MIT New House 50th Reunion

 

Vivian Hir, Class of 2025

presented a history of New House

A few months ago we attended an interesting reunion at MIT.  It wasn't a class reunion, or a family reunion, but it was a 50th anniversary of my husband's dorm (known at MIT as a living group).  I thought about how little genealogists use college, school, or university records, and this reunion created a lot of epherma, presentations, and photographs that will end up at the MIT archives.  Someday someone will want to see those records.  They list names, occupations, degrees, hometowns, and other pertinent information, and all of it is of interest to family historians.

I have done research at the archives at Simmons University, Acadia University, Boston University, University of New Hampshire and other schools. I've found not just academic records and yearbooks, but also journals, sermons, news clippings, photographs, books and other interesting items.  All of it was useful and helped to flesh out the bones on some ancestors for whom I only had vital records. 

The New House 50th reunion featured some great presentations which were shared electronically with partipants at this reunion, and some artifacts that were on display.  Of special interest was a large format book with the signatures of all the residents of New House.  We had fun searching for Vincent's name, and the names of his classmates in the book.  There were also construction plans, renovation charts, newsclippings, and photos on display. 

This register had the date, name, class year, major, 

dorm room, home address, etc. of every resident of New House

At the reunion Vivian Hir, class of 2025, a resident of New House, gave a great presentation on the history of New House, which was built in the 1970s to stem an overcrowding issue on the MIT campus.  Construction began on a site next to MacGregor House, at 500 Memorial Drive, the site of Joyce Chen's restaurant from 1969 - 1974.  The new dorm was designed by Spanish architect Josep Lluis Sert.  It was six units connected by a street level corridor, creating many independent living communities.  Three units faced the Charles River, and 3 faced the athletic field.   

New House opened in September 1975 and House 1 was Chocolate City (African American) and Russian House, House 6 was French House and German House.  Later Spanish House and other living groups were added.  Vincent lived in House 3 (known as New Three Stooges).  In 2007 iHouse opened to promote international development, social justice and activism. In 2022 New House 2 became Juniper, an all female Black community.  There are nine different living groups at New House currently. 

In July 2015 there was a flood due to a burst pipe which damaged Houses 1, 2, and 3.  Students were moved to the nearby Hyatt hotel.  In 2016 another pipe burst.  MIT contemplated demoliton or full repair.  It was decided to renovate, which took several years, as each unit was restored .  The school decide to fully remove walls and change the separate units into one fully integrated dorm, but keeping the living groups.  

The history presentation was followed by a lunch and tours of the renovated New House.  We couldn't find Vincent's old rooms, because the renovations had completely removed the rooms, walls, corridors and lounges to create new dorm rooms, living spaces, kitchens, and maker spaces. It was strange to not see the old familiar spaces, but extremely interesting to see the new ideas and new students enjoying the building. 

Events like this reunion used the MIT archives, interviews, the libraries and more to create presentations, and then those presentations will be archived in turn.  Think of all the events, reunions, and more that are being archived at colleges, and your ancestors (or you!) might be named and described in detail.  

New House 3

New House current floor plans

Former New Three Stooges

residents of New House 3 

A group shot of all the reunion participants

New Three Stooges (New House 3) residents in 1978

For the truly curious:

MIT ArchivesSpace:  https://archivesspace.mit.edu/  

MIT Libraries:   https://libraries.mit.edu/distinctive-collections/  

MIT Facility Archive Collection:  https://campusplanning.mit.edu/what-we-do/facility-information-systems-fis/facilities-archive/  

New House webpage:  https://newhouse.mit.edu/   

This webpage has a good description of the history and renovations at MIT's New House:   https://www.goodyclancy.com/project/new-house/  

New House at MIT Facebook page:   https://www.facebook.com/mitnewhouse/  

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

To cite/link to this blog post: Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "MIT New House 50th Reunion", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 22, 2026, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2026/05/mit-new-house-50th-reunion.html: accessed [access date]).  

2021 Locke Family Reunion

Photo credit to Geoff Smith of the Locke Family Association

On August 7, 2021 some members of the Locke Family Association gathered by Zoom for a business meeting, and then met in the Rye, New Hampshire Central Cemetery for the annual reunion photo at the John Locke (1627 - 1696) cenotaph.  This is the 131st annual reunion for the Locke Family Association.  Last year a small group of members met in this same spot for a masked photo to uphold the tradition of the annual reunion. On the home page of the Locke Family association online there is a comment "Neither wars nor pandemics have stopped Locke reunions".  

