Saturday, April 30, 2011

ALMIRA HIGH SCHOOL CLASS OF 1930


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     Carol Hipperson's husband is an attorney.   Recently, in a stack of "old stuff" from one of his clients who runs a curio/antique shop was found an invitation to a 1930 high school graduation.  It doesn't say what school, but it lists all of the graduates by name, and one of them is my mother, Margaret Seaton.  That would be Almira, Washington.  They passed that card along to me.  Here is a transcript of that card.

                                          CLASS ROLL

Elsworth Harold McDonald         Rachel Jean Heathman
   Paul Edward Harden                    Doris Lillian Heathman
      John Thomas Douglas                   Dorothy Mae Herdrich
         Margaret Pauline Filion                   Paul James Blair
            Randal Montgomery Wilson            Thomas Leslie Milner
               Howard Wilson Doane                     Kenneth Fred Hyde
                  Martha Lucile Haskin                         Edward Nickolas Nansen
                              Margaret Irene Seaton

Class Motto:  "There is a Past Which is Gone Forever,
        but There is a Future Which is Still Our Own"

                Class Flower:  American Beauty Rose

                        Class Colors:  Red and White


On May 31, 1980, Margaret received a "Certificate of Recognition" which reads, in part, "This is to Certify that Margaret Seaton Taschereau is hereby awarded this certificate of recognition for active and cooperateve participation in attaining Golden Graduate status of Almira High School for the year 1930-1980."

     The following article, paper unknown, is marked June 5, 1980.

Fifty Year Grads Gather

     Mr. and Mrs. Kenneth Hyde entertained with a coffee hour from 2-4 p.m. at their home on Saturday afternoon for Kenneth's graduating class of 50 years ago.
     The 1930 class consisted of Elsworth McDonald, Paul Blair, Leslie Milner, Ed Nansen, John Douglas, Ken Hyde, Gordon Doane and Ted Harden.  Margaret Filion Evers, Rachel Heathman Roberts. Doris Heathman, Martha Haskins Blonk, Margaret Seaton Taschereau, Dorothy Herdrick Applegate and Randall Wilson.
     Those able to attend were Mr. and Mrs. Ed Nansen, Mr. and Mrs. John Douglas, Mr. and Mrs. Ken Hyde, Mr. and Mrs. Hu Blonk of Wenatchee, Mrs. Dorothy Applegate, Colville; Mrs. Margaret Evers, Almira.
     Gordon Doane is in California; Rachel Roberts is on the Coast; Doris Heathman Wellman, New York; Paul Blair, Portland, Ore.; Randall Wilson, Washington State; Margaret Taschereau, Coulee City and Ted Harden, Almira.
     The 50-year grads present attended the graduation exercises enmasse; then adjourned to the Legion Hall for a buffet and reception.


Friday, April 29, 2011

Descendants of J William Ross

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On the 27 April 2011 I received in an email attachment from a living descendant of J William Ross a listing of his descendants through David Alexander Ross.  Also mentioned is Clarke Ross.  Neither of these two sons of J  William are mentioned in the 1971 "Ross Family Record", by Mr. Henry Ross Wiggs.  I was, however, able to find some proof of them in the Drouin Collection.  See my post of February 24.   Here is what I received:


J.William Ross     17….. - 1824       married Sarah Blow    17….. - 1848

Offspring were:  Clarissa, David Alexander, Drummond, Eliza, Eleanore, William (b. 1795), Samuel, Clarke

David Alexander Ross (1806 - 1861)  married Caroline Elizabeth Blaiklock   (1815 (or 1819) - 1895)

Offspring were:  Russell, Adah, Caroline, David George Bartlett, Bertha, Emmeline, Frederick (1850-1923), William (1852-1920) and Herbert (1855-1920)
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David George Bartlett Ross (1842 - 1921) married Blanche Louise Hastings (1857 - 1925) (these were my great-grandparents and I wear her wedding ring)

offspring were:

     1.  Kenneth George 1884-1956 married Jessie McMurrich 1889-1960

     2.  Jessie Marguerite 1888 - 1970  married James Goldie 1877 - 1971  (these were my grandparents)

     3.  Marjorie Stuart 1897 - 1976(?)  married Albert Edward Gould (1897 - 1957)
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Jessie Marguerite Ross and James Goldie had three children:


     1.  Anne Eastwood Goldie 1914 - to present  married in 1939 to Sidney Joseph Land  1904-1984  (these are my parents)

     2.  Nancy Ross Goldie 1915 - 2008       married  in 1939 to Peter Francis McDonnell 1911 – 2000

     3.  Robert Neilson Goldie 1917 - to present     married in 1943  to Melba Tamney 1914 - 1997
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Anne Eastwood Goldie and Sid Land had 3 children:

     1.  Ian Robert Land 1939 - to present married in 1963 to Jan Luknowsky b. 1940 to present  (no children)

     2.  Elizabeth Goldie Land 1943 - to present married in 1966 to Henry J. Giddens b. 1940 to present   (2 adopted children)

     3.  Nancy Goldie Land 1948 - to present married in 1970 to Paul Eric Jorgensen b. 1947 to present (this is me, Nancy) (2 children)
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Nancy Ross Goldie and Peter McDonnell had 2 children and 6 grandchildren:


     1. Theresa (Tessa) Anne McDonnell 1940 to present married Marc van Roechdout 1936 to present   (2 children)

     2. Roger Francis McDonnell 1941 married Valerie Turner 1943 - 1998 (2 children - one is adopted) and then to Barbara Naegele 1948 - to present she and Roger (2 children)
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Robert Neilson Goldie and Melba Tamney had two adopted children:


     1. Geoffrey Robert Goldie 1945 - to present married Elaine Tinson 1952  (one child)

     2. Charlotte Jean Goldie 1947 - 1997 married Robert Nelson (one child)
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children of Anne Eastwood Goldie and Sid Land:

     Ian Robert Land and Jan Luknowsky have no children

     Elizabeth Goldie Land and Henry (Hank) Giddens have two adopted children:

          Bradley James Giddens 1970 – to present married Tammy Jordan 1974 to present (divorced)  they had 3 children
          Stefanie Marie Giddens 1972 – to present married Tony Costa (divorced) they had 2 children



     Nancy Goldie Land and Paul Jorgensen have 2 children

          Eric Alexander Jorgensen 1976 – to present 

          Timothy Ross Jorgensen 1978 – to present married in 2003 to Danielle Oakes 1978 – to present.  They have 2 children
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Children of Nancy Ross Goldie and Peter McDonnell:

     Theresa Anne McDonnell and Marc van Roechoudt have 2 children:

          Jessie Marguerite van Roechoudt 1978 to present
          Madeleine van Roechoudt 1981

     Roger Francis McDonnell married Valerie Turner and had 2 children

          Allison Ross McDonnell 1969 to present married and divorced Douglas Cooper – they had one child; and then with Darren Sevigny - they have one child

          Timothy Francis McDonnell 1970 to present (adopted) married and divorced Vinny Nicolasen – they had one child

     Roger Francis McDonnell married Barbara Naegele and they had 2 children

          Lillooet Nordlinger McDonnell 1979 to present
          Lytton McDonnell 1983 to present
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Children of Robert (Bob) Goldie and Melba Tamney - both were adopted:
     Geoffrey Robert Goldie 1945 to present married Elaine Timson and had one child:

          Jim Arthur Goldie 1984 to present

     Charlotte Jean Goldie 1947-1977 married to Robert Nelson and they had one child:

          Robert Goldie Nelson 1974 married Sherry ? and they have 3 children
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Bradley Giddens and Tammy Jordan had 3 Children:

     Steven 1997
     Brandon 1997
     Zachary 2000

The grandparents are Elizabeth and Hank Giddens
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Stefanie Giddens and Tony Costa had 2 Children:

     Mercedes  1993
     Makayla  1995

The grandparents are Elizabeth and Hank Giddens
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Tim Jorgensen and Danielle Oakes have 2 children:

     Elliott Samuel Jorgensen 2007
     Sydney Anne Jorgensen  2011

The grandparents are Nancy and Paul Jorgensen
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Allison McDonnell and Douglas Cooper had 1 child:

     Erika Ross  1996

Allison McDonnell and Darren Sevigny had 1 child:

     Jackson Turner David Sevigny 2010

The grandparents are Roger McDonnell and Valerie Turner
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Timothy Francis McDonnell and Vinny Nicolasen had 1 child:

     Sacha Francis 2004

The grandparents are Roger McDonnell and Valerie Turner
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Robert Goldie Nelson and Sherry had 3 children:

     Cadence 2003
     Bauer
     Blaine 2010

The grandparents were Charlotte Goldie and Robert Nelson


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Background & Connections

Uncle George couldn't say a lot about where he was at or what he was doing in his v-mail letters, but there are many clues.   Those from APO 464 were from North Africa, where, after the surrender of the Axis forces in that theater on 13 May 1943, his unit would have been one of many guarding over 275,000 prisoners of war.  The first of his two letters from North Africa was dated July 13, two months after the surrender; the second August 17, by which time the Allies were preparing for the Italian campaign.

Link to Wikipedia, North African campaign:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_African_campaign

His third letter was not dated, but the APO was now 512, indicating he at least on his way to Italy, and the mention of Oran by name that he had already left there.  Oran, Algeria, is a seaport and was one of the departure points for the invasion of continental Italy by the U.S. Fifth Army, which landed at Salerno on 9 September, 1943.  The next letter, dated September 21, gives no real clue, and the next, dated October 23, has a line censored.  In the November 18 letter he mentions "a church built before Columbus was ever born, or some of Europe's famous places."  December 21 doesn't add much; but in the January 5 letter is a comment, "We were fixing a road to our position and the only difference between me and the rest of the mud was that I wiggled a little bit.  I was camouflaged perfectly."  This was during the Allied advance to Rome, during which "The Winter Line proved a major obstacle to the Allies at the end of 1943, halting their advance on the Fifth Army's front, the western side of Italy. . . . blizzards, drifting snow and zero visibility at the end of December caused the advance to grind to a halt. . . . It took four major offensives between January and May 1944 before the line was eventually broken by a combined assault of the Fifth and Eighth Armies (including British, US, French, Polish, and Canadian Corps) concentrated along a twenty mile front between Monte Cassino and the western seaboard. . . . On 15 February, the monastery, high on a peak overlooking the town of Cassino, was destroyed by 1,400 tons of bombs dropped by American bombers."  In spite of all this Uncle George writes about fresh foods and "garden things" in his letters of January 27 and February 7.  After this time he was probably very busy as the Italian campaign continued into northern Italy.  US forces took possession of Rome on 4 June 1944.

Link to Wikipedia, Italian Campaign:   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Italian%20Campaign_(World_War_II)
The next letter, undated, but now with APO 758, is the first to mention what country a letter is written from.  While the Italian campaign was not over, preparations must have been well underway for the move to France, from which the next letters, dated December 20, 1944, and February 8, 1945, were written.  "After the capture of Rome and the Normandy Invasion in June many experienced American and French units, the equivalent of a total of 7 divisions, were pulled out of Italy during the summer of 1944 to participate in Operation Dragoon, the Allied invasion in the South of France."  This took place on August 15, 1944.

Link to Wikipedia, Opperation Dragoon:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Dragoon

Link to Wikipedia, Seventh Army:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Army_Europe

Link to Wikipedia, Fifth United States Army:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fifth_United_States_Army

On May 8, 1945, the World War II Allies formally accepted the unconditional surrender of the armed forces of Nazi Germany.  Uncle George's final letter, dated May 29, mentions that he had "been all over Southern Germany and seen most of the interesting spots both famous and Infamous.  The concentration camps and all other spots that Hitler was connected with."  It is my understanding that he was involved in the liberation of some of the death camps, as well as some of the prisoner of war camps.

Link to Wikipedia, Victory in Europe Day:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Victory_in_Europe_Day

A classmate of mine from kindergarten through high school wrote a biography of one of those POWs, Dale Aldrich, whom I knew also, as he lived in Coulee City, Washington, and was the father of another of my K-12 classmates.  Uncle George retired to Coulee City in the late 1970s, and died there in 1987.  He would have known Dale there.  It is possible that their paths had already crossed at Stalag 17 as the war was ending.

Carol Edgemon Hipperson
The Belly Gunner: An Eyewitness Account of Stalag 17 & World War II in Europe (Twenty-FirstCenturyBooks/MillbrookPress, 2001)
http://carolhipperson.com/

On March 21, I posted a partial transcript of a letter from Uncle Marvin, who had made two round trip flights from Hawaii to Australia in early 1945.  After the war he worked at North American Rockwell in Pasadena, California, as an electrical engineer (rocket scientist) on the Atlas missile program, and later on the Mercury program, and then on the Apollo program.  He might easily have crossed paths with Ray Daves, the subject of a second book by Carol:

Carol Edgemon Hipperson
Radioman: An Eyewitness Account of Pearl Harbor & World War II in the Pacific (ThomasDunneBooks/St.MartinsPress, 2008)

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

V-MAIL FROM UNCLE GEORGE, part 3

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 AAA (AW) Bn Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Jan. 27, 1944

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received your letter written on Jan. 19.  It took only eight days to get here.  It is the fastest letter I have ever received.  There must have been a mistake.  Well we have been having a few days of sunshine lately and have been most welcome.  But I can tell you that when it rains we don't worry about getting too hot. You are away behind in your gardening.  They have already planted potatoes and garden things.  We have had a few green onions or scallions but they are 5 cents apiece, rather expensive.  We buy eggs once in a while but they cost from 16 to 20 cents each.  We have eaten tangerines until we are tired of them.  Outside of those things we haven't had much fresh things.  We had some potatoes but they are very little and cost 30 cents a pound.  As for candy we never have any trouble getting rid of what little we get.  i certainly wish I had been there, your (?) wouldn't have spoiled.  I had a letter from Mother and Babe is teaching school again.  I enjoy your letters very much.

Y.L.B.,
George

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From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 AAA (AW) Bn. Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Feb 7, 1944

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received another letter from you a few days back and also received eight packages of Raleighs (cigarettes) from you.  They had a card inside of each pkg. with your names on it.  I really appreciated them as my supply was out, and no rations for a couple of days.  My cigarette ration never does do me for two weeks and if it wasn't for receiving some once in a while I would be out.
     I had a rather good breakfast this morning; Bacon and eggs and toast.  Rather expensive though as eggs are sixteen cents apiece and I ate four.  The mud is pretty well dried up now but the prospects are for a lot more rain but right now it is beautiful spring weather.  The country is all green but the vineyards are still brown and the vines aren't leafing out.  We get lots of tangerines here but they are sure full of seeds.  i ate a bird dinner the other day.  I don't know what kind.  They were about the size of a big sparrow.  Well must close now.  Thanks for the cigs and write often.

Y.L.B.,
George

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     [The change of unit designation and APO may indicate a move from Italy to France.  Beginning with this letter, the country is indicated under the address.]

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
99th Cml. Bn. Co. C
APO 758 New York, N.Y.
(no date) 1944
Italy

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received a nice card and letter and a picture of Mother from you, also a package of v mail.  I am always glad to get your letters as they are always so nice and newsy, and I really appreciated the picture.  I just haven't seemed to have time to write in the past as have been so busy and on the go all the time.  I have managed to see most of the points of Italy en route but so much of it is ruins and the people so beaten that there doesn't seem to be much worth fighting for over here.  It's a cinch that Italy is ruined for some time to come.
     Well about all I can tell you is that I am feeling fine and hope you are the same.  Give my regards to the whole family and write often.  Hope I will be down to see you by this time next year.

