Tombstone Tuesday - Mr. Jonathan Brett

Cemetery: Lower Cemetery, New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 22 Aug 2010

Transcription: In/memory of/MR. JONATHAN BRETT/of/Dorchester, Ms./He died Sept. 30, 1833, AEt. 37. His death was occasioned by the/upsetting of the stage, when/returning from a visit to his/relatives in Turner, Me./Life is a span, a fleeting hour,/How soon the vapour flies./Man is a tender transient flower,/That in the blooming dies./C. Thompson Jr./Engr./Hartford

Jonathan is not a member of my family but I found the description of his death sad and interesting. I have been searching newspapers to see if I can find more information about the stage coach accident.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Surname Saturday - Owen Family Letter - Post 1

I found the following letter in my grandmother's binder on the Haskell Family Genealogy. The letter is typewritten and may have been copied from the original because it does not contain an original signature. There are also four pages of handwritten family trees and other Owen family information attached to the letter (scans to be provided in later posts).

 Bath, Maine, February 13, 1930
 Miss Mildred V. Owen
Portland, Maine


My dear Miss Owen:-

Letter from my Grandmother's notes

     I thought you would be interested to know that I have solved the problem of the origin of your ancestor, Ebenezer Owen, who married Abigail Cotton in 1763. William Owen of Braintree had among at least seven children two sons named Nathaniel and Ebenezer. The latter died in 1690 of small pox while a member of Phipps' expedition to Quebec. Nathaniel had five sons and two daughters, the fourth and fifth sons, respectively, being William, born in 1697, and John, born in 1699. William is undoubtedly the same William whose marriage in 1721 I have found recorded in Boston and the eleventh of whose thirteenth children was Ebenezer, born in 1738; just as William's brother John is undoubtedly the same John who was granted a houselot in Falmouth. There is no trace of William or John in Braintree records except their birth, and the Boston records do not supply a William for the marriage referred to. Moreover the names given by William and John to their children strongly indicate their connection with each other and with the Braintree family.
     I have not yet had time to investigate the Portland records but have been availing myself of the facilities of several libraries and have been making quite some progress of which I shall be glad to show you the result when opportunity offers.

     Please remember me to your father.

Sincerely yours,

(signed) Henry W. Owen, Jr.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Amos Haskell Family Bible - Deaths

Transcription
Alfred Haskell Died Aug. 29th 1816
Augusta G Wife of Alfred Haskell died May 15, 1849, Aged 23
Mary J wife of Samuel True died July 25, 1843 Aged 32
Sarah J. wife of Alford Woodman died Nov 1st 1848. Aged 27
Amos J Haskell Died at Nevada, Cal, July 5, 1850

Bible Source: 

Haskell, Amos Family Bible Records, 1787 - 1850, The Holy Bible: Containing the Old & New Testaments: Translated Out Of Original Tongues The Former Translations Diligently Compared And Revised, With Marginal Notes And References Together With The Apocrypha. To Which Are Added An Index: And An Alphabetical Table Of All The Names In The Old And New Testaments, With Their Significations: With Plates. Lunenburg, Mass.: Edmund Cushing, 1828. Privately held by Owen Haskell [Address for Private Use].

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Cotton Owen

Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 4 Nov 2006

Transcription: OUR FATHER/COTTON OWEN/DIED/Feb. 22, 1865,/AE. 80.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Book of Dates (1930) - Post 6

[Grace Ware (Holbrook) Haskell Book of Dates, continued]
1930
January              Day in New York
                          Hilda
                          Miss Marstaller takes Miss Callenders place
March 27           William Holbrook born
May                   Mr & Mrs Frank Haskell go to Migis Lodge
May                   Clara H. Haskell passed away
April 22 - 28     Aunt Molly in Yarmouth
June                  Merrill & I fishing
June 14             At Upper Dutton Farm
                          Anne & Ralph Lombard visit
Aug 16              with Marstallers & Mrs Hall
Oct 5 - 23          Aunt Molly at Phillips House
Dec 5 - 9            Aunt Molly at Phillips House
September         Anne & Ralph Lombard at Yarmouth

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Holbrook Journal - Post 8

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry]
June 3rd Brattleboro
     A wonderful June day, deliciously cool and most enjoyable. After breakfast was over Mr. Gerebsoff & I prepared to play tennis in an impromptu fashion. Impromptu because of the court not being in condition, and the net, rackets  & balls all of a secondary nature. We played three sets, all of them 6 - 1 games sets. By that time it was almost already the lunch hour. Mr. Grinnell & a Mrs. Davis from Jaffrey lunched with us - also Aunt Molly drove up with her horse.
     Miss Kehl, Mr. Gerebsoff & I acted as waitresses & waiter for the others and all went most expeditiously. It was amusing - as we wore caps & aprons, and Mr. Gerebsoff wore the Turkish cap. Afterward Baron Maydell waited on us in a truly dignified fashion, without so much as a smile, like as a butler would. 
     Cook arrived in the afternoon from Boston, having left Cabot and Way Sung at their respective domiciles. We went to drive in the touring car to see Dutton Farm, and went on through the Black Mountain Road to Dummerston and Putney.
     We all walked a little in the evening & then Mr. Gerebsoff & I danced. We tried the Maxixe & tango, and Russian dances - for a short time - to the disappointing Edison records which skipped back & repeated continuously.
     Mr. Gerebsoff talked of Russia and of his family and showed me his mother's picture, & we discussed various subjects.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Trip to Vladivostok, Russia - Okeansky and Semenovskya Streets

