Showing posts with label Townsend. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Townsend. Show all posts

Wednesday, April 26, 2023

A Guitar in Townsend, Massachusetts - Weathervane Wednesday

Today's weathervane was photographed in Townsend, Massachusetts.


 This unusual weathervane is located above a barn attached to a house in Townsend, Massachusetts.  I love the details on the guitar vane - the strings, pegs, fretboard, and the hole through the body where the background sky is visible.  But I also love that the finial above the guitar shaped vane is a clef, and that there are musical notes on a staff holding up the cardinal point letters!  

There are trees behind this barn, which makes this dark metal weathervane nearly invisible until you catch a glimpse of it silhoutetted agains a bright blue sky.  We have been driving through Townsend, Massachusetts for over 35 years since it is on our route between our house in New Hampshire and my mother's home in central Massachusetts, but this spring was the first time we have stopped to photograph this weathervane.  Only when looking through the telephoto lens or when looking at the photograph on a computer screen did we see the little, fun details on this weathervane.  

I don't know the history of this building, or if there is a story to this guitar weathervane.  Did a musician live here?  Was there a luthier in residence, with a workshop in the barn? 

Townsend, Massachusetts has several fun weathervanes besides this guitar. If you ever drive through look for the bat weathervane above the Spaulding School, or the owl weathervane over the old library building, the Hart Free Library. See the links below. 



This view of the weathervane shows the great patina on the old metal.




For the truly curious:

To see almost 500 other Weathervane Wednesday blog posts, click here:

The Spaulding School bat weathervane in Townsend, Massachusetts:

The Hart Free Library building owl weathervane in Townsend, Massachusett:

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Guitar in Townsend, Massachusetts - Weathervane Wednesday", Nutfield Genealogy, posted April 26, 2023, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2023/04/a-guitar-in-townsend-massachusetts.html: accessed [access date]). 

Saturday, February 18, 2017

Surname Saturday ~ DAVIS of Watertown, Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts


DAVIS

I’ve written about the DAVIS family of Cambridge, Concord and Barnstable Massachusetts, begun by the immigrant Dolor Davis (about 1583 – 1672), and I’ve written about James Davis (about 1583 – 1678/9) who settled in Haverhill, Massachusetts.  Today’s blog post is my third DAVIS family, headed by Samuel Davis (about 1615 – 1672), my 9th great grandfather.

Samuel Davis is my 9th great grandfather, who married his wife, Anna Norcross, on 20 November 1631 at Allhallows,  London, England [The Registers of All Hallows, Bread Street and St. John the Evangelist, Friday Street, London, England, page 107].  This church was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. 

Samuel and Anna settled first at Watertown, and later on 31 May 1646 the Watertown church wrote him a letter to transfer to the Boston church.  He later settled at Rumney Marsh, now Chelsea, north of Boston.  His will is dated 2 May 1672 [Suffolk County Probate Docket 598, Volume VII, page 219 and 236] and was probated 4 July 1672.  It mentions his wife, Anna, daughter Hannah Griggs, daughter Abigail Townsend,  son Gerhom Davis, daughter Mary Townsend (my 8th great grandmother), daughter Priscilla and grandchild Hannah Griggs. 

Mary Davis married Thomas Townsend on 30 October 1661 at the Old North Church (2nd Church) in Boston’s North End.  Thomas was described as a “husbandman” (an archaic term for a farmer or small landowner), and left a will proved at Lynn, Massachusetts on 22 July 1700.  They had thirteen children!

Some DAVIS resources:

The Ancestry of Dr. J. P. Guilford, by Joan S. Guilford, Orange, CA: 1990, Volume II, pages 288-293.

An old book but mostly accurate, Davis Families of Early Roxbury and Boston, by Samuel Forbes Rockwell, Boston: Andover Press, 1932.

Dolor Davis (about 1583 – 1672) of Cambridge, Concord and Barnstable, Massachusetts

James Davis (about 1583- 1678/9)  of Haverhill, Massachusetts

NORCROSS Surname Saturday blog post

TOWNSEND Surname Saturday blog post

My DAVIS genealogy:

Generation 1:  Samuel Davis, born about 1615 in England, died between 2 May and 4 July 1672 in Massachusetts; married on 30 November 1631 at the All Hallows Church in London, England to Anna Norcross, daughter of John Norcross.  Nine children

Generation 2: Mary Davis, baptized on 31 May 1646 in Roxbury, Massachusetts, died after 1700; married on 30 October 1661 in the Second Church (Old North), Boston, Massachusetts to Thomas Townsend, son of Thomas Townsend and Mary Newgate.  He was born about 1636 and died before 22 July 1700 in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Generation 3: Susannah Townsend m. Daniel Hitchings
Generation 4: Daniel Hitchings m. Hannah Ingalls
Generation 5:  Abijah Hitchings m. Mary Gardner
Generation 6:  Abijah Hitchings m. Mary Cloutman
Generation 7: Abijah Hitchings m. Eliza Ann Treadwell
Generation 8:  Abijah Franklin Hitchings m. Hannah Eliza Lewis
Generation 9: Arthur Treadwell Hitchings m. Florence Etta Hoogerzeil
Generation 10: Gertrude Matilda Hitchings m. Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

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Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ DAVIS of Watertown, Boston and Chelsea, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 18, 2017,  (http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2017/02/surname-saturday-davis-of-watertown.html: accessed [access date]). 

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Surname Saturday ~ NORCROSS of England and Braintree, Massachusetts

The Haberdashers' Company Coat of Arms
"Serve and Obey"

NORCROSS

My Norcross ancestors start out with several generations of members of the Haberdashers’ Company in England.  They dealt in men’s furnishings and clothing.  Thomas Norcross, my 11th great grandfather, was born at Dilworth, Ribchester, Lancashire, England.   He had three sons: John, Jeremiah and Thomas, and they lived in St. Dunstan’s parish in London, and all were members of the Haberdashers' Company.  Thomas died in 1617 and is buried at St. Dunstans.  

Two sons went to Massachusetts – Jeremiah and John.  John was the eldest, and was my 10th great grandfather.  He bought 22 acres of land in Cambridge, Massachusetts, but then sold it and returned to England in 1642.  He died in London in 1657.  He had two children, Anna, my 9th great grandmother, stayed in Massachusetts with her husband, Samuel Davis.   Her brother Thomas died in England in 1662 and was buried at Ribchester, Lanashire, he was a linen manufacturer, as well as a member of the Haberdashers' Company. 