Your loving brother,
George

__________________________________________________________________________


From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
Co. C 99th Cml. Bn.
APO 758 New York, N.Y.
Dec 20, 1944
France

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Well, I enjoy your letters even if I don't answer very promptly and hope you continue to write often as letters do help.  I am afraid I won't have much opportunity to do any looking for you now Margaret as i am in a different locality.  As usual I haven't much to write about.  I have been in lots of the towns Lou talks about but haven't had much opportunity to do any sight-seeing.  Things are much the same as they were in Italy here but this is a much nicer country.  I am still in the best of health but am very tired of the war and anxious to get back home.  I hope you all have a merry Xmas and give my best wishes to all.

Your loving bro.,
George

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From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
Co. C 99th Cml. Mortar Bn.
APO 758 New York, N.Y.
Feb 8, 1945
France

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received another nice newsy letter from you today and although I don't find the opportunity I really appreciate your letters.  You are my steadiest correspondent, and I enjoy hearing the news.  I never have much news to tell you so imagine my letters aren't very interesting.  I can't tell you much about my activities, but many times I wish I was someplace else.  But so far I have been very fortunate, in fact I have been extremely lucky.  Our outfit is a 4.2" mortor battalion, that is about all I can say.  But you probably have read about the mortors, as they have made quite a name over here.
     I was surprised about Joe Gray but I knew that it was rather rough in that sector, but so it is in all sectors of the line.  I haven't been in that sector but have talked to soldiers from there.  Must close now till later,

[no close or signature]

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     [This final letter was type-written.  Note that he is now Pfc.  Also note the eye witness reference to the concentration camps.]

From 39199733
Pfc G. Taschereau
Co. C 99th Cml. Mortar Bn.
APO 758 New York, N.Y.
Germany  May 29, 1945

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     I haven't answered your last three or four letters and now that I have the time I am going to catch up on all my correspondence if it takes me a week.  I was very shocked and surprised when I got your letter telling about Ted as the last time I heard from home he was doing fine and expected to be leaving for Calif. soon.  I had no idea that he was so bad.  It sure isn't going to be the same at home any more as I am going to miss Reg. and Ted as they were always full of fun.  It is hard to write and tell just how I feel about things.
     Well, now that the war is over I am sweating out whether I am going straight to the Pacific or get a furlough home first.  I know that I won't get a discharge as I am short about nine points.  I just can't figure out any more no matter how hard I try, too bad I haven't got a child or two then I would have beau coup points.
     In the meantime I am having it very easy and the first few days were alright but now time is beginning to drag as it is an awful let down after going at top speed and under such strain for so long.  I have been all over Southern Germany and seen most of the interesting spots both famous and Infamous.  The concentration camps and all other spots that Hitler was connected with.  I get to go into Heidelberg quite frequently but now that I have been all over the town there isn't much to do there except see a show as it is forbidden to talk to anyone.

Your loving bro.
George



      Here is a link to Heidelberg at google.com/maps:

http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Heidelberg,+Germany&aq=0&sll=37.160317,-95.712891&sspn=38.521012,32.34375&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Heidelberg,+Baden-W%C3%BCrttemberg,+Germany&ll=49.439557,8.865967&spn=2.02175,3.438721&t=h&z=8

Monday, April 25, 2011

V-MAIL FROM UNCLE GEORGE, part 2

     [The change of APO may indicate a move from North Africa to Italy.]


From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 CA Bn AA Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Sept 21, 1943

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received another letter from you today and as usual was very glad to hear from you.  You sure make me envious talking about your garden and peaches and all those good things to eat.  This is also the second year in a row that I have missed out on all the fresh garden things such as tomatoes, lettuce, cucumbers, green onions and radishes and fresh corn and all the rest of the things that make up a kitchen garden.  As for fresh fruits (?) (?).  Here our vegetables and fruits are dried or canned.
     You had an old APO number on the letter that I got but I got the letter alright.  I'll bet it is grand at your place now.  pat must be quite a young lady now.  As for thumping melons, I always got my best ones after dark.  Good-by for now; I am O.K. as usual and tell everyone hello for me.

Y.L.B.,
George

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From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 CA Bn AA Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Oct. 23

Dear Margaret and Henry,

     Received your nice newsy letter along with one from Ted and Mother.  I am sorry to hear that Henry's stomach is on the bum.  I hop you take good care of it, hank.  I wish I were there as I could sure go for all those things you can't eat.  i am always hungry.  Some times our meals are rather skimpy.  And the things you mention, we just haven't got at all.
     How does Clair like his new spot?  I hope he likes it better than I do over here.  I can say though that so far I have been lucky.  I sure wish that I could write you some news but that is strictly out.  It sure is hard to write a letter when everything you do is censored.  I was down  [line censored]  but didn't see much.  Well, I certainly enjoy your letters and still have some gum left.  Say hello to all.

Y.L.B.,
George

__________________________________________________________________________

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 CA Bn (AA) Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Nov. 18, 1943

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     I received your Xmas pkg. about a week ago and am just now getting around to thanking you for it.  I haven't had a letter from you for some time now and I am always so glad to get them as they are all nice and newsy and sound like home.  There certainly isn't any home atmosphere where I am now.  I have seen so many unusual things that my senses of appreciation are getting dulled and I get more interested when I see an American girl (nurse) than I do when I see an exotic native girl, or a church built before Columbus was ever born, or some of Europe's famous places.  Travel and interesting places are a drug on the market with me.
     I am still feeling fine but am not quit as fat as I was.  I have lost about twenty pounds.  Well, have to go on guard duty pretty soon so have to get ready.  This Army is a twenty four hour a day job.  Write soon and often,

Y.L.B.,
George

__________________________________________________________________________

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 AAA (?) Bn Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Dec. 21, 1943

Dear Margaret and Henry,

     Received another nice letter from you a couple of days ago and as always enjoyed your letter very much.  You are one of my most regular correspondents.  Your letters sure make me wish I could come down or should I say up and over and spend a few days with you.  I am glad that you are all O.K. and hope you have a nice Christmas.  Give them all my regards and tell them all hello.  Tell Clair hello for me next time you write him.
     I am just the same as usual and as always can't give out with any news.  It is hard to write an interesting letter when I can't say anything.  I don't here from Babe very often either, I have had only two letters from her since she has been married.  I guess it is a full time job with her.  I sure like to get letters, too.  I sure get tired of trying to twist my tongue and throw my jaw out of joint trying to talk these foreign languages.  Well, good bye for now.Write soon and often.

Y.L.B.,
George

__________________________________________________________________________

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 AAA (?) Bn Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
Jan 5, 1944

Dear Margaret and Henry,

     I received your last pkg. the other day and was immensely pleased with it and will enjoy it for some time to come.  I can't say much for the holidays as far as I am concerned but hope you had a pleasant time.  We had a very (?) Xmas here about two feet deep and sank in to our knees.  We were fixing a road to our position and the only difference between me and the rest of the mud was that I wiggled a little bit.  I was camouflaged perfectly.
     I suppose you were in to see Mother during the holidays.  I imagine she as well as everyone else has been very busy as I haven't had any news from those parts for quite some time.  Well, be sure and write some more nice homey letters as they make me forget the mud, grime, and war for a while.  I am still in the best of health and doing alright.

Y.L.B.
George

Friday, April 22, 2011

V-MAIL FROM UNCLE GEORGE, part 1

     I have 14 V-MAIL letters sent by my Uncle George, who served in North Africa, Italy, France, and Germany during World War II.  Some of the writing is difficult to read, and one line of one of them was blacked out by the censor (I'll note that in its place), but I shall do my best to transcribe them.  Words I'm not sure about will be followed or indicated by (?).   He (and all of his brothers) had quite a sense of humor at times, and I hope it shows through in these letters.  He is mentioned in Chart T-2, published March 15 in this blog.


