Uncle Peg’s Chronicles
January 11, 2024
“Put On Your Dancing Shoes”
“These
were their settlements. And they kept good family records.”[1]
Don’t
forget to look for the title which is embedded in the chronicle.
Seems to be a
clucky theme week on my Facebook scroll this week, so I went with it. Some of
the photos are really old. Not my family or friends, just “suggested for you.”
1924 – 2024 CENTENNIAL WEEK TWO
I love watercolours. I cannot draw, so I offer you a word picture. I
hope you see it in your mind’s eye. The widow Snider in her black mourning
dress with jet trimmings. The young Jones sisters in their white dresses with
pink laces and ribbons. And all the other colorful dresses, swirling in the
spacious dining room.
GRATITUDE
Your comments motivate me to carry on. Thank
you, this week, to Ralph Wagner and Cliff Marks, for keeping me
on my toes. Also, to those of you who commented on my 52 Ancestors post on my
own Facebook, which I included in this chronicle.
From Ralph, some discussion, and Eagerly
awaiting next week's chronicle, Ralph. Thankful for that “eagerly.”
From Cliff, some discussion, and . . . Another
interesting chapter in today's Chronicle. I can't believe how much information
our research is discovering on Portage Vale. At this rate, I will never get to
finish my history, as new sources seem to pop up unexpectedly. When I started,
I thought it would be a short little exercise. After all, what was notable
about Portage Vale? Cliff. Same could be said for every book ever written,
Cliff. But, as Richard Thorne told me once, and I paraphrase, “you have to stop
somewhere.” Till you unpack your boxes, maybe you should focus on “Progress”
gossip. But don’t quit.
My 52 Ancestors post on the topic of “Origins” on my
own Facebook generated some chatter with friends. Thanks to those of you in our
group: Paula, Ann, Cindy, and Annmarie:
Ann: Indeed this is a mess! . . . I feel
your frustration! Wishing you luck in finding more accurate information.
Annmarie: Wow! I had no idea there was this
much misinformation out there about our Francis Holmes. I just went to look,
and couldn’t believe my eyes after taking a quick peek at the hints suggested
in Ancestry member’s family trees. I am so grateful for the awesome person who
mentors me. Thank you, Peggy . . .
Cindy: asked a good question. We followed
up in messenger. “So, which wife was Richard’s stepmother that he testified on
behalf of? Answer: Francis’ second wife, Ann MNU Thomas Holmes, midwife,
against her client, Elizabeth Clawson.
Paula: Serious genealogists, which you are,
are probably some of the most patient and frustrated people I know. It can take
years to find the smallest bit of information, and many sleepless nights when
the brain refuses to stop rolling around the day's findings (or lack thereof) .
. .I feel your frustration, I know your frustration, and it is why I have to
periodically leave my tree and climb a tree in someone else's forest. But if by
some slim chance I ever return to Yorkshire, you know where I will be for a
Sunday service. Your thoroughness and skepticism are awesome!
I am so grateful for feedback about our origins, and
hope you will enjoy reading it. I’d like to say that although Ancestry is far
from perfect in this regard, it’s what you make of it that counts. Copying
other people’s trees is NOT research.
News From Holmes
Our sympathy to Matthew and Missy and their family on the passing of
Matthew’s father, Arthur Corda. He will be missed. Missy is in the William N
Holmes line.
Obituary
of Arthur Joseph Corda
Arthur (94) was a proud man
who held many titles in life that had a profound effect on all around him. He
worked on a dairy farm with his father at a young age and went on to work as a
switchman before becoming the last train conductor at Spreckels Sugar. He
trained many, who will tell you they couldn't quit fill his shoes no matter how
hard they tried before he retired after 55 years at Spreckels Sugar.
Arthur’s door was always open to all and he enjoyed gardening, NASCAR, and
converting grapes into juice (wink wink). But his most important role was
being a Husband and family man.
