Immortality (March 27, 2020) -- Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter

Today's post reprises a post first published on March 24, 2014 (with slight modification to reflect the correct anniversry date).

"Immortality Lies in Being Remembered by Family and Friends." -- John D. Tew 

Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter [1858 - 1945]

Today is the 162nd anniversary of the birth of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta Freeman. Sarah married my great grandfather, Samuel Eber Carpenter, on June 15, 1887 when she was 29 years old. Sarah's first granddaughter (my mother) was born on March 28th, the day after Sarah turned 69.

Sarah Etta Freeman was born on March 27, 1858 in East Douglas, Massachusetts to Mason Freeman (1820 - 1898) and his wife, Martha Amanda Shearman (1830 - 1870). Sarah was the third of five children born to Mason and Martha Freeman: Ellen Frances born 1852; Edward Mason born 1854; Sarah Etta born 1858; Caleb Everett born 1862; and Otis Mason born 1868.  By the time Sarah turned 17 her family had moved to Lincoln, Rhode Island and it was while living there that Sarah met Samuel Eber Carpenter.

Sarah had some hard experiences in her life.  Her mother died when Sarah was only 12 years old. Sam and Sarah had two children -- my maternal grandfather, Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962), and his older sister, Ruth Ann Carpenter (1889 - 1920). Ruth Ann died at age 31 just twelve days after giving birth to her only child, Richard Carpenter Knight (the first of Sarah's four grandchildren).

Sarah is especially intriguing to me because she is the first ancestor where I have actual documentation to show that she had an active interest in genealogy. Sarah wrote letters to town clerks and other officials seeking proof of her ancestors' births, deaths, and life experiences -- particularly with regard to military service. She was successful in some respects because she was able to obtain C.A.R. membership for both of her children in 1905. [See the post of July 3, 2013 here on The Prism.]

Today I raise a glass in memory of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter!

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Photographs from the personal collection of the author.
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Copyright 2020, John D. Tew
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Hunting for Abby . . . A Mystery Solved (October 9, 2015) -- Part IV

In this final post about finding the family of my 3X great grandmother, Abby [Hunt] Miller,  I reveal the last bits of evidence I have uncovered. These last items were discovered in a box of family documents that apparently were stored away in the back of a closet in my parents' house not too long after my maternal grandmother, Ruth E. [Cooke] Carpenter, died in 1979. When my parents later moved to New Hope, PA, the box was moved into a large storage closet in my sister's home and it remained there untouched until earlier this year when my sister said she had a box of photographs and other materials that I might want to look through.

One of the most important questions raised by a review of this analysis is whether or not the ostensible father of Abby Hunt was in fact Daniel S. Hunt as my grandmother's spoon notes indicated -- and as supported by the initials "DSH" on the heirloom spoon. While the vital records index for North Kingstown, RI shown in Part II, indicates that a "Samuel of Samuel" lived in North Kingstown and had a wife named "Susan" with whom he had seven daughters [Susan, Sally N., Charlotte, Ruth Ann, Lucy, Abbie, and Mary S.H.], there was no evidence of a Daniel S. Hunt having any presence or connection to North Kingstown. The supposition and assumption was that the "S" in Daniel S. Hunt stood for "Samuel" and that if Daniel was also known at some point as "Samuel, son of Samuel Hunt" in North Kingstown, then Maj. Daniel Hunt (who was born in North Kingstown) and his wife Susan/Susannah Northup (also born in North Kingstown) fit almost perfectly as the Samuel and Susan Hunt who were the parents of Abby, Charlotte, and Ruth Ann Hunt (and their four sisters) in North Kingstown, RI.

But is there any hard evidence to support the family notes and document clues about Daniel S. Hunt being connected to North Kingstown and particularly Cumberland, RI where Abby and Charlotte Hunt later came to reside in the Miller household at 551 High Street in Cumberland . . . and where their sister Ruth Ann Hunt came to marry Aurin Miller, who grew up at 551 High Street as the older brother of Abby's husband Eber Miller? Thanks to documents discovered in the long forgotten box of family records in my sister's house, the answer to this crucial questions is, "Yes!"

