Ancestor Sketch – Mary (Washburn) Blanchard

Posted on February 4, 2021 by Don Taylor

Ancestor Sketch – Mary S. [A.[i]] Washburn

Blanchard/Utterstrom Project
Blanchard-Washburn Line

By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Mary (Washburn) Blanchard had one of the saddest lives I’ve ever encountered. Her birth and childhood are unknown. She married a farmer so poor he needed supplies from the town to keep his family fed. Then her house burned, killing her husband and a daughter. She lived for five years after the fire and died at the age of 39.

Blanchard-Utterstrom Ancestor #17

List of Grandparents

  • Grandfather: Edward Everett Blanchard (1900-1971)
  • 1st Great-grandfather: Frederick W. Blanchard (1865-1917)
  • 2nd Great-grandmother:  Mary S. Washburn (1834-1973)

Mary S. Washburn (1834-1873)

Birth

Mary’s birth is still unknown. The 1860 Census indicates that she was 25 years old, suggesting she was born in Maine from 1834 to 1835.[ii] Her son’s death certificate indicates she was born in Cumberland, Maine.[iii] It isn’t clear if she was born in Cumberland County or Cumberland Town.

Marriage

Mary married Albion Blanchard in a ceremony performed by Edias Baker in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine, on 2 February 1957.[iv]

The couple had three children.

      1. 1858 – Charles A. F. Blanchard
      2. 1861 – Sarah L. Blanchard
      3. 1866 – Frederick W. Blanchard

Disaster – September 1868

It appears that on 7 September 1868, the home of Albion and Mary burned. Their daughter Sarah died in the fire. Mary’s husband, Albion, died two days later in what must have been two days of agony.[v]

Mary was destitute and became wholly supported by the Town. In 1870 she boarded with David Libby in Windham.[vi]

In 1871 she was in the Yarmouth Almshouse. Her sons, Charles and Frederick, were being boarded with their uncle, Charles Henry Blanchard, in Cumberland.

In early 1872, Mary was at A. M. Libby’s in Windham and then “left for parts unknown.” Her 16-year-old son, Charles, was working for board at D. Pittee’s in Cumberland. Little six-year-old Frederick remained with Charles H. Blanchard in Cumberland, where he remained until he was at least 16 years old.

Mary reappeared living in Saco, York County, Maine, in early 1873, with her son, Charles, where she died on 2 May 1873. She was 39 years old. After her death, Charles boarded with William M & Samuel Merrill and worked for his board.

Events by Location

  • Map showing places where Mary Washburn lived.

    Maine, Cumberland County, Cumberland – Birth (1934), 1860 Census.

  • Maine, Cumberland County, Windham – Marriage (1857), 1870, 1872.
  • Maine, Cumberland County, Yarmouth – 1871.
  • Maine, York County, Saco – Death (1873).

Mary appears to have lived her entire life between Yarmouth and Saco, Maine, a distance of fewer than 30 miles.

Further Actions / Follow-up

Research on Mary appears to have reached a brick wall.  Possibly visits to:

  • Saco for death records
  • Cumberland for Marriage and Poor Records
  • Cumberland County (Portland) for other birth records may yield results.

Sources

1.     1860 Census, Family Search, Albion Blanchard – Cumberland, Cumberland, Maine. “United States Census, 1860”, database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDHK-XYB : 18 March 2020), Albion Blanchard, 1860. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MDHK-XYB?from=lynx1UIV8&treeref=M647-GD1.

2.     Town of Cumberland, Maine, Cumberland Pauper Book, Digital Maine, Blanchard [search]. https://digitalmaine.com/cumberland_books/5/.

3.     Maine Marriages, 1771-1907, Family Search, Albion Blanchard & Mary S. Washburn – 2 February 1857. “Maine Marriages, 1771-1907”, database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4N3 PXT : 14 January 2020), Albion Blanchard, 1857. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4N3-PXT.

