Florence Huff or Florence Robbins, 1905-1992, Maine, Florida, Colorado

One thing that doing newspapers research has caused me to do is revisit the research for each person in my database. I'm making sure I've included every available record. I've uncovered a few mistakes and have found information added since the last time I looked, which has been a few years. Today I started looking at a person whose last name is either Huff or Robbins. I've got records that would indicate that both are possible. This puzzle started when I looked up Florence's marriage record.

Ancestry.com. New Hampshire, Marriage Records Index, 1637-1947 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Name: Florence M Robbins
Marriage Date: 31 May 1930
Event Type: Marriage
Marriage Place: Portsmouth, Rockingham, New Hampshire
Birth Date: abt 1905
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Father's name: George Robbins
Mother's name: Harriet Lansing
Spouse Name: Frank A Anderson
Spouse Age: 27
Spouse Gender: Male
Spouse Father's Name: Joseph
Spouse Mother's Name: Julia Pierce
FHL Film Number: 2057170


Biddeford Journal, Biddeford, Maine 6 Jun 1980, Page 31

GOLDEN WEDDING - Frank and Florence Anderson of Goose Rocks Beach, Kennebunkport, celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary May 31 at the home of her brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Ernestine Huff of Jenkins Road, Saco. Fifty relatives and friends attended the surprise party which was given by the honor couple's children, Joyce Anderson of Yuma, Colo., Guy Anderson of Biddeford and Judie Lenhart of Greeley, Colo., and the Huffs. Mr. and Mrs. Anderson were married May 31,1930, at Portsmouth, N.H. They have lived in Biddeford and Kennebunkport ever since. Their family also includes seven grandchildren and a great-grandchild.

If you look up Florence Huff on Ancestry and check the Public Member Trees, you'll find four trees under both the names Florence Huff and Florence Robbins, with both women marrying Frank Anderson. So it would appear that I'm not the only confused person.

• Florence Huff's parents are William O Huff and Ivy M Clark.
• Florence Robbins' parents are George M Robbins and Harriet M Lansing. 

Here's the census layout.

• 1910 has a Huff entry.
  Florence is with the Huff family in Lyman, York, Maine.
  Her father William is married to Ivy in this census.
• 1920 has a Robbins entry.
  Florence is with the Robbins family in Biddeford, York, Maine.
  1920 has a Huff entry.
  Robert (Florence's brother) is still with his father William O Huff.
  William is married to Helen in this census.
• 1930 has a Robbins entry.
  Florence is there in Biddeford, York, Maine.
  1930 has a Huff entry.
  William is a boarder in Biddeford and is listed as divorced. He has no children with him.
• 1940 has no Robbins entry.
  1940 has a Huff entry. William is divorced and living with his son James. 

It would appear that based on the census entries and subsequent records that Florence started life as Florence Huff, and for some unknown reason, becomes Florence Robbins between 1910 and 1920. 

As an additional piece of information, in Florence's daughter Lillian Joyce's obituary, her mother is listed as Florence Robins. 

So what happened is a puzzlement. If you have information to contribute, please post a comment to this blog post.

Update to McKee Family Tree book...Download updated copy

I've updated the McKee Family Tree book. Click the link below to download a PDF from my OneDrive account.

Updated McKee Family Tree book

Updates were made to the following people:

• Driver, Vallie Lucille (Booth) Obit
• Hansen, Priscilla (Baillargeon) Anderson Obit 
• Linenfeiser, Cynthia Sue (Lenau) Obit FAG 148448448
• McKinley, Dorothy Pearl (Mulholland) Obit 
• Wilkes, Sarah E. (Massey) McKee Obit FAG 139454771
• Nieto, Ramon John Obit FAG 148677504
• Steele, Clara Ruth (Cross) Obit FAG 144187180

In addition, note the following, which is not in the tree book.

• Raymond Eugene Hager (s/o Lewis Ebbert Hager + Hellen Berdelle McGuire)
  b. 3 Feb 1837 Colorado Springs, El Paso, Colorado
  d. 15 Jun 2015 Fort Collilns, Larimer, Colorado
  Click here to see his obit. FAG 149454190
• Patricia Ann Anderson (d/o Edward Michael G. Anderson + Elsie M. Beane)
  m. abt 1961
  Joseph Omer Norman Fontaine
  b. 3 Nov 1936 Chicopee, Hampden, Massachusetts
  d. 13 Jul 2002 Palmer, Hampden, Massachusetts
  Click here to see his obit. FAG 149461397
• Laura Lynette (Burns) Ratzlaff (d/o Woodrow Leonard Burns + Doris Nell Terral)
  b. 21 Sep 1962 Wasco, Kern, California
  d. 18 Feb 2014 Bakersfield, Kern, California
  Click here to see her obit. FAG 126528954
• Wilma Darlene Uptergrove (d/o Mount Vernon Uptergrove + Edna Idell Cook)
  m. 28 Mar 1972
  Jerry Ronald Dickerman
  b. 10 Sep 1934 Sherman, Grayson, Texas
  d. 25 Jun 2014 Phoenix, Maricopa, Arizona
  Click here to see his obit. FAG 132124210
• Sherry Lynn (Bacak) Duffey
  m. 18 Jan 1957 Dallas, Texas to Max Wayne Duffey
  (s/o William Edward Duffey + Luna Beatrice Covington)
  b. 10 Oct 1941 Dallas, Dallas, Texas
  d. 18 May 2014 Granbury, Hood, Texas
  Click here to see her obit. FAG 130079814

