Uncle Peg’s Chronicles
November 23, 2023
“I Do Other Things Besides Genealogy”
Nathen is in
grade eight; Meg in seven. Hiking last August. Thanks, Ami.
GRATITUDE
Grateful this week to Julia and Pat for research requests
(one pretty complicated and one easy). I am so glad to help. Thanks to Karl for
enjoying a memory of times past in the kitchen of the farmhouse. Thanks to Mary
D, who already sent me her blurb, and said this: “As
always, I truly enjoy your chronicles that give us a glimpse into others’ lives.” I
will attach my response to Julia for future reference for myself and in case it
is of interest to others. Thank you all for your encouragement.
DRAWN FROM A HAT
Featured this week are
Celia Nolte Anklesaria and Kimberly Holmes.
I haven’t met Kimberly
yet, but I know lots of you in the William Holmes line know her. Kimberly is
Steve and Winona (Wong) Holmes’ daughter and hails from Hawaii but maybe she
lives in New York City now. Definitely a maybe. I cruised down her Facebook
page and saw pictures of her and her parents at Hopewell Rocks in Albert
County, New Brunswick, in 2019. She’s a sister to Michael Holmes.
Up comes another
Nolte! I met Celia in my teens and then we reconnected in 2014, when all
the Noltes came to town. That was a fun gathering in Cornhill. The Noltes have
no first cousins on their Holmes side, but I have happily adopted them as
cousins, as have the Fogg siblings. Celia is the daughter of Ralph and Janet
(Minella) Nolte of the Charles R Holmes line. She’s the sister of Brett, Julia,
and Emily. She and Hoshi have a son, Captain Philip Anklesaria. Philip and his
wife, Maika, live in Okinawa where Philip co-pilots a Marine Osprey. Hoshi and
Celia visited them this past summer. They look after their terrier, Gogi, while
they are deployed. Celia enjoys teaching pre - K in a nearby elementary school.
MY GENEALOGY GOALS
- Compile the family Christmas letter.
- Chronicle
several times, and publish on Thursday morning.
- Keep
writing my next article for Generations, which is about the will of
William Lotham. Francis Holmes is mentioned in his inventory both as owing
money and being owed money.
- Spend
a bit of time on Moore family research.
- Find
fourtwoone speaker for January to May of 2024, for the genealogy society. - In
the evening, after chores are done, edit the Maggie Holmes and Billy
Snider family (second child of Daniel and Charlotte) the same way I did
the Louisa, William and Carrie lines. No rush on that.
Type up and send out the minutes of Saturday’s genealogy meeting.- Resume
indexing of old newspapers for NBGS.
LOOKING
AHEAD
1924 to
1928
Those are the
years that our great or great-great grandparents spent renewing their
relationships that had somehow fallen by the wayside but with organization,
letter writing, and challenging travel – by hook or by crook – they managed to
come together again. They discovered and rediscovered their family ties. And
then, one by one, they died, and many of those ties died with them
2024 to 2028
How easy it is
to lose our history! How can we preserve it?
Preserving the
Past
This sign was
at the Steeves House Museum in Hillsborough, New Brunswick, several years ago.
I do other
things besides genealogy, believe it or not. Something I like to do is to make
jams and jellies. I admire those who make pickles. Mum used to make pickles in
a gross, moldy brine that she kept at the foot of the basement steps. They made
it to the bottle in a clear brine and to the table yummy as could be. She
canned vegetables and bottled crab apples and peaches and pears. My brother
called the crab apple pickles clove pickles, as I recall. When we preserve, we
store away for later. I limit myself to jams and jellies. This summer I made
crab apple jelly, and my husband, who will only eat store-bought strawberry and
raspberry jam, loves it. The larder content is shrinking. That’s okay, my
neighbour has a tree and I’m allowed to take all the crabs I want, so next
year, I will make more. My favourite is blackberry. I cannot find local
blackberries and I wish I could. I’d risk the bugs and brambles any day for a
few cups. I occasionally make a jam called Bumbleberry, which is a combination
of berries. Isn’t that a fun word!
What I am
attempting to do with my research is to preserve the past. The elements that go
into a bottle of jams, jellies, and pickles are sometimes plentiful and
sometimes difficult to find. Individuals in our family trees can also be
plentiful or elusive, and sometimes, like the blackberries, are no where to be
found. Until, that is, when I find them.
Sometimes,
right out of the blue, comes a clue in an object or a photo of our history. Sometimes
you find people who are also researching a line in your family and are happy to
collaborate. Those are really good days.
