My grandmother did not have e-mail in 2010. So the researcher contacted her assisted living complex. "Your cousin is looking for you" he told her. She replied, "I don't have any cousins." She did not yet know Ellen Fripp's secret.
Ellen Fripp
Ellen Fripp had three children from her first husband, Henry W. Bromley: Percy, Ernest and Florence. Later, Ernest was married and had one son named Ernest, Jr. and Florence married and had Charlotte. Charlotte is my grandmother. Ernest, Jr. (Charlotte's cousin) died when he was 12 years old of appendicitis.
Charlotte grew up with her grandmother, Ellen. They were very close.
Ruth Fripp
Ruth grew up in England with her elderly father, Frank. Frank was raised by his Aunt Kate. Ruth's grandparents passed away long ago, but she heard that they had moved to America. She wondered if she had any living relatives there.
Ruth hired Dave the researcher to find out. He found that Kate's sister Ellen married a Bromley. Then he found Ernest Bromley's obituary which mentioned his niece, Mrs. Roger Webber of Duxbury, Massachusetts. When Dave found that Mrs. Roger Webber's full name was Charlotte Ellen, he knew he had found a relative. But the year was 2010, and Charlotte was born in 1915. Could she still be alive? He made the phone call.
The secret: Frank Fripp
Ellen Fripp had a child out of wedlock in 1875 in London. (Today, October 25th, is the anniversary of his birth.) The father's name is lost to time, but she called her son Frank. When Ellen married in 1880 and moved to the United States, she left her son in care of her sister, Kate. My grandma Charlotte never knew about Frank. As an elderly man, Frank married and had a daughter named Ruth.
The secret revealed
Through Dave the researcher, Ruth found her only living cousin, Charlotte, in America. My grandma was 95 at the time. Before my grandma died in 2014, Ruth and her husband flew from London to Boston multiple times over the next couple years to connect with family they never knew and to hear the firsthand account about her own grandmother.
They still keep in touch with us.
Saturday, October 26, 2019
Friday, September 20, 2019
The Father of American Geography
Growing up in a newly formed country, Jedidiah Morse, Jr. saw the need for a geography book about the United States of America, so he wrote one. If you were a student at school in the United States between 1784 and the 1830s, you no doubt studied out of his geography books. He has been titled "the father of American Geography".
Family member name: Jedidiah Morse, Jr.
Lifetime: 1761 - 1826
Family member name: Jedidiah Morse, Jr.
Lifetime: 1761 - 1826
Places lived: Woodstock, CT; Charlestown, MA; New Haven, CT
Tree branch: Pearson
Tree branch: Pearson
Relation: My 6th great-uncle (my dad's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's brother)
On display at the Museum Pavilion at Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie, NY, we saw some original volumes of Jedidiah Morse's books. I took both of these pictures. I hope to read one or more of them in digital or hard copy someday.
Jedidiah decided to provide a copy of one of his books to the first President, George Washington. Here is their correspondence to each other. (Source: Archives.gov )
Charlestown [Mass.] June 25th 1793
Sir,
In his reply to Morse of 17 July 1793, George Washington wrote:
“I should, at an earlier moment, have acknowledged the receipt of your polite letter of the 25th of June, and returned my best thanks for the acceptable work which accompanied it, had I not been at Mount Vernon when they reached this place. You will therefore be pleased now, Sir, to accept the thanks and acknowledgements which are due for your polite attention in sending me a sett of The American Un[i]versal Geography. And, at the same time, be assured you have my best wishes that you may be amply rewarded for the time and labour spent in preparing so useful a work”
On display at the Museum Pavilion at Locust Grove in Poughkeepsie, NY, we saw some original volumes of Jedidiah Morse's books. I took both of these pictures. I hope to read one or more of them in digital or hard copy someday.