My 10th great grand uncle, Jeremiah Norcross, came to Massachusetts and settled in Watertown, Massachusetts.  His second wife was Adrian (Unknown) (Smith) (Bland) Norcross.  Adrian is my 11th great grandmother with her Smith marriage.  Her son, John Smith alias Bland, grew up with the Smith surname and was named in his stepfather’s will  as John Smith.   He left Watertown and went to the island of Martha’s Vineyard where he was known by the name Bland.   His son, Francis Smith, my 9th great grandfather, passed on the Smith name, but his sister, Anabel, went by the name Bland when she married William Barsham about 1635 in the Watertown records.  This is something to remember when tracing this family!

My NORCROSS genealogy:

Generation 1:  Thomas Norcross, died 1617 at St. Dunstan’s, London, England; married Mary Chappell.

Generation 2:  John Norcross, born 1583 in London, died after 1642 in England

Generation 3: Anna Norcross,  born about 1615 in England; married on 30 November 1631 at Allhallows on Bread Street in London to Samuel Davis.  He was born about 1615 and died between 2 May and 4 July 1672 in Braintree (now Quincy), Massachusetts

Generation 4:  Mary Davis married Thomas Townsend
Generation 5: Susannah Townsend married Daniel Hitchings
Generation 6:  Daniel Hitchings married Hannah Ingalls
Generation 7:  Abijah Hitchings married Mary Gardner
Generation 8:  Abijah Hitchings married Mary Cloutman
Generation 9:  Abijah Hitchings married Eliza Ann Treadwell
Generation 10: Abijah Franklin Hitchings married Hannah Eliza Lewis
Generation 11:  Arthur Treadwell Hitchings married Florence Etta Hoogerzeil
Generation 12:  Gertrude Matilda Hitchings married Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

* My lineage from Adrian (Bland) (Smith) Norcross (also my ancestress in this lineage, as well as a step ancestress!):

Generation 1:  Adrian Unknown married first to Unknown Smith.  Adrian also married second to Unknown Bland, and third to Jeremiah Norcross (brother of John Norcross above).

Generation 2:  John Smith, born about 1572 in England, died about 6 January 1668 on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts.  He went by the alias John BLAND.  He married Isabella Drake about 1604.  She was the daughter of William Drake and Joan Merrills.

UPDATE - 6 October 2015 - Francis Smith is not a son of John Smith and Isabella Drake [See Great Migration, Volume VI, pages 391 - 394]

Generation 3:  Francis Smith, born about 1604 in Colchester, Essex, England, died 20 March 1650 in Reading, Massachusetts; married Alice Unknown

Generation 4:  Hannah Smith, born about 1638 in Watertown, Massachusetts, died 6 May 1666 in Reading; married on 15 November 1659 in Reading to George Lillie.  Four children.
Generation 5: John Lillie married Hannah Bassett

Generation 6: Phebe Lilley married Noah Eaton
Generation 7: Katherine Eaton married John Emerson
Generation 8: Romanus Emerson married Jemima Burnham
Generation 9:  George Emerson married Mary Esther Younger
Generation 10: Mary Katherine Emerson married George E. Batchelder
Generation 11: Carrie Maude Batchelder married Joseph Elmer Allen
Generation 12: Stanley Elmer Allen married Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

The Haberdashers Company guild is still around!  See this link:
http://www.haberdashers.co.uk/home.php  


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Published under a Creative Commons License
Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ NORCROSS of England and Braintree, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted June  13, 2015
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/06/surname-saturday-norcross-of-england.html : accessed [access date]). 

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Surname Saturday ~ PEARSON of Lynn and Reading, Massachusetts



There were two John PEARSON  immigrant families in Massachusetts, one lived in Rowley, and the other lived in Lynn.  As far as I can tell, they are not related to each other.  Be careful researching, because both John Pearsons lived at the same time in the same county (Essex County).  The John Pearson (about 1615 – 1679) who settled at Lynn is my 9th great grandfather.  He was in Lynn about 1637 and removed to Reading about 1639 (now the town of Wakefield).   He married Maudlin (sometimes spelled Madeline),  probably the daughter of Robert Bullard, and they had five children.

John Pearson’s will mentions his wife “Maddlin”, son John, daughters Sarah Townsend, Mary Burnap and Bethia Carter, as well as a servant John Lilly.  He is buried in the old cemetery at Wakefield (originally in the town of Reading).   His tombstone carved with the name "John Person" and is described in the book Graven Images: New England Stonecarving and Its Symbols, 1650 - 1815, by Allen Ludwig, 2000, page 83. 

His daughter Sarah married John Townsend of Lynn on 27 January 1669 in Lynn.  They had three children.  My Pearson line daughters out early.  For more information on the TOWNSEND lineage, please see the blog post published on 16 May 2015 at this link:  http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/05/surname-saturday-townsend-of-lynn.html 

For more information on the PEARSON family of Lynn see The Essex Genealogist, Volume 13, pages 200 – 209, Volume 14, pages 39 – 44.

My PEARSON genealogy:
Generation 1:  John Pearson, born about 1615 probably in Yorkshire, England,  died 17 April 1679; married to Maudlin/Madeline Bullard, daughter of Robert Bullard and Ann Unknown.  Five children.

Generation 2: Sarah Pearson, born 20 January 1647 in Lynn, died 9 July 1689 in Lynn;  married on 27 January 1669 in Lynn to John Townsend as his first wife, son of Thomas Townsend and Mary Newgate.   Three children.  He was born about 1640 in Lynn, and died 14 December 1726 in Lynn.  Thomas remarried second to Mehitable Brown on 23 April 1690 in Lynn. 

Generation 3:  John Townsend married Sarah Boutwell
Generation 4:  Sarah Townsend married Brown Emerson
Generation 5:  John Emerson married Katherine Eaton
Generation 6:  Romanus Emerson married Jemima Burnham
Generation 7: George Emerson married Mary Esther Younger
Generation 8:  Mary Katharine Younger married George E. Batchelder
Generation 8:  Carrie Maud Batchelder married Joseph Elmer Allen
Generation 9:  Stanley Elmer Allen married Gertrude Matilda Hitchings

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Published under a Creative Commons License
Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Family Reunions, 2015", Nutfield Genealogy, posted June 6, 2015 ( http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/06/surname-saturday-pearson-of-lynn-and.html : accessed [access date]). 

