1692 :: Confession of William Barker, Sr.

On this date in our family history . . . the 29th day of August . . . in the year 1692 . . . after being accused of and arrested for the supposed crime of witchcraft, William Barker, Sr. "Conffesses he has been in the Snare of the Divil Three Years" . . . 

 God having called me to Confess my sin and Apostasy in that fall in giving the Devil advantage over me appearing to me like a Black, in the evening to set my hand to his Book, as I have owned to my shame. He told me that I should not want so doing. At Salem Village, there being a little off the Meeting-House, about an hundred five Blades, some with Rapiers by their side, which was called and might be more for ought I know by B and Bu[rroughs] and the Trumpet sounded, and Bread and Wine which they called the Sacrament, but I had none; being carried all over on a Stick, never being at any other Meeting. I being at Cart a Saturday last, all the day, of Hay and English Corn, the Devil brought my Shape to Salem, and did afflict M[artha] S[prague] and R[ose] F[oster] by clitching my hand; and a Sabbath day my Shape afflicted A[bigail] M[artin] and at night afflicted M[artha] S[prague] and A[bigail] M[artin] . E[lizabeth] J[ohnson ] and A[bigail] F[aulkner] have been my Enticers to this great abomination, as one have owned and charged her to her Sister with the same. And the and then all will be well. And now I hope God in some measure has made me something sensible of my sin and apostasy, begging pardon of God, and of the Honourable Magistrates and all Gods people, hoping and promising by the help of God, to set to my heart and hand to do what in me lyeth to destroy such wicked worship, humbly begging the prayers of all Gods People for me, I may walk humbly under this great affliction and that I may procure to my self, the sure mercies of David, and the blessing of Abraham.

(John Hale. A Modest Enquiry into the Nature of Witchcraft (Boston: Green & Allen, 1702), pp. 33–34. )

The entire case file for William can be seen HERE . . . this William Barker is an 8th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

1670 :: Death of John Wheeler

On this date in our family history . . . the 29th day of August . . . in the year 1670 . . . John Wheeler dies in Newbury, Massachusetts . . . this John Wheeler is an 11th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . he is mentioned as one of the "First Settlers of Salisbury" on page ten of The Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury where he is listed as John Wheler (#66) . . . and the text of his will as well as a brief bio can be found in History of the Wheeler Family in America, which has the following to say about him . . .

He is said to have been born at Salisbury, Wiltshire, England, and to have sailed for America on March 24, 1633-34 in the ship "Mary and John," bringing his wife Ann and six children and leaving four sons in England. He spent the first year of his residence at Aggawam (now Ipswich), Mass. The following year he removed to the settlement on the north bank of the Merrimac River that was called Salisbury after 1640, and as one of its original proprietors, in 1641 he received land there which he still held and paid tax on as late as 1653, notwithstanding he had removed to Newbury, Mass., before 1650. He died at Newbury, Aug. 29, 1670, aged 52 [sic, i.e., 82], and his wife Ann died there Aug. 15, 1662.

1783 :: Inventory for Henry Hilleary

On this date in our family history . . . An Inventory of the Goods & Chattles of Mr. Henry Hilleary taken & appraised by us the Subscribers in Current Money at Six Shillings P Spanish Dollar this 28th day of Aug. 1783 . . . this Henry Hilleary is a 6th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . 

From Prince George's Inventories 1781-1787
pp. 122-126: 

