George & Anna (Rowe) Hayes

George & Anna (Rowe) Hayes - 1915

George Herman and Anna Jane (Rowe) Hayes are my great-great-grandparents. They were married about 1880. The 1900 census says they were married for twenty years.

George was born on January 22, 1858. His parents were Sidney and A. Delphina (Cole) Hayes. George was a farmer in Greenwood. He died of apoplexy on May 16, 1920. Apoplexy refers to a stroke. A contributing cause is listed on his death certificate is laryngitis.

Anna was born on September 16, 1860. She was the daughter of Charles H. N. & Loan (Churchill) Rowe. She grew up in New Gloucester before moving to Greenwood after she got married. She died in 1949.

George & Anna are buried in the Upper Gloucester Cemetery in New Gloucester, Maine.

Their children were:

1. Frank Herman Hayes, born October 16, 1882, and died September 13, 1968. Frank married Myrtle Etta Ring (1890-1972) on November 13, 1912. They had one son, Arnold, who died young. 
2. Alma Etta Hayes, born April 23, 1888, and died in May 1974. Alma married Ara Marshall "Dime" Whitman (1880-?) on August 22, 1908. They had two sons and a daughter. 
3. Eva Delphina Hayes, born September 27, 1897, and died September 19, 1982. Eva married Estes Gilbert Yates (1884-1977) on September 12, 1914.  They had eight children, four boys and four girls, including my grandmother, Linona Alice Yates, born March 20, 1920. 
4. Roland Sidney Hayes, born September 20, 1899, and died October 24, 1980. Roland "Rollie" married Doris M. Cole (1906-2000) on October 16, 1926. They had four sons. 
5. George Elmer "Bill" Hayes, born September 17, 1901, and died February 20, 1978. Bill never married. 

1862 Bethel Business Men

Is your ancestor on this list? My 3rd great-grandfather, Elias M. Carter, appears on the left as a farmer in Middle Intervale. Other families are related to me by marriage or as distant cousins.

Handwritten on Title Page: J. P. Boyd January 1862

A Business Directory of the Subscribers to the Map of Maine, with a brief history and description of the state, prepared by William Willis; Also Valuable Statistics and Advertisements.

Portland: Published by J. Chace, Jr. & Co.; Sanborn & Carter, 55 Exchange Street; Bailey & Noyes, 56 and 58 Exchange Street.

Printed by B. Thurston, Steam Book, Job, and Card Printer, proprietor of Commercial News Room, Publisher of "Portland Price-Current" and "Maine Teacher," 79 Middle Street, Portland.

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

What's Growing On Your Farm, Great-Grandpa? - 52 Ancestors #34

For week 32 of the 52 Ancestors challenge, I looked at the Carter family farm and then wrote an additional post comparing the farm in 1860 and 1880 to show the expansion over time. This week's challenge is to use the Federal Census Non-Population Schedules (agriculture, industry, manufactures, or the 1890 Union veterans). I decided to look at my mother's side of the family. My great-grandparents were Estes & Eva (Hayes) Yates. Gilbert's father and Eva's grandfather had farms near each other and they show up on the same page of the 1880 Non-Population Agricultural Schedule. So this week, I'm doing two ancestors in one post. 

Sidney Hayes was born on August 1, 1820 in Poland, Maine, son of Richard & Rebecca (Bailey) Hayes and married Delphinia Cole on June 2, 1848. The family that knew her

pronounced her name as "Del - fine - ee." She was born on June 20, 1823, daughter of Calvin & Betsey (Judkins) Cole. Sidney died on January 22, 1893 and Delphina died on January 18, 1895. Their son, George Hayes was the father of my great-grandmother, Eva. 

Gilbert William Yates was born on August 5, 1835 in Greenwood, Maine, son of Moses & Martha (Whittle) Yates and married Laura E. Emmons on November 24, 1872. She was born on January 18, 1852 in Biddeford, Maine, daughter of Jacob & Sarah (Shepard) Emmons. Laura died on February 28, 1894 and Gilbert died on April 9, 1925. After Laura's death, Gilbert lived with his daughter and son-in-law, George & Linnie May (Yates) Cole. 

