Author: Don Taylor

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 38

[Chaffey], Cummings, Curran, Currie (2), & Curry

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in five more envelopes from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Florence Margaret Curran, 1936

This negative envelope says, “Miss Florence Curran, 41 Park St, Portland #1080.”

Miss Florence Curran, 41 Park St, Portland, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • This photo was used in the 1936 Portland High School Yearbook as the photo for Florence Margaret Curran “Floss.”
  • Maine Birth Records indicates that Florence Margaret Curran was born 29 July 1917, the daughter of William and Ruth Curran.

Family Search identifies Florence Curran, the daughter of William Francis and Ruth Annie (Blanchard) Curran, as ID LY9Q-WMX. Florence Margaret Curran Michaud is also found in 14 trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have uploaded two photos of Florence to her Family Search Memories. I also uploaded one additional photo to my Flickr photostream.

Frances L. Currie, circa 1935 (age 9)

This negative envelope says, “Miss Frances Currie, 323 Spring St, Portland #255.”

Miss Frances Currie, Circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists Frank E and Alice Currie living at 323 Spring.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Frank E and Alyce B Currie living in Gorham with their 15-year old daughter Frances L Currie.
  • This photo was taken about 1935 when Frances was about nine years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Frances Currie, the daughter of Frank and Alice Currie. However, Frances L. Currie is found in six trees at Ancestry.Com.

I have added her photo to Dead Fred.

Mary Edith Currie, circa 1934 (Age 17)

This negative envelope says, “Miss Mary Currie, 128 Brentwood St, Portland #199.”

iss-Mary-Currie-128-Brentwood-St-Portland-199-

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory lists James E and Alice M, living at 128 Brentwood.
  • The 1940 US Census enumerated James E and Alice Curie living at 55 Whitney Ave, in Portland. With them is their 23-year-old daughter Mary, who was born in New Hampshire.
  • Based upon the negative number, this photo was taken in 1934 or 1935. So, I’m sure this is a photo of Mary Currie about 1934 when she was about 17 years old.

Family Search does not appear to have a profile for Mary Edith Currie.  Mary Edith Currie, the daughter of James E. and Alice M. (Clemons) Currie, does appear in 17 Ancestry trees.

I have added a different photo of her photo to Dead Fred.

I also uploaded two additional photos to my Flickr photostream.

Ralph Curry, circa 1935 (age 24)

This negative envelope says, “Mr. Ralph Curry, 19 Sherman St, Portland #320.”

Mr. Ralph Curry, circa 1935

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1934 Portland City Directory listed J. Ralph (and Leda) Curry living at 19 Sherman.
  • The 1938 Portland City Directory listed Ralph J. (and Leda) Curry living at 163 Frances.
  • The 1940 US Census enumerated the 29-year-old Ralph and his wife Leda living at 1542 Congress Street. Ralph was born in Massachusetts.

James Ralph Curry, born in Massachusetts and married to Marie Leda Gallant,  appears in 25 family trees at Ancestry. Ralph James Curry, born 18 January 1911 in Lynn, Essex County, Massachusetts, is LYD7-L4R on Family Search.

I have uploaded two photos of Ralph Curry to his Family Search Memories.

Ethel Gilbert (Chaffey) Cummings, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mrs . F. E. Cummings, 49 Concord St, Portland #781.”

rs . F. E. Cummings, 49 Concord St, Portland #781 – DSCN3081PR

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Francis E. Cummings living at 49 Concord with his wife, Ethel G. Cummings.
  • The 1940 US Census enumerated the 59-year-old Ethel G Cummings living with her husband at 49 Concord Street, in Portland, ME.
  • Ethel Gilbert Chaffey was born on 9 June 1881 and married Major Francis E. Cummings on 19 September 1910.
  • This photo was probably taken about 1936 or 1937 when Ethel was about 55 years old.

