Surname Saturday ~ HUDSON of Boston, Massachusetts

William Hudson (1588 – 1661/2), my 11^th great grandfather, and his three eldest sons were the some of the first people to settle in Boston, Massachusetts.  He was admitted to the Boston church as member number 67, which was in the winter of 1630 – 1631.  He was made a Freeman that next May 18^th.   His wife, Susan, was admitted to the church in Boston as member number 123 later in 1631.   Susan gave birth to a fourth son, Nathaniel, on 30 January 1633/4.

William Hudson was a baker, and owned property in Boston.  He returned to Chatham, in Kent, England around 1645.  On 29 April 1656 he gave power of attorney to his two eldest sons, William, Jr. and Francis, to sell his properties in Boston.  It is assumed that he died in England and never returned to Boston.

William arrived in Boston with three sons, including Francis Hudson (1618 – 1700), my 10^th great grandfather.  Francis was a ferryman and an innkeeper.  He ran the ferry between Boston and Chelsea (Winnisimmet), and had a license to sell liquors at his inn. His will was written in 1697 and it mentions his wife, Elizabeth, son-in-law Arthur Smith, a Perkins daughter, and grandsons Francis Hudson, Samuel Hudson, and his wife’s grandchild John Wheatley.  His death was recorded as 3 November 1700, at age 82,  in Boston by Judge Sewell as “one of the first men who set foot on the peninsula of Boston”. 

Francis Hudson owned land near the Winnissimmet ferry which was known as Hudson’s Point.  According to the book Historical Sketch of Copp's Hill Burying Ground, by John Norton, 1919 (unnumbered pages) "At the junction of Charter and Commercial Streets was "Ye Mylen Point", so called in 1635, and later known as Hudson's Point, whence Francis Hudson, the fisherman who became a ferryman, ran his ferry to Charlestown and Chelsea."  This spot is near the MDC skating rink along the harbor today, not far from the North Washington Street bridge to Charlestown.  

An interesting piece of trivia about Francis Hudson is that he was appointed to be “the culler of fish” in Boston in 1663 and 1664.  This was an inspector of fresh fish brought in by fishermen, who examined the catch before it went to market.  He was also voted in as “Measurer of Salt” in 1659.  These were important positions in the days when salt fish (cod) was an important business in New England.

I descend from Francis’s youngest child, Sarah Hudson (b. 1653) who married Arthur Smith in Boston about 1677.  They were my 9^th great grandparents.  Arthur Smith was a shipwright.  They are buried at Copp’s Hill Burying Ground in the North End of Boston.  His epitaph supposedly reads “Here lyes intered ye Body of ARTHUR SMITH aged about 63 years died May ye 17 1708”, but I have not been able to find this headstone.

For the truly curious:

The Great Migration Begins, by Charles Robert Charles Anderson, Volume II, pages 1035 - 1037

The American Genealogist, Volume 17, page 14

Pioneers of Massachusetts, by Charles Henry Pope, 1900, page 246

Inhabitants and Estates of the Town of Boston, 1630 – 1822 (Thwing Collection) at www.americanancestors.org

A Documentary History of Chelsea, by Jenny Chamberlain Watts, and William Richard Cutter,  Volume 2, page 101

Early New England Families, 1641 - 1700. (Original Online Database: AmericanAncestors.org, New England Historic Genealogical Society, 2013. (By Alicia Crane Williams, Lead Genealogist.)

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My HUDSON genealogy:

Generation 1:   William Hudson, born about 1588 in England; died after 17 Feb 1661/2 in England; married about 1613 to Susan Unknown.  Four sons.

Generation 2:  Francis Hudson, born about 1618 in England, died 3 November 1700 in Boston, Massachusetts; married first to Mary Unknown, born about 1620 in England and died 25 September 1694 in Boston.  Seven children.

Generation 3:  Sarah Hudson, born 27 November 1653 in Boston; married about 1677 to Arthur Smith.  He was born about 1645 and died 17 May 1708 in Boston.  Four children.

Generation 4: Sarah Smith m. Andros Cannon

Generation 5: Sarah Cannon m. Stephen Randall

Generation 6:  Sarah Randall m. Benjamin Gardner

Generation 7: Mary Gardner m. Abijah Hitchings

Generation 8: Abijah Hitchings m. Mary Cloutman

Generation 9: Abijah Hitchings m. Eliza Ann Treadwell

Generation 10:  Abijah Franklin Hitchings m. Hannah Eliza Lewis

Generation 11: Arthur Treadwell Hitchings m. Florence Etta Hoogerzeil

Generation 12:  Gertrude Matilda Hitchings m. Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ HUDSON of Boston, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted March 11, 2017,  (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/03/surname-saturday-hudson-of-boston.html: accessed [access date]).

Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's

A map of early Londonderry from Willey's Book of Nutfield

Frequently Asked Questions

(see the answers below)

1.  Can you look up X for me?

2.  Who were the first Nutfield Grantees?

3.  Can the Londonderry Historical Society help me?

4.  Can the Derry Historical Society help me?

5.  When did Nutfield become Londonderry, Derry or Windham? 

6.  Was Derryfield part of Nutfield?

7.  My Scots Irish ancestors lived briefly in Londonderry, and then moved on.  Where did they go?

1.  Can you look up X for me?

The following books are all available at the Leach Library in Londonderry, the McGregor Library in Derry, and in other public and genealogical libraries.   Some are also available online, so you can look up your own ancestors yourself in most cases. If you still cannot find your ancestors, be aware that the early records are skimpy and incomplete.  I can try to suggest other resources if you have exhausted all these.

History of Londonderry, by Rev. Edward Lutwyche Parker, 1851 (includes genealogies in the back) and is available online at the Internet Archive, Google Book Search, and the Hathi Trust for free.  Also at Ancestry with a subscription.

Vital Records of Londonderry, by Daniel Annis Gage, 1914 (covers 1719 – 1910) available at the Internet Archive and the Hathi Trust websites for free.  Also available at the Ancestry website with a subscription. There is also a PDF at the Pelham Library website http://www.pelhamnhhistory.org/library/pdffiles/neighbors/vitalrecords/LondonderryVitalRecords.pdf

History of Windham, NH: 1719 – 1883, by Leonard Allison Morrison, 1883 available at Internet Archive and at Ancestry (subscription only)

Willey’s Book of Nutfield, by George Franklyn Willey, 1895  available at Internet Archive and the Hathi Trust websites.

Family Search also has the vital records of the state of New Hampshire available online. These are the scanned images of the same cards you see at the Vital Records office in Concord, New Hampshire.  The link to these collections is:  https://familysearch.org/search/collection/location/41?region=United+States+of+America&englishRegion=United+States+of+America  

2.  Who were the first Nutfield Grantees?

From The history of Londonderry : comprising the towns of Derry and Londonderry, NH, by Rev. Edward L. Parker, 1851, ( page 423) "Those who first composed the settlement [of Londonderry NH], were the following sixteen men and their families namely--James McKeen, John Barnett, Archibald Clendenin, John Mitchell, James Sterrett, James Anderson, Randal Alexander, James Gregg, James Clark, James Nesmith, Allen Anderson, Robert Weir, John Morrison, Samuel Allison, Thomas Steele and John Stuart.”

3.  Can the Londonderry Historical Society help me?

If you contact the Londonderry Historical Society you will get me!  http://www.londonderryhistory.org/  I do the genealogy look ups for LHS.  Here is the “canned letter” you will receive with your request:

“Genealogy Requests from the Londonderry Historical Society:  We will do a lookup in two published volumes for the names you submit:

1.)    The Londonderry Vital Records, 1722 – 1910

2.)    The History of Londonderry by Rev. E. L. Parker, 1851

If you need more information you can come to the Londonderry Leach Library’s historical room and search through our town records, cemetery files, and other books. Here are additional places where you can find more genealogy information on your ancestors

1)      The New Hampshire Vital Records, 71 South Fruit Street, Concord, NH

2)      The New Hampshire State Library, 20 Park Street, Concord, NH

3)      The New Hampshire Historical Society Library, 30 Park Street, Concord, NH has their catalog online at http://nhhistory.library.net/

4)      Familysearch.org has NH vital records (free online) births to 1900, deaths to 1959, marriages to 1959, and other records https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list?page=1&countryId=41

5)      The Rockingham County deeds are online http://www.nhdeeds.com/rockingham/RoHome.html

If you need to hire a researcher to look up records for you, please consult the website for the Association of Professional Genealogists APG https://www.apgen.org/ and search by location for New Hampshire”

4.  Can the Derry Historical Society help me?

There is no Historical Society in Derry at this time.  However, the volunteers at the Derry History Museum http://www.derryhistorymuseum.org/ and the Derry Town Historian http://www.derrynh.org/discover-derry/pages/history-derry  can answer your queries. 

