31 Dec 2010: Erbig and Weber Obits December 31, 2010

Here are a few family obits I found on genealogybank.com

The Record, (Hackensack, NJ) – June 28, 1991, Page: c07

ROBERT P. ERBIG, 92, of Ithaca, Mich., formerly of Jersey City, died Tuesday. Before retiring in 1962, he was a sales representative and supervisor for Consolidated Cigar Co., New York City, where he worked for 40 years. He was an Army veteran of World War I. He was a member of Masonic Lodge 17, Jersey City; Valley of Northern New Jersey Scottish Rite, Lincoln Park; and Salaam Shrine Temple, Livingston.

Surviving are a son, Herbert of Little Falls; two daughters, Lillie Mae Linfante of Pantego, Texas, and Mildred Campbell of Ithaca; two sisters, Eva Palmer of Westerly, R.I., and Evelyn Card of Worcester, Mass., 11 grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren. His wife, Edith Mae Roome Erbig; a son, Robert Jr.; and a grandson, Jay Campbell, are deceased. Services will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Allwood Funeral Home, Clifton, with burial in Bayview Cemetery, Jersey City. Visiting will be Saturday from 7 to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Donations to the Shriners Crippled Children’s Hospital, in care of Salaam Shrine, 369 Mt. Pleasant Ave., Livingston, N.J. 07039, would be appreciated.

The Westerly Sun – April 18, 2005

Robert I. Weber, 64, died unexpectedly on Saturday, April 16, 2005, after being stricken at home in Charlestown. He was the beloved husband of Cinderella (Riley) Weber for 39 years.

Robert was born in Westerly on March 19, 1941, the son of the late William P. and Dorothy H. (Senior) Weber.

Mr. Weber was a maintenance manager for many years before his retirement.  He was an Army veteran, a member of the VFW, Downey Weaver Post, and a member of RIMS. He was an active sportsman and athlete. In 1976, he was the only Southern New England player to be chosen to play on the RI 76s. He coached Little League, basketball and took great pride in watching his grandchildren play sports.

Besides his wife, he will be sadly missed by his two children, Tracy and her husband Peter Zegarzewski and Todd M. Weber all of Charlestown. He also leaves five grandchildren, Alexander and Tyler Zegarzewski and Zachary, Dakota, and Ashton Weber. He was the brother of Frederick Weber of Alton, Sally Smith of New Hampshire and Susan Wright of Tennessee.

Calling hours will be held on Tuesday evening from 5 to 8 p.m., at the S.R. Avery Funeral Home, Main Street, Hope Valley. A funeral service with full military honors will be held on Friday at 10 a.m. in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Route 2, Exeter.

Westerly Sun, The (RI) – January 14, 2004

Phyllis (LeCour) Weber, 74, formerly of West Arch Street, Pawcatuck, died Jan. 12, 2004, in The Westerly Hospital. She was the widow of the late Albert E. Weber, who passed away in 1989.

Mrs. Weber was born in Westerly, the daughter of the late Morris and Helen (Murphy) Weber. She had been employed as a warper/spooler at Charbert’s retiring to become a homemaker.

She was a communicant of St. Michael Church in Pawcatuck and a member of the Stonington Community Center, the Pawcatuck Neighborhood Center, and the Eastern Beagle Club. She was a loving and caring mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She is survived by three sons, Edward A Weber of Westerly, David E. Weber of Waterford, and Carl L. Weber of Pawcatuck; two daughters, Jean M. DeFusco of Westerly and Linda (Weber) Zamzes of Groton; a brother, M. Richard LeCour of Pawcatuck; 10 grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held from the Gaffney-Dolan Funeral Home, 59 Spruce St., Westerly, on Thursday at 9:15 a.m. to a Mass of Christian Burial at 10 a.m. in St. Michael Church, Liberty Street, Pawcatuck. Calling hours will be held in the funeral home today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Interment will be in St. Michael Cemetery.

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I also found the following obit for Florence Lockwood and I’m wondering if this is the Florence Lockwood that was the daughter of Dora Erbig and Harry Lockwood.  If you know, I’d love it if you could let me know if she was or wasn’t.

The Record (Hackensack, NJ) – May 1, 1998 Page: l06

FLORENCE LOCKWOOD DE MARTINI, 84, of Lantana, Fla., formerly of East Rutherford and Upper Saddle River, died Wednesday. Arrangements: Kohler Funeral Home, Wood-Ridge.

