New England Online Newspapers Updated

New England States Online Historical Newspapers - 175 new and updated links have just been added to the New England States' free newspaper link lists (1,892 total titles).

Just click on your chosen state below and the links to newspaper titles from that state will appear.

• Connecticut Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Maine Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Massachusetts Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• New Hampshire Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Rhode Island Online Historical Newspapers Summary
• Vermont Online Historical Newspapers Summary

 

Ephemera Postcard to Leora Aultman

Annette P. has generously donated several ephemera items to Olive Tree Genealogy for publication. This postcard is to Mrs. Leora Aultman in Rhode Island. It is from Cape Cod Massachusetts

Hundreds of Irish Famine Graves Discovered in Massachusetts

A Rhode Island woman researching her husband's Irish ancestors found approximately 600-900 gravestones marking the second resting place of bodies previously disinterred from the Irish Catholic Cemetery in Waltham, Massachusetts.

Discovering that her husband's ancestor was no longer buried in the Catholic Cemetery but had been moved, along with hundreds of others, to a new location, she set out to pay a visit. To her surprise only 4 headstones were seen in that new location. She knew from her research that the stones had been laid flat on top of the coffins when the bodies were moved, so she began scraping away dirt and grass. And there she found the stones, hidden under dirt and grass since 1947.

Along with Archie Bennett, Waltham historic preservationist; Sheila Fitzpatrick of the Waltham Historical Society; and The Irish Ancestral Research Association, they decided to begin a restoration project to uncover all the stones.

Continue reading Irish Central's story Rhode Island woman's quest uncovers hundreds of Irish Famine graves

A Lost Village of Freed Slaves

In the late 1800s a small village of freed slaves began on the outskirts of Cambridge Massachusetts. Not much is known of this community which apparently was called Lewisville. The authors of a new book on the history and settlement of Cambridge discovered records of the village accidentally when studying an 1870 map.

Typical slave cabin

According to the authors, Lewisville was an "African-American settlement that dispersed before the Civil War, where many members went to Africa in the African immigration movement. But it really disappeared in the 1880s."

Read more at In tracing Cambridge history, researchers uncover lost village of freed slaves

Because I was curious about who had lived there, I searched the 1870 census and found 201 black individuals listed as living in Ward 2 of Cambridge. I cannot say with certainty that these were families in Lewisville but I plan on doing more research to see what I can find out.

The Summer 2013 Newsletter of the Cambridge Historical Society has this small excerpt which may provide some clues as to the origin of the community's name:

Just east of Observatory Hill was a free, self-sufficient African American community, known as Lewisville, from the beginning of the 19th century. This settlement was roughly between Concord Avenue, Garden Street, and Shepard Street. Some of the residents were the descendants of slaves of the Vassall family, and by the middle of the 19th century, some had become political. In the early 1850s, Adam Lewis joined the abolitionist colony at Dawn, Ontario, and in 1858 Enoch Lewis led a group of 23 members of the Cambridge Liberian Emigrant Association to settle in St. Paul’s River in Liberia.

In 1850 and 1855 he is found in Ward 1 with other black famiies.

The Dawn Settlement, founded in 1841, was a rural community where Blacks could pool their labour, resources and skills to help each other and incoming settlers. It contained farm land, a saw mill, gristmill, brick yard, rope manufactory and school.  Adam Lewis, age 31, is found in this settlement in the 1851 census of Upper Canada (present day Ontario) with his wife Mary and 6 year old daughter Frances.

 

Adam's death certificate of 1900 indicates his place of birth as Missouri and it is possible that more information could be found if anyone were interested.

The Sculptor Who Created Facial Masks for WW1 Disfigured Soldiers

Anna Coleman Ladd was a sculptor from Philadelphia, living in Manchester, Massachusetts who devoted herself to helping disfigured WW1 soldiers. Working from a cast of the individual's face, Anna created a lifelike mask which the solider could wear in public.

Reading about this made me think of Boardwalk Empire and Richard Harrow who wore a tin maks over half his face due to disfigurement during WW1. 

