POST #700

I've been coming up on blogpost #700 for awhile now and
debated with myself whether or not I should make mention of it
or just let it pass unnoticed.

Then last night as I was watching "Faces of America" (excellent, btw)
I noticed an email had come in on my computer with the subject
of "Leonidas West". It turned out to be a letter from a young lady
who is Leonidas West's great granddaughter and so is my
third cousin once removed. That makes three West cousins in the
last two months, including Betty(another third cousin once removed)
and Mark(a fourth cousin) and all three descended from different
children of John Cutter and Arvilla Ames West.

So it occurred to me this morning: what better way to mark the
700th post than celebrating hearing from a new cousin?

And that's what I've done!

"HEE SAID SHEE SAID": A LITTLE BUTTERY CONVERSATION

As much as Mary Gates' outburst at Sunday meeting must have been the subject of
much conversation, I think it must have paled in comparison to the following
incident. It's a classic case of "he said she said" on a subject that might outrage
people even in 21st century America. And there were my ancestors John and
Mary Prescott as witnesses right in the middle of it.

A few notes: Lancaster was known by the Indian name Nashaway originally and
the buttery referred to in Cambridge was a store room for kegs and caskets of
wine and liquor, not dairy products.

And I've boldfaced the statement Goodwife Hall was accused of making:


"1651. Declaration of Elizabeth the wife of John Hall of Nashaway against George Whaley of Cambridge. [MS. torn] Sheweth vnto this honored Court that about foure moneths since
George [Whaley] Steuen Day & Samuell Rayner of Cambridge were at Nashaway and
[MS. torn] the house of John Prescott there fell out a discourse betweene John Prescott & Steuen Day in W* discourse John Prescott did speake against John & his wife Steuen Day
did vindicate the cause of Goodwife Hall in her absence against John Prescott till at length George Whaley bade Steuen Day that he should not goe about to justify the woman for
Whaley [MS. torn] that when Sr Phillips came from Nashaway he came into the buttery at
the College in Cambridge where the said George Whaley demanded of Sr. Phillips how all
their friends at Nashaway did, to wch Sr Phillips answered they were all well. Mr Whaley
further demanded how he liked the place, he answered uery well. It is a desirable place as
any was in the country as he conceaved. Mr Whaley further asked how he liked the people,
he answered he liked them uery well only there were some that held this opinion, that all
things were common & said he came one morninge to goodwife halls house & as soon as he
was come goodwife hall demanded of him whether all things were not common now as in the apostles tyme, & before that Sr. Phillips could give answer she did further say that this is my judgment, that all things are common, mens wiues alsoe, at wch speech Steuen Day was much troubled and grieued & had not one word more to say, & in the morning after, the said Day & Reynor [went] to goodwife halls house & being sad at the report he there expressed his in these words. I feare there is an (word illegible} amongst you, I wish he may be found out, to wch' goodwyfe hall answered if any of them gave any thinge against me if they will tell mee of it I will give them satisfaction, Steuen Day said he was glad to heare it for out of thy owne mouthe they will judge thee, for thus Mr Whaley [says] that Sr. Phillips hath reported of thee as is before expressed goodwife hall denyed that euer she spake any such thinge, nor did she hold any such opinion, herevpon Steuen Day demanded of Samuel
Rayner whether Mr Whaley did not speake as he had then related, to wch Samuel Rayner answered yt was soe & he would take his oath of it, This relation of Steuen Day in goodwife halls house & Samuell Rayners [relation] of it was in goodwife halls house Richard Smith present. Goodwife hall much greived at it that such a scandall should be raysed against her, knowinge herself free & cleare, desired to speake with Mr Whaley & on the next day after, in the morninge did take Richard Smith and Lawrence Waters with her wch sd Smith & Waters cominge to Mr Whaley desiringe to speake w"' him he bade them take heed how they did
speake anything for the woman, yet promised to speake wth her after breakfast at wch
tyme Steuen Day, Richard Smith & Lawrence Waters & goodwife hall came to Mr Whaley; goodwife hall demanded of Mr Whaley what he had against her Whaley answered that
Sr Phillips in the buttery at the College had spoken as before expressed, only he did then
leaue out _ mens wiues. this testified Richard Smith Lawrence Waters & Steuen Day"

Goodwife Hall apparently was not going to take this lying down and brought George
Whaley to court:

"To Steuen Day & Samuel Reyner of Cambridge. You are hereby required to appeare at the
next Court held at Cambridge the 7"' day of y' eight moneth next to wittnes for the wife of
John Hall of Nashaway in a case in difference betweene her & George Whaley of Cambridge
— & hereof you are not to fayle at your perill."

dated the 12th day of the 7th mo 1651. By the Court
Hugh Griffyn C."

First to testify were my Prescott ancestors:

"The testimony of Goodman Prescot & his wife After that Mr Phillips came from Goodwife
Halls hee told mee and my wife that goodwife Hall did aske him what he thought by y
judgment of those that hold that all things are common. Mr Phillips asked her how shee
[meant] all things common whether as it was in ye' Apostles tyme, her answer was all
things without any exception, and Mr Phillips said it was a damnable opinion; yea indeed
(shee said) I have knowne sad effects come of it, and in further discourse hee said shee
said shee kept one in her house which was of that opinion.

