For All My Relations

Were William and James the Same Man?

2012-02-02T20:12:00.003-05:00

One of the quandries in my family tree is following the trail left by my maternal great-great-grandfather, William James Scott of Rutland, Vermont and Worcester, Massachusetts. He was born William James and was married to my great-great-grandmother, Hannah (Scott) Scott, as sometimes William C. Scott and sometimes William S. Scott. After Hannah’s death in 1896, he hangs around as William for a few years but then abruptly becomes James Scott and marries for a second time in 1898.

This wouldn’t be so bad if it weren’t for the fact that while he still identified as William Scott, a separate James Scott appears in the records, in nearly the exact location. I’m talking just a few houses away. Then in 1900, records mentioning William cease and there is only one James Scott around. To further complicate things, William James’ nephew, William H. Scott, lives in the area and is busy leaving records nearly identical to his uncle.

Confused? I was too. Even my great-grandmother, Nellie Scott Toney, and her siblings were confused over their father's true name. In various records left by the siblings, dad is identified as James, James William, William James, and just plain William. As part of a ProGen assignment, I created a spreadsheet to sort out all of the William and James Scotts living in Worcester during the time I believe my great-great grandfather was alive. Below is the abbreviated version.

Record Description	Evidence Given
Death record for Hannah E. Scott	Spouse is listed as William J. Scott.
Obituary for Hannah E. Scott	Hannah is called the “wife of William J. Scott”.
Birth record of Nellie Louisa Scott	This record names the parents of Nellie as Wm C. and Hannah E. Scott (Scott).
Marriage record for Nellie L. Scott	Nellie named her parents as William and Hannah E. Scott
Social Security Application of Nellie L. (Scott) Toney	Nellie named her parents as James William Scott and Hanah [sic] Scott.
Obituary of Nellie L. (Scott) Toney	Parents named as William and Hannah (Scott) Scott.
Birth record of Clarence W. Scott	This record names the parents of Clarence as Wm C. and Hannah E. Scott.
Death record of Clarence Scott	This record names the parents of baby Clarence as William S. and Hannah E. Scott.
Birth record of Frank James Scott	This record names the parents of Frank as Wm and Fannie Scott (Scott).
Death record of Frank Scott	This record names the parents of Frank as James W. Scott and Hannah E. Scott.
Obituary of Frank Scott	The father of Frank is named James W. Scott.
Birth record of Edward C. Scott	This record names the parents of Edward as Wm E. and Hannah E. Scott.
Death record of William James Scott	This record gives the date of death as 14 April 1913. It gives the parents of William James Scott as William Scott and Harriet Quon [sic].
Marriage record of William S. Scott and Henrietta A. Sutherland, 1898	This marriage took place two years after the death of Hannah Scott. The parents of the groom were William S. Scott and Harriet Quow.
Death record for Willie Scott, 1901	Willie’s parents are listed as William J. Scott and Henrietta A. Southerland.

It's easy to see how the William and James are most likely the same man in this chart. I also have newspaper reports of his death and census records that support that supposition. But I still have the mystery of the second James Scott living and working in the same neighborhood - not to mention the mystery of why William suddenly (or so it seems to me) starting using James instead of William. And until I sort that out, I won't be satisfied with who my great-great grandfather actually is.

Until next time,
Aquene!

Hassanamesit

2012-01-08T21:24:00.001-05:00

On September 6, 2011, the National Register of Historic Places added the Hassanamisco Reservation to its list of national treasures. Known as Hassanamesit, the under 4 acre reservation serves as the cultural and spiritual center of the Nipmuc Nation, a state-recognized tribe in Massachusetts. Located on the reservation is the Cisco Homestead, which for two centuries served as home to Nipmuc tribal leaders and now houses the Hassanamisco Indian Museum.

Nipmucs occupied Hassanamesit since before recorded time. In the mid 1600s, missionary John Eliot established a "Praying Plantation or Town" in Hassanamesit in an effort to "Christianize" the native population. Metacom's Rebellion (June 1675 - August 1676) brought an end to the praying town era, and in 1728, English settlers divided Hassanamesit into lots reserving some parcels for the Nipmuc families still living there.

: Hassanamesit Allotments - 1728

The current reservation is all that remains of the Moses Printer allotment. A wood frame house was built in 1801 for Moses' great-granddaughter, Lucy Gimby. Lucy's granddaughter, Sarah Arnold Cisco, became the Nipmuc tribal leader in the mid 1850s and the house became known as the Cisco Homestead. In 1962, it became the Hassanamisco Indian Museum although the family still occupied the addition in the back of the building. The last member of the Cisco family to occupy the Homestead was Shelleigh Wilcox who moved from the reservation in 2006.

