Blog Post 1 of the LADD-WILLIAMS family [first posted 8/14/08]
Because of my posting entitled, "The Dangers of Historical Books", Randy Seaver blogged about it as one of his top reads of the week! It caught the eye of a researcher in Illinois who emailed me about there being a town in his county named Stonington after the town of my ancestors who moved there from Stonington, CT. (Wow!)
Stonington and North Stonington CT folk moved around a lot, this we know, as many moved to New York.
Here's the thing..., as the obsessive detective Monk would say, it seems there was a man named Noyes Ladd who lived in that county after being born in CT. I was stunned!
Just two weeks ago I took photos of gravestones in a Stanton plot of the family of a Noyes Ladd. His wife was Harriet, whose mother was Thankful6 Stanton (William5, Joseph4, Joseph3, John2, Thomas1). This is why this family named Ladd is in the same plot with Stantons.
I found references to this family (besides the Stanton genealogy) in the Barbour Index of Vital records and I found a person's tree at Ancestry. That tree tells me that this man had a son named Noyes who lived in that very county in IL and is buried there. What an amazing coincidence?
Thanks, Randy.
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Showing posts with label 2008 Genea-Bloggers Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 2008 Genea-Bloggers Games. Show all posts
Friday, February 13, 2009
Friday, October 03, 2008
Gallup Family Reunion 2008
As part of the 2008 Genea-bloggers Summer Games, I applied for membership in the Gallup Family Association. As Col. Gallup is my joining ancestors for DAR, I am trying to set aside time to go to next year's reunion. I was tired of looking at the note on my desk, so I went to their new Web site and looked to see if there was news from the reunion last August.
The photos are posted and there's a date for next year's (3rd Saturday in August) reunion. This will help me plan my genealogy time in Connecticut next summer! This year's gathering was the 106th. Wow. That's a lot of years on a timeline.
The photos are posted and there's a date for next year's (3rd Saturday in August) reunion. This will help me plan my genealogy time in Connecticut next summer! This year's gathering was the 106th. Wow. That's a lot of years on a timeline.
Monday, August 25, 2008
GBG Platinum
See what I earned?
Category: “Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness”
Isn't it beautiful?
Category: “Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness”
Isn't it beautiful?
Thursday, August 21, 2008
Tally Ho!
Midge Frazel's Genea-Blogger 2008 Summer Games Tally and Links
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
4 Event Tasks: Diamond Medal
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
4 Event Tasks: Diamond Medal
Event A: write intent and purpose of blog (8/10) Bronze (posted)
Event B: participate in a blog carnival (8/11) Silver (posted)
Event C: prepare drafts for writing (8/12, 8/13, 8/14) Gold (posted) (5 total plus this link)
Event D: write biographical ancestor sketch (8/20, 8/21) Diamond (posted) (posted)
Category: “Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness”
5-6 Event Tasks: Platinum Medal
Event A: comment on a nu-2-u genea-blog (8/13) Silver (posted)
Event B: join another genea-blog network (8/21) Platinum1 (posted)
Event C: invite a genealogist to Facebook (8/16) Gold (posted)
Event D: assist another researcher (8/19) Diamond (posted, posted)
Event E: participate in an indexing project (8/18) Platinum2 (posted, posted)
Event F: joined a lineage society (8/9) (posted)
Be bold, Be wyse, Be Revolutionary
Category: "Write, Write, Write"
Event D: write biographical ancestor sketch (Part 2)
Diamond
Biography of Col. Benadam Gallup
The name Benadam may be a shortened version of the names Benjamin and Adam as is carved on this well- preserved gravestone as Ben Adam.
Benadam Gallup (Benadam, Benadam, John II, John I) was born 26 Oct 1716 in Groton, New London, CT, son of Lieut. Benadam Gallup and his wife Eunice Cobb. His father was called Sr. and he was called Jr. even though there was a Benadam already!
[link]
"Gallup, Benadam, s. Benadam & Eunice, b. Oct. 26, 1716"
Groton Vital records (Barbour Index) Vol 1, Page 118.
Lieut. Benadam Gallup (1693-1755) and his wife Eunice Cobb (1693-1759) produced eleven children (one set of twins) with their son Benadam being the oldest. [Benadam Gallup #73, pages 36 (birth), 44-45 (family).
Gallup, John D. The Genealogical History of the Gallup Family of the United States also, biographical sketches of members of the family. Hartford, CT: Hartford Printing Company. 1893.
Benadam Gallup married Hannah Avery of Groton, CT. on 11 August 1740. Hannah (Christopher, Capt. James Jr, , Capt. James Sr, Christopher Jr., Christopher) was born into the well-known Avery Family of Connecticut.
Taylor, Maureen Alice. The Avery Family: The Ancestors and Descendants of Christopher Avery. Boston, MA: Newbury Street Press. 2004.
"Gallup, Benadam, Jr. m. Hannah Avery, Aug. 11, 1740."
Groton Vital records (Barbour Index) Vol 1, Page 177.
Benadam and Hannah had an even dozen children but four died within one year (1770-1771) of typhoid fever. Their first born, Benadam is my ancestor and married Bridget Palmer.
Benadam and Hannah are buried between the father/grandfather Benadam and wife Eunice and Benadam and Bridget. A few miles away in Stonington rests the remains of the most senior Benadam and a memorial stone for John II.
John Gallup II fought in the Great Swamp Fight and is buried in a mass grave in Rhode Island where he was slain.
This Gallup family came to America on the ship "Mary & John" in 1630 from Mosterne, Dorset, England and the surname is also spelled Gallop, Gollop, Gollope and Golop, and may be dervived from the German words "Gott" and "Lobe" meaning God and Praise. The family motto, "Be bold, be wyse" certainly describes this family.
