Vermont Genealogy

RAOGK is Down Indefinitely

2011-10-14T04:51:00.000-07:00

So you may have noticed that the website for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness (better known as RAOGK) has been down for a bit now. This site has, for the past eleven years, connected genealogists with volunteers who took the time to look up ancestral records and obituaries, and take tombstone photos. According to the website's administrator, a combination of the owner's health condition and computer problems, the site will be offline indefinitely.

Prayers are being sent to the administrator, in hopes that her health condition improves, and I look forward to seeing RAOGK up and running again in the near future!

My Adventures as a Freelance Genealogy Writer

2011-08-18T03:57:00.000-07:00

After spending several years writing articles - some of a genealogical nature, some not - for various Internet publications (some can be checked out on my professional genealogy website), I found the courage to submit an article to an in-print genealogy magazine, Family Chronicle. And guess what...

THEY ACCEPTED!

While they could not promise me a publication date, they are shooting for putting my article in the Jan/Feb 2012 issue. So be on the lookout for it! :)

Thankful Thursday: Virtual Cemeteries

2011-08-18T03:43:00.000-07:00

One of the greatest online, genealogy resources I have come across is Find A Grave, a virtual cemetery where users can post memorials for their loved ones and ancestors. Thanks to the many volunteers who work tirelessly to walk cemeteries, taking careful transcriptions and photos of tombstones. also a super huge thank you to the volunteers who have gone out of their way to photograph a tombstone that I have not been able to personally visit. I appreciate all of your work!

Other Virtual Cemeteries:

Interment.net

Genealogy.com's Virtual Cemetery

World Wide Cemetery

Tombstone Tuesday: John McKillop

2011-04-13T04:48:00.000-07:00

John McKillop
b. 15 Apr 1861 in Ireland
d. 15 Jun 1897 in Danville, Vermont
buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery in St. Johnsbury, Vermont.

His parents were James McKillop and Margaret Leslie. He immigrated to America from Ireland with his parents, sisters, Rose, Mary Ann and Margaret McKillop, and Roses boyfriend/fiancée, James Gamble, probably in 1883.

American Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge

2011-04-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

I am a day late at posting this, but better late than never. Right?

Bill West, of the West in New England, provided a blogging prompt entitled the American Civil War Genealogy Blog Challenge Here is a little bit about my Civil War ancestors.

I actually have two direct ancestors that fought during the Civil War. Through them, I was able to gain membership as a Daughter of Union Veterans of the Civil War,1861-1865.

My 3rd great-grandfather, George Andrew Holcomb, of Panton, Vermont was a Private in company B of the 11th Vermont Infantry. His enlistment date was 17 Jul 1862 and he was mustered out on 24 Jun 1865.

My 2nd great-grandfather, Edward Balaw (Bailaw, Beland), of Peacham, Vermont was a Private in Company L of the 9th Vermont Infantry. His enlistment date was 09 Jun 1862 and he was discharged on 13 Jul 1965.

Edward's brothers, Simeon, Alexander, Joseph and William, also fought during the Civil War. Joseph was wounded at Petersburg, Virginia on 25 Mar 1865 and died on 04 Apr 1865. He buried in the Arlington National Cemetery.

National Genealogy Day

2011-03-12T03:39:00.000-08:00

Today (March 12) is Genealogy Day, a nationally recognized day to research your family's history and heritage. I wish I had the time to sit down and do some of my own genealogy today, but I have about a hundred things to do, and none of them involve family research. Instead, I put together a list of some of my favorite blog posts regarding my personally genealogy, as well as a list of articles I have written to help you in your own family history research pursuits.

My Favorite Blog Posts

The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge (October 15, 2010) A poem written by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Beard) Baker

Gamble/McKillop Irish Immigrants (October 16,2010) Help me solve the mystery of this elusive family.

From Hobby to Business: My Great-Grandfather's Talent for Woodworking (November 7, 2010)

Those Places Thursday: Panton, Vermont (November 25, 2010)

Articles to Help You With Your Genealogy
These articles have all been written by me

Beginning Genealogy

Free Genealogy Websites

More Free Genealogy Websites

Types of Genealogy Charts

Breaking Down Genealogical Walls with Cluster Research

Variations in Surname Spellings

Using Cemeteries to Conduct Genealogical Research (PDF)

Glossary of Genealogy Terms

African American Genealogy

Hiring a Professional Genealogist

Follow Friday: Vermont Irish

2011-03-11T17:58:00.000-08:00

OK, this is an older posting, but one that caught my interest immediately. In October of 2009, Michael Brophey, a genealogist from Massachusetts and owner of Brophy's Irish Genealogy blog, published a post about Vincent E. Feeney's book, entitled "Finnigans, Slaters and Stonepeggers: A History of the Irish in Vermont," a book that discusses Vermont Irish immigrants.

As a descendant of Irish immigrants, I am excited to have discovered this book. One of my questions has been how my Irish ancestors lived and why they came here. Perhaps I can get some clues within the pages of this book.

Anyways, my follow friday recommendation this week is Michael Brophey's post, Vermont Irish.

Earthquake & Tsunamis - How You Can Help

2011-03-11T17:25:00.000-08:00

I wanna take a small break in genealogy blogging today to pay respects to the lives lost during today's natural disasters in Japan and other countries worldwide. My heart breaks for their families, and my prayers are with them and everyone else who has been affected by these storms.

If you are looking for charities to donate to in order to help with the relief efforts of the earthquake and tsunamis, please consider one of the following excellent places:

UNICEF

American Red Cross: You can also make a $ donation by texting "Red Cross" to 90999 (I did this)

Doctors Without Borders: I don't see anything on their website about helping specifically with this disaster, but I am certain they are. And if not, it's still a great cause.

FamilySearch Adds More Vermont Records to its Database!

2011-03-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

I recently became subscribed to Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter, a fabulous free newsletter published by seasoned genealogist, Dick Eastman. (If you aren't already subscribed, I highly recommend doing so. He provides a plethora of interesting and informational genealogy news briefs and articles).

Anyways, this morning his newsletter discussed the new records that were recently added to the FamilySearch database. Included in these records are over 220,000 Vermont vital records from 1760-1954.

