Wordless Wednesday - Frank Joel and Anna Kinney Family

Kinney Family 1884

This a photo of my husband's great-great grandparents and their family.  It was taken in 1884, probably near Worcester, Massachusetts where this family lived.

Front Row: Henry, Frank Joel, Anna, Sarah, Lorenzo

Rear: Asa, Lillie (Herbert's wife), Herbert, Emma, Clarence

This photo includes all seven children of Frank Joel and Anna.  Frank went on to have three more children by another wife after Anna died in 1890.

I took a picture of this photo some years ago when a cousin of my husband brought it to a family gathering.  

Make sure you don't miss the cat under Lorenzo's chair!  He clearly wanted to be known as a member of the family!

It's a good day,

Kathy

Tombstone Tuesday - Mary Robinson Wells

First Hopkinton Cemetery

Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island

Mary Robinson Wells

b. November 14, 1762 Rhode Island

d. May 23, 1842 Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island

Mary, wife of Thomas Wells, is the daughter of John Robinson and Elizabeth Wells Robinson.  She is my husband's 4th great-grandmother.

Surname Saturday - Robinson

My husband has a line of Robinsons in his ancestry that is different than the one in my family.  Today I present his Robinson line beginning with Edward.

Edward Robinson was born about 1616 in England.  His will was recorded on 18 May 1686 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island. He mentions both his sons by his wife Margaret Hall, Francis and Edward, in this document.

Francis Robinson was born after 1680 in Newport, Newport, Rhode Island.  He married Elisabeth about 1712 in Westerly, Rhode Island.

John Robinson was born about 1713.  He married Mary Irish on August 23, 1733 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  They had sons John, Daniel and Rowland.  John died about 1777 in Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island.

John Robinson was born after 1738 in Westerly.  He married Elizabeth Wells about 1762 in Hopkinton, Rhode Island.  He died after 1790.

Mary "Polly" Robinson was born 14 November 1762.  She married Thomas Wells in February 1782.  She died on May 22, 1842 and was buried at First Hopkinton Cemetery, Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island.

Another Treasure from FamilySearch.org

I reported a week or two ago about finding some of my New Brunswick, Canada ancestor's on http://pilot.familysearch.org .  There I found a collection of New Brunswick Death Certificates.  Today I am sharing the death certificate of my great-grandmother Annie Scott Babington Robinson.

The story that my father and aunts have told about Annie is that my grandmother, Annie's daughter, had recently become a school teacher and was living away from her family teaching school.  Her mother died unexpectedly and she left her teaching to go home and be with her family.  This death certificate verifies most of this. 

Annie died on January 15, 1921 after only one week of illness.  The cause of her death is listed as acute encephalitis.  I wonder how accurate that diagnose was given medical knowledge of that time period. 

In January of 1921, my grandmother was not quite 21 years old, just about right to be a new teacher.  Annie died at home in Cambridge, Queens, New Brunswick.  This leads me to wonder just where my grandmother had gone to teach.  I'll need to ask.

The death information was supplied by George Robinson, Annie's husband.  Annie's parents were reported as expected, James and Susana (Coyle) Babington.

The last interesting fact was the undertaker's name, Arnold Dykeman.  He was the son-in-law of George and Annie Robinson, married to their daughter Ethel Blanche.  My parents both remembered that Arnold was an undertaker in Cambridge. 

Annie Robinson died at 52 years old.  Far too young for her and her family.  I know her loss was always felt by my grandmother and no doubt her siblings as well.

Rest in peace, great-grandmother.

Surname Saturday - Welles/Wells

My husband's family includes the surname Welles/Wells.

This line I can trace to Thomas Welles born about 1626 in Colchester, Essex, England.  He came to this country with his parents about 1629.  On February 22, 1655 he married Naomi Marshall in Boston, Massachusetts.  They bought 180 acres in what is now Westerly, Rhode Island. Thomas and Naomi had children Thomas, Joseph, John, Nathaniel, Mary, Ruth and Sarah. He died February 12, 1700 in Westerly.

Son Thomas Welles was born December 4, 1661 in Ipswich, Essex, Massachusetts.  He married Sarah Rogers in 1691 in Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island.  They had children Thomas, Edward and Sarah.  Thomas died June 10, 1716 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.

My husband descends from both Thomas and Edward.  First I will trace Thomas.

Thomas Wells was born about 1692 in Westerly, Washington, Rhode Island.  He married Phebe Greene on September 22, 1717 in Stonington, Connecticut.  They had children Thomas, Phebe, Lois, Benjamin, Caleb, Joshua and Nathan.  Thomas died about 1770 in Westerly, Rhode Island.

