The Key to the City

I have a great-aunt who was described as "famous" many times in early 20th century newspapers.  She was even given the Key to the City of Boston in 1924.  Why?

Family member name: Fannie H. Titus Hazen
Years of life: 1840-1930
Tree branch: Pearson

Places lived: Vermont; Massachusetts
Relation: 3rd great-aunt (my dad's, dad's, mom's, mom's sister)

Fannie Titus Hazen was famous for being four things:

* An Army nurse during the Civil War under Dorothea Dix

* Founder and President of the Massachusetts Army Nurses' Association for more than 25 years

* President of the National Association of Army Nurses of the Civil War for two years

* One of the last living Civil War Army nurses

In my possession is an original 97-year old photo from that day.  Here it is. Isn't it fabulous?

Also, a Titus family scrapbook had an article about the occasion. Here is the cutting. It states "In return for a gold key to Boston, Mrs. Fannie T. Hazen, 84 years old, president of the Massachusetts Army Nurses Association, yesterday presented Mayor Curley with a history and record of Civil war nurses."

From Vershire, Vermont scrapbook of Titus family.

Sources:

* Titus family scrapbook photos and articles

* The Cambridge Chronicle - August 9, 1924 (link to Cambridge Public Library website)

* Vermont in the Civil War (link to Fanny's page)

400 years since the Mayflower: Oceanus

I learned about my 11th great-uncle in elementary school.  I never forgot his name.  But at the time I had no idea we were related.

Family member name: Oceanus Hopkins

Lifetime: 1620 - before 1627

Places lived: The Mayflower; Plymouth, MA
Tree branch: Smith
Relation: My 11x great-uncle (My my dad's mom's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's dad's mom's dad's brother)

My 11th great-grandfather's wife was pregnant when she stepped foot on the Mayflower.  Her name was Elizabeth Fisher Hopkins and she and her husband Stephen and her two step-children were starting a new life in America.

Elizabeth famously gave birth to the only baby born aboard the Mayflower.  They appropriately named him Oceanus.  His exact date of birth is not known, but had to have been between September 16 and November 21, 1620.  Records indicate that Oceanus unfortunately passed away in childhood sometime before June 1, 1627.

Since Stephen Hopkins is my 11x great-grandfather, then his son Oceanus is my 11th great-uncle.

This picture of the Mayflower II was taken by Oceanus' 9x great-grandniece, Charlotte Smith Webber.

Source:

American Ancestors