A Traitor in my Family Tree?

Boston Massacre

On this date, 22 February, in 1770 a mob had gathered outside of Theophilus Lillie’s shop in Boston to protest his importation of British goods. This was during the “Intolerable Acts” when the folks in Boston decided to stop drinking tea and buying British goods, rather than pay the intolerable taxes on imported goods.  While reading about this incident in history, I was struck by the name of the shopkeeper and (thank you internet!)  I was researching his genealogy to find a link to my LILLIE ancestors of Reading, Massachusetts.  I wasn’t finding any links.

As I read further, I learned that the man who lived next door to the shop in the story was named Ebenezer Richardson.  He tried to disperse the crowd by firing bird shot into the crowd, which was mostly young boys and teenagers.  One teen was injured, and a 10 year old German boy named Christopher Sneider was killed.  Again, being a genealogist, I stopped at the name of Ebenezer Richardson.  I had a long line of Ebenezer Richardsons in my family tree, from the town of Woburn outside of Boston. It only took me a minute to confirm that one of these cousins in my tree was the same Ebenezer Richardson whose shot out his bedroom window foreshadowed the Boston Massacre, which took place soon after on 5 March 1770. 

Who was Ebenezer Richardson?  Well, it turns out that his hot temper which led to this incident was not the first time he had displayed tawdry behavior.   In 1752 his wife’s sister gave birth to his child.  He married his own sister-in-law in Boston in January 1754 (his wife didn’t die until 1782).   

Ebenezer Richardson, upon fleeing Woburn, went to work for the British as an informer in Boston.  When he was found out, the British made him a Boston customs officer. His job was to collect the new  taxes from the hated Stamp Act and Townshend Acts. 

After the little Sneider boy died,  two thousand people attended his funeral.  On 20 April 1770 Richardson was found guilty of murder by a Boston jury. I’m not surprised- he was a very unpopular figure in Boston and rumored to be tarred and feathered.  The British judges thought the sentence unfair and didn’t sentence him to hang, and London sent a pardon.  The British also found him a new job in 1773 in Philadelphia.  But the good folks of Boston “informed” on Richardson and told the people of Philadelphia his story, including the scandal with his second wife.  He fled to London.

No more is known of Ebenezer Richardson.  Did he die in London?  Change his name?

Ebenezer Richardson, son of Timothy Richardson and Abigail Johnson, was born on 31 March 1718 in Woburn, Massachusetts.  He married first to Rebecca Fowle about 1740.  She was the widow of Phineas Richardson (she was the second cousin once removed of Phineas, and the second cousin twice removed of Ebenezer).   He married second to Kezia Fowle, sister to Rebecca and widow of Thomas Henshaw.   I have no further information on Kezia, and Rebecca died on 6 November 1782 in Woburn, long after the scandal.

The two Fowle sisters, Rebecca and Kezia, are my 1^st cousins 8 generations removed.  Their parents, John Fowle and Elizabeth Prescott are my 8^th great uncle and aunt.  John’s parents, James Fowle (1643 – 1690) and Abigail Carter (1648 – 1718) are my 8^th great grandparents.

Ebenezer Richardson is further removed from me.  He is my 3^rd cousin, 8 generations removed.  His great grandparents, John Richardson and Elizabeth Bacon, are my 9^th great uncle and aunt. His 2x great grandparents, Samuel Richardson (1602 – 1658) and Joanna Thake (1606 – 1666), are my 9^th great grandparents.  Interestingly, Elizabeth (Bacon) Richardson’s grandparents, Michael Bacon (1579 – 1648) and Alice Blower (1681 – 1648), are my 11^th great grandparents.

For more about this story:

Don't miss Part Two of this blog post:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-traitor-in-my-family-tree-yes-part-two.html

The Richardson Memorial: Comprising a Full History and Genealogy of the Posterity of these Three Brothers, Ezekiel, Samuel and Thomas Richardson, by John Adams Vinton, 1876, pages 242-244, page 265.

J.L. Bell, “Ebenezer Richardson Custom’s Informer”, Boston 1775, posted May 22, 2006, (http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2006/05/ebenezer-richardson-customs-informer.html: accessed 22 February 2018).

J. L. Bell, “Ebenezer Richardson as Cause of the American Revolution”, Boston 1775, posted April 9, 2015, (http://boston1775.blogspot.com/2015/04/ebenezer-richardson-as-cause-of.html: accessed 22 February 2018).