Read about this amazing woman and her work at Anna Coleman Ladd- American sculptor who devoted her time throughout WWI to soldiers, who were disfigured

You can also review her documents and papers at Anna Coleman Ladd papers, circa 1881-1950 

Image credit: American Red Cross Studio for Portrait-Masks File: Scrapbook 1914-1933. Box 2, Folder 70 on Archives of American Art

Mystery: War Of 1812 Veteran’s Gravestone Found In Bridgewater Basement

This is a fascinating story of a War Of 1812 Veteran’s Gravestone Found In Bridgewater Basement

The gravestone belonged to Jabez Harden, born 1796, died 1879, veteran of the War of 1812, but he is not buried there. His original grave is in Pratt Town Cemetery in Bridgewater. 

The mystery is how did Jabez's tombstone end up in a basement? 

Above you can view Jabez's widow's Pension application dated 1879.

A Kind World: A Story About One Man's Passion for Genealogy

"Joel Obermayer, of Arlington, has recently come to see his father in new light — and he learned that one of his father’s projects helped connect a web of people all over the world."  
[Source: Erika Lantz in a radio series called Kind World at WBUR (NPR in Boston)]

This story is about a man obsessed with genealogy named Arthur Obermayer. He created an award for German non-Jews who preserved Jewish history, which helped people from around the world learn about their ancestors and connect over a shared passion for genealogy and Jewish culture.

You can listen to it or read the transcript of the interview at Kind World #21: Not Just Some History

Arthur passed away on Sunday. He knew he didn’t have long to live when he interviewed for this story, making it all the more meaningful.

Hundreds of Irish Famine Graves Discovered in Massachusetts

"In an apparently empty field, covered by grass and just a few inches of soil that had accumulated over the years, lie approximately 600-900 gravestones marking the second resting place of bodies previously disinterred from the Irish Catholic Cemetery in Waltham, Massachusetts."

This is a very inspiring story from Irish Central: Rhode Island woman's quest uncovers hundreds of Irish Famine graves

I won't spoil the story by telling you what happened and how Annie McMullen made this amazing discovery. Please take a few minutes of your day to read what can be accomplished with dedication and perseverance. 

Paul Revere's 1795 Time Capsule Found

Workers investigating a water leak in the Massachusetts State House in Boston, were surprised to stumble on a time capsule buried in 1795 by Paul Revere and Samuel Adams.

Hatchford holds Time Capsule Box

Pamela Hatchfield, the head of object conservation at Boston's Museum of Fine Arts, was called in to carefully chip away the plaster around the small box so it could be removed.

Staff will be X-raying the box and studying it before deciding what the next step will be. They hope to open it safely and do whatever is necessary to preserve the contents. The contents are not known although there is some evidence indicating there might be coins, a plate and a plaque inside.

Historians know that the box was opened in 1855 and the contents treated with acid so there is concern that there could be deterioration. Once the contents are examined and treated, the decision will be made as to what the box's future will be.

Credit: Still shot from video online at http://www.cnn.com/2014/12/11/us/boston-time-capsule-paul-revere-sam-adams/index.html?c=us

52 Ancestors: My Cousin Caused the Death of my Daughter-in-law's 9th Great Grandmother

My cousin 10x removed was responsible for the death of my daughter-in-law''s 9th great grandmother. This is one of those strange-but-true stories that researchers sometimes encounter while researching family lines.

My Cousin Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville 1668-1722

My first cousin 10x removed, Jean-Baptiste Hertel de Rouville (1668-1722), was the soldier put in charge of the Deerfield Raid in March 1704. Approximately 300 French and Native allies raided the English settlement of Deerfield, Massachusetts. 112 Deerfield men, women, and children were captured and taken on a 300-mile forced march to Quebec. Some of the captives were later redeemed and returned to Deerfield, but one-third decided to remain among their French and Native captors.

Daughter-in-law's 9th Great Grandmother Mehitable Smead Nims

Two of those captured by the French and Indians at Deerfield were Josiah Rising and Abigail Nims. These two captives chose to remain with their captors when offered freedom, and later married. Josiah and Abigail are my daughter-in-law's 8th great-grandparents. Abigail's mother Mehitable Smead Nims (my daughter-in-law's 9th great grandmother) died on the march to Quebec. Since Jean-Baptiste Hertel was my cousin, he was indirectly responsible for the death of my daughter-in-law's 9th great-grandmother.