January 28, 1837 deed of North Kingstown property to Daniel Hunt from Lawton Hunt.

As shown in the 1837 deed discovered in the box of family documents, Daniel Hunt purchased from Lawton Hunt for $26.66 "one undivided half part of a certain tract or parcel of land situated in said North Kingstown, with a dwelling house & other buildings thereon." The subject parcel had been purchased by Lawton Hunt from one "Hazelton Hunt by deed bearing date August fourth, 1835, now on Record in said North Kingstown . . . " This provides clear evidence of the connection Daniel Hunt had to North Kingstown, RI and the Hunt family living and owning property there.

And what about a connection of Daniel Hunt to Cumberland, RI?  The two parts of an oversized deed also recently found in the box of family documents (shown immediately below) provide the necessary evidence of a Cumberland connection for Daniel Hunt.

Top half of the July 1, 1835 deed of Valley Falls property to Daniel Hunt from Nathaniel and Joseph Jenckes/Jencks

Bottom half of the July 1, 1835 deed of Valley Falls property to Daniel Hunt from Nathaniel and Joseph Jenckes/Jencks

The July 1, 1835 deed from "Nathaniel Jenckes of Burrillville and Joseph Jenckes of Smithfield" to "Daniel Hunt of Cumberland" for an acre and a half parcel of land with a dwelling house located in Smithfield at Valley Falls at the price of "Six Hundred and Five Dollars" provides clear evidence that Daniel Hunt resided in Cumberland in 1835.

Based on the newly discovered deeds shown above, the proven connection of Daniel Hunt to both North Kingstown and Cumberland, RI makes it overwhelmingly likely that the Daniel S. Hunt of my family notes and the "DSH" on the heirloom spoon is the Maj. Daniel Hunt, husband of Susan [Northup] Hunt, both of North Kingstown, RI, who are buried in Brayton Cemetery. Moreover, it also  makes it overwhelmingly likely that "Daniel S. Hunt" is indeed the son of Samuel Hunt of North Kingstown, RI who may have been known as "Samuel" and who fathered Abby, Charlotte, and Ruth Ann Hunt (and their four sisters) with his wife Susan/Susannah Northup as shown in the vital records index for North Kingstown.

And finally, perhaps the most surprising and valuable find among the recently uncovered family documents, is the portrait photograph of the woman shown at the top of this post. The date of the photograph is unknown, but, as the two images provided below clearly indicate in the handwriting of my great grandmother, Sarah [Freeman] Carpenter . . . the woman in the portrait is my 3X great grandmother Abby [Hunt] Miller (March 17, 1807 - April 23, 1893)!

Front of the Abby [Hunt] Miller portrait

Back of the Abby [Hunt] Miller portrait

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The scanned images shown above are all from original documents in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2015, John D. Tew

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Friday Fotos (November 21, 2014) -- Sarah Etta [Freeman] Carpenter

Sarah Etta {Freeman] Carpenter (1858 - 1945)

My Great Grandmother, Sarah Carpenter, was born March 27, 1858 in East Douglas, Massachusetts. Her family later moved to Lincoln, Rhode Island and it was while living there that she met her future husband, Samuel Eber Carpenter of Cumberland, Rhode Island. They were married on June 15, 1887, less than three months after Sarah turned 29. Sarah lived the rest of her life in Cumberland, Rhode Island residing at 551 High Street, the Carpenter/Miller family home.  Sarah died on July 24, 1945 and is buried in Swan Point Cemetery in Providence.

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Scan of the original portrait in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Military Monday (October 6, 2014) -- Col. Thomas Carpenter of Rehoboth, Massachusetts

Thomas Carpenter III is my 5th great grandfather.  He was born October 24, 1733 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts the son of Thomas Carpenter and Mary Barstow. He was the great great grandson of William Carpenter who was born in England in 1605 and immigrated to Massachusetts in 1638. 

Thomas Carpenter III died in Rehoboth on April 26, 1807.  He was married to Elizabeth Moulton (1736 - 1804) and they had twelve children together, including my 4th great grandfather, James Carpenter (1767 - 1812).