My RICHARDSON "Surname Saturday" post:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2013/01/surname-saturday-richardson-of-woburn.html

My FOWLE "Surname Saturday" post:
https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2012/12/surname-saturday-fowle-of-charlestown.html


The image above is from Paul Revere of Boston. The print was copied by Revere from a design by Henry Pelham for an engraving eventually published under the title "The Fruits of Arbitrary Power, or the Bloody Massacre," of which only two impressions could be located by Brigham. Revere's print appeared on or about March 28, 1770. - http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/ppmsc.00174, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=4415919

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

To Cite/Link to this post:  Heather Wilkinson Rojo, “A Traitor in my Family Tree?”, Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 22, 2018, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-traitor-in-my-family-tree.html: accessed [access date]). 

Weathervane Wednesday ~ Above a Congregational Church

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 vane was photographed in Vermont.

Do you know the location of weathervane post #351?  Scroll down to find the answer.

This arrow weathervane can be seen atop the steeple of the Congregational Church on the village green in Norwich, Vermont.  This congregation was first gathered in 1770.  A building was built in this location in 1852.  The bell in the steeple is an original Paul Revere bell, purchased in 1817. Last year, 2017, marked the 200th anniversary of this historic bell.

This quintessential New England church in Norwich
was immortalized by painter Maxfield Parrish
"Peaceful Night, Church at Norwich Vermont"
1950

The Norwich Congregational Church website:  http://www.norwichcongregational.org/

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

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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Weathervane Wednesday ~ Above a Congregational Church", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 21, 2018, (https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/201/21/weathervane-wednesday-above.html: accessed [access date]). 

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Charles Eugene Almy, 1830 one month old

This tombstone was photographed at the Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry, New Hampshire.

CHARLES EUGENE

Son of

Capt. John C. &

Mrs. Ruth Almy

died March 9, 1830

AEt. 1 month

On earth thou wert all but divine

As thy soul shall immortally be

and our sorrow may cease to repine,

For we know that thy God is with thee.

Little baby Charles Eugene, born 15 November 1830 in Exeter, New Hampshire, was the son of John Coggeshall Almy and Ruth Bailey, who were married on 30 September 1822 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts.  The Almys had nine children: Mariana born 1 December 1823 in New Bedford, Massachusetts; John Coggeshall, Jr., born 8 December 1825 in Exeter, New Hampshire; George B. born about 27 March 1827 in Exeter;  Charles Eugene (above); Charles Eugene b. 15 November 1830 in Exeter and died 1864;  Jane K. born about 1833 in Exeter, Sarah Catherine born 8 May 1838 in Dartmouth, Massachusetts; Ellen Emma born 29 April 1844 in Dartmouth; and Ellen Coggeshall born 9 June 1847 1847 in Dartmouth. 

Capt. John Coggeshall Almy's death record in Dartmouth, Massachusetts on 2 February 1872 lists him as a master mariner, the son of John Almy and Sarah Dunham of Newport, Rhode Island.  His wife Ruth Baily was the daughter of Joseph A. and Ruth Bailey.

Why was the baby, the son of a sea captain, buried in landlocked Derry, New Hampshire?  At the time, Exeter had access to the sea, and Dartmouth, Massachusetts was a busy seaport.  This is a very impressive tombstone for an infant.  The fan designs in the corners remind me of seashells.

The baby's epitaph comes from a poem by Lord Byron:

BRIGHT BE THE PLACE OF THY SOUL

Bright be the place of thy soul!

No lovelier spirit than thine

E'er burst from its mortal control

In the orbs of the blessed to shine.

On earth thou wert all but divine,

As thy sould shall immortally be;

And our sorrow may cease to repine,

When we know that thy God is with thee.

Light be the turf of thy tomb!

May its verdure like emeralds be;

There should not be the shadow of gloom

In aught that reminds us of thee.

Young flowers and an evergreen tree

May spring from the spot of thy rest;

But nor cypress nor yew let us see;

For why should we mourn for the blest?

1808  George Gordon Byron, Lord Byron

See this book William Almy and his Descendants in America, by Merwin F. Almy and Thomas A. Almy, 2001 online at this link: 
https://pdfsecret.com/download/wiliam-almy-and-his-descendants-in-america_59f72677d64ab20a751563f9_pdf 


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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ Charles Eugene Almy, 1830 one month old", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 20, 2018, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/tombstone-tuesday-charles-eugene-almy.html: accessed [access date]).