Arthur is survived by his eldest son Arthur, his son Matt, and only daughter
Cherie. He was predeceased and is now reunited with his Wife Betty, son Joe,
grandsons Christopher and Steven. He was a proud grandpa, great grandpa, loved
his siblings and a father figure to many. For a quiet man he spoke volumes by
always living a righteous life for all to follow and admire. Papa,
you have passed on and will be dearly missed but your legend will live on
forever! Arthur’s
family will host a funeral service on January 8, 2024 at Healey Mortuary
Salinas Ca at 1pm. Burial to follow at Garden of Memories Cemetery Salinas.
Ca.
https://healeymortuary.com/tribute/details/327425/Arthur-Corda/obituary.html?fbclid=IwAR3d4V0L9zD1YehpkzQPhTR67LyErTCYOAhJSNZL6EqMj8jgu8h-e1dF6Oo
Obituary of Howard Matthews
Howard
W. Matthews, 80, of Portage Vale, passed away peacefully at The Moncton
Hospital on Saturday, December 2, 2023. Born in Moncton, he was the son of the
late Currie and Vera (Bishop) Matthews. Howard
was a kitchen designer by trade, and for over 50 years owned and operated a
Christmas tree farm and lot, which brought him great joy. He was a lover of the
outdoors, whether it was fishing, hunting or ATVing. He enjoyed watching
sports, especially hockey and Blue Jays baseball, and also enjoyed a good game
of cards or cribbage. But most important to Howard was his relationships with
his family and lifelong friends, socializing and spending time with those near
to him was so important, he carried the title of "Professional
Grandfather." He
will be sadly missed by the mother of his children and dear friend, Roberte
Matthews; his children, Elaine Matthews-Belone (Carlton Belone) and David
Matthews (Christy Elliott-Matthews); his grandchildren, Jacob, Benjamin,
Gabrielle, Devan, Lola, Willow, Josh and Ethan; as well as his many extended
family members and friends. In
addition to his parents, Currie and Vera, he was predeceased by his brother
Ronald Matthews.
In
keeping with Howard's families wishes there will be no visitation hours or
funeral service. The family will hold a celebration of his wonderful life in
the summer of 2024. Fergusons
Funeral Home, 1657 Mountain Road, Moncton (506-858-1995) in care of
arrangements.
In memory
of Howard, memorial contributions to the RCMP Three Fathers Memorial Run would
be appreciated. Online condolences for the family may be shared on the
Fergusons Funeral Home Facebook Page or at www.fergusonsfuneralhome.com https://obituaries.tj.news/obituary/howard-matthews-1089127117#:~:text=Howard%20W.,and%20Vera%20(Bishop)%20Matthews.
Howard
Matthews is not in our family. He was the current owner of the property
originally granted to Isaac Ketchum, our ancestor, and passed down to his four
children and then William Oliver Snider (Uncle Billy). When Uncle Billy died,
Harvey Doull purchased the house and property, handed it down to his Marks
family and eventually Howard Matthews of the same family. For all this time,
the property has only been owned by two families. The house burned and Howard
rebuilt.
MY GENEALOGY GOALS
- 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: “Three Peas in a Moore Pod.”
- In
the evening, after chores are done, edit the Abner and Hattie (Holmes)
Jones family (second child of Daniel and Charlotte) the same way I did the
Louisa, William and Carrie lines. No rush on that.
- Index
old newspapers for NBGS.
- Index
Riverbank Visitors for NBGS. Put old newspapers on hold while I do this.
- Do 52
Ancestors in 52 Weeks blurb.
This week’s topic is origins. I’ve already
submitted it to 52 ancestors. I include it here for you. I’m getting there, on
Lotham. So bored with it. Almost done with a review of Abner and Hattie . . .
next is Robert and Louisa (Ballantyne) Holmes. I worked on Riverbank Visitors.