Anderson Family Tree

Anderson Family Tree

Click the graphic once to see a larger version.
Click the Esc key to return to this post. 

Try Going Local

An article in the online free eZine GenealogyInTime suggested that if you are looking for information outside of the United States that you use the localized Google search engine for the country in question. I have only two international locations that I need to search in: England and Ireland. I decided to check out what different results I'd get if I used Google.co.uk. Here's what I found.

Discovered Marriages
Ernest Dodd married Clara May Webb 18 Aug 1917
http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Ashton-under-Lyne/stpeter/marriages_1915-1917.html
Marriage: 18 Aug 1917 St Peter, Ashton under Lyne, Lancs.
Ernest Dodd - 27, 2nd. Kings Own R. Lancaster, Bachelor, 79 Mount Street
Clara Webb - 26, Cardroom Hand, Spinster, 7 Hawthorne Grove
    Groom's Father: Frederick Dodd, Labourer (wife Ester Middleton)
    Bride's Father: George Webb, Gas Stoker
    Witness: Henry Ibbotson; Sarah Ann Ibbotson
    Married by Banns by: T. W. Pughe Morgan, Vicar
    Register: Marriages 1915 - 1917, Page 100, Entry 200
    Source: LDS Family Search

Sarah Ann Dodd married Henry Ralph "Harry" Ibbotson 4 Apr 1915
Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930
Name: Henry Ibbotson
Marriage Date: 21 Mar 1915
Parish: Ashton under Lyne, St James the Apostle
Parish as it Appears: St James Church Ashton-Under-Lyne
Spouse's Name: Sarah Ann Dodd
Reference Number: L163/1/5/3
Item Number: 6
Archive Roll: 847

Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930
Name: Henry Ibbotson
Birth Year: abt 1886
Age: 29
Marriage Date: 4 Apr 1915
Parish: Ashton under Lyne, St James the Apostle
Parish as it Appears: St James, Ashton-Under-Lyne
Father's Name: Thomas Ibbotson
Spouse's Name: Sarah Ann Dodd
Spouse's Father's Name: Frederick Dodd (wife Esther Middleton)
Reference Number: L163/1/2/3
Item Number: 1
Archive Roll: 847

Alfred Dodd married Florence Elizabeth Jones 30 Oct 1922
Manchester, England, Marriages and Banns, 1754-1930
Name: Alfred Dodd
Birth Year: abt 1901
Age: 21
Marriage Date: 30 Oct 1922
Parish: Ashton Under Lyne, St Peter
Parish as it Appears: St Peter Ashton Under Lyne
Father's Name: Albert Dodd
Spouse's Name: Florence Jones
Spouse's Father's Name: John Jones
Reference Number: L74/1/2/10
Item Number: 2
Archive Roll: 519

In addition, I found two christening records to two daughters Cecila and Florence. However, if you look on Ancestry.com, you find that the two daughters might be one daughter named Florence Elizabeth Cecilia Dodd. Therefore, children for this couple remains a fuzzy area. 

Discovered World War I Correspondence

Albert Dodd and John William Dodd

http://ashtonpals.m.webs.com/   (1915 Pg 14)

Published in the Reporter 25 Sep 1919

TWO ASHTON BROTHERS

Corporal J. W. Dodd, who is attached to the machine gun section of the 1/9th Battalion Manchester Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dodd, of 153, Burlington street, Ashton, and who, as announced in the Reporter last week, was wounded in the leg while fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula on August 7th, is making good progress. He is now in hospital at Plymouth, and writes on September 13th as follows: - "I have arrived in England. We are nice and comfortable, and have plenty of good food. I am able to walk a little today. I am going to have a piece of skin put on my leg, as the wound is to big to heal itself." The wound has not touched the bone, the bullet being buried in the flesh, according to a previous letter sent by Corporal DODD. A brother, Gunner ALBERT DODD, is serving with the Royal Field Artillery in France, where he has been engaged on active service for about ten weeks. In a letter to his parents he says: - "We are having it a bit quiet just now. I am writing this letter at one of our observation posts. I get 24 hours every eight days on the telephone. I have just been watching some of our shells bursting right in the German trenches. It is worth seeing. the other day we blew up one of their trench mortars and the men who were working it. We also dug one of their shells up that had not burst. It was about 9ft in solid hard clay." The observations post referred to by Gunner Dodd is a captive balloon, from which the effects of the British shellfire is seen, and the results telephoned to the battery below.

