Thursday 28 December 2017

Under The Hood - An Update

Family Search has just gone thru a huge update and one has to have an account to access the database ~~ as a result, imagine my delight when I discovered that for some records, you can go right in and examine the film!  

Hence, I found out what happened to John Thomas Hood.

Originally I posted that he died in Rhode Island but the family had not lived there.  Before the update, FHL had an index death entry which stated he died in Woonsocket, RI and Ancestry has a death index for Franklin, MA where the family lived.

Well, thanks to the update, I now know he died as a result of a fractured skull from being hit by a car (ouch) and that he was returned to Massachusetts to be buried with his family at Union Cemetery! 

FHL - Rhode Island Deaths and Burials 1802-1950





Saturday 9 December 2017

Obits - Cuddy - MacLean

courtesy of Lynn Ellis - BillionGraves
Janie Mae MacLean was the daughter of Laughlin MacLean and Cassie Morrison - Lauglin was the son of Angus 'Big Angus' MacLean and Jane Arbuckle.  

Janie married Silas William Cuddy and had 3 children.  Their obits are below and the pair were buried at Murray River Cemetery, PEI

Charlottetown Guardian, 7 May 1951
In Memoriam - Mrs Silas W Cuddy
The death occurred in the P E Island Hospital on April 7th, 1951, after a lengthy illness of Mrs Silas W Cuddy (nee Janie MacLean) of Gladstone.  The late Mrs Cuddy was born in Cape Breton, NS, the daughter of the late Laughie and Catherine (Morrison) MacLean on May 7th, 1882.  She was married in 1901 to Silas W Cuddy who predeceased her just one year ago.  Mrs Cuddy was a kind and hospitable woman, who gave everyone a welcome to her home.  She leaves to mourn a loving and devoted mother, one son Clarence on the homestead, two daughters, Claire (Mrs C T Leander), Miami, Florida; Gertrude (Mrs Paul McCarthy), Winchester Mass, and a foster son, Lea Louie of Miami, Fla, to whom she was very devote; also seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, also surviving are two half brothers, Angus L MacLean, Belfast and Haywood MacLean, Montague, three half-sisters, Mrs Mary Murray, Mrs Laura Holmes, Boston, Mass, Miss Margaret MacLean, RN, East Weymouth, Mass, also a host of relatives and friends.  Two sisters, Mrs Cassie Jenkin and Mrs Katie McInnis predeceased her some years ago.  The funeral which was largely attended, despite weather and roads being bad, was held from her late residence, service conducted by Miss Blanche Chappel and Mrs Walker, service at the grave by Miss Eva Hadley.  Hymns sung were "Sweet Sweet Release; and "Nearer Still Nearer," a favorite of the deceased.  She was laid to rest by her late husband in the Murray River Cemetery.  Pall bearers were James Richards, John Sharam, Spencer Sharam, Kimball MacKay, Albert MacKay and John Ferguson, Merlon Ferguson drove the hearse. 
 ~~~~~
Charlottetown Guardian, 24 Apr 1950
In Memoriam - Silas W Cuddy
The sudden passing of Silas W Cuddy, Gladstone, on April 3rd, 1950, came as a great shock to his many relatives and friends of Gladstone and surrounding districts where he was a widely known and highly respected citizen.  He had been in poor health for some time but did not seem any worse when he retired Sunday evening, but passed quietly away shortly after midnight.  He was born in Gladstone, October 28th, 1873, the second son of the late James Cuddy and Hannah Bears.  Although deaf from early childhood, he overcame his affliction by lip-reading and signs.  He was loved and respected by all who knew him.  Kind and affectionate, ever ready to lend a helping hand in times of need.  He leaves to mourn the loss of a kind and loving husband and father, a sorrowing widow, two sons, Clarence at home and Lea in Florida; two daughters (Claire) Mrs C T Leander, Miami, Florida and (Gertrude) Mrs Paul McCarthy, Medford, Mass.  Also seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren, one sister (Clara) Mrs Dr J H McLeod, Santa Rosa, Cal, and one brother, James Cuddy, Charles River, Mass and a host of relatives and friends.  Lea, Gertrude and grandson John flew from USA arriving home in time for the funeral which was held from his late residence, conducted by Mr Maurice Fife, was largely attended, showing the esteem in which he was held.  The hymns sung were "We Are Fading Like the Flowers" and "Is There Any One Can Help Us."  The pallbearers were Messrs James Richards, Dan McBeth, Spencer Sharam, John Sharam, John B Sanders and John H Sanders.  The remains were driven by James Richards.  Interment Murray River Cemetery.


Saturday 2 December 2017

Our own Private Investigator


Robert Mason Marceau was the son of Earl Theodore Marceau & Margaret Abigail Mason - Margaret's line traces back to William Arbuckle & Mary Vincent and specifically, she was the daughter of James William Mason & Margaret Emily Trimble.

The Sun Chronicle, 18 Apr 2000
FOXBORO — Robert Mason Marceau, 74, died Sunday at Brigham &Women's Hospital, Boston. He was the husband of Doris (DeAngelis) Marceau.  Born in Providence on April 28, 1925, he was a son of the late Earle and Margaret (Mason) Marceau. He had resided in Foxboro for 45 years.  Mr. Mason had been a private investigator and had owned and operated Mason Associates in Foxboro. He had also taught English at Foxboro High School in the early 1970s.  Mr. Mason had been a Navy veteran of World War II and had served in a combat mission in Okinawa.  He retired as Lt. Commander.  He was a member of the St. Alban's Lodge, AF & AM of Foxboro, and had donated over 1,000 books to the new Boyden Library in 1969.  In addition to his wife he is survived by four step-daughters, Charlene Elliot of Foxboro, Doreen Mason and Mary Katherine Manning of Lowell and Jacqueline Manning of Foxboro; a stepson, John Manning of Foxboro; two sons, Robert and Richard Marceau, formerly of Foxboro and six grandchildren.  A funeral will be held at 9 a.m. Thursday in St. Mary's Church, followed by burial in St. Mary's Cemetery.  Arrangements are by the Roberts and Sons Funeral Home, 30 South St.