Essex Society of Genealogists, Inc.Queries
March 2012
March 3
Surname: Frost
Query submitted by: Ann Gann
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives
Time Period: 1900's, 1800's
Looking for an obituary for Dr. William Mason Frost, believe died 15 Jul 1915 in Essex, MA.
Also what happened to his wife, Bessie MacNeil, must have remarried since can't locate.
Was in California 1920 Census, widowed, at 46.
Answer Query magann@cox.net
Mar. 4
Surname: Porter
Query submitted by: Bob Foster
Primary Goals: To share information, To learn more about relatives, To identify sources of specific information
Time Period: 1900's, 1800's, 1700's or earlier
PORTER, Rebecca, ca. 1665-ca. 1740: seeking Rebecca Porter's parents and lineage back to immigrant; m. ca. 1690 George Bixby;
ch. Nathaniel 1693-1703, Gideon 1699-1755. Reported to have resided in or around Boxford, MA, but MA Vital Records do not so indicate except for Nathaniel.
Answer Query rfoster407@gmail.com
Mar. 5
Surname: Elliott
Query submitted by: Bill Elliott
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives
Time Period: 1700's or earlier
My ancestors were originally from Salem and the first mentioned is Daniel Elliot who testified in the Witch Trials.
There is no reference to his birth or parents, but it is suspected that his father was also named Daniel Elliot and he died fighting at Casco Bay in 1690.
Is there any references to the names of the Salem men who died at Fort Loyall in 1690? Also, are there any church records in the Danvers area that list members names?
It is suspected that Daniel Elliot was perhaps a member. ALso, trying to find any info on indentured servants who arrived in Boston, thinking Daniel Elliot was perhaps
an indentured servant.
Reply submitted on June 4 by Mark Elliott:
Bill, At folks house dad Loren S. Elliott, descended from Johnathan, of the Daniel of the Testimony.
http://www2.iath.virginia.edu/salem/17docs.html
It is felt that Daniel Elliot was of the Salem Villiage Militia, and fought in Casco Bay, where he lost his life.
It should be noted at about the same time a Thomas Cloyse who obtained land from seaman John Cloyse father of Peter Cloyse lost his life in the region. Seaman
John Cloyse lost his life in the region during the King Philip War 1676, land was past to his son Thomas before his death. Peter Cloyse and Thomas are half brothers.
Peter is the oldest. It is felt the Daniel Elliot found in the Church
record link is to the father of the Daniel of the witch testimony.
Seaman Cloyse money supplied by Daniel Stone did bring indenture Scots to America. He is the grandfather of Hannah Cloyse daughter of Peter which married Daniel
of the testimony.
Second Reply submitted on 23 January 2015 by: Sue Sargent
It is indeed the same Daniel in fact there are four of them. The gggrandfather was Daniel from Devon england. Daniel of Salem ma married Hannah clouds they had
eight children . peter,daniel Ezekiel,Nathaniel,john Johnathon James and a daughter.I have traced back to 1590 with Richard Elliott all the way down to my
father who was warren r Elliott. I am still looking to see if we go back to Ireland and Scotland which is where the name originates. It is a hard ancestry to
follow for two reasons. One records of most of the Elliott's were destroyed in a fire in1712. The second reason is there were 77 different spellings since 1230ac,
there were two revolutionary soldiers an john was one of them ELLIOTTS are so numerous it is hard to back track. Anyone with more info, contact me event
through mail. My address is 101 Washburn Road Alexandria NH 03222. My name is now sargent, first name sue, email is sargesue61 at gmail.
Added Reply submitted on 7 March 2015 by: Sue Sargent
The truth is whether Daniel came from Scotland or england is still a mystery. I originally thought we go back to england.
As far back as 1500s,but there are so many theories, I've heard everything from fighting against Cromwell in Ireland, to
Scottish reivers in Scotland to being Andrew Elliott's son. The first story of fighting Cromwell doesn't make sense he would
have been only seven yes old. So for now the only thing I know for sure is I go back 14 generations to a Daniel Elliott mass.
I too am a descendent of Johnathan, in fact three are three of them.my line goes from Daniel to Johnathan sr,Jr,3rd to jotham, danielb, Daniel w, William Wellman,
warren a, warren r,Bryan,Bryan Jr . if Daniel is indeed Daniels father killed in 1690. That's 14 generations. These are my descendants,I just not sure if it goes
to england or Scotland. I don't know if we ever will where they didn't keep good records.