Jedidiah decided to provide a copy of one of his books to the first President, George Washington. Here is their correspondence to each other. (Source: Archives.gov )
Charlestown [Mass.] June 25th 1793
Sir,
I do myself the honour herewith to present for your acceptance, a sett of “The American Universal Geography.”1 Compiled under the auspices of your Presidency over the United States, & describing, in a more particular manner, that distinguished country, whh is so deeply indebted to you, sir, for her present tranquillity & happiness—it is a tribute I owe you—& I most cheerfully pay it. I have only to regret that it is not more worthy of your acceptance, & that it bears so small a proportion to that gratitude & respect whh I bear for your character. With the sincerest respect, & the most earnest prayers for your health, long life, & happiness here & hereafter, I am, sir, your most obdt & humble servt2
Jedh Morse
In his reply to Morse of 17 July 1793, George Washington wrote:
“I should, at an earlier moment, have acknowledged the receipt of your polite letter of the 25th of June, and returned my best thanks for the acceptable work which accompanied it, had I not been at Mount Vernon when they reached this place. You will therefore be pleased now, Sir, to accept the thanks and acknowledgements which are due for your polite attention in sending me a sett of The American Un[i]versal Geography. And, at the same time, be assured you have my best wishes that you may be amply rewarded for the time and labour spent in preparing so useful a work”
Sources:
"Father of American Geography" source: JSTOR Digital Library
National Archives: “To George Washington from Jedidiah Morse, 25 June 1793,” Founders Online, National Archives, [Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Presidential Series, vol. 13, 1 June–31 August 1793, ed. Christine Sternberg Patrick. Charlottesville: University of Virginia Press, 2007, pp. 148–149.]
Tuesday, August 27, 2019
Manitoulin
Forty-nine years ago this month, on August 18, 1970, my family experienced a terrible tragedy.
My great-grandfather, his son Bernie, and Bernie's two sons went on a fishing trip to Manitoulin, Ontario, Canada from Michigan. They were caught in a fast-moving storm and their boat capsized. After a horrific night spent in frigid waters, only two of the four survived.
My great-grandfather and his 12 year-old grandson (also named Bernie) drowned. Despite the fatigue and anguish, my mom's uncle Bernie did not give up. He was able to save his youngest son, Johnny who was 10 at the time. Yet how awful to lose his father and older son.
It was a miracle that any of them survived. I can't imagine the pain and heartache of the whole family in the months and years to come. My grandpa lost his dad and his nephew in one night. My mom lost her grandpa and her cousin in one night.
We will never forget the tragedy at Manitoulin.
Family member name: Bernard Boyle
Lifetime: 1889 - 1970
Tree branch: Boyle
Relation: My great-grandfather (my mom's dad's dad)
Family member name: Bernard William Boyle
Lifetime: 1930 - 2008
Tree branch: Boyle
Relation: My great-uncle (my mom's dad's brother)
My great-grandfather, his son Bernie, and Bernie's two sons went on a fishing trip to Manitoulin, Ontario, Canada from Michigan. They were caught in a fast-moving storm and their boat capsized. After a horrific night spent in frigid waters, only two of the four survived.
My great-grandfather and his 12 year-old grandson (also named Bernie) drowned. Despite the fatigue and anguish, my mom's uncle Bernie did not give up. He was able to save his youngest son, Johnny who was 10 at the time. Yet how awful to lose his father and older son.
It was a miracle that any of them survived. I can't imagine the pain and heartache of the whole family in the months and years to come. My grandpa lost his dad and his nephew in one night. My mom lost her grandpa and her cousin in one night.
We will never forget the tragedy at Manitoulin.
Family member name: Bernard Boyle
Lifetime: 1889 - 1970
Tree branch: Boyle
Relation: My great-grandfather (my mom's dad's dad)
Family member name: Bernard William Boyle
Lifetime: 1930 - 2008
Tree branch: Boyle
Relation: My great-uncle (my mom's dad's brother)
Wednesday, August 21, 2019
One town. Two namesakes.
I had the privilege to visit the town of Standish, Maine. I wanted to go there because it was named after my 10x great-grandfather, Myles Standish. What I didn't realize is that before it was named Standish, it was named for another one of my family members.
Family member name: Myles Standish
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1584-1656
Relation: My 10x great-grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's mom's dad's dad)
Family member name: Myles Standish
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1584-1656
Relation: My 10x great-grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's mom's dad's dad)
At the Maine Historical Society in Portland, I was doing research on the Pearson branch of my family tree who lived in Maine. A cousin of my 5x great grandfather, William Pearson, was Moses Pearson.
Moses Pearson was a company commander in the first battle of Louisbourg, in King George's War, in Canada. Upon his return, he petitioned the State of Massachusetts (because Maine was not a state yet) for a land grant for himself and his company. One hundred twenty land grants were issued to him and another company commander named Humphrey Hobbs.