Wheeler, Richard Anson. History of the Town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900 with a genealogical register of Stonington families. Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. 1977 (reprint of 1900). Gallup Family pps. 381-396. [Col. Benadam #77 p.388]
The family orginally landed at Nantasket, MA [now Hull], sailing from Plymouth, England and then they went to Dorchester and Boston. The first John Gallop [John II] owned Gallup's Island (near Long Island, NY) where he kept a sheep farm as well as his house in Boston. The family eventually moved to what is now Connecticut and occupied land in Stonington/Groton near the other prominent families of Denison, Miner and Stanton.
Grace Denison Wheeler, in her book "Old Homes of Stonington" states that in 1902 (pps-65-66) that the house, was "about one quarter mile" from the Denison land and all that remained was the crumbling great stone chimney. That house was inhabited by "Benadam and John, the grandson and son of the famous Capt. John Gallup of the famous swamp fight."
The land and farm of this Col. Benadam Gallup must have been on the Groton side of the land allotment. He probably was a farmer, and probably a slave owner not unlike other families in the area. In the section of the Vital Records for the many Benadam Gallup men, it lists this mysterious record:
"Gallup, Benadam, Col. had negro girl Lydia, b. Oct 27, 1788."
Groton Vital records (Barbour Index) Vol 1, Page 177.
It is unknown as to whether he fathered this child or that if he just wanted the birth of this child recorded in the town records. Lydia appears nowhere else. If he was the father he would have been 72 at her birth.
"A brave officer of the Revolution", is stated in several sources and he is my proved DAR Patriot. [link]
"Served with the militia, second battallion, Wadsworth Brigade, raised June 1776. At the Brooklyn front battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776; in the retreat to New York, August 29-30; in retreat from New York City, September 15, with the main army at White Plains."
He was 60 years old at this time [same age I am now!]
Gallup, John D. The Genealogical History of the Gallup Family of the United States also, biographical sketches of members of the family. Hartford, CT: Hartford Printing Company. 1893. pages 44-45.
The Battle of Brooklyn, also called the Battle of Long Island was one of the largest battles of the Revolution. [link] We did not win this battle but the retreat plan is still studied by historians.
Col. Bendam Gallup died at Groton on 29 May 1800, aged 84 and lies buried in the Gallup Burying Ground. His wife Hannah died 28 July 1799, aged 81. [They were my 6th great grandparents]
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event D: write biographical ancestor sketch (Part 2)
Diamond
Biography of Col. Benadam Gallup
The name Benadam may be a shortened version of the names Benjamin and Adam as is carved on this well- preserved gravestone as Ben Adam.
Benadam Gallup (Benadam, Benadam, John II, John I) was born 26 Oct 1716 in Groton, New London, CT, son of Lieut. Benadam Gallup and his wife Eunice Cobb. His father was called Sr. and he was called Jr. even though there was a Benadam already!
[link]
"Gallup, Benadam, s. Benadam & Eunice, b. Oct. 26, 1716"
Groton Vital records (Barbour Index) Vol 1, Page 118.
Lieut. Benadam Gallup (1693-1755) and his wife Eunice Cobb (1693-1759) produced eleven children (one set of twins) with their son Benadam being the oldest. [Benadam Gallup #73, pages 36 (birth), 44-45 (family).
Gallup, John D. The Genealogical History of the Gallup Family of the United States also, biographical sketches of members of the family. Hartford, CT: Hartford Printing Company. 1893.
Benadam Gallup married Hannah Avery of Groton, CT. on 11 August 1740. Hannah (Christopher, Capt. James Jr, , Capt. James Sr, Christopher Jr., Christopher) was born into the well-known Avery Family of Connecticut.
Taylor, Maureen Alice. The Avery Family: The Ancestors and Descendants of Christopher Avery. Boston, MA: Newbury Street Press. 2004.
"Gallup, Benadam, Jr. m. Hannah Avery, Aug. 11, 1740."
Groton Vital records (Barbour Index) Vol 1, Page 177.
Benadam and Hannah had an even dozen children but four died within one year (1770-1771) of typhoid fever. Their first born, Benadam is my ancestor and married Bridget Palmer.
Benadam and Hannah are buried between the father/grandfather Benadam and wife Eunice and Benadam and Bridget. A few miles away in Stonington rests the remains of the most senior Benadam and a memorial stone for John II.
John Gallup II fought in the Great Swamp Fight and is buried in a mass grave in Rhode Island where he was slain.
This Gallup family came to America on the ship "Mary & John" in 1630 from Mosterne, Dorset, England and the surname is also spelled Gallop, Gollop, Gollope and Golop, and may be dervived from the German words "Gott" and "Lobe" meaning God and Praise. The family motto, "Be bold, be wyse" certainly describes this family.
Wheeler, Richard Anson. History of the Town of Stonington, county of New London, Connecticut, from its first settlement in 1649 to 1900 with a genealogical register of Stonington families. Baltimore, Md. : Genealogical Publishing Co, Inc. 1977 (reprint of 1900). Gallup Family pps. 381-396. [Col. Benadam #77 p.388]
The family orginally landed at Nantasket, MA [now Hull], sailing from Plymouth, England and then they went to Dorchester and Boston. The first John Gallop [John II] owned Gallup's Island (near Long Island, NY) where he kept a sheep farm as well as his house in Boston. The family eventually moved to what is now Connecticut and occupied land in Stonington/Groton near the other prominent families of Denison, Miner and Stanton.
Grace Denison Wheeler, in her book "Old Homes of Stonington" states that in 1902 (pps-65-66) that the house, was "about one quarter mile" from the Denison land and all that remained was the crumbling great stone chimney. That house was inhabited by "Benadam and John, the grandson and son of the famous Capt. John Gallup of the famous swamp fight."
