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

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.

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.

Picture Series - Forbes/Mason

These pictures are A-Mazing!  Thank you so much to Don Forbes on Ancestry for sharing them.

This picture is of Donald Forbes and Ellen Kilfoil/Kilfoyle

Their son Kenneth Forbes married into our clan by marrying Charlotte 'Lottie' Mason - the daughter of John Mason & Charlotte Arbuckle.  

Look at this stunning picture of Lottie!

  

Charlotte & Kenneth had 2 children - Charlotte Forbes & Kenneth A Forbes

Mason Court

Crawford Mason & Helga Severson - courtesy of McLennanG - Ancestry

Crawford Mason was the son of James McGregor Mason & Catherine Anne MacDonald and he married Helga 'Hilda' Severson.

Crawford's dad left the Maritimes and somehow landed in Colorado where he married another Maritimer named Catherine MacDonald in 1880.  They remained in the States to have a few children, then head back to Nova Scotia for a number of years where they had a handful more children.  

By 1916, James the farmer had relocated his family to the prairies of Alberta yet it wasn't until I discovered this article written by Martin Wissmath in the Hinton Parklander, 2 Oct 2012 that I came to appreciate the true intrepid nature of this particular group of Masons.

New ‘Mason Court’ named for Hinton pioneer family

Martin Wissmath

Tuesday, October 2, 2012 10:31:17 MDT AM

Crawford Mason at his hunting post.  The Masons moved to the Hinton area in the 1920s and homesteaded in the neigbourhood of Eaton Drive.  There are no Msaons listed as residents of Hinton currently.

The local pioneering Mason family will be getting a street named after them.

Hinton Town Council voted to approve the name of Mason Court for the new street, which will be located just south of Muldoon Crescent off Eaton Drive. The Mason family no longer lives in Hinton but were early settlers here in the 1920s. The street is one of a pair that will be named after pioneers; the other is Berry Place named for Preston Berry.

Town Council voted unanimously Sept. 18 to approve the naming of the new streets in the new subdivision currently under construction. Mason Court will be an east-west cul-de-sac and connect to Eaton Drive near Thompson Lake. Berry Place will be a north-south cul-de-sac adjoining the centre of Mason Court.

Crawford Mason and his brother Cyrus filed for land in Hinton in 1928 as the coal industry began booming. They lived in the Eaton Drive area, named for the family that bought the homestead from the Mason’s before the pulp mill was built in the 1950s.

Not much has been set down in the history books about Crawford and Cyrus, except for a short excerpt from Peter Krytor, another early Hintonite. He recalled how Crawford would play the fiddle and mouth organ at Thompson Lake while locals skated in the evenings and square danced.

The new development is being constructed by Tredwin Developments Inc. The town received an application from Neil Tredwin to have one of the new streets named after his family, which has been in Hinton since 1956. His application was passed over in favour of the earlier settlers Mason and Berry.

The town’s Naming Policy — set in 2009 — allows for streets in town to be named after early settlers and pioneers in the area. By using historical names the administration’s intent is to foster a sense of local heritage and encourage greater community pride.

The Naming Policy also outlines criteria for choosing a street designation such as “Court,” “Place,” “Bay,” or “Cove,” for neighbourhood developments.

Crawford and Hilda retired to British Columbia and are buried at the Ocean View Burial Park in Burnaby.

Was It All For Naught?

Nothing in genealogy is ever easy, nothing…..and I don’t know whether to be angry or sad ~~ ug.

So a bit back I posted about the work Ellie & I had done finding the family of Thomas Vincent & Matilda Taylor; and Thomas’s father John I Vincent & Mary Clements. Well….

It turns the John I who was named in Captain Jeremiah’s will could not be this John I!  At least it doesn’t appear to be so.

Ellie wrote to the NARA for a copy of his military packet and lo-and-behold, it declared his death date of 1814 in Plattsburgh and named his wife, Mary Clements – so we know we have the right connection(s) as far as he and his descendants go.  The problem is trying to connect him to Jeremiah.

Jeremiah’s will was written in 1821 and not probated until 1833 – he named a John I and a Stephen Vincent as executors.  He would not have named John if he had died ~~ need I say more – ug, ug, ug.

