Troublesome Thomas Tuck of Beverly, Massachusetts

 

The town seal of Beverly, Massachusetts

I share this ancestor, Thomas Tuck (1611 - 1667) with my fellow genealogy blogger, Bill West, who unfortunately passed away last year.  Bill wrote three interesting blog posts about Thomas Tuck, and you can find the links below at the end of this post.  It was Bill who called our common ancestor "Troublesome Thomas Tuck".  

Thomas Tuck was my 9th great grandfather, born about 1611 probably in England.  He died in Beverly, Massachusetts on 20 March 1667.  Years after he died his ghost became part of the 1692 witch trails, when someone accused him of coming back from the dead to urge her to buy some land!  In my opinion his ghost was mentioned because he was not particularly law abiding during his life.  But we will never know, will we? 

" And for seeing the devill, or any spirit but ones, & that was soon after old Thomas Tuck dyed (w'ch I take to be about ten yeare since) & that shee took it to be the Ghost of Thom: tuck coming to speak w'th her about some land s'd Tuck had told her of before his death. But that shee fled from the Ghost & got away."  Salem Witch Papers No. 68.18 Examination of Dorcas Hoar 2 May 1692 

I'm on a search to learn more about Thomas Tuck's wife.  Or his wives.  I wasn't sure how many times he married, or which wife might have been the mother of my 8th great grandfather, John Tuck, born in 1646 in Beverly and died there in 1722.  There is no mention of Thomas Tuck, unfortunately, in any of the Great Migration Books, so I can assume he came to Massachusetts after 1635 (which is the drop off date for Robert Charles Anderson's research).  He is not found in many other records except for court records, where I can find many, many mentions of his misadventures.

In Sidney Perley's History of Salem, 1924, Volume 1, pages 399 - 401 there is a very short mention of Thomas Tuck.  No, not three pages on him, just three sentences in the footnotes:

"Thomas Tuck, a blacksmith, aged about twenty-five, lived on Cape Ann side in 1636.  In 1643 he was living apart from his wife, and in 1650 he had married the widow of George Harris.  His wife was Joan in 1679.  In 1643 he was complained of for living absent from his wife, but was discharged."

What facts do I learn from this tiny paragraph?  Or what new questions do I have?  How many wives did Thomas Tuck have? Which wife was my ancestress? Where can I find more records? Does he appear anywhere except in court records? Why was he a part of the Salem Witch Hysteria? 

Fortunately, after a lot of digging over many months, I found a terrific resource.  Someone had done a sketch of Thomas Tuck and his children in the 2018 edition of the New England Historic Genealogical Society Register journal, hidden inside an article about George Harris (Yes!  The same George Harris mentioned in that brief little paragraph in the History of Salem.) And this article answered all my questions about Troublesome Thomas Tuck, and even brought up some new questions and further things to investigate.

My question was how many wives did Thomas Tuck have?   Apparently he had two, one before "Joan".  Joan's previous marriage to George Harris left her with three sons.  One of these sons, Samuel Harris (1644-1682) was married to Mary Hoar, the daughter of accused witch Dorcas (Galley) Hoar.  This news explained a lot of the mentions in court records of Thomas Tuck being the "father-in-law" (step-father) to Joseph Harris.  It also explains why the Tuck and Harris children were called to testify at Dorcas Hoar's trial for witchcraft in 1692. 

The article also listed many, many resources in the footnotes for additional deeds, court records, and other information.  Some of the best I found were compiled genealogies done on the Harris family, which helped me to sort out the Tuck family!  

Thomas and Joan Tuck had only one known child, my 8th great grandfather John Tuck (1646 - 1722) who married a Rachel (________) - another brick wall female line to untangle.  But they had six children including my 7th great grandfather John Tuck (1674 - 1717), and his sister Mary Tuck (1682 - 1741/2) who married John Balch the grandson of my 8th great grandparents Benjamin Balch and Sarah Gardner. Another daughter-in-law, Sarah Reith, remarried, when her husband Joseph Tuck died, to Samuel Allen of Manchester, Massachusetts (My mother's maiden name is Allen, a descendant of William Allen (1602 - 1678) of Manchester, so I need to find the kinship connection for this Samuel Allen). I had some notes on these Balch/Tuck/Reith/Allen families already in my files. I'm sure that I can unravel it all now with this new information. 