Attested uppon oath by John Prescot in Court
John Prescott
The mark X of Mary Prescott
Th . Danforth Record"

Next came the statements of Smith and Waters:

"The Testimony of Richard Smith & Lawrence Waters concerning the speeches of George
Whaley against hall.

Cominge to Mr Whaley in the next morninge after the relation of Steuen day at goodwife
halls the said Smith & Waters desired to speake with Mr Whaley, he bade them take heed
how they did speake any thing for the woman, yet promised to speake with her after
breakefast at wch time. Steuen day beinge alls'oe present goodwife hall demanded of Mr
Whaley what he had against her, to wch Mr Whaley made this answer that Sr Phillips in the buttery at the College in Cambridge cominge into the buttery answered to him as
followeth . Mr Whaley demanded first how did all freinds at Nashaway. Sr. Phillips answered they are well. Whaley further demanded how he liked the place, he answered very well,
it was a desirable place as any was in the country, as he conceived . Mr Whaley further demanded how he liked the people, he answered he liked them well only there was some
that held this opinion that all thinges were common, Mr Whaley demanded who they were,
he answered John Hall's wife."

Finally Samuel Raner and Stephen Day added their testimony:

"The Testimony of Samuel Raner is that he heard Lieft. George Whaley say yt Sr Phillips
told him yt Goodwife Hall asked whether all things were comon. Attested uppon oath in
Court.
Tho Danforth Rec.

The Testimony of Stephen Day is that he heard Lieft George Whaley say y' he received by report of Sr Phillips that Goodwife Hall had proposed a question of this import whether all
things wr common. Attested"

So now would come Goodwife Elizabeth Hall's chance to refute what she claimed were
slanderous statements by George Whaley. Or would it?


"The foregoing documents in the case of Elizabeth, wife of John Hall, vs. Lieut. George Whaley,
for slander, are in the Court files of Middlesex County. Lawrence Waters had sold his first house-lot of about seventeen acres, and the house upon it, to John Hall. Elizabeth Hall was
living there, while her husband at this time was in England. He soon sent for her to come to
him, and the estate was sold to Richard Smith. The suit against Whaley never came to
judgment."

So Goodwife Hall left Massachusetts under a bit of a cloud of scandal. She never had the
opportunity to question George Whaley or this Mr Phillips who supposedly was Whaley's
source. (And why hadn't his testimony been taken as the others had been?). On the other
hand, the townsfolk of Nashaway had more important things than a minor scandal to
keep their minds busy, such as simply surviving!

THE THIRD ANNUAL WEST IN NEW ENGLAND GENIE AWARDS

Once again it's the time of year when awards are handed
out, even in the geneablogging community. As a member of
the AGFH(Academy of Genealogy & Family History) it;s my
pleasure to select the best blog posts in five different
categories So without further ado, here are my picks for the
2009 West in New England Genie Awards!



Best Picture-The gravestone of John Cutter West (1802-1862).
I didn't post very many pictures to the blog in `09 but even if I had
I'd choose this one. It reminds me of the location beside the
highway and of the nearby headstones of his granchildren who had
died in the diptheria outbreak of 1862.

Best Screen Play-The Haskell Inheritance.
This is actually a series of posts recounting the legal battle between
the children of Roger Haskell and their stepfather Edward Berry
over their inheritance. I'd like to see Ted Danson play Berry, Glenn Close
play Elizabeth (Hardy) Haskell Berry, Robbie Coltrane as Uncle William
Haskell, and in the epilogue, Betty White as Beatrice Berry,

Best Documentary- Cyprian Stevens' Letter
The text of Cyprian Steven's letter to the governor and his council
asking for aid for the citizens of Lancaster, Ma who were under siege by
Indians. If this were ever turned into a screenplay it would be part
of a documentary series on Lancaster in the 17th century!


Best Biography-The Jeremiah Swain Series
I was extremely fortunate to find a lot of material on Jeremiah, including
his correspondence with the Governor's Council. This is a prime example
of the value of Google Books in genealogical research. Oh, and I'd cast
John Hamm in the movie version.


Best Comedy-Geneablogger Blues
I was tired and struggling to come up with a blog topic, and for some
reason I started composing this. It tickled my funnybone and from the
comments I got about it, it seems it did the same for some of my readers.
In fact, what better way to close out the awards?

"I've got the Geneablogger Blues
Have some mercy if you please
And that will conclude
The Third Annual Genies!"

Thank you. Thank you very much!

((written for the 90th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy))

THE CARNIVAL OF GENEALOGY IS UP!

The 89th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy is up over at Jasia's
Creative Gene blog and the assignment was to write a poem
suitable for use as an introduction to a book or video on your family's
history. Eighteen geneabloggers took the challenge and the results
are outstanding. Be sure to check them out!

