A Family Heirloom for six generations

 

My Family has been fortunate to have kept a family heirloom of a gold watch chain passed down for six generations on my father’s side.  Although the value is not much in a monetary sense, the fact it has passed through the hands of so many generations is priceless.  

 

It begins with Joseph Smith, born May 2, 1835, in Loudon, New Hampshire. His parents moved to Corinna, Maine when he was three years old where his father was the town blacksmith.   In 1850, he heard about the fortunes being made in the goldmines in California and not really wanting to follow his father’s trade, he left home for the West.  He sailed from Belfast, Maine down the east coast of the Americas, “around the horn” of South America and back up the West coast to San Francisco.  The overland route was considered unsafe and took the longest by going across the country in what was then known as “Indian territory “and over the Rockies to California.  In 1856 at age 21, he struck gold and had the watch chain made (and possibly a watch, that was not passed down).  He sent money home to his parents and remained in California until 1862, when he learned all but one of his siblings had died from consumption or now known as T.B.  He returned to Corinna; Maine purchased a tract of land and built his home there with the money he had left.  He married Arminda Devereaux from the neighboring of St. Albans, Maine in 1863 and they had two children.  His occupation was listed as a farmer on census records, but his farm was small, and he had more than enough money to live on.  He became a trustee of Corinna Union Academy where the next few generations of descendants would graduate.  He died on November 7, 1911, in Corinna, Maine and the chain passed to his son.

 

Julius Clifford Smith was born on September 4, 1868, in Corinna, Maine.  He was raised in Corinna with his sister, Jennie Smith.  He graduated from the Corinna Union Academy in 1889.  He married his classmate, Emmie Mower in 1894 and had three children.  Sadly, Emmie died of T.B. in 1894 at the Greenville, Maine Sanitorium.  He was called “Punka” by the family as his oldest granddaughter, Hilma Smith could not say “Papa” correctly. He was a house painter by occupation and inherited his family’s’ home in 1911.  In 1926, he left a note with the watch chain stating, “when I am through, pass to Donald C. Smith, to keep in the Smith if possible and pass to his boy if he has one.”  At the time, his son had only two daughters.  Punka’s grandsons didn’t come along until the 1930s.  In 1930, he married a widowed schoolteacher, Alice (Miller) Macomber.  She would be the schoolteacher for most of her step-grandchildren.  In 1946, The Smith family farm burned down.  He then went to live with his son.  He died on November 13, 1949, in Corinna, Maine and the chain passed to his son.

Donald Clifford Smith was born on March 4, 1897, in Corinna, Maine.  After his mother’s death, he and his sisters were raised by his grandparents until their deaths and later by a housekeeper his father hired.  Donald graduated from Corinna Union Academy in 1917 and joined the Army in 1918 during WWI.  He never saw battle overseas and was stationed at Fort Devens in Massachusetts. After the war, he returned to Corinna and married Ethelyn Skinner in 1919.  They took an old hen house from his father’s property and had it rebuilt into their home.  Donald used part of the house for his business and family lived on the other side.  They would have six children.  Donald found work in the local mill in Corinna as a weaver for several years.  He later did house painting like his father as well as doing wall papering in the area as his own business.  After the fire that his father’s home in 1946, he had the front business part of the house converted to a small apartment for him and his stepmother.   He died on November 11, 1967, in Corinna, Maine, shortlly before his grandson, Peter’s 4^th birthday party.  Donald left a will, but did not mention the watch chain.  His personal belongings and estate were left to his widow.  His oldest daughter, as executor of her mother’s estate in 1972, inherited the watch chain.

Hilma Edna Smith was born on May 11, 1920, in Corinna, Maine.  Her name, Hilma, was Swedish as she was named after a woman that her mother lived with in New Sweden, Maine when she was a teacher there.  She was raised in Corinna where she attended school and graduated from Corinna Union Academy in 1939.  She married Thurlow Knowles in October 1939 and was the mother of four children.  Hilma was always family-orientated and remembered fondly by her grandchildren, nieces and nephews, cousins, etc.   For many she was considered the matriarch of the family by keeping in touch with as many relatives as she could over the years.  She kept the watch chain until 1984, when she passed it to her nephew following her grandfather’s wishes to keep it in the Smith family if possible.  She was aware of his interest in family history and genealogy, and made the promise not to sell it, but cherish it for the next generation.  Hilma died February 21, 2011, in Bangor, Maine. 

 

Peter Michael Smith was born in 1963 in Dexter, Maine, the son of Glenn and Shirley (Buzzell) Smith.  His father being the youngest brother of Hilma Smith Knowles.  His interest in his family history began in 1978 at age 14 when he and his father visited his great-aunt, Leona (Smith) Judkins.   She told him the story of Joseph Smith going to California and the watch chain.  He received the watchchain in 1984 from his aunt, Hilma as a Smith male interested in family history and promised to pass it down to another Smith descendant.  His father Glenn Stanton purchased a pocket watch for the chain and gave it to him on December 24, 1989, as a Christmas gift.  Glenn died June 28, 1996, in Gorham, Maine.  Peter gave the watch and chain to his nephew in 2024.