The land and farm of this Col. Benadam Gallup must have been on the Groton side of the land allotment. He probably was a farmer, and probably a slave owner not unlike other families in the area. In the section of the Vital Records for the many Benadam Gallup men, it lists this mysterious record:
"Gallup, Benadam, Col. had negro girl Lydia, b. Oct 27, 1788."
Groton Vital records (Barbour Index) Vol 1, Page 177.
It is unknown as to whether he fathered this child or that if he just wanted the birth of this child recorded in the town records. Lydia appears nowhere else. If he was the father he would have been 72 at her birth.
"A brave officer of the Revolution", is stated in several sources and he is my proved DAR Patriot. [link]
"Served with the militia, second battallion, Wadsworth Brigade, raised June 1776. At the Brooklyn front battle of Long Island, August 27, 1776; in the retreat to New York, August 29-30; in retreat from New York City, September 15, with the main army at White Plains."
He was 60 years old at this time [same age I am now!]
Gallup, John D. The Genealogical History of the Gallup Family of the United States also, biographical sketches of members of the family. Hartford, CT: Hartford Printing Company. 1893. pages 44-45.
The Battle of Brooklyn, also called the Battle of Long Island was one of the largest battles of the Revolution. [link] We did not win this battle but the retreat plan is still studied by historians.
Col. Bendam Gallup died at Groton on 29 May 1800, aged 84 and lies buried in the Gallup Burying Ground. His wife Hannah died 28 July 1799, aged 81. [They were my 6th great grandparents]
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Journey to an Ancestor
Category: "Write, Write, Write"
Event D: write biographical ancestor sketch (Part 1)
Diamond
To begin telling the story of one of my ancestors in a biographical sketch, I must tell you how I found out about this ancestor and the steps it took to learn about him.
Family history told me about this lady, my 2nd great- grand aunt, my great grandfather Charlie's sister. Her name was Frances Denison Stewart before she married. Her mother was a Denison and her father was a Stewart.
They called her Fannie and as you can see by her gravestone (1866-1963) she was still living in my lifetime. Many women in my family live a very long time.
I do have a vague memory of visiting her because she never allowed women to be in her house wearing slacks. My mother put a dress on me and we went to see her. I remember the huge horse chestnut tree outside her house and my father and I gathered up the horse chestnuts while my grandmother and mother spent more time with her. That was fun.
She was VERY proud of being a DAR member. She lived in Groton, CT and was the wife of George Owen Miner. I have no photos of her but I did contact her DAR Chapter and they told me all about her even to the part where no woman could wear slacks in her presence. They were kind enough to direct me to her grave in the Starr Burying Ground. My grandmother and my mother were not interested in the DAR but I have found other family members from CT who have belonged to that chapter and must have known her.
I looked up her lineage to prove her DAR membership exisited and found out the Revolutionary War ancestor was named Col. Benadam Gallup. While my papers were being processed in Washington, I set out to find her grave and to find the graves of the people in the Gallup line.
I am thrilled to tell you that I have taken ALL of the gravestones from the immigrant ancestor John Gallup down to my mother. Every single one! (husbands and wives) I wish I could do this for all my lines.
To join the DAR you must first send for birth, marriage and death certificates back for three generations. In the line of my records, then my parents, then my grandparents, it only took about 3 weeks to send for (by mail) and receive back (by mail). The longest time taken and most expensive was the death record of my grandfather from Boston ($28).
Using the magic of the Web, I found that Col. Benadam Gallup was buried (when he died) in Groton. That location is now Ledyard. It took me a while to get the right location by figuring out Town incorporation dates.
It took some more time to get directions to find the graveyard. Many people helped. No one told me it was gated and locked or I might not have gone. Climbing over stone walls is not in my plan. (But, I have had to do that since that day to go back there with a town historian!)
Because it was the weekend before Memorial Day, the men mowing the grass were in the graveyard. The gates were wide open and they took a break so I could find his grave. Isn't that amazing? I think it was meant to be. I'd found him!
Now, that you know about my journey, I can write my ancestor sketch.
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event D: write biographical ancestor sketch (Part 1)
Diamond
To begin telling the story of one of my ancestors in a biographical sketch, I must tell you how I found out about this ancestor and the steps it took to learn about him.
Family history told me about this lady, my 2nd great- grand aunt, my great grandfather Charlie's sister. Her name was Frances Denison Stewart before she married. Her mother was a Denison and her father was a Stewart.
They called her Fannie and as you can see by her gravestone (1866-1963) she was still living in my lifetime. Many women in my family live a very long time.
I do have a vague memory of visiting her because she never allowed women to be in her house wearing slacks. My mother put a dress on me and we went to see her. I remember the huge horse chestnut tree outside her house and my father and I gathered up the horse chestnuts while my grandmother and mother spent more time with her. That was fun.
She was VERY proud of being a DAR member. She lived in Groton, CT and was the wife of George Owen Miner. I have no photos of her but I did contact her DAR Chapter and they told me all about her even to the part where no woman could wear slacks in her presence. They were kind enough to direct me to her grave in the Starr Burying Ground. My grandmother and my mother were not interested in the DAR but I have found other family members from CT who have belonged to that chapter and must have known her.
I looked up her lineage to prove her DAR membership exisited and found out the Revolutionary War ancestor was named Col. Benadam Gallup. While my papers were being processed in Washington, I set out to find her grave and to find the graves of the people in the Gallup line.
I am thrilled to tell you that I have taken ALL of the gravestones from the immigrant ancestor John Gallup down to my mother. Every single one! (husbands and wives) I wish I could do this for all my lines.