The land grants became a community, and here is how this little town's name evolved over 35 years.
1750 - Pearson Hobbs Town
1759 - Pearsontown
1785 - Standish
Hobbs died shortly after the land grants were awarded and Pearson never did end up living in Pearsontown. So the residents renamed the town after a famous American, Myles Standish, of Mayflower fame. It's pretty cool that this cute little town was named after two of my ancestors, Pearson and Standish.
More info: Town of Standish website
Moses Pearson was a company commander in the first battle of Louisbourg, in King George's War, in Canada. Upon his return, he petitioned the State of Massachusetts (because Maine was not a state yet) for a land grant for himself and his company. One hundred twenty land grants were issued to him and another company commander named Humphrey Hobbs.
The land grants became a community, and here is how this little town's name evolved over 35 years.
1750 - Pearson Hobbs Town
1759 - Pearsontown
1785 - Standish
Hobbs died shortly after the land grants were awarded and Pearson never did end up living in Pearsontown. So the residents renamed the town after a famous American, Myles Standish, of Mayflower fame. It's pretty cool that this cute little town was named after two of my ancestors, Pearson and Standish.
More info: Town of Standish website
 |
| At the Standish Historical Society. Standish, Maine, 2016. |
 |
| Doing family tree research at the Maine Historical Society. Portland, Maine, 2016. |
Tuesday, July 23, 2019
Born in Holland, but not Dutch
Five generations of my ancestors were born in Holland. However, I'm not even 1% Dutch. How can that be? They're from a town called Holland, in Massachusetts. I recently discovered that I have deep roots in Holland.
Holland is in Central Mass, right on the Connecticut border. If you've traveled to Boston via route 84, you've driven right through it.
Family member name: Trenance Weber
Tree branch: Webber
Lifetime: 1710- unknown (after 1760)
Relation: My 7x great-grandfather
Holland is in Central Mass, right on the Connecticut border. If you've traveled to Boston via route 84, you've driven right through it.
Family member name: Trenance Weber
Tree branch: Webber
Lifetime: 1710- unknown (after 1760)
Relation: My 7x great-grandfather
Trenance Webber was born to John and Elizabeth Trenance Webber in Beverly, Massachusetts, but moved to Holland around 1760. Then the next five generations of Webber children were born in Holland. They are:
Samuel Webber, born about 1735
his son Samuel Webber, Jr., born 1761
his son Eleazer Webber, born 1785
his son Edwin Ballard Webber, born 1819
his son Charles Arnold Webber, born 1858
Charles Arnold Webber and his wife Emma moved closer to Boston, and their son Harlan (my great grandfather) was born in Dorchester. Then they moved to Needham, where the Webber family lived for 100 years.
As of 2019 in Holland, there is a home that was painstakingly and lovingly built as a replica of the John Webber house of 1760. Here's what my 8x great-grandfather and grandmother's home looked like.
Samuel Webber, born about 1735
his son Samuel Webber, Jr., born 1761
his son Eleazer Webber, born 1785
his son Edwin Ballard Webber, born 1819
his son Charles Arnold Webber, born 1858
Charles Arnold Webber and his wife Emma moved closer to Boston, and their son Harlan (my great grandfather) was born in Dorchester. Then they moved to Needham, where the Webber family lived for 100 years.
As of 2019 in Holland, there is a home that was painstakingly and lovingly built as a replica of the John Webber house of 1760. Here's what my 8x great-grandfather and grandmother's home looked like.
Monday, June 17, 2019
Cheesemonger
I love cheese. Now I know it's an inherited trait.
Family member name: Orestes Allen Blashfield
Tree branch: Webber
Lifetime: 1830-1892
Relation: My 3x great grandfather (my dad's dad's dad's mom's dad)
Family member name: Orestes Allen Blashfield
Tree branch: Webber
Lifetime: 1830-1892
Relation: My 3x great grandfather (my dad's dad's dad's mom's dad)
When doing family research, it's good to examine every piece of the paper trail. In the late 1800s, the US census included an extra form called the Selected Federal Census Non-Population Schedule. It recorded details of family farmers. Orestes Blashfield was a farmer in Brimfield, Massachusetts. Let's see what he grew.