: Cisco Homestead

Hassanamesit has meaning for all Nipmucs as it is the only land in Massachusetts that has never been occupied by non-Natives. And the Homestead is the oldest structure in southern New England to be continuously occupied by Native people.

Thanks to all who assisted and supported this journey, in particular Chief Natachaman of the Nipmuc Nation and the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc Indians.
Many thanks and an abundance of gratitude to our ancestors who kept this land intact for our generations and those to come.

Writing & Genealogy

2012-01-01T19:28:00.001-05:00

As the calendar refreshes, I'm going to take advantage of the newness and set some goals for the coming calendar year. Some are personal and perennial, like losing weight, taking better care of myself, and fixing different parts of my house and yard. Stuff like that. Writing is also personal to me. Before nursing, I made my living in corporate communications but always loved fiction. I still do lots of writing for nonprofits and, of course, genealogy clients. But this year I'm gonna write for myself. My immediate goal is to combine my freelance writing business, Creative Writings, with my genealogy business, PastTense Genealogy.

My Writing Goals for the next 12 months-
1. Schedule time on a weekly basis to outline and draft the histories of 2 of my own family lines.
2. Write every day and update blogs at least weekly.
3. Schedule time every week for marketing my business including a set number of queries per month.
4. Complete (as best I can) the research on and begin to outline the report on a study on the emigration patterns of Black farmers in Vermont (3 of my family lines are in this group!)
5. I really want to find Molly Pegan's parents.
6. Finish and publish 2 E-books. Maybe three!
7. Create an online Nipmuc history course for tribal members who live out of the area.
8. Write one grant per quarter for the museum.
9. Finish the short story I'm currently writing and parlay that into a cozy mystery series. (Hey! A girl can dream, can't she?)
10. That's enough!

My personal goals include slowing down and focusing only on those things that truly matter. The past 12 months were truly unpleasant for me both personally (I really miss you Antonia) and professionally (my nursing job). I actually cut ties with those who only sought to do harm (you know who you are) and wound up hurt and confused regarding a very basic emotion (what was I thinking? Am still thinking?)
There were some positives in those 12 months. My oldest daughter married (wait, I went into debt over that...), my community is actively working on working together (although there are some that continually try to derail that), I refinanced my mortgage and cut mucho money from my monthly bills, my oldest nephew got engaged and bought his first home, and I reconnected with some very important family members that I'd missed terribly.

For now, back to Molly. I will take yet another look at each piece of evidence that I have for her. I've already expanded my search to the records and histories of her guardians and their families. I should also investigate all known Pegans from that era to see if there is any connection - of course, I did this some years ago but it won't hurt to do it again.
Aquene,
Cher

Introducing My Brick Wall - Molly Pegan

2011-11-14T19:32:00.001-05:00

I am an enrolled member of a state-recognized tribe, the Nipmuc Nation, also known as the Hassanamisco Band of Nipmuc Indians. We have a reservation in Grafton, MA that has been occupied by our people since long before recorded time.

(See http://nipmucmuseum.org/blog/2011/11/10/hassanamisco-reservation-on-the-national-register-of-historic-places/). Many members of my community have tried to unravel the mystery of Molly Pegan/Piggen Pollock Woodland (abt. 1753 to after 1841) but none have succeeded, yet.

Here are the known facts about Molly Pegan:

Molly was the mother of Nancy Pollock Curliss and grandmother of Mary Curliss Vickers.^[1]
Molly was 84 years old in 1837 when she filed a claim for a widow's pension placing her date of birth about 1753.^[2]
Molly was raised in Killingly, CT by Rev. Aaron Brown.^[3]
Pegan is a surname commonly attributed to Nipmuc Indians in Natick, MA and Webster/Dudley, MA.^[4]
Granddaughter Mary Curliss Vickers identified grandmother, Molly, as a Dudley Indian.^[5]
Molly married twice – when she was 19 to Mingo Pollock and, after Mingo's death in 1798, she married Jacob Woodland.^[6]
Molly was the mother of four children – Nancy, Diana, Hannah and Pero.^[7]
Molly was living with Christopher Curliss/Corlis, husband of daughter, Nancy, in 1841 in Thompson, CT.^[8]

Here’s what I think:

Molly was the daughter of Thomas Pegan, a proprietor in the Indian towns of Natick and Dudley. This speculation is based on Thomas' age and that he once resided in Killingly, CT. Also, the practice of removing Indian children from their homes and placing them in English households to be raised "properly" was common in colonial Massachusetts. It is uncertain if this was also practiced in neighboring NE Connecticut.