The Locke Family Association has a website https://www.lockefamilyassociation.org/, a Facebook group, and a newsletter "The Locke Sickle and Sword" named after the two artifacts owned by John Locke of Rye now held at the New Hampshire Historical Society.  Next year they are planning a reunion in Springfield, Missouri to honor Locke descendant and author Laura Ingalls Wilder, and in 2023 the reunion will return to New Hampshire in honor of the 400th anniversary of the settlement of Portsmouth and Rye, New Hampshire.  The first reunion was held in Rye, New Hampshire in 1891. 

If you are a descendant of any of the early Locke Families of New England please consider joining the Locke Family Association.  Members include descendants of Captain John Locke of Rye, New Hampshire (including his brother Nathaniel Locke of Portsmouth, New Hampshire) and descendants of Deacon William Locke of Woburn, Massachusetts. There are over 300 members from more than three countries. 

IN MEMORY OF

CAPT. JOHN LOCKE

WHO CAME FROM ENGLAND TO THESE

SHORES ABOUT 1640.

HE WAS KILLED BY THE INDIANS

AUG. 25, 1696 AT THE AGE OF 70 YEARS,

WHILE REAPING IN HIS FIELD AT LOCKE'S

NECK, THIS TOWN.

Even the youngest members signed the annual reunion book.

In past years the members of the Locke Family Association have met at Locke's Neck where John Locke is probably buried in the old family burial ground on Locke Road.  The Association owns and preserves this little burial ground, and works with the Rye Historical Society to preserve and document the landmarks in the town. 

For the truly curious:

May 21, 2016, "Surname Saturday - Locke of Rye, New Hampshire"

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2016/05/surname-saturday-locke-of-rye-new.html  

January 12, 2010 "An Indian Without a Nose"

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/01/indian-without-nose.html  

July 9, 2013 "Tombstone Tuesday - Locke Burial Ground, Rye, New Hampshire"

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/07/tombstone-tuesday-locke-burial-ground.html  

August 13, 2013 "The 123rd Locke Family Reunion, Concord, New Hampshire"

https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/08/the-123rd-locke-family-reunion-concord.html  

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

To City/Link to this blog post:  Geoff Smith and Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "2021 Locke Family Reunion", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 9, 2021, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2021/08/2021-locke-family-reunion.html: accessed [access date]). 

Surname Saturday ~ WEEKS of Greenland, New Hampshire

The Weeks Brick House
built circa 1710 by Samuel Weeks, my 9th great uncle

WEEKS / WEEKES /  WICKES

Much of the information about my 9^th great grandfather, Leonard Weeks (1633 – 1707) is from an 1889 book.  Not many people realize that this information has been researched, updated, and published at the journal of the New Hampshire Society of Genealogists.  See below for the information on this book and the journal article. There is also an active Weeks family association that maintains updates on the family genealogy (see below for links to the family association webpage.)

Leonard Weeks is of unknown origins, but he was born about 1633, probably in England, and first appears a Maine record as a witness in 1655.  By 29 June 1656 he received his first grant of land in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  In 1660 he received more acreage, and by February 1660/61 he had settled in what is now the town of Greenland, on the Winnicut River

. 

My ancestor married three times.  First to a daughter of Deacon Samuel Haines, then to Mary Redman, the daughter of John Redman, and third to a woman known only as “Elizabeth”.  He had eight children with Mary Redman, my 9^th great grandmother. 

In 1655 the court found Leonard Weeks guilty of swearing and fined him 10 shillings plus court fees of 3 shillings.  However, he must have been respected in the community because the very next year he was elected selectman, and later as the constable and as the sheriff.  His seat in the church at Portsmouth was “No. 4 in front of the pulpit”. 

I descend from his son Joshua Weeks (1674 – 1758) who married Comfort Hubbard.  My 8^th great grandparents had nine children and lived in Greenland.  Comfort was the sister of Thomas Hubbard, a wealthy resident of Boston and treasurer of Harvard College.  They lived on the “Bay Side” of Greenland. Joshua was the colonel of the local militia, and was also a justice of the peace.  

In the next generation I descend from the eldest daughter, Mary Weeks (about 1700 – 1765) who married Jonathan Chesley, and they resided in nearby Durham, New Hampshire.

The Weeks Brick House was built by Samuel Weeks, son of Leonard Weeks and brother of Joshua, in 1710 in Greenland, New Hampshire is operated by the Weeks family association, as a organizational member of Historic New England.  This is one of the earliest brick homes build in New England.  It is open for tours by appointment 603-436-8147. See the website www.weeksbrickhouse.org    The family association has an annual family reunion every September.  The WEEKS DNA project is at this link:  https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/weeks-weekes-wicks/about  

Some WEEKS resources:

Leonard Weeks, of Greenland, N. H. & Descendants, 1639 – 1888, by Jacob Chapman, 1889 (available online at HathiTrust, Archive.org, and at Ancestry).