Abigail Nims aka Elisabeth Towatogowach/T'atog'ach

Abigail, the youngest daughter of Godfrey Nims and his second wife Mehitable Smead was 4 years old when she was captured. Her mother died on the trek to Canada. A native woman Ganastarsi took Abagail on her arrival at the fort Sault-au-Recollet, she was given the name Elisabeth Towatogowach or T'atog'ach which means 'She withdraws from the water'.

"On Jun 15, 1704, the rites of baptism have been administered by me, the undersigned priest, to a little English girl named in her country Abigail, and now Marie Elisabeth, born at Deerfield in New England the (31 May O.S.) 11 June 1700 of the marriage of Geoffroi Nimbs, shoemaker, and of Meetable Smeed also deceased. The child, taken at the said place 11th March last and living in the wigwam of a squaw of the Mountains, called Ganastasi. The godmother was Damoiselle Marie Elisabeth Lemoyne daughter of Messire Charles Le Moine, Ecuyer, Baron de Longueuil, Chevalier de l'Ordre de St Louis, and Captain of a company; with Francois Bounet who said he could not sign, inquiry having been made according to law.

Several years later Abigail's brother John arranged for her return to New England but she refused to leave the Indian village. Approximately thirteen years after her capture she married Josiah Rising, another captured child.

Josiah Rising aka Ignace Raizenne or Shonatakaki 

Josiah Rising aka Ignace Raizenne or Shonatakaki was 10 years old when he was taken by his captor, Macqua, and given the name Shoetakwanni, which means 'he was taken away from his village'.

On July 29, 1715  Ignace Raizenne (Josiah Rising)  21 years old, married Elisabeth (Abigail Nims) who was 15 years old. The marriage took place in Oka.

"July 29, 1715, I have married Ignace Shoentak'ani and Elisabeth T'atog'ach, both English, who wish [to] remain with the Christian Indians, not only renounce their nation but even wishing to live as Indians. In person [the presence] of Jean Baptiste Haronhiatek, Gabriel Tsirok'as, Pierre Asonthen, Alexis Tarhi. Ignace Shoentak'ani, about 23 or 24 years, and Elisabeth, about 15 years old. Both were taken at Dierfile [sic], about 13 years ago. Maurice Quere, priest"

Eight children were born to this couple. Marie Elisabeth Nims died and was buried at the mission cemetery on 3 Jan 1747. Ignace Raizenne died at age 77 in 1771 and was buried at Oka. 

Credit: Image from http://fineartamerica.com/

NARA Workshop in Waltham Massachusetts

The National Archives in Waltham Massachusetts is offering a free public workshop, "Census, Passenger Lists, & Naturalization Records" on Dec. 1 at 2:00 p.m. This workshop will teach researchers how to utilize the free public records at the site to research their family histories.

It is geared to both novice and experienced family historians.

The National Archives in Waltham is one of 14 regional facilities where the public has access to Federal archival records.

To register for the workshop, send an email to waltham.archives@nara.gov

Genealogies of the victims of the 1692 Salem Massachusetts witch hunt

Genealogies of the victims of the 1692 Salem Massachusetts witch hunt have been published online by the Boston Genealogy Examiner

These brief bios may help someone who is looking for an ancestor who lived in Salem during that time period.

Missing Friends from Boston Pilot 1830-1840

The Missing Friends Project has added another set of extracts from Newspapers.

The recent set is from the Boston Pilot, published in Boston Massachusetts. From October 1831 to October 1921, the Boston Pilot newspaper printed a Missing Friends (Information Wanted) column with advertisements from people looking for lost friends and relatives who had emigrated from Ireland to the United States & Canada. Many travelling to Canadian ports went on to USA, but others remained in Canada. This project is extracting the names and other details of those who sailed into Quebec and other Canadian Ports of Arrival.

This dataset of Missing Friends from the Boston Pilot is for those who were known to have arrived or settled in Quebec. Since ships passenger lists to Canada did not have to be archvived before 1865, these extractions will form an important piece in the gap in surviving ships passenger lists.