In order to make things fit into one graphic, I eliminated categories that did not pertain to either farm. 

Linona Alice (Yates) Blake - my grandmother

Estes & Eva (Hayes) Yates - her parents

Gilbert & Laura (Emmons) Yates - parents of Estes

George & Anna J. (Rowe) Hayes - parents of Eva

Sidney & Delphina (Cole) Hayes - parents of George Hayes, in-laws of Gilbert William Yates

Carter Farm on Middle Intervale in 1860 and 1880

Haying on the farm in the 1970s

Augustus Mellen Carter took over the farm from his father, Elias Mellen Carter. It is interesting to see how they expanded the farm over the twenty years between 1860 and 1880. The Non-Population Schedules don't have the exact same information in them, but there is enough that is the same to do a comparison. Augustus is my 2nd great-grandfather and Elias is my 3rd great-grandfather. The farm was started by Dr. Timothy Carter, father of Elias, and it is still in the family 7 generations later. However, there are no more males in this direct family line.

Original post about 1860 enumeration

Buckwheat and rye seem to be falling out of favor as corn and potatoes greatly increased. The production expanded into maple products, both sugar and syrup, and making cheese and a lot more butter. The livestock value tripled and seems to be based on the number of sheep and the amount of wool being shorn. 

T. Richard Carter - grandson of Augustus, great-grandson of Elias 

Tom Carter, my dad, logging on family land in the 1980s - 6th generation on the same land

One Maine Farm in 1860 - 52 Ancestors #32

The Carter Farm in Middle Intervale

Elias Mellen Carter is one of my 3rd great-grandfathers and I've written about his interesting life several times before now. However, I keep finding interesting documents that give insight into his life. He was born on September 11, 1811, the seventh child, and the youngest son of Dr. Timothy & Frances (Freeland) Carter. His mother died when he was only four years old. His father remarried and had five more children. He was very active in town affairs. As a Justice of the Peace, he married many couples and he served as the town clerk among other positions. The farm is still in the family so it was especially interesting to find the 1860 enumeration of farm activities.

From the 1860 Federal Non-Population Schedule:

150 acres improved
150 acres unimproved
$3000 cash value of the farm
$50 value of farming implements and machinery

4 horses
7 milk cows
2 working oxen
18 other cattle
30 sheep - yielding 60 lbs of wool
2 pigs
$20 value of animals slaughtered
$500 value of livestock on hand

28 bushels of wheat
20 bushels of rye  
24 bushels of Indian corn
100 bushels of oats

2 bushels of peas and beans
200 bushels of potatoes
60 bushels of buckwheat


$60 value of orchard products - probably apples

100 lbs of butter

8 tons of hay produced

Signature - E M Carter

Elias married Rebecca Williamson on August 10, 1837, and they had eleven children. Unfortunately in September 1861, they lost five daughters to diphtheria. Their son, Augustus Mellen Carter, fought in the Civil War and became a surveyor for the railroads and the paper producer, the Brown Company.

Eventually, Augustus took over the farm and I'll post the 1880 Non-Population Schedule soon to show the expansion of products and increase in value.

The Homestead that has been in the family for 7 generations
Elias Mellen Carter - Squire of the Little Village
Tragedy Strikes - The deaths of five daughters
Letters from Elias to his brother, Timothy Jarvis Carter that I found on Ebay
Transcription of one of the letters
Transcription of the other letter
Newspaper article about a fire in the home of Elias
Passing Down the Mellen Name

Elias Mellen Carter
Augustus Mellen Carter
Edward Mellen Carter
Thomas Richard Carter - my grandfather

Mystery Guy - 52 Ancestors #30

First, I found a newspaper article about a relative who died from his injuries after he was struck by a car. That sent me on a quest to find out more about this relative and I ended up with as many questions as I found answers. In other words, a pretty typical day in the life of a genealogist.