In light of the new records, i will hopefully be able to find some time later this week to spend on FamilySearch looking for my ancestors.

Motivation Monday: Where's Mine?

2011-03-07T04:38:00.001-08:00

I have been seriously slacking in the genealogy department for the past few months. I just have had really no motivation to get going. Honestly, I have been lacking motivation in a lot of aspects of my life lately. I chalk it up to the wintertime blues.

Anyways, I am ready to get my head back in the game. There are some questions in my own genealogy that need answering. I also want to do some more marketing for my professional services, get some articles out to both online and offline publications, and I have even been toying with the idea of starting my own video how-to series. Of course, getting back in the game also means becoming more diligent with keeping up with this blog.

I am going to sit down sometime in the very near future and write down my genealogy goals. I think mapping them out on paper will make it easier for me to understand what direction to take to make sure the above goals become a reality. I will update here when I have a more concrete plan of action.

In the meantime, I would love your tips on how you stay/get motivated. Use the comment section below to answer! :)

Those Places Thursday: Amoskeag Mill; Manchester, NH

2011-03-03T04:06:00.000-08:00

OK, so the Amoskeag Mill was located in Manchester, New Hampshire,and not Vermont, but the history of the mill is interesting, nonetheless,and so I have decided to blog about it.

The Amoskeag Mill was built in 1810,the same year that Manchester received its name (the town had been called Derryfield before that). The mill was located along the Merrimack River,near the Amoskeag Bridge. The mill grew to be the largest cotton mill in the world.

My third great-granduncle, Alexandre Metevier (1852-1930), worked at the Amoskeag Mill during the 19th century, according to a census record from the time.

You can learn more about the Amoskeag Mill here: Amoskeag Manufacturing Company

The following video also provides information about the mill. While it is a low-quality video, it is definitely worth watching.

Genealogy Webinars

2011-03-02T04:11:00.000-08:00

Genealogy webinars allow genealogists of all levels (from beginners to professionals) to learn more about the field of genealogy from and computer that has Internet access. Genealogy webinars are becoming increasingly popular and it can be difficult to locate a webinar that interests you. Ol' Myrt of DearMYRTLE has recognized this difficulty and created GeneaWebinars, a blog that lists current webinars occurring throughout the web.

I am personally very excited about this new site, and will be checking it frequently. I recommend that you do the same!

Wordless Wednesday: Randolph State Normal School Class of 1872

2011-03-02T03:56:00.001-08:00

Randolph State Normal School Class of 1872 Summer Term

Fearless Females: A Photo of a Female Ancestor

2011-03-02T03:37:00.000-08:00

Post a photo of one of your female ancestors. Who is in the photo? When was it taken? Why did you select this photo?

This is a photo of my 2nd great-grandmother, Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange (1878 - 1963). My guess is this photo was taken during the 1950's/early 1960's.

Fearless Females: A Favorite Female Ancestor

2011-03-01T19:07:00.000-08:00

This month is National Women’s History Month, and in celebration Lisa Alzo of The Accidental Genealogist blog has created a list of 31 blogging prompts entitled "Fearless Females: 31 Blogging Prompts". While I can not promise to come here every day to participate in this, I will try to complete as many of the prompts as I have time for.

The first blogging prompt is:

Do you have a favorite female ancestor? One you are drawn to or want to learn more about? Write down some key facts you have already learned or what you would like to learn and outline your goals and potential sources you plan to check.

I have been drawn toward learning more about my great-grandmother, Marie Eva Bonneau (aka Eva Burnham). She has remained a woman of mystery to me since I began researching my genealogy almost ten years ago. I have recently connected with a distant cousin who is also tracing one of the lines linked to my great-grandmother, and she has been so helpful in helping me locate a few more puzzle pieces.

I know Eva was born in Sutton, Quebec in 1898 to Abraham Bonneau and Esther Metevier. She married three times; first to Carl Kennison (my great-grandfather), then to Wayland Wright, and finally to Alan Combs. She died in 1948 in Enosburg, Vermont, and is buried there.

I would like to find out when and where she and Carl were married, when and why she came to Vermont, and more about the Bonneau (aka Burnham) family. I plan to interview her last surviving child soon to heopfully have some of these questions answered.

(NOTE: Burial in the West Enosburg Cemetery; Enosuburg, Vermont).

Blog Caroling

2010-12-11T08:04:00.000-08:00

I am such a sucker for blog carnivals and memes, and even more so when it has to do with Christmas. This carnival comes from the FootnoteMaven and involves posting a favorite Christmas carol to our blogs.

One of my favorite carols isn't really a carol at all, but a prayer, set to music, by Patti Page. I remember listening to this over and over as a child, and I still love it today as much as I did then. I hope you enjoy it, as well.

Open Records in Vermont

2010-12-03T05:06:00.000-08:00

As a genealogist, I love that Vermont law allows public access to vital records in most (if not all) of Vermont's town clerks. Obviously, this makes research much easier than in states that have closed-records policies. In general, I can walk into a Vermont town clerk's office, let them know I am there to perform genealogical research, and I am led off to the vault where I am left to do my thing. On occasion, I come across a town clerk that does not allow public access to their vault, but will retrieve books for me. This is a little more cumbersome, and truthfully, annoys the heck out of me, but at least I have access to the records at my will.

According to the Vermont State Legislator's website, Vermont is one of 14 states that maintain an open-records policy for any public records (defined as "all papers, documents, machine readable materials, computer databases, or any other written or recorded matters, regardless of their physical form, that are produced or acquired in the course of agency business”).

A visit to one of Vermont's town clerks provided me with so worrisome information. I was told that the government is fighting toward making Vermont a closed-records state. Upon a bit of online investigation I could not locate any information that verified this.

According to the Vermont State Legislator's website, a closed-records policy goes against the Vermont state constitution. And I quote:

It is the policy of [the Public Records Act] to provide free and open
examination of records consistent with Chapter I, Article 6 of the Vermont
Constitution.

The article, which can be read here, goes on to describe the issue of protecting people's privacy, and how it is not certain how a state can maintain privacy while providing open records. However, my understanding in reading this is that it does go against our state's constitution to become a closed-records state.

What this will mean in the future is uncertain. One can hope that we continue to be an open-records state.

