Harriet Chamberlain, born on Elm Knoll Farm in West Brookfield on July 7, 1820 was one of ten children born to Eli and Achsah (Forbes) Chamberlain. She survived all of her siblings including Daniel Henry Chamberlain, one time governor of South Carolina, and the Rev. Dr. Leander T. Chamberlain, a learned and influential Congregational minster.
Harriet married Samuel Newell White, a school teacher, Feb. 24, 1843, [ Massachusetts Marriages 1633 - 1850, Ancestry.com] and moved to Amherst, MA where the couple's their first four children were born. The family returned to the White family farm (now Salem Cross Inn) in West Brookfield sometime between 1850 and 1852. Five more children were born in West Brookfield. Harriet was a member of the Congregational Church in town where her husband served as a deacon, and was probably active in the local grange and the West Brookfield Farmers' Club, which her brother Lyman Chamberlain had helped to organize.
Harriet, the town's oldest resident, died in her husband's ancestral home in West Brookfield on March 24, 1916. She was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery. Only three daughters survived her including Alice who taught school in town until age 70, and Grace who had been the 1880 census taker,
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Roy Smith born July 5, 1890
Roy Smith, son of Henry Nelson Smith and Mabel Idelle (Irish) was born in West Brookfield on July 5, 1890 according to his World War I and World War II Draft Registration Cards found at Ancestry.com, and also the record of his marriage to Annie Eliza Dickinson. The record of his birth does not appear in West Brookfield vital records available at Americanancestors.org, but perhaps there is an amended record. His marriage to Annie Eliza Dickinson in Putnam, CT on June 1, 1910 was recorded in Worcester where they both lived and worked. (Worcester Vital records Vol. 596: Page 515) Two children were born of this union - a daughter Arline born March 7, 1911, and a son LeRoy P.,born in March 16, 1915. Roy and Annie divorced in Worcester on 17 July 1919, and Roy married Florence (Anger) Holden sometime between 1930 and 1942.
Roy worked in the food and beverage business for many years, managing diners in Worcester, and North Attleboro. He owned the City Line Diner in Worcester in 1942 at the time of his World War II Draft Registration. He died Dec. 13, 1961 in Attleboro, MA and was buried in Hope Cemetery in Worcester.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knew Roy, or who might have family photos, or photos of the diners where he worked.
Roy worked in the food and beverage business for many years, managing diners in Worcester, and North Attleboro. He owned the City Line Diner in Worcester in 1942 at the time of his World War II Draft Registration. He died Dec. 13, 1961 in Attleboro, MA and was buried in Hope Cemetery in Worcester.
I would be interested in hearing from anyone who knew Roy, or who might have family photos, or photos of the diners where he worked.
Sources
Massachusetts, Marriage Records, 1840-1915; Worcester > 1910 > Page 39 > Record No. 702; New England Historic Genealogical Society; Boston, Massachusetts; Massachusetts Vital Records, 1911–1915; Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 17 March 2023.
United States, Massachusetts, Worcester - Divorce records; Worcester County, Massachusetts, divorce docket books, 1891-1936, Volumes 12 - 17, 1915-1936 [Worcester County, Massachusetts]; Familysearch (http://www.familysearch.org : accessed 29 December 2022,)
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Robert Emmet Ducey and Florence Irene Allen married July 2, 1917 in Thorndike
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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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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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.
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