Thomas Wells was born April 5, 1723 in Hopkinton,  Rhode Island.  He married Sarah Thompson on April 3, 1745 in Westerly.  Thomas served in the Revolutionary War as a Captain in Col. Richmond's Regiment, 4th Company.  He also served in the State Assembly and State Senate.  He was a member of the Council of War and Justice of the State Supreme Court.  He died August 31, 1796 in Hopkinton.

Thomas Wells was born  April 22, 1755 in Hopkinton.  He married Mary "Polly" Robinson on February 21, 1782.  He was a lawyer like his father.  He died April 20, 1829 in Hopkinton.

Thomas Robinson Wells was born about 1784.  He was a banker.  He married first Maria Potter on March 15, 1808 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island.  They had children Thomas, John, Mary, Hannah, Sarah and Elizabeth.  He married 2nd Emma Palmer.  Thomas died August 21, 1853 in South Kingstown. 

Thomas Potter Wells was born April 28, 1809 in South Kingstown, Washington, Rhode Island.  He married first Sarah Clarke and had children Thomas and Frances.  He married 2nd Clarissa Sherman and had children George and Theodore.  He married 3rd Julia Esther Johnson and had children Helen and Herbert.  He died August 21, 1884 in South Kingstown.

Daughter Helen May Wells is my husband's great-grandmother.

Back to Thomas Welles and Sarah Rogers Welles.  My husband also descends from son Edward Wells.  Edward Wells was born about 1694 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  He married Elizabeth Randall on January 12, 1726 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  He died December 1765 in Hopkinton.

Elizabeth Wells was born October 13, 1733 in Westerly, Rhode Island.  She married John Robinson on November 12, 1762 in Hopkinton.  She died June 12, 1819.  Elizabeth and John's daughter Mary "Polly" Robinson is the same woman who married Thomas Wells, see above.

Wordless Wednesday - First Day of School Remembered

First Day of School

September 1995

The kids and their school teacher dad!

Tomstone Tuesday - Thomas Wells

First Hopkinton Cemetery

Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island

Thomas Wells 

b. April 22, 1755  Rhode Island

d. April 20, 1829 Hopkinton, Washington, Rhode Island

Thomas Wells was the son of Thomas Wells and Sarah Thompson Wells.  He was married to Mary "Polly" Robinson.  Thomas is my husband's 4th great-grandfather.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Otters

My treasure for today is a pair of otters.  My grandfather, Ross Hannon, was an avid outdoorsman.  He made his living outside - farming, hunting, fishing.  He owned the ceramic otter shown below (on left) and sometimes carried it in his pocket.  I was lucky enough to receive it when he died.  My daughter created me the one on the right one day when she was about about 12.  She knew I cherished my otter and wanted him to have company in the display cabinet.

Now I am lucky enough to have two otters to cherish! 

It's a good day.

Tombstone Tuesday - Salvatore and Congetta Nocito

Saint Francis Cemetery

Wakefield, Rhode Island

Salvatore "Sam" J. Nocito

b. November 24, 1912

d. October 25, 1975

Congetta "Connie" T. Faella

b. July 6, 1915

d. July 20, 1980

Uncle Sam and Aunt Connie were my husband's paternal aunt and uncle.  Congetta was one of the twelve children of Gaetano and Pasqualina Faella. Salvatore served in the Army during WWII.

Rest in Peace.

Family Search Gold!

Inspired by somebody's blog post about the number of records that have been indexed on the Family Search website (unlike most of you, I was not organized enough to remember who posted the article), I went surfing on over the other day.  From the Pilot Family Search home,  I clicked on Search or Browse our record collection.  From there I chose North America to see what databases were available.  One that caught my eye, marked by a red star indicating that it was New or updated, was the New Brunswick, Canada, Death Certificates.

Quite a few members of my father's family were originally immigrants to the US but were loyalists to the British Crown during the Revolutionary War and consequently moved on to Canada when the war ended.  I have found the Provincial Archives of New Brunswick to be quite helpful for searching out these ancestors.  However, in the Family Search collection were actual copies of the death certificates for two time periods, 1920-1934 and 1935-1938.  No index is yet available but I was unable to resist just searching the whole database.

I was lucky in that for the 1920-1934 time frame, for Queens County, there were only 1,086 records to peruse.  In no time at all (well it did take some time, but it flew by!), I had located three ancestors death records. One that I found quite exciting was for my great-grandfather George Byron McKiel.