So I have disconnected the two until we can figure out who is who in the zoo. 


Does it mean Ellie is not related to me? Only time will tell but I am soooooo sad!!!

Gone in 8 Seconds

The Hotel Dixie Grande was built near the end of the roaring 20s and taken over by a John W Fieldhouse.  One of the first hotels to be open year-round and where many a ball team spent their time!

1930-1945

His daughter Annette learned the business and eventually ran it with her husband, Vernon Lawrence Arbuckle.

courtesy of George Schumacher

Vernon was born in Massachusetts to Robert Lee Arbuckle & Rosie McAloon.  A musician who left home around 1925 or so and landed in Orlando, Fl where he married a girl named Lillian Irene Cobb but the marriage didn’t last as they divorced in 1953.  

courtesy of George Schumacher

By 1955, Vernon had remarried to a woman 20 years his senior!  Vernon was born in 1899 and the hotelier's daughter was born in 1877 - Vernon was her 3rd husband.  As a musician, perhaps he started out playing in a band at the hotel but given the times, how absolutely progressive of the pair!

As this article points out, Annette died before her husband in Jun 1970 and during probate, Vernon died in Apr of 1971 leaving the courts to settle the estates with his only living relatives - a brother, sister, two nieces & a nephew.  That is, his brother Robert Lee Arbuckle Jr & his sister Evelyn Ruth Arbuckle; nieces Kathleen & Virginia; and nephew Gilbert - the children of his late brother George W.

Sadly, the Dixie Grande Hotel did not survive much longer after the deaths of Annette and Vernon - it was demolished in 1974 in 8 seconds!!

Pictures & Obits - Healey/Vincent

courtesy of Patrick Wild

I was able to complete a couple more people in the tree today…and I must thank Patrick Wild from Ancestry.

Helen Aline Vincent was the daughter of George Gordon Vincent & Lina May Joyce.  George hails from Nova Scotia but relocated to Connecticut as a young man.

Based on the area directories, it looks like Helen married Andrew John Healey sometime in 1939 and in 1940 the newly married pair were found living with his parents….sadly, Andrew died later that year

courtesy of Patrick Wild

Danbury News-Times, 27 Nov 1940

Fatally Hurt In Pittsfield - Andrew J Healey, Danbury Brakeman, Run Over In Railroad Yards

Andrew J Healey, 25, of 11 Moss Avenue, a brakeman employed by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad, was fatally injured last evening in Pittsfield, Mass, when he slipped and fell between two freight cars.  Although both legs were so badly crushed, they had to be amputated.  Mr Healey lived for five hours, dying late last night at St Luke's Hospital in Pittsfield.   The young man was a member of the crew of a traveling road switcher which worked north from State Line, Mass, switching freight at stations between State Line and Pittsfield.  The exact circumstances of the accident are not known.  Mr Healey was well known here and well regarded.  He was a graduate of Danbury High School in the class of 1933 and was graduated from St Peter's Parochial School in [1920].  He attended Danbury High his freshman year and attended high school in Cleveland, O his sophomore and junior years, returning here for his senior year.  He was a grandson of the late Andrew J Healey, who for many years was employed as a conductor on the switcher crew in the Danbury railroad yards and was a son of John T and Loretta Tierny Healy, of this city.  In addition to his wife, the former Helen Vincent, he is survived by his parents and by his grandmother, Mrs Daisy Healey, and by several uncles and aunts.  He was a member of St Joseph's Church and the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen.  The body will be brought here this afternoon and the funeral will be held at St Joseph's Church at a time to be announced.

Helen A Vincent - courtesy of Patrick Wild

Helen married again, this time to a John Joseph Ahearn and she died in 1998 in Georgia

Ridgefield Press, 19 Mar 1998

Helen A. Ahearn, a former bookkeeper and secretary for the Bacchiochi Construction Company, died Monday, March 9, at the Tanner Medical Center in Carrollton, Ga. She was 84, and the wife of John J. Ahearn of Carrollton. Born in New Milford on March 6, 1914, she was a daughter of George and Lina Joyce Vincent. A Danburian most of her life, she worked in her early years at the former Bacchiochi Construction in Ridgefield. Mrs. Ahearn was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Church in Carrollton and a former member of St. Joseph's Church, Danbury. She moved to Georgia eight years ago. Besides her husband, she is survived by a daughter, a sister, a brother, two granddaughters, and several nieces and nephews. Green Funeral Home in Danbury was in charge of arrangements. Burial was in St. Peter's Cemetery, Danbury.

