Importance of Tracing Collateral Relatives!

If you follow genealogy blogs and/or have attended conferences and taken classes, you know the importance of tracing collateral relatives, friends, associates and neighbors of your ancestors.

Today I discoved the obituary of Uncle William Perry.  The biography is chock full of personal details of my family….and seems to have been written by William himself.  Had I not started researching siblings of my ancestors, I would have missed this article. 

Background:

William was my g-grandmother Georgianna (Hughes) Hall’s uncle. William was twice married but fathered no children. He was a brother to Georgianna’s mother Kitte/Katherine/Kate (Perry) Hughes/Clough/Shipman. I have another article in my files from the personal section of the same paper in the early 1900′s stating that Georgianna Hall and her infant son Charles G. Hall (my grandfather) from Malden were in Rome visiting their uncle William Perry.

Georgianna’s maternal grandparents, as mentioned in the article, were George Perry and Ann (Jones) Perry – I am guessing that is how they came up with the name Georgianna – George + Ann.

The article:

DAILY SENTINEL, ROME, N. Y., FRIDAY EVENING, AUGUST 6. 1937

WILIAM C.PERRY
DIES ON BIRTHDAY
——————————-
Native of Rome Taken by;
Death at Age of 77
————————————
LEFT TWO SKETCHES
OF HIS LIFE HERE
————————————
Ex-Businessman at One Time
Was Postoffice Clerk
————————————-
William C. Perry, lifelong resident of Rome, died at his home 418 N.Washington St., at 10 o’clock this morning on the 77th anniversary of his birth. Sometime ago, Mr Perry prepared a sketch of his life and career, from which the following paragraphs are taken.

He was born on the old Lynch Farm In East Rome—then called Factory Village—on August 6, 1860, son of the late George and Ann Perry. His father died Jan. 28,1862 and his mother Nov. 3, 1896.

Family Came from Wales

His grandfather and grandmother the late Mr. and Mrs. Robert Jones, emigrated to this country from North Wales in 1837. They settled and resided on Floyd Hill, or Camroden. Mr. Perry had two sisters, Delia Spoor of Galeton Pa., and Kate Shipman of Lynn Mass., and one brother, George Perry of Galeton. They are all dead.

Mr. Perry received his education in the brick school house in East Rome and in the Utica Business College. He worked for ten years in grocery stores, starting with W. H. Evans at 301 E. Domlnick St. in 1880. He also worked for Daniel O’Connell, George R. Marriott, W W. Roberts and John Lackey.

Clerk at Postoffice

On June 27, 1889, he was appointed a clerk in the Rome post office by the late Supreme Court Judge William E. Scrlpteure, who was then postmaster, a position which he held under five postmasters. He resigned Nov. 17, 1919, after having served continually for 29 years. He was a charter member of Rome Branch, National Association of Postoffice Clerks. He took great interest in this organization and retained his membership in it.

After leaving the postoffice he formed a partnership with Nelson Bartholomew and established an insurance and real estate business This business was sold and they opened a grocery store at 414 W. Dominick St. This continued until July 1, 1921, when the firm dissolved. Mr. Perry taking over the business and continuing the store until October, 1933. Mr. Perry was twice married. On Sept. 10, 1884, he married Miss Lillian French, who died July 28, 1922. On July 9, 1923. he married Mrs. Bessie Blakealee.

Burned I. O. O. F. Mortgage

Mr. Perry was for 15 years a member of Rome Lodge, I. O. O. F. He passed through the chairs of the different branches and had the honor of burning the mortgage which was on the Odd Fellow’s Temple at that time. He was a member of Hatheway Lodge 869, F. & A. M„ American

TURN TO PAGE 11 UNDER HEAD
WILLIAM C. PERRY
—————————————————————————-

WILLIAM C. PERRY
(CONTINUED PROM PAGE TWO)

True Ivorites, Rome Firemen’s Benevolent Association, the National Association of Postofftce Clerks and the First Presbyterian Church. In his younger days he was interested in sports, especially baseball, playing as catcher. He played one season with the Canastotl baseball team and the Oneida County Agricultural Society presented the winning team at the FairGrounds a pair of silver mounted baseball bats which the team gave to Mr. Perry. He also played with the Young Mens’ Sodality team of St. Peter’s Church and Father Ward, assistant to Father Murphy, presented him a gift at the time of his marriage. This gift Mr. Perry valued very highly. Mr. Perry’ prided himself on belonging to a team, the old Red Stockings, which never lost a game in three years. He enjoyed talking baseball, especially of old times and the sporting events of 60 years ago.

Mr. Perry is survived by his wife, several cousins and nieces in Rome and vicinity.

In another sketch prepared by Mr. Perry in March, 1922, he said his parents came to this country in 1846 or 47. They came in a sailing vessel and were three months on the ocean.

Father Ran Milk Route
George Perry lived on the Lynch farm and conducted a milk route from 1855 to 1862, the time of his death Mrs. Perry then left the farm and purchased the house at 507 E. Dominick St., and with her four children lived there until 1886, when she moved to Frankfort, where she died. She was twice married, her second husband being James Z, Evans, who died in Frankfort In 1902.

The old brick school in East Rome, where Mr. Perry received his first education, was afterward used as an engine house and was occupied by old Mohawk Hose Co. 4. of which company Mr. Perry was the last secretary.

His first place of employment was in the old Rail Mill, later the Copper Mill on Bouck St. He was a “pull boy” on the furnace whose heater was the late Robert Edwards, father of C. Robert Edwards of Rome. After working there for seven years he accepted a position as a night clerk in the Commercial Hotel, now the Catholic Association Building, conducted by the late D. B. Prince. This employment was followed by his entry Into the grocery business as clerk, first for Daniel O’Connell. whose store was in the American Block, 100 W. Dominick St., now occupied by the Whelan Drug Co., Inc.

Fultonhistory.com:
Rome NY Daily Sentinel 1937 – 2828.pdf (pg 2)
Rome NY Daily Sentinel 1937 – 2837.pdf (pg 11)

Crazy Cat Lady?!?!?! Photo Identification and Do you include family pets in your genealogy?

I am the fourth generation to have lived in the Malden, Massachusetts home purchased 83 years ago  by my great-grandparents Charles “Garrie” Milton Hall and Georgianna ”Georgie” (Hughes/Clough) Hall.  They purchased it 10 May 1930 from Carrie M. Hawkridge of Marblehead (taking out a $5,000 mortgage).

Middlesex South District Deeds – book 5460, page 321:

My childhood attic is chock full of treasures! Lots and lots of photos! 99% with no identification.  Except of course the pet photos, all of which are labelled.  This was exciting for my 12-year-old niece - who tells me that the only family genealogy that interests her is that of the family pets.  Charles Milton and Georgianna raised and raced greyhounds, their son Charles Jr. (my grandfather) took over the greyhound business and became a veterinarian - so we had lots of pets – hence my nickname of “Crazy Cat Lady” and mother to four very spoiled cats – it is genetic!  Here is one I have been unable to identify (hopefully her descendants will find her in this blog someday)

The Halls lived on Dale Street in 1916.  There were 18 Stearns in Malden in 1910, 5 different families.  The closest is the family on Rockwell St. (.4 miles away) but the residents were 20+ years older than my ancestors.  I have two of Georgianna’s address books and there are no Stearns families in either. And who knows if this is a Malden cat! They could have been visiting relatives in Lowell, Oneida NY or traveling to race the greyhounds! Although my grandfather would have been about 12 and in school.  Since the photo was taken in mid-September (during the school year), perhaps it was in Malden – but, the photo was taken on a Sunday – perhaps on a weekend trip.

I digress. My mother, who still lives in the family homestead, found a family bible published in 1884; inside were seven small photos pasted into the “family portrait” section.  Who were these folks?  I decided to use some of the techniques I had heard of in various conferences, courses and blogs to surmise their identities.

The pages inside listed only 3 names:

Ephraim Augustus Hall, born December 28, 1852

Roxanna Aurelia Wilson, born October 12, 1859

Charles Milton Hall, born March 7, 1881 

I don’t recognize the handwriting – it’s not my mother’s, my grandmother Edith (Haines) Hall’s or my g-grandmother Georgianna’s.  I can only guess it probably is that of Roxanna Aurelia Wilson, Charles Milton mother.

The first three photos were taken by the same photographer. E. C. Swain of Malden Centre, Mass. Tattered and Lost’s blog tells what little is known of this photographer Edwin Chandler Swain (1835-1911): http://tatteredandlostphotographs.blogspot.com/2012/05/mystery-of-photographer-e-c-swain.html

 

I believe that there is a strong possibility that the man in the photo above is Ephraim Augustus and the boy, Charles Milton.  Since Ephraim had only one known wife, I am guessing that the woman pictured is Roxanna Aurelia Wilson.

The photo below is known to be Charles George Hall, center, Charles Milton Hall, right and Ephraim Augustus Hall, left  – do you agree that these are the same folks?:

Two other photos in the bible were also taken by Malden photographers:  C.O. Hodgman (woman pictured) and Wm. H. Cromack (man pictured).  I located a Charles O. Hodgman in A Directory of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900.  Charles was a photographer in Malden from 1878-1883.

The remaining two bible photographs were taken in Boston: John Hofstrun (woman pictured), who was active in Boston from 1873-1876 per the Massachusetts Historical Society website and Chute, 12 Tremont (man pictured). A Directory of Massachusetts Photographers 1839-1900 lists a Robert J. Chute of 13 Tremont Row, Boston who was in the business 1860-1867.

 

While I can’t be 100% certain, it would seem to make sense that these are photos of Charles Milton’s 4 grandparents.

Top photo set:

(1) Horatio Hall – b. 18 Jun 1802 Norton, MA; d. 11 May 1884 Malden, MA

(2) Elizabeth (Pinder) Hall – b. 18 Jun 1810 Ipswich, MA; d. 22 Jul 1886 Malden, MA

Bottom photo set:

(3) David M. Wilson – b. 31 Jul 1824 Ireland; d. 31 Aug 1879 Boston, MA

(4) Elizabeth (Long) Wilson – b. 21 Mar 1823 Ireland; d. 25 Feb 1897 Malden, MA [lived in East Boston until her husband's death in 1879]

Although I haven’t found anything on photographer Wm. H. Cromack, the other three photographers were active during the lifetime of these folks at the time when they would have been the age they appeared in the photographs (if that makes sense).

Elizabeth (Pinder) Hall – photo by Charles O. Hodgman, a photographer from 1878-1883. Elizabeth would have been age 68-73.

David M. Wilson – photo by Robert J. Chute,  in the business 1860-1867. David arrived in Boston about 1852 and would have been 36-43 in this date range.