• 1 Bay horse 21 years old 
• 1 Bay mare 17 Do. 
• 1 Sorrel Mare & Colt 15 yrs. old 
• 1 Black horse 13 yrs. old 
• 1 Bay mare 11 yrs. Do. 
• 1 Bay horse 11 yrs old 
• 1 Dark Bay Peter 11 yrs. Do 
• 1 Sorrel horse Blaze 11 yrs. Do 
• 1 Bay Do 10 yrs Do 
• 1 Sorrel Do. 8 yrs Do 
• 1 Sorrel Do. 8 yrs Do 
• 1 Dark Bay hip shot 2 yrs Do. 
• 1 Do Do Do 
• 4 Cows & Calves at £3 
• 2 Heffers & Calves @ £3 
• 2 Oxen £3.15 P 
• 1 Steer 
• 4 Steer Yearlings @ 30/ p 
• 2 Heffers 3 yrs old @ 30/ p 
• 2 Heffers 2 yrs old 25/ p 
• 1 Cow 
• 2 Heffers @ 50/ p 
• 1 Boar 
• 4 Sows @ 20/ p 
• 12 Shotes @ 6/ p 
• 4 Sows & 27 Small piggs 
• 16 Shotes @ 2/ p 
• 42 head of Sheep @ 6/p 
• Plantation Utensils 
• 1 Riding Chair & Harnice 
• Cyder Casks to Contain 2900 Galls. 

In the Kitchen

• 155 lbs of Pot Iron @ 2½d a p lb 
• 2 frying pans @ 3/p 
• 1 Grid Iron 
• 1 Iron Pott Rack 5/. 2 Spitts 2/ p 
• 1 pr. of Tongs & Shovel 5/. 1 iron Ladle 1/6 
• 1 Box Iron & heeters 5/ 
• 1 percl. of Old Tubs Pails & Bowls 

In the Milk house

• 8 old Pewter Dishes & 2¼ Dozn. plates 
• 13 Tin Patties 
• 2 Pottle Pewter Basons 
• 2 Bell Mettle Scillets 
• [1]. ½ Gall. Pewter Pott, 1 Qt. Do old 
• 1 old Small Coffee Pott 
• 1 old Tea Kittle 
• 4 Small Butter potts Stone one Do. Large 
• 3. 3 Gall. Stone Juggs @ 2/ 2. 1 Gall Do @ 9d 
• 1. 2 Gall Do. 1/3, 2. 1 Qt. Do 4d p 
• 2 Earthen Milk pans @ 4d p 
• 3 old Iron Candle Sticks 
• 1 old Square Poplar Table 
• 1 pr of hand Steelyards 4/. 1 pr of old Large 4/ 
• 4 Dozn Glass Qt. Bottles 

In the Hall

• 1 Cherry Tree Desk 
• 1 Mahogany Ovil Table 
• 1 Walnut Table 
• 1 old Corner Table 
• ½ Dozn. Walnut Chairs 
• 1 Arm Chair 
• 6 old Leather Chairs 
• 1 Looking Glass 
• 1 Glass Decanter 
• 1 Glass Cruet 1 Glass Salt 
• 8 Cheney Cups & Saucers 
• 1 Chaney Bowl 
• 1 Church Bible 1 Comon Prayer Book 
• 7 Vollumes of Nature Displayd. 
• Salmon's Gazetteer 
• A Percel of Books 
• 1 pr of and Irons 

In the Room Joyning the Hall

• 1 Bed & Furniture 
• 1 Black Leather Trunk 

In Mrs. Hillearies Room

• 1 Bed & furniture 
• 1 Desk 
• 1 Walnut Table 20/. 1 Do Maple 15/ 
• 1 Small Looking Glass 10/. 1 Do. 10/ 
• 5 old Leather Chairs @ 2/ p 
• 2 Ditto Flag Bottomed 
• 2 old Guns at 20/ P with horn & Shot bag 
• 1 Tin Candle Box 
• 1 pr. old and Irons 

In the Girls Room

• 1 Bed & Furniture 
• 1 Do. 
• 1 Do. Small 
• 2 Old Leather Chairs @ 2/ 
• 1 old Chest 
• 1 White Stone Dishes & 9 Plates 
• 8 old knives & forks 