5.  When did Nutfield become Londonderry, Derry or Windham? 

Nutfield was the name of the original grant of land given to the Scots Irish settlers with Rev. James MacGregor in 1719.  They received a charter to this grant in 1722 and called the town Londonderry.  In 1721 the settlers in what is now Windham (south of Londonderry) petitioned for their own town, which was granted in 1742.  The eastern part of town was set off as the town of Derry in 1827.  Small portions of Manchester, Salem and Hudson (Nottingham West) were once part of Londonderry, too.   If your ancestor was born in Londonderry, NH in 1740, you should search the records of Londonderry, Derry, Windham and Manchester. 

6.  Was Derryfield part of Nutfield?

Derryfield was chartered at a meeting house on the Derry Road (now Mammoth Road) in 1751. It included the land originally settled in 1722 by John Goffe III and called Harry’s Town.  The first settlers here were John Goffe, Edward Lingfield and Benjamin Kidder. This area was later called Tyngstown and was west of Derryfield. The entire area was renamed Manchester in 1810, the same year the Amoskeag mill was built on the Merrimack River.   Part of Derryfield was originally within the Nutfield grant, and part of it was expanded with the 1751 incorporation.   The land north of Harrytown and Amoskeag Village was ungranted, and was not annexed to Derryfield until 1792 (the year the corporation for the proprietors of the Amoskeag Bridge was formed). 

7.  My Scots Irish ancestors lived briefly in Londonderry, and then moved on.  Where did they go?

The Scots Irish who came to Londonderry did not leave good records.  The vital records are skimpy, and the church records (Presbyterian) are incomplete.  The Scots Irish tended to settle with other Scots Irish – they kept to themselves and intermarried.  Some of the settlers spread out to Derryfield, Litchfield, Bedford, Antrim, Dublin, and Dunbarton in New Hampshire (note the Irish names?).  Some left to form Londonderry, Nova Scotia and Londonderry, Vermont.  Others traveled all along the Appalachian mountain chain or Atlantic seaboard and can be found in Pennsylvania (which had the largest number of Scots Irish) and other places where other Scots Irish settled.

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Frequently Asked Questions - FAQ's", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 17, 2016, (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2016/10/frequently-asked-questions-faqs.html: accessed [access date]). 

Patriot's Day! Answering the Lexington Alarm from Hudson, New Hampshire

"65 MINUTE MEN

ANSWERED THE CALL TO ARMS

APRIL 19, 775,

MARCHING FROM THIS VERY SPOT

TO FIGHT THE BRITISH

UNDER THE COMMAND OF 

CAPT. SAMUEL GREELEY"

This simple monument stands in Hudson, New Hampshire on the corner of Central Street and Kimball Hill Road, near the Center Cemetery.  According to The History of Hudson, New Hampshire, by Kimball Webster, 1913, page 258   "According to tradition the news reached here before noon of the 19th, and was quickly sent in every direction by mounted couriers riding to the most remote sections of the town...".  This is amazing to me because Hudson is 45 miles from Boston and 30 miles from Lexington, Massachusetts!  But men answered the alarm not only from Hudson, but from Windham, Londonderry, and even from as far away as Peterborough, New Hampshire! (a distance of 60 miles on the other side of the Monadnock mountain region! 

Also in the book "The brave volunteers quickly organized under the command of Capt. Samuel Greeley, and awaited his order to march to meet the British Red-coats at Lexington.  Unfortunately the old military records of this town were lost long since, or destroyed. Had they been preserved many interesting facts could have been gleaned from them, which are now impossible to obtain.  Fortunately, however, the muster roll of this company of sixty-five Minute Men, all from this town and mustered so quickly that they marched that very evening for Lexington, has been preserved."   On pages 258 and 259 you will find these names:

Capt. Samuel Greeley

Lieut. Joseph Kelly

Ens. John Pollard

Clerk James Ford

Serft. Wilm. Merrill

Sergt. Wm. Burns

Sergt. Ebenezer Pollard

Corpl. Justus Dakin

Corpl. Simeon Berrot

Corpl. Jona. Bradley

Corpl. John Pollard

fifer Benj. Marshall

fifer Samll. Currier

Samll. Marsh

Reuben Spaulding

Peter Cross

Ebenezer Cummings

Ebenezer Perry

Elijah Hills

Jeremiah Hills

Samll. Hills

Richard Marshall

Daniel Hardy

Seth Hadley

Abijah Reed

Richard Cutter

Nehemiah Winn

Benj. Whittemore

Abathar Winn

Stephen Chase, Jr.

Joshua Chase

John Haseltine

David Glover

Page Smith

Samll. Campbell

Samll. Smith

Moses Berrot

Richard Hardy

Jona. Blodgett

Joseph Greeley

Samll. Durrent

Samll.  Moor

Andrew Seavey

Stephen Chase

James Pemberton

John Osgood

Nat. Hardy

Benja. Marshall

Danl. Marshall

John Walker

Joseph Gould, Jr.