My main questions about Molly are:

Who were Molly's parents?
Why was she "raised" by Rev. Brown?
Where was Molly born?
Where and when did she die?
Is Molly one of the Nipmuc Pegan Indians?
Did she have siblings? If so, were they also raised by English families?

These records were searched:

Massachusetts Bay Indian Guardianship Records – Massachusetts Archives

Commonwealth of Massachusetts Indian Guardianship Records – Mass Archives

John Milton Earle Papers – American Antiquarian Society

Natick, MA Vital Records – Massachusetts Archives, Natick Town Hall

Dudley, MA Vital Records – Massachusetts Archives, Dudley Town Hall

Killingly, CT Vital Records – Connecticut State Library, Killingly Town Hall

Killingly, CT Town Records – Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society

Revolutionary War Pension Files

Census Records

Massachusetts Vital Records

These records need to be searched (or so I believe):

Early Connecticut Records (state and colony level) – Connecticut State Library

Rhode Island Vital Records – Worcester Public Librar

Probate and Court Records in Windham County, CT

Vital and Town Records in towns surrounding Killingly (in Windham County).

My Plan was/is:

Begin with Killingly Town records. Extend investigation to Rev. Aaron Brown and his family/congregation.
Search again through CT vital records for Killingly, Thompson and surrounding towns and Natick and Dudley, MA at both state and local levels.
Investigate state/colony records for Connecticut and Windham County. Focus search on Indian/colored indentures and custody of Indian children.
Research Mingo Pollock and Jacob Woodland – their origins, families, and neighbors.
Research Thomas Pegan and other Pegans that may be related to Molly in central MA, NE CT and NW RI.

What do YOU think? How can I break this brick wall?

^[1] H. Capron letter, 20 October 1859; letter to John Milton Earle, Commissioner to the Indians, Commonwealth of
Massachusetts; Earle, John Milton, Papers, 1652-1863, Mss. Dept., Mss. Boxes “E”, Octavo Vols. “E”, American
Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA.

^[2] Deposition of Claimant, 27 May 1837, Molly Woodland, widow's pension application no. W 17469; service of Mingo
Pollock (Pvt., Captain Stephen Crosby's Co., Connecticut, Revolutionary War); Case Files of Pension and Bounty-Land
Warrant Applications Based on Revolutionary War Service, compiled ca. 1800 - ca. 1912, documenting the period ca.
1775 - ca. 1900; Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty-Land Warrant Application Files; NARA M804; Record Group
15; National Archives, Washington, DC.

^[3] Deposition of Sarah Warren, 12 March 1838, Molly Woodland, widow's pension application no. W 17469; NARA
M804; RC 15, National Archives, Washington, DC.

^[4] Daniel R. Mandell, Behind the Frontier: Indians in 18th Century Eastern Massachusetts (Lincoln, NE: University of
Nebraska Press, 1996), 84.

^[5] H. Capron letter to John Milton Earle, 28 October 1859; John Milton Earle Papers, AAS, Worcester, MA.

^[6] Deposition of Claimant, Molly Woodland, widow's pension application no. W 17469; NARA M804; RC 15, National
Archives, Washington, DC.

^[7] H. Capron letter to John Milton Earle, 28 October 1859; John Milton Earle Papers, AAS, Worcester, MA.

^[8] Bureau of the Census, 1840 Census of Pensioners Revolutionary or Military Services (Washington: Blair and Rives,
1841) 58.

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T04:37:00.001-05:00

The day before yesterday I lied. I wrote that my next post would be about my 6th great-grandmother, Molly Pegan. I changed my mind. This post is a tribute to my Veteran relations.

I am a warrior - descended from generations of warriors. My brother Carl recently retired from a career in the Navy and my brother AB will retire from the Air Force in a couple of years. My step-father, Alfred Bruce Shepard (6 August 1939-23 January 1988) was a Vietnam-era Air Force veteran, although he never served in Vietnam. His father, Peter Shepard (14 August 1910-16 February 1967) served in both World War II and Korea.

My maternal grandfather, Leonard Homer Hazzard (26 June 1916-11 April 1998) and my paternal grandfather, Walter Andrew Bostic (30 September 1919-27 December 1999) both served in the armed forces during World War II. Several great-uncles and cousins also served during WWII.

Albert, Frank, and Fred Toney - November 1943

WWII Enlistment Record of Leonard Hazzard

Undated photo of Walter Bostic in uniform

As far as I know, my relations did not serve in WWI but plenty - from Vermont to Connecticut - served in the Civil War. I have two Revolutionary War ancestors, Mingo Pollock, a free black man from Thompson,CT and James Pegan, a Nipmuc from Dudley, MA.

I am certain that many relations fought in Metacom's Rebellion in 1675 (also known as King Philip's War) and I take special pride in believing that my ancestors burned down the English settlement in Worcester, MA, not once but twice.

