Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England

Albert Munroe Wilkinson (1860 - 1908)
My great grandfather

Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England

No book or genealogical article for a journal has ever been written about the WILKINSON families of New Hampshire and Maine. It seems that everyone is familiar with the Wilkinsons of Rhode Island and the book “Memoirs of the Wilkinson Family in America” written in 1869 by the Reverend Israel Wilkinson. It outlines the descendants of Lawrence Wilkinson, one of the original settlers at Providence, and it also includes several other Wilkinson lines in Massachusetts. These northern New England Wilkinsons appear to be completely unrelated to the Rhode Island family.  

The first identified Wilkinson in my lineage was Thomas Wilkinson, born about 1690, and his marriage to Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire lists him as “from London.” He appears in the New Hampshire Provincial Papers as a proprietor of Barrington, and as a workman at Fort William and Mary. He was taxed in Portsmouth in 1727 and 1732, when he seems to have disappeared from the records. His son is listed as “William Wilkinson, son of Elizabeth, Oct. 17, 1736” in the records of the South Church of Portsmouth (no mention of Thomas). Later his wife remarried to Phillip Jewel on 27 November 1739.

Through his son James Wilkinson, born about 1730 and married to Hannah Mead sometime before 1753, I have a long family tree that grows all along the Piscataqua Region of Maine and New Hampshire, with the descendants moving to the Berwicks, Sanford, Rochester and as far north as Conway, and as far west as around Lake Winnipesaukee. My own branch came to Massachusetts in the 1820’s when Aaron Wilkinson of South Berwick married Mercy F. Wilson on 23 June 1829 in Danvers, Massachusetts.

However, living in the same region of New Hampshire was a man named Samuel Wilkinson, who was born about 1722, and died in 1795 in Deerfield or Epping. He had at least three children, who were all mentioned in deed signed in 1796: Benning Wilkinson of Allenstown, John Wilkinson of Deerfield, and a daughter, Sarah Wallis of Epping. Samuel served in the revolution at age 58 years under Brigadier General John Glover. Was Samuel another son of Thomas? A brother? A cousin? He must have been some sort of relation due to the time and proximity to where Thomas’s family lived.

Through Benning Wilkinson there is another large family tree of descendants that lived near Lake Winnipesaukee. Benning died in Center Harbor in 1851, and his twelve children died in Laconia, Gilford, Campton, etc. One of Benning’s descendants married one of Thomas’s descendants- was this a cousin marriage?

As my list of Wilkinson births, marriages, deaths, deeds and news clippings from New Hampshire and Maine grows and grows, slowly I am able to place nearly all the Wilkinsons into either Thomas’s tree or Benning’s tree. What would really be great would be to find the one clue that ties Thomas to Samuel and Benning Wilkinson.

Wilkinson Line A

Samuel Wilkinson was born about 1722, and died about 1795 in Deerfield or Epping, New Hampshire.  His wife is unknown. His three known children:

1. Benning Wilkinson born about 1764, Epping and died on 20 October 1851 in Center Harbor. Married to Deborah Langley on 4 Dec 1786 in Northwood, New Hampshire. She was born on 17 Jul 1765 in Nottingham and died 20 August 1845 in Center Harbor.
Children:

• 
  1. Hannah m. Benjamin Perkins 26 November 1809 in New Hampton
  2. Jonathan m. Melinda George 1 January 1828 in Gilford
  3. Rhoda born 1787 married Benjamin Libby about 1805
  4. Susan born 1789 married Charles Huckins about 1815
  5. Bradbury born 1793 married Hannah Huckins 23 January 1820
  6. Charlotte born 1794 married Samuel Fogg 21 March 1816
  7. Benning, Jr. born 1797 married Clarissa Johnson 3 Augusut 1823
  8. Samuel B., born about 1800 married Eliza Harper Smith 28 Dec 1824
  9. John A., married Miram Clough 29 Dec 1803
  10. Jacob R, born 1 Jan 1805 on Stonedam Island, married Leah A. Rundlett on 25 June 1825
  11. Leah, born about 1808 married Jonathan Johnson Lovejoy in 1827
  12. Rachel, born 1810 married Richard Hadley 4 August 1833

2. John

3. Sarah, married to an Unknown Wallis. Previously it was believed that she had married Spencer Wallis, born about 3 June 1734 in Portsmouth, son of William Wallis and Comfort Cotton, but there is proof that this is another Sarah!

Wilkinson Line B
Thomas Wilkinson, my 6th great grandfather, was born about 1690 in England and died before 1739.  H was married to Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715 in Portsmouth. She was the daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth. Two known children:

1. William born 17 Oct 1736 in Portsmouth

2. James born about 1730 and died between 1796 and 1805 in Berwick, Maine. He was married 1. to Hannah Mead before 1753, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born on 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire. He married 2. Mary Unknown.

