Speedy, Elizabeth b. 1917

Ethel Speedy b. 1880

/ Kirstin Miller

Ethel Speedy, 2nd great aunt  on RootsMagic tree.

Ethel was born 8 July 1880 in Butler County, Iowa. On the 1895 Iowa census Ethel age 17, her dad Manford 55, mom Elizabeth Stewart Speedy 43, siblings Eva 20, Harve 11 and Ernest 6 years old live in the Jackson Township of Butler County. And under one roof they respect 3 religions: Manford is Baptist, Elizabeth is Methodist, Eva and Ethel are Congregationalist.

3 religions

“Iowa State Census, 1895,” database with images, FamilySearch

Also on the census Ethel is a teacher, she Ethel taught at Walnut Grove in 1904 and at Belle Plaine in 1908.  November 25, 1909 Ethel married LeRoy Mead. Herman Wild, husband to Ethel’s sister Eva is witness to the marriage. The Meads stayed in Allison, Iowa for a while then moved to Marengo, Iowa. Roy Mead was a clothing clerk then an insurance salesman. From Ethels’s obituary, before her death she was at the University of Iowa hospitals. Her sister Eva and husband Herman Wild and her brother Harve and wife Philippa Mockford ‘had been with her much of the time since then.’ Ethel died on May 30, 1939. Ethel and Roy Mead are buried at Allison Cemetery.

screenshot

Thursday, June 4th, 1908

screenshot

Thursday, February 4th, 1904

Newspaper snapshots from the Clarksville (Iowa) Star, Digital Archives of the Clarksville Public Library.

Benjamin Child b. 1658

/ Kirstin Miller

Benjamin Child 8th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Benjamin was born in 1658 in Roxbury, Massachusetts, the second son. On March 7, 1683 he married Grace Morris and they may have had 12 children. Benjamin farmed and his family stayed in the Roxbury area. Grace died in December of 1723, Benjamin in January of 1724. They share a headstone, still standing and worn but readable.

The Childs are buried in Walter Street “Berrying” Ground also known as Peter’s Hill, now part of the Harvard Arnold Arboretum. There are 55 burials in this very old cemetery 14 of the Child family.

“One of the earliest markers is a double headstone for Grace and Benjamin Child, husband and wife. Nearby is the stone marking Benjamin’s brother, Joshua, whose wife Elizabeth is also buried in the area. Joshua and Benjamin were brothers, born a year apart and baptized the same day, and Elizabeth and Grace were sisters. Each couple had 12 children.”

“Each July 4, as night falls, the Roslindale neighbors who live near Peters Hill in Harvard’s Arnold Arboretum walk to the top. Someone brings a radio, and they listen to the Boston Pops Orchestra play the “1812 Overture” while they watch the fireworks burst brilliantly over the Charles River. Near the base of the hill, among tall trees and along narrow dirt paths, lies a little-known cemetery containing the remains of veterans of the American Revolution and early settlers — an ideal place for pondering the meaning of the nation’s birthday.”

From the Harvard Gazette’s Hidden Spaces, The tiny cemetery.

Headstone Benjamin and Grace

Headstone photo at Find a Grave

inscriptionsHere lies the body of Grace child the Wife of Benjamin Child Died Dec ye 10 1723 in the 63d year of her age. (directly below) Here lyes ye body of Benjamin Childe who died the 24 day of Jan 1723-4 in the 66 year of his age.

The New England historical and genealogical register 1854, Volume 8 page 243, West Roxbury Inscriptions Central Burial Ground Peters Hill Copied by Mr. Wm B Trask of Dorchester

Lulu Stewart b. 1870

/ Kirstin Miller

Lulu Stewart 1st cousin 3 times removed or 3 generations away on RootsMagic tree

Lulu was born in Shell Rock Iowa in 1870 the youngest child of John and Martha Graham Stewart who were both born in Pennsylvania. In 1894 Lulu married Daniel Zahniser, also of Pennsylvania. They married in Shell Rock and were living in Mercer, Pennsylvania by 1900 and had at least one child. Daniel was a a bank teller, Lulu managed the home.

 

Lulu Stewart
The Overlook, a Historical Postcard

In her later years or months Lulu lived at The Overlook in New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. The Overlook Sanitarium was founded by Dr. Elizabeth McLaughry in 1911. Dr. McLaughry signed Lulu’s death certificate and the Dr. stayed active in her hospital from 1911 to about 1946. “The vast grounds of the sanitarium featured a scenic view and the staff made sure the patients enjoyed the outdoors as a sort of mental therapy.” Read more about The Overlook and Dr McLaughry at Lawrence County Memoirs

Lulu died in 1944, her husband Daniel lived for another 7 years, they’re both buried in the historic Easton Cemetery, in Easton, Northampton, Pennsylvania.

Thomas Clemence b. 1634

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Clemence 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic tree

Thomas Clemence may have sailed to America in 1642. He was definitely married and living in Rhode Island by 1655 when he took the Freeman’s Oath and purchased land. In the early days of America he supported -Salus populi- very generally “The welfare of the people shall be the supreme law”.