Dec 30, 2010 – The Bethel Mill, Hopkinton RI December 30, 2010

While searching genealogybank.com for records on Williams Rogers Wells (my great-grandfather) I came across this interesting newspaper article that had a history of the Bethel Mill where Williams worked.  I’ve become interested in the mills of the area as it seems that Williams and his father Jonathan were very involved in the Mill businesses of the area.

Here is the article and a transcription of it below:  Pawtucket Times 1899-11-03 WM R Wells and Mill

The Pawtucket Times, November 3, 1899

The woolen mill at Bethel, a small hamlet about a half-mile north of Ashaway, has changed hands and will soon be in operation.

Since 1816, when William Arnold built a small building on the site now occupied by the present structure, where he manufactured scythes there has been a manufacturing plant located on that spot.  Mr. Arnold continued to operate the plant until Zebulon Stillman purchased the property and proceeded to manufacture and repair wagons.

In 1829 the property again changed hands, J.D. Babcock becoming the owner, and the building was enlarged and the manufacture of carding machines engaged in.  A few years later the property was leased by Rowse Babcock and John Knowles, who manufactured yarn and sent it out in the surrounding country to farmers’ wives to be woven by them into cloth as was the custom of the smaller mills of that time.  Babcock & Knowles continued to run the mill until 1848, when it was destroyed by fire.

Immediately after the destruction of the mill, J.D. Babcock erected a building 32×79 feet with a basement, two stories and an attic, which was leased by Asher Babcock and Welcome Stillman, who equipped it with machinery, and for a long period manufactured woolen goods.  This firm was succeeded by T.R. Wells & Co, who were later succeeded by W.R. Wells, who made extensive alterations and improvements, putting in an electric light plant and erecting a commodious office building.

Seeing a chance to dispose of a larger output a large weave shop was erected, but at the time it was completed the firm was forced to the wall and the property passed into the hands of the mortgagees, the Pawcatuck Savings Bank holding the mortgage on the real estate and P.S. Barber the mortgage on the machinery.

Early in the present year (1899) New York parties made arrangements to purchase the property, but backed out before the deal was effected and in August the Ashaway Woolen Company bought the plant and are making preparations to put the machinery in operation some time in December.

A large force of men are engaged in putting in a new dam, while a new flume and water wheel are already in position.  The property is about five miles from the railroad, but the roads are excellent.  The concern will expend about $12,000 in repairing and equipping the mil land will manufacturer worsteds.

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Dec. 21, 2010 – Wells Cem and Alfred Rural Cemetery December 21, 2010

Today I finished uploading all of my pictures for Alfred Rural Cemetery in Alfred, NY and the Wells Cemetery in Little Genesse, NY onto findagrave.com to share with any and all interested.

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December 20, 2010 – Little Rhode Island Cem & Elm Grove Cem December 20, 2010

Today I went on findagrave.com and uploaded all my pictures from Little Rhode Island Cemetery in Genesee, NY and Elm Grove Cemetery in Mystic, CT.  Elm Grove has lots of Wells and Welles.  I added the overwhelming vast majority of them.

Come visit my website at www.FamilyHistoryDetectives.net and let us help you trace your family tree!

Dec 13, 2010 – Elnathan Babcock of Hopkinton, RI December 13, 2010

Here are some more family related articles I found on genealogybank.com on Elnathan Babcock of Hopkinton, RI.   Elnathan was the son of Peleg Babcock and Elizabeth Wells.  He was born september 30th, 1790 and died May 26, 1858 in Washington County, RI.

This first article is from the Providence Patriot dated May 9th, 1827 and talks about what happened in the May Session of the General Assembly on 1827.  In the second column about 2/3 of the way down it says “The following members were not in their seats.-Elnathan W. Babcock of Hopkinton”… Babcock – Elnathan W Babcock Providence Patriot May 9th 1827

This second article is also from the Providence Patriot and is dated April 18th, 1829.  It lists town election results and says “Hopkinton – Jeremiah Thurston and Elnathan Babcock, in place of Edward Barber and Jonathan N. Hazard. … Babcock – Elnathan W Babcock Providence Patriot April 18th 1829

This first article is from the Newport Mercury dated September 3rd, 1831 and lists the results of the election of town representatives as members of Congress and Representatives fo the General Assemble of the State of RI.  For the Town of Hopkinton, Elnathan W Babcock, G.W. Arnold, T. Thurston and Edward Barber are elected…. Babcock – Elnathan W Babcock Providence Newport Mercury Sep 3rd 1831

Elnathan’s mother, Elizabeth Wells, was the daughter of Jonathan Wells Jr and Amy Rogers.  Jonathan Jr.was the son of Jonathan Wells Sr. and Elizabeth Maxson.