Don't forget to check journal articles, blog posts, and compiled genealogies of related families when you hit a Brick Wall ancestor!  Especially new articles published in the last five years, which may not be mentioned as much as articles from the 20th century or early 2000s (or show up on online searches).  

For the truly curious:

History of Salem, by Sidney Perley, 1924, Volume 1, pages 399 - 401.

NEHGS Register, 2018, Volume 172, pages 302 - 304  George Harris 1 of Salem, Massachusetts, with Sketch of Thomas 1 Tuck, by Gale Ion Harris https://www.americanancestors.org/DB202/i/55221/304/73267555

The Salem Witchcraft Papers, at salemlib.virginia.edu/texts/transcripts.html, SWP No. 68.4 (deposition of Rachel Tuck and Hannah Cox v. Dorcas Hoar, 14 May 1692)

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Troublesome Thomas Tuck of Beverly, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 22, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/04/troublesome-thomas-tuck-of-beverly.html: accessed [access date]).  

Goofy's Sky School Ride at Disneyland, California Adventure for Weathervane Wednesday

 Today's weathervane was photographed by Don Smith at Disneyland, California Adventure Park in Anaheim, California.

Our friend Don Smith travels a lot, and sometimes he sends me some great weathervane photos from his travels.  I have featured some of those weathervanes here on Weathervane Wednesday - including what may be the highest weathervane in the world HERE on top of the Matterhorn in Switzerland. 

This two dimensional metal weathervane can be found atop the watertower at the Goofy's Sky School roller coaster inside Disney California Adventure park in Anaheim, California.  This ride used to an attraction called Mulholland Madness, but it was rethemed and reopened on 1 July 2011. It is based on a 1940 short cartoon called Goofy's Glider. The ride is full of gags from this movie and other cartoons featuring Goofy. 

If you have visited Walt Disney World in Florida you might have seen the similar ride called The Great Goofini's Barnstormer inside Fantasyland. This is a junior roller coaster for young children. 

In the 1920s and 1930s barnstormers were itinerant pilots who traveled around the country doing aerial stunts with their plans, and offering plane rides.  Did you know Charles Lindbergh started his career in the air as a barnstormer? 

This weathervane is two dimensional, and it shows a hapless Goofy flying his little plane while being chased by a lightning bolt and an ominous cloud.  The weathervane is a preview of the wild ride just beyond the watertower. 

For the truly curious:

Goofy's Sky School ride at the Disneyland website:   https://disneyland.disney.go.com/attractions/disney-california-adventure/goofys-sky-school/

Weathervanes from Switzerland with photos from Don Smith:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2023/09/weathervanes-in-switzerland-for.html   

Click here to see over 550 Weathervane Wednesday posts:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday  

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To cite/link to this blog post:   Don Smith and Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Goofy's Sky School Ride at Disneyland, California Adventure for Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 16, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/04/goofys-sky-school-ride-at-disneyland.html: accessed [access date]). 

What are the genealogy resources inside the New Hampshire State Library?

 Last week the New Hampshire lawmakers tried to shutter the New Hampshire State Library, just across the street from the statehouse in Concord.  In my 26 March 2025 blog post I outlined the story of how public reaction was so strong that the lawmakers stopped pushing for closure, but instead cut the budget to the State Library.  The federal government also cut the budget for libraries, including state and local public libraries, so we will have to wait and see how this affects service, staffing, and support for the New Hampshire State Library.

I've been using this library for many years for genealogical research and to study local history.  It's one of the best resources for family history north of the New England Historic Genealogical Society.  It's also located right next across the street to the New Hampshire Historical Society library (another invaluable resource with many compiled genealogies and unique manuscripts), so if you need something additional you can just walk right over.  The Concord Public library is a block away, too.  All three libraries have unique collections.  Only the NH Historical Society requires an admission or membership. 