Answer Query greentree64@aol.com
Mar. 6
Surname: Pettengill / Pettingill / Pettingell
Query submitted by: Forrest Pettengill
Primary Goals: To share information, To learn more about relatives, To identify sources of specific information
Time Period: 1900's, 1800's, 1700's or earlier
Everett William Pettengill married Miriam E Pike somewhere in Salisbury, MA between 1870-1880. Miriam also went by Mary M E Pike before marriage. Cannot find marriage record in Waltham, ME where Everett was born. Miriam was born in Salisbury.
William J Pettingell of Waltham, Maine died off the waters of Newburyport, MA - on the steamship Laura Marion in 1899 and was deemed lost at sea - he was a mariner and pilot.
Looking to find any information to suggest why he moved from Waltham, Hancock, ME to Newburyport, MA sometime after 1833 when his wife Mary H. of Waltham, Hancock, ME died and buried there.
Answer Query 3735914@gmail.com
March 9
Surname: Martin
Query submitted by: Eric Hanson
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives, To identify sources of specific information
Time Period: 1700's or earlier
Looking for information on a Nathaniel Martin born in Amesbury @ 1723 & later resident of Bedford, Weare NH.
Trying to figure out his parents - some sources suggest a samuel martin born in salsibury.
Answer Query ehansson2@yahoo.com
March 10
Surname: Gallagher
Query submitted by: Chris Babin
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives
Time Period: 1900's,1800's
I am looking for birth, marriage and family information on John Christopher Gallagher born Sept 1885. He married Mary Gertrude Deveau Nov. 1908. My Grandmother Gertrude Mary was born March 28, 1910 in Gloucester, MA. Any information an these people and this family would be greatly appreciated.
Reply: Barbara J. Beake replied:
The birth record for John C. Gallagher, born 8 Sep 1885 at 12 Smith St., Gloucester, gives his parents as William Gallagher, Mariner, b. Campobello, New Brunswick, and Annie J. (Specht), b. Nova Scotia. [Mass. Vital Records, 1841-1910, vol. 358, p. 236, at the NEHGS website www.newenglandancestors.org]. John's siblings, all born at Gloucester, are: Charles W., b. 13 July 1882, d. 23 May 1883; Everett Andrew, b. 27 May 1888; Alton Harrison, b. 17 Dec 1891; Della May, b. 8 Feb 1894; and Walter A., b. 17 Aug 1895. Della's birth record gives her mother's name as Annie J. "Spates" and her birth place as Digby County, Nova Scotia. [Specht and Spates appear to be variant spellings of the same surname].
The LDS website, www.familysearch.org, has a marriage record at Providence, Rhode Island, 12 Nov 1908, for John Christopher Gallagher, 23, b. 1885, s. of William & Annie; and Mary Gertrude Deveau, 18, b. 1890, dau. of Felix and Margaret. [She is listed as 17 in the 1910 census, so I suspect that she was born closer to 1892, and increased her age a bit to be able to marry. The truth probably lies somewhere in between.]
The birth record for Gertrude M. Gallagher, 28 March 1910 at Gloucester, gives parents as John C. Gallagher, Machinist, b. Gloucester, and Mary G. Deveau, b. Nova Scotia. [Mass. VRs 1841-1910, vol. 590, p. 465]. Her siblings are: John, b. 24 Dec 1911 at Gloucester; Harold Robert, b. 25 Nov 1914 at Boston; and Margaret, b. ca. 1922, possibly in Cambridge where they were living in 1920. Harold's birth record gives his mother's birthplace as Pictou, Nova Scotia.
The 1900 census at Gloucester gives William Gallagher's birthdate as Aug 1849, and the birthplace as Maine, but other census records say Canada, and all the children's birth records give his birthplace as Campobello, N.B. Annie [Specht] Gallagher's birthdate is given as June, 1862, in Canada, per the 1900 census.
I hope this gives you a few more clues in your search.
Reply: Gale Stevenson replied: I can provide Spates/Specht if interested.
Answer Query babin.family@yahoo.com
Mar. 15
Surname: Chase
Query submitted by: Priscilla Ryan
Primary Goals: To identify sources of specific information
Time Period: 1800's, 1700's or earlier
Susan M Chase b. 3 Apr 1841 is listed in census and death records as being born in Lynn, MA. Her birth isn't in Lynn Families
vital records book and I have not yet found her birth certificate. Does anyone have access to a primary document proving Susan's birth?
Parents are Philip and Rebecca (Ryder) Chase.
