My family was fortunate in that we never lived in the sort of place
where Christmas outdoor decorations becomes a blood sport.
Yes, people strung lights in their shrubbery or along their house
gutters but there was never anyone determined to turn their
front yard into the North Pole’s Southern Branch Office.
Now for light shows back then you went to someplace religious,
like Our Lady of La Sallette Shrine in North Attleboro or the local
cemetery with it’s entrance lit up, or even just cruised a stretch
of highway to look at the neighborhood lights that might be seen
from a distance as you drove by.
We didn’t really have outside lights ourselves until we left Boston
for Abington. Up until then the only lights other than on our
Christmas tree were the electric candles we put on windowsills.
But at the house Dad did the obligatory shrubbery and gutter
displays as well as one other spot: the apple tree in the front yard.
Dad had experience both with wiring and tree climbing so putting
a string of lights up in a small apple tree was a piece of cake. It
was the taking down part that didn’t seem to work at least for
the tree. One year, long after the other outside lights were down
and packed away, the lights still were hanging in the apple tree.
I’m not sure exactly when he took them down but I do know it
was well after Spring had sprung. I think they were even plugged
in one or two nights. I don’t know the reasons why they were
still there: my Dad’s sense of humor, perhaps? Or maybe an
instance where Dad’s Maine stubbornness and the Irish
stubbornness of my Mom brought about some impasse on the issue?
On my way home the other night from work I noticed at least
three of those large hot air snow globe scenes on front lawns.
Those families must have big electricity bills!
2010 Update: As I discovered in 2008, the apple tree in
the front yard of the house is long gone. But a news report
the other night made me think of Dad. The holiday
lighting ceremony at Braintree has been postponed a week
because squirrels had eaten through the wires.
The lights had been left up all year since last Christmas!
2011 Update: The big snowstorms last winter had one
interesting effect. Some of the homes with heavily
decorated outside yards remained that way until
the snow melted. One home in particular had an inflatable
Santa and other decorations buried under snow drifts
and you could just see the tops of them as you drove by
the house. I think they were there until mid-March!
2013 Update: It's a bit early yet apparently for the lights
to go up for Christmas around here. I don't work anymore
and haven't driven around much after dark so I haven't
seen any houses lit up yet. I did, however, spot two of
those big inflatable figures on someone's front lawn yesterday
afternoon.
2014 Update
I'm not sure there be many houses lit up this year, or that they
will be many elaborate displays. The electric companies in the
New England area have raised their rates over 30% and that
may be too much for many people to afford to put up Christmas
lights.
2015 Update
There's only a few homes along the main streets in the area that have put up
their outside lights so far this year. But there are some in specific neighborhoods
and I've noticed word gets out via Facebook on where the best displays are to take
your kids to see them.
(originally published in Dec. 2007)
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share
your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during
December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”
Friday, December 04, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 48: ISAAC LEARNED OF CHELMSFORD, MA. PT2
As I said in my earlier post about Isaac Learned, I found his probate file over on AmericanAncestors.org:
Unfortunately, it's only the inventory of his estate and it's a little difficult to read. I did a Google
search to see if I could find a transcription of it and found one in a Learned family genealogy on
Googlebooks. For some reason part of the inventory is an image so I've placed it where it falls
in the text:
His inventory, dated Dec. 7, 1657, amounted to £187 18s 6d. April 6, 1658, administration was granted to widow Mary and her father, Isaac Sternes. Estate was indebted to Widow Learnett £3 per annum during widowhood.
Inventory of the Estate of Isaake Learnett of Chelmsford deceased, the 7th day of the 10th, mo—1657.
L S D
His Apparrell 04 12 00
A dwelling house uplands & meadow 80 00 00
To the Widdow Learnett three pounds (per) Annum, during her Widdowhood.
Apprised by James Blood; James Parker; and William Fletcher in the presence of Isaake Stearns, the 18 day of the 10th month, 1657
.
Mary the relict of the above named, Isaake Learnett deceased & Isaake Stearns her father, appearing before the cort at Chambr 6 (2) mo 58 attested upon oath, that this is a true Inventory of the estate of the said Isaake Learnett deceased, acording to their present knowledge & yt w any more doth appear they will Discover the same so as to be added hereunto. The Court granted them joint power of adm'stration in the sd estate.
(Signed) THOMAS DANFORTH, Recordr.
Entered & Recorded, Aprill 6th 1658
as attest THOMAS DANFORTH, Recordr.
-pp22-24
William Law Learned, Joseph Gay Eaton Larned, The Learned Family: (Learned, Larned, Learnard, Larnard and Lerned) Being Descendants of William Learned who was of Charlestown, Mass., in 1632 Weed-Parsons printing Company, Albany, New York 1898
Isaac Learned's father in law Isaac Stearns is mentioned several times in that estate settlement, and
I'll discuss him next.
Unfortunately, it's only the inventory of his estate and it's a little difficult to read. I did a Google
search to see if I could find a transcription of it and found one in a Learned family genealogy on
Googlebooks. For some reason part of the inventory is an image so I've placed it where it falls
in the text:
His inventory, dated Dec. 7, 1657, amounted to £187 18s 6d. April 6, 1658, administration was granted to widow Mary and her father, Isaac Sternes. Estate was indebted to Widow Learnett £3 per annum during widowhood.
Inventory of the Estate of Isaake Learnett of Chelmsford deceased, the 7th day of the 10th, mo—1657.
L S D
His Apparrell 04 12 00
A dwelling house uplands & meadow 80 00 00
To the Widdow Learnett three pounds (per) Annum, during her Widdowhood.
Apprised by James Blood; James Parker; and William Fletcher in the presence of Isaake Stearns, the 18 day of the 10th month, 1657
.
Mary the relict of the above named, Isaake Learnett deceased & Isaake Stearns her father, appearing before the cort at Chambr 6 (2) mo 58 attested upon oath, that this is a true Inventory of the estate of the said Isaake Learnett deceased, acording to their present knowledge & yt w any more doth appear they will Discover the same so as to be added hereunto. The Court granted them joint power of adm'stration in the sd estate.
(Signed) THOMAS DANFORTH, Recordr.
Entered & Recorded, Aprill 6th 1658
as attest THOMAS DANFORTH, Recordr.
-pp22-24
William Law Learned, Joseph Gay Eaton Larned, The Learned Family: (Learned, Larned, Learnard, Larnard and Lerned) Being Descendants of William Learned who was of Charlestown, Mass., in 1632 Weed-Parsons printing Company, Albany, New York 1898
Isaac Learned's father in law Isaac Stearns is mentioned several times in that estate settlement, and
I'll discuss him next.
ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR 2015
Every Christmas Mom would break out the Andy Williams
Christmas Album to play on the stereo. There was also a Nat
King Cole album and a Mitch Miller “Sing Along With Mitch”
Christmas edition. But for me, even rock and roll dinosaur
that I am, it’s the Andy Williams album that “feels” like
Christmas to me. I need to hear that "It's the Most
Wonderful Time of the Year."
As I’ve gotten older and my musical tastes expanded, I find
myself listening to New Age and Celtic Christmas music. And
Josh Groban just put out a holiday album that we’ve played at
the bookstore since Thanksgiving and it’s easy on the ears.
As for caroling, well, there are some things that one should
never do in public and in my case, singing is one of them!
2010 Update: I splurged this year for the "Now That;s What
I Call Christmas Essentials Collection." It has the Andy Williams
song and Nat King Cole's version of "Christmas Song" on it,
and I plan to play it Thursday afternoon on my day off!
2011 Update Now that Borders has gone out of business and
I avoid the radio stations doing the "All Christmas, All the Time"
since mid-November, I haven't burned out on Christmas music
as early as previous years. But unfortunately, I am now tired of
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". Staples use of it
in the back to school ads was funny. But this year, the song has
been overused by retail stores and car dealerships so much
that it's like beating a dead reindeer! Bah, humbug!
2012 Update: My favorite piece of Christmas music this year
is this performance by Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, and Mariah
Carey. It makes me smile.
2013 Update: One of the things I've noticed since I no longer
work at Borders is I don't find Christmas music as grating as
I did for all those years when I heard it all day long at work. I
have some Celtic Christmas music collections Cds I will start
playing soon here at home, I think. There's also a local PBS
radio show "Celtic Sojourn" that puts on an annual live stage
and this year there is a tv special of it I want to see.
2014 Update:
WGBH is showing a taping of "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn"
from a few years ago this year on tv. If you can find it, I think
you'll enjoy it:
2015 Update
I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora this year while working on my genealogy research. I haven't any new favorite this year so far, but if I find one I'll blog about it here.
((originally posted in 2007))
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”
Christmas Album to play on the stereo. There was also a Nat
King Cole album and a Mitch Miller “Sing Along With Mitch”
Christmas edition. But for me, even rock and roll dinosaur
that I am, it’s the Andy Williams album that “feels” like
Christmas to me. I need to hear that "It's the Most
Wonderful Time of the Year."
As I’ve gotten older and my musical tastes expanded, I find
myself listening to New Age and Celtic Christmas music. And
Josh Groban just put out a holiday album that we’ve played at
the bookstore since Thanksgiving and it’s easy on the ears.
As for caroling, well, there are some things that one should
never do in public and in my case, singing is one of them!
2010 Update: I splurged this year for the "Now That;s What
I Call Christmas Essentials Collection." It has the Andy Williams
song and Nat King Cole's version of "Christmas Song" on it,
and I plan to play it Thursday afternoon on my day off!
2011 Update Now that Borders has gone out of business and
I avoid the radio stations doing the "All Christmas, All the Time"
since mid-November, I haven't burned out on Christmas music
as early as previous years. But unfortunately, I am now tired of
"It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year". Staples use of it
in the back to school ads was funny. But this year, the song has
been overused by retail stores and car dealerships so much
that it's like beating a dead reindeer! Bah, humbug!
2012 Update: My favorite piece of Christmas music this year
is this performance by Jimmy Fallon, The Roots, and Mariah
Carey. It makes me smile.
2013 Update: One of the things I've noticed since I no longer
work at Borders is I don't find Christmas music as grating as
I did for all those years when I heard it all day long at work. I
have some Celtic Christmas music collections Cds I will start
playing soon here at home, I think. There's also a local PBS
radio show "Celtic Sojourn" that puts on an annual live stage
and this year there is a tv special of it I want to see.
2014 Update:
WGBH is showing a taping of "A Christmas Celtic Sojourn"
from a few years ago this year on tv. If you can find it, I think
you'll enjoy it:
2015 Update
I've been listening to Christmas music on Pandora this year while working on my genealogy research. I haven't any new favorite this year so far, but if I find one I'll blog about it here.
((originally posted in 2007))
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”
Wednesday, December 02, 2015
ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: DEALING WITH CARDS 2015
I don’t get a lot of Christmas cards, mostly because I don’t send
out a lot myself. I get some from the family and a few from friends
but since I’m not much of a social animal there’s no more than perhaps
a half dozen each year sitting atop my tv.
In years past the amount of cardage fluctuated. When I
was a kid there were a lot of cards, usually taped to the
door frames or sitting atop the end tables in the living room.
When we moved to Abington they were displayed across the
mantel piece or taped around the edges of the mirror above it.
The years when my folks were actively involved in the VFW
brought the highest number of season’s greetings. Mom would
spend a few hours herself signing and addressing cards to be
sent out. But as she and her generation of family and friends
grew older the flood of Christmas cards dwindled. Several years
Mom even had some unused cards left over when she finished.
I tend not to like sending “mushy” cards so I usually try to find
something funny. Although this year I may be giving people a
look at a certain dancing elf via e-mail!
2010 Update: I'm going to see what sort of selection we have at
the store tomorrow and hopefully find something funny, although
last year I sent out cards that were more "New England-y"
2011 Update Since Borders has closed I'm going to have to take
a long walk over to Target soon to get some boxed cards!
2012 Update I'm waiting for my box card order from B&N
to arrive.
2013 Update I haven't bought any Christmas cards yet. I'm also
trying to figure out what to do with the leftover cards from the
last few years.