 

Collins Michael Smith was born in 1997 in Hollis, Maine.  He received the chain and watch on July 7, 2024, as a gift for his wedding in October of that year.  He used them in his wedding to Sarah Picard.

The passing of the watch and chain  at the wedding of Collins and Sarah Smith, 2024

Uncle George

 

Uncle George

Uncle George was my grandmother, Myrtle (Moulton) Buzzell’s older brother.  My brothers, my cousins and I have often spoken of Uncle George in our memories as kids when we visited my grandmother.  Uncle George lived with her after her husband had died.  Sadly, our memories of him were mostly that none of us could understand what he was saying to us or anyone else.  He would be standing around their little house in Newport, Maine in the background smoking his pipe with a smile as everyone else talked.  Sometimes he said things that we thought our father understood as he would talk to him.  Later we asked our dad what he used to talk to George about.  He said sometimes he would talk about someone they knew or something that happened nearby, but most of the time, my father didn’t know what George was saying either.  If George laughed, my dad laughed also. 

We mostly remember him laughing, It was a high pitched “hehehe” kind of laugh.  My cousin, K Hartsgrove once said jokingly when I asked if she understood what he said? “George was probably saying what a bunch of idiots you are,” and laughed at us and we all laughed along too. 

George Henry Moulton was born on November 16, 1904, in Atkinson, Maine, the first child and son of Charles and Emma (Paine) Moulton.  George was raised in Atkinson, Maine where he attended school. 

Atkinson School 1910s, George is the last boy on the right, 2nd row
his sister, Myrtle little girl standing in front row

As the oldest son, George was expected to help his father by working early as a boy and helping provide money for his increasing number of siblings his parents were adding to the family.  George only went to school until the 5^th grade.  My mother said that George never went to school full-time, only for a few months at a time as the family could not afford him not to work.  Sadly, when George returned to school, he had to start at the grade level he left at.  Eventually his younger sister and siblings caught up to him and passed him in grade school.  George, being teased at being so old in the fifth grade, never returned.  The 1920 census record does state that he could read and write and had attended school within the past year at age 15.

One of the clearest memories I have of Uncle George was after my grandmother’s funeral, Uncle George, my parents and my aunt Bea were all in the same car driving out to the cemetery.  On the way, George said that an old girlfriend used to live in a house we passed.  We were all shocked to think that uncle even had a girlfriend.  After some teasing my mother or my aunt asked him why he didn’t marry her?  He said so clearly for the first time in my life I understood exactly what he said. “She gone and got knocked up is what she did.”  We were all laughing so hard from the shock to hear him say that phrase and so clearly, we had to laugh.  But I wonder what he thought of us laughing at his tragic love life as George never again was known to have a girlfriend afterwards.  Later we found the crumbled photo of a young George and his girlfriend, Irma Hawthorne, who we think was older than George.

George and Ima Hawthorne 1920s?

Few photos of George exist of him in his 20s

George with brother Reggie and his father at the truck, blueberry picking for work

George’s occupation on the 1930 census was a “woods laborer” which meant working cutting down trees like his father, either clearing for roads to for lumber companies.  On the 1940 census, George was listed as a “teamster” working in the woods as well. This meant driving teams of horses or oxen in the woods.

During World War II, all four of George’s younger brothers enlisted in the service.  Although not strictly enforced there was a “sole survivor” policy.  This came about after the five Sullivan brothers all died on the same ship leaving the family with no male heirs to carry on the family name or support the family.  George remained at home while his brothers served in the war.  George appears in photos of the family in the 1940s.

George staning in the background between his mother and sister-in-law

By 1950 his father found a house on a farm in Bradford, Maine where he and George worked.  George was listed as doing farming and lumbering as was his father and youngest brother, Reggie.  The story that was always told of George while they lived in Bradford every Saturday night, he would make several miles walk on foot to Grange Hall.  He would take a pail with some drinks and sit watching everyone else dance and listen to the band that played.  No one ever remembers seeing George dance, but he would sit there and just enjoy everyone else having a good time. 

Bradford Grange Hall in 2020

My mom remembered a story of how when her grandparents were living in Bradford, her cousin, Sharon Moulton had come to visit or stay with her grandparents for a time.  There was a well that was either poorly covered or not covered and Sharon somehow fell in the well.  No one knew how long she was in the well, but it was only because Uncle George was outside smoking his pipe that he heard her crying for help.  My mother doesn’t remember how they got her out, but she said Uncle George, her grandfather and mother somehow got her out of the well.  My mother said she knew after that to never go near that well, but she was also surprised that George, who didn’t have the best hearing by then had heard her cries. 

Otherwise, my mom claimed that “George was the sweetest man she ever knew and never said anything bad about anyone.”

George and some of his siblings, Reggie, Bob, Clarence, Myrtle and Gladys

Uncle George was always attended reunions and once was made vice-president of the Moulton-Thompson reunion in 1956. After his mother’s death in 1958, George went to live with his youngest brother, Reggie.  George had no say where he wanted to live and had to go where someone was willing to take him in.   His father went to live with his sister’s family.  No one knows if he was happy with the living arrangements, but having no place else to go, he accepted it.  Then he lived with his sister, Myrtle until her death in 1980 and for a time he remained in Newport in the house with his brother Bob staying with him. 