The 300th Anniversary of the Scots Irish Diaspora

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

For more information:

Maine Ulster Scots Project:    www.MaineUlsterScots.com

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

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

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

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

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

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

The following links will be updated soon:

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

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

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

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

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

Surname Saturday ~ JOHNSON of Topsfield, Massachusetts

Help me smash this brick wall!

Stephen Johnson, my 7^th great grandfather, is another brick wall ancestor.  I don’t know his birthdate, birth place or parents.  On 29 August 1734 he married Rebecca Towne, the niece one generation removed from three Towne sisters who were accused of witchcraft in 1692.  Two of those sisters were hanged: Rebecca (Towne) Nurse and Mary (Towne) Eastey.  Rebecca Towne (b. 1699/1700 in Topsfield) is the granddaughter of their brother, Edmund Towne (1628 – 1675).

This tie to the witch trials of 1692 might be a big clue.  The children and grandchildren of the witch trial victims tended to marry descendants of other victims. I have many examples of this in my family tree, which is why I am descended from so many of those families.  Why did they marry each other?  Were they ostracized from marrying other potential spouses?  Did they find common ground? I have no idea why this happened.

During the 1692 hysteria, there was a young boy, only 14 years old, who was also named Stephen Johnson. He was accused of being a witch, and arrested, along with many members of his extended family.  He was a nephew of Abigail (Dane) Faulkner (1652 – 1730), my 9^th great aunt.  Because I had the Dane and Faulkner families in my family tree, I found Abigail’s sister had married a man named Stephen Johnson (father of the accused 14-year-old Stephen Johnson).  There were many Stephens in this Johnson family that lived in Andover, Massachusetts (one town away from Topsfield).  I have traced out most of them.  Did I miss a connection to the husband of Rebecca Towne?  

Their daughter, Ruth Johnson (1731 – 1800) married Richard Cree in 1756 in Topsfield.  They had a son named Stephen Cree (another STEPHEN!) who is my 5^th great grandfather.  The name Johnson daughters out here. 

Is there a JOHNSON family researcher out there who knows the answer to this mystery?  Am I chasing a red herring trying to tie the two Johnson families together?

My JOHNSON genealogy:

Generation 1:  Stephen Johnson, born about 1700, died 29 August 1734 in Topsfield; married on 2 December 1730 in Topsfield to Rebecca Towne, daughter of Samuel Towne and Elizabeth Knight.  She was born 8 February 1699/1700 in Topsfield.  Two children born in Topsfield.  Rebecca remarried to her second cousin, Joshua Towne, son of Jacob Towne and Phebe Smith. 

Generation 2:  Ruth Johnson, born 30 August 1731 in Topsfield, died 29 June 1800 in Topsfield; married on 5 February 1756 in Topsfield to Richard Cree, son of Nicholas Cree and Keziah Dwinnell.  He was born 13 August 1727 in Topsfield, and died 15 April 1769 in Topsfield.  Five children born in Topsfield.

Generation 3: Stephen Cree m. Hannah Smith

Generation 4: Sarah Cree m. James Phillips

Generation 5: Hannah Phillips m. Capt. Thomas Russell Lewis

Generation 6:  Hannah Eliza Lewis m. Abijah Franklin Hitchings

Generation 7:  Arthur Treadwell Hitchings m. Florence Etta Hoogerzeil

Generation 8:  Gertrude Matilda Hitchings m. Stanley Elmer Allen (my grandparents)

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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, “Surname Saturday ~ JOHNSON of Topsfield, Massachusetts”, Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 17, 2018, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/surname-saturday-johnson-of-topsfield.html: accessed [access date]). 

A Valentine from my Dad, through my Mom

Although my Dad passed away in 2002, a few years ago my mother gave my sister and I a lovely gift that used to belong to him.

My Dad's wedding ring was very wide, with unusual carved edges. My mother had a jeweler take my Dad's wedding ring and cut it in half lengthwise, and he shaped it into two hearts for her daughters to wear on chains.  It was a very precious gift from my Mom, and from my Dad.  I recognized it as being from Dad's ring as soon as I saw it.