2014 Update:
I'll probably buy my cards this weekend. I don't really start thinking
about Christmas cards until right about now, although I've already
received one this holiday season.
The past few years I've taken to displaying the incoming cards on my
bookcase, as in this photo from a few years ago:
2015 Update
I still have several boxes of leftover Christmas cards from previous years, so this year
I'm going to send those instead of buying a new box.
((Originally posted in 2007))
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”
out a lot myself. I get some from the family and a few from friends
but since I’m not much of a social animal there’s no more than perhaps
a half dozen each year sitting atop my tv.
In years past the amount of cardage fluctuated. When I
was a kid there were a lot of cards, usually taped to the
door frames or sitting atop the end tables in the living room.
When we moved to Abington they were displayed across the
mantel piece or taped around the edges of the mirror above it.
The years when my folks were actively involved in the VFW
brought the highest number of season’s greetings. Mom would
spend a few hours herself signing and addressing cards to be
sent out. But as she and her generation of family and friends
grew older the flood of Christmas cards dwindled. Several years
Mom even had some unused cards left over when she finished.
I tend not to like sending “mushy” cards so I usually try to find
something funny. Although this year I may be giving people a
look at a certain dancing elf via e-mail!
2010 Update: I'm going to see what sort of selection we have at
the store tomorrow and hopefully find something funny, although
last year I sent out cards that were more "New England-y"
2011 Update Since Borders has closed I'm going to have to take
a long walk over to Target soon to get some boxed cards!
2012 Update I'm waiting for my box card order from B&N
to arrive.
2013 Update I haven't bought any Christmas cards yet. I'm also
trying to figure out what to do with the leftover cards from the
last few years.
2014 Update:
I'll probably buy my cards this weekend. I don't really start thinking
about Christmas cards until right about now, although I've already
received one this holiday season.
The past few years I've taken to displaying the incoming cards on my
bookcase, as in this photo from a few years ago:
2015 Update
I still have several boxes of leftover Christmas cards from previous years, so this year
I'm going to send those instead of buying a new box.
((Originally posted in 2007))
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.”
Tuesday, December 01, 2015
ADVENT CALENDAR OF CHRISTMAS MEMORIES: OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE 2015
You know that part of the movie A Christmas Story where
the family goes out to buy the tree and the parents have a little
argument over it? Well, I laugh every time I see it because
like so much in that film it echoes my childhood.
Every Christmas when I was younger either we’d go shopping
for a tree or Dad would buy one on his way home from work.
Now as regular readers of this blog know by now, my Dad was
from Maine. But even more than that, he had experience in trees.
He’d helped his father cutting down trees, and he’d worked for a
landscaper in the Boston area when he’d first come home from
the war. Mom would remind Dad of his experience every year
when the tree was fixed into the tree stand, the rope cut from
the branches and the inevitable big empty space was discovered.
Usually the problem was solved by rotating the tree so the empty
spot was in the back facing the wall. The lights were strung(and
here we differed from the film. We never blew out the fuses.),
then the garlands, the ornaments, and the icicles. Finally the
angel went up on top of the tree and we were all set. With
judicious watering the tree would last us until around “Little
Christmas” at which time it would be undecorated and deposited
curbside to await the dump truck.
Of course our tree paled in comparison to the giant my Mom’s
Uncle Tommy and Aunt Francis had in their home down in
Milton. It was so big they cut the top off and the branches didn’t
taper at the top. They were all the same size: large. I could
never believe they'd gotten that big a tree into the house in the
first place!
Then the first artificial Christmas trees hit the market and Mom
began vowing she was going to get one as she vacuumed up pine
needles from the rug. Eventually we did but that provided us
with new challenges, such as assembling the tree.
As we all grew older the prospect of trying to get the tree
together became less enchanting and so it too was replaced, this
time by a small ceramic musical tree that was lit from within by
a light bulb. I used that tree myself for several years after Mom
died although I felt no great urge to wind it up for the music. It
lasted until a few years back when I dropped it and the base
cracked.
Its replacement is a small artificial tree that I bought at work with
my employee discount along with a garland. Last year some
friends sent me some snowmen ornaments for it. I haven’t put it
up yet but think I will this weekend. It fits on top of the tv.
And at some point over the holidays I’ll see that scene from A
Christmas Story again and grin.
2009 update: I bought a small string of battery powered lights
to add to my tree last week!
2010 update: I lost my Christmas stuff in my move last April so
I'll be picking it up another one at work soon.
2011 update
I bought another teeny Christmas tree with lights and ornaments
at Borders. Since the company closed, it will remind me of my
store when I set it out each year.
2012 update
I haven't put up my teeny Christmas tree yet but plan to do it this weekend.
2013 Update
I'll be putting the tree out tomorrow. I may have to buy a new string of
lights this year since some of the teeny weeny bulbs may have died last year.
2014 Update
I haven't put the teeny Christmas tree up yet again. I think I will do
it tomorrow, though.
2015 Update
The teeny Christmas tree will go up this weekend as soon as I decide
where it will go this year.
Originally posted in 2007.
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.
the family goes out to buy the tree and the parents have a little
argument over it? Well, I laugh every time I see it because
like so much in that film it echoes my childhood.
Every Christmas when I was younger either we’d go shopping
for a tree or Dad would buy one on his way home from work.
Now as regular readers of this blog know by now, my Dad was
from Maine. But even more than that, he had experience in trees.
He’d helped his father cutting down trees, and he’d worked for a
landscaper in the Boston area when he’d first come home from
the war. Mom would remind Dad of his experience every year
when the tree was fixed into the tree stand, the rope cut from
the branches and the inevitable big empty space was discovered.
Usually the problem was solved by rotating the tree so the empty
spot was in the back facing the wall. The lights were strung(and
here we differed from the film. We never blew out the fuses.),
then the garlands, the ornaments, and the icicles. Finally the
angel went up on top of the tree and we were all set. With
judicious watering the tree would last us until around “Little
Christmas” at which time it would be undecorated and deposited
curbside to await the dump truck.
Of course our tree paled in comparison to the giant my Mom’s
Uncle Tommy and Aunt Francis had in their home down in
Milton. It was so big they cut the top off and the branches didn’t
taper at the top. They were all the same size: large. I could
never believe they'd gotten that big a tree into the house in the
first place!
Then the first artificial Christmas trees hit the market and Mom
began vowing she was going to get one as she vacuumed up pine
needles from the rug. Eventually we did but that provided us
with new challenges, such as assembling the tree.
As we all grew older the prospect of trying to get the tree
together became less enchanting and so it too was replaced, this
time by a small ceramic musical tree that was lit from within by
a light bulb. I used that tree myself for several years after Mom
died although I felt no great urge to wind it up for the music. It
lasted until a few years back when I dropped it and the base
cracked.
Its replacement is a small artificial tree that I bought at work with
my employee discount along with a garland. Last year some
friends sent me some snowmen ornaments for it. I haven’t put it
up yet but think I will this weekend. It fits on top of the tv.
And at some point over the holidays I’ll see that scene from A
Christmas Story again and grin.
2009 update: I bought a small string of battery powered lights
to add to my tree last week!
2010 update: I lost my Christmas stuff in my move last April so
I'll be picking it up another one at work soon.
2011 update
I bought another teeny Christmas tree with lights and ornaments
at Borders. Since the company closed, it will remind me of my
store when I set it out each year.
2012 update
I haven't put up my teeny Christmas tree yet but plan to do it this weekend.
2013 Update
I'll be putting the tree out tomorrow. I may have to buy a new string of
lights this year since some of the teeny weeny bulbs may have died last year.
2014 Update
I haven't put the teeny Christmas tree up yet again. I think I will do
it tomorrow, though.
2015 Update
The teeny Christmas tree will go up this weekend as soon as I decide
where it will go this year.
Originally posted in 2007.
“The Advent Calendar of Christmas Memories (ACCM) allows you to share your family’s holiday history twenty-four different ways during December! Learn more at http://adventcalendar.geneabloggers.com.
Monday, November 30, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 48: ISAAC LEARNED OF CHELMSFORD, MA. PT1
My examination of my grandmother Cora Bertha Barker's ancestors for the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks continues now with my 8x great grandfather Isaac Learned. According to William Richard
Cutter, he was a prominent citizen in Woburn and then Chelmsford:
(II) Isaac, only son of William and Judith Learned, was baptized February 25, 1624, at Bermondsey, and died November 27, 1657, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He was a small boy when he came with his parents to this country, and was not yet of age when they settled in Woburn. He appears to have resided in that town until 1652, when he removed to Chelmsford. He sold his house and lands in Woburn, April 2, 1652. The inventory of his estate made in December, 1657, amounted to one hundred and eighty-seven pounds, eighteen shillings and six pence. His widow and her father were administrators of the estate, which was beholden to his father's widow for three pounds per year. She survived him about four years and the inventory of her estate included an item of six pounds still due her from the Widow Learned, of Chelmsford. Isaac Learned married, in Woburn, August 9, 1646, Mary, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Barker) Stearns, born January 6, 1626, in Mayland, Suffolk, England, died 1663. She married (second), June 9, 1662, John Burge, of Weymouth. Children of Isaac and Mary Learned: Mary, born August 7, 1647; Hannah, August 24, 1649; William, October 1, 1650; Sarah, October 28, 1653; Isaac, mentioned below, and Benoni, November 29, 1657. The last three were born in Chelmsford, and the others in Woburn.
-pp2508
Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Volume 4 Lewis historical publishing Company, 1910, NY, NY
I've found the probate file for Isaac's estate and I'll discuss that in the next post.
One of the things I noticed in that biographical sketch is how young Isaac was when he died, only
thirty-three years old. His youngest child was born two days after his death, and his widow, Mary
(Stearns) Learned didn't remarry until five years later.
To be continued.
Cutter, he was a prominent citizen in Woburn and then Chelmsford:
(II) Isaac, only son of William and Judith Learned, was baptized February 25, 1624, at Bermondsey, and died November 27, 1657, in Chelmsford, Massachusetts. He was a small boy when he came with his parents to this country, and was not yet of age when they settled in Woburn. He appears to have resided in that town until 1652, when he removed to Chelmsford. He sold his house and lands in Woburn, April 2, 1652. The inventory of his estate made in December, 1657, amounted to one hundred and eighty-seven pounds, eighteen shillings and six pence. His widow and her father were administrators of the estate, which was beholden to his father's widow for three pounds per year. She survived him about four years and the inventory of her estate included an item of six pounds still due her from the Widow Learned, of Chelmsford. Isaac Learned married, in Woburn, August 9, 1646, Mary, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Barker) Stearns, born January 6, 1626, in Mayland, Suffolk, England, died 1663. She married (second), June 9, 1662, John Burge, of Weymouth. Children of Isaac and Mary Learned: Mary, born August 7, 1647; Hannah, August 24, 1649; William, October 1, 1650; Sarah, October 28, 1653; Isaac, mentioned below, and Benoni, November 29, 1657. The last three were born in Chelmsford, and the others in Woburn.
-pp2508
Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Volume 4 Lewis historical publishing Company, 1910, NY, NY
I've found the probate file for Isaac's estate and I'll discuss that in the next post.
One of the things I noticed in that biographical sketch is how young Isaac was when he died, only
thirty-three years old. His youngest child was born two days after his death, and his widow, Mary
(Stearns) Learned didn't remarry until five years later.
To be continued.
Friday, November 27, 2015
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 27NOV 2015
The Findmypast Friday record collections release for 27Nov focuses on 'watermen", an
occupation not familiar to we Americans. According to Wikipedia, "A waterman is a river worker
who transfers passengers across and along city centre rivers and estuaries in the United Kingdom
and its colonies. Most notable are those on the River Thames and River Medway, but other rivers such as the River Tyne and River Dee, Wales also had their watermen who formed guilds in medieval times."
Here's the list of collections:
An important and surprisingly common profession from centuries past is being showcased this week as we release a variety of London watermen collections. These fascinating new resources include birth registers, Navy records, a royal petition and more. Plus, explore our latest round-up of Irish newspapers which saw 16 new titles added recently.
