¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸, PotpourrEMAIL ¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°` Vol. 4, No.6 - 1 December 2002. Circulation: 100 and growing! (C) 1999 Boylston Historical Society and Museum 7 Central St., PO Box 459, Boylston, MA 01505 boyhisoc@rcn.com 508-869-2720 Editors: Betty L. Thomas and Judith Haynes Boylston Historical Society and Museum Web Page: http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/ To subscribe or unsubscribe to the PotpourrEmail, or to submit information to be included in the PotpourrEmail, e-mail info to: boyhisoc@rcn.com CONTENTS. Welcome; "The History of Boylston 1642-1741"; Genealogy Radio Show; Tidbits; BHS News; On The Web; Humor ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ ¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º Welcome to our Email newsletter! For those of you who are not members of BHS and don't receive the snailmail newsletter, it is called The Potpourri. Sooooo, we thought the appropriate name for this version would be PotpourrEMAIL. This Email version is not meant to repeat or copy the snailmail version, but to complement it, with the addition of topics of interest to those with computer and web capabilities. If you have a story to tell, information to impart, a good joke, computer or web genealogy info, a Boylston genealogy query, or anything that would be of interest to our readers--please Email us at: boyhisoc@rcn.com ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ "The History of Boylston 1642-1741" The following is from Vol.II of the Historical Series. This book is no longer available for sale, but there are bound copies of all the Historical Series books in the Museum's Fuller Research Library, the Boylston Public Library, and the Allen County Public Library [Fort Wayne, IN.] There are drawings, sketches and photos in the book that we cannot include in this Email. "The History of Boylston 1642-1741" A Critical Edition of the Papers of George L. Wright by William O. Dupuis Volume II in the Boylston Historical Series Revised edition 1978 Chapter 3 "The Mother Town of Lancaster" by George L. Wright The Beginning in 1643 About 1643, Thomas King of Watertown, and several others purchased a tract of land ten miles in length from north to south, and eight miles in breadth from east to west, in the valley of the Nashua River, from Sholan, Sachem of the Nashuas. Sholan, otherwise called Shaumag, ruled over all the Indians in this region. His territory extended as far west as, or beyond, the Wachusett mountain. He had his dwelling place in what is now Sterling, between the east and west of the Waushakum or Weshacomb Lakes. Sholan was in the habit of visiting the trading post of King and Symonds at Watertown, and it is supposed that upon one of his visits, he told the traders of the natural charms of the Nashua Valley with its lakes, stream, hills and valleys, and of its desirability as the location of a trading post and settlement, and invited the English to come and settle near him. He stipulated in the deed given to King that the white men should not molest the Indians in their hunting, fishing, or planting grounds. This deed was confirmed by the General Court. It is not known precisely when the English began to settle in Lancaster, but probably some persons were upon the ground before the first of the year 1643. [One early writer declared that little use was ever likely to be made of this land and suggested 'to pass over it to a better place.' Most writers of the period agreed that the lands of Lancaster and Shrewsbury were not 'good parcels of land.' They described the land as rough and uneven, with the best land so frequently and relentlessly burned over by the Indians and interlopers from other towns, that most of its tracts of forest stood blackened and ruined, and in many places the soil itself had been burned down to hard pan.] Editor The first building erected was a trading house built by Symonds and King on the northwest slope of George Hill, about a mile southwest of the present brick Meeting House. King never became a settler of Lancaster, and he sold his interest in the grant to his associates, who granted lots to Richard Smith, Lawrence Water, and John Hall, and sent them up from Watertown to prepare the plantation for settlement, and entered into a covenant with each other to begin the settlement at a certain time. The settlement went on, at first, very slowly, and at the end of the two years, not three houses had been built. We learn, however, from the records of the General Court whom they petitioned that they might be incorporated as a town, that in May 1653 there were nine families in the area. The incorporation of the town dates from May 18, 1653, and it was ordered by the General Court that the settlement should be called "Lancaster," probably because some of the settlers had ancestral connections with Lancaster and Lancashire, England. At first it was proposed to call the town "Prescott," and then "West Town," but finally the name of Lancaster was determined upon by the General Court. [to be continued next month] ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ DearMYRTLE's RADIO SHOW EXPANDS: -------------------------------- DearMYRTLE's Family History Hour Internet/Radio Broadcast which began some