On the first picture shown below, we can see the column header is "Meat, cattle and their products", then a subheading "Cheese made on the farm in 1879." Notice the yellow circled area: 200 pounds of cheese! And notice how much cheese his neighbors made. None. Therefore, Orestes Blashfield was the cheese man in his area. Orestes the cheesemonger.
noun
BRITISH
- a person who sells cheese, butter, and other dairy products.
We can also see that he made 500 lbs of butter, had 3 "milch" (milk) cows and 4 "other" animals in the herd. Five calves were "dropped", none purchased in 1879, and 5 were "sold living".
The record continues with more details. The column header here says "Orchards-1879". He did not grow peaches, but he had two acres of apples, specifically 166 bearing trees.
This page also shows he grew potatoes on a half acre of land, producing 60 bushels.
Cheese and apples, a great combination! That must have been quite a lot of work to milk those cows in order to churn all that butter and process all that cheese. I would have loved to be his neighbor.
Friday, May 3, 2019
Shakespeare was a friend of the family. Maybe.
My 12th great grandfather was John Smythe. I think he must have been friends with William Shakespeare. :) Just sayin.
Family member name: John Smythe
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1580ish - unknown death date
Relation: My 12x great grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad)
You know what that means? Grandpa Smythe lived there during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He lived in the same town as William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway and he lived there at the same time that they lived there. William was about 20 years older than Grandpa John.
The population of Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1600 was 2,000. It was still a small market town where everybody knew everybody. Even if they weren't close friends, they definitely knew each other.
Family member name: John Smythe
Tree branch: Smith
Lifetime: 1580ish - unknown death date
Relation: My 12x great grandfather (my dad's mom's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad)
John Smythe lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon in England. He was born around 1580.
You know what that means? Grandpa Smythe lived there during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. He lived in the same town as William Shakespeare and his wife Anne Hathaway and he lived there at the same time that they lived there. William was about 20 years older than Grandpa John.
The population of Stratford-Upon-Avon in 1600 was 2,000. It was still a small market town where everybody knew everybody. Even if they weren't close friends, they definitely knew each other.
John's son Ralph was
my immigrant ancestor who arrived in Massachusetts in 1630.
PS: All credit for the genealogical findings of the Smith family goes to the helpful genealogist at the Chatham Public Library on Cape Cod. She sent me a big fat juicy envelope full of photo copies of vital records in the mail. Amazingly, I received the package only about a week before leaving on our long-awaited vacation to the English countryside. Before then, I had no idea that I had ancestors who lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was one of our scheduled stops on the trip.
It made me look at the town in a whole new way, through the eyes of my family. Here we are.
PS: All credit for the genealogical findings of the Smith family goes to the helpful genealogist at the Chatham Public Library on Cape Cod. She sent me a big fat juicy envelope full of photo copies of vital records in the mail. Amazingly, I received the package only about a week before leaving on our long-awaited vacation to the English countryside. Before then, I had no idea that I had ancestors who lived in Stratford-Upon-Avon, which was one of our scheduled stops on the trip.
It made me look at the town in a whole new way, through the eyes of my family. Here we are.
 |
| Dru and me in 2017, outside my 12x great grandfather's friends's wife's home. |
 |
| My 12x great-grandfather's friend's house still stands today in Stratford-Upon-Avon, England. |
 |
| My 12x great-grandfather's buddy, William Shakespeare. Photo credit: British Library. |
Wednesday, April 17, 2019
A boy named Louis
My Grandma Boyle's paternal grandparents were Eugene C. Sullivan and Louise Auguste Huth. My research just revealed some facts about Louise's life.
Family member name: Louise Auguste Huth Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1867-1948
Relation: My 2x great grandmother (my mom's mom's dad's mom)
Louise was born in 1867 in Marshall, Michigan, in the palm of the hand near Battle Creek. Her parents were William Huth and Magdelena (Lena) Dewieghter, both immigrants from Germany. She was the middle child of five with two older sisters and a younger sister and brother. Louise only finished the 5th grade.
Just a quick note about how I found this information. I've been searching for years and was frustrated by the brick wall, but finally had a breakthrough!
Louise was mistakenly listed in the census as a boy named Louis. Maybe the census taker didn't understand her parents' accents or maybe two-year-old Louise had a short haircut and looked like a boy. I don't know, but she was hidden in the census. But comparing with several other sources, this is definitely her.
We next find Louise at 17 years old in Nebraska working as a domestic servant. She married Eugene three years later. Louise and Eugene had five children in Nebraska, and three lived to adulthood. However, to date we only know of two of their children, Alfred and Percy.