Uncle George at the Moulton-Thompson Reunion

Before he died George was taken to Eastern Maine General Hospital to stay.  I remember going to see him there and he was sitting on his bed eating his dinner like he had never had such a good meal.  My mother later remarked, who knows how well he ate with her mother or even what she cooked for them was any good.  He probably thought he was having the best meals in his life at the hospital.

Uncle George died on September 13, 1985, at Bangor, Maine.  His funeral was held in Corinna, Maine at the Crosby Neal Funeral Home.  I went with my parents to the visiting hours.  Unlike my grandmother’s visitations, which were sad and somber.  It was a small reunion with my aunts and uncles there, my great aunts and uncles and cousins attending.  "It was like a party inside there," my mother remarked when she left, with everyone talking loudly and laughing and sneaking out for beer in the parking lot.  She said I wonder what the funeral home people thought of this group of mourners.  There was no crying, no one sitting in silence or even paying much attention to George in the casket.  Upon reflection, I bet George wouldn’t have wanted any other way, he was there in the background enjoying everyone else having a good time at his farewell party.

Gravestone, Pine Grove Cemetery
Dover-Foxcroft, Maine

Whatever happened to Peter Woodward of Bradford, Maine

 

In genealogy, when compiling information of your ancestor’s siblings or children, you may have missing information from vital records or family knowledge.  One of these relatives was my Peter F. Woodward or Woodard, brother to my ancestor Benjamin Woodward.  I could trace him through census records until 1870 and then he seemed to disappear.  I knew he had married Frances Myra Curtis on January 18, 1862, in Orneville, Maine.  They had three sons, and a daughter, who with their mother were buried in Riverside Cemetery in Newport, Maine.  Peter was missing from the gravestone and there was no evidence he had ever lived in Newport. 

Gravestone, Riverside Cemetery, newport, Maine

What had become of Peter Woodward?   Peter was born about 1827, based on his age on census records (age 23 in 1850; age 33 in 1860; and age 43 in 1870).   According to the first two census records, Peter was living at home with his parents, and he seemed to have waited late in his life for that time to marry at age 35 and his wife, age 19 years.  In 1870, he was living Bradford, Maine with his wife and two eldest sons.

1870 census of Bradford,Maine

Peter and his wife and children have not been found on the 1880 census under any spelling of Woodward or Woodard.  In 1896, when Peter’s daughter Ella Woodard married George Reed, she listed her parents as Peter and “Sophrona” Woodard, both living in Bradford, Maine, proving neither of her parents were deceased at the time.

Reviewing the death records under the surname of Woodard, revealed a death certificate for a Peter Woodard who died February 29, 1903, in Bradford, Maine, aged 79 years (making his birth year about 1824).  It listed his father as Benjamin Woodard.  As no informant was listed, it may have been a guess or that someone knew he had both a son named Benjamin or even a brother, Benjamin and confused that name as his father.  

As there were no other Peter Woodards known to be living Bradford, Maine, this would likely be him, but why wasn’t he buried with his family in Newport, or they buried with him?

The newspaper provided little information on his life other than what had occurred before his death.  His death certificate listed the cause of death as Cerebral Apoplexy or a stroke.

Bangor Daily News, Dec 2, 1903

Town Reports were a big help in piecing together the years before his death.  Starting in 1890, Peter Woodard began to appear in the Town Reports of Bradford needing town assistance for 22 weeks of that year.  The following year in 1891, he only needed help for 4 weeks.  No reason for why he needed help from the town for either lack of finding work or being unable to work.

In 1895, Peter reappeared in the Town Reports of being in the Almshouse for 49 weeks of that period.  There was also a line in the report for a bill that was paid by the town for the cost of getting P Woodard from Belfast of $22.50.   Why was Peter in Belfast, Maine.   A newspaper search revealed much about Peter and his condition.

From The Commercial, April 9, 1895

Then Commercial, April 22, 1895

Why Peter had run away to Belfast or where he may have been intending to go, is not known.  How insane was Peter?  If Peter was a danger to himself and especially others as he was in Belfast, he could easily have been placed in the State Mental Hospital in Augusta, Maine, by the authorities or the town selectman.   But Peter remained in Bradford despite being placed in Almshouse of Bradford every year afterwards.  The Reports were published after the annual Town Meeting held in March for the previous year’s accounting period from March to February. 

1897 & 1898, Peter Woodward in Almshouse for 52 weeks

1899 Peter Woodard in the Almshouse for 52 weeks

1900 Peter Woodard was only in the Almshouse for 31 weeks

1901 Peter Woodard does not appear in the Town Report which covered the year 1900 nor does Peter Woodard appear on the 1900 census in Bradford or elsewhere.  He again returns the Reports for the year ending in March 1902, being in Almshouse for 37 weeks.

1903 Peter Woodard was in the Almshouse for 52 weeks. He died in November 1903, so his final appearance in Town Reports was the in the 1904 report.  The town paid Dr. A.K.P. Smith for his professional services for P. Woodard of $1.25 and paid L. R. Lassell $5.00 for burial.  Again, Peter had been in the Almshouse for 52 weeks.