4.     Maine, Death Records, 1617-1922, Ancestry, Fred [Frederick] W Blanchard (1866-1917). https://search.ancestry.com/search/collections/MaineDeathRe/1138416/printer-friendly?ssrc=pt&tid=10416014&pid=220072758160&usePUB=true.

Endnotes

[i] Occasionally, the town pauper records refer to Mary A. Blanchard which may be more accurate than the Mary S. Blanchard reported in her son’s death information.

[ii] See source #1 above.

[iii] See source #4 above.

[iv] See source #3 above.

[v] Bennett, Thomas C., Vital Records of Cumberland, Maine 1701-1892 (Prince Memorial Library), Digital Maine, Deaths – Page 180 – Deaths. https://digitalmaine.com/cumberland_books.

[vi] See Source #2 above.

Posted in Blanchard-Utterstrom Project | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Donna in the News – The Indiana Theater, Bedford, IN

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Don Taylor

“Donna in the News” is my reporting of newly found newspaper articles and advertising regarding my grandmother, Madonna Montran (aka Donna Montran and Donna Darling). I am always excited when I find a new venue for my grandmother’s exciting show business career of the 1910s and 1920s. 

This week from the Bedford Daily Times, (Bedford, Indiana) dated April 30th thru May 2nd, 1925.

I didn’t see any articles; however, there were ads for Donna’s show three days in a row.

Because of those newly available online articles, I was able to add another venue for Donna’s 1925 Bathing Girl Revue. The new venue added to her career list: “April 30 – May 2, 1925 – Indiana Theater – Bedford, IN – Bathing Girl Revue featuring beautiful Donna Darling.”

My thanks to Newspapers.com for their continuous efforts to digitize newspapers and their alert capability.

—–Disclaimer —–

 

Posted in California Bathing Girls (1925) | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Don’s Genealogy News – 31 January 2021

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Don Taylor

Genealogy

Photo Friday

Ethel Wight Collection

I posted Part 14 – Dow, Downs, Dresser, Drown, & Duddy. I also received some great feedback on the Carol L. Dow photo.

Blanchard Project

Blanchard-Washburn

Posted Searching for Mary Washburn’s Parents

Scarborough Historical Society

I posted the 1954 Scarborough Annual Report to Archive.Org and Digital Maine.

Maine Genealogical Society

Greater Portland Chapter

The next Chapter meeting will be via Zoom on 6 February at 1:00 PM. Please email to request the connection link and passcode

Conferences

If you haven't registered for RootsTech - February 25 to 27 - yet, I highly recommend doing so. The registration is FREE.  https://www.rootstech.org/.  They have also linked with Family Search to provide "Relatives at Root Tech," where you can learn of other people who are attending RootsTech. I've registered for Connect and have learned there will be at least 76 relatives at RootsTech. By the way, there are over 139,000 people registered for RootsTech. It is going to be Genealogical Fun.

New England Regional Genealogical Conference (NERGC) - Virtual conference - April and May 2021. E-Zine at https://nergc.org/e-zines/

Have a great week,
- Don Taylor

Posted in General Help | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Mary Washburn & the Early Censuses

Posted on January 31, 2021 by Don Taylor

Census Sunday

Blanchard Project
Blanchard-Washburn

In “Searching for Mary Washburn’s Parents,” I concluded the neither Cyrus Washburn’s daughter, Maria, nor James E. Washburn’s daughter, Mary, could be the Mary Washburn, who married Albion Blanchard.

Mary had one of the roughest lives of anyone I’ve ever researched. In 1868, when she was only 34 years old, her husband and only daughter, Sarah, died, and she became destitute. Left with a 10-year-old and a 2-year-old, the widow became wholly supported by the town. In the five years she had left, she lived in the Almshouse in Yarmouth and boarded with A. M. Libby in Windham for a short time. Finally, in 1873 her oldest son, 15-year-old Charles, joined her in Saco before her death.