Photos at the intersection of Okeansky and Semenovskya Streets in 2010 and 1919

2010

1919 - Photo from Merrill Haskell Collection

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Trip to Vladivostok, Russia - Post 1

My wife, son and I made a trip to Vladivostok, Russia this summer, leaving Maine on July 25, 2010 and returning home on August 6, 2010. The trip was our first overseas and was quite an adventure. This all started with a box of almost 500 photos that my grandfather took in Vladivostok back in 1919-1920. He was there for six months with the YMCA as an accountant in their International Hut (corrected on 11-10-2010; his office was not in the International Hut). My wife scanned all of those photos and shared them with several historians in Vladivostok. They found the photos so interesting that they published a book about them. We decided that this was the right time to go meet the authors visit the city.

Will (me) and my son Jack at the Vladivostok Train Station in 2010

Merrill Haskell (my grandfather) at the Vladivostok Train Station in 1919

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Holbrook & Nourse

Cemetery: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont
Photo Date: 4 Aug 2006

Transcription

FRANKLIN FESSENDEN/HOLBROOK/MARCH 1, 1837/DECEMBER 6, 1916/HIS WIFE/ANNA E. NOURSE/FEBRUARY 10, 1836/FEBRUARY 12, 1927/THEIR SON/WILLIAM HENRY/DECEMBER 30, 1865/FEBRUARY 13, 1874

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Amos Haskell Family Bible - Marriages

 Transcription

Samuel True and Mary J. Haskell: Were Married Oct. 17th AD. 1833

George W Woodman & Charlotte B Haskell Were Married Sept 29 AD 1836 

Alfred Haskell & Augusta G Thompson Were married August 4th 1839

Alford Woodman & Sarah J. Haskell were married Dec 13, 1846

Alfred Haskell & Elizabeth Owen were married Dec 16, 1844

 The Haskell's listed in this record are all children of Amos and Sally (Johnson) Haskell.

Bible Source: 

Haskell, Amos Family Bible Records, 1787 - 1850, The Holy Bible: Containing the Old & New Testaments: Translated Out Of Original Tongues The Former Translations Diligently Compared And Revised, With Marginal Notes And References Together With The Apocrypha. To Which Are Added An Index: And An Alphabetical Table Of All The Names In The Old And New Testaments, With Their Significations: With Plates. Lunenburg, Mass.: Edmund Cushing, 1828. Privately held by Owen Haskell [Address for Private Use].

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Grace Ware Haskell Journal Entry - Post 7

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry - note: I have changed the title of this series of posts from Green Mountain Camp to Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry because, the entries are no longer just about the Green Mountain Camp]

February 4th. New York.
     After breaking up camp amidst very hot weather we all returned to our homes for a rest from the past two weeks' activities. At the end of the week, Elsa Coolidge came to stay for a few days - Cabot & Wistar spent the weekend in close company, & Wistar remained through the week.
     We visited with the Bradleys, motored to West Dover over the hills toward Wilmington & all underwent massage treatment.
     Wistar drove us in the Franklin to Squam Lake to visit the Coolidges. The car was loaded as usual after being out only a short time on the Putney Road snap went an iron brace under the back axle! We went on nevertheless & without other mishap reached the Lake in very good season. The Coolidge camp is most interesting - being very simple & even rough, but most comfortable & attractive. The family were cordial & always active - & one could not help but join into it all. It was a wonderful visit - one to be remembered always for its many associations.
     The trip home was all that could be wished for & the Bradleys & I had discussions on many subjects all the way.
     At the end of the August after long expectations - father arrived from Russia & remained a week before going on to other affairs. The trunks were filled with beautiful things - among them, rugs, 3 samovars, Swedish knives & silver, embroideries, etc.
     Mrs. Delano, Margaret Goodhue & Wai Tsu departed at this time, so as Cabot had already joined the Plattsburgh Training Camp, our household dwindled for a time.
     Wai Tsu returned however from the Chinese Conference at Providence, bringing Dr. Kwank to whom she announced her engagement! He appeared as a dignified young person with fine charming manners, & very agreeable & interested in everything. He is very slight - good looking - & aristocratic in his bearing.
     At this time it was decided to have a festival of Four Nations at Naulahka - the principal countries & many others being represented in costume - Russia, China, Mexico & Turkestan - American Indians, Serbia, Portugal, Japan, Greece, & Old Fashioned American Costumes.
     Miss Lesley remained with us after the c___ roast for the South Pond Camp girls - & taught a number of us dances to perform on the croquet lawn during an interval of the Fete. The girls who came to take part in the dances were the Eldredge twins, Sally Osborne, Polly Cabot & Joe Smith's daughter who joined the rest of us - the Bradleys, Alice Finlay & I.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Marriage Announcement