From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 CA Bn (AA) Btry C
APO 464 New York, N.Y.
July 13, 1943

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received your letter yesterday and was surprised and pleased to hear from you, as mail from home is very welcome over here.  I am still here in North Africa and sure hope that this war sill end so I can come home.  No telling where I will be by that time.  I have seen a lot of the country since I have been here and it is a lot like central Washington and your country only hotter.  The towns are strange and the natives (?) quaint and both are dirty and smelly.  I have had lots of practice in my high school French as we are stationed right with French and Arab Marines.  I have a friend who is a sergeant in the French Marines and he is married and lives in a little town nearby.  I have been to his house a couple of times for dinner.  I get along alright now.  I understand them and they understand me.
     I am sure sorry I missed the wedding but I was detained by business.  I hope you and Henry are getting along O.K.  Say hello to your mother and father and patty for me, Margaret, and let me know how Clair is doing.  I hope I hear from you soon and better yet I hope that I see you soon.  Keep up the good work at home and we be back soon.

your loving bro.
George

__________________________________________________________________________

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 CA Bn (AA) Btry C
APO 464 New York, N.Y.
August 17, 1943

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received another V mail from you about a week ago and am just finding time to answer it.  I have been rather busy the last month and moved around considerably but things are quiet now and mostly routine work and of course guard every day.  I don't know much what we are going to do, of course no one knows.  I am still in the best of health and doing well on these "C" rations.  Anyone mention hash, stew, or beans (?) Vienna sausage to me after the war and I'll shoot and ask no questions.  We get plenty to eat but it sure doesn't taste good and there is very little variety.  That is where Clair has the best of us, the navy always eats better has cleaner quarters and better place to sleep.  I eat, sleep, write letters and do everything right on the ground.  Wash, shave, bathe and do my laundry in my steel helmet.  I am glad that every one is well at home and everyone doing nicely.  I hope this war is over soon as there sure isn't much future in it.  This isn't much of a letter but its almost impossible to write an interesting letter as everything i do is not for publication.  I sure enjoy getting your newsy letters and mail call is the most popular fascination of the day.  Well, must close now.  Give my regards to all the family and write again soon.

Your loving brother,
George

__________________________________________________________________________

From 39199733
Pvt G. Taschereau
442 CA Bn (AA) Btry C
APO 512 New York, N.Y.
(no date)

Dear Henry and Margaret,

     Received a pkg of gum yesterday and was very pleasantly surprised and pleased.  Gum sure is grand when the weather is hot and the water pail.  i looked for a letter too, but there wasn't any.  I imagine there hasn't been the tourist trade this year at the Dam.  i sure would like to take a trip clear to the end of the lake.  Nothing much new here now.   The same old routine right now.  Once in a while a little excitement.  i have a new APO now.  It is 512 and when you write the battalion number it is 442 not 44second.  I wrote it 442nd but it was the way it is said.  I visited the town of Oran the other day.  It is one of the largest in North Africa.  It stinks just like all the others and is about 50 years behind the times.  How is Clair making it.  I imagine Patty is getting to be a big girl now.  I probably wouldn't know her.  Say hello to Mr. and Mrs. Seaton for me and tell the rest hello.  There isn't much to write about here as aren't allowed to say much.

your loving brother,
George


Here is a link to Oran, Algeria (also spelled Wahran or Ouahran) at Google Maps:

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Oran,+Algeria&aq=0&sll=35.5054,-0.77179&sspn=0.952482,1.474915&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Ouahran,+Oran,+Algeria&ll=35.711395,-0.666046&spn=0.237509,0.368729&z=11

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Monday, April 18, 2011

Bradford descent mystery


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     Concerning Harriet Elizabeth Mitchell (1903-1983), Mr. Wiggs states in Chart R-22, "She was a direct descendant of William Bradford, Pilgrim Governor, who arrived aboard the Mayflower at Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1620, and of Nicholas Olding, famed notary and founder of the Bar in Nova Scotia."  Her mother's name was Emily Louise Packard, about whom  I have no further information.
     In researching that statement, I seem to have run into a bit of a mystery.
     William Bradford (1590-1657) was the father of Joseph Bradford (1630-1715) who was the father of  Elisha Bradford (1669-1745) who was the father of Asenath Bradford 1736-1818) who married Benjamin Packard (1743-1825) who had four children whose names are given below.  Then follows a gap in the information.

     Here is what I have on the Bradford/Packard lines:

bradford descent notes

concentric.net links no longer work

http://www.concentric.net/~pvb/GEN/govbrad.html


William Bradford*; Bap. March 19, 1589/90, Austerfield, Yorkshire, England; d. May 9, 1657, Plymouth MA.


  • m1. Dorothy May; b. c1597, Norfolk, England ; d. Dec. 7, 1620, Cape Cod Harbor, (now Provincetown) MA. A description of her ancestry is given in the Brief Biography text below.


  • William and Dorothy had one child, a son:

    • John Bradford; b. c 1615, Leyden, Holland; d. Sep. 7, 1679, Norwich CT. John did not accompany his parents on the Mayflower in 1620, but may have lived with William Pontus and Wybra (Hanson) Pontus. Wybra was a cousin of William Bradford on his mother's side. In1627 John came to Plymouth and found his father's household full. He moved to Duxbury sometime before 1645. He finally settled among the earliest proprietors of Norwich CT in about 1652. He served as Lt. Dep. to the General Court in Norwich CT in that year, and was married in Marshfield in 1653.
      • m. Martha Bourne of Marshfield MA in 1653. She is the daughter of Deacon Thomas Bourne (1581-1664), an immigrant from England who was among the first settlers at Marshfield MA, and his wife, Elizabeth ___?. John Bradford and Martha Bourne had no children. After John Bradford died, Martha married 2nd to Lt. Thomas Tracy.


  • m2. Alice (Carpenter) Southworth* (1590/1-1670), daughter of Alexander Carpenter* and Priscilla Dillen*, and widow of Edward Southworth.


  • William and Alice had 3 children:

    • William Bradford* (1624-1704)
      • m1. Alice Richards* (1627-1671)
      • m2. Sarah (Tracy) Griswold, a.k.a. "The Widow Wiswall"
      • m3. Mary (Atwood) Holmes
    • Mercy Bradford; b. 1625/6, Plymouth MA; d. before 1657.
      • m. Benjamin Vermayes on Dec. 21, 1648. Benjamin was born in about 1624, probably in Holland or Flanders, but possibly in England. Benjamin died before Nov. 28, 1665 in "Ginne", according to the records revealed in Mayflower Increasings by Susan E. Roser 2nd Ed, (Gen Pub. Co., Baltimore, 1997), page 21.
      • Mercy and Benjamin had no known children
    • Joseph Bradford; b. 1630, Plymouth MA; d. July 10, 1715, Rocky Nook, MA.
      • m. Jael Hobart; b. Dec. 1642; d. 1730. She is the daughter of Rev. Peter Hobart and Rebecca Peck.
      • Joseph and Jael had 3 sons:
        • Joseph Bradford; b. Apr. 18, 1665
        •  
        • Elisha Bradford; b. c1669, in Cornwall CT; d. Jun 16, 1745, Kingston MA.
          • m1. Hannah Cole, daughter of James Cole and Mary Tilson. Hannah died on Aug. 15, 1718 after having 6 children all of whom died young.
          • m2. Bathsheba LaBroche, daughter of Francis LaBroche and Sarah Hobart, on Sep 2, 1718, at Plymouth MA. Elisha and Bathsheba had 15 children:
            • Hannah Bradford; b. Apr 10, 1720, Plymouth; d. May 22, 1758, Friendship ME. m. Joshua Bradford (1710-1758)
            • Joseph Bradford; b. Dec 7, 1721, Plymouth; d. Sep 4, 1743, Kingston
            • Slyvanus Bradford; b. Jul 6, 1723, Plymouth; d. Jul 12, 1725.
            • Nehemiah Bradford; b. Jul 27, 1724, was living in 1729.
            • Laurana Bradford; b. Mar 27, 1726; m. Elijah McFarlin (c1722-1777)
            • Mary Bradford; b. Aug 1, 1727, Kingston; d. before 1730.
            • Elisha Bradford; b. Oct. 6, 1729; d. Mar 1752.
            • Lois Bradford; b. Jan 30, 1731; d. Oct 10, 1752.
            • Deborah Bradford; b. Nov 18, 1732, Kingston; d. after Mar 11, 1811; m. Jonathan Sampson, son of Jonathan Samson (Sr.) and Joanna Lucas.
            • Alice Bradford; b. Nov. 3, 1734, Kingston; d. Jul 6, 1795, Stoughton, Norfolk Co. MA; m. Zebulon Waters (1734/5-1790), son of Samuel Waters and Bethia Thayer.
            • Asenath Bradford; b. Sep 15, 1736, Kingston; d. Nov 15, 1818, Stoughton MA; m1. Nathan Estey (b. 1727-d. Nova Scotia), son of Benjamin Estey and Sarah Chandler; m2. Daniel Waters (d. before Sep 14, 1764), son of Samuel Waters and Bethia Thayer (Zebulon's brother), and had 3 children; m3. Benjamin Packard (1743-1825), son of Joseph Packard and Hannah Manley, and had 4 children.
            • Carpenter Bradford; b. Feb 7, 1738/9, Kingston; d. Jan 27, 1823, Friendship, ME; m1. Mary Gay, daughter of David Gay and Hannah Tabor, and had 6 children, 5 of whom were born in Nova Scotia; m2. Mary Steele of Friendship ME on Jun 9, 1815.
            • Abigail Bradford; b. Jun 20, 1741; Kingston; d. Dec 16, 1760
            • Chloe Bradford; b. Apr 6, 1743, Kingston; d. Feb 21, 1747/8
            • Content Bradford; b. May 21, 1745, Kingston; d. May 22, 1745.
        • Peter Bradford; b. Mar 1, 1676/7; in Hingham MA.


    Elisha Bradford [137161] = Bathsheba Le_Brock [137164]

    These links no longer work

    Elisha Bradford [137161] --------
    b.ca.1669, Kingston MA
    d.16_Jun_1747, Kingston MA
     
    Bathsheba Le_Brock [137164] -----
    b.21_May_1703, Scituate MA
    m.7_Sep_1718, Plymouth MA
    wife of Elisha Bradford
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    
    |-- Hannah Bradford [125169]
    |   b.10_Apr_1720, Kingston MA
    |   m.17_Feb_1735/36.
    |    Kingston MA
    |   wife of Joshua Bradford
    |   d.22_May_1758, Meduncook ME
    |   
    |-- Asenath Bradford [137162]
    |   (Azenath)
        b.15_Sep_1736, Kingston MA
        m.22_Jul_1753, Stoughton MA
        wife of Nathan Estey
        m.30_Oct_1756, Stoughton MA
        wife of Daniel Waters
        m.30_Apr_1765, Stoughton MA
        Benjamin Packard
        d.15_Nov_1818, Stoughton MA
    


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    parents of Benjamin Packard 

    http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~hwbradley/aqwg48.htm

    [My additions in italics - Cousin Sam]

    These links still working as of 25 Sep 2016

    Joseph PACKARD 1, 2, 3 was born 1707 in Bridgewater, Plymouth, Massachusetts. He was son of Samuel PACKARD. Alternate birth date - 1690.  He died 20 Aug 1777 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts. Joseph married 4 Hannah MANLEY on 9 Oct 1729 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.  (Minister was Matthew Short.)
    Hannah MANLEY [Parents] 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 was born 10 Jun 1711 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts. She died 26 Nov 1790 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts. Hannah married 7 Joseph PACKARD on 9 Oct 1729 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    They had the following children:
    MiJoseph PACKARD 1 was born 2 1 Mar 1730 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    FiiElizabeth PACKARD was born 7 Feb 1733 and died 22 Nov 1810.
    FiiiHannah PACKARD 1 was born 2 31 Aug 1735 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    MivJohn PACKARD was born 1 4 Feb 1738 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    FvZerviah PACKARD 1 was born 2 1 Apr 1740 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    MviBenjamin PACKARD 1 was born 2 2 Oct 1742 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    FviiMary PACKARD 1 was born 2 8 Jan 1745 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    FviiiMehitable PACKARD 1 was born 2 25 Apr 1747 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    MixJames PACKARD 1 was born 2 10 Jun 1749 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    MxSamuel PACKARD 1 was born 2 Sep 1751 in Easton, Bristol, Massachusetts.
    ____________


    Benjamin Packard & Asenath Bradford

    Benjamin Packard was born in 1743 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. He served in the military as a Private in Capt. William Brigg's Company. He died on 18 February 1825 at the age of 82 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Parents: Joseph Packard and Hannah Manley.
    Spouse: Asenath Bradford. Asenath Bradford and Benjamin Packard were married on 30 April 1765 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Children were: John Packard, Lois Packard, Jedediah Packard, Meletiah Packard.
    John Packard was born on 19 December 1765 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Parents: Benjamin Packard and Asenath Bradford.
    Spouse: Hannah Randall. Hannah Randall and John Packard were married on 10 September 1789 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Children were: Packard, Packard.
    Jedediah Packard was born on 16 February 1771 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. He died in 1816 at the age of 45. Parents: Benjamin Packard and Asenath Bradford.

    Spouse: Ann Britton. Ann Britton and Jedediah Packard were married on 4 October 1792. Children were: Bradford Packard, Marcus Packard, Packard, Packard, Packard, Packard, Packard, Packard, Packard, Packard.
    Lois Packard was born on 31 August 1767 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Parents: Benjamin Packard and Asenath Bradford.
    Meletiah Packard was born on 31 July 1773 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts. Parents: Benjamin Packard and Asenath Bradford.
    Spouse: Elijah Bliss. Meletiah Packard and Elijah Bliss were married on 26 September 1794 in Stoughton, Norfolk County, Massachusetts.


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    Azenath Bradford

    These links no longer working

    http://pws.cablespeed.com/~jshirey/Mayflower/pafg12.htm

    143. Azenath Bradford (Elisha , Joseph , William ) was born 15 Sep 1736 in Kingston, MA. She died 15 Nov 1818 in Stoughton, MA.
    Azenath married (1) Nathan Estey, son of Benjamin Estey and Sarah Chandler, on 22 Jul 1753 in Stoughton, MA. Nathan was born 26 Nov 1727 in Stoughton, MA. He died in Nova Scotia.
    Azenath also married (2) Daniel Waters, son of Samuel Waters and Bethia Thayer, on 30 Oct 1765 in Stoughton, MA.
    They had the following children:
    770FiBethia Waters was born 28 Dec 1757 in Stoughton, MA.
    771FiiLucee Waters was born 20 Oct 1759 in Stoughton, MA.
    772MiiiSamuel Waters was born 27 Nov 1762 in Stoughton, MA.
    Azenath also married (3) Benjamin Packard, son of Joseph Packard and Hannah Manley, on 30 Apr 1765 in Stoughton, MA. Benjamin was born 1743. He died 18 Feb 1825 in Stoughton, MA.
    They had the following children:
    773MivJohn Packard was born 19 Dec 1765 in Stoughton, MA.
    774FvLois Packard was born 31 Aug 1767 in Stoughton, MA.
    775MviJedediah Packard was born 18 Feb 1771 in Stoughton, MA.
    776MviiMelatiah Packard was born 31 Jul 1773 in Stoughton, MA.