Thomas and Elizabeth built their home in Rehoboth at what is now 77 Bay State Road. The home was completed in 1755. In 1983, the home was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The home is pictured immediately below.

The Thomas Carpenter House, 77 Bay State Road, Rehoboth, Massachusetts

  

Thomas Carpenter III was a colonel in the Massachusetts Militia during the Revolutionary War. He commanded the First Bristol Regiment (known as "Carpenter's Regiment") from 1776 - 1780. He had been elected in 1774 to serve as a delegate to represent Rehoboth at the Massachusetts Provincial Congress and in 1775 he was elected Deputy to the General Court of Massachusetts.

Col. Thomas Carpenter served under Major General Lincoln and marched to New York in 1776. In July 1778 Thomas was part of the Rhode Island expedition and he served for one month and nineteen days.  On August 18, 1778 he was ordered to Rhode Island and on the 29th of that month his regiment was involved in action where several of his men (residents of Rehoboth) were killed.  Thomas Carpenter himself was "distinguished for his activity and bravery" at that time. Later, Carpenter's Regiment served under Brigadier General Godfrey and in July and August 1780 he served at Tiverton. 

Col. Thomas Carpenter is the ancestor upon whom my membership in the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) is based.

My descent from Col. Thomas Carpenter is as follows:

          Thomas Carpenter (1733 - 1807)                    m.    Elizabeth Moulton (1736 - 1804)

          James Carpenter (1767 - 1812)                       m.    Lucy Bliss (1769 - 1817)

          Joseph Carpenter (1789 - 1880)                      m.    Nancy Mason Bullock (1793 - 1880)

          Samuel Carpenter (1828 - 1904)                     m.    Ruth Ann Miller (1828 - 1893)

          Samuel Eber Carpenter (1853 - 1929)            m.    Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945)

          Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962)    m.    Ruth Eaton Cooke (1897 - 1979)

          Shirley Carpenter (1927 -     )                         m.    Arnold G. Tew, Jr. (1922 -     )

          John D. Tew

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Photograph of headstone in Rehoboth Historic Cemetery 8 taken February 8, 2012 by Kenneth Zirkel "kickstand" of Find-A-Grave.  Used by permission granted by Mr. Zirkel at his membership profile (#47213883).  Thank you Mr. Zirkel!

Photograph of The Thomas Carpenter House is from the Historic American Buildings Survey and is the property of the Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, MA-394-1. The work is in the public domain as a work prepared by an officer or employee of the United States Government as part of official duties. http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Thomas_Carpenter_House.jpg

See, Thomas Carpenter III at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Carpenter_III

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Wordless Wednesday (August 27, 2014) -- Sarah Etta [Freeman] Carpenter With Two Of Her Grandchildren

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Scan of the original photograph of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta [Freeman] Carpenter, with her grandchildren, Shirley Carpenter (my mother), and David Otis Carpenter (my mother's brother) circa 1932.  Original photograph in the collection of the author.  

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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew

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Immortality (July 21, 2014) -- Ruth Ann Carpenter

"Immortality Lies in Being Remembered by Family and Friends." -- John D. Tew 

Ruth Ann Carpenter (1889 - 1920)

Today is the 125th anniversary of the birth of my grand aunt, Ruth Ann Carpenter.  Ruth Ann was the older sister of my maternal grandfather, Everett Shearman Carpenter.  I never met Ruth because she died almost thirty-two years before I was born.

Ruth was born on July 21st, 1889 in Providence, Rhode Island.  She was the first child of Samuel Eber Carpenter (1853 - 1929) and his wife Sarah Etta Carpenter nee Freeman (1858 - 1945).  Sam and Sarah named their daughter after Sam's mother, Ruth Ann Carpenter nee Miller (1828 -1893).

Ruth and my grandfather were apparently very close.  I never heard my grandfather ever mention having a sister, but then again I was only about ten years old when my grandfather died and the lapse might be more of my memory than his.  I did not become aware of Ruth Ann and her story until I was well into my adulthood and did not see photographs of her until perhaps a decade or more ago.