LOOKING BEHIND AND AHEAD
1924 to
1928
Those are the
years that our great or great-great grandparents spent renewing 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 reacquainted and rediscovered their family ties. And then, one by
one, they died, and many of those ties died with them.
2024 to 2028
I
invite you to a wedding, reception, and ball at the home of William and
Margaret (Holmes) Snider in Portage Vale. Put on you dancing shoes and prepare
to waltz and polka in the spacious dining room of Uncle Billy and Aunt Maggie.
Celebrations
are part of every family, and as important as funerals. How do the
relationships connect? The connections of our past amaze me. Hopefully, our
connections will amaze a few of grandchildren. Which of Daniel and Charlotte’s
children attended this wedding? Look for their son-in-law, Abner, widower of
Hattie; Alf and Carrie (Holmes) Steeves, and Charles and Phoebe (McMonagle)
Holmes, and of course Billy and Maggie, who provided the venue, the music, and
maybe the catering.
Eating
is a big part of family celebrations. I didn’t go looking for an 1890s menu,
but I did note at the end of the newspaper clipping that people were catching
trout. Sugaring off was done for the year – that happened as soon as the sap
started running, but likely there was some maple syrup in some of the sweets.
And May is prime fiddlehead pickin’ time along waterways in New Brunswick.
Perhaps they dined on one or more of their own farm animals. Whatever was
served, I’m sure it was farm fare prepared especially for a wedding, and served
on the finest platters that our Portage Vale folks owned or borrowed.
I
remember an early reunion that we held in Hill Grove. I ordered a variety of
four pizzas from Petitcodiac, and they prepared four all the same. We ate ‘em
anyway. I remember a picnic on a misty day in Fundy, and Brett rolling his
eyes. I think Brett is akin to Uncle Billy – fits in and enjoys every reunion
no matter the function, family, or fancy. I remember our 2016 gathering, and
how everyone enjoyed the burgers and beans just as much as the fancy banquet. I
remember our “ball:” a one-song over and over again repertoire. No matter the
menu or the venue, enjoy as many gatherings with your siblings and cousins as
you can. Be sure and tell Uncle Peg about it, so I can share it in a chronicle.
52
ANCESTORS IN 52 WEEKS
This
week’s prompt is origins.
What a
Mess
Francis
Holmes
C. 1600 –
C. 1675
By his
descendant, Peg Vasseur
Waiver: I
descend from Francis Holmes, immigrant ancestor, through two of his
descendants. One is a paper-proven female line; the other is a male line with
probable but some circumstantial evidence.
The most
truthful thing that can be said for the origin of Francis Holmes, so far, is
that we don’t know. The most common putative origin is quite specific: Beverly,
Yorkshire, England, c. 1600. We don’t know who his parents were. We don’t know
who his wife was, and when and where she died. We don’t even know the dates of
birth of his children; the circa date of the youngest, in my opinion that I
would not swear to, is 1637. We don’t know what vessel he sailed on, or when.
According to the internet, he had several different wives and lots of children,
and originated in both Ireland and England. He married the same wives over and
over, going back and forth across the ocean to do so. In my research, I have
ruled out all wives and all but four children, and I’m satisfied that I’m
correct in the evidence that I have found to date. I will entertain any notion;
show me the sources.
In a
collective study by my cousins of his possible birth in Beverly, one of us
wrote to the civic authorities and the oldest church in Beverly. We received no
replies.
The best
I can advise is to either move on to more rewarding research or travel to
Yorkshire, England, and do an investigation. I have used his Find a Grave
information, with a waiver. If you choose to copy and paste from other trees,
prepare for a wild goose chase.
One of my
personal genealogical guidelines is to use common sense. Most of the
information out there on Francis Holmes does not make common sense.
