I am excited. My copy is 100 years old!

If you aren’t familiar, The Allen Gazette was written by the Allen Family as a family newspaper. All of it is written in sarcasm, which was apparently their base language. It is themed in dry witted humor with a tendency to mock the English language.It is am amazing peephole into their lives and voices. I consider this one of my greatest treasures entrusted to me. Few people have such resource into the personalities of their ancestors.

It you read the Gazette beginning to end, you gain a good insight into their personalities and playfulness with each other. Here is a link to the post containing the original typed version I provided here.

Best,

Susannah

The Original Allen Gazette

Views: 434

Massachusetts Quilting.. I was browsing only as I love quilting and like a gift from the heavens, I saw a quilt by Deborah Hobart. It mentions a few facts of her family allowing me to cross reference and Lo and behold, it is a photograph of a small quilt that my ancestral grandmother made with reference to its location. The day felt worthwhile and gifted.

As I research another maternal name, popping into Google their names to see what pops up, I typed Elizabeth Hawthorne. I not only found additional resources that state she was the sister of the infamous hanging judge during the Salem Witch trials but I started to wonder. Elizabeth would have been early 40’s during that time. Certainly not a child, she must have been deeply, entrenched in the gossip, talk and drama that played out. I had to wonder what it must have been like for her, on one hand being part of a family seeking out and hanging witches, and also being a women, was she afraid of being accused?

I have collected dates and facts for years. I am thrilled to be at the point of collecting history and stories. I was taught to focus on the paternal names but luckily I will continue to find information on my ancestral Grandmothers. I press onward.

Views: 426

Instead of sharing my enthusiasm, I have watched non-researchers stare blankly at gathered lineages. I have watched vacant stares trying desparately to connect to documents and files. I have come to face the truth. Unless you are a researcher, amatuer or not, the information falls on blind eyes and therefore, there  is no way for the information to pass generation to generation. No one embraces it, and if they can’t embrace it, they won’t pass it on with enthusiasm.

What does pass through hands are stories and interesting tidbits of information. I am making this my platform. Armed with too many papers and documents. I plan to assemble the book my Grandmothers hoped that I would write.

So tonight I finally figured out a format. The book will be a history of me. It will be divided into parts, each stemming from one of my four grandparents;maternal grandmother’s line, paternal grandmother’s line,maternal grandfather’s line and paternal grandfather’s line.

I will tell the story of each history that lead me to my grandparent. I will write the story of the settlers, their where and who and what they did and the towns where they lived. It’s conclusion is how it all leads to each of my Grandparents.

I plan to self publish. I hope it is easy to read enough that the future generations will embrace its information. I can end the book with a chapter filled with documents and sources. I can add a page of addresses of homesites, statues and important documents.There can also be a chapter in the end with photographs of each grandparent and their home.But I am confident that it will be the narratives that will stay with each reader.

I feel better now in that I have a defined plan. I feel better that I have written the framework of chapter heads and the index page. As I writer, I feel it’s so much easier to concentrate and enjoy the writing, once I have the frame in place. I have a beginning. I love beginnings. They are filled with hope and enthusiasm.

Views: 553

Here is the scanned version of the article so that you can enjoy its authenticity. I did scan it in black and white and played with scanner settings making it readable. The original is very yellowed and tissue thin.

Here is my typed out version of the article so that everyone can also enjoy its read easier than trying to read the scanned version above.
(per printed article)