Saturday, May 16, 2015

Surname Saturday ~ TOWNSEND of Lynn, Massachusetts


TOWNSEND / TOWNSHEND

The Townsend family has published genealogies going back in time to Roger de Townshende and his wife Catherine Atherton who were born about 1325 AD.  It is a noble lineage that includes knights and ladies.  One Roger Townshend was knighted by King Henry VIII in 1518, and his son was also knighted by King Henry VIII in 1545. Some are buried at the High Cancel of Ludlow Church with recumbent figures in knightly armor.  Queen Elizabeth dined with Sir Thomas Townsend at Mergate Hall in July 1578.  His grandson, also named Thomas Townsend, left England and went to Lynn, Massachusetts.  This noble lineage was confirmed when I read a line by noted genealogist Gary Boyd Roberts, author of Genealogies of Connecticut Families, Vol. III, page 497 “A mass of circumstantial evidence to be embodied in a memorial volume when published has satisfied several expert genealogists and myself that Thomas Townsend son of Henry and Margaret was identical with the settler at Lynn.”

Thomas Townsend (1594 – 1677) was baptized at Bracon Ash, Norfolk, England.  He was granted 60 acres in Lynn, Massachusetts, near the ironworks.  He was made a freeman in 1639. He had come to America with  three sons,  and remarried to Mary Newgate.  I descend from two of his six children- Thomas and John.    Mary Newgate was described as “a cousin” to John Winthrop, but the true relationship has not been found.

Thomas Townsend (1636 – about 1700) was a farmer.  His daughter, Susannah (1672 – 1737) married Daniel Hitchings.  The Hitchings family has lived in Lynn and Salem, Massachusetts since the 1620s through my great grandfather,  Arthur Treadwell Hitchings, who was born in Salem in 1868. 

Little is known about Thomas Townsend’s brother, John (about 1640 – 1726), and his son, John jr. (1675 – 1757) who removed from Lynn to Reading (a contiguous town at that time).   His daughter married Deacon Brown Emerson of the Reading Congregational Church.

Some Townsend sources:

The Essex Genealogist, Volume 13, pages 152- 165, 218 – 228, Volume 14, 45 – 52. 
Thomas Townsend Jr’s son Nathan can be found in the Mayflower Silver Book Volume 23 for 3 generations (he married Elizabeth Howland (about 1694 – 1707), granddaughter of Mayflower Passengers John Howland and Elizabeth Tilley)  

Medieval Heritage: A multi-ancestor genealogy of Thomas Townsend, 1597 – 1677, who emigrated to New England about 1637, showing his lineage back to the time of William the Conqueror, by Rich Townsend, New Haven, Connecticut: 1985. (at the NEHGS library)

The Townshend Family of Lynn, in Old and New England: Genealogical and Biographical, by Charles Hervey Townshend, New Haven, Connecticut, 1882.  (at the NEHGS library and also online at Hathi Trust Digital Library)

The Townsend Society of America (Genealogy and DNA studies)
21 West Main Street
Oyster Bay, NY  11771

My TOWNSEND genealogy:

Generation 1:  Thomas Townsend, son of Henry Townsend and Margaret Forthe, was baptized 8 January 1594 in Bracon Ash, Norfolk, England, and died 22 December 1677 in Lynn, Massachusetts;  married first to Unknown in England; married second to Mary Newgate.  She was the daughter of John Newgate,  born about 1615 and died 28 February 1692 in Lynn.  Six children.

Lineage A:

Generation 2: Thomas Townsend, born about 1636, died before 22 July 1700 in Lynn;  married on 30 October 1661 at the Second Church in Boston, Massachusetts to Mary Davis, daughter of Samuel Davis and Anna Norcross.  She was born 21 May 1647 in Roxbury, Massachusetts and died after 1700. Thirteen children.

Generation 3:  Susannah Townend, born 5 November 1672 in Boston, died 12 May 1737 in Lynn; married on 19 October 1708 in Lynn to Daniel Hitchings, son of Daniel Hitchings and Eleanor Unknown.   He was born about 1660 in Lynn and died 15 January 1735 in Lynn.

Generation 4: Daniel Hitchings married Hannah Ingalls
Generation 5:  Abijah Hitchings married Mary Gardner
Generation 6: Abijah Hitchings married Mary Cloutman
Generation 7: Abijah Hitchings married Eliza Ann Treadwell
Generation 8: Abijah Franklin Hitchings married Hannah Eliza Lewis
Generation 9: Arthur Treadwell Hitchings married Florence Etta Hoogerzeil
Generation 10: Gertrude Matilda Hitchings married Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

Lineage B:

Generation 3:  John Townsend, born about 1640 in Lynn, died 14 December 1726 in Lynn; married first on 27 January 1669 in Lynn to Sarah Pearson, daughter of John Pearson and Maudlin Bullard.  She was born 20 January 1647 in Lynn and died 9 July 1689 in Lynn.  Three children.  He married second to Mehitable Brown.

Generation 4: John Townsend, born 17 March 1675 in Lynn, died January 1757 in Reading, Massachusetts; married on 28 April 1698 to Sarah Boutwell, daughter of James Boutwell and Rebecca Kimball.  She was born 7 July 1677 in Reading and died 18 September 1737 in Reading.  Six children.

Generation 5: Sarah Townsend, born 25 March 1705 in Lynn; married on 17 June 1725 in Reading to Brown Emerson, son of Peter Emerson and Mary Brown.  He was born 16 April 1704 in Reading and died 16 March 1774 in Reading.  Ten children.