As shown in a post here on July 9th, even though Ruth Ann was almost two years older than her brother Everett, she and he graduated from Cumberland High School on the same day in June 1907. Evidence from surviving report cards indicates that Ruth was not the student that her younger brother was and he graduated as co-valedictorian of their small class. Ruth Ann did not go on to college, but Everett went to Brown and graduated with a degree in Engineering. Ruth and Everett obviously remained close even as young adults for my grandfather carried small photos of his sister in his Brown pocket calendar; perhaps it was because he missed her, but it might also have been because he was proud of his sister and wanted to show her off to his friends and classmates.  I think Ruth was a very attractive young woman.

Photos of Ruth Ann Carpenter in her brother's Brown University calendar date book (September 1907)

Ruth Ann Carpenter circa 1917 (perhaps her wedding portrait?)

  

As it happened, Ruth did end up marrying one of Everett's classmates at Brown, Ira W. Knight. Ira and Ruth Ann were married at Christ Church in Lonsdale, Rhode Island on May 21, 1917. They had one son, Richard Carpenter Knight, who was born on September 12, 1920 when Ruth Ann was not quite two months past her 31st birthday.

Ira W. Knight circa mid-1950s

Richard Carpenter Knight (September 12, 1920 - December 13, 1975)

Sadly, Ruth Ann never really knew her son for she died twelve days after his birth due to complications and infection from the delivery. Richard's birth was in the years just prior to the discovery and development of penicillin by Sir Alex Fleming in 1928.  Had the birth taken place a few years later, or if this first of the miracle drug antibiotics had been developed and made available a decade or so earlier, then Ruth Ann might well have survived a compromised birthing -- and I might have come to know her many years later.  

Today, from Iceland, I raise a glass in memory of my grand aunt Ruth Ann Carpenter Knight who remains forever young in the thoughts and renewed memories of the family members she never knew!

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Photographs from the personal collection of the author.
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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew
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Happy May Day (May 1, 2014) -- May Baskets Reprised. . .

The following is a reprise of a post from May 1, 2013 about an all but lost May Day tradition. 

In the minds of many people today (perhaps especially Baby Boomers and their parents), the 1st of May has come to be more associated with images of the huge military parades of the former Soviet Union through Moscow's Red Square -- and with International Workers' Day celebrating the international labor movement in more than 80 countries -- than with the ancient roots of the day as a  festival signaling the beginning of summer in the Northern Hemisphere and the rebirth, renewal, romance and reproduction associated with the warm growing season.

Many northern cultures around the world have festivities and traditions related to early May and the marking of the beginning of summer.  The celebrations and traditions go back millennia to pagan holidays such as the Celtic Beltrane, but they are also expressed in rites and traditions such as Morris dancing, the Maypole and the crowning of a May Queen.  For more about the variety of May Day celebrations and traditions, go here. 

In the United States, May Day traditions and celebrations have fallen into disfavor among many groups because of associations with the May Day parades of the USSR and/or association with perceptions of socialism and unions.  But, there was a time when the tradition of May Day baskets was widely practiced in America and the tradition survives in some areas of the country today.  The tradition most widely followed was the making of baskets to be filled with flowers (usually by children), which were then delivered to friends and neighbors -- especially adults and the elderly -- through a ding-dong-ditch method.  Ding-dong-ditch involved hanging the basket on the front doorknob, ringing the doorbell (or delivering a loud knock) and then running away quickly before being discovered or caught.  In the more romantic version of this tradition among young people, the recipient of the basket tried to catch the messenger and, if successful, a kiss could be exchanged.

Back in 1849 New England the tradition of May Day baskets was apparently widely known and seems to have been part of a rather staid courting tradition that might or might not have included such public displays of affection as kissing among the young participants.  Below is a nice example of the use of May Day baskets in young flirting or courting traditions in the early part of the 19th Century.  It is from my 2x great grandmother, Martha Amanda Shearman, to her future husband and my 2x great grandfather, Mason Freeman, on May 1st, 1849.  

Martha Shearman's May Day Basket note to Mason Freeman, her future husband.