Elizabeth (Long) Wilson – photo by John Hofstrun, active from 1873-1876. Elizabeth would have been 50-53 years old.

Horatio Hall – photo by Wm. H. Cromack - process of elimination! I will say that this photo looks very similar to those on page 22 of the book, More Dating Old Photographs 1840-1929 published by Family Chronicle, Moorshead Magazines, Ltd. 2011 which are dated 1864, the year Horatio turned 61. There is a William H. Cromack in the Massachusetts census data – he seems to change careers frequently! Cabinet Maker, Jeweller, Constable, Painter…. I am guessing he’s our guy but have been unable to determine when/if he worked as a photographer!  Perhaps some searching in the Malden City Directories the next time I visit Boston!

What do you think? Am I right?  This one seems like a no brainer, but I have been mistaken before when I jumped to conclusions too quickly.

And yes, for those who might be wondering, my cats are included in my Ancestry.com tree

Suicide or Toothache?

I don’t know much about my 3rd g-grandparents, David M. Wilson and Elizabeth Long.  Just a few facts:

David M. Wilson, son of Thomas Wilson and Jane [unknown], was born in Ireland. 

His family immigrated to New Brunswick, about 1830, when he was six. There he met Elizabeth Long, an Irish immigrant, daughter of Alexander Long, who arrived in New Brunswick about 1840, at the age of seventeen.

They were wedded Tuesday evening, 20 July 1847, by Rev. Wm. Harrison on who was affiliated with St. Luke’s Anglican Church, Main Street, Saint John, New Brunswick.

Two known children James Alexander (b. 27 Feb 1850) and David M. (b. 3 Jan 1852)  were born in Saint John, New Brunswick. The family immigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, between Jan 1852 and Mar 1853.  David was a painter and paper hanger who for the next 25+ years reported being born in either Maine or New Brunswick, most likely to avoid discrimination, which was rampant in Boston,  because of the Irish Potato Famine,  a period of mass starvation, disease and emigration between 1845 and 1852.^[1]

Four known children were born in Boston, Eleanor “Ellen” (b. 21 Mar 1853), Annie Elizabeth “Bessie” (b. 12 Nov 1855), Charles L. (b. abt 1857) and my 2nd g-grandmother, Roxana Aurelia “Anna” (b. 12 Oct 1859).

The family moved frequently, finally settling first at 9 South Margin and then 177 Bennington, both in East Boston for a number of years.

Bennington Street, East Boston, ca. 1915-1930

On 31 August 1879, David died.  His death certificate lists the cause as “Phithisis” [defined as: pulmonary tuberculosis or a similar progressive systemic disease].

End of story, right?  In 1879, obituaries were nonexistent or limited to a one liner listing nothing more than the decedent’s name. 

I spent a day at the Boston Public Library last week searching through old copies of the Malden Evening News for about 30 of my ancestors who lived in that town from 1890 – 2013 – including David’s widow Elizabeth (Long) Wilson.  Her obituary didn’t say much:

I was tired, it had been a long day, my eyes were shot from looking at microfilm too long – a blizzard had started outside, the MBTA (my ride back home) was closing early because of the anticipated weather, I wanted to relax and have a beer (that’s what you do during a blizzard, right?).  I asked the librarian if she thought it was worth it to look for David’s death in the Boston papers. Her opinion was that I would likely find nothing, but added as I walked away, “it doesn’t hurt to look”.  I returned to the desk – I knew I wouldn’t have a chance to get back to the BPL for a few months, so expecting to find nothing, I looked.

To my surprise, there were three articles!

The first, from the Herald, stated that David, while on a job site painting, had attempted suicide by drinking laudanum.

The second, a local East Boston publication, stated that he may have taken laudanum to relive the pain of a toothache. But why did he lock himself in another room to drink the potion?

 

The third, claimed “He Accomplished His Object”, he is dead”

 How awful for his wife! Did he really commit suicide or was it a toothache?

According to Wikipedia:

“A drink of laudanum was made of 10% opium and 90% alcohol, and flavoured with cinnamon or saffron. It was first used by the ancient Greeks, and in the 19th century mostly used as painkiller, sleeping pill, or tranquilizer. It was cheaper than poppy oil and could be drank like you’d drink scotch. It took a while for the Victorian to figure out the negative side effect, only in 1919 the production and export of opium was prohibited, and in 1928 a law was passed that prohibited use.

[Wikipedia’s list of laudanum-users is so incredibly long, it makes no sense to copy it. Here’s some notable users: Lord Byron, Kate Chopin, Samuel Taylor Coleridge, Percy Bysshe Shelley, John Keats, Lewis Carroll, Charles Dickens, Edgar Allan Poe.]

So, it was a pretty popular drug. In fact: innumerable Victorian women were prescribed the drug for relief of menstrual cramps and vague aches and used it to achieve the pallid complexion associated with tuberculosis (frailty and paleness were particularly prized in females at the time). Nurses also spoon-fed laudanum to infants.

My thinking is that David had a toothache, but I struggle with this theory, only because the newspaper stated that he locked himself in another room after taking the drug.  I guess we’ll never know the real truth.  Was he depressed?  There are a few cases of mental illness in my family.  David’s daughter Roxana married Ephraim Augustus (my 2nd g-grandparents) - who was declared insane in 1916 at the age of 62 - my grandfather Charles Hall had breakdown as a young man – was it from genetic causes on both sides of the family or only Ephraim or was it unrelated? One of  David’s  granddaughter’s (Clara Rebecca Pratt, daughter of Bessie) was also committed. In 1930 she was found as a patient at Brattleboro Retreat where she remained until her death in 1970.  The Brattleboro Retreat provides specialized diagnosis and treatment services those suffering from a wide range of psychiatric and addiction challenges since 1834.

Poor Elizabeth, in 1879 she loses her husband, the newspaper publicized his death as a suicide – true or not, publicly humiliating her family.   Her young blind son, Charles, died suddenly, less than a year later, on 31 Mar 1880, with inflammation of the bowels.  Six years later she buried her eldest sons James (d. 14 Sep 1886, consumption) and David (d. 20 Jun 1886, meningitis).  Elizabeth herself passed on 25 Feb 1897.  Anna and Ellen lived only until 1910 leaving poor Bessie as the only surviving child (she died in 1932).

Genealogy aboard the Ticonderoga

Alexander Haines was the favorite sibling and younger brother of John Haines, my great grandfather (the father of Edith Anna “Nana” (Haines) Hall, who was my dad’s mother).

Uncle Alex was stationed on the Ticonderoga.

Following is a story written by dad’s brother Uncle Charlie in remembrance of Uncle Alex:

When you sail on the Atlantic, you know it is a powerful and treacherous sea with many bad stories to tell.  Also it is incredibly attractive. Occasionally feeling endangered when brushing against the deep you get a prized rush from that shot of emotion called adventure.  Unfortunately, if things don’t go well, terror is a short distance down the road. This has always been true but never more so than during World War 1.

 During that conflict American allies fretted over the ocean.  If the Allies were to win, the sea-lanes had to be used to assure supplies.  In an attempt to gain an advantage and because of the importance of this problem strategies were devised and tactics invented.

The United States idea focused on using the Atlantic to swarm cargo ships to France and provide an overwhelming superiority in supplies.  There was no attempt to feint or otherwise baffle with bullshit.  The mission, get as much war goods to France as achievable in the shortest possible time.  For protection, run the ships in convoy and use whatever ships of the line you can spare for escort duty.  However if a vessel malfunctions or warships are unavailable, remember the mission is to maximize the goods on the beach in France not minimize the risk to a few sailors. 

By 1917 the U.S. was manufacturing plenty of war goods, but didn’t have enough ships to transport the material. To alleviate this crisis, the U.S. built ships, converted ships, and seized ships.

One of the ships central to this story was the German cargo ship Camilla Rickmers that was seized by U.S. Customs officials in 1917. After being turned over to the Navy, she was fitted out as an animal transport; armed with a 3-inch gun forward and a 6-inch gun aft.  Renamed Ticonderoga, she was commissioned at Boston in the Naval Overseas

Transportation Services on 6 Jan 1918, with Lt. Commander James J. Madison, USNR   in command.   

Sixteen young sailors from New England were included in the crew including Alex Haines of Malden Massachusetts. 

Based on some data, I’ve drawn conclusions about our Alex.  Growing up in what today we know was a highly unusual family situation, he had to be a little bit crafty to survive and maintain his popularity with both his father and his brothers. This characteristic would of course help him avoid difficulty with the bureaucracy that surrounds an enlisted man.

In addition, having observed descendent great uncles Bill and Jack Haines as young men, I can say with some certainty that the generation earlier Alex was handsome, had very strong social skills and was popular with guys and attractive to women including his wife the cute, dark haired, Ina.

Alex was a young guy who laughed a lot, had a zest for life and an itch to see what was over the next hill. I‘m including a letter Alex wrote to his father after his third Atlantic crossing. In it I think you can feel his youthful bravado and enthusiasm for life.

 September 16, 1918, USS TiconderogaNorfolk, Virginia10 p.m.  Dear Father,  I have returned from my third tour and will start this week again for France.  I am having a good time and seeing a great many things.  Our first trip was in the spring, and naturally was stormy.  The second trip was very pleasant, until 800 mi. out coming back we ran to a storm, and lost a man, June 21 washed overboard.  I spent the Fourth of July in Virginia.  I might as well have been in a naval yard it was so dead.  I have had Ina come down to spend the week with me this time.  Ina will start back for Boston tomorrow.    This trip was pretty lively there were 35 ships in the convoy and an American cruiser, which left us in the war zone 800 miles from France on July 21 at 2 o’clock in the afternoon. They and the destroyer were to pick us up the next day but there were two subs following along looking for an opportunity.  At 7:30 a torpedo hit the Tippecanoe in the stern.  If it had not hit them, it would have got us amidships.  We saw a torpedo but not the sub.  The Tippecanoe was our sister ship and was riding on our port side.  She sank in 25 minutes.  It got dark, and we were not bothered for the rest of the night.  At four o’clock the next morning we sighted two on the horizon.  At 7:30 one rose four times to get the ship on our starboard side.  But each time, we opened fire, and made it so warm that they could not launch a torpedo.  The destroyers picked up our wireless and got there in time to stop further loss.  The crew of the Tippecanoe was picked up the next morning.  The subs got into our convoy again one day out from France and one of the destroyers launched a depth bomb that brought up a whale.  We landed in La Police(?)this last time but the first two trips were Bordeaux.  We came back, by way of the Azores where we ran into subs again.  At eight o’clock in the evening we saw a sub off our port bow.  We were escorting an unarmed ship back to the states.  At nine o’clock they opened fire on us, which we returned.  There were about 20 shots fired.  We do not know whether we got him or not, but he did not bother us any more.  The rest of the way was very pleasant.  Labor day we met a ship and hoisted signals, which they did not answer.  We put two shots across their bow and prepared to sink her.  She answered before we got that far.  I am sending you my picture that I had taken last trip, and would have sent you, but did not have your address.  I would like to get the address of Aunt Mary, as I would like to write to her. Ina and I are thinking of going out that way after the war.  I am feeling fine, and like this life very much.  I would not have missed this trip for anything.  When you write give me your home address.  Will say goodbye for another trip.  Your loving son,     Alex  USS TiconderogaNorfolk VA  

Three days after Alex wrote the letter, the Ticonderoga loaded with horse soldiers, their animals, and supplies steamed to New York and joined a convoy. This passage would be the fourth trip to France for Alex.  Things went well from the time they departed New York on September 22^nd until they were well out to sea on the night of the 29^th.  Then the ships engine began malfunctioning.  The problem attributed to bad coal continued and by the evening of the 30^th the convoy drew away leaving them quietly alone.  At least they hoped they were alone. 