Family Search identifies Ethel Gilbert Chaffey, born 9 June 1881, as ID LBVR-T7C. Ethel Gilbert Chaffey also appears in 17 trees at Ancestry.Com

I have uploaded two photos of Ethel to her Family Search Memories.

Conclusion

  • I fully identified three individuals and was able to post their photos to Family Search
  • I identified two individuals that didn’t have Family Search profiles, so I posted those photos to Dead Fred.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

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 from negatives to positive images using a lightbox, a Nikon camera and computer software.

Deed of Albert S Bodge to John J Bodge – 12 June 1876

Amanuensis[i] Monday
Blanchard Project
Blanchard-Bodge
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.As I begin looking more closely at the life of Albert S. Bodge, I find his life seems to have fallen apart sometime between 1872 and 1880. Looking at his property transactions might shed light upon this period in his life.

Document Image

Deed of Albert S Bodge to John J Bodge – 12 Jun 1876

Transcription

I Albert S Bodge of Gray in the County of Cumberland and State of Maine

In consideration of two hundred dollars paid by John J. Bodge of Windham in the County and State aforesaid the receipt whereof I do hereby acknowledge, do hereby remise, release, bargain, sell and convey, and forever quit-claim unto the said John J. Bodge and his heirs and assigns forever all my right, title and interest in and to a certain piece or parcel of land with the buildings therein situated in Windham and being the homestead farm formerly owned and occupied by John Bodge late of said Windham deceased containing about sixty acres more or less. Meaning and intending hereby to convey all my right, title and interest as an heir at law to the homestead farm formerly owned and occupied by the late John Bodge and to all the real estate of which he died seized and possessed in said town of Windham.

To have and to hold the same, together with all the privileges and appurtenances thereunto belonging, to the said John J. Bodge and his heirs and assigns forever.

In witness whereof, I the said Albert S. Bodge and Lizzie M. Bodge wife of the said Albert S in testimony her relinquishment of her right of dower and all claims in the above described premises, have hereunto set our hands and seals this ninth day of June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and seventy six.

Witness: Jacob Clark                            Albert S Bodge (Seal)
L M. Webb to A. S. B.                          Lizzie M. Bodge (Seal)

Jacob Clark, Justice of the Peace,
Henry (?) Houston, Register

New Facts

    • Albert lived in Gray in 1876.
    • Lizzie was alive in 1876.
    • Albert’s father, John Bodge, died before June 1876.
    • Albert’s father, John Bodge, had a 60-acre homestead in Windham, plus buildings.
    • There was a John J. Bodge living in Windham in 1876 who purchased the land for $200.

Albert had a brother, John P. Bodge who was eight years older than Albert. This may have been Albert selling his share of the inherited property to his brother. The difference between “P” and “J” might be attributed to penmanship.

Alternately, it may have been a sale to another heretofore unknown Bodge.

Source:

Internet:  Maine landrecords.com – Real Property Official Records Search. https://i2a.uslandrecords.com/ME/ 

Endnotes

[i] John Newmark started the “Amanuensis Monday” category in 2009 on his Blog,  Transylvanian Dutch  and many bloggers have followed suit using the tag. Google provides the following meaning for amanuensis: “A literary or artistic assistant, in particular one who takes dictation or copies manuscripts.”

Albert Bodge & the 1840 Census

Census Sunday
Blanchard Project
Blanchard-Bodge
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.One of my first process activities in reviewing an ancestor’s life is to follow the individual through all of the available census records. Often this can be difficult, but in the case of Albert Bodge, it was pretty easy.

Albert was born 2 Aug 1838 and died 19 Aug 1897 at the age of 58. The 1890 Census isn’t available, and I found him in the 1880 and 1870 Censuses living in Westbrook. During the 1860 and 1850 Censuses, he lived with his parents, John and Betsey Bodge, in Windham. Other records have indicated he had four siblings, a brother and three sisters.

Searching for the John Bodge family in the 1840 Census was quick and easy.