To join the DAR you must first send for birth, marriage and death certificates back for three generations. In the line of my records, then my parents, then my grandparents, it only took about 3 weeks to send for (by mail) and receive back (by mail). The longest time taken and most expensive was the death record of my grandfather from Boston ($28).
Using the magic of the Web, I found that Col. Benadam Gallup was buried (when he died) in Groton. That location is now Ledyard. It took me a while to get the right location by figuring out Town incorporation dates.
It took some more time to get directions to find the graveyard. Many people helped. No one told me it was gated and locked or I might not have gone. Climbing over stone walls is not in my plan. (But, I have had to do that since that day to go back there with a town historian!)
Because it was the weekend before Memorial Day, the men mowing the grass were in the graveyard. The gates were wide open and they took a break so I could find his grave. Isn't that amazing? I think it was meant to be. I'd found him!
Now, that you know about my journey, I can write my ancestor sketch.
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Tuesday, August 19, 2008
Denison Society Collage
Category: "Reach out and Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness"
Event D: assist another researcher
Diamond
As the assistant genealogist for The Denison Society, it is my job to provide research help beyond the checking of the lineage lines for membership to the Society. In this way, I help those who have questions about their already proved line or who need help with finding an ancestor. This is a new job for me. I assist other researchers all the time, like Carmen Johnson, Fred Burdick, Larry Chesebro and pretty much anyone who emails me! (Not as many as you may think)
Let me tell you about my recent project. At the yearly (August) Denison Family Reunion, we each took a turn talking about who we are and what we do. I went first but I didn't talk about my genealogy just my other job as ed tech consultant and writer. They stopped me and wanted to know what a professional genealogist did! After trying to explain that, each person had their turn. Many are retired and talked about their relationship with the Denison family.
Something happened that I have not been able to remove from my head. One of the older ladies talked about how she has been coming to this reunion ever since she was a liitle girl. (Wow) She is in poor health and did not think that she could come back again. A while later, she motioned me over and asked me if I could tell her which sons or daughters she is descended from!
It seems that in "the good old days", when people joined these types of lineage societies, someone sat with them and asked them about their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and then looked up their line in the print genealogy book (in this case, the old Denison genealogy) and said OK, you're a descendant! That was it. The person never found out what lines they had or who they were. Imagine that!
I decided that I would "run her line" which means that I use the private database of names in Family Tree Maker format typed in by a previous genealogist, to find out how many Denison lines she has. This is EASY. It only took a few minutes. (But the records only come down so far, so many of us are not even in this database.) She may not know she is also a Stanton descendant.
I made an outline descendant report and got it ready for her. I also made this collage that appears in this post so she can take it out and put it on display (I printed it.) just in case she doesn't make it to the reunion next August. That way she won't be sad and miss it too much.
So, dear reader, I must go and finish this envelope I am making for her and get it ready to mail. Then, I have to research and write my last event...the biographical sketch. Stay tuned!
Event D: assist another researcher
Diamond
As the assistant genealogist for The Denison Society, it is my job to provide research help beyond the checking of the lineage lines for membership to the Society. In this way, I help those who have questions about their already proved line or who need help with finding an ancestor. This is a new job for me. I assist other researchers all the time, like Carmen Johnson, Fred Burdick, Larry Chesebro and pretty much anyone who emails me! (Not as many as you may think)
Let me tell you about my recent project. At the yearly (August) Denison Family Reunion, we each took a turn talking about who we are and what we do. I went first but I didn't talk about my genealogy just my other job as ed tech consultant and writer. They stopped me and wanted to know what a professional genealogist did! After trying to explain that, each person had their turn. Many are retired and talked about their relationship with the Denison family.
Something happened that I have not been able to remove from my head. One of the older ladies talked about how she has been coming to this reunion ever since she was a liitle girl. (Wow) She is in poor health and did not think that she could come back again. A while later, she motioned me over and asked me if I could tell her which sons or daughters she is descended from!
It seems that in "the good old days", when people joined these types of lineage societies, someone sat with them and asked them about their parents, grandparents and great-grandparents and then looked up their line in the print genealogy book (in this case, the old Denison genealogy) and said OK, you're a descendant! That was it. The person never found out what lines they had or who they were. Imagine that!
I decided that I would "run her line" which means that I use the private database of names in Family Tree Maker format typed in by a previous genealogist, to find out how many Denison lines she has. This is EASY. It only took a few minutes. (But the records only come down so far, so many of us are not even in this database.) She may not know she is also a Stanton descendant.
I made an outline descendant report and got it ready for her. I also made this collage that appears in this post so she can take it out and put it on display (I printed it.) just in case she doesn't make it to the reunion next August. That way she won't be sad and miss it too much.
So, dear reader, I must go and finish this envelope I am making for her and get it ready to mail. Then, I have to research and write my last event...the biographical sketch. Stay tuned!
Carnival Time (#54)
Category: "Write, Write, Write"
Event B: participate in a blog carnival (continued)
Carnival #54 is posted!
Event B: participate in a blog carnival (continued)
Carnival #54 is posted!
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Indexing
Category: "Write, Write, Write"
Event E: participate in an indexing project
Platinum (2d)
Participating in an indexing project usually takes weeks or months of work. As I photograph and research gravestones, this is my contribution to an indexing project. Other indexing projects include transcribing records from books, from the census, or from genealogies mostly to help others find accurate information. Today, most indexing projects are designed either for publication in print, for the Web or both.
As part of my Stanton family research, I began working on learning how the Davis family blended into the Stanton family. At a recent family reunion, I visited, briefly, a small cemetery on the farmland of the Davis family. Time only permitted me to take a few gravestone shots but it was enough to question the entries in Grace Denison Wheeler's book, "Old Homes Of Stonington".