Parents: Albert Dodd and Mary Jane Hibbert

John William Dodd death record:

http://tamesidefamilyhistory.co.uk/pow.htm

Dodd J Private Manchester Regiment 

153 Burlington Street, Ashton under Lyne (dead)

Action Ashton 11 Jan 1919

Parents: Albert Dodd and Mary Jane Hibbert

This record may indicate that I have an error in that I have John marrying Sylvia Storer in Q4 1935 and having a child (Shirley Dodd). The name Dodd is common in the area and it might well be that I have records two different John William Dodd men crossed. Any help sorting this out would be appreciated. 

Discovered Deaths or Burial Locations

Nellie Dodd

http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Ashton-under-Lyne/stmichael/index.html

Burial: 26 Dec 1901 St Michael and All Angels, Ashton under Lyne, Lancs.

Nellie Dodd - 

    Age: 22 mths

    Abode: 153 Burlington Street

    Buried by: C. H. Bagott

    Register: Burials 1892 - 1908, Page 226, Entry 1806

    Source: LDS Film 1550973

    Parents: Albert Dodd and Mary Jane Hibbert

Alfred Dodd and Florence Elizabeth Jones

http://www.stg.org.uk/content/pages/documents/1376749516.pdf

R36 G8 

ALFRED DODD 30/12/1948 (Parents: Joseph Dodd and Agnes Anderson)

FLORENCE DODD 17/01/1979

(Low headstone in book format) In loving memory of (left side) 

A dear husband and father ALFRED DODD who died 26th Dec. 1949 aged 47 years (right side) A dear wife and mother FLORENCE DODD who died 11th Jan. 1979 aged 76 years

Ada Hannah Smith 

http://www.lan-opc.org.uk/Ashton-under-Lyne/stmichael/index.html 

Burial: 21 Oct 1899 St Michael and All Angels, Ashton under Lyne, Lancs.

Ada Hannah Smith - (Parents: William Smith and Agnes Eleanore Anderson)

    Age: 11 mths

    Abode: Fleet St

    Buried by: George A. Pugh Rector

    Register: Burials 1892 - 1908, Page 193, Entry 1543

    Source: LDS Film 1550973

Conclusion

My voyage into the use of another Google search engine has answered a lot of outstanding questions and uncovered a possible problem with John William Dodd. I'm going to continue searching for additional information to see if there's anything else I've missed. As an exercise, this one has been rather profitable for my research project. So, if you are googling in other countries, you might want to try going local and see if you get results that you've missed using the American version of Google.

Missing in Action...Anderson and Roberge

I haven't posted in a good long while. I've had several life events that haven't been fun and I had to drop my genealogy habit. I'm just getting back into it.

One of the more frustrating aspects of genealogy is finding out that someone was just a hop away from you and you never got to talk to them. While doing some general information trolling on Ancestry.com, I found out that Ann Marilyn Roberge died on 24 May 2013 in Largo, Florida...right across the bay from me and I didn't even know she was there!

Ann (b. 11 Nov 1930 Palmer, Hampden, Massachusetts) was the wife of Edward Michael G. Anderson (b. 7 Jan 1927 Springfield Hampden, Massachusetts d. Worcester, Worcester, Massachusetts). Ann and Edward, who were married 22 Jun 1949 in East Brookfield, Worcester, Massachusetts, eventually divorce but they have four children before that event in their lives.

Michael Doran Anderson (b. 21 Jan 1950 Palmer, Hampden, Massachusetts d. 26 May 2001 Idaho)

Kevin Paul Anderson (b. 17 Jul 1951 Palmer, Hampden, Massachusetts d. 16 Oct 1995 Hollywood, Boward, Florida)

Dale Edward Anderson (b. 12 Nov 1953 Palmer, Hampden, Massachusetts d. 17 Jul 2012 Spencer, Worcester, Massachusetts).

In addition, Ann and Edward had a daughter, who is currently living in Massachusetts. I've contacted a person who is perhaps this daughter using Facebook. We'll see if she is the right person and if she or anyone in the family is interested in this project.

Henry "Harry" Dodd

I haven't been posting of late. I've been too busy trying to hold my life together...too much to go into and more info than you might want to hear. Anyway, I've started pecking away again at my family history. No guarantees on how consistent I might be over the next few months. But I came across something that any Dodd/Anderson researchers on this list will be interested in.

