Category: Artifacts

Artifacts, Mysteries, Plymouth1 Comment

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

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

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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

Artifacts, Plymouth, Research1 Comment

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

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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)

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  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)

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

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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

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

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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

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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.

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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.

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Military Monday: 2nd Lieutenant Roy Edwards of the Rifle Brigade, 10th Battalion

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After writing a post the other week about Sydney Henry Payne’s service in World War I, I found myself wondering what happened to Syd’s commander, 2nd Lt. Roy Edwards [no relation to Syd’s brother in law, William James Stephen Edwards, the husband of Syd’s sister Ida Edith (Payne) Edwards, who also served in WWI]. You may recall that he sent Syd’s mother, Edith Jane (Scarrott) Payne Burns Hart the following letter, assuring her of Syd’s safety: “Oct. 26 1917.  Dear Mrs. Payne, No doubt your son has told you he is servant to me in France and as I have … Continue reading Military Monday: 2nd Lieutenant Roy Edwards of the Rifle Brigade, 10th Battalion

Artifacts, Mysteries7 Comments

Treasure Chest Thursday: The Hidden Sword Blade Guard in a Secret Compartment of Grace McClellan’s Sideboard

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In 1969, after the passing of Nana Grace (Hanson) McClellan, a large wooden sideboard from her house was moved next door to her granddaughter Edna’s home, where it has sat by the kitchen table for 43 years. This month, Edna gave the sideboard to her daughter Debbie, and a small group of family members gathered to help maneuver the heavy piece of furniture. As they cleared out the sideboard of possessions that had accumulated over the years, they uncovered a false back in one of the drawers, which was moved to reveal a small hidden compartment. Neither Edna nor anyone … Continue reading Treasure Chest Thursday: The Hidden Sword Blade Guard in a Secret Compartment of Grace McClellan’s Sideboard

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Travel Tuesday: Connecting Hurricane Island, Maine to the San Donato Val di Comino Diaspora

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Loreto Salvucci, a granite stonecutter from San Donato Val di Comino, Italy, left his home in the Comino Valley – and his usually pregnant wife Carmela (DiBona) four times to come to the U.S. to work in American quarries in 1899, 1904, 1905, and 1909. In 1906, his younger half-brother, Gaetano Salvucci, had moved permanently to the U.S., settling in Quincy, Massachusetts where he worked as a granite polisher. Additionally, Loreto’s mother-in-law Carmela (Paglia) DiBona, and several DiBona in-laws were also living and working in the granite industry Quincy, Mass. by 1900 – along with numerous extended friends and family … Continue reading Travel Tuesday: Connecting Hurricane Island, Maine to the San Donato Val di Comino Diaspora

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Amaneunsis Monday: Inventory of the Estate of Capt. Henry Josselyn of Pembroke, Mass., 1787

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Below is a transcription of the inventory of Capt. Henry Josselyn of Pembroke, Mass. He was born at Scituate, Mass., 24 March 1696, the son of Henry Josselyn and Abigail Stockbridge. He married at Pembroke, 23 September 1718, Hannah Oldham. He died at Pembroke by 26 June 1787, when his probate was filed, at the age of 91 years. His eldest child, Hannah Josselyn, married Henry Munroe Sr. at Pembroke on 16 November 1738. The unknown origins of Mary Miller, the wife of their son Henry Munroe Jr., were recently discussed in this blog. From Plymouth County, Massachusetts Probate Records, … Continue reading Amaneunsis Monday: Inventory of the Estate of Capt. Henry Josselyn of Pembroke, Mass., 1787