Thanks for reading. Next time we'll explore my brick wall, Molly Pegan.

this post shalt be nameless

2011-11-10T15:05:00.001-05:00

I have a confession. I haven't written creatively or created a single piece of art since someone close to me passed on nearly a year ago. I still go to work everyday, write the things I have to write and do the things I have to do. I've kinda sorta maintained my other blog - Unnai. But that's work-related, anything for fun or personal fulfillment has been left by the side of the road - untouched and unappreciated.Which brings me to this much neglected blog. My children tell me that I can't lie on the couch forever. I hear my ancestors calling for me to get up and get on with it. And so I shall - hopefully. Talk with you soon about my neglected ancestors. First up will be Molly Pegan Pollock Woodland, born about 1754.Kuttabotomish,Cher

One Lovely Blog Award

2011-04-21T13:56:00.002-04:00

I had a surprise awaiting me when I arrived home from my so very lovely vacation. Cheri Daniels of Journeys Past and my fellow-ProGen-er Bruce Hillman of The Hillmans of Elgin County awarded me the "One Lovely Blog" Award. Thank you both so much! To accept this award, I must obey the official rules - but I must warn you, many of the blogs I read are not about genealogy!

The official rules are as follows:
1. Acknowledge receipt by posting on your blog.

2. Nominate 15 other blogs that you think are lovely.

3. Email each person that they have been nominated.

Here go my 15 nominations!

Marian Pierre-Louis of Marian's Roots and Rambles
Jo Arnspiger of Those Who Went Before!
Amanda Perrine of Amanda's Athenaeum
Angela Y. Walton-Raji of My Ancestor's Name
Robyn at Reclaiming Kin
Sandra Taliaferro at I Never Knew My Father
Lynn Palermo at The Armchair Genealogist
Carol Tice at Make a Living Writing
Kristin Cleage from My Cleages and Reeds
Kristin Cleage at Finding Eliza
Kathleen Brandt of a3Genealogy
Bead Art Originals at Bead Art Originals
Robin Foster at Saving Stories
Hassanamisco Indian Museum at Unnai
DearMYRTLE at Genea-Quilters

Thank you again to Cheri and Bruce for the lovely award!

Breaking Down Brickwalls in African-American Research

2011-03-31T12:55:00.000-04:00

Lucie Lewis, Ed.D. will present part 2 of her great-grandmother’s story in The Next Steps: Breaking through Brickwalls: the Florence Virginia Jenkins Story Continues at the 11th New England Regional Genealogical Conference. The conference, held every other spring, will be from April 6th to the 10th in Springfield, Massachusetts.

A Passion for Family History

Some have heard or read the story about how Lucie became interested in genealogy. It all began with helping her then 4^th-grader with his family tree for a school report. Many a genealogist got their start in that same way. But what was it about her child’s report that unleashed the inner genealogist in Lucie? It was the realization that she herself knew so little. Raised in an extremely private family that discouraged talk about past things, she denied her own feelings about wanting to know her roots. Participation in her son’s project “flamed the passions” for seeking out her family history. Lucie’s enthusiasm spread through her extended family enabling others to begin their own research. Genealogy is now a family activity and “thrilling” for Lucie to see.

Freelance Writer, Educator, Motivator, and, of course, Genealogist

Before genealogy, Lucie worked in a variety of fields including banking, economic development, and higher education. In 2009, Lucie launched Creative Futures LLC. As a principal in the company, she offers professional writing services to a variety of clients. She also authors the blog Transitioning With Grace. Lucie explains that her blog is the vehicle she uses to allow her to work through the circumstances of her life. Through the blog, she shares her thoughts and pathways as a help to others who may be experiencing similar issues. Lucie also provides content for a number of online markets and is a member of the Society for Technical Communication. This is her second presentation at NERGC – returning because of a promise made to her audience two years ago to return with more of Florence’s story.

African-American Research

In our interview, Lucie remarked on some of the challenges involved researching our African- American ancestors. A major stumbling block for many family historians is researching past the year 1870. Slave research becomes a complicated mix of knowing the area where your ancestors likely lived, who their owners may have been, and what records are available. Researching beyond 1870 requires a learned understanding of patterns and cultures that are not present in other American groups. Other obstacles in researching African-American ancestors are the secret, untold stories that many families have. Elders may withhold vital information to protect past family secrets or create family legends and stories to divert the truth. According to Lucie, there are times when you don’t understand why you can’t go any further in your research only to find that you’ve been going the wrong way all along. Had the truth been known from the onset, your research may have followed a different path.