Children of James Wilkinson:

• 
  1. James G., born 31 December 1753 in Newington and died 4 March 1827 in Alton, married 1. Mary Unknown before 1775 (eight children), married 2. Rebecca Whitehouse 2 Feb 1798 in Wolfborough (two children), married 3. Lydia Rand on 2 August 1812 in Alton.
  2. Anna, born 16 June 1754 in Newington, died before 1840, married 1. Samuel Hearle on 4 Mar 1779 in Berwick, Maine (five children), married 2. James Urban on 6 May 1796 in Waterborough, Maine.
  3. Joseph, born before 8 May 1757 in Berwick, Maine, died 26 August 1842 in Sanford, Maine, married Dorcas Nason on 23 Nov 1782 in Berwick. She was the daughter of William Nason and Abigail Wadleigh, born about 1761 and died 22 January 1849 in Sanford.
  4. George, born about 1761 and died 1846, married Mehitable Whitehouse on 12 January 1785 in South Berwick. At least two children.
  5. Samuel, born 1761, married Hannah Turner on 27 November 1785 in South Berwick.
  6. Daniel, born 1764 and died between 1850 and 1860, married to Hannah Weymouth on 27 August 1792 in South Berwick. She was born about 1772 in South Berwick, and died on 18 December 1845 in Effingham, New Hampshire. Six children.
  7. William married Mercy Nason on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick. She was born about 1764 in Kittery, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson. They had at least three sons, possibly more unrecorded children. 

William Wilkinson and Mercy Nason were the parents of Aaron Wilkinson, my 3rd great grandfather, born on 22 February 1802 in South Berwick. He died in Peabody, Massachusetts in 25 November 1879, and was married to Mercy F. Wilson on 23 June 1829 and produced eleven children.

Some other Wilkinson blog posts:

Descendants of Thomas Wilkinson:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/p/thomas-wilkinson-descendants_15.html

Descendants of Samuel Wilkinson:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/p/descendants-of-samuel-wilkinson.html

My Wilkinson lineage:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 10, 2017, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/08/wilkinson-surname-project-in-northern.html: accessed [access date]). 

Weathervane Wednesday ~ A Genealogical Connection!

UPDATED August 3, 2018 (see below)

Are you wondering why I started my Weathervane Wednesday series?

What have weather vanes to do with genealogy?

Shem Drowne (1683 – 1774) is my first cousin 8 generations removed.  He is most famous as the artisan who made the grasshopper weather vane atop of Boston’s Faneuil Hall.  This is a beloved landmark in Boston, and is reproduced on souvenirs, Christmas ornaments, jewelry, postcards and you-name-it.  However, he was by trade a tinsmith.  He produced ordinary objects out of tin for household use, cups, pails, lanterns.  The stuff no one particularly remembers.  If it weren't for his giant grasshopper, we wouldn't know much about Shem Drowne the tradesman.

Weather vane #101
The famous grasshopper above Boston's Faneuil Hall

Besides the weather vane at Faneuil Hall, the famous grasshopper, there are other well-known weather vanes around Boston attributed to Shem Drowne.   Nathaniel Hawthorne used Shem Drown as the main character in his story “Drowne’s Wooden Image” in his book Mosses from an Old Manse.  In this book, Hawthorne styled Drowne as a carver of figureheads and ornamental wooden decorations.  However, Shem Drowne never made a  wooden pump head, like the image of the mythical Admiral Vernon in the book.

 

Drowne’s  other  weather vanes are the Indian Chief now on display at the Massachusetts Historical Society, and the weather cock on top of the Congregational Church in Cambridge.  He also made the banner shaped weathervane on the steeple of the Old North Church in Boston.

How do we know that Shem Drowne made the famous grasshopper?  In 1852 the weather vane was removed for repair.  Inside there was a slip of paper, barely legible, which read:

SHEM DROWNE MADE ITT

May 25, 1742

To my Brethren and Fellow Grasshoppers

Fell in y'e year 1755 Nov 15th day from y'e Market by a great Earthquake ... sing ... sett a ... by my old Master above.

Again Like to have Met with my Utter Ruin by Fire, but hopping Timely from my Publick Situation came of with Broken bones, and much Bruised, Cured and again fixed....

Old Master's Son Thomas Drowne June 28th, 1763. And Although I now promise to Play ... Discharge my Office, yet I shall vary as ye wind.  

From the Boston Daily Advertiser, December 2, 1852

The Drowne family lived in Kittery, Maine, where Shem was born in 1683.  His father, Leonard Drowne, an immigrant from England, was a shipbuilder.  He moved his family from Kittery, Maine to the safety of Boston during the French and Indian War.  Leonard is buried at the Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in the North End.   It was here, in the North End, that Shem Drowne began his trade as a tinsmith.  He was also a deacon at the First Baptist Church, where many of my other ancestors belonged, and can be found in the marriage and church records at this same time period.

The Drowne genealogy:

Generation 1:  Leonard Drown, born about 1646 in Penyn, Cornwall, England, died 31 October 1729 in Boston; married first about 1675 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Elizabeth Abbott, daughter of Walter Abbott and Sarah Steward (my 8x great grandparents).  She was born about 1652 in Portsmouth, died on 5 May 1704.  Leonard and Elizabeth had nine children.  He married second to Mary Abbott, sister of Elizabeth, on 4 November 1707 in Boston.  Mary was the widow of William Caverly and also the widow of Thomas Guptill.   Mary is my 7^th great grandmother, through her daughter Elizabeth Caverly, who is my 6x great grandmother.  See the chart below if you are confused!

This makes Leonard Drown both my 7^th great grand uncle by marriage, and also my Step 7^th great grandfather.  

Generation 2:  Shem Drowne, born 4 December 1683 at Sturgeon Creek, Kittery, Maine, died 13 January 1774 in Boston; married on 18 September 1712 in Boston to Katherine Clarke, daughter of Timothy Clark and Sarah Richardson.  She was born 6 April 1687 in Boston, died 21 April 1754.

Also in Generation 2:  Mary Drowne, sister to Shem, born about 1693, died 24 January 1732; married on 24 April 1712 to James Kettle my 7^th great grand uncle, brother to Jonathan Kettle (1681 – 1764) my 7^th great grandfather.   That makes Mary Drowne my 7^th great aunt by marriage, as well as my first cousin 8 generations removed.