Further information can be found at the Vermont State Archive's website.

Happy Thanksgiving

2010-11-25T17:08:00.000-08:00

I want to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported me in my endeavors as a genealogist - both on a personal & professional level. Without the help from family, friends, and clients I would not be able to do what I do. I hope you all have had a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Those Places Thursday: Panton, Vermont

2010-11-25T05:41:00.000-08:00

The Holcomb family had a prominent part in building the town of Panton, Vermont. Panton a rural town in Addison County, is adjacent to Lake Champlain and Vergennes (Vermont's smallest city). Among the original proprietors of the town, in 1702, were David Holcomb, Timothy Holcomb, and Timothy Holcomb, Jr. I have not yet been able to show how I relate to these individuals, although I am almost certain I do not descend from them directly. I am, however, certain that there is a collateral relationship.

Other early Panton settlers include my 6th great-grandfather, Phineas Holcomb (1726-1781) and my 5th great-grandfather (Phineas' son), Joseph Holcomb (abt. 1762-1833). Phineas, Joseph, and three of Phineas' other sons (Joshua, Elisha and Samuel) were kidnapped by Indians in 1778. They were taken to Quebec via a "vessel that was anchored Lake Champlain." (The Hocum Family by Mabel Hocum Adams p. 65-66). Joshua, Samuel, and Phineas died in 1781 from hardships they suffered during their capture. Joseph and Elisha were released from capture in 1882.

The Holcomb family resided in the toe town of Panton for many years. My 3rd great-grandfather, George Andrew Holcomb (who is pictured above) was a soldier in the Civil War. His daughter, my 2nd great-grandmother, Rose Holcomb (image on right), birthed my great-grandfather, George Dewey (Holcomb) Baker, while still residing in Panton. She later married Carl Baker and moved to Lamoille County, Vermont where she lived out her years.

I would love to know if there are Holcomb descendants still residing in Panton. If so, I would love the opportunity to connect with them.

Sunday's Obituary: Fredrick H. Richardson

2010-11-07T05:51:00.000-08:00

My great-grandfather, George D. (Holcomb) Baker, was the illegitimate child of Rose Holcomb and Fred Richardson. According to family stories, Rose and Fred met while he was on a business trip in town. They had a short fling, which resulted in Rose becoming pregnant. Rose later married Carl Baker, and my great-grandfather assumed his last name (I am not sure if Carl adopted him, or not).

According to my great-grandfather's birth record, Fred Richardson was born in Rutland (with a ? next to the town's name), and his occupation was listed as "insurance". Upon researching any Fred Richardson's from the Rutland, Vermont area, I came up with one, the son of Clark and Harriet (Sargent) Richardson. Clark died eleven months prior to the birth of my grandfather. Could his son have traveled to Vergennes, where Rose lived, to take care of after-death matters regarding his father's estate (Clark was the owner of the Berwick Hotel in Rutland, and also ran a construction business)? It seems to be a viable theory that needs further exploration.

I am not certain that this Fred Richardson is my great great-grandfather, but I am also not certain that he isn't.

Frederick H. Richardson
Dies at His Rooms After Long Illness With Cirrhosis of the Liver

After an illness lasting since March 20, Frederick H. Richardson of No. 51 Wales Street, died at his rooms, last evening about 8 o'clock with cirrhosis of the liver.
July 22, 1861, being the son of Clark F., and Harriett L. Richardson. His father built and for many years was proprietor of the Berwick Hotel on Center Street.

Mr. Richardson attended Harvard University for two years after spending some time in a preparatory school in Massachusetts. He was a charter member of the Rutland lodge of Elks, to which society he belonged until several years ago.

Mr. Richardson is survived by no near relatives, the nearest being cousins, among whom are George J. Sargent of Mendon and Henry W. Richardson of this city. There are other cousins on the Pacific coast. (Ruland Daily Herald, 12 Aug 1914)

From Hobby to Business: My Great-Grandfather's Talent for Woodworking

2010-11-07T04:27:00.000-08:00

My great-grandfather, George D. Baker (born George D. Holcomb) created beautiful wooden crafts. His craft began as a hobby after purchasing a small wood kit, and eventually turned into a small business for himself.

My great-grandfather was the father of 11. His oldest five children were with his first wife, Ruth Miller, who died a little more than a week after the birth of their last child. The infant was placed for adoption, and my great-grandfather cared for the others, as a single father, until he married my great-grandmother, Elizabeth F. Beard, who he had seven more children with (one whom was born still).

My great-grandfather began making items, such as cigarette boxes, sewing kits, bookends, and more. My great-grandmother was quite confident in her husband's wood-crafting skills, and suggested that he market his crafts to people around his hometown. A few weeks prior to Christmas 1945, she brought some of his creations into town where she was able to gather multiple orders, keeping my great-grandfather busy for several weeks.

Orders for his wood products continued to come in, keeping my great-grandfather busy in his woodworking shop each morning. He eventually started making and selling large items, such as corner closets. In a newspaper article, published in the News and Citizen on 29 July 1946, he quoted "I built the first one for my wife, then several persons visited here, saw them and ordered them for their own homes." (Oh, how I would love to have one of his corner closets).

Below are photos of a jewelry box he made. The box is currently in the possession of my grandfather's cousin in Florida.

Mystery Monday: Gamble/McKillop, Irish Immigrants

2010-10-18T12:00:00.000-07:00

The Gamble surname has been my most difficult to research so far. My 2nd great-grandfather, James Gamble, immigrated to the US from Ireland, settled in Danville, Vermont, and later moved to Cabot, Vermont. Here is what I know about him:

James Gamble was born on 03 May 1862 in Antrim, Ireland. According to his death certificate, his parents were James Gamble and Ellen (maiden name unknown) from Ireland. I assume they lived their lives in Ireland.

In 1883, James came to Vermont with his girlfriend/fiance, Rose McKillop, and her family. Rose & James were married on 02 Dec. 1885 in Danville, Vermont. Rose was born on 16 Jan 1857 in Ballymena, Antrim, Ireland to James McKillop and Margaret Leslie. She died on 16 Apr 1940 in Cabot, Vermont and is buried in Danville, Vermont.

