoot and Margaret Harcomb's children are much more significant than I once thought. Two sons came to America and we involved in the stone quarry business in Westerly, RI [post: Back in Scotland] these were brothers Thomas A. Broadfoot and James T. Broadfoot
Westerly City Directories have been a huge help in determining the occupation of these two early Broadfoot men. James is listed as a foreman in the NE Granite Works (1910 and 1914) and Thomas is listed as a stonecutter. (1910) James married a woman born in Barre, VT and I just found out this location has the world's largest granite quarry.
That's Granite in My Blood for Sure!
Thomas Broadfoot's (1829-1899) father John Broadfoot's (1806-1880) father David ( born abt 1785) is probably as far back as I will get but Thomas Broadfoot and Margaret Harcomb's children are much more significant than I once thought. Two sons came to America and we involved in the stone quarry business in Westerly, RI [post: Back in Scotland] these were brothers Thomas A. Broadfoot and James T. Broadfoot
Westerly City Directories have been a huge help in determining the occupation of these two early Broadfoot men. James is listed as a foreman in the NE Granite Works (1910 and 1914) and Thomas is listed as a stonecutter. (1910) James married a woman born in Barre, VT and I just found out this location has the world's largest granite quarry.
That's Granite in My Blood for Sure!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Girl Cousins
Sentimental Sunday; 21 March 2010
This ripped snapshot photo is of me (the smaller little girl) with my big girl cousin Kathy enjoying a Popsicle leaning against a car in Bradford, RI on probably Memorial Day a very long time ago.
Kathy is 5 years old than I am and she was always having to babysit me on family occasions. Thanks, Kathy for playing with me.
She hates this photo but I love it. We are first cousins on my paternal side, both wee Scottish girls, as we are descended from the Thomas Broadfoot and Maragret Harcomb in this past week's posts.
Friday, March 19, 2010
Margaret HARCOMB
Margaret HARCOMB, wife of Thomas BROADFOOT (1829-1899) was a daughter of Hugh HARCOMB and his wife Elizabeth TEMPLETON of Dalrymple, Ayershire Scotland. Margaret was born 5 Aug 1832 and had two older siblings Anabella and William. Her grandparents were William HARCOMB and Margaret CALDWELL and William Struthers TEMPLETON (1782-1839) and Annaple MUIR (1783-1818).
Margaret's father Hugh was a shoemaker. Margaret and Thomas had seven children, their oldest son John was my ancestor. He was my father's grandfather. To my knowledge, neither Thomas or Margaret ever left Scotland. Their second son was named Hugh probably after her father but died as a small child. Their daughter, Eliza Templeton Hammond Broadfoot married a man named Robert McKinnell and had 4 children. One daughter named Mary lived with her grandmother after Thomas Broadfoot died in 1899 leaving her a widow. The 1901 Scotland Census lists them in a household together.
Sons, Thomas and James went to America and settled in Westerly, Rhode Island. Son William married a woman named Eliza and stayed in Scotland and I don't know what happened to the youngest child named Mary.
Margaret died at Alpine Cottage on Alpine Street in Dalbeattie, Scotland. Margaret died of "senile decay" at the age of 89 years. Her mother's maiden name is listed as HAMMOND (but I don't think that is correct). Her son John was present at her death. I was told he wrote to his sons and grandsons in America to tell them of her death.
Certainly, Thomas Broadfoot and his wife Margaret are buried in the cemetery at Dalbeattie but I don't know that for any certainty.
Margaret's father Hugh was a shoemaker. Margaret and Thomas had seven children, their oldest son John was my ancestor. He was my father's grandfather. To my knowledge, neither Thomas or Margaret ever left Scotland. Their second son was named Hugh probably after her father but died as a small child. Their daughter, Eliza Templeton Hammond Broadfoot married a man named Robert McKinnell and had 4 children. One daughter named Mary lived with her grandmother after Thomas Broadfoot died in 1899 leaving her a widow. The 1901 Scotland Census lists them in a household together.