                                Walter Abbott m. Sarah Steward

                                                            I      

            --------------------------------------------------

           I                                                                  I

Elizabeth Abbott m. Leonard Drown  m. Mary Abbott m. William Caverly

          I                                                                                        I

Shem Drowne m. Katherine Clarke                Elizabeth Caverly m. Thomas Wilkinson

                                                                             I

                                                                         James Wilkinson m. Hannah Mead

                                                                             I

                                                                          William Wilkinson m. Mercy Nason

                                                                             I         

                                                                          Aaron Wilkinson m. Mercy F. Wilson

                                                                             I

                                                                         Robert Wilson Wilkinson m. Phebe Munroe

                                                                             I

                                                                         Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella Bill

                                                                             I

                                (my grandparents) Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Roberts

For more information see Yankee Weathervanes by Myrna Kaye, New York:  E.P. Dutton and Co., 1975

Click here to see the entire collection of Weathervane Wednesday posts!

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To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Weathervane Wednesday ~ A Genealogical Connection!", Nutfield Genealogy, posted June 26, 2013, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/06/weathervane-wednesday-genealogical.html: accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday – Caverly

CAVERLY

Charles and Comfort Caverly Family and Cat
by Joseph H. Davis, ink and watercolor, 1836

(See the UPDATE below dated 3 August 2018)

The first Caverly in New Hampshire was William Caverly, who left a will naming his wife, sons and daughter.    His marriage was unrecorded in town records, but we know his wife’s name from his father-in-law’s will (Walter Abbott), which called her Mary Caverly.   The Caverly family has descendants with the name still in New Hampshire.  Many still meet up every two years at the Caverly Family Reunion at the historic Bow Lake Grange Hall in Strafford.  

William Caverly’s origins are unknown, although he married a wife whose ancestry went back to the first settlers in New Hampshire. There are other Caverly families in the USA, who have different DNA from our branch.

Generation 1.  William Caverly, born about 1650, died before 1732 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire when his will was proved; married about 1696 to Mary Abbott, daughter of Walter Abbott and Sarah Steward, born about 1652 in New Hampshire.  Four Caverly children.  Mary married first to Thomas Guptill about 1672, and he was lost at sea in 1686 after having five children.  Mary married third on 4 November 1707 in Boston, Massachusetts to Leonard Drown (1646 – 1729), a ship builder in Portsmouth and in Boston, and her sister's widowed husband.  Leonard Drown had nine children with his first wife Elizabeth Abbott, and one daughter, Mary Drown, married James Kettle of Charlestown, Massachusetts, the son of my 8x great grandparents, Jonathan Kettle and Abigail Converse (but that's a different story to tell another time!). 

            1. Nathaniel married Jane Fitzgerald

            2. Moses, born about 1694; married Margaret Cotton

            3. Elizabeth, born about 1696; married Thomas Wilkinson

            4. Thomas, no further information

Generation 2. Elizabeth Caverly, born about 1696 in Portsmouth; married  first in August 1715 in Portsmouth to Thomas Wilkinson, immigrant from London, born about 1690, died before 1739.  Two known sons, James born about 1730 and William born 17 October 1736 in Portsmouth.  Probably more children.   Married second on 27 November 1739 in Portsmouth to Phillip Jewell, born in Yanton, Biddeford, England.  No known children with Jewell.   For more information see my Surname Saturday post on Wilkinson here at this link: http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html

Generation 3. James Wilkinson (b.abt 1730) m. Hannah Mead (1730 – bef. 1759)

Generation 4. William Wilkinson (d. aft. 1840) m. Mercy Nason

Generation 5. Aaron Wilkinson (1802- 1879) m. Mercy F. Wilson (1803- 1883)

Generation 6. Robert Wilson Wilkinson (1830 – 1874) m. Phebe Cross Munroe (1830 – 1895)

Generation 7. Albert Munroe Wilkinson (1860 – 1908) m. Isabella Lyons Bill

Generation 8. Donald Munroe Wilkinson (1895 - 1977) m. Bertha Louise Roberts (1897 - 1990) My grandparents.

The Caverly family was written up by Robert Boodey Caverly in 1879 in the book Genealogy of the Caverly Family.    In 2008 Paul Caverly revised this book and has published it at Lulu.com and he also has a blog at http://caverly.blogspot.com/.

 The Caverlys have also been written up at the website www.kimvarneychandler.com/caverly  but there are some mistakes in the first two generations, so be aware and check your own sources.   The Caverly Family Newsletter has several new articles on Moses and Nathaniel Caverly in the second generation, and their descendants.  You can contact the Caverly Family Association at maryecav@metrocast.net

There is a Caverly DNA project at www.familyTreeDNA.com  

Update 3 August 2018

An email from Christopher Childs 
"I'm finding (MA VR) that Leonard married Mary _Caley_, widow of Robert Caley (Torrey's "New England Marriages" has "Calley") of Malden... not Mary _Caverly_, widow of William. (Mary is, from best evidence, my ancestress, with 1st hubby Thomas Guptill.) Thanks for any info you may have. (If William didn't die till somewhere relatively near 1732, this also would call into question a 1707 remarriage of his widow!) I've laid out the argument with source links on Leonard's WikiTree profile at wikitree (dot) com/wiki/Drowne-62"

 Please see the link  https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Drowne-62   

-------------------

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday – Caverly", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 1, 2011, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/10/surname-saturday-caverly.html: accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday- Wilkinson

Janet and Donald M. Wilkinson
(my great aunt and grandfather)

After blogging for more than two years, I finally decided to try participating in the Surname Saturday meme.  I usually don’t blog on weekends, but thanks to the magic of blogger, I can post this ahead of time.  Yes, it took me two years to learn how to do this!  Don’t laugh.  I'll be working my way through the family tree, tracing each surname in order. 