Elnathan was a Farmer by trade.  Here he is on the 1850 census with his family:

Elnathan is buried in First Hopkinton Cemetery in Hopkinton, RI.  Here is a picture of his headstone:

Here is a picture of the House Elnathan lived in in Hopkinton, RI:

The Jonathan Wells house (aka The Jonathan Wells – Elnathan Babcock House) is a post and beam 2 story house with center chimney and sits on 3.9 acres of land overlooking the Tomaquag Valley.  It has 3 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms and six working fireplaces, one with a working beehive oven and a smoke house in the attic.    Behind the house is a detached 2 car garage with a hay loft and a small barn.  A Late Victorian, wood-shingled barn is nearby.   I have seen it written many times that “Originally the house was part of the Jonathan Wells estate”.  I’ve never actually seen it written that he built the house.  Although he may have, all I can say with any degree of certainty is that he owned and was living in the house at the time of his death.

Jonathan Wells (6-22-1712 to 3-5-1772) has the distinction of being my 5^th Great Grand Uncle and my 1^st Cousin 5 times removed at the same time.  Jonathan is the son of my 6^th Great Grand Uncle, Nathaniel Wells (1672-1768/9) who was the son of my 7^th Great Grandparents Thomas Wells and Naomi Marshall.  This is how he is my 1^st cousin 5 times removed.   He is my 5^th Great Grand Uncle because he was married to Elizabeth Maxson, who was the daughter of my 6^th Great Grandparents the Rev. Joseph Maxson and Tacy Burdick.

 The house has been called the Jonathan Wells-Elnathan Babcock House (or Ethnathan sometimes).  Figuring that Elnathan Babcock was probably another owner of the house I tracked him down.  

 Jonathan Wells had a son named Elnathan Wells (born ca 1737).  

Elnathan’s will dated 2 July 1804 mentions his nephews, Elnathan Babcock and Peleg Babcock.

Elnathan Babcock and Peleg Babcock Jr. were sons of Peleg Babcock Sr. & Elizabeth Wells.

Elizabeth was the daughter of Elnathan’s brother Jonathan.

So basically Elnathan Babcock was the grandson of Elnathan Well’s brother or you could say he was his great nephew.

Jonathan’s will reads:  “To the name of God Amen this fifth day of March in the year of Our Lord 1772, I , Jonathan Wells, of Hopkinton in the County of Kings County and Colony of Rhode Island, yeoman, being in health and of perfect mind and Memory, thanks be given to God, for the same and calling to mind the mortality of my body and knowing that it is appointed for all men once to die, do make and ordain this my last will and testament that is to say Principally and first of all I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it.  And for my body I recommend it to the earth to be buried in a christian decent manner at the descretion of my executor.  Nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mighty Power of God and as touching such worldly____ where with it hath pleased God to bless me in this life, I give, devise and dispose of the same in manner and form following that is today…..

Item-I give and bequeath to Rebeccah Wells, my dearly beloved wife, (NOTE: Jonathan married a second time to Rebecca Clagget after his 1^st wife died) the one third of the use and profit of my real estate together with the best room and bedroom adjoining the same in my now dwelling house with the priviledge of the kitchen and buttery and cellar.  I likewise give to my said wife, two ____ and their furniture and two pots and a kittle and ice kittle and the silver teaspoons, tea tongs and silver strainer and a set of china cups and saucers and ditto of stoneware, two glass tumblers or baker glasses and teapot and her choice of the looking glass and six chairs and tea table and warming pan and two china bowls.

I likewise give to my wife, firetongs and _____ and the case of drawers and trunk and great chair and three basons, six spoons of puter, six plates and two platters and one tub and one pole and trammel and frying pan and three knives and forks, one large silver spoon, all the above articles I give to my said wife during the time she remains as my widow.  But if she marry, it is my will that she shall have no more than one good bed and furniture and eight dollars worth of the rest of the household stuffs as she wishes to have which shall be her estate forever at her disposal. 

Item-I give and bequeath unto my beloved sons, Elnathan Wells and Jonathan Wells all my real estate and all the rest of my personal that I have not already given away by this will after my last debts and funeral monies being first paid.  I give to my sons equally to be divided between them, my two farms to be divided by a northerly and southerly line ______ to quantity and quality and my said sons after dividing said farms shall come to for their choice of said land.  All said land I give to my sons and their heirs and assigns forever. 

And I do hereby constitute, ordain and appoint my aforesaid son, Elnathan Wells, my only sole executor of this my last will and testament.  I do hereby disallow, revoke and disannul all and every other former testaments, wills and legacies, bequeaths and executors by me in any way before this time named, willed and bequeathed.  Ratifying and confirming this as no other to be my last will and testament.