John Merrill

David Cummings

Thomas Wason

Alexander Caldwell

Thomas Caldwell

Asa Davis

Samll. Wason

Echobad Easman

Abraham Page

Nat. Davis

John Campbell

Henry Heuey

[My note: I counted 63 names.  Close enough?]

a few pages later in this same book...

"Little time was lost in effecting an organization, and the company marched post-haste towards Lexington. Before reaching their destination they were met by a courier, who informed them of the retreat of the enemy, thus they returned to Nottingham West. 

Many of these Minute Men immediately enlisted in the army at Cambridge, and at least sixteen of them fought at the battle of Bunker Hill on the 17th of June, 1775. The names of those who figured in that memorable fight were — 

Moses Barritt, Benjamin Marshall, 
Robert Bettis, Benjamin Marshall, Jr., 
Josiah Burrows, John Marshall, 
Gideon Butler, William Merrill, 
Joshua Chase, John Osgood, 
Stephen Chase, Jr., James Pemberton, 
Thomas Campbell, Timothy Pollard, 
Samuel Currier, Abijah Reed, Corp., 
Richard Cutter, John Robinson, 
Jonathan Emerson, Caleb Severance, 
James Ford, Lieut., Joshua Severance, 
David Glover, John Seavey, 
Robert Glover, Thomas Senter, Sergt., 
Benjamin Greeley, John Walker, 
Joseph Greeley, Benjamin Whittemore, 
Simeon Hills, Nehemiah Winn, 
David Marsh. 

Five of these men, viz.: Josiah Burrows, Simeon Hills, John Marshall, John Robinson and Thomas Senter, were residents of that part of Londonderry that was annexed to Nottingham West in 1778. [note:  Nottingham West became the town of Hudson, NH in 1830] 

It is not known that any fatalities occurred among the Nottingham West men at the battle of Bunker Hill. Joseph Greeley was severely wounded and was carried from the field on the backs of his comrades, when the patriot troops were forced to retreat. Young Greeley thus escaped being made a prisoner, and eventually recovered from his wound Richard Cutter, who was serving as a substitute for his son Seth, was also wounded. He and Seth, his son, who did service in the colonial army at Cambridge the same year, have been sometimes credited to Pelham. But Richard Cutter was a resident of this town at that time, and continued to live here until his death April 8, 1795. Seth, his son, who was only seventeen years old at the battle of Bunker Hill, was living here in this town with his father, where he continued to live until his marriage to Abiah Tallant, of Pelham, September 11, 
1781, when he became a resident of Pelham."

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Published under a Creative Commons License

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Patriot's Day!  Answering the Lexington Alarm from Hudson, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 18, 2016,  (  http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2016/04/patriots-day-answering-lexington-alarm.html: accessed [access date]).

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Priests buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Hudson, New Hampshire

These tombstones were photographed at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Hudson, New Hampshire.

RT. REV.

MONSIGNOR

MATTHEW J.B.

CREAMER

PASTOR OF

ST. PATRICK'S PARISH

1906 - 1936

DIED

OCTOBER 1, 1936

IN HIS EIGHTIETH

YEAR   R.I.P.

According to the website for St. Patrick parish in Nashua, New Hampshire, the church was founded in 1901, and the building was completed in 1909.  Monsignor Creamer was the very first priest of this parish.  The St. Patrick cemetery was purchased by the community in 1856 on land across the Merrimack River from Nashua, in the town of Hudson. 

Monsignor Creamer's impressive Irish cross monument was located inside a large flat grassy roundabout in the cemetery.  It was only after I got out of my car to photograph his tombstone when I noticed that the grass circle was full of flat monuments to other priests.  They all had served in local Catholic churches near Nashua. 

REV. DENIS P. DOWNEY                         REV. LAUNCELOT F. QUINN

PASTOR OF OUR LADY OF MERCY            PASTOR OF ST. CHRISTOPHER PARISH

MERRIMACK, NH                                                   NASHUA, NH

BORN jAN. 14, 1903 - DIED NOV. 24, 1992          BORN JUNE 22, 1904- DIED JAN. 7, 1960

R.I.P.                                                                   R.I.P.

RT. REV. MSGR. JOSEPH R. O'CONNOR

PASTOR OF ST. PATRICKS PARISH

1957 NASHUA N.H.  1965

BORN JUNE 14, 1888 - DIED OCT 27, 1965

ORDAINED DEC. 21, 1918

R.I.P.

