Author: mblauss

Artifacts, Mysteries, Plymouth1 Comment

Wishful Wednesday: Seeking the Bible of Rev. Thomas Smith of Pembroke MA

mblauss

Putting this request out: I am hoping to locate the Rev. Thomas Smith Bible. The bible of Rev. Thomas Smith (1706-1788) of Pembroke, Massachusetts was mentioned in A Memorial of Rev. Thomas Smith (Second Minister of Pembroke, Mass.) And His Descendants , Compiled by Susan Augusta Smith (Plymouth, MA: Avery & Doten, 1895). There are many references in the Smith Memorial to this bible, such as: In the bible of his son, Rev. Thomas Smith, occurs this quaint record, in his own handwriting, now dim with age and almost illegible: “My father died March 4th, 1746, it being on Saturday about … Continue reading Wishful Wednesday: Seeking the Bible of Rev. Thomas Smith of Pembroke MA

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Surname Saturday: John Everson of Plymouth, Massachusetts

mblauss

As NEHGS celebrates its 170th anniversary, this week the New England Historical and Genealogical Register launched a beautiful new format and style. This Register features my article “Descendants of John Everson of Plymouth, Massachusetts” which identifies and untangles the early Everson family of Plymouth Colony. In the 17th century, John Everson was an unwelcome transient in both Massachusetts Bay Colony and Plymouth Colony, and he ultimately gave up custody of his three young children, who were each taken in and raised by separate Plymouth families. Very little has been published on the family up until now, and the few publications … Continue reading Surname Saturday: John Everson of Plymouth, Massachusetts

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Treasure Chest Thursday: The wedding dresses of Ida Edith (Payne) Edwards, 1949-1958

mblauss

My husband’s grandmother Ida Edith (Payne) Edwards was a talented dressmaker.  From the ages of 14 to 16, she served a two year apprenticeship with a dressmaker in the west end of London.  She spent the majority of her working career as a ladies tailor or dressmaker throughout London. While working as a tailoress, she met her husband William James Stephen Edwards, a fellow tailor, and they married in 1913. In the 1930s she worked for a small couture dressmaker. During World War II, she worked as dressmaker for Debenham’s department store, remaining in London during the Blitz. She was very … Continue reading Treasure Chest Thursday: The wedding dresses of Ida Edith (Payne) Edwards, 1949-1958

Folklore, Plymouth1 Comment

Tombstone Tuesday: An 18th Century Graveyard “Haunting” in Hingham, Massachusetts

mblauss

Just in time for Halloween, a bit of historical haunting debunking… By the 1820s, Dr. James Thacher of Plymouth, famed Revolutionary War surgeon and doctor, was on a mission: to provide scientific or medical explanations for superstitions he had encountered. He gathered evidence from medical journals as well as anecdotes from learned friends near and far and compiled An Essay on Demonology, Ghosts and Apparitions, And Popular Superstitions. Also, An Account of the Witchcraft Delusion at Salem, published in 1831. He reported the following story: “Were all the supposed apparitions and spectres to be met with the intrepidity displayed in … Continue reading Tombstone Tuesday: An 18th Century Graveyard “Haunting” in Hingham, Massachusetts

Artifacts, Plymouth, Research1 Comment

Amanuensis Monday: The Broken Indenture of Ezekiel Sprague Jr. of Scituate, Mass.

mblauss

While performing research in Scituate, Massachusetts town records, I came across an unusual record from a town meeting (edited slightly for spelling):  25 May 1767 Upon the Petition & Request of Ebenezer Mott setting forth that he about four years ago took by indenture an apprentice named Ezekel Sprague to learn the trade of a cordwainer & to provide for him til he should arrive to the age of twenty one years he being now about 13 years old but so it is that yt Ezekel has been for some time troubled with uncommon fits and it is doubtful whether … Continue reading Amanuensis Monday: The Broken Indenture of Ezekiel Sprague Jr. of Scituate, Mass.

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Thankful Thursday: Boston Firefighter James M. Gibbons (1949-1981)

mblauss

  This week the city of Boston mourns and honors Boston firefighters Lt. Edward J. Walsh Jr., 43, and Michael R. Kennedy, 33, who were trapped in a fire in a brownstone at 298 Beacon Street in the Back Bay. The era of the internet has been a remarkable force, garnering community support, thoughts and prayers, as well as encouraging donations to help the firefighters’ families. Three decades ago a similar fire took the lives of my mother’s cousin Jimmy Gibbons, 31, and his friend Lt. Paul M. Lentini of Engine Company 37, in a brownstone at 0 Newbury St. … Continue reading Thankful Thursday: Boston Firefighter James M. Gibbons (1949-1981)