months ago as a single one-hour show per week has recently expanded to three nights per week in response to popular demand. The host for the series is Pat Richley Foy who is well-known for her daily Internet advice column known as "DearMyrtle." The Family History Hour is broadcast live by a local station near Pat's home in Florida, and is simultaneously webcast on the Internet, thus making it available worldwide. Anyone with an Internet connection and speakers on their computer can tune in after downloading and installing a small program from http://www.dearmyrtle.com. The show features expert guests (sometimes several per show) and call-in questions and comments from listeners. It is now on three nights a week from 9 to 10 pm Eastern Time. The basic schedule is: Tuesday - Pat and expert guests discuss the ins and outs of genealogical and historical research. Wednesday - A pro from Everton's Family History Network answers callers' questions. Thursday - features methods for gathering, preserving, and sharing "lifeprints," i.e., the stories of our lives. Here is a partial, and tentative, schedule of guests and topics: November 19 - Sandy Garrett - Native Americans November 26 - Connecticut Research December 3 - Frank Pierce - WWII Maryland December 10 - Jewish Research & Chaunnakah December 24 - Paula & James Warren - Using the Fam Hist Lib December 31 - Sue Baker - Hancock Co IN - Kwanza January 7 - Finally Get Organized January 14 - Doris Poinsett - South Carolina Ancestors January 21 - Maureen Taylor - Family Photographs January 28 - Lost Cities of Colorado February 4 - Emily Croome & Frank Smith - African American February 11 - The Valley Forge Encampment February 18 - Software for Genealogists February 25 - Mexican American Research "Reprinted with permission from from 'Heritage News' the free, twice monthly newsletter from Heritage Books, http://www.heritagebooks.com ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ Tidbits From the 1939 Town Report Deaths - whole number 41 including still births Date - Name - Residence - Cause of Death February 2 - Albert Plante, Winchedon, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 6 - Marianne [Frechette] Kayer, Leicester, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 17 - Augusta Hanna [Seamon] Knight, Boylston, Found dead in bed 17- John Theodore Paanonen, Leominster, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 26 - Agnes Ingeborg Alice Scott, Boylston, Broncho Pneumonia 27 - Lena Veronica Montville, Uxbridge, Pulmonary Tuberculosis March 2 - Edgar Nichols, Boylston, Pagets Desease 7 - Carrie Elenor [Lane] Bassett. Worcester, Found dead on Floor April 5 - Chester James Noon, Clinton, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 6 - Kasper Kozliezak, Boylston, Supension 14 - Charles E. Button, Boylston, Myocarditis May 3 - Stevens Rallio, Dudley, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 8 - Barbara Elizabeth [Gordon] Prouty, East Templeton, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 16 - Henry Permane, Milford, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 22 - Carl Nelson Malmberg, Boylston, Myocarditis June 16 - Tyyne [Niemi] Johnson, Hubbardston, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 21 - Melinda A. [Tumblin] Hastings, Boylston, Arteriosulusis 21 - Violet [Zurywski] Barkowski, Webster, Pulmonary Tuberculosis July 14 - Frederick A. Clark, Boylston, Heart Disease 15 - James Albert Rogers, Loudon, N.H., Broncho Pneumonia 17 - Nils Anderson, Millbury, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 27 - Corine Mary Rock, Sutton, Potts Disease 28 - Barbara Gordon, Lancaster, Rheumatic Fever 28 - Peter Dominick Volpicelli, Milford, Pulmonary Tuberculosis August 5 - Stanley Charles Askalis, Boylston, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 20 - Robert Joseph Carey, No. Brookfield, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 24 - Alma G. [Gow] Boyden, Boylston, Arterio Sclerosis September 6 - Grace M. Bleason, Boylston, Found dead in bed 21 - Eldrid Clyde Phillips, Uxbridge, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 21 - James Nicholas, Clinton, Pulmonary Tuberculosis October 13 - Cesidia Celia Celli, Leominster, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 14 - Mary Erika Lahti, Lunenburg, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 27 - Rose Claire [Bean] Sweet, Blacksone, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 30 - George Ezra Glazier, Boylston, Shock from fall 31 - Joseph Robert Whittles, Holden, Pulmonary Tuberculosis November 8 - Phillips Joseph Bourque, Gardner, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 9 - Carl Louis Cetto, Athol, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 19 - Raymond E. Nelson, Boylston, Pulmonary Tuberculosis 24 - William Stanley Condon, Boylston, Prematurity 26 - Emma Pelletier, Gardner, Pulmonary Tuberculosis December 30 - Albert E. Bell, Boylston, Broncho Pneumonia ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ BHS News "Be Our Valentine" Exhibit - Extended by Popular Demand !! This is a display of Victorian Valentines, Lace from our collection, and wedding dresses circa 1950 and 1930. Open during normal open hours and at regular museum admission. Members - free Non-Members - $3 ----------------------------------------- NEW HOURS We are open Tuesday and Thursday - 9 am to noon AND The FIRST TUESDAY of each month [year round]- 6-8 pm Please stop by and visit Judy Haynes and Florence Smith on Tuesday, Dec. 2 As always ...we are open by appointment for those who can not make any of our open hours. The first visitor on Dec 2 will receive a gift! ----------------------------------------- COMING UP THIS WINTER 2002 - 2003 PROGRAMS and EVENTS All Programs open to the public and held at the Society (unless otherwise noted). 