The Sunday Herald-Boston, dated August 11, 1901
Historic House at Bedford.
Eight Generations of the Page Family Called It Home.
More than 200 years covered by tenancy in unbroken line- Present Owner Restored the Landmark to Its original State- Surroundings Are Appropriate.
Standing on the old Page Farm, 100 feet north of the Page Road, is the ancient dwelling where eight generations of the Page family dwelt in succession during more than 200 years. This is one of the few instances where a family line has occupied and tilled the soil of the same farm for so many years.
The farm was a part of the large grant of land from the court of the province to Edward Oakes and was sold by him in 1661 to George Farley and others. Farley dold the farm to Timothy Brooks, who resided on the place during the troubles attending King Phillips war and his family were protected in garrison N.10, a short distance from his home. Brooks sold the farm to George Grimes who sold the farm in 1687 to Nathaniel Page Sr.
Nathaniel Page, Sr. came from England in 1684 and was of Roxbury in 1686 and was probably the brother of Nicholas Page of Boston, who came from Plymouth, Eng.Gov. Joseph Dudley appointed Nathaniel Page sheriff of the county of Suffolk. His wife’s name was Joanna. He died April 12, 1692.
In his will, he mentions “farm, buildings, and land in Billerica $25”; a servant man $15”; farm 200 acres at Dedham $30”, “Farm” at Squabouge and Worcester,$10”.
The farm, buildings and land mentioned in this will as of Billerica are located in the southeastern part of Bedford, in that part of Billerica which was joined to the eastern part of Concord, to form the town of Bedford in 1729.
The old house was moved from its original site in 1889 and located about 300 feet west and a new house was erected on the old site in 1890. This was destroyed by fire in the same year. In 1891 the present large mansion was erected on the site of the house that was burned.
Two magnificent elm trees that stood near the western end of the old house were undoubtedly standing where the old house was erected and those trees are now from 250 to 300 years old. The largest tree situated southwest from the new house is 5’6” in diameter. The other tree on the northwest sire of the new house in 4’6” in diameter. Both are noble spaceman of the American Elm.
Nathaniel Page, Sr., was succeeded by his son, Nathaniel Page, Jr. in possession. The latter was 14 years old when he came from England to the colony of Massachusetts. He married Nov.6, 1701 Susannah Lane who died in 1746.He then married in 1748, Mary Grimes.
Nathaniel Page Jr., was succeeded in possession of the homestead farm by Christopher Page, John Page, Nathaniel Page 3rd, Nathaniel Page 4th and Cyrus Page.
Cyrus Page of the seventh generation was also a farmer, and died in 1887. Cyrus A. Page of the eighth generation was the last of the Page family in possession of the family homestead.
In 1897 the remaining part of the original farm, containing over 90 acres of land, was sold to Nathan H. Daniels, a retired merchant of Boston, who took possession and the title passed from the Page family, who had owned and occupied the farm and homestead for 210 years.
In the town clerk’s office in Bedford, may be seen the original bill of sale whereby Nathaniel Tay sold his negro to Mr. John Page for” twenty pounds in money and six pounds in bills.”.in 1691.
The foundation members of the church on July 30, 1730, were Nathaniel Page Jr and Christopher Page. A record of the pews in the meeting house. Oct 18, 1734, shows “Nathaniel Page’s pew is on the front of the east end of the great door in the meetinghouse”.
In 1777 William Page was town treasurer and in 1780 Christopher Page was selectman.
Besides the town and church records many silent records are found of this prominent and patriotic family on the old slate stones in the first burying ground at Bedford Center., placed there by those who were contemporary in life with those whose record they give. And who knew their life’s work. Cornet Nathaniel Page died March 2, 1755 aged 76 years. Mrs. Susannah died Sept 2, 1746, aged 63 years. Cornet Nathaniel Page died April 6, 1779 aged 76 years. Cornet John Page died Feb 18, 1782, aged 78 years.
In March, 1775, the town of Bedford voted “to pay 25 minute men 1 shilling per week until the first of May next” Jonathan Wilson, captain; Moses Abbot, lieutenant; Cornet Nathaniel Page, standard-bearer.
The standard was carried by Nathaniel Page in this company from Bedford. To Concord, April 19, 1775 and near this banner Capt. Johnathan Wilson was killed the same day. This banner had probably been in the keeping of the Page family from early colonial times. And after the fight at Concord. It was returned to the old house and was carried in the ranks of the Bedford delegates at the celebration at Concord. April 19, 1875. Oct. 19. 1885, the banner was presented by Capt. Cyrus Page to the town of Bedford.
The militia of Massachusetts were organized into three county troops in 1643 and Middlesex country had one of these troops. This banner was carried by the Middlesex troop and is undoubtedly the oldest banner in the country.
Nathaniel Page served in what is called Queen Anne’s war. Ebenezer Page and others of the family were officers and privates in the French and Indian wars. Four of the Page family fought at Concord, including Cornet Nathaniel Page. Christopher was sergeant of the minutemen. And timothy was killed on White Plains, N.Y. Oct. 28, 1776. Ebenezer, William Thomas, and David served at different times during the revolution. Seven of this family were in the company of militia that marched from Bedford to Boston in the war of 1812.
Cyrus Page volunteered as captain of the militia company in the civil war. For three years, or the war, as he was then 60 years of age. Grosvenor A Page served three years and lost his left arm. John Page served three months.
Thanks to Mr. Daniels antiquarian taste and his veneration for the historical landmarks of his native state, the old house has been out in thorough repair, retaining all the ancient characteristics enabling the relic to be handed down to future generations.
With the beautiful plants and great lawn kept in the best possible manner, and on the east the two great aims that have cast their shadow upon the old house for more than two centuries, one would hardly believe that great old mansion was a relic of early colonial days.
The present owner has expended a large of amount of money in laying out the front half of these 90 acres in the natural landscape style around the old and new house, preserving all that nature has done so liberally for the estate now named “Stone Acres”.
Stepping directly from the highly cultivated and beautiful laying out of the front portion of the farm, one enters the northern half, where the oak, walnut, and pine groves stand, surrounded with broad meadows and fields of berry bushes, laurel, bayberry and wild ferns, a contrast as well and picturesque as is found throughout northern New Hampshire and here small game such as woodchucks, quail, mink and rabbits are in abundance as they were when King Phillips allies roamed through these same woods. The running brook dammed for preserving trout and “Pickwick Springs” with clear, cold, crystal water bubbling up through the white sane are the natural fountains of this wild and beautiful spot.

(end of article)

Note that “as it appears now” refers to the 1901 date that this article was published.

Thanks for reading!

Susannah

Views: 684

Now I have caught up and have poked my head back into my family history. Has it been over a month??? Good God, it has and I am saddened with a renewed respect that how easily things can drift away if we are not mindful of what we are doing.