By the time Louise was 53, her husband passed away and she had moved to Sunnyside, Washington. She worked as a dressmaker, which she may have learned from her father who was a tailor. She then moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1924. She lived there for the rest of her life and passed away in 1948, 13 days after my mom (her great granddaughter) was born.
Sadly, I can't find any pictures of Louise, yet. This is all I have.
Family member name: Louise Auguste Huth Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1867-1948
Relation: My 2x great grandmother (my mom's mom's dad's mom)
Louise was born in 1867 in Marshall, Michigan, in the palm of the hand near Battle Creek. Her parents were William Huth and Magdelena (Lena) Dewieghter, both immigrants from Germany. She was the middle child of five with two older sisters and a younger sister and brother. Louise only finished the 5th grade.
Just a quick note about how I found this information. I've been searching for years and was frustrated by the brick wall, but finally had a breakthrough!
Louise was mistakenly listed in the census as a boy named Louis. Maybe the census taker didn't understand her parents' accents or maybe two-year-old Louise had a short haircut and looked like a boy. I don't know, but she was hidden in the census. But comparing with several other sources, this is definitely her.
 |
| Notice the 2-year old male named Louis. This is my great great grandmother, Louise. |
We next find Louise at 17 years old in Nebraska working as a domestic servant. She married Eugene three years later. Louise and Eugene had five children in Nebraska, and three lived to adulthood. However, to date we only know of two of their children, Alfred and Percy.
By the time Louise was 53, her husband passed away and she had moved to Sunnyside, Washington. She worked as a dressmaker, which she may have learned from her father who was a tailor. She then moved to Eugene, Oregon in 1924. She lived there for the rest of her life and passed away in 1948, 13 days after my mom (her great granddaughter) was born.
Sadly, I can't find any pictures of Louise, yet. This is all I have.
Friday, April 12, 2019
Third Balloon Company
We don't know much about my mom's grandfather. It is assumed by all that he was a rat.
Family member name: Alfred Vernon Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1897-1960
Relation: My great grandfather (my mom's mom's dad)
He may well have been a real rat. After all, he gave my great grandmother an STD which ruined her life, then abandoned his three children.
Recently I looked into his military history.
Alfred enlisted in World War I just six days after the US got involved. It was April 12, 1917, 102 years ago today. He served in the 3rd Balloon Company, which was part of the American Expeditionary Forces, the Air Service. Many men like him from Nebraska, were in balloon companies, since the balloon school was in Omaha.
What was a balloon company? In 1917, there were no satellites, and planes were in their infancy. The Allies needed to spy on the Germans. Enter balloons. Ninety-three balloon companies were formed during WWI. They were called the "eyes of the army".
Balloon companies were sent behind enemy lines in order to raise a hydrogen balloon (yes, highly explosive) a couple thousand feet in the sky with two men called "observers" with a telescope in the basket. The balloon was tethered to a winch truck which would move it and haul it back in when done. The observers would communicate the locations of the enemy troops, not by wireless phone, but with a real phone. Yes, miles of wires were hung out of the basket to the ground and back to the base! (Can't make this stuff up.) They also made real-time maps.
Alfred was not assigned as an observer, but was a "Chauffer". Not to be confused with an upscale driver service, a chauffer in a balloon company drove the winch truck, a hydrogen truck or anti-aircraft truck. Anything that needed driving.
Since they were behind enemy lines or at the front line, they were sleeping in the open and constantly shot at. During just one campaign in France which his company was involved in, 21 balloons were shot down. So he had to dodge fireballs and parachuting observers plummeting from the sky. Then they had to inflate new balloons on the spot. A first hand account says, "Personnel weakened by inhaling choride gas, suffering from dysentery... soaking wet from almost continual rain... uniforms crawling with cooties... eating magotty food."
He was in France and Germany for about a year and a half. One of the towns where they were given leave time was known for its licentiousness, perhaps the place where 20-year old Alfred caught syphilis.
I can't imagine that the guy did not have PTSD. We don't know if that affected his decisions going forward, or if he just made bad decisions in general.
The above facts are not intended to excuse his behavior in any way, however it is always good to understand the bigger picture of someone's life.
If you're interested in more info about balloon companies, here are some links.