Unfortunately they were not alone. At dawn, the calm was shattered by lookout shouts and ships alarm. The German submarine U-152 commanded by Captain Adolf Franz from the dreaded Kreuzer Flotilla thrashed to the surface and cleared for action. Within the first six shots, the forward gun of the Ticonderoga was silenced and after that it was a very uneven battle. For two hours round after round screamed in on the nearly defenseless ship with horrific results shattering the wooden lifeboats and wounding almost all 237 men aboard. 

Finally, mercifully, the Ticonderoga slipped beneath the sea leaving only 24 left to tell the tale.

There is no way of knowing exactly what happened to Alex.  My guess is that he was every bit as scared as we would have been but still did what he was supposed to do and probably a little more.

But then as in The Abyss, ” For an instant that seemed to him eternal, a globe of scarlet palpitated within him, or perhaps outside him, bleeding on the sea.  Like the summer sun in polar regions, that burning sphere seemed to hesitate, ready to descend one degree toward the nadir; but then, with an almost imperceptible bound upward, it began to ascend toward the zenith, to be finally absorbed in a blinding daylight, which was, at the same time, night.”

This battle wasn’t totally ignored.  There was a front-page report in the NY Times and two consecutive days of front page reporting in the morning edition of the Boston Globe.  However it wasn’t the lead story and there were no headlines although Alex got his name in the Globe as one of the New Englanders killed.  In a newspaper the story of self-interest of nations and posture of leaders always trumps the sacrifice of citizens.

Not true in the hearts of families however.  This writing has in my mind and I hope yours transformed Alex from a name and a date on a genealogy chart to a person.  Next Memorial Day remember Alex a young man deserving of our respect. 

———————————————————————————————————————-
I was hoping to learn more of Alex’s life. 

On page 275 of the finding aid Lists of Logbooks of US Navy Ships, Stations and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947; special list 44 is listed a Ticonderoga log dated 5 January – 31 August 1918.  I learned that in 1918, the log would have been created on a preprinted form and might include such information as temperature, winds, distance travelled, sightings, crew condition and leaves, training exercises and miscellaneous events of the day.  This Ticonderoga log is part of the Records of the Bureau of Naval Personnel, record group 24 (National Archives RG 24, stack area 18w4, row 22, compartment 16, shelf 4).

During a visit to the National Archives in Washington D.C. during the summer of 2011, I found the log book and took photos of its delicate pages (not all organized yet!, but on Flickr) http://www.flickr.com/photos/lindahallphoto/sets/72157632664591912/

The story is fascinating!  Alex, a baker, is mentioned several times.  There were men thrown off the ship for various infractions (like drinking), little did they know it ultimately saved their lives. There was even an onboard murder!

The journal not only gives a glimpse of Alex’s last days, but is chock full of genealogical information – for example an entry dated  Saturday, February 16, 1918, reads:

Three officers and 104 enlisted men of the U.S. Army came aboard during the day for passage overseas, names as follows:

Fairchild, Samuel G.; McComas, Ben C.; Krowl, Chas. J.; Baugh, Clyde C.; Shrivers, Oura O.; O’Brien, Henry J.; Whitmore, Haswell; Kandell, Norman; Parmley, Wm. J.; Real, Thomas H.; Talbot, John L.; Dzik, Standley; Armstrong, Frank; Engle, Harry; Nordli, Arne A; Kirchenstein, J.D.; Powell, Leo; Roberts, Frank M.; Shirley, Walter; Smith, Henry C.; Lalonde, Edward E.; Vernon, Roy C.; Hochleutner, Irwin E.; Wilkinson, Gerald; Carpenter, Ray. C.; Krohn, Herman; Smith, Robert R.; Amsbury, Harvey E.; Arnold, Warren H.; Benson, Martin; Bock, William C.; Coffman, James W.; Consul, Ralph; Craig, George; Claiborne, Joseph S.; Darling, Raymond D.; Dean, Benjamin A.; Dunlap James Jr.; Everett, Tetie; Fitzgerald, Frank F.; Hanson, Ben A.; Harvey, Earl D.; Hill, Noble McK.; Hosen, Wm. S.; Karnes, Alfred R.; King, Lonnie L.; Kain, John M.; Jones, Ray; Lupp, Luther L.; Lane, Milton; LaBunker Wm. F.; Lederle, Walter H.; McCoy, Geo. T.; Merrill, P.P.; Minnich, Henry; McGlynn, Chas. J; McGuinn, Dan P.; Mellen, Oliver A.; Mellen, James K.; Mitchels, C.E.; McNeal, Wm. H.; Morris, Fred D.; Nickerson, Earl J.; Payne, Howard B.; Provost, Ernest F.; Reeves, John F.; Ring, Albert S.; Rourke, Wm. J.; Rooney, John P.; Sammler, Walter W.; Smith, Leonard; Sweeny, Hubert; Sawatzky, August; Saxton, Lucian H.; Short, Wm. W.; Bradshaw, Lee; Carraro, John; Greene, Henry; Sevenresky, Martin; Deyong, Henry; Stone, Hardin E.; Baker, Ralph V.; Burns, Arthur M.; Carden, Samuel A.; Camp, Enoch; Dalton, Walter; Davies, John; Eby, Robert C.; Boyle, Norman R.; Boreman, John; Horn, Elmer B.; Hoolehan, John; Holloway, Sidney L.; Harvey, William H.; Kelly, Floyd V.; Line, Claud C.; Leiber, Eugene; Long, Norwood; Phillips, Crawford; Ryan, Edward L.; Stonesifer, Robt. H.; Vorac, Rudolph; Welsh, James B.; Lillicotch, Frank V.; Tracy, John; Whitney, Leonardo O.; Martin, Walter

 

Log Book (Summary) – U.S.S. Ticonderoga – Jan 5, 1918 to Aug 31, 1918

The log commences at noon on Monday, December 31, when Lieutenant Commander James J. Madison reported on board. 

Wednesday, January 2 – 48 mattresses and pillows are delivered along with two typewriters and a safe. 

Thursday, January 3 – the Navy Yard delivers 7 life rafts.  The starboard anchor arrives and is shackled onto the starboard chain.

On Saturday, January 5 a large number of the crew reports for duty.  Ship’s store and provisions are delivered.  

A. Haines, Baker 2c reported for duty on Monday, January 7 

On Thursday, January 10, members of the ship not on watch were granted liberty.  They returned and resumed their duties the next morning.

During this week a number of contracted workmen reported to perform repair and construction work on the ship, they worked from 7am to 5 pm most days but remained until 10PM on Sunday, January 6^th and Monday, January 7^th and worked through the night on Tuesday, January 8th.  They continued working on Wednesday, January 9^th from 7am to 10pm and then again through the night on Thursday, January 9^th.  This continued with varying hours through Wednesday, January 16^th.

Monday, January 14^th – 3 chronometers were delivered. A number of men reported for duty.

Tuesday, January 15^th – all persons not members of the ship’s company were ordered ashore. The ship prepared to sail on 10 minute notice.

Wednesday, January 16^th – 8:25am proceeded from Hodges Wharf, East Boston, MA enroute to adjust compasses.  Ship maneuvered various courses adjusting compasses.  12:42pm full speed enroute to sea. 5pm Cape Cod light abeam.

Thursday, January 17^th – 2:46am sighted Nantucket Shoal Lightship bearing WSW.  Gentle breeze, moderate sea, long swell.

Friday, January 18^th – 12:07pm heavy fog set in, engines stopped, at 12:26pm the fog lifted and the vessel proceeded full speed ahead.

Saturday, January 19^th – 8am to 4am off anchor Cape Charles, VA; clear skies with snow squalls.   Passed Fortress Monroe at 10:54am.  The ship docked and mail was delivered onboard. 

• Arrival notes: Passage Boston, MA to Newport News, VA
• Bar to bar – 2 days, 6 hours, 48 minutes; 501.5 miles, 9.14 mph
• Dock to dock – 3 days, 3 hours, 31 minutes; 541.5 miles, 7.17 mph

January 20th – 31st, – seaman continued working, a number of men departed and reboarded the ship and it snowed quite a bit.  Two men lost liberty for 7-12 days for changing quartermaster watch without permission and one man was tried by the deck court for 36 hours overleave and for being arrested for drunkenness (he lost liberty for 90 days). A few were placed on the binnacle list once for influenza and another for orchitis.  Two men were transferred from NTS Naval Operating Base to the Ticonderoga. 

Friday, February 1^st – seamen exercised in swinging out and lowering the life rafts.

Sunday, February 3^rd – US Mail was delivered.

Feb 4^th – cleared ice between ship & dock

Feb 16^th – 2 men left ship w/o permission and were discovered trying to board the ship unnoticed by the stern line; 3 officers and 104 enlisted men of the US Army came aboard during the day for passage overseas.

Feb 18^th – set sail to NY

• Arrival notes: bar to bar 0 days, 23 hours, 30 min; dock to anchorage 1 day, 5 hours, 25 min. Anchored off Tompkinsville, Staten Island – weather clear, cold & calm. 

Feb 19^th – Lieut Arey, executive officer was “sent to his room” charged with being under the influence of liquor.  The next day he was detached and left the ship for conduct unbecoming of an officer.

Wed, Feb 20^th – headed out of NY Harbor as part of a convoy enroute to Eurpore with Cargo for A.E.F.

Fri, Feb 22^nd – A few dead mules were thrown overboard.

Sat Feb 23^rd – wind increased in violence & convoy began to scatter, passed a ship displaying the signal “I am out of control”, rain squalls; 8-12pm no ships of convoy in sight.

