In about 1685-6, my 8th g-grandparents Cornelis and Jannetje Doremus, emigrated to America from Holland, and settled at Acquackanonk (now Paterson), New Jersey. Below is a brief biography details the life of Cornelis Doremus and his link to my paternal family line. This is a new branch that has unearthed a number of new names for me to research: Van Voorhees, Romeijn, Lutkens, Berban, Jans, Terhune, Westervelt, Bogart, Van Houten, and Matthyseen. Many of the records that enabled these families to be identified are documented in the Records of the Reformed Dutch Church of Bergen, N. J. (now Jersey City).
Cornelis Doremus and Jannetje Van Elslant My 8th paternal great-grandparents
7th great-grandfather– Joris Doremus b. 1693 in Passaic, NJ d. 1733 in Preakness, NJ (Married Marretje Berdan)
6th great-grandfather – John (Johannes) Doremus b. 1720 in Preakness, NJ d. 1784 NY (Married Maria Lutkens)
5th great-grandmother – Maritje Doremus b. 1743 in Hackensack, NJ d. 1813 in Red Mills NJ (Married Albert Van Voorhees)
4th great-grandmother – Ellen Lenah Van Voorhees b. 1784 in Arcola, NJ d. 1857 in New York (Married Lewis L. Conklin 1771-1828)
3rd great-grandmother – Maria Conklin b. 1818 in Bergen County, NJ d. 1899 in Milton, CT (Married Rev. Richard Thompson)
2nd great-grandmother – Ellen Jane Thompson b. 1845 in New Jersey d. 1924 in West Avon, CT (Married Edward G. Fowler)
Great-grandmother – Minnie Fowler b. 1868 in Bloomfield, CT d. 1957 in Bloomfield, CT (Married Samuel Spencer)
Paternal Grandmother – Gladys Spencer b. 1898 in Bloomfield, CT d. 1984 in Hartford, CT (Married George French)
My Father – John S. French b. 1931 in Hartford, CT d. 2014 in Walnut Creek, CA
Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.
While scant information is available, history shows us that Effie MacPherson MacLeod was certainly made of sterner stuff. Effie is my paternal 4th Great Grandmother. In 1803, six-year old Effie came from the Isle of Skye, Scotland to Prince Edward Island, Canada with her family.
Later, with her husband Robert MacLeod, she moved to Lake Ainslie, Pleasant Bay, Cape North and finally Victoria, Nova Scotia. In 1828, she made the trip from Pleasant Bay to Cape North in an 14-foot open boat. According to family lore, during that perilous voyage, Effie gave birth to her son Angus MacLeod while in Aspy Bay.
Effie was a midwife and was for a time the only doctor in the Cape North area. According to a history of the region, Effie journeyed on horseback and snowshoes to reach those in need of her services.
Marie-Henriette LeJeune Ross (1762-1860)
In researching Effie, I came across another pioneer midwife who lived in north Cape Breton during the same period. In Nova Scotia, the story of Granny Ross is widely known and she is considered to be a “trail- blazer in the world of women in science.”
During the early years of her adult life, Marie-Henriette became aware of her gifts as a healer and midwife. The legend of Granny Ross began in Little Bras d’Or, where she cared for and saved the lives of many settlers during a smallpox epidemic. Since she had already contracted the disease, she was immune to its effects.
Note: The source for the map at the top of this post (Carte de L’Isle Royale 1744) is the Beaton Institute, Cape Breton University and is being used for personal or non-commercial use.
“Here Comes Patricia” – (Top) John is 3rd from rightIn classroom – standing back rightYearbook Staff (John is at the top far left) 1947 – “The Improper Henry Propper” John is 2nd top left.28 March 1948 – Hartford Courant
Cape Breton – Battle of Trafalgar
Below is a wonderfully story written about Dennis and George Maloney (my 4th and 3rd great-grandfathers) by Jim St. Clair, a teacher and historian who resides in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. I had the pleasure to communicate with Mr. St. Clair and just missed an opportunity to visit with him during a memorable family vacation to Nova Scotia in 2013.
Lou, St. Pierre, Pat & Mardino 3/25/54 – On Boat from Japan – Alcatraz in Background
This photograph, taken by my father John Spencer French, shows his buddies Louis Zieminski and Patsy Ruggiero. John passed away in 2014, Pasquale “Patsy” died in Florida in 2013 and Louis in 2004 in Wallingford, CT.
