Family Connections

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

Strange What Turns Up

I've often found it strange how out of nowhere comes information that you thought probably wasn't possible. Today I share two such thoughts.

Early this year, I received a kind letter from my Aunt in Pennsylvania and she shared with me a copy of an article from the Staten Island Advance that she received from another Aunt of mine. To date, I don't know what edition of the SI Advance this was from, but low and behold an article in the "Memories" column by Mike Azzara, was a picture that I have seen before. Not only was it a picture, but a newspaper article about said picture. It was in fact an article recalling bygone days of musicians who frequented clubs on Staten Island. As you can see below the picture is of the Mahoney Orchestra.

Mahoney Orchestra 'Memories'

What's more impressive is that grandpa Muller (Paul Ernest Muller 1901-1954) is mentioned specifically in the caption. While the article itself doesn't mention him, obviously the contact that Mr. Azzara used for this article had some kind of connection. What was most intriguing, is that this lost picture (either I have the copy of it or possible it is in my mother's collection) provides a date in which we can place grandpa Muller, January 17, 1947, aged 45.

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Another tid bit that has come to light was found recently in my grandmother O'neal's Baby's Record. It in itself, is a time capsule of events of her life including a picture of her and a very young grandpa Bair (Burton W.)

But more interesting was a poem that I found in a Newsletter for the Marion Steam Shovel Company. (see image below) G-Grandpa Benjamin Franklin Bair worked for the company and he must have been extremely proud of his new grand-daughter Lucretia, so much that the company at first didn't believe that he was a grandfather. To prove his point, he clipped some of Lucretia's newborn hair! Ironically, in her baby book, there are two samples of her hair, one was clipped only after a few days and is tied with a small pink ribbon. Could this have been the hair?

A "Bair" Story ... Marion Excavator, February 1921

To see the edition of the Marion Excavator, February 1921 click HERE

Monday, January 30, 2012

The Brick Wall

Well, why I haven't added much to this blog as of late, I have been hot on the trail of researching the Muller Heritage, specifically, the families of Ludwig and Brigitte. For years this has been a brick wall. Finally I have found a crack in it's facade. Recently I came across a large resource from the Haut-Rhin region of Alsace. This resource has proven invaluable in looking closer at the Muller and Flesch ancestry. Their database contains birth, marriage and death records dating back as far as 1792 to 1892.

For more information go to
http://www.archives.cg68.fr/Services_Archives_Anciennes.aspx

The hardest part so far, is trying to decipher and read the script ... sometimes in German, but mostly in FRENCH! I often wonder what my late Uncle Bob would be thinking about now?

So, I'll start with Ludwig and Brigitte Muller. First, while I have always thought of Louis Joseph Muller as being named so in the Germanic language as Ludwig Josef Müller, the document below shows the spelling of his name as Luis Joseph Muller. I suspect that given the history of Alsace, that his name lost it's 'french' spelling when the region came under German occupation as I have known it to be for years.

Birth Record of Luis Joseph Muller; s/o Martin Muller and Anne Marie nee Staub

Further research also shows that Luis' parents, as suspected through existing documents, were Martin Muller and Anne (or Anna) Marie Staub. A note here about Staub. In some documents it looks like Flaub. This is something that I have gone back and forth about for some years. But finding her name first in a marriage index, it becomes clear that it is Staub, not Flaub. If it were Flaub her name would have shown up in the beginning of the alphabetical listing. Instead, it's near the end. I also believe that Anne Marie's father, Luis' grandfather was Leonard Flaub.

The record also indicates that Luis had a brother named Joseph and also provides evidence that their father's name may well have been Luis Martin Muller. This would indicate that my g-grandfather Luis (Ludwig), was named after his father.

On Brigitte's side of the family we find confirmation that her parents were Robert Flesch and Marie Anne Demange. Further research also shows that Brigitte had some siblings. First was Marie Eugenia Flesch. She married William Henry Meyer and immigrated to the US before Ludwig and Brigitte. The Meyer family is mentioned in Ludwig's (Luis) paperwork as Elizabeth, New Jersey. It was here that the family was heading to when they arrived in the United States

I've known for a while that Brigitte also had a brother Camille. He was the conductor of a couple of community bands in Alsace, for which I have postcard images of. To date, I have yet to find his birth record ... however, I have also found another sibling. There is a record for a R. Flesch. This would be either a reference for a 4th child born to Robert and Marie or it might be the record for 'Camille' ... research continues.

As I continue to research these leads, the hardest part is now reading and translating the script. Unfortunately this will take time as the images were not scanned at a super high quality resolution. Thus, it makes it harder to read even if enlarged. Time will tell, but finally the brick wall has started to crack!

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Lawrence Family Legacy

Thanks to a distant cousin of Les', Barbara (Lawrence) Witham of Maine, Eileen and I recently received new images of family members not seen before. Amongst the pictures were images of Eileen's great-grandparents Laban and Clara. Posted here for all to enjoy. Thanks again Barbara for sending these.