Sons, Thomas and James went to America and settled in Westerly, Rhode Island. Son William married a woman named Eliza and stayed in Scotland and I don't know what happened to the youngest child named Mary.
Margaret died at Alpine Cottage on Alpine Street in Dalbeattie, Scotland. Margaret died of "senile decay" at the age of 89 years. Her mother's maiden name is listed as HAMMOND (but I don't think that is correct). Her son John was present at her death. I was told he wrote to his sons and grandsons in America to tell them of her death.
Certainly, Thomas Broadfoot and his wife Margaret are buried in the cemetery at Dalbeattie but I don't know that for any certainty.
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Thomas BROADFOOT
When I was in my early 20s, I began to try to find out more about my paternal ancestors with the help of my father, his siblings and spouses and a great aunt. I made handwritten family group sheets (which I still have, thankfully) and I made my first drop down pedigree chart on paper that was designed for blueprints. It is a LOT of work to do it this way. I am glad that I never gave up.
It took some time to get in the right order but at the top of the chart was Thomas BROADFOOT and his wife Margaret HARCOMB. This explained my father's name of Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot quite clearly. I worried that I might never know more about them other than their dates of birth.
I am indebted to Marjorie Fletcher of West Valley City, UT for her help as she sent me the most wonderful documents. Today, I began the process of seeing just what I have just for the man I call the "first" Thomas Broadfoot. I am scanning his birth/baptismal record which Marjorie got for me at the Family History Library in Utah. It is probably the closest I will ever get to that place! I found her by the address she listed on her work at the family search Web site.
Thomas is listed as born 5 Jany 1829 and baptized 6 Jany 1829, in Kirkinner, Wigtown, Scotland. It is a copy of the Parish register (film # 1068, 037). Thomas's father, John Broadfoot, lists in the column for residence Cottar and a word that looks like Cruick or Creek. Thomas's mother clearly reads as Mary Reynolds. [I have been seeking more evidence to prove that her name was RENDALS]
As you saw with yesterday's post, I have the marriage record of Thomas to Margaret HARCOMB. For a long time, this was all the evidence I had. But, due to the index of the Scotland census at Ancestry.com, I have gathered the information of the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1881 and 1891. I have been unable to find the 1871 listing for the family as of today.
Once I have gathered this evidence, I set out to find the census images at Scotland's people. You buy credits and each search costs one credit and the viewing of that image costs 5 credits. Until now, I have only been successful at finding births, marriages and deaths.
Births, marriage and deaths images are AMAZING, once you find the right ones! They have so much information on them. Death records are my favorite (well, this IS Granite in My Blood, you know!) In addition to the date and place of death, the cause is written and the person who was present at the death. If the person who was present couldn't write their name, then a X is made with their name being written by the doctor or the registrar. This is a way of determining the literacy of an ancestor.
in 1841, Thomas was was 12 and living with his parents. His father, John, age 35, was a farm servant and his mother Mary, age 35, gives her place of birth as Ireland. Thomas has an older brother David, age 15, and younger siblings, sister Jean age , and John age 6. They live in a place called Blackmyer, Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. In 1851, they live at 18 Hollandbank, Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Thomas is 22, older brother David, who is 25, no longer lives with the family, and younger siblings Jane is 18 and a seamstress, and John at 14 is an agricultural laborer like his brother Thomas and father John.
Mary who is 1841 listed her place of birth as Ireland, now gives it as England. The census day for 1851 is 30 March 1851 and on 7 November 1851, Thomas Broadfoot marries Margaret Harcomb and leaves home. [John Broadfoot and his wife, Mary, parents of Thomas Broadfoot die in 1880 and 1865.]
On 7 April 1861, Thomas and Margaret have John, age 8 (my ancestor), and Hugh age 5 and Eliza age 2. They live at Bank St. in Creetown and Thomas is an agricultural laborer and remains in farming for all of his life.
In 1881, they live in Urr and all the children listed in 1861 are gone. They have Thomas age 18, James age 15 and William age 12. In 1891, only children James and William are left at home. James is a stonecutter and James in a grocer.