We're bringing you over 2 million new records and newspaper articles including:
Irish Newspapers
We've added 16 new titles to our Irish newspapers collection recently, increasing our numbers by 2 million fully searchable articles.
See what’s new on the blog »
London, Watermen in Royal Navy, 1803-1809
This collection holds lists of Watermen impressed into the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars - several on the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Discover how they served »
London, List of Free Watermen, 1827
This "mini-census" of watermen from 1827 details 5,400 names of watermen in London. See if one of your relatives had this very common occupation.
Search the list »
London, Watermen, Birth Register of Contracted Men, 1865-1921
This register lists over 1,400 apprentices of the Worshipful Company of Waterman and Lighterman. You'll discover their birth or baptism date and place of birth.
Find your family's apprentice »
If you're unsure of your London ancestors occupations, these new watermen records are worth exploring - we now have more than 100,000 online. Who knows, you may discover that your family member was an essential part of early London society!
If you have any queries or comments, or discoveries you'd like to share, get in touch here. We love hearing your stories.
Have a great weekend,
Jen Baldwin
You can see fuller descriptions of the collections here at Findmypast.com.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Findmypast Ambassador Program which includes a
complimentary one year world subscription to Findmypast and a Findmypast First membership.
occupation not familiar to we Americans. According to Wikipedia, "A waterman is a river worker
who transfers passengers across and along city centre rivers and estuaries in the United Kingdom
and its colonies. Most notable are those on the River Thames and River Medway, but other rivers such as the River Tyne and River Dee, Wales also had their watermen who formed guilds in medieval times."
Here's the list of collections:
An important and surprisingly common profession from centuries past is being showcased this week as we release a variety of London watermen collections. These fascinating new resources include birth registers, Navy records, a royal petition and more. Plus, explore our latest round-up of Irish newspapers which saw 16 new titles added recently.
We're bringing you over 2 million new records and newspaper articles including:
Irish Newspapers
We've added 16 new titles to our Irish newspapers collection recently, increasing our numbers by 2 million fully searchable articles.
See what’s new on the blog »
London, Watermen in Royal Navy, 1803-1809
This collection holds lists of Watermen impressed into the Royal Navy during the Napoleonic wars - several on the HMS Victory at the Battle of Trafalgar.
Discover how they served »
London, List of Free Watermen, 1827
This "mini-census" of watermen from 1827 details 5,400 names of watermen in London. See if one of your relatives had this very common occupation.
Search the list »
London, Watermen, Birth Register of Contracted Men, 1865-1921
This register lists over 1,400 apprentices of the Worshipful Company of Waterman and Lighterman. You'll discover their birth or baptism date and place of birth.
Find your family's apprentice »
If you're unsure of your London ancestors occupations, these new watermen records are worth exploring - we now have more than 100,000 online. Who knows, you may discover that your family member was an essential part of early London society!
If you have any queries or comments, or discoveries you'd like to share, get in touch here. We love hearing your stories.
Have a great weekend,
Jen Baldwin
You can see fuller descriptions of the collections here at Findmypast.com.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Findmypast Ambassador Program which includes a
complimentary one year world subscription to Findmypast and a Findmypast First membership.
Thursday, November 26, 2015
THE SEVENTH ANNUAL GREAT GENEALOGY POETRY CHALLENGE POSTS
Welcome to the roundup of posts submitted in Seventh Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge !
Here are the rules for submissions to the Challenge:
1. Find a poem by a local poet, famous or obscure, from the region
your ancestors lived in. It can be about an historical event, a
legend, a person, or even about some place (like a river)or a local
animal. It can even be a poem you or one of your ancestors have written!
0r if you prefer, post the lyrics of a song or a link to a video of someone
performing the song.
2. Post the poem or song to your blog (remembering to cite the source
where you found it.). If you wish to enter an older post, you may as long
as long as it has not appeared here in an earlier Poetry Challenge.
3.Tell us how the subject of the poem or song relates to your ancestor's
home or life, or the area of the country where they lived.
We have a variety of poetry in this year's Challenge. There is a poem for commercial use, several
celebratory poems written for events, and one to ease a child to sleep. There are poems written by
famous poets and poems written by relatives, poems about a battle, one about a shipwreck and one
written by a homesick young man. And the poems vary in length from the short to the very long.
I hope you enjoy reading them all, and please be sure to leave a comment to let each blogger know
your thoughts on their post.
.
Back in late 19th and early 20th century America, businesses frequently used poems to
advertise their products. Dorene Paul of Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay blog found and shares
one such poem in her post Seventh Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge. You might be surprised
at what company used the poem and what the connection was between it and a certain animal.
Heather Wilkinson Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy has shared her grandmother's poems with us in previous Poetry Challenges.I've enjoyed each one of them. This year she contributes another, the beautiful Baby's Lullaby, by Bertha Roberts Wilkinson, and tells a bit about Bertha's life.
For many years Americans used poetry to celebrate special events or family history with poetry. It's a vanished tradition, except perhaps for poet laureates reciting a poem at Presidential Inaugurations. My Ellingwood cousin Pam Carter found a poem about a relative's courtship written for a dedication. Her post is Deborah Bachiler Poem at Pam's My Maine Ancestry blog.
Vickie at BeNotForgot has another example of a celebratory poem, this one for the 250th
anniversary of the town of Andover. Ma. Like her, some of my ancestors were among the first
settlers and I have several cousin connections with Vickie. Read the poem in the blog post entitled
1653:: Marriage of Clemens and Osgood.
Barbara Poole knew exactly what she wanted to do for this year's challenge and set about
looking for a poem written by one of her ancestors. She found one by her 2nd great
granduncle Fitch Poole, as well as an article about his life. They are posted on her Life From
The Roots blog in two posts, THE LIBRARIAN'S EPITAPH, a Poem, and I Googled POEM and FITCH POOLE and came up with This.
Schalene Dagutis is related by marriage to Nathaniel Tucker, a poet who lived in the late 18th -early 19th century. Although he lived for a time in the American colonies, he had been born in Bermuda, which inspired his poem The Bermudan. Like much poetry of that era it's long. See for yourself in the post
52 Ancestors #1: Nathaniel Tucker, Poet at Tangled Roots and Leaves.
I have three poems here on West in New England for my own contribution to the Challenge:
Back in June I had mentioned on Facebook that my Mom's German paternal great grandparents had come to America on the ship S.S. Deutschland and friend Terri Kallio asked me if was the same ship
that sank in 1875 during a storm. She sent me a link to Wikipedia which led me to finding English poet Gerald Manley Hopkins' poem about the tragedy,The Wreck of the Deutschland.
Then in September I found two poems about a Colonial American era battle at Lovewell's
Pond in New Hampshire between the "Snowshoe Soldier" militia and Native Americans.
One poem, The Battle of Lovell's Pond, was the first published work by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow; the second, Song of Lovewell's Fight, was a popular ballad from a century before
Longfellow's poem. Some of my ancestors had served under Lovewell in previous campaigns.
Here are the rules for submissions to the Challenge:
1. Find a poem by a local poet, famous or obscure, from the region
your ancestors lived in. It can be about an historical event, a
legend, a person, or even about some place (like a river)or a local
animal. It can even be a poem you or one of your ancestors have written!
0r if you prefer, post the lyrics of a song or a link to a video of someone
performing the song.
2. Post the poem or song to your blog (remembering to cite the source
where you found it.). If you wish to enter an older post, you may as long
as long as it has not appeared here in an earlier Poetry Challenge.
3.Tell us how the subject of the poem or song relates to your ancestor's
home or life, or the area of the country where they lived.
We have a variety of poetry in this year's Challenge. There is a poem for commercial use, several
celebratory poems written for events, and one to ease a child to sleep. There are poems written by
famous poets and poems written by relatives, poems about a battle, one about a shipwreck and one
written by a homesick young man. And the poems vary in length from the short to the very long.
I hope you enjoy reading them all, and please be sure to leave a comment to let each blogger know
your thoughts on their post.
.
Back in late 19th and early 20th century America, businesses frequently used poems to
advertise their products. Dorene Paul of Graveyard Rabbit of Sandusky Bay blog found and shares
one such poem in her post Seventh Annual Great Genealogy Poetry Challenge. You might be surprised
at what company used the poem and what the connection was between it and a certain animal.
Heather Wilkinson Rojo of Nutfield Genealogy has shared her grandmother's poems with us in previous Poetry Challenges.I've enjoyed each one of them. This year she contributes another, the beautiful Baby's Lullaby, by Bertha Roberts Wilkinson, and tells a bit about Bertha's life.
For many years Americans used poetry to celebrate special events or family history with poetry. It's a vanished tradition, except perhaps for poet laureates reciting a poem at Presidential Inaugurations. My Ellingwood cousin Pam Carter found a poem about a relative's courtship written for a dedication. Her post is Deborah Bachiler Poem at Pam's My Maine Ancestry blog.
Vickie at BeNotForgot has another example of a celebratory poem, this one for the 250th
anniversary of the town of Andover. Ma. Like her, some of my ancestors were among the first
settlers and I have several cousin connections with Vickie. Read the poem in the blog post entitled
1653:: Marriage of Clemens and Osgood.
Barbara Poole knew exactly what she wanted to do for this year's challenge and set about
looking for a poem written by one of her ancestors. She found one by her 2nd great
granduncle Fitch Poole, as well as an article about his life. They are posted on her Life From
The Roots blog in two posts, THE LIBRARIAN'S EPITAPH, a Poem, and I Googled POEM and FITCH POOLE and came up with This.
Schalene Dagutis is related by marriage to Nathaniel Tucker, a poet who lived in the late 18th -early 19th century. Although he lived for a time in the American colonies, he had been born in Bermuda, which inspired his poem The Bermudan. Like much poetry of that era it's long. See for yourself in the post
52 Ancestors #1: Nathaniel Tucker, Poet at Tangled Roots and Leaves.
I have three poems here on West in New England for my own contribution to the Challenge:
Back in June I had mentioned on Facebook that my Mom's German paternal great grandparents had come to America on the ship S.S. Deutschland and friend Terri Kallio asked me if was the same ship
that sank in 1875 during a storm. She sent me a link to Wikipedia which led me to finding English poet Gerald Manley Hopkins' poem about the tragedy,The Wreck of the Deutschland.
Then in September I found two poems about a Colonial American era battle at Lovewell's
Pond in New Hampshire between the "Snowshoe Soldier" militia and Native Americans.
One poem, The Battle of Lovell's Pond, was the first published work by Henry Wadsworth
Longfellow; the second, Song of Lovewell's Fight, was a popular ballad from a century before
Longfellow's poem. Some of my ancestors had served under Lovewell in previous campaigns.
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 47: WILLIAM LEARNED OF WOBURN, MA.
