A Christmas Wedding in 1890

 

From the Beverly Citizen newspaper
27 December 1890 

On a recent snowy day my 3rd cousin, on my maternal side, a Hitchings descendant like me, sent me this lovely news clipping from the Beverly Citizen.  It shows our common ancestor, Abijah Franklin Hitchings (1841 - 1910), and my great grandfather, Arthur Treadwell Hitching's wedding to my great grandmother Florence Etta Hoogerzeil on 25 December 1890 at 8 Bentley Street in Beverly, Massachusetts.  They were married on Christmas, which was very common in New England at the time.  Thanksgiving was also a very popular time for weddings in New England. If the family was already gathered together, then it was a perfect time for a wedding.  Early Puritan settlers eschewed Christmas as a holiday in New England, but perhaps they were side stepping religion for fun when they held weddings on or around Christmas Day? 

It made me think "What other ancestors were married on Christmas Day?".  This is what I had in my files: 

Phoebe Munroe (my 4th great aunt) and William Cross, 25 December 1828 in Danvers, Massachusetts. 

Elizabeth Sparks and Jacob Perkins (my 8th great grandparents), 25 December 1634 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  I descend from two of their three children, Elizabeth (who married David Burnham on my wedding day 2 July in 1711) and Jacob Perkins (who removed to Wells, Maine and married Anna Littlefield). 

Close to Christmas - 

21 December

Abijah Hitchings and Mary Cloutman, my 4th great grandparents, were married on 21 December 1795 in Salem, Massachusetts.  

Phebe Lilley and Noah Eaton (my 6th great grandparents), were married on 21 December 1726 in Woburn, Massachusetts. 

Hannah Munroe (my 7th great aunt) and Joseph Pierce, were married on 21 December 1692 in Watertown or Cambridge, Massachusetts. 

22 December

Mary Barber and Benjamin Tarr (my first cousin 7 generations removed), were married on 22 December 1748 in Gloucester, Massachusetts.  Our common ancestor was James Wallis (about 1668 - 1744) who was born in Maine and died in Gloucester, Massachusetts. 

Hannah Dennison and John Wallis (another first cousin 7 generations removed), were married on 22 December 1782 in Gloucester.  They were first cousins to each other.  Was this a double wedding? 

23 December

Sally Flint (my fifth great aunt) and Levi Nichols were married on 23 December 1778 in North Reading, Massachusetts.  

Sally Flint (my fourth great aunt) and Nathaniel Upton, were married on 23 December 1802 probably in North Reading.  

24 December - Christmas Eve

Polly Bray and Asa Burnham, my 5th great grandparents, were married on 24 December 1801 in Ipswich, Massachusetts.  

Emily Burnham (my 5th great aunt) and John Rollins, were married on 24 December 1836 in Essex, Massachusetts. 

26 December (The day after Christmas)

Elizabeth Peach and Harvey Allen (my 3rd great uncle), were married on 26 December 1887 in Beverly, Massachusetts.  

Susanna Dutch (2nd cousin ten generations removed) and Benjamin Knowlton were married on 26 December 1705 in Beverly, Massachusetts. 

New Years Day Weddings:

Tabitha Damon and John Townsend (my 7th great uncle) were married on 1 January 1722 in Reading (now the part that is Wakefield), Massachusetts. 

Sarah Andrews and Charles Treadwell (my 8th great uncle) were married on 1 January 1723 in Hampton Falls, New Hampshire. 

Hannah Flint (my 5th great aunt) and William Whittredge were married on 1 January 1795 probably in North Reading, Massachusetts.  

Thanksgiving weddings (just a few mentioned here, but the last week or ten days in November was extremely popular among my ancestors for weddings):

My grandparents, Bertha Louise Roberts and Donald Munroe Wilkinson  26 November 1926 at 7 Dearborn Avenue in Beverly, Massachusetts. This was Bertha's home, and where my Dad grew up, and where I grew up, too!  I know they were married on Thanksgiving from an audio tape made by Bertha telling the story of her life.  

My 2nd great grandparents, Robert Wilson Wilkinson and Phebe Cross Munroe were married on 24 November 1853 in Danvers, Massachusetts.  This date was confirmed to be Thanksgiving from family tradition. 

My 4th great grandparents Romanus Emerson and Jemima Burnham were married on 22 November 1810 in Milford, New Hampshire.  I had to search online for the date of Thanksgiving in 1810, and this was the result, but I'm not sure that Thanksgiving had a set date this early. 

Mark Burnham (first cousin 7 generations removed) and Hannah Goodhue were married on Thanksgiving day 26 November 1767 in Ipswich, Massachusetts. 