Generation 6:  John Emerson married Katherine Eaton
Generation 7:  Romanus Emerson married Jemima Burnham
Generation 8:  George Emerson married Mary Esther Younger
Generation 9:  Mary Katharine Emerson married George E. Batchelder
Generation 10: Carrie Maude Batchelder married Joseph Elmer Allen
Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen married Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

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The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/05/surname-saturday-townsend-of-lynn.html 

Copyright © 2015, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Saturday, April 25, 2015

Surname Saturday ~ BOUTWELL of Lynn and Reading, Massachusetts

BOUTWELL

Not much is known about James Boutwell or his origins in England.  He was made a freeman in Salem, Massachusetts on 14 February 1638/9.  The Lynn, Massachusetts court records mention a wife named Mary in 1640.  His will dated 22 August 1651 lists his wife as Alice, and his children John, James and Sarah.  He must have died soon because his will was probated four days later on 26 August 1651. 

His two sons, John and James Boutwell removed to Reading, Massachusetts from Lynn (a contiguous town).  I decend from Sargent James Boutwell and his wife, Rebecca, the daughter of Deacon Thomas Kendall.  Their gravestones are still standing at the Old Burying Ground in Wakefield, Massachusetts (formerly known as South Reading).    Their daughter, Sarah Boutwell, married John Townsend in Reading in 1698, and there my Boutwell line daughters out.

Sources for Boutwell research:

Descendants of James Boutwell of Salem and Lynn, by Donald Erienkotter

“Descendants of Abraham Bryant,” New England Historic Genealogical Society Register, Volume 137, October 1983, page 238.

Genealogical History of the Town of Reading, Massachusetts by Lilley Eaton, Boston: Alfred Mudge & Son, Printers, 1874.

Vital Records of Reading, Massachusetts

My BOUTWELL genealogy:

Generation 1:  James Boutwell, born in England, died in August 1651; married to Alice Unknown.  Three children possibly born in Massachusetts.

Generation 2:  Sargent James Boutwell, born about 1642 in Massachusetts; died 5 December 1716 in Reading, Massachusetts; married on 15 June 1665 in Reading to Rebecca Kendall, daughter of Thomas Kendall and Rebecca Payne.  She was born 10 February 1644 in Reading, and died 30 August 1713 in Reading.  Ten children.

Generation 3: Sarah Boutwell, born 7 July 1677 in Reading, died 18 September 1737 in Reading; married on 28 April 1698 in Reading to John Townsend, so of John Townsend and Sarah Pearson.  He was born 17 March 1675 in Lynn and died January 1757 in Reading.  Six children.

Generation 4: Sarah Townsend, born 25 March 1705 in Lynn; married on 17 June 1725 in Reading to Deacon Brown Emerson, son of Peter Emerson and Mary Brown.  He was born 16 April 1704 in Reading and died 16 March 1774 in Reading.  Ten children.  Sarah Townsend and Brown Emerson are the ancestors of astronaut Alan B. Shepard, Jr. of Derry, New Hampshire through two of their daughters.

Generation 5:  John Emerson m. Katherine Eaton
Generation 6:  Romanus Emerson m. Jemima Burnham
Generation 7: George Emerson m. Mary Esther Younger
Generation 8: Mary Katharine Emerson m. George E. Batchelder
Generation 9: Carrie Maude Batchelder m. Joseph Elmer Allen
Generation 10: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Allen (my grandparents)

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The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/04/surname-saturday-boutwell-of-lynn-and.html
Copyright © 2015, Heather Wilkinson Rojo


Saturday, January 10, 2015

Surname Saturday ~ EMERSON of Ipswich, Massachusetts


EMERSON

Thomas Emerson (1584 – 1666)  lived at Bishop’s Stortford in Hertfordshire, England, where he was recorded in 1636 as a collector for the poor.  His children were recorded in the baptismal records at St. Michael’s church in Bishop’s Stortford.  He first appears in the records of Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1638 when he received a deed for 120 acres.  This land was known as “Turkey Shore” and remained in the Emerson family for generations.

Thomas Emerson was the father of two ministers, Rev. Joseph Emerson and Rev. John Emerson.  There is a long list of Puritan, Congregational and Unitarian ministers among his descendants, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, who also studied to be a minister.  I descend from two of Thomas Emerson’s children, the Rev. Joseph Emerson (1621 – 1680) and Elizabeth Emerson (1623 – 1700) who married John Fuller.

His will was recorded in Salem, Massachusetts:

The Will Of Thomas Emerson
Essex Probate Registry, Salem, Mass.

The 31st of Maye 1653

            I Thomas Emerson of Ispswich in the countye of Essex being att present, I prayse God, of good health and pfect memory, and well knowing that all men are borue to dye & depart this life, and that the tyme and place of there departure is to them unknown and uncertayne and sometymes sudden, I doe therefore declare and make knowne this my lasr will and Testament in the maner following:

            Inprimus/ I bequeath my soule into the hands of my blessed Creator and Redeemer my body to the earth to be densently buried In assured hope of a Joyfull resurection at the last day, and for my outward Estate I doe dispose of as followeth:

            I give and bequeath unto my sonne Joseph the some eighty pound of current paye of New England viz forty pound of it which I reserued out of my farme Given unto my sonne John to be payd unto the said Joseph my sonne acording to the couenant and agreement expressed in a papre of Indentors beareing date the six and twentieth of the ninth month 1648 the other forty pound to be payd unto him by my son Nathaniell (out of my house and land given unto him) within six months after the decease of me and my wife.

Item/ I give and bequeath unto Nathaniell Emerson my sonne my house wherein I now dwell with all my upland and meddow and the marsh I bought of my sonne Joseph wh was sometymes Mr Woodsmansys with all the aptenances and priveledges thereunto belonging payeing forty pound out of it as above exprest alsoe a little p'sel of meddoe lyeing within the marsh before mentioned after the decease of me and my wife

Item/ I give unto my daughter Elisabeth Fullor the best feather bed and boulster with a paire of blanketts and the best coverlet and bedsted to injoy for hir use untill hir daughter Susana atayne the age of Twenty yeares or day of hir mariage if shall happen sooner and then she to injoy them alsoe. I give unto my sayd daughter the great carved chest and the carved box with a little Trunck with all y is in it and a small carved chest with what is in it

Item/ I give unto my sonne James Emerson the some of forty pounds out of my stock of cattell to be payd unto him if he shall come ouer into this country ( or send by a certayne surtifficate of his being liueing) within two yeares after the decease of me and my wife. In case my sayd sonne dye before then my will is that my sonne Joseph his sonne Joseph shall have ten pound of it and my sonne Nathaiell ten pound and my daughter Fullor hir foure sonnes the other Twenty pound or if any of them dye the surviuors ton injoye the same