Sat, Feb 24 – 9 mules dead this morning; 8-12pm unidentified ship of convoy in sight, made signal but she did not answer.

Tues, Feb 26^th  – 1:37pm sounded general alarm, and fired 3 shots from each gun

Sat, Mar 2^nd – 2 men were confined to only bread and water for 24 hours commencing at 10am for failing to stand guard in a proper manner.  7:25 sighted convoy of ships off port bow, exchanged signals; 4pm to 5:45pm received various signals from “Aclonza” started to zig zag.

Sun, Mar 3^rd – lifeboat cut adrift as it was damaged beyond repair; exchanged signals with convoy; weather stormy and overcast

Monday, Mar 4^th – rec’d signal from H.M.S. Arlanza to zig zag throughout watch; ship rolling slightly to long ground swells.

Tuesday, Mar 5^th – sighted 2 unidentified steamers, change course; zig zagging from 8am to 6:20pm

Wednesday, Mar 6^th – sighted patrol boat and two destroyers; resumed zig sagging; changed course a number of times

Thursday, Mar 7^th – rec’d orders from destroyer to follow close; Las Pures Novres beacon abeam at 10:55am and Point Mathew beacon abeam at 11:27am; 4pm proceeded up harbor of Brest and anchored at 12:55pm with 60 fathoms of chain.

• Arrival notes: Bar to bar: 14d, 21h, 15m; 3,074 miles
• Anchorage to anchorage: 15 days, 0 hours, 40 min; 3,093 miles

Friday, Mar 8^th – commenced heaving anchor and fell in line with rest of convoy.  Point De Petit Minion Beacon abeam. 1:38pm Aux Montons Light House abeam.; 1:57pm The Perfect Lighthouse abeam; 3:35pm sighted Le Croix Island.Rec’d orders from USS Truxton to proceed to Bordeaux instead of St. Naziere; weather cool and hazy, sea calm.  5:48pm sighted object which resembled periscope of submarine; order commence firing and general quarter signal sounded; 5:51pm gun commenced rapid firing at object, 10 shots were fired from 3”gun and 3 shots from 6” gun.  USS Truxton investigated object and reported it to be a buoy marking a wreck. Hits were scored from the last two shots of 6” gun, range 4,200 yards.  In convoy from Brest to Quiberon Bay.  6:35pm Belle Island Lighthouse abeam. 7:54pm dropped anchor at Belle Island in 11 fathoms of water.  Hove up anchor at 8:20pm and followed USS Truxton to another anchorage south about 4 miles.

Sat, Mar 9^th – under way 5:55am, Peg Rock abeam 6:25am, Grand Cardinaux light abeam at 6:52am. 9:40am received signal from destroyer to change course, 11:28am sighted Isle Drier, Point du Corbeau light abeam at 12:45pm, Nazaire tower abeam at 3:10pm, sighted Grand Baige light at 3:47pm, 5:11pm Balaunes light house abeam, rec’d signal from escorting destroyer “follow me”, ship altered course following in destroyer wake, 6:35pm Chasserion light on starboard, 7:55pm let go anchor in Pallice Roads with 22 fathoms of chain in the water. 

Sun, Mar 10^th – swung anchor in at 2:45am with tide; signaled to passing destroyer “we are bound for Bordeaux, have you any orders?” They responded, “Southbound convoy will leave sometime today”, weather calm, sky clear, horizon hazy; Cheaveou light on starboard 9:45am; Chassiron light on port 10:45am; 1:15 sighted Point de la Coubre beacon; 1:58pm sighted Cordouan Light House; 2:23pm Point de la Coubre abeam per standard compass distance approx. 2 miles; 2:30pm passed north bound convoy.; rec’d message from vessel of convoy to take on pilot at Verdun Roads;  3:20pm slowed and took on pilot. Anchored near Tallis lightship at 4:04pm at 5:25pm set clocks ahead one hour.

Mon, Mar 11^th – swung up anchor just after midnight, full speed ahead, 2:55am dropped anchor at Pauillac; anchored off Lazaret at 4:25am; French Police officials boarded at 8:20am and departed at 8:32am; warm weather; anchor aweigh at 3:15pm steamed up Gironde River and proceeded up to Bordeaux dropped anchor at 6:15pm and sent first line ashore; at 7:10pm Military Police (US Army) of corporal and three men stationed aboard; at 8:45pm Second Lieut Ellas representing Commanding General, Port of Debarkation rec’d field returns, classification list and report of insurance.

Tue, Mar 12 – Field Artillerymen and Machine Gun men were mustered ashore with their equipment; ship underway for Berth 1, American Docks, Bassens at 5pm, anchored at 5:50pm.  Men granted liberty until 9:30pm, 12 men returned 40 minutes overtime, 3 men returned 1 hr and 15 min overtime, 2 returned 18 hours sand 50 min overtime another was 23 ½ hours overtime [Alex was not among them].

Thurs, Mar 13 – SS Mexico of Havre while underway up the river in fog struck the Ticonderoga on port bow, carried away wire and manila moorings and drove her eastern into the bow of the SS Woonsocket, bow of the Ticonderoga damaged slightly, stern damaged more severely.

Fri, Mar 15 & Sat, Mar 16 – 8 men reboarded the ship having been absent without permission [Alex was not among them], a number of punishments were assigned each man losing 12 liberties.

Sun, Mar 17^th – EW Mootz released from brig., discontinued unloading cargo out of hold #2 until repairs could be made, 6pm started coaling ship, 8:36pm pilot came aboard with sailing orders for the commanding officer; 11pm all cargo in hold #1 discharged, weather mild and clear.

Mon, Mar 18^th – Stevadores at work in #2 hold, finished discharging cargo at 5am, put life boats back aboard, finished taking bunker coal, made preparations for getting underway, deck court was held and 8 men lost 10 days of liberties and pay varying from $11.97 to $23.94, anchored of Verdun Roads.

Wed, Mar 20^th – ship heading north, crew stopped cleaning ship at 11:30am, Whaleboat from SS Munplace came alongside with sick man asking for ships doctor, ship left with patient after having rec’d instructions and medicine from doctor.

Thurs, Mar 21 – crew painting side

Fri, Mar 22 – motorboat from SS Munplace came alongside with 4 men needing medical attention.

Saturday, March 23 – A. Haines Bkr 2c admitted to the sick list, diagnosis tonsillitis  

Sun, Mar 24 – rec’d signal from escort to zig zag; 3:55pm notified by USS May to take position in the convoy; alarm bell rung for battle station followed by fire and boat drills.

Mon, Mar 25 – no ships of convoy in sight, started zig sagging, stopped at 12:40pm on the account of engine trouble, 3 American ships passed, 10:19pm engine repaired, full speed ahead, ship rolling slightly.

Tues, Mar 26 – mast held – JS Vanhorn, profanity 3 days bread and water and 12 days restriction to ship; LL Keenan abusive and profane language, 5 days restriction to ship.   Nathan Stern, neglect of duty and falsehood, loss of pay $23.93 and restricted to limits of ship for 20 days.

Thurs, Mar 28 – mast held – E. Metzdorf , disobedience of orders, 2 days of solitary confinement and bread and water. Baylor, skylarking and attention during reading A.G.N., 6 days restriction.  RJ Drew, skylarking and attention during reading A.G.N., 6 hours extra duty.  CB Frantz admitted to sick leave with tonsillitis.  1:15pm sighted Isle of Terceria

Mon, April 1^st –Wind increased in violence, stopped engines for 12 minutes, then full steam ahead. Ship rolling, sea rough, ship pounded heavily under #2 tank several time between 8 and 10PM.

The following named men, by their good conduct and attention to duty, have earned advancement, and the Commanding Officer takes pleasure in promoting them to the next higher rank – 7 men are listed, among them: A. Haines, Baker 2c to Baker 1c

Tues, Apr 2^nd – fire & boat drills, moderate sea, sighted 2 steamers

Thurs, April 4^th – mast held – F.B. Berlucci refusing to obey orders, 5 days solitary confinement and on bread and water; N. Stern sleeping on duty,  refusing to obey orders, falsehood – to be tried by summary court martial.

Fri, Apr 5 – distant thunder and lightning; sighted a large unidentified steamer.

Mon, April 8 – 9:35pm let go of anchor, Statue of Liberty – Departure Verdon Road Mar 22 arrival NY April 8

Tues, April 9  – ship swinging side to side, cleared USS Iris by 20 feet, dropped anchor pier Oriental Mining, Staten Island.

Wed, Apr 10 – Gale driving ship to shoreward could not round NE End light ship so passed between it and the beach, let go anchor and sent out an SOS for assistance; 6:20pm passed Cape Henry light, sent signal for them to have Navy Yard send tug.

• Arrival notes: New York to Newport News, VA Apr 9-Apr 12.

Fri, Apr 12 – two bags of mail brought onboard, Stevedores resumed work [Stevedore, dockworker, docker, dock labourer, wharfie and longshoreman can have various waterfront-related meanings concerning loading and unloading ships, according to place and country] .

Sat, Apr 13 – two naval tugs assisted in shifting berth, proceeded from Chespeak & Ohio dock to Government docks Norfolk, published the proceeding of court martial in the case of Nathan Stern, rec’d five bags fresh water, a variety of men left and reboarded ship, stevedores working. Water barge #56 came alongside to deliver 27,000 gallons of fresh water.

Sun, Apr 14 – Liberty party shoved off at noon, carpenters and stevedores resumed work (loading cargo from 7AM to midnight).

Mon, Apr 15 – 4 men were taken to the Naval Hospital and 4 others left the ship for dental work.  One bag of first class mail, 3 bags second class mail and 6 registered letters were brought aboard; diver worked on the propeller, stevedores working.

Tues, Apr 16 – Haines, Baker 1c (and a number of others) left the ship on 5 days leave of absence.

Wed, Apr 17 – stevedores resumed work, driver commenced work on screw, iron company men boarded to do work, a number of men left and reboarded, warm weather and clear the entire day, motor launch from Norfolk ship building came alongside and took part of the ships engine away (wheel) for repqir.

Thurs, Apr 18 – stevedores resumed work, liberty party, crew and various repairmen on and off ship.

Fri, Apr  19 – stevedores resumed work, caulker started recaulking deck, motor boat with meat provisions came alongside with 12 tons of commissary store, various crew members off and on ship.

Sat, Apr 20 – stevedores & caulkers resumed work, workman working on propeller,  Riverside came alongside with powder charges, cartridges and GSK stores), various crew off and on ship.

Sun, Apr 21 – stevedores & caulkers resumed work, #56 resumed giving 100,000 gallons of fresh water, commenced coaling, various crew off and on ship.