After looking over the names on just a few stones, I discovered that some of the surnames were listed in the Bradford and Dickens Yard (p. 321-322) and some were listed in The Davis Yard (p. 300-301). I immediately asked my cousin Fred Burdick for some help and he's promised to look into it.
The gravestone shown here in this blog entry is one of John "Whit" Davis who is still living. He describes himself as "the last old Yankee farmer". He's quite the character. I am reading a book called The Davis Homestead written by his father. It is about life on the farm in the area of Stonington, CT. Whit and I are 7th cousins, 1 times removed as a Stanton in my line married into this Davis family.
Books like this, although historical and not genealogical in nature, can give you great clues as to the life and times of any ancestor you had in the area. My family in Westerly, RI is only a few miles away from this farm and Mr. Davis (Whit's dad) sold milk to the people living in Watch Hill. He even talks about the "Great Hurricane of 1938". Watch Hill and the hurricane are always on my mind especially in the summer.
By the way, the horse on this gravestone was named Blaze and Whit's favorite. I love taking photos of gravestones and yes, it is not unusual for a New Englander to have a gravestone "up and ready" before we die. You never know....
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event E: participate in an indexing project
Platinum (2d)
Participating in an indexing project usually takes weeks or months of work. As I photograph and research gravestones, this is my contribution to an indexing project. Other indexing projects include transcribing records from books, from the census, or from genealogies mostly to help others find accurate information. Today, most indexing projects are designed either for publication in print, for the Web or both.
As part of my Stanton family research, I began working on learning how the Davis family blended into the Stanton family. At a recent family reunion, I visited, briefly, a small cemetery on the farmland of the Davis family. Time only permitted me to take a few gravestone shots but it was enough to question the entries in Grace Denison Wheeler's book, "Old Homes Of Stonington".
After looking over the names on just a few stones, I discovered that some of the surnames were listed in the Bradford and Dickens Yard (p. 321-322) and some were listed in The Davis Yard (p. 300-301). I immediately asked my cousin Fred Burdick for some help and he's promised to look into it.
The gravestone shown here in this blog entry is one of John "Whit" Davis who is still living. He describes himself as "the last old Yankee farmer". He's quite the character. I am reading a book called The Davis Homestead written by his father. It is about life on the farm in the area of Stonington, CT. Whit and I are 7th cousins, 1 times removed as a Stanton in my line married into this Davis family.
Books like this, although historical and not genealogical in nature, can give you great clues as to the life and times of any ancestor you had in the area. My family in Westerly, RI is only a few miles away from this farm and Mr. Davis (Whit's dad) sold milk to the people living in Watch Hill. He even talks about the "Great Hurricane of 1938". Watch Hill and the hurricane are always on my mind especially in the summer.
By the way, the horse on this gravestone was named Blaze and Whit's favorite. I love taking photos of gravestones and yes, it is not unusual for a New Englander to have a gravestone "up and ready" before we die. You never know....
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Thinking about Random Acts
Category: "Reach out and Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness"
Event D: assist another researcher
Diamond
I really don't think there is such a thing as "Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness". I think things are meant to be found when they are ready and sometimes it means you have to wait for just the right event, day, person, or situation to come along.
While I write some of my last entries for this "Summer Games", I'd like to take the time to talk with you about what this means.
Recently at a family reunion, I noticed a fellow genealogist and "cousin" Scott Bill Hirst struggle with his film camera. It suddenly hit me that this was the person who needed my "old" digital camera. That's a random thought, I suppose, but I pulled him aside and told him that I thought it would be a good idea for me to mail it to him. He looked very surprised and wanted to know how much I wanted for it. We settled on a small amount IF he would learn to use it and take some photos of my family graves which are located in the next town to him in Rhode Island AND if he would take photos of family reunions I couldn't go to and share them with me. He got the camera fine and after a few days of struggling (I kept making him read the manual!), he went out and took some pictures and took them to Walmart and put them on CD. He's going to mail them to me this week. This is a "Win-Win" situation.
This morning, as I tried to clean up my desk to get ready to work plus get some groceries, I just opened the tree I have posted at Ancestry.com and picked an ancestor to look at. I couldn't believe it, someone has found the photo of the grave of that ancestor which I posted that we have in common and had taken the line back several generations (with citations). I followed the line and discovered that one ancestor is BURIED IN MY TOWN. I couldn't get there fast enough to photograph the gravestone! Here's the photo of me with the graves behind me.
I have been there many times and taken a lot of photos of this very old graveyard hoping I could find a connection to that place as I feel drawn to it. I wondered why I wanted to live here. I needed to find these now as we are thinking of moving away from here when we retire. See what I mean by the right time and place and not being random at all?
I have emailed the other researcher and am impatiently waiting!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event D: assist another researcher
Diamond
I really don't think there is such a thing as "Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness". I think things are meant to be found when they are ready and sometimes it means you have to wait for just the right event, day, person, or situation to come along.
While I write some of my last entries for this "Summer Games", I'd like to take the time to talk with you about what this means.
Recently at a family reunion, I noticed a fellow genealogist and "cousin" Scott Bill Hirst struggle with his film camera. It suddenly hit me that this was the person who needed my "old" digital camera. That's a random thought, I suppose, but I pulled him aside and told him that I thought it would be a good idea for me to mail it to him. He looked very surprised and wanted to know how much I wanted for it. We settled on a small amount IF he would learn to use it and take some photos of my family graves which are located in the next town to him in Rhode Island AND if he would take photos of family reunions I couldn't go to and share them with me. He got the camera fine and after a few days of struggling (I kept making him read the manual!), he went out and took some pictures and took them to Walmart and put them on CD. He's going to mail them to me this week. This is a "Win-Win" situation.