Byron, as he was known, was born on March 31, 1868 to Eliza Eva McKiel.  He died on November 25, 1925 in Wickham, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada.  The death certificate told me that he had been sick for only 3 days when he died from Lobar Pneumonia.  (Lobar meaning of, or pertaining to, one or more of the lobes of the lungs)

Although at least three of his children were still alive and living in the area, the informant for the death certificate information was a non-relative.  Why does this matter?  Byron was born to Eliza, along with another son, while she was still single.  She later married Jacob Van Wart and went on to have more children.  However, Byron and his brother Melvin, retained the McKiel surname.  One of my aunts who had done lots of genealogy work and visited and talked with many of our canadian ancestors, has not been able to determine who Byron's father was.  Although she believes that some of the older relatives know the answer, no one has been willing to tell.  The death certificate lists the father as John McKiel.  Could this be the one?  Eliza did have a brother John who was 7 or 8 years older than she.  Could he have been the father?

It would be a shame if those who know the answer to this question, however shameful they feel the information to be, were to let the answer stay hidden now when Eliza, Bryon and Melvin have all died.  I hope that by writing about it here, someone, somewhere, who knows the truth will be inspired to tell.

In any case, I found Byron's death certificate.  It was a good day!!

I have indexed records for the Family Search project for quite some time.  Now I am inspired to continue and hope that some of you may be as well.  Just go to the FamilySearch Indexing home page to learn how.

Treasure Chest Thursday - Flying the Coop!

Our daughter Katie is off to graduate school in Charleston, South Carolina. She is also recently engaged.  So this move might just signal the end of her years of living at home with us.  It is rather sad, but also what we hope for with our children - that they find their way in the world and start to build their own lives.  So it is with sadness and thanksgiving that I say good luck to my first child, my treasure, Katie.

First day of kindergarten

Katie off to South Carolina with Hershey her dog

Be happy, be safe, have fun!   

Love, 

Mom

Wordless Wednesday - Boy Scout Camping

In the spirit of summertime, I share this photo of the family picking up my brother, the scout on the left, after a week at Boy Scout Camp Yawgoog in Rockville, Rhode Island.

Tombstone Tuesday - Lucy Maria Turner Hannan

Hannan Cemetery

Palermo, Waldo, Maine

Lucy Maria Turner Hannan

b. June 19, 1824  Liberty, Waldo, Maine

d. April 13, 1915  Liberty, Waldo, Maine

Maria was the wife of Richard Hannan.  She was the daughter of Daniel and Sardine (Jackson) Turner.  She was the mother of Daniel, George, Newell, Charles, Bertha, Rozilla and Ulmer. 

Maria is my great-great-grandmother.

Rest in Peace.

Lucy Maria Turner Hannan on findagrave.com

Wordless Wednesday - Endless Summer Enjoyment

Me with my bike in front of my childhood home

Summers lasted forever when we were kids!  I never remember them being too hot or too rainy.  I was lucky to grow up in a neighborhood full of kids, on a dead end street where we could ride our bikes in the road, or play kickball, or tag without fear of being runover.  We built forts, we played marbles, we had games of all kinds with very little help from the grown-ups. We were outside from morning till night.  It was a great time in my life! I wish more kids today had the freedom and opportunity to experience summer like I did.

Here's hoping you can remember some fun summer days from your childhood!

Wordless Wednesday - Hannan Family Campout

The Hannan Family camping out at Green Valley Campground in Vassalboro, Maine.  

I don't know the year.  That is me in the middle with the glasses and my grandfather's arm around me.

I think we did this only one time but we had a grand time!

Tombstone Tuesday - Harry & Elsie McKiel

Maple Grove Cemetery

Albion, Kennebec, Maine

Harry Redvers McKiel

b. July 30, 1900 New Brunswick, Canada

d. October 22, 1962 Waterville, Maine

Elsie Marie Robinson McKiel

b. April 4, 1900 New Brunswick, Canada

d. October 11, 1993 Norway, Maine

Elsie and Harry McKiel were my paternal grandparents.

Sentimental Sunday - Camping

To carry on a little with my post of last Wednesday "We Did That Too! Plus Cookies and Mosquitoes", I will be telling about the camping I did as a child with my family.