The trasncription of Martha's note is as follows . . .

          Friend Mason

       This Basket Please except [sic] and flowers as a token of highest esteem from one that is your friend.  I know not in what light it may be considered or how it may be received but if it is acceptable please return it in your possetion [sic] as a token of acceptance and remember that she who hangs it wishes you health happiness and every other blessing which earth can afford and now friend I must bid you good night and as often as you look upon this basket cast one thought upon her who hangs it upon your door.

                                              May 1st 1849

              To Mr. Mason Freeman

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Photograph of the original note and envelope in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, 2014,  John D. Tew

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Immortality (March 27, 2014) -- Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter

"Immortality Lies in Being Remembered by Family and Friends." -- John D. Tew 

Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter [1858 - 1945]

Today is the 156th anniversary of the birth of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta Freeman. Sarah married my great grandfather, Samuel Eber Carpenter, on June 15, 1887 when she was 29 years old. Sarah's first granddaughter (my mother) was born on March 28th, the day after Sarah turned 69.

Sarah Etta Freeman was born on March 27, 1858 in East Douglas, Massachusetts to Mason Freeman (1820 - 1898) and his wife, Martha Amanda Shearman (1830 - 1870). Sarah was the third of five children born to Mason and Martha Freeman: Ellen Frances born 1852; Edward Mason born 1854; Sarah Etta born 1858; Caleb Everett born 1862; and Otis Mason born 1868.  By the time Sarah turned 17 her family had moved to Lincoln, Rhode Island and it was while living there that Sarah met Samuel Eber Carpenter.

Sarah had some hard experiences in her life.  Her mother died when Sarah was only 12 years old. Sam and Sarah had two children -- my maternal grandfather, Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962), and his older sister, Ruth Ann Carpenter (1889 - 1920). Ruth Ann died at age 31 just twelve days after giving birth to her only child, Richard Carpenter Knight (the first of Sarah's four grandchildren).

Sarah is especially intriguing to me because she is the first ancestor where I have actual documentation to show that she had an active interest in genealogy. Sarah wrote letters to town clerks and other officials seeking proof of her ancestors' births, deaths, and life experiences -- particularly with regard to military service. She was successful in some respects because she was able to obtain C.A.R. membership for both of her children in 1905. [See the post of July 3, 2013 here on The Prism.]

Today I raise a glass in memory of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter!

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Photographs from the personal collection of the author.
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Copyright 2014, John D. Tew
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Friday Fotos (December 27, 2013) -- Otis Mason Freeman

Otis Mason Freeman (1868 - 1949) circa 1882.

Otis Freeman is the youngest brother of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter. He was born March 23, 1868 in Rhode Island.  He grew up in Lincoln, Rhode Island and lived as an adult in Providence. At one point in his working career he was a "factor" (an agent for the sale of goods entrusted to his possession) of "high-grade bicycles" during the bicycle craze of the 1890s. 

Otis Freeman is my great grand uncle.

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Original photograph in the collection of the author. 

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Friday Fotos (December 13, 2013) -- John Bowen Shearman

John Bowen Shearman (1799 - 1881)

John B. Shearman is my 3rd great grandfather.  He was born in Tiverton, Rhode Island on November 25, 1799 and he died on October 2, 1881 in Smithfield, Rhode Island.

John and his wife, Ann Eliza Patt (1803 -1887), had fifteen children together -- nine girls and six boys. The seventh child and fifth girl was my 2nd great grandmother, Martha Amanda Shearman, who married Mason Freeman on July 29, 1851.

          John B. Shearman     m.     Ann Eliza Patt

          Martha Amanda Shearman     m.     Mason Freeman

          Sarah Etta Freeman     m.     Samuel Eber Carpenter

          Everett Shearman Carpenter     m.     Ruth Eaton Cooke  [my maternal grandparents]

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Original photograph in the personal collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Military Monday (November 25, 2013) -- Mason Freeman's Civil War Draft Registration

Mason Freeman is my 2x great grandfather.  He was born in Mendon, Massachusetts on June 14, 1820 and died on April 10, 1898.  He is buried in Moshassuck Cemetery in Central Falls, Rhode Island along with his wife, my 2x great grandmother, Martha Amanda Freeman, nee Shearman (July 10, 1830 -  August 28, 1870).