This morning, as I tried to clean up my desk to get ready to work plus get some groceries, I just opened the tree I have posted at Ancestry.com and picked an ancestor to look at. I couldn't believe it, someone has found the photo of the grave of that ancestor which I posted that we have in common and had taken the line back several generations (with citations). I followed the line and discovered that one ancestor is BURIED IN MY TOWN. I couldn't get there fast enough to photograph the gravestone! Here's the photo of me with the graves behind me.
I have been there many times and taken a lot of photos of this very old graveyard hoping I could find a connection to that place as I feel drawn to it. I wondered why I wanted to live here. I needed to find these now as we are thinking of moving away from here when we retire. See what I mean by the right time and place and not being random at all?
I have emailed the other researcher and am impatiently waiting!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Saturday, August 16, 2008
Inviting Genealogists
Category: "Reach Out & Perform Genealogical Acts of Kindness"
Event C: invite a genealogist to Facebook
Gold
I belong to several genealogically related organizations, but I have learned that there are more persons in these groups that "are done" with their genealogies than those who do active reasearch. I found this out by preparing presentations and speaking to groups. Many people I have met inherited their charts from a parent or another a family member. Don't get me wrong; they ARE interested in family history and genealogy but they come to meeting and events for the socialization and not to learn or share information.
A couple years ago, I attended a regional genealogical conference and met some very important people involved in genealogy and history and that DID make a difference in my attitude about what makes up a genealogist. Since then, I have proved three Mayflower lines and one DAR line (and have uncovered more too but I haven't finsihed the work to do so.
To complete this event, I invited two women who "do genealogy" to join Facebook and to take a look at this genea-bloggers group. Carmen Johnson of Idaho, has created a Web site for her Gallup ancestors. As she lived there and I live nearer to Connecticut, I have visited a few graveyards, written directions to them and taken photographs. All of these graveyards have Gallups sprinked like confetti in them and are quite ancient. (the graveyards are ancient...not Carmen) Carmen's Web site is great. Until now, the Gallup Family Association didn't have a Web site for people to use to do their research. They still don't require proof of lineage to join. (This is the organization I joined for that event.)
I asked Carmen to join Facebook and she did so immediately. I was really surprised. Maybe she and I can work together on a blog someday. Say, "Hi" to her, will you?
I did ask other people to join Facebook but there has been no reply. So I asked Shelia Connolly, the vice Regent of my DAR chapter and found that she already belonged. She is a writer and has recently had two books published. She's on a roll! I don't know if she has time to genea-blog but since she is a gravestone groupie like me, perhaps she can post her gravestone collection online. Welcome her, will you, since she has joined the Genea-Bloggers group?
Well, that's it for this event. I'm off to the wedding of a friend, who has never been married and is my age! Not something you see everyday!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event C: invite a genealogist to Facebook
Gold
I belong to several genealogically related organizations, but I have learned that there are more persons in these groups that "are done" with their genealogies than those who do active reasearch. I found this out by preparing presentations and speaking to groups. Many people I have met inherited their charts from a parent or another a family member. Don't get me wrong; they ARE interested in family history and genealogy but they come to meeting and events for the socialization and not to learn or share information.
A couple years ago, I attended a regional genealogical conference and met some very important people involved in genealogy and history and that DID make a difference in my attitude about what makes up a genealogist. Since then, I have proved three Mayflower lines and one DAR line (and have uncovered more too but I haven't finsihed the work to do so.
To complete this event, I invited two women who "do genealogy" to join Facebook and to take a look at this genea-bloggers group. Carmen Johnson of Idaho, has created a Web site for her Gallup ancestors. As she lived there and I live nearer to Connecticut, I have visited a few graveyards, written directions to them and taken photographs. All of these graveyards have Gallups sprinked like confetti in them and are quite ancient. (the graveyards are ancient...not Carmen) Carmen's Web site is great. Until now, the Gallup Family Association didn't have a Web site for people to use to do their research. They still don't require proof of lineage to join. (This is the organization I joined for that event.)
I asked Carmen to join Facebook and she did so immediately. I was really surprised. Maybe she and I can work together on a blog someday. Say, "Hi" to her, will you?
I did ask other people to join Facebook but there has been no reply. So I asked Shelia Connolly, the vice Regent of my DAR chapter and found that she already belonged. She is a writer and has recently had two books published. She's on a roll! I don't know if she has time to genea-blog but since she is a gravestone groupie like me, perhaps she can post her gravestone collection online. Welcome her, will you, since she has joined the Genea-Bloggers group?
Well, that's it for this event. I'm off to the wedding of a friend, who has never been married and is my age! Not something you see everyday!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Friday, August 15, 2008
Genea-Blog Networks Nu-2-Me
Category: "Reach Out & Perform Random Genealogical Acts of Kindness"
Event B: join another genea-blog network
Platinum
In the three weeks or so since I joined the Genea-Bloggers group at Facebook, I have added quite a few blogs to my blog network. I am losing track of who asked me to join or if I found them on my own so I will write this blog post about two I have examined closely.
Jean-Yves Baxter asked me to join his blog on the blog network. His blog name is quite long "GeneaNet Genealogy Blog - GeneaSofts". It will help me learn more about genealogy software. As a "geek" I have a longtime interest in software in my alter-life as an educational technologist. I use PAF as my main desktop software app but I also use Family Tree Maker in my role as an assistant genealogist to a large society. The first software I ever saw was Reunion when I was a Mac person.
Janet Hovorka's blog, "The Chart Chick" is colorful and interesting. She is the Development Director for Generation Maps, an online genealogy chart printing service. Her blog is quite technical which I am sure I will enjoy. Maybe someday, I will be ready for big charts!