2 June 1953 – Hartford CourantCalling Home 13 Nov 1953 – Hartford CourantJohn S. French 12/22/53 Korea
Part II – This post offers several more newspaper clippings from the Hartford Courant about life on the farm in Bloomfield, Connecticut featuring my second great-grandfather, John William Spencer (1834-1896). The topics of the articles range from corn and pumpkins to snakes and rabid dogs!
25 March 1861 – Hartford Courant22 August 1868 – Hartford Courant7 September 1868 – Hartford Courant21 October 1868 – Hartford Courant Mrs. J.W. (Annie) Spencer – 2nd Place Rag Carpets Mr. J.W. Spencer – Best Pumpkins26 January 1869 – Hartford Courant8 December 1877 – Hartford Courant
If you are interested in researching your family history, newspaper accounts can provide a wealth of information. The above referenced clippings were discovered through Newspapers.com by Ancestry.
Above is a probate notice from 18 July 1878 that notes a bequest of $2,000 from Jason Goodwin (J.G.) Eggleston to his grand-niece Anna Eggleston Spencer. Anna is my second great grandmother. $2,000 in 1879 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $51,351.80 in 2019. Thank you great-uncle! Jason was the co-owner of Eggleston & Rowley Grocery located at 286 Main Street in Hartford, Connecticut.
Another benefactor in the will is the Reverend Nathaniel Eggleston who received $1,000. I wrote an earlier post (Rev. Eggleston’s Woods) about Nathaniel who was appointed chief of the Bureau of Forestry (now the United States Forest Service) from 1883-1886.
If you are interested in researching your family history, newspaper accounts can provide a wealth of information. The above referenced clipping was discovered through Newspapers.com by Ancestry.
I’ll Say it Again, Those are My Nuts! (J.W. Part I)
With genealogical research, it is often a case of feast or famine. With my 2nd great-paternal grandfather, John William Spencer (1834-1896), I have discovered a wealth of material. In a previous post, Introducing Annie and John Spencer, I described the joy of having someone share John and Annie’s wedding photograph with me.
Recently, researching Hartford newspapers, I came across several wonderful articles that shine a light on the lives of John and Annie.
The article below from 1869 describes a party celebrating John and Annie’s 10th wedding anniversary! Couldn’t they just have mentioned Annie by name?
These “true crime stories” that occurred in Bloomfield Connecticut, involving John W. Spencer, are separated by 26 years!
Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · 14 Nov 1867, Thu · Page 8Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · 21 Oct 1893, Sat · Page 12
If you are interested in researching your family history, newspaper accounts can provide a wealth of information. The above referenced clippings were discovered through Newspapers.com by Ancestry.
While I hate to admit it, I believe my paternal great-grandmother, Mary “Minnie” MacEachern French, might be viewed as a gold digger. The evidence comes from a sensational series of articles that played out in Boston newspapers from 1916-1918. What is amazing is that a jury found in her favor, although it appears the judge felt greater sympathy for the defendant. Another perspective is that she was just a tough woman who immigrated to the U.S. from Canada and found a way to make life more bearable.
Mary MacEachern was born on April 25. 1877 in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada. In April 1897, she married Walter Abraham French, a carriage driver, in Boston, Massachusetts and from this union, my grandfather George Bradley French was born in 1898. Mary and Walter were separated in 1901. At the time of the court case, George was serving in France – Pvt. George B. French – WW1.
For the sake of brevity, below are excerpts from numerous stories in Boston newspapers that followed the case of Mary French v. John A. Emery:
Denies He Gave
Promise to Wed – Boston Post · Aug 18, 1916 · Page 7
“I may have put my arm on her shoulder in a friendly way,
but I have no memory of having done so.” John Alvin Emery, 70 years old, the
man who built Boston’s first subway, to a question as to whether he ever hugged
Mrs. Mary R. French, who has brought an $80,00 breach of promise suit against
him.
Sympathy Kiss Figures
in Suit – The Boston Globe · 18 Aug 1916 · Page 1
Subway builder remembers she called him a “dear thing.”
Calls His Relations
Platonic – Boston Post · 24 Sep 1916 · Page 2
He admitted he had loaned her various sums and said she was
continuously wanting money, he loaned it in some cases and declining in others.