James McKillop was born about 1827 in Ireland. He died on 08 Sep 1907 in Danville, Vermont. His parents were Patrick McKillop and Rose (maiden name unknown). He is buried in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. Margaret Leslie was born about 1823 in Ireland.

James Gamble died on 28 Jun 1940 in St. Johnsbury, Vermont. He is buried in Danville, Vermont.

James and Rose had one known child: Edward John Gamble, who was born on 28 Apr 1889 in Cabot, Vermont. He married Gertrude Baylaw (Bailaw, Balaw) on 29 Jul 1912 in Cabot, Vermont. He died on 02 Dec 1955 in Waldon, Vermont.

I would like to know more about both the Gamble and McKillop families prior to their arrival in the US.

New Direction for This Blog

2010-10-17T07:15:00.000-07:00

OK, so when I started out with this blog, I was going to keep it as a strictly informational blog about Vermont/New England genealogy and history, but I have also decided to use it as a place to post information about my own personal genealogy. I will still be posting informational posts, but they will not consume this blog in its entirety.

Attention Genealogists with Vermont Roots

I enjoy participating in the Geneabloggers memes, and I am happy to help you out with your genealogy through these memes. If you have anything of interest, relating to the memes listed below, that is about your Vermont ancestors, please email me at jkg0679 at gmail dot com (put "GenealogyVT Blog", or something similar as your subject so that your email doesn't get deleted by mistake. Also let me know if you want your email address included with the post or not.

Memes I am interested in publishing:

1. Black Sheep Sundays: Stories about the "black sheep" in your family.
2. Sentimental Sunday: Sentimental stories or traditions in your family.
3. Sunday's Obituary: Self explanatory
4. Military Monday: Stories and pictures of your Vermont ancestor during their military enlistment.
5. Maritime Monday: Do you have an interesting story or photo of your ancestor as related to Lake Champlain? I would love to include it here.
7. Mystery Monday: Have you hit a brick wall regarding a Vermont ancestor? Post your information here. Your email address, or other contact info, is required.
8. Tombstone Tuesday: A photo of your ancestor's tombstone (Must be located in Vermont) with a brief write-up about who the person is and where the tombstone is located.
9. Wedding Wednesday: A photo of your ancestors on their wedding day. Include a brief write-up of who they are, when/where they were married, and anything else of interest.
10. Those Places Thursday: Describe the place where your Vermont ancestor lived, worked, or played in a story and/or pictures.
11. Family Recipe Friday: Old family recipes (does not have to be Vermont specific).
12. Surname Saturday: Discuss a surname that you are researching with Vermont roots.

Black Sheep Sunday: Jailhouse Death

2010-10-17T06:41:00.000-07:00

Create a post with the main focus being an ancestor with a “shaded past.” Bring out your ne’er-do-wells, your cads, your black widows, your horse thieves and tell their stories. And don’t forget to check out the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists (IBSSG). This is an ongoing series at GeneaBloggers.

According to a family story, my great-granduncle, Daniel Lee Baker, died in his jail cell in Hyde Park, Vermont. It was uncertain how he died, but there was some speculation that he hung himself.

I located his death certificate on Ancestry.com, which lists his cause of death as "obstruction of air passage with food due to acute alcoholism with vomiting." So it seems that Daniel did not hang himself, but rather choked on his own vomit while he was drunk. However, it still not known if he died at the jailhouse or not. The death certificate does list his place of death as Hyde Park, Vermont, which is where the jailhouse is located, but it doesn't specify a particular building or institution, so I suppose that part of the mystery remains unsolved for now.

Daniel Lee Baker was born on 20 Oct 1919 in Belvidere, Vermont. His parents were Daniel James Baker (03 Jan 1877 - 07 Nov 1949) and Minnie Belle Childs (29 May 1894 - 28 Feb 1963). He was never married, nor did he have any children. He died on 22 Apr 1945 in Hyde Park, Vermont.

The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge Part II

2010-10-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

In my previous post, I briefly described the Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge, and posted a poem that was written by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Beard) Baker.

As a follow-up, I also want to post a bit of genealogy about my great-grandmother, her parents, and her siblings. I am eager to fill in the missing blanks, so if you are researching this family and can provide me with any information, I am happy to hear it!

1. William Riley Beard was born on 04 Dec. 1877 in Sheldon, Vermont. His parents were Roland S. Beard and Florence Eliza Kittell. William married Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange on 11 Mar.1899. He died on 12 Feb. 1956 in Waterbury, Vermont.

2. Olive Elizabeth "Grace" LaGrange was born on 4 May 1878 in Sheldon, Vermont. Her parents were Abraham LaGrange and Elizabeth Isabel Rainey/Renney. She died on 9 Sep. 1963 in Morrisville, Vermont.

Their Children:

3. Clyde Archival Beard was born on 13 Jan 1900 in Palmer, Massachusetts. He married a woman named Lula M. He died between 1956 and 1963.

4. Beulah Olive Beard was born on 5 Jan. 1902. She married Harold Allen, and died on 4 Sep. 1994 in Bradford, Vermont.

5. Wilma Rita Beard was born on 16 Apr 1903. She married Rufus W. Stancliff on 16 Apr 1921 in Morrisville, Vermont. She died on 16 Aug 1984 on Morrisville, Vermont.

6. Lillian W. Beard was born in 1906. She married Edward Peterson, and died sometime after 1963.

7. Gerald William Beard was born on 23 May 1905 and died after 1963.

8. Elizabeth "Beth" Florence Beard was born on 16 Oct 1911 in Morrisville, Vermont. She married George Dewey (Holcomb) Baker on 23 Aug 1932. She died on 22 Dec 1995. Elizabeth is the author of the poem listed in my previous post.

9. Ardell Floye Beard was born on 20 Feb 1918. She married Raymond Rebman, and died about 1987.

10. Robert Melvin Beard was born on 26 May 1921 and died after 1963.

The Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge

2010-10-15T08:21:00.000-07:00

I am so sorry for having been so neglectful of this blog. I'd like to say that my neglectfulness will improve, but I can not be certain of that. I am still working diligently on my own personal genealogy, as well as projects I have been contracted for on a professional level, however, due to life circumstances, I have not had a lot of time for blogging.