Mon, Apr 22 – Company D, 310 Battalion (Labor) boarded, stevedores & caulkers resumed work, various crew off and on ship.

Tues, Apr 23 – stevedores & caulkers resumed work, various crew off and on ship, Haines A. Bkr 1^st class returned from 5 days leave of absence including travel time, Haines, A. and Tapply, G.S. were 2 hours and 40 minutes late; detachment of troops embarked consisting of 134 enlisted men.

Wed, Apr 24 – stevedores & caulkers resumed work, various crew off and on ship, life raft fell from roof of warehouse to dock in trying to lower aboard.

Thurs, Apr 25 – machinist working on ship engine resumed work, various crew off and on ship, Riverside delivered 15 barrels of oil; rec’d two bearing and anchor engine crank.

Fri, Apr 26 – pipefitters and machinists resumed work, various crew off and on ship, liberty party mustered and sent ashore.

Sat, Apr 27 – cast off lines from dock, docked Lamberts Point, began coaling, various crew off and on ship

Sun, Apr 28 – resumed coaling, ship underway 12:30pm, Craney Island abeam, Craney light abeam, Bush Bluff light abeam, first line to dock #9, various crew off and on ship.

Mon, Apr 29 – cast off pier 12, Newport News and proceeded towards sea 10:58am, cargo 5,113 tons, bunkers 1,444 tons, water 1,150 tons, stores 20 tons, data re cargo to be entered in the bridge log, took departure from Cape Henry fog horn. Passed Fortress Monroe, Fortress Woll, Thimble shoals, Winterquater buoy and lightship.

Tues, Apr 30 – passed Fenwick Island, Tuckers Beach, Barnegat Light, Sea Girt. Practiced abandoned ship drill, went under Brooklyn & Manhattan Bridge – first line ashore Brooklyn Navy Yard 6:35pm, various crew off and on ship.

Wed, May 1 – various crew off and on ship.

Thurs, May 2 – various crew off and on ship, several men transferred to the US Navy Hospital

Fri, May 3 – various crew off and on ship., received radio; steering, telegraph and whistle tested, 12:04 three tugs came alongside to assist us out , 12:30 full ahead, headed down the East River passed Governors Island , Statue of Liberty, Robbins Reef, Tompkins & Lafayette Forts, Hoffman’s Island, Northern Point Light, Union Island, West Bank Light, Buoy #14, Roamer Shoals Light, Ambrose L.V. Exchanged signals with Commodore. Thunder and Lightening followed by rain.  Following WB ship in convoy.

Sat, May 4 – Following WB ship in convoy, gear disabled and repaired.

Sun, May 5 – Following WB ship, ship pitching slightly to moderate –choppy sea

Mon, May 6 – Following WB ship, started zig zag course, put out fog buoy, hauled in fog buoy, ship dropped out of “Convoy not under command”.

Tues, May 7 – Following WB ship, captain personally held sick call, zig zagging

Wed, May 8 – Following WB ship

Thurs, May 9 – Following WB ship, VD ship dropped from column with damaged steering gear, zig zagging

Fri, May 10 – Following WB ship, rec’d order from Commodore to take position as leader of the W column

Sat, May 11 – Steaming in frontal formation, zig zagging

Sun, May 12 – Steaming in frontal formation, heavy fog set in, passed unidentified ship, zig zagging

Mon, May 13 – Steaming in frontal formation, took in fog buoy started zig sagging, ship rolling slightly to a choppy sea

Tues, May 14 – Guiding on Commodore, zig sagging, exchanged signals with the convoy, USS Charlestown (Ocean Escot) left convoy.

Thurs, May 16 – Steaming in frontal formation, zig sagging.

Fri, May 17 – Convoy separated, followed American Destroyers

Sat, May 18 – followed American Destroyers, passed Pte du Petit Minno lighthouse, arrival at Brest France,passed  Mengam Rock

• Passage 14 days, 12 hours, 47 min – 3,101 miles bar to bar; coal consumed 382 tons

Sun, May 19 – passed Mengam Rock, Pte du Petit Minou, Tevenonee LH, LaVielle LH, Mana LH, Stine buoy, Isle de Penfiet, Isle de Croix, Leno Rk, Paulaine Light, La Tugnouse; let go anchor 8:11pm, 45 fathams cable

Mon, May 20 – underway 4:10am; passed Les Grand Gardinaux, Ide La Duex, Pte de la Francke, Pte de Corbean. Following punishments awarded – two given “warnings” (1) for clothing stowed under bunk and a dirty life preserver, (2)wearning non-regulation clothing; dirty hammock loss of 2 liberties, washing clothes during inspection loss of 2 liberties; wasting food by throwing it at another man, loss of 4 liberties; smoked on deck, loss of 3 liberties

Tues, May 21 – Army doctor came aboard to examine crew

Mon, May 27 – stevadores on board (discharging cargo), various men off and on ship

Tues, May 28 – 10:50 PM O’Grady return aboard from liberty 20 min overtime, intoxicated with intoxicating liquors and using obscene language.

Wed, May 29 – life boat damaged by crane #44, armed guard crew of SS Carolianian came aboard to be paid off by Paymaster.

Sat, Jun 1 – Old Bassens, Berth #5, Bordeaux France

Mon, Jun 3 – Liberty party returned 8 ½ hours overtime – reason, army trucks refused to take them back to ship as usual and they could not return otherwise. Began fumigating soldiers quarters.

Tues, Jun 4 – SS Black Arrow proceeded down river and rec’d salute of 3 whistles, a number of men boarded the ship for transportation to the US, since there was no suitable accommodation available they left.

Wed, Jun 5 – civilian crews of tugs sold to the French Government came aboard for transportation to the US.

Thurs, Jun 6 – Mootz E.W. to the brig for being drunk and disorderly.

Sat, Jun 8 – started back to the US (names a bunch of places passed while leaving)

Tues, Jun 11 – following ship ahead, exchanged signals with the convoy. 

Thurs, Jun 13 – SS Armguay found missing at daybreak, sighted suspicious object, fired 3 shots, all clear

Thurs, Jun 20 – steaming in rear of convoy, rest of convoy out of sight

Sun, Jun 23 – 1:25pm reported that Naughtin, T.J. seaman in missing a thorough search was made from forward to aft without results; 3:00pm board of investigation met to investigate the death of Naughtin.

Mon, Jun 24 – carrier pigeon of Red Antwerp breed lighted on deck, was caught and examined, it was found to have a brass ring with #5484 and an aluminum ring with #37169 about its leg; Summary Court Martial convened trying Eannucci, J.

Tues, Jun 25 – Sighted schooner wrechm Chas W. Alcott, fired 4 shots scoring 4 shots from 2000 yards range

Thurs, Jun 27 – let go starboard anchor off Newport News 7:35am, immigration inspector came aboard to inspect passenger passports

Fri, Jun 28 – the 60 men carried as passengers from France left ship, several men were transferred to the naval hospital

Sat, Jun 29 – started scraping ships bottom, several men left on 5 day leave

Sun, Jun 30 – taking coal aboard (docked at Lamberts Point, Norfolk, VA)

Tues, Jul 2 – a number of men reported aboard for duty

Tues, July 9 – effects of Naughton, T.J. sea 2c U.S.N. taken ashore

Fri, Jul 12 – moved from Norfolk, VA and arrived in NY (lists running time and categories of cargo in tons)

Sat, July 13 – Full speed ahead, rec’d signal to take up position in convoy

Sat, Jul 20 – Boex, L.F.B while carrying a bottle along after well deck fell on same receiving severe cuts on left arm and hand.

Thurs, July 25 – SS Tippecanoe struck by a mine or torpedo on stern, battle quarters sounded and crew mustered on station, Tippercanoe was seen to sink at 9:14 GMT, 8 pm A.T.S., when last seen boats of Tippercanoe were together astern of ship.  Proceeded zig sagging.

Fri, July 26 – submarine sighted on starboard quarter, fired 3 shots at 4000 yards; 2 torpedo boat destroyers joined convoy.

Arrival La Pallice France, 14 days, 20 hours, 23 min; 3241 miles

Wed, July 31 – anchor at La Pallice Roads, France

Sat, Aug 3 – 115 troops of USAQMC mustered, baggage and accoutrements placed on board tug, proceeded to La Pallice.

Wed, Aug 7 – German prisoners on board to work cargo, liberty part left ship. Liberty party retured clean and sober.

Thurs, Aug 8 – German prisoners commenced unloading cargo

Fri, Aug 9 – Army Officers came aboard to look over repairs needed to ship and main engine.

Mon, Aug 12 – two men tried by deck court martial, each sentenced to lose 20 days pay and 20 days liberty.

Tues, Aug 13 – 8:30 pm base ball team returned aboard ship, liberty party returned clean and sober

Fri, Aug 16 – fire alarm sounded on dock, fire and rescue team of 30 men left ship

Mon, Aug 19 – 22 men boarded for passage to the US

Tues, Aug 20 –  sailed from La Pallice to Verdon Roads, France.

Wed, Aug 21 – 12:47pm sounded battle stations – a French ship opened fire on some unknown object outside of the nets.  Join convoy, steaming in rear of UX Ship.

Fri, Aug 23 – zig sagging, fog set in, all of the escort but two destroyers departed.  Passed empty lifeboat. 8:45 pm remaining destroyers left convoy

Tues, Aug 27 – 7PM SS Montosa reported submarine, sounded battle stations and crew mustered at stations, 8:25PM suspicious object off starboard quarter, fired 3 shells at a range of 6000 yards, 9pm all secured.

Sat, Aug 31 – stopped engine for repair 2:54pm, 3:14pm engine repaired, full steam ahead…

The log ends here with the boat at sea.  The final page simply remarks: Vessel Sunk October 6^th 1918

Prologue (from Wikipedia)

The Ticonderoga loaded another Army cargo at Norfolk between 5 and 19 September. She then steamed to New York where she joined a convoy bound for Europe. On 22 September, Ticonderoga cleared New York for the last time. During the night of the 29th and 30th, the transport developed engine trouble and dropped behind the convoy. At 05:20 the following morning, she sighted the German submarine U-152 running on the surface; and she cleared for action. For the next two hours, her gun crews fought the enemy in a losing battle. The U-boat’s gunners put her forward gun out of commission after six shots, but the 6-inch gun aft continued the uneven battle. Almost every man on board Ticonderoga — including her captain — suffered wounds. Eventually, the submarine’s two 5.9-inch guns succeeded in silencing Ticonderoga remaining gun. At 07:45, Ticonderoga slipped beneath the sea. Of the 237 sailors and soldiers embarked, only 24 survived. Twenty-two of those survivors were in one lifeboat and were picked up by the British steamer SS Moorish Prince four days later. The other two, the executive officer and the first assistant engineer, were taken prisoner on board the U-boat and eventually landed at Kiel, Germany, when U-152 completed her cruise. Ticonderoga’s name was subsequently struck from the Navy list.