Item/ my will is that Elisabeth Emerson my wife shall Injoye the yearely rent of the farme with six head of cattell wintering at the sayd farme and if they doe not winter soe many to make it up as is agreed as alsoe the house wherein I dwell with the upland and meddow and marsh bought of my sonne Joseph Joseph with all aptenances belonging thereunto and alsoe all my household goods and all my cattell I shall leave both oxen and cowes and all other young cattell whasoeuer to injoy them freely without let or disturbance of any person whatsoeuer dureing the tyme that she doth continue my widdow provided allways and it is my will and meaneing that if the sayd Elisabeth my wife doth marry that then she shall have only the yearley Rent of the aforesayd farme dureing the tyme of hir naturall life and the wintering of the aforesayd six head of cattell alsoe to have the little featherbed and one boulster and two payre of sheets and two cowes The rest of the cattell and household stufe to be disposed of as in this my will exprsst

            And futher my will is that my sonne Nathaniell incase he doe injoye the house and Land by the marriage of my wife that then he shall paye the some of six pound by the yeare to his mother duering the terme of hir naturall life for the rest of my household goods I leave to my wife to dispose of what shee shall thinke fitt to my sonne Joseph and the rest to be devided betweene my sonne Nathaniell and my daughter Fuller futher I make my loveing wife Elisabeth Emerson sole execotrix to this my last will and Testament and doe desire my much honored and faithful frends Mr Samule Symonds and Major Gen Daniell Denison to be overseeres to see y this my will be fullfilled.

In witness to this my last will I have hereunto sett my hand and seale the day and yeare first exprest

signed sealed and c in the psents of us

Robert Lord

Daniel Houey

January the 4th 1660.

Memorandum/ thes ar to testifie unto any home it may consern that I have given unto my sonne John Emerson his portion Ful in y Consideration of y agreement betwixt us about my farme he dully performming the Covenant of y sady indenters betwixt us during the terme of my life and his mothers as alsoe thos engagments their spesified afterwards acording to our mutuall agreement acording to the sixtenth line of this will

Signed: Thomas Emerson

Memorandum/ in consideration of the ten Lins Canseld on the other sie conserning my sonne James my will is that he shall have the some of five pound payd to him by my sonne Mathaniell within two years afters the decease of the longest liver of my wife or myself in case he shall come or send by certain sertifficat y he is then living

Alsoe in refrans to ye eighteen line of this my will for six months there exprest is thus to be understood that my son Nathaniell should paye that forty pound to my son Joseph the sumee of ten pounds a year till it be fully discharged unles he y said Nathaniell shall sell my house and land I now dwell in and the it is to be payd to my sonne Joseph presently

Alsoe in refrens to the twent fifth line of this my will it is to be understood that what there mentoned as to my daughter Fullor is my intent that it shall be holy and fully devided betwen hir two daughters at y age of twenty years or at y day of mariage Susanna and Elisabeth.

Alsoe my will is that my loving wife Elisabeth Emerson shall injoy for hir use halfe the fruit of the orchard during her natural life, the the particules above mentioned I witnes to be my own act

In the presents of

George Giddinge

Daniel Houey

Pfued by the oaths of George Giddinge, Daniell Houey and Robert Lord respectiuely before Mr Symon Bradstreet and Major Gen Denison the clerks being prsent the 10th day of May 1666 to be the last will of Thomas Emerson with the additions

As attest Robert Lord- clerk

[George Giddings (1609 – 1676) is also my 9th great grandfather]

Some Emerson sources:

Stone –Gregg Genealogy:  The Ancestors and Descendants of Galen Luther Stone and his wife Carrie Marston Gregg, by Alicia Crane Williams, (Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1987)

The Emerson-Benson Saga: The Ancestry of Charles F. Emerson and Bessie Benson and the Struggle to Settle the United States Including 194 Allied Lines by Edmund K. Swigart, (Baltimore: Gateway Press, 1994).

The Bulkeley Genealogy: Rev. Peter Bulkeley, by Donald Lines Jacobus (New Haven: Tuttle, Morehouse & Taylor, Co, 1933).

The Ipswich Emersons: AD 1636 – 1900, by Benjamin Kendall Emerson (Boston: Press of David Clapp & Son, 1900).   Available online   https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6902776M/The_Ipswich_Emersons._A.D._1636-1900. 

My EMERSON genealogy:

Generation 1: Thomas Emerson, born 26 July 1584 in Sedgefield Parish, County Durham, England, the son of Robert Emerson and Susan Crabbe, died 1 May 1666 in Ipswich, Massachusetts; married on 1 July 1611 in Bishop’s Stortford, Hertfordshire, England to Elizabeth Brewster, who died 10 August 1638 in Ipswich. [She is not a descendant of William Brewster of the Mayflower]  They had nine children and I descend from two of them.

Lineage A:

Generation 2: Reverend Joseph Emerson, born between 1620 and 1621 in Bishop’s Stortford, died 3 January 1680 in Concord, Massachusetts; married first to Elizabeth Woodmansey about 1646 in Boston, Massachusetts, one child; married second on 7 December 1665 in Concord to Elizabeth Bulkeley, the daughter of Rev. Edward Bulkeley and Lucyann Coy.  She was born in 1638 and died 4 September 1693 in Reading, Massachusetts.  Seven children.

Generation 3:  Peter Emerson, born 1673 in Mendon, Massachusetts, died 19 January 1751 in Reading; married on 11 November 1696 in Reading to Mary Brown, daughter of John Brown and Anna Fiske. Ten children.

Generation 4:  Deacon Brown Emerson, born 16 April 1704 in Reading, died 16 March 1774 in Reading; married on 17 June 1725 in Reading to Sarah Townsend, daughter of John Townsend and Sarah Boutwell.  She was born 25 March 1705 in Lynn, Massachusetts.  Ten children.

Generation 5: John Emerson, baptized 5 April 1739 in South Reading, died 14 November 1809 in Hancock, New Hampshire; married on 20 December 1764 in Reading to Katherine Eaton, daughter of Noah Eaton and Phebe Lilley.  She was born 19 December 1744 in Reading and died 21 January 1809 in Hancock.  Eleven children.