The point of all this is that there was no family that could or would take her in; thus, she remained destitute and supported “wholly by the town.” With no family able or willing to take her and the kids in, it is possible that she had no family. That might explain why she didn’t appear in any census records for Cumberland during the 1850 Census. Her son, Frederick, died in 1917. His death record indicates that his mother, Mary, was born in Cumberland. Not finding her in the 1850 Census, I wondered if she may be in the 1840 Census.

Using the criteria of the last name of “Washburn” and residing in “Cumberland County” during the 1840 Census, there were six results.

  • James E. Washburn – Determined not to be Mary’s father previously.
  • Cyrus Washburn –Determined not to be Mary’s father previously.
  • Otis Washburn – Determined not to be Mary’s father previously.
  • Marshall Washburn – Had no females living in his household under 20.
  • Charles Washburn –Had no females living in his household under 10.
  • Isaac C. Washburn – Had three males and four females living in his household. He was likely the one male between 20 and 30. The two other males were 15 to 20, and of the females, two were from 20 to 30, one was 10 to 15, but one was under 5. I thought, “Maybe.” But, further research was necessary.

Isaac C Washburn in the 1840 Census.

Sadly, further research suggests that Isaac C. Washburn isn’t Mary’s father either.

Isaac married Cynthia W. Stevens in 1837, a few years after Mary was born. Additionally, the female under five years of age is likely Cynthia, a 10-year-old (apparent) daughter in the 1850 Census. So. I’m confident that Isaac is not Mary’s parent either.

Conclusion

I think I’ve encountered a brick wall with Mary, at least as far as my online research is concerned. I think maybe a deep dive into town records might yield some additional information. Possibly, some newspaper will have an article that will tell me more.

Posted in Blanchard-Utterstrom Project | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 14

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Don Taylor

Dow, Downs, Dresser, Drown, & Duddy

Photo Friday
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week, for Photo Friday, I identify more negatives from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The names on the envelope are of the individual who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. It is vital to analyze the photo and information to identify the subjects of the photographs accurately.[ii]

Carol L. Dow, circa 1937

This photo is photo #751 of the Ethel Wight Studio (Portland, Maine) Collection. The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Harry S. Dow, 11 Alba St, Portland #751.”

Carol Dow circa 1937

The 1937 Portland City Directory, page 303, lists Harry S. Dow and his wife Beatrice living at 11 Alba.

The 1940 Census lists Harry S. Dow and his wife Beatrice J. living at 11 Alba with his daughter Carol L. Dow. Carol is six years old.

Family Search identifies Carol Dow, the daughter of Harry S. and Beatrice Louise (Jackson) Dow, as ID G2M8-78J. I posted this photo of Carol to Family Search.

Anna Toomey Duddy (1910-1976) circa 1936

This is photo #219 of the Ethel Wight Studio (Portland, Maine) Collection. The envelope this negative was in says, Miss Ann Duddy – 184 Congress St, Portland #219.”

Anna Toomey Duddy circa 1936

Portland City Directory of 1937 lists Ann T. Duddy as having married Patrick J. Lowery. The Maine Marriage Index shows Annie married Patrick on 13 April 1936.

The Portland City Directory of 1935 shows Ann T. Duddy living at 184 Congress Street.

Family Search has Anna Toomey Duddy, born 6 September 1910 and married to Patrick J. Lowery as ID LRMS-WF3. I added two photos of Anna to her Family Search profile.

Eleanor Dresser (1914-1987) circa 1936

This is photo #772 of the Ethel Wight Studio (Portland, Maine) Collection. The envelope this negative was in says, Miss Eleanor Dresser – State St. Hospital #772.” The envelope also says to “mail proof to [? Sterp ?] Falls.”

Eleanor Dresser circa 1936

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Eleanor Dressor as a Student Nurse at 62 State and residing at 52 State.

The 1936 Standish High School Yearbook lists an Elynor Dresser, Class of 1932, attending training at the State St Hospital.

Standish is in Cumberland County, Maine. Steep Falls is a census-designated place in the town of Standish. So, the proof was to be mailed to Steep Falls.