Breaking Down Those Walls

Lucie’s best advice for breaking through your own brick walls? “Don’t give up! Don’t get discouraged!” While admitting that she hates “when the records win”, she also cautions researchers that, as hard as it is to accept, sometimes the records don’t exist. Some things may never be found. There aren’t always readily available answers and some brick walls may seem immoveable. But in the end, your need for the story will keep you looking. Lucie also encourages others to continue to educate themselves by attending conferences and other programs. Listening to and learning from other researcher’s may shine a light of understanding on your own research.

Interview With Sherry Gould

2011-03-18T21:02:00.001-04:00

Will you be at the 11^th New England Regional Genealogical Conference in Springfield, Massachusetts come April? Sherry Gould will be. Sherry will co-present “Discovering Your Native American Roots in Northern New England” with Paul Bunnell. I spoke with Sherry recently about the conference, Native American research, and, of course, the pursuit of ancestors.

Dedication to Community

Sherry's passion for sharing her skills, knowledge and resources with others was apparent throughout our conversation. She currently serves as the Executive Director of Wijokadoak Inc, an agency that focuses on Abenaki language instruction, child welfare, and other Native issues in New Hampshire. Sherry and her husband Bill are Abenaki basket makers. Together they run Western Abenaki Baskets, creating and selling traditional Abenaki fancy and utilitarian baskets. Adding to this busy schedule are the Native American genealogy research programs Sherry conducts throughout New Hampshire. She also invites family historians interested in pursuing their Native American roots to weekly workshops and instruction in her home.

Alternative Sources

Sherry has a varied expertise in genealogy. Besides her focus on Native American genealogy, she is a genealogist for the New Hampshire Society of Colonial Dames verifying early colonial families and lineages. She has also written more than a dozen articles for the New England Genealogical and Historical Society on New Hampshire research. These articles can be found on the Society’s website at www.americanancestors.org.

I asked Sherry about the differences and similarities between colonial and Native ancestral research. She replied that while there are many similarities in records research between the two cultures, the methodology involved in Native American research can be unique. She stresses the involvement of oral history in tracking down Northern New England Native ancestries. Because of the history between the indigenous peoples of New England and the European colonists and the associated traumas, written records for colonial era Native Americans are not always clear in matters of race. Alternative sources can sometimes best answer Native research questions. What sorts of alternative sources may be answered during her conference presentation!

Be Tenacious

Sherry’s advice for family historians searching for Native American ancestors? Don’t get discouraged! Expect twists and turns in following the paths of your ancestors. Be creative when considering alternative sources for traditional records. Be persistent, be tenacious, be thick-skinned, and, especially, keep looking.

8lsanten ak8oi (Make Peace),

Cheryll

Family History Writing Challenge Aftermath

2011-03-08T18:07:00.001-05:00

The challenge is over but I did want to update both of my readers on how I did during the month. While it was my pleasure to write about the life and experiences of my great-grandmother, Nellie Louisa Scott Toney, I did not meet my goal. Twice I stopped to do additional research and there were a few days when I just didn’t get the chance to write anything.

Newspaper clipping from November 1943 showing Grama Nellie’s sons, Albert and Frank Toney, and her grandson, Frederick Toney. The boys were home on leave for Edwin Toney’s funeral.

One of the things I discovered during this process that amazed me was that I hadn’t paid close attention to the “facts” that I collected about Grama Nellie. For instance, in my “Toney” notebook, I clearly list all of her children with their birthdates and dates of death. I’ve had this information in the notebook for literal years. Yet, while writing about her childbearing years, I discovered (to my shame) that I never noticed that 1926 was a significant year for her, full of both joy and heartbreak.

Her youngest son, Edward Manuel, was born in January 1926, twenty-one years after the birth of her eldest child, Cora. But in April of that same year, her two-year old daughter, Ethel, died of complications of tuberculosis. And if that was not tragic enough, just three months later, in July, her 12-year old, Esther, also passed away from tuberculosis.

How did she do it? I can’t imagine the strength to endure such tragedy while caring for a newborn. I do know that portraits in large oval frames of Esther and Ethel hung on the wall in Grama Nellie’s house until she passed. One hangs in my mother’s house now although no one knows if its Ethel or Esther. According to my mother, the other portrait disappeared when my great-uncle Eddie claimed the frame it resided in. None of Grama Nellie’s other children had such portraits.

Grama Nellie’s husband and six of her ten children predeceased her. That she endured to care for subsequent generations of Toneys, including myself, is a testament to her strength, her love, and her beauty. I will finish her story. I want others to know just how magnificent she was.

