Catherine (sometimes Katherine or Kate) Gallivan, born July 9, 1879 in West Brookfield, was the youngest known child of John T. Gallivan, born County Kerry, Ireland, and Catherine Harrington, born in West Brookfield.. She died in Providence Hospital in Holyoke on July 30, 1950 and was buried in Sacred Heart Cemetery in West Brookfield. Her obituary found on page 20 of the Springfield Union published July 31, 1950 states that she was educated in West Brookfield schools, later attended Worcester Teachers College, and taught school in West Brookfield for many years. 1900 census records do not have an occupation for Catherine, but census records from 1910, 1920 and 1930 indicate that she worked in the corset industry as a book keeper and later a time clerk. Further research is needed to determine if and when she worked as a school teacher. This information might be found in old town report from West Brookfield which may be found in the Merriam Gilbert Public Library. Another place to search would be old school records from town which may be located somewhere in the town hall. I will have to add this to my list of things to check on. Perhaps someone from town would be willing to check for me.
Research on families from West Brookfield, Massachusetts using both on site and online resources. Short biographies and stories about interesting people and local happenings.
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Harriet Amelia Chamberlain White - born July 7, 1820
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,
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,
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 . His father, originally from West Brookfield , was Daniel Henry Chamberlain who was governor of South Carolina from 1872 - 1877. His mother was Alice Ingersol. Waldo and his father came to live in West Brookfield when Waldo was about 10 years old, settling in at the family farm known as Elm Knoll. He died of rheumatic fever in West Brookfield on Sept. 12, 1902 and was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery next to his mother and four of his brothers.
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.
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