On 7 Feb 1899, Thomas, general labourer, age 70, dies of pleurisy and pulmonary congestion leaving his wife Margaret, a widow. His son John (my ancestor) is present at his death. Thomas parents are listed with his mother maiden surname as Reynolds.
Thomas Broadfoot's sons Thomas and James are the only ones to go to America. They both become the first generation of this family to work with granite. They are the beginning of my American granite workers. They leave behind their other siblings, including my ancestor, John.
It took some time to get in the right order but at the top of the chart was Thomas BROADFOOT and his wife Margaret HARCOMB. This explained my father's name of Thomas Harcomb Broadfoot quite clearly. I worried that I might never know more about them other than their dates of birth.
I am indebted to Marjorie Fletcher of West Valley City, UT for her help as she sent me the most wonderful documents. Today, I began the process of seeing just what I have just for the man I call the "first" Thomas Broadfoot. I am scanning his birth/baptismal record which Marjorie got for me at the Family History Library in Utah. It is probably the closest I will ever get to that place! I found her by the address she listed on her work at the family search Web site.
Thomas is listed as born 5 Jany 1829 and baptized 6 Jany 1829, in Kirkinner, Wigtown, Scotland. It is a copy of the Parish register (film # 1068, 037). Thomas's father, John Broadfoot, lists in the column for residence Cottar and a word that looks like Cruick or Creek. Thomas's mother clearly reads as Mary Reynolds. [I have been seeking more evidence to prove that her name was RENDALS]
As you saw with yesterday's post, I have the marriage record of Thomas to Margaret HARCOMB. For a long time, this was all the evidence I had. But, due to the index of the Scotland census at Ancestry.com, I have gathered the information of the 1841, 1851, 1861, 1881 and 1891. I have been unable to find the 1871 listing for the family as of today.
Once I have gathered this evidence, I set out to find the census images at Scotland's people. You buy credits and each search costs one credit and the viewing of that image costs 5 credits. Until now, I have only been successful at finding births, marriages and deaths.
Births, marriage and deaths images are AMAZING, once you find the right ones! They have so much information on them. Death records are my favorite (well, this IS Granite in My Blood, you know!) In addition to the date and place of death, the cause is written and the person who was present at the death. If the person who was present couldn't write their name, then a X is made with their name being written by the doctor or the registrar. This is a way of determining the literacy of an ancestor.
in 1841, Thomas was was 12 and living with his parents. His father, John, age 35, was a farm servant and his mother Mary, age 35, gives her place of birth as Ireland. Thomas has an older brother David, age 15, and younger siblings, sister Jean age , and John age 6. They live in a place called Blackmyer, Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. In 1851, they live at 18 Hollandbank, Kirkmabreck, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland. Thomas is 22, older brother David, who is 25, no longer lives with the family, and younger siblings Jane is 18 and a seamstress, and John at 14 is an agricultural laborer like his brother Thomas and father John.
Mary who is 1841 listed her place of birth as Ireland, now gives it as England. The census day for 1851 is 30 March 1851 and on 7 November 1851, Thomas Broadfoot marries Margaret Harcomb and leaves home. [John Broadfoot and his wife, Mary, parents of Thomas Broadfoot die in 1880 and 1865.]
On 7 April 1861, Thomas and Margaret have John, age 8 (my ancestor), and Hugh age 5 and Eliza age 2. They live at Bank St. in Creetown and Thomas is an agricultural laborer and remains in farming for all of his life.
In 1881, they live in Urr and all the children listed in 1861 are gone. They have Thomas age 18, James age 15 and William age 12. In 1891, only children James and William are left at home. James is a stonecutter and James in a grocer.
On 7 Feb 1899, Thomas, general labourer, age 70, dies of pleurisy and pulmonary congestion leaving his wife Margaret, a widow. His son John (my ancestor) is present at his death. Thomas parents are listed with his mother maiden surname as Reynolds.