Being a pauper and having no family to claim him, he was buried without a gravestone in a local cemetery.  His wife never divorced him, but they do not appear to have remained together in Bradford.  She probably deserted him due to his sanity and possibly her own safety.  In 1900, Frances and her sons were already residing in Newport, Maine.

1900 Census of Newport, Maine

None of his surviving siblings took him off the town’s hands either because of being unable to support him financially or provide with the care he needed with his mental conditions. 

It was a sad ending to his life, but now we know what became of Peter Woodard and why he isn't buried with his wife and children.

From Fornicator to Witch Trial Accuser, life of Elizabeth (Hudson) Eastman

 While doing some research on my ancestor, Mary (Perkins) Bradbury and her trial of being accused of witchcraft.  The names of local people in Salisbury who signed a petition to have her arrested on the ground of being a witch were also my ancestors, Nathaniel Eastman and his wife, Elizabeth (Hudson) Eastman.  It was surprising to see Elizabeth’s name as she was familiar with the puritan courts herself, having been charged in her early years of fornication.  In the History of Salisbury and Amesbury is this little notice at the bottom of the page relating to Elizabeth Hudson.

Old Families of Salisbury and Amesbury bu David Webster [1883] p. 142

Elizabeth Hudson was born in Lynn, Massachusetts about 1648, the daughter of Jonathan and Elizabeth Hudson.  When she was 23 years old, she married Nathaniel Eastman of Salisbury, Massachusetts on April 30, 1672, at Salisbury.  He was a farmer.  There are no accurate dates, but relatively soon after their marriage, Elizabeth gave birth to a daughter Marah (or Mara). 

From Wikipedia:

"Early in colonial history, men took more responsibility for an act of fornication or a bastardy charge. Women before the courts claimed that they engaged in sexual activity with men and explained to the courtroom that if somehow, they ended up pregnant, the man would marry them, thus preventing the birth of a bastard child.   A child being born out of wedlock automatically resulted in a trial to determine who the father was and who and how the bastard would be cared for. To catch fornicators, one had to find either the couple committing the act, or the couple had to confess their sin immediately. Someone seeing a pair engaged in fornication was rare. Thus, court cases often relied on confessions to bring about charges in a case of bastardy.  By 1668, in the Massachusetts colony and others, the government enforced the practice of having midwives interrogate women during childbirth. It was believed that women endured so much anguish during birth that they would not lie and would truthfully confess to their sin of fornication and reveal who the baby's father was. Either the pregnant women would willingly tell someone that she had a bastard son, and then she would name the father, or a midwife would ask the mother to tell whether her child was legitimate. Bastardy cases in the colonies involved women of high, low, and middle standing, like England.   Once a bastard child was born, women could not deny a charge of adultery or, more commonly, a charge of fornication."

In October 1672, a court case was filed against Joseph Hall of Lynn, Massachusetts as being the father of her child with Elizabeth being charged with the crime of fornication.

Deposed October 7, 1672, was Elizabeth Osgood, midwife, who said Elizabeth told her that Joseph Hall of Lynn was the father of her child.  Hannah Brown, wife of Nathaniel Brown deposed the same as did her in-laws, Roger Eastman and his wife, Sarah, all on the same date.

The case went to court and appeared in The Records and Files of the Quarterly Courts of Essex County, Massachusetts, p. 103:

No record of Elizabeth receiving any lashes and probably a fine was paid for her crime.  As for her daughter Mara, she was raised as an Eastman.  Her father was probably the same Joseph Hall who married Elizabeth Rand in 1673 in Lynn, Massachusetts and had other children with his wife.  It is not known if Mara suffered being a product of a relationship between her mother and another man and not the man who was considered to be her legal father.  On August 13, 1693, "Mara, daughter of Nathaniel Eastman" was admitted with full communion to Church of Salisbury, Massachusetts and eventually married Samuel Joy and raised a large family of children of her own.

As the years went on, other children were born to Nathaniel and Elizabeth Eastman including my ancester, Sarah Eastman.  The Church and Courts may have condiered the matter closed.  Whether Elizabeth's neighbors faithful puritans really never spoke or whispered about Elizabeth's "fornication" before her marriage, is unknown, but being human nature, I bet there probably was some gossip which may have caused Elizabeth to join others in a petition against Mary Bradbury if she thought she may have thought less of or spoken against her at some time.  

The arrest of Mary Bradbury and her accusers

In 1692, Elizabeth and her husband, Nathaniel Eastman as well his parents signed a petition against Mary Bradbury, who  was indicted for (among other charges): "Certaine Detestable arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries Wickedly Mallitiously and felloniously hath used practiced and Exercised At and in the Township of Andivor in the County of Essex aforesaid in upon & against one Timothy Swann of Andivor In the County aforesaid Husbandman -- by which said Wicked Acts the said Timothy Swann upon the 26th day of July Aforesaid and divers other days & times both before and after was and is Tortured Afflicted Consumed Pined Wasted and Tormented..." [see my blog post from September 2023 on Mary (Perkins) Bradbury]

Petition aginst Mary Bradbury as a witch

Elizabeth Eastman died on June 10, 1716 in Salisbury, Massachusetts at the age of 68 years.  