The 1930 Census finds Eleanor C. Dresser, the sixteen-year-old daughter of Elmer F and Alice C. Dresser, living in Standish.

Several Ancestry Family Trees indicate that Eleanor was born 21 January 1914 in Standish. None of them include a death date.

After further research, I found that Eleanor married Norman Pierce Edgecomb. Eleanor died in 1987. Her memorial on Find a Grave had several errors. The birth date was 1884 and her death date was 1968, although the markers clearly indicate birth in 1914 and death in 1987. I have requested a correction of the Find-a-Grave memorial. The memorial indicates her parents as Elmer and Alice (Cousins) Dresser (which is correct), so I’m confident this is likely the right person.

On Family Search, I created Eleanor, the daughter of Elmer and Alice Dresser, and found she was already created as Norman P. Edgecomb’s wife with the ID of LK6F-VP6. She had no parents identified, so my creation and the existing entry merged. I have uploaded three photos of Eleanor to her Family Search Profile.

Alternative Individuals.

Do not confuse this person with Eleanor Dresser, the daughter of Mr. & Mrs. George Dresser of East Weymouth, MA.

Ocy L. Downs (1905-1999) circa 1937

This is photo #643 of the Ethel Wight Studio (Portland, Maine) Collection. The negative’s envelope says, “Miss Ocy Downes – 655 Congress St, Portland #643.”

Miss Ocy Downes and an unknown woman, circa 1937

The 1936 Portland City Directory lists Ocy L Downs (piano) at 655 Congress, Rm 511.

The 1940 Census record has 34-year-old, Canadian born, Ocy L Downes working as a music teacher.

Ocy Lorintha Downs was born on 27 August 1905 and died on 5 February 1999.

In 1937, Ocy performed solo on board the H. M. S. Queen Mary.[iii] I wonder if this photo was taken in conjunction with performances there.

She became a very accomplished musician. Today, the Portland Conservatory of Music hosts the “Ocy Downs Piano Competition.”

I have been unable to find a youthful photo of Ocy and can’t tell for sure which of the two women is Ocy, as both women appear to be in their late 20s or early 30s.

Family Search has a profile for Ocy Lorintha Downs (1905-1999) as ID LHW6-KSJ. I have uploaded two photos of Ocy and another woman to her profile on Family Search. I also mention that I don’t know which woman is Ocy nor who the other woman is.

Because of the connection to the Portland Conservatory of Music, I have messaged them via Facebook Messenger.

Child of Horace and Christine Drown – circa 1934.

This is photo #131 of the Ethel Wight Studio (Portland, Maine) Collection. The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs. Horace Drown – 9 Deane St, Portland #131.”

Child of Horace & Christine Drowne, circa 1934

The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Horace W. Drown and his wife Christine living at 9 Deane.

The 1940 Census shows Horace and his wife still living at 9 Deane. With him is their seven-year-old son, Robert, and three-year-old daughter, Martha. This photo was taken about 1934 or 1935, so Martha would not have been born yet, and Robert would have been about 1 or 2 and is likely this child.

I am confident this is Robert about 1934.

Robert does not have a profile on Family Search. I have posted his picture to my Flickr site.

Conclusion

I had:

  • Three successful identifications where I could post to Family Search.
  • One 50-50 identification (Individual identified as one of two people) and uploaded to Family Search.
  • One possible identification – I contacted other researchers for confirmation.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of a family member, I would love to hear your reaction.

Endnotes

[i] The Wight Studio was in Portland, Maine. Many thanks to Ethel Wight’s family for access to and permission to use the collection of their great aunt.

[ii] These images were converted to positives using a lightbox, a Nikon camera, and computer software.

[iii] Biddeford Daily Journal, July 23, 1937, Page 9, Column 3, ALFRED, ninth paragraph. Via NewspaperArchive.com

Posted in Ethel Wight Studio, Faces from the Past | 3 Comments