As per usual, Jasia then issued the call for submissions to the next
COG:

"The topic for the next edition (#90!) of the COG will be: The
Third Annual iGene Awards, The Best of The Best! It's
Academy awards time... time for the Academy of Genealogy and
Family History, aka AGFH, to honor their best blog posts of 2009
in the following 5 categories:

• Best Picture - Best old family photo that appeared on your blog in 2009.
  Tell us which you liked best and why.
• Best Screen Play - Which family story that you shared in 2009 would
  make the best movie? Who would you cast as your family members?
• Best Documentary - Which was the best informational article you wrote about a place, thing, or event involving your family's history in 2009?
• Best Biography - Which was the best biographical article you wrote in 2009?
• Best Comedy - Which was the best funny story, poem, joke, photo, or video
  that you shared on your blog in 2009?"

"The deadline for submissions is February 15th, 30 submissions
will be accepted.

Submit your blog article to the next edition of the Carnival of Genealogy
using our carnival submission form ."


This one is always fun and I'm looking forward to reading it!

THE CASE OF MARY GATES

Back before the holidays and before I had computer problems I added some books
to my Google Books library that dealt with some of my family lines or that were
histories of the towns where my ancestors lived. I had great success finding information
about my ancestors from Google Books that also provided me with plenty of material
for my blog and I'm hoping my luck with that will hold in 2010.

First up is a series of documents from a book about Lancaster, Ma. where my
ancestors John Prescott and Simon Willard(among others) lived. These pertain
to a young lady named Mary Gates who got herself into a bit of trouble when
she impulsively came to the defense of her mother during a church assembly.
John Prescott and Simon Willard have prominent roles in this affair:

"To Mary Gates of Lancaster.
By virtue heerof you are to apeere at the next Countie Court at Cambridge, to answer the complaint of John Prescott & James Atherton, for your sinfull cariage in the assembly one
the lord's daye — heerof you are not to faille at your perill.

Datted this 27th: of the IIth: mo 1656.
Simon Willard."

Next is the testimony about the outburst:

"The deposition of John Prescott & James Atherton both of Lancaster.
Vpon a lords day att after exercise in the afternoone goodwife gats being called forth to
giue satisfaction for sum ofence done against Master Rowlandson, and she justifying
herself, saying that she had formerly giuen him satisfacion, and in after Master
Rowlandson replved by sum arguments proving that she had not formerly giuen him satisfacion, her daughter Marie gats stood vp vncalled uerie boldly in the publique
asembly contradicting our minister, when he denyed that goodwife gats had giuen him satisfacion. the said marie gats said yes and shee would take her oath of it.

This was taken vpon oath the 27th of the 11th mo. 1656, before me.
Simon Willard."

Two other young women of the congregation had given their depositions earlier:

"Lancaster the 6th of the 11th mon 1656.

The deposition of Lidia Cibie Aged about 19 years. Vpon the Last Lord's daye goodwife
gats being called forth in the publique Congregacion to acknowledge an ofence don
against Master Rowlandson, 1 heard mary gats speake to Sergant Kerly that he would
goe and speake, he said noe for it will giue ofence. Ofence—said shee, Lett those take
ofence and be hanged all, If they will.

Sara Waters Aged 20 years witneseth, That shee heard mary gats at the same time
speaking to Sargant Kerly. She said Lett them take ofence and be hanged all. If they will.

these weare both taken vpon oath the 27th of the 11th mon 1656 before me.
Simon Willard."

Finally, Mary Gates confesses and apologizes:

"I Mary gates doe acknoleg that whearas I have spoke sumthing not long sence at this
place that was mater of joste offence and uery sinfull, I am hertely sory for it and doe
desire the Congregtion to pas it by, and I shall endever by the helpe of god not to alowe
myself in any such practes. this was acknoledged in publick in our hearing.
William Kerly Juner
William Kerly Sener
Henry Kerly."

But Mary Gates wasn't quite out of trouble yet. There was a little matter
of court costs to settle and her failure to appear in court:

"April 7 1657. This Court grants an Attachment agst Mary Gates of Lanchaster, and to
Jno. Prescott a bill of costs for himselfe & witnesses being 24s to be pd by the said Gates
and shee is to appeare at y* next Court to Answr ye Complt of the said Prescott & James Atherton for her sinfull Cariage in the assembly on y* Lords day."

"To the honoured Governour, Deputy Governour with the rest of the honoured magistrats assembled at the County Court holden at Charlestown the 16 of this instant Iune 1657,
In most humble wise sheweth and complaineth, and . . [a line worn orf in fold] . . petitioner Mary Gats of Sudbury lat of Lancaster was summoned to appeare at the County Court
held at Cambridge the seaventh of A prill last past and did not, your petitioner thought
that full satisfaction had been giuen befor the honoured Maior Willard for the offence,
also acknoledgement and satisfaction was farther rendered by your petitioner to all or
any persons at lancaster, whom it might concern, further your petitioner was informed
that if shee did appeare by an agent it might be exepted, hence what your petitioner did
was out of ignorance and not of any contempt of athoryty or aversnes farther to
acknoledge the euill of my rash spech and shall be at your mercy, submitting to your
fauorable sensur, allways praying for you.
Mary Gats."