Oct 1966 - Thelma & Cyril Lawrence, Cape May, N. J. Dog Angie is 20 years old.

c. 1950; Leslie Lawrence & his mother Thelma

Standing L-R; Bliss B. & Leslie A.; Seated; Cyril & their mother, Clara Lawrence Harris in Beverly, Mass.

Clara and Laban Fremont Lawrence

Grandma Clara Lawrence Harris with son Cyril and dog in Beverly, Mass.

George & Clara Lawrence Harris' home on Liberty St., Rockland, Mass. (I think that Un. Cyril and Aunt Thelma are standing on the right side)

George & Clara Lawrence Harris' home on Liberty St., Rockland, Mass. - side view George Harris probably did some of the building as he was an excellent carpenter. The little extension on the side was Grandma's idea - it was built so the iceman could put ice in the icebox, but not get into the kitchen.

Brothers - Bliss & Leslie Lawrence in Beverly Mass.

L-R; Bliss B., Clara Lawrence Harris, Leslie & Cyril in Beverly, Mass.

Cyril Laban Lawrence taken March 15, 1941

Clara (Bowser) Lawrence Harris

Cyril, Bliss & Leslie Lawrence

Tuesday, September 6, 2011

Sackville Trip Part Two

As part of our Sackville, NB trip, Eileen and I also visited the Westcock Cemetery which is on the outskirts of town heading toward and area known as Woodpoint. At first we got a little lost, but thanks to a local who was passing by on the road, we finally found the cemetery.

Westcock Cemetery

Barren Ground Hill Rd.

Woodpoint

Directions; Take Route #106 towards Dorchester – once out of town, at fork in road, take Route #935 toward Woodpoint (aka Woodpoint Rd.) – after immediately crossing RR tracks take a right turn onto Brittish Settlement East Rd. - Follow until first(?) left; Barren Ground Hill Road. Cemetery will be towards the top of the hill on the Left. The Barnes/Lawrence plots are in the closest section near the road (upward on the hill).

Here lies the body of

John Barnes

Who died April 18, 1815

In the 77^th year of his age

Mark from the tombs a

Doleful sound my ears

Attend. The cry ye living

Men come view the

Ground where you must

Shortly lie

This stone is erected by

Oliver Barnes

In tribute of filial

Affection to Departed

Worth

In Memory of

Martha

Wife of John Barnes

Who departed this life

January 1, 1824 in the

82^nd year of her age

Jesus said unto them

I am the resurrection

And the life.

The image to the left was one I found online prior to our visit to Westcock Cemetery. It was no longer there … the stone above must have been put there in its place – history unknown at this time.

In Memory of

George Lawrence

Died
Oct. 4^th 1870
Aged 66 Years

We wait for thy loving kindness
O God in the midst of thy people

Jacobina

His Wife

Died June 4, 1874
Aged 60 Years

Our prayer is to God!

Memory of

Mary J.

Daughter of George &

Jacobina Lawrence

Who Died

Sep. 30 1852

Aged 19 years

In Memory of
George Lawrence

Died

Oct. 29, 1910

Aged 70 yrs.

His Wife

Mary E. Purdy
1843 - 1929

Monday, August 29, 2011

Trip to Sackville to find the "Lawrences" part one

July 27, 2011

This was a long day trip from Frenchville, Me … Eileen and I left at 5:45 am and arrived in the area Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada around 11:00 am. It had rained on and off all day … a very wet day. After arriving in the area we first got a bite to eat then headed for a cemetery (not knowing what or where it was) that was listed on an copy of a 1862 map that I had come across. I thought it might be the Four Corners Burying Ground, but as it turns out it was the Old Methodist Cemetery. There were two cemeteries that we knew we wanted to visit as they would contain the remains of family members.

So listed below are what we found in the Four Corners Burying Ground

Four Corners Burying Ground

137-163 Church Street

Middle Sackville, NB.

GPS N45.93529 W64.34015

Aka Upper Sackville Cemetery (Doug Ayers) and Tantramar Cemetery (W.C. Milner)

Church Street

Section 3

Sacred Sacred

To the memory of To the memory of

William Sarah

Lawrence Wife of

Who departed this life William Lawrence

April 7 1857 who departed this life

In the 86^th year of Nov. 21 1855

his age (aged 80 yrs)

Erected

William, George & James Lawrence

In Memory

Of their father

William Lawrence

Who departed this life July 2^nd 1822

--------

Our father, dear long struggled here

His years will tell four score

Hope and trust he’s now at rest

Trouble knows no more.

The record below was found at the Boultenhouse Heritage Museum. I didn’t take a shot of the stone as I couldn’t read it. The stone should be the third from the left in the picture below.

Erected in memory of

Huldah, the wife of William

Lawrence and three of their

Children who lie near this stone

Their Son David November 27^th 1777

Aged 7 month; died and

Their Daughter Huldah died March

23^rd 1782 Aged 3 years.

Their Son Nathan died April 25^th

1795 in his 20^th year.

And Huldah Lawrence the mother

Departed this life January the 14^th

1803 in the 57^th year of her age.

(also) D.L., H.L., N.L., and H.L., [footstone]

Did not see these … maybe under turf – future excavation?