I'm not a Roman Catholic, nor were any of my ancestors since The Reformation in the 1500s.  I haven't really explored many Catholic cemeteries either.  I found this cemetery to be beautiful, with carvings and statuary not usually seen in austere Puritan New England burial grounds.  I was fascinated when I found this section of the cemetery where these priests were buried.  It is poignant to me that they are buried together with their brethren, instead of with their families.  The only other time I have photographed Roman Catholic religious was a post I did of the mausoleum to the Sisters of Mercy in Windham, New Hampshire.  You can see that post at this link:  http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/09/tombstone-tuesday-sisters-of-mercy.html  

St. Patrick Parish history  http://www.stpatricksnashua.org/67  


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To Cite/Link to this post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ Priests buried at St. Patrick's Cemetery, Hudson, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted November 17, 2015 (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/11/tombstone-tuesday-priests-buried-at-st.html: accessed [access date]).

Hudson, New Hampshire Genealogy Club

Today Vincent and I had a great time showing the members of the Hudson, New Hampshire Genealogy Club all about genealogy blogging.  Besides describing the benefits of putting your family tree online in a blog, we also went live online and actually started a blog.  I hope all the members could see how easy it was to start blogging within minutes of setting up the blog account. 

The Hudson Genealogy Club meets on the second Friday of every month at 1:30 pm at the Rodgers Memorial Library.  I used to attend the meetings regularly when I was a resident of Londonderry, and I lived right off Route 102.  It was fun to come back and see some familiar faces!

The members seemed to very interested in blogging, and I hope to see several new New England GeneaBloggers and their blogs online soon. Check the tab at the top of my blog page to see all the current genealogy bloggers, and check back later this year to see if there are any new blogs added from Hudson, New Hampshire! 

Thank you, librarian Laurie Jasper, for inviting to speak today. 

Rodgers Memorial Library, Hudson, NH  http://rodgerslibrary.org/

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Hudson, New Hampshire Genealogy Club", Nutfield Genealogy, posted August 14, 2015, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/08/hudson-new-hampshire-genealogy-club.htm : accessed [access date]). 

Photo Friday ~ The Wattannick Grange, Hudson, New Hampshire

Wattannick Grange Hall, No. 327

This building was originally the Hudson, New Hampshire Town Hall, built in 1857.  According to the book Hudson, New Hampshire by Laurie A. Jasper, Acadia Publishing, 2000, page 24 "The Wattannick Grange began holding meetings in the building in 1921.  The original organization split in two, and Hudson Grange number 11 held meetings near the Bridge area of town.  The Town of Hudson sold the building to the Wattanick Grange for a small sum in 1963, and the Grange continues to use the building."

The Wattannick Grange Hall is located on 327 Windham Road, Hudson, New Hampshire, across the street from the former site of Benson's Wild Animal Farm and Zoo.   Just behind the Grange Hall you can see the remnants of the former Boston and Maine Railroad track bed.  In the past, residents of the area could often see exotic animals being paraded from the nearby train station to Benson's, which opened in 1924 and was closed in 1987.

Click below for a 2011 post about the two Grange Halls in Londonderry, New Hampshire
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2011/02/londonderrys-grange-halls.html 

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The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/11/photo-friday-wattannick-grange-hudson.html

Copyright (c) 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Weathervane Wednesday ~ Brought to you by the Letter "S"

Weathervane Wednesday is an on-going series of photographs I post weekly, usually of weather vanes in the Nutfield, New Hampshire area, but sometimes they can be from anywhere. Occasionally they are elsewhere in New England, or very historical weather vanes from anywhere else. Sometimes my weather vanes are whimsical, but all are interesting. Often, my readers tip me off to some very unique and unusual weathervanes, too!  Today's weather vane was seen in Hudson, New Hampshire.


Do you know the location of weather vane #107? Scroll down to the bottom to see the answer!

I've driven by this house in Hudson, New Hampshire many times, and wondered about the letter "S" on the weather vane.  Of course, the wind doesn't always cooperate when I am photographing these weather vanes, so here the letter "S" appears backwards.  I decided to write to the Hudson Historical Society.  Here is their kind reply:

"The house you refer to is located on the corner of Derry Road and Highland Ave across from Library Park in Hudson. Many people, even those who live in Hudson, refer to this park as the Common. Library Park was given to the town by Mary Creutzborg, mother of Mrs. Alfred Hills.

Back to the house you asked about. It was built in 1875 by George Sanders; hence the origin of the “S” you spoke of. Mr. Sanders was an industrialist with many interests. Most specifically he started Hudson Water Company. This home was built for his residence. He also built the large apartment building across the way on Library Street and some single family houses along Ferry Street near the Park. These were used for company housing.