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    Monday, April 4, 2011

    JONATHAN SEWELL & JOHN ADAMS

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    ________________________


    In the Taschereau Family Tree at ancestry.com (which is the focal point of Cousin Sam), the pedigree may be navigated through the Ross / Sewell / Quincy lines to John Adams as follows:

    for Halloran: William Ross Halloran (1912-1987) > his mother, Ethel Calfine Ross (1885-1973) > her father, Richard Beamish Ross (1845-1889) > his brother, Henry Ross.

    for Kelley: George Foley Kelly (1905-   ) > his father, Albert Edward Kelly (1869-1906) > his sister, Edith Mary Kelly (1874-1951) > her husband, William Edward Drummond Ross (1871-1944) > his father, William David Francis Ross (1836-1902) > his brother, Henry Ross.

    for FitzGerald: Edward M. Fitzgerald (1921-    ) > his mother, Ethel Taschereau Ross (1889-1969) > her father, Henry Ross.

    for Taschereau: Henry Fleury Taschereau (1900-1976) > Charles Fleury Taschereau (1859-1935) > his half brother, Henry Ross.

    Henry Ross was the son of Drummond Ross (1813-1857) and Maria Jane Beamish (1819-1889).  After Drummond died, Maria Jane married Achille-Antoine Fleury Taschereau (1836-1886).

    HENRY ROSS (1842-1926) > his daughter, Eva Jane Ross (1872-1939) > her husband, Charles Albert Sewell (1865-1941) > his father, Dr. James Arthur Sewell 2 (1834-1899) > his father, Dr. James Arthur Sewell 1 (1810-1883) > his father, Jonathan Sewell 3 (1766-1839) > his mother, Esther Quincy (1738-1810) > her father, Judge Edmund Quincy (1703-1788) > his father, Edmund "The Subscriber" Quincy (1681-1737) > his half brother, Daniel Quincy (1650-1690) > his son, John Quincy (1689-1767) > his daughter, Elizabeth Quincy (1721-1775) > her daughter, Abigail Smith (1744-1818), who married JOHN ADAMS.

    For a biography of John Adams, I recommend
      McCullough, David,  "John Adams"  [Simon & Schuster, New York, 2001].

    For the works of John, Abigail, John Quincy, and Charles Francis Adams, including letters, biographies and autobiographies, links will soon be available at Cousin Sam's Library: http://cousinsamslibrary.blogspot.com/2011/07/adams-charles-francis-john-john-quincy.html
    Jonathan Sewell (2) (father of Jonathan Sewell (3) and husband of Esther Quincy) and John Adams were close friends. The following slightly edited biography appears on-line in Sewall or Sewell of Coventry,  http://www.sewellgenealogy.com/p459.htm#i68
    It is referenced  Lawrence, Joseph Wilson, "The Judges of New Brunswick and Their Times" [St. John, 1907].

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    Jonathan Sewell (2)

    Jonathan Sewell (2) was born on 24 August 1729 in Boston, Massachusetts.  He was the son of Jonathan Sewall (1) and Mary Payne.  Jonathan Sewell (2) graduated in 1748 from Harvard ranked fifteenth in a class of twenty-nine.  He married Esther Quincy, daughter of Judge Edmund Quincy and Elizabeth Wendell, on 21 January 1764 in Braintree, Massachusetts, (m. intention, though with a date of 1760 is recorded in the vital records).2 Taught school in Salem until 1756 ; then studied law with Judge Russell, and opened an office in Charlestown. While attending Court, he and John Adams lived together, frequently slept in the same chamber, and often in the same bed. He courted the maiden he married several years ; and it was his habit to go to her father's on Saturday and remain until Monday ; and Mr. Adams was generally invited to meet him on Sunday evening. And, besides, the two young men were in constant correspondence. About the year 1767 Mr. Sewall was appointed Attorney-General. The friend already mentioned remarks that, as a lawyer, his influence with judges and juries was as great as was consistent with an impartial administration of justice; that he was a gentleman and a scholar; that he possessed a lively wit, a brilliant imagination, great subtlety of reasoning, and an insinuating eloquence.
    In 1774 he was an Addresser of Hutchinson, and in September of that year his elegant house at Cambridge was attacked by a mob and much injured. He fled to Boston for refuge. His name appears among the proscribed and banished, and among those whose estates were confiscated. He attempted to dissuade Mr. Adams from attending the first Continental Congress; and it was in reply to his arguments, and as they walked on the Great Hill at Portland, that Adams used the memorable words: " The die is now cast; I have now passed the Rubicon ; swim or sink, live or die, survive or perish with my country is my unalterable determination." They parted, and met no more until 1788. The one, the high-souled, lion-hearted Adams, had a country, and a free country; the eloquent and gifted Sewall lived and died a Colonist. It is thought that Sewall originally sympathized with the Whigs, and that he was won over to the other side by the address of Hutchinson, after some dissatisfaction with the Otises relative to the estate of his uncle, a deceased Chief Justice of Massachusetts. He is said to have adhered to the Crown at last, as did thousands of others, from a conviction that armed opposition would end in certain defeat, and utter ruin to the Colonies.
    In 1775 Mr. Sewall went to England, and was in London previous to July 20th of that year. Early in 1776 we hear of him, in company with several other exiles, " bound to the theatre to see the Jubilee"; next as a member of the Loyalist Club, for a weekly conversation and a dinner; and later, as having a home in Brompton Row. In 1777 we find him at Bristol, and on terms with the celebrated political divine, Dean Tucker, who considered the Colonies a burden to England, and had the courage to advise the Ministry to "cast them off". The next year he was at Sidmouth ; but again at Bristol in 1779 and the year after. While in England he wrote to his fellow-exile, Curwen, " The situation of American Loyalists, I confess, is enough to have provoked Job's wife, if not Job himself; but still we must be men, philosophers, and Christians; bearing up with patience, resignation, and fortitude, against unavoidable suffering." The friendship between Jonathan and John was never interrupted while both lived. In 1788 Mr. Sewall went to London to embark for Halifax, and they met at once, — the Whig laying aside all etiquette to make him a visit. " I ordered my servant to announce John Adams, was instantly admitted, and both of us, forgetting that we had ever been enemies, embraced each other as cordially as ever. I had two hours' conversation with him in a most delightful freedom, upon a multitude of subjects." In the course of this interview, Mr. Sewall remarked that he had existed for the sake of his two children ; that he had spared no pains or expense in their education ; and that he was going to Nova Scotia in hope of making some provision for them. He did not long survive; " evidently broken down by his anxieties," adds Mr. Adams, " and probably dying of a broken heart." At this time Mr. Sewall had been appointed Judge of Admiralty for Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, and soon after entered upon his duties. In " McFingal" it is asked, —

    " Who made that wit of water-gruel
    A Judge of Admiralty, Sewall ?3 "

    Jonathan Sewell (2) was appointed on 17 October 1768, judge of the Vice-Admiralty Court for Lower Canada by Commission under the Great Seal of the High Court of Admiralty of England. In fact this was published in the Annual Register as being the 27 November 1768.4 He died on 27 September 1796 in St John, New Brunswick, Canada, at the age of 67.5 He was buried on 28 September 1796 at the Loyalist Burying Ground

    St. John, N. B., 9th Oct., 1796.

    My Dear Sons,
    Before this reaches you, the afflicting news of the death of your affectionate father will have reached you and your brother, Mr. Winslow kindly undertaking the office. Your dear father made his exit on Tuesday, 27th September, and had it pleased Heaven to have lengthened his years, I should still have been happy to have discharged the duties of a wife with affectionate attention, which I trust I have faithfully done through life, and have reason to believe your dear father thought so. I was much afflicted Mr. Chipman could not be at the funeral of your dear father, but he was obliged to meet the commissioners at Passamaquoddy Bay. I must add, in justice to our friends, Dr. Paddock, and Ebenezer Putnam, it was conducted with respect and propriety. They followed as mourners Attorney General Bliss and little Chipman in deep mourning; and what, my sons, will afford you both great satisfaction, and what I have received much for myself, your dear father much wished to be interred with Judge Putnam in his vault. Mrs. Putnam readily complied with his desire; of this he was informed. I am grieved to have your joy dampened at the time of your nuptials; I should be very deficient if I did not mention the particular attention I have received. Mrs. Chipman has been particularity kind to me, Madame Putnam, her son and daughter, Col. and Mrs. DePeyster; each of their families putting themselves in mourn ing. A letter of thanks to Dr, Paddock and Mr. E. Putnam would not be amiss.