And my genealogy is not just a summer vacation of visited places. I have piles of written letters and text from ancestors to share. I have boxes of photos to share, essays written, stories to tell and items that need to be photographed and shared. It is wonderful that my family preserved so much history. It is also my job to share and preserve that history. It is a job that could be easily full time. And being a single women who works two jobs to survive, I remind myself that if I do nothing else, this is what I leave behind, this body of work is what is important.(Ok after my children).

It may not seem important to everyone. It may even seem trivial. But someone, somewhere down the line will care and that will validate what I pass on. Just like the generations before worried that it would all disappear into the wind. I have snagged it.They gave me a branch to covet and I do so. So with a winter schedule in place, I press onward.

My revised plan is to make a few lists. I will list the items that I have to share, I will list the photo albums waiting to be scanned and I will list the stories waiting to be written. It is so much easier to work from a list, rather then the random grabbing of something and tossing it up onto the internet.

I am also listing the most prominent ancestors. I want to write out the lineage to them and send copies to the next generation. I want them to know from whom the descend. That is what Grammy wanted and that is what I promised.

And then if I can mange to update my memberships in organizations so others can join, and update more lineage information on my blog, that is good,too. Grammy, I continue to try to do my job. You would have a blast with all this time frame has to offer.

Views: 335

in the end I decided to scan in all 20 pages. I added them in order onto the page here entitled The Original Allen Gazette. My hope is that people can save each page to their own computer to either read or print. This allows relatives to have their own copy.

Reading it over, I see an issue. It’s a recurrent issue all historians need to address. Who is everyone? I know Parker A. is Parker Allen, my great ,great uncle. But this could very quickly become the proverbial box of untitled photographs. I need to identify who each person is. This will also allow family members to know from whom they are related.

But at least for now, the original Allen Gazette is uploaded on this blog and available for reading. And as the title page states, Long Live The Allen Gazette!!! I bet they never thought it would live a near 100 years!

Read it here

Susannah

Views: 398

When my ancestors landed, it was always somewhere along the Massachusetts coastline. From there, they moved inland, again to actually few places; Plymouth/Bridgewater, Weymouth, Concord/Lexington, Salem and Gloucester, Quincy/Braintree.

I think until I came along, for 14 generations we landed and lived in Massachusetts. Well, except that my Grandparents left to retire in Maine. Two uncles left to find work elsewhere. Myself and a brother moved to live differently. Or as in moving to Vermont, I was actually looking to live closer to how my ancestors lived.

For all the ancestors I have found, I think it’s been relatively simple to find them. We came from England and landed on the Coast of New England. We went inland a bit and built homes and lived for over 12 generations. It’s a commonality that is playing out.

It could be boring except that it was in the beginnings of founding a new country. Building first homes means you are typically mentioned in the town history. You probably held a post. Political drama happened with few people as compared to now, so often we were there or nearby. I am lucky in this search.

Except for my Germans and the Spaniard. They are hard to track. I press onward.

Views: 330

Once I have names up, it does simplify and organize my work. Instead of having hundreds of names to record and their histories, I see that I have several families of which to record. My work is then minimized and more doable.

Another discovery I made regards the gathered information for a chart. I have had my Grandfathers paternal side in a paper bundle for years, being told all the work was done. Now that I open it up in order to turn it into a fan chart, I discover that the bundle of information is only that. It is a bundle of certificates and page copies that have no direction or defined line.

This is the equivalent of someone going to the library and copying all the pages and then they stop. It reminds me of a puzzle that isn’t assembled yet. The pieces lay on my table but nothing is connected, so one sees the picture. It is a mess of certificates, unconnected names and disjointed relationships. This is what I don’t want to leave behind me. This reminds me of why I have this blog. It is one thing to do the work of gathering information. But then it needs to be presentable, readable and understandable to those who come along interested.

Everything I have gathered means nothing unless it’s turned into a story. I hope I get all this done. Thinking about it in terms of families makes it easier.

Views: 375

In hopes of a resolution, I have been experimenting with fan charts that I draw myself, in hopes of solving my dilemma. Being a visual learner, I mocked up a fan chart and watched spaces cut in half with each generation, I quickly ran of out enough space in which to write names. But what I did discover were the spaces left blank where my research ended on some family lines could be used for expanding ones. I decided that instead of skinnier and skinnier spaces, I would allow remaining family members to spread out into their neighbors fan space.The fan chart would be wider on the back end for known families.

Although this may not be a traditional fan chart, it will work visually for me. I will be able to see at a glance, which lines are ready for historical text to be written and which lines are still uncharted.

Here is a photo of my trial and error mockup as I tested and tried and ultimately crafted an answer for myself. It has varying plans and attempts all layered on top of each other. If you have suffered as well through this, the photo might makes sense.For others, use what I have here to save yourself some anguish.

Now that I know in which direction to head, I feel purposeful. I just need proper poster board, on which to craft each line in my loveliest penmanship for hanging. At least I got myself this far.

Best,Susannah

Views: 392