WILKINSON (my maiden name)

The first recorded Wilkinson in my line is Thomas Wilkinson.  He appears in the Portsmouth, New Hampshire records as marrying Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715.   The record reads “Tho. Wilkinson of London in Great Britain and Elizabeth Caverly of Portsmouth were married August 1715”.  From this I can see that he was probably an immigrant, with no other Wilkinsons before him in New England.  However, there were other Wilkinsons living nearby, including a Samuel Wilkinson born about 1722 who was living in Deerfield (a son? A cousin?) and a Wilkinson in New Castle (an island off Portsmouth), where his brother in law Moses Caverly lived.    These are important clues I continue to research, since all the New Hampshire/Maine Wilkinsons lived in close proximity and had similar naming patterns for their children.

Thomas Wilkinson was taxed for land in Barrington, New Hampshire in 1722, and in Portsmouth in 1727.  He was last taxed in 1732.  He died sometime before 1736 when his son is listed as “William Wilkinson, son of Elizabeth,  Oct. 17, 1736" (Records of the South Church of Portsmouth, New Hampshire).  His wife remarried to Phillip Jewel on 27 November 1739.

Generation 1.  Thomas Wilkinson, born about 1690, probably in London, England, died before 1739; married in August 1715 to Elizabeth Caverly, daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott.  Two known sons:  James and William (no further information). There were probably more children.

Generation 2.  James Wilkinson, born about 1730, died between 1796 and 1805 in Berwick, York County, Maine; married about 1753 to Hannah Mead, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire, died before 1759.  Seven children.

                1. William, married Mercy Nason (my 4x great grandparents)

                2. James G., born 31 December 1753 in Newington, New Hampshire; married Mary

                3. Anna, born 16 June 1755 in Newington, New Hampshire; married Samuel Hearle

                4. Joseph, baptized 8 May 1757 in Berwick, Maine; married Dorcas Nason

                5. George, born about 1761; married Mehitable Whitehouse

                6. Samuel, born about 1761; married Hannah Turner

                7. Daniel, born about 1764; married Hannah Weymouth

Generation 3.  William Wilkinson, died after 1840; married on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick, Maine to Mercy Nason, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson, born about 1764 in Kittery, Maine. Three children.

                1. Willliam H., born about 1797, married Mary Lord

                2. George,  born about 1800, married Jane Furbish

                3. Aaron, born 22 February 1802, married Mercy F. Wilson (my 3x great grandparents)

Generation 4.  Aaron Wilkinson, born 22 February 1802 in South Berwick, Maine, died 25 November 1879 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 23 June 1829 in Danvers, Massachusetts to Mercy F. Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson and Mary Southwick, born 17 June 1803 in Danvers, died 9 October 1883 in Peabody.  Eleven children.

                1. Robert Wilson, born 26 May 1830, married Phebe Cross Munroe

                2. George Washington,  born 10 February 1832; married Sally Richardson

                3. William Prescott, born 3 May 1833; married Sarah Ellen Proctor

                4. Samuel Warren, born 14 November 1835, died 28 November 1836

                5. Samuel Warren, born 15 November 1837, died 23 September 1844

                6. Henry Harrison, born 28 January 1841, died 4 Feb 1842

                7. Henry Harrison, born 30 May 1843, died 13 June 1917

                8. Margaret, born about Oct. 1844, died 4 September 1845

                9. Mary Elizabeth, born 1 Oct 1844, died 4 September 1845

                10. Abba, born about June 1846, died 23 December 1846

                11. Abby Wilson, born 17 June 1846, died 17 June 1846

Generation 5.  Robert Wilson Wilkinson, born 26 May 1830 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 23 March 1874; married on 24 November 1853 to Phebe Cross Munroe, daughter of Luther Simonds Munroe and Olive Flint, born 28 October 1830 in Danvers, died 31 January 1895 in Salem, Massachusetts.  Three children.

                1. Robert Henry, born 14 January 1855; married Eliza Harris Poor

                2. Walter, born 3 November 1856, died 2 April 1858

                3. Albert Munroe, born 7 November 1860; married Isabella Lyons Bill (my great grandparents)

Generation 6. Albert Munroe Wilkinson, born 7 November 1860 in Danvers, died 12 May 1908 at the Corey Hill Hospital, Brookline, Massachusetts; married on 18 October 1894 to Isabella Lyons Bill, daughter of Caleb Rand Bill and Ann Margaret Bollman, born January 1863 in Machias, Maine, died 19 January 1935 in Beverly, Massachusetts.  Two children.

                1. Donald Munroe, born 23 October 1895; married Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

                2. Janet, born 14 June 1898; married William John Blades

------------------

To Cite/Link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ Wilkinson", Nutfield Genealogy, posted 24 September 2011, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/09/surname-saturday-wilkinson.html: accessed [access date]). 

The Face of Genealogy

I don't live on the West Coast, but I will be attending the Southern California Genealogical Society Jamboree.   The website LA Weekly published an offensive article and photograph about the upcoming Jamboree, which has made the genealogical community quite upset.   I won't reproduce their article or photograph here, but if you are curious you can follow this link.