“New Thoughts on the Family of Leonard Weeks”, by Janet Ireland Delorey and Melinda Lutz Sanborn, New Hampshire Genealogical Record,  Vol. 19, Numbers 2 and 3, April and August 2002.

The Leonard Weeks and Descendants in America, a family association  www.weeksbrickhouse.org  and their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/WeeksBrickHouse/  

My WEEKS genealogy:

Generation 1:  Leonard Weeks, born about 1633 in England; died about 1707 in Greenland, New Hampshire; married about 1667 to Mary Redman, his second wife, daughter of John Redman and Margaret Knight.  She was born 15 December 1649 and died about 1694.  Eight children. 

Generation 2: Joshua Weeks, born 30 June 1674 in Greenland, and died 13 June 1758 in Greenland; married on 7 November 1699 in Boston, Massachusetts to Comfort Hubbard, daughter of Richard Hubbard and Martha Allen.  She was born 17 January 1682 and died 20 March 1756.  Nine children.

Generation 3:  Mary Weeks, born about 1700 in Greenland, died about July 1765; married on 17 November 1720 in Greenland to Jonathan Chesley, son of Phillip Chesley and Sarah Rollins.  Three children.

Generation 4:  Comfort Chesley m. Stephen Perkins

Generation 5:  Mary Perkins m. Nathaniel Batchelder

Generation 6:  Jonathan Batchelder m. Nancy Thompson

Generation 7:  George E. Batchelder m. Abigail M. Locke

Generation 8:  George E. Batchelder m. Mary Katharine Emerson

Generation 9:  Carrie Maude Batchelder m. Joseph Elmer Allen

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

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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ WEEKS of Greenland, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted November 17, 2018, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/11/surname-saturday-weeks-of-greenland-new.html: accessed [access date]). 

The 300th Anniversary of the Scots Irish Diaspora

The next two years are going to be a very interesting time here in New England as we commemorate the Scots Irish diaspora.  Although a few Scots Irish migrated to Massachusetts, like my minister ancestors Rev. William Holmes and Rev. Thomas Craighead, who arrived in Boston in 1714 from Londonderry, Northern Ireland.  The organized mass migration began in 1718 when Rev. William Boyd obtained permission for a grant of land from Governor Shute of Massachusetts. That same year Rev. James McGregor brought a large portion of his flock from Aghadowey, to Boston.  These Ulster Presbyterian families spent a cold winter in Maine, where some remained, and some went on with McGregor to found the Nutfield settlement in New Hampshire in the spring of 1719, and others spread out in Massachusetts.

The 300^th anniversary of these events begins this year, and the kickoff event will be The Scots Irish Reunion at Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine 14 – 16 August 2018.  It will be hosted by the St. Andrews Society of Maine and the Maine Ulster Scots Project.   This reunion will include:

-  Identifying the people who left Northern Ireland, their home villages, and their settlements in New England

-  Exploring the uniqueness of the diaspora and the folkways brought to America

-  Academic lectures, articles, conferences, archaeological reports, genealogy, and publications

-  Tours of points of interest: First Parish Church, cemeteries, archaeological sites

Next year celebrations will be held in Nutfield (Londonderry, Derry, Windham and Derryfield (part of Manchester), New Hampshire) with a kickoff  for the300^th anniversary of the 1719 sermon by Rev. McGregor on the shore of Beaver Lake in present day East Derry.  A heritage day will be held on 13 April at the Meetinghouse with historical presentations, artistans, and a musical performance.  There will be a special church service that weekend to conclude the weekend.

There will be also be commemorations in 2019 during Wndham’s June Strawberry Festival, Derry’s Fourth of July, and Londonderry’s August Old Home Day. 

Nutfield Genealogy will be celebrating, too!  I plan on switching my “Surname Saturdays” to cover the Scots Irish families who settled in Nutfield/Londonderry.  The first posts will be the first 16 families who arrived with Rev. James MacGregor in 1719, and then I will feature some of the other Scots Irish families.  Stay tuned to see if your ancestors are included, and stay tuned to learn more about the Nutfield commemorative events next year.

For more information:

Maine Ulster Scots Project:    www.MaineUlsterScots.com

                                                https://www.facebook.com/maineulsterscots/

St. Andrews Society of Maine   http://mainehighlandgames.org/

                                                   https://www.facebook.com/SASMaine/

The 1718 Migration    http://www.1718migration.org.uk

The 1718 Society at Facebook    https://www.facebook.com/groups/1485652625086099/

Nutfield History    http://www.nutfieldhistory.org/   

The following links will be updated soon:

Derry’s Fourth of July   https://www.derrynh.org/parks-recreation/events/75953 

Londonderry’s Old Home Day    http://oldhomedays.com/ 

Windham’s Strawberry Festival  http://www.flowwindham.org/strawberry-festival

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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The 300th Anniversary of the Scots Irish Diaspora", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 19, 2018, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-300th-anniversary-of-scots-irish.html: accessed [access date]). 