Marriage Announcement for Ellen Hart True and Edward Clinton Robinson, 8 October 1890

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Francis Goodhue

Cemetery: Prospect Hill Cemetery, Brattleboro, Windham County, Vermont
Photo Date: 4 Aug 2006

Transcription:  FRANCIS GOODHUE Esq./died/March 16, 1839./aged 71.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

List of Deaths

The following list of deaths is written in pen on a loose sheet of paper in my grandmother, Grace Ware (Holbrook) Haskell's book of dates. The list is transcribed verbatim with my notes in square brackets.

FH [Frederick Holbrook]          2/3/30
H[enry] van Kleeck                   2/28/27
Mary Torrey                             9/23/27
Ellen v[an] Kleeck                    12/4/28
GCH [Grace Cabot Holbrook] 2/9/29
MRC [Mary Rogers Cabot]      4/30/32

Betty Bull                                  [blank]/[blank]/33 ?
Richard L. Cary                        10/16/33 Berlin
Catherine Cabot                        2/[blank]/34
Fred Holbrook                          1/[blank]/34 Mullbrook ?
Helen T Brown                          9/19/35
G[?] Hurlbutt                             3/2/36
Ethel Cabot                               12/4/37
Elliot Cabot                                1/31/38
Mrs Allan Brown                        12/17[?]/38
Belle Hurlbutt                              2/16/36 ?
Joe Coolidge                               9/22/36
Way Sung New                           [blank]/[blank]/37
Wai Tsu Knu                               9/6/36
 

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Eliphalet Haskell Portrait

Eliphalet Haskell was b. 3 Jun 1753, Gloucester, Essex County, Massachusetts. He appears in the town records of New Gloucester, Cumberland County, District of Maine circa 1776. He married Mary Woodman on 12 Dec 1775. Eliphalet and Mary had 13 children, all born in New Gloucester, Maine. He died 7 Dec 1833 in New Gloucester, Maine, age 80, and is buried in the Lower Cemetery on Gloucester Hill Road. Portraits of Eliphalet and Mary have been handed down through the family and I currently have them hung at my home. Based on my grandmother's notes, these portraits were painted by an "itinerant artist, probably about 1800". I will share Mary's portrait in a later post.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Tombstone Tuesday - Alfred Haskell

Cemetery: Evergreen Cemetery, Portland, Cumberland County, Maine
Photo Date: 4 Nov 2006

Alfred Haskell was b. 20 Feb 1817 to Amos and Sarah (Johnson) Haskell in New Gloucester, Cumberland County, Maine. He d. 13 Sep 1906 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. In 1839 he married Augusta G. Thompson. She apparently died due to complications in childbirth on 15 May 1842. He then married Elizabeth Owen on 14 Dec 1844. Alfred is my second great grandfather.

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell

Green Mountain Camp - Post 6

[Grace Ware Holbrook Journal Entry regarding Green Mountain Camp]

[January 3, 1918 - Boston, Mass continued]
     That night we arrived at camp rather late - that is, after eight and the five or six girls with me helped with the express cart & its load bound for camp. The darkness was great, and we had one lantern between us to light our way over boulders and through mud holes. The load was extremely heavy, and difficult, as the handle was not at all stable. Two or three of us finally pulled off our shoes & stockings, to make it more comfortable walking through the puddles! Finally the cart was left in the road for the next party to deal with. 
     Arrived at camp all were hungry as bears - for it was after nine then & we commenced a fire. Suddenly we bethought ourselves of the possibility of another party without a light. Back we trudged, but were home again as soon as possible to partake of delicious scrambled eggs & bread & butter.
     Other motor trips & picnics included: Sunset Lake (North Pond) on a Sunday afternoon to avoid general homesickness, when families visited a favored few; a supper party at the Bradley's house, where a last first aid class was given, & final examination taken of each girl by Dr. Burnett.
     On cool evenings we enjoyed sitting about a camp fire, telling stories & playing games - such as drop the handkerchief, Roman Soldiers, etc. One warm evening, a large number played base ball with Mr. Moffit as the [illegible] sport.
     One evening a big thunderstorm kept most of us inside - and then games kept the girls occupied. At frequent intervals, and nearly every day a storm came up at some time. Practically every trip was interrupted by a sudden shower.
     On our last evening, after the Bradley's party, the night was warm & very clear with a beautiful new moon shining over the water. We sat together in the full enjoyment of the scene & sang songs. Every girl felt the spell of the evening, and must have had a realization of our intimacy and all that it meant in the camp life. Some particularly had found companionship undreamed of & a phase of broader vision on life than heretofore had touched them.
     It was with great preparation and bustle that camp broke up the next morning and at the same time with a sensibility of true friendship between us all.

Green Mountain Camp - Health Talk

[end of journal entry for 1917 camp season]

© 2010, copyright William C. Haskell