Reply: Bob Gillis responded on Mar. 23:
Is the birth date and place from her death record? The surety of birth information in a Death Record is often low.
I am not sure what you mean by the Lynn Families vital records book. I think you are referring to the Lynn Tan Book, formally the Vital Records of of Lynn Massachusetts to the end of the year 1849. Her birth record is not in Volume 1 but her parents' marriage on 26 Oct
1836 is. The Tan Books have reliability of of better than 95%.
In 1841 there were no birth certificates. There was a return of birth most likely filed by the father. If it was not filed then a birth would not be recorded.
On the very slight possibility that her birth records was missed in the compilation of the Tan Book, Jay Holbrook of Archives Publishing has filmed on fiche the records of many Essex County towns; Lynn is not on an old listing. Recent info is that he sold his archives to an unknown company probably Ancestry.
It is very possible that Susan was born in the home town of her mother Rebeccah Ri/yder. I do not find her birth in Lynn. In fact no Ri/yder births, only two marriages, Rebeccah and Jerusha.
You can find the Essex County VRs at ma-vitalrecords.org/.
Answer Query pdgryan@gmail.com
Mar. 18
Surname: Smith
Query submitted by: Michael Smith
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives
Time Period: 1800's
John Smith born Salem Massachusetts 1841?
Father's name John Smith - shoemaker
Mothers surname - Berry
Seeking confirmation of birth, we have little information he arrived in New South Wales from Boston on the 'Asterion' in 1859.
Reply: Response by Bob Gillis on March 23:
There is no John Smith born 1841 in the Salem, Essex County MA VRs <1850.
What are the sources of your birth date and place?
If from the Passenger Arrival Records. PAR, a compete transcript might help.
What the given names of his children?
John Smith was often used as an alias.
There is no marriage of a John Smith to a (--?--) Berry in the Salem VRs
The Essex County VRs are found at http://ma-vitalrecords.org/
There is a Salem NH just north of Essex County
Addition from Michael Smith on March 26:
I may have got dates wrong upon looking at the documents.
John Smith states on his New South Wales marriage certficate dated June 1860 that he was born in Salem, Massachusetts in 1828. He also states that he was a widower.
He states that his father was ?? Smith and his mother was ?? Berry. His father's occupation was shoemaker. There is a possibility that his parents were Scots immigrants.
John Smith arrived in New South Wales in 1859 aboard the US ship Asrerion. On the arrival documents he cites his home port as Boston and his nationality as a United States citizen. This however could be an alias.
Answer Query majs59@bigpond.com.au
Mar. 21
Surname: Adams
Query submitted by: Joan L. Hall
Primary Goals: To identify sources of specific information
Time Period: 1700's or earlier
My ancestor Jeremiah Adams was born in Ipswich, Ma sometime between 1786 and 1790. His father may have been Joseph.
Ipswich birth records show a Nehemiah,
son of Joseph bpt. 7/3/1791. Were the names Nehemiah and Jeremiah used interchangeably?
Reply: Response by Bob Gillis on March 24:
What are the sources for his given name, birth place and dates?
As far as I know Jeremiah and Nehemiah were not used interchangeably but could be a transcription or recording error
More information from Joan Hall:
Bob, thank you for your reply.
Birth place and dates are based on documents.
1835 death certificate puts his birth about 1786. 1830 mass US census puts his birth between 40-49.
Death certificates of his children put his place of birth in Ipswich and Gloucester and in one case New Ipswich, Mass.
He married Miriam Dearborn Sanborn in Sanbornton, N.H. in 1813. Place of residences -Northfield, NH.
Records show He lived in Sanbornton from 1813 until about 1822 when he moved to Boston where he died.
He named his first born daughter Judith Folsom after Miriam's Mother. His second born, a son , Jeremiah Sanborn. His third born, a son, Joseph K.
I have nor been able to document what K stands for but suspect it stands for Kinsman.
Joseph Adams of Ipswich, descendant of William of Ipswich and son of Ezekiel, married a Dorothy Kinsman.
Dorothy's father was named Jeremiah. Miriam's father was named Jeremiah.
Ezekiel's two brothers, Benjamin and Ephraim moved to New Ipswich, N.H. Ephraim's wife was Lydia Kinsman Adams.
There are records of Robert Adams' line and perhaps a Williams Adams' line living in both Sanbornton and Northfield, N.H. in the 1790s through the 1800s.
I have found no records of a birth for Jeremiah Adams with the right age and right wife and marriage dates in New Hampshire.