    Unalterably your afflicted and affectionate mother,
    Esther Sewell
    __________________________________________________________________________

    Jonathan Sewell (3) was the chief justice of Lower Canada, a short biography of whom is given in the previous post.  His biography in the above mentioned Sewall or Sewell of Coventry is considerably more extensive, and I highly recommend it.  Dr. James Arthur Sewell 1 & 2 are also of some interest:

    Dr. James Arthur Sewell (1)

    Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Laval University. He was born on 31 August 1810 in Quebec.  He was the son of Chief Justice Jonathan Sewell (3) and Henrietta Smith.  He married Maria Cornelia Westrene Macrae (1810-1849), daughter of Colin Macrae and Charlotte Gertrude van den Heuvel, in 1833.  Dr. Sewell married Jane Beswick, daughter of George Beswick, on 26 November 1852 in Quebec.  He died on 2 October 1883 at the age of 73 at his residence in St. Ursule Street in Quebec. He was buried on 4 October 
    1883 in Mount Hermon Cemetery, Plot 312.

    The death of this well-known physician of Quebec took place at his residence, St. Ursule Street, on the 2nd inst. Dr. Sewell was born in Quebec in 1810, and was a son of the late Chief Justice Sewell. After receiving his professional education in Edinburgh, where he graduated in 1833, he settled in his native town, and had there been engaged in active practice to within a few months of his death. He was one of the original members of the Faculty of Medicine of Laval University, and held the chair of Medicine, and was also Dean of the School. He was chairman of the Marine Hospital Commission, and one of the physicians to the Hotel Dieu. As a governor of the College of Physicians and Surgeons, he took an active part for many years in all the affairs of the Board. At the organization of the Canada Medical Association in 1867, Dr. Sewell was President of the Quebec Medical Society, and took the chair on the first day of the meeting. Subsequently, in the year 1871, he was elected President of the Association. For many years Dr. Sewell was a constant contributor to the British-American Journal and the Canada Medical Journal, in the files of which many of his interesting cases and communications will be found. He was an ardent advocate for the use of tea as a stimulant, and as an antidote to the effects of opium and in uraemia.
    Dr. Sewell was twice married, and leaves a large family. Two sons are in the profession, both graduates of Edinburgh. One, James A., practices in England ; the other, Colin C., at Quebec. He was a cousin of the late Dr. Stephen C. Sewell, Professor of Materia Medica in McGill College, and of Dr. E. C. Sewell.
    Dr. Sewell will be greatly mourned and missed in Quebec, where his kindly disposition and professional skill endeared him to people of all ranks. The Montreal Medical Journal, Volume 12, p. 188

    Dr. Sewell was one of the first surgeons in Quebec to use chloroform in an amputation of the legs of a French sailor in the Marine Hospital in January 1848.


    Dr. James Arthur Sewell (2)

    Dr. James Arthur Sewell was born on 27 August 1834 in Quebec.  He was the son of Dr. James Arthur Sewell  (1) and Maria Cornelia Westrene Macrae.  He was baptised on 12 October 1834 at Chapel of the Holy Trinity, Quebec, by E.W. Sewell. He graduated in 1856 from Edinburgh M.D. and became L.R.C.S. in the same year. He married firstly Cornelia Janetta Elizabeth Thierens, daughter of Albertus Adriaan Mennes Theirens, on 25 March 1862 in St. Thomas's Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, the service was conducted by the Rev. D.T.K. Drummond. In the notice of the marriage the groom is described as "Assistant Surgeon Bengal Army." Dr. James Arthur Sewell married secondly Elizabeth Ann Ainslie, daughter of Robert Ainslie, on 26 April 1879 in St. Thomas's English Episcopal Church, Edinburgh, In the marriage register the address of the groom is given as 119 Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, London and that of the bride as 8 South Castle Street, Edinburgh. Dr. James Arthur Sewell and Elizabeth Ann Ainslie appeared in the 1881 census at 41 Oxford Terrace, London,, also recorded were a cook, nurse and housemaid. Dr. James Arthur Sewell died on 2 January 1899 in Mentone, France, at the age of 64.

    James Arthur Sewell, M.D., L.R.C.S.Ed.

    "Dr James Arthur Sewell died at Mentone on the 2nd. of January. He belonged to a family long settled in Canada, which produced some distinguished lawyers. His grandfather was the Honourable Jonathan Sewell, Chief Justice of Lower Canada. His father was a physician in Quebec. Dr. Sewell graduated at Edinburgh 1856, and at the same time took the diploma of the College of Surgeons of that city. He entered the service of the Honourable East India Company in 1857. During the mutiny he was amongst the slender garrison which held the Fort at Agra, the only place remaining to us in the North-West until after the capture of Delhi. Dr Sewell was present at the action with the Nemuch Brigade and other fights with the mutinous Sepoy regiments about Agra. He remained eight years in the Indian Medical Service, after which he resigned his commission and went Quebec, where he married a Canadian lady who only lived a few years after the marriage. About twenty years ago, he went to London where he set up in practice. He married for the second time Mrs Elizabeth Ainslie, daughter of the late Robert Ainslie, Esq of the Elvingston. Everything seemed to promise a prosperous career, when there appeared symptoms of phthisis. Against the attacks of this disease Dr Sewell struggled with heroic fortitude. He tried many health resorts, the South of England, Pau and the Engadine, but finally settled at his residence, Villa Blanche, Mentone, generally spending the summer months in Savoy and Switzerland. Dr Sewell was above six feet in height, a remarkably fine looking man. He was of a cheerful and lively disposition and kind and faithful friend. He had a ripe knowledge of his profession, and from his general culture and travels his conversation was most agreeable. He had much power of wit and humour, and a large fund of anecdotes. His long and often trying illness was cheered by the care and company of his wife and daughter. His only son is now in Canada." Scottish Medical and Surgical Journal, Vol. 4. 1899, pp. 165,166

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    ________________________

    Saturday, April 2, 2011

    Letter from France, 1968

        [The following is a transcript of a letter begun on 25 November 1968, by the older daughter of  MARVIN and MAUDE ISOBEL (TASCHEREAU) SANGER, mentioned in Chart T-2, posted in this blog on March 15, 2011.  (?) indicates words I was not able to decipher.  She was in Aix-en-Province for a year as a student.]