Despite my ancestor’s attempt to have another ancestor hung as a witch, several generations later their descendants would marry and join the family lines together with the marriage of William Southard and Maria Ambrose on January 4, 1837 in Corinna, Maine.  William Southard being the 7^th generation descendant of Mary Bradbury and his wife, Maria being the 5^th generation descendant of Elizabeth (Hudson) Eastman. Maybe all was fogiven.  

Elder Israel Damon and our family connection to the 7th Day Adventist Church

 

Many on my grandmother Buzzell’s side are probably not aware of our family’s connection to the early founders of the 7^th Day Adventist Church.  I also never knew of any connection outside of growing up in Gorham and hearing that Ellen HarmonWhite had been born there.  It was talking to my cousin, Nancy Battick, about our Damon ancestry that she mentioned that a writer had contacted her family about our ancestor, Rebecca (Damon) Woodward’s brother, Israel Damon while researching their church’s history.  They were surprised that no one knew of his early connection and a little disappointed our family had not placed the importance on him with the 7^th Day Church founding as they felt he deserved.

(Israel Damon on the right)

Israel Damon was born in 1811 in Sebec, Maine, the son of Seth and Margaret (Douglass) Damon.  He was the younger brother to our ancestor Rebecca Damon (1805-1868).  He was raised in Sebec, Maine where his parents lived between 1806-1840.  Little is known of his early life until he married Lydia Rich on June 4,1838 in Exeter, Maine, the daughter of John Rich and Betsey Dearborn.

(Sidenote: My Skinner cousins also have a connection to Israel Damon through his wife, Lydia Rich who had a sister, Eliza Ann Rich.  Eliza married Albana Pease and had a son, John Lawson Pease who was the adopted father of our ancestor, Edna (Southard) Skinner.  This makes Israel and Lydia Damon the great uncle and aunt of Edna.)

Israel and his wife, Lydia had three children: Mary, Elizabeth and Allen Damon in Exeter between 1840-1845.  It was in 1845, that Israel a former Millerite Adventist became associated with Ellen Harmon, a 17-year-old girl from Portland who had religious visions; her future husband, James Springer White; and chaperone, Dorinda Baker of Orrington, Maine.

(Rev. William Miller on the left)

Millerites or Millerism was the term for the belief that Jesus was to return to Earth on October 22, 1844, as predicted by Rev. William Miller who claimed to have worked out the date of the 2^nd advent or return of Jesus by using dates he felt were reflected in the bible and ancient calendars.  Miller had predicted it before but claimed to have erred with his calculations.  As the day came and went without Jesus’ return, it became known as the “Great Disappointment” to his followers which Israel had been.

Ellen White’s family had also been Millerite and her travels took her to central Maine where the trio traveled around to towns, like Garland and Exeter and meeting Israel who came to believe in the truth of Ellen’s visions.  On February 17^th and 18^th, Israel oversaw a worship meeting at James Ayer’s house in Atkinson, Maine with about 50-60 Millerite Adventists.  Ellen Harmon was joined by Dorinda Baker, James White, Simeon Hall and Elder Wood.

Someone complained to the authorities about the meeting and the Sheriff Deputy, Joseph Moulton and 3 others arrived at the Ayer house, but were not allowed to enter.  Moulton and his men broke down the door and entered the house to arrest Israel.  But several women according to court records jumped on him and his men and stopped him from arresting Damon.  Moulton then sent for more help and eventually Israel Damon was arrested and taken to jail in Dover, Maine.  Where according to testimony, he stayed up all night singing and preaching and saying prayers.  Israel was charged as a “vagabond and idle person” going to the town of Atkinson, place to place begging and “being a common railer or brawler.”

In March, a courthouse trial began which was covered in detail by the Piscataquis Farmer, in the March 7, 1845, issue.  It seems to be the only record found covering Israel “Dammon’s” trial.  There were 38 witnesses called on both sides which gave details of the meeting.  It was said to be loud and boisterous.  There were trances and visions, shouting, crawling and rolling on the floor, washing and kissing of feet as well as spiritual or holy kissing.  Some of those in attendance were told they were going to hell unless baptized which was done in a nearby frigid stream.  Dorinda Baker was said to have gone into another room alone with men, but nothing was said to gave occurred between them.  One witness who arrived said that so much commotion was occurring it was worse than a drunken Brawl. 

                                Drawing of the Atkinson Meeting with Israel Damon

In the end, Israel Damon was found guilty and sentenced to 10 days in prison.  His attorney appealed the decision, and the case was later dropped and Israel never served anytime for his participation in the event.  A year later, Ellen Harmon married James White, and she went on to have more than 2000 visions and founded with her husband the 7^th Day Adventist Church.

James and Ellen (Harmon) White in 1864

Israel remained a minister and Elder Advent preacher.  In 1850, he and his wife, and children were living Corinna, Maine where he was a laborer (1850 census, p. 65a).  By 1860, he had moved to Sangerville, Maine where his occupation was listed as carriage builder (1860 census, p. 175).  In 1870 he had returned to Corinna, Maine where he was listed as a clergyman (census, p. 284).  He was living in Corinna as late as 1878 when the Portland, Maine paper covered an advent meeting in Alton, New Hampshire and named Elder Israel Damon as one of the preachers and who did a baptism at the meeting (Portland Daily Press, issue of August 27. 1878). 