Censuses

1840 Census – John Bodge, Head[i]

    • Males Under 5             Apparently[ii] Albert, age 1
    • Males 5 thru 9             Apparently John (Jr.), age 9
    • Males 40 thru 49        John, Age 45
    • Females Under 5         Apparently Louisa, age 4
    • Females 5 thru 9         Apparently Eunice, age 6
    • Females 10 thru 14     Apparently Mary, age 12
    • Females 40 thru 49     Apparently Betsy, age 41

So, the 1840 Census enumerated all of John and Betsy’s children.

Of interest, there were eight Bodge households in Windham, Cumberland County, Maine, during the 1840 Census – Andrew, two Johns, two Thomas’, Josiah, Olive, and William.

John A. Bodge was a single, white male, age 20 to 29, who was apparently married to a female 20 to 29. It will be essential to note the second John Bodge to avoid confusion in future research.

Endnotes:

[i] “United States Census, 1840,” database with images, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:XHT6-498 : 8 December 2020), John Bodge, Windham, Cumberland, Maine, United States; citing p. 447, NARA microfilm publication , (Washington D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, n.d.), roll ; FHL microfilm .

[ii] Because the 1840 Census does not provide relationship information, the relationships identified here are tentative and only “apparent” based upon age and household.

Ethel Wight Collection – Part 37

Croteau, Crowell, Crowley, & Crozier – Also, the Cumberland Club

Photo Friday
Ethel Wight Collection
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.This week for Photo Friday, I identify the people in four more envelopes and a building from the Ethel Wight Studio Collection[i]. The envelopes contain the names who paid for the photos, not necessarily of the individual portrayed in the image. As such, it is vital to analyze the pictures and information to identify the individual therein.[ii] Ultimately, my goal is to reunite the photos with family members who may have never seen the image.

Florence Crowell, circa 1936 (age 25)

The envelope this negative was in says, “Florence Crowell, 42 Fernald St., Portland #674.”

Florence Crowell, circa 1936 (age 25)

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Florence S Crowell as a clerk at 419 Congress street who resided at 42 Fernald.
  • The 1930 US Census enumerated the 18-year-old Florence Crowell living at 26 Fernald with her mother, Susie Crowell.
  • The 1920 US Census enumerated the 8-year-old Florence Crowell living at 26 Fernald with her parents George M. and Susie Crowell.)

This photo must be of Florence Crowell, the daughter of George Milford and Susie Batchelder (Cummings) Crowell, about 1936 when she was about 25 years old.

Family Search does not have a profile for Florence; however, Family Search identifies her parents as LWG5-5PY and 9V68-116 (George and Susan). Also, 19 Ancestry trees refer to Florence Sybil Crowell (1911-1968).

Besides this photo, I have added one additional photo of Florence to Dead Fred.

Comment: One of Florence’s children confirmed this to be a photo of Florence. 

Mary Crowley, circa 1936

The negative envelope says, “Miss Mary Crowley, 18 Summer St., Portland #618.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1937 Portland City Directory lists Bartley J Crowley living at 18 Summer with his wife, Mary.
  • The 1930 US Census enumerated Bartley and Mary Crowley living 18 Summer with their four children. Patrick, Mark, Mary, and Martin. Mary, the daughter, was 20 years old, which fits the apparent age of the woman in the photograph.
  • Mary Crowley was born on 8 December 1909 in Portland, Cumberland County, Maine. The third child of Bartley and Mary (Concannon) Crowley.

Family Search identifies Mary Crowley, born 8 December 1909, and the daughter of Bartley J. and Mary (Quincannon) Crowley, as ID L1ZP-3K6. Also, 9 public Ancestry trees refer to Mary Concannon/Quincannon.

I have uploaded two photos of Mary to her Family Search Memories.

Willis, Phyllis, and Herbert Croteau, circa 1936.

The envelope this negative was in says, “Mr. James Crotean (or Croteau), 186 Washington Ave, Portland #1007.”