Henry "Harry" Dodd
s/o Frederick William Dodd + Esther Middleton
grandson of Joseph Dodd + Agnes Anderson
b. 21 Dec 1896 Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
d. 13 Aug 1917 France & Flanders World War I

Click here to see entry in list of honor.
Henry Dodd M.M.
Lance Corporal, 49482. 11 th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Killed in action 13 August 1917, aged 20. Born: Ashton under Lyne. Enlisted: Stockport. Son of Frederick & Esther, 173 Curzon Road, Ashton under Lyne. Commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ieper, Belgium.
Award of the Military Medal published in the London Gazette, 14 August 1917. Announcements are normally made approximately three months after the particular act for which the medal is given.

Click here to get a copy of a certificate...a lovely certificate with pictures of the Menin Gate Memorial in Ypres, Belgium. The site includes a picture of the inside walls...filled with so many names. A soldier's name was added to the wall when his resting place was unknown. It's worth a look.

A cousin had told me about the fact that Henry appeared on the gate. I was googling when I found these two entries, which provide more detail than the cousin had told me. Lesson learned? Google it every single time!

Anderson...GenealogyBank...Obituaries

I gave myself a small present--a subscription to GenealogyBank, which is a newspaper site. Using the new subscription, I've found lots of extra detail and a few obits. Here are the obits.

Anne Ellen (Doran) Anderson
The Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, Monday, 28 Jul 1947, Page 8
MRS. ANNE ANDERSON
Monson, July 27--Mrs. Anne E. (Doran) Anderson, 77, died Saturday in her home in Stebbins Rd. She was born in London, Eng. Jul 8, 1870, daughter of Patrick and Mary (May) Doran and came to the United States in 1904. She first resided in Maine, later going to Springfield where she made her home until last year.
Mrs. Anderson was the widow of John J. Anderson who died in 1925. She leaves two sons, Edward M., and Norman J. Anderson, both of this town; a sister, Miss Susan Doran of Chicopee Falls, and three grandchildren.
The funeral will be held from the Lombard Funeral home in Bridge St., Monday at 8:30 with requiem high mass in St. Patrick's Church at 9. Burial will be Tuesday at 10 in St. Mary's Cemetery, Biddeford, Me.

Edward Michael G. Anderson

The Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, Monday, 14 Dec 1964, Page 10
DIED
ANDERSON--At Wing Memorial Hospital Palmer, December 12, Edward M. Anderson of Stebbins Rd., Monson. Funeral from the Palmer Funeral Service Tuesday at 8:15, followed by a high mass of requiem at the Church of St. Thomas the Apostle at 9. Burial in St. Thomas Cemetery. Calling hours Sunday and Monday 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

Elsie M. (Beane) Anderson
The Springfield Union, Wednesday, 7 May 1969, Page 5
Mrs. Elsie M. Anderson
PALMER -- Mrs. Elsie M. (Bean) Anderson, 62, of Stebbins Road, Monson, died Tuesday in Wesson Memorial Hospital, Springfield. She was born in Biddeford, MD., and was a resident of Palmer and Monson many years. Mrs. Anderson leaves two sons, Edward and Paul of Monson; a daughter, Mrs. Patricia Fontaine of Palmer; two sisters, Mrs. Dorothy Soucy in New Jersey, and Mrs. Alice Ball of Daytona Beach, Fla.; and two stepbrothers, Max Brandt of Palmer and Carl Brandt of Saco, Me. Palmer Funeral Service is in charge. Burial will be in St. Thomas Cemetery, Palmer.

Norman J. Anderson

The Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, Monday, 26 Aug 1968, Page 3

SUBURBAN DEATHS 

NORMAN J. ANDERSON

ENFIELD--Norman J. Anderson, 63, 0f 25 Sword Ave., Thompsonville, died Saturday in a local nursing home. He was born in Biddlefort, Me., June 24, 1905, he had been a resident of this town since 1951, and of Springfield since his childhood. Mr. Anderson had been employed in the Package Machinery Corp., East Longmeadow as a layout worker until retiring in 1967. He is survived by his wife, the former Ruth V. Nooney. Byron funeral home, Springfield, is in charge. Burial will be in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Ruth V. (Nooney) Anderson

The Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, Wednesday, 12 Jun 1985, Page 6
Ruth V. Anderson
Ruth V. (Nooney) Anderson, 80, of 70 Harrison Ave., Springfield, retired secretary for Hallihan Lumber Co. and formerly of Fred Weake Plastering Co., died Monday in Western Massachusetts Hospital, Westfield. Born in Springfield, she graduated from the High School of Commerce, was a member of First Church, Court Square and also served on many of the church's committees. Her husband, Norman Anderson, died in 1968. She leaves a brother, Walter G. Nooney of Brickerville, Pa.; and a sister, Florence E. Progulski of Agawam. The funeral will be Thursday afternoon at Dickinson-Streeter Funeral Home with burial in Oak Grove Cemetery.

