Weathervane Wednesday ~ Two Baptist Churches in Maine

I post another in a series of weather vane photographs every Wednesday.  This started with images of weathervanes from the Londonderry, New Hampshire area, but now I've found interesting weather vanes all across New England and across the globe.  Sometimes my weather vanes are whimsical, or historical, but all are interesting.  Often my readers tip me off to some very unique or unusual weathervanes, too!  If you know a great weather vane near you, let me know if you'd like to have it featured on this blog.

Today's weather vanes were photographed in Maine.

Do you know the location of weathervane post #383?  Scroll down to find the answer.

And also...

The first church photographed above is the Free Baptist Church in South Berwick, Maine.  This church congregation was organized in 1834 as the "Free Will Baptist Church", and the building was just one story.  The cemetery behind the building began that year, too.  The meetinghouse was enlarged in 1855, and then it was raised ten feet in 1885 to accommodate Sunday school on the first floor.  The town clock, the only one in South Berwick, was added in 1889.  Perhaps the arrow weathervane was added at this time, when the steeple was renovated for the clock?

The second church, just down the street, is the First Baptist Church in South Berwick.  The first building by this congregation was a meetinghouse near Great Hill built in 1767.  This current building was erected in 1823.  The scrolled weathervane on the steeple seems to date to a time later than 1823, perhaps in the middle of the 1800s when fancy weathervanes like this were machine made or ordered through catalogs?


South Berwick Free Baptist Church    http://www.sbfbc.org/ 

First Baptist Church, South Berwick, Maine    https://www.fbcsouthberwick.org/ 


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

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Weathervane Wednesday ~ Two Baptist Churches in Maine", Nutfield Genealogy, posted October 3, 2018, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/08/weathervane-wednesday-two-baptist.html: accessed [access date]). 

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]). 

Surname Saturday - Nason

NASON

My Nason lineage lived along the river
in Berwick, Maine, near Salmon Falls

Our immigrant ancestor Richard Nason first appears in the records when he received 200 acres in Kittery, Maine at Stove Pipe Landing.  His origins in England are unknown.  According to Stackpole's History of South Berwick:
"Richard Nason is mentioned in 1645 in the court records of New Hampshire. He had a grant of 200 acres next south of Thomas Spencer. He is not named among the men of Piscataqua in 1640. The fact that he had so large a grant, equal to that of Thomas Spencer, and his election to the office of selectman in 1654, favor the supposition that he was a man of importance. Perhaps he had been one of Thomas Wiggin's company. He reared a large family, and his surname has spread widely. From the year 1638 to the year 1651 the only persons that appear on records as living at what is now called Great Works were the families of Humphrey Chadbourne, Thomas Spencer and Richard Nason and the two who kept bachelors' hall together, viz., Basil Parker and Peter Weare. There were four houses and decaying mills..." 

Richard Nason appears many times in the early records, usually for minor offenses.  Some are listed below: 

In 1645 he and his wife had a dispute with her father, Richard Baker, who was tried in New Hampshire and fined 5 shillings "for beating Richard Nason that he was black and blue and for throwing a fire shovel at his wife." 
In 1649 Nason served as a juryman. 
In 1653 he was an Ensign, later Selectman, and held other town offices in Kittery. Maine 
In 1655 he was charged at York, Maine with not attending church meetings.
In 1659 was fined £5 and disenfranchised for entertaining Quakers. 
In 1665 he was accused of blasphemy. Philip Chesley of Oyster River was witness against him. The General Court did "not judge him so guilty of that fact as that by our lawe he ought to die," but he had to post a £40 bond for good behavior. 

Richard Nason's will was dated 14 July 1694 and it names his children, wife Abigail, Abigail's children by her first marriage, Nicholas Follett and Sarah Meader, and Abigail's granddaughter by her previous marriage, Sarah, daughter of Mary Witham. 

The Nason Genealogy:

Generation 1:  Richard Nason, died sometime between 15 March 1696 when his will was written and 22 December 1696 when his will was proved; married about 1637 to Sarah Baker, daughter of John Baker and Sarah Wall, born about 1614 and died about 1663 in Kittery, Maine. Nine children.  At about 1664 he married second to Abigail Brewer, widow of Nicholas Follett. 

1. Charles Nason, born about 1639, married Abigail Willoughby

2. John Nason (see below)

3. Baker Nason, born about 1642, married Elizabeth Hatch

4. Jonathan Nason, born about 1645, married Sarah Jenkins

5. Sarah Nason, born aobut 1653, married Henry Child

6. Joseph Nason, born about 1655, married Mary Swain

7. Mary Nason, born about 1655, married Ephraim Trickey

8. Richard Nason, born about 1657, married Shuah Colcord

9. Benjamin Nason, born about 1662, married Martha Canney

Generation 2: John Nason, born about 1640, died 1719 in Dover, New Hampshire; married on 7 October 1697 in Kittery to Bridget Weymouth, daughter of Edward Weymouth and Esther Hodson. Three children.