Generation 6: Romanus Emerson, born 1 September 1782 in Townsend, Massachusetts, died 10 October 1852 in South Boston, Massachusetts; married on 22 November 1819 in Boston to Jemima Burnham, daughter of Colonel Joshua Burnham and Jemima Wyman.

Generation 10: George Emerson, born 11 July 1817 in South Boston, died 11 January 1890 in Dorchester; married on 11 August 1845 in Boston to Mary Esther Younger, daughter of Levi Younger and Catherine Plummer Jones.  Eight children.

Generation 11: Mary Katharine Emerson, born 25 December 1847 in South Boston, died 23 April 1932 in Roxbury; married on 28 October 1869 in Chichester, New Hampshire to George E. Batchelder, son of George E. Batchelder and Abigail M. Locke.  Nine children.

Generation 12: Carrie Maude Batchelder, 22 September 1872 in Chichester, New Hampshire, died 21 January 1963 in Rowley, Massachusetts; married on 1 November 1892 in Essex, Massachusetts to Joseph Elmer Allen, son of Joseph Gilman Allen and Sarah Burnham Mears.

Generation 13: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents)

Lineage B:

Generation 2: Elizabeth Emerson, born about 1623 in Bishop’s Stortford, died 1700 in Massachusetts; married to John Fuller, son of Roger Fuller and Jane Gowan. He was born about 1620 in England and died 4 June 1666 in Ipswich.  Nine children.

Generation 3:  James Fuller m. Mary Rindge
Generation 4: Dorothy Fuller m. Josiah Stone
Generation 5: Josiah Stone m. Martha Ashby
Generation 6: Josiah Stone m. Susanna Hix
Generation 7: Eunice Stone m. Peter Hoogerzeil
Generation 8: Peter Hoogerzeil m. Mary Etta Healey
Generation 9: Florence Etta Hoogerzeil m. Arthur Treadwell Hitchings
Generation 10: Gertrude Matilda Hitchings m. Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

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To cite/link to this blog post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Surname Saturday ~ EMERSON of Ipswich, Massachusetts", Nutfield Genealogy, posted January 10, 2015, ( https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2015/01/surname-saturday-emerson-of-ipswich.html: accessed [access date]). 

Saturday, October 4, 2014

Surname Saturday ~ HITCHINGS of Lynn, Massachusetts

The Arthur Hitchings family, about 1905, Beverly, Massachusetts

HITCHINS/HITCHINGS/HITCHENS

Daniel Hitchings was born about 1632 according to a deposition he gave in 1722 when he swore his age was 90 years.  He lived to be almost 100 years old and died on 15 April 1731 in Lynn, Massachusetts.  Zaccheus Collins wrote about the death of Daniel Hitchings at nearly 100 years in his diary. 

Daniel came to the New World with his brother Joseph. You can find Joseph’s family listed in the Lynn vital records, too.  The fact that they were brothers was proven by the will of Samuel Hitchings of London, England in 1676 (see the highlighted portion).

SAMUEL HITCHINS, citizen and draper of London, 16th of March, 1676, with a codicil made July 27, 1679; proved December 3, 1679. To my dear and loving wife, SARAH, my two messuages, &c., in the parish of St. Lawrence, Old Jewry, London, which I hold by lease from the Co. of Clothworkers, and if she die before the expiration of the term, &c., then to my son, GILES HITCHINS, or to my grandson, ROBERT HITCHINS, which of them my said wife shall think fit to give or bequeath the same. To wife my freehold messuages in Robin Hood, Ct., St. Mary, Aldermary, London, and the rents, &c., for her life, and then to my grandson, ROBERT HITCHINS, remainder to son, GILES, and next to my two nephews, DANIEL and JOSEPH HITCHINS (sons of my brother, DANIEL HITCHINS), who are now living in New England, near Boston. To my loving brother DANIEL HITCHINS, one annuity of 10  [pounds] for life, payable quarterly. To my nephew, NATHANIEL HITCHINS, one shilling in full discharge for all claims, &c. To my son, GILES HITCHINS, my freehold messuages, &c., in All Hallows Barking--Reference to stock and credits abroad--The said messuages to be chargeable with the œ10 per annum given to my brother, DANIEL, and also with the payment of one and thirty pounds per annum unto my loving cousin, ROBERT HITCHINS, for and during the time of his natural life, according to certain writings between the said ROBERT and me. To my said brother, DANIEL, and my said cousin, ROBERT, to each of them four yards of black cloth to make them mourning. To my said cousin, ROBERT, and to my loving friends, Mr. Daniel Morse and Nicholas Morse, son of the said DANIEL, twenty shillings apiece to buy them rings. The residue to wife, SARAH, with five pounds to buy her mourning. My said cousin, ROBERT, and my friends, Daniel and Nicholas Morse, to be executors.”  [from Genealogical Gleanings in England, by Henry F. Waters, Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 1969, Volume 2, page 285]

The first record for Daniel Hitchings in Massachusetts is in a deed from 1660, in land that was Lynn but is now Wakefield, Massachusetts.  There are fourteen deeds in the Essex County records with land transactions naming Daniel Hitchings. He also held an Indian deed to land on the Saugus River by the Iron Work’s pond he bought from James Quonopihik and David Kunkshamooshaw, descendants of Nanpahemet [Essex Deeds 7:88]. 

Daniel also served in King Phillip’s War in 1675, and can also be found in Essex County records on juries, as a fence viewer, and on the committee “to prosecute any who breach preservation of wood timber in 1706.  In 1707 “the chimney of Daniel Huchins” was the boundary between Lynn and Boston. He died intestate, but his son, Daniel, Jr., settled his estate with this probate record:

Daniel Hitchings Sr. yeoman, in consideration that my sisters: viz Elizabeth Haven, widow and Mary Hitchings, singlewoman, both of Lynn, and my sister Hannah How, wife of John How of Hopkinstown in Middlesex County, and my sister Sarah Giddings, wife of William Giddings of Ipswich;  all of them have acquitted unto me all their rights and interest unto that...real estate...in Lynn which our father, Mr. Daniel Hitchings, Sr., late of Lynn, deceased, which had been settled on me by my father in his lifetime...consisting of a dwelling house, orchard, pasture, tillage, meadow, marsh and woodlands...that my father died seized of...such Real Estate as my father had settled on me in his life time.  I also discharge them of any debts my father may have had... and I hereby convey to my said sisters Elizabeth Haven, Mary Hitchings, Hannah How and William Giddings and Sarah his wife, my rights in aforementioned premises, except that before mentioned.  Signed by Daniel and Susannah Hitchings.  Witnesses, Thomas and Jonathan Hawkes.  Recorded 26 December 1732”  [Essex Deeds 58:236]