"23 ,, 4 ,, 1657. Mary the daughter of Steuen Gates of Lanchaster being complained of
to this Court for bold and vnbeseeming speeches vsed in the Pubiique Assembly on the
Lords Day. and especially agst Mr Rowlason minister of Gods word there the evidence thereof appeareth by the testimony of Jno. Prescott & James Atherton Lidea Kibbie &
Sarah Waters wch are on file with y* records of this Court. the sd Mary Gates appearing
in Court freely, acknowledged her great evil therein, the Court admonished her. & ordered
that she should pay the Witnesses their charges & costs of Court."

And so ended an expensive lesson for Mary Gates about arguing in the church assembly
with the minister, even if it was in defense of her mother!

((Source :The early records of Lancaster, Massachusetts. 1643-1725, Parts 0-2322
By Lancaster (Mass.), 1884 Henry Stedman Nourse ed., pp46-48))

SATURDAY NIGHT GENEALOGY FUN: MAKE A CALENDAR!

Well, I'm a day late with Randy Seaver's Saturday Night Genealogy
Fun challenge:

1) Open your genealogy software or family tree program of choice
and make yourself the highlighted person.

2) Find out how to create a Calendar to show birthdays and/or
anniversaries of yourself and all of your ancestors (or all relatives,
or all persons - your choice!). The "Help" button is your friend
here!!! It can be done in all of the current software programs.

3) Create your calendar. Pretty it up if you want. Save it. Can
you show us a page from your calendar - say January 2010?

4) Which of your ancestors (or relatives, or descendants - your
choice!), if any, were born on 30 January?

Have fun with this. How can you use this information during
the coming year?

I regularly use the Calendar function in RootsMagic4 and Personal
Ancestry File to help generate blog posts so I figured this would be
a breeze! I created two calendars in less than 15 minutes and got
ready to upload them here to Blogger.

And that's where the ummm... fun...began. Blogger takes jpg files.
But RM4's calendar is in PDF format, and the PAF is in rich txt.
It's taken me most of the day(except for my break to go to the
laundrymat) to get the RM4 converted. And I still don't know what
I used to do it. It's all a blur. I know I swore.

I swore a lot, actually!

Since I'm posting this on the 31st, I'm going to recognize an
anniversary instead of a birthday. Today is the 145th
anniversary of my ancestors Jonathan Phelps West and
Louisa Almata Richardson who were married on 31Jan 1865!

THE VALORA ABBOTT CONNECTIONS

I mentioned in the last post possible connections between Leonidas
West's wife Valora Abbott and other lines in my family tree. Whenever
I run across anyone with the name Abbott in my research I check
to see if they share my descent from George Abbott (1615-1681)and
Hannah Chandler (1630-1711) of Andover, Ma. Valora's father Otis
Howe Abbott was born in Andover but from everything I've found so
far he was not decended from George but from Thomas Abbott from
a different Abbott family. But there are other connections between
myself and Valora Abbott.

Her 2x great-grandfather John Abbott was married to Hannah Farnum
(Farnham), daughter of Jonathan Farnum and Elizabeth Barker. Through
them Valora shares my descent from Ralph Farnham and Richard Barker,
both of Andover. Ma.

Valora's mother was Sarah Merrill Emery and through her we share
descent from John Emery and Thomas Colby.

I'm not sure what degree of separation there is between myself and
Valora yet. I haven't entered all this into PAF or RM4 yet to calculate it.
What struck me is that all these connections came through my grandmother
Cora Berthella Barker's line, so even before she married my grandfather
Floyd E. West Sr there were remote family ties between them!

COUSIN QUEST: THE FAMILY OF LEONIDAS WEST

This is the latest in a series of posts about the descendants of the
children of John Cutter West and Arvilla (Ames) West in the hopes
it will put me in contact with some of my unknown distant cousins.

John and Arvilla's eighth child was their fourth daughter Arvilla
Electa West who died unmarried at the age of seventeen during the
diptheria epidemic of 1862. (you can read about it here))

Their ninth child was Leonidas West, their fifth son. Leonidas
married Valora Abbott in 1872 and holds the distinction of being
the first West family member(that I know of) to leave New England
and head west, living for a time in Minnesota before moving on to
Washington state. I don't know for sure what prompted the move.
Leonidas was a Civil War veteran; perhaps there was a land grant
he took advantage of using? More likely is that he might have just
been looking for work in farming or thew lumber industry.

I had some information on Leonidas and his children to start out
with and found more online including cousin Zac Anderson's family
tree over on Ancestry.com:


1. Leonidas West (b.21 Jul 1847-Letter "b" Township,Upton,Oxford,Me;
d.28 May 1932-Brewster,O,Washington)
sp: Valora Abbott (b.25 Aug 1846-Upton,Oxford,Me.;m.18 Jan 1872;
d.24 Mar 1936-Brewster,Okanogan,Wa)
2. Otis Leroy West (b.8 Jan 1873-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota
;d.23 Feb 1939)
sp: Ethel Alvina Hope (b.1879;m.6 Nov 1901)
3. Ernest Lee West (b.12 Feb 1912-Everett,Snohomish Co.,Wa;
d.4 Mar 1977-Tacoma,Pierce Co.,Wa)
sp: Arlene Winifred Hilton (b.26 Dec 1925-Napavine,Lewis,Wa;
d.20 Oct 1993-Tacoma,Pierce,Wa)
4. Alvina West
2. Frank Ernest West (b.27 Mar 1874-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota
;d.20 Aug 1954-Brewster,Okanogan,Wa)
2. Clarinda Britton West (b.22 Apr 1876-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota
;d.2 Aug 1959-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota)
sp: Frank Llewellyn Keller (b.29 Sep 1870-Minneapolis,Hennepin,
Minnesota;m.1 Jun 1899;d.30 Sep 1935-Minneapolis, Hennepin,Minnesota)
3. Russell West Keller (b.22 Nov 1900-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota;
d.Abt 1972)
3. Dorothy Keller (b.2 Jul 1902-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota;
d.17 Jan 1943-Minneapolis,Hennepin,Minnesota)
sp: William Mansford Coffman (b.20 Nov 1903-Salem,Washington,Indiana;
m.23 Nov 1927;d.3 May 1971-Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota)
4. Farrell Jane Coffman (b.1 Jun 1935-Edina, Hennepin,Minnesota;
d.14 Oct 2009-Billings,Yellowstone,Wy)
sp: Robert Stewart (m.8 May 1958)
3. Robert Keller (b.11 Feb 1907-Minneapolis, Hennepin, Minnesota;
d.29 Feb 1964)
sp: Helen Delaney
2. Louisa Belle West (b.20 Mar 1881;d.12 Apr 1960)
sp: Charles McVoy (b.1877;m.1 Jun 1905)
3. Margaret McVoy (b.1907)
3. Marian McVoy (b.1909)

This concludes the series on the descendants of the children of
John Cutter and Arvilla (Ames) West.(Their two youngest children,
Ruth Ellen and David Pingree West perished in the diptheria
epidemic.) I've tried not to include living members of the families
out of respect for their privacy and security. I apologize if I've
inadvertently listed them here.

I'll post some thoughts and corrections on the whole series soon
and I'm in the process of looking into a connection between
Valora Abbott and others of my ancestors.

BUCK ROGERS, THE ELVES AND ME

I'm a day late on the latest Saturday Night Genealogy Fun
challenge from Randy Seaver over at Genea-Musings. This week's
assignment:


"Your mission, should you decide to accept it, is to:

* Tell us about your "other" hobbies or interests outside of genealogy
and family history research, writing, speaking, etc.

* Write a blog post of your own, respond with a comment to this post,
or add a comment on the Facebook version of this post."


Well, I'm a rabid Red Sox and Patriots fan and I enjoy Celtic music
but there's one interest that's been consistent in my life since the
third grade.


I've been an avid reader of sf and fantasy since I was eight years
old. That was the year we moved from Malden to Boston and I
was suddenly in easy walking distance to three branches of the
Boston Public Library.The librarian at the Codman Square Library
turned me onto Andre Norton and I was hooked on science fiction.
About the same time my folks bought me a copy of "King Arthur
and the Knights of the Round Table", which eventually led me to
fantasy. For the past fifty years or so I've been buying and reading
books set in the far future or in magical worlds. At one point
I was a member of the Science Fiction Book Club and was getting a
box of books every month from them. Once when I went to the local
post office I heard myself referred to as "the guy who orders that
Buck Rogers stuff."

One outgrowth of that was that eventually I got into online roleplay.
By "eventually" I mean about twelve years ago when I wandered
into an Arthurian themed roleplay channeland where many of the
other players were about my age. (A lot of baby boomers had missed
the D&D explosion which had occurred after we were out of school.).

And the roleplay led me into writing stories and poetry about my
characters, which resulted in two of my poems being published by
Renaissance Magazine last fall!

BLOGIVERSARY - NOW WE ARE THREE

Three years ago after discovering the geneablogging community
I set out to write my own blog---and failed.

Yes, now it can be told. My first geneablog was a failure. I was new
to this whole idea and started out enthusiastically and wrote
five posts within a few days for my blog which I'd named
West of New England. But when I went to add a new post a day
or so later, I discovered I couldn't recall the password for the blog.
After about a half an hour I gave up and just recreated the blog.
I'd saved what I'd written so I created a new blogger account
and started a new geneablog, West in New England. And that's why
the first five posts are all dated Jan 23,2007.

It's been a fun three years. I've enjoyed being part of the geneablogger
community, both in reading so many great blogs and in sharing what
I've discovered about the many branches of my family tree. This
past year has fairly been productive for me because of all of the
records I've found online that provided so much blogging material, so
much so that I'll soon hit post #700.

I want to thank all those who read West in New England and especially
those who've given me feedback through comments and emails. I really
appreciate that.

I hope all of you have enjoyed reading this blog as much as I am enjoying
writing it!

ODE TO MY FAMILY HISTORY

For the 89th edition of the Carnival of Genealogy Jasia over at
Creative Gene has given us poetic license:


"This time around we'll be composing a poem that tells our family's history.
It can be long or short, rhyme or not rhyme, funny or serious, illustrated
or not... you choose, but make it appropriate as an introduction for a book
or video on your family history. The challenge is on! The deadline for
submissions is February 1st, 30 submissions accepted."

