Robert Emmet Ducy was born March 5, 1884 in West Brookfield, the son of John J. Ducey and Mary Ann Welch. Robert became a steam fitter and a master plumber. He and his brother Edward owned and operated Ducy Brothers' Plumbing.
Robert married Florence Irene Allen on July 2, 1917 in the Thorndike section of Palmer, MA. Flossie was the daughter of William and Jane (Nimmens) Allen and was born in Ware, MA on June 7, 1893 according to town birth records. Three sons and a daughter were born to this union, most likely in Thorndike where the family lived.
The 1941 obituary of Robert's brother Edward indicates that Robert and family had moved to Manchester, CT. Since the family was enumerated in Thorndike in 1930, we know the time period of the move to have been between 1930 and 1941.
Robert died August 1, 1955 in Los Angeles, California where he had been a plumbing contractor and a member of the Congregational Church. His obituary stated that he had moved there in 1946. Florence died Dec. 28, 1966 also in Los Angeles County, California.
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Saturday, July 2, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
John J. Ducey and Mary Ann Welch married July 1, 1882 in North Brookfield, MA
John J. Ducey, son of John Ducey and Ann Meehan, and Mary Ann Welch, daughter of James Welch and Catherine Moran, were married in North Brookfield, Massachusetts on July 1, 1882 by C. M. Foley, Catholic Priest, St. Joseph's Church.
John and Mary Ann lived on Church St. in West Brookfield and raised a family of 12 or 13 children. John, like his father was a Boot Maker. The area of town where they lived was sometimes referred to by West Brookfield folks, as "Gahway" because many of the inhabitants had come to the United States from County Galway, Ireland. John and Mary Ann Welch both claimed West Brookfield as their place of birth, and although no birth records have been found, it was likely true since both families were living in town when John and Mary were born.
Mary Ann's father, James was most likely born in Ballinakill, Queens County, Ireland. A Welch family researcher has evidence of the marriage of James' parents and the baptisms of some of his siblings there. John Ducey's father, came from County Waterford, Ireland, according to his naturalization papers. His mother, Ann, was also Irish, but I have been unable to discover more about her origins thus far.
My husband is a descendant of John and Mary Ann Ducey, and I have over the past 12 years, collected a great deal of information about them, their ancestors and their descendants, some of whom are living in West Brookfield today. I am always willing to share my research and love to hear from folks with similar interests.
A family tree with information on the Ducey and Welch families is located at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ls046&id=I01172
John and Mary Ann lived on Church St. in West Brookfield and raised a family of 12 or 13 children. John, like his father was a Boot Maker. The area of town where they lived was sometimes referred to by West Brookfield folks, as "Gahway" because many of the inhabitants had come to the United States from County Galway, Ireland. John and Mary Ann Welch both claimed West Brookfield as their place of birth, and although no birth records have been found, it was likely true since both families were living in town when John and Mary were born.
Mary Ann's father, James was most likely born in Ballinakill, Queens County, Ireland. A Welch family researcher has evidence of the marriage of James' parents and the baptisms of some of his siblings there. John Ducey's father, came from County Waterford, Ireland, according to his naturalization papers. His mother, Ann, was also Irish, but I have been unable to discover more about her origins thus far.
My husband is a descendant of John and Mary Ann Ducey, and I have over the past 12 years, collected a great deal of information about them, their ancestors and their descendants, some of whom are living in West Brookfield today. I am always willing to share my research and love to hear from folks with similar interests.
A family tree with information on the Ducey and Welch families is located at http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=ls046&id=I01172
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Waldo Emerson Chamberlain
Waldo Emerson Chamberlain was born June 28, 1886 in Manhattan , NY West Brookfield , was Daniel Henry Chamberlain who was governor of South Carolina West Brookfield on Sept. 12, 1902 and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery
I do have more information on the Chamberlain family which is available on request.
Blog entries this week may be few and far between while I am waiting for a new power supply for my computer. I hope to resume more detailed entries as soon as the new power supply is installed.
Friday, June 24, 2011
John Philip Morgan and Helen Murray Fox - Married June 24, 1913
Vital Records in West Brookfield and Monson show that on 24 June 1913 John Philip Morgan, age 23, born West Brookfield, Foreman in Corset Shop, son of John and Helen (Harrington), married Helen Murray Fox, age 22, Corset Shop employee, born Fall River to John [sic], and Nora (Fox). The marriage took place in Monson with Thomas O'Keefe, Catholic Priest Officiating.
John continued to work in the corset industry in West Brookfield and later in Springfield. Four daughters were born to this union. John died in Springfield in 1973. Helen died in Springfield in 1960.