Sarah Rue and John Beckett (my 6th great grandfather, I decend from his first wife, Rebecca Beadle) were married on Thanksgiving Day 25 November 1762 in Salem, Massachusetts (if Thanksgiving was celebrated on the fourth Thursday in November back then).  Sarah Phipps married my 6th great uncle George Munroe on that same day in Lexington, Massachusetts.  

If Thanksgiving were held on 24 November 1763 in Ipswich, Massachusetts, then my 5th great grandparents Isaac Allen and Abigail Burnham also had a Thanksgiving wedding date. 

I'd have to calculate the date of Thanksgiving for each year in the past, which is a floating holiday, and would become a truly huge proposal!  But it is a good future project.  Thanksgiving was not set as a national holiday until Abraham Lincoln proclaimed it in 1863.  He was persuaded to make it a national holiday by New Hampshire resident Sarah Josepha Hale, because of her fond memories of celebrating Thanksgiving as a child in New England.  It was not until 1941 that FDR set the holiday as the fourth Thursday in November, which was previously a tradition in New England that was loosely followed.  

1915 Salem Gazette

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Christmas Wedding in 1890", Nutfield Genealogy, posted 23 December 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/12/a-christmas-wedding-in-1890.html: accessed [access date]).

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)

From Bill West's blog West in New England, more about Thomas Tuck: 

https://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/2015/04/thomas-tuck-and-stolen-bell-pt1.html  

https://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/2015/04/thomas-tuck-and-stolen-bell-pt2.html  

https://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/2015/04/thomas-tuck-and-stolen-bell-pt3.html

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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]).  

Aunt Janet and Uncle Bill Blades for Photo Friday

 

This is a photo of my Auntie Janet and Uncle Bill Blades.  My cousin sent me this photo, but we don't know the year or place.  Janet is my grandfather's little sister.  She was born 14 June 1898 in Salem, Massachusetts to Albert Munroe Wilkinson and Isabella Lyons Bill, my great grandparents.  In 1927 she married William John Blades, who was born 14 June 1894 in Belfast, Northern Ireland.  They lived in Beverly at 111 Essex Street in Beverly, next door to her aunt Georgia and Uncle Charles Marshall, and not far from where my grand parents lived on Dearborn Avenue. This house was built in 1675 by an ancestor, William Woodbury.  It was bought by Uncle Bill in 1927, around the time of their marriage. The house was sold in 1968 when Aunt Janet was widowed and moved into an apartment for the elderly in Beverly.  

Bill Blades was a veteran of World War I, where he lost a toe to frost bite in the trenches.  There is a family story that he was General Pershing's chauffeur. His military papers list him as a driver, but there is no proof about the General Pershing story!  After returning to civilian life he worked in the automobile industry as a repairman (1920 census), and for an auto dealer (1930 census).  He joined the Masons in 1920, in Dorchester where he lived with his parents before he married Auntie Janet.

Uncle Bill died in 1962 when I was a baby.  I don't remember him.  He is buried with a veteran's gravestone at Central Cemetery in Beverly, next to Janet, who died in 1981.  They never had any children. 

Auntie Janet worked for many, many years for the Salem Electric Lighting Company (a public utility). She earned a small gold brooch every five years she worked there, and after her death my father had the pins made into mongrammed pins for the women in the Wilkinson family.  I received one, as well as my sister, mother, aunt, and cousin.  

I remember my father picking up Auntie Janet from her apartment in Beverly and bringing her to our home in Holden, Massachusetts for Easter and Thanksgiving dinners.  She was a tiny lady, and always smiling, but I never knew her well.  The only story I remember about Auntie Janet was from my grandmother: 

"And of course we were married on a Thanksgiving Day 1926.  I think the date was November 25th, 1926.  I remember that day was quite hectic but we had the family, and an Episcopalian minister married us.  We went to Boston for just a couple of days.  My sister stayed with my mother and then I kept on working.  Oh, when we went away for our honeymoon Don's sister tried to pull away his suitcase for him.  And he kept hanging on to it and he got a black eye from the door banging into his eye.  So he had a black eye on our honeymoon and people joked about that but he really didn't feel a bit good." 

1976, Aunt Janet Wilkinson Blades

at my grandparents' 50th anniversary party. 

This is the only photograph I have of Uncle Bill Blades alone

For the truly curious:

Tombstone Tuesday 2015, William John Blades:     https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/03/tombstone-tuesday-william-john-blades.html   

The House at 111 Essex Street in Beverly, built by William Woodbury in 1675:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/01/house-built-in-1676-by-william-woodbury.html   

Surname Saturday WILKINSON from 2011 (my lineage back to our first WILKINSON immigrant ancestor in New England, Thomas Wilkinson of Portsmouth, New Hampshire)   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html   

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Aunt Janet and Uncle Bill Blades for Photo Friday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 21, 2025, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2025/02/aunt-janet-and-uncle-bill-blades-for.html: accessed [access date]).  