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • I was not able to find James Croteau in the Portland City Directories. The 1938 directory indicates that Frances E Croteau, a seamstress at 155 Brackett, lived at 115 Washington Ave. Another Croteau listed was Willard J, an agent at 477 Congress, room 903, who apparently resided in Skowhegan.
  • The 1937 Portland City directory lists Croteau, Wilfred L (Frances F), employed by the City of Portland who lived at 115 Wash Av.
  • The 1936 Portland City Directory is missing page 256, the page that Croteau should be on.
  • The 1935 Portland City Directory lists Wilfred L (and Frances F) living at 186 Washington Ave.
  • The 1930 US Census lists Wilfred L. and Frances M Croteau living at 218 Presumpscot Street with their two children, Phyllis (age 1) and Herbert (age 0). The 22-year-old Wilfred was born in Canada, and his 17-year-old wife, Francis, and the children were all born in Maine.
  • The 1940 Census lists Frances Croteau, living at 115 Washington Ave with her daughter Phyllis and sons Herbert and Willis. With them is Frances’ 62-year-old mother, Maude Merrill. Frances is listed as divorced.
  • I’m convinced this photo is of Phyllis, Herbert, and Willis Croteau about 1936. Phyllis would have been about 8, Herbert about 6, and Willis about 3. I am not sure who James Croteau is that ordered/paid for the photograph.

Family Search does not appear to have profiles for any of the children of Frances E (Merrill) Croteau.

  • Phyllis M. Croteau, born 29 December 1928, is found in 3 Ancestry Trees
  • Herbert J. Croteau, born in 1930 to Wilfred and Frances E (Merrill) Croteau, is found in two Ancestry trees.
  • I did not find Willis in any Ancestry trees.

I have uploaded this photo to Dead Fred.

Joseph, Margaret, Robert, Katherine, and Philip Crozier, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “ Mrs. J. B., Crozier, 31 Taylor St., Portland #497.”

Joseph, Margaret, Robert, Katherine, and Philip Crozier, circa 1936

Why I believe this to be the individual.

  • The 1938 Portland City Directory lists Joseph B. Crozier and his wife, Mary H., living at 31 Taylor.
  • The 1940 US Census lists Joseph and Mary Crozier living at 31 Taylor Street with their five children
    • Joseph     18
    • Margaret 18
    • Robert       17
    • Catherine 15
    • Philip          14

This photo was taken about 1936 when the children were about four years younger.

Family Search does not appear to have profiles for any of the children nor either parent (Joseph or Mary).

The children of Joseph Francis Benedict and Mary Harriet (Faye) Crozier include:

Besides this photo, I have uploaded a second photo of the five children to Dead Fred. I’ve uploaded two more photos of the five children to my Flickr photostream. Additionally, I’ve uploaded one photo of Margaret and Katherine to Flickr. It is somewhat damaged, but Katherine’s image in the photo is really nice.

The Cumberland Club – 116 High Street, Portland, ME, circa 1936

The envelope this negative was in says, “ The Cumberland Club – High St. Portland #344 – Taken for Miss Noyes, The Sherwood, Park St.”

As a change from researching people, it was fun to see a building and see how much it hasn’t changed in the past 85 years.

The Cumberland Club is a private social club in Portland, Maine. It was built in 1800 as a private residence and organized as a club in 1877. This photo was taken about 1936.

The 1940 Portland City Directory indicates that The Cumberland Club was at 116 High Street. A look at that address on Google Maps proves that the building still stands.

I uploaded a second photo of the building to my Flickr photostream. This photo is a bit clearer, but it is damaged on the right side.

Conclusion

  • I identified one individual whose photo I posted to Family Search
  • I identified nine individuals whose photos I posted to Dead Fred.
  • One photo was of a building. I did identify the structure and posted two images of it to my Flickr photostream.