The 1st Annual Myles Standish Descendants Family Reunion

Yesterday the members of the Society of Myles Standish Descendants held their first family reunion at Plimoth Plantation.  There was a lovely luncheon, raffles, fellowship and fun. Everyone in attendance received a mug and a cupcake with the Society logo (mugs will be on sale at the website soon).  Even my two year old granddaughter had a good time!

Our special guest was "Barbara Standish", the wife of Captain Myles Standish who came to explain the recipes, etiquette, history and stories behind our family style meal. We learned a lot about 17th century dining and family life.

"Barbara" explained that in 1624 napkins were very large (about 3 feet square) and men wore them over the left shoulder during meals.  Women kept them in the lap.  Since there were no forks, polite folks use the forefinger and thumb of the right hand for eating, and wiped their hands on the large napkins.  We were served grapes, cheese, prunes, bread, butter, cucumber sallet, roast turkey with onion sauce, stewed pumpkin and Indian pudding. Our only utensils were a knife and spoon!  The tip of the knife was used to dip into the salt cellar (not the fingers of course!)

Our featured luncheon speaker was the very interesting author and Mayflower expert Caleb Johnson.  He gave an interesting talk on historical trivia about Myles Standish including the identification of the only known painting of Standish, his book collection, and his possible English origins.  On Monday Caleb Johnson is giving a talk at the Mayflower Society Congress in Plymouth on the newly discovered English origins of another Mayflower passenger. I wish I could be there for this announcement!

Caleb Johnson

Society of Myles Standish Descendants:
http://mylesstandishsociety.org/

Society of Myles Standish Descendants Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/MylesStandishSociety/

The Standish Connection on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1031675716847712/

Caleb Johnson's Mayflower website:
http://mayflowerhistory.com/


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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "The 1st Annual Myles Standish Descendants Family Reunion", Nutfield Genealogy, posted September 11, 2017, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/09/the-1st-annual-myles-standish.html: accessed [access date]).

350th Anniversary of the Francis Wyman House, Burlington, Massachusetts and a Family Reunion

Wyman Descendants, photo by John Goff

In 1666 (or thereabouts) Francis Wyman (1617 - 1699) built a home in Woburn, Massachusetts, on land that is now 56 Francis Wyman Road in Burlington, Massachusetts.  He had over 1,000 acres near the Shawsheen River.  This homestead is now owned by the Francis Wyman Association, and celebrated it's 350th anniversary this year.  Over 30 descendants from all over the USA (from as far away as Nebraska, Wyoming, California, Oregon and Washington), England and New Zealand came together to commemorate the occasion and honor their Wyman Ancestors.

It was a chilly, raining day for the reunion on October 1st,  but that did not dampen the spirits of the Wyman family.  The house was open for tours, there was a cookout, and a family meeting.  We were entertained by colonial music and a musket salute by a group of Revolutionary War reenactors. Salem architect John Goff gave an excellent history of the house to the family members, with some new information about the structure of the building.  In the evening we all warmed up in a local restaurant to share a meal and good conversation. A good time was had by all!

The Massachusetts Society of the Sons of the
American Revolution Col. Henry Knox
Regimental Color Guard
John Zafiris, Jr., Jack Cunningham, Bob Bossart and Bill Carlson

Francis Wyman, our immigrant ancestor, was a tanner who owned property in "downtown" Woburn for his business, but he built his homestead on what was considered the frontier.  Nearby were several Christianized "praying Indian" villages, which were considered good protection against unfriendly Indian and French neighbors to the west and north.  As Wyman accumulated land, one of his deeds was witnessed by Caleb Cheeshahteaumuck, the first Native American (Wampanoag) to graduate from Harvard.  The history of this land goes back further than the lifetime of our ancestor Francis Wyman.

The Wyman house stayed in the Wyman family for many generations, and then was sold out of the family.  It was in decrepit condition when descendant Benjamin Wyman saw the home in 1898 and established the Francis Wyman Association to buy the farmhouse and restore it.  A caretaker lived in the home until 1996 when an accidental fire destroyed most of the interior stairwell up to the roof.  This is the 20th anniversary of the fire.  After several rounds of renovations the house is open to the public again as a museum house. There is still much work to be done to the interior.