Thomas MacEntee at  http://www.geneabloggers.com/face-genealogy/

[ Note: UPDATE:  the offensive photo was removed and replaced with a photo of the Jamboree app! It appears that the text has changed, too.  This is the power of blogging!  However, as of 7 PM on Sunday June 5th, no apology or retraction from the L.A. Times. ]

In response, the members of the Genealogical Blogging Community have decided to run posts showing our own faces of genealogy.  I believe this image represents my family history:

Charles and Comfort (Boodey) Caverly 

I love this painting because it shows my Caverly cousins, painted by an itinerant New Hampshire painter about 1836.  It has the figures of father, mother, child and cat - just like my family!  For a blog post on this painting, please see this link:
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/10/caverly-family-portraits.html 
 
Other bloggers and their posts
Russ Worthington at http://worthy2be.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/the-face-of-genealogy/ 
Bill West at http://westinnewengland.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Barbara Poole at http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Carol at http://www.reflectionsfromthefence.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Marian Pierre Louis at http://rootsandrambles.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+RootsandRambles+%28Roots+and+Rambles%29
Susan at http://nolichuckyroots.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Deb Ruth at http://deb-adventuresingenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Renate at http://justthinking130.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FTHyV+%28Into+the+LIGHT%29
Pam Schaffner at http://diggingdowneast.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Leah Allen at http://shbwgen.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Randy Seaver at http://www.geneamusings.com/2011/06/this-is-faces-of-genealogy.html
Daphne Garrison at http://garrisonfamilyroots.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Colleen at http://omchorations.blogspot.com/2011/06/these-are-faces-of-genealogy.html
Jenna Mills at http://desperatelyseekingsurnames.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Tina Sansone at http://gtownma.wordpress.com/2011/06/06/the-face-of-genealogy-roaten-style/
Megan Atchley at http://genealogyresearchservice.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Dave Weller at http://wellerharvey.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/the-face-of-genealogy/
Anne Mamiya at http://www.blog.genhistory.net/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Deborah Andrew at http://debsresearch.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html

There are probably more genealogy bloggers participating, please leave your permanent link in my comments and I'll add you to the list!

new additions to the list (thank you!)
GrammyPam at http://www.warrenweb.info/genealogy/?p=4033
Michelle Goodrum at http://turning-of-generations.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Greta at http://gretabog.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Angela Y. Walton-Raji at http://myancestorsname.blogspot.com/2011/06/one-of-faces-of-genealogy.html
Donna Jane at http://hangingwithdonna.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html?spref=fb
Janice at http://cowhampshire.blogharbor.com/blog/_archives/2011/6/5/4832153.html#axzz1OPHfXsJe
Jenny Lactot at http://aremyrootsshowing.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html 
GeneaDiva at http://geneadiva.blogspot.com/2011/06/face-of-genealogy.html
DoreenFromOhio at http://graveyardrabbitofsanduskybay.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealgy.html
Lynn Palermo at http://www.thearmchairgenealogist.com/2011/06/faces-of-genealogy.html
Paula at http://itjustnevercameup.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-my-genealogy.html
Charles Ano at http://anonui.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Polly Kimmett at http://pk-pollyblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Kathleen Brandt at http://a3genealogy.blogspot.com/2011/06/face-of-genealogy.html
Thomas MacEntee at http://destinationaustinfamily.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Nancy Loe at http://sassyjanegenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Jen at http://diaryofamadgenealogist.blogspot.com/2011/06/this-is-face-of-genealogy.html
Dr. Bill Smith at http://drbilltellsancestorstories.blogspot.com/2011/06/face-of-genealogy.html
Schelly Talalay Dardashti at http://www.asenseoffamily.com/2011/06/face-of-genealogy.html


UPDATE- Ok! Ok! I can't keep up with all the additional blog posts on the "Face of Genealogy" so please see Thomas MacEntee's complete list at http://www.geneabloggers.com/face-genealogy-2/

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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Ten Hours Until Dawn - The Blizzard of ‘78

Last summer a distant cousin I never knew or met contacted me via my blog, having seen my Wilkinson family tree. We have been emailing, exchanging photos and Facebook messages, but had never met even though we live only an hour apart. It was great to find a missing branch of the Wilkinson family tree.  One of the tidbits of genealogical trivia I learned via my “new cousin” was that a Wilkinson cousin had died during the Blizzard of 1978.

This cousin’s name was Donald Wilkinson, and he was part of the crew of the pilot boat Can Do out of Gloucester harbor. The five men on board were attempting to rescue a Coast Guard cutter which was attempting to rescue an oil tanker, Global Hope, off Salem, Massachusetts. This was a disastrous chain of events, and the Can Do sank during the height of the storm. I had learned that a book named Ten Hours Until Dawn, by Michael J. Tougias, had been written about the incident. You can read this book online through Google Books, or pick up a copy at your local book store.

Last week I read that Michael Tougias was speaking on his book at the Cove Community Center in Beverly. This building is just blocks from Hospital Point, which overlooks the scene of the disaster.  The Can Do disappeared just off shore near Misery Island and Baker’s Island. I contacted several Wilkinson cousins, and my new cousin I had never met, and we all went to hear Tougias’s lecture.  At the lecture I picked up an autographed copy of Ten Hours Until Dawn, and another book he co-authored with Eric Schultz King Phillip’s War. Tougias is a prolific history writer of maritime and local history, and a very engaging speaker.