Lewiston Sun Journal, July 11, 1940, accessed on Google News Archive

Guy Morrison Cotton was my 1st cousin, 3 times removed. He was born on February 14, 1888 and died on July 11, 1940, the son of William F. "Frank" & Deborah J. "Jennie" (Lamb) Cotton. He was a teamster, a shoemaker, a member of the National Guard, a servant, and a farm laborer. He married an older widowed woman, Inez (Kenerson/Kennison) Goodwin, on March 20, 1913. Guy's occupation is listed as shoemaker. Tracing this couple through the records in very interesting. Inez was married previously to James Goodwin, who died on April 30, 1911. They appear in the 1900 census and her birthdate is given as May 1866. However, the marriage record between Guy & Inez lists her age as 40 (born about 1873) and he was 25. Since Inez shows up with her parents in the 1870 census, it would seem that she was shaving off a few years when she stated her age for her marriage license in 1913. James and Inez had one adopted daughter, Etta. Guy and Inez have no children as she was about 47 when they married.

So how does a 47-year-old widow end up married to a 25-year-old young man? There must be a story here. Their marriage record makes it look like she's only 15 years older than him, rather than the actual age difference of 22 years.

From marriage record - Note the bride's stated age and Guy's occupation

1900 Census shows Inez (Enez) listed with her first husband and her correct birth date - May 1866

In 1900, Guy is 12 and living in Oxford, Maine with Charles & Lilian Brown. They are only 21 and 17 and he is listed as the brother of the head of household. His parents are renting in the same building with his 14-year-old sister, Florence. My guess is that they were all living together and the census taker recorded Guy with his brother-in-law as head of household. His uncle (my great-great-grandfather), Francis Llewellyn Cotton is living next door in a home he owns. My great-grandfather, Ray Everett Cotton, son of Francis Llewellyn, is the same age as Guy and I imagine that they would have gone to school together.

In 1910, there is no trace of the family in the census. In 1920, Guy and Inez are living with his parents in Paris, Maine. George is 32 and Inez lists her age as 52 (closer to the truth but still shaving off a couple of years). Guy is listed as not working but Inez is a "laborer" and Guy's parents are listed as "farmer" for his father and "laborer" for his mother. There is no sign of any other family nearby but a granddaughter is listed, Dorothy Brown, age 1. She is likely the daughter of Guy's sister Lilian and her husband, Charles.

Where is Guy and/or his parents in 1910? Where are Charles and Lilian Brown in 1920? Lilian is not listed among his surviving relatives in the news article about this death. Is Dorothy being raised by her grandparents or her aunt and uncle, Inez and Guy? Since all the other adults worked, was Guy the caretaker for Dorothy? That seems quite unusual for the time.

In 1930, Guy is listed as singe, living in Northumberland, New Hampshire, and a servant in the household of Ernest Tillaltson (pretty sure the transcription is wrong). Also in the household are Ernest's wife, Gadriella (possibly Gabriella) 56, sons Paul 31 and Blanchard 22, daughters Florence 20, and Barbara 18.

So what happened to Inez? Why is he not listed as a widower if she is deceased? Who is this Tillaltson family and what work does Guy do as their servant?

Guy served in the military. His draft registration card indicates that he works as a teamster but was out of work at that time. In addition, he has six years of service in the National Guard and his application for a military headstone indicates that he enlisted in the 331st Guard and Fire Company on July 29, 1918 and was honorably discharged on January 8, 1919. The war ended on November 11, 1918 and he never was deployed overseas.

Physical description from Guy's draft registration card

Guy's work experience from his draft registration card

Guy's military experience from his draft registration card

On July 11, 1940, the Lewiston Sun Journal, reported the death of Guy Cotton after he was struck by a car. Although the age is not correct, the parents and other relatives are those of Guy Morrison Cotton, born in 1888. That means he was 68, not 40, when he died.

Guy's cousin, Ray Everett Cotton, was my great-grandfather.
Fern Lyndell Cotton - my grandmother.

Tombstone Tuesday - Galen & Dolly (Moody) Blake

Galen Blake - son of Micajah & Nancy (Ripley) Blake. He married Dolly Estes Moody. He was born February 5, 1824 and died on July 4, 1906. 