Mason Freeman (1820 - 1898)

On June 25, 1863, Mason Freeman was among the men registered in "Class II" as "subject to do military duty" in the First Congressional District in Rhode Island.  That district consisted of the counties of Newport, Bristol, and part of Providence. 

"Class II" registration was for persons who were not in Class I.  Class I consisted of men between the ages of twenty and thirty-five and all unmarried men above the age of thirty-five but under age forty-five.

At the time of Mason's registration, he was living in the 21st District of North Providence, Rhode Island.  He was 43 years old and the father of four children ranging in age from 11 months to 11 years old.  His occupation (as stated on the last line of the registration page  shown above) was "merchant."

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Original photograph of Mason Freeman in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Caleb Everett Freeman (1862 - 1904)

Caleb Everett Freeman was born in Rhode Island in July 1862.  He was the son of Mason Freeman (1820 - 1898) and his wife Martha Amanda Freeman nee, Shearman (1830 - 1870). Caleb was a brother of my great grandmother, Sarah Etta (Freeman) Carpenter, and so Caleb is my great grand uncle.

Caleb E. Freeman was a bookkeeper.  He and his wife Carrie had four children before Caleb died rather young on August 3, 1904 at age 42.  Their children were:

     1.  Mason Freeman born in November 1888.

     2.  Gladys R. Freeman born in September 1889.

     3.  Elsie Freeman born in October 1892.

     4.  Arnold R. Freeman born in 1903.

My maternal grandfather, Everett Shearman Carpenter (son of Samuel Eber Carpenter and Sarah Etta Freeman), got his first name from the middle name of his Uncle Caleb and his middle name from his maternal grandmother Martha Amanda (Shearman) Freeman's  maiden surname.

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Photograph in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Treasure Chest Thursday -- New Year's Resolution booklets?

We have all heard of the "New Year's Resolution," that promise we make to ourselves to do something during the coming year.  Such resolutions are usually some improvement we wish to make in our lives by stopping some undesirable behavior or to begin some new activity to enhance our self-image or to be perceived as a better person by others.  Many of us have probably made resolutions at one time or another -- even if it is only, "Resolved -- I will NOT make any New Year's resolutions this year!"

Wikipedia tells us that resolutions at the beginning of a new year have been with us for a very long time.  Ancient Babylonians promised their gods they would pay their debts and return borrowed items.  Romans made promises to their god Janus [1], for whom the month January is named.  Knights in the age of chivalry used to renew the "peacock vow" at the end of the Christmas season to recommit to the code of conduct involving the virtues of gallantry, courtesy, honor, courtly love, and service to others.  Watchnight services by some Christians are an opportunity at the close of the year to make confession and prepare for a new year by praying and making resolutions to do better.

Like many traditions, the practice of making New Year's resolutions has probably waxed and waned over the centuries.  We are told at the same source cited above, that in this new century about 40% of Americans make some kind of resolutions for a coming new year -- and this is up dramatically from the roughly 25% of Americans that took such steps in the period of the late 1930s to mid 1940s.

It also appears from the brief examples noted above, that historically resolutions for a new year mainly took the form of oral vows made before a deity, to one's liege, or perhaps simply to oneself.  I have not been able to uncover any definite historical tradition or fad for committing New Year's resolutions to writing -- although Googling "writing down New Year's resolutions" results in myriad links (83,500,000 hits) with advice about writing down resolutions to increase the likelihood of having them stick.

All of which brings me to the item shown above.  

The item depicted above is an old family artifact in my collection.  It is very fragile and obviously handmade using common lined writing paper and a ribbon top binding.  The writing is precise and beautiful in the style often learned by dedicated writers in the 19th century; an idea of the internal script can be grasped from the small sample shown on the cover of this five-page resolution book intended to cover the year 1881.  The paper -- and especially the ribbon -- are too delicate to risk scanning the internal pages, but a transcription of the resolutions contained within is provided below.  