In witness thereof, I have here unto set my hand and seal the day and year before written.

Signed, sealed, published, pronounced by the Jonathan Wells as his last will and testament.

In presence of us the subscribers.

Witnesses:                                Jonathan Wells   (seal)

Ethan Clarke,  Daniel Clarke,  Joshua Clarke

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December 11, 2010 Rock River Cemetery, Milton WI December 11, 2010

Today I uploaded all the pictures I have of Rock River Cemetery in Milton WI to my Flickr account.  See photos to the right on this page.

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Dec 8, 2010 – Newspaper articles Fox, Rogers and Vincent December 8, 2010

More from genealogybank.com

Here is a death notice I found in the Connecticut Herald for Dr. William Vincent, my 5th Great Grandfather (1762 – 1841)…. Vincent – William Vincent Dr Connecticut Herald Jul 28th 1807

Here is a death notice for Prudence Turner Fox (1732 – 1823), wife of Samuel Fox. in the Connecticut Gazette…. Connecticut Gazette Jan 1st 1823 Death of Prudence Turner Fox  Prudence is buried in the Fox Cemetery, Oakdale, New London Co., CT.  Here is a picture of her headstone:

Here is a cool little advertisement in the Connecticut Gazette in December 1824.  A farm to let in Waterford (Great Neck) of 180 acres of land that is 4 miles from New London and one half mile from the sea shore.  Says to inquire on the premises of James Rogers, Waterford … Connecticut Gazette Dec 22nd 1824 James Rogers Waterford house for let

If you have any idea which James Rogers this is, I’d like to know.  James was a very popular name in the Rogers family and there are a few candidates of who this James could be.

Here is another advertisement in the Connecticut Gazette.  This one from February on 1832.  A house, barn and land for sale in New London, CT on the river in “Green’s Harbor” that previously belonged to the then deceased Deacon Henry Harris.  Says to inquire on Henry Harris Jr. or Daniel Rogers.  Right below it is another ad that says inquire of Daniel Rogers or Asher Pember.  … Connecticut Gazette Feb 8th 1832 Daniel Rogers  This may be my 3rd Great Grandfather, Daniel Rogers (1790 – 1874) son of Alexander Rogers and husband of Sally Newbury.  Again, Daniel was another popular name with the Rogers Clan so I can’t be sure.

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Dec 8, 2010 – Brig Gen Clark Crandall of Alfred, NY

So on my continued searches on genealogybank.com I came across a few newspaper articles that mentioned my 3rd Great Grandfather, Brig Gen Clark Crandall of Alfred, NY (1785 – 1862)

This first one says that he was a vice president of the Allegany agricultural society that had just been established in 1819….. Crandall – Clark Crandall Albany Gazette Oct 25th 1819

OK, this one is a personal favorite of items I’ve found on this website so far.  It says that Clark was shot by an intoxicated indian in the thigh.  Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up!… Crandall – Clark Crandall NY Daily Advertiser Nov 26th 1819

This one lists him as a member of the assembly of the New York State Legislature for the counties of Allegany and Steuben in January of 1820….Crandall – Clark Crandall Albany Argus Jan 4th 1820

This one lists Clark as a Judge and justice of the peace for Allegany County in February 1821… Crandall – Clark Crandall Albany Gazette Feb 20th 1821

December 3, 2010 – Daughters of Wallace Ray Wells December 3, 2010

I found 2 obituaries for daughters of Wallace Ray Wells and Lucy Lillian Gray today on genealogybank.com

Here is Ethel Ray Wells Coulter’s Obit:  Springfield Union Oct 10th 1954 a MA Paper OBIT Ethel Wells do Wallace Ray

Here is Ruth Ada Wells Gilman’s Obit: Springfield Union Dec 28th 1958 a MA paper Obit Ruth A Wells do Wallace Ray

Just because I have one, here is a picture of Wallace Ray Wells:

Here is an obit I found for William Rogers Wells (my great-grandfather) in the Springfield Republican paper:Springfield Republican Dec 30th 1926 a MA paper WR Wells OBIT

Here’s a neat little article from the Newport Mercury dated May 23rd, 1736 were George Stillman of Westerly had his black mare stolen.  From the date, I’m going to say this is George Stillman the 4th, son of George the 3rd and Mary/Molly Burdick.  Newport Mercury May 23rd 1763 George Stillman 4ths Horse Stolen

Here is a death notice from the Impartial Herald, dated Oct 2, 1798 of the death of Rogers Tinker, son of John Tinker and Mehitable Rogers:  Impartial Herald – New London – Oct 2nd 1798 death of Rogers Tinker