Dolly Estes Moody - daughter of Hezekiah & Hannah (Estes) Moody. She was born on January 14, 1826 and died May 9, 1914. 

They are buried in the East Bethel Cemetery on Intervale Rd in Bethel, Maine. 

Galen & Dolly (Moody) Blake
Charles Galen Blake
Harriet May Blake
Clayton Leonard Blake - my grandfather

52 Ancestors #47 - Squire of the Little Village

Elias Mellen Carter was born on September 11, 1811 and was my third great-grandfather. He was the youngest son of Dr. Timothy & Frances (Freeland) Carter. He was reportedly not happy to be the one chosen to take over the farm but he did it because that it needed to be done. He married Irish immigrant, Rebecca Williamson and they had eleven children. I have written about their family before a few times and their lives were certainly not easy (see the links below). 

Home of 7 generations of Carters, including Elias Mellen Carter

This time I will focus on the sketch of Elias Mellen Carter in William B. Lapham's History of Bethel. The author recalls that Elias always lived at the farm in Middle Intervale and was the "squire" of the little village and recognized as its best man. The sketch professes that he was a man of "sound judgement and unwavering integrity" and a man possessing "candor, impartiality, and legal acumen." Although he was a farmer, he was very involved in public affairs. He was a town clerk, a selectman, a Representative to the state legislature, a County Commissioner, and a long-time Justice of the Peace. He is listed in town records as having performed numerous marriage ceremonies. The sketch ends with the author noting that Elias "was exceedingly popular with all classes." Elias M. Carter died on November 17, 1880. 

Signature: Your Brother, E, M, Carter ~ 

We Consider Her Very Dangerous
Thanksgiving in Paris
Letters of Elias M. Carter
Close Call - a fire in the home
Tragedy Strikes - The loss of 5 daughters to diphtheria

Elias Mellen & Rebecca (Williamson) Carter
Augustus Mellen & Mary Frances (Stanley) Carter
Edward Mellen & Fanny May (Capen) Carter
T. Richard Carter - my grandfather

Surname Saturday - Gibbs

George Albert Gibbs was born October 20, 1862 on Prince Edward Island in Canada. According to the 1900 census, he came to the United States in 1884. He is my most recent immigrant ancestor. The next year, he married Nina K. Ellingwood and they had a family. He died on November 26, 1919 in West Paris, Maine. His death record lists his parents as John and Annie and says John was a farmer. The cause of death is listed as crerbral (sic) hemorrhage - and the duration is 5 years! I wish my grandmother was still alive because I know she knew more about his family. I remember her visiting relatives on Prince Edward Island and showing me pictures of their farms. I wasn't old enough to realize that I should pay attention to their names and the place names and now it's too late to ask. 

My Great-Grandmother:

Annie Florilla Gibbs was born in 1892. She was one of three great-grandparents I got to know and the only one on my father's side. On July 21, 1909, Annie married Ray Everett Cotton. He was born in 1888 and died in 1962. She died in 1987. 

Her siblings were:
James Williamson Gibbs 1887-1952
Albert Harris Gibbs 1889-1936
Herbert Freeman Gibbs 1895-1960
Ada Polly Gibbs 1897-1986

Related posts
http://mymaineancestry.blogspot.com/2013/05/wordless-wednesday-nina-k-ellingwoods.html
http://mymaineancestry.blogspot.com/2012/03/gambling-on-research.html
http://mymaineancestry.blogspot.com/2013/03/sundays-obituary-annie-gibbs-cotton.html
http://mymaineancestry.blogspot.com/2012/04/turn-page.html

Surname Saturday - William Cotton of Portsmouth

William Cotton, immigrant, settled in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. In 1673, he said he was 60 years old, so he was born about 1613. About 1650, he married Elizabeth Ham, daughter of William Ham. About that time, he settled at Strawberry Bank and was constable in 1651, and selectman in 1654 and 1671. In 1674, he bought a tavern from Walter Abbott, one of my ancestors from my mother's side and he ran it until he died in 1678. 