I do not know if personally constructed "resolution ribbon booklets" [my coined term for this artifact] such as the one shown were traditional and usual at one time, or perhaps were merely a local, regional or ephemeral fad in and around Cumberland, Rhode Island where the author lived at the end of the 19th century.  It could be it was just idiosyncratic.  I would welcome additional insight and information about written New Year's resolution booklets such as this if anyone else has come across them. I'd be especially interested if there is evidence that use of such written resolution booklets was similar to the May Basket tradition I wrote about earlier this year at this link.   

The author of this resolution book is my great grandmother, Sarah Etta Freeman.  Sarah was born in East Douglas, Massachusetts on March 27, 1858, so she was not quite 23 years old when she committed these resolutions to writing at the close of the year 1880.  She was still a little over six years away from her June 15, 1887 marriage to my great grandfather, Samuel Eber Carpenter.

Transcription of Sarah Etta Freeman's

 New Year's Resolutions for 1881

From

      Jan. 1, 1881,

To

      Dec. 31, 1881.

               I am resolved: -

                                    To

               have respect for my own

               word.  To be careful in

               making promises, and when

               made to keep them.

               To read at least one chapter

               in the Bible every week.

               To be unselfish.

               Always ready to extend a

               helping hand to one who

               needs it.  To be especially

               watchful among my companions

               for any good that I may do.

               To perform the various duties

               of the year as they come,in a

               cheerful and thorough manner.

                    Signed --

                        S.E. Freeman.

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Photograph of a New Year's resolution ribbon booklet from 1881 -- original in the personal collection of the author.

[1] Janus was the Roman god of beginnings and transitions and so also of gates, doors, passages, endings and time.  He is usually depicted as having two faces -- one to look forward to the future and one to look backward to the past.  See, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Janus

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Wedding Wednesday (July 17, 2013)

1851 marriage certificate for Mason Freeman and Martha A. Shearman

My 2x great grandparents, Mason Freeman and Martha Amanda Shearman, were married on July 27, 1851 in  Smithfield, Rhode Island by Warren Lincoln, Minister of the Gospel, as shown on the above certificate of holy matrimony.

Mason was born on June 14, 1820 in Massachusetts and died in Lonsdale, Rhode Island on April 10, 1898.

Mason Freeman (1820 - 1898)

Martha was born on July 10, 1830 and died on August 28, 1870.

Martha Amanda Sherman (1830 - 1870)

Mason and Martha had at least five children:  Ellen Frances Freeman (1852 - 1947); Edward Mason Freeman (1854 -    ); Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945), my great grandmother; Caleb Everett Freeman (1862 -    ); and Otis Mason Freeman (1868 - 1949).

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Scanned images of the original certificate and photographs in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Workday Wednesday (July 10, 2013) -- Sarah Etta Freeman

My great grandmother, Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945), married my great grandfather, Samuel Eber Carpenter, on June 15, 1887 when she was 29 years old.  As the above Certificate indicates, Sarah was a certified Teacher in the State of Rhode Island as of May 1st, 1876 when she was barely 18 years old.  It is presently unknown how long she taught, but this certificate allowed her "to teach the Primary Department in the Public School in District No. 6 of this Town [Lincoln, RI] for one year . . . unless this Certificate is sooner annulled." 

Sarah had a documented interest in genealogy and later enrolled both her children -- Ruth Ann Carpenter and my grandfather, Everett Shearman Carpenter -- in the C.A.R. [Children of the American Revolution] as shown in the July 3, 2013 Wordless Wednesday post here at The Prism.

Sarah Etta Freeman (March 27, 1858 - July 24, 2013)

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Originals of the Certificate and photograph in the collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Wedding Wednesday (June 18, 2013) -- Samuel Eber Carpenter and Sarah Etta Freeman

Wedding announcement for my great grandparents (1887)

My great grandparents, Samuel Eber Carpenter (1853 - 1929) and Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945), were married on Wednesday, June 15, 1887 in Cumberland, Rhode Island.  Apparently they then went on a 16-day honeymoon to a location unknown.  Their wedding announcement (shown above) states that they would be "At Home" after July 1st, in Albion, Rhode Island.