I have
transcribed Francis Holmes’ probate. There were a few words I could not figure
out. Of all his vital stats, the best we can say is that he wrote his will in
1671 and they started the probate in 1675. He had many household goods, but the
best that can be said about his origins to date, is that they are unknown. He
fits right in with the English settlers, and Yorkshire is probably correct, and
Beverly looks like a lovely place to visit. No, he was not born in Japan. I saw
that.
The
following is the first recommended sample tree of Francis Holmes on Ancestry.
It gives the only middle name I’ve ever seen. What does Ancestry use to triage
trees for novice, innocent researchers to copy? Mine may not be perfect, but
with available knowledge on line, I think it’s pretty good. Why not use mine?
Or, is it too short and simple, because I’ve done my homework?
Francis’
second wife’s name was Ann (MNU) Stevens. There is no record of their marriage,
but Thomas Stephens died in 1658 so it was not before 1658. He had four
children: Stephen, John, Ann, and Richard. At least, this tree does not give a
multitude of children – only one whose name is correct, and one whose name is
incorrect. Richard did testify on his step-mother’s behalf at a witchcraft
trial in Stamford, CT – not Salem as the tree states. The two tree
recommendations that followed were filled with similar and other
misinformation.
A
TIMELINE FOR FRANCIS HOLMES – ANCESTRY’S FIRST RECOMMENDATION
As of
today’s date - January 7, 2024. Name of owner withheld.
Broken
down into categories. In case you missed it, this is mostly false or putative.
Title:
Francis Sloman Holmes (I located a
Francis Sloman Holmes in a website, date of baptism was 1794.)
Some Vitals and Facts:
1600 Birth of Francis Holmes: 3 Mar
1600, Beverly, East Riding of Yorkshire Unitary Authority, East Riding of
Yorkshire, England. (Find a Grave gives this place, with the date 1600)
1600 Baptism of Francis Holmes: 16
Nov 1600 Norfolk, England
1602 Death of mother, Elizabeth
Walker of Ireland, in Gelding, Nottingham, England
1628 Death of father Peter Holmes
of Louth, Ireland
1628 Ditto
1634 Birth of son Stephen in
England. (Possible)
1639 Birth of daughter Sarah
(False)
1648 Arrival of Francis Holmes in
Connecticut. (He was assaulted in 1648 in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut)
1671 Death of brother Peter Holmes
II in Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA.
1687 Death of Francis Holmes:
Stamford, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA. (His will was probated in 1675.)
Marriages:
To save space, I have amalgamated
the marriages. Back and forth between England and the American colonies. Ten
were in the USA; some in Stamford, CT, before it was Stamford. Fourteen were in
several locations in England.
7 weddings to Ann Crier Stevens
Holmes
6 weddings to Ann Holmes
4 weddings to Ann Stevens
2 weddings to no names
1 wedding to Mary Britain
4 marriages to Jane Atkinson
To owner’s credit, no marriage to
Joan Leeson.
This is a
critique, not a criticism. There are many others; some are different, some
worse. I find it sad. This is one of many similar trees whose owners share
information back and forth on Ancestry and other sites. New genealogists need
time to learn. If you have some experience and can mentor someone, please
do. It is even sadder that Ancestry
recommends it.
THIS WEEK’S
CLIPPINGS FROM NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES
Here, in the latest
New Brunswick fashions, is an idea of what the ladies might have worn to the
wedding of Ormond Jones and Jennie Snider in Portage Vale in 1894. Jennie’s
mother, Susan, dressed in a mourning gown (left). In the picture on the right,
“the costume on the left is for grand occasions or for a ball.”
ANAGANCE
May 21 – The marriage of Miss Jennie
Snider daughter of the late Mr. Douglas Snider
and Mr. Ormond Jones was solemnized at the Portage house last Wednesday evening
at 8:30. The bride, who, never looked better was arrayed in a charming gown of
white cashmere with silk and lace trimming and orange blossoms and carried a
prayer book in her hand. Rev. Mr. Fullerton episcopal clergyman, performed the
ceremony. The wedding presents were numerous and costly, including a $20 gold
piece, the gift of the groom.