    Monday 25 November 1968

    Dear Aunt Margaret, Uncle Henry, and Sam,

         Merry Christmas to you!  I was so pleased to get your card which is the first Christmas card for me and your letter.  Thanks so very much . . . .  The letters, cards, and pictures bring the distances so much closer together.  I really enjoy it here in Aix-en-Provence, which is really such a beautiful little town.  On our way here we stayed for about 8 - 10 hours free in Paris and since then on my own free time between our intensive French courses I visited Barcelona and Madrid in Spain.  Mark (?) wrote me a couple of weeks ago that he had had my address for ages and that he was living somewhere north of Oxford in England but that he had spent a few days in Spain.  I hated him, as coincidence he was in Madrid on the afternoon of Oct. 29 and so was I.  I left Madrid that night to return to France, but if I had only known, I could have seen him.  But I really shouldn't talk, I must be the world's worst letter writer.  Spain is very beautiful and so is France.  Spain is very much like California.  France is much (?) on climate.  On Nov 18 it snowed in town yet and the snow hung around for three days in the shadow.  It has been very frosty in the mornings and at night with the (?) freezing up and then melting.  You are right about the family being spread all over, Sam.  Mark (?) is as I have said in England, his brothers Barry and Peter are respectively in Korea and Vietnam.  Barry is going to marry a Korean girl.  I find Political Science fascinating myself especially since it is my third specialty.  France is a darn good place to look at politics too.  I'm following one course at the institute on French politics today which is regretfully turning out to be something that I have studied before.  Regrettably my situation is not organized here at all . . . .  The French have their own delightful but curious attitude towards a lot of things, and to say the least it makes life interesting.  It is funny I kept a rather reserved judgement of France for a while but a lot of people in the group (53 of us) immediately started hating everything American and loving everything French.  Now a good lot of them hate everything French and love everything and only everything American.  It's sad considering that they will be in Europe until next August.  I have reached a stage where I'm still proud to be an American and even though I dislike some things American and like some things French.  It is still a reasonable outlook, for one thing I'm happy.  My biggest hate is American tourists, but tourists American or not are rather obnoxious but regrettably American tourists take the cake.  I have to go back into town to class now.  The institute is across the street from the cathedral of which it was once associated.  The university was founded in 1409.  Think of it! Now the older part is reserved for the special part of the university for foreign students studying French.  There are a lot of foreigners in Aix from all over the world and a lot of Americans.  There is a little anti-American feeling and some Americans engender more of it.  But to me it was very upsetting to see things like "American Assassins" written on a park's protected bench or to see "American Imperialism" linked to the terrible riots in Mexico.  It was frustrating to explain in French (at first) because my French wasn't that good, about the U.S. and Vietnam, or the race problem in the U.S.  I really have to go!

    November 29, 1968

         Happy Thanksgiving!  Last night being Thanksgiving, the program had arranged for a dinner for us at La Rotonde, one of the better restaurants in town.  We had quite a feast with a relish tray for an appetizer, cream of chicken soup, turkey, purée moussiline (mashed potatoes), sweet potatoes, country style peas, cranberry sauce, pumpkin and apple pie a la mode plus a French (?) coffee at the end.  Turkey is very rare in France but obtainable but cranberries are non-existent, they substituted with strawberry jam  Apple pie and the pastry on the pies was beautiful in the French pastry style but the pumpkin pie was pastry with a ridiculously thin layer of pumpkin.  I tried to explain the idea of pumpkin pie to one of my French Friends and she was horrified.  French pastry is a delight beyond words and Spanish pastry is the same.  their bread is out of this world.  I wrote home in I think my very first letter that that is what I will miss most when I get home.  It is one of the most delightful golden crisp crusted confections that this world has ever seen but regrettably it does not keep, the very next day it is fit to pound nails with into whatever you want.  Croissants and coffee are justly celebrated except I can't see how anyone can just eat one.  Everyday you can see children, housewives, businessmen, everyone from nuns to motorcyclists lug this bread around, even as far fetched as it seems I even saw a couple of lovers walking along hand in hand and he was carrying a loaf of bread in his other hand.  I eat at the student restaurant which is a fascinating place.  Unhappily the bread there is no always fresh.  I can't really complain though because the meals used to cost c. 30 now they cost all of c. 33. They serve only lunch and dinner at the restaurant.  At the adjoining cafe they sell things for breakfast.  Because of the price of the meals, you can't really afford to eat any where else.  Most things are expensive in France and certain foods are among them.  Since the restaurant is open only during certain hours and can serve only so many meals and seeing as how the French do not know how to make a line and wait in it, it is a real pain sometimes to get in to the restaurant.  i don't find it too upsetting to have to fight through a shoving pushing mob to eat but it really bothers the life out of some of the others.  Inside the seating is 8 to a table.  There is a plate, knife and fork with a glass at noon, a spoon is added at dinner and the plate is a soup plate because since it has gotten cooler they serve us a variety of potato soup each night.  At noon if there was anything like ice cream or yogurt to eat the accepted style was to use the back end of your fork.  For table covers they use large squares of newsprint and since there are no napkins we can tear the corners off for a crackly substitute.  The meals are pretty good though and no matter how hungry you are there is always something you can fill up on.  There is always as much salad, bread, and a starch dish and soup as you want.  There is always an appetizer of some sort.  With one hideous exception there is always a protein main dish and some sort of dessert with fruit or fruit and cheese or cookies or cookies and ice cream.  Wine is extra and besides water there is nothing else to drink in the restaurant.  But there is one problem because of the number of people that have to be fed the tables have to be cleared off and reset for other people coming in afterwards, so you can't take forever at all when you eat, especially since they keep a crew of (?) to clear the tables and the all but snatch the forks out of your hands if you take too long.  They do snatch the plates right out from under you. . . .  French milk is terrible they boil it among other things.  French coffee is great almost like a dessert.  I have have been eating like a horse, or about 3 times as much as I eat at home and truthfully that is no exaggeration.  I feel great and have put on five put on five pounds despite a rather long drawn out tedious cold.

    Monday 2 of December

         As you can see I regrettably write letters in installments.  One thing that I do find rather troublesome here is that my schedule is such that my day is broken up into little segments and I spend upwards of 2 1/2 hours minimum walking into town for classes out of town to the dorms, to the faculty for classes or midway between the fac. and the dorms to the restaurant.  It is slightly under a five minute walk to the (?) from the dorms which is not bad but if I have to go into town it takes twenty minutes and i walk rather fast.  A cross between a runaway wind mill and a two legged greyhound.  There aren't a great many sidewalks in Aix either and the pedestrian doesn't have the right of way.  A good rule of thumb for French traffic and the driving there in, would be as long as you don't hit anything or anyone, it's legal!  Stop lights have to be obeyed by the drivers of cars because there is never enough room for them to sneak through.  For a pedestrian there is and walking in French traffic has given me nerves of steel and completely cured me of any nervousness in traffic.
         [here follows several difficult to decipher lines which I am omitting]
    They are very fussy here about money matters like you just wouldn't believe.  I opened a bank account here for French franks (which I'm going to close out because of the money situation) and to get money out of a normal French bank account you have to go to the bank, tell the man that you want to withdraw so much money.  He then fills out a check which you endorse twice.  He takes the check, stamps it, then checks the signature in the file against the signature on the check.  The check is then put on another desk and a man picks it up and calls downstairs to see if the account is good.  If it is the withdrawal is recorded downstairs in the books and he then goes to a machine and types up a little form like a cash register receipt which he gives to the first man who calls out your name from the check.  He then hands the receipt to you and slips the check through the little window to the cashier, who is ensconced in a glass cage.  There is a number on the receipt which is your number in line to go to the cashier who takes your receipt, looks at the check, and finally counts out your money.    [lines omitted]
    What do you think of the financial mess that de Gaulle has created?  It has put some of the kids here in a bit of a bind.  The new financial rule is that no one can take more than $40 worth of French currency out of the country and no more than $100 in currency of any other country.  Thank heavens travelers checks being drawn on another bank outside of France are exempt.  I brought a little cash with me and some travelers checks to begin with and dad sent me a check which I put into the bank.  From now on I will buy travelers check in American dollars because they are the safest as is any check in American dollars drawn on an American bank.    [lines omitted]
    I think that it is the distance that makes it so difficult.  It costs around $12  for a 3 minute phone call.  However the French mail system is excellent.  it is really fast but very expensive.  It costs 1 franc or c. 20 for ten grams, not at all like our 20 cents for the half ounce.  They even weigh post cards here.
         If I am going to finish this and get it in the mail I had better call a close about now. . . .
              I hope you all had a good Thanksgiving.
                   Thanks for everything, take care,
                        Love to you all.


    Link to Aix-en-Province at GoogleMaps:

    http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Aix-en-Provence&aq=&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=39.644047,33.925781&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Aix-en-Provence,+Bouches-du-Rh%C3%B4ne,+Provence-Alpes-C%C3%B4te+d'Azur,+France&ll=43.51868,5.454712&spn=0.284312,0.265045&z=11