Monday, October 8, 2018

Jedediah French Wells 1752-1827 and Hannah Odell 1754-1838

Jedediah served in American
Revolution

Jedediah French Wells
Parents Jedediah Wells and Lucy French
Birth 20 October 1752 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Marriage about 1772 Connecticut
Death 9 March 1827 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Burial March 1827 Old Stratfield Cemetery, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut

Jedediah's headstone

Sources
Connecticut Church Abstracts

1790 US Census

Abstract of Graves of Revolutionary Patriots

Connecticut Revolutionary War Military Lists

Connecticut Deaths and Burials

Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934

North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000

U.S., Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files, 1800-1900

Family Search
ancestry.com

Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13951095/jedediah-wells
Hannah Odell
Parents Samuel Odell (widower of Judith Wheeler) and Sarah Osborn (widow of Thomas Banks)
Birth about 1754 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Death 5 June 1838 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Burial Old Stratfield Cemetery, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Sources

Family Search
ancestry.com

Memorial: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13964276/hannah-wells

CHILDREN

Jedediah Wells

Birth about 1773 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut

Note: THIS MAY NOT BE ONE OF THEIRS.

There was a Jedediah listed among the children on ancestry.com, but at 1784 and his sister, Ellen, was born that year. I suppose it is possible, but when I found the death date for a Jedediah and in Connecticut, I decided that since there is no source for the parents' marriage, this is possible and doesn't conflict with the other kids. So, he may or may not be a child. The name is unusual enough that it caught my attention. So, if you know for sure, please share with us.
Married?

Children?

Death 23 Oct 1827 Chatham, Middlesex, Connecticut
Burial
Sources

Family Search
ancestry.com

Lucy's headstone

Lucy Wells

Birth 1776 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Married Abraham Parrot about 1797

Children: Bryant, Mary, Henry, Frederick

Death

8 September 1856

Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, United States

Burial Old Stratfield Cemetery, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Sources

North America, Family Histories, 1500-2000

1850 US Census Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut

Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934

Connecticut Church Abstracts

Connecticut Deaths and Burials

Family Search
ancestry.com

Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13951079/lucy-parrott

Charity's headstone

Charity Wells

Birth About 1780 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut
Never Married

No known Children

Death 2 October 1841 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Burial Old Stratfield Cemetery, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Sources

Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934

Connecticut Church Abstracts

Connecticut Deaths and Burials

U.S., Newspaper Extractions from the Northeast, 1704-1930

Family Search
ancestry.com

Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13951099/charity-wells

Frederick Wells

Birth 1782 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut

Note: I never found this person other than listed on ancestry - no death or birth notices so far
Death
Burial
Sources

Family Search
ancestry.com

Ellen Wells Manning headstone - what's left of it

Ellen Wells

Birth 20 March 1784 • Stratford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA
Married Henry Manning

Children

Death 20 September 1867 Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA

Buried: Old Stratfield Cemetery, Bridgeport, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA

Sources

Connecticut Deaths and Burials

Connecticut, Hale Collection of Cemetery Inscriptions and Newspaper Notices, 1629-1934

Family Search

ancestry.com

headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13951105/ellen-manning

Saturday, September 29, 2018

Samuel Brown 1807 and Alice Taylor 1806-1874

Samuel Brown
Parents
Born 1807 Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
Married Alice Taylor 17 Sep 1827 Lullington, Derbyshire, England
Died
Buried
Sources
1841 UK Census Lullington, Derby, England (age 30)
1851 UK Census Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
1861 UK Census Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
1871 UK Census Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
Family Search
ancestry.com

Samuel Brown and Alice Taylor marriage record

Alice Taylor
Parents Thomas Taylor and Alice Shelton
Born 1806 Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
Christening: 4 May 1806 Lullington, Derbyshire, England
Died 1874 Burton on Trent, Staffordshire, England
Buried
Sources
1841 UK Census Lullington, Derby, England (age 30)
1851 UK Census Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
1861 UK Census Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
1871 UK Census Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
Family Search
ancestry.com