Mr. Sander’s house is an example of a fine victorian house. It was later owned by the Kendrick family and now by a Smith family. Thus, the “S” is back in usage!! Mr. ‘Lenny’ Smith did worked hard to retain the character and charm of the house. It is now listed on the National Historic Register.

Thanks for your interest in Hudson!

Ruth Parker, Member

Genealogy and Research Committee

Hudson Historical Society"

Hudson, New Hampshire Historical Society http://www.hudsonhistorical.com/

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

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Copyright 2013, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Weathervane Wednesday ~ The 100th Weathervane Post!

Time for celebrating!  After almost two years of posting weather vanes online every Wednesday, today will be the 100th post!  It is actually more than one weather vane, but since they are all located at the same business I'm counting it as one BIG post!

This is part of an on-going series of photographs of weather vanes in the Nutfield, New Hampshire area (formerly Derry, Londonderry and parts of Hudson, Windham and Manchester). Some of the weather vanes are historical, some are whimsical, and all are interesting. Today's weather vane was photographed on the Hudson and Londonderry, New Hampshire line.

Do you know the location of weather vane post #100?  Scroll down to see the answer....

Today's weather vanes can be found at the Reed's Ferry Sheds business on Route 102.  All these weather vanes, and more are on top of cupolas on the sheds for sale. There is quite a display here, and for weather vane fans it is quite entertaining to take a walk among all the sheds.  Since the weather vanes are not on top of steeples or barns they are easy to see, and the details can be examined.

You may have seen some of these weather vanes around town.  I know that I've seen the bulldog and the pig in Windham.  Have you seen some of these in your neighborhood?

Reeds Ferry Sheds http://www.reedsferry.com/ 

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 ~ The 100th Weathervane Post!", Nutfield Genealogy, posted June 16, 2013, ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/weathervane-wednesday-100th-weathervane.html , accessed [access date]).

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Deacon Thomas Senter, d. 1834, Hudson, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Senter Cemetery, on the corner of Robinson Road and Old Derry Road in Hudson, New Hampshire.  If you have a GPS you can find it at  USGS Nashua North Quadrangle, E30311, N474278, Zone 19 (42° 48' 51"N, 71° 24' 30"W) not far from the Londonderry town line.

IN MEMORY OF

DEA. THOMAS SENTER

DIED DEC. 25, 1834

AEt. 83

ESTHER, his first wife

DIED 1800 AEt. 62

MERCY, Second wife

DIED 1802 AEt 41

Also three children of

T. & E. SENTER

CHARLOTTE, DIED 1791

AEt. 7 Y's

BRIDGET, DIED 1793

AEt 16 Y's

CATEY, DIED 1803

AEt 27 Y's

A tender father and mothers dear,

And three beloved daughters lie here,

When Christ returns to call them forth,

The rising day will show there worth.

B. DAY LOWELL

Thomas Senter was the son of Samuel Senter and Susan Taylor, born 4 May 1753 in Londonderry, New Hampshire, and he died on 25 December 1834 in Hudson, New Hampshire. He married Esther Greeley about 1774.  She was the daughter of Ezekiel Greeley and Esther Lovewell, born 17 February 1749 at Nottingham West (now Hudson) and died in 1800 in Hudson.  They had nine children.  He also married second to Mercy Jackson, and third to Eunice White.  Thomas Senter was the deacon at the First Baptist Church in Hudson, which first met at his home on Old Derry Road before there was a baptist meeting house.  Thomas Senter also served in the American Revolutionary War in Capt. Archelaus Towne's Company for Derry, New Hampshire, mustered in 1 August 1775 for 3 months and 8 days.

1.)  Bridget, born about 1775, died 1793
2.) Catherine, born about 1776 and died 1803 AKA "Catey"
3.) Esther, born 1779, died 17 February 1828,  married James Proctor (see below)
4.) Susan, born 27 April 1781, died November 1850, married James E. Eayers
5.) Charlotte, born 1783, died 1791
6. ) Thomas, Jr., born 2 November 1784, died 10 February 1863, married Tryphena Sawyer
7. ) Nancy, born about 1786, married Isaac Lawrence
8. ) Rebecca, born 29 October 1787, died 9 March 1817, married Noah Robinson
9. ) Charles, born 18 February 1792, died 28 November 1857, married Harriet Greeley

In memory of

MRS ESTHER

wife of Mr. James Proctor

who died Feb. 17, 1828, AEt 48

Here lies the sleeping dust unconscious close confined

But far, far above, dwells the immortal mind

Eunice, died July 3, 1812, AEt, 4 Yrs.