In the Hall Closet

• 1 old Case with 12 Bottles 
• 2 pr of Sheep Shears 
• Some files & small Tools 
• 2 Razors hone & Strop 
• 4 old Tin Cannisters & 1 funell 
• 2 Parcil of Shomakers tols 
• 3 Small Boxes & 1 Tubb 
• 8 old Reap hooks 
• 1 pr of Small Scales & wts 

Up Stairs

• 3 Beds & furniture @ £3.1 p 
• 1 old Corner Cupboard 2/6 
• 2 Chests @ 2/ 
• 1 Warming pan 
• 1 Slay 11 [C] & 1 Do. 6 [C] 
• 1 large Earthen jar 
• 1 X Cut Saw 12/. 1 Whip Saw 12 
• 4 Carpenters Chezels 3/. 1 old Bd. Axx 3/ 
• 1 Negro man Named Sam 60 years Old 
• 1 Do Woman Marge 48 Do
• 1 Do man Nace 28 Do 
• 1 Do Woman Fider 22 Do 
• 1 Do Man Abraham 18 Do 
• 1 Do. Girl Milley 8 Do 
• 1 Do. Do Caster 4 Do 
• 1 Negro Woman Charaety 35 years old 
• 1 Do Man Adam 20 Do 
• 1 Do. Girl Hanah 14 Do 
• 1 Do. Boy Frank 12 Do 
• 1 Do. Do. Sam 5 Do 
• 1 Do. Do. Roger 3 Do 
• 1 Girl Clare 1 Do 
• 1 Do Margery 2 Do 
• 1 Do. Man David 37 Do 
• 1 Do. Do. Ben 37 Do 
• 1 Do. Woman Pegg 35 Do 
• 1 Do. Boy Charles 16 Do 
• 1 Do. Girl Rachel 14 Do 
• 1 Do. Do. Luce 13 Do 
• 1 Do. Boy Phil 10 Do 
• 1 Do Girl Jane 7 Do 
• 1 Do. Boy Daniel 4 Do 
• 1 Do. Girl Dille 2 Do 
• 1 Do Woman Nan 33 Do 
• 1 Do Girl Rose 16 Do 
• 1 Do Cate 14 Do 
• 1 Do Lett 10 Do 
• 1 Do Boy Jame 5 Do 
• 1 Do Girl Poll 3 Do 
• 1 Do Boy Middleton 8 Do 
• 2 Table Cloths 2/6 p 
• Wearing Apparel 
• 1 Hand Mill 

1649 :: Marriage of Blakely and Bond

On this date in our family history . . . the 25th day of August . . . in the year 1649 . . . the marriage of Hester Blakely and John Bonde is recorded in the Massachusetts Town Vital Records Collection (compiled by the New England Historic Genealogical Society) . . . this John and Hester (Esther) are 10th great-grandparents of the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

1697 :: Birth of Sarah Osgood

On this date in our family history . . . the 8th day of August . . . in the year 1697 . . . a baby girl is born in Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts . . . the parents are Timothy Osgood and Deborah Poore . . . their new baby girl is given the name of Sarah . . . and she is a 7th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . Sarah's birth is recorded in Massachusetts, Town and Vital Records, 1620-1988 . . .

1930 :: Death of Nancy Virilla

On this date in our family history . . . the 6th day of August . . . in the year 1930 . . . Nancy Virilla Pounders nee Quinn dies in Franklin County, Alabama . . . this Nancy is a 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and she will be laid to rest in the Spruce Pine Cemetery . . . just a few months before her death, Nancy Virilla penned the following words (with "original" spelling, grammar, punctuation) to one of her granddaughters in Texas . . .