Peter Hoogerzeil Patents a Stove in 1891

 

Beverly Citizen, Saturday, November 28, 1891, page 2

"Ancient and Curious Stoves

Peter Hoogerzeil made application, last week, for his third patent on a rolling oven grate. His first patent was issued about two years ago and the second about one year later. The improved grate is automatic, and emerges and receds as the door, to which it is attached, is opened or closed.

     He also has a Franklin stove, a portable iron fireplace, with open front and swinging crane, which was named after Dr. Franklin, who invented it, and bears a bust of its inventor.

     Another curious possession is one of the old James stoves, the word "Salem", which appears on its face, indicating the place of its manufacture, though there is nothing that suggests its age. It is in an admirable state of preservation, stands about 28 inches from the floor, is of about the same width, and is not over 15 inches in depth. The fire is kindled at the bottom, and overhead is the oven, with a door opeing in front and one at the back.  The heat also passes through a funnel on either side of the oven, and an iron handle forms a part of the stove-covers. Mr. Hoogerzeil believes this to be the oldest stove in existence, and is desirous of obtaining information of the period when it was manufactured in Salem.  Particular interest attaches to it from the fact that a Detroit stove company has offered $100 in gold for the oldest stove to be placed on exhibition at the World's fair.  Mr. Hoogerzeil obtained the stove through James M. Woodbury, who purchased it from the estate of Miss Susan Forniss, by whom it was used until her decease." 

My great great grandfather Peter Hoogerzeil was a tinkerer and an inventor.  I have found at least a dozen patents he produced, including several for stoves, stove parts, and other cooking devices. He was born 24 June 1841 in Beverly, Massachusetts, the son of Peter Hoogerzeil (an immigrant from Holland) and Eunice Stone.  Peter married Mary Etta Healey on 14 March 1870 in Salem.  She was the daughter of Joseph Edwin Healy and Matilda Weston, natives of Nova Scotia.  

Peter had many occupations over the years.  In the 1860 census he was a fisherman.  In the 1870 census he was listed as a quartermaster and expressman (made deliveries).  He was listed as a teamster (truck or delivery driver) on his 1908 death certificate.  In 1867 he founded the Hoogerzeil Express Company, which he ran for many years and eventually passed it on this his brother-in-law, John E. Healey. He ran his express business from his home in Beverly, and had a large workshop behind the house.  The 1884 Beverly City Directory lists "Peter Hoogerzeil, Jr., job wagon, house 43 Bartlett St."   My mother remembers this house, where her aunt, Isabel Hoogerziel Sorenson, Peter's daughter, lived. 

Among Peter's US patents were the following that were all related to stoves or cooking:

        #403,938 Patented May 28, 1889 Stove Oven

#418,721 Patented January 7, 1890 Stove Oven

#467,292 Patented January 19, 1892 Stove Oven

#486,469 Patented November 22, 1892 Wheelbarrow

#512,615 Patented January 9, 1894 Steam or Baking Pan

For the truly curious:

My Surname Saturday post of my HOOGERZEIL lineage:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/03/surname-saturday-hoogerzeil-of-holland.html

Blog post "Peter Hoogerzeil's House in Beverly, Massachusetts":     https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/08/not-so-wordless-wednesday-peter.html

Tombstone Tuesday - Peter Hoogerzeil's gravestone:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/08/tombstone-tuesday-peter-hoogerzeil.html 

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Peter Hoogerzeil Patents a Stove in 1891", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 7, 2024, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2024/05/peter-hoogerzeil-patents-stove-in-1891.html: accessed [access date]). 

Albert Hoogerzeil (1845 - 1920) rescues a drowning man - 1896 Newsclipping

 

Boston Globe, Boston, Massachusetts, 14 January 1896, page 7. 

BEVERLY MAN'S BRAVE ACT

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Albert Hoogerzeil Risks His Own Life to 

Rescue a drowning Neighbor.

Beverly, January 14- A narrow escape from drowning of a Beverly man and a heroic rescue by another is reported this morning.

It seems that William Bennett, while spearing for eels through the ice in the harbor, broke through and was in great danger of drowning, as, on account of his heavy clothes, he was unable to swim. His cries for assistance were heard by Albert Hoogerzeil, who was fishing from a dory about a half a mile away from the drowning man.  Mr. Hoogerzeil rowed with all possible speed to the scene.  At the risk of his own life, he forced his boat through the broken ice and reached Bennett, just as he was sinking for the last time.

He dragged him into the boat and devoted some little time in resuscitating him.  Mr. Bennett was thoroughly chilled and was in great danger of succumbing, but Mr. Hoogerzeil took the clothing off his own back to aid in restoring warmth to the chilled man until he reached the shore and secured assistance.

