Wednesday, August 31, 2022

A Pig - Weathervane Wednesday

 This little piggie was photographed at Kimball Farm, Westford, Massachusetts.




This two dimensional pig weathervane is located near the beach volleyball court at the very popular venue called Kimball Farm in Westford, Massachusetts.  This farm has been a popular location for ice cream since 1939.  The original dairy farm is now not only an ice cream parlor, but it is extremely busy hosting family, business, and social events in tents.  Many birthday parties, class reunions, scout trips, corporate outings, weddings, and more are hosted daily.  The cow pastures have been replace with driving ranges, mini-golf, amusement park like rides, a petting farm, and lovely gardens and wooded walkways.  There are also three other Kimball Farm locations (ice cream only). 

There is a lovely green patina developing on this pig weathervane. I love the details, like the curly tail and the flat snout!  This weathervane is only about ten feet above the footpath, so you can enjoy the artistry without looking through binoculars or the zoom lens of your camera. It is also close enough for children to enjoy, too.  

For the truly curious:

The Kimball Farm website:    https://kimballfarm.com/  

I am a descendant of Richard Kimball, the immigrant.  Most Kimball families (but not all!)  in New England are related to Richard Kimball. Here is my blog post showing my descent from Richard Kimball: 

Click here to see over 475 other weathervanes featured at this blog:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Pig - Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 31, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-pig-weathervane-wednesday.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Thomas Harvey, Revolutionary War Veteran, died 1837, Portsmouth, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Old North Cemetery in Portsmouth, New Hamphsire.


THOMAS HARVEY
a worthy
Soldier of the Revolution
Died
Jan. 18, 1837
Aged 84 years. 


 Thomas Harvey was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire around 1752, and died in Portsmouth on 18 January 1837.  He served in the Continental Army for seven years during the Revolution.  He crossed the Delaware with Washington, and was at the Battle of Brandywine in 1777.   His wife was named Hannah, and they had several children Martha (baptized at the North Church 5 December 1784),  Samuel (baptized 3 September 1785), Nancy (baptized 17 May 1788),  and Hannah (baptized 4 September 1791).  Find A Grave also lists two more children - Lyman S. Harvey and Susan S. Harvey and a second wife "Mary".  Susan's little gravestone is next to her father's. 


In memory of
Susan S. Harvey,
daughter of
Tho. & Mary Harvey
(illegible)


There is an interesting sketch about Thomas Harvey in The Soldier's Memorial: Portsmouth, NH 1893- 1921, by Joseph Foster, see page 32 for an excerpt from the Portsmouth Journal, February 4, 1831:

"When Lafayette visited Portsmouth in 1824 an interesting scene occurred in the hall of audience. Harvey was introduced to the General as a soldier who had fought under him. 'Do you recollect, Marquis (said Harvey), who bore you on his back, after being wounded at the battle of Brandywine, to the surgeon's quarters?'  'He was called Tom Harvey', said the excellent Lafayette." 

Also from the Daughters of the American Revolution Magazine, Volume 26, page 15:

"Sergeant Thomas Harvey, brother-in-law of Mark Green, whose gravestone will be found in the North cemetery, Portsmouth, near the entrance, "served over seven years in the Continental army", and "had a fine record".  He died in Portsmouth, January 18, 1837, aged eighty four years. "He was at the battle of Brandywine, where General Lafayette was wounded.  He was with the reception to Lafayette in Portsmouth on September 1, 1824, when they renewed the acquaintance." 

For the truly curious:

More stories about Thomas Harvey in the American Revolution:  https://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/WMH9JG_Thomas_Harvey_Old_North_Cemetery_Portsmouth_NH   

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Thomas Harvey, Revolutionary War Veteran, died 1837, Portsmouth, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 23, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/08/thomas-harvey-revolutionary-war-veteran.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tuesday, August 16, 2022

North Cemetery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire


The Old North Cemetery (Also known as the North Burying Ground) can be found near the North Mill Pond on Maplewood Avenue in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. We have driven by this place dozens of times, and finally decided to get out of the car and explore!  The first burial here was in 1751, and it borders Union Cemetery (which is often thought of as part of the same burial ground).  The gate is locked, and the stone wall is low enough to climb over, but there is an opening in the wall near the railroad tracks, next to an information board (see below).  





NORTH CEMETERY
----------o-------------
The town of Portsmouth purchased
this land in 1753 for 150 pounds
from Col. John Hart, Commander of
the N.H. Regiment at Louisburg.
General William Whipple, Signer of
the Declaration of Independence,
Gov. John Langdon, Signer of the
Constitution, Capt. Thomas Thompson,
of the Continental ship Raleigh, are
among the noted citizens buried here.