Spruce Pine, Alabama -- 28 April 1930. Mrs. Minnie Fretwell. Dear granddaughter and family how are you all by now fine I hope we are all as well as common hope those few lines will find you all the same well you ask me if Ruff and wife lived with me yes they live with me, well I sure did hate to here of Odell's death but that is something that we all half to do some day I thank sometimes it will be me next well I have 12 little chickes one hen setting will hatch in a few days, Minnie wish you would come to see me I would like to see a lot of my kindred once more in life I am getting pretty old not got long here on earth now, Ruff has got corn up he hasent planted any cotton yet it is so dry my garden looks very well for the weather to be so dry well I will close as I can't think of anything worth writing so ans real soon and all the news as ever your grandma N V POUNDERS

1837 :: Elisha Roberts in the News

On this date in our family history . . . the 29th day of July . . . in the year 1837 . . . our Elisha Roberts is mentioned on the front page of the Telegraph and Texas Register . . . this Elisha is a 4th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

AN ACT
To incorporate the Trustees of Independence Academy and of the
University of San Augustine.

Be it enacted by the senate and house of representatives of the republic of Texas in congress assembled, That John P. Coles, Robert Stevenson, Asa Hoxie, M. Cummins, Shubael Marsh, James B. Miller and James G. Swisher, be and they are hereby incorporated a body politic under the name and style of the "Trustees of Independence Academy," capable of suing and being sued, pleading and being impleaded, of holding property either personal, real or mixed, of selling, alienating and conveying the same at pleasure, of having a common seal and of changing the same at pleasure, and of doing whatever else that may be necessary and proper to be done for the benefit and advancement of said institution, not contrary to the constitution and laws of this republic.

Sec. 2. Be it further enacted, That this charter and privilege shall extend to the said trustees and their successors in office, as long as they confine the benefit of the same to the advancement of the sciences, and the promotion of useful knowledge to the rising generations, which institution shall be accessible equally alike to all, without regard to opinions of religion or politics.

Sec. 3. Be it further enacted, That Elisha Roberts, Jesse Burdit, William McFarland, John Cartwright, Sumner Bacon, George Teal, Augustus Hotchkiss, Henry W. Augustine, Andrew J. Cunningham, Philip A. Sublett, Iredell D. Thomas, Albert Gallatin Kellogg, Almanzon Huston, William W. Holman and Joseph Rowe, be incorporated a body politic, under the name and style of the "President and Trustees of the University of San Augustine," and shall have the same powers and privileges which are conferred by this act on the trustees of Independence Academy.

B.T. ARCHER,
Speaker of the house of representatives.
JESSE GRIMES,President pro tem. of the senate.
Approved, 5th June, 1837.
SAM. HOUSTON.

1693 :: Death of Robert Eimes

On this date in our family history . . . the 22nd day of July . . . in the year 1693 . . . the death of Robert Eames is recorded in the Vital Records of Boxford . . . which is in Essex County, Massachusetts . . .

Boxford Deaths to the end of the year 1849 (page 221) . . . AMES (see also Eames, Eams), Robart, sen., July 22, 1693. [July 22, 1698, B.C.]

In the year 1899, The Essex Antiquarian, published the following article about Ames Genealogy on page 88 . . .

The name of Ames is also spelled in the Essex county records Aimes, Eames, Eams, Emes, Emms and Ems.

The ancestor of the Essex county family was ROBERT AMES. He lived in Boxford; and was a husbandman. His homestead was an eighth of a mile westerly of the residence of John T. Wood in the West parish. He married Rebecca Blake of Boxford (then Rowley village), one of his nearest neighbors, in 1661. She was condemned as a witch Sept. 17, 1692, but was included in the general reprieve July 22, 1693. He died in Boxford July 22, 1693; and she died May 8, 1721, aged eighty-one.

This Robert Eames is a 9th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

1931 :: Death of H. I. Brackett

On this date in our extended family history . . . the 3rd day of July . . . in the year 1931 . . . Herbert Ierson Brackett dies at the Chevy Chase Sanatarium in Washington, D.C. . . . better known as H.I. Brackett, he is a 3rd cousin five times removed to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and he is the compiler of the Brackett Genealogy which tells the stories of Anthony Brackett of Portsmouth and Captain Richard Brackett of Braintree with Biographies of the Immigrant Fathers, Their Sons, and Others of Their Posterity . . . cousin Herbert wrote the following brief bio about himself on page 339 of his book . . .