I wear this around my neck often, and especially for every Valentine's Day, and it always makes me think of my Dad.

Do you have any vintage jewelry from family or ancestors that you have "re-purposed" or "updated" for modern wear?  Leave a comment below!

My parents wedding in 1958.  Can you see the ring?

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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "A Valentine from my Dad, through my Mom", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 14, 2018, (   https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/a-valentine-from-my-dad-through-my-mom.html: accessed [access date]).

Weathervane Wednesday ~ A very short term weathervane

This week's weathervane is one that only appears for a few monthss in the winter in New Hampshire.  No, it's not a haunted house, nor is it an apparition from Brigadoon.  You can visit this weathervane, but do it soon before it disappears until next winter!  The photos this week were taken by a fellow New Hampshire blogger who lives nearby this mysterious weathervane.

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 vane was photographed somewhere in New Hampshire.

Do you know the location of weathervane post #350?  Scroll down to find the answer.

photo by Scott Powell

photo by Scott Powell

Although this is a simple gilded, arrow weathervane, it is it's location that makes this a fun find.  Scott Powell, a blogger and former Londonderry resident, but now living near Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee, took this photo during the annual ice fishing derby last week.  I recognize this ice shack, "The Lodge", from previous years, when it didn't have a weathervane.  Some of these shacks have been around for a long, long time.

Here are some photos from a previous year's ice fishing derby in Meredith Bay.  You can see that this particular ice shack is known as "The Lodge" and it didn't have a weathervane the last time we were up there for the fishing derby.  That's probably why it looks so shiny!  You have until April 1st to go up to the lake to see this weathervane, that is the date all bob houses must be removed, or before the lake thaws. 

"The Lodge" in 2010

In the photo below, the weathervane is just out of camera range.
This photo was posted online February 7, 2018 at www.newhampshire.com 

Image from Bea Lewis "Thousands angling for good catches - and prizes
in Lakes Region fishing derby" NewHampshire.com , February 7, 2018
http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20180208/NEWHAMPSHIRE0311/180209395/-1/newhampshire

Scott Powell's blog is called the "Lake Wicwas Nature Journal".  He recently posted two stories about activities on the ice of Meredith Bay on Lake Winnipesaukee.  Scott has a lot of great photos on these blog posts. Please check it out!

"February 11, 2018 - Fishing Derby"
http://wicwaslake.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-11-2018-fishing-derby.html

"February 4, 2018 - Pond Hockey"
http://wicwaslake.blogspot.com/2018/02/february-3-2018-pond-hockey.html 


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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo and Scott Powell, "Weathervane Wednesday ~ A very short term weathervane",  Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 14, 2018,  (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/weathervane-wednesday-very-short-term.html: accessed [access date]).

Tombstone Tuesday ~ Capt. Samuel and Mary Patten, Derry, New Hampshire

This tombstone was photographed at the Forest Hill Cemetery in East Derry, New Hampshire.

SACRED

TO THE MEMORY OF

CAPT. SAMUEL PATTEN

Who died

May 17, 1843

AGED 76

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

ALSO

MARY

HIS WIFE

Who died

May 19, 1852

AEt 79

Brown and Eastman

Captain Samuel Patten, son of John Patten, the immigrant, and Jane Cochran, was born in Londonderry, New Hampshire in 1767 and died 17 May 1843 in Derry (formerly Londonderry), New Hampshire. (The father, John Patten, came from Northern Ireland around 1749/50)  Samuel Patten probably never moved his residence, the town of Londonderry split into two towns (Londonderry to the west, Derry to the east) during his lifetime.  He married Mary Bell and had six children.  Samuel and Mary’s gravestone was carved by Brown and Eastman, local stone carvers.

Children:

1. Moses, born 1796, married Emma Colvard

2. James, born 1797, married Mary Letitia Cochran

3. John, born 1798, married Lucy Nesmith

4. Eliza, born 1802, married John Crombie

5. Rebecca, born 1801, married Ninian Clark Crombie

6. Samuel, born 1809, married Julia A. Newton

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

Heather Wilkinson Rojo, "Tombstone Tuesday ~ Capt. Samuel and Mary Patten, Derry, New Hampshire", Nutfield Genealogy, posted February 13, 2018, (  https://nutfieldgenealogy.blogspot.com/2018/02/tombstone-tuesday-capt-samuel-and-mary.html: accessed [access date]).