Two of my ancestors are named in this deed, Daniel junior and Sarah (Hitchings) Giddings.  I descend from both brother and sister (see below).  Daniel junior lived in the land in Lynn which is now Saugus.  He was a selectman and served on juries in the Lynn town records.  He left this will in 1735:

“The Last Will and Testament of Daniel Hitchens of Lynn... yeoman, being somewhat sick and infirm in Body but of sound mind and memory, in consideration of the uncertainty of life and the circumstance of my family and being desirous that peace and unity may be continued among them when it sall please God to remove me from hence have therefore thought it to make and publish this my last Will and Testament hereby revoking, making null and void any...other will...  In the first place I resign my immortal soul to God that gave it and my body to the Earth to be decently interred at the diescretion of my Executor hereafter named and for the temporaral estate wherewith God hath blessed me with I will and bestow the same as followeth:  I will that all my just debts and funeral expenses be paid and discharged by my Executor out of that part of my Estate which I shall bequeath unto my son Daniel Hichens...  I will and bequeath unto Susannah, my well beloved wife, in room of her Dower or thirds of my estate, she to have the improvement of my Westerly lower room and privilege in the Westerly chamber and the cellar, with six bushels of Indian corn, two bushels of ??, two bushels of malt, two barrels of cider, four cord of wood, one hundred weight of pork, one hundred weight of beef, one cow to be kept summer and winter, one quarter part of my indoor moveables and 40 shillings yearly; all the above mentioned articles to be brought to the house by my three sons... Daniel Hitchins on half of the above mentioned articles, Elkanah Hitchins, one quarter part... and Timothy Hitchens one quarter part...which my three sons are to pay unto her annually.

I give and bequeath unto my son Elkanah Hitchins, one half of a tract of land containing about sixty acres, bounded southerly upon the Town Road, westerly upon the land of Joseph Haven, northerly upon the land of Jacob Burrill, and two acres of salt marsh, which is one half of a lot of mine near Birch Island in Rumney marsh... and one feather bed and furniture.

I give... unto my son Timothy Hitchins, the other half of that tract of land containing about sixty acres, bounded southerly on the Town Road, westerly upon the land of Joseph Haven, northerly upon the Six Hundred acres so called, easterly upon the land of Jacob Burill; two acres of Salt Marsh, which is one half of a lot of mine near Birch island in Rumney marsh...one feather bed and furniture; one pair of steers, one iron crow.

I give... unto my daughter Susanna Hawkes, the wife of Moses Hawkes, one hundred pounds currant payable money of New England to be paid by my son Daniel Hitchins within five years after my decease with what I have already given her is her full part of my estate.

I give... to my son Daniel Hitchins, my eldest son all the remaining part of my estate, both real and personal, he paying all my funeral charges and just debts.

I do nominate and appoint my son Daniel Hitchins to be my Executor of this my Last Will and Testament.  Lastly, I revoke and make null and void any other will by me heretofore made.

In Witness and for confirmation that the foregoing will, consisting of two pages, is my last Will and Testament,  I the said Daniel Hitchins have hereunto set my hand and affixed my seal this first day of March 1734/5 in the eighth year of the reign of our sovereign Lord King George the second.  Signed, sealed, published and declared by the within daniel Hitchins to be his last Will and Testament in presence of us who subscribe as a witness in the said testators presence.  Signed Daniel Hitchins.  Witnesses: Joseph Haven, William Taylor, Thomas Hawkes.  Recorded: 7 April 1735”

My HITCHINGS genealogy:

Generation 1: Gyles Hitchings, born about 1562; married on 12 May 1592 in Cam, Gloucestershire, England to Alice Trotman.

Generation 2: Daniel Hitchins, born about 1597 in England.  Two children, the brothers Joseph and Daniel who came to the New World and settled in Lynn, Massachusetts.

Generation 3:  Daniel Hitchins, born about 1632 in England, died 15 April 1731 in Lynn; married about 1654 to Eleanor Unknown.  She died 10 September 1694 in Lynn. Five children and I descend from two of them. He married second to Sarah Cushman on 7 November 1695 in Lynn.  She was the daughter of Thomas Cushman and Mary Allerton (Mayflower Passenger).  I descend from Mary’s sister, Remember (Allerton) Maverick (abt 1614 – 1656), also a Mayflower Passenger).

Lineage A:

Generation 4: Daniel Hitchings, born about 1660 in Lynn and died 15 January 1735 in Lynn; married first on 16 February 1697 in Lynn to Sarah Boardman (no children); married second on 19 October 1708 in Lynn to Susannah Townsend, daughter of Thomas Townsend and Mary Davis.  She was born on 5 November 1672 in Boston and died 12 May 1737 in Lynn. Five children.

Generation 5: Daniel Hitchings, born 19 October 1709 in Lynn and died 25 April 1760 in Lynn; married in June 1735 in Lynn to Hannah Ingalls, daughter of Nathaniel Ingalls and Anne Collins. She was born about 1713 and died before 15 April 1798. Twelve children

Generation 6: Abijah Hitchings, born 18 January 1753 in Lynn, and died 27 March 1826 in Salem, Massachusetts; married first on 24 June 1775 in Lynn to Mary Gardner, daughter of Benjamin Gardner and Sarah Randall.  She was born in Boston and died before 1792 and had four children with Benjamin. He married second to Sarah Gardner (possibly the sister of Mary Gardner?) about 1792.  She died 23 May 1807 in Lynn. Two children.

Generation 7: Abijah Hitchings, son of Abijah Hitchings and Mary Gardner, born about 1775 in Lynn and died 26 July 1868 in Salem; married on 21 December 1795 in Salem to Mary Cloutman, daughter of Joseph Cloutman and Hannah Becket.  She was born about 1775 in Salem and died 28 November 1853 in Salem.  Eleven children.