By 1880, Israel and his wife had settled in Newburg, Maine where he was called an “advent minister.” (1880 census, p. 337C).  Israel died on 27 October 1886, probably in Newburg, Maine.  He was buried at Morse’s Corner Cemetery in Corinna, Maine. His widow, Lydia then moved to live with their son, Allen Damon in New Bedford, Massachusetts.  Allen had followed in his father’s footsteps and was an Advent Christian minister.  Lydia died on July 5, 1893 in New Bedford, Massachusetts where the death records state she was buried in Corinna, Maine, likely next to her late husband.  Only the gravestone for Elder Israel Damon is found today if the family even purchased her a monument.

Although, the beginning of the 7^th Day Church did not begin in February 1845, our relative, Israel was affiliated with the founders of the Church early on.  Online, sources such as Wikipedia cover the event and debates on the role it played early in the Church’s history as well as possibly the fairness of the press coverage in the local newspaper. 

Israel was a deeply regilous man throughout his life and his trial is still mentioned in the Adventist Church history.  

The Importance of keeping up with current genealogical research

 

As more and more research is done and available either in publications or on-line, it is important to keep up with all the latest news in Genealogy and DNA research.  Recently The American Genealogist or TAG published a series on the Sanborn or Samborne family’s English ancestry.  The three brothers who immigrated to America were John, Stephen and William Samborne.  For years, it seems like tracing my paternal line resulted in several ancestors with medieval royal ancestors going back to William the Conqueror and Charlemagne.  Sadly, I had never found a connection to my maternal ancestry.  It was not a surprise that two of the Samborne brothers were ancestors on my paternal line with more than one line of descent to myself.   However, my maternal line also had one of these Samborne brothers as my ancestor and at last gave my Mom a connection to European medieval royal ancestry.  Now any of my cousins who are related on my maternal line through the Moulton side can claim this line as well. Below is the line of descent from John Samborne to my grandmother, Myrtle (Moulton) Buzzell.

1.    John Samborne was baptized on 2 December 1619 in Wells, Somerset, England as the first child of Richard Samborne and Ann Bachilder. He died on 20 October 1692 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. He immigrated to America in 1632 with his brothers, Stephen and William.  When he was 29, he married Mary Tuck, daughter of Robert Tuck and Joan Collins, about 1648 In Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. When he was 53, he married Margaret Page, daughter of Robert Page and Lucy, before 1672 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. 

2.    Abigail Samborne was born on 23 February 1653 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA as the ninth child of John Samborne and Mary Tuck. She died on 3 January 1743 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. When she was 23, she married Ephraim Marston, son of Thomas Marston and Mary Estow, on 19 February 1677 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA.

3.    John Marston was born on 17 December 1680 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA as the seventh child of Ephraim Marston and Abigail Samborne. He died after 1752 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. When he was 22, he married Bethiah Tuck, daughter of John Tuck and Berthia Hobbs, on 4 November 1703 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA. 

4.    John Marston was born on 24 July 1713 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA as the fourth child of John Marston and Bethiah Tuck. He died before October 1770 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. When he was 22, he married Susanna Blake, daughter of Jasper Blake and Susanna Brackett, on 23 June 1736 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA.  He settled in Falmouth (now Portland, Maine) in 1742. 

5.    Jasper Marston was baptized on 16 July 1738 in Hampton, Rockingham, New Hampshire, USA as the first child of John Marston and Susanna Blake. He died after September 1813 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. When he was 20, he married Patience Mayo, daughter of Isaac Mayo and Patience Rogers, on 23 November 1758 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA.

6.     Simeon Marston was born about 1765 in Falmouth, Cumberland, Miane, USA as the ninth child of Jasper Marston and Patience Mayo. He died after 1820 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. When he was 22, he married Mary Lord on 29 November 1787 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. When he was 40, he married Rebecca Roberts on 15 March 1805 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA. 

7.     Anna Marston was born on 7 December 1795 in North Yarmouth, Cumberland, Maine, USA as the seventh child of Simeon Marston and Mary Lord. She died on 15 August 1870 in Dover Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. When she was 17, she married Thomas Paine, son of Thomas Paine and Anna Haskell, on 18 February 1813 in Pownal, Cumberland, Maine, USA. When she was 47, she married William Meade Robinson, son of Gideon Robinson and Hannah Mead, on 12 March 1843 in Dover Foxcroft, Piscataquis, Maine, USA.  She was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Dover Foxcroft, Maine.

8.    Jacob Paine was born on 20 August 1823 in Pownal, Cumberland, Maine, USA as the fourth child of Thomas Paine and Anna Marston. He died on 18 October 1908 in Atkinson, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. When he was 23, he married Hannah H. Robinson, daughter of John Robinson and Zelphia Plummer, on 22 November 1846 in Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. When he was 34, he married Elizabeth J. Smith, daughter of James Smith and Abigail Chase, on 9 January 1858 in Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine, USA.  He was buried in Rural Grove Cemetery, Dover Foxcroft, Maine. 