The subject for Week 47 of the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge is my immigrant
ancestor and 9x great grandfather William Learned. William is one of my ancestors for whom
I've found quite a bit, including an entry in The Great Migration Begins and this long biographical sketch from one of William Richard Cutter's books:
(1)William Learned was born as early as 1590, and died in Woburn, Massachusetts. March 1, 1646. He was in Massachusetts as early as 1632, and possibly as early as 1630. The records of Charlestown show that he was admitted as an inhabitant there and had a planting lot in 1630. But as these records were made many years afterwards,-the time is somewhat uncertain. The admission of himself and wife to what is now the First Church of Charlestown was the first recorded, December 6, 1632. In this record his wife's name is spelled Gooithe, and is presumed to mean Judith, though some authorities claim it is derived from the Saxon word Goditha. It is possible that William Learned resided for a short time in Ware, England, and it is known that he resided in the parish of Bermondsey, Surrey, from 1612 to 1625. In the latter year his third child was buried there. His eldest child, Sarah, may have been the Sarah Learned, baptized September 30, 1604, at Ware, though records made in Massachusetts indicate that she was born about 1607. Such discrepancy as this is not uncommon, and it may easily be supposable that the baptism at Ware applies to William Learned's daughter. His other children baptized at Bermondsey were: Bertha, October 29. 1612; Mary, September 15, 1615; Abigail, September 30, 1618; Elizabeth, March 25, 1621; and Isaac, mentioned below. William Learned was an inhabitant of Charlestown in 1633-35-36, and received a share of marsh land there February 11. 1637. The record of various parcels granted him makes it appear that he had more than seventy-two acres. He was made a freeman, May 14, 1634, and was subsequently selectman. February 13, 1636, he was made a member of a committee to stint the common lands, and he was on various committees to lay out lots and bounds. Being a friend of Wheelwright, he signed a remonstrance against the treatment of that worthy, and was subsequently compelled by the church to renounce such action. He was on a committee to settle with the school master in 1638, and on February 26, of that year, was made a member of a committee to "consider of some things tending toward a body of laws." He was among those who attended the first meeting for the organization of the town of Woburn, December 18, 1614, and was one of the signers of the town orders of that time. The clerks record of the transaction spells his name Lernedt. He was one of the seven to form the first church of Woburn, which was gathered, August 14, 1642. On November 24 of that year he gave up his lot for the use of the town, and received subsequent grants, including seventy-two acres laid out to his son Isaac, in recompense for abandoning his first lot. On April 13, 1643, ne was elected constable and selectman, and was again chosen to the same offices, February 9, 1645, and died just before the succeeding election. The office of constable was an important one at that time, as the collection of taxes was made by that officer. His widow appears in subsequent records as Sarah or Jane. The inventory of her estate made in November, 1661, amounted to forty-one pounds, eighteen shillings and eleven pence.
-pp2507-8
Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Volume 4 Lewis historical publishing Company, 1910, NY, NY
I've had no luck finding a probate file and seen no mention of one either. I'll have to look for
land sale records. But what I have found already shows William Learned to have been a prominent
citizen of Charlestown and then Woburn.
ancestor and 9x great grandfather William Learned. William is one of my ancestors for whom
I've found quite a bit, including an entry in The Great Migration Begins and this long biographical sketch from one of William Richard Cutter's books:
(1)William Learned was born as early as 1590, and died in Woburn, Massachusetts. March 1, 1646. He was in Massachusetts as early as 1632, and possibly as early as 1630. The records of Charlestown show that he was admitted as an inhabitant there and had a planting lot in 1630. But as these records were made many years afterwards,-the time is somewhat uncertain. The admission of himself and wife to what is now the First Church of Charlestown was the first recorded, December 6, 1632. In this record his wife's name is spelled Gooithe, and is presumed to mean Judith, though some authorities claim it is derived from the Saxon word Goditha. It is possible that William Learned resided for a short time in Ware, England, and it is known that he resided in the parish of Bermondsey, Surrey, from 1612 to 1625. In the latter year his third child was buried there. His eldest child, Sarah, may have been the Sarah Learned, baptized September 30, 1604, at Ware, though records made in Massachusetts indicate that she was born about 1607. Such discrepancy as this is not uncommon, and it may easily be supposable that the baptism at Ware applies to William Learned's daughter. His other children baptized at Bermondsey were: Bertha, October 29. 1612; Mary, September 15, 1615; Abigail, September 30, 1618; Elizabeth, March 25, 1621; and Isaac, mentioned below. William Learned was an inhabitant of Charlestown in 1633-35-36, and received a share of marsh land there February 11. 1637. The record of various parcels granted him makes it appear that he had more than seventy-two acres. He was made a freeman, May 14, 1634, and was subsequently selectman. February 13, 1636, he was made a member of a committee to stint the common lands, and he was on various committees to lay out lots and bounds. Being a friend of Wheelwright, he signed a remonstrance against the treatment of that worthy, and was subsequently compelled by the church to renounce such action. He was on a committee to settle with the school master in 1638, and on February 26, of that year, was made a member of a committee to "consider of some things tending toward a body of laws." He was among those who attended the first meeting for the organization of the town of Woburn, December 18, 1614, and was one of the signers of the town orders of that time. The clerks record of the transaction spells his name Lernedt. He was one of the seven to form the first church of Woburn, which was gathered, August 14, 1642. On November 24 of that year he gave up his lot for the use of the town, and received subsequent grants, including seventy-two acres laid out to his son Isaac, in recompense for abandoning his first lot. On April 13, 1643, ne was elected constable and selectman, and was again chosen to the same offices, February 9, 1645, and died just before the succeeding election. The office of constable was an important one at that time, as the collection of taxes was made by that officer. His widow appears in subsequent records as Sarah or Jane. The inventory of her estate made in November, 1661, amounted to forty-one pounds, eighteen shillings and eleven pence.
-pp2507-8
Genealogical and Personal Memoirs Relating to the Families of the State of Massachusetts, Volume 4 Lewis historical publishing Company, 1910, NY, NY
I've had no luck finding a probate file and seen no mention of one either. I'll have to look for
land sale records. But what I have found already shows William Learned to have been a prominent
citizen of Charlestown and then Woburn.
Saturday, November 21, 2015
MY ALLERTON AND WARREN MAYFLOWER ANCESTRY
(( I first posted two articles about my Mayflower family descents back in
November 2011 and decided to repost them every year as a Thanksgiving
tradition.))
Whenever I am talking or writing about my Mayflower descent, for some
ironic reason I always forget about Remember Allerton. The reason for the
irony is that both my Dad's parents were Allerton descendants: Pop from
Remember Allerton and Grandma Bertha from Mary Allerton.:
Allerton through Ellingwood Line
Isaac Allerton & Mary Norris
Remember Allerton & Moses Maverick
Abigail Maverick & Samuel Ward
Martha Ward & John Tuthill(Tuttle)
Martha Tuthill(Tuttle) & Mark Haskell
Martha Haskell & John Safford
Ruth Safford & Samuel Haskell
Martha Haskell & Moses Houghton
Sally Houghton & James Thomas Dunham
Florilla Dunham & Asa Freeman Ellingwood
Clara Ellingwood & Phillip Jonathan West
Floyd Earl West Sr & Cora B Barker
Floyd Earl West Jr & Anne Marie White
Allerton through Barker Line
Isaac Allerton & Mary Norris
Mary Allerton & Thomas Cushman
Sarah Cushman & Adam Hawkes
John Hawkes & Mary(Margery)Whitford
Eva Hawkes & John Bancroft Eunice Hawkes & Jacob Walton
John Bancroft & Mary Walton
Sally(Sarah)Bancroft & Francis Upton
Hannah Upton & Cyrus Moore
Betsey Jane Moore & Amos Hastings Barker
Charlotte Lovenia Barker & Frank W Barker
Cora B, Barker & Floyd Earl Wesrt Sr
Floyd Earl West Jr and Anne Marie White.
My Warren ancestry comes through my Ames line
Warren Through Ames Line
Richard Warren & Elizabeth (?)
Mary Warren & Robert Bartlett
Mary Bartlett & Jonathan Mowrey(Morey)
Hannah Mowrey(Morey) & John Bumpas
Mary Bumpas & Seth Ellis
Mary Ellis & Ephraim Griffith
John Griffith & Mary Boyden
Polly Griffith & Jonathan Phelps Ames
Arvilla S. Ames & John Cutter West
John Cutter West & Louisa Richardson
Phillip Jonathan West & Clara Ellingwood
Floyd Earl West Sr & Cora B Barker
Floyd Earl West Jr and Anne Marie White.
November 2011 and decided to repost them every year as a Thanksgiving
tradition.))
Whenever I am talking or writing about my Mayflower descent, for some
ironic reason I always forget about Remember Allerton. The reason for the
irony is that both my Dad's parents were Allerton descendants: Pop from
Remember Allerton and Grandma Bertha from Mary Allerton.:
Allerton through Ellingwood Line
Isaac Allerton & Mary Norris
Remember Allerton & Moses Maverick
Abigail Maverick & Samuel Ward
Martha Ward & John Tuthill(Tuttle)
Martha Tuthill(Tuttle) & Mark Haskell
Martha Haskell & John Safford
Ruth Safford & Samuel Haskell
Martha Haskell & Moses Houghton
Sally Houghton & James Thomas Dunham
Florilla Dunham & Asa Freeman Ellingwood
Clara Ellingwood & Phillip Jonathan West
Floyd Earl West Sr & Cora B Barker
Floyd Earl West Jr & Anne Marie White
Allerton through Barker Line
Isaac Allerton & Mary Norris
Mary Allerton & Thomas Cushman
Sarah Cushman & Adam Hawkes
John Hawkes & Mary(Margery)Whitford
Eva Hawkes & John Bancroft Eunice Hawkes & Jacob Walton
John Bancroft & Mary Walton
Sally(Sarah)Bancroft & Francis Upton
Hannah Upton & Cyrus Moore
Betsey Jane Moore & Amos Hastings Barker
Charlotte Lovenia Barker & Frank W Barker
Cora B, Barker & Floyd Earl Wesrt Sr
Floyd Earl West Jr and Anne Marie White.
My Warren ancestry comes through my Ames line
Warren Through Ames Line
Richard Warren & Elizabeth (?)
Mary Warren & Robert Bartlett
Mary Bartlett & Jonathan Mowrey(Morey)
Hannah Mowrey(Morey) & John Bumpas
Mary Bumpas & Seth Ellis
Mary Ellis & Ephraim Griffith
John Griffith & Mary Boyden
Polly Griffith & Jonathan Phelps Ames
Arvilla S. Ames & John Cutter West
John Cutter West & Louisa Richardson
Phillip Jonathan West & Clara Ellingwood
Floyd Earl West Sr & Cora B Barker
Floyd Earl West Jr and Anne Marie White.
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 20NOV 2015
Here's the Findmypast Friday records release announcement for 20Nov 2015, which is quite large:
This week, we're releasing a variety of fascinating UK collections including almost 10,000 volumes of England & Wales electoral registers, now browsable online for the first time. We're also bringing you military records, social history, and a large update to our newspapers. With so much to explore, you're bound to find something on your British family.
We've added over 3.8 million new records and newspaper articles including:
England & Wales, Electoral Registers 1832-1932, Image Browse
Browse over 5.4 million images containing approximately 220 million names to find your family between the censuses. Discover where they lived, the property they owned or lean about the history of your local area.
Find your ancestors before they came to America »
British Newspapers
We're debuting 11 brand new publications and have bolstered another 43 titles with additional articles and years.
Paint a picture of the life your ancestor lived »
British In Argentina, 1914-1919
This book contains information and photographs of British volunteers from Argentina who went back home to serve their country in World War I.
See who answered the call of duty »
Additional Social & Institutional Records from Devon, England
Explore two centuries of Devon's social history to paint a vivid picture of everyday life there. We've added over 49,000 more records to the collection.
Delve into these rich records »
We hope you enjoy exploring these rich and varied collections. The electoral registers in particular, are a fantastic resource that have helped me gain a better understanding of my ancestors' place in society.
If you have any queries or comments, or discoveries you'd like to share, get in touch here. We love hearing your stories!
Have a great weekend,
Jen Baldwin
You can see more complete descriptions of these records here.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Findmypast Ambassador Program which includes a
complimentary one year world subscription to Findmypast and a Findmypast First membership.
This week, we're releasing a variety of fascinating UK collections including almost 10,000 volumes of England & Wales electoral registers, now browsable online for the first time. We're also bringing you military records, social history, and a large update to our newspapers. With so much to explore, you're bound to find something on your British family.
We've added over 3.8 million new records and newspaper articles including:
England & Wales, Electoral Registers 1832-1932, Image Browse
Browse over 5.4 million images containing approximately 220 million names to find your family between the censuses. Discover where they lived, the property they owned or lean about the history of your local area.
Find your ancestors before they came to America »
British Newspapers
We're debuting 11 brand new publications and have bolstered another 43 titles with additional articles and years.
Paint a picture of the life your ancestor lived »
British In Argentina, 1914-1919
This book contains information and photographs of British volunteers from Argentina who went back home to serve their country in World War I.
See who answered the call of duty »
Additional Social & Institutional Records from Devon, England
Explore two centuries of Devon's social history to paint a vivid picture of everyday life there. We've added over 49,000 more records to the collection.