Still Writing about Nellie

2011-02-14T12:41:00.002-05:00

Today is Day 14 of the Family History Writing Challenge posed by The Armchair Genealogist. The month is half over and my progress in writing the life story of my Grama Nellie (below) has been fair. While I am not writing everyday, I am trying to make up for that on other days.I am, of course, finding that the more I write, the more I don’t know. My "notes for further research” is getting quite long.

While the writing is centered on Nellie Louisa Scott Toney, much of her life story intertwines with her family. All but her uncle, Charles Scott (the first African-American council member in Worcester, Massachusetts), appear quite ordinary – until you get to know them. Grama Nellie’s paternal side were land owners and farmers in Vermont until they pulled up roots in the mid-to-late 1800s and moved (along with nearly every other person of color in Vermont) to Massachusetts. What precipitated this move en masse you ask? Stay tuned to find out!

Grama Nellie’s maternal grandparents were born into slavery in Virginia and emigrated to New England (yes, I think that New England is a separate country) with a Methodist missionary group. Which may explain why some years later Grama Nellie founded – with her husband- a Methodist church in Worcester.

8lsanten ak8oi (Make Peace),
Cheryll

Technorati Tags: genealogy,Worcester,african-american,vermont,history

The 28-day Family History Writing Challenge

2011-02-04T20:16:00.001-05:00

The Armchair Genealogist has issued the challenge – and I have answered it, I think. This challenge encourages genealogists and family historians to stop procrastinating and start writing.

My subject will be my great-great grandfather, William James Scott. He has been pretty elusive. While I knew his daughter, my great-grandmother, Nellie Louisa Scott Toney, I don’t recall her ever talking about her father. Grama Nellie died during my freshman year in college and I wish almost daily that I had asked her about her family.

I change my mind. I will write about Grama Nellie. Of course, William will be included as well. But I think if I am to take this challenge seriously, then I should write about someone I truly loved and respected. A woman who gave love to her family and always stood strong for them.

Here are a few facts from her life:

Nellie Louisa Scott was born in Worcester, MA on 19 September 1887
Her parents were William James Scott and Hannah E. (Scott) Scott
Her mother died 4 November 1896 when she was nine years old.
She had 4 brothers, three from her mom and one from her step-mom.
She married Edwin Alexander Toney on 5 April 1905.
She lived in Worcester her entire life.
She had ten children.
She passed on 25 March 1981.

Please follow along while I write about this beloved woman. Or don’t. I will write on anyway.

8lsanten ak8oi (Make Peace),

Cheryll

Looking for Your Native American Ancestry in Massachusetts? Aquinnah (Gayhead) Wampanoag

2011-02-04T19:42:00.001-05:00

Until 1869, Massachusetts Indians were wards of the state, not subject to taxation and disenfranchised. The Enfranchisement Act of 1869 changed that – not only did the law make citizens of the Commonwealth’s Native population, it also opened up communal lands held by Natives for sale to non-Indians. Committees were formed to investigate Indian lands that might be subject to sale. One such investigation on the island of Martha’s Vineyard included a detailed census of the island’s Wampanoag residents.

In 1866, the legislature appointed a Commission to “complete the examination and determination of all questions of title to land, and of all boundary lines between the individual owners, at Gay Head, on the Island of Martha's Vineyard.” The “questions of title to land, and of all boundary lines” was a sore point with the Massachusetts government due to the Aquinnah’s unique method of distributing land to their tribal members.

When an Aquinnah came of age, he would fence off land from the common area for his own use. The size of the area did not matter – it could be 1 acre or 5 acres or ten. The amount depended on what the member felt he needed. Several legislative reports from the colonial period on remarked on the method of dispersal and claimed that it could not continue.indefinitely.

This 1866 report (published in 1870) not only defined boundaries between privately held Gayhead lands and common areas but included a census of all members of the tribe whether on the island or living elsewhere. The details included in the census is a genealogical goldmine of information. The screenshots below demonstrate the two page chart system.

Page 1 gives the assigned number of the member, name, sex, when born, where born, residence, condition (married, widowed, etc.), and occupation.

Page 2 lists the assigned number, when married, parents, parents’ residence, father’s birthplace, mother’s birthplace, father’s occupation.

This entire report can be found online at the State Library of Massachusetts at http://archives.lib.state.ma.us/handle/2452/48290

8lsanten ak8oi (Make Peace),

Cheryll

Cisco Homestead Restoration is Underway!

2010-11-08T20:47:00.001-05:00

Technorati Tags: museum,nipmuc,preservation,Cisco

By – D. Rae Gould, Ph.D, Tribal Historic Preservation Officer, Nipmuc Nation

This fall the restoration of the Cisco Homestead on the Hassanamisco Reservation in Grafton began. This work has been made possible through a generous Community Preservation grant through the Town of Grafton CPC (Community Preservation Commission) and state Community Preservation Act funds.