Along with some shorter trips, my parents took us on two quite lengthy camping trips when I was young.  The first was in the summer of 1969 when we travelled from our home in Rhode Island to Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada.  Why Saskatoon you might ask?  My father had some meetings there for his job.  So in early July, we packed up our tent trailer, plus grammie McKiel, my father's mom, and headed out.  Grammie was going with us as far as Niagara Falls where her brother Gordon lived.  Here we are, ready to go, with Grammie already safely in the back seat. 

I don't believe that grammie had ever camped before but she was always game and with a great sense of humor and lots of stories, she kept amused for much of the trip.  Here she is, enjoying a meal at our campsite.

Two summers later, we were off to California for 6 weeks.  More meetings for my father and lots of scenery for us all.  I remember more about this trip including stops at Universal Studios, driving through the California Redwoods Forest, a stop at the Grand Canyon, Las Vegas and much more.

In front of the Grand Canyon

As with the 1969 trip, we stayed every night in our camper.  We probably ate no more than two or three meals that were not prepared by my mom, unless we were visiting friends or relatives.  In fact, one thing I remember very well is stopping at rest stops for lunch and my parents pulling out the cooler and my mom making sandwiches.

We saw many of the beautiful sights of the US.  We had lots of family time.  We had lots of laughs.  We were hot, we were cold.  We argued and played.  We got rained on, we saw snow (in July).  I think as kids it was mostly a great time.  We didn't have to worry about driving or cooking.  We were very lucky to see all that we did.  Thanks Mom and Dad.

Treasure Chest Thursday - A Blog Book

Just yesterday I received a book with most of my blog postings for the first six months of this blog.  I made it using the software from blurb.com and the "download from your blog" option.  Basically, the blurb software downloads all the posts from your blog and loads them into some default book page templates.  You can then edit to your hearts content - adding and removing pages, pictures and text.

After a few days of editing, I used my 20% off coupon (always got to have a coupon!) and sent the book off for publishing.  A little over a week later my book arrived.  It is a 7" x 7" format, softcover with premium paper.  All 108 pages for only $18.36 plus $6.99 shipping.  I couldn't be happier! 

Go to www.blurb.com for more information, ideas and pricing.  Kathy

FYI,  I have no affiliation with blurb.com

We Did That Too! Plus Cookies and Mosquitoes!

This past weekend, July 16-18th, 2010, President Obama and his family took a vacation to Acadia National Park in Bar Harbor, Maine.  We got to see them climbing up Cadillac Mountain and taking in all the beautiful scenery!

Back in the summer of 1995, we took a trip to Acadia for our summer vacation.  We didn't stay in a nice hotel or have the secret service clear the way for us. However, we have very fond memories of our time there.

We visited Acadia in late June 1995.  We setup our tent as the biggest mosquitoes I have ever seen swarmed at us from all directions.  The kids, 6 and 8, don't remember that part.  They remember telling us they were hungry, and me handing them a bag of Chip's Ahoy cookies.  When they asked how many could they have (usually the limit was two apiece), I said "As many as you want!  Now go play while we set up this tent!"  Only years later did I learn that they took that permission to heart and each had 6 or 8 cookies!

Like the Obamas, we went to the top of Cadillac Mountain

We enjoyed a few hours at wonderful Sand Beach 

We sat around a good camp-fire

where it wasn't too cold for marshmallows.  However, even the smoke couldn't keep the mosquitoes away!

Mosquitoes were the bane of the trip!  Either you were warm by the fire with mosquitoes or cold in the screen room without.  That left us going to bed at about 8 pm.  We coped for a couple of days, saw all the main views and packed up for home earlier than we had planned.  We braved a few more tent camping trips before my husband declared that renting a house or a condo for the week would be more to his liking.  Since then that has been our way!  Beds, sofas, TVs, showers, rugs, kitchens and SCREENS have been part of our motto!  But as always, the trials of life seem to bring the most vivid memories. 

I hope the Obamas enjoyed themselves.  I hear they stayed in a hotel (with screens no doubt)!  Acadia National Park is a wonderful place where mountains meet islands and the sea.  Cadillac Mountain is the tallest peak on America's North Atlantic seaboard at 1532 feet. The view is magnificent. There are also many hiking paths, lakes and other vistas to enjoy. One caveat, the water is cold! It rarely gets above 55 degrees, even in the summer.

All and all, I have buzzing great memories of my stay there!

Tombstone Tuesday - Maria Campbell Megginson

Hollywood Cemetery

Richmond City, Virginia

Maria Campbell Hening Megginson

b. April 30, 1846  Jefferson, Powhatan, Virginia

d.  June 12, 1922 Virginia

Maria is my husband's great-great grandmother.  She was the 2nd wife of Benjamin Cabell Megginson. 