Says Aged Builder
Called Her “Sis” – The Boston Globe · 14 Feb 1918 · Page 5
Back Bay Woman Claims She Secured Divorce to Marry Him
Asks $800,000 in Love
Lost Suit – The Boston Globe · 26 Mar 1918 · Page 8
Mrs. French was the first witness call. “I have been a dressmaker since 1906. April 13, 1897, I married Walter A.
French. In 1901, he separated from me”
she said. I first met Mr. Emery in
1906.
…In the latter part of 1906, I noticed a change in his
attitude about me. He seemed to want to
be in my company.
Engagement Party One
Witness Says/Plaintiff Rest in the French-Emery Case – The Boston Globe · 26
Mar 1918 · Page 2
“O’ she does work, but that won’t be for long and when
affairs are settled, I intend to marry her.”
“Never Saw Any
Improper Conduct” – The Boston Globe – Mar 27, 1918 · Page 2
And you never kissed her, or put your arm around her, or
maintained toward her the closest relations a man may maintain towards a
woman?” “I did not.”
Love Letters in Suit
for $80,000 – Boston Post · 27 March 1918 · Page 5
Letters from Mary French to John Emery
(April 11, 1911) My Dear – Just let me call you that just
once. Don’ look cross. You must think I am a queer little
monkey. Well. I suppose I am, to a
certain degree. The Lord meant me for a
good, sweet woman, and although fate has made it pretty hard, as much as I try
to get away from my beginning, it is simply impossible.
(July 8, 1913) …Please see about my electric bill and send
me that stove. I am still short that
$10. Will you send me a letter with that
amount like dear. I am anxious to get
the stove to cook with.
…You won’t turn me out surely. Thanks ever so much, dear. Bless your dear old heart. Good night.
MF
(March 5, 1915) How if I had sued you for breach of promise,
and you know I would win in any court of justice. And really it is not too late, so maybe when
you think it over you will feel different about things.
…I need a great deal of money to meet expenses with, and
this time of year it comes slowly.
(September 11, 1915) Dear Friend – I have waited anxiously
to hear from you. Now you gave me to
understand that I would hear from you on Friday at the latest. Now I am awfully in need of money and you
promised you would help me the Lord knows you are getting off easy with a few
dollars once in a while which you can well afford and a great many more and not
feel the loss of it. If I were like some
women it would cost you thousands and a lot of notoriety, as I don’t think it
is necessary for me to tell you where you stand, and instead you make promises
you don’t intend to keep.
Didn’t Ask Mrs.
French to Wed Him – Boston Post · 28 Mar 1918 · Page 4
Mr. Emery is now 73 and Mrs. French is 41. According to her contention the proposal of
marriage was made 10 years ago.
Mrs. French Gets
$17,000 Award – Wins breach of promise suit against J.A. Emery.
The Boston Globe · 29
Mar 1918, P. 16
She said she called frequently and on Nov 22, 1907, when she
was at his home, 111 Boyston St., to
consult him about buying dressmaking stock, he proposed marriage. At the time she was married to Walter A.
French and he said it was easy to get a divorce.
Mrs. French Asks New
Trial After Her $17,000 Verdict – The Boston Globe · 30 Mar 1918, P. 14
(Mrs. French) …has filed through her counsel, Fletcher
Ramsey, a motion for a new trial on the ground that the verdict was not
warranted based on the evidence.
Mrs. French’s Award
Held Up – Boston Post · 2 Apr 1918 · Page 3
$17,000 Verdict
Reduced to $5,000 – The Boston Globe · 3 Apr 1918 · Page 16
Judge White then set the sum at $5,000 and gave Mrs. French
one week in which to accept that ruling.
Obituary – John Emery
– The Boston Globe · 29 Mar 1919 · Page 12
Mrs. Mary R. French (Obituary) Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · 22 Apr 1932, Fri · Page 4. Mrs. Mary R. French died Thursday at the home of her son. George B. French, 15 Euclid Street. She was born in Nova Scotia. Besides her son, she leaves behind a grandson, J. Spencer French of Hartford.
If you are interested in researching your family history, newspaper accounts can provide a wealth of information. The above referenced clippings were discovered through Newspapers.com by Ancestry.
As a boy growing up in Wethersfield, Connecticut, I recall two distinct images about our backyard. The first was a weeping willow tree and the second were the massive bloodhounds kept by our neighbor directly behind our yard. What I just discovered was that my father had the neighbor charged and brought to court for “creating a nuisance by harboring barking dogs!” Read the full tale below:
Hartford Courant (Hartford, Connecticut) · 20 Aug 1965