Inside the NH State Library, behind the circulation desk on the first floor, is the genealogy room, AKA the New Hampshire Room. It looks like the biggest room in the building, and the NH Supreme Court met here until 1970. The card catalog to the entire building is online, there are 4 microfilm readers, and a photocopy machine. There is a computer to access Ancestry. Best of all, the highly trained staff is ready to assist you (mail requests for photo copies are available, too).  In the genealogy room you can find the following items:

County and Town Histories (on the left as you enter), where you can find mentions of the first settlers and many town histories have a genealogy section in the back of the book.  My favorite town histories are those books which have more pages devoted to genealogy than to the history!

Compiled Family Histories, about 2400 books, on the left and back walls. Many are out of copyright and can be found at Archive.org or Google books, but many new books are also on the shelves and unavailable any where else in New Hampshire.  There is a copy of Index to Genealogies in New Hampshire Town Histories, by William Copely, to help you find your relatives and ancestors. 

The Mayflower Silver Books, DAR Lineage books, The Tan Books (Vital Records for Massachusetts towns to 1850), 

American-Genealogical & Biographical Index, Boston Transcript Genealogy Columns (1896 - 1941) on microfiche. 

To the left there are NH Newspapers on microfilm - many are very old newspapers no longer active, some date back to the 1700s.  Also included is the Concord Monitor obituaries between about 1948 to 2014. There are finding aids for the microfilm.  Granite Monthly magazine 1877 - 1930 with an index. The NH Notables series also at Archive.org and Family Search. 

Also in the building:

Early Town Records (about 1640 - about 1830)with a name index.  Some are available on Family Search. Also Town and City Reports from the 1800s to the present (also online at UNH).  The Sargent Name Index to records on microfilm. 

1790 - 1940 NH Census Records 

Gravestone inscriptions from New Hampshire and Maine (more at the NH Historical Society)

Church records (more at the NH Historical Society)

New Hampshire State & Provincial Papers, (40 volumes) with an index (also online at the NH Archives or at UNH). This is a valuable resource I have blogged about many times. 

Many maps including the Sanborn fire insurance maps, county maps, and the 1892 NH Town and City Atlas by D. H. Hurd.  

Directories- town and city directories, phone books (1950s to the present) (The New England Telephone Museum in Warner, New Hampshire also has phone books). 

For the truly curious:

The New Hampshire State Library, 20 Park Street, Concord, NH   https://www.nhsl.dncr.nh.gov/   

The New Hampshire State Library Genealogical Resources:   https://www.nhsl.dncr.nh.gov/collections/genealogical-resources   

26 March 2025 blog post about the New Hampshire State Library budget cuts:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/new-hampshire-state-library-budget-cuts.html  

If you are a member of the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists, there is a video from 15 March 2022 available to members of Rebecca Stockbridge's lecture "New Hampshire State Library's Genealogical Resources" with two handouts.  

Also, see my 10 May 2019 blog post "Researching Your Ancestors in Concord, New Hampshire":   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2019/05/researching-your-ancestors-in-concord.html   

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "What are the genealogy resources inside the New Hampshire State Library?", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 8, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/what-are-genealogy-resources-inside-new.html: acessed [access date]). 

New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War)

 This is the third blog post in a series on the Newburgh/New Windsor, New York area historic sites from the Revolutionary War. 

The New Windsor Cantonment was the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War.  During the winter of 1782- 1783 over 7,000 soldiers and 500 civilians were encamped here at New Windsor, New York.  On 19 April 1783 (8 years to the day after the Battles of Lexington and Concord) General George Washington issued the cease-fire orders here that ended the War of Independence for the Continental Army.  

