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