Thomas Broadfoot's sons Thomas and James are the only ones to go to America. They both become the first generation of this family to work with granite. They are the beginning of my American granite workers. They leave behind their other siblings, including my ancestor, John.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Marriage in Scotland
This is the scan of the marriage certificate of Thomas BROADFOOT and Margaret HARCOMB. I ordered it in 2002 from my first visit to the Scotland's People Web site and I also have it in image format.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Jonathan PATCH
This is the top section of one slate gravestone in the Lower Village Cemetery in Stow, MA. This gravestone is about 5 feet high. I was stunned by the size of many of the slate gravestones in this cemetery that were in such excellent condition.
According to the Mass Vital Records for Stow, Jonathan Patch died 14 Feb 1771 at 63Y, 7M and 14D.
I hope to return to this cemetery and take more photos when I have a mirror and my regular digital camera.
According to the Mass Vital Records for Stow, Jonathan Patch died 14 Feb 1771 at 63Y, 7M and 14D.
I hope to return to this cemetery and take more photos when I have a mirror and my regular digital camera.
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Jonathan WEATHERBEE
I took this photo for its fine carving example and it's intact nature.
Except for the lichen, this could have been the grave of a recently deceased person.
Mr. Jonathan Weatherbee died 22 Feb 1769 in his 84th year.
Except for the lichen, this could have been the grave of a recently deceased person.
Mr. Jonathan Weatherbee died 22 Feb 1769 in his 84th year.
Saturday, March 13, 2010
Sarah C. KERN
Sarah C. KERN, first wife of Mr. Chandler BRUCE, died with her infant son, 1 June 1838 in Stow, MA. She was only 31. They married 2 Jan, 1828 in Cambridge, MA. This information was taken from the Massachusetts Vital Record to 1850 for Stow and Cambridge, MA.
To identify this woman, I had to go to see if anyone had her listed in their personal family tree at Ancestry.com to find her maiden name. Then, I could go look her marriage up in the Vital Records for Cambridge. The death record for this woman sadly did not include her maiden name. It is probable that she already had living children when she and her baby son died.
Chandler Bruce married again to a Lavina Austin on 1 Aug 1841.
A fine example of a weeping willow gravestone motif. My daughter remarked that this stone looked "brand new". If only all the gravestone were this easy to read! This is a beautifully tended cemetery.
To identify this woman, I had to go to see if anyone had her listed in their personal family tree at Ancestry.com to find her maiden name. Then, I could go look her marriage up in the Vital Records for Cambridge. The death record for this woman sadly did not include her maiden name. It is probable that she already had living children when she and her baby son died.
Chandler Bruce married again to a Lavina Austin on 1 Aug 1841.
A fine example of a weeping willow gravestone motif. My daughter remarked that this stone looked "brand new". If only all the gravestone were this easy to read! This is a beautifully tended cemetery.
Friday, March 12, 2010
Back Side Kiosk
At the lower Village Cemetery, there is an information kiosk. A map is on the front and on the back there is a full listing of each person buried there. This is only a small section of the whole chart.
It would have been nice if it was a bit lower to the ground so I could have done a better job taking this photo.
It would have been nice if it was a bit lower to the ground so I could have done a better job taking this photo.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Map at Kiosk
In Lower Village Cemetery in Stow, there is an information kiosk near the front wall of the cemetery.
I imagine in the future there will be solar powered kiosks like this that you can use to type in a name and find out where the grave is located.
This type of plat or platt map is usually found in books and are great for us gravestone hunters.
Tomorrow we will look at a section of the back side of the kiosk where the numbers correspond with names.
I imagine in the future there will be solar powered kiosks like this that you can use to type in a name and find out where the grave is located.
This type of plat or platt map is usually found in books and are great for us gravestone hunters.
Tomorrow we will look at a section of the back side of the kiosk where the numbers correspond with names.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Washed Out
Taken with my cell phone in strong sunlight, this photo is a great example of "washed out" effect. I did retake it.
Tuesday, March 09, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: Rev. John GARDNER
This huge stone, resting on several brick supports (like tablet stone) is the grave of Rev. John GARDNER and Mary his wife and it reads in part...
"Under this Sepulchral Stone/rests in Christian Hope/of a Blessed Resurrection/ what was mortal/of the Reverend John Gardner/and Mary his wife."