Sam and Sarah had two children:  Ruth Ann Carpenter (1889 - 1920) and Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962), my grandfather.

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Scan of Samuel and Sarah's wedding announcement from the personal collection of the author.

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Tombstone Tuesday (June 4, 2013) -- James and Lucy Carpenter

Headstone for James Carpenter and his wife, Lucy (Bliss) Carpenter

James Carpenter is my 4X great grandfather.  James was born on September 15, 1767 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.  He was the son of Thomas Carpenter and his wife, Elizabeth (Moulton) Carpenter.  James died at the young age of 45 on October 20, 1812 and is buried with his wife Lucy in the Village Cemetery in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.

Lucy Bliss was born on June 23, 1769 in Rehoboth, Massachusetts.  She was the daughter of Jonathan Bliss and his wife, Lydia (Wheeler) Bliss.  Lucy died at the age of 48 on September 21, 1817.

James and Lucy were married in Rehoboth on March 6, 1789.  They had at least seven children: Joseph; Sarah; Lucy; Rebecca; Rosella; James and Newton.

My descent from James and Lucy (Bliss) Carpenter of Rehoboth, Massachusetts . . .

          Joseph Carpenter (1789 - 1880) m. Nancy Mason Bullock (1793 - 1880)

          Samuel Carpenter (1828 - 1904) m. Ruth Ann Miller (1828 - 1893)

          Samuel Eber Carpenter (1853 - 1929) m. Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945)

          Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962) m. Ruth Eaton Cooke (1897 - 1979)
          [my maternal grandparents]

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Headstone photograph kindly provided by Donna Blinn. 

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Tombstone Tuesday (May 21, 2013) -- Hannah (Grant) Bishop

Gravestone of Hannah (Grant) Bishop
Rhode Island Historical Cemetery -- Cumberland 3

Namon Bishop is one of my 5X great grandfathers.  He is said to have been lost at sea.  Namon married Hannah Grant who was born circa 1753 and died in Cumberland, Rhode Island on November 8, 1805 at age 52.

Hannah's gravestone reads. . . 

               Our mother is gone and has left us to mourn

      She loudly has spoken twill soon be our turn.

      In the month of November she was laid in her grave

      O may we remember the warnings she gave.

My descent from Namon Bishop and his wife Hannah Grant is as follows:

               Namon Bishop m. Hannah Grant (1753 - 1805) 

               Amey Bishop (1781 - 1864) m. Asquare Miller (1775 - 1825)

               Eber Miller (1805 - 1877) m. Abby Hunt (1807 - 1893)

               Ruth Ann Miller (1828 - 1893) m. Samuel Carpenter (1828 - 1904)

               Samuel Eber Carpenter (1853 - 1929) m. Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945) 

               Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962) m. Ruth Eaton Cooke (1897 - 1979)

               (my maternal grandparents) 

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Photograph by the author (March 2010).

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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Tombstone Tuesday (May 14, 2013) -- Amey and Asquare Miller

My 4th great grandparents -- Amey (Bishop) Miller and Asquare Miller -- are both buried in Cumberland Cemetery on Dexter Street in Cumberland, Rhode Island [Rhode Island Historical Cemetery, Cumberland 3]. 

Amey Bishop was born April 22, 1781 and she died in Cumberland on October 31, 1864. Asquare Miller was born September 12, 1775 in Cumberland and he died there on April 26, 1825.

My descent from Amey and Asquare Miller is as follows:

               Asquare Miller m. Amey Bishop

               Eber Miller (1805 - 1877) m. Abby Hunt (1807 - 1893)

               Ruth Ann Miller (1828 - 1893) m. Samuel Carpenter (1828 - 1904)

               Samuel Eber Carpenter (1853 - 1929) m. Sarah Etta Freeman (1858 - 1945)

               Everett Shearman Carpenter (1891 - 1962) m. Ruth Eaton Cooke (1897 - 1979) -- 

               my grandparents.

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Photographs by the author (March 2010)

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Copyright 2013, John D. Tew

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