Delve into these rich records »
We hope you enjoy exploring these rich and varied collections. The electoral registers in particular, are a fantastic resource that have helped me gain a better understanding of my ancestors' place in society.
If you have any queries or comments, or discoveries you'd like to share, get in touch here. We love hearing your stories!
Have a great weekend,
Jen Baldwin
You can see more complete descriptions of these records here.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Findmypast Ambassador Program which includes a
complimentary one year world subscription to Findmypast and a Findmypast First membership.
Friday, November 20, 2015
MY ELLINGWOOD MAYFLOWER ANCESTRY
(( I first posted two articles about my Mayflower family descents back in
November 2011 and decided to repost them every year as a Thanksgiving
tradition.))
Back when I first started researching the family genealogy online I was
thrilled to discover we were descended from several Mayflower passengers.
At one point I even carried around a small folded up piece of paper
in my wallet with the lines of descent to show when discussing genealogy
with some customer at the bookstore. But I lost that some time ago, so I
thought I'd post them here for other family members.
The first three lines come down through my Ellingwood ancestry from
Stephen Hopkins, Thomas Rogers, and James Chilton.
Hopkins Line
Stephen Hopkins and Mary____
Constance Hopkins & Nicholas Snow
Elizabeth Snow & Thomas Rogers
Eleazer Rogers & Ruhamah Willis
Experience Rogers & Stephen Totman
Deborah Totman & Moses Barrows Jr.
Asa Barrows & Content Benson
Rachel Barrows & John Ellingwood Jr
Asa F. Ellingwood & Florilla Dunham
Clara Ellingwood & Philip West
Floyd West Sr & Clara Barker
Floyd West Jr & Anne M White
Rogers Line
Thomas Rogers & Alice Cosford
Joseph Rogers & Hannah___
Thomas Rogers & Elizabeth Snow
Eleazer Rogers & Ruhamah Willis
Experience Rogers & Stephen Totman
Deborah Totman & Moses Barrows Jr.
Asa Barrows & Content Benson
Rachel Barrows & John Ellingwood Jr
Asa F. Ellingwood & Florilla Dunham
Clara Ellingwood & Philip West
Floyd West Sr & Clara Barker
Floyd West Jr & Anne M White
Chilton Line
James Chilton & ?
Isabella Chilton & Roger Chandler
Sarah Chandler & Moses Simmons
Moses Simmons Jr & Patience Barstow
Patience Simmons & George Barrows
Moses Barrows & Mary Carver
Deborah Totman & Moses Barrows Jr.
Asa Barrows & Content Benson
Rachel Barrows & John Ellingwood Jr
Asa F. Ellingwood & Florilla Dunham
Clara Ellingwood & Philip West
Floyd West Sr & Clara Barker
Floyd West Jr & Anne M White
November 2011 and decided to repost them every year as a Thanksgiving
tradition.))
Back when I first started researching the family genealogy online I was
thrilled to discover we were descended from several Mayflower passengers.
At one point I even carried around a small folded up piece of paper
in my wallet with the lines of descent to show when discussing genealogy
with some customer at the bookstore. But I lost that some time ago, so I
thought I'd post them here for other family members.
The first three lines come down through my Ellingwood ancestry from
Stephen Hopkins, Thomas Rogers, and James Chilton.
Hopkins Line
Stephen Hopkins and Mary____
Constance Hopkins & Nicholas Snow
Elizabeth Snow & Thomas Rogers
Eleazer Rogers & Ruhamah Willis
Experience Rogers & Stephen Totman
Deborah Totman & Moses Barrows Jr.
Asa Barrows & Content Benson
Rachel Barrows & John Ellingwood Jr
Asa F. Ellingwood & Florilla Dunham
Clara Ellingwood & Philip West
Floyd West Sr & Clara Barker
Floyd West Jr & Anne M White
Rogers Line
Thomas Rogers & Alice Cosford
Joseph Rogers & Hannah___
Thomas Rogers & Elizabeth Snow
Eleazer Rogers & Ruhamah Willis
Experience Rogers & Stephen Totman
Deborah Totman & Moses Barrows Jr.
Asa Barrows & Content Benson
Rachel Barrows & John Ellingwood Jr
Asa F. Ellingwood & Florilla Dunham
Clara Ellingwood & Philip West
Floyd West Sr & Clara Barker
Floyd West Jr & Anne M White
Chilton Line
James Chilton & ?
Isabella Chilton & Roger Chandler
Sarah Chandler & Moses Simmons
Moses Simmons Jr & Patience Barstow
Patience Simmons & George Barrows
Moses Barrows & Mary Carver
Deborah Totman & Moses Barrows Jr.
Asa Barrows & Content Benson
Rachel Barrows & John Ellingwood Jr
Asa F. Ellingwood & Florilla Dunham
Clara Ellingwood & Philip West
Floyd West Sr & Clara Barker
Floyd West Jr & Anne M White
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 46: JONATHAN BARRETT OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
I have had about the same amount of luck finding anything online for my 7x great grandfather
Jonathan Barrett as I did finding anything for his father John. Neither seems to have left a
will and there are no probate files for them on AmericanAncestors.org. Perhaps I'll find more
when I search for land records.
Meanwhile, here's William Richard Cutters brief biographical sletch of Jonathan Barrett:
(III) Jonathan, son of Lieutenant John Barrett, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He married (first) Sarah, born in Chelmsford, October 28, 1653, died January 11, 1695, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Stearns) Learned, as shown by a deed to J. Burge in 1686. He married (second) June 26, 1696, in Woburn, Massachusetts, Abigail Weston, who died October 19, 1706. He married (third) about 1708, Abigail (Wilson) Hildreth, widow of Joseph Hildreth. She was born in Woburn, August 8, 1666, daughter of John Wilson and sister of Lieutenant John Wilson, of Billerica. By her first husband she was ancestress of Richard Hildreth, the historian. Children by first wife: Hannah, married Jonathan Bowers; Mary, born November 20, 1684; Jonathan, October 28, 1687; Deliverance, February 24, 1690; Experience, January 3, 1695, died July 29, 1695. Children by second wife: Rachel, born August 9, 1699; Bridget, April 11, 1702, died September 7, 1702; Benjamin, February 14, 1705. Child by third wife: John, mentioned below.
-p924
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 Lewis historical publishing Company, New York, New York 1913
I'll be discussing the family of Jonathan's first wife Mary Stearns next.
Jonathan Barrett as I did finding anything for his father John. Neither seems to have left a
will and there are no probate files for them on AmericanAncestors.org. Perhaps I'll find more
when I search for land records.
Meanwhile, here's William Richard Cutters brief biographical sletch of Jonathan Barrett:
(III) Jonathan, son of Lieutenant John Barrett, was born in Braintree, Massachusetts. He married (first) Sarah, born in Chelmsford, October 28, 1653, died January 11, 1695, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Stearns) Learned, as shown by a deed to J. Burge in 1686. He married (second) June 26, 1696, in Woburn, Massachusetts, Abigail Weston, who died October 19, 1706. He married (third) about 1708, Abigail (Wilson) Hildreth, widow of Joseph Hildreth. She was born in Woburn, August 8, 1666, daughter of John Wilson and sister of Lieutenant John Wilson, of Billerica. By her first husband she was ancestress of Richard Hildreth, the historian. Children by first wife: Hannah, married Jonathan Bowers; Mary, born November 20, 1684; Jonathan, October 28, 1687; Deliverance, February 24, 1690; Experience, January 3, 1695, died July 29, 1695. Children by second wife: Rachel, born August 9, 1699; Bridget, April 11, 1702, died September 7, 1702; Benjamin, February 14, 1705. Child by third wife: John, mentioned below.
-p924
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 Lewis historical publishing Company, New York, New York 1913
I'll be discussing the family of Jonathan's first wife Mary Stearns next.
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 45: JOHN BARRETT OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
My 8x great grandfather John Barrett is the subject of Week 45 in the 2015 52 Ancestors in 52
Weeks Challenge. I haven't found much about him as yet. I know from what I've found about
his father that John was born in England before emigrating with his parents to Braintree, Ma.
The rest of what I know is from this brief sketch by William Richard Cutter:
(II) Lieutenant John Barrett, son of Thomas Barrett, was a comparatively large proprietor of lands. In 1659 he had a grant of land in Chelmsford, where he settled after his marriage, and he received several grants or divisions of common lands later. He served as tithingman and lieutenant. He was a mill owner. He and his wife Sarah deeded land in 1698 to their son-in-law, Nathaniel Collar. He died May 19, 1706. Children, first two born in Braintree, others in Chelmsford: John; Jonathan, mentioned below; Lydia, born September 22, 1659; Samuel, June 16, 1661; Mary, March 13, 1663; Margaret, November 10, 1667, died February, 1681; Joseph; Sarah, married Ambrose Swallow. p924
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 Lewis historical publishing Company, New York, New York 1913
I haven't been able to find anything else except that some genealogies say his wife's maiden name was Bates.
Weeks Challenge. I haven't found much about him as yet. I know from what I've found about
his father that John was born in England before emigrating with his parents to Braintree, Ma.
The rest of what I know is from this brief sketch by William Richard Cutter:
(II) Lieutenant John Barrett, son of Thomas Barrett, was a comparatively large proprietor of lands. In 1659 he had a grant of land in Chelmsford, where he settled after his marriage, and he received several grants or divisions of common lands later. He served as tithingman and lieutenant. He was a mill owner. He and his wife Sarah deeded land in 1698 to their son-in-law, Nathaniel Collar. He died May 19, 1706. Children, first two born in Braintree, others in Chelmsford: John; Jonathan, mentioned below; Lydia, born September 22, 1659; Samuel, June 16, 1661; Mary, March 13, 1663; Margaret, November 10, 1667, died February, 1681; Joseph; Sarah, married Ambrose Swallow. p924
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 Lewis historical publishing Company, New York, New York 1913
I haven't been able to find anything else except that some genealogies say his wife's maiden name was Bates.
Saturday, November 14, 2015
FINDMYPAST FRIDAY COLLECTION RELEASES FOR 13NOV 2015
Here's the Findmypast Friday records releases for 13Nov 2015, with this week's releases
devoted to WW1 in commemoration of the end of the war:
Commemorate the sacrifices made by members of your family this Findmypast Friday with a brand new global collection of WW1 military records. Explore memorial rolls containing detailed biographies and even photographic portraits! Plus, we've added conscription tribunal records, army pensions and soldier settlements to help you discover how the lives of your relatives were altered forever by one of history's bloodiest conflicts....
We've released millions of new WW1 records including:
Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933
Discover if your military ancestors' pension was ever paid out and who to. Find out their next of kin, when they died and details of their service.
Uncover the loved ones your WW1 ancestor left behind »
Surrey, Military Tribunals, 1915-1918
Find out if anyone in your family was exempt from conscription by exploring the registers and letter books of four military tribunals in the English county of Surrey.
Was your ancestor too important to send to war? »
British Army, Lloyds of London Memorial Roll 1914-1919
Uncover the records and photographs of Lloyd's of London employees who died during the First World War to discover their rank, regiment and the awards they received.
See the faces of a lost generation »
London Stock Exchange Memorial Roll, 1914-1918
Explore biographies and testimonies from fellow soldiers relating to male and female employees of the London Stock Exchange who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Read heartfelt tributes to fallen comrades »
If you have any Great War stories or other family history discoveries you'd like to share, get in touch here. We'd love to hear from you!
Have a great weekend,
Alex, Editor
You can see fuller descriptions of each collection here at Findmypast.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Findmypast Ambassador Program which includes a
complimentary one year world subscription to Findmypast and a Findmypast First membership.
devoted to WW1 in commemoration of the end of the war:
Commemorate the sacrifices made by members of your family this Findmypast Friday with a brand new global collection of WW1 military records. Explore memorial rolls containing detailed biographies and even photographic portraits! Plus, we've added conscription tribunal records, army pensions and soldier settlements to help you discover how the lives of your relatives were altered forever by one of history's bloodiest conflicts....