1720 :: Birth of John Brackett

On this date in our family history . . . the 29th day of June . . . in the year 1720 . . . a baby boy is born to Samuel Brackett and Sarah Emery . . . probably somewhere in Maine . . . he is given the name of John Brackett . . . and is a 6th great-grandpa of the Keeper of this family history blog . . . 


Brackett Genealogy Descendants
of Anthony Brackett of Portsmouth
and Captain Richard Brackett of Braintree.
With Biographies of the Immigrant Fathers,
Their Sons, and Others of Their Posterity
By Herbert Ierson Brackett:

1675 :: Death of Richard Kimball

On this date in our family history . . . the 22nd day of June . . . in the year 1675 . . . Richard Kimball dies in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts . . . this Richard is a 10th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . his death is recorded in the Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts . . . and is mentioned as follows in the History of the Kimball Family . . .

. . . Having thus made his will (1674) he waited for the coming of the messenger who would sunder all earthly ties and take him on his eternal journey. The angel delayed not long his coming. On the twenty-second of the following June the earthly pilgrimage of Richard Kimball ended, and, aged more than eighty years, he joined the great majority. . . .

2014 :: In memory of Bill Dessens

As of today, there is a new member of the Heavenly Western Swing dance band . . . he was known here on earth as Bill Dessens . . . and was a member of The River Road Boys . . . although my Mom had known him for years, I was privileged to meet Mr. Dessens for the first and only time just two years ago . . . on the 10th day of June . . . at the 2012 Rockdale Homecoming . . . as a member of the 1947 graduating class of Rockdale High School, Bill was in town for his 65th class reunion . . .



Click to enlarge

Photo of Bill and Vickie by Lucile Estell


Back in March of 2011 I purchased a packet of old letters in an online auction . . . my interest was piqued because the description said they were sent to Rockdale . . . which made them desirable (to me) as vintage items which could be scanned for use in digital scrapbook projects . . . the oldest letter is dated 1874 . . . which just happens to be the year of the birth of Rockdale . . .

No names were mentioned in the auction, so I did not know until the letters arrived in my mailbox what a treasure they were for one of Rockdale's early families (the Dessens) . . . I established contact with Bill Dessens, and we exchanged multiple emails regarding the letters . . . I sent scanned images of all of the letters to him . . . and was finally able to hand-deliver the originals to Bill on the 10th day of June in 2012 . . . 

Bill Dessens and Vickie Everhart

and a package of old letters

Gemini generated watercolor of

photo originally taken by

Dr. Lucile Estell in 2012

Some of the letters were written in French . . . and Bill was hoping to find someone who could and would translate them for him . . . do not know if he was ever able to do that . . . he wanted to pay me . . . I declined the offer . . . but did say I would be delighted to receive a CD of their music . . . he graciously gave me two . . . they are a treasure . . . as was he . . .


R.I.P. Bill Dessens . . .

1762 :: Birth of Jerusha Milliken

On this date in our family history . . . the 15th day of June . . . in the year 1762 . . . it is said that Jerusha Milliken is born in Cumberland County, Maine . . . her parents are Edward Milliken and Elizabeth Harmon . . . Jerusha grows up and marries Rufus Levi Merrill in 1781 . . . and they become the parents of multiple children, including Phineas Merrill . . . Jerusha is a 5th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

 

1689 :: Marriage of Poore and Osgood

On this date in our family history . . . the 29th day of May . . . in the year 1689 . . . it is recorded in the vital records of Andover, Essex County, Massachusetts that Deborah Poore became the bride of Timothy Osgood . . . this Deborah and Timothy are 8th great-grandparents to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and a bit of their story is recorded on the following pages of A Genealogy of the Descendants of John, Christopher and William Osgood . . .