This stone is so massive that it would have to be photographed in sections and assembled to read all of the information on it!
"Under this Sepulchral Stone/rests in Christian Hope/of a Blessed Resurrection/ what was mortal/of the Reverend John Gardner/and Mary his wife."
This stone is so massive that it would have to be photographed in sections and assembled to read all of the information on it!
Monday, March 08, 2010
Lower Village Cemetery
This is a section of a map in the information kiosk in the front of the Lower Village Cemetery in Stow, Middlesex Massachusetts.
I passed by this "oldest cemetery" which is just over the border of the town of Maynard near the shopping center where my daughter buys her groceries.
It has been said that a "Graveyard Rabbit" can find a cemetery to explore even when it was not a planned trip.
Of course, I spied it "with my little eye" on the way to the shopping plaza which was made easier by the fact that I was not driving. The downside was that I didn't have my camera with me so I was stuck with my cell phone's digital camera.
The camera is my cell phone [a Motorola Droid] is very sophisticated as compared to cameras in my past. It's got enough megapixels and since it is a Web enabled phone, I can take a photo and immediately upload it to many locations including emailing it to myself (or anyone else). I love this. For all its expense, this is the way everything should be!
So, why are my photos so awful? Two reasons: one is that I haven't had enough practice with the camera, and two, there is no viewfinder. I WILL not buy a digital camera without a viewfinder. When you are outdoors, it is impossible to see without one.
So, with this two downsides in mind, I will post a few of the crummy shots I got of this great cemetery. This shot in this post is of a section of the front side of the information kiosk. It is a full map of all those folks buried here in graphical format. With all its good intention, and it IS a wonderful idea, it was not sealed properly and it is water damaged. I am guessing this might have been an Eagle Boy Scot project.
Let's take the opportunity to learn what we can about this historical cemetery. As everybody knows, we should begin with finding out what has already been written about this cemetery. "Walk with me" to Find-a Grave and look for it. Oh, look, here's the page.
I passed by this "oldest cemetery" which is just over the border of the town of Maynard near the shopping center where my daughter buys her groceries.
It has been said that a "Graveyard Rabbit" can find a cemetery to explore even when it was not a planned trip.
Of course, I spied it "with my little eye" on the way to the shopping plaza which was made easier by the fact that I was not driving. The downside was that I didn't have my camera with me so I was stuck with my cell phone's digital camera.
The camera is my cell phone [a Motorola Droid] is very sophisticated as compared to cameras in my past. It's got enough megapixels and since it is a Web enabled phone, I can take a photo and immediately upload it to many locations including emailing it to myself (or anyone else). I love this. For all its expense, this is the way everything should be!
So, why are my photos so awful? Two reasons: one is that I haven't had enough practice with the camera, and two, there is no viewfinder. I WILL not buy a digital camera without a viewfinder. When you are outdoors, it is impossible to see without one.
So, with this two downsides in mind, I will post a few of the crummy shots I got of this great cemetery. This shot in this post is of a section of the front side of the information kiosk. It is a full map of all those folks buried here in graphical format. With all its good intention, and it IS a wonderful idea, it was not sealed properly and it is water damaged. I am guessing this might have been an Eagle Boy Scot project.
Let's take the opportunity to learn what we can about this historical cemetery. As everybody knows, we should begin with finding out what has already been written about this cemetery. "Walk with me" to Find-a Grave and look for it. Oh, look, here's the page.
Saturday, March 06, 2010
Blog Stats
I don't spend a lot of time thinking about how many visitors I get to my blog but I thought since the "Fab Forty" award, I probably should look at it for a few minutes. Wow.
I went to my local genealogy meeting today and someone asked me if it has made a difference in my life. I wasn't sure what to say. I remember that I received the email from Family Tree Magazine on 22 Feb 2010 and it sure looks like that announcement made a difference. Thank you Family Tree Magazine!
I went to my local genealogy meeting today and someone asked me if it has made a difference in my life. I wasn't sure what to say. I remember that I received the email from Family Tree Magazine on 22 Feb 2010 and it sure looks like that announcement made a difference. Thank you Family Tree Magazine!