Challenges in Searching Boston Ship Passenger Lists

The problem with the Boston arrivals is there is an 8 1/2 year gap on M277 (which is titled Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at Boston MA 1820-1891) The gap is from a April 1874 to 31 Dec 1882.

That is because there are no Federal records of any kind prior to 1883 (due to fire) and State Department copies were used in their place. BUT State Departments copies and abstracts only covered up to end of March 1874.

However the good news is that there ARE records for the missing years. They are not available at NARA, only at the Massachusetts State Archives

There is an index on M625 which *does* cover those "missing" years. Finding an ancestor on that index in those missing years means you have to then write to the Mass. State Archives for a copy of the passenger list page with your ancestor on it.

Search for ancestors on Ships Passenger Lists to USA

Finding Ancestors Immigration in Almshouse Records

In the early 1800's port cities in the USA bore the burden of immigration. By the time they arrived, so many immigrants were tired, hungry and poor they ended up in the City Almshouse. This meant the citizens had to take care of them. At first the citizens of the city asked the Mayors for funds to support the poor. Eventually they asked the states, and by mid-century some states (Pennsylvania, New York, Massachusetts) set up State agencies to deal with the issue. Eventually, beginning in the 1880's, the Federal Government nationalized the programs.

Dating back to the colonial era, New York City assumed responsibility for its citizens who were destitute, sick, homeless, or otherwise unable to care for themselves. The city maintained an almshouse, various hospitals, and a workhouse on Blackwell's Island (now called Roosevelt Island) for the poor.

These Almshouse records often contain immigration details, such as name of ship, date of arrival in USA and port of arrival.

Olive Tree Genealogy has an ongoing project to transcribed and publish New York Almshouse Records. The first set is for the years 1819-1840 and includes Ship Captain's Name, Date of Bond, Sureties, Date Discharged, Death Date, Remarks, etc.

For example, under date 1820 March 11 Elizabeth Kennedy age 34 is listed as having died June 14, 1820; her daughter Mary Ann died Nov. 5, 1820

Researchers can use the clues in the Almshouse records (admission date, ship captain's name, owner's name, etc) as well as census records, to narrow the time frame of arrival. Families with children born in one country, such as England, and then in New York will find it much easier to narrow the time frame of immigration.

For individuals recorded in 1855-1858 Almshouse Records for New York City the information includes ship name, date of sailing, ports of departure and arrival

NEW! Naturalization Certificates & Alien Registrations online

Naturalization Records today added Naturalization Certificates and Alien Registration Cards for several individuals in Pennsylvania, New York, Michigan, Massachusetts and Colorado. Is one your ancestor?

*Added Certificate of Naturalization Elizabeth Koval, from Czechoslovakia, in Pennsylvania 1945

*Added McKeesport, Alleghany County, Pennsylvania Alien Identification Card for Elizabeth Koval 1940

*Added Certificate of Naturalization Alexander Johnson Duncanson from Canada or United Kingdom, of East Jordan, Michigan 1925 + wife & children

*Added Certificate of Naturalization Michael Chekorin from Russia, New York City 1940

*Added Naturalization Certificate William Parker Deerfield, Franklin County Massachusetts 1859

*Added Certificate of Citizenship Henry A. Foye from Ireland Arapahoe County Colorado 1894

Fiske Family Civil War era Photo Album

One of my hobbies is buying old (Civil War era) Photo Albums and photos. I like to figure out who the family members are, do some genealogy research on them and then put the albums online. It's an expensive hobby but I love it.

A few days ago I had a nice surprise. A gentleman from New Hampshire (unknown to me) sent me a gift of an old Civl War album of the Fiske family in New England. There were only 13 pictures and the photo pages were torn but the photos themselves were in good condition and labelled with names.

I spent a few hours doing some research and discovered that the photos all have some relationship to the children of David Fiske and Laura Severington. My research and the photos (not thumbnails, the full size photos) are all online now for descendants to enjoy.