John Morgan's mother, Ellen, was a daughter of Philip and Julia Harrington. She was one of fourteen children. Philip and Julia came from Ireland and had settled in West Brookfield by 1850. I have several family obituaries in my possession, as well as some land records including a Quit Claim.
Helen Murray Fox had a sister Margaret who married Richard Dixon Olmstead.
Please click on the Information Request Tab at the top of the page, fill out, and submit the form for more information.
John continued to work in the corset industry in West Brookfield and later in Springfield. Four daughters were born to this union. John died in Springfield in 1973. Helen died in Springfield in 1960.
John Morgan's mother, Ellen, was a daughter of Philip and Julia Harrington. She was one of fourteen children. Philip and Julia came from Ireland and had settled in West Brookfield by 1850. I have several family obituaries in my possession, as well as some land records including a Quit Claim.
Helen Murray Fox had a sister Margaret who married Richard Dixon Olmstead.
Please click on the Information Request Tab at the top of the page, fill out, and submit the form for more information.
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Clarence Eaton Hocum married Maude Mae Parker on June 23, 1919, his 24th birthday
Clarence Eaton Hocum was born June 23, 1895 in West Brookfield to George and Friendship (Allen) Hocum. Clarence was working on his father's farm at the time of his World War I Draft Registration in June of 1917. He married Maud Mae Parker on June 24, 1919 in West Brookfield and they lived with Maud's parents, George and Ida (Richards) Parker of North Main St. at the time of the 1920 census. He listed his occupation in 1920 as Fireman in Toy Shop. Clarence was warden of the Town Farm in 1923. The 1930 census lists his occupation as truck driver and his residence as Long Hill Rd. He became an active member of the Quaboag Sportsmen's Club which was organized in 1931. A 1942 World War II Draft Registration Card indicates that Clarence was living on Long Hill and working for the Cutler Company on Ware St. He was the Commander of the American Legion Post in 1944. He served the town of West Brookfield in the appointed postion of caretaker of the soldiers' graves, and like his father, was a police officer for many years. He died in November of 1969. Maude died ealier that same year on January 30 in Quaboag Nursing Home.
Finding the birth and death dates for Maude Parker Hocum was a little bit of a challenge. I did not find her listed in the Social Security Death index, nor did I find an obituary for her at genealogybank.com. I knew that she was living in February of 1963 according to the obituary of her brother James. I decided to look at land records for West Brookfield at http://www.masslandrecords.com/ The records are indexed beginning in 1966, but with a Deed Book and Page No. an unindexed property search can be performed. I found deeds for a Milk St. Property which had belonged to Maude and Clarence, and one had a reference in the margin for Deed Book 8142, Pg. 68. There on page 68 of Book 8142 was a copy of the death record of Maude Mae Hocum. The death record gave me her date of death and also her age at death (79 y, 0 m, 23 days) which would have made her birthday Jan. 7, 1890. The death record also listed her birthplace as Gilbertville, which I know to be a section of Hardwick. Hardwick birth records had the birth recorded as an unamed male child of George and Ida Parker born Jan. 7, 1890. The 1900 census gave Maud's birth month and year as May 1890. It appears that Maud's gender was recorded incorrectly in the Vital Records, and that the month of her birth was reported incorrectly in the 1900 census.
Finding the birth and death dates for Maude Parker Hocum was a little bit of a challenge. I did not find her listed in the Social Security Death index, nor did I find an obituary for her at genealogybank.com. I knew that she was living in February of 1963 according to the obituary of her brother James. I decided to look at land records for West Brookfield at http://www.masslandrecords.com/ The records are indexed beginning in 1966, but with a Deed Book and Page No. an unindexed property search can be performed. I found deeds for a Milk St. Property which had belonged to Maude and Clarence, and one had a reference in the margin for Deed Book 8142, Pg. 68. There on page 68 of Book 8142 was a copy of the death record of Maude Mae Hocum. The death record gave me her date of death and also her age at death (79 y, 0 m, 23 days) which would have made her birthday Jan. 7, 1890. The death record also listed her birthplace as Gilbertville, which I know to be a section of Hardwick. Hardwick birth records had the birth recorded as an unamed male child of George and Ida Parker born Jan. 7, 1890. The 1900 census gave Maud's birth month and year as May 1890. It appears that Maud's gender was recorded incorrectly in the Vital Records, and that the month of her birth was reported incorrectly in the 1900 census.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Married on June 22, 1940 - Madeline Louise Balcom and Alfred R. Kretzschmar
Springfield Daily Republican ; May 16, 1940; p.6
West Brookfield, May 15 - "Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Balcom of the Boston Post road announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Madeline Louise, to Alfred R. Kretzschmar of North Wilbraham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kretzschmar. The wedding will take place June 22."