1. Richard Nason (see below)

2. Hannah Nason, married Nicholas Jellison

3. Joanna Nason

Generation 3: Richard Nason, born about 1704 in South Berwick, Maine; married Mercy Ham, daughter of John Ham and Mary Heard, born 19 July 1708 in Dover, New Hampshire.  Five children:

1. Richard Nason (see below)

2. Nathaniel Nason, married Meribah Tuttle

3. Sarah Nason, 

4. Bridget Nason

5. Moses Nason, married Olive Davis

Generation 4: Richard Nason, born 31 May 1730 in South Berwick, Maine, died 25 May 1790 in South Berwick; married Mary Thompson, daughter of John Thompson and Mary Stacy. Ten children:

1. Bridget Nason, born before 12 September 1756

2. Mercy Nason, (see below) 

3. Amos Nason, born before 3 May 1764, married Hannah Nason, daughter of Moses Nason and Olive Davis- his first cousin

4. Sarah Nason

5. Nabby Nason

6. Betty Nason

7. Sarah Nason

8. Mary Nason, married Richard Shackley

9. Amos Nason, 

10. Moses Nason, married Lucy Tebbitts

Generation 5: Mercy Nason, born about 1764; married on 7 February 1788 in South Berwick to William Wilkinson, son of James Wilkinson and Hannah Mead. Three children:

Generation 6: Aaron Wilkinson m. Mercy F. Wilson

Generation 7: Robert Wilson Wilkinson m. Phebe Cross Munroe

Generation 8: Albert Munroe Wilkinson m. Isabella Lyons Bill

Generation 9: Donald Munroe Wilkinson m. Bertha Louise Roberts (my grandparents)

There is an article about Richard Nason in The American Genealogist, Volume 68, pages 106 - 112.  Most of the vital records for the Nasons are available in early Maine records for York County.  There is also an outline on the Nasons in the Genealogical Dictionary of Maine and New Hampshire by Davis, Libbey and Noyes. 

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Copyright 2011, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

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

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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]). 

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]). 

George Peabody Merit Scholarship Medals

1879 set of Dickens inscribed by the Peabody Scholarship Committee

Sometimes I Google the names of ancestors and wait to see what happens next. I usually know their vital statistics, such as birth, marriage or death records, and I often know their children, or their parent’s names. However, I want to know the stories that might come up in obscure books or newspapers, or their mentions in town records, annual reports, and church bulletins. You never know what you’ll find.

Imagine my surprise when I found the name of my great grandfather on a list of George Peabody Merit Scholarships recipients in the 1879 graduating class of Peabody High School. George Peabody was a famous resident of Massachusetts, and when South Danvers broke off from Danvers, the citizens named their new town after him- Peabody, Massachusetts.

George Peabody (1795 – 1869) was an entrepreneur and a philanthropist. In 1851 he found a company called “George Peabody and Company”, and later went into business with Junius Spencer Morgan to form “Peabody, Morgan and Company.” Peabody retired in 1864, and firm was renamed “J. S. Morgan” and later “J.P. Morgan” after his son. The international bank JPMorgan Chase traces its roots back to Peabody’s original business. Peabody was the only American ever buried inside Winchester Cathedral in London. He was later re-interred at the Harmony Grove Cemetery in Salem, Massachusetts. One of his philanthropic ventures was this lasting Scholarship, which is still awarded by the city of Peabody, Massachusetts.

I found a website by the Peabody Public Schools that lists each group of Peabody Scholars. Apparently the first award was in 1855. Albert Munroe Wilkinson, my great grandfather, won the award in 1879. Albert’s elder brother, Robert Henry, was also a recipient in 1873. Robert’s future wife, Eliza Harris Poor, won the scholarship in 1871. In 1885, a cousin named Rosetta Mary Munroe won the medal. Another distant cousin, Alice Hubbard Munroe, won in 1913 and her brother Allan Breed Munroe in 1917. Other Wilkinsons won the award in 1941, 1958, and 1974 (perhaps distant cousins?).