An Infant, died, March 28, 1815.

Lydia, died March 31, 1821, AEt, 11 Yrs.

Esther W. C. died Aug. 5, 1825, AEt. 4 Yrs.

Susan H., died at Boston, June 21,

1830, AEt. 7 Yrs. 6 Mo.

Suffer little children to come unto me and 

forbid them not for such is the kingdom of Heaven

The First Baptist Church of Hudson, NH website http://www.firstbaptisthudson.com/pages/history.html 

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Genealogy Research at the Nashua Historical Society

The Nashua Historical Society
photo courtesy of Barbara Poole
http://lifefromtheroots.blogspot.com/

Recently I tagged along with the Hudson Genealogy Club on their recent field trip to the Nashua Historical Society.  The Hudson Genealogy Club meets every second Friday at the Rodgers Memorial Library, 194 Derry Road.  We had a personalized tour by Beth McCarthy, curator, and Frank Mooney, the Nashua city historian, and several other volunteers.  

The Nashua Historical Society owns two side by side properties, the Abbott Spaulding house and the Museum at 5 Abbott Street.  It was founded in 1870, and the collections were kept in private homes until the 1970, and lost twice to fires!  In 1972 the current museum was built.  Since then the collection of artifacts, records and documents has grown tremendously.  There are changing exhibits of life in Nashua, as well as archives and a meeting room. 

Some of the collections of interest to genealogists include books (including a large collection of city directories back to the mid-1800s), manuscripts, artifacts, and a large photograph and postcard collection.  The postcards are an underutilized genealogy resource, with messages to and from kin.  Imagine being lucky enough to strike genealogy gold on the back of some of these postcards?  There is also a large surname file, which is currently not cataloged, and new files are being added to this every month.  If your family has roots here in Nashua you should consult this file, or consider donating family notes and charts to this file.

Before visiting the Nashua Historical Society, fill out the request form on the website, or call or write by post.  This gives the Historical Society research committee time to research your request and pull files and material pertaining to your surname or family.  Much of the collection is not currently cataloged, and is stored in two buildings.  At the time of your visit your material will be ready for you, and a volunteer will be able to assist you.  This is a perk not available at most other Historical Societies in New England!

Their gift shop includes many books pertaining to Nashua history and, of special interest to genealogists, a cemetery guide to the Old South Burial Ground.   The historical society offers special events, free to the public (see the website or newsletter for a schedule).   They also sponsor a changing exhibit case in Nashua City Hall.  Please consider joining the Nashua Historical Society, too!

The website for the Nashua Historical Society is www.nashuahistoricalsociety.org and the phone number is 603-883-0015. 

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Weathervane Wednesday ~ Moo!

I've been photographing the weather vanes in the historic area of Nutfield, New Hampshire.  Nutfield used to be where Derry and Londonderry are located today, but also covered Windham and parts of Hudson and Manchester, New Hampshire.   Today's weathervane is in Hudson.

Do you know the location of weathervane #53?   Scroll down to see the answer.

This weathervane is located at the former Nadeau Dairy Farm on Old Derry Road.    Emery Nadeau ran a dairy farm that was the last herd of cows in Hudson, New Hampshire, aside from the cows at Alvirne High School's agricultural center.  He was the third generation of his family to raise cows on this property since 1902.  The farmhouse is over 200 years old.  The dairy herd and equipment were sold in 2002, and over the past ten years the barns have been converted over to rental business storage, offices and garages. 

A 12 December 2004 AP story in the Boston Globe about the Nadeau farmland sale:

http://articles.boston.com/2004-12-12/news/29199839_1_land-values-historic-buildings-funding-package

Please click here to see the entire series of Weathervane Wednesday posts!

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Hudson Town Pound 1772

The Hudson, New Hampshire Town Pound is located at the intersection of Melendy Road and Pelham Road.  Nearly every town used to have a town pound, and some towns had more than one.  The town officials could place lost livestock in the pound for safekeeping.  There was a more insidious purpose, too.  In 1791 a law was passed that allowed officials to confiscate livestock from scofflaws who did not pay their taxes.  At this time, your livestock was probably your most valuable possession.  Animals were kept in the town pound until the taxes and fines were paid, or auctioned off to the highest bidder. 