Nathan Lawrence

Died

April 21 1875

AE 74

Also his wife

Ann

Died June 7, 1844

AE 39

Martha Ann

Died

March 1847

AE 9

Thos Ansley

Died Oct. 16 1848

AE 22

Children of N & A
Lawrence

NOTE: I think this is part of the family of George and Mary Eddy Lawrence, but not sure as the record that I have of their ‘Nathan’ is born in 1820 … according to the tombstone, he would have to be born in 1801.

The text below from records in Boultenhouse Heritage Museum … Stone is too covered with moss to actually read at this time – need to be cleaned in the future.

Eddy Lawrence

Died

December 20^th 1818*

AE 19

George Lawrence Joseph Lawrence

Died Died

Sept. 1, 1829 April 7, 1860

Aged 57 Years Aged 46 Years

Mary Eddy Lawrence

His wife died Died

Sept 19, 1867 Dec 20, 1834*

Aged 91 Years Aged 19 years

* I believe this date as recorded on the monument stone is in error if one compares it to the Headstone for ‘Eddy' [Confusion of year w/ Sibling Olive?]

Olive Lawrence

Died

Dec. 23, 1834

Aged 29 Years

Mary Lawrence

Died

June 6, 1830

Aged 11 Years

Rebecca Bulmer
(Rebecca Lawrence)

Died

July 9, 1859

Aged 40 Years

John & Nelson

Died

Sons of

Rebecca Bulmer

       Sacred to the Memory of
               Elijah Ayer
A Native of Norwich Connectcut
   Who died the 16^th Nove, 1799
              In his 73^rd Year

                         (Thomas Ayer is also next to Elijah)

Thomas Ayer

Died

May 24, 1829

Aged 62 years

Taken from records at Boultenhouse Heritage Museum as stone is too deteriorated to read …

[In Memory of]

Mary

Daughter of George & Mary

Lawrence who died June 6^th

in the 11th year of her age

And also

Olive

Their daughter who died [in]

1834 in the 23^rd year of her [age]

Nelson Lawrence

1815 - 1897

J. Elizabeth

Died

April 5 1878

Aged 4 yrs, 9 mos.

Little Mary

Died

April 13, 1878

Aged 2 yrs, 2 mos.

Children of Jane &

Nelson Lawrence

Four lines of epithet – need to be cleaned

So it can be read – Future Trip

   Sarah Jane
      Wife of
Nelson Lawrence
   1842 - 1919

Section 4

Laben Lawrence (This Eileen's GG-grandfather)

Died

July 17, 1875

Aged 69 yrs

Elizabeth (1^st Wife)

Wife of

Laben Lawrence

Died

Nov 17 1864

Aged 58 years

Lucretia A. (2^nd Wife)
Life of
Laben Lawrence
1828 – 1909

Look for more to come in part two ... Westcock Cemetery

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Bostonian History

I've been reading a biography of Benjamin Franklin, by Walter Isaacson over the past few months purely for my own edification. A few weeks ago I finished it. In the epilogue, I found one entry that was simply amazing to me. Beside the American persona he has become, he was first and foremost a business man. Of course, history tells us he resided mainly in two cities during the course of his lifetime ... Boston and Philadelphia. At the time of his death in 1790, he left an unusual provision in his last will and testament.

He noted that, unlike the other founders of the country, he was born poor and had been helped in his rise by those who supported him as a struggling artisan. "I wish to be useful even after my death, if possible, in forming and advancing other young men that many be serviceable to their country." So he designated the £2,000 he had earned as President of Pennsylvania - citing his often expressed belief that officials should serve without pay - to be split between the towns of Boston and Philidelphia and provided as loans, "at 5 percent per annum, to such young married artificers" who had served apprenticeships and were now seeking to establish their own businesses. Isaacson, Walter; Benjamin Franklin, An American Life; pg 473 & 474.

Isaacson goes on to say that these funds were not completely exhausted until 2001! For some reason that fact stuck in my mind and I put the book away on my library shelf

Well ... jump to a few weeks later ... I have been going over the Winnek Genealogy again. As I was reading the notes regarding John Winnek, my 4th Great Grandfather, in Kelly McGean's "Genealogy of Some Descendants of Frederick Winnek ..." (*), I came across the following note.

"Boston City Document 81" is a report of the Trustees of the Franklin Fund and their efforts in support of young mechanics. On page 20 of that document the following is written. "It appears from the Book of Applications to the Franklin Fund that the following young mechanics, many of whom were enrolled among Boston's most honored citizens, applied in the year 1791 for the benefit of this donation, and were its first recipients ... May 31, 1791, John Winnek, Saddler, granted 120 dollars."

It seems that my great grandfather was one of the first recipients of Benjamin Franklin's gift to the city of Boston! Who knew?!

John Winnek

* on a sad note ... as I was interested in knowing more information regarding this publication, I reached out to contact Kelly McGean. Unfortunately, as of late March, he and his wife were traveling in Europe and died in a plane crash. On behalf of the family, I have sent our condolences to his son James and family.