It is understood that steps will be taken to bring the brave rescue to the attention of the Humane Society with a view that a medal may be secured for Mr. Hoogerzeil in recognition of his courageous act.

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One of my ancestral family names is Hoogerzeil.  I'm lucky because my 7th great grandfather, Ocker Bruins Hoogerseijl (1663 - 1749) of Krimpen aan de Lek, near Rotterdam in the Netherlands, made up his own surname when patronyms started going out of fashion in his home country.  He was a commander of a whaling ship, and his name "Hoogerzeil" translates to "High Sails".  Every person ever named Hoogerzeil or Hogerzeil has turned out to be one of his descendants.  

Ocker Bruins Hoogersijl's great great grandson, Peter Hoogerzil (1803 - 1889) was a stowawy from Rotterdam to Salem, Massachusetts in the 1820s.  He settled in Beverly, across the harbor from Salem, where he married Eunice Stone in 1828.  She was supposedly the daughter of the sea captain of the ship in which Peter was a stowawy.  I know that Eunice's father, Josiah Stone (1763 - 1848) was a commander of ships in Salem, so there may be some truth to this family myth!

Peter Hoogerzeil and Eunice Stone had six children: Lucy Ann, born 1832; Simeon, born 1839; Peter, born 1841; William, born 1843; Albert Stone, born 1845; and Edmund, born 1847.  Peter, Jr, is my great great grandfather.  Albert, his brother, and the hero of the story in the 1896 Boston Globe article, is my 3rd great uncle.  

Albert Hoogerzeil was a mariner in the United States Navy 1862 through 1864 during the Civil War.  He served aboard the USS Vermont, the USS Western World, and with the Potomac Flotilla.  Back home in Beverly he was a shoemaker and a fisherman.  At age 53 he married Mary Gaffney, born about 1859 in Ireland, on 15 December 1898 in Beverly.  It was his first and only marriage.  They had no children. 

For the truly curious:

A 2014 blog post about the Hoogerzeil Family plot in the Central Cemetery in Beverly:    https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/11/tombstone-tuesday-hoogerzeil-in-beverly.html  

A 2018 blog post for Surname Saturday on my Hoogerzeil lineage:   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/03/surname-saturday-hoogerzeil-of-holland.html  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Albert Hoogerzeil (1845 - 1920) rescues a drowning man - 1896 Newsclipping", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 11, 2024, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2024/03/albert-hoogerzeil-1845-1920-rescues.html: accessed [access date]).  

Look what I found on online! A Golden Wedding Announcement for a wedding 110 years ago!

 

From The Daily Item, Lynn, Massachusetts, Tuesday, February 18, 1964, page 15

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The Item Salutes Today

Ex-Stiles St. Couple Note 50th Anniversary

Marking Golden Anniversary are former West Lynn residents, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Pogson. The couple is celebrating 50 years of marriage today at their home, 738 54th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Fla.  Mr. Pogson retired from General Electric Co. River Works in 1952.

(This is the 1360th Greater Lynn couple to be saluted by The Item for having attained a half centry or more of married life.  A handsom illuminated scroll suitable for framing, with the name and marriage date of the couple will be present to them by The Item.  Greater Lynn residents are invited to submit the names of other couples about to observe their golden wedding day.)

A former West Lynn couple, Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Pogson, now residing at 738 54th Ave. North, St. Petersburg, Fla., are today celebrating their gold wedding anniversary.

Mr. and Mrs. Pogson, who lived 40 years at 31 Stiles St., West Lynn, were married in All Soul's Church in England, Feb. 18, 1914.  Natives of Leeds, England, they came to this country shortly after their marriage.

They have been residing in Folorida since Mr. Pogson's retirement in 1952 from the General Electric Co. River Works, where he had been employed 37 years as a tool and die maker.  Now they return annually to visit their family and spend the Summer at Alton Bay, N.H.

There are four children, Mrs. George Davis and Arthur Pogson, both of Saugus; Miss Beatrice Pogson, who resides with them in St. Petersburg; Mrs. Ernest Tarbox of Millbury and four grandchildren. 

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My great aunt Hilda Mary Pogson was my grandmother's sister.  She was the eldest of three children of John Peter Bawden Roberts (1865 - 1925) and Emma Frances Warren (1865 - 1927).  Hilda was born 14 May 1891 in Leeds, Yorkshire, England, and she died 1 July 1990 in Marlborough, Massachusetts.  Hilda and Herbert Pogson were first cousins.  Herbert's mother, Sarah Anne Roberts was the sister to John Roberts.  Herbert was born 6 August 1889 in Leeds, and died 11 January 1971 in St. Petersburg, Florida. 