9.     Henry Bragg Paine was born on 10 November 1848 in Guilford, Piscataquis, Maine, USA as the first child of Jacob Paine and Hannah H. Robinson. He died on 26 July 1933 in Atkinson, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. When he was 36, he married Elsie Leona Woodward, daughter of Benjamin Jordan Woodward and Mary Emily Thurston, on 8 November 1885 in Atkinson, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. When he was 45, he married Iva Beatrice Moulton, daughter of Orrin D. Moulton and Emma L. Thompson, on 27 May 1894 in Atkinson, Piscataquis, Maine, USA. He was buried in Gould Cemetery, Atkinson, Maine.

10  Emma Leona Paine was born on 20 September 1886 in Atkinson, Piscataquis, Maine, USA as the first child of Henry Bragg Paine and Elsie Leona Woodward. She died on 12 September 1951 in Lagrange, Penobscot, Maine, USA. When she was 17, she married Charles Prescott Moulton, son of Orrin D. Moulton and Emma L. Thompson, on 11 April 1904 in Atkinson, Piscataquis, Maine, USA.  She was buried in Pine Grove Cemetery, Dover Foxcroft, Maine.

11  Myrtle Evelyn Moulton was born on 26 August 1908 in Garland, Penobscot, Maine, USA as the third child of Charles Prescott Moulton and Emma Leona Paine. She died on 20 October 1980 in Newport, Penobscot, Maine, USA.  When she was 22, she married Walter Dean Buzzell, son of Royal Albana Buzzell and Emma Beatrice Ellis, on 29 Aug 1930 in Charleston, Penobscot, Maine, USA.  Shew as buried in Puddledock Cemetery, Charleston, Maine.

Next is our descent from William the Conqueror of England.  Many of the maternal lines for the first several generations provide connections to the royal houses of Scotland, France, Spain, Hungary, Italy and other countries that have since been absorbed into these larger European countries. I have used a volume of books by Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, [2013] vols. 1-5 to document our line as well many of them appear on Wikipedia. 

1.      William the Conqueror, King of England, Duke of Normandy, was born in September 1028 in Falaise, Basse-Normandie, France as the first child of Duke Robert I of Normandy and Harlette of Falaise. He died on 9 September 1087 in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France. When he was 22, he married Countess Matilda of Flanders, daughter of Count Baldwin V of Flanders and Adele of France, about 1051 in Eu, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France.  He claimed the throne of England in 1066.  King William the Conqueror of England was buried in Caen, France.

2.      King Henry I of England was born in 1068 in Selby, Yorkshire, England as the ninth child of King William the Conqueror of England and Matilda of Flanders. He died on 1 December 1135 in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France. When he was 32, he married Matilda of Scotland, daughter of King Malcolm III of Scotland and Margaret of England, on 11 November 1100 in Westminster Abbey, London, England. When he was 53, he married Adeliza of Louvain, daughter of Duke Godfrey I of Lower Lorriane and Ida of Chiny, on 29 January 1121 in Windsor, Lincolnshire, England.

3.      Matilda of England, Holy Roman Empress, was born on 7 February 1102 in Winchester, Hampshire, England as the third child of King Henry I of England and Matilda of Scotland. She died on 10 September 1169 in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France. When she was 11, she married by contract to King Heinrich V of Germany and Holy Roman Emperor, son of King Henry IV of Germany and Bertha of Savoy, on 7 January 1114 in Mainz, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. When she was 25, she married Count Geoffrey V Plantagenet, son of Count Fulk V of Anjou and Eremburge of Maine, on 22 May 1127 in Le Mans, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France. Matilda of England was known sometimes known as Lady of the English. She was buried in Rouen, Haute-Normandie, France.

4.      King Henry II of England was born on 5 March 1133 in Le Mans, Sarthe, Pays de la Loire, France as the first child of Geoffrey V Plantagenet and Matilda of England. He died on 6 July 1189 at Chinon Castle, Indre-et-Loire, Centre, France. When he was 19, he married Duchess Eleanor of Aquitaine, daughter of Duke William X of Aquitaine and Eleanor of Chaterault, on 18 May 1152 in Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. King Henry II of England was buried in Fontevrault, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire, France in Fontevrault Abbey, France.

5.      King John of England was born on 24 December 1167 in Oxford, Oxfordshire, England at Beaumont Palace as the second child of King Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. He died on 19 October 1216 in Newark-on-Trent, Nottinghamshire, England. When he was 21, he married Lady Isabella of Gloucester, daughter of William Fitz Robert and Hawise de Beaumont, on 29 August 1189 in Marlborough, Wiltshire, England at Marlborough Castle. When he was 32, he married Isabella of Angouleme, daughter of Count Aymer of Angouleme and Alice de Courtenay, on 24 Aug 1200 in Bordeaux, Gironde, Aquitaine, France. King John of England was buried in Fontevraud Abbey, Pays de la Loire, France.

6.      King Henry III of England was born on 1 October 1207 in Winchester, Hampshire, England as the fourth child of King John of England and Isabella of Angouleme. He died on 16 November 1264 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England. When he was 27, he married Jeanne de Dammartin, daughter of Simon de Dammartin, in 1235 (By Proxy). When he was 28, he married Eleanor of Provence, daughter of Count Ramon Berenguer IV of Provence and Beatrice of Savoy, on 14 January 1236 in Canterbury, Kent, England at Canterbury Cathedral.  He was buried in London, London, England at Westminster Abbey.