The current work is a first-phase stabilization of the building that included installation of a new roof and gutters, stabilizing interior floor components, securing the building from entry by animals, replacing a bulkhead, and re-grading of land around the building to improve drainage. The most visible and perhaps significant transition to the Homestead has been the removal of the front porch, which returns the building to its c. 1900 appearance. The stabilization phase was completed in early November.

ABOVE: The Cisco Homestead as it appeared around the end of the 19^th century (or c. 1900), and

BELOW: The Homestead as it appears today undergoing restoration to its appearance during this time period. Photo credit: Margaret Haynes.

In addition, this fall a completed nomination to have the Hassanamisco Reservation and Cisco Homestead placed on the National Register of Historic Places is being submitted to the Massachusetts Historical Commission (for final submission to the National Register). The completion of the nomination was made possible through grant funding provided by Preservation Massachusetts (http://preservationmass.org/).

In 2009, the Cisco Homestead was added to the list of Massachusetts’ Most Endangered Historic Resources, along with seven other sites, in an effort to increase awareness about the need to preserve and restore this important historic and cultural resource. The completion of the National Register nomination and the placement of this property on the State’s Register of Historic Places will enable the tribe to apply for other state and private funding to move forward with the more extensive restoration of the building. Overall the restoration is estimated to cost around $300,000. With the complete restoration of the homestead, the museum building will again be open for tours, indoor education programs, tribal functions, and will also house the tribal archive and museum collections, which are now in storage.

Anyone interested in assisting with the restoration activities or helping to raise funds through grant writing or contributions is welcome to contact Rae Gould at rgould@snet.net.

Tombstone Tuesday – Indian Burying Ground, Grafton, MA

2010-09-28T18:07:00.001-04:00

This graveyard contains the remains of the “Praying Indians” of the Hassanamesit Praying Plantation established by English missionary John Eliot in 1664. In an attempt to civilize the Native population, plantations or towns were created in Nipmuc territory where Nipmucs could live in frame houses, attend church, and otherwise emulate the English surrounding them. In the mid-1800s, the road pictured above was created bisecting the original graveyard. Remains found over the years as the road was continually improved and widened were placed to the west of the roadway. Sometime in the 1920s, a structure of granite retaining walls and steps were placed to formalize the graveyard and create a resting place for any other remains found. The graveyard is kept and watched over to this day by both the Nipmuc tribe and the Town of Grafton.

2010 Deer Island Memorial

2010-09-22T21:51:00.001-04:00

Information courtesy of Pam Ellis, Natick Nipmuc Tribal Council

2010 Deer Island Memorial

Friday, October 29, 2010 & Saturday, October 30, 2010

October 30, 1675 marked the forced removal of American Indians from what is now South Natick to Deer Island in Boston Harbor, roughly two months after the outbreak of what the English called “King Philip’s War. “ Without adequate food, clothing, shelter or medicine, the majority of the people, mostly women, children, and elders, perished during their imprisonment.

Some survived to return to Natick and the other Praying Towns and joined their relations who had fought and survived the military engagements of the war. Through this Memorial, we honor the sacrifice and survival of all of our ancestors.

Please feel free to join the program at any point along the way.

Friday, October 29, 2010

Sunset to

4:00 am Fasting, Prayer, Pipe Ceremony, Spirit Fire @ Hassanamisco Nipmuc Reservation , Grafton, MA

5:00 pm Spirit Fire

6:00 pm Prayer Circle and Pipe Ceremony conducted by Chief Natachaman, Walter Vickers

Donations of firewood and bottled water gratefully accepted. Please bring a chair and blanket. The fast will begin Friday at First Light – some will end the fast at First Light on Saturday. Others will continue to fast until the Community Meal at the Potluck Feast.

Saturday, October 30, 2010

5:00 am – 1:30 pm Sacred Run and Paddle

5:00 am Sacred Run from the Falls at S. Natick to Watertown boat ramp on Charles River Road

The Sacred Run is twelve miles and will proceed along Route 16 to the boat ramp in Watertown on Charles River Road. Runners must provide their own transportation from Watertown.

8:00 am Sacred Paddle from Watertown to Deer Island

The Sacred Paddle will proceed down the Charles River and through the Inner Harbor to Deer Island. Paddlers must provide their own canoes or kayaks and transportation from Deer Island.