This is the All Soul's Hood Memorial Church where they were married.  My grandmother wrote about this church in her diary.  She loved the church and all its social events including Sunday school, the "Needle Brigade" which made things to sell in the church bazaar, and the Girls Friendly Society. This church is still standing in Leeds. 

All Soul's Church 1907

Herbert's parents owned a drapery store in Armsley, a section of Leeds.  In my grandmother's diary she wrote "I remember going over there when I was a little girl.  We used to visit them.  And I loved to go in the store and my uncle would let me measure the ribbons and I thought that wonderful.  It was quite a nice store and they sold a lot of lovely things and they had five girls and just this one boy, Herbert."  Herbert came to Boston in 1911 aboard the ship Franconia, and on the ship manifest he listed his occupation as "mechanic", his father as "Mr. Pogson" and his address as "Ramsey House, Hill Lane, Armsley, Leeds". He also appeared on the ships manifest of the Bohemian on 18 March 1914 (one month after his marriage) with his wife Hilda, and the port of arrival was Boston. 

Some time before 1915 Hilda and Herbert came to Massachusetts and lived at 60 Colon Street in Beverly, Massachusetts.  In 1915 Hilda's parents, brother and sister all came to the United States and lived at 7 Dearborn Avenue, a few blocks from Hilda and Herbert's house.  In 1917 the Pogson family removed to nearby Saugus, Massachusetts. 

I have found several other ship's manifests showing Herbert visiting England in 1920 (with his wife and two small children- Dorothy age 4, and Hilda age 2), 1949, 1957 and 1960.  

Herbert died in St. Petersburg, Florida in 1971and is buried in Memorial Park Cemetery.  When she was widowed Hilda moved from St. Petersburg back to Massachusetts where she lived at her daughter's house until she went to the Bolton Manor Nursing Home in Marlborough.  She died there in 1990 and is buried next to Herbert in St. Petersburg.  I remember visiting with Herbert and Hilda when I was a small child, and I loved to hear them talking in their Yorkshire accents, like my grandmother.    

Photo from the 1970s - from left to right

Hilda (looking at the camera), her eldest daughter Dorothy May, her daughter Hilda Bertha, my grandmother Bertha Louise, and in front is Hilda's youngest daughter Beatrice. 

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Look what I found on online!  A Golden Wedding Announcement for a wedding 110 years ago!", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 4, 2024, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2024/03/look-what-i-found-on-online-golden.html:  accessed [access date]). 

Daniel Robert Allen (1955 - 2024) Obituary

 From Hall Funeral Home, Casco, Maine

  https://www.hallfuneralhome.net/obituaries/Daniel-R-Allen?obId=30710777#/obituaryInfo 

Daniel R. Allen Obituary

"NAPLES-Daniel R. Allen, 68, of Naples, died Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024 at Mercy Hospital in Portland, surrounded by his family.

He was born on July 17, 1955, in Beverly, MA, a son of Stanley E. and Mary (Horgan) Allen, Jr. He attended local schools, graduating from Hamilton High School.

After high school, Dan enlisted in the US Army and served for three years. Upon his discharge in 1978 he worked as a long-haul truck driver for a few years before settling into work with the US Postal Service serving in Haverhill. While there, he met Dawn Archambault in 1986. They married in 1990 and started their beautiful family.

In 1989, he and Dawn purchased “Cooper’s Anchorage” which is now a longtime thriving marina, Causeway Marina, in the heart of Naples Maine.

Dan has served the local community in various ways over the years including organizing and volunteering for several Naples Winter Carnivals, working on the Naples Bridge Committee and various town boards. He was quite the naples historian, loving to talk and learn about the history of this beautiful place which he has enjoyed since a young child.

He enjoyed motorcycles, snowmobiling, firearms and the love of his dogs over the years. His greatest pleasure however was the company of his family.

Dan is loved by his wife, Dawn of Naples; sons, Daniel R. Allen, Jr. and his wife, Corene of Harrison, Jesse Allen and Savanna Kay of Naples, Zachary Allen and his fiancé, Hailey Engelhardt of Naples; five grandchildren, Chase, Carter, Remi, Capri, Finn (and a 6th on the way, Beau). He was predeceased by his parents; two brothers, Stanley “Mickey” Allen III and Martin Allen.

Memorial visitation will be held from 6-8PM, Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024, at the Hall Funeral Home in Casco. A graveside service with military honors will be held in June with a specific time and date to be announced (which will be followed by a celebration of his life at the marina). Tributes may be shared at www.hallfuneralhome.net."

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I have 29 first cousins on the Allen side of my family tree.  Most are older than me, and it is always sad to hear that another Allen cousin has passed away.  It is becoming too common as the years pass by.  Below are some of my favorite photos of Danny and I.  We would visit at his family camp on Crooked River in Casco, and he used to push me around in the wheelbarrow.  The second photo is of Uncle Al (Dan's father and my mother's oldest brother) holding me, and his three sons, my first cousins now all deceased, Danny, Mickey, and Marty.  

