A Carter Family Portrait

I've written a number of times about my 3X great-grandfather, Elias Mellen Carter and his family. Here is a picture of Elias and his wife, Rebecca (Williamson) Carter and their eleven children. Rebecca was from Ireland and is my most recent immigrant ancestor. The Williamsons came to Maine sometime around 1820 so they were not part of the potato famine migration.  

In the front from left to right are children: Julia Elizabeth, Emily Jane, Timothy Cullen, William Lawson, Sarah Lillie, Helen Louise, and her twin, John Herbert.
In the back from left to right are children: Mary Elizabeth, Frances Ann, Augustus Mellen, and Anna Grace (in her mother's arms) and parents, Rebecca (Williamson) & Elias Mellen Carter.

Elias Mellen Carter
Augustus Mellen Carter
Edward Mellen Carter
T. Richard Carter - my grandfather

Other posts about the family:
Five Daughters Suddenly Gone
The Carter Farm - 1860 & 1880
The Carter Farm 1860
Rebecca Williamson - Fearless Female
Squire of the Little Village
We Consider Her Very Dangerous
Thanksgiving in Paris
Letters Found on E-Bay
Close Call

The Importance of Family - A Tribute

This morning I was reminded that even when you're expecting something, it can still surprise you. My uncle, David, passed away. I knew the end was near but it is still that shock of confirmation, of finality. My father, Tom, is the oldest and two years later my Uncle Timmy was born. My dad was nine years old when David was born and eleven when the youngest, Stephen was born. Dad used to tease Uncle David that he owned him because one time when David was a toddler, my grandmother got really frustrated with him and said she would sell him for a nickel. My dad took her seriously and promptly gave his mom the nickel to keep his brother. 

David, Timmy, Tommy, Stephen (in front)

My four boys grew up with Uncle David's girls being more like first cousins because he had children in his thirties and I had my children in my twenties and he was only 15 years older than me. David and his wife, Anne, started a cross-country ski center and farm stand in Oxford, Maine and later a ski center in Bethel, next to the Carter family farm. We had many family gatherings in the lodges, Christmas parties with the funniest Yankee swaps, cookouts, and gatherings with our Canadian Carter cousins. Uncle David was able to be at the Bethel lodge for the past few weeks and even skied as much as he could this winter with his family. I feel lucky to have grown up with a strong sense of extended family and I hope I've passed that on to my children. I hope that sense of family and a larger connected support network and heritage helps my cousins through this difficult time. Family - you can't choose your family, you may fuss and fight at times, but in the end you've got to stick together because you have unique memories and strengths.

David Carter in 1969

My grandmother, Uncle David, my mom, Aunt Jodi (Timmy's wife)
This was a fashion show and all clothing came from the Carter family ancestors.

Nothing can compare to this blog post by David's daughter, Emily, an incredibly talented photographer but here are a few of my pictures of memorable times together. 

Tommy, Timmy, Stephen, David around Grampa at the Bethel Ski Lodge

My sons, Steve & Josh flank Great-Aunt Becky & Uncle David

Blog Caroling

Footnote Maven is a genealogy blogger I discovered last spring. While following her blog and her Facebook posts, I have become a huge fan of her indomitable spirit, sharp wit, and wicked sense of humor. This has been a very tough year for her dealing with complications from knee replacement surgery and I wish her a Merry Christmas and a healthy 2013. One of her traditions is blog caroling. Writers post the lyrics to their favorite Christmas carol and she links them to her site. It's a fun way to share some holiday spirit and discover some wonderful genealogy bloggers.

I chose to share "Away in a Manger" in part because it's one of my favorites but it also links to my family history. Jingle Bells and Away in a Manger were the first two Christmas songs I remember learning as a child. Growing up in Bethel, Maine, a highlight of the holiday season was the living nativity put on each year -  featuring a real family with a newborn, real animals, costumed shepherds, angels, and a choir singing Away in a Manger (and other carols). It was impressive and it's something I miss. If you're in the Bethel area on December 23rd, you should check it out.

Away in a manger

No crib for His bed

The little Lord Jesus 

Lay down His sweet head

The stars in the sky

Look down where He lay

The little Lord Jesus

Asleep on the hay

The cattle are lowing

The poor Baby wakes

But little Lord Jesus

No crying He makes

I love Thee, Lord Jesus

Look down from the sky

And stay by my side 

'Til morning is nigh

Be near me, Lord Jesus

I ask Thee to stay

Close by me forever

And love me, I pray

Bless all the dear children

In Thy tender care

And take us to heaven

To live with Thee there

\