GenealogyBank
Seems that GenealogyBank has a different set of newspapers than the ones I've searched before. It also seems that an individual subscription gives you access to more than the library subscriptions I've used in the past. I'm pleased with the purchase.

Burns Children...

Children of William B. "Bill" Burns and Sarah C. "Sally" Booth
Child 1: Henry Eugene Burns
b. 20 Feb 1880 Sulphur Bluff, Hopkins County, Texas
d. 10 mar 1958 E.T.M.C., Clarksville, Red River County, Texas (FAG memorial 15387980)
m 4 Dec 1898 Mt. Vernon, Franklin County, Texas
Mae Henry Anderson *
b. 20 Dec 1990 Pattonville, Lamar County, Texas
d. 20 Oct 1967 Bogata, Red River County, Texas (FAG memorial 15388059)

Child 2: Charles Nathaniel Burns
b. 15 Jan 1881 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas
d. 28 Feb 1959 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas (FAG memorial 9567225)
m. 17 Mar 1905 Franklin County, Texas
Mary Della Campbell
b. 13 Feb 1871 Desoto Parish, Louisiana
d. 23 Nov 1958 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas (FAG memorial 9567228)

Child 3: Cora Maude Burns
b. Apr 1885 Texas
d. Where? When?
m. 13 Nov 1901 Franklin County, Texas
Fred Walter Nelson
b. 12 Jul 1881 Arkansas
d. Where? When?

Child 4: Andrew Jackson Burns
b. Jul 1886 Hopkins County, Texas
d. 10 Apr 1931 Red River County, Texas
m. 30 Jun 1904 Franklin County, Texas (FAG memorial 29954413)
Annie Olivia Anderson *
b. 21 Aug 1885 Hopkins County, Texas
d. 15 Mar 1970 Clarksville, Red River County, Texas (FAG memorial 29954520)

Child 5: Sara Carrie Burns
b. 23 Aug 1889 Bowie County, Texas
d. 2 May 1935 Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas (FAG memorial 52457414)
m. 1904 Franklin County, Texas
John Henry Covington
b. 29 May 1881 Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas
d. 27 Oct 1952 Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas (FAG memorial 29799520)

Child 6: Pearl Elizabeth Burns
b. 15 Jun 1889 Hopkins County, Texas
d. 17 Sep 1967 Sulphur Springs, Hopkins County, Texas (FAG memorial 59886062)
m. Where? When?
James Henry Jackson
b. 18 Dec 1878 Texas
d. 3 May 1962 Cooper, Delta County, Texas (FAG memorial 59886089)

Child 7: John Dow Burns
b. 4 Aug 1895 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas
d. 12 Jun 1950 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas (FAG memorial 45582540)
m. 22 Sep 1912 Bowie County, Texas
Florence Campbell (Wife #1)
b. 2 Aug 1894 Delta County, Texas
d. 9 Apr 1922 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas (FAG memorial 45577427)
Floy Bell Kemp (Wife #2)
b. 2 Oct 1899 Oklahoma
d. 16 apr 1979 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas (FAG memorial 46093145)

Child 8: Lillie May Burns
b. 27 Apr 1896 Hopkins County, Texas
d. 23 Feb 1975 Horatio, Sevier County, Arkansas (FAG memorial 41261084)
m. 9 mar 1913 New Boston, Bowie County, Texas
Charles Elon Lawrence (Revernd)
b. 28 mar 1895 Detroit, Red River County, Texas
d. 27 Jun 1974 Horatio, Sevier County, Arkansas (FAG memorial 41261035)

* Anderson wives are sisters, d/o Joseph Anderson and Margaret J. Sickles.

Esther S. (Anderson) Rich, 1885-1943, England, Maine

Just when I think I've wrung everything possible out of the Google News Archive, I strike pay dirt...or in this case an obit...again.

The Lewiston Daily Sun, Monday, 11 Jan 1943, Page 2

MRS. ESTHER RICH

NORWAY--Mrs. Esther Rich, 57, died Thursday at the home of her brother, Henry Anderson of Biddeford, where she had been since Thanksgiving. She had been ill for several weeks. She came here in 1908, and married Odell C. Rich.

She is survived by her husband, two daughters, Mrs. Gordon Eastman of Lovell, Mrs. Eleanor Marcotte of Norway, one son, Odell C. Rich Jr., of West Paris, her mother, two brothers and three sisters, all of Biddeford.

Never ever give up...just rewrite your search terms...you never know...just keep typing...

Another Encounter with a Kind Librarian

I asked and Deb delivered.

Late (too late) last night, I emailed The Millicent Library asking about the procedure for requesting an obituary, and if there was a fee, could I send it electronically. I've learned from past requests to include the details of what I'm looking for. In this case it was an obituary for Alfred John Chasse.