Treasure Chest Thursday - All Grown Up

Today my youngest, my son John, is 21 years old!  If he isn't a treasure I don't know what one is!!

I could hardly decide which picture to include here.  What fun to look through at all the fun times we have had! 

 

Happy Birthday John!

Tombstone Tuesday - Thomas Miner

Wequetequock Burial Ground

Stonington, New London, Connecticut

Thomas Miner

b. April 23, 1608 Chew-Magna, Somerset, England

d. October 23 1690 Quiambaug, Stonington, New London, Connecticut

Thomas is my husband's 9th great-grandfather.  He was one of the founding members of the town of Quiambaug, now Stonington, Connecticut.

Update to Wedding Cake Toppers!

I don't know how I forgot this!  My nephew was married last year in China to his Chinese Bride.  The kewpie doll wedding cake topper was taken to China.  In China, wedding cakes are not usually part of the tradition. My niece managed to make a cake, in a toaster oven because ovens are not even that usual, and the kewpie dolls made their appearance.  Hooray to the tradition going strong in its 3rd generation!

Sentimental Sunday - Wedding Cake Toppers

My husband is one of seven children, six of them married.  When the first of his siblings were being wed, his parents found the wedding cake topper that they had used on their wedding cake almost 25 years earlier.  J&F decided to use it on their cake.  Thus was born a wonderful tradition.  Next S&N were married and they too used the same topper for their cake.  My husband and I were married next, on June 14, 1980 - yes, 30 years ago this year!  Here we are!

Now this picture doesn't really show the kewpie doll wedding topper so here is a close-up.  (Not the best picture I have - I will try to find a better one and post it here).

Well, a few years later H&J were married and used the same topper followed by T&J.  Five family weddings with the same wedding cake topper!  And the same one that my husband's parents had used. A grand tradition we all enjoyed.

One day while watching some old slides from my husband's grandparents collection, the following picture popped onto the screen and the entire crew began laughing at once!

It is my in-laws, at their wedding on November 22, 1952.  It doesn't take much to see that the wedding cake topper is not the kewpie dolls.  Who had they originally belonged to?  Well, that question was never answered, but we all agreed that we still loved our kewpie doll topper tradition.  To include my in-laws, on their 50th wedding anniversary, where it was a PIE-anniversary, the kewpie dolls topped the anniversary pie.

Although the tradition began by accident, it is one that I am happy to be a part of.  All the marriages are going strong, including my in-laws who have now been married 57 years!  Soon the next generation of this family will be getting married.  I will encourage all I can to take part in this wonderful celebration of family!

Ain't families grand!  

Foster Family Photo

The Children of Asa & Sarah (Morrill) Foster

 Asa and Sarah (Morrill) Foster had 12 children, all born in Canterbury, New Hampshire.  This picture is of ten of them!  (See my post on Sarah's efforts to receive Asa's pension after he died here).

Seated (l-r):       Asa Foster            b.  September 2, 1795
                         Lucy Foster           b. January 30, 1797
                        Adams Foster         b. February 22, 1800
                        Mehitable Foster    b. October 21, 1803
Standing (l-r):    Caroline Foster      b. January 13, 1816
                         Newel Foster        b.  February 7, 1814
                         David Foster         b. October 11, 1811
                         Stephen Foster      b.  November 17, 1809
                         Galen Foster         b.  October 10, 1807
                         Sarah Foster         b.  December 7, 1805

I am not sure exactly where or when the photo was taken, but I think it is wonderful that they all came together to have this picture taken!!  

This amazing photo came to me via a cousin of my husband.

Tombstone Tuesday - Charles & Edna McKiel

McDonald's Point Cemetery

Wickham, Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

Charles Loran McKiel 

b. March 31, 1902 Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

d. 1970 Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

Edna P. Coleman McKiel

b. 1905

d. 1993 Queens, New Brunswick, Canada

Surname Saturday - Todd

On my husband's side of the family comes the Todd family.

The oldest ancestor here that I have discoverd is George Todd.  He was born about 1745 in Scotland and died about 1810 in Virginia or Tennessee.  He married Elizabeth (Leipner?). 

Son James was born was born about 1784.  He married Susanna Loving/Lovern on January 2, 1785 in Richmond, Henrico, Virginia.  James served in the War of 1812 in Captain Presser's Calvary Troop.  He had children Royal, Mabel, Emma and Lafoster.  James died about 1816.