CHILDREN

William Brown
Born 1828 Coton in the Elms, Derbyshire, England
Christening 1 Feb 1828 Lullington, Derbyshire, England
Married Sarah Ordish 20 Sep 1852 Seal , Leicestershire, England
Children: Samuel, Emma, Thomas, John, George
Died
Buried
Sources
1851 UK Census Donisthorpe, Derbyshire, England
1861 UK Census Seal, Leicestershire, England
Family Search
ancestry.com
Mary Brown
Born 1830 Lullington, Derby, England
Christening: 20 June 1830 Lullington, Derby, England
Married
Children
Died
Buried
Sources
Family Search
ancestry.com
John Brown
Born 1832 Lullington, Derby, England
Christened 22 July 1832 Lullington, Derby, England
Married Martha Hassall 17 May 1859 • Birmingham, St Martin, Warwickshire, England
Children: Agnes, Margaret, Anne, John, William
Died
Buried
Sources
1841 UK Census Lullington, Derby, England (age 9)
Family Search
ancestry.com
Thomas Brown
Born About 1834 Lullington, Derby, England
Christened 1 Feb 1834 Lullington, Derby, England
Married Elizabeth
Children: Alice, Ann, John
Died
Buried
Sources
1841 UK Census Lullington, Derby, England (age 7)
Family Search
ancestry.com
Martha Brown
Born 1837 Lullington, Derby, England
Christened 2 July 1837 Lullington, Derby, England
Married
Died
Buried
Sources
1841 UK Census Lullington, Derby, England (age 4)
Family Search
ancestry.com
Hannah (Ann) Brown
Born 1838 Lullington, Derby, England
Christened ?
Married
Died
Buried
Sources
1841 UK Census Lullington, Derby, England (age 2)
Family Search
ancestry.com

Catherine Ann Brown Doman's headstone

Catherine Ann Brown
Born 25 May 1839 Lullington, Derby, England
Immigration: 14 July 1868 from Liverpool England
Married Samuel Edward Doman 22 February 1866 England
Children: William, Mary Ann, Sarah, Alice, Samuel, Joseph, Rosanna, Charles
Died 5 August 1909 Layton, Davis, Utah
Buried 8 August 1909 Kaysville City Cemetery, Kaysville, Davis, Utah
Note: Plot 11-14-C-8
Sources
1900 US Census Kaysville, Davis, Utah
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/123366/catherine-ann-doman
Utah Death Certificate
Family Search
ancestry.com

Tuesday, February 27, 2018

Matthias Weeks and Sarah Ford Sanborn

Matthias Weeks
Parents Captain Samuel Weeks and Eleanor Haines
Born about 1707 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Married Sarah Ford Sanborn 17 Dec 1735 North Hampton, Rockinham, New Hampshire
Died 6 October 1777 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Buried
Sources

Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire: Volume 4, page 1748 by Lewis Publishing Company

Sarah's headstone

Sarah Ford Sanborn
Parents John Benjamin Sanborn and Sarah Philbrick
Born 22 May 1714 Northhampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Died 7 Dec 1799 Gilman, Belknap, New Hampshire
Buried
Sources

Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire: Volume 4, page 1748 by Lewis Publishing Company

Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/86685271/sarah-ford-weeks

CHILDREN

John Weeks
Born About 1736 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Married I have several listed for him - Dolly Avery - Hannah Lang - and Dorothy (no last name)
Children: Nathaniel, John, Noah
Died 1815 Gilford, Belknap, New Hampshire
Buried
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search
Olive Weeks
Born about 1738 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Married John Haines 26 August 1755 Hampton, New Hampshire
Children: Eleanor, Jeremiah, Lydia, Elisha, Olive, Jenny, John, Sally, Levi, Matthias
Died December 1820 Epsom, Merrimack, New Hampshire
Buried
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search

Matthias Weeks
Born 5 June 1740 Gilmanton, Belknap, New Hampshire
Married Judith Leavitt 21 November 1760 Belmont, Belknap, New Hampshire
Children: John, Elizabeth, Sally, Matthias, William, Samuel, Joshua, Judith, Olive, Dorothy, Dudley, Anna, Stephen
Died
Buried 20 March 1821 Gilmanton, Belknap, New Hampshire
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/54889180/matthias-weeks
Eleanor Weeks
Born 1742
Married Samuel Potter 3 May 1787 Belmont, Belknap, New Hampshire
Children
Died
Buried
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search
Mary Weeks
Born 1744
Died as a child
Buried
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search

Samuel Weeks headstone

Reverend Samuel Weeks
Born 21 Nov 1746 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Married 1) Mercy Rundlett 28 March 1786 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Children: Noah, Anna, Eliphalet, James, John, Mary, Susanna, Samuel, Ichabod, Levi, Mathias, Benjamin
2) Sarah Barnes
Children: Mercy
Died 19 June 1832 Parsonsfield, York, Maine
Buried East Parsonfield, York, Maine
Sources

Page 1

Page 2

ancestry.com
Family Search
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/150335642/samuel-weeks
Articles pages 1, 2: Book: North America Families