Strange Meets Stranger

A while back I wrote about George Vincent & Matilda Swallow and the story written by Marilyn Symons – together they had one child – Eldora Elizabeth Vincent who married Walter Trescott and relocated to Massachusetts.

Eldora & Walter 3 daughters but today I write about Annie who was born in 1883 at Massachusetts and she went on to marry a fella Herman Straub and had a boy Walter Jean Straub.

Here’s where it gets strange.  

I still can’t find a death entry for Herman but based on the SSN entry found on Ancestry and the city directories for Denver, CO, I am betting he died either late 1943 or early 1944.  Annie on the other hand, relocated to California with her son and died there.  

I discovered that purely by accident because of this article ~~ 30 years after the fact and after she died, the school received her request for her grades so she could apply to college!  It ran in several newspapers and in numerous states but this article is from the Marion Star in Ohio, published 9 Mar 1954

Then I stumbled across an article that gives new meaning to monsters-in-law - er, I mean, mother-in-laws.  

Daily Messenger, 7 Jun 1935No JokeDenver - Denver may have a mothers-in-law day, but it will be in court.  Mrs Katheryn V Straub filed a suit in District Court seeking $75,000 from her mother-in-law, Mrs Annie May Straub, Denver school teacher, charging she alienated the affections of her husband.  The husband, Walter J Straub, a packing house employee, followed this with a $100,000 suit against Mrs Catherine Hart, his mother-in-law, charging she alienated the affections of his wife by "subtle contrivances and coaxing".

Edna Maleski (nee Lippert)

Edna Mae Lippert was the daughter of Adam Henry Lippert & Florence Mary Thompson from Ohio – the Lippert line runs back to the Masons on the maternal side going back to the Arbuckles of Nova Scotia – you know the one….Ole Willie who married Mary Vincent….

Anyways, Edna met a Pennsylvanian named Stanley Brian Maleski and by 1932, they were married in West Virginia; together they had 6 children.  They lost the first one in West Virginia; had 4 more back in Ohio; and the last one was born in California where they had settled.  They are both buried at the Holy Cross Cemetery in Culver City, CA.

courtesy of James R Mason (Romper90069) - Find A Grave

The Desert Sun, 10 Aug 1976
Private services were held Monday for Edna Mae Maleski, 66, 169 Ocotillo Ave, Palm Springs, who died of leukemia Friday at the home of her daughter in Palos Verdes.  She worked in the restaurant business with her husband, Stanley, in the Pomona area for more than 20 years.  After moving to Palm Springs in 1968, Mrs Maleski became interested in consumer activism.  She frequently contributed to the "Letters to the Editor" section of The Desert Sun, especially concerning city spending.  She is survived by her widower, Stanley Maleski; her mother Florence Lippert; three sons, Stanley Maleski Jr of Lakeport, James Maleski of Palm Springs, and Steven Maleski of Upper Lake; five daughters, Barbara O'Reilly of Palos Verdes, Mary Spengler of Indian Harbor Beach, Fla, Joan Sanka, Teresa Maleski, and Kelly Maleski, all of Palm Springs, and nine grandchildren.  The family has requested donations to the Edna Maleski Foundation of Saint Mary's Medical Center in Long Beach in lieu of flowers.

Duggan Mystery Solved

courtesy of Jody MacKeil - Find A Grave

Thelma Cameron Murdock was the daughter of Samuel Cameron Murdock & Charlotte Ellen Arbuckle was born in 1925 at Avondale, Nova Scotia and she had married twice – first to a Stuart Duggan and 2^nd to a Robert Sweet……but how did I figure this all out back in 2015 and now in 2017, I have found out who Stuart was!

I found Thelma first thru her sister Esther’s 2009 obit back in 2013 where she is listed simply as Thelma; then 2015, I found her again in her brother George’s 1995 obit where it names a sister Thelma Sweet – woot – a step closer.  From there I found the full name and obit for her second husband – Robert Arthur Sweet who died in 1992. 