Link to fascinating article in the Omaha World-Herald
Link to North Omaha History - Fort Omaha Balloon School
Link to NY Times article from 1919
Family member name: Alfred Vernon Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1897-1960
Relation: My great grandfather (my mom's mom's dad)
He may well have been a real rat. After all, he gave my great grandmother an STD which ruined her life, then abandoned his three children.
Recently I looked into his military history.
Alfred enlisted in World War I just six days after the US got involved. It was April 12, 1917, 102 years ago today. He served in the 3rd Balloon Company, which was part of the American Expeditionary Forces, the Air Service. Many men like him from Nebraska, were in balloon companies, since the balloon school was in Omaha.
What was a balloon company? In 1917, there were no satellites, and planes were in their infancy. The Allies needed to spy on the Germans. Enter balloons. Ninety-three balloon companies were formed during WWI. They were called the "eyes of the army".
Balloon companies were sent behind enemy lines in order to raise a hydrogen balloon (yes, highly explosive) a couple thousand feet in the sky with two men called "observers" with a telescope in the basket. The balloon was tethered to a winch truck which would move it and haul it back in when done. The observers would communicate the locations of the enemy troops, not by wireless phone, but with a real phone. Yes, miles of wires were hung out of the basket to the ground and back to the base! (Can't make this stuff up.) They also made real-time maps.
Alfred was not assigned as an observer, but was a "Chauffer". Not to be confused with an upscale driver service, a chauffer in a balloon company drove the winch truck, a hydrogen truck or anti-aircraft truck. Anything that needed driving.
Since they were behind enemy lines or at the front line, they were sleeping in the open and constantly shot at. During just one campaign in France which his company was involved in, 21 balloons were shot down. So he had to dodge fireballs and parachuting observers plummeting from the sky. Then they had to inflate new balloons on the spot. A first hand account says, "Personnel weakened by inhaling choride gas, suffering from dysentery... soaking wet from almost continual rain... uniforms crawling with cooties... eating magotty food."
He was in France and Germany for about a year and a half. One of the towns where they were given leave time was known for its licentiousness, perhaps the place where 20-year old Alfred caught syphilis.
I can't imagine that the guy did not have PTSD. We don't know if that affected his decisions going forward, or if he just made bad decisions in general.
 |
| The Third Balloon Company was assigned to Germany after the Armistice of 11/11/1918 in order to keep peace. |
The above facts are not intended to excuse his behavior in any way, however it is always good to understand the bigger picture of someone's life.
If you're interested in more info about balloon companies, here are some links.
Link to fascinating article in the Omaha World-Herald
Link to North Omaha History - Fort Omaha Balloon School
Link to NY Times article from 1919
Thursday, April 11, 2019
The paper trail of Alfred Sullivan
My mom never met her maternal grandfather. When she was a child, she was told he had already passed away. She didn't learn the truth until later.
Family member name: Alfred Vernon Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1897-1960
Relation: My great grandfather (my mom's mom's dad)
Later, she learned that he had abandoned his young family and was never seen again. That's all I knew growing up, and I believe that's all my mom knew too.
When I began my family tree research, the paper trail told the truth about what happened to Alfred V. Sullivan. He, in fact, was still living when my mom was young.
After marrying Martha Goesch around 1919/1920, they had three children in eight years. However, by 1930, their family was in shambles because of him. Martha had contracted syphilis from Alfred and was put in an institution. Instead of caring for his children, Alfred abandoned them. On the brink of the Great Depression, the three young kids were split up and sent to live with aunts and uncles who loved them.
Where did Alfred go?
His whereabouts are a mystery for 12 years. He disappeared. He does not show up in records until 1942.
1928 - His youngest child born in Nebraska
1930 - Has already abandoned the family
1942 - Working for the WPA in Sheldon, Texas
1948 - Alfred is listed in his mother's obituary as living in San Francisco.
1960 - Death record, San Francisco.
Was Alfred aware that he had four grandchildren? His grandchildren were not aware that they had a living grandfather. My mom was 12 years old when he actually died.
Why was mom told he was dead? Did they know Alfred would never be a part of their lives? Did they even want him in their lives? He was definitely the black sheep. But I wonder what is worse? Should you tell a child their grandfather died or should you tell a child he abandoned her mom and perhaps she may keep wondering if he would ever come back? I just don't know.