A whole row of Wilkinson cousins
at Tougias's lecture in Beverly 14 February 2011

Besides having a mini Wilkinson family reunion, I learned a lot about the Great Blizzard of 1978, and about the disaster at sea. I lived in central Massachusetts during the storm, so I only saw snow and didn’t witness the destructive two day coastal storm, which generated several days of destructive waves and tides along coastal New England. Many homes were lost, property damaged, and the coastline was permanently changed and damaged during this storm. It is amazing that more lives weren’t lost at sea that week.

I also learned several new bits of historical trivia. You can read the list of the over 5,000 names carved on the Gloucester Fisherman’s memorial online. Even if you haven’t any ancestors in Gloucester you probably remember the names carved under 1991- the men of the Andrea Gail who perished at sea during the Perfect Storm. But, did you know that only fishermen are listed here? You won’t find the names of the men lost from the Can Do in 1978, or any other Gloucester men, or women, lost during rescue missions, shipping, naval exercises or pleasure boating.

I never knew that the disaster that claimed Donald Wilkinson’s life took place right off Hospital Point. The Can Do was attempting to locate the Coast Guard cutter which foundered right off Manchester just offshore from the beach club right across the street from where my uncle Bob Wilkinson lived on Raymond Street. And Hospital Point Lighthouse was my parent’s favorite spot for “parking” before they were married. They were engaged to be married right there next to the lighthouse. Right next door is Lynch Park where they met on the beach in the 1950s. My father, John Wilkinson, loved that view, but he never knew that a cousin died there nine years after we removed from Beverly, Massachusetts.

Hospital Point Lighthouse
Beverly, Massachusetts

The five men lost from the Can Do February 7, 1978:
Frank E. Quirk II
Charles Bucko
Kenneth Fuller, Jr.
Norman David Curley
Donald R. Wilkinson

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Genealogy

Generation 1.  Thomas Wilkinson "of London", born about 1690, died before 1739; married in August 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Elizabeth Caverly, daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth. Two children.  Elizabeth remarried to Phillip Jewell on 27 November 1739.

Generation 2. James Wilkinson, born about 1730 in Berwick, Maine, died between 1796 and 1805 in Berwick; married to Hannah Mead, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire, died before 1759.  Seven children.  James remarried to Mary Unknown, named in his will.

Generation 3. William Wilkinson, died after 1840 probably in South Berwick, Maine; married on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick to Mercy Nason, daughter of Richard Nason and Mary Thompson, born aobut 1764 in Kittery, Maine. Three sons.

Generation 4. Aaron Wilkinson, born 22 February 1802 in South Berwick, Maine, died 25 November 1879 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 23 June 1829 in Danvers to Mercy F. Wilson, daughter of Robert Wilson and Mary Southwick, born 17 June 1803 in Peabody, died 9 October 1883 in Peabody.  Eleven Children.

Generation 5. George Washington Wilkinson, born 10 February 1832 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 1865; married on 28 September 1856 in Danvers to Sally Richardson Peasley, daughter of John Peasley and Dorcas Osborn, born 25 January 1832 in South Danvers, died 24 December 1914 in Peabody. Two children.

Generation 6. Frank Augustus Wilkinson, born 1 December 1856 in Peabody, Massachusetts, died 1941; married on 24 November 1877 in Peabody to Laura E. Tucker, daughter of Charles E. Tucker and Emmeline A. Stone, born 13 Jan 1958 in South Danvers,  died 1940. Two children.

Generation 7. Charles Erastus Wilkinson, born 16 December 1880 in Peabody, Massachusetts, died 27 March 1921, married about 1911 to Annie May Robinson, daughter of Charles E. Robinson and Minnie Bertha Heald, born 10 March 1897 in Lowell, Massachusetts.  Charles was married first to Abigail Frances Ravel on 29 August 1906 in Beverly.

Generation 8. Sumner Kirkland Wilkinson, born 17 August 1918 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 31 January 1996; married on 29 May 1938 to Jane Lucille Cobb, daughter of Willis Lester Cobb and Grace Ellsworth Manning.  One son, Donald.

Generation 9.  Donald R. Wilkinson, b. 11 August 1941 in Massachusetts, declared dead 8 February 1978, married with children

UPDATE 14 August 2013
An email from Scott Ellis:

"So very glad you found a new part of your family tree. Just a point of technical fact for your blog.  The Pilot Boat Can Do was not heading out to rescue a USCG cutter.  They headed out in support of two USCG small boats, one a 41 foot patrol boat and a 44 foot motor life boat.  These units were attempting to reach the tanker Global Hope which was reporting a may day.  The Pilot boat became lost due to loss of radar and loran.  And was subsequently lost in the storm.  Thanks so much."

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Ten Hours Until Dawn: The True Story of Heroism and Tragedy Aboard the Can Do, by Michael J. Tougias, New York: St. Martin’s Press, 2005

Names on the Gloucester Fisherman’s Cenotaph:
http://web.archive.org/web/20030308210445/www.downtosea.com/cenotaph/

also:
King Phillip’s War: The History and Legacy of America’s Forgotten Conflict, by Eric B. Schultz and Michael J. Tougias, Woodstock, VT: The Countryman Press, 2000

Michael Tougias's website http://www.michaeltougias.com/

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To Cite/Link to this post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Ten Hours Until Dawn - The Blizzard of '78", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 28, 2011, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/02/ten-hours-until-dawn-blizzard-of-78.html: accessed [access date]). 

