Saturday, August 14, 2021

Obituary of Reverend Solomon Aiken (1758-1833): Revolutionary Patriot/Dartmouth Graduate/Fearless Politician

The following obituary was transcribed from The Vermont Patriot and State Gazette, Page 3,  17 June 1833.

Another Revolutionary patriot has gone. – It is our melancholy duty to announce the death of Rev. Solomon Aiken, of Hardwick, Vt. He died at his residence after a severe illness of one week on the morning of the 1st of June, in the 75th year of his age. – Tho’ the weight of years was upon him, this veteran of the cross and of two wars, was in body erect and manly as when he first buckled on the armor of War, in the cause of Freedom and Independence. – Age had not dimmed the keen lustre of his eye, faintly were its furrows traced upon his placid brow; his locks were raven-like; firm and elastic was his tread, when death his and our last enemy humbled the venerable patriarch to the dust. Endued with an excellent constitution, so strict and uniform was his regimen that he used frequently to remark that for forty years he had never known what sickness was. His mental vigor was unscathed by time. – While wrestling in the relentless gasp of death, conscious that his last hour had come, the strength, clearness and placid serenity of his mind were most remarkable. He wore the resigned expression and saintly air of him, who has buried all the idolizing joys of earth and looks away to his imperishable treasure in the heavens. He gathered around him, his disconsolate family, pronounced a pious father’s valedictory blessing and then calmly feel [sic] asleep. Such were the last moments of this Patriotic but persecuted man; distinguished alike for his talents, virtue and intelligence. It is due to the character of the deceased, to public opinion, to satisfy the claims of friendship, and stop the extreme poverty; which drew upon him the vengeance of excommunication and pursued him to the grave with cruelty, relentless and inhuman.
 
Solomon Aiken was born in Hardwick, County of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, in July, 1759. He served above two years in the War of Independence. At the conclusion of this service, he took to study and was graduated at Dartmouth College. He afterwards embraced the profession of the Ministry, and for thirty years was pastor of the Congregational Society at Dracutt, Massachusetts. Here he distinguished himself as a Clergyman. During the violence of party spirt in the administration of Mr. Jefferson, Mr. Aiken openly seceded from the political sentiments of the Congregational Clergy and fearlessly proclaimed himself a Republican. This was his unpardonable sin. This act marked him as the conspicuous and common object of clerical party vengeance. He did not quail before his enemies – but maintained a steady support to the leading measures of the administration. He wrote much and exposed the corrupt and dangerous doctrines of the Federal Leaders; especially did he disclose the impious & unhallowed designs of the Calvinistic the Clergy waging political war with Drs. Spring, Osgood, Steel, Parish, and others; men who were ever ready to rejoice at any event which might embarrass the administration and disgrace the country. For several years he represented the town of Dracutt in the State Legislature. He actively supported the last war and in the latter part was Chaplain. At the period referred to, Mr. Aiken as a politician, was well known through the New England States. – The combined influence n the clergy was made to bear upon him; their hostility became inveterate and implacable. At length pious mouths of gainsayers and calumniators, that some prominent incidents of his life should be noticed.
 
It is just and proper that those who deserve well of their country, should be embalmed in her memory. It is due, as an example to the rising generation, that those who have devoted themselves to the cause of liberty, though in comparative obscurity, should be rescued from oblivion and help up to admiration. To the distinguished man, whose sudden exit we are now called to notice and deplore, these remarks have a most just and peculiar application. A life of vicissitude as his; the ease and affluence of wealth and the bitterness of poverty were known to him. Amid all its vicissitudes he was always uniform and contented with his lot; always patriotic.
It is an act of strict justice on the part of friends at this time, to publish to an impartial public a very few incidents of his life, which procured for him, the warm friendship of the old Republican party in New England on the one hand and the bitter execrations of the Federalists, the implacable, relentless persecution of the Congregational Clergy on the other, which reduced him from affluence to fraud, reckless calumny and persecuting vengeance ousted him from his pastoral charge, reduced him to poverty and drove him from his native state. He retired among his relatives in Hardwick, Vt.; but the zeal of persecution sought out his retreat – his enemies were not satisfied with his humiliation; the enjoyed a most singular and savage delight in triumphing over his misfortune, and lacerating this fallen victim. Thy were like blood hounds, ever upon the track. One incident which happened a few years since, and which he had concealed even from his family until a few weeks before his death, will show the spirt and character of their persecution. While at Hardwick to relieve the distress of a dependent family, he went away into the State of New York – commenced preaching and continued to labor about six months; was successful and gave general satisfaction. His Christian persecutors at length ferreted out their victim. – The result was that he was dismissed, lost the benefit of this services – begged his passage across the Lake and returned home on foot and without one penny to his family. His talents and integrity were ever appreciated by intelligent and honest freeman. He represented the town of Hardwick for several years in the State Legislature. But he has gone to rest.