7 Central St., Boylston Donations at the door are gratefully accepted! ------------------------------------------- Holiday Open House - Every Saturday, Nov. 30 to Dec. 14, 2002 from 10 am to noon The museum and gift shop will be open to supply all your holiday gift giving needs. Some items that would make excellent gifts are: books, maps, stationery, postcards, holiday cards, photos, jewelry, Dog Jack mugs, and much more. Special "Ready to Give" gift bags are new this year. These festive gift bags are packed with interesting and fun items from the museum gift shop. Regular retail price if the items were bought separately would be more than $20, BUT we are pricing the gift bags especially for the holiday season at ONLY $10. There will be a limited number of the gift bags so be sure to stop by and get several, before we run out! Other great gifts would be: The Boylston Book or any of our many historical books. Give the Gift of a Donation or Membership to BHSM. [gift cards will be sent] Give a BHSM gift certificate. Beginner's Genealogy Workshop - Learn how to get started in the exciting hobby of genealogy. This workshop will include non-computer methods and internet genealogy. A packet of instructional materials is included. instructor: Betty Thomas Class size limited. Sign up early! Saturday, Feb. 15, 2003 from 1 to 4 pm BHSM Members: $20 Non-Members - $30 Eat Your Way Through History - at BHSM, Clinton Historical Society, and West Boylston Historical Society Participants will enjoy food [breakfast, lunch, desserts] and a historical program at each Historical Society. Food, Historical Societies, Historical Programs - all for - $15/person Saturday, March 29, 2003 from 10 am to 4 pm Seating limited....get your tickets early! -------------------------------------------------------- Visit the gift shop http://www.ultranet.com/~boyhisoc/gift.htm ~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ On The Web American Memory Historical Collections http://memory.loc.gov/ Panoramic Map Collection http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/pmhtml/panhome.html The History of Christmas [several different sites] http://www.holidays.net/christmas/story.htm http://www.christmas-time.com/cp-hist.html http://nhnh.essortment.com/christmashistor_rbrj.htm The History of Christmas trees[several different sites] http://www.christmastrees.on.ca/vtfsite/vtf%20copy/history1.html http://www.christmas-tree.com/where.html http://ms.essortment.com/historyofchris_rlhb.htm http://www.fabulousfoods.com/holidays/xmas/treehistory.html http://www.attheoak.com/xmastree.html History of Chanuka http://www.chanuka.com/history.shtml http://www.beingjewish.com/yomtov/chanukah/history.html http://chanukah.spike-jamie.com/history.html http://www.chabadiowa.org/chanukahhistory.html History of Kwanza http://www.hungrymonster.com/FoodFacts/Food_Facts.cfm?Phrase_vch=Holidays&fid=5404 http://rats2u.com/christmas/kwanzaa_index.htm http://www.parentsoup.com/specialevents/holiday/articles/0,8248,534831_223747,00.html +~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+~+ Humor - LETTER TO SANTA CLAUS As a little boy climbed onto Santa's lap, Santa asked the usual, "And what would you like for Christmas?" The child stared at him for a minute, open-mouthed and horrified, then gasped, "Didn't you get my e-mail?" AND I just have to add this one: An exasperated caller to Dell Computer Tech Support couldn't get her new Dell Computer to turn on. After ensuring the computer was plugged in, the technician asked her what happened when she pushed the power button. Her response, "I pushed and pushed on this foot pedal and nothing happens." The "foot pedal" turned out to be the computer's mouse. ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ ¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º PERMISSION TO REPRINT articles from PotpourrEMAIL is granted unless specifically stated otherwise, PROVIDED: (1) the reprint is used for non-commercial, educational purposes; and (2) the following notice appears at the end of the article: Written by -author's name, e-mail address, and URL, if given- Previously published by PotpourrEMAIL, PotpourrEmail, Vol. 4, No.6 - 1 December 2002. Please visit Boylston Historical Society and Museum's main Web page at http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/ This newsletter is distributed monthly, on the first day of the month, to all Boylston Historical Society members (who have Email!), genealogists, and friends who have a special interest in the history of the town of Boylston. ¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸ ¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º¤º°`°º¤ø,¸¸,ø¤º boyhisoc@rcn.com 508-869-2720 Boylston Historical Society PO Box 459 Boylston, MA 01505 Web Page: http://users.rcn.com/boyhisoc/