In the summer months this historic site has costumed re-enactors demonstrating musket drills, camp life, blacksmithing and other 18th century skills. It is located next door to The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor.  This museum explains the history of the Purple Heart, which originated with Washington's Badge of Military Merit, which was awarded to three men at the cantonment in 1783. 

My ancestor Abner Poland was a member of the 8th Massachusetts Regiment, and stationed here at the New Windsor Cantonment.  He had served in the Continental Army for over seven years, and saw action at Trenton, Saratoga and Yorktown. He was awarded the Badge of Merit by General George Washington in August 1783 (see below).   The regiment was furloughed 12 June 1783 at West Point, and disbanded on 3 November 1783.  

This historic military site is just a few miles from Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh, New York.  General Washington was stationed there for over 16 months, the longest time at any of his headquarters during the Revolutionary War.  Abner Poland's Badge of Merit certificate was awarded at the headquarters in Newburgh. 

This historic area has a reconstruction of the log buildings built by the Continental Army at the cantonment, including the "Temple of Virtue" and barracks.

A small graveyard near the Temple of Virtue

It is a short walk to the Temple of Virtue

A transcription:

The name Temple of Virtue may have been derived from a 1757 sermon by David Fordyce called The Temple of Virtue: A Dream.  "A pilgrim traveled to an eminence crowned by a "sacred mansion" of quadrangular form" whose whole fabric was simple and solemn..."  

In part to keep the soldiers gainfully occupied during the long winter months, Army Chaplain Israel Evans proposed the construction of a meeting hall in December 1782.  Unlike the soldier's huts, the building was handsomely finished with a vaulted ceiling and large, glazed windows.  The building was used primarily for church services as well as military functions and occasional musical performances.  Two rooms on one end were offices and a store for the quartermaster and commissary, and two on the other side were used for officer meetings and issuing general orders. 

This reenactor spent a long time with me inside the Temple of Virtue, and we discussed the Badge of Merit, the Badge of Military Merit, and the Massachusetts 8th Regiment.  

The certificate for the Badge of Merit awarded to Abner Poland

at Newburgh, NY by General George Washington

(click to enlarge)

For the truly curious:

A children's book The Medal With a Heart, by Karen Kulinski, 2018, M.T. Publishing Company, Evansville, Indiana (I bought my copy of this book at the Independence Museum in Exeter, NH). 

The New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site webpage:   https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/newwindsor/maps.aspx  

Wikipedia article on the New Windsor Cantonment:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Windsor_Cantonment_State_Historic_Site  

My blog post (part 1) on Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html  

My blog post on (part 2) The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-national-purple-heart-hall-of-honor.html

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site (the last Continental Army encampment of the Revolutionary War)", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 1, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/04/new-windsor-cantonment-state-historic.html: accessed [access date]). 

New Hampshire State Library Budget Cuts

The New Hampshire State Library on the morning of 25 March 2025
while lawmakers were debating its fate across the street in the statehouse

Yesterday, 24 March 2025, on WMUR TV there was a report that a bill would move forward to close the New Hampshire State Library and the Council on the Arts.  Joe Sweeney (R) of Salem stated that "There is no constitutional need to fund the state library" and he proposed eliminating funding.  The parent agency for the state library falls under the New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources, which also oversees historical sites, NH forests and lands, and parks and recreation. 

Immediately on social media there was a firestorm of complaints about closing the state library, with lots of links posted on how to contact members of the statehouse and state senators.  I sent several emails, and I shared this information with my friends, members of genealogy groups, local history in New Hampshire groups, and other groups in New England.  People from as far away as Australia, Washington State, Canada, and California all wanted to know who to contact or how to help.  

Well, the email campaign must have worked, because by 11:30 on Tuesday morning 25 March 2025 the NH statehouse announced that they were no longer considering defunding the New Hampshire State Library.  However, they still had the New Hampshire Council for the Arts on the chopping block. I'm relieved, but still cautious that this does not bode well for the future of the state library or any other public libraries here in New Hampshire, across New England, or across the United States.  WMUR TV also had a story about this reprieve. 