Royal Todd was born about April 14, 1809.  He married his cousin Elizabeth Todd on November 11, 1830 at the White Oak Swamp Friends Church in Henrico, Virginia.  They had children Susan, William, Charles, Thomas, John, Emma and Walter.  Royal enlisted as a private in Company A, 1st Reserves, Infantry Regiment of Virginia during the Civil War.  He died February 1, 1880 in Richmond and is buried in Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond City, Virginia.

Thomas Jefferson Todd was born December 23, 1845.  He married Eliza Park Megginson on June 30, 1903 in Richmond, Virginia.  They had children Elizabeth, Thomas and Wilson. Thomas died September 17, 1917 in Richmond. 

Elizabeth Campbell Todd was born July 16, 1904 in Richmond.  She married Lorenzo Foster Kinney March 19, 1927 at Immanuel Baptist Church in Richmond.  They lived in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.  She had three children.  She died January 4, 1992 in South Kingstown and is buried in New Fernwood Cemetery.  Elizabeth was my husband's grandmother.

Tombstone Tuesday - Asa Foster & Sarah Morrill Foster

From Center Cemetery

Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Asa Foster

b. June 3, 1765 Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

d. August 20, 1861 Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Sarah Morrill Foster

b. May 17, 1772 Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

d. March 28, 1868  Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire

Sarah Foster and Her Deceased Husband's Pension

Asa Foster was born June 3, 1765 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire (see my post about the Foster family here).  He was married to Sarah Morrill on November 10, 1794 in Canterbury.  Asa served in the Revolutionary War as a private in Captain Ebenezer Webster's Company.  He enlisted July 5, 1780 and was discharged on October 25, 1780.

The following is from Asa's pension file, found on footnote.com.  Asa did not collect a pension or the land bounty offered him.  However, after his death his wife Sarah did apply for the pension.  The following affidavit is from their son Galen. 

I Galen Foster a resident of Erie in the County of Erie and State of Pennsylvania a son of Asa Foster late of Canterbury in the County of Merrimack and state of New Hampshire deceased, testify, and say, that since my earliest recollection I have often heard my father the said Asa Foster say that he was a soldier in the Revolutionary army at West Point in the State of New York at the time of General Arnold's treason, and that he saw Arnold go down the river in a boat at the time he fled to the British, and that he was on General Arnold's lifeguard a few days before that event, but that at the time that event took place he was unwell and excused from that duty.  I have frequently heard him speak of seeing Gen. Washington at West Point shortly after Arnold left.
I have many times heard my father say that he served under Captain Webster father of  the late Honorable Daniel Webster of Massachusetts deceased I have also heard him mention the name of his Colonel but as it was not one with which I was historically acquainted, as in the case of Capt. Webster, I do not recollect it. 
I have often hear him mention incidents of his march from Amherst in the state of New Hampshire to West Point and when he has known of my passing through Springfield Mass he has often inquired of some large elm trees which made an impression on his mind at the time he passed there in his march, were still standing.  On the 4th of July last (1861) he mentioned in his family that it was just eighty one years that day since he enlisted in the Revolutionary army.  He then stated he enlisted at Canterbury and that he was at the time just fifteen years and one month and one day old at the time.  He then stated that his father went down to Amherst New Hampshire riding one horse and leading another for him to ride home on thinking that he was so small that he would be rejected when he got to Amherst. 
I have many times heard my father, in answer to inquiries of his friends, why he did not apply for a pension, say that he held that all war was wrong, and therefore it would be wrong to receive a pension for having been a soldier - after that passage of the Act of Congress giving bounty lands to soldiers, I asked him if he would apply for his land, he replied no that he would not, that he could see no difference between that and receiving a pension, and that he had long since settled it, in his own mind, that it would be wrong for him to receive a pension for having done wrong in going into the army and he did not wish to revise the decision he had  made when his mind was strong.
I further state that my father died on the 21st of August 1861 and that my mother Sarah still survives and remains a widow.  And that I have no interest in her claim to bounty land.

Galen Foster

State of New Hampshire, Merrimack County.  Subscribed and Affirmed to this twenty fifth day of April A.D. 1862 And I certify that the said Galen Foster is a credible witness and that I have no interest in this claim.
Ebenezer Batchelder, Justice of the Peace

Surname Saturday - Foster

Today is the surname Foster, from my husband's family.

The line begins with the immigrant ancestor Reginald Foster.  He was born about 1595 in Exeter, Devon, England.  He was married to Judith Wignol.  Reginald and Judith had children William, Mary, Sarah, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Reginald, all born in England.  Reginald and his family came to Ipswich, Massachusetts from England in 1638.  Reginald died in 1681 in Ipswich.