1720 :: Death of Samuel Blodgett

On this date in our family history . . . the 21st day of May . . . in the year 1720 . . . Samuel Blodgett dies in Woburn, Middlesex County, Massachusetts . . . this Samuel is a 9th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

1930 :: Birth of Robert E Henry, Jr.

On this date in our family history . . . the 21st day of May . . . in the year 1930 . . . Robert E. Henry, Jr. was born at 16A Parrott Street in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts . . . the page in this collage is from his baby book . . . it was filled in by his mother, Elizabeth Marilla Henry nee Smith (1912-1932), who is shown holding our Uncle Bob in the upper right corner . . .

Click on image to enlarge

1574 :: Death of Honor Penfound

On this date in our family history (according to the The Visitations of the County of Devon) . . . the 20th day of May . . . in the year 1574 . . . Honor Pyne nee Penfound dies in East Down, Devon, England . . . and is buried the next day at East Downe . . . this Honor is currently believed to the 13th great-grandma of the Keeper of this family history blog . . . 

1690 :: Death of Thaddeus Clarke

Regarding this date in our extended family history . . . the 16th day of May . . . in the year 1690 . . . it is recorded that The brave Lieut. Clark was no more. . . . They were fired upon, and before they could defend themselves, were fallen upon by the French and Indians, with their swords and tomahawks with so great slaughter that but few escaped, and they badly wounded. . . . at the time of his death Thaddeus is married to Elizabeth Mitton who is a sister to Mary Brackett nee Mitton . . . who is a 9th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . . Elizabeth and Mary are daughters of Michael Mitton who at one time held Peaks Island . . .

1731 :: Sarah Nason Keys nee Jenkins

On this date in our family history . . . the 15th day of May in the year 1731 . . . Sarah Nason Keys nee Jenkins appeared & acknowledged ye above [below] & within Instrumt to be her act & Deed . . . this document from York Deeds is the last known to mention our Sarah . . . no record has been found of her death . . . this Sarah is a 9th great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .





 

1763 :: Death of John Kimball

On this date in our family history . . . the 10th day of May . . . in the year 1763 . . . according to the History of the Kimball Family . . . John Kimball dies in Boxford, Essex County, Massachusetts . . . it is unknown at this time where his remains were laid to rest . . .




This John Kimball is a 7th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog, as follows . . .


JOHN KIMBALL 1685-1763
&1705 ELIZABETH CHAPMAN
|
MEHITABLE KIMBALL †1797/
&1744 TIMOTHY BARKER 1720-1752
|
ASA BARKER 1748-1822
&1767 LUCY PORTER 1751-1822
|
JONATHAN BARKER 1785-1860
&ca 1805 MAHITABLE PORTER FARNUM 1785-1811
|
TIMOTHY BARKER 1809-1870/
&1831 JERUSHA LAKIN HOBBS 1810-/1870
|
JERUSHA MARILLA BARKER 1841-1899
&1857 ATWOOD FRANK SMITH 1837-1907
|
THOMAS WARREN ALONZO SMITH 1866-1920
&1894 EVA MAY BRACKETT 1874-1936
|
ELIZABETH MARILLA SMITH 1912-1932
&1929 ROBERT E HENRY 1905-1976
|
Keeper's Mom [living]
&1950 FORREST LEE POUNDERS 1927-1996
|
Keeper

1713 :: Birth of Joseph Anthony

On (or about) this date in our family history . . . the 2nd day of May . . . in the year 1713 . . . it is said that Joseph Anthony is born in New Kent County, Virginia . . . this Joseph is :-

• 2nd great-grandpa (via his daughter, Mary) of 16th Texas Governor Richard Hubbard (1832-1901)
• 2nd great-grandpa (via his son, Joseph as well as via his daughter, Agnes) of Mary Ann Penelope Cunningham nee Anthony (1835-1917) [her parents were 2nd cousins]
• 2nd great-grandpa (via his son, James) of Texas Lawyer and Congressman Edwin L. Antony (1852-1913), whose parents are 1st cousins once removed, and whose mother, Margaret (1833-1912), is the older sister of the following Josephine
• 2nd great-grandpa (via his son, James) to Josephine Wingfield Henry nee Davis (1843-1899), who is 2nd great-grandma to the Keeper of this family history blog