I did want to post for the Second Great American Local Poem And Song Genealogy Challenge that is hosted by West in New England. The challenge is simply to locate a poem or song that was written by a poet/song writer in the area where your ancestor lived.

I have decided to put my own spin on the challenge by posting a poem that was written by my great-grandmother, Elizabeth (Beard) Baker. The poem is included in a book she compiled and gave away to family members as Christmas gifts in 1990. Really, what poem could I possibly find to better represent a time in my ancestor's life than this one about her parents and their eight children? I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Our Family Tree
By Elizabeth “Beth” (Beard) Baker

The arithmetic of marriage is a quiet thing;
Strange things begin with a bride’s wedding ring.

‘Twas fifty years ago and they were two
Who, on the morrow, found they were but one
To travel on together, man and wife,
Through storm and sunshine ‘till the setting sun;
They would be one forever – so they vowed –
But marriage has mathematics all its own;
And soon they found they had a little son;
And now were three, and were no more alone.

He was a smart one – that boy, Clyde;
His mother told him not to run away,
As his red hat upon his head she tied,
Then sent her little fellow out to play;
When, later on, she called him to come in
He wasn’t there! But when she found him, talked,
“But, Mamma, I didn’t run away,
I didn’t run, why no, I only walked!”

Then, later on, a little girl was born,
And little Beulah made their number four;
But when she was just a little babe,
Long days she lay beside death’s door;
She gained, and grew, and soon was growing up
To help her mother care for all the brood
That followed her, to clean, and tend, and sew,
And help prepare their daily food.

Wilma was the next to come along;
Another girl to wear a dainty dress;
But when Mother dressed her up to go to town,
Then dressed the others, she was oft a mess;
It seems that they then lived upon a farm,
And on a farm it seems that cows abound,
And when they dressed in her best to go away,
A fresh cow manure she nearly always found!

Another girl – are there nowhere any boys?
She should have been one maybe – I don’t know –
But Lillian was always full of life,
And who was best man would her brother show;
She would hold her own in any tricks;
In pranks or mischief she was often first;
When she and Stub got in a friendly row
It wasn’t always her that came out worst!

At last another boy was brought to them,
And he must bear a special kind of stamp,
For Gerald was always getting cut or hurt,
But didn’t seem to mind – the little scamp;
He had a teacher once he didn’t like,
And in her desk he’d put a little snake
With a red belly – or sometimes a frog!
A slap she paid him with – sometimes a shake.

Some five years later came another girl,
And e’er Beth went to school her mother found
It wasn’t safe to leave a dress grown old,
Or scrap of cloth, or bits of thread around;
She loved her dolls and liked to make them clothes,
And dress them up, and this was but a start
Toward times ahead, with children of her own,
To make things for them from things she’d torn apart.

When Ardell came, and Mother had to leave
And stay in the hospital quite awhile;
But she came back, and Ardell grew,
And kept things humming with a happy smile;
When she was young they had a little pup
Who grew to be to all the kids a “chum”;
‘Tis sure, if dogs can go to Heaven, he
Will someday have a happy home

Robert finished up this crew of eight;
He was a sturdy lad and full of fun;
Of all the kids this boy has traveled most,
And yet his traveling days may not be done;
Whoever thought, when he was just a lad,
A minister this boy would be one day?
I’m sure he’s with us in his thoughts tonight
Though, in reality, he’s far away.

Best wishes to these two who gave us birth;
Long years of happy life we wish for them;
We are but branches of our family tree,
And, joined by marriage, they are still the stem;
They once were two and marriage made them one,
But in the coming years who is to know
How far the reach, how great the work they’ve done!
“Great oaks from little acorns grow!”

I have posted the genealogy of the people listed in this poem on my next post.

Tombstone Tuesday

2010-06-08T16:04:00.001-07:00

Gustin Smith Wallace (my maternal grand-uncle)
b. 22 Apr 1934
d. 26 Dec 1964
burial: Cemetery at the corner of Rte 15 and East Hill Rd in Wolcott, Vermont.

He and his girlfriend had become engaged the day prior to their deaths (they died together). They were driving around to tell everyone the good news, having drinks at each person's home. They got into a car accident and died.

52 Weeks to Better Genealogy - Challenge #23

2010-06-06T05:05:00.000-07:00

So I have been following along with the 52 Weeks to Better Genealogy challenge on the Geneabloggers Facebook page. I have not been blogging about my week-to-week challenges, although I may start. Not all of them have to do with Vermont genealogy, but they are definitely worthy of filling in blog-space.

Anyways, this weeks challenge is to create our own challenge and share it with our readers. So my challenge to myself and you is to take a look at the Vermont in the Civil War website. While you are there, search for your own Civil War ancestor, take a look at the information posted about other veterans, and read the histories published to the site. I also want to recommend that you take a look at the "what happened on this day" page to see what was taking place on this date in Civil War history.

I have two Civil War ancestors in my genealogy. On my mother's side is my 3rd great-grandfather, George Andrew Holcomb, who was a part of the Vermont 1th Infantry. On my father's side is my 2nd great-grandfather, Edward Balaw, who was a part of the 9th Vermont Infantry.

Once you have competed this challenge, feel free to post about it on your blog. Leave a comment here to the link! :)

A special thank you to Amy Coffin of We Tree for the weekly 52 Weeks to Genealogy prompts, and to Genealbloggers for providing the weekly prompts!

Grave site of my 2nd great-grandfather, Private Edward Balaw and his wife, Mary King.

June 2010 Genealogy Workshops, Classes, and Events

2010-06-03T09:39:00.000-07:00

Introduction to Genealogy for Librarians -
June 4th @ Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - 9:30-3:00
Click here for additional information and to register

The 2010 Vermont History Expo will be held June 26 - 27 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Tunbridge fair Grounds in Tunbridge, Vermont. More information can be found here. I will be there, will you?

Events about the history and memories of the Civil War can be found in The Camp Griffin Gazette.

Genealogy Workshops from the New England Genealogical Society: Click here for a full listing of up-and-coming-events.

Leave a comment with your Vermont/New England genealogy workshop, class, or event!