Son William Foster was born about 1633 in England. He married Mary Jackson on May 15, 1661 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.  They had children Mary, Judith, Jonathan, William, Timothy, Hannah, David, Joseph and Samuel.  William died on May 17, 1713 in Rowley.

William Foster was born 1670 in Rowley, Essex, Massachusetts.  He was a weaver by trade.  William married Sarah Kimball on July 6, 1690.  They had children Sarah, Mary, John, Hannah, Lydia and Asa.  William died August 29, 1755 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.

Asa Foster was born June 16, 1710 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  He married Elizabeth Abbott on October 26, 1732 in Andover.  They had children Asa, Abiel, Daniel, David, David, Elizabeth, Jonathan and Sarah.  Asa was a Captain in the French and Indian War.  He led an expedition to Canada in 1758. His original dairy of this expedition is held at the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  While on an expedition against Ticonderoga in 1758, Asa learned that his wife had died.  Asa married 2nd Lucy Rogers Wise and had a daughter Lucy.  Asa died July 17, 1787 in Andover.

My husband's family is descended from two children of Asa and Elizabeth - Asa and Sarah.

Asa Foster was born August 29, 1733 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  He built the first gristmill in that town.  He was also a Deacon.  He married Hannah Symonds on November 16, 1762 in Boxford, Massachusetts.  They had children Asa, Susanna and Mehitable.  Asa died September 23, 1814.

Asa Foster was born June 3, 1765 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire.  He was a private in the American Revolution, serving in Captain Ebenezer Webster's Company of Colonel Moses Nichol's Regiment.  He was at West Point when Benedict Arnold left for the British side.  He married Sarah Morrill on November 10, 1794 in Canterbury.  They had Lucy, Hannah, Asa, Adams, Harrison, Mehitable, Sarah, Galen, Stephen, David, Newel and Caroline.  Asa died August 20, 1861 in Andover.

Adams Foster was born February 18, 1800 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hampshire.  He married Sarah Eastman on November 21, 1832 in Concord, New Hampshire.  They had children Cyrus, Ann Maria, Emma, Asa and Charles.  Adams died November 18, 1873 in Holden, Worcester, Massachusetts. 

Ann Maria Foster was born August 3, 1836 in Canterbury, Merrimack, New Hamphsire.  She married Farnk Joel Kinney on May 30, 1858.  They had children Herbert, Lorenzo, Henry, Emma, Asa, Clarence and Sarah.  Ann Maria Foster Kinney died June 13, 1890 in Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts and is buried in Hope Cemetery in that town.  Ann Maria Foster Kinney was my husband's great-great grandmother.

Back to Asa and Elizabeth's daughter Sarah, from whom my husband also descends.  Sarah Foster was born February 15, 1750 in Andover, Essex, Massachusetts.  She married Timothy Bradley on December 23, 1773 in Andover.  They had children Elizabeth, Asa, Sarah, Abiah, Hannah, Timothy, Foster and Abiel.  Sarah died on February 7, 1825 in Concord, Rockingham, New Hampshire.

Sarah "Sally" Bradley was born on April 26, 1779 in Concord, New Hampshire.  She married Charles Eastman on November 29, 1798.  They had Lucy, Eliza, Maria, Sarah, Lycergus and Lucretia.  Sarah died on December 7, 1809 in Concord. 

Daughter Sarah Bradley married Adams Foster of this Foster line!

Wordless Wednesday - Papa and his Grandson

My son John and his grandfather, World War II Veteran Antonio Faella

May 31, 2004

Surname Saturday - Kinney/Kinne

Today I will write about my husband's mother's family line of Kinney.

The knowledge I have of this line begins with the immigrant ancestor Henry Kinne.  Henry was born July 18, 1633 in King's Lynne, Norfolk, England.  He married Ann Putnam on October 12, 1649 in England.  He and Ann arrived in American in 1635 on the "Elizabeth and Ann" from London.   They settled in Salem, Massachusetts.  He served in King Philip's War under Major Sedgwick.  He died on June 6, 1712 in Salem. His children were John, Thomas, Hannah, Mary, Sarah, Elizabeth, Lydia and Henry.

John Kinne was born January 11, 1651 in Salem, Massachusetts.  He married Elizabeth Looke on June 17, 1675 in Salem.  He was a soldier in King Philip's War and was a Deacon.  He died about 1718 in Newburyport, Massachusetts.  His children were John, Elizabeth, Mary, Rachel, Lydia, Samuel, Sarah, Nathan and Thomas. 