Lieutenant Commander James Jonas Madison received the Congressional Medal of Honor for his actions on the Ticonderoga.

Medal of Honor citation

Rank and organization: Lieutenant Commander, U.S. Naval Reserve Force. Born: May 20, 1884, Jersey City, N.J. Appointed from: Mississippi.

Citation:

For exceptionally heroic service in a position of great responsibility as commanding officer of the U.S.S. Ticonderoga, when, on 4 October 1918, that vessel was attacked by an enemy submarine and was sunk after a prolonged and gallant resistance. The submarine opened fire at a range of 500 yards, the first shots taking effect on the bridge and forecastle, 1 of the 2 forward guns of the Ticonderoga being disabled by the second shot. The fire was returned and the fight continued for nearly 2 hours. Lt. Comdr. Madison was severely wounded early in the fight, but caused himself to be placed in a chair on the bridge and continued to direct the fire and to maneuver the ship. When the order was finally given to abandon the sinking ship, he became unconscious from loss of blood, but was lowered into a lifeboat and was saved, with 31 others, out of a total number of 236 on board.^[1]

 Citation:

James L. Mooney, editor, Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships, Historical Sketches; 8 volumes(Washington: Naval Historical Center Department of the Navy, 1981), 7: 181-2, 209.

Claudia Bradley, Michael Kurtz, Rebecca Livingston, et al, compilers, Lists of Logbooks of US Navy Ships, Stations and Miscellaneous Units, 1801-1947; special list 44 (Washington: National Archives and Record Service – GSA, 1978), 275.

A Genealogical Scam!

My first experience at genealogical research wasn’t research at all.  But I didn’t know any better. 

I wanted to know more of my ancestor David Pinder/Pindar/Pendar/Pender/Pynder.  His Seaman’s Protection Certificate tells me he was a native of Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts, he was  5’11” with light hair, light complexion, blue eyes and a large scar on his bosom. He died at sea in 1815 at the age of 27.  His young widow and their two young daughters ages 3 and 5, relocated to Malden, Massachusetts a distance of about 20 miles. 

I knew how to research in Malden (or so I thought – keep in mind, this was my first week as a researcher), but had no idea how to research in Ipswich.  So, I “Googled” the Ipswich Historical Society and asked if they could help.  A few days later, they referred me to a local genealogist. We made contact, I sent her a fairly large check and a few weeks later, I received a beautiful report, which I now know as an Ahnentafel Report, tracing my family back to the 1600′s in Massachusetts.

I was soooo excited! This research stuff is easy!  I added the Pinders to my family tree on Ancestry.com put the report in my Pinder file and checked them off my research list.

Fast forward a bunch of years.  Now that I have taken some intensive genealogy courses, read blogs, magazines and  practiced the techniques learned (making lots of mistakes along the way), I am revisiting those ancestors added to my tree in the early days.

I pulled out the Pinder report last week.  I realized it was unsourced.  I attempted to locate records online and also consulted microfilmed Essex County probate records (I happened to be at NEHGS for a day).  I have many other records to look at (unfortunately Ipswich is a three-hour drive).   So, I decided to email the researcher who created the report – why recreate the wheel!  She must have a reliable source for David’s parents (she listed them as Moses Pinder & Mary Kimball) and his paternal grandparents (supposedly John Pinder and Katharine Kimball). 

The response was kind of, what word should I use –  horrifying?  First, the genealogist, who will remain nameless, acts insulted that I was asking for her source,  she lists her credentials and indicates I should just “trust” her, why would she lie?  Then she tells me Ancestry.com is for amateurs.  After much prodding, she reveals the source. It is the published Ipswich Vital Records (she even lists the Essex Institute as publisher in her email). I tell her that I consulted the same exact source on AmericanAncestors.org (and forward her the following cover page of the digitized book) .

She then changes her tune and says that she used the real books and not something on the Internet.

I have copy/pasted the email exchange below (my responses in italics, hers in bold).

This is just so wrong on so many levels.  I feel cheated.  Not only is she unable to provide a source that answers the genealogical question (who are David’s parents and his paternal grandparents?), but she only consulted one source for the entire report?

What happened to the The Genealogical Proof Standard?

• a reasonably exhaustive search;
• complete and accurate source citations;
• analysis and correlation of the collected information;
• resolution of any conflicting evidence; and
• a soundly reasoned, coherently written conclusion.

Live and Learn!!  I am writing this for all of you just starting out…  Yes, hire someone to assist you when you are “stuck” or if it is geographically impossible for you to pay a visit to the town/village/city of your ancestors – but take care – hire a Certified Genealogist (http://www.bcgcertification.org/associates/index.php) or at least someone who is listed on the APG (http://www.apgen.org/) – ask for a sample report and check references before you just write a check!

————————————————————

Hello [name removed],

Several years ago, I had hired you to do some research on my Pender/Pindar/Pinder family.

I  finally have time to do some of my own research.

My 4th g-grandfather was David Pindar who was born in Ipswich and died at sea in 1815. Vital records to 1850 list his son of Moses baptised on16 September 1787.

There seems to be two Moses’s in the area at that time. I found marriage intentions which are 11 days apart; both men named Moses married a Mary:

(1) Mary Kimball – 19 Sep 1778 “Massachusetts, Marriages, 1695-1910,” index, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCCS-TM5 : accessed 13 May 2012), Moses Pinder, 1778.

AND

Gloucester: (2) Pinder Moses and Mary Procter m Sept 8 1778 by Rev E Forbes.

In the report you gave me, you indicated that David was the son of the Moses (born to John Pinder and Katherine Kimball) who married Mary Kimball. The document that you provided to me did not include sources and I have been unable to find any record which indicates that this Moses is father to David (vs. the Moses who married Mary Procter).

I was hoping that you could let me know the source that you used so that I can obtain a copy for my files and create a proper source citation.

————————————————————————–

Linda.

It has been a long time. All the information I supplied to you came directly from Primary sources.  I would have used the vital records from Ipswich and Gloucester. I would have gone to Gloucester to help verify my sources.  I have my Masters in History and archival research and would have only used only primary sources.  Unfortunately I have moved and cannot find your file and it is difficult for me to remember all the research that I have done after all these years.  If you had questions they should have been asked at the time. I will try and check with the info you sent but I cannot make any promises.

————————————————————————–

Hi again,

My apologies for the delay in inquiring.  It is my fault – I had no idea until very recently of the importance of source citations.

I am sure you did the proper research and that the information you provided is correct, but I would love to have the source for my records. 

I can scan or mail the copy of the report you sent me, if that would be helpful.

As mentioned previously, I descend from David Pinder/Pindar (1787-1815) of Ipswich who married Elizabeth Jones (daughter of Thomas Jones and Hannah Smith).

David’s father was Moses Pindar (see attached birth record). His marriage record (attached – right hand page about half way down) says only that he is from Ipswich. His death record (also attached – see right hand page about 1/4 of the way down), just says that he died at sea. He died intestate – the probate records do not mention his parents, only his wife.

Family search has:

(1)   Moses Pindar  – bride’s name: Elizabeth Safford; marriage date: 04 Oct 1765; marriage place: Ipswich,Essex,Massachusetts – https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCCS-T9H 

(2)   Moses Pinder – bride’s name: Mary Procter; marriage date: 08 Sep 1778;  marriage place: Gloucester,Essex,Massachusetts – https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCHH-FJV the Mary Procter marriage registered in Gloucester states that Mary was now from Ipswich: Moses, and Mary Procter [formerly of this town, now of Ipswich, C. R. 1.], Sept. 8, 1778.

(3)   Moses Pinder – bride’s name: Mary Kimball; marriage date: 19 Sep 1778  marriage place: Ipswich,Essex,Massachusetts – https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCCS-TM5

I don’t know for sure, but since David was born in 1787, I am guessing one of the Mary’s was his mother.  If Elizabeth Safford (a widow) was married to Moses in 1765, if she was living, it is unlikely that she would still be of child bearing age 22 years later.  Maybe Mary Kimball and Mary Proctor are the same person?  Perhaps Mary was married previously and one town uses her maiden name and the other the name she used during her first marriage – since the intentions are 11 days apart?

In the 1790 census there is a Moses in Ipswich – 1 male <16, 1 male >16, 2 females  In the 1800 census there is also one Moses in Ipswich – 1 m < 10, 1 m > 45, 1 female 10-15, 1 female >45; the numbers do not seem to match up, in 1800 there should have been at least 2 sons, George age 7 & David age 13. The children born to Moses in Ipswich include:

(1) Mary Pinder daughter of Moses and Elizabeth, b. 28 May 1769 (Ipswich vital records)

(2) Moses Pinder son of Moses b. 30 Dec 1770 (Ipswich vital records)

(3) Joseph Pinder son of Moses b:Aug 29, 1779 (Ipswich vital records) – no further records found, probably died young

(4) John Pindar son of Moses b: 21 Jul 1782 (Ipswich vital records) – died 1783

(5) Polly Pindar daughter of Moses b: 10 Oct 1784 (Ipswich vital records) – died 1787

(6) George Washington Pinder Son of Moses and Mary Pinder b:7 Feb 1793 (Ipswich vital records) – married Priscilla Allen in 1822

on Fold3 & Ancestry.com, in 1775 I found a military service record: Enlistment – Pinder, Moses, Ipswich. Private, Cat. Abraham Dodge’s co., Col. Moses Little’s (17th) regt.; muster roll dated Aug. 1, 1775; enlisted May 3, 1775; service, 12 weeks 6 days; also, company return endorsed “October the 9 1775;” age, 25 yrs. [if this is my Moses, he would have been born in 1750 to be age 25 in 1775 - the Moses born to John Pinder and Katherine Kimball was born 10 years earlier in 1740/1741]

I did not find any probate records in Essex County for any man named Moses Pinder [could he have moved out of the county? or perhaps he did not have an estate at death].  There are records for both John Pinder and his wife Katherine that do mention a number of children as heirs, including a son Moses. 

Any help that you could offer in providing a source proving that the Moses born to John and Katherine is also the father of David would be appreciated.

————————————————————————–

Linda,

I did double check my sources last night.  ALL my info came directly from the Vital records of Ipswich, Massachusetts not from the Massachusetts state records. The individual town records are more accurate than the state records.  And all the data was correct starting with Moses’s birth & parents and his marriage.  I do not list each time I use a source when the one source I used was used for all the data I found.  I never assume anything-that only leads to confusion and misinformation.  I did go to Gloucester to check on their Moses.  Two different men, two different birth parent and marriages.  There is no doubt in this case.

