The Strange Case of Davis P.

In an earlier post, I wrote about my great-grandmother, Helena Snow, the possible misspelling on her birth record, and the confusion about her mother’s name.  Her husband’s line turns out to be just as puzzling.

As I searched the US census, I easily found a family that matched everything I knew about Jesse E. Dudley.  I knew that at one point he was raised by his grandmother, Sophia Day.  So when I found him in the 1870 household of James B. and Hannah Dudley, it made sense.  Hannah’s maiden name was Day.  The date for this record is July 28th.

Her parents, Israel and Sophia, were in the same census.  Note the sister, Elizabeth.  This was recorded on August 17th.

Then, in 1880, Jessie is found again in the household of Sophia Day, his grandmother.

The ages match, the names match…everything fits.  So what exactly is the problem?  The problem is another record, also found in Boston, from June 18th, 1870.

Davis P. Dudley is married to Hannah S. Dudley and has a son named Jesse E…and a sister-in-law named Lizzie M. Day? The ages are the same.  (Fours look like sixes on the James B. record, but reviewing the whole page confirms that they are fours.) 

This completely threw me.  Davis P.’s record actually showed the link to the Days, which was something not shown in the James B. record.

I was all ready to accept that I have been researching the wrong person when it suddenly hit me; Jesse’s marriage certificate lists the parents!  

Sure enough, Jesse’s father was listed as James B.  So, unless by some strange coincidence the other Jesse was also from Waterboro, Maine, and married Helena M. Snow who was from Nova Scotia and had a father named Alexander (and by this point nothing would surprise me), my ancestor was named James B. Dudley.

The question remains; who is Davis P.?  I can accept that he married Hannah S. and had a son named Jesse E., but what about the Day who was also living in their household and happened to have the same name and be the same age as Hannah’s sister?  Both were also in Boston.

Did they do the survey on June 18th, move, and then do the survey again on July 28th?  If so, why Davis P.?  I have seen some funny misspellings of names on censuses before, but that one is pretty off.  I considered that maybe it is part of his full name, but cannot find any other any other record with it.  Maybe they just wrote Davis P. on the wrong line?  Davis P. does not appear in the 1880 census. 

What about Lizzie? Perhaps 18-year-old Lizzie was not getting along with her parents at the time of the first survey, but later reunited with them?

I may never know for sure.  For now, I am just grateful to have found Jesse’s marriage record.

What are your thoughts?  Do you think they could be the same family?

~Kathy

London Gazette - October 27 to October 30, 1707 (Part 2)

In Part I, I shared my first attempt at transcribing a 1707 London Gazette.  In this post, I continue where I left off on page 2 of the local news.  

The first item is a bankruptcy notice for Richard Benner of Weymouth.

The Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt against Richard Benner, of Weymouth in the County of Dorset, Mercer, intend to meet not only on the 5th of November next, (as advertis’d on Thursday last) but also on the 5th of December next, at 3 after Noon, at the Irish Chamber in Guildhall, London, in order to make a Dividend of the Bankrupt’s Estate: At one of which Times and Place all Creditors are to come prepared to prove their Debts, and pay their Contribution-Money, or they will be excluded the said Dividend.

The next item is also a bankruptcy notice against the estate of Thomas Windfeild of Wapping.

The Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt against Thomas Wingfeild, late of Wapping in the County of Middlesex, Oil-man, deceased, intend to meet on the 17th of November next, at 3 after Noon, at the Irish Chamber in Guildhall, London, to make a second Dividend of his Estate, and such Creditors as have not yet paid their Contribution Money, and proved their Debts, are then to do the same, or they’l be excluded.

Next is a bankruptcy notice for Edward Huggins and Richard Hadson.

The Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt against Edward Huggins and Richard Hadson late of London, Lightermen, and Copartners, intend to meet on the 14th of November next, at 3 in the Afternoon, at Guildhall, London, to make a Dividend of the said Bankrupts Estate; where all the Creditors that have not paid their Contribution money, and prov’d their Debts, are then to do the same, or they will be excluded the Benefit of the said Dividend.

Lastly, we have a bankruptcy notice for Thomas Martin.

Whereas Notice was given the 20th Instant, That the Commissioners in a Commission of Bankrupt against Thomas Martin, late of London, Orange-Merchant, intended to meet the 31st Instant, at Three after Noon, at Guildhall, London; These are to give Notice, That one of the acting Commissioners cannot be present at the Time appointed, therefore the said Meeting is put off till the 10th of November next, at 3 after Noon, at Guildhall, London:  At which Time and Place the Creditors of the said Martin are to come prepared to prove their Debts, and pay their Contribution-Money, or they’l  be excluded the Benefit of the Dividend.

More to come soon!