John Kinne was born March 25, 1676 in Salem.  He married Mary Smith in Hadley, Massachusetts.  He died March 28, 1776 in Middleton, Massachusetts. His children were Mary, Josiah, Benjamin, Pearly, John, Bartholomew, Elisha and David.

Benjamin Kinne was born October 1, 1709 in Salem, Massachusetts.  He served in the French and Indian War.   He married first Thankful Rude on December 24, 1745 in Preston, Connecticut.  They had children Persis, David, Asa, Elizabeth and Benjamin.  He married second Sarah Bump on September 3, 1757 in Preston.  They had children Sarah, Josiah, Alphard and Elizabeth.  He married third Elizabeth Richards on March 8, 1714 in Preston.  He died about 1798 in Preston.

Benjamin Kinne was born December 14, 1755 in Preston.  He was a carpenter and a joiner. He married Martha Harris on February 7, 1782 in Lebanon, Connecticut.  He was in the Battle of Bunker Hill, and was discharged March 12, 1781.  In 1787, the family moved to Sunderland, Vermont.  He died December 24, 1825 in Sunderland. His children were Joel and Dysa. 

Joel Kinney was born August 24, 1792 in Sunderland.  He served in the Vermont Legislature and was a Justice of the Peace.  He married Clarissa Ford on January 18, 1814 in Peru, Massachusetts.  He died November 3, 1864 in Sunderland.  His children were Charles, Benjamin, Lorenzo, Laura, Elizabeth and Frank Joel. 

Frank Joel Kinney was born Mary 30, 1833 in Sunderland, Vermont.  He was a farmer and a Nursery Owner in Worcester, Massachusetts.  He married first Ann Maria Foster on May 30, 1858.  His children were Herbert, Lorenzo, Henry, Emma, Asa, Clarence and Sarah.  He married second Fanny Dodd.  They had Robert, Lucinda and Frank.  He died on April 14, 1817 in Worcester and is buried in Hope Cemetery there.

Lorenzo Foster Kinney was born October 8, 1862 in Sunderland, Vermont.  He was the first professor appointed to Rhode Island State College (now The University of Rhode Island), coming to the experiment station in 1889.  He married Helen May Wells on July 9, 1891 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.  He was the proprietor of Lowland Rhododendron Farm in Kingston.  He died on September 9, 1944 in South Kingstown and is buried in New Fernwood Cemetery.  His children were Foster, Lorenzo, Esther, Helen and Galen.

Lorenzo Foster Kinney was born December 11, 1893 in South Kingstown, Rhode Island.  He was State 4-H leader and the owner of Kinney Azaleas Gardens in Kingston.  He married Elizabeth Campbell Todd on March 19, 1927 in Richmond, Virginia.  He died on April 20, 1994 in South Kingstown and is buried at New Fernwood Cemetery.   He was my husband's grandfather. 

Wordless Wednesday - Marilyn and Edwina

Tombstone Tuesday - Benjamin Johnson

Old Stone Church Burial Ground

East Lyme, Connecticut

Benjamin Johnson

b. September 17, 1795 Lyme, New London, Connecticut

d. October 6, 1862 East Lyme, New London, Connecticut

Benjamin Johnson is my husband's 3rd great-grandfather.  He served in the War of 1812.

Memorial Day 2010 - Brothers in Service, World War II

This memorial day I would like to remember my husband's uncles and his father who all served in World War II.

Antonio, Vincenzo "Jack" and Sylvio Faella

Antonio is my husband's dad.  He was in the Navy, serving in the pacific aboard the submarine the USS Spearfish. He served from about May 1942 through December 1945.

The middle son is Jack, my husband's uncle.  He was the youngest of the three and as of this picture was not yet old enough to serve.  He served with the Navy on the destroyer the USS Tillman.  He was born April 9, 1926 and died March 3, 2003 and is buried at the Rhode Island Veteran's Cemetery.

Sylvio was the oldest Faella brother.  He served as a Chief Commissary Steward aboard the USS Wasp.  He was killed in action on March 19, 1945,  when at about 7:10 am, the aircraft carrier was hit by a bomb.  He was buried at sea.  He was awarded the Purple Heart for his service.  He is listed on the Tablets of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial.  (His service records all have his last name as Faela)

On this memorial day, I want to thank not only the Faella men who served but also all who have defended our country through the years.  Special thanks go to those currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

God Bless them one and all!