I think the Blog Networks on Facebook is a good idea, especially if you are not well versed in using an RSS Reader like Google Reader or Bloglines. The trouble with blogs is that the links contained in them are seldom checked for "freshness" (dead-non-working) and it is harder to go back and check your links in your own blog postings.
Yesterday, I took my laptop outside to my small porch and alternated preparing links in my 5 posting, posting and checking them, and reading the blog postings of others. I am now sure it is harder to perform the backing -up and organizing events than doing the research and writing ones I have chosen.
I think I have three or four more events to work with!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event B: join another genea-blog network
Platinum
In the three weeks or so since I joined the Genea-Bloggers group at Facebook, I have added quite a few blogs to my blog network. I am losing track of who asked me to join or if I found them on my own so I will write this blog post about two I have examined closely.
Jean-Yves Baxter asked me to join his blog on the blog network. His blog name is quite long "GeneaNet Genealogy Blog - GeneaSofts". It will help me learn more about genealogy software. As a "geek" I have a longtime interest in software in my alter-life as an educational technologist. I use PAF as my main desktop software app but I also use Family Tree Maker in my role as an assistant genealogist to a large society. The first software I ever saw was Reunion when I was a Mac person.
Janet Hovorka's blog, "The Chart Chick" is colorful and interesting. She is the Development Director for Generation Maps, an online genealogy chart printing service. Her blog is quite technical which I am sure I will enjoy. Maybe someday, I will be ready for big charts!
I think the Blog Networks on Facebook is a good idea, especially if you are not well versed in using an RSS Reader like Google Reader or Bloglines. The trouble with blogs is that the links contained in them are seldom checked for "freshness" (dead-non-working) and it is harder to go back and check your links in your own blog postings.
Yesterday, I took my laptop outside to my small porch and alternated preparing links in my 5 posting, posting and checking them, and reading the blog postings of others. I am now sure it is harder to perform the backing -up and organizing events than doing the research and writing ones I have chosen.
I think I have three or four more events to work with!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Venture SMITH's "Little" Rock
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
Venture, whose African name was Broteer, was a child when he was captured by the slave trade and brought to this country. [Link]
He was once owned by Thomas Stanton, 2d. (Robert2, Thomas1) and his wife Thankful Denison (George2, Capt. George1) who bought him because he was said to be able to “outwork three men” as he grew to be a huge man with unusual strength.
This couple known for being demanding and for their mean-spirited nature (nice legacy, huh?) , not only made Venture perform feats of strength for the amusement of their friends had a son who, when given the chance, mistreated him further. It is said that Venture lifted this rock weighing 442 pounds and moved it around whenever told to.
The Stanton Homestead, known today as the Stanton-Davis Farm Homestead was doubled in size two years after Venture’s purchase because they needed more room for the slaves to live and work in the house. The attic of this house has drawings on the walls made by slaves.
Venture was an amazing person who gained his freedom, owned land, arranged for the freedom of his family and other slaves too.
In 1798, at the age of 69 he dictated his story to a schoolteacher who had it published. Venture’s gravestone is in the First Church Cemetery in East Haddam, Middlesex county, Connecticut with his wife by his side. [Article]
Worth reading, there are many articles and of course, his book by those who are interested in how this man did such impossible things for the time.
The people directly involved with Venture were not my direct descendants but are part of the Stanton-Denison family connection. If you read the article by Dr. Steenburg and Elizabeth Kading, (“The Venture Adventure”) you will learn about two other (also not direct) ancestors of mine, Rev. Frederick Denison and Cyrus Henry Stewart (a member of my Stewart Family of North Stonington, CT) who contributed to the lasting legacy of this man.
While it is disturbing to learn of slavery in your own family, it is important for us to learn about, discuss and remember those who we can find information about so that their descendants can discover their family history too.
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Thankful DENISON Clift: Female Entrepreneur
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
Portrait of Thankful DENISON, wife of Capt. Amos CLIFT taken in the Denison Homestead [2 Aug 2008 by Midge Frazel]
Thankful DENISON, daughter of Isaac DENISON, Sr. and his wife Eunice WILLIAMS was born in 1780 married Capt. Amos CLIFT (1769-1818] as his second wife.
I have taken a photo of her gravestone but until I watched the DVD Mystic An American Journey, I didn't know that when her husband died SHE took over his business.
Capt. CLIFT laid out the streets on the west side of the Mystic River and created the house lots. His gravestone (not posted yet) clearly reads Capt. so he may have been a sea captain or a military man and his gravestone also bears a Masonic symbol.
Pretty impressive for a woman of this era. Doesn't she look determined?
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Capt. John STANTON and his son Joseph STANTON
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
What do you do when you see neatly placed brownstone gravestones that are in this badly decomposed state and are clearly unreadable?
Well, in this case, a whole section of graves from one line of STANTON family was moved to Elm Grove from the earlier Denison Burying Ground a short distance away. Clearly, research is need to figure out who these gravestone belong to.
Here the term, "Location, Location, Location" is in order.
The grave that you can't see in this shot is another brownstone but it has been carved with a woman's name and the term "wife of ". So, my cousin Fred Burdick identified the grave on the left in this photo as the husband of that woman. The grave here on the right is the father of the man on the left.
Identified by my cousin Fred Burdick, Town Historian of Stonington:
Left grave is Joseph Stanton, husband of Margaret Chesebro The Hale Collection (page 246 from the year 1933) says, Joseph Stanton died Aug. 1749 age 84 Years.
Right grave is Cap't John Stanton, son of Thomas Stanton and Anna Lord The Hale Collection (page 246 from the year 1933) says, Capt. John Stanton died 1711, Age 72 Years.