However I was no closer to finding out anything about this Stuart Duggan ?!? Grrr  I got the first name from a tree on ancestry that has since been removed – oy – I am on my own here.........…..or am I? 

I held onto the fact that Stuart had to have died very young, hence no records BUT he was also a Nova Scotian – there has to be a record somewhere. I scratched my head, tried every creative search I could think of until…..until…….gee persistence pays off!

Viola…..

courtesy of Jody MacKeil - Find A Grave

May I introduce you to….Charles ‘Stuart’ Duggan….the son of Charles Nathaniel Duggan & Elizabeth Stewart (yep, will be haggling over Stu or Stew).  Stuart died in a car accident in Apr of 1959.

Thelma and Stuart had 2 children together – Linda Lorraine, and LouAnne who died in 1977

courtesy of Jody MacKeil - Find A Grave

Chronicle Herald, Tues, 13 Dec 1977

Duggan – Louanne, 21, of Merigomish died Sunday following a car accident in Ontario. Born in New Glasgow she was the daughter of Thelma (Murdock) and the late Stewart Duggan.  She was employed in Fort McMurray, Ontario and was a member of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church.  Surviving besides her mother is a sister, Linda at home.  The body will be at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow after 3:30 p.m. today.  Funeral service will be held Wednesday at 2 p.m. in St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Rev. Kenneth MacLeod officiating with burial in Murray’s Point Cemetery.

Picture Series - Ahlf/Whidden

As while back I wrote about David Whidden & Rebecca ‘Grandma’ Grey….they had 7 children and the pictures below are of Tina Vincent Whidden and her husband Carl Frederick Ahlf shared by Jody19641 (Williams Family Tree) on Ancestry and from Elizabeth Tambeau.

Carl Ahlf was born in Missouri to Claus Hienrich Ahlf & Elizabeth Anne Osborne.  

According to the censuses, Carl's father worked for the railroad and I wonder if they took a trip north at one point because by 1921, Carl had left home, married and had 4 children!

If you have never seen the fields of mustard or wheat on the prairies, with the Rockies in the background ~ oy, it can take your breathe away ~~ yep, just got smacked with it - homesick ~~ perhaps that was the draw for Carl because became a farmer.

Wedding Day

Pictured on their wedding day at some place called Bats Valley, Irma, in 1913, Tina & Carl had 6 children - David, Elmer, Enid, Mary, Carol & Arthur.

Yet Irma would not be their final destination.

In 1930, Carl and his clan relocated to Edson, Alberta - over 200 miles west of Irma.  

It's a mere 3 ½ hr drive today but trekking over 200 miles in an old Model-T, hauling all your belongings probably took all day and then some back then; even by train it probably took all day!

This picture is Carl, Tina, and their baby David Claus Ahlf who was born in 1916 being held by Grandma Whidden 

Carl died in 1965, Tina in 1969 and are both buried at the Glenwood Cemetery.

The 1980s - Obits - Haggart, MacKay, Schiappa

courtesy of Jody MacKeil - Find A Grave

Chronicle Herald, Mon, 28 Sep 1987
William Garvin Haggart – Toronto, and formerly of New Glasgow died Friday at home. Born in New Glasgow he was a son of the late James and Ruth (MacDonald) Haggart. He is survived by three sisters: June Nichols – New Hampshire; Bonnie Demetre – Trenton; Evangeline – Dartmouth; two brothers; James – Edmonton; Donald – Truro; several nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by a brother, Kenneth; a sister, Elizabeth Irving. The body is at R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow visiting Tuesday at 2 p.m. Funeral service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. in Bethel Presbyterian Church, Pictou Landing, and Rev. Brian Weatherdon officiating. Burial will be in Murray’s Point Cemetery. Donations may be made to the Canadian Cancer Society. He was buried on 29 Sep 1987 at Murray Point Cemetery in Lower Barney's River, Pictou Co, Nova Scotia.

~~~~~

Chronicle Herald, Mon, 28 Sep 1987
Charlotte Abigale MacKay – 78 [68], of The Ponds, Merigomish died Sunday in Aberdeen Hospital, New Glasgow. Born in New Glasgow she was the daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Arbuckle) Mason. She was a member of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Merigomish. She is survived by a son, Lawrence – The Ponds; three sisters; Mrs. Eva Winott – Bridgewater; Hilda (Mrs. Ed Roy) – Merigomish; Shirley (Mrs. Paul Baltzer) – Aylesford; and two grandchildren. She was predeceased by her husband, Cecil and three sisters; Ruby, Emily, and Virginia. The body is at the R.H. Porter Funeral Home, New Glasgow. Funeral service will be held Tuesday at 2 p.m. in St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Merigomish, Rev. Pat Rose officiating. Burial will be in Murray’s Point Cemetery.