Friday, March 05, 2010
Dr. Benoni DELANO
Here Lyes ye Body/ OF Doctr Benony / Delano Who Decd/April ye 5th/ 1738 IN/ ye 71st Year/ OF His Age.
1738 DELANO Benony, Dr., Apr. 5, 1738, in 71st y. G.R.1.Death/Duxbury {Mass Vital Records to 1850 Duxbury]
Not my ancestor, but isn't this a great gravestone?
1738 DELANO Benony, Dr., Apr. 5, 1738, in 71st y. G.R.1.Death/Duxbury {Mass Vital Records to 1850 Duxbury]
Not my ancestor, but isn't this a great gravestone?
Thursday, March 04, 2010
Visit My New Blog!
My oldest blog was attached to my Web site and today I successfully moved it to Blogger. It is hard to believe that I started blogging before Granite-in-My-Blood!
Making a blog is getting easier, thankfully, but to give it a new look and feel, I created a logo for it using a photograph that I took of the horizon on a summer's evening at Cape Cod.
After my parents died, I dreamt they were singing the song, Beyond the Blue Horizon to me. It reminded me to always remember the past but look everyday to a new future.
In this blog I will be reporting my research progress and the impact that technology has on our research.
Please visit!
Making a blog is getting easier, thankfully, but to give it a new look and feel, I created a logo for it using a photograph that I took of the horizon on a summer's evening at Cape Cod.
After my parents died, I dreamt they were singing the song, Beyond the Blue Horizon to me. It reminded me to always remember the past but look everyday to a new future.
In this blog I will be reporting my research progress and the impact that technology has on our research.
Please visit!
Photo Dating Clue
I discovered last summer, that I had two copies of the photo of my father with his dog Buster. This is a scan of the back of both photos.
The one on the right is my aunt Ada's handwriting. Notice it says he is seven years old.
The one on the left took my breath away. It is not my grandfather's handwriting (compared to his draft card), or any of my father's siblings. It must be my grandmother's writing. Wow.
My father was born in 1917 so that dates the photo at sometime in 1924. Using census records and the Westerly City Directories, I have made a quick list of where my grandparents lived.
1910: 170 High Street, Westerly [source: census]
1918: 7 Vose Street, Westerly (my father told me this is the place he was born) [source: WWI draft card, Thomas Broadfoot]
1920: 7 Vose Street, Westerly [source: census]
1920-1921: 7 Vose Street Westerly [source: Westerly City Directory]
1922-1923: 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: Westerly City Directory]
1930: 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: census]
1930-1931: 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: Westerly City Directory]
1936: 116 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: Westerly City Directory]
I can now estimate that both photos were taken on the porch steps of 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI sometime in 1924. I have more city directory's to check to make a timeline. My grandfather died in 1937 and my grandmother died in 1934. This is probably why they moved from 97 to 116.
The one on the right is my aunt Ada's handwriting. Notice it says he is seven years old.
The one on the left took my breath away. It is not my grandfather's handwriting (compared to his draft card), or any of my father's siblings. It must be my grandmother's writing. Wow.
My father was born in 1917 so that dates the photo at sometime in 1924. Using census records and the Westerly City Directories, I have made a quick list of where my grandparents lived.
1910: 170 High Street, Westerly [source: census]
1918: 7 Vose Street, Westerly (my father told me this is the place he was born) [source: WWI draft card, Thomas Broadfoot]
1920: 7 Vose Street, Westerly [source: census]
1920-1921: 7 Vose Street Westerly [source: Westerly City Directory]
1922-1923: 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: Westerly City Directory]
1930: 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: census]
1930-1931: 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: Westerly City Directory]
1936: 116 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI [source: Westerly City Directory]
I can now estimate that both photos were taken on the porch steps of 97 Bowling Lane, Bradford, RI sometime in 1924. I have more city directory's to check to make a timeline. My grandfather died in 1937 and my grandmother died in 1934. This is probably why they moved from 97 to 116.