The Sunday Union and Republican of June 23 published an account of the wedding on page 2, dated June 22 which states that the couple was married by Rev. John Engstrom at St. Mary's Rectory at 11:00 that morning. Attendants were Thomas Ruddeford, a friend of the groom and Claire Leamy, a cousin of the bride, both from Springfield.
The article, which may be found at genealogybank.com, contains a detailed description of the bride's attire; as well as, that of her maid of honor. It also mentions Mary and Annie Murphy of Palmer, cousins of the bride, who played at the reception.
Alfred was employed by American Bosch Company in Springfield and he and Madeline were to live in Hampden after their marriage.
A son Barry was born in Springfield in 1941.
Sadly, Madeline died December 18, 1943 in Ludlow hospital as she was preparing to go to her home in Wilbraham where the family lived at the time. Her obituary dated Dec. 20, was published Dec. 21, 1943 on page 2 of the Springfield Daily Republican.
Alfred died in Springfield on May 11, 1995.
I have more information about Alfred and Madeline and their families. Click on the information request tab above to request copies of the articles mentioned, or visit http://westbrookfieldgenealogy.org/Genealogy/ to find more family information.
West Brookfield, May 15 - "Mr. and Mrs. Louis A. Balcom of the Boston Post road announce the approaching marriage of their daughter, Madeline Louise, to Alfred R. Kretzschmar of North Wilbraham, son of Mr. and Mrs. Richard Kretzschmar. The wedding will take place June 22."
The Sunday Union and Republican of June 23 published an account of the wedding on page 2, dated June 22 which states that the couple was married by Rev. John Engstrom at St. Mary's Rectory at 11:00 that morning. Attendants were Thomas Ruddeford, a friend of the groom and Claire Leamy, a cousin of the bride, both from Springfield.
The article, which may be found at genealogybank.com, contains a detailed description of the bride's attire; as well as, that of her maid of honor. It also mentions Mary and Annie Murphy of Palmer, cousins of the bride, who played at the reception.
Alfred was employed by American Bosch Company in Springfield and he and Madeline were to live in Hampden after their marriage.
A son Barry was born in Springfield in 1941.
Sadly, Madeline died December 18, 1943 in Ludlow hospital as she was preparing to go to her home in Wilbraham where the family lived at the time. Her obituary dated Dec. 20, was published Dec. 21, 1943 on page 2 of the Springfield Daily Republican.
Alfred died in Springfield on May 11, 1995.
I have more information about Alfred and Madeline and their families. Click on the information request tab above to request copies of the articles mentioned, or visit http://westbrookfieldgenealogy.org/Genealogy/ to find more family information.
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
Eugene Alonzo Gilbert and Charlotte Elizabeth Wilbur married June 21, 1899
Massachusetts Marriage Records for 1899 in West Brookfield, Worcester County, Vol. 490, Page 95 indicate that Eugene Alonzo Gilbert, age 26, Engineer, born Dover, NH, son of Alonzo E. Gilbert and Annie Mae Handy, married Charlotte E. Wilbur, age 26, Librarian, born West Brookfield, daughter of Edwin Wilbur and Mary Duell on June 21, in West Brookfield. Alliston Gifford, Clergyman, of West Brookfield performed the marriage.
The following year a daughter, Nathalie Wilbur Gilbert was born in West Brookfield. A son, Alonzo E. followed in 1903.
Eugene and Charlotte stayed in West Brookfield for a time while Eugene worked for the local corset company. The family moved to Wilbraham sometime between 1910 and 1920, and by 1930 they were living in Springfield.
Eugene died in the Bondsville section of Palmer on June 20, 1939 and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield. Charlotte lived until Oct. 25, 1964 when she died in a Massachusetts nursing home. She was buried close to her husband.
[I have obituaries of Eugene and Charlotte and their daughter Nathalie. Please contact me if you would like a copy.]
The following year a daughter, Nathalie Wilbur Gilbert was born in West Brookfield. A son, Alonzo E. followed in 1903.
Eugene and Charlotte stayed in West Brookfield for a time while Eugene worked for the local corset company. The family moved to Wilbraham sometime between 1910 and 1920, and by 1930 they were living in Springfield.
Eugene died in the Bondsville section of Palmer on June 20, 1939 and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery in West Brookfield. Charlotte lived until Oct. 25, 1964 when she died in a Massachusetts nursing home. She was buried close to her husband.
[I have obituaries of Eugene and Charlotte and their daughter Nathalie. Please contact me if you would like a copy.]
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