Our New Hampshire State Library is the oldest in the United States.  It was originally founded in 1717 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, and then relocated to Concord in 1808.  The granite building at 20 Park Street is located across the street from the New Hampshire State House.  Most state libraries contain state government publications, historical records, legislative documents, maps, statute books, and records unique to the state such as town, city and county reports, family histories, town histories, manuscripts and newspapers. You can see why this is a valuable, one-of-a-kind resource for the citizens of the state.  It is located close to the statehouse so members and staff of the government can quickly and efficiently obtain historical and legislative information from specially skilled librarians.  

I have visited several state libraries across the country from Maine, to Massachusetts, to Hawaii, but the New Hampshire State Library is where I do most of my genealogy and local history research for this blog and for my own family history.  I refer people to this library often, probably at least once or twice a week from queries to this blog. The State Library is a terrific place for authors, historians, and genealogists who travel from across the globe to Concord for their research.  The skilled staff here is ready to assist anyone who shows up, not just lawmakers.  Out of state visitors and even local visitors to this library bring economic benefits to Concord and New Hampshire when they frequent the restaurants, hotels and local businesses.  

On March 14 the White House announced that the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) would be "governmental entities [that] shall be eliminated to the maximum extent consistent with applicable law." We need to be prepared to see libraries across the country face the same fight as the New Hampshire State Library. Since 2015 the IMLS has granted over $15 million to libraries and museums in New Hampshire. The State Library uses these funds for critical programs like the Interlibrary Loan System, digital access to ebooks, and the Talking Book program for the blind. [from an email from Michael Haley Goldman of the IMLS, received 25 March 2025]. 

Tuesday morning, while the lawmakers were debating this controversy across the street in the statehouse, I visited the staff at the State Library and took these photos.  

I will follow up on this story with a blog post about the wonderful genealogical resources available at the NH State Library.  Please, take some time soon to visit this wonderful resource in Concord, New Hampshire. We need to let the librarians and staff know they are valued, and that we are thinking about them and their careers at this stressful time.  

For the truly curious:

The 24 March 2025 story on WMUR, "Budget Plan would eliminate New Hampshire State Library, Council on the Arts":   https://www.wmur.com/article/new-hampshire-state-library-council-arts-budget/64277841  

The 25 March 2025 story on WMUR, "NH lawmakers back away from plan to eliminate state library after flood of email":   https://www.wmur.com/article/nh-state-library-budget-cut-reversal-32525/64286244   

Wikipedia New Hampshire State Library:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_State_Library  

Wikipedia New Hampshire Department of Natural and Cultural Resources:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Hampshire_Department_of_Natural_and_Cultural_Resources    

The Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA):  https://www.cosla.org/    

Information about state libraries from the American Library Association:   https://www.ala.org/tools/atoz/state-library-agencies  

A previous blog post written in 2019 about genealogical resources in Concord, New Hampshire, including the New Hampshire State Library:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2019/05/researching-your-ancestors-in-concord.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "New Hampshire State Library Budget Cuts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 26, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/new-hampshire-state-library-budget-cuts.html: accessed [access date]). 

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York

 This is part two of three blog posts on a visit to the Newburgh/New Windsor, New York historic sites from the American Revolutionary War.  

Entrance to the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York

Last fall we visited Newburgh, New York to see George Washington's last Revolutionary War headquarters, and the museum staff recommended that we go down the road to see the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor.  I was at Newburgh to see where George Washington had awarded by ancestor, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835) of Essex, Massachusetts a Badge of Merit. General Washington had devised two awards at his headquarters, the first was to signify loyal military service, he ordered a chevron to be worn on the left sleeve of the uniform coat for the rank and file that had completed three years of duty "with bravery, fidelity, and good conduct", two chevrons signified six years of service.  Abner Poland had served more than seven years, through to the Battle of Yorktown.  