See Fiske Family Photo Album

Surnames: Fiske, Andrews, Clark, Seymour, Foster, Hart, Smead

Locations: Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, New York, Italy

Massachusetts Miscellaneous Data Online

Well, here's my list of Miscellaneous Massachusetts Documents and Data online on various blogs. Just go to the blog of interest, use the Blogger Search Engine (top left) and type in a keyword to find the document you want. OR .... go to the Archives for the date showing at the end of the title.

More locations to come as I organize them!

http://familybibles.blogspot.com/

Family Bible: Andrews Canada, Massachusetts, Ontario 9/12/05
Family Bible POWELL, ALDRICH Massachusetts 9/1/05
Bible: John COBB, Massachusetts 8/1/05
Family Bible: Robert & Lydia Gray 1700s Massachusetts, New Hampshire 7/30/05
Carr Carlton Family Bible 1870 Massachusetts 7/28/05
PUTNEY-WAITE Family Bible (PUTNEY, WAITE, KALLERMA... Massachusetts 5/28/05
WAITE-PERRY Family Bible (PERRY, WAITE, WHITCOMB) Massachusetts 5/27/05
CHAPIN SCOTT Bible 1825 Massachusetts 12/29/04
FAMILY BIBLE: Brooks - Gray, New York & Massachusetts, 11/30/04
BIBLE: Thompson & Brown 1826 Maine, Massachusetts 11/26/04
1818 Family Bible Ephraim Billings of New Bedford Massachusetts 11/24/04
1797 Family Bible Daniel Whitcombe & Billings Fami... Massachusetts 11/24/04
BAKER Family Bible, Massachusetts 11/19/04
BAKER-NEWMAN Family Bible Maine, Massachusetts 10/19/04
MORSE Family Bible, Massachusetts 8/19/04
KIMBALL & HAZEN Family Bible Maine, Massachusetts

http://paper-trail.blogspot.com/
Marriage Certificate Massachusetts DAMON - LYNCH 1... Marriage Certificate 2/6/07
War of 1812 Scarborough Massachusetts - Ezra Carte... 12/6/05
Documents Overseers of the Poor in Massachusetts 11/9/05
1828 sale of shares in Sutton Bank Massachussets 7/12/05
Kingston, Massachusetts, 1802 Document

http://ancestorsatrest.blogspot.com/
1887 Funeral Card FLORA GRANT Massachusetts

http://pastvoices.blogspot.com/
Civil War Memoir: Christian Rheinlander, 18th Mass... Massachusetts 11/9/05
Civil War 9 Letters: ARTHUR B. WYMAN COMPANY "K", ... Massachusetts 9/18/04
Mary Kempson to Mrs. Seth Alden, Massachusetts, 18... 9/5/04
Diary of Tully Crosby Brewster on board Ship Charl... California, Massachusetts 8/27/04
T R Harrison & Frances Darling to Capt. Ed Richmon... Massachusetts 6/27/04
S. Brooks to Thomas Brooks, Massachusetts, 1812 s 5/27/04
CHARLES R. COLLINS~27TH MASSACHUSETTS INFANTRY, 18... 5/5/04
Civil War: CHARLES R. COLLINS 27TH MASSACHUSETTS I... 3/27/04
Columbus Warren, Maine to Sophia Clark, Massachuse... Massachusetts


http://www.rootsweb.com/~ote/faces/families.htm Lost Faces Photo Albums with a Massachusetts connection

Civil War Era Fobes Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites), circa 1860s. Includes 2 photos of Civil War Soldiers

Civil War Era Photo Album Haskell & Carpenter Families of New England CDVs & tintypes

Hele & Kingsford Family Devon England to Oxford Co. Ontario [117 photos]

Pennington Family Photo Album with cabinet cards, post 1870

Civil War Era Bliss Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites) circa 1860 & 1870s.

Civil War Era Burtch Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites) & tintypes, circa 1860 & 1870s.

Civil War Era Chase Batchellor Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites) & tintypes, circa 1860 & 1870s.

Civil War Era Webster Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites) , circa 1860 & 1870s.

Civil War Era CLARK NOURSE Family Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites), circa 1860s.

Civil War Era COLE - CHANDLER in Massachusetts Family Photo Album with CDVs (Cartes de Visites), circa 1860s.