Here is a death notice for Ezekiel Rogers son of Jonathan Rogers Sr. and Humility Green from te Connecticut Herald dates September 16, 1817: Connecticut Herald Sep 16th 1817 death of Ezekiel Rogers

Here is a death notice for Captain William Randall Wells son of Randall Wells Jr. and Patience Coon.  He committed suicide by hanging himself on a tree that would have stood at what is today the backside of Oak Grove Cemetery in Ashaway, RI: Daily Constitution Dec 7th 1872 a CT paper death of Capt William Wells of Ash

Here is a death notice/Obit for Thomas Bliss Stillman son of Joseph Stillman III and Elizabeth Ward Maxson from the Newport Mercury: Newport Mercury Jan 6th 1866 OBIT THomas Bliss Stillman

Here is a picture of Thomas Bliss Stillman:

Here is a neat little item I came across some time back that has a bunch of the Stillman’s from Plainfield, NJ:

Genealogybank.com – Wells Family Newpaper Articles December 1, 2010

I joined genealogybank.com this week.  Yes, I gave in to the persistent emails advertising them that family tree magazine kept sending me.   Was it worth the $55 (per year) membership??  Perhaps, judge for yourself when you see the following.

Here is an interesting article from the Pawtucket Times, dated January 6, 1910 and tells the story of the Wells family Violin.  Not just any violin, but a violin of the Devil!    It says the violin was passed down in the Edward Sheffield Wells line (of Hopkinton, RI).  One would assume from that it started perhaps with Edward Sheffield Wells Sr, then to Edward S. Wells Jr. Then to Augustus Lewis Wells Sr. and then to Augustus L. Wells Jr.  and then to A.L. Wells Jr to his sons Russell and Elliot.  

Here is the article:Pawtucket Times Jan 6 – 1910 Wells Violin Article

Here is an interesting article from the Pawtucket Times dated November 3, 1899 that talks about the Bethel Mill in Ashaway.  I’ve been doing some research on the Mills of Ashaway/ Hopkinton  in an effort to collect all the info I can on Jonathan Russell Wells and son Williams Rogers Wells as they were both involved in the industry.   You have to read down a bit in this article.  It starts with the line ” The woolen mill at Bethel, a small hamlet about half-mile north of Ashaway, has changed hands and will soon be in operation”    The T.R. Wells and Co is Thomas Randall Wells (who is commonly seen as T. Randall or just Randall Wells) who is the son of Russell Wells and Lydia Rogers Crandall.   It then mentions W.R. Wells which is Thomas’ nephew.  W.R. is Williams Rogers Wells, son of Jonathan R. Wells.  Jonathan is the brother of Thomas Randall Wells.

Here is the Article: Pawtucket Times 1899-11-03 WM R Wells and Mill

Here is an interesting death notice I found in the Plain Dealer (a newspaper from Ohio) dated November 12, 1917.  Talks of the death of a Mrs. Guy Wells who committed suicide by drinking acid.  I don’t know who she is but thought it very odd.  Let’s face it, you have to be pretty despondent to drink acid of all things.

Here is the Article:Plain Dealer -Ohio- death of Mrs Guy Wells in Waynesfield

Here is an article from the Providence Gazette dated May 9, 1772.  It lists the Justice’s of the Peace for Hopkinton as John Mason, Jun. Thomas Wells, jun. Nathan Burdick, Edward Wells and David Randa’ Esquires.   I tried to figure out by the dates who these Wells’ men are but am still not sure.

Here is the Article: Pape- Providence Gazette 9 May 1772 Edward and thomas Wells of Hop Just of Peace

Here is an article from the Bristol County Register dated April 15, 1809 I think it’s listing attendees to the Republican Convention.  Lists Randall Wells of Hopkinton.  This could be Randall Wells son of Edward Wells and Elizabeth Randall.  He lived in Hopkinton and his dates are 1747 to 1821.

Here is the article: Bristol County Registe 15 Apr 1809 Randall Wells

Here is an article from the Newport Mercury dated March 21, 1763 that talks of a meeting held at the house of Capt. Edward Wells.  This might be the Capt. Edward Wells son of Edward Wells and Elizabeth Randall, brother to Randall wells above. 

Here is the article: Paper- Newport Mercury 21 Mar 1763 – Edward Wells of Hop

Here is another article from the Newport Mercury.  This one dated March 28, 1763.  It talks about a Lottery that Capt. Edward Wells is having at his house in Hopkinton.

Here is the Article: Paper- Newport Mercury 28 Mar 1763 Edward Wells of Hop Lottery