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Daniel Robert Allen (1955 - 2024) Obituary", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 19, 2024, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2024/02/daniel-robert-allen-1955-2024-obituary.html: accessed [access date]). 

99 Valentine's Days Ago

 

My grandparents, Stanley Elmer Allen (1904 - 1982)  and Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (1905 - 2001), were married on Valentine's Day 14 February 1925 in Hamilton, Massachusetts.  The photo you see above is from their 50th anniversary party in 1975.  I often wondered why we never had a wedding photograph for my grandparents.

I started my genealogy journey as a teenager.  In the mid 1970s (near to the anniversary party event) I became interested in my family history due to the book "Roots" and the Bicentennial.  I took a genealogy class at the local community college and learned to start our family history by documenting myself, my parents, and grandparents.  When I got to my grandparents 14 February 2925 wedding certificate, and then the birth of their first child in June 1925, I quickly learned why there were no wedding photos.  My grandparents were married in the parsonage, not the church, with little fanfare, and started their life together. Was it a "shotgun wedding"? Did they elope? 

Stan and Gertrude's marriage thrived, and they had seven children and 29 grandchildren. Most of the descendants were present at that 50th wedding anniversary party.  The event took place at the Commodore restaurant in Beverly, Massachusetts, a business that ceased operations long ago.  There were many photos taken that day, and the black and white photo you see above was in the local newspaper. It was a huge family event that I still remember! 

My Dad snapped this photo at around the same time the newspaper photo was taken, as Nana and Grampy posed with their cake.  Did they have a wedding cake in 1925. 

My grandparents and their seven children

My first cousins at the party (grandchildren of Stan and Gertrude)

My grandparents lived next door to each other before their marriage. It was the mythical "girl next door" romance.  I don't have a photo of my grandfather in his youth, but he was very handsome.  Here is my grandmother's high school graduation photo below. She was very pretty, and only 19 at her marriage.  

Was it planned for them to marry on Valentine's Day, or just serendipity? After discovering my grandparent's marriage documents, I've since discovered many "shot gun weddings" in my family tree. They were very common in the 1700s and 1600s.  Do you find this to be true, too?  

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "99 Valentine's Days Ago", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 14, 2024, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2024/02/99-valentines-days-ago.html: accessed [access date]). 

Did Your Ancestor Serve in the Civil Defense During World War II?

Two weeks ago I posted about this wooden crate from my parents' house that was full of World War II ephemera.  The last blog post was about the ration tickets I found inside the box, and this week I've photographed the items related to civil defense. Both of my grandfathers, Donald Munroe Wilkinson ( 1895 - 1977) and Stanley Elmer Allen (1904 - 1982) were both too old to serve or be drafted into the military during World War II.  However both volunteered in the civil defense.

Many civilians served in voluntary positions during the war for air raid drills and coastline drills.  They also learned to fight fires, provide first aid, assist the coast guard, and also to lead recycling, rationing and Liberty bond drives. There were women's auxiliary units, too, for first aid, rolling bandages, and other projects.  Even children played with games that taught them to identify aircraft and other civilian saboteur surveillance. 

I found this certificate in the box, recognizing my maternal grandfather's service in the auxiliary police for the town of Hamilton, Massachusetts.  During World War II many police officers were drafted, leaving towns without their usual police force.  Citizen volunteers were trained to assist the regular police.

My paternal grandfather served as an air ward warden in Beverly, Massachusetts (a contiguous town).  The air raid wardens would patrol their neighborhoods to make sure that homes were darkened with blackout curtains.  Beverly is a coastal town, and blackouts were important along both coasts of the United States.

For the truly curious:

World War II ration tickets blog post:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/06/world-war-ii-ration-tickets-and-tokens.html 

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Did Your Ancestor Serve in the Civil Defense During World War II?", Nutfield Genealogy, posted June 25, 2020, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/06/did-your-ancestor-serve-in-civil.html: accessed [access date]).

Happy Mother's Day! My Matrilineal Line

My matrilineal line:

My Mom, she graduated from Beverly, Hospital School of Nursing

My grandmother, Gertrude Matilda Hitchings.

She was born 1 August 1905 in Beverly, Massachusetts and died 3 November 2001 in Peabody, Massachusetts. She married Stanley Elmer Allen on 14 February 1925 in Hamilton. They had seven children. 

My great grandmother, Florence Etta Hoogerzeil.

She was born 20 August 1871 in Beverly, Massachusetts and died 10 February 1941 in Hamilton, Massachusetts. She married Arthur Treadwell Hitchings on 25 December 1890 in Beverly, Massachusetts. They had eight children. 