One of Joseph's grandsons is Dr. Milton Antony, Sr. (1789-1839), who founded the Medical College of Georgia, and whose son, Dr. Milton Antony, Jr. (1824-1885), marries the older sister of our Josephine and moves to Texas, where he is a Confederate Surgeon in Brazoria County before removing to Milam County, where he is a local physician and the 3rd postmaster in the new community of Rockdale ca. 1876.


For more information about our Joseph :-

• Joseph Anthony according to Dana Huff
• Joseph Anthony according to Genealogy Quest
• Joseph's Will
• Joseph Anthony according to Patricia Davidson-Peters

1752 :: Death of Samuel Brackett

On this date in our family history . . . the 27th day of April . . . in the year 1752 . . . 80-year-old Samuel Brackett dies in Berwick, York County, Maine . . . this Samuel is a 4th great-grandpa to Jerusha Marilla Smith nee Barker (1841-1899) . . . who is paternal grandma to Elizabeth Marilla Henry nee Smith (1912-1932) . . . who is the maternal grandma of the Keeper of this family history blog . . . and this Samuel Brackett is also a 1st cousin three times removed to Peter Brackett (1838-1927) . . . who is the adoptive father of Eva May Smith (1874-1936) . . . who is the mother of the above mentioned Elizabeth . . .


Samuel Brackett, the First in Berwick

In addition to the above, H.I. Brackett also wrote in his Brackett Genealogy (1907) that . . .

On the [Samuel Brackett, Jr.] farm [York County] is a family burying ground where are the graves of Samuel Brackett, Jr., and of his wives. At his grave is a well preserved headstone. In the yard are graves unmarked by stones, and these are thought to be the graves of Samuel, Sr., and of his wife, Elizabeth Botts.

1864 :: Letter to his Daughter

On this date in our family history . . . the 20th day of April . . . in the year 1864 . . . William Thurston Merrill pens a letter to his daughter, Phoebe . . . at that time, William is sick in the U.S. Hospital at the New Orleans Barracks in Louisiana . . . and Phoebe is at home in Maine . . . this William is a great-grandpa, and Phoebe is the maternal grandma, of Elizabeth Marilla Henry nee Smith (1912-1932) . . . who is the maternal grandma of the Keeper of this family history blog . . . special thanks to our cousins, Ariana Bratt and Susan Snow, for sharing the following info regarding our William and his letter . . .

William Thurston Merrill went into the Civil War in 1861. He was a member of H Company 30th Volunteer Maine Regiment, which was engaged in Louisiana at Sabine Cross Road on April 8, 1864, Pleasant Hill on April 9, 1864, and Cane River Cross on April 23, 1864.

Williams's last battle was at Pleasant Hill, where 11 of his regiment were killed, 66 wounded and 71 missing. By the end of the war, his regiment lost 34 from wounds and 256 of disease. William, my (Ariana's) great-great-great grandfather, was one of those who escaped bullets and imprisonment to nearly die from disease.

William Thurston Merrill sent a letter to his family on April 20, 1864 as he lay in a hospital in New Orleans suffering from hepatitis at age 48. It is written with phonetic spelling which demonstrates that his hard life as a farmer left little time for formal schooling.

