Tabitha Longfellow Lewis Willey for Tombstone Tuesday

 

Sacred

To the Memory of

Tabitha L.

wife of 

Dea. Stephen Willey,

DIED

Sept. 23, 1847

AEt. 40. 

Thou art gone to the grave, but we will not deplore thee,

Since God was thy ransom, thy guardian, thy guide;

He gave these, he took thee, and He will restore thee;

And death has no sting, since the Saviour that died. 

This tombstone is in a location I prefer to keep secret.  For more information on why it is not being made public, see this blog post:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/10/this-story-will-give-you-willeys.html 

Tabitha Longfellow Lewis was born 23 September 1807 in Bridgton, Maine, the daughter of George Lewis and Ruth Lincoln.  She married Deacon Stephen D. Willey on 9 January 1826 in Bridgton and had five children.  She died 23 September 1847 in North Conway, New Hampshire.  

Stephen’s parents were Captain Samuel Willey 1785 – 1844 and Elizabeth “Betsy” Glazier.  He was enumerated in the Onalaska, LaCrosse County, Wisconsin Federal Census in 1860, and died December 1860 in Dover, New Hampshire. He is buried in the Willey Cemetery, too.  Stephen was the brother of Samuel Willey, who died in the famous1826 landslide in Crawford Notch that killed his entire family.  Deacon Stephen Willey was part of the party that tried to rescue his brother's family after the disaster, and he auctioned the contents of their house after burying the few remains that were recovered.  

Tabitha’s children:

1.           1. Samuel Willey, born about 1827

2.          2. George Lewis Willey, born 3 April 1829 in Conway, married Sarah Elizabeth Nutting 22 June 1856 in Kewaunee, Wisconsin.

3.          3. Sarah Peabody Willey, born 23 April 1831 in Conway, married Joseph Colley Dole 1865 in Coles, Illinois

4.        4. Ann Judson Willey, born 27 February 1837 in Conway, married John Henry Hale 1855 in Conway, died in Hamilton, Fillmore County, Minnesota

5.       5. Katherine Willey , born 1839 in Bridgton, Maine

For the truly curious:

My 2020 Willey Landslide blog post  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/happy-halloween-story-of-willey-family.html  

 

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 To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tabitha Longfellow Lewis Willey for Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 3, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/02/tabitha-longfellow-lewis-willey-for.html: accessed [access date]). 

A Rooster at a Farm for Weathervane Wednesday

 Today's weathervane was photographed at the Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. 

The Beech Hill Farm in Hopkinton, New Hampshire is one of our favorite destinations for ice cream. We love to drive the little red convertible on nice summer days, and end the adventure with home made ice cream. The Beech Hill Farm also sells beef and pork, and has a petting zoo for the kids.  In the fall there is a corn maze.  Best of all, this farm has been run by the same family for nine generations. 

Above the garden shed is this old rooster weathervane, which is the type of weathervane (along with a running horse) that is most common on farms in New England.  Inside the shed are antiques and crafts for sale. The weathervane is three dimensional, with interesting details on the rooster, like feathers and a very fancy tail.  The garden shed is low enough that you won't need a zoom lens or binoculars to view the rooster.  

Above the barn is another weathervane, but it was very damaged. 

For the truly curious:

Beech Hill Farm website:  https://www.beechhillfarm.com/

Click here to see over 550 Weathervane Wednesday blog posts:

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday   

To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Rooster at a Farm for Weathervane Wednesday",  Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 28, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-rooster-at-farm-for-weathervane.html: accessed [access date]). 

A Sailboat on an Island for Weathervane Wednesday

 Today's weathervane was photographed on Peaks Island, Maine.

This sailboat weathervane was seen atop a private home on Peaks Island, Maine.  It is a two dimensional sailboat with one mast.  This little sailboat was within shouting distance of the island ferry to Portland, and you can see how close it is to the sea in the second photograph.  Rough Maine weather and the ocean climate have damaged the rigging on this weathervane, but it still looks great silhouetted against the blue sky.