Tombstone Tuesday: John Rember & Dianah Wilson

2010-06-01T11:55:00.000-07:00

My Paternal 4th Great-Grandparents
Both buried in Hawley Cemetery at Aird, Quebec - less than a mile over the Canadian border from Alburg, Vermont.

John Rember
b. 03 May 1781 in England
d. 29 May 1842 in Iberville, Quebec, Canada.
m. Dianah Wilson on 16 Aug 1813 in Lowthorpe, Yorkshire, England

Dianah Wilson
b. Abt. 1794 in England
d. 1844 in Quebec, Canada

Follow Friday: New England Genealogy

2010-05-28T05:14:00.001-07:00

Wendy Hawksley has a wonderful blog about New England Genealogy. Here she blogs about her own genealogy in the NE states, providing some useful information to other NE genealogists. I really enjoyed her blog post about creating a research notebook. I am gonna be getting started on this project soon! :)

Memorial Day Events Throughout Vermont

2010-05-27T10:46:00.000-07:00

Memorial Day is fast approaching. This coming Monday we will take time to remember veterans who have fought in wars, both past and present. Memorial Day celebrations will be happening throughout Vermont. I have listed some events here, and as always, I welcome additions to this list. Simply leave a comment about your event (at a minimum, I will need the where and when of the event) and I will add it to the list asap.

The first event I want to invite you all to will be taking place in Hardwick this coming Saturday (the 29th). My daughter will be marching with the elementary school band beginning at 10AM. Come cheer her on! After the parade, there will be a carnival, craft show, fireworks, BBQs, etc. throughout town. Hope you can make it!

Shameless plug for my daughter put aside, here are some more great events happening throughout Vermont this Memorial Day weekend.

On Monday, May 31st at noon at the Hubbardton Battlefield State Historic Site, flags will be raised and a tribute will be paid to the soldiers of Hubbardton, VT at the battle monument. 12:00 PM

There is a list of parades on Vetfriends.com. They appear to be postings from previous years, but my guess most, if not all, of the towns listed plan these same celebrations annually. http://www.vetfriends.com/Memorial_Day_Parade/directory.cfm?state=VT

Juneteenth Events

2010-05-20T15:38:00.000-07:00

June 19th, 1865 was the date that Major General Gordon Granger led his troops of Union soldiers to Galveston, Texas, to spread the news that the Civil War was over and slaves were now free. This came 2-1/2 years following Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. Throughout the United States, the event, known as Junteenth, is celebrated annually. In 2008, Vermont became the 29th state to recognize Junteenth as a holiday.

Vermont Juneteenth Events

After some research, I have not been able to locate events that will be taking place in Vermont this Junteenth. I would love to announce any events here, so if you know of any, please let me know!

Regional Juneteenth Events

Portsmouth, New Hampshire: June 19th 4-6PM at the corer of Pearl & Hanover Streets.

FreedomTweet

I also want to use this time to announce FreedomTweet 2010, which will take place on Juneteenth. On this day, it is asked that anyone with a Twitter account sign on and post a message answering the question "What does FREEDOM mean to you?". More information can be found at the FreedomTweet blog or the FreedomTweet Twitter page. I plan to "attend" the event. Will you?

And while I am at it, I would like to invite you to follow me on Twitter. (Sorry, shameless promotion, but it seemed appropriate).

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-19T11:40:00.001-07:00

Old Round School House in Brookline, VT. Year: 1910. Do you know who these children are?

Lamoille County, Vermont

2010-05-19T11:11:00.000-07:00

It's been a week since my last post. I made the vow to myself when I began this blog that I would post to it at least three times a week, but life happens, and as such, my three-posts-a-week goal isn't always feasible. For this, I apologize.

Today's post is a basic resource guide to performing genealogy in Lamoille County, Vermont. Eventually, I will have a post like this for each of Vermont's 14 counties.

Towns:

* Belvidere (Founded 1791)
Belvidere Town Clerk: RR 1 Box 1062 - Belvidere Center, VT 05442 Phone: (802) 661-2498

* Cambridge (Founded 1781)
Cambridge Town Clerk: 85 Church Street; Jeffersonville, VT 05464 Phone: (802) 644-2251
Cambridge Historical Society

* Eden (Founded 1781)
Eden Town Clerk: 71 Old Schoolhouse Road; Eden Mills, VT Phone: (802) 635-2528

* Elmore (Founded 1781)
Elmore Town Clerk: 1175 Vermont Rt 12; Lake Elmore, VT 05657 Phone: (802) 888-2637

* Hyde Park (Founded 1781)
Hyde Park Town Clerk: P.O Box 98; Hyde Park, VT 05655 Phone: (802) 888-2300
Lanpher Memorial Library: 141 East Main Street; Hyde Park, VT 05655 Phone: (802) 888-4628‎

* Johnson (Founded 1792)
Johnson Town Clerk: P.O. Box 383; Johnson, VT 05656 Phone: (802) 635-2611
Johnson Public Library: 7 Library Street; Johnson, VT 05656 Phone: (802) 635-7141‎
Johnson State College Library:

* Morristown (Founded 1781)
Morristown Town Clerk: P.O Box 748; Morrisville, VT 05661 Phone: (802) 888-6370
Noyes House Museum
Morristown Centennial Library: 7 Richmond Street; Morrisville, VT 05661 Phone: (802) 888-3853

* Stowe (Founded 1763)
Stowe Town Clerk: P.O Box 248; Stowe, VT 05672 Phone: (802) 253-6133
Stowe Historical Society
Stowe Free Library: 90 Pond Street; Stowe, VT 05672 Phone: (802) 253-6145

* Waterville (Founded 1824)
Waterville Town Clerk: Box 102; Waterville, VT 05492 Phone: (802) 644-5758
Watervill Library: 850 Vermont 109; Waterville, VT 05492 Phone: (802) 644-2747‎

* Wolcott (Founded 1781)
Wolcott Town Clerk: P.O Box 100; Wolcott, VT 05680 Phone: (802) 888-2746
Glee Merritt Kelley Community Library‎: 320 School Hill Dr; Wolcott, VT 05680 Phone: (802) 472-6551‎

Lamoille County Historical Societies Information

Lamoille County, Vermont Cemeteries

Lamoille County, Vermont History

Wordless Wednesday

2010-05-12T06:28:00.001-07:00

The old Gray House: Cadys Falls, Morrisville, Vermont. This is the home where my great-grandparents, George and Elizabeth (Beard) Baker raised 11 kids! The house no longer exists.