I now Seat myself to let you that I am hear and Best I found yet I have A nuf to eat and a good clean bed. I was in the Batle on the 9 and 10 at the plesent hill the hardest famr Battle yet the bulits flue Around my head like Hale Stones. We hed A March of 22 days was 400 Miles. We fell back toGrand dy chore red river. Was the gun boats loude. I hed the yellows and toock of dierre and one More man from Saco left on the 13 toock the boat for New Orleans I am gitting Smart

I hope you are all well. We left the riedg in line of battle. Have ben fiteen sens they ar havein A hard time. I think myself luckey to get Away and you may be so glad that bet like A fool I have rote once before tell Mouther to mind her calf done yet lousezy. Tell Daniel to plant all the potatoes he can and make the pig groe to 500 and fat the black cow. I will come home and help you eat it tell John I will rite to him soon tell if oald dick has so old me his farm And how kimpcy getting Along. I done want to foss is dog to bite my cows. You beter get tham in father pasture. You mite try the black cow and heffer A spell in the commons but loock out and have a pasture enny way. Daniel better help his grand father wat he can. I think he will fare the Beter. Kiss all the family for me so I must close new good by this from your father.

William Merrill

Direct to New orlons LA Barrecks US hospittle.

Now done give yourself No on car nie About me. I am doing fust rate. I come hear my 48 birthday [i.e., born April 4, 1816 so came there on April 4, 1864]

give my love to all the folks.

Sentimental Sunday :: Backyard Memories

This is a snapshot in time . . . captured with my vintage Canon AE-1 . . . on Easter Sunday in 1986 . . . in the backyard of my childhood . . . starring my red-headed niece (left) . . . and my blue-eyed niece (right) . . . and Casper the dog . . . in this general area of that backyard is where many tubs of homemade vanilla ice cream were created . . . in the old wooden ice cream bucket . . . with the assistance of lots of manpower (and girl-power) . . . sure miss those backyard cook-outs . . . and tomatoes and new potatoes fresh from the garden . . . and ice-cold watermelons . . .

1647 :: Birth of Prudence Blake

On this date in our family history . . . the 15th day of April . . . in the year 1647 . . . Prudence Blake is born in Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts . . . this Prudence is a sister to Rebekah Blake . . . both are daughters of George and Dorothy Blake . . . AND . . . Prudence AND Rebekah are BOTH 9th great-grandmas to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

1634 :: The Ship Elizabeth

On this date in our family history . . . the 10th day of April . . . in the year 1634 . . . the Elizabeth sets sail from Ipswich, Suffolk, England, bound for New England . . . amongst those onboard are Richard Kimball and his family . . . this Richard is a 10th great-grandpa to the Keeper to this family history blog . . .

Richard Kemball came to this country in the ship Elizabeth, William Andrews, master, in 1634. He appears to have gone, soon after landing, to Watertown, Mass. . . . Richard is said on the shipping list to be thirty-nine years old, but he was probably somewhat older. He was, however, in the prime of life, and soon became a prominent and active man in the new settlement. . . . He was proclaimed freeman in 1635, May 6. Was a proprietor in 1636-7. Soon after this date he was invited to remove to Ipswich, where they were in need of a competent man to act as wheelwright to the new settlement. Here he spent the remainder of his days. . . . excerpt from History of the Kimball Family . . .

1739 :: Order for Gravestones

On this date in our family history . . . the 3rd day of April . . . in the year 1739 . . . Deacon David Foster places the following order for gravestones for some of his family members . . . this David Foster is a 7th great-grandpa to the Keeper of this family history blog . . .

Mr. Robert Mulican of Bradford: Ser pray make: for me Two Grave Stones; one for David Foster jeuner of Andover who died the 22; day of Dec; in the year of our Lord; 1736, in the 20th year of his age; the son of David and Lidea Foster of Andover.

And one for Lidea Foster the daughter of David and Lidea Foster of Andover who died in the 17th year of her age in the year of our Lord 1736 and, when they are made, send me word; and I will come and pay you for them.

David Foster.

And one for Isaac Foster; the son of Joshua and Mary Foster of Andover who died in the third year of her age in the year 1738. Pray send me word when it is made; and I will satisfye you for it.

Joshua Foster.

Let them all be made; before you send us word the 3rd day of April, 1739.

From
Foster Genealogy
by
Frederick Clifton Pierce