He has left a fair and illustrious fame, purified in the furnace of affliction, strengthened and exalted by persecution – aloof from calumny – adorned with the chaplet of patriotism, it will descend to posterity and live in the hearts of freemen when his reckless persecutors shall merge into oblivion or be remembered only to be despised.

 Works by Solomon Aiken

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

52 Ancestors Week 2: Favorite Family Photos

What's the story behind one of your favorite family photos?

It is nearly impossible for me to choose just one favorite family photo out of the many that I have; however, among my favorites are those of family reunions. They even provided me with the inspiration I needed for coordinating a family reunion in 2013.

The first photo was taken at the 50th anniversary party of my 2nd great grandparents, William and Olive (LaGrange) Beard (seated in the center of the photo) in 1949. The couple married on 11 March 1899 and together had nine children. My great grandmother, Elizabeth, who is standing between William & Olive's heads, once wrote a poem about eight of the children (the 9th was either a still birth or died very shortly after birth). Click here to read her poem.


The next reunion photo I have was taken at the 40th anniversary party for my great grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Beard) Baker in 1972. You may recognize Elizabeth from the previous photo. In this photo, the happy couple is surrounded by their 11 children. The eldest 5 children were from my great grandfather's first marriage to Ruth Miller (1903-1931). Following Ruth's death, George married Elizabeth and she cared for Ruth's children as if they were her own.


The final photo was taken at the Baker/Beard family reunion I coordinated in 2013 on the grounds of the Lamoille County Field Days in Johnson, Vermont (I am standing to the far left in the brown shirt). You can read about the reunion by clicking here.



Monday, December 30, 2019

52 Ancestors Week 1: The Batchelder Family's Fresh Start in Plainfield, Vermont

Which ancestor had to make a fresh start after a loss or setback?

My 7th great grandfather, Lieutenant Joseph Batchelder, was born on 28 December 1750 in Hampton, New Hampshire. He was the son of Nathaniel Batchelder Anna Butler. By 1790, Joseph was residing in Lyndeborough, New Hampshire where he likely married his wife, Sarah Ferrin. He fought in the American Revolution as part of the New Hampshire Militia where he received his title.
In 1793, Joseph made a pitch for 650 acres of land in an area called St. Andrews Gore, which would later be known as Plainfield, Vermont.  Joseph, along with his two brothers, Moulton and Nathaniel, were among the first four families to settle in Plainfield. The brothers abided by the charter granted to the town, which required that each grantee to “plant five acres of land, erect one house at least eighty feet square on the ground floor, and have one family on each share of land” (Grimaldi, n.d.). All of the houses of this early settlement were log cabins.

Joseph’s land was located at the southwest corner of Plainfield, near to Barre. He likely grew corn on his land and may have produced up to 40 bushels per acre (Grimaldi, n.d.). The land in Plainfield was known for being especially fertile. It was at his home where the town’s Congregational Church was formed (Representative Men 1908).