Final Note

If any of these photos are of your family member, I would love to hear your reaction. Especially if this photo is of a loved one for whom you hadn’t seen this photograph before.

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.

Becker – Surname Saturday

Glarus
Switzerland
By Don Taylor

Photo of Don Taylor with cat Nasi.Ancestry indicates that Becker is a Dutch, German, Danish, and Ashkenazic Jewish occupation name for a baker of bread or baker of bricks and tiles, which comes from the German word backen “to bake.” Ancestry mentions a couple of English meanings; however, this is one of those cases where knowing where your ancestors come from helps to understand the surname. In this case, there were nine generations of Beckers who all lived in Glarus, Switzerland, from 1624 to 1801. As such, I am completely ignoring the English origins and staying with the German heritage.

Geographical

Today, in the Canton of Glarus, there are 71 instances of people with the Becker surname. That is 1 in 548 people.[i]

In Switzerland, there are 1,520 incidents of Becker, making it one in just over 5,000 people in Switzerland who have the surname.

It is most prevalent in Germany and most frequent in Luxembourg, where one in 228 people have the surname.

Direct Becker Ancestors

    • Grandmother – 7. Florence Wilma Huber Darling (1908-1934)
    • 1st great – 15.  Bertha Barbara Trümpi Huber (1884-1968)
    • 2nd great – 30.  Bernhead Trumpi (1844-1913)
    • 3nd great – 360.  Bernhart Trumpi (1817-1879)
    • 4th great – 3120. Bernhard Trümpi (1776-1848)*
    • 5th great – 241. Anne Magdalena Becker (1745-1801)*
    • 6th great – 482. Johannes Becker (1698-1750)*
    • 7th great – 964. Johannes Becker (1665-1743)*
    • 8th great – 1928. Hans Becker (1624-1694)*
    • 9th great – 3856. Fridli Becker (1591-1673)*
    • 10th great – 7712. Hans Becker (1550-1610)*
    • 11th great – 15424. Fridolin Becker (1525-___)*

Note: Ancestors identified with “*” have NOT been confirmed and verified by my independent research. Their names and dates rely upon the work compiled by Patrick A. Wild.[ii]

Historical

All of the Becker ancestors in this line were born, lived, and died in Glarus, Switzerland.

The Alemanni (German) settled this area in the 8th century.

In 1531, following the Second War of Kappel, both Catholic and Protestant residents gained the right to worship. Both religious groups used the same town church, which created many problems over the centuries.[iii]

It is an area where the predominant language is the “Highest” dialect of Alemannic German (Swiss German).

Today

Glarus (town) is the picturesque capital of the Canton of Glarus. It is a small town of about 12,500 people nestled in a valley of the Linth River amongst the Glarus Alps, which rise 10,000 feet above the valley.[iv]

Glarus, [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons – Photo Credits: Samuel Trümpy Photography[v]

Direct Becker Descendants

Anna Magdalena Becker (1745-1801) married Fridolin Trümpy on 30 October 1767. I have not researched Anna and Fridolin in-depth to determine their children, other than Bernhard (see above).

Sources:

Endnotes

[i] Forebears – 2014 data for surname Becker in Switzerland.

[ii] Patrick A. Wild, Descent of Mary-Alice Darling Howell from Charlemangne (Zurich, Switzerland, , 2021) and Patrick A. Wild, Pedigree Chart for Shirley Elizabeth Darling:  Following the Trümpy line in Glarus (2021). Contact Glarnus Families Worldwide (https://www.glarusfamilytree.com/).

[iii] Internet: Family Search Wiki – “Canton Glarus,  Switzerland Genealogy” https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Canton_Glarus,_Switzerland_Genealogy

[iv] Internet: Wikipedia – “Glarus” – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Glarus

[v] Because I know there were at least four generations of Trümpy’s in Glarus related to my wife, and the photographer of this photo is a Trümpy, I suspect this photographer might be a cousin. It would be fun to make the connection.