Here is a bit
of a tale told to me by my mother. How I miss her stories. I talk about Portage
Vale often. That’s because she did, at least to me, and because I like to stop
and bide a wee in that place every summer.
My great-great
grandfather, Charles R Holmes (son of Daniel and Charlotte), used to go fishing
in Portage Vale. Probably he did that long before Mum was born, and stayed
overnight at Uncle Billy and Aunt Maggie’s house. Maggie was his sister. But,
Billy and Maggie were long gone by the time that Mum and her siblings came
along. I think, then, he stayed in a tent. I have a photo of Charles with a
pole, standing by a tent.
There were
always home-made biscuits at the farm when Gram lived there. Mum learned to
make wonderfully soft biscuits when she was but a girl, and made them right up
to when she went into a special care home. (I do not make good biscuits – they
are like hockey pucks.) There was a store in Anagance (between Hill Grove and
Portage Vale) that sold biscuits. They always stopped at that little store and
bought “store biscuits” to take to the river. It was a treat. Could they have
been any better than Minnie’s? I doubt it, but that was just the fun thing to
do. Buy store biscuits.
By telling you
this wee tale, I preserve the past. By sharing a fishing photo, I give you a
visual of the past, helping to make it stick in your mind.
What
do you see that intrigues you?
Back
row: Charles R Holmes, Bobby Minella, and Floyd Holmes
Front
row: Jim Holmes, Cecil Holmes, and Bryce Holmes
On
their way to the river, they stopped in Anagance for store biscuits.
Jim
was born in 1926. Charles, in 1852.
Like many of us
in a list that follows, Paula Rackers Holmes preserves the past. She sent me
this blurb, but I will tell you that if I want help, she stops whatever
research she is doing and helps me. Our Holmes family history is all the
tastier for the ingredients she supplies. She spent much time researching Grace
Holmes Ballantyne, for instance, one of the first ten female lawyers in the
United States, an incredible lady of the Louisa Holmes Ballantyne family.
I sent out an
email to everyone I know who does, did, or will research our family that I
could think of, and asked if they are currently researching. They could answer
yes or no (easy) or elaborate. This is Paula’s reply. Thank you to all who have
or will reply.
If you are a
novice researcher, don’t let these paragraphs scare you. Paula has been
researching for many years, and her education and career background helped her
to learn how to research properly and edit and write reports, as well to
understand French and some German. Her mentoring and assistance has helped me
with everything from where to place a comma to digging deep.
Yes, and I
spend about 5-6 hours most days on research, generally starting around 6 am
until lunch unless there is a medical appointment or meeting of some sort. My
research is not just to add names to a tree, but to understand the historical
background of the area and events at the time someone lived. Most
research is on my paternal line, all of whom came from Germany between
roughly 1840 and 1860. It is difficult because records are in German and
Latin, and I have to not only translate the text, but understand the different
handwriting styles, e.g., Sutterlin.
As if this
isn't enough trouble, surnames and their standardization weren't mandatory
in Germany until somewhere around 1800, depending on which part of Germany
the people lived. So husbands sometimes took the wife's surname (if she
had one, especially if her family's wealth was greater); if workers moved
from one farm to another to work they sometimes changed their last name to the
name of the farm (just as the slaves in America did); and if people converted
from Jewish to Christianity, they changed both forename and surname.
And if all of
this isn't enough, there was no "Germany" as we know it today,
but a loose conglomeration of kingdoms, each with its own laws, vocabulary
differences, and rules about who kept records. Most kingdoms
required churches to keep track of people - sometimes they required
the Catholic churches to do it, sometimes it was the Evangelisch/Lutheran
churches.
Oh, and
borders changed frequently, especially in the Alsace region. I think
that Napoleon and Bismarck were today's genealogists' friends.
I am going to
die with a lot of useless information in my head. LOL.
And no, I
don't have anyone in the family who has any serious interest in genealogy, even
though I force-feed some of my siblings and cousins with some of it. They
are only interested if there is someone famous in the tree, as in Johnny Depp,
a 4-5 cousin on our mother's side. Last week's force-feed was because
King Charles had a birthday and a Tudor family website that I belong to
pointed out that one of his 13th great-grandmothers was Mary
Boleyn. Well, she was also my 13th gr-grand, so we are 14th cousins
-- he descends from her daughter and we descend from her son.
My sister, Barb, had a typical family reaction. She said
"uggggh. I don't like him, but does that mean we are also
related to Harry? I do like him." Hopeless.