I have to admit to a lack of self-confidence here. I've written poetry
before but rarely on a set topic or with a deadline. The last time I
did one like this was something I wrote for one of Randy Seaver's
challenges. But making it the introduction to a book about my family
history did help. I've always thought of my family as being one of
the many that came to this country and whose work helped form
the foundation of a new nation, so that's what I based the poem on.

For brevity's sake, I chose to write only about my father's ancestors
and left my mom's Irish ancestors out of this one. So I guess I owe
them a poem!

So here's my Ode to My Family History:

To the reader who may look
Through the pages of this book
That deals with the great mystery
Of our long family history:

For nearly now four hundred years
Our family tree has flourished here
By strength of heart, and back and hand
They made a life in New England.

They cleared the forest with great toil
Planted crops in furrowed soil
And in each acre that they tilled
The promise of a dream fulflled

For them no glory ever came
But they were heroes just the same
The common woman, child and man
Who helped to build this New England.

COUSIN QUEST: THE FAMILY OF CLARINDA BRITTON WEST

This is the latest in a series of posts about the descendants of the
children of John Cutter West and Arvilla (Ames) West in the hopes
it will put me in contact with some of my unknown distant cousins.

Clarinda Britton West was John and Arvilla's seventh child and
third daughter. As with others of my West great great grand aunts
and uncles, I started out with information from my Aunt Dorothy
and the Arvilla Ames West Family Bible. But in this instance I
found little information in online databases to add to what I had
already:


1. Clarinda Britton West (b.29 Apr 1841-Letter "b" Township,Upton,Oxford,Me;
d.8 Nov 1900)
sp: Charles Henry Goodwin (m.18 Jan 1864;d.19 Apr 1910)
2. Jane Whittemore Goodwin (b.20 Jul 1865-Upton,Oxford,Me.;d.25 Mar 1
1948-Levant,Penobscot,Me)
sp: Charles Fred Wiggin (b.Oct 1855;m.1886)
3. Charles G. Wiggin (b.12 Nov 1887)
3. George L Wiggin (b.25 Jun 1889)
3. Lora Wiggin (b.19 Sep 1892)
2. Helen S. Goodwin (b.11 Feb 1875-Carmel,Me.;d.1920)
sp: William Demerritt
2. Josephine Matilda Goodwin (b.25 Mar 1881-Carmel,Me.;d.5 Feb 1963-Carmel,Me.)
sp: Lewis Hanscom
3. Blanche Hanscom (b.6 Aug 1900-Carmel,Penobscot,Me;d.1984-Dover Foxcroft,Piscataquis,Me)
sp: Eugene F.Foss (m.4 Mar 1918)
3. Ruth Hanscom (b.1902)
3. Florence Hanscom (b.1906)
3. Helen Hanscom (b.1909)
3. Grace Hanscom (b.1910)
3. Wilson L. Hanscom (b.21 Dec 1912;d.1981)
3. Carroll A. Hanscom (b.1915) ((Male))
3. Louise Hanscom (b.1917)
3. Lillian I. Hanscom (b.1919)


One question that I believe that has been solved, though, is the identity of
the author of the "Records from Grandmother West's Bible" letter.
I believe it was Blanche (Hansom) Foss.

WORD VERIFICATION DICTIONARY 7

Once again, (and because Sheri Fenley asked for it) definitions and uses
for the strange words that we type for word verification for comments
on Blogspot.com blogs:


Fless- What you pay for very cheap dental floss at Wal-Mart

Slize- A unit of measurement for pizza slices. As in "What slize do you want,
Small, Medium, or BIG?"

Luction- The process in which you use your luck to get what you need, as in
"I needed a lot of luction to find the census record for Asa West."

Amblu- I am. Are you?

MY GENEA-STAYCATION

So I had three vacation days left from 2009 that I had to use up by the end
of this month and by combining them with my regular days off(Sunday and
Thursday) I had five days off this week. The only drawback is that this is the
week after The Week After The Holidays. Bills and rent were paid and my
next paycheck isn't until this Friday, so this has been a Staycation. That
was ok by me; it's been cold out there so I'm content to stay here at home
for a few days. I have some genealogy research to keep me busy and
I don't believe in cabin fever.

And what have I done this week? Well, since you asked here'sthe highlights
so far:

Sunday: I slept in late. I started gathering my information on Hiram Ferdinand
West but took a break to watch the Patriots get hammered by the Ravens.
Weeping and gnashing of teeth was heard throughout New England.(Sackcloth
and ashes was optional). I watched the news and was vaguely troubled by the
report over Leno vs O'Brien . This could have statewide implications since both
are from Massachusetts. Could there be tension building between Andover and
Brookline?

I receive the Happy 101 Award from Susi and Terri and work on choosing ten
others to for the award.Then I start searching Ancestry fro Hiram and his descendants,
which leads me to MY COUSIN NINFERIA. I go to bed late.