~~~~~

courtesy of Cheryl Maibush - Find A Grave

Muriel E (Hamm) Schiappa, 64, of 1672 Pleasant St, Athol, Mass, died Tuesday March 11, at her home after a long illness.  Her husband, Ugo Schiappa, died in 1983.  She had lived in Athol for six months, coming from Keene, NH where she resided for 20 years.  Born in Winterport, she was the daughter of Eugene and Daisy (Arbuckle) Hamm.  She is survived by a daughter, Rose Marie Schiappa of Athol; four brothers, Rudolph Hamm of Merrow, Conn, Raymond Hamm of Norwood, Mass, William L Hamm of Dexter, and Walter L Hamm of Belfast; eight sisters, Cecilia Small of Norwood, Mass, Christina Wheeler of Lindley, Ny, Kathleen Smith of Warehouse Point, Conn, Ethel Bevereage of Hamden, Conn, Carlene Carrano of New Haven, Conn, Ann Wardwell of Searsport and Dorothy Dyer of Manchester, NH; an aunt, Marjorie Wadleigh of Winterport; two uncles, John Arbuckle of Winterport and Lewis Arbuckle of Dexter; several nieces, nephews and cousins.  The funeral was Friday, March 14, from the J Edward Murphy Funeral Home, with a Mass at ten o'clock in the Church of Our Lady Immaculate.  Burial was in the St Joseph's Cemetery, Keene, NH.

James Ronald Vincent

J 'Ronald' Vincent was the son of John McCallum Vincent and Jennie Blanche Smith and according to his obit, the call of the blue open skies was too much to resist and he set sail for England to join the Royal Air Force just before WWII and unfortunately died there.

courtesy of Frank Grant - Find A Grave

Medicine Hat Daily News, Mon, 2 May 1938

James Ronald Vincent was born in Calgary, Alta, in December, 1911.  Along with the family, he came to Medicine Hat in 1920, took his High School course here, and for a number of years was a clerk in the local Dominion Bank branch.  In 1936 he was transferred to the Moose Jaw branch. 

Ronnie, however, was too mechanically inclined, loved the open so much, and was too active to remain in an indoor job, so in August of 1937, he went overseas and joined the Royal Air Force.  He loved that experience and felt that aeroplane flying was part of his very nature.  He was getting to like Old England, and was establishing a great connection of friends over there.  His letters home drew vivid and charming pictures of his experiences.  His particular chum was Brock La Pointe, from Victoria, BC, apparently a young man very similar to himself.  The two of them together had been very successful in their training and had reached the senior period of their flying instruction. 

On Thursday morning, April 7th, they took out a large plane and went on as usual but had not gone many minutes which they were observed to be in difficulties; their engine failed to function; they were not high enough to permit of readjustment, and soon their plane crashed to the ground.  Brock La Pointe was killed instantaneously; Ronald was badly injured, never fully regained consciousness and died peacefully in the Cottage Hospital, Malmcebury, Wiltshire.  Full particulars in very sympathetic letters have been received. 

The funeral was conducted on the Saturday following by the chaplain and the local Presbyterian Minister in the quiet little cemetery of Hullavington, surrounded by the spring beauty of Old England in Wiltshire.  A variety of pictures of the cemetery, the gathering at the service and the general situation will be received in due time.  The news of this tragedy came as a very sever shock to the family here and to the whole community of Medicine Hat. 

