Wordless Wednesday - Beatrice Natalie Hall

Beatrice Natalie Hall

Beatrice was my grandmother.  She was born June 17, 1906 in Danforth, Maine to Allen and Leilia Hall.  She was a school teacher, a gifted piano player, a reporter for the local newspaper in Palermo, Maine and a wonderful grandmother of nine.  She died June 9, 1976.  

When I look at this picture I see my latest nephew, born almost a year ago. 

Rest in peace grammie,

Love, Kathy 

Tombstone Tuesday - Submit Palmer

Wequetequock Burial Ground

Stonington, Connecticut

Mrs. Submit Palmer

born May 3, 1718

died January 29, 1793

Surname Saturday - Craft

On my paternal side of the family the surname Craft is one for which I can identify several generations.

The first known generation of this family in America is represented by Thomas Thorneycraft of Warwick, Rhode Island and his wife Jean.  Thomas was probably born in England and came through the Massachusetts Bay Colony on his way to Rhode Island.  He was recorded as an inhabitant of Warwick on June 5, 1648.  He died in 1659 in Maspeth Kills, Newtown, now Elmhurst, on present day Long Island.

Their son William Thorneycraft came to Musketa Cove (now a part of Glen Cove), Long Island in 1675, having lived first in Massapequa, on the southern side of Long Island.  He married Hannah Carpenter in 1682.  In his will he mentions son Joseph, son Thomas and son William, as well as daughters Hannah Washburn, Elizabeth Pellam, Mary Thorneycraft, Jane Carpenter and Phebe Thorneycraft. 

William Thorneycraft was born about 1682 and died in January 1735/36 in Oyster Bay, Nassau, New York.  He married Mary Coles in 1707 in Oyster Bay. 

Son John Thorneycraft was born about 1724 in Oyster Bay.  He married Jerusha.  In 1780 he was fined for having two of his sons join the British Army during the struggle for American Independence. 

One of these loyalist sons was my ancestor Reuben Craft.  (Many of the Thorneycrafts became Crafts over time and by the 19th century Thorneycraft seems to have disappeared from the Long Island area.)  He was born about 1760 in Rye, Westchester County, New York.  He married Alithea Wetmore about 1792.  After the Revolutionary War was over, he and most other loyalists left America for Canada.  Reuben and his family arrived in Canada in July 1783 on the "Montague". Reuben died in 1801 in New Brunswick, Canada.

John Henry Craft was born 1795 in Hampton, King's County, New Brunswick, Canada.  He married Anna Golding Smith on October 25, 1821 in Hampstead, Queen's County, New Brunswick, Canada.  He died on November 20, 1860 in Craft's Cove, Queens County and is buried in the Craft Family Cemetery there.

William Henry Craft was born on February 23, 1839 in New Brunswick.  He is listed in the census records as a farmer.  He married Martha Jane Belyea on January 8, 1862 in New Brunswick.  He died January 25 1907 at Craft's Cove, Queen's County, New Brunswick and like his father is also buried in the Craft Family Cemetery.

William and Martha's daugher Sarah Jemima Craft is my great-great grandmother.  She was born November 4, 1868 in Belyea's Cove, Queen's County, New Brunwick, Canada.  She married George Byron McKiel on November 3, 1892 at Belyea's Cove.  Her marriage index lists her as Sadie J. Craft.  She died October 24, 1946 in MacDonald's Point, New Brunswick, Canada.

Treasure Chest Thursday - The Book of Dow

You know you have partially succeeded as a family historian when some member of your family recognizes you as one.  One such moment happened for a me a few years ago when my aunt passed on to me a piece of family memorabilia.  It is a copy of The Book of Dow that was originally in the hands of my great Uncle Omar.  Omar Dow was born to Isaiah & Emily Dow on September 29, 1877.  He died February 7, 1953, a few years before I was born.

I don't know whether he purchased the book himself but I think he might have because he did begin the inscription on the inside cover when he passed the book on to my grandmother Mrs. Ross (Beatrice) Hannon.  She in turn passed it on to her daughter, my aunt Gloria, who passed it on to me.  Here is the inside cover with dates blocked out (not very neatly but...)

 

Besides the information this book contains, I am a sentimental sucker for these kind of things.  Omar held this book, poured over its contents, perhaps along with another relative or two. Then my grandmother probably did the same and on to my aunt.  Now I hold the very same book.  There are a few notes inside on the pages relating to our common Dow line.  I haven't yet tried to figure out who wrote each of them, but I know that those that held this book before me also wanted to know and remember our ancestors.  I love it.  It is sort of like the feeling I have when standing in front of the grave of an ancestor.  I know that other ancestors stood there, perhaps overcome with grief, perhaps fondly remembering.  Right in the very same spot.  What can be better than that or a treasure like this book!

Tombstone Tuesday - Oliver & Elizabeth Dow

Calais Cemetery

Calais, Washington, Maine

Oliver Buffum Dow

Born: December 27, 1802 Vassalborough, Maine

Died: June 13, 1874 Milltown, Maine

&

Elizabeth Milburn Dow

Born: June 18, 1811 Winsyke, Durham, England

Died: August 8, 1857 Milltown, Maine

Love always to 

my third great-grandparents.