The second badge General Washington awarded was for "any singularly meritorious Action"  "The figure of a Heart in Purple Cloth or Silk edged with narrow Lace or Binding".  This Badge of Military Merit was sewn on the left breast of the uniform coat.  Due to the war ending, and many other distractions, Washington only awarded three of these purple badges.  The Purple Heart was reinstated after World War I for soldiers who suffered injuries or death.  

It was at this museum, The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, where I learned about the two awards established by General Washington.  I have a copy of Abner Poland's certificate signed by George Washington, and it is stored at the National Archives in Washington, DC.  Abner's widow, Sarah Burnham Poland (about 1759 - 1846) used this certificate to apply for a Revolutionary War widow's pension. 

This museum is located right next door to the New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site.  The Hall and the Cantonment share a parking lot.  Both are worthy of a visit. These sites are only a few miles from General George Washington's Headquarters in Newburgh.  

When you press the button, you can see an actual Badge of Military Merit,

originally awarded to Sergeant Elijah Churchill in 1782.

Badge of Military Merit

General Washington wished to honor 

his enlisted soldier's merit, but Congress

limited his power to do so.  In a general

order dated 7 August 1782, issued in 

Newburgh, New York, Washington

established the Badge of Military Merit.

Only three Badges of Military Merit are

verified to have been awarded.

A close up of the original felt, embroidered 

Badge of Military Merit. 

This Purple Heart medal belonged to

World War I veteran Howard R. Bouton.

As the accompanying letter (facsimile)

describes, Mr. Bouton received this 

medal in 1944 for wounds he had

sustained during World War I. 

A display about the New Windsor, New York Cantonment

at the end of the Revolutionary War

Why Here on 

These Grounds?

At the end of the Revolutionary War, army officers met

here to select the first know recipients of the Badge of

Military Merit.  Three months after the modern Purple

Heart was created in 1932, 136 local World War I

veterans were awarded their Purple Hearts in a 

ceremony held on these very grounds.               

The Hall of Honor continues this tradition of honoring

service and sacrifice.  Purple Heart recipients are those

service members who were killed or wounded by enemy

action.  Our mission is to collect, preserve and share the

stories of all Purple Heart recipients.                           

Badge of Merit certificate for Abner Poland signed by George Washington

For the truly curious:

Last week's blog post on Washington's Last Headquarters in Newburgh, NY:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html  

The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor:   https://www.thepurpleheart.com/   

The New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site:    https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/newwindsor/maps.aspx   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, New Windsor, New York", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 25, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/the-national-purple-heart-hall-of-honor.html: accessed [access date]). 

George Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York

This is part one of three blog posts about the historic sites at Newburgh/New Windsor, New York where my ancestor recieved the Badge of Merit from General George Washington. 

Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York

Last fall we visited Washington's Headquarters, a New York state park located on the banks of the Hudson River in Newburgh.  Washington was stationed here for more than 16 months at the end of the Revolutionary War.  Although it was not as famous as his winter headquarters at Valley Forge, it was his longest stay at any headquarters during the war. 

This stone house was built around 1725 and then owned by the Hasbrouck family.  The Continental Army was encamped nearby during the war at the New Windsor Cantonment.  Washington moved into the house on 1 April 1782 and left on 19 August 1783.  While he was in Newburgh he established the Badge of Military Merit, which was to be awarded to enlisted men for long and faithful service.  It was awarded to three men at Newburgh, all stationed nearby in New Windsor. The ceremony took place on the front lawn of the headquarters at Newburgh.  Then, with the war coming to a close, no more Badges of Military Merit were awarded by Washington. The program was abandoned until World War 1.  

It was during Washington's time at Newburgh, New York that the Newburgh Conspiracy occured.  In March some of the New Windsor Cantonment officers wrote an anonymous letter to take action against Congress.  They were angry about lack of pay, and threatened to disband the army. General Washington gave a speech known as the "Newburgh Address" to persude the officers to remain loyal to Congress and to him.   