New Vermont Genealogy Website

2010-05-12T05:57:00.001-07:00

I just purchased my brand new domain name and hosting at genealogyvt.com. It should be up and running within the next 24 hours! Yay! I am officially now a professional genealogist...well, I still have to register with the Association of Professional Genealogists, but that will happen soon.

So if you need any genealogical services done in the Vermont area, please let me know and I will see what i can do to help! :)

LDS Family History Centers in Vermont

2010-05-11T10:27:00.000-07:00

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS) has spent years searching for their ancestors in order to spread the word of their religion. In the process, they have also microfilmed hundreds of thousands of genealogical records. These records are available to the general public, free of charge. You can search for records on their website at www.familysearch.org. You can also vist one of the many family histroy centers they have throughout the world. Here is a list of the LDS family centers located in Vermont:

Bennington Vermont
Houghton Ln
Bennington, Bennington, Vermont, United States
Phone: 802-442-8126
Hours: M 11am-5pm; T 11am-9pm; Th 11am-2pm; 2nd Sat: 10am-1pm

Essex Vermont
73 Essex Way
Essex, Chittenden, Vermont, United States
Phone: 802-879-9517
Hours: Tues. 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm, T 12:00 pm to 9:00 pm, Sat. 10:30 am - 12:00 pm (By App't. only), )
Closed: Sunday, Monday, Wednesday, Friday

Montpelier Vermont
224 Hersey Rd
Berlin, Washington, Vermont, United States
Phone: 802-229-9247
Hours: W 6pm-8pm, 1st & 2nd F 5pm-7pm, or by appt
Closed: Closed Major Holidays

Newport Vermont
3417 Darling Hill Rd
Derby, Orleans, Vermont, United States
Phone: 802-334-5700
Hours: Wed 5-8pm
Closed: Major holidays
Attention: Messages may be left at the number above. Allow 5 days for reply.

Rutland Vermont
637 N Shrewsbury Rd
North Clarendon, Rutland, Vermont, United States
Phone: 802-773-8346
Hours: T,Th 9am-1pm; Sat 1-3pm by appointment

South Royalton Vermont
175 LDS Ln
South Royalton, Windsor, Vermont, United States
Phone: 802-763-7784
Hours: 9am-10am Sunday; other times by appt

Native American History in Vermont

2010-05-02T05:27:00.000-07:00

Vermont was originally inhabited by Native American tribes of the Algonquian and Iroquois nations. Most Native Americans belonged to the Algonquin nation tribe of Abenaki. Two of Vermont towns were names using Native words: Jamaica, from the Native word for beaver, and Winooski, from the Native word for wild onion place.

Native Americans were counted on the US federal census beginning in 1860. However, enumerators were ordered to only count those Native Americans who had renounced tribal rule, and therefor were considered American citizens. Native Americans who did not pay taxes were not counted. The 1870 US federal census lists Native Americans as "Indians" under the column of color.

Below are some resources where you can learn more about Native Americans in Vermont, including historical and genealogical information.

Ndakinna Cultural Center: Offers a "rotating" museum that travels throughout the state, educating people about the Abenaki tribe. See their schedule of events here.

Chimney Point Historic Site: Site of early Native American settlements. Located in Addison, Vermont.

Abenaki Nation Museum: Located in Swanton, Vermont, this museum educates people about the Abenaki community.

Koasek Traditional Band of the Koas Abenaki Nation: Information & events for this particular band of the Abenaki.

New England Native American Genealogy Mailing List: A mailing list for anyone with a genealogical or historical interest in Native Americans in the New England and New York areas. To subscribe send "subscribe" to new-eng-natam-l-request@rootsweb.com (mail mode) or new-eng-natam-d-request@rootsweb.com (digest mode).

Cyndi's List Native American Resources: This list of resources is not specific to Native Americans in Vermont, but is helpful to genealogists researching Native American lineage nonetheless.

Indian Health Service: Again, not specific to Vermont, but lists some wonderful resources for studying Native American genealogy.

FamilySearch Doubles It's Collection!

2010-05-01T04:06:00.000-07:00

FamilySearch.org has been a leading free resource for genealogists for years. The site is maintained by the Church of Latter Day Saints (LDS). According to the Salt Lake Tribune, "FamilySearch, the world's largest repository of genealogical information, announced it will release records containing 300 million names that can now be researched online for free...FamilySearch has established a temporary website, fsbeta.FamilySearch.org for the newly released names. In the next several weeks, the site will become a permanent part of FamilySearch.org."

May Genealogy Workshops, Classes, and Events

2010-04-30T11:59:00.000-07:00

As promised, I am going to post a list of classes, workshops, and events related to genealogy, and possibly history in general, around Vermont and New England. I always welcome any additions. Simply leave me a comment and I will get it added to the main list. Thanks!

Hidden History: Using Primary Sources to Uncover Vermonters Hidden in History - Tuesday, May 4th @ Fairbanks Museum, St. Johnsbury - 9:00 to 3:00
Tuesday, May 6th @ Vermont History Center, Barre - 9:00 to 3:00
$40 fee includes lunch, two books, and six hours of relicensing credit.
Click here for additional information & to register

Introduction to Genealogy for Librarians -
June 4th @ Midstate Regional Library, Berlin - 9:30-3:00
Click here for additional information and to register

Genealogy Workshops from the New England Genealogical Society: Click here for a full listing of up-and-coming-events.

Vermont History Expo

2010-04-29T09:59:00.000-07:00

The 2010 Vermont History Expo will be held June 26 - 27 from 10:00 am - 5:00 pm at the Tunbridge fair Grounds in Tunbridge, Vermont.

The annual event hosts exhibits and activities including children's games, a petting farm, history parade, hands-on demonstrations, living history encampments, and author signings. Volunteers are needed for a variety of jobs.

Visit the Vermont Historical Society's website for detailed information and directions.