Monday:Slept in late. After breakfast I get back on the search for Hiram over on
Ancestry. More unique census transcription errors in THE CASE OF ASA F.WEST
slow the search a bit. I'm also distracted by the news radio report of a letter from
Conan O'Brien that begins "People of Earth..." That explains so much! Especially
the hair!

I send off corrections on Asa's name to Ancestry and then share records with
my Aunt Dorothy and Hiram's descendant Betty. I get to bed late.


Tuesday: After breakfast I check the news. So far,there are no reports of any
battles between Conanheads from Brookline and Lenoists from Andover. I check
my freezer to make sure I have adequate supplies just in case conflict breaks out.
Afterward I put the finishing touches on my post on Hiram and his descendants.
Then I check out the new geneablogs list on Geneabloggers followed by a break
to watch NCIS and some other programs.

I finish up by cross-posting my latest Cousin Quest posts from here over to my
blog at the Maine Genealogy Network. I get to bed late

Wednesday: I slept in late.

And that's my Staycation so far. No cabin fever at all, although I may venture
out to the stores tomorrow for necessities.

If it's safe out there.

COUSIN QUEST: THE FAMILY OF HIRAM FERDINAND WEST

This is the next in a series of posts on the descendants of
John Cutter West and Arvilla Ames West that I hope will
lead to contact with other West descendants.

Hiram Ferdinand West was the fourth son and sixth child
of John and Arvilla. I had less information to start with on
this branch of the family than the others so far but Ancestry
was very helpful with census records:


1. Hiram Ferdinand West (b.18 Nov 1838-Letter "b" Township,Upton,Oxford,Me;
d.Feb 1914)
sp: Arvilla Mary Ballard (m.18 Nov 1865;d.25 Apr 1907)
2. Clara M. West (b.1868;d.25 Dec 1955-Rumford,Oxford,Me)
sp: Rufus Scott Goodwin (b.15 Aug 1867-Upton,Oxford,Me;m.1 Mar 1892;d.1907)
2. Hiram Winfield West (b.Jun 1870;d.1933)
sp: Eva Chase
3. Cleaveland R West (b.9 Jul 1892;d.Aug 1963)
sp: Bertha M. Thurston (m.7 Aug 1912)
4. Jerald West (b.22 Apr 1917)
sp: Muriel Barnett (b.18 Dec 1918;m.15 Dec 1936;d.10 Jul 1995)
4. Roy Thurston West (b.13 Jan 1919-Bethel,Oxford,Me;d.25 Feb 1919)
sp: Beryl T Adams (m.25 Jul 1936)
4. Eva West (b.1944)
2. Asa West (b.29 Aug 1878;d.1954)
sp: Alda Sarah Corbett (b.12 Mar 1875-Errol,Coos NH;d.28 Nov 1935-Rumford,
Oxford,Me)
3. Annie E. West (b.1903)
3. Herbert Asa West (b.12 May 1908-Rumford,Oxford,Me. ;d.14 Feb.1948-
Rumford,Oxford,Me)
3. Frank C. West (b.5 Nov 1913-Rumford,Oxford,Me;d.1977)
2. Valora West (b.Abt 1873)
sp: Allie O. Abbott (m.6 Nov 1889)
3. Clarence Abbott (b.Jun 1891)
3. Francis Ruth Abbott (b.25 Jun 1893-Upton,Oxford,Me)


I've already made contact with one of Hiram's descendants and hope someday
to meet more!

THE CASE OF ASA F. WEST

Yesterday after I posted about finding a transcription error on Ancestry.com's
1910 Federal Census entry for my cousin Hiram Winfield West, I went back
to research more of my family. This time I conncentrated on Hiram's brother
Asa Ferdinand West, and once again I found census transcription errors
that astonished me.

On the 1910 Census, the transcription listsed him as Asa F. Ines.

On the 1920 Census, the transcriber listed him as Asa F. Wicks with Asa
F.Wist as an alternate spelling.

And on the 1930 transcription he's Isa F.West

I laughed at first, but then it struck me that someone else researching
Asa might not have the information I already knew and not make the
connection. That's three Census records, a thirty year span in Asa's
life that they might miss because of transcription errors.

This morning I posed this question to my geneablogging friends on
Facebook:

"Does anyone know how to inform Ancestry.com about census transcription
errors? Do they actually read and act on that little "comment" box? I'd like
to make things easier for future researchers of my West family."

Quite a few folks replied almost immediately that they had personal experience
that Ancestry does indeed act when members submit corrections. So tonight,
just before I wrote this post, I sent in corrections on the transcription errors
for Hiram, Asa, and Cleveland West, and I'll be doing the same for others I've
found in the past.

Let me be clear,I'm not slamming Ancestry here for the errors.I'm glad they
have all these records that make my research much easier. Considering
how many million names out there.there's bound to be errors.So I urge
any of you that are Ancestry members to let them know when you find
mistakes such as I did so they can be corrected.

You will help them, and help your fellow genealogy researchers as well

And thanks to all those who amswered my question on Facebook!

MY COUSIN NINFERIA

I was doing my research for the next installment of "Cousin Quest" over at
Ancestry.com today, this time for the descendants of Hiram Ferdinand West,
when I ran across another er....unique....name transcription.