My great great grandmother, Mary Etta Healey, seated in the front row with the baby on her lap.

She was born 19 May 1852 in Beverly, Massachusetts and died 23 July 1932 in Beverly, Massachusetts.  She married Peter Hoogerzeil on 14 March 1870 in Salem, Massachusetts.  They had six children. 

My 3x great grandmother was Matilda Weston.   

She was born October 1825 in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada, and died 19 August 1909 in Beverly, Massachusetts.  She married Joseph Edwin Healey on 3 February 1848 in Canada.  They had four children.

My 4x great grandmother was Mary Clements.  She married Zadoc Weston in Nova Scotia and had two children. She was his second wife.  My matrilineal line ends here because not much is known about Mary Clements, even though she is part of of my Mayflower application lineage.  I don't know her birth date, death, marriage, or her parents names.  Her husband, Zadoc Weston, is the descendant of ten Mayflower passengers, and he is named in at least two Silver books.  Zadoc was the son of Nathan Weston and Hannah Everson of Plymouth County, Massachusetts.  His first two wives were Sarah MacDuffie and Mary Pratt, and the two Marys are part of the confusion. Altogether, Zadoc was the father of a total of eight children. 

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Happy Mother's Day! My Matrilineal Line", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 10, 2020, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/05/happy-mothers-day-my-matrilineal-line.html: accessed [access date]). 

My 7th Great Grandfather, John Stone, died 1736 ~ Tombstone Tuesday

This tombstone was photographed at the Abbott Hale Cemetery in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Here Lyeth the

Body of Mr. John

Stone Who died

July ye 28 1736 in

(the rest is underground)

John Stone, the son of Nathaniel Stone and Remember Corning, was born 20 April 1661 in Salem, Massachusetts. He was married first to Hester Gaines, second to Sarah Gale, and third to Jane (Stacy) Standley.  John Stone was a weaver.  He died non compos mentis, but left a will and an appointed guardian John Cleaves.  I descend from his marriage with Sarah Gale, through his daughter Susanna Stone (1702 - 1751) who married Randall Preston.  

I also descend from John Stone's brother, Nathaniel Stone (1663 - 1741) who married Mary Balch in 1689 in Beverly. 

John Stone had ten children with his wife Sarah Gale:  Priscilla (b. 1690), Edmond (b. 1691), Edmond (b. 1692), Sarah (b. 1693), Miriam (b. 1695), Eunice (b. 1696), Ambrose (b. 1698), Susanna (b. 1702), Remember (b. 1704), and Charity (b. 1700).   He had three children with his first wife, Hester Gaines:  Esther (b. 1684), John (b. 1686), and Mary (b. 1689).   He had no children with his third wife. 

My lineage from John Stone:

Generation 1:  John Stone (about 1595 - 1677) and Elinor Cooke (immigrant ancestors)

Generation 2: Nathaniel Stone (about 1632 - 1718) and Remember Corning

Generation 3:  John Stone (see above) and Sarah Gale

Generation 4:  Susanna Stone (1702 - 1751) and Randall Preston

Generation 5:  William Presson and Abigail Sargent

Generation 6: Lucy Presson and James Andrews

Generation 7: Orpah Andrews and Joseph Allen

Generation 8: Joseph Gilman Allen and Sarah Burnham Mears

Generation 9: Joseph Elmer Allen and Carrie Maude Batchelder

Generation 10: Stanley Elmer Allen and Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Alternative Stone lineage:

Generation 3: Nathaniel Stone, Jr. (1663 - 1741) and Mary Balch

Generation 4: Josiah Stone (1691 - after 1757) and Dorothy Fuller

Generation 5: Josiah Stone (1722 - 1807) and Martha Ashby

Generation 6: Captain Josiah Stone (1763 - 1848) and Susanna Hix

Generation 7: Eunice Stone (1807 - 1866) and Peter Hoogerzeil

Generation 8: Peter Hoogerzeil and Mary Etta Healey

Generation 9: Florence Etta Hoogerzeil and Arthur Treadwell Hitchings

Generation 10:  Gertrude Matilda Hitchings and Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "My 7th Great Grandfather, John Stone, died 1736 ~ Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted on April 7, 2020, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/04/my-7th-great-grandfather-john-stone.html: accessed [access date]). 

Zechariah Stone, died 1730 ~ Tombstone Tuesday

This tombstone was photographed at the Abbott Hale Cemetery in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Here Lyeth ye body

of Zechariah Stone

Jun. died Novmr ye

8, 1730 Aged

22 years

Zachariah Stone was the son of Zachariah Stone and Jane Curtis, born in Beverly, Massachusetts on 21 September 1708.  He died unmarried on 8 November 1730 in Beverly.  His marriage to Anne Elliott was published on 18 October 1730, just three weeks before his death. There was no cause of death in the records as to why he died so young.  He was one of nine siblings, and the eldest child. 