Vermont Genealogical Organizations

2010-04-15T08:37:00.000-07:00

Provided below is a list of some of Vermont's genealogical organizations. If I am missing anything, please let me know so I can add it to the list.

1) Vermont Historical Society: The Vermont Historical Society has a museum of Vermont artifacts, documents, and books, located on State Street in Montpelier. They also have a genealogical library that is located on Route 302 in Barre. Each year, VHS hosts the Vermont History Expo.

2) Genealogical Society of Vermont: The Genealogical Society of Vermont is located in Randolph.

3) Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society; The Vermont French-Canadian Genealogical Society has a library in Essex for genealogists researching lines that extend into Quebec.

4) Welsh-American Genealogical Society: The Welsh-American Genealogical Society has a library in Poultney for genealogists researching Welsh-American lines.

5) Vermont Cemetery Association: The Vermont Cemetery Association is deidcated to preserving Vermont's cemeteries.

Vermont in the Civil War

2010-04-13T08:53:00.000-07:00

I am the proud direct descendant of at least two Civil War veterans: my maternal 3rd-great grandfather, George A. Holcomb from Vergennes/Panton, Vermont and my paternal 2nd-great grandfather, Edward Bailaw, from Peacham, Vermont. Edward's four brothers also fought in the Civil War, one of which died during the war and is buried in the Arlington National Cemetery. I even recently applied for membership with the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, 1861-1865 (There is also an organization of Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War).

Vermont has a wonderful resource for Civil War history and veterans, and is an invaluable resource for genealogists tracing their Vermont Civil War veteran ancestors. The website can be found here, and lists information including veteran names, birth dates, death dates, burial locations, and more. It also provides histories of the regiments, which is nice to read through to learn what your ancestor may have gone through during the war.

Other Vermont Civil War resources are included in the following list:

1) Wikipedia information about Vermont in the American Civil War: While I do not believe that Wikipedia should be the one-stop source of information for anything, it is a good starting point. Just keep in mind that anyone is free to create and edit Wikipedia pages, so take what you learn here with a grain of salt.

2) Rootsweb Vermont in the Civil War Discussion List: This is a mailing list for people to discuss Vermont in the Civil War.

3) Vermont Veterans Militia Museum: Civil War

4) A War of the People: Vermont Civil War Letters: Book

5) The Vermont Fist Calvary in the Civil War: Book

Vermont Obituaries

2010-04-09T03:18:00.000-07:00

There are a number of websites that list old obituaries from newspapers. Most are submitted by individual contributors. Obituaries are valuable genealogical records as they include important information, such as date of death, burial location, birth date, names of children, parent's, siblings and spouses, marriage date, and residence before death. There may be information in that you did not know previously. There may even be a photo attached to the obituary.

Many libraries have archives of local newspapers that go back many years. If you know when your ancestor died, you may be able to find an obituary in one of these newspapers. You may also be able to find an obituary online. Listed below are websites that include obituaries found in Vermont newspapers. If you know of another link that is not listed, please leave a comment and let us know!

USGenWeb Vermont Obituary Project: List of volunteer-submitted Vermont obituaries.

Ancestor Hunt: Vermont newspapers that list obituaries. Some websites may also have an archive for past obituaries.

Ancestry.com Historic Newspaper Collection - Vermont: List of historic Vermont newspapers.

Caledonian Record: You can search for obituaries online from 1997 to the present.

GenealogyBuff: Miscellaneous Early Vermont Obituaries.

Obits Online: Vermont newspapers whose websites contain obituary archives.

There are also many volunteers who are willing to look-up an obituary for you. If you cannot get to a library in a certain area, check these sites for a look-up volunteer in that are.

GenLookups - Vermont: List of Vermont look-up volunteers by region.

GeneaSearch - Vermont: Vermont Free Genealogy Look-Ups.

RootsWeb Obituary Look-Up Volunteers - Vermont: Listing of Vermont obituary look-up volunteers.

No Vermonters in Heaven

I dreamed that I went to the city of gold,
To Heaven resplendent and fair;
And, after I entered that beautiful fold,
By one in authority there I was told
That not a Vermonter was there!
"Impossible," said I. "A host from my town
Have sought this delectable place,
And each must be here with a harp and a crown,
A conqueror's palm and clean linen gown
Received through merited grace."
The angel replied, "All Vermonters come here
When first they depart from the earth,
But after a day or a month or a year
They restless and lonesome and homesick appear
And sigh for the land of their birth.
"They tell of its many and beautiful hills
Where forest majestic appear;
Its rivers and lakes and its streams and its rills
Where nature the purest of water distills,
And they soon get dissatisfied here."
"They tell of ravines, wild, secluded and deep,
Of clover-decked landscapes serene,
Of towering mountains, imposing and steep
Adown which the torrents exulting leap
Through forests perennially green."
"We give them the best that the Kingdom provides,
They have everything here that they want;
But not a Vermonter in Heaven abides,
A very short time period here he resides,
Then hikes his way back to Vermont!
-Earnest Fenwick Johnstone

About this Vermont Genealogy Blog

2010-04-08T16:31:00.000-07:00

I am a genealogy fanatic. A bit obsessed, really. And I love this wonderful, beautiful, serene state I live in (Vermont, if the title of this blog or post wasn't obvious). Combine both of those facts with my love of writing, and you have the birth of this Vermont genealogy blog.

My goal for this blog is to become a leading point of reference for genealogists residing in Vermont or performing research about their Vermont lineage. I will feature local genealogy classes, workshops, and evens on a monthly basis (so if you have anything coming up, by all means let me know about it). I will also include information related to conducting genealogy in Vermont and the history of Vermont.

At some point in the future I will be seeking out guest bloggers who can hopefully add a fresh spin to this blog. If you are an expert in genealogy, or simply a hobbyist with something interesting to share, and you are interested in guest blogging here, let me know.

If you have a blog related to Vermont or New England genealogy, I would be happy to check out your site, and as long as it is family friendly, and I feel could be of use and interest to my readers, I will include you in my blog roll. Of course, I would appreciate the same in return, but that is completely up to you.

Finally, if there is anything you would like to see covered in this blog, please let me know and I will consider posting about it at some point. I am especially interested in suggestions for regular features (such as the monthly list of events I previously mentioned).

Until next time...