If you choose to follow Gloucester it will only confuse you genealogy and send you on a wrong tree.

————————————————————————– 

Hello,

Thanks!  Can you please forward a copy of what you had found for Moses? I would be happy to pay you for your time and the copies. Please let me know the cost and an address to forward the check and I can send it out today.

I have access to the Ipswich typewritten books on AmericanAncestors.org and also to the handwritten Ipswich books on Ancestry.com (the first page in the book indicates that it is a copy carefully copied over by the town clerk Wesley Bell in 1884).

Neither of these books list any parents with the marriage intention, so I cannot tell if my Moses married Mary Kimball or Proctor. David’s birth and death record that I have does not list his mother’s name either.

I also could not find a second Moses with different set of parents in Gloucester. Could you please forward a copy of that record as well? 

The Gloucester books that I have says that their Mary (Proctor) was now living in Ipswich – were both Moses also living in Ipswich? I only see one Moses in Essex county in that timeframe in the census and tax records.  When and where did Moses #2 die? I did not find probate records in Essex for any Moses and I only found one death record and one enlistment record in Essex for a Moses.

 ————————————————————————–

Linda,

The Books I used were Vital Records of Ipswich, Massachusetts

                                                 TO THE END OF THE YEAR 1849

                                                                Volume 1, Births
                                                                Volume 2, Marriages
                                                                Volume 3, Deaths

                                                             
                                                                         Published by
                                                                    The Essex Institute
                                                                        Salem, Mass
                                                                                1910

Reprinted by…..

Higginson Book Company
Salem, Mass 01970

phone; 978 745 7170

http://www.higginsonbooks.com

These are actual copies of the town’s vital records books  kept by the town clerks from 1650 to 1849.   All the vital records are in these including Moses birth-his parents-their marriage-Moses’ marriage.  These are the best resources for Ipswich records.  This is all I can do short of sending you my books.  I’m sorry you doubt my word and resources.  I have devoted my life as well as many years of schooling to make sure I do it right.  It does me no good to make up info especially when it is in my own line.   Ancestry.com is mainly secondary sources for amateurs and I know for sure that these books are not included.

————————————————————————–

Hello,

I do have access to the books that you have referenced, reprinted by Higginson Book Company, in your last email via AmericanAncestors.org the (New England Genealogical Historical Society website – attached is the cover page of one of them).

If these are the sources that you used, they do not show (at least from what I can see) that David Pinder is the son of Moses Pinder who was born to John Pindar and Mary Kimball, nor does it show that Moses Pindar, father of David married Mary Kimball as stated in the document that you provided.

This morning in your email, you stated that there were two Moses’s born around the same time, to two different sets of parents who married two different wives. In all of Essex County, I see only a Moses born 1732 who also died 1732 to John and Katherine and a Moses born 1740/1741 also to John and Katherine.

In the books that you reference:

David’s birth states that his father is Moses – no mother is named.
David’s marriage lists his wife – no father or mother is named.
David’s death states that he died at sea – no parents or wife is mentioned.

According to these books, there is only one Moses born in Ipswich (and in all of Essex County) in the proper time frame and it does list his parents: Moses, s. John and Katharine, Mar. 3, 1740.

The books you refer to have THREE marriage records for a Moses Pinder in Essex County – (1) Elizabeth Stafford, (2) Mary Kimball (3) Mary Proctor

- NONE of these records lists any parents names. I cannot tell if there are three men named Moses of different parents or one Moses who married three different woman in his lifetime – or if Mary Kimball/Proctor was the same person and perhaps one name was from a first husband and the other her maiden name since the intentions in Gloucester and Ipswich were only 11 days apart.

There is only ONE death of Moses Pindar in Essex, again no mention of parents names or wife – Moses, Oct. 19, 1827, a. 86 yr. – Mary’s death does not give her maiden name: Mary, w. Moses, Mar. 2, 1826, a. 77 y.

As I mentioned this morning, it is unlikely that the mother of David was Elizabeth Stafford as she would have been past child bearing age when David was born.

So David’s mother was most likely either Mary Kimball or Mary Proctor (or both! – maybe they are the same person as I wrote in the prior email). ‘

After looking at the books you reference (along with other sources), I am not sure how you determined that David’s mother was Mary Kimball. I am just seeking clarification from you, and would love a photocopy of your source for my records.

————————————————————————–

Linda,

 I am using the actual vital records not books or an internet site.  I think that I can get actual copies of the marriage records & birth records from town hall.  I believe they would cost $15.00 each.  They would also be notarized.  They would be on the new forms with the old info on them.  I have never had to do this before but I see no reason they wouldn’t do it, it is directly from the public records.  As a professional my credentials have never been called into  question before and I have done work for the DAR and the Mayflower descendants.  You may not understand the difference between actual vital records and books someone has written on the subject.  If you want the actual certificates just let me know,  they have to be paid for in advance.  It would take less than a week to get them to you.

Kill the Dog?!?!?

Today, I thought I would share a few hard learned lessons.

The parents of my husband’s maternal grandmother Dorothy Elizabeth White, who married David Charles Little, in Lynn, Massachusetts, have been a mystery.

I easily found Dorothy with her parents Herbert Joseph White and Annie M. in the 1920 and 1930 censuses.  Herbert’s “Petition for Naturalization” is online.  I collected a draft registration and an SS-5 (social security application) for Herbert and a death certificate for Dorothy from the Lynn City Clerk.  

In summary:

(1)    Herbert was born on lot 5, Prince Edward Island on 29 August 1889 and arrived in Maine via rail  in December 1908.

(2)    His wife Annie M. was born in Boston , July 1894 to a German father and Irish mother; her daughter Dorothy’s death record lists Annie’s maiden name as Elezer. 

(3)    Dorothy was born on 12 June 1912 in Lynn, Massachusetts and married David Charles Little about 1928.

This is where the trail ends.  No record on Ancestry.com, Family Search or American Ancestors, nothing in the Massachusetts index books at the Massachusetts vital records office or at the Lynn City Clerk’s office for the marriage of Herbert & Annie, no birth for Dorothy, no marriage for Dorothy and Charles, no death record for Annie or Herbert. Neither Annie or Herbert are found in the 1910 census in Massachusetts and there are no families with a surname close to Elezer in all of Massachusetts with a combination of Irish/German descent.

I decide to post the facts on several genealogy message boards.  About five months later, a wonderful woman named Karen responded with LOTS of information.  She says:

“I noticed in the 1920 Census at Lynn MA, Herbert White is listed as French and since it was quite common for French Canadians to anglicize their names when they moved to english speaking areas, I searched records in PEI under the the surname “LeBlanc” (blanc is french for white). Sure enough, it looks like Herbert’s surname was originally “LeBlanc”….”  The rest of the post can be found here, she basically helps me reconstruct his entire life http://genforum.genealogy.com/cgi-bin/pageload.cgi?kingston,ontario::canada::98481.html

I instantly feel like a dope!  My Lithuanian’s changed their name when they arrived, a common occurrence with many immigrant groups; I have been taking Spanish lessons twice a week for the past five years and know full well that blanco (blanc in French) means white; and my maternal grandmother was Acadian (a family I have traced back to the 1600’s thanks to an mtDNA test) and my tree is full of LeBlancs.  [Side note: After a bit more research using the microfilm for St Anthony's Bloomfield at NEHGS, and other sources, I now know that my husband and I are 10th cousins through at least six different sets of grandparents].

My research propels forward! The Lynn City Clerk has Dorothy LeBlanc’s birth dated 12 June 1912 and Dorothy LeBlanc’s marriage to David Little.  Her mother Annie’s surname on both documents is listed as Brown. I search the Lynn newspapers at the Boston Public library and find obituaries for Annie, Herbert &  Dorothy but none provide clues to Annie’s origins (although it does confirm a Boston birth).

Then, success! Can’t fool me twice!!  Brown “germanized” is Braun. I find an Annie Brown/Braun in the 1910 census living in Boston with her German father George Brown/Braun and Irish mother Mary Keohane/Cohan.  The ONLY German/Irish Brown/Braun family in all of Boston with a child Annie.  Annie is no longer with the family in 1920 (perfect, she shouldn’t be – she is married and living in Lynn with Herbert!). Annie is listed as Agnes in the 1900 census (obviously a census taker error) and her birth date listed as Feb 1893 instead of July 1894 as on Herbert’s naturalization (another census taker error or Herbert not knowing his wife’s birth date; typical man).  And the surname Elezer from Dorothy’s death certificate…  Well, Dorothy was dead.  She couldn’t give her mother’s maiden name.  Herbert was still alive when his daughter died, typical male, perhaps senile – he just messed up his deceased wife’s maiden name.

Anyway, I digress.  The Brown/Braun tree is fascinating. Annie descends from Friderich Braun who was born in 1821 in Germany.  He travelled to America (alone) with his 9 children in 1873, settled in Boston and is buried in Holyhood Cemetery in Brookline, Massachusetts.  His son George is employed by a furniture factory.  My husband is thrilled to hear this! His love is his woodshop.  He finally feels a connection to his otherwise dysfunctional, crazy, misfit, alcoholic family.  

For 4 days, I stayed up until 1 or 2 AM adding no less than 213 new family members and hundreds of records to the Brown/Braun tree.  I corresponded with seven “cousins”, found the family’s ship manifest on Ancestry.com and ordered George’s naturalization from NARA (which is on the way to me as we speak).  Annie M. had 6 siblings, all of whom have birth & marriage records online and all of whom I easily traced forward to 2013. 

Then, 4 days later,  I realize I hadn’t discovered Annie’s birth record.  Strange.  After some creative searching, I found a birth dated February 23 1893 (the same month/year listed in the 1900 census) for a “Sophia Agnes” born to George Brown and Mary Keohane.  The address matched that of a few siblings. The name Annie was written and then crossed off – the informant was not a family member (probably a midwife). Hmmm… I recalled that the 1900 census had her name as Agnes.

Can you say “light dawns on marble head”…. Did I have the right Annie? or did I jump to conclusions….

Then I think…how did Annie M. Brown and Herbert J. LeBlanc meet if he lived and worked in Lynn and she resided in Boston.  I hold my breath, hoping for nothing to appear as I tentatively hit the search button – 1910 census, Lynn, Massachusetts, Ann* Br*n – father German, mother Irish.  Up pops an Annie Brown living with her mother Annie E. Blazer and step-father John.  I search for the Blazer’s in the 1920 & 1930 census.  Crap.  There they are in 1930, living on Summer Street in the same house as Herbert/Annie White and Dorothy/David Little.