Zachariah shares many cousin connections with me through the STONE, HERRICK, DODGE, and DIXEY families of Beverly.

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Zechariah Stone, died 1730 ~ Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 10, 2020, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/03/zechariah-stone-died-1730-tombstone.html: accessed [access date]). 

A very primitive gravestone for Elizabeth Balch 1730 ~ Tombstone Tuesday

This tombstone was photographed at the Abbott Hale Cemetery in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Here Lyeth ye body

of Elizabeth Balch

Who died June

the 20th 1730 in

the 53 year of

her Age.

back view of the stone

A close up photo of death's head

Elizabeth Ober was baptized in Beverly, Massachusetts on 9 December, 1677, the daughter of Richard Ober and Abigail Woodbury.  She married John Balch on 5 October 1700.  He was the son of John Balch and Hannah Veren, and my 1st cousin 8 generations removed (we are both descendants of the immigrant John Balch (d. 25 May 1648 in Beverly), and his son Benjamin Balch (1628 - 1715) and his wife Sarah Gardner.   Elizabeth Ober's mother, Abigail Woodbury, is a granddaughter of William Woodbury and Elizabeth Patch.  William Woodbury (1587 - about 1677) is my 12th great uncle, brother of John Woodbury (1583 - about 1643) my 11th great grandfather.

John Balch and Elizabeth Ober had two children born in Beverly:  the first was Joanna Balch, born on 30 April 1703 and married Andrew Ellingwood, the second was Andrew Balch, born on 27 February 1707 and married Bethia Lovett.

Elizabeth Balch's footstone

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A very primitive gravestone for Elizabeth Balch 1730 ~ Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 3, 2020, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/03/a-very-primitive-gravestone-for.html: accessed [access date)].

Huldah Leach, wife of Larkin Thorndike, died 1790, Beverly, Massachusetts - Tombstone Tuesday

This tombstone was photographed at the Abbott Street Burial Ground in Beverly, Massachusetts.

In Memory of

Mrs Huldah Thorndike

Consort of

Colo Larkin Thorndike

& daugr of

Major John Leach

who departed this life

Augt 21st 1790: In

the 50th year of her age.

Happy exchange, to part with all below

For worlds of bliss, where joys unceasing flow.

Huldah, daughter of Major John Leach and Rachel Putnam, was born 29 July 1740 in Beverly, Masssachusetts, and died 21 August 1790 in Beverly. She married Colonel Larkin Thorndike, as his second wife.  He was the son of John Thorndike and Elizabeth Ober.  Colonel Thorndike led the first company of foot soldiers from Beverly to Lexington for the alarm in 1775.  He was made Colonel of the 8th regiment (Essex County) in 1777, resigned and then accepted a position as Colonel in Brigadier General Jonathan Titcomb's regiment.  He was married first to Ruth Woodbury (seven children), and third to Mary Jewett.  

Huldah and John Leach were second cousins, both descended from their great grandparents Israel Porter and Elizabeth Hathorne, and she is my distant cousin.  I descend from her LEACH, PUTNAM and FLINT ancestors.  I also am related to her husband, Larkin Thorndike, from our common THORNDIKE, WOODBURY and DIXEY ancestors. 

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Huldah Leach, wife of Larkin Thorndike, died 1790, Beverly, Massachusetts - Tombstone Tuesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 25, 2020, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2020/02/huldah-leach-wife-of-larkin-thorndike.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Betty Thorndike, died 1765, age 13, Beverly, Massachusetts

This tombstone was photographed at the Abbott Hale Cemetery in Beverly, Massachusetts

In Memory of Miss

BETTY THORNDIKE

Daughter of Coln.

LARKIN & Mrs RUTH

THORNDIKE who

died Augt. 1765

Aged 13 years. 

Betty Thorndike was the 13 year old daughter of Colonel Larkin Thorndike and Ruth Woodbury.  Ruth is my 3rd cousin, 7 generations removed. Ruth's great grandfather, Thomas Woodbury (1639 - 1718) is the brother of two of my 9th great grandfathers - Isaac Woodbury (1643/4 - 1725) and also Humphrey Woodbury (1647 - 1724).  Ruth also had another great grandfather, John Woodbury (born 1630), who was the son of my 11th great grandfather, John Woodbury (1583 - 1642/3). 

Ruth Woodbury is also a descendant of John Proctor (hanged as a witch in 1692) and Edward Larkin (1615 - 1652), who are also my ancestors.  Her husband Larkin Woodbury is also a descendant of Edward Larkin, the immigrant. 

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ Betty Thorndike, died 1765, age 13, Beverly, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 7, 2018, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/08/tombstone-tuesday-betty-thorndike-died.html: accessed [access date]).