Children of William & Elizabeth (Ham) Cotton:
1. John was born about 1652 and died in 1714. He married Sarah Hearle/Earl, daughter of William Hearle of Portsmouth. His will names his wife and twelve children. He was a farmer in Portsmouth. 
2. William was an innkeeper and farmer who married Abigail Pickering and had eight children. 
3. Solomon was granted lands by his grandfather, William Ham but apparently died before his father and without leaving any children. 
4. Sarah married Edward Beale of New Castle. 
5. Thomas was a minor in 1678 when his father died and Anthony Nutter was apointed his guardian. Thomas died before September 27, 1706. 
6. Benjamin was also a minor in 1678 when his father died. Administration fohis estate was handled in 1724 by four sons-in-law. His wife was named Elizabeth and she married John Golden of Kittery as her second husband. 

Solomon Cotton, son of John & Sarah (Hearle) Cotton, was a shipwright. He kept an ordinary at Greenland until 1727 when he moved to Stratham and was an innkeeper there until the end of his life. He married Margaret Fernald, daughter of William & Elizabeth (Langdon) Fernald of Kittery. She was born March 27, 1681 and died January 12, 1719/20. He married his second wife, Judith Cutt, on December 3, 1721. The final few years of his life Solomon spent back in Portsmouth. His will was proved March 27, 1755. 

The next generations:
Benjamin Cotton married Elizabeth Leavitt
William Cotton married Ruth Cram
William Cotton married Margaret Green
William Cotton married Tryphenia Lunt
John Henry Cotton married Christiana Cox
Francis Llewellyn Cotton married Lizzie Philbrick. In an interesting twist, his third wife was Nina (Ellingwood) Gibbs, the mother of Annie Florilla Gibbs. 
Ray Everett Cotton married Annie Florilla Gibbs
Fern Lyndell Cotton - my grandmother


NEHGR Vol. 58 p. 294-299. 
The Cotton Family of Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Piscataqua Pioneers: Selected Biographies of Early Settlers in Northern New England

Surname Saturday - John H. Cotton Wounded at Battle of the Wilderness

My 3X great-grandfather, John H. Cotton, served as a private in the 17th Maine Infantry, K Company from 18 August 1862 to 11 Jan 1865. Looking at the regiment's history, this means he took part in the Battle of Fredericksburg, the Battle of Chancellorsville, and the Battle of Gettysburg. There were numerous other campaigns as well but those are the major battles in which the unit participated before John H. Cotton was discharged. 

The Battle of the Wilderness was the beginning of the campaign to finish off the Confederacy and capture the capital of Richmond. On May 6th at the Battle of the Wilderness, he was shot in the right arm and had it amputated. The picture below is from the Maine Memory Network and while it give the names of many of the men, none of those identified is my ancestor. Still it's interesting to see the group on the day the battle started. The caption on their site reads: 
The 17th Maine Infantry is pictured on May 3, 1864, with some of the men identified. May 3 was the beginning of the Battle of the Wilderness. Two days later many of these soldiers were killed.

Collections of the Maine Historical Society

Looking at records found on ancestry.com, I found this:

Cotton, John H., rank private, company K, regiment 17 ME infantry, enlisted 18 Aug 1862, discharged 11 Jan 1865, length of service 2 years, 4 months, and 23 days. 

Amputation, Right Arm, GSW (gun shot wound), Recd in action, May 6/64, Wilderness

His death record states that he died on Christmas Day, 1894 of cancer of the stomach. He is listed as a farmer and I wonder how he managed with only one arm. Was he right-handed? I'd like to get his pension application but that will wait a bit because of the cost. 

Sources of Information:

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/the-wilderness.html

http://www.civilwar.org/battlefields/wilderness/wilderness-history-articles/battle-of-the-wilderness-then-and-now.html
http://www.civilwararchive.com/Unreghst/unmeinf2.htm#17thinf

John Henry Cotton & Christiana Cox
Francis Llewellyn Cotton & Lizzie Philbrick
Ray Everett Cotton & Annie Florilla Gibbs
Fern Lyndell Cotton - my grandmother