Above, John Goff gave a talk on the history of the Francis Wyman house, and the evidence through out the house of renovations over 350 years. You can see the fire damage on the walls, ceiling and mantel behind John.  Although he is not a descendant, John Goff has been an active volunteer for the past 20 years working on the renovations after the fire.  Below, descendants gather in the parlor room to for tours of the Wyman homestead. 

The Francis Wyman house is the oldest home in Burlington, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.   The mission of the Francis Wyman Association is to preserve the homestead and the story of the Wyman family.  You can participate in this mission by donating your time, materials or money to the association at this webpage www.wymanassociation.org

For the truly curious:

My Wyman lineage:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2016/08/surname-saturday-wyman-of-woburn.html

More about the fire at the Wyman house:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/06/grand-re-opening-of-1666-francis-wyman.html

Click on the video below to see the Burlington Cable Access TV show on the 305th Anniversary of the Francis Wyman House:



Another BCAT video of the history of the Francis Wyman House

https://youtu.be/vjEZHx0X2tY


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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "350th Anniversary of the Francis Wyman House, Burlington, Massachusetts and a Family Reunion", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 3, 2016,  (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2016/10/350th-anniversary-of-francis-wyman.html: accessed [access date]).

Family Reunions 2016

The 2015 Wyman Family Reunion
Descendants of Francis Wyman, Burlington, Massachusetts

Summer is the time for family reunions!

The following list of family reunions and family association meetings are taking place in New England, or are families descended from New England settlers.  If you know of one I didn’t list, please email me at vrojomit@gmail.com or leave a message in the comments:

In chronological order:

DOANE see the website  http://www.doanefamilyassociation.org/dfacalendar.html

WILSON - May 20, at Topsham and Harpswell, Maine, contact Delia Wilson Lunsford of Virginia and Terry Wilson of Maine via Facebook.  Registration link online: http://teamwiztech.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fc5d41525a3483ab03059dc5b&id=582114a098http://teamwiztech.us5.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=fc5d41525a3483ab03059dc5b&id=582114a098

DODGE Family Association Reunion, May 21, 2016 in Simi Valley, California. For descendants of William Dodge who came to Massachusetts in 1629.   Please contact Judy at raganje@aol.com

WINCHESTER Family Reunion,  June 17 – 19, 2016, at Digby Pines, Digby, Nova Scotia.  For descendants of Nathan Winchester, who came to Nova Scotia from Framingham, Massachusetts about 1760.  For registration and schedule of events contact Jim Greenwood at thewinchesterreunion@gmail.com and for genealogy information contact Mr. Schani Biermann at ussenterprise1701@accesscomm.ca

WING Family National Reunion, June 24 – 26, in Holmes County, Ohio.  For descendants of the Rev. John Wing and his wife Deborah of Sandwich, Massachusetts.  http://www.wingfamily.org/reunions.html

THAYER Family Reunion, July 1 – 4, 2016 at the historic Thayer Hotel at West Point, New York.  http://www.thayerfamilies.com/   

STILES Family Reunion, July 7 – 10 at Himrod, New York, Showboat Motel at 3434 North Plum Point Road.  http://www.stilesfamilyofamerica.org/reunion/

BEARSE/ BARSE Family Reunion  - July 9 at the Pine Ridge Campsite, Westville, NY.  A Catered lunch will be available $8.50/plate ($4.25 for children under 12) Contac the reunion committee for a from at barsereunion2016@gmail.com or call Matt or Caroline at 518-483-7029.  Come spend the day, the weekend or the week www.pineridgeparkcampsite.com  Forms must be returned by June 1, 2016. 

ADAMS Family Reunion, July 17, at the the Kineawatha Park in Wilton, Maine.  For all the descendants of Martha and Moses Adams. Potluck.  See the website http://www.adamsfamilyassociation.info/

GOODENOW –GOODENOUGH- GOODNOW Family Reunion, July 17 – 24, 2016 at the Doubletree Hotel in Flagstaff, Arizona.  For the descendants of Thomas, Edmund and John Goodnow of Sudbury, Massachusetts.  Contact Kathy Truesdell at bktrue@roadrunner.com or go to www.goodenowfamily.org

FOLSOM Family Association of America, Annual Reunion, July 26 – 31, 2016 at Birmingham, Alabama.  For descendants of John Foulsham and his wife, Mary Giilman, who came to Hingham, MA and Exeter, NH. See the website for more information http://www.folsomfamily.org/Other%20Pages/National%20Reunion%20and%20Conference.html

The Thomas STANTON Society Runion, Session I July 27 - 28, Hartford - Ancillary program to Official Reunion (July 28 Afternoon, drive from Hartford to Stonington),  July 29 - 31, Stonington - Official Main Reunion.  See the website for more information http://stantonsociety.org/

