Gravestone Girls Tonight!

As a last minute reminder to anyone who lives anywhere near Chicopee, Massachusetts, if you're a family researcher amateur or professional and your interests lie in the burial of our ancestors, this might be for you!

The Gravestone Girls are presenting a virtual tour of the cemeteries in Chicopee which will include some surprisingly

[caption id="attachment_3493" align="alignleft" width="86"] John Chapin, a descendant of the prominent Chapin family of Springfield, Mass, died in Pennsylvania as indicated on the stone.[/caption]

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="75"] English: MacArthur's Ball, Monument to Lt Gen Arthur MacArthur in Chicopee Falls, Massachusetts (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

interesting famous personalities who were born here or lived here and certainly who died here. Well, mostly who died here.  For example, John Chapin was 44 years old when he died in 1749.  His grave stone indicates that he died in Pennsylvania.  So the question may be whether he was buried in Chicopee or was this simply a "cenotaph" honoring his memory as he was buried in Pennsylvania.  A cenotaph is exactly that; a memorial marker with names, dates and often other information of an individual who died and was buried far from their home.

All in all feel a little bit a part of this one.  I toured all the Chicopee cemeteries with one of the Gravestone Girls, Brenda a/k/a Sophronia  while giving her a thumbnail sketch of the history of Chicopee including some of the "rich and famous" from Chicopee's past.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="350"] English: Image of Chicopee Public Library (Photo credit: Wikipedia)[/caption]

The event, which is supported by a grant from the Chicopee Cultural Club, a local agency, which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency, takes place at the Chicopee Public Library, 459 Front Street, Chicopee, Massachusetts from 6:30 to 8:00 PM.

See you there!

 

 

 

 

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Massachusetts Lawmakers Weighing Public Records Bill

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="240"] Massachusetts Statehouse (Photo credit: Amir Nejad)[/caption]

In an age where some states are considering privatizing even more public records and genealogists are working to keep those traditional public records available, what appears to be good news might be happening in Massachusetts.  The article at this link from Channel 22 in Springfield, Mass isn't very descriptive.  But when they're discussing "public records" I have to believe that the reference includes vital records as well.

Imagine how easy it could be to access those types of records on line without having to visit a town or city clerk's office.  I'm sure there would be a fee involved, but that certainly beats driving from one end of the state to another.  (Keep in mind that the Mass Turnpike tolls have been restored for the western end of the state for the first time since 1996.)

 

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• Mass. lawmakers weighing public records bills (mysanantonio.com)


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David or Daniel??

Today was a great day---weather-wise, anyway!  I spent the better part of the day at the Connecticut State Archives on some client work.  They're trying to establish the parents of one of their ancestors.  Truthfully, it's a contract farmed out to me because I live close to Connecticut and getting to the Archives isn't a big deal.  The problem arises with the background they supplied.  The target is David whose father is allegedly also David.  The mother "might be" Lydia.  Miles of microfilm later, I realized that "David" is often read "Daniel" and vice versa.  Back to the index.  I pulled the proper drawer of the Barbour collection and there he was...."Daniel" married Lydia, not "David".  OK, they were married in 1766.  My client supplied data stated that the target David was born in 1767.  Makes sense, I figured.  The first child is born anytime while the rest take 9 months, right?

Back to the drawing board (microfilm reader) and the search resumed.  After scrolling through 12 rolls of microfilm covering approximately 60 years of the vital records of 3 colonial towns turned up exactly....nothing!   Apparently, Daniel was never born...or at least not in Connecticut....nor was his alleged son David.  The only concrete evidence we have of David is his grave marker: "Died 1853 aged 86".  Well, I shouldn't say that exactly.  I did find 3 children born to him and "his wife".  But not on the microfilm, just in the Barbour card file.  At least I confirmed a little more of the sketchy data from the client.

So, back to Connecticut, but not tomorrow or Thursday for that matter.  Lots more records to review.  I spent too much time on the Vital Records due to the name defugalty.  Now there's probate, land and church records.

By the way, vital records in this time period and area include birth, marriage, death and earmarks!

I'll keep you posted!