7.      Edmund, Earl of Lancaster and Leicester, was born on 16 January 1245 in London, London, England as the seventh child of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence. He died on 5 June 1296 in Bayonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Aquitaine, France. When he was 24, he married Aveline de Forz on 8 April 1269. When he was 31, he married Blanche of Artois, daughter of Count Robert I of Artois and Matilda of Brabant, on 3 February 1276 in Paris, Île-de-France, France.

8.      Sir Henry, Earl of Lancaster and Lord of Monmouth, was born about 1281 in England as the third child of Edmund of Lancaster and Blanche of Artois. He died on 22 September 1345 in England. When he was 10, he married by contract to Lady Maud de Chaworth, daughter of Sir Patrick de Chaworth and Lady Isabel de Beauchamp, after 30 December 1291 in England.

9.      Eleanor of Lancaster, Countess of Arundel and Warenne, was born on 11 September 1318 in England as the fifth child of Sir Henry of Lancaster and Lady Maud de Chaworth. She died on 11 January 1371/72 in Arundel, Sussex, England. When she was 12, she married Sir John de Beaumont, 2^nd Lord Beaumont, son of Sir Henry de Beaumont and Lady Alice Comyn, on 16 November 1330 in England. When she was 26, she married Sir Richard de Arundel, Count of Arundel, son of Sir Edmund de Arundel and Alice de Warenne, on 5 February 1344/45 in Stoke Poges, Buckinghamshire, England (Ditton).   She was buried in Lewes, Sussex, England at Lewes Priory.

10  Sir Henry de Beaumont, 3^rd Lord Beaumont, was born about 1340 in England as the first child of Sir John de Beaumont and Countess Eleanor of Lancaster. He died on 25 July 1369 in England. When he was 23, he married Lady Margaret de Vere, daughter of John de Vere and Maud de Badlesmere, before 15 February 1363 in England.  Sir Henry de Beaumont was buried in Sempringham, Lincolnshire, England.

11  Sir John Beaumont, 4^th Lord Beaumont, was born about 1361 in England as the first child of Sir Henry de Beaumont and Margaret de Vere. He died on 9 September 1396 in Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland. When he was 19, he married Lady Katherine Everingham, daughter of Sir Adam de Everington and Lady Joan d'Eiville, before 1380.  He was buried in Sempringham, Lincolnshire, England.

12  Lady Elizabeth Beaumont was born about 1390 in England as the second child of Sir John Beaumont and Lady Katherine Everingham. She died after 1426 in England. When she was 21, she married Sir William Botreaux, 3^rd Lord Botreaux, son of Sir William de Botreaux and Elizabeth de Saint Loe, before 14 November 1411 in England.

13  Lady Margaret Botreaux was born about 1409 in England as the first child of Sir William Botreaux and Lady Elizabeth Beaumont. She died on 7 February 1478 in England. When she was 11, she married Sir Robert Hungerford, 2^nd Lord Hungerford, son of Sir Walter Hungerford and Lady Katherine Peverell, on 7 July 1420 in Aller, Somerset, England. 

14  Lady Eleanor Hungerford was born about 1435 in England as the fourth child of Sir Robert Hungerford and Lady Margaret Botreaux. She died before 1489 in England. When she was 21, she married John White, Gentleman, son of Robert White and Alice, before 1456 in England. When she was 35, she married Sir William Tyrrell before 30 June 1470 in England. When she was 40, she married Sir Henry Fitz Lewis before 1475 in England. When she was 45, she married Thomas Garth, Esquire, after 1480. 

15  Robert White was born about 1456 in England as the first child of John White and Lady Eleanor Hungerford. He died in 1512 in South Warnborough, Hampshire, England. When he was 4, he married by contract to Margaret Gainsford, daughter of Nicholas Gainsford and Margaret Sidney, about 1460. 

16  Anne White was born about 1480 in England as the first child of Robert White and Margaret Gainsford. She died on 24 February 1519/20 in Tichborne, Hampshire, England. When she was 25, she married Nicholas Tichborne, son of John Tichborne and Margaret Martin, about 1505 in Hampshire, England.

17  Dorothy Tichborne was born about 1510 in England as the third child of Nicholas Tichborne and Anne White. She died in 1572 in England. When she was 17, she married John Samborne, son of Nicholas Samborne and Elizabeth Brocas, about 1527 in Tichborne, Hampshire, England.

18  Richard Samborne was born on 8 May 1544 in Itchen Abbas, Hampshire, England as the eighth child of John Samborne and Dorothy Tichborne. He died in 1609 in Wells, Somerset, England. When he was 31, he married Anne Milborne, daughter of George Milborne and Julian Gerard, about 1576 in England. Richard Samborne was buried on 25 May 1609 in Wells, Somerset, England at St. Cuthbert Church. 

19  Richard Samborne was baptized on 21 February 1579/80 in Timsbury, Hampshire, England as the second child of Richard Samborne and Anne Milborne. He died before 1631 in England. When he was 39, he married Ann Bachilder, daughter of Rev. Stephen Bachiler and Anne Bate, about 1618 in England.