Before noon today I had the scanned obituary in my email.

Fairhaven Star, Fairhaven, Massachusetts, 25 Jun 1964

ALFRED J. CHASSE

Funeral services for Alfred J. Chasse, 69, of 14 Harbor View avenue took place Friday morning at the Fairhaven funeral home. Mr. Chasse died June 16 at Union hospital, New Bedford.

A native of Biddeford, Me., he had lived here for the last 27 years. Prior to his retirement, he was employed by Revere Copper & Brass, Inc., New Bedford. He was a veteran of World War I.

He leaves his widow, Mrs. Sarah Jane (Anderson) Chasse; a son, John A. Chasse of this town; a daughter, Mrs. Homer Gracia, also of Fairhaven; a brother George Chasse of Staten Island, New York City; five grandchildren, and three great grandchildren.

Again I have no burial location. I've created a Find A Grave memorial for Sarah (76103139) and I requested a photo, hoping to get a shot of a double stone with Alfred. I'm assuming he was buried back in Biddeford with Sarah. I'll check with the funeral home if possible too but I haven't had much luck with that method. The other option, since I now have a complete date of death, is to look for a death certificate and see if the burial location is on it. I'll update when I find out more. 

Find A Grave Bonus

Well, what I didn't get on the two obits that came in today, I did get from a Find A Grave photo request. I asked for a photo of the grave site of Elsie M. (Beane) Anderson (74316732).  The volunteer added Elsie's husband's info since he also appears on the grave marker. I've asked the volunteer to transfer the memorial to me.

Edward Michael G. Anderson
b. Dec 1901 Ashton Under Lyne, County Lancashire, England
d. 1964 probably in Massachusetts, possibly in Palmer but maybe in Springfield (FAG 76508332)

I can't find a social security death index entry for him...the quick and easy way to death info. However, with at least a year of death, I can begin to search for more records.

Sarah Jane (Anderson) Chasse 1892-1979 England, Maine, Massachusetts

The McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, Maine comes through again.

BIDDEFORD--Sarah J. Chasse, 89, of 179 Hill St. died sudenly Wednesday at the Webber Hospital.

She was born in England, April 9, 1890, daughter of Joseph and Julia Pierce Anderson, and came here when she was two years old. She attended Biddeford schools.

She and her husband Albert Chasse had lived in Massachusetts for more than 40 years. Mrs. Chasse retired to Biddeford 10 years ago, after his death.

Mrs. Chesse was a member of Christ Episcopal Church.

Survivors are a son, John Chasse of Fairhaven, Mass.; a daughter, Janet Gracia of Rochester, Mass.; a brother, Richard Anderson of biddefore; two sisters, Elizabeth Anderson and Jessie Anderson, both of Biddeford; and several grandchildren.

Calling hours will be held tonight from 7 to 9 at the Dennett and Craig Funeral Home, 365 Main St., Saco.

Friday calling hours will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. at the Fairhaven Funeral Home, 177 Main St.

Services will be held Saturday at 9 a.m. at the funeral home. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery, Fairhaven.

Here are Sarah's details:

Sarah Jane Andersonb. 9 Apr 1892 Ashton Town, Ashton-Under-Lyne, Lacanshire, England
d. 29 Aug 1979 Biddeford, York County, Maine
m. Before 1920 (I don't have exact date or place)
Alfred John Chasse (Albert in obit but that's an error)
b. 4 Oct 1895 Biddeford, York County, Maine
d. Jun 1964 Fairhaven, Bristol County, Massachusetts

Child 1:
Janet Chasse
b. 31 Dec 1920 Biddeford, York County, Maine
d. 31 Mar 1990 New Bedford, Bristol County, Massachusetts
m. (I don't have date or place)
Homer Gracia
b. 27 Aug 1915 Where?, Massachusetts
d. 5 Sep 1993 New Bedford Bristol County, Massachusetts

Child 2:
John Anderson Chase
John and his family are still living as near as I can tell.

I've created a Find A Grave memoral for Sarah (76103139) and I requested a photo. I'm hoping she has a double stone so that I can find Alfred too. I've also started seaching for obit and buial info on Sarah's daughter and son-in-law. I'll post updates when I find out more.

Frances A. (Rich) Eastman, 1910-1985, Maine

France A. (Rich) Eastman FAG memorial 75991662.
Gordon M. Eastman, Sr. FAG memorial 75991557.
Gordon M. Eastman, Jr. FAG memorial 75989267.
Patricia Lorraine (Eastman) Bryan FAG memorial 75992026.

If you are looking for information on this Eastman family, be sure the check http://network.mainegenealogy.net, which is the Maine Genealogy Network. Gordon (Sr.) was a Lovell Selectman and he gave several interviews through his life, which you can find at this website.