A Memorial Service was held in Fifth Ave United Church on Sunday morning, May 1st, conducted by the Minister Rev J W Bainbridge, Ronald, along with his family, was quite active in this church.  He attended the Sunday School for years was a member of the boys' groups, later became an usher, and sang in the choir.  The minister delivered a comforting and very suitable message based on Psalm I: 1 to 3.  Mr Harry Leece, a fellow choir member, sang Ronnie's favorite hymn as a solo, "Some Day We'll Understand." 

His father, Mr John M Vincent, predeceased him in February, 1933.  He is survived by his mother, one brother, John Smith and one sister, Frances Aileen.  The whole community extends its sympathy with the family in this tragical bereavement.

Collaboration Continued

Last blog I wrote about the son of John I Vincent & Mary Clements, today I write about them - and this would not have happened without Ellie!

Again, we ensured we started with the same information from the Vincent Family Book of 1996 by Sheridan Vincent where he writes:

John I. Vincent was mentioned as a son in his father’s will, but apparently died before his mother wrote her will in 1849.  It is not clear that the John Vincent born in 1778 and husband of Mary Clements is the same as Jeremiah’s son, John.  Information on them was copied from the family Bible of John T. Vincent who lived in Saratoga Co., NY.  There is a guardianship document dated 20 March 1817 on file at the Saratoga Co., NY Surrogate (Guardian Box 34, File 31) where Mary Vincent and John Clement were bound to the guardianship of children under the age of 21-years: Matilda Vincent, Thomas Vincent, Maria Vincent, and Janet Vincent. 

Based on the above, we made two hypotheses:  

·        Given the lack of mention in the will of 1849 and the date of the guardianship, it is probable that John died late 1816, early 1817

·        The action of guardianship suggests that John & Mary had more than one child, otherwise, why bother?

We can't prove definitively the first but we most definitely proved the 2nd!

We scoured, wills, land transactions, censuses, newspapers, made lists of names and more!  After ruling out many a family in Cayuga, Wayne and Saratoga County, Maria was still outstanding - sigh.  

BUT - we did prove that Matilda Irish was ours and that her sister Janet had married Darius Wetherel!   

And, Ellie found a Sons of the American Revolution application which revealed that Mary Clements had remarried and is buried at the French Cemetery in Victory! 

Again, I would have given up if it hadn't been for Ellie - her skills far surpassed mine - huge thanks to her and her willingness to join me in this quest! 

[update - Maria was found!]

The Result of Collaboration

A while back, I worked with a distant cousin, Ellie, for a few weeks on one of the Vincent lines - my inbox blew up! I had so much fun and the results of our joint efforts were amazing!

We worked together on John I Vincent and Mary Clements.  Her 5x maternal grandfather I believe, and my 3rd cousin, 6x removed.

We started with their son Thomas and the information from the Vincent Family Book of 1996 by Sheridan Vincent:

Thomas Vincent born 30 November 1803; married Matilda Taylor; died 3 August 1842 at age 38.  Matilda Taylor was born 30 November 1802.  She died 30 July 1847 at age 44. 8 children were listed: Mary Ann, John Taylor, Mary S, Judson, Emily Ann, Elosa, Frances Amelia and Mary August.

A puzzling piece of information that couldn't be over looked was the cemetery listing in Victory that showed the information for a Jonathan & Matilda V Irish where she died on the same date combined with the cemetery listing in Saratoga Co.  It strongly suggested that there were 2 women and that the information had gotten mixed up somehow.

Ellie shared the 1850 Dix, NY census she had found where it showed two Vincent girls living with Rockwell and Matilda Rood, speculating that Frances was going by Amelia - and she was right - but who were the Roods to them?

The turning point was when I stumbled across an article about an "Aged Party", a farewell for Matilda who was going to live near her sons in Brockport.  Another Woot! when I found an 1890 obit for a Mrs Matilda Vincent!

It listed a daughter, Mrs Isaac Clement which turned out to be Eloise!  And more research revealed that Frances Amelia had married John Philip Coons - sadly she died 2 years after getting married.  

Not only have we corrected the death date for Matilda Taylor but also we have found 2 more children for Thomas & Matilda - of the 8 children, 4 are resolved!

How amazing!  It was soo much fun working with a collaborator who was and is as enthusiastic about all of this as I am!  

AND - AND - AND -  we made another huge breakthrough!