Generation 8: Abijah Hitchings, born 8 January 1809 in Salem, died 18 January 1864 in Salem; married on 4 December 1836 in Salem to Eliza Ann Treadwell, daughter of Jabez Treadwell and Betsey Jillings Homan.  She was born 27 August 1812 in Salem and died 31 January 1896 in Salem.  Four children.

Generation 9: Abijah Franklin Hitchings, born 28 October 1841 in Salem, died 19 May 1910 in Salem; married on 22 September 1864 in Salem to Hannah Eliza Lewis, daughter of Thomas Russell Lewis and Hannah Phillips.  She was born about 1844 and died on 15 February 1921 in the Danvers State Hospital, Danvers, Massachusetts. Two children.

Generation 10: Arthur Treadwell Hitchings, born 10 May 1868 in Salem, died 7 March 1937 in Hamilton, Massachusetts; married on 25 December 1890 in Beverly, Massachusetts to Florence Etta Hoogerzeil, daughter of Peter Hoogerzeil and Mary Etta Healey.  She was born 20 August 1871 in Beverly, and died 10 February 1941 in Hamilton.  Eight children.

Generation 11: Gertrude Matilda Hitchings, born 1 August 1905 in Beverly, died 3 November 2001 in Peabody, Massachusetts; married on 14 February 1925 in Hamilton to Stanley Elmer Allen, son of Joseph Elmer Allen and Carrie Maude Batchelder.  He was born 14 January 1904 in Cambridge, Massachusetts and died 6 March 1982 in Beverly. Seven children.  (my maternal grandparents)

Lineage B:

Generation 4: Sarah Hitchings, born 11 July 1664 in Lynn, died 21 January 1766 in Ipswich; married on 19 September 1698 to William Giddings, son of Thomas Giddings and Mary Goodhue.  Three children.

Generation 5: Thomas Giddings m. Martha Smith
Generation 6: Sarah Giddings m. Amos Burnham
Generation 7: Judith Burnham m. Joseph Allen
Generation 8: Joseph Allen m. Orpha Andrews
Generation 9: Joseph Gilman Allen m. Sarah Burnham Mears
Generation 10:  Joseph Elmer Allen m. Carrie Maude Batchelder
Generation 11: Stanley Elmer Allen m. Gertrude Matilda Hitchings (my grandparents, see above)

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The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/10/surname-saturday-hitchings-of-lynn.html

Copyright © 2014, Heather Wilkinson Rojo


Wednesday, October 1, 2014

Weathervane Wednesday ~ Bats in the Belfry?

Every Wednesday for more than three years Vincent and I have been posting photographs of weather vanes located in or near the Nutfield area (the former name for the land where Londonderry, Derry and Windham, New Hampshire are now located). Most are historically interesting or just whimsical and fun weather vanes. If you know an interesting weather vane, please send me an email or leave a comment below.

Today's weather vane was found in a just across the border in Massachusetts.

Do you know the location of weather vane #176? Scroll down to see the answer....






Today's weather vane was photographed on Route 119 in Townsend, Massachusetts.  This is the Spaulding Memorial School.  I thought it was a bit odd to have a bat on a school, but I guess I'm not the only one.  I found the reference in a book about Townsend history-  page 69 from Townsend, by the Townsend Historical Society, published by Arcadia Publishing, 2006.  "This bat, which has graced the cupola of Spaulding Memorial School since June 29, 1932, has inspired a great deal of speculation.  The image of a bat for the weather vane seems like an odd choice; a wise, old owl is a more common choice.  One theory states that the Spaulding brothers originally wanted to build a school twice as large as the final building.  The townspeople refused, believing Townsend would never have enough school aged children to fill it.  The brothers acquiesced, but insisted that the bat be used as a weather vane to remind the townspeople that they had "bats in the belfry".  Another theory maintains that an owl was ordered for the weather vane but a bat was mistakenly sent instead.  It was installed temporarily, with the intent to return it.  Seventy-five years later, the bat still sits on top of the Spaulding Memorial School." 

The Spaulding Memorial School, Townsend, MA website: http://sms.nmrsd.org/history 


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

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The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/10/weathervane-wednesday-bats-in-belfry.html

Copyright 2014, Heather Wilkinson Rojo

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Weathervane Wednesday ~ A Wise Library Owl

Every Wednesday for more than two and a half years Vincent and I have been posting photographs of weather vanes located in or near the Nutfield area (the former name for the land where Londonderry, Derry and Windham, New Hampshire are now located). Most of them are historically interesting or just whimsical and fun weather vanes. If you know an interesting weather vane that could be photographed for this series, please send me an email or leave a comment below.

Today's weather vane was found somewhere in Massachusetts.

Do you know the location of weather vane #155? Scroll down to see the answer....




Today's weather vane is located on the cupola above the Hart Free Library building in Townsend, Massachusetts.  When the library closed in 2009 the people of Townsend formed a relay to transfer the library books to the new library building.  The same thing happened back in 1929 when the Hart Free library opened, and the books were moved by a "bucket brigade" of townspeople from the old town hall at Memorial Hall.   This building is now closed, and is located on Route 119, at 276 Main Street. 

According to the book Townsend, by The Townsend Historical Society, published by Acadia Publishing in 2006, page 64:  "In 1923, Charles Hart, a local philanthropist, left $35,000 for a library to be known as the Hart Free Library Building.  Amanda Dwight also left a bequest for the building of a library.  Her disgruntled heirs filed a lawsuit contesting the will, stalling the construction plans.  Ultimately the building would be named after Hart, and the main reading room after Dwight's father, Walter Fessenden."  

In 2007 the Sterilite Corporation gave the town of Townsend a generous gift of a new Highway Department facility, a Senior Center, a Community Meeting Room, and the new Collette Library.  The town was very fortunate to be blessed by so many donors who supported a free public library for Townsend.  The new Townsend Public Library was opened on 31 October 2009 and dedicated to longtime town volunteers Richard and Irene Collette. 

You can read about the Townsend Library Relocation Relay at this article by Nashoba Publishing

Townsend Public Library   http://www.townsendlibrary.org

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

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The URL for this post is
http://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2014/05/weathervane-wednesday-wise-library-owl.html

Copyright 2014, Heather Wilkinson Rojo