In Providence he was a town treasurer, deputy and stayed to defend the colony during King Philips War. Thomas in his will dated May 16, 1668, leaves land to his son Richard “60 acres of upland, meadow, etc not upon sudden motion but upon deliberate consideration”.Clemence house

And Richard built a house, that is still standing. The Historic New England Clemence Irons website is here. 

Photos, floor plans and more at the Library of Congress here.

Elizabeth Glenn b. 1794

/ Kirstin Miller

Elizabeth Glenn, my 3rd great grandma on RootsMagic tree.

Elizabeth Glenn was born in 1794 in Adams County, Pennsylvania. Her dad was Thomas, her mom Elizabeth- last name unknown. By 1803 the Glenn family lived in Ohio. On April 13, 1818 at age 24, Elizabeth married William Speedy in Jefferson County, Ohio.  Elizabeth and William settled in Island Creek Township near the Ohio River on the eastern edge of Ohio. They had 6 children and farmed.

William Speedy and Betsy Glenn of Jefferson County, Ohio marry on the 13th of April 1818.


In Ohio and the USA, from 1829 to 1851 there was a ‘Second Cholera Pandemic’. President Polk died in 1849 and at least 150,000 other Americans died of cholera. The first Ohio State Fair and the Ohio Constitutional Convention of 1850-1851 were postponed because of the pandemic.

Elizabeth and her dad Thomas Glenn both died of cholera in 1850. Elizabeth was 55, her dad was 82. Elizabeth’s son Manford was 12 at her death. Manford left for Shell Rock, Iowa in 1856 where Elizabeth’s brother Alexander Glenn lived.

Elizabeth Glenn Speedy is buried in Island Creek Cemetery, Jefferson County, Ohio.

Sources

  • Ohio county marriages 1789-2013 at FamilySerch.org.
  • United States Census (Mortality Schedule), 1850-1880 at FamilySerch.org

Mercy Williams b. 1640

/ Kirstin Miller

Mercy Williams 10th great aunt on RootsMagic tree

Mercy Williams was born in Providence Rhode Island 1640 to Roger and Mary Barnard Williams, original settlers of Providence. At age 20 or so Mercy married Resolved Waterman, his family also original settlers of Providence. In the summer of 1670  Resolved died and Mercy was a widow at age 30.  Widow Mercy Williams Waterman was called to Court several times to finalize her late husband’s estate.

Mercy ignored these summons or letters through the fall 1670 and into winter of 1671. Maybe because her heart was broken.

“Januarey ye 9th: 1671 William Carpenter; Roger Williams, Thomas Olney senr: William Harris, John Sayles, and Thomas Olney junr; ffor as much as much time hath benn spent in adjetation and debate in matters as to the settling of ye Estate of the deceased Resolved Waterman, and nothing yet brought to a Conclusion; it is therefore ordred and agreed upon that ye Councill doe send for, and desire John Throckmorton, John Whipple senr:  Gregorey Dexter, John Browne, Christophar Smith, and  Thomas Arnold senr: to meete with ye said Councill upon munday ye 16th of this instant about 9 of ye clock in ye Morning at ye house of John Whipple senr: there to lend theire advice and give theire aprehentions as Concerning ye setlement of ye said Estate. The meeteing is adjorned unto ye 16th: instant, 9 in ye Morning.”
Page 103

At the next meeting January 23, 1671:
“Mercy Waterman
The towne Councill hath often mett about ye settlement of yor husband (who is lately deceased) his Estate: They have at last come to a detirmination and have appoynted yourselfe ye Exsecutrix, to Administer upon ye Said Estate; The Councill being now againe mett doe request your presence now at ye house of John whipple senr: to take a letter of Administeration from us & also to give in bond Concerning ye premises.”
Page 104

Mercy appeared before the Court, probably on January 23, and she does not accept any power of Administration nor any bond. The Court considers Mercy’s response and seems to ignore it saying Mercy is responsible for the estate.
Page 105 

Resolved’s inventory from August 29, 1670 is listed and directly after “Nathaniell Waterman, who by the Towne Councill was appoynted as next of ye Kinn, to take an Jnventarey.” and then a line drawn as if the matter is closed, and there is nothing else regarding Mercy and the estate of Resolved Waterman.
Page 107

At HathiTrust: Providence (R.I.). Record Commissioners. The Early Records of the Town of Providence, V. 1-21, Providence: Snow & Farnham, city printers, 1892-1915
Catalog page at HathiTrust https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/008651161

George Angell b. 1823

/ Kirstin Miller

George Angell 3rd cousin 6 times removed on RootsMagic tree

George_Thorndike_AngellGeorge Thorndike Angell was the son of George and Rebeka Thorndike Angell born in 1823, in Southbridge Massachusetts. George graduated from Harvard Law School. At a horse race in 1866 George witnesses two horses being ‘run to death’. This changed the course his life. He founded and become president of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and the American Humane Education Society. He created and edited Our Dumb Animals a publication aimed at teaching kindness and caring towards animals. George’s quote, “I am sometimes asked ‘Why do you spend so much of your time and money talking about kindness to animals when there is so much cruelty to men?’ I answer: ‘I am working at the roots.” George died March 16, 1909 in Boston at his rooms in the Hotel Westminster.Angell, George T monument

Sources

Golden Rule, Israel Angell and Anson Burlingame

/ Kirstin Miller

Israel Angell 4th great grandfather and Anson Burlingame 2nd cousin 3 generations away from Elizabeth Speedy who married Stanley Roose Sr.