Paula
It surprised me
when Mum told me that she liked Harry. Mum, so prim and proper. Well, he is more
colorful than William. I guess that’s a good thing for the man who will be
king. Also, my daughter met Prince Charles and shook his hand – she rather
liked him.
This just in from
Jeanni Worster, after I told her she is a yes. She searches her parent’s lines,
and shares some advice for those who are discouraged.
Good
morning, Peg -
Thank
you for considering me a "yes.”
I spoke with a woman here who had stopped researching
because it was "too hard to get back any further.” I gave her two
suggestions. She could investigate the areas, the occupations, and all
the "extras" that you do in order to better understand certain
ancestors and what their lives might have been like.
Or, as I like to try, pick a line and try to widen
it. Get the siblings, spouses, children, etc, and try to find out what
their lives were like. We're an old enough group that many of us lost our
grandparents, great-uncles, and -aunts before we had a chance to really know
them. We don't have the relatives left to ask. Even researching my mother
has been a bit of an adventure because there was a lot I didn't know (little
things) and its great memories.
Our families were separated throughout NY State and
then into NW New Jersey, at a time when travel was still pretty expensive for a
family of five. It was 7.5 hours from NJ to Lockport NY, where many of
the favorites were living, and we therefore needed a place to be for several
nights - and a lot of meals. I'm looking forward to really looking at
some photo albums. So . . . maybe some who have stopped could be pushed a
bit with one of those ideas, plus all the free things now on Ancestry and
MyHeritage, (with just a sign-in and no cost) where you can get significant
information and then go to FamilySearch to look for the actual records instead
of just the index.
Jeanni
A LIST
Here is an
updated list of our family historical researchers that I am aware of – not
necessarily doing Holmes research. These people are preserving the past. I sent
emails to everyone I can think of. I will put them in three groups: active,
archived, and unknown. Active means, of course, presently researching.
Presently doesn’t necessarily mean you are doing it every day at this time, but
were recently and will be soon. Life can get in the way, but you haven’t put
your stuff away. Archived means not now: might or might not in the future. But,
always willing to lend a hand to a confused Uncle Peg. Not everyone has replied
to me yet, but I’ve had some catching up, interesting emails.
If you are
researching and your name is not here, please let me know.
Active Don’t
Know Yet
Brenda Batchelor Chris
Holmes
Cindy Brignone Margie
Holtzapfel
Carolyn Brown Brenda Marquez
Missy Corda Christopher
Neel
Marvin Davis Elizabeth
Steeves
Marie Dockter Eleanor Wilson
Annmarie Holmes
Byron Holmes
Kristin Holmes Other
Paula Holmes
Peg Vasseur Doug Holmes offers technical assistance when I need it.
Ralph Wagner
Jane Williams
Jeanni Worster
Archived
Grace March
Ami Slater
Susan Stephens
RESEARCH
REQUEST
This is my response to Julia Nolte in regard to her query.
Julia and her mother, Janet Nolte, are trying to locate the identity of Janet’s
grandfather. This is an ongoing project and has been, off and on, for several
years. I thought DNA might help, but it doesn’t, because Janet is the only
person begotten of this elusive man who provided cousin material, that we know
of. If he had other children, by another woman, we haven’t found close
comparison cousins. Former generations were loath to share any information
whatsoever, and protected Ella to the point of total blank. Here’s the lineage:
Julia (and Brett, Celia, and Emily née
Nolte) – Janet Minella Nolte – Lillian Holmes Underhill Minella (adopted by
Carl Felt Underhill) – Ella Mae Holmes Underhill – Charles Robert and Phoebe
Jane (McMonagle) Holmes.
This will get complicated. It
would be better if you could see the records as a spreadsheet. But, I'll try to
make it as clear as I can. Might help if you chart the census records.
I don't know the details, but
I think that Lillian lived at home with her grandparents, or even with her
mother and her grandparents, for several years. One reason I say this is that
Mum said her father, Floyd, considered Lil like a sister. He wouldn't have, I
don't think, if she lived in Boston with a single mother. He would hardly have
known her. That is not genealogy, just speculation. How did they meet? I don't
know. Ella's next younger sibling, Daniel Edwin Holmes, said he immigrated to
the US in 1903. I find him in the 1902 city directory of Boston. Perhaps
Ella went to visit Dan and met Carl.
I have looked at some
records. The Massachusetts marriage record of Carl and Ella states that they
married on 27 June 1906 in Lynn, MA. Carl lived in Boston, Lil in Petitcodiac.
Why didn't they marry at the bride's home? I don't know.