Caverly Family Portraits

Charles and Comfort Caverly Family and Cat
by Joseph H. Davis, ink and watercolor, 1836

Joseph H. Davis (1804-1845) was an itinerant painter in rural New Hampshire and Maine from 1832 througth the 1840s. His paintings are ink and watercolor on paper. He is called the “left-handed painter” because he signed at least one portrait with that name. In 2006 an 1836 watercolor by Joseph H. Davis of Asa and Susannah Caverly sold for $76,375 at a Skinner auction. The watercolor of Charles and Comfort Caverly sold for $127,000 in August 2006 at Northeast Auctions in Manchester, New Hampshire to art dealer David Wheatcroft.

The Charles Caverly and Comfort Boodey lineage:

Generation 1. William Caverly, married Mary Abbott, daughter of Walter Abbott and Sarah Steward, and widow of Thomas Guptill. She married a third time to Leonard Drown, 4 November 1707 in Boston, Massachusetts to her sister Elizabeth’s widowed husband.  William Caverly and Mary Abbott are my 7th great grandparents.

Children:
1. Moses (see below)
2. Elizabeth Caverly, born about 1696 married Thomas Wilkinson (my 6th great grandparents)

Generation 2. Moses Caverly married on 30 January 1714 in Portsmouth to Margaret Cotton, daughter of John Cotton and Sarah Hearle. He removed to Barrington in 1746.

Children:
1. William
2. Moses (see below)
3. John
4. Thomas
5. Hannah
6. Nathaniel

Generation 3. Moses Caverly, born 1719 in Portsmouth, died 17 March 1795 in Barrington, New Hampshire; married in 1741 to Hannah Johnson, died in 1802. He was a merchant, barber and hairdresser in Portsmouth until about 1754 when he removed to Barrington.

Children:
1. Charles, born 15 June 1741
2. Philip, born 17 March 1745 (see below)
3. John, born 25 June 1747, died young
4. Hannah, born 12 January 1749
5. John, born May 11, 1752
6. Abigail, born 11 June 1754
7. William, born 2 February 1757, died young
8. Charles, born 15 December 1760

Generation 4. Philip Caverly, son of Moses and ???, born 17 March 1745 at Portsmouth, died 1 April 1813; married to Bridget Pendergast, born 24 Feb 1745, and died 28 April 1818

Children:
1. Moses, born 3 April 1771
2. Samuel, born 23 June 1773
3. Stephen, born 18 May 1775, died 15 September 1778
4. John, born 7 November 1777
5. Polly, born 2 July 1779
6. Edmund, born 15 January 1781
7. Stephen, born 28 October 1782
8. Charles, born 27 September 1784 (see below)
9. Solomon, born 11 February 1778.

Generation 5. Charles Caverly, son of Philip Caverly and Bridget Pendergast, born 27 September 1784 in Strafford, died 6 June 1872; married Comfort Boodey, born 10 February 1791 in Strafford, and died 30 March 1876. Charles was a blacksmith in Strafford, New Hampshire and served in the legislature in 1845 and 1846.

Children:
1. Eliza J. born 1 November 1812, d. 3 March 1826
2. Joseph B., born 21 April 1815
3. Leonard W., born 7 November 1818
4. Charles H., born 26 May 1823
5. Cyrus G., born 25 November 18125
6. Isaac L., born 31 May 1835, died 31 January 1864 (in the portrait with his parents)

Sources:

Genealogy of the Caverly Family, by Robert Boodey Caverly, 1879, reprint by Higginson

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Copyright 2010, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Caverly Family Reunion 2010

Last week I attended the Caverly Family Reunion in Strafford, New Hampshire. The Caverly Family Association meets every two years, and produces a newsletter. The first known Caverly in New Hampshire was William Caverly, born about 1650 and died about 1732 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For more lineage information see my updated (with changes to the family tree) blog post http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/search/label/Caverly

A 15 foot long Caverly Family Tree was on display

This year the reunion was held at the historic Bow Lake Grange Hall, next to the dam on Bow Lake. This is a pleasant community hall for Strafford. Families have been summering on Bow Lake for over 100 years, and there are photos and maps inside the hall. The family association put on a great cookout lunch, complete with hamburgers, hot dogs, and grilled sausages. Homemade salads, baked beans and desserts were also served. Over thirty Caverly cousins were in attendance.

Dick Caverly is the association president. He has tried to get me to attend quite a few of these reunions, and we surprised him this year when we showed up at the door! He graciously introduced me to all my distant Caverly kin. I was pleased to meet Mary Caverly, the association treasurer who is also a volunteer at the New Hampshire Vital Records room in Concord. On one wall there was a Caverly family tree over fifteen feet long, printed out on a plotter by Bruce Caverly of Arkansas. It was exported from Family Tree Maker 2005 to the plotter, and was the first of the kind I had ever seen! (Usually I have to tape together large trees from regular 8x10 paper from my home printer).

Lenny Caverly and Roger Leighton
give a historical talk about the Bow Lake section of Strafford, NH

I also met Lenny Caverly, the association historian, who filled me in on some new revisions to the Caverly genealogy. He, along with 91 year old Roger Leighton, gave a great talk after lunch, and discussed the Bow Lake neighborhood of Strafford. Roger remembers seeing his first parade right in front of the Grange Hall, led by a Civil War veteran on a white horse! He also told stories of the houses along Caverly hill, where every cellar hole and antique home was once owned by a Caverly family member. Another Caverly cousin graciously presented an old photo album (with labeled photos!) and a bible with a genealogical register to the Caverly Association that morning. Some of the surnames in those books were Caverly, Ricker, Leighton and Hill.