 For the truly curious:

Old North Cemetery at Wikipedia:   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_North_Cemetery_(Portsmouth,_New_Hampshire)   

"Historic Portsmouth Cemeteries", Seacoast Online: http://www.seacoastnh.com/Travel/Quick-Guides/Historic-Portsmouth-Cemeteries/   

North Cemetery at the Find A Grave website (listing of notable burials):   https://www.findagrave.com/cemetery/103000/north-cemetery    

Portsmouth Public Library Cemetery Index (maps and plot plans)  The text and transcriptions for North Cemetery were made in 1907 and corrected in 1954, which is wonderful since time and pollution have obscured some epitaphs since then!

  https://www.cityofportsmouth.com/library/local-history-genealogy/cemeterymaps   

"'A Special Treasure": North Cemetery, a gem of Portsmouth's history, needs repair", Portsmouth Herald, 1 September 2021:     https://www.seacoastonline.com/story/news/local/2021/09/01/north-cemetery-portsmouth-nh-has-constitution-declaration-signers/5584124001/   

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "North Cemetery, Portsmouth, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 16, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/08/north-cemetery-portsmouth-new-hampshire.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tuesday, August 9, 2022

Millie in the Millyard, Manchester, New Hampshire


I've blogged about this beloved state before (you can find the link below) and this artwork is even more beloved today.  The original name of the statue is "The Mill Girl", but she is affectionately known as "Millie" here in Manchester, New Hampshire.  Millie is located on North Commercial Street, next to the Stark Mill on a flight of stairs that has become quite hazardous and broken.  The city has not yet roped off the area, but as you can see in the photos below, the staircase is quite dangerous.  

I decided to photograph the area around Millie because the city of Manchester is going to soon revamp this and change the layout of the pedestrian way.  They want to include a ramp, signage, and a new location for Millie.  The city was seeking ideas and feedback from the public last year. 

When the construction begins, I will document this, and the final results, too! 


The restoration project has begun!


For the truly curious:

A previous blog post about Millie, the Mill Girl from 2012

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/02/millie-mill-girl-of-manchester-new.html   


From the Manchester Ink Link website: 

https://manchesterinklink.com/city-seeks-ideas-for-mill-girl-makeover/   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Millie in the Millyard, Manchester, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 9, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/08/millie-in-millyard-manchester-new.html: accessed [access date]). 

Thursday, August 4, 2022

2022 Swimsuit Edition at Nutfield Genealogy

My great grandparents, Etta and Arthur Hitchings,
1930s, Wingaersheek Beach, Gloucester, Massachusetts

We're having a heatwave!  For generations my family and yours have cooled off swimming! Here are some vintage photos from the family albums showing ancestors and relatives in swim suits and bathing costumes.

Gordon Hitchings and a friend, 1920s
(my Grandmother's brother) Hamilton, Massachusetts 


1947, my Dad and his friends
Misery Island off Beverly, Massachusetts


My Mom, Mexico, 1959

1965 Lynch Park, Beverly, Massachusetts
Me, Mom and little sister


1960s Crooked River, Maine
My aunt and uncle's camp


1974 Holden, Massachusetts Public Pool
on the right my sister and I

August 1975 heatwave in Holden, Massachusetts
My Dad and a neighbor with lawn chairs and the sprinkler

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "2022 Swimsuit Edition at Nutfield Genealogy", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 4, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/08/2022-swimsuit-edition-at-nutfield.html: accessed [access date]). 

Wednesday, August 3, 2022

A Skier - Weathervane Wednesday

 Today's weathervane was photographed in Sugar Hill, New Hampshire.





This two dimensional gilded weathervane of a skier hurtling down a mountain was photographed in Sugar Hill during the height of lupine season in June 2022.  This little weathervane caught my eye on one side of the road whilst everyone else in my car was looking the other direction at the lupines!  This is a highly detailed weathervane, even though it is not three dimensional.  You can see two skis, the powder flying behind the skier, two ski poles, and even the skier's scarf in the wind.  If you follow the lupine map given out at the visitor center in Lincoln, New Hampshire you will pass right by this little weathervane.

I'll post some lupine photographs below, too!




To see 470 other weathervane posts, click on this link!:

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Skier - Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 3, 2022, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2022/08/a-skier-weathervane-wednesday.html: accessed [access date]).