1:00 pm – 3:00 pm Deer Island Prayer Circle and Pipe Ceremony

4:00 pm – 10:00 pm Potluck Feast & Social

Host Drum: Quabbin Lake Singers (Nipmuc)

MC: Larry Spotted Crow Mann (Nipmuc)

Location: Natick Elks, 99 Speen St., Natick MA 01760

Please bring a potluck dish to share.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

Hampton Inn

319 Speen Street

Natick, MA 01760

(508) 653-5000

http://hamptoninn.hilton.com/en/hp/hotels/index.jhtml;jsessionid=S1IXEW4XRFR2WCSGBJT3EWQ?ctyhocn=BOSNTHX&WT.mc_id=1HX2RE3Hotel4OneTagSol

Red Roof Inn

650 Cochituate Road

Framingham, MA 01701

(508) 872-4499

http://www.redroof-boston-framingham.com/

Travelodge

1350 Worcster Road

Rt 9

Natick, MA 01760

(508) 655-2222

http://www.travelodge.com/Travelodge/control/Booking/property_info?propertyId=07068

57th Annual Hassanamesit Indian Fair

2010-08-04T13:16:00.001-04:00

The Fair (or Powwow as some call it) was held on the last Sunday of July on the reservation. Our Fair tends to be small and casual, no paid Head Dancers, no prize money for best dancers - just family, friends, and some tourists.

Here are some pictures taken at the Fair by Nia Holley:

View Full Album

Aquene,

Cheryll

The Storms of Vermont, part 1

2010-06-20T15:24:00.001-04:00

My favorite ancestors these days seem to be the Storms. Originally from Panton and Vergennes, Vermont, several members of the family moved to Worcester and Boston, Massachusetts in the 1870s. Once in Worcester, the Storms and other transplanted Vermonters of color formed the Vermont Club at John St Baptist Church, one of the few Black churches in Worcester.

Hattie Storms, my great-great grandmother, was born on 8 October 1871 in Vergennes to (Jonathan) Robert Storms and Orphia Mason. She married Walter St.Clair Bostic, the son of William Bostic and Rachel Ann Steemer of Pennsylvania on 6 Feb 1890 in Boston MA. She married twice more – the marriage record to Richard Taliaferro on 20 May 1901 lists her as a Hettie E. Perkins, widow. It also lists the “Talioferro” marriage as her second when it should be her third.

I haven’t located a marriage record for Hattie and Mr. Perkins. It is possible that the marriage record is wrong and her last name was “Bostic” at the time but I think it would be difficult to mix up the names Perkins and Bostic on an official record. Another puzzle in Hattie’s marriages is what happened between her and her first husband, Walter Bostic. In the 1920 Federal census, Walter St. Clair Bostic is listed as divorced. I have not yet found that record either.

Hattie died 28 Apr 1926 and was buried by her son, my great-grandfather, Walter Andrew Louis Bostic in Hope Cemetery in Worcester, MA.

Aquene,

Cheryll Toney Holley

What Freedom Means to Me

2010-06-15T20:19:00.001-04:00

This post is in response to the Carnival of African-American Genealogy, 4th edition.

I have always lived in the Northeast of the United States, except for the 10 years that I lived in the Washington, DC area after college. I never thought much about freedom growing up. I lived in a small city where minorities had always been present and few. In fact, most of us lived in one of two neighborhoods in the city. While I had been called the N-word every now and then through the years, I never thought that being who I was gave me less freedom than others.

During my senior year in high school, I accidently found an application to Howard University in Washington, DC in the school library. DC seemed far enough away so I applied. I had never heard of Howard before that moment. I got accepted to Howard and more than a few other schools but Howard gave me a full scholarship so I accepted and my parents made plans to drive me down to DC.

My mother had never been out of our city before and I had never been further than Long Island. Driving down Georgia Avenue, we were stunned. The sidewalks were full of Black people – the whole sidewalk! We had never seen such a thing. We were awestruck! We had lived our entire lives in a place where most of the people didn’t look anything like us and neither of us ever even considered that there might be a place where everyone looked like us.

That is when I knew what freedom really was. I didn’t have to be smarter or prettier or quieter or better than anyone else. I could just be me. I was in a place where the color of my skin didn’t matter (much). And there were plenty of folks my shade. Growing up I always felt different even if I didn’t really know why.

I loved my years in DC and the surrounding areas. I moved back to Massachusetts for family reasons several years ago but go back frequently to visit. I hope to retire to Maryland if I live that long.

So What is Freedom to Me? The Opportunity to Be Me.

Guess I Need an Intro

2010-06-15T19:26:00.001-04:00

This is a new blog so that I can document my own ancestries (Native American and African-American sprinkled with a bit of European) and other African and Native American families from here in New England.

Family names I hope to document here include:

Toney, Scott, Hazzard, Hazard, Pegan, Quow, Harry, Storms, and Bostic.

Hopefully I will update on a regular basis with new and exciting info. And maybe even meet some distant cousins researching the same names.

Aquene, Cheryll