Among the guests invited and present
were Rev. Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton, Mr. and Mrs. Abner Jones, Mr. and Mrs.
Holmes, and the Misses Jones of Petitcodiac, Mr. and Mrs. William Snider, Mrs.
Lamb, and Mrs. James Lamb (Sussex), Mr. and Mrs. Steeves, Miss Laura Steeves,
and Mr. Herber[t] Steeves, (Salisbury), Mr. and Mrs. George H Davidson, Miss
Berta Davidson, Messrs. Humphrey and Albert Davidson, Mr. and Mrs. F. W.
Davidson, Miss Edna Kinnear, Miss Bessie McAnespy, and Mr. Alex. McAnespy of
this village.
Mrs.
Susan Snider, mother of the bride, received in a black henrietta cloth, with
silk and jet trimmings.
Mrs.
Abner Jones, mother of the groom, looked charming in a handsome garnet satin.
Mrs. Fred Davidson wore a very pretty
fawn faille francaise silk, with cream lace.
Mrs.
G. H. Davidson looked very pretty in a handsome black satin, with pale blue
silk trimmings.
Miss Bertha Davidson looked sweet in a
cream silk with black lace overdress, and silver belt.
Miss McAnespy looked very nice in a
pretty frock of navy blue cashmere, with cream lace trimmings.
Miss Laura Steeves looked lovely in a
black henrietta, with trimmings of old rose silk.
Miss Edna Brown looked simply charming
in a golden brown cloth, with lace trimmings of the same shade.
The Misses Jones looked very pretty
indeed in costumes of white lawn, with pink ribbons and lace.
After the ceremony, congratulations were
extended to the newly married couple, and all repaired to the spacious dining
room where the wedding supper was partaken of, and about 10:30 dancing
commenced and lasted until the wee sma’ hours. Mrssrs. W. O. Snider and F. W.
Davidson furnished the music. Mr. and Mrs. Jones appeared out in the methodist
church here yesterday and the bride looked charming in a golden brown suit with
serpentine braid trimming and cream lace hat with ostrich feathers.[1]
This is my ostrich feather. It was
mailed to my great-grandparents – no date or return address. They come in
different colours. I’m modeling it for a short time in my Facebook profile
picture.
Picture it, a
lovely May wedding, perhaps on the lawn of the Ketchum/Snider house in Portage
Vale. The river babbled as the couple exchanged their vows. As darkness set in,
the guests headed into the dining room, welcomed by the bride’s recently
widowed mother, Susan, who lived next door. Aunt Maggie knew the kitchen well,
and maybe provided the meal. On the menu? It doesn’t say, but I think perhaps
some of those guests were out the day before, along the Kennebecasis riverbank,
fishing for trout and picking fresh fiddleheads.
They push the
tables and décor aside. Uncle Billy and Grandfather Fred tune up their
instruments. Uncle Billy taps his toes. The waltzing and polka begin, and last
well into the night. After Ormond and Jennie dance their first dance, the
guests in their finery take to the dining room floor. Ladies in henriettas,
satins, silks and cashmeres of white, black, cream, garnet, navy, old rose and
golden brown, complemented with laces and jets, swirl around the room on the
arms of the gentlemen. Tired, they must have been, to attend the Methodist
church in the morning, but they did.
Although they
were Anglican, they went, at least on this occasion, to the Methodist Church;
maybe the Duncan MacNaughton family sat in a nearby pew.
OUR FAMILY
HISTORY LESSON
The Wedding Guests
Ormond Jones was 24 at the time of his marriage. Jennie
Snider was 20.
All ages are approximate. This information and the relationships
are important to our genealogists, family historians, and Portage Vale
historians. For the rest of you, who might see this as a blur as intense as the
waltzes and polkas, I will highlight their names and ages (if known), so you
can picture them dancing, playing their instruments, or watching from the
sidelines.