We've released millions of new WW1 records including:
Veterans Administration Pension Payment Cards, 1907-1933
Discover if your military ancestors' pension was ever paid out and who to. Find out their next of kin, when they died and details of their service.
Uncover the loved ones your WW1 ancestor left behind »
Surrey, Military Tribunals, 1915-1918
Find out if anyone in your family was exempt from conscription by exploring the registers and letter books of four military tribunals in the English county of Surrey.
Was your ancestor too important to send to war? »
British Army, Lloyds of London Memorial Roll 1914-1919
Uncover the records and photographs of Lloyd's of London employees who died during the First World War to discover their rank, regiment and the awards they received.
See the faces of a lost generation »
London Stock Exchange Memorial Roll, 1914-1918
Explore biographies and testimonies from fellow soldiers relating to male and female employees of the London Stock Exchange who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Read heartfelt tributes to fallen comrades »
If you have any Great War stories or other family history discoveries you'd like to share, get in touch here. We'd love to hear from you!
Have a great weekend,
Alex, Editor
You can see fuller descriptions of each collection here at Findmypast.
Full disclosure: I am a member of the Findmypast Ambassador Program which includes a
complimentary one year world subscription to Findmypast and a Findmypast First membership.
Friday, November 13, 2015
MARTHA (BARRETT) SPARKS OF CHELMSFORD, MA. PT 3:"...THE SOME OF TWO HUNDRED POUNDS..."
To recap from my last post, Martha (Barrett)Sparks had been in jail in Boston for over a year
in 1692, having been accused of witchcraft. Her husband was off with the militia fighting
Indians, and her two young children were being cared for by her elderly parents. In November 1692
her father, Thomas Barrett Jr., petitioned for her release. A month later he appeared before the Suffolk County Court. Here is the record of what happened there, again from William Waters' History of Chelmsford:
Thomas Barrett's Recognizance For Martha Sparks'Appearance At Middlesex Court.
Recognizance of Martha Sparks:
"Memorandum
That on the Sixth day of Decembr. 1692 in the ffowerth year of the Reign of our Souerain Lord & Lady William & Mary by the grace of God of England &c; King & Queen Defenders of ye ffaith; Personally Appeared before us James Russell & Samuell Heyman Esqs of their Maiesties Councill & Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England, & Justices of peace within ye Same; Thomas Barrat of Chelmsford in ye County of Middlesex; Mason & Acknowledged himself to be indebted unto our Sd: Lord &. Lady the King & Queen and the survivors of them, their Heires & Successors, in the Some of Two hundred pounds to be leavied on his Goods or Chattells Lands or Tennements for ye use of our said Lord &. Lady ye King &. Queen or Surviver of them if default be made in the performance of the Condition underwritten, viz
The Condition of the above Recognisance is Such yt wheare as Martha Sparks of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex was committed to Boston Goall being accused & suspected of perpetrating or committing divers Acts of Wichcraft; If therefore ye aforesd. Martha Sparks Shall make her personal! Appearance before the Justices of our sd. Lord & Lady the King & Queen; at the next Court of Assizes Oyer & Terminer & Generall Goall deliuery to be holden for, or within ye County of Middlesex Abouesd. to Answer what Shall be Obiected against her in their Maities. behalfe refering to Witchcraft and to do &. Receiue yt.which by said Court Shall be then and there Inioined her, and not depart without Licence then the abouesaid Recognizance to be void or Elce to abide in ffull fforce &. virtue.
Capt. & Recognit die & diet. Coram.
Ja: Russell
Samuell Hayman"
[Suffolk Clerk of Courts—Early Files—No. 2696.]
-pp575-576
The History of Chelmsford, printed for the town by Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma 1917
So Thomas Barrett pledged 200 pounds to obtain Martha Sparks' release, which would be forfeit
if she did not appear in court on her trial date. Luckily,it didn't come to that.
Governor Phips returned to England in 1693 and pardoned the remaining witchcraft prisoners before
he left.
As for Martha Sparks her husband Henry died in 1694; she followed him in 1697. I will have to see what
happened to their children.
And that's how, thanks to the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, there's another "witch" on my family tree!
in 1692, having been accused of witchcraft. Her husband was off with the militia fighting
Indians, and her two young children were being cared for by her elderly parents. In November 1692
her father, Thomas Barrett Jr., petitioned for her release. A month later he appeared before the Suffolk County Court. Here is the record of what happened there, again from William Waters' History of Chelmsford:
Thomas Barrett's Recognizance For Martha Sparks'Appearance At Middlesex Court.
Recognizance of Martha Sparks:
"Memorandum
That on the Sixth day of Decembr. 1692 in the ffowerth year of the Reign of our Souerain Lord & Lady William & Mary by the grace of God of England &c; King & Queen Defenders of ye ffaith; Personally Appeared before us James Russell & Samuell Heyman Esqs of their Maiesties Councill & Province of the Massachusets Bay in New England, & Justices of peace within ye Same; Thomas Barrat of Chelmsford in ye County of Middlesex; Mason & Acknowledged himself to be indebted unto our Sd: Lord &. Lady the King & Queen and the survivors of them, their Heires & Successors, in the Some of Two hundred pounds to be leavied on his Goods or Chattells Lands or Tennements for ye use of our said Lord &. Lady ye King &. Queen or Surviver of them if default be made in the performance of the Condition underwritten, viz
The Condition of the above Recognisance is Such yt wheare as Martha Sparks of Chelmsford in the County of Middlesex was committed to Boston Goall being accused & suspected of perpetrating or committing divers Acts of Wichcraft; If therefore ye aforesd. Martha Sparks Shall make her personal! Appearance before the Justices of our sd. Lord & Lady the King & Queen; at the next Court of Assizes Oyer & Terminer & Generall Goall deliuery to be holden for, or within ye County of Middlesex Abouesd. to Answer what Shall be Obiected against her in their Maities. behalfe refering to Witchcraft and to do &. Receiue yt.which by said Court Shall be then and there Inioined her, and not depart without Licence then the abouesaid Recognizance to be void or Elce to abide in ffull fforce &. virtue.
Capt. & Recognit die & diet. Coram.
Ja: Russell
Samuell Hayman"
[Suffolk Clerk of Courts—Early Files—No. 2696.]
-pp575-576
The History of Chelmsford, printed for the town by Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma 1917
So Thomas Barrett pledged 200 pounds to obtain Martha Sparks' release, which would be forfeit
if she did not appear in court on her trial date. Luckily,it didn't come to that.
Governor Phips returned to England in 1693 and pardoned the remaining witchcraft prisoners before
he left.
As for Martha Sparks her husband Henry died in 1694; she followed him in 1697. I will have to see what
happened to their children.
And that's how, thanks to the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge, there's another "witch" on my family tree!
Thursday, November 12, 2015
MARTHA (BARRETT) SPARKS OF CHELMSFORD, MA. PT 2 "...HATH LAYNE IN PRISON IN BOSTON..."
When my 8x great granduncle Thomas Barrett Jr's daughter was accused of witchcraft she
was imprisoned in Boston, it caused hardship for the entire family. William Waters includes
two documents in his History of Chelmsford, the first of which is this petition Thomas submitted to Governor Phips and the colonial government, asking for Martha's release.
PETITION OF THOMAS BARRETT.
To his Excy. Sr. William Phips, Knt. Capn Genll, and Governor.
in Cheife of their Majttes Province of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England and to the Honed. Council thereof.
The Humble Petition of Thomas Barrett of Chelmsford in New
England, in behalf of his Daughter Martha Sparkes, wife of
Henry Sparkes who is now a Souldier in their Majties Service att
the Easterne Parts, and soe hath beene for a Considerable Time,
Humbly Showeth
That yor Petitionrs Daughter hath Layne in Prison in Boston for the Space of Twelve months and Five days, being Committed by Thomas Danforth, Esq the Late Depty Governor. upon suspicion of Witchcraft, Since which noe Evidence hath appeared against her in any Such matter, neither hath any Given bond to prosecute her nor doth any one att this day accuse her of any such thing as yor Petitionr knows of. That Yor Petitionr hath ever since kept two of her children—the one of 5 years ye other of 2 years old, 'wch hath been a considerable Trouble and charge to him in his poore & meane Condition; besides yor Petitionr hath a Lame antient & sick wife, who for these 5 yeares & upwards past hath beene soe afflicted: as that shee is altogether rendred uncapable of affording her self any help, wch much augments his Trouble.
Yor Poore Petitionr Earnestly and humbly Intreates Yor E'cy & honrs. to take his distressed condition into yor consideracon, And that you will please to order ye releasemt. of his Daughtr. from her confinemt. Whereby shee may returne home to her poore children to look after them, haveing nothing to pay the charge of her Confinemt.
And yor Petitionr as in duty bound shall ever pray,
Nov. 1, 1692. &c.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 135, p. 62, doc. 64.]
-pp 574-575
The History of Chelmsford, printed for the town by Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma 1917
How did the Governor and his Council respond? I'll discuss that next.
To be continued.
was imprisoned in Boston, it caused hardship for the entire family. William Waters includes
two documents in his History of Chelmsford, the first of which is this petition Thomas submitted to Governor Phips and the colonial government, asking for Martha's release.
PETITION OF THOMAS BARRETT.
To his Excy. Sr. William Phips, Knt. Capn Genll, and Governor.
in Cheife of their Majttes Province of the Massachusetts Bay in
New England and to the Honed. Council thereof.
The Humble Petition of Thomas Barrett of Chelmsford in New
England, in behalf of his Daughter Martha Sparkes, wife of
Henry Sparkes who is now a Souldier in their Majties Service att
the Easterne Parts, and soe hath beene for a Considerable Time,
Humbly Showeth
That yor Petitionrs Daughter hath Layne in Prison in Boston for the Space of Twelve months and Five days, being Committed by Thomas Danforth, Esq the Late Depty Governor. upon suspicion of Witchcraft, Since which noe Evidence hath appeared against her in any Such matter, neither hath any Given bond to prosecute her nor doth any one att this day accuse her of any such thing as yor Petitionr knows of. That Yor Petitionr hath ever since kept two of her children—the one of 5 years ye other of 2 years old, 'wch hath been a considerable Trouble and charge to him in his poore & meane Condition; besides yor Petitionr hath a Lame antient & sick wife, who for these 5 yeares & upwards past hath beene soe afflicted: as that shee is altogether rendred uncapable of affording her self any help, wch much augments his Trouble.
Yor Poore Petitionr Earnestly and humbly Intreates Yor E'cy & honrs. to take his distressed condition into yor consideracon, And that you will please to order ye releasemt. of his Daughtr. from her confinemt. Whereby shee may returne home to her poore children to look after them, haveing nothing to pay the charge of her Confinemt.
And yor Petitionr as in duty bound shall ever pray,
Nov. 1, 1692. &c.
[Massachusetts Archives, Vol. 135, p. 62, doc. 64.]
-pp 574-575
The History of Chelmsford, printed for the town by Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma 1917
How did the Governor and his Council respond? I'll discuss that next.
To be continued.
Wednesday, November 11, 2015
ON VETERANS DAY 2015
On Veterans Day I like to pay tribute to the members of
our family who have served our country from its birth. I don't
have all the details of the service records, and I'm sure I will
discover more relatives to add later, but this is what I have so far.
American Revolution:
Jonathan Barker Jr. My 4x great grandfather
Was a Minuteman from Methuen Ma with rank of Sergeant.
He responded to Lexington and Concord with his sons
Served in Captain Samuel Johnson's Company in
Colonel Titcomb's Regiment for 2 months in 1777 in Rhode
Island and then with Nathaniel Gage's Company in Colonel
Jacob Gerrish's guards from Dec 1777 tol April 1778 guarding
the captured troops of General Burgoyne.