The house was returned to the Hasbrouck family after Washington left.  The property remained in the family until 1848 when the owners defaulted on a mortgage payment and were forced to leave.  The house became the property of the state of New York, and later became a public historic site.  In 1910 a two story brick museum was added to the property, and the Hasbrouck house was decorated to reproduce how it looked during the Revolutionary War.   A monument "Tower of Victory" was built in 1887.  It was declared a National Historic Landmark in 1961. 

Several years ago I was researching my ancestor, Abner Poland (1761 - 1835), who served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War.  His service with the 8th Massachusetts Regiment included the battles at Hubbardston, Stillwater, Monmouth, and Yorktown - a total of seven years and six months.  Abner Poland received the Badge of Merit on 13 June 1783 from George Washington at Newburgh.  The certificate granted to Abner Poland read:  "The above Corporal Poland has been honored with the Badge of Merit for seven years and six months faithful service.  M. Jackson Colonel". You can find the link below for my interesting blog post on this unique certificate, signed by George Washington. 

Years later, Sarah Burnham Poland, his widow, applied for a widow's pension on 1 February 1837, and received $88 per year, which began on 4 September 1837. Sarah lived until 1846.  Sarah and Abner are buried at the Oakgrove Cemetery behind the Community Church in Enfield, New Hampshire. 

The Tower of Victory by the Hudson River

Items on display at the Newburgh museum

The Badge of Merit certificate awarded to Abner Poland

at Newburgh, New York and signed by General George Washington

(click to enlarge)

For the truly curious:

Washington's Headquarters at Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Washington%27s_Headquarters_State_Historic_Site   

Washington's Headquarters, NY state park website:   https://parks.ny.gov/historic-sites/17/details.aspx  

For more information on Abner Poland, my 5th great grandfather, in blog posts:

Surname Saturday - POLAND of Essex County, Massachusetts:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-poland-of-essex-county.html   

George Washington Signed Here? A Mystery Document:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/amanuensis-monday-george-washington.html   

Tombstone Tuesday - Abner Poland, Enfield, New Hampshire:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/10/tombstone-tuesday-my-5th-great.html    

The National Archives - Good News/Bad News (my trip to NARA to see Washington's signature on Abner Poland's discharge):   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/04/national-archives-good-news-bad-news.html  

The National Archives - They read my blog!?     https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/04/national-archives-they-read-my-blog.html   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "George Washington's Headquarters at Newburgh, New York", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 18, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/george-washingtons-headquarters-at.html: accessed [access date]). 

Betsy Holmes Shaw, died 1795, Plymouth, Massachusetts for Tombstone Tuesday

 This tombstone was photographed at Burial Hill in Plymouth, Massachusetts

 

Epitaph:

To the memory of

Mrs. BETSY SHAW

wife of

Mr. ICHABOD SHAW Jun.r

who died Dec.r 26, 1795

aged 20 years.

Also her infant daughter

Betsy Holmes by her side

aged 7 months & 15 days.

 Betsy Holmes Shaw was born 10 May 1774 in Plymouth, the daughter of Captain Ichabod Holmes and Rebekah Ellis.  She married Ichabod Shaw on 29 March 1795 in Plymouth.  When Betsy died on 26 December 1795, Ichabod remarried to Esther Homes (1769 – 1846) , her sister.  Esther outlived Ichabod, who died on 26 July 1837 in Plymouth. All three are interred at Burial Hill.

The top of Betsy’s tombstone shows a cherub, and a brick tomb, next to a funeral urn.  All three are common images by gravestone carvers in the early Federal period.  It is possible that Betsey died from complications of childbirth? She was buried with her infant daughter.

 For the truly curious:

Graven Images – New England Stonecarving and Its Symbols, 1650 – 1815 by Allen Ludwig, 2000, (pages 202 and 205 discuss this tombstone).   

Also see Epitaphs from Burial Hill by Bradford Kingman, 1892. See #1448 for Betsy Holmes Shaw.

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 To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Betsy Holmes Shaw, died 1795, Plymouth, Massachusetts for Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 11, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/03/betsy-holmes-shaw-died-1795-plymouth.html: accessed [access date]).