Their first child, Edward,
was born 2 March 1907 in Canada. That was not a full 9 months between their
marriage and his birth, but certainly he could have been a month or so
premature. Eddie Underhill was quite famous in military circles.
I do not see any record of
them marrying in New Brunswick, so I assume marrying in Lynn is correct. But,
then she gave birth to Edward in Canada. That is on several records for Edward,
including military. His birth was not recorded in New Brunswick. It was
registered in Boston but look at the details:
Births registered in the city
of Boston -
#5807. March 2, 1907. Edward
Holmes Underhill. Male. Place of birth - New Brunswick. Residence of parents -
324 Faneuil St. (That’s in Boston.) Parents Carl F and Ella M (Holmes)
Underhill. She went home to give birth. Why? I don't know.
I do not have an adoption record for Lil, but I'm
quite sure he adopted her at some point between 1910 and 1920. A hunch; perhaps
Mum told me, or your mother, or just going by the census.
I have looked at some census records. Census records
are as correct as the person giving the information told at the time, so must
be taken with a grain of salt. But, they do seem to be consistent. Interesting
that they said Lillian was Carl's sister-in-law, rather than step-daughter.
1910 Carl was the head of household and the family
lived at 21 Montfern Ave in Boston. That house/apartment building was built in
1890. Google it at Realtor.com.
Underhill, Carl was 28 years old. He had been married
four years. His birthplace was Massachusetts.
Underhill, Ella M was also 28 and had been married
four years. She had birthed two children. She was born
in Canada, and immigrated to the US in 1904.
Underhill, Edward, son, was 3 years old. He was born
in Canada, and immigrated to the US in 1907.
Underhill, Lora J, daughter, was 1 year old. She was
born in Massachusetts.
Holmes, Lillian, sister-in-law to Carl, was 6 years
old. She was born in Canada, and immigrated to the US in 1908.
1920 Carl was the head of household and they lived at
33 Newton Street in Boston. All names were Underhill, including Lillian's.
Built in 1854. Redfin.
Carl was 37 and was born in Massachusetts.
Ella was 38 and was born in Canada.
Lillian, daughter, was 16 and born in Canada.
Edward, son, was 12 and born in Canada.
Lora, daughter, was 11. She and the rest of the
children were born in Massachusetts.
Adell, daughter, was 9.
Phyllis, daughter, was 7.
Ruth, daughter, was 5.
Chas.Wm., son, was 2.
1930 Angelo was head of household and they lived at 40
Hobart Street in Boston.
Minella, Angelo was 30.
Minella, Lillian H was 26.
Charles R, son, was 5.
Lillian H Jr., daughter, was 3.
Holmes, Cecil, uncle, was 36.
Not sure how much this will help, but it will likely
give you something to discuss and think about.
Peg
P.S.
I just had a thought, but I don’t know how to go looking for it. I wonder if
there was an adoption record, and if perchance her birth father’s name might be
on it. If there was one, it would probably be in Boston archives.
In the photo, Lillian,
Edward, and Lora Underhill. The baby in the carriage, Lora Jean Underhill
Thornton, was born November 11, 1908, in Brighton, Massachusetts. That puts
this photo in 1909.
THIS WEEK’S
CLIPPING FROM OUR NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Those pesky
gossip columnists sometimes irritated people in the past I think, but oh, what
contributions they made to the future. “Mr. Harvey Doull has bought and moved
on farm, formerly owned by Mr. Snider.” (Fifth paragraph from the bottom.) And
from the Doull family comes their Marks relatives, hence the inclusion of
Clifford Marks in Uncle Peg’s Chronicles.
REQUESTS FOR CHRISTMAS CHRONICLE
I am starting to think about the Christmas newsletter that goes out to
every person for whom I have an email address and will also be in the Facebook
group.
For your contributions – the theme this year is “our ancestors’
Christmas.” Not our memories, but memories of our parents and/or grandparents
that have been handed down or written in their own words. If you don’t have
those types of stories, is there a recipe you make at Christmas time that you
know came from someone who came before? Photo of grandparents at Christmas
time? Your stories can be happy, sad, jolly, punny, whatever. Use your
imaginations. Of course, if they didn’t celebrate Christmas for any reason, a
seasonal memory such as Hanukkah is good, too. I will be sending out an email
or FB post in early December, asking for this. You get some extra time to think
about it. This is for our in-laws’ ancestors as well.
Compiler’s bragging rights:
My son-in-law Marc with Winston and Eleanor on the left.
Winston with a gift and I can just make out the signature on the
card. Many thanks, Auntie Paula.
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