Jonathan Barker 3rd My 5x great grandfather
Enlisted on 19 Apr 1775 in Continental Army, Capt. John
Davis' Company, Col. James Frye's Regiment, in the
Massachusetts line for 8 months in Cambridge, Ma. At the
conclusion of the term, he reenlisted for another 3 months in
Capt John Allen's Company, Colonel John Waldron's Regiment,
General Sullivan's Brigade in the New Hampshire Brigade at
Charlestown, Ma. He then enlisted a third time in June 1778
at Methuen, Ma., joining Captain Samuel Carr's Company, Col.
James Weston's Regiment, in General Lerned's Brigade at
White Plains, N.Y. and serving for another 9 months.
John Ames My 5x great grandfather
Was a Minuteman under Capt. Asa Parker on April 18th,
1775. He then enlisted in the Continental Army under Captain
Oliver Parker, Col. William Prescott's Regiment and
in the Brigade that was commanded in turn by Generals
Putnam, Lee, and Washington and served for 8 1/2 months.
For a more detailed account of his service see my posts
about his Revolutionary War Pension File starting here.
Asa Barrows My 4x great grandfather
A member of the militia from Middleborough , Ma. (south of
Boston) in the Company of Captain Joshua Benson, in Colonel
Cotton's Regiment, and General William Heath's Brigade for
8 months during the siege of Boston. In December 1776 he
joined a militia Company commanded by Captain Joshua
Perkins and marched to Barrington, R.I. and was stationed
there for 6 weeks. In July 1780 he again enlisted, this time
in a militia company commanded by Captain Perez Churchill
that marched to Tiverton, R.I. I posted about his
Revolutionary War Pension File starting here.
Moses Coburn My 4x great grandfather
Moses Coburn got into the War late and by reason of being
"hired by a certain class of men in the then town of Dunstable
to go into the Continental Army in the summer of 1781."
When he reached Phillipsburgh in New York he was placed in
Captain Benjamin Pike's Company, in the Regiment of the
Massachusetts line commanded by Lt. Colonel Calvin Smith in
which he served for nearly two years until it was broken up.
He then transferred to the Company of Judah Alden in the
Regiment commanded by Colonel Sprouts until his discharge
in 1783.
Samuel Haskell My 5x great grandfather
Samuel served in Captain Joseph Elliott's Company in Colonel
William Turner's Regiment and then under Captain Hezekiah
Whitney in Colonel Josiah Whitney's Regiment.
Amos Hastings My 5x great grandfather
Amos was responded to the Lexington Alarm as part of
Captain Richard Ayer's Company and Colonel William
Johnson's Regiment. He later served in Captain Timothy
Eaton's Company in Colonel Edward Wigglesworth's Regiment
and was at the taking of the British General Burgoyne at
Ticonderoga.
Elisha Houghton 5x great grandfather
Enlisted at Harvard Ma as a Private in May of 1777 in the
Massachusetts militia and was at the Battles of Bunker Hill
and Stillwater. He then enlisted for three years in the infantry
company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown in Colonel
Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment of the Massachusetts line.
and took part in the Battles of Monmouth and Newport and
was at Valley Forge. He twice was promoted to Sergeant and
twice was busted back down to the ranks.
Amos Upton My 5x great grandfather
Responded to the Lexington Alarm and marched there from
his home in Reading. He later joined the militia company
commanded by Captain Asa Prince as an orderly sergeant
and then enlisted for eight months in the Continental Army
under Colonel Mansfield for 8 months. He was at the Battle
of Bunker Hill. He was discharged in October of 1775.
John Griffith My 5x great grandfather
Enlisted in 1781 as a Matross (he swabbed out the barrel of
the cannons after they fired, or so I've been told) in Captain
William Treadwell's Company in Colonel John Crane's
Artillery Regiment.
Reuben Packard My 5x great grandfather
A Sergeant in Captain Josiah Hayden's Company in Colonel
Bailey's militia. They marched to Lexington at news of the
Alarm. He also responded several more times as a Minuteman
for a total of nearly 8 months duty.
Jonathan Abbot My 5x great grandfather
Served as a Sergeant in the Militia under Captain Henry
Abbott and responded to the Lexington Alarm
Samuel Stowe My 5x great grandfather
Minuteman from Sherborn, Ma. Served in Capt. Benjamin Bullard's
Company in Col. Asa Whitcomb's 5th Massachusetts Bay
Provincial Regiment
Besides those direct ancestors, these other relatives fought
in the Revolution:
Moses Barrows, brother to Asa Barrows.
Samuel, Jesse, and Benjamin Barker, sons of Jonathan
Barker, Jr. and brothers to Jonathan Barker 3rd.
James Swan, brother in law to Jonathan Barker.
War of 1812
John Griffith My 5x great grandfather
served in Capt Elias Morse's Company, Col. Holland's Regiment
as part of a artillery company defending Portland, Maine.
Amos Hastings My 5x great grandfather
helped organize the militia in Bethel, Maine and rose
to the rank of Brigadier General of the 2nd Brigade, 13th Division of
the Massachusetts State Militia.
Nathaniel Barker My 3x great grandfather
was a private in the company commanded by Captain William Wheeler
in the Regiment of Militia commanded by Col. Ryerson, which was
stationed at Portland, Maine.
Civil War
Asa Freeman Ellingwood My 2x great grandfather
enlisted in Company I, 5th Maine Infantry, on June 24, 1861.
He was at the First Battle of Bull Run after which he received
a medical discharge in Dec 1861. He reenlisted inCo "A" 9th
Veteran R Corps in September 1864 and served until the end
of the war when he was honorably discharged.
Other relatives who served in the Civil War:
2x great granduncles:
Leonidas West
Enlisted in Company G 12 Maine Infantry Regiment on March 1,
1865. Mustered out on 18Apr 1866
Asa Atwood West
Enlisted in Company F of the Maine Coast Guard.
Oscar Phipps Ellingwood
Enlisted in Company E, New Hampshire 14th Infantry Regiment
23Sept 1862, mustered out 9Sep 1863. Transferred to Company
E, U.S,.Veterans Reserve Corps 21st Infantry Regiment 9Sep 1863,
mustered out 11Jul 1865.
Cousins:
Charles O. Ellingwood
Enlisted 21 Dec 1863 in Company E, 9th New Hampshire Infantry.
Died 13Mar 1864 at Camp Burnside,Kentucky. (18 yrs old)
Henry O. Ellingwood Enlisted 25Oct 1862 Company K, New
Hampshire 16th Infantry Regiment, died 1Mar 1863 in Carollton, La.
Franklin Dunham
Died in the War. Haven't found any details as yet.
Spanish-American War
Hollis J Ellingwood My cousin
Enlisted 2May 1898 in Company A 1st Regiment Maine Infantry
Discharged 28Oct 1898
World War 1
Floyd E West Sr. My grandfather
Enlisted 29Apr 1918. Served in Company K,303rd Infantry. He was a
corpsman at Camp Devens, Ma during the Spanish Influenza outbreak
and was honorably discharged 12 Mar 1919
World War II
Floyd E West Jr My Dad
Enlisted 19 Mar 1943 at 18 years old. After washing out of the Air Corps
Bomber School, he served in the US Army Infantry in the Pacific Theater and
was honorably discharged on 11 Mar 1946 at age 22
Edward F White, Jr. My Uncle
Enlisted in the U.S.Navy on 27Oct 1942 at 17years old. He was honorably
discharged 18Apr 1946, a week before his 21st birthday.
Charles Barger My Uncle
I don't know the specifics of his service yet.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Paul Skarinka My Nephew
our family who have served our country from its birth. I don't
have all the details of the service records, and I'm sure I will
discover more relatives to add later, but this is what I have so far.
American Revolution:
Jonathan Barker Jr. My 4x great grandfather
Was a Minuteman from Methuen Ma with rank of Sergeant.
He responded to Lexington and Concord with his sons
Served in Captain Samuel Johnson's Company in
Colonel Titcomb's Regiment for 2 months in 1777 in Rhode
Island and then with Nathaniel Gage's Company in Colonel
Jacob Gerrish's guards from Dec 1777 tol April 1778 guarding
the captured troops of General Burgoyne.
Jonathan Barker 3rd My 5x great grandfather
Enlisted on 19 Apr 1775 in Continental Army, Capt. John
Davis' Company, Col. James Frye's Regiment, in the
Massachusetts line for 8 months in Cambridge, Ma. At the
conclusion of the term, he reenlisted for another 3 months in
Capt John Allen's Company, Colonel John Waldron's Regiment,
General Sullivan's Brigade in the New Hampshire Brigade at
Charlestown, Ma. He then enlisted a third time in June 1778
at Methuen, Ma., joining Captain Samuel Carr's Company, Col.
James Weston's Regiment, in General Lerned's Brigade at
White Plains, N.Y. and serving for another 9 months.
John Ames My 5x great grandfather
Was a Minuteman under Capt. Asa Parker on April 18th,
1775. He then enlisted in the Continental Army under Captain
Oliver Parker, Col. William Prescott's Regiment and
in the Brigade that was commanded in turn by Generals
Putnam, Lee, and Washington and served for 8 1/2 months.
For a more detailed account of his service see my posts
about his Revolutionary War Pension File starting here.
Asa Barrows My 4x great grandfather
A member of the militia from Middleborough , Ma. (south of
Boston) in the Company of Captain Joshua Benson, in Colonel
Cotton's Regiment, and General William Heath's Brigade for
8 months during the siege of Boston. In December 1776 he
joined a militia Company commanded by Captain Joshua
Perkins and marched to Barrington, R.I. and was stationed
there for 6 weeks. In July 1780 he again enlisted, this time
in a militia company commanded by Captain Perez Churchill
that marched to Tiverton, R.I. I posted about his
Revolutionary War Pension File starting here.
Moses Coburn My 4x great grandfather
Moses Coburn got into the War late and by reason of being
"hired by a certain class of men in the then town of Dunstable
to go into the Continental Army in the summer of 1781."
When he reached Phillipsburgh in New York he was placed in
Captain Benjamin Pike's Company, in the Regiment of the
Massachusetts line commanded by Lt. Colonel Calvin Smith in
which he served for nearly two years until it was broken up.
He then transferred to the Company of Judah Alden in the
Regiment commanded by Colonel Sprouts until his discharge
in 1783.
Samuel Haskell My 5x great grandfather
Samuel served in Captain Joseph Elliott's Company in Colonel
William Turner's Regiment and then under Captain Hezekiah
Whitney in Colonel Josiah Whitney's Regiment.
Amos Hastings My 5x great grandfather
Amos was responded to the Lexington Alarm as part of
Captain Richard Ayer's Company and Colonel William
Johnson's Regiment. He later served in Captain Timothy
Eaton's Company in Colonel Edward Wigglesworth's Regiment
and was at the taking of the British General Burgoyne at
Ticonderoga.
Elisha Houghton 5x great grandfather
Enlisted at Harvard Ma as a Private in May of 1777 in the
Massachusetts militia and was at the Battles of Bunker Hill
and Stillwater. He then enlisted for three years in the infantry
company commanded by Captain Joshua Brown in Colonel
Timothy Bigelow's 15th Regiment of the Massachusetts line.
and took part in the Battles of Monmouth and Newport and
was at Valley Forge. He twice was promoted to Sergeant and
twice was busted back down to the ranks.
Amos Upton My 5x great grandfather
Responded to the Lexington Alarm and marched there from
his home in Reading. He later joined the militia company
commanded by Captain Asa Prince as an orderly sergeant
and then enlisted for eight months in the Continental Army
under Colonel Mansfield for 8 months. He was at the Battle
of Bunker Hill. He was discharged in October of 1775.
John Griffith My 5x great grandfather
Enlisted in 1781 as a Matross (he swabbed out the barrel of
the cannons after they fired, or so I've been told) in Captain
William Treadwell's Company in Colonel John Crane's
Artillery Regiment.
Reuben Packard My 5x great grandfather
A Sergeant in Captain Josiah Hayden's Company in Colonel
Bailey's militia. They marched to Lexington at news of the
Alarm. He also responded several more times as a Minuteman
for a total of nearly 8 months duty.