Last week I featured a sperm whale weathervane for Weathervane Wednesday, and you can see that blog post at this link:  

In 2025 I also featured a blog post about our visit to Peaks Island at this link:  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/11/peaks-island-and-umbrella-cover-museum.html   

Click here to see over 550 more Weathervane Wednesday posts: 

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday  

To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Sailboat on an Island for Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 14, 2025 ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-sailboat-on-island-for-weathervane.html: accessed [access date]). 

A Whale of a Weathervane for Weathervane Wednesday

 Today's weathervane was photographed at Peaks Island, Maine.

When we visited Peaks Island, Maine last summer we rented a golf cart to toodle around town.  A golf cart is perfect for slowly looking at the sights and spotting weathervanes.  This sperm whale was seen above a residence a block from the beach, which is very appropriate for a whale weathervane.

This two dimensional whale weathervane has lots of details.  The tail is lively, there are two little fins, and you can even see the whale's eye in profile.  It has a very nice weathered patina from being exposed to all the elements near the sea.  The most famous sperm whale is the fictional Moby Dick in the novel by Herman Melville.   

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For the truly curious:

A 2025 blog post about my visit to Peaks Island   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/11/peaks-island-and-umbrella-cover-museum.html  

Click here to see over 550 more Weathervane Wednesday posts:

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Weathervane%20Wednesday   

To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Whale of a Weathervane for Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 7, 2027, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/01/a-whale-of-weathervane-for-weathervane.html: accessed [access date]). 

Happy New Year from Salem, Massachusetts 1848

 

From the Salem Observer, Salem, Massachusetts, January 1, 1848

"THE NEW YEAR

We have once more, as the stereotyped phrase goes, "arrived safely at the commencement of another year."  The planet to which it is our fortune to appertain, has again wheeled its course around the Sun without accident or incident of any kind.  -  We have neither joggled against the vagrant comets which have been seen wandering about in space, nor have fallen out with any of those fixed and respectable bodies which are addicted to more "steady habits."  Hence we have the satisfaction of believing, as we greet the New Year, that "Old Mother Earth" is still a welcome visitant of the starry Host.

While we have gone on thus smoothly with our celestial neighbors, things amongst ourselves have been less unruffled.  The past year has been signalized by many events which have "shed disastrous eclipse upon the nations."  The great famine in Ireland and on the Continent is an event which will be remembered with grief for ages. The commercial distress abroad, the many wars and much bloodshed, and especially our own war with Mexico, can never be forgotten.  Add to these and other public evils, the countless private sorrows, from which, unhappily, no year is free, and we have a picture of the Old Year mournful to look upon. But the picture is false unless it presents cheerful lights also.  The past year has not been without its happy events.  Amongst these may be mentioned the accession to the papal throne of a liberal Pope, (the discovery of Chloroform?), the abolition of Slavery in Algiers, and the spread of generous ideas, liberal principles, and the spirit of humanity, which we cannot but beieve has taken place.  Take it all in all, the past year has doubless afford its full share of blessings.  We cannot expect "Heaven to weep rubies in a crimson shower," but must be satisfied with a fair sprinkling of precious experiences.  

Retrospections are apt to be dull, but anticipations are hopeful and cheering.  We have henceforth to do with the New Year - "the young spark who came of age this morning."  The Old Year may be decrepid and morose but the New Year is sprightly and happy.  He, at least, is no lugubrous old fellow, cutting and slashing on every side with his lean and hungry scythe, but rather a "tentie seesman," scattering the germs of hope and promise with liberal hand.  That many of these seeds may fall upon your lands, dear reader, and find no barren but a fruitful soil, is our earnest desire. In what more hearty way could we wish you a Happy New Year? " 

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Happy New Year from Salem, Massachusetts 1848", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 1, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/01/happy-new-year-from-salem-massachusetts.html: accessed [access date]).