Israel Angell, colonel in the American Revolution wrote a lot: letters, diaries. It’s probable that Israel’s great grandson Anson Burlingame when an ambassador, minister or envoy in St Petersburg, Russia had a trunk with a majority of Israel’s papers. Anson died suddenly in St Petersburg and the trunk of Israel’s papers was lost. Anson Burlingame is known for creating an honorable relationship with China and for calling out Senator Preston Brooks and challenging Brooks to a duel after Brooks assaulted a fellow Senator, knocking him unconscious with a cane, at the Capital, in the Senate Chamber, this really happened in May, 1856.

Still lots of Israel’s letters survived.

In one letter in June, 1797, Israel is writing about these new (not so great) neighbors who who took the place of former really great neighbors:Golden Rule

Every ancestor or person has a rich, full, fantastical life.
Ancestors highly accomplished for their time have much more available info.

Israel Angell, colonel of the 2nd Rhode Island regiment, by Louise Lewis Lovell.

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. 

Anson Burlingame and a duel

Caning of Charles Sumner 1856

Burlingame, AnsonPortrait of Anson Burlingame
The Miriam and Ira D. Wallach Division of Art, Prints and Photographs: Print Collection, The New York Public Library. “Hon. Anson Burlingame [Frontispiece, Sep. 1868, Vol. 71]” The New York Public Library Digital Collections. http://digitalcollections.nypl.org/items/510d47de-0541-a3d9-e040-e00a18064a99

Lydia Gardiner b. 1669

/ Kirstin Miller

Lydia was born about 1669 in Newport, Rhode Island to George Gardiner and 3rd wife Lydia Ballou. When her dad died in 1677 Lydia, her mom and brothers Robert and Peregrine went to Providence RI, where Lydia married Joesph Smith on April 4, 1689. Joseph was a weaver, they spent their lives in Providence. They had 6 sons and 3 daughters. Lydia died in 1723 her husband probably married again he lived until 1749.

Lydia and her children through her dad (3) and mom’s (2) marriages are connected to the Angell, Arnold, Ballou, Gardiner, Hawkins, Olney, Smith, Tefft and Whipple families.

Source
Marriage Volume 2 page 77 image 121 of 444 , a family register for the people by Arnold. At FamilySearch.org

Lydia Gardiner (1669 – 1723)
Israel Smith (1689 – 1726)
Naomi Smith (1720 – 1799)
Israel Angell (1740 – 1832)
Asa Angell (1771 – 1842)
Dexter Angell (1794 – 1854)
Delia Viola Angell (1839 – 1916)
Matilda Flood (1858 – 1940)
Philippa Flood Mockford (1891 – 1979)
Elizabeth Speedy (1917 – 2005)

Thomas Bliss b. 1588

/ Kirstin Miller

Thomas Bliss b. 1588, 10th great grandfather on RootsMagic Tree

Thomas Bliss came to America with other Bliss family members and is frequently mixed up with other Thomas Blisses, probably relatives. One sure thing is this Thomas Bliss’s will names Nicholas Ide, Thomas’s son-in-law, husband of Martha Bliss. A will provides great proof when children or married daughters are mentioned. Thomas also names his (best) oxen: Spark and Swad, Quick and Benbo; and cows: Traveler and Damson.

This Thomas Bliss arrived in America around 1640. In 1642 May 18, he is in the list of Freeman of Massachusetts Bay Colony. 1644 June 31 his name is in a list of land lots, No. 29. In 1644 July 3 Thomas signed the Rehoboth, now Seekonk, Compact. Similar to other colony or plantation Compacts of the time male residents made a pact to live in and protect the community to the best of their ability, etc. Thomas married Dorothy, probably in England, they had 9 children. Thomas was a farmer, blacksmith and surveyor.

Sources
Thomas’s will. Volume 8 page 85 Society of Mayflower Descendents (Mass.). The Mayflower Descendant. Boston: 1899-1940 at HathiTrust

Freeman. No pages image 15 Andrews, H. Franklin. List of Freemen, Massachusetts Bay Colony From 1630 to 1691,  Exira, Iowa: Exira Print. Co, 1906 at Archive.org

Land lots page 27, Rehoboth compact page 28. Bliss, Leonard. The History of Rehoboth, Bristol County, Massachusetts, Boston: Otis, Broaders, & Co, 1836 at HathiTrust

Thomas Bliss 1588-1647
Martha Bliss 1622-1676
Martha Ide 1654-1700
Timothy Walker 1687-1745
Eunice Walker 1728 – 1772
Cynthia Hill 1763 – 1830
Dexter Angell 1794 – 1854
Delia Viola Angell 1839 – 1916
Matilda Flood 1858 – 1940
Philippa Flood Mockford 1891 – 1979
Elizabeth Speedy 1917 – 2005 m. Stanley Roose 1915 – 2004