Rev. Mr. and Mrs.
Fullerton were the rector and his wife.
Mr. and Mrs.
Abner Jones were Ormond’s father and
step-mother. Abner Jones married first, Harriet Olivia Holmes, daughter of
Daniel and Charlotte Holmes. Hattie was deceased by this time, so Mrs. Abner
Jones was his second wife, Eliza (Wilson) Jones, and not the birth mother of
Ormond. Abner was 52; Eliza, 28.
Mr. and Mrs.
Holmes, I assume, were Charles and
Phoebe (McMonagle) Holmes. Charles was the son of Daniel and Charlotte Holmes,
so Ormond was his nephew. Charles was 42; Phoebe, 38.
The Misses
Jones of Petitcodiac were Ormond’s sisters. I doubt that Gertrude attended,
but she may have. Ormond had unmentioned brothers as well. Annie was 20;
Charlotte, 18; Margaret, 14, and Gertrude, about 1.
Mr. and Mrs.
William Snider were William and Margaret
(Holmes) Snider. Margaret was uncle to Ormond, William, a bit more distant
relative. Margaret was a sister to Hattie, Carrie, and Charles. Billy was 67
and Maggie was 56.
Mrs. Lamb, and
Mrs. James Lamb (Sussex), married into the Ketchum family; their husbands’
ancestor, Elizabeth Ketchum, was wife of John Lamb and daughter of Isaac and
Mary Elizabeth (Ketchum) Ketchum. Their names, I think, were Euphemia (Lyon)
Lamb and her step daughter-in-law, Elizabeth (Bishop) Lamb, wife of
James Lamb. Euphemia was 60; Elizabeth was 23.
Mr. and Mrs.
Steeves, Miss Laura Steeves,
and Mr. Herber[t] Steeves, (Salisbury), were uncle, aunt, and cousins of
Ormond. C Alfred Steeves married Caroline M Holmes, daughter of Daniel and
Charlotte. Laura and Herbert were their children, so cousins of Ormond. Alf was
67; Carrie, 56; Laura was 20; Herbert was 19. Laura
would soon be deceased.
Mr. and Mrs.
George H Davidson were 34 and 20
respectively. George was the son of Henry and Emma (Hayward) Davidson; Henry
Davidson was the son of John and Sarah (Stultz) Davidson and the brother of
John Davidson who married Margaret Snider. George’s wife was Alice Parker.
Miss Bertha
Davidson was the daughter of Henry
and Emma Davidson, and the sister of George. She was 24. She was often
called Bertie.
Messrs. Humphrey
and Albert Davidson were sons of Henry and Anna,
and brothers of George and Bertha. Humphrey was 38 and Albert, 35.
Mr. and Mrs. F.
W. Davidson were 73 and 78
respectively. Fred was the son of John and Margaret (Snider) Davidson, and he
married Annie Herrett. Fred was first cousin to George, Bertha, Humphrey, and
Albert Davidson.
Miss Edna Kinnear was the daughter of Elias and Eulalia (Herrett)
Kinnear. Elias Kinnear married first, Miss Charlotte Elizabeth Holmes, better
known as Bessie. Bessie was the daughter of Daniel and Charlotte Holmes. She
died six weeks after their marriage. Elias married, second, Eulalia, and they
had ten children. Edna, the oldest, was about 14.
Miss Bessie
McAnespy, and Mr. Alex. McAnespy
of this village were neighbours and obviously friends, but of no relation to
the family. I believe they were siblings. Alex was 27 and Bessie, 19.
This history lesson
was a challenge. I hope it’s correct – I did make a chart.
This ends
week two of our centennial virtual celebration.
[1] Progress (Saint John, New Brunswick 1888): 1894 – 05 – 26 – Page 7.
https://newspapers.lib.unb.ca/serials/155/issues/22800/pages/166700
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