Benjamin's headstone

Benjamin Sanborn Weeks
Born 28 Feb 1748 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Married Sarah Hewitt Weed 26 May 1774 Gilmanton, Belknap, New Hampshire
Children: Daniel, Mathias, Sally, Elisha, William, Benjamin, Levi
Died 14 March 1829 Belknap, New Hampshire
Buried Weeks Cemetery, Gilford, Belknap, New Hampshire
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search
Joanna Weeks
Born 1751
Christening: 14 July 1751 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Died
Buried
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search

Noah's headstone

Deacon Noah Weeks
Born 12 July 1754 Greenland, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Married Betsy Mead 28 Feb 1782 Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Children William, Mary, Sally, Matthias, Asa, Betsy, Hannah, Noah, Eleanor
Died 12 November 1825
Buried Liberty Hill Cemetery, Gilford, Belknap, New Hampshire
Sources
ancestry.com
Family Search
Headstone: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11629938/noah-weeks

Marriage record

Josiah Weeks
Born about 1756 New Hampshire
Occupation: Shipwright
Married Abigail James 9 Oct 1776 Exeter, New Hampshire
Children: Dudley and John
Died 1802 Gilmanton, New Hampshire
Buried
Sources

Genealogical and Family History of the State of New Hampshire: Volume 4, page 1748 by Lewis Publishing Company

ancestry.com

Family Search

Marriage Record

From a Funeral Program

When I come to the end of the road

And the sun has set for me

I want no rites in a gloom-filled room

Why cry for a soul set free?

Miss me a little - but not for too long

And not with your head bowed low

Remember the love that we once shared

Miss me, but let me go.

For this is a journey that we all must take

And each must go alone

It's all part of the Master's plan

A step on the road to home.

When you are lonely and sick at heart

Go to the hills we know

And bury your sorrow among the trees

Miss me, but let me go.

The Line

Every minute someone leaves this world behind.
We are all in “the line” without knowing it.
We never know how many people are before us.
We can not move to the back of the line.
We can not step out of the line.
We can not avoid the line.

So while we wait in line -

Make moments count.
Make priorities.
Make the time.
Make your gifts known.
Make a nobody feel like a somebody.
Make your voice heard.
Make the small things big.
Make someone smile.
Make the change.
Make love.
Make up.
Make peace.
Make sure to tell your people they are loved.
Make sure to have no regrets.
Make sure you are ready.

I'm My Own Grandpa

Many, many years ago when I was 23,
I got married to a widow
who was as pretty as could be.
She had a grown up daughter
who had a hair of red.
My father fell in love with her
and soon the two were wed.
This made my dad my son-in-law
And changed my very life.
My daughter was my mother,
for she was my father's wife.
To complicate the matters worse,
although it brought me joy,
I soon became the father
of a bouncing baby boy.
My little baby then became a brother -in-law to dad
and so became my uncle though it made me very sad.
For if he was my uncle,
then that also made him brother to the widow's grown-up- daughter,
who of course, was my stepmother.
Father's wife then had a son,
who kept them on the run.
And he became my grandson, for he was my daughter's son.
My wife is now my mother's mother
and it makes me blue.
Because, although she is my wife,
she's my grandma too.
If my wife is my grandmother,
then I am her grandchild.
and every time I think of it,
it simply makes me wild.
For now I have become the strangest case you ever saw.
As the husband of my grandmother,
I am my own grandpa!

Quotes from the Prophets

President Gordon B Hinckley: "It is good to look to the past to gain appreciation for the present and perspective for the future. It is good to look upon the virtues of those who have gone before, to gain strength for whatever lies ahead. It is good to reflect upon the work of those who labored so hard and gained so little in this world, but out of whose dreams and early plans so well nurtured, has come a great harvest of which we are the beneficiaries. Their tremendous example can become a compelling motivation for us all, for each of us is a pioneer in his own life."

President Spencer W Kimball: "I hope to see us dissolve the artificial boundary line we so often place between missionary work and temple and genealogical work, because it is the same great redemptive work!"

President Joseph Fielding Smith: " The responsibility on behalf of our kindred dead rests with equal force on all, according to our individual ability and opportunities...the greatest and grandest duty of all is to labor for the dead."

The Passing of the Pot (Chamber Pot)

As far back in childhood
As memory may go
One household vessel greets me
That wasn't made for show
Beneath the bed twas anchored
Where only few could see
But served the entire family
With equal privacy
Some called the critter Peggy
And some the thundermug
And others called it badger
A few called it jug
To bring it in at evening
Was bad enough no doubt
But heaven help the person
Who had to take it out
Our big one was enormous
And would accomodate
A watermelon party
Composed of six or eight
When nights were dark and rainy
It was a useful urn
On icy winter mornings
The cold rim seemed to burn
At times when things were rushing
And business extra good
Each took his turn a waiting
Or did the best he could
Sometimes when in a hurry
To our disgust and shame
We fumbled in the darkness
And slightly missed our aim
The special one for company
Was decorated well
But just the same it rendered
That old familiar smell
Today this modernism
Relieves me a lot
And only in my vision
I see that homely pot.
(author unknown)

Poem about ancestors

Though steep is the path I follow today,
The footprints of time will show me the way.
For many have traveled a smiliar road,
And carried an equal of heavier load.