From School Committee Report on Peabody Prizes - "...determined that a suitable medal shall be awarded and presented to every pupil who shall pass three years, - constituting the entire course, - in either of these schools (Peabody and Holten), and whose attendance, deportment, and advancement shall have been uniformly satisfactory to the teachers and committee. The die, from which the medals are to be struck, will soon be completed, and the following individuals, who have accomplished the amount required, will be entitled to a "Peabody Medal," and will receive the same at an early day. It is hoped that each and all, thus favored, will feel a strong and sincere determination to have their subsequent deportment and standing in life such as will do them credit, and thus honor the Peabody Medal and the generous friend to whose liberality and thoughtfulness they are indebted for this act of encouragement. By habits of industry and perseverance, by acts of kindness, by manly and upright deportment, and by fidelity in all of life's relations and duties, they will best their appreciation of the gift and the giver."

I don’t know what happened to Albert’s medal, but I do know he also received a set of Dickens books from the Peabody School Committee. When my Dad passed away in 2002 my Mom sorted out his books, and gave me a boxful, including a set of Dickens. Months later I noticed that the inside of the books were inscribed to Albert, my Dad’s grandfather, from the Peabody School Committee. Now I know the full story!

Albert Munroe Wilkinson was in the 1886 Peabody City Directory and he is listed as a bookkeeper at Thomas Proctor's, boarding with his mother at 14 Elm Street in Peabody. He is listed in the Salem City Directory as a bookkeeper at 9 Webster Street, living at 15 Stevens St. in Peabody, Massachusetts. After his marriage to Isabella Lyons Bill they lived on Loring Avenue in Salem. Albert died fairly young at age 47 due to "shock following the removal of gall stones, about 12 hours" signed Dr. Benjamin E. Sibley on his death certificate on 12 May 1908 at Corey Hill Hospital in Brookline, Massachusetts. My Dad never knew his grandfather, because of his early death, and I wish I could have told Dad the story of the George Peabody Merit Scholarship.

The Wilkinson Lineage:

Generation 1. Thomas Wilkinson, born about 1690 in England, died before 1739; married August 1715 in Portsmouth, New Hampshire to Elizabeth Caverly, daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth, married second 27 Nov 1739 to Philip Jewell.

Generation 2. James Wilkinson, born about 1730, probably in Berwick, Maine, died between 1795 and 1805 in Berwick; married first about 1753 to Hannah Mead, daughter of Thomas Mead and Hannah Stilson, born 9 August 1730 in Wakefield, New Hampshire, died before 1759; married second to Mary Unknown.

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

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

Generation 5. Robert Wilson Wilkinson, born 26 May 1830 in Salem, Massachusetts, died 23 March 1874 in Peabody; married 24 November 1853 in Danvers, Massachusetts to Phebe Cross Munroe, daughter of Luther Simonds Munroe and Olive Flint. Three sons:

1. Robert Henry Wilkinson*, born 14 January 1855 in South Danvers, died 22 September 1884 in Peabody; married 18 April 1883 in Peabody to Eliza Harris Poor*, daughter of Nathan Holt Poor and Abigail Morrill.

2. Walter Wilkinson, born 3 November 1856 in South Danvers, died 2 April 1858 in South Danvers.

3. Albert Munroe Wilkinson*, born 7 November 1860 in Danvers, died 12 May 1908 in Brookline, Massachusetts; married 18 October 1894 in Salem to Isabella Lyons Bill, daughter of Caleb Rand Bill and Ann Margaret Bollman.

*denotes Peabody Merit Medal Scholars


For more information:

A list of the George Peabody Merit Medal Scholars
https://ma01001873.schoolwires.net/Page/409

The History of the George Peabody Merit Scholar Program  https://ma01001873.schoolwires.net/Page/407

“George Peabody: A Biography” by Franklin Parker, Vanderbilt University Press, 1995

www.peabodyhistorical.org The website of the Peabody, Massachusetts Historical Society

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "George Peabody Merit Scholarship Medals", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 29, 2010, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2010/01/george-peabody-merit-scholarship-medals.html: accessed [access date]).

Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England

Donald and Janet Wilkinson, photographed in Salem, Massachusetts about 1905



Wilkinson Surname Project in Northern New England

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. However, no book has ever been written about the Wilkinsons of New Hampshire and Maine.

It seems that the first Wilkinson in my lineage was Thomas, 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. 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 or 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 newsclippings 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 born about 1722, died about 1795 in Deerfield or Epping, New Hampshire, wife unknown, 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, born about 1690 in England and died before 1739, married to Elizabeth Caverly in August 1715 in Portsmouth. She was the daughter of William Caverly and Mary Abbott, born about 1696 in Portsmouth. 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:

• 
  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, born on 22 February 1802 in South Berwick. He died in Peabody, Massachusetts in 25 November 1879, married to Mercy F. Wilson on 23 June 1829 and producing eleven children. Aaron and Mercy are my 3x great grandparents.

Copyright 2009, Heather Wilkinson Rojo