I've added basic info and linking to the Eastman memorials and I've requested photographs. I've been parked on the Maine Genealogy Network and have lots of info to add to Gordon's FAG memorial...but it's late. So this task will have to come at a later date.

Digging for Esther’s Husband

Joseph and Julia (Pierce) Anderson had a total of nine children. I’ve written about this family in this blog many times. I had tracked down info on all of them except child number two, Esther S. Anderson. In looking at the obituaries for Esther’s mother and older sister (Mary Hannah Anderson), I noticed that the list of pallbearers had a few familiar names and a few repeating names. Many other family members have obituaries but none of them include the pallbearers.

Julia’s Pallbearers (1956)

Odell Rich
John Chasse 

Gordon Eastman

Francis Marcotte

Roy Duross

Homer Garcia

Mary’s Pallbearers (1967)

Leo Machell

John Chasse

Guy Anderson

Maurice Duross

Roy Duross
Thomas Garcia

In a shot in the dark move, I decided to trace all of the pallbearers to see if any of them lead me to Esther. I knew that Esther was alive in 1912 at the time of the death of her younger brother, William Joseph Anderson. William’s obituary mentions that he is survived by three brothers and five sisters, which means he was the first of the nine children to die. In 1912, Esther was 27 and it seemed a reasonable assumption that she was married. The Maine marriage index had no marriage for her. So I began to systematically look up each of the pallbearers.

Since Roy Duross appeared on both lists, I started with him. I found that he worked at the Saco-Lowell Machine Shops, which is also where Frank Anderson worked. I assumed that Roy and Maurice Duross were family friends.

I could identify Guy Anderson as Frank’s son and John Chasse as Sarah Jane (Anderson) Chasse’s son.

I took a stab at Odell Rich and found that he was married to an Esther. But was it my Esther? I did the general survey search that every genealogist does and I found the following items:

• A New Hampshire Marriage Record for Odell C. Rich and Esther Anderson. Esther’s parents were listed as Joseph and Julia Anderson. Odell’s Esther was indeed my Esther.
• A 1920 census entry listed three children for Odell and Esther: Frances (b. Mar 1910); Odell (b. Apr 1912), and Eleanor (b. Oct 1913).
• A marriage record for Frances A. Rich to Gordon M. Eastman.  Gordon was one of Julia’s pallbearers.
• A marriage record for Eleanor E. Rich to Francis L. Marcotte. Francis was one of Julia’s pallbearers.

All circumstances point to my having tracked down Esther’s marriage. So here are all of the vitals.

Esther S. Anderson

b. Aug 1885 Ashton Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
d. Before 1943 (If you can help, I’d love to hear from ya’.)
m. 4 Jul 1909 Somersworth, Strafford County, NH
Odell Cleveland Rich
b. 26 Dec 1882 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
d. After 1943 (If you can help, I’d love to hear from ya’.)
Odell marries a second time in 1943 to Ida Dunham Sweatt. I’m assuming that Esther dies while still married to Odell.

Child 1: Frances A. Rich

b. Mar 1910 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
d. 4 Jul 1985 Bridgton, Cumberland County, Maine
m. 10 Jun 1939 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
Gordon M. Eastman
b. 15 Dec 1916 Lovell, Oxford County, Maine
d. 12 May 2006 Lovell, Oxford County, Maine

Child 2: Odell Cleveland Rich

b. 18 Apr 1912 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
d. 26 Apr 1973 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
m. 17 Dec 1938 Maine
Gertrude C. Mann
b. Oct 1918 Paris, Oxford County, Maine
d. If you can help, I’d love to hear from ya’.

Child 3: Eleanor E. Rich

b. 5 Oct 1913 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
d. 21 Feb 2001 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
m. 30 Jul 1942 Norway, Oxford County, Maine
Francis L. Marcotte
b. 17 Oct 1918  (If you know where, I’d love to hear from ya’.)
d. 13 Oct 2005 Norway, Oxford County, Maine

Future Research

I’m on the hunt for obituaries and burial locations. The Sun Journal seems to be the preferred newspaper for the obituaries. I’ll post an update when I learn more. In the meantime, if you're hunting for a wayward husband, you might want to examine the pallbearers in family obituaries to see if any of them look promising as a possible mate. 

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John James Anderson...Continued

Find A Grave memorials:

John James Anderson = 75132315 (based on obit)

Anne Ellen (Doran) Anderson = 75134150...She went by Annie; however, the burial record shows Anne.

The McArthur Public Library in Biddeford, Maine rocks! I had John's obit in about 12 hours. 