Wednesday, March 03, 2010
Wordless Wednesday: Harcomb and Buster
When he was young, my father was called Harcomb, which was his middle name. It was the maiden name of his great-grandmother, Margaret (1832- 1922) who married Thomas BROADFOOT (1829-1899) on 7 Nov 1851 in Scotland.
As his father was Tom and he had a great uncle who was named Tom, it meant there were three people named Thomas Broadfoot in Rhode Island when he was a little boy. You certainly wouldn't expect that, would you?
My friend Barbara Fallon, who reads my blog, pointed out that the photo I posted last week was probably taken in front of the mill houses on Bowling Lane in Bradford, RI. I think that photo was taken on the same day as this one.
Stay tuned, more information tomorrow.
As his father was Tom and he had a great uncle who was named Tom, it meant there were three people named Thomas Broadfoot in Rhode Island when he was a little boy. You certainly wouldn't expect that, would you?
My friend Barbara Fallon, who reads my blog, pointed out that the photo I posted last week was probably taken in front of the mill houses on Bowling Lane in Bradford, RI. I think that photo was taken on the same day as this one.
Stay tuned, more information tomorrow.
Tuesday, March 02, 2010
Tombstone Tuesday: Daniel William CLIFT
Tombstone Tuesday: Daniel William Clift
Yong Daniel William Clift, son of Capt. Waterman Clift and his wife Esther Hazard, died when he was 19 years old. He is buried at Elm Grove Cemetery next to his brother Stanton and behind his parents.
He was born, lived and died in Groton, CT. Born 25 June 1852, he is listed in the 1860 and 1870 census. He died 23 Nov 1871.
At age 17, he is listed in the census as a post office clerk and his name is listed as "Willie D." There was only one year difference between him and his sister Thankful Aletta Clift. Maybe they were close knit siblings.
Yong Daniel William Clift, son of Capt. Waterman Clift and his wife Esther Hazard, died when he was 19 years old. He is buried at Elm Grove Cemetery next to his brother Stanton and behind his parents.
He was born, lived and died in Groton, CT. Born 25 June 1852, he is listed in the 1860 and 1870 census. He died 23 Nov 1871.
At age 17, he is listed in the census as a post office clerk and his name is listed as "Willie D." There was only one year difference between him and his sister Thankful Aletta Clift. Maybe they were close knit siblings.
Monday, March 01, 2010
Lydia, daughter of Col. Benadam Gallup
Carnival of African-American Genealogy: Restore My Name
As a native New Englander, I knew that my family must have owned slaves. As I search for information about my ancestors, I make note of any records of them owning slaves in the states of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Several family cemeteries have gravestones of those slaves buried right alongside the rest of my family members. I am pleased to tell you that those graves are as nicely tended as all the others.
Finding the gravestone of Col. Benadam GALLUP, my DAR Revolutionary War ancestor and 6th great grandfather, was an exciting event in my genealogical journey. He is buried with his wife in the private Gallup Burying Ground in Groton/Ledyard, CT. My husband took an excellent photograph of me with his gravestone and it hangs in my office. Benadam was the father of eleven children. His oldest child also named Benadam is my direct line ancestor.
As I began to gather vital records for this line, I came upon a surprise in the Barbour Index of Vital Records. Gallup family members are carefully recorded as they were prominent members of the community. This clip from that index held at Ancestry.com, shows the recording of a child named Lydia born 27 Oct 1788 and recorded in Book 1, page 177 of the town records. It clearly states "had negro girl".
Col. Benadam Gallup who was born in 1716 would have been 72 years old on that date! He died in 1800, one year after his wife. Is this child, Lydia, his daughter, or did he submit the birth of a child of one of his slaves so she would be recorded? We may never know.
[Ancestry.com. Connecticut Town Death Records, pre-1870 (Barbour Collection) [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006. Original data: White, Lorraine Cook, ed. The Barbour Collection of Connecticut Town Vital Records. Vol. 1-55. Baltimore, MD, USA: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1994-2002.] Used here for teaching purposes under fair-use copyright. I am an educator.
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