28^th FELTON Family Reunion, July 29 – 30, 2016 at the historic Felton Site, in Peabody, Massachusetts.  For descendants of Nathaniel Felton.  http://www.feltonfamily.org/Events_and_Products.html

GEER Family Association National Triennial Reunion,  July 29 – 31, 2016 at GeerCrest in Silverton, Oregon.  For descendants of the brothers George and Thomas Geer who settled in Ledyard, Connecticut in 1638.  http://www.geerfamily.org/GFA9.htm

HATCH Family Association Reunion, July 29 – 31, 2016 at Salt Lake City, Utah.  For details see http://www.hatchfamilyassoc.org/reunion.htm

VICKERS family reunion, July 30, noon - 5pm,  at the Westville Lake Recreation Area, Sturbridge, Massachusetts.  Descendants of Christopher Vickers, Martha Vickers and Samuel Vickers of Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island.  Contact Cheryl Watching Crow Stedtler for more information https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.stedtler?fref=ufi or projectmishoon@aol.com

Clan MUNRO USA Gathering 2016,  August 4 - 7, to be held in New York City. Annual meeting on Friday the 5th followed by a scenic dinner cruise around Manhattan.  Saturday the 6th will be a trip to Liberty State Park and Ellis Island, followed by an evening banquet at the Crowne Plaza in Englewood, New Jersey.  Sunday the 7th will be the Kirkin' o' the Tartan at the local church.  Contact cmagathering2016@gmail.com  or see this link  https://www.facebook.com/ClanMunroUSA/photos/ms.c.eJw1ycEJADAIA8CNSmIk6v6LFaR9HudBAOVUTgWP102CVuu79onncbkF5QWV3gyy.bps.a.690184637684667.1073741834.325842590785542/690200764349721/?type=3&theater

Descendants of Philippe du TRIEUX, August 5 - 7 at the Desmond Hotel & Conference Center, Albany, New York,  See the reunion brochure http://philippedutrieux.com/reunion2016.pdf

GRISWOLD Family Reunion, August 5 – 7 in Boston, Massachusetts.  http://www.griswoldfamily.org/events.html

OLD BROAD BAY FAMILY HISTORY ASSOCIATION ANNUAL MEETING, August 6, 2016 in the Lower Conference Room of the Knox-Lincoln County Extension (University of Maine), at 277 Manktown Road in Waldoboro, Maine.  For the descendants of the 150 families and individuals from Germany who emigrated to Broad Bay, Massachusetts (now Waldoboro, Maine).  http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~meobbfha/

BULL - August 5th and 6th, at the Bull Stone House, 183 Country Route 51, Campbell Hall, New York  for descendants of William Bull and Sarah Wells.  See the website for more information http://www.bullstonehouse.org/   Friday the 5th is "History and Genealogy Day", and Saturday the 6th is the family picnic.

47^th KIMBALL Family Association Reunion, August 12 – 13, 2016 at the Great Wolf Lodge in Fitchburg, Massachusetts.  For descendants of Richard Kimball who came to Watertown and Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1634.  See this link for more information:  http://www.kimballfamilyassociation.com/ 

125^th Annual LOCKE Family Reunion, August 12 – 14, 2016 at The Caboose Motel, Titusville, Pennsylvania.  The Locke Family will march in the annual Oil Festival parade to celebrate Jonathan Locke, who made the drilling tools for the famous Drake Oil Well.  See the Facebook page for more information https://www.facebook.com/groups/lockefamilyassociation/   

FAIRBANKS, August 13, for members of the Fairbanks Family in America, Inc. at the Fairbanks House, 511 East Street, Dedham, Massachusetts  781-326-1170  homestead@fairbankshouse.org

63^rd COLBY Clan Reunion, August 19 – 20, 2016 in Providence, Rhode Island at the Aldrich House, headquarters for the Rhode Island Historical Society, located at 110 Benevolent Street in Providence.  For descendants of Anthony and Susannah Colby.  See the website for details.  http://www.colby-family-association.org/

GALLUP Family Association Annual Reunion, August 20, 2016 on Gallup Hill Road, Ledyard, Connecticut.  Contact gallupfamilymembership@gmail.com or see www.gallupfamilyassociation.com

KALLOCH Family Reunion, August 20, 2016 at the Finnish Congregational Church in South Thomaston, Maine.  For the descendants of Robert Killough of South Uist, Scotland and County Antrim, Northern Ireland who came to Boston in 1718, and settled in Worcester, MA.  See the website http://kalloch.org/ or the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/Kalloch-Family-Reunion-Association-163290497023722/?fref=nf

HARLOW Family Association Reunion, August 27 – 28, at the Beal House in Kingston, Massachusetts.  For descendants of Sgt. William Harlow.  See this website for more information:  http://www.harlowfamily.com/current_events.htm