Following the historical talk, there was a raffle of several historical books and a goody bag of Stonewall Kitchen jams and sauces. Two cousins from California won the prize for traveling the greatest distance to attend the reunion. After the family meeting, Lenny took interested family members on a tour of Caverly Hill and the Caverly Family burial ground. It was wonderful to attend this family gathering, even though my nearest Caverly ancestor (Elizabeth Caverly who married Thomas Wilkinson in 1715) is 9 generations removed!

To join the Caverly Family Association, send inquiries to the Caverly Family Association, c/o Mary Caverly 280 Hale Road, Sanbornton, NH 03269-2202 or email maryecav@metrocast.net

Caverly Books I learned about at the reunion:

Becky, Grandmother of New Hampshire, by Alice Clark Haubrich, 1966. This is a novel, based on facts, about some early Piscataqua Pioneers including Caverly ancestors. Hard to find.

Genealogy of the Caverly Family, by Robert Boodey Caverly, 1879 reprints available at Higginson (note, the first two generations have had revisions since this book was printed)

Escape from the Deep, by Alex Kershaw, 2008 A nonfiction book about the legendary submarine Tang, and the survivors who escaped from 180 feet under the sea only to be captured by the Japanese in 1944. Only nine of the original eighty man crew survived, including Floyd Caverly. (I won this book in the raffle!)

New Caverly Links:

http://www.nh.gov/nhdhr/publications/documents/caverly_strafford.pdf New Hampshire Division of Historical Resources notes on the Reverend John Caverly House in Strafford, New Hampshire

http://www.usgennet.org/usa/nh/town/strafford/index.htm Strafford, New Hampshire genealogy page

http://www.kimvarneychandler.com/caverly Website of Caverly Genealogy, some mistakes in the first two generations, so be aware and check your own sources.

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Copyright 2010, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Caverly Family Reunion, Bow, New Hampshire

This 25 September 2010 the Caverly Family Association has scheduled a reunion at the Bow Lake Grange Hall in Strafford, New Hampshire. This Caverly family is descended of William Caverly, born about 1650 and died about 1732 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire; married about 1696 to Mary Abbott, daughter of Walter Abbott and Sarah Steward, born about 1652 in Portsmouth and died after 1732 (after her husband). William and Mary Caverly had two children:

1. Moses, married 30 January 1715 to Margaret Cotton, 7 children

2. Elizabeth, born about 1696, married August 1715 to Thomas Wilkinson, at least 2 sons who resided in New Hampshire and Maine

The Caverly Reunion will be held at Saturday, 25 September 2010 with registration at 9:30 AM. The gathering will end about 3PM. There will be a cookout of burgers and hotdogs, potato salad and dessert. The cost is $10 per person if received before 1 September 2010 or $12 at the door. Children under ages 3 to 10 will be $5. If you bring your own lunch, the reunion fee is $5. You can also donate a favorite dessert. After lunch there will be a raffle of Caverly family related items. The Association will schedule time for a family meeting and any possible tours.

There is a Caverly DNA project ongoing, too at http://www.familytreedna.com/ (search for the CAVERLY name).

To join the Caverly Family Association, and receive the latest newsletters and reunion information, please send $3 for individuals, $5 for families to the Caverly Family Association, c/o Mary Caverly, 280 Hale Rd., Sanbornton, NH 03269-2202 email maryecav@metrocast.net

Note: This post was updated on 25 September 2010 with new information gleaned from Leonard Caverly, Historian of the Caverly Family Association.

2010 Felton Reunion – Peabody, Massachusetts

From Cora Felton Anderson, of the Felton Family Association:

The annual gathering of Felton descendants will be held on the 31 of July and 1st of August, 2010 at the site of the old houses of our ancestors in Peabody, Massachusetts. The area is now called 'Brooksby', but in the past it was known as Hog Hill or the Felton farm area of Salem, now Peabody, Massachusetts.

As many of you will know, this was what had been called the "Outer Village" of Salem during the early days of the colony in the 1630's. Our Nathaniel was appointed by Gov; Endicott to clear a place on the hill that could be used to signal the town of Salem below, in case of Indian attack.

We meet every year at the old houses which are said to be the "oldest set" of Father and son houses on the same property in the U.S. We come from all over the United States to honor our ancestors and learn of our heritage. Anyone who has a Felton ancestor in the background is most welcome to join with us at the gathering, as well as the Felton Family Association.

If you would like to join us there, please let me know so that we will have enough food for everyone.

Cora Felton Anderson, Felton96@aol.com
We look forward to seeing you there.

For more information, please see the website at www.feltonfamily.org

The Peabody, Massachusetts Historical Society website http://www.peabodyhistorical.org/, which contains photos and information on the Nathaniel Felton, Junior and Senior Home Sites, click on “properties”

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Other local family reunions

Caverly Family Reunion: 25 September 2010, Bow Lake Grange, Strafford, NH, Descendants of William Caverly and Mary Abbott of Portsmouth, NH

Wyman Family Reunion: 12 September 2010, Francis Wyman House, Burlington, MA http://www.wyman.org/ Descendants of Francis Wyman of Woburn, Massachusetts

Towne Family Reunion: 23 -25 September 2010, Omaha, Nebraska http://www.townefolk.com/, Descendants of William Towne and Joanna Blessing of Salem, Massachusetts
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Copyright 2010, Heather Wilkinson Rojo