Hiram F. had a son Hiram Winfield(aka Winfield Hiram) and I was looking for him
and his family on the 1910 Federal Census. A search on Ancestry directed me to
a record for a "Ninferia West", his wife Eva amd his son "Cleanland". I know Hiram
W.'s son was named Cleveland, so I was pretty sure this was my cousin. Sure
enough, a look at the actual image confirmed this was him.The kicker is that the
"Ninferia" on the transcription has a "Winfred" in parentheses below it!

I'll be posting this "Cousin Quest" tomorrow or Tuesday this week since I'm on
a mini-vacation and want to confirm my findings and information with my newfound
cousin Betty, one of Hiram F.'s descendants before I post them.

And the other day I heard from another cousin, Mark, who's descended from
Asa Atwood West. So perhaps the Cousin Quest will find even more West
descendants!

HAPPY 101 AWARD

Susi over at Susi's Chatty Performances has honored me with
a Happy 101 Award. I in turn must 10 things that make me
happy, and 10 blogs that I enjoy reading.

So, first the things that make me happy:


1. Pizza!

2. Christmas Eve with the family.

3. The first really warm day of Spring.

4. John Wayne movies

5. Celtic music

6. Writing fiction or nonfiction.

7. Reading a good book

8. Having a customer tell me they liked a book I recommended.

9. Road trips with my sister

10.And of course, genealogy!

And 1o blogs I enjoy (Actually there are many more than
just 10!) are


1. Kinexxions by Becky

2. New England Genealogy by Wendy

3. Granite in My Blood by Midge

4 AnceStories by Miriam,

5. Life From the Roots by Barbara

6. Family Trees May Contain Nuts by Lori E.

7 Nutfield Genealogy by Heather

8. A Light That Shines Again by Lisa

9. Herstoryan by Herstoryan

10. The Educated Genealogist by Sheri


Update: I've also been awarded a Happy 101 Award from
Terri O'Connell of Finding Our Ancestors.

Thanks for the honor, Susi and Terri!

COUSIN QUEST THOUGHTS 2

This was the most challenging installment of Cousin Quest so far.
The person who transcribed the BMD records from "Grandmother
West's Bible" didn't have much information on Vienna's grandchildren
and great-grandchildren.For example, the entry on Winnifred Goodwin
includes the line:

"m C.Frank Thompson-4 sons.One still living on the old homestead.
Saw him about a year ago."

Luckily the Family Group sheet that my Aut Dot sent us years ago
had more to help fill in the blanks on the grandchildren and Ancestry.com
was useful for the great-grandchildren.Even so I could find no names
for two sons of Nettie Goodwin and John Farnham. The Federal Census
sheets at Ancestry were useful although two transcriptions contained
errors. One listed Ichabod Thompson as "Schaberd Thompson"; another
had a "Leonidur" Mansell that I believe is Leonidus.

One item that caught my eye was that "Leanidus West Mansell" is
listed in the Canadian Soldiers of World War 1 1914-1918 records.I'll
have to look further into that. Maybe someday I'll hear about it from
one of his descendants!

COUSIN QUEST:THE FAMILY OF VIENNA AMES WEST

This is the latest installment in a series of posts that I hope will
put me in touch with more descendants of John Cutter West and
his wife Arvilla (Ames) West.

Vienna Ames West was their fifth child and second daughter.
I don't have much information on this branch of the family and
had to fill in some blanks from information I found on Ancestry.com.
I'll post some thoughts about all this in my next post.

Descendants of Vienna Ames West
1. Vienna Ames West (b.14 Apr 1836-Letter "b" Township,Oxford,Me;
d.14 Oct 1913)
sp: William Russell Goodwin (b.18 Aug 1832;m.28 Jun 1857;d.20 Jan 1904)
2. Nettie Goodwin (b.25 Sep 1858;d.27 Feb 1885)
sp: John Farnham
2. Matilda Z. Goodwin (b.1859)
2. Grace Goodwin (d.22 Jun 1862)
2. Winnifred Goodwin (b.1865-Carroll N.H.;d.1954-So.Levant Cem)
sp: C. Frank Thompson
3. Russell Thompson (b.1895)
sp: Bessie (UNKNOWN)
4. Wilma A. Thompson (b.1923)
3. Guy Thompson (b.1896)
3. Bud Thompson (b.1903)
3. Ichabod Thompson (b.1903)
sp: Eda (UNKNOWN)
4. Margarete Thompson (b.1929)
2. Wilma Goodwin (b.27 Mar 1868;d.1 Mar 1952)
sp: John Mansell (m.1889)
3. Leonidus Mansell (b.1891)
3. Susie E. Mansell (b.1893)
sp: Alton Richardson (b.1883)
4. Esther Richardson (b.1917)
4. Edna Richardson (b.1919)
3. Vinnette Mansell (b.1897;d.Jan 1981-Unity,Waldo,Me.)
sp: George MacLeod (m.8 Jul 1916)
4. Mary A. MacLeod
3. Morris G. Mansell (b.27 Aug 1899-Greenville,Piscataqua,Me)