SHELDON Family Association Reunion, August 28 – 30, 2016 at Utica, New York.  See the website for more information http://www.sheldonfamily.org/2016%20Reunion.html

NICKERSON Family Reunion, September 9 – 11, on Cape Cod at Falmouth and Chatham, Massachusetts.  For descendants of William Nickerson (1604- 1689), the founder of Chatham.  See this link for more information:  http://nickersonassoc.com/2016/03/falmouth-reunion-promises-loads-of-fun-sept-9-11/

HARRIMAN Family Association Meeting and Reunion, September 10, 2016, at the Visitor’s Center, 10 Middle Street, Portsmouth, New Hampshire.  For descendants of Leonard and John Harriman, immigrants to Rowley, MA and New Haven, CT circa 1638. See the March and July newsletters for full details.  http://www.harriman-family.org/

36^th TOWNE Family Association, Inc.  September 16 – 18, 2016 at Providence, Rhode Island.  For the descendants of William Towne and Joanna Blessing of Salem, Massachusetts.  See the reunion details at this link:  http://townefolk.com/testing/TFA_MEET.php

RICH Family Reunion, September 16 - 17, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire. For descendants of Dover Point, New Hampshire and Eastham on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. See the website for more information http://www.richfamilyassociation.org/

LEAVITT Family Reunion, September 18 – 19 at Deerfield, New Hampshire.  For descendants of John Leavitt of Hingham, MA and Thomas Leavitt of Hampton, NH.  Registration form here http://www.leavitts.org/reunion_registration_2015-5.pdf

OLD PLANTER Reunion in Beverly, Massachusetts.  September 23 – 25, 2016.  The BALCH and WOODBURY families hold meetings on the 24^th.  Related families are CONANT, CORNING, DODGE, STONE and TRASK.  See www.beverlyhistory.org for more information.

RICE Family Reunion,  September 23 – 24, 2016 at the Doubletree Hotel in Westborough, MA.  For descendants of Edmund Rice (1638).  http://www.edmund-rice.org/reunion.htm

POINTDEXTER Family Reunion, September 29,30 and October 1, 2016 in San Antonio, Texas.  For descendants of the Poingdestre Family of the Isle of Jersey and Normandy., including Henry and Isaac Pendexter of New England. http://www.poindexterfamily.org/reunions/2016/index.html

WYMAN - Family Reunion and annual business meeting, October 1, 2016 at the Francis Wyman homestead in Burlington, Massachusetts.  For more information see the Wyman Association website at this link:  http://wymanassociation.org/

DENISON / DAY – Denison Society Family Reunion, October 8, 2016 at the Denison Homestead, Mystic, Connecticut.  Contact Julie@denisonhomestead.org   See the website www.denisonhomestead.org

CRANDALL Family Association Reunion, October 14 – 15, 2016 in Newport, Rhode Island.  See the Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/Crandall.descendants

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

Published under a Creative Commons License

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Family Reunions 2016", Nutfield Genealogy, posted May 9, 2016, (  http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2016/05/family-reunions-2016.html: accessed [access date]).

WYMAN Family Reunion ~ The Descendants of Francis WYMAN (1594 - 1658)

The Francis Wyman Homestead, circa 1666, Burlington, Massachusetts

On Saturday, October 3rd, in the rain and chill, the descendants of Francis Wyman (1594 - 1658) met at the Francis Wyman homestead in Burlington, Massachusetts.  The house was built in 1666 and next year the house will be 350 years old!  If you would like to be part of the big anniversary celebration of the homestead, check the website http://wymanassociation.org/ and the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/WymanAssociation.org/    

In 1898 a descendant, Benjamin Wyman, found the homestead in a decrepit condition and founded the Francis Wyman Association to purchase the house and preserve it.  The association was incorporated in 1902 and has held reunions since 1899. 

In 1996 the house was nearly destroyed by a fire.  There were two rounds of renovation since the fire, which uncovered major structural damage inside the walls by insects and age.  The first renovation restored the outside shell of the home, funded by the Massachusetts Historical Commission, the town of Burlington, and generous descendants and others.  The second renovation restored the stairway, which made the upstairs and attic accessible.  Much more work will be required to preserve the homestead as a museum. 

The current project is to rebuild a well sweep on the lawn of the homestead.  The required archaeological dig is expensive.  Please donate to this piece of Burlington and New England history at the Wyman Association website, where you can donate online with PayPal or by mail.  The Francis Wyman Association is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.  Your donation is tax deductible to the extent permitted by law. 