~Kathy

Solving the Mystery of Helena Snow

My great-grandmother and her family have always been the family branch that I’ve found the most intriguing.  For one thing, she was born in Nova Scotia – the last of my family to be born in Canada.  Why she left, and how our family ended up there in the first place has always been a bit of mystery.  Some sources online connect her with Stephen Hopkins from the Mayflower.  However, I have a four-generation hole in my research to make the connection.  I have the names, just no actual proof.  The fact that it does lead to the Mayflower is cause enough for me to be suspicious.  I’ve tried throwing out the names I know and just starting from scratch, but the trail always ends in Nova Scotia.

Here’s what I know of her from my mother:  My great-grandmother was named Helena Snow.  She went by Lena.  She was born in Nova Scotia, immigrated to America, and married Jessie Dudley.  They had at least one child in Maine, Lora.  They also had two sons, Percy and Perley, one of whom died very young.  She died in Denver somewhere between 1934 and 1936.  Her father was named Alexander.

As I searched for her birth record, I hit the first wall.  There is a birth record in Nova Scotia in 1868. The father’s name is Alexander.  The problem?  It has been transcribed as “Helenor”.

So, is it a poorly written “a” or is it actually “or”?  I have not been able to find another record that comes close to matching.  Of course, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t one.  Note that her parents' marriage is listed as either May 7 or 4, 1862 in Barrington. 

Next, we have a marriage record in Boston in 1890:

Helena M. Snow married Jesse E. Dudley.  She was born in Clyde River, NS (same as birth record).  She married before her 22^nd birthday, so the dates match. Her parents are Alexander C. and Maria G.  Here, we come to the second wall.  Some sources say that Maria G. and Ellen M. Crowell is the same person. 

Here is a 1880 census for Hamilton, MA:

It’s very difficult to read, but here is the transcription:

The Alexander C. on this census record was born in Nova Scotia.  Maria is also born in Nova Scotia.  Helena is 12 (which would make her born about 1868) and was born in Nova Scotia.

There is an Angus H. born around 1875.  I was able to find his birth record:

Angus Holly was born on June 13, 1874 in Clyde River.  His father was Alexander from N.S., his mother was…Ellen Crowell.  Note again that his parents were married in Barrington on May 7, 1862.

Lelia B. is four years old in the 1880 census.  Above, we see that her birth date is May 18, 1876.  Her name is spelled Leila, but her father is Alex Snow (Clyde River) and her mother is…Maria Crowell!   Her parents married on May 7, 1862.  The located is listed as Woods Harbour.  I discovered that Woods Harbour is a community in the Barrington municipal district of Shelburne County.

So, I think we can say that Maria and Ellen Crowell is the same person.  Where the G. comes from, I’m not sure.  I’ve seen it listed as Gaddas/Geddas, but with no source listed.  I can find no record of her birth so far. I guess that will the subject of another hunt!  And that is, of course, assuming that this Helena is my great-grandmother.

As for Helenor?  The names and dates match up.  Maybe they thought they said “Helenor” or maybe it was just a slip of the pen.  However, that slip – along with Ellen/Maria – may make proving any link to other ancestors difficult.

What are your thoughts?  Is “Helenor” my “Helena”?


~Kathy

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London Gazette - October 27 to October 30, 1707 (Part 1)

Several years ago, I purchased a battered copy of a 1707 London Gazette.  It’s been kept in an archival sheet ever since. 

Online newspapers have been of great help to me with my own genealogy, so I’m sharing this in hopes that someone will find it of help with their own research.  I am attempting to transcribe it, as it is very difficult to read in some parts.  I’ve started with the local news on page 2.

The first article is regarding a burglary.  Unfortunately, it does not name the victim.  However, it does mention an attorney, Thomas Woodford.

On Monday Night, the 27th of this Instant October, some Persons broke into a Cellar of a House at Peckam in Surrey, and stole thence Two Silver Salvers, One large Pair of Candlesticks, One lesser Pair of Candlesticks, One Pair of Snuffers and Snuff Dish, Seven Spoons, One Pair of Buckles, Two Salts, Eighteen Knives, Maple-Hafts,  12 Forks, Maple-Hafts, a black Cloth Coat, a light Cloth Coat, a black Campagne Peruke, One Huckaback Table Cloth &c.  If any Person discovers the Offenders to Mr. Tho. Woodford, Attorney, in Threadneedle street, he shall receive a Reward of Ten Guinea’s.

The second article is about horse racing and does not contain any surnames, but is still interesting nevertheless.

U’on Epson Downs in Surrey, on the first Tuesday in December next, a Plate of 20 l. in Money will be run for, by any Horses that never won above 50 l.  The Horses to be at New Stables, or some other Contributor’s Stables 14 Days before; and 7 Days before, paying 3 Guinea’s, or paying of 5 Guinea’s, at any time; the Weight 10 Stone; not less than 3 to start.  The Day following a Plate of 5 l. by Galloways not exceeding 12 Hands 3 Inches;  the highest Weight 8 Stone; Weight for Inches allowed to all under that Size;  Stakes 20 s. to be paid 3 Days before, or 27 s. at any time; to be entered at the New Stables.