No troubles I face are new to this earth,
That man has not faced from time of his birth.
The route has been charted and roads have been paved
By legions before me who were stalwart and brave.

Their steps never faltered nor courage grew dim,
For they trusted the Lord and let Him led them.
If my faith and my trust remain steadfast and true,
God will guide and protect me in all that I do.
- Dolores Karides

The Elusive Ancestor

I went searching for an ancestor.
I cannot find him still.
He moved around from place to place
and did not leave a will.
He married where a courthouse burned.
He mended all his fences.
He avoided any man who came to
take the US census

He always kept his luggage packed,
This man who had no fame,
and every 20 years or so,
This rascal changed his name.
No one else inthis world is
searching for this elusive man,
so I play "Gene-solitaire"
To find him, if I can!

I'm told he's buried in a plot,
with tombstone he was blessed;
but the weather took engravings,
and some vandals took the rest.
He died before the county clerks
were appointed to keep records
No family Bible has emerged -
In spite of all my efforts.

To top it off, this elusive ancestor
who has caused me many groans -
left me even one more challenge:
He brothed a lady,
by the name of "Jones"!
(Got this from a publication
put out by the DUP organization
that names the author: Merrell Kenworthy)

Poem: Heaven's Door

If I should go before you,

If life on earth were through;

I'll stop just inside Heaven's door,

and there I'll wait for you.

You've but to look 'cross star filled skies,

Past the moon and then beyond;

To know my leaving could never break,

This heart's undying bond.

And if you should go before me,

If your journey on earth were through;

You know I will be close behind,

I'll never be far from you.

Across the span of time and space,

This love will reach this far;

For you'll always carry a bit of my heart,

No matter where you are.

Allison Chambers Coxsey©1995 ~ All Rights Reserved

Which Shall It Be? by Adelaide Proctor

Which shall it be?

"Which shall it be? Which shall it be?
I looked at John and John looked at me,
And when I found that I must speak,
My voice seemed strangely low and weak:
˜Tell me again what Robert said,"
And then I, listening, bent my head.
This is his letter:˜I will give
A house and land while you shall live,
If, in return, from out your seven,
One child to me for aye is given."

I looked at John's old garments worn;
I thought of all that he had borne
Of poverty, and work, and care,
Which I, though willing, could not share;
I thought of seven young mouths to feed,
Of seven little children's need,
And then of this.

˜Come, John,said I,
We'll choose among them as they lie
Asleep. So, walking hand in hand,
Dear John and I surveyed our band:
First to the cradle lightly stepped,
Where Lilian, the baby, slept.
Softly the father stooped to lay
His rough hand down in a loving way,
When dream or whisper made her stir,
And huskily he said: ˜Not her!"

We stooped beside the trundle bed,
And one long ray of twilight shed
Athwart the boyish faces there,
In sleep so beautiful and fair;
I saw on James rough, red cheek
A tear undried. E'er John could speak,
He's but a baby, too," said I,
And kissed him as we hurried by.

Pale, patient, Robbie's angel face
Still in his sleep bore suffering's trace.
˜No, for a thousand crowns, not him!"
He whispered, while our eyes were dim.
Poor Dick! bad Dick! our wayward son”
Turbulent, restless, idle one”
Could he be spared?
Nay, He who gave
Bade us befriend him to the grave;
Only a mother's heart could be
Patient enough for such as he;
˜And so," said John, ˜I would not dare
To take him from her bedside prayer."

Then stole we softly up above,
And knelt by Mary, child of love;
˜Perhaps for her ˜twould better be,"
I said to John. Quite silently
He lifted up a curl that lay
Across her cheek in a wilful way,
And shook his head: ˜Nay, love, not thee,
The while my heart beat audibly.

Only one more, our eldest lad,
Trusty and truthful, good and glad,
So like his father. ˜No, John, no!
I cannot, will not, let him go."

And so we wrote, in courteous way,
We could not give one child away;
And afterward toil lighter seemed,
Thinking of that of which we dreamed,
Happy in truth that not one face
Was missed from its accustomed place;
Thankful to work for all the seven,
Trusting the rest to One in heaven."