John James Anderson; 1873-1925; Ashton Under Lyne, England; Biddeford, Maine

John was the son of Alexander McKee Anderson and his wife Esther Ann Pollard. He was born 18 Oct 1873 in Ashton Under Lyne, County Lancashire, England. He grew up in Ashton Under Lyne. You can find him on the 1881, 1891, and 1901 English censuses.

While living in England, John marries Annie Ellen Doran in the winter of 1897.  Annie was born in September of 1871 in Birkenhead, County Cheshire, England, the daughter of Patrick Doran and Mary May.

In 1904, John came to the USA, joining his family in Maine. You can find him as a passenger on the Canada, arriving in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada in March 1904. John's mother and brother (Joseph Anderson) had already moved to the Biddeford, York County, Maine area in the early 1890's. Many members of the Anderson family work in Maine's cotton mills.

During the course of their marriage John and Annie have ten children (according to census info). However, only two of their children seem to survive to adulthood: Edward Michael G. Anderson (b. Dec 1901) and Norman F. Anderson (b. 1906). Currently, I have information on four of the ten children only. Two additional children (James and Agnes), twins born in Jan 1912 die within a few days of each other in Feb 1912. When Annie comes to the U.S.A. following John about a year later, she brings only one child with her...Edward.

By the 1910 census, the family is together, living in Saco, York County, Maine. In 1912, a naturalization record shows the family living at 74 James Street, Saco, Maine. According to the 1920 census, John becomes a citizen in 1914. As a citizen, John registers for World War I. I haven't sent for his records to find out if he actually served.

John's naturalization records should be in the court district of Maine with an action date of 4 Mar 1912 in Volume IV Number 92. If anyone reading this blog has the ability to look this up, I would appreciate a copy of the document.

For several years the family is settled in at 15 Fall Street, Biddeford, Maine. John is working as a machinist for SLM Company. You can find the family at this address in the 1920 census and a 1923 city directory. Also noted in the 1923 city directory is son Edward's move to Worcester, Massachusetts. Edward lives and works in the Hampden County area of Massachusetts for the majority of his life.

By the time of the 1930 census, John is no longer with the family. In the 1930 census, Annie and Norman have joined Edward in Massachusetts. The family is living at 783 Liberty, Springfield, Massachusetts. Back tracking through the Biddeford and Saco City Directory, I was able to isolate a probable death date for John between 1923 and 1926.

As it so happens, Google News Archive includes copies of the Biddeford Weekly Journal, which is one of the newspapers that covers the Biddeford area. I searched for Anderson in that newspaper from 1923 to 1926 and found the following entry:

Biddeford Weekly Journal, Biddeford, Maine 18 Dec 1925, Page 7

Norman Anderson, a senior, was relieved of his school duties because of the death of his father, John J. Anderson. The senior class sent a beautiful floral piece and also extends sympathy to the family.

The newspaper had a weekly column that reported high school news on a weekly basis. My summation is that John died the week of 18 Dec 1925.

The following year (18 Jun 1926) the same column in the Biddeford Weekly Journal lists Norman as one of 52 high school graduates. He graduates with honors.

My next task is to see if I can locate an obituary for John, mostly because I'd like to find out where he is buried. I suspect he is in Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, York County, Maine. However, I have to have more than a guess before I add a memorial and request a grave site photograph from a Find A Grave volunteer. Hopefully, I'll be able to get the obit from the Biddeford library. They've been kind and helpful before and I hope I haven't worn out my welcome.

John's wife Annie lives out her life in the Hampden County, Massachusetts area. Using city directories, I can track her up to 1946 when she moves in with her son Edward at his home (26 Maynard, Springfield, Massachusetts). So I know she died after 1946. Another researcher states that she died in Chicopee, Hampden County, Massachusetts. I haven't proved or disproved the location; however, I am continuing to research.

Edward marries Elsie M. Beane (13 Sep 1925 in Biddeford) and they have four children that I know of. Elsie dies 5 May 1969 in Springfield (FAG memorial 74316732) and her obituary notes that Edward preceded her. With four surviving children, I perhaps have an opportunity to write to these distant cousins and have them fill in lots of blanks for me. We'll see.

Norman marries Madeline Unknown. My informaton on him is limited. He seems to stay in the Hampden County area of Massachusetts. I am continuing to research.

Please contact me if you have an interest in this family.

Samuel Smith Continued...

With the discovery of the obit for Samuel and his two brothers, I decided to plunk down some cash for Find My Past so that I could get at the images for the 1911 English census. Here's what I found.

William Smith + Agnes Eleanor Anderson had the following children on the census:
Jane Anderson Smith b. 1893 (d. 1961 as Mrs. Issac Henshaw)
Esther Ann Smith b. 1894 (d. 1971 as Mrs. James William Bailey)
Dinah Smith b. 1895 (d. 13 Oct 1979 as Mrs. James Taylor Kay)
John William Smith b. 1897 (d. before 1957)
Ada Hannah