Artifacts7 Comments

Amanuensis Monday: 1848 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Marriages

mblauss

While searching for family names in the San Donato Val di Comino records, I thought the San Donatese diaspora might appreciate having an accessible transcription of some of the historic civil registration indexes for the town. Awhile ago I transcribed the 1849 Births. Today I have transcribed the 49 marriages recorded during the year 1848. 1848 Marriages Tavola alfabetica annual de matrimonj per l’anno mille ottocento quarantotto Alphabetical table of annual marriages in the year one thousand eight hundred forty-eight No. d’ord. Page # Cognomi e Nomi de sposi Names and Surnames of Spouses Patria Home Cognomi e nomi de genitori Name and … Continue reading Amanuensis Monday: 1848 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Marriages

DNA, Research1 Comment

Matrilineal Monday: My Father’s Matrilineal Line Featured On Who Do You Think You Are?

mblauss

I was a researcher for several seasons of the American version of Who Do You Think You Are? It was an absolute blast performing the research, and then very interesting to see how the findings were later used for the filming itself. The focus of WDYTYA? and other genealogy programs tends to focus on celebrities discovering their past (although some shows now have started to feature segments on “everyday” folks who have interesting ancestors too), although I always thought it would be fun to see some of my ancestors featured in a similar way. So imagine my surprise when I … Continue reading Matrilineal Monday: My Father’s Matrilineal Line Featured On Who Do You Think You Are?

How-To13 Comments

Tuesday’s Tip: Top Ten Tips for Visiting the Family History Library

mblauss

Last year I took a brief weekend trip to the Family History Library in Salt Lake City and copied a wonderful selection of records – then couldn’t believe how quickly the time passed, and how many more records I still wanted to copy or locate! So this year I planned a week-long visit. After having a very successful trip, I thought I would share my top ten tips for making the most out of your research trip to the Family History Library! 1. Research, research, research. Research in order to research? YES! Novice, intermediate and advanced genealogists can greatly benefit … Continue reading Tuesday’s Tip: Top Ten Tips for Visiting the Family History Library

Artifacts24 Comments

Amanuensis Monday: 1849 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Births

mblauss

While searching for family names in the San Donato Val di Comino records, I thought the San Donatese diaspora might appreciate having an accessible transcription of some of the historic civil registration indexes for the town. 121 births were recorded during the year 1849 (although 2 births were from the previous year of 1848). There were four illegitimate births which listed the name of the child’s mother and stated “padre incerto” – father uncertain. The most common surnames were Quintiliani/Quintiliano (8), Rufo (7), Tempesta (7), Bona (6), Cardarelli (6), Cellucci (6), Antonellis (4), Lanno (4), Mazzola (4), Roffo (4). 1849 … Continue reading Amanuensis Monday: 1849 San Donato Val di Comino, Italy Births

Artifacts, Plymouth, Research2 Comments

Treasure Chest Thursday: Framing the Past: Identifying Crapo Family Ambrotypes

mblauss

I recently had an article published in American Ancestors (published by NEHGS) which explored my journey of identifying a mysterious set of ambrotypes which were found in my grandfather’s workshop. These were the ambrotypes that were discovered tucked away in my grandfather’s desk, placed out of sight for years, which had never been seen by my grandmother: Click on the image below to read the full article and discover how this mystery was solved! As I stated in the article,  Henry Emerson Crapo and Isabella Frances Lannigan’s daughter Ada Marion (Crapo) Howland had three children. So if any cousins have labeled duplicates of these ambrotypes … Continue reading Treasure Chest Thursday: Framing the Past: Identifying Crapo Family Ambrotypes

Artifacts, Plymouth4 Comments

Sibling Saturday: 1860 Letter from Ellen J. Bonney of Hanson, Mass. to her brother Otis L. Bonney of Boston, Mass.

mblauss

Below are scanned images, a transcription, and explanatory footnotes of a letter written on 18 March 1860 by fifteen-year old Ellen Josephine Bonney (b. 22 Feb. 1845) of Bonney Hill, South Hanson, Mass. to her older brother, twenty-one year old Otis Lafayette Bonney (b. 2 Dec. 1838) who at the time was working for Daniel Allen & Co. in Boston, Mass. They were both the children of Ezekiel Bonney and Angeline White of Hanson, Mass. Three years after writing this letter, Ellen J. Bonney married Noah A. Ford at East Bridgewater in 1863. In addition to reporting local news relating … Continue reading Sibling Saturday: 1860 Letter from Ellen J. Bonney of Hanson, Mass. to her brother Otis L. Bonney of Boston, Mass.