Family member name: Alfred Vernon Sullivan
Tree branch: Sullivan
Lifetime: 1897-1960
Relation: My great grandfather (my mom's mom's dad)
Later, she learned that he had abandoned his young family and was never seen again. That's all I knew growing up, and I believe that's all my mom knew too.
When I began my family tree research, the paper trail told the truth about what happened to Alfred V. Sullivan. He, in fact, was still living when my mom was young.
After marrying Martha Goesch around 1919/1920, they had three children in eight years. However, by 1930, their family was in shambles because of him. Martha had contracted syphilis from Alfred and was put in an institution. Instead of caring for his children, Alfred abandoned them. On the brink of the Great Depression, the three young kids were split up and sent to live with aunts and uncles who loved them.
 |
| Sullivan family circa 1924. Alfred, Betty (my grandma), Martha and Lois. |
Where did Alfred go?
His whereabouts are a mystery for 12 years. He disappeared. He does not show up in records until 1942.
1928 - His youngest child born in Nebraska
1930 - Has already abandoned the family
1942 - Working for the WPA in Sheldon, Texas
1948 - Alfred is listed in his mother's obituary as living in San Francisco.
1960 - Death record, San Francisco.
Was Alfred aware that he had four grandchildren? His grandchildren were not aware that they had a living grandfather. My mom was 12 years old when he actually died.
Why was mom told he was dead? Did they know Alfred would never be a part of their lives? Did they even want him in their lives? He was definitely the black sheep. But I wonder what is worse? Should you tell a child their grandfather died or should you tell a child he abandoned her mom and perhaps she may keep wondering if he would ever come back? I just don't know.
Monday, April 1, 2019
Don't touch the headstone
Yes, I love hunting through cemeteries for my relatives. (Shout out to my husband and mom who come with me and are amazing finders of headstones, which can be needles in haystacks.) Yes, I seek dead people.
This is a quick post with a helpful trick I have found for documenting headstones.
Gravestone rubbings are so 20th century. Some people consider this not only a way of preserving the information on a headstone, but of preserving the art of the actual headstone. This was ok when every human didn't have a camera in their back pocket Also, unfortunately, rubbing the stone may cause more deterioration. Please let it be.
But there are drawbacks when using a camera to document the wording on a headstone. Moss, weathering and bad lighting are not your friends. For example, I took this picture of my 8th great grandmother's headstone that has been in Woodstock, CT for over 260 years.
Can read the words? Are you sure?? Argh! After traveling for hours, the last thing you want is for your pictures to be unclear. So here's my trick.
1. Take the best picture you can.
2. Then take a video of the same headstone and of your voice while reading the words out loud.
Simple but effective. Watch this clip.
Then when I get home and I want to document the dates and wording, I'm not second guessing myself. So, just for the record:
"In memory of Mrs. Hannah Peake, ye wife of Mr. Jonathan Peake, Dec'd October 16, 1756, in ye 90th year of her age."
Family member name: Hannah Leavens Peake
Tree branch: Pearson
Lifetime: 1666-1756
Relation: My 8x great grandmother (my dad's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's dad's mom's mom)
This is a quick post with a helpful trick I have found for documenting headstones.
Gravestone rubbings are so 20th century. Some people consider this not only a way of preserving the information on a headstone, but of preserving the art of the actual headstone. This was ok when every human didn't have a camera in their back pocket Also, unfortunately, rubbing the stone may cause more deterioration. Please let it be.
But there are drawbacks when using a camera to document the wording on a headstone. Moss, weathering and bad lighting are not your friends. For example, I took this picture of my 8th great grandmother's headstone that has been in Woodstock, CT for over 260 years.
Can read the words? Are you sure?? Argh! After traveling for hours, the last thing you want is for your pictures to be unclear. So here's my trick.
1. Take the best picture you can.
2. Then take a video of the same headstone and of your voice while reading the words out loud.
Simple but effective. Watch this clip.
Then when I get home and I want to document the dates and wording, I'm not second guessing myself. So, just for the record:
"In memory of Mrs. Hannah Peake, ye wife of Mr. Jonathan Peake, Dec'd October 16, 1756, in ye 90th year of her age."
Family member name: Hannah Leavens Peake
Tree branch: Pearson
Lifetime: 1666-1756
Relation: My 8x great grandmother (my dad's dad's mom's mom's mom's mom's dad's dad's mom's mom)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)