Joseph and Sarah had the following children:
  1. Joseph Batchelder b. 22 Feb 1770
  2. Nathaniel Batchelder b. 10 Jan 1772
  3. Isaac Batchelder b. 08 Oct 1774; d. 11 Jan 1775
  4. Anna Batchelder b. 30 Sep 1775; d. 22 Jan 1777
  5. Isaac Batchelder b. 01 Mar 1779
  6. Alpheus Batchelder b. 07 Aug 1781
  7. Abigail Batchelder b. 03 Nov 1783; m. Joseph Glidden; d. 27 Aug 1859
  8. Sarah Batchelder b. 09 Feb 1785
  9. William Batchelder b. 15 Jul 1788
  10. Polly Batchelder (see below)
  11. Alice Batchelder b. 23 Jun 1797
  12. Josiah Batchelder

Joseph’s daughter and my 6th great grandmother, Polly, was the first girl and second child born in Plainfield. She is only referred to as Polly on her birth records. Other records list her as Mary. She was born on 26 July 1795. She married Henry C. Parker (1797-1887). She died in Elmore, Vermont on 22 Jun 1877 and is buried at the Lake Elmore Cemetery along Route 12.

Mary (Polly) and Henry had the following children:
  1. Sarah F. Parker b. 05 Sep 1824 in Barre, Vermont; m. Samuel Childs on 14 Aug 1845; d. 27 Oct 1863 in Barre, Vermont. Sarah is my 5th great grandmother.
  2. Robert Parker b. Abt 1831 in Vermont
  3. Alpheus Parker b. Abt 1832 in Vermont
  4. Mary Parker b. Abt 1835 in Vermont
Joseph died on 25 March 1827 in Plainfield and is buried at the Bisson Barre Cemetery on Lower Road in Plainfield.

References:
Grimaldi, S. (n.d.). The early history of Plainfield, Vermont from the beginnings to 1880. Retrieved from http://plainfieldvthistory.org/history.html

Representative Men and Old Families of Rhode Island. (1908). Retrieved from https://books.google.com/books?id=sNo4AQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false

Saturday, March 14, 2015

A Visit with my Dad

I had am amazing visit with my dad yesterday. I purchased some KFC (his fave) and headed to his house to interview him about his time spent in the Army. The entire visit lasted about 3 hours, but left me with some wonderful stories and memories to pass down to my descendants.

At first dad wasn't too keen on being interviewed, and was adamant that he could not remember much about his Army days. However, when I got there he pulled out a binder filled with old Army records (a binder I didn't even know he had). In it were dates of his enlistment, discharge, and time spent on active duty both Hawaii and Guam. Of course, this binder is a real genealogy goldmine. He offered to let me borrow it so I can scan the documents into my computer.

Next we pulled out two photo albums filled with photos he took from his time in basic training at Fort Dix, NJ, AIT at Fort Polk, LA, and duty Hawaii and Guam. I have looked through the albums many times since I was a kid, but I had never had my father tell me the stories behind the photos. He told me about his friends, who they were, where they lived, fun times they had, etc. He had photos of a '67 Ford Galaxy he purchased in Hawaii that he later crashed while driving to Honolulu one night. There were photos of concerts he saw (including Merle Haggard, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dolly Parton), the Tent City he stayed in while helping Vietnamese refugees in Guam in 1975, and this photo of his entire platoon that he asked me to blow up into an 8x10 (my dad is in the back at the far left, holding his helmet under his arm).

Army Platoon in Hawaii
Next my father pulled out a few old letters he has that some of his Army friends wrote him soon after he returned home. They weren't long, but shared a few stories of trouble the caused together, dreams they had for when they were all out of the Army, and some more insight into what life was like for my dad in those dads.

When we were done talking about his Army days, dad continued by telling me stories of his childhood. He told me about his pet raccoons (hie brothers also had a pet fox and skunk), childhood friends and trouble they got into together, and other random things as he remembered them.

It was a wonderful time with my dad, and I am so glad we did this! I highly recommend everyone does this with their relatives while they still can.

Saturday, January 17, 2015

Phineas Holcomb: Man of Mystery

I know very little of my 6th great grandfather, Phineas Holcomb. He was born in Simsbury, Hartford, Connecticut on 04 Feb 1726 to Ensign Joshua Holcomb and Mary Hoskins. At some point, Phineas moved from Connecticut to Dutchess County, New York. I'm not sure why, when or who with. I do have information that suggests he married Sarah Tuller in 1745 in Litchfield County, CT. It is possible he had some of his children while still in Connecticut, as well. He and his "large family" left Dutchess County, NY for Panton, Addison, Vermont during the spring of 1774. In 1778, Phineas Holcomb and his sons Joseph, Joshua, Samuel and Elisha were captured by Indians and brought to Quebec. Phineas died during his imprisonment in Quebec on 11 September 1781.