Next, there are a series of bankruptcy notices.  I’ve transcribed the first two so far.  The first is for Thomas Mathews of Newbery.  The second is regarding John Coppin of Norwich.

A Commission of Bankrupt being awarded against Thomas Mathews, late of Newbery in the County of Berks, Distiller; and he being declared a Bankrupt, is required to surrender himself to the Commissioners, who will sit on the 11th of November next, and the 5th of December next, at 3 after Noon, at the Globe Tavern in Newbery aforesaid.  On the first Sitting all Creditors are to prove their Debts, pay their Contribution Money, and chuse Assignees.  And all Persons that have any Money, Goods, or Effects of his, are not to pay or deliver the same but by Order of the Commissioners.

A Commission of Bankrupt being awarded against John Coppin, of the City of Norwich,  Worsted-Weaver; The Commissioners intend to meet at the Fleece Tavern in Norwich on Friday the 14th of November next, at 4 in the Afternoon; where the Creditors are desired to come prepared to prove their Debts, and pay their Contribution, or they will be excluded from any Dividend by the said Commission. 

It gets more difficult to read from here!  I will be posting some more in the near future.

~Kathy

Planting Your Family Tree

Hello again! 

I mentioned last time that our photo restoration started from a shared love of genealogy.  Kathy and I, the owners of River Bend Photo Restoration, have spent many long nights tracing both of our family lines.  It’s an exciting and frustrating endeavor.  To have any hope of keeping your facts straight and your notes clear, you need a good family tree program.  We use Family Tree Maker from Ancestry.com.  (That is a non-compensated endorsement!)  Even for a technology novice, it is easy to use.  All you have to do is start typing names into the field and it builds the tree for you.  It also calculates each ancestor’s relation to you.  I don’t think it would have been possible for us to compile our research without it.  

One of the best things about genealogy is that you are bound to learn more about your family than you ever hoped to know.  For instance, my maternal grandmother was adopted.  I was able to finally discover the name of her birth mother, which had been unknown for nearly 90 years. 

On my father’s side, my great, great, great, great grandfather fought in the American Revolutionary War.  Researching his life uncovered something amazing.  In his later life, he had sought to get benefits he had been entitled to as a veteran.  This meant providing meticulous details about his time in the war, including his duties, commanding officers, and various locations where he served.  I found that he had defended Philadelphia, and had also been sent to Valley Forge.  It then made even more sense why his son was named after George Washington!  Suddenly, this man was not just a name and a date.  He was a man with a rich life.  These finds make it all worthwhile.  

If you’re interested in Family Tree Maker, follow this link:
http://www.ancestry.com/cs/apps/p-5194 

~Chris

Welcome!

Hello, and welcome to our very first blog entry!  We’re Chris and Kathy, the owners of River Bend Photo Restoration.  Check in with us every few days for news and thoughts on topics ranging from photo restoration to genealogy to just about everything else.  

We have a lot of family photos.  Our basement is full of albums which are full of old photographs.  If there's one thing our relatives loved, it was taking pictures.  A few of them are formal, posed studio photographs, but most of them are candid shots of family and friends.  Those are my favorites.  They capture everyday life, uninhibited.  Family you never met, who may have died nearly a century ago, are seen as they were day to day.  Putting a face with a name is one thing, but seeing your great-great-grandfather plowing a field or working on his tractor takes you to another place and time.  

Our love of genealogy led to our love of old photos, and our old photos made us love genealogy even more.  A couple of years ago I decided that our vast collection of family photos needed to be preserved.  Some of them were over 120 years old!  Although most of them had been very well cared for, some of them were showing signs of neglect (or perhaps too much love!).  So I set about digitally scanning every single photograph I had.  Little did I know at the time, but that meant scanning over TWELVE THOUSAND photographs.  I told you my family liked to take pictures.  It ended up taking 14 months, but eventually every single one of them was digitized and preserved.  

Seeing the photos on the computer screen showed details I never could have seen with the naked eye.  But along with that, the damage and imperfections in the photos were also made clearer.  I set out to meticulously restore them, and was shocked by what a difference it made.  Photos that were over a century old suddenly looked like they could have been taken recently.  Suddenly, the photos jumped off the screen.  They weren't just faded images, they were people.  They had life again.  Many of these photos are unique.  Some may be the only photos ever taken of these people.  Cleaning and repairing them, bringing their images back to life, was an uplifting experience.  It honored people who might otherwise have been lost to time and forgotten.  That is what makes this so satisfying.  I want to be able to help others preserve the memories of their loved ones. 

~Chris