Jonathan Abbot My 5x great grandfather
Served as a Sergeant in the Militia under Captain Henry
Abbott and responded to the Lexington Alarm
Samuel Stowe My 5x great grandfather
Minuteman from Sherborn, Ma. Served in Capt. Benjamin Bullard's
Company in Col. Asa Whitcomb's 5th Massachusetts Bay
Provincial Regiment
Besides those direct ancestors, these other relatives fought
in the Revolution:
Moses Barrows, brother to Asa Barrows.
Samuel, Jesse, and Benjamin Barker, sons of Jonathan
Barker, Jr. and brothers to Jonathan Barker 3rd.
James Swan, brother in law to Jonathan Barker.
War of 1812
John Griffith My 5x great grandfather
served in Capt Elias Morse's Company, Col. Holland's Regiment
as part of a artillery company defending Portland, Maine.
Amos Hastings My 5x great grandfather
helped organize the militia in Bethel, Maine and rose
to the rank of Brigadier General of the 2nd Brigade, 13th Division of
the Massachusetts State Militia.
Nathaniel Barker My 3x great grandfather
was a private in the company commanded by Captain William Wheeler
in the Regiment of Militia commanded by Col. Ryerson, which was
stationed at Portland, Maine.
Civil War
Asa Freeman Ellingwood My 2x great grandfather
enlisted in Company I, 5th Maine Infantry, on June 24, 1861.
He was at the First Battle of Bull Run after which he received
a medical discharge in Dec 1861. He reenlisted inCo "A" 9th
Veteran R Corps in September 1864 and served until the end
of the war when he was honorably discharged.
 |
| Asa & Florilla Ellingwood |
Other relatives who served in the Civil War:
2x great granduncles:
Leonidas West
Enlisted in Company G 12 Maine Infantry Regiment on March 1,
1865. Mustered out on 18Apr 1866
Asa Atwood West
Enlisted in Company F of the Maine Coast Guard.
Oscar Phipps Ellingwood
Enlisted in Company E, New Hampshire 14th Infantry Regiment
23Sept 1862, mustered out 9Sep 1863. Transferred to Company
E, U.S,.Veterans Reserve Corps 21st Infantry Regiment 9Sep 1863,
mustered out 11Jul 1865.
Cousins:
Charles O. Ellingwood
Enlisted 21 Dec 1863 in Company E, 9th New Hampshire Infantry.
Died 13Mar 1864 at Camp Burnside,Kentucky. (18 yrs old)
Henry O. Ellingwood Enlisted 25Oct 1862 Company K, New
Hampshire 16th Infantry Regiment, died 1Mar 1863 in Carollton, La.
Franklin Dunham
Died in the War. Haven't found any details as yet.
Spanish-American War
Hollis J Ellingwood My cousin
Enlisted 2May 1898 in Company A 1st Regiment Maine Infantry
Discharged 28Oct 1898
World War 1
Floyd E West Sr. My grandfather
 |
| Floyd E West Sr. |
Enlisted 29Apr 1918. Served in Company K,303rd Infantry. He was a
corpsman at Camp Devens, Ma during the Spanish Influenza outbreak
and was honorably discharged 12 Mar 1919
World War II
Floyd E West Jr My Dad
Enlisted 19 Mar 1943 at 18 years old. After washing out of the Air Corps
Bomber School, he served in the US Army Infantry in the Pacific Theater and
was honorably discharged on 11 Mar 1946 at age 22
Edward F White, Jr. My Uncle
Enlisted in the U.S.Navy on 27Oct 1942 at 17years old. He was honorably
discharged 18Apr 1946, a week before his 21st birthday.
Charles Barger My Uncle
I don't know the specifics of his service yet.
Operation Iraqi Freedom
Paul Skarinka My Nephew
 | |
| Paul And Jen |
Tuesday, November 10, 2015
MARTHA (BARRETT) SPARKS OF CHELMSFORD, MA. PT 1
I'm grateful to Amy Johnson Crow of No Story Too Small for starting the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks Challenge. Taking part in it has helped me find things I hadn't known about some of my ancestors.
Take for example what I found out about my 9x great grandfather Thomas Barrett's granddaughter
Martha (Barrett) Sparks who was among those accused of witchcraft in the "Great Hysteria"
William Waters tells the story of Martha Sparks in his History of Chelmsford:
There was in Chelmsford one notable instance of accusation of witchcraft. Probably it may be safe to assume that the person referred to by Cotton Mather (see page 69), was Martha Sparks. How much Cotton Mather really knew of the case, it is impossible to say.
Martha was born at Braintree, Sept. 16, 1656, the daughter of Thomas Barrett, son of Thomas. Her father moved to Chelmsford, sometime prior to March, 1660. The two Thomases bought a house and fifty-two acres of land on the south side of Robin's Hill, April 10, 1663. These deaths are recorded: Thomas Barrett, Sr., Oct. 6, 1668. Margreatt, wife of Thomas Barrett, July 8, 1681. Thomas Barrett, Dec. 8, 1702. Fransis, wife of Thomas Barit, May 27, 1694. These were her grand-parents and parents. On July 10, 1676, Martha was married to Henry Sparks of Exeter, N. H. In February of that year he is credited to Chelmsford in the return of a Middlesex Regiment of Militia. He was granted land in Chelmsford. The births of two of their children, Abiell, a daughter, in 1686, and Deliverance, a son, March 8, 1690, are recorded in Chelmsford, as is the death of another son, not named in the record, July 6, 1683.
Henry Sparks died July 16, 1694, and Martha died Feb. 28, 1697. She was confined in Boston Gaol, October 28, 1691, on suspicion of witchcraft. November 1, 1692, her father petitioned the Governor and Council for her release, and on December 6 gave a recognisance for her appearance in Court, and two days afterwards she was set free, no doubt owing to the influential interposition of the Rev. Mr. Clarke, then minister of Chelmsford; that is, assuming this to be the case mentioned by Mather. The case was probably never called in Court. At that time, after the dissolution of the first charter, the Court of Assistants was superseded by the Superior Court of Judicature, and there is no record of such a case being tried by either of these Courts. The Records of the Middlesex County Court for the period when this case might have been called in that Court were burned some time since in a fire in Concord, where they were then kept, but no papers relating to the case are to be found in the Court files of 1692 and 1693.
In the early part of 1693, Governor Phips, being about to leave the country, pardoned all the condemned, and the jails were delivered.-pp573-574
The History of Chelmsford, printed for the town by Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma 1917
So I' ve discovered another relative involved in the witch trials!
I'll post the text of Thomas Barrett's petitions next.
Take for example what I found out about my 9x great grandfather Thomas Barrett's granddaughter
Martha (Barrett) Sparks who was among those accused of witchcraft in the "Great Hysteria"
William Waters tells the story of Martha Sparks in his History of Chelmsford:
There was in Chelmsford one notable instance of accusation of witchcraft. Probably it may be safe to assume that the person referred to by Cotton Mather (see page 69), was Martha Sparks. How much Cotton Mather really knew of the case, it is impossible to say.
Martha was born at Braintree, Sept. 16, 1656, the daughter of Thomas Barrett, son of Thomas. Her father moved to Chelmsford, sometime prior to March, 1660. The two Thomases bought a house and fifty-two acres of land on the south side of Robin's Hill, April 10, 1663. These deaths are recorded: Thomas Barrett, Sr., Oct. 6, 1668. Margreatt, wife of Thomas Barrett, July 8, 1681. Thomas Barrett, Dec. 8, 1702. Fransis, wife of Thomas Barit, May 27, 1694. These were her grand-parents and parents. On July 10, 1676, Martha was married to Henry Sparks of Exeter, N. H. In February of that year he is credited to Chelmsford in the return of a Middlesex Regiment of Militia. He was granted land in Chelmsford. The births of two of their children, Abiell, a daughter, in 1686, and Deliverance, a son, March 8, 1690, are recorded in Chelmsford, as is the death of another son, not named in the record, July 6, 1683.
Henry Sparks died July 16, 1694, and Martha died Feb. 28, 1697. She was confined in Boston Gaol, October 28, 1691, on suspicion of witchcraft. November 1, 1692, her father petitioned the Governor and Council for her release, and on December 6 gave a recognisance for her appearance in Court, and two days afterwards she was set free, no doubt owing to the influential interposition of the Rev. Mr. Clarke, then minister of Chelmsford; that is, assuming this to be the case mentioned by Mather. The case was probably never called in Court. At that time, after the dissolution of the first charter, the Court of Assistants was superseded by the Superior Court of Judicature, and there is no record of such a case being tried by either of these Courts. The Records of the Middlesex County Court for the period when this case might have been called in that Court were burned some time since in a fire in Concord, where they were then kept, but no papers relating to the case are to be found in the Court files of 1692 and 1693.
In the early part of 1693, Governor Phips, being about to leave the country, pardoned all the condemned, and the jails were delivered.-pp573-574
The History of Chelmsford, printed for the town by Courier-Citizen Company, Lowell, Ma 1917
So I' ve discovered another relative involved in the witch trials!
I'll post the text of Thomas Barrett's petitions next.
Monday, November 09, 2015
52 ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS 2015 WEEK 44: THOMAS BARRETT OF CHELMSFORD, MA.
My 6x great grandfather John Spaulding married Mary Barrett on 6Feb 1705, and it's through
her that I am related to the Stearns and Learned families. Mary's immigrant ancestor was
Thomas Barrett, who William Richard Cutter profiled:
(I) Thomas Barrett, the immigrant ancestor, was made a freeman in 1645. He was one of the thirty-two inhabitants of Braintree, Massachusetts, who received from the general court in 1645 the grant of ten thousand acres of land in Warwick, Rhode Island, which had been confiscated by reason of Gorton's "heresy". This action of the general court was overruled in England, however, before the settlement could be begun, and the original settlers in Warwick retained their land. Thomas Barrett lived in Braintree several years, and purchased land there in 1651 of Michael Saunders and Francis Elliot. Later he settled in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where he made his will in 1662, naming his wife, his sons John, Thomas and Joseph. He died October 6, 1668, and his widow Margaret died July 8, 1681. Children: John, mentioned below; Thomas, married, in 1665, in Braintree, Frances Woolderson; Mary, married, 1654, Shadrach Thayer; Joseph, married Martha Gould, 1672.-p924
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 Lewis historical publishing Company New York, New York 1913
I was able to find Thomas' probate file at AmericanAncestors.org, and I still haven't deciphered it to attempt a transcription. One problem is it's written on a small piece of paper and the writing is cramped in several spots, but it does mention his son John, who is my 8x great grandfather.
But before I move onto John Barrett, I want to discuss something else I discovered about the Barrett
family in my next post.
her that I am related to the Stearns and Learned families. Mary's immigrant ancestor was
Thomas Barrett, who William Richard Cutter profiled:
(I) Thomas Barrett, the immigrant ancestor, was made a freeman in 1645. He was one of the thirty-two inhabitants of Braintree, Massachusetts, who received from the general court in 1645 the grant of ten thousand acres of land in Warwick, Rhode Island, which had been confiscated by reason of Gorton's "heresy". This action of the general court was overruled in England, however, before the settlement could be begun, and the original settlers in Warwick retained their land. Thomas Barrett lived in Braintree several years, and purchased land there in 1651 of Michael Saunders and Francis Elliot. Later he settled in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, where he made his will in 1662, naming his wife, his sons John, Thomas and Joseph. He died October 6, 1668, and his widow Margaret died July 8, 1681. Children: John, mentioned below; Thomas, married, in 1665, in Braintree, Frances Woolderson; Mary, married, 1654, Shadrach Thayer; Joseph, married Martha Gould, 1672.-p924
New England Families, Genealogical and Memorial: A Record of the Achievements of Her People in the Making of Commonwealths and the Founding of a Nation, Volume 2 Lewis historical publishing Company New York, New York 1913
I was able to find Thomas' probate file at AmericanAncestors.org, and I still haven't deciphered it to attempt a transcription. One problem is it's written on a small piece of paper and the writing is cramped in several spots, but it does mention his son John, who is my 8x great grandfather.
But before I move onto John Barrett, I want to discuss something else I discovered about the Barrett
family in my next post.
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