Francis Wyman and his brother, John, originally owned about 1000 acres of land in Woburn (now in the towns of Burlington and Billerica).  The house is now located at 56 Francis Wyman Road (Route 62), Burlington, Massachusetts.  

If you would like a tour, please email tour@wymanassociation.org 

For more information  info@wymanassociation.org 

For WYMAN genealogy information, please contact Ginny Mucciaccio at ginny@wymanassociation.org or see the online database at http://www.wyman.org/genealogy-test    

More photos of the 2015 family reunion:

Damage is evident from the 1996 fire 

Architectural Preservationist John Goff explained to me
what was uncovered under the original plaster when
a door was widened for handicap access in the Wyman house.

The restored staircase, and new wall panels
that show visitors the chimney construction behind the wall

Extremely wide floor boards in an upstairs chamber

The basement stairway with timber peg construction

An old sign that used to hang in front of the Wyman homestead

Wyman Association president John C. Wyman addresses his kinfolk

The Rumford Historical Association in Woburn
gave a wonderful presentation on Rumford fireplaces

Thanks to John Goff of Salem, Massachusetts for the group photo of the Wyman Reunion

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

Published under a Creative Commons License

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "WYMAN Family Reunion ~ The Descendants of Francis WYMAN (1594 - 1658)", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 5, 2015, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/10/wyman-family-reunion-descendants-of.html : accessed [access date]).

Felton Family Reunion 2015, Peabody, Massachusetts

Mary Kate Felton, President of the Felton Family Association,
welcomed everyone to the 27th annual Felton Reunion in Peabody, Massachusetts

Cora Felton Anderson, from Washington state,
gave a genealogy talk to the attendees,
on new information about Ellen/ Eleanor (Thrower) Felton,
mother of early Salem settler, Nathaniel Felton, Sr.

My first cousin, Sue Wilkinson Parker,
showing the Phebe Cross Munroe sampler.
Phebe was our great- great grandmother,
and a Felton descendant

There were twenty one attendees today at the first day of the 27th annual Felton Family reunion at the Felton homesteads in Peabody, Massachusetts.  We enjoyed breakfast, lunch and dinner together, with genealogy talks and tours of the Nathaniel Felton, Sr (1615 - 1705) home and the Nathaniel Felton, Jr. (1655 - 1733) homesteads.  It was a beautiful day, and great weather for exploring the grounds.

Tomorrow will be the family association business meeting, and another luncheon.

Felton descendants visiting the Nathaniel Felton, Sr. House on Felton Road, Peabody, Massachusetts
built circa 1644

This is hanging in the Nathaniel Felton, Jr. homestead.
John Proctor is my 8th great grandfather, and Nathaniel Felton, Sen. is my 10th great grandfather

"We, whose names are under written,

having several years known John Proctor and his wife,

do testify that we never heard or understood that they

were ever suspected to be guilty of the crime now charged

upon them, and several of us being their near neighbors,

do testify that, to our apprehension, they lived Christian like

in their family, and were never ready to help such as stood 

in need of their help"

[signed] Nathaniel Felton, Sen., and Mary his wife

Smeul Marsh, and Priscilla his wife

James Moulton, and Ruth, his wife

John Felton, Nathaniel Felton, Jr.

Samuel Frayll, and Ann, his wife

Samuel Endicott, and Hannah his wife

Samuel Stone, George Locker

Samuel Gaskill, and Revidal, his wife

George Smith, Edward Gaskill"

[in the original paper, there were some, perhaps many, names cut 

off by scissors, according to C. W. Upham's History of Witchcraft)

"Court of Oyer and Terminer, Essex County, File Papers 1, 110, Petition for John and Elizabeth Proctor, 1692 (on deposit at the Essex Institute, Salem, Mass.) Courtesy of James D. Leary, Clerk of Courts for Essex County"

This family tree hanging in the Nathaniel Felton, Jr. home
shows Sarah Felton, my 5th great grandmother, daughter of
Malachi Felton, and wife of Robert Wilson

A beautiful back garden behind the Nathaniel Felton, Jr. House

The Nathaniel Felton, Jr. Homestead, built circa 1685,
located right next door to the Nathaniel Felton, Sr. Homestead
My 6th great grandmother, Sarah Felton (1750 - 1836) was the last Felton born here.

Nathaniel John Felton, a direct descendant of Nathaniel Felton
enjoyed his first visit to the Felton homesteads and the family reunion! 

The Felton Family Association website http://www.feltonfamily.org/

The Peabody Historical Society (who own and operate the two Felton homesteads
http://www.peabodyhistorical.org/


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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Felton Family Reunion 2015, Peabody, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted 24 July 2015, (  http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/07/felton-family-reunion-2015-peabody.html:  accessed [access date]).