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Isaac and Levina: Dynamic Duo
Isaac DENISON and Levina FISH
The marriage on 18 Feb 1817 of Isaac DENISON, Jr. and Levina FISH brought together two prominent families in the Stonington-Groton, Connecticut area. This couple was such a “dynamic duo” of their time that they had their portraits published in the earliest Denison genealogy by Baldwin & Clift (1881) which is now in the public domain at Google Books. (see page 156) They were staunch Baptists; members of the Baptist Church in Mystic.
One of their sons, the Rev. Frederick Denison, A.M., was a prolific writer, Baptist minister, and chaplain in the Civil War. His book, Westerly & Its Witnesses, is also in the
public domain at Google Books is filled with pages of interesting stories about Westerly, Rhode Island. [Rev. Denison is listed as a descendant of Roger Williams but I have not been able to prove that connection to myself.]
Rev. Denison visited and catalogued cemeteries in the town of Westerly and I have needed those records to find the original resting places of many people in my family as many of the graves and their stones have been disinterred and moved to River Bend Cemetery. I so wish he had recorded the maiden name of Maria, wife of John Taugee (Tourgee) as I am unable to find out anything much about her.
This large Denison monument at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, places Isaac and Levina’s names and dates directly under the Denison crest. I have photographed all of the stones in this large extended plot. Most all of the names on the large stone have corresponding headstones to indicate where they are actually buried. I missed the one for Isaac since it is not inscribed on the back as is Levina’s. Levina’s gives her parent’s name in addition to her husband’s which was the clue to my finding out more about my Fish ancestors.
But, I don’t know why Isaac’s headstone just bears his initials.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Denison, Jr. were my third great grandparents.
A Record of the Descendants of Capt. George Denison, of Stonington, Conn: With Notices of His Father and Brothers, and Some Account of Other Denisons who Settled in America in the Colony Times By John Denison Baldwin, William Clift Compiled by John Denison Baldwin, William Clift Published by Printed by Tyler & Seagrave, 1881
The marriage on 18 Feb 1817 of Isaac DENISON, Jr. and Levina FISH brought together two prominent families in the Stonington-Groton, Connecticut area. This couple was such a “dynamic duo” of their time that they had their portraits published in the earliest Denison genealogy by Baldwin & Clift (1881) which is now in the public domain at Google Books. (see page 156) They were staunch Baptists; members of the Baptist Church in Mystic.
One of their sons, the Rev. Frederick Denison, A.M., was a prolific writer, Baptist minister, and chaplain in the Civil War. His book, Westerly & Its Witnesses, is also in the
public domain at Google Books is filled with pages of interesting stories about Westerly, Rhode Island. [Rev. Denison is listed as a descendant of Roger Williams but I have not been able to prove that connection to myself.]
Rev. Denison visited and catalogued cemeteries in the town of Westerly and I have needed those records to find the original resting places of many people in my family as many of the graves and their stones have been disinterred and moved to River Bend Cemetery. I so wish he had recorded the maiden name of Maria, wife of John Taugee (Tourgee) as I am unable to find out anything much about her.
This large Denison monument at Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, places Isaac and Levina’s names and dates directly under the Denison crest. I have photographed all of the stones in this large extended plot. Most all of the names on the large stone have corresponding headstones to indicate where they are actually buried. I missed the one for Isaac since it is not inscribed on the back as is Levina’s. Levina’s gives her parent’s name in addition to her husband’s which was the clue to my finding out more about my Fish ancestors.
But, I don’t know why Isaac’s headstone just bears his initials.
Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Denison, Jr. were my third great grandparents.
A Record of the Descendants of Capt. George Denison, of Stonington, Conn: With Notices of His Father and Brothers, and Some Account of Other Denisons who Settled in America in the Colony Times By John Denison Baldwin, William Clift Compiled by John Denison Baldwin, William Clift Published by Printed by Tyler & Seagrave, 1881
Isaac DENISON, Jr. (headstone)
Category: “Write, Write, Write”
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
This is the headstone for Isaac Dension, Jr. There is no inscription on the back but I took a photo of it anyway just to remind me but I don't think you need to see the blank side!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Event: compose drafts and post them later
Gold
This is the headstone for Isaac Dension, Jr. There is no inscription on the back but I took a photo of it anyway just to remind me but I don't think you need to see the blank side!
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Midge Frazel
Blog Drafts Complete!
Category: ""Write, Write, Write"
Gold
Event C: prepare drafts for writing (8/11 to 8/14)
Today, I completed the five drafts I set as a goal for this week of the 2008 Genea-Bloggers Summer Games. This is a screenshot of what the blog drafts look like in the Blogger interface.
In keeping with the flag that I created before the games began, these posts are all about persons who were either members of the Stanton or Denison extended families.
I decided it was quite comfortable sitting on my back porch with my wireless laptop working on posting them today. Thanks, Becky for the comment. I never use the post later feature. I did know about it, too.
2008 Genea-Bloggers Games
Midge Frazel
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Writing Drafts is Harder
For the past couple of days and hopefully tomorrow too, I have been working with Event C in the category "Write, Write, Write". I have three prepared and two more to go. I have learned that writing my draft in Word, saving them, and then copying and pasting them into a blog posting places extra "code" from Word that I must delete before saving them here at Bloggger.
As I almost always post a photo from Flickr to this blog with my posting, I thought I might try a new method and satisfy the requirements of this event but it is taking longer to do! I do know that each blogging interface is different. I used another method to blog in graduate school and liked that one even less. I will be glad when this event is completed.
Doesn't this look boring without a photo?
As I almost always post a photo from Flickr to this blog with my posting, I thought I might try a new method and satisfy the requirements of this event but it is taking longer to do! I do know that each blogging interface is different. I used another method to blog in graduate school and liked that one even less. I will be glad when this event is completed.
Doesn't this look boring without a photo?
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