Records of A Jeremiah Adams, descendant of Henry Adams, born in Mass to a William Adams in 1786 proved to be a false lead.
Thus I am now researching the line of William of Ipswich.
Also, I have found no Jeremiah Adams births recorded in Gloucester for the time period. All Nehemiah Adams births and subsequent marriages and deaths in Gloucester do not match Jeremiah's dates . Since Joseph Adams moved from Ipswich to Gloucester and died in Gloucester, It may be Jeremiah's children confused the two towns. I have not checked the Congregational Church records in person. I have, instead, relied on the publication of the records online. Any leads you might have would be greatly appreciated. Thank you, Joan
Reply by Bob Gillis on March 25:
> I have not checked the Congregational Church records in person. I have, instead, relied on the publication of the records online.
- The accuracy of the Tan Book records in Gloucester is around 98%. I do not know what on-line records Joan is referring to but http://ma-vitalrecords.org/ has transcribed and redone an index of the Tan Books. The TB images are also there. The Tan Books were complied by the Commonwealth back in the late 1890s
- I have never found a birth record for my 3ggm Susan Edes Saunders who married Elisha Brown 23 Feb 1817 and died 11 Apr 1824 at age 26. So my birth date for her is c1798. From her middle name I have been able to deduce from Census and marriage records that her parents were John Sanders and Mary Edes.
- After the Revolution until the early 1800s the recording of births and deaths was haphazard.
She seems to have good evidence for Jeremiahs existence, approximate birth date and other events. She will have to live with what she has found.
Answer Query JHALL74050@aol.com
Mar. 26
Surname: Davis
Query submitted by: Dana Davis
Primary Goals: To identify sources of specific information
Time Period: 1700's or earlier
I am currently living on eastern Long Island and wondering if there is anyone who might assist me
with specific questions I have related to my ancestor John Davis of Ipswich and Gloucester, estimated 1608 - 1691.
This would involve examination - if possible - of early Gloucester deeds.
Answer Query betuadollarucant@gmail.com
Mar. 27
Surname: Leslie
Query submitted by: Martha Inglis
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives
Time Period: 1800's, 1900's
I am looking for any information on the family of George B Leslie, Lynn Mass.
Reply by Barbara Beake on April 18:
You don't give any dates, but there is a George B. Leslie in the 1920 census at 26 Newton Ave., Lynn. He is listed as son, age 22, b. Scotland, in the
household of his [widowed] mother, Isabella B. Leslie, 62, b.
Scotland. Also listed: Alfred Leslie, son, 30; David Leslie, son,
28; and Mary Buick, sister, age 60. All were b. Scotland, so his
mother's maiden name is Buick. Mary Buick immigrated in 1903,
Alfred in 1910, the rest in 1911.
In 1930 George B. Leslie, 33, with wife Henrietta, 38, b.
England, are boarders on Washington Street in Lynn.
If this is the right George B. Leslie and you don't have a
membership to Ancestry, you should track down a local library that
offers it. I just searched on George B. Leslie, b. ca 1898 in
Scotland, lived in Lynn, and found "Watts Family Tree" which has
full details of his life including photos, images of records like
census, birth certificate, military records, and similar
information for three generations of his ancestors, their
siblings, and other descendants. [From your surname, I would guess
that you are descended from his sister Isabella, and William Inglis.]
In this case, it looks as if someone has done a lot of
research on this family, and made it available on Ancestry. [I
just hope it isn't you!] Hopefully this will provide the information you are looking for - this tree appears
extraordinarily thorough and well-documented.
Answer Query marthamartha_1@hotmail.com
March 28
Surname: Manuel (Manolis) Emanel
Query submitted by: Elizabeth Brown
Primary Goals: To learn more about relatives
Time Period: 1900's
Seeking info on my father's family- my grandparents who lived in Ipswich, Mass. at last address 3 Brown Sq.
My grandfather Vasilios Manuel( surname was changed from either Manolis or Emanuel) came to MA. in 1910 from Constantinople and his wife
Zola George Liokaris arrived from Constantinople in 1920. My grandfather died 8/22/1950 and was proprietor of the Ideal Grill on Market St. in Ipswich.
I have little info on either of them. Did find them in the 1930 census under the surname spelling of Manole. My fathers name was Fred and he was born in
1932 in Ipswich and died in 1985. His mother, Zola also died in 1985 in Ipswich. Any info would be appreciated. thank you.
Answer Query eliz055@yahoo.com