Phineas Holcomb and Sarah Tuller had at least 8 children:

  1. Joshua Holcomb was born in 1746 and died in 1781 in Quebec (during imprisonment)
  2. Samuel Holcomb was born in 1748 and died in 1781 in Quebec (during imprisonment)
  3. Sarah Holcomb was born in 1751
  4. John Holcomb was born in 1753 and died sometime before 1785
  5. Darius Holcomb was born in 1754
  6. Ruth Holcomb was born in 1757
  7. Elisha Holcomb was born in 1760 
  8. Joseph Holcomb was born about 1726, probably in Dutchess County, NY. He died on 20 January 1833 in Panton, Vermont.
For more information on the Holcomb family's capture by Indians, please see my blog post entitled Carleton's Raid and the Capture of the Holcomb Family.




Surname Saturday: Revisiting an Old Post about the Cotes

About a year ago I posted a call out for help about one of my most elusive lines: the Cote's. In hopes of rekindling this post and getting some help, I am re-blogging it. Please read the original post at http://genealogyvt.blogspot.com/2014/01/hunting-elusive-cote.html. Thank you!


Saturday, September 6, 2014

Surname Saturday: A few 17th Century Godfrey's

I don't have many Godfrey's in my tree, but I figured I would list the ones I do have in the even that I can locate a distant cousin or some unknown information.

Richard Godfrey (my 9th great grandfather) was born in Lancaster, England in 1631. His father was Richard Godfrey, who was born born in Wales in 1600. The younger Richard came to Massachusetts in 1652. According to a NEGHS publication, he "settled in a part of Tauton called Squawbetty...near the old [iron] forge, now Raynham." He married Jane Turner in 1650 in Weymouth, Massachusetts. Jane was the daughter of John and Jane Turner. Richard died in Taunton, Massachusetts on 16 Oct 1691.

Located near the homestead of Richard Godfrey.
Photo: Credit: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taunton_Iron_Works


Children of Richard Godfrey & Jane Turner:

  1. Richard Godfrey; b. abt. 1651 in Taunton, MA; m. Mary Richmond on 1 Jan 1679 in Tauton, MA; d. 17 Aug 1725 in Taunton, MA
  2. Jane Godfrey; b. 1652 in Taunton, MA; m. John Cobb; d. 17 Mar 1736 in Taunton, MA
  3. John Godfrey; b. abt. 1654; m. Martha Joyce
  4. Alice Godfrey; b. 1656 in Weymouth, MA; m. Peter Holbrook in 1677 in Mendon, MA; d. 29 Apr 1705 in Medon, MA
  5. Susannah Godfrey (see below)
  6. Robert Godfrey; b. abt. 1660; m. Hannah Hackett
Susannah Godfrey was born about 1656 or 1660 in Taunton, Massachusetts. She married Edward Kettle/Cettle on 10 Jun 1682 in Taunton, Massachusetts. They had the following children:
  1. Mansir Kettle; b. abt. 1700 in Taunton, MA; m. Desire Berry; d. 7 May 1757 in Taunton, MA
  2. Mary Kettle
  3. Freegift Kettle
  4. Ephraim Kettle
My line from Susannah Godfrey and Edward Kettls/Cettle is:
  1. Mansir Kettle m. Desire Berry 
  2. Edward Kettle m. Welthy Godfrey*
  3. Sylvester Kettle m.. Patience Comstock
  4. William Riley Kittell m. Elizabeth Eliza Lanpher
  5. Florence Eliza Kittell m. Roland S. Beard
  6. William Riley Beard m. Olive Elizabeth "Grace LeGrange
  7. Elizabeth Florence Beard m. George Baker
  8. Gary Baker m. Esther Wallace (my grandparents)
*I am also curious as to who Wealthy Godfrey is. She was born to Joshua Godfrey and died on 18 Nov 1793. Were they of the same Godfrey family as Richard?