Click here for a link to a 1972 article about the Hudson Town Pound from the Nashua Telegraph 

A previous blog post about the 1730 Londonderry Town Pound:

http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/04/wordless-wednesday-1730-londonderry.html

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Tombstone Tuesday ~ More Greeleys

These gravestones were photographed at the Senter Burial Ground, in Hudson, New Hampshire.  It is located very close to the Londonderry border.  I live not too far from this burial ground, and near Greeley road where Horace Greeley's grandparents had a farm.   I previously blogged about the Greeley family, and the famous Horace Greeley, at this link:  http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/03/horace-greeley-remembers-londonderry.html

LUCY M

wife of 

Alfred D. Greeley

DIED

July 18, 1849

Aet 29

On earth was a tender mother

and wife, but now has gone to

---ing redeeming love and praise.

Lucy M. Senter was born 1820 in Hudson and died 18 Jul 1849 in Hudson.  Her parents were Thomas Senter and Tryphena Sawyer.  (Thomas Senter's parents were Thomas Senter and Esther Greeley)   She married Alfred D. Greeley on 29 March 1842 in Hudson and had two children both born in Londonderry: Lucy b. 1845 and Francis O b. 1847 

FATHER                          MOTHER 

JOHN GREELEY        DASTYMONY GREELEY

DIED                             DIED

May 16, 187?                ??????????

Aet. 88                        ????????

The Greeley family plot

many of the stones are broken, but have been repaired

DUSTYANN,

wife of

John Greeley

died

Oct. 25, 1825

Aet. 34

John Greeley was the son of Zaccheus Greeley and Esther Senter.  He was born 11 December 1783 in Hudson, and died 1872 in Derry.  He married Dustimony "Dusty" Eastman on 16 June 1809 in Londonderry.  She was born on 3 April 1790 in Vershire, Vermont, and died in Londonderry.   Their children were Franklin, b. 1809; Emeline, b. 1811; Sanford, b. 1813; Alfred D, b. 1816 (see below and wife #1 above); Elbridge Gerry, b. 1816 (twin); and John b. 1819.  

MOTHER             FATHER

ALFRED D. GREELEY

1816 - 1888

HIS WIFE

ANN R. DART

1822 - 19--

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Featherstone in Hudson, New Hampshire

This memorial was photographed at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Hudson, New Hampshire

JOHN J. FEATHERSTONE

1871 - 1951

MARGARET WINN HIS WIFE

1870 - 1940

JAMES FEATHERSTONE

1909 - 1909

ANN FEATHERSTONE

1899 - 

According to FamilySearch.org, which has the New Hampshire Vital records on line, John Featherstone married Margaret Winn on 1 June 1898 in Nashua, New Hampshire.  They were both born in Ireland.  It also lists children Robert, John, Ann and a premature male infant.

Apparently, son Robert died while he was a student attending Georgetown University Law School in 1928, but he is not buried here with the rest of his family.

An article in the Nashua Telegraph about Robert's untimely death, dated 14 July 1928:
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=2x5AAAAAIBAJ&sjid=fKQMAAAAIBAJ&pg=3842%2C886837

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Weathervane Wednesday ~ another Eagle

This is part of an on-going series of photographs of weather vanes in the Nutfield, New Hampshire area (formerly Derry, Londonderry and parts of Hudson, Windham and Manchester).  Some of the weather vanes are historical, some are whimsical, and all are interesting.

Do you know the location of weather vane #41?  Scroll down to the bottom to see the answer!

This eagle taking off (or landing?) on a ball is located on the Londonderry/Hudson border at 7 Tracy Lane, Hudson, New Hampshire, on top of the Mailhot Industries building.   Mailhot is a company based in Quebec, Canada, and it manufacturers hydraulic cylinders.   This is a very small facility, so it must be used for distribution or service in the United States.

The Mailhot Industries website http://www.mailhotindustries.com/


Please click here to see the entire series of Weathervane Wednesday posts!

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Tombstone Tuesday ~ St. Casimir's Cemetery, Hudson, NH

Holy Cross Cemetery,  founded by St. Casimir's church, is located on Ledge Street in Hudson, New Hampshire.  It is tucked in back of St. Patrick's cemetery.  Both cemeteries were established by large Roman Catholic churches across the river in the city of Nashua.  The parish of St. Casimir's was located on Temple Street, and most of the parishioners were Lithuanian immigrants who came to work in the nearby mills.   Casimir was the patron saint of Poland and Lithuania, and the statue in his image was moved to St. Patrick's when the church closed more than ten years ago.   The church property in Nashua was converted into a large apartment complex.  

I enjoyed reading the names in this cemetery.  You don't see these names in the typical rural New Hampshire burial grounds!

The former St. Casimir church on Temple St, Nashua, New Hampshire

Casimir Place Apartments http://www.stewartproperty.net/cp.html

The Dioceses of Manchester, New Hampshire website http://www.catholicnh.org/

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Copyright 2012, Heather Wilkinson Rojo