Blazer/Elezer?…pretty close, sounds like an error when the Lynn Clerk was reading/transcribing information onto the death certificate… There is even a French Canadian “Arsenault” boarder living with the German/Irish couple – Arsenault is Herbert White/LeBlanc’s mother’s maiden name.  Why had I not noticed this? I learned long ago to ALWAYS look at the neighbors when I find a census record!

I do a Google search on Annie E. Blazer.  Up pops an article from the Lowell Sun dated 1937.  “Will Orders Dog’s Death”.  Annie Blazer leaves an interest in her Lynn home to her daughter “Mrs. Annie M. White” of Lynn AND she wishes to have her dog killed, because her husband John E. Blazer can’t even take care of himself! Now that sounds more like my husband’s crazy family!

I couldn’t bring myself to delete the 213 Braun/Brown’s – so much effort went into piecing together this unrelated family.  I deleted George Brown and Mary Keohane in the “relationships” tab of Annie M. Brown’s Ancestry.com record and instead added Sophia Agnes as their daughter.  Maybe my efforts will help some other researcher.  I still have not found Annie’s father – I am secretly “hoping” that he is somehow part of this Boston Brown/Braun family.  Annie M’s mother, Annie Elizabeth Callan/Callahan, daughter of James Callan/Callahan and Annie Kehon (maybe Keohane ?), was listed as a widow when she married her second husband John Blazer in Maine on 7  December 1905.  Another mystery – what was she doing in Maine? Was Annie M. really born in Boston? Where did her father Brown/Braun die? This time I will be a bit more careful before jumping to conclusions and adding records to my tree.

Need I say more? Hard lesson learned!

My Excellent Adventure to the Middlesex Registry of Probate and Registry of Deeds, Cambridge, Massachusetts

My ancestors resided in Malden, Massachusetts for many generations.  I was hoping to learn more of their lives – thus my visit.

A Google search for Middlesex County Probate and Land records revealed the following:

Website: http://www.sec.state.ma.us/rod/rodmidsth/midsthidx.htm

208 Cambridge Street
Cambridge MA 02141
Tel. 617-679-6300   Fax 617-494-9083
Email: middlesexsouth@sec.state.ma.us
Office Hours: Monday–Friday 8:00a.m.–3:45p.m.

The Middlesex South District consists of the following cities and towns:

ACTON, ARLINGTON, ASHBY, ASHLAND, AYER, BEDFORD, BELMONT, BOXBOROUGH, BURLINGTON, CAMBRIDGE, CONCORD, EVERETT, FRAMINGHAM, GROTON, HOLLISTON, HOPKINTON, HUDSON, LEXINGTON, LINCOLN, LITTLETON, MALDEN, MARLBOROUGH, MAYNARD, MEDFORD, MELROSE, NATICK, NEWTON, NORTH READING, PEPPERELL, READING, SHERBORN, SHIRLEY, SOMERVILLE, STONEHAM, STOW, SUDBURY, TOWNSEND, WAKEFIELD, WALTHAM, WATERTOWN, WAYLAND, WESTON, WINCHESTER and WOBURN.

The courthouse was easy to find.  Take the Green Line to Lechmere.  Upon exiting the station (which is right on Cambridge Street), walk to the right  - the courthouse is about 100 yards up on the left. 

Do not walk up the large set of steps (like I did).  The entrances are at ground level, one on each side of the building.

It takes a few minutes to get through security – empty all your pockets. Cameras are not allowed, however you can bring cell phones, computers and scanners.  Wifi is available and unsecured access is free.

My first visit – Friday, January 5, 2013:

I came prepared with a list of my Middlesex County ancestors which included death dates.

I headed to the second floor (up the stairs directly in front of you) – circle around and the office is in the corridor to the right (on your left as you are walking up the steps).

The room has lots of different counters.  Lines and people everywhere!!  There is an area with a long desk and chairs, where I dropped my coat and backpack.  The indexes were in large bound books (about 3 rows in as you enter the room – behind the row with the long desk).  They are organized by year and then surname, are typewritten and easy to read.

I found a number of my ancestors and recorded the docket numbers:

-          My dad – Robert Hall, d. 1993, 95P3208

-          My grandfather, d. 1976, Dr Charles George Hall 492413

-          My grandmother, d. 1999, Edith (Haines) Hall 99P4858

-          My g-grandfather, d. 1942, Charles Milton Hall, 246238 & 248536

-          My g-grandmother, d. 1964, Georgianna (Hughes/Clough) Hall, 390288

-          My g-g-grandfather, d. 1917, Ephraim Hall, 108369 & 110786

-          My g-g-grandmother, d. 1910, Roxanne A. (Wilson) Hall, 88895

-          And several of Ephraim’s siblings and their spouses: Abbie F (Hall) Hough, d. 1900, 53444; Thomas Hough, 92855, d. 1912; Mary E. (Hall) Patten, d. 1920, 126314; Ellen (Hall) Nichols, d. 1923, 143131; Levi Nichols, d. 1910, 85778.

The documents I was seeking were labeled either Will or Administration, with one for Ephraim being listed as Guardianship.

I did not find entries for: Horatio Hall d. 1884; Elizabeth (Pinder) Hall d. 1886; David Patten d. 1908; Sofrine Hall d. 1934; Lucy Mason Hall d. 1907; Horation Hall Jr. d. 1930; John Haines d. 1942; Edith B. (Lansil) Haines d. 1950; Jennie (Ferguson) Haines d. 1938; John William Haines d. 1939; Billy Haines d. 1964 or Elizabeth (Jones) Pindar d. 1853.

I approached the front desk with my list, and inquired as to how I would order the probate packets.  Let’s just say that the woman at the front desk was not a people person.  After being spoken to like I was a school child, she did communicate that records from 1872-1925 were stored offsite in Brookfield and would need to be ordered.    She instructed me to write down my name and list the onsite docket numbers (those dated after 1925) on the pad in front of her.

She then radioed the numbers to someone and within 10 minutes they magically appeared through a tube in the wall. I was instructed (sternly) to review only one packet at a time,  as to not accidently mix the documents in with the wrong packet.

I had originally planned to scan the documents, but there were so many, it would have taken me days!  There are three copy machines available (two in the room and one in the hallway).  I had no cash ( there is a Bank of America ATM across from the train station – a bit to the left as you exit the train). 

I brought my packets to a counter that was labeled “copy service” (another patron told me that they accepted credit cards) and asked that everything be copied ($1.00 a page).  The woman behind the desk was working alone and not thrilled.  When she finished, she had me count the pages myself (I had to pay $2.00 for pages that were double sided).  She wrote the amount ($70) on a slip of white scrap paper and sent me across the room to pay at the divorce desk.

After paying, I returned the packets to a cart in the middle of the room (as instructed by the not so friendly front desk employee  – who, by the way does not discriminate – she freely yelled, argued and spoke sternly to anyone and everyone).  Another patron, told me to deal instead with Steve, also behind the front desk, to order the offsite records (as he was a bit more pleasant).  Steve gave me a a form, where I listed my docket numbers including “record type”, where I listed A, G or W (for Administration, Guardianship or Will). Requests are faxed every Friday and delivered to Cambridge within 5-10 business days.  Steve would call me when they arrived and I would have 5 business days to view them.

Two hours later, I got a voice message from Steve saying that adoption records were sealed and I absolutely could not see a copy.  I returned his call Monday morning, confused because I hadn’t ordered any adoption records (a guardianship is not an adoption). 

Turns out, the confusion was in my writing the letter “A”, for the administration records.  There are apparently just 2 codes allowed (not that anyone told me) – P for probate or A for adoption.   Steve agreed to fax the request for my “A”’s and he would make an exception and hold all of my packets for five business days after the “A” set arrived.

I got a call from Steve on Wednesday, January 23rd indicating that everything had arrived and that I had until Tuesday to view them.

My second visit – Friday, January 25, 2013:

I approached the front desk and asked for the packets, giving my name.  The same not so friendly woman said that I needed the docket numbers.  When I responded that I didn’t have the list with me she was clearly not happy.  She pulled out a pile of about 20 packets.  I could see that my g-aunt Ellen Nichols was on the top of the pile.  I pointed to it and said, “that is one of mine”.  In response, I got a stern: “do NOT tell me which are yours, I will look them up”, then she pointed and angrily instructed, “go stand over there away from my desk”.  Alrighty then….  Luckily Steve approached and found the packets for me.  I knew I had ordered seven, but he handed me only six (I later realized when I was half way home, that Abbie (Hall) Hough was missing).

This time, I had come prepared with three $20 dollar bills.  The “copy card” machine stated that no new cards were available, so I instead inserted a twenty into a machine.  I made about 8 copies before I realized that the orientation was wrong (depending on paper size, the original has to be positioned differently). Cost was .50 cents per copy.

I spent $52.75 copying some fascinating stuff!!   Ellen (Hall) Nichols estate, the majority of which was left to my g-grandfather, was valued at $71,000.00 in 1924. This has the same buying power as $926,168.32 in 2013!

I digress….   Once finished, I hit the coin return and out came only $3.00 instead of $7.25. The green “out of change” light illuminated. Another patron mentioned that the machine running out of change is a frequent problem.  I approached Steve who indicated that the probate office does not own the copy machines – I would have to email or call the company listed on the side of the machine and ask for a refund – they would mail me a check. Live and learn! 

I returned the packets to the cart and set off to tackle some land deeds.

The land deed office is directly across the hallway from probate (second floor, on the right, when you walk in the front door of the courthouse). I approached the front desk and a very nice woman directed me to the indexes on the fourth floor and then to the land books in the basement.

The grantor and grantees indexes are organized by year and then by surname.  The earliest indexes (before 1859) do not list a town.  They start out organized in 10 year spans.  In later years there is one book per year.  I searched the Grantee indexes for Hall’s through 1945 and recorded the book and page number (grantee means land that my ancestors purchased – the grantor index would tell me to whom they sold). Indexes 1974 and later and deed images 1986 and later are online and accessable from home or on the 4th floor computers (there were 5 or 6 of them) http://www.masslandrecords.com/MiddlesexSouth/

There is no elevator to the basement.  As you enter the front door to the courthouse, head to the right.  At the end of the corridor, look to the right and descend a short set of steps.  The shelves are clearly labeled with book numbers (three separate rooms).

The other patrons seemed to be having problems with the copy machine, so I opted to scan the pages with my portable FlipPal scanner, (not to mention I was out of cash). 

By that time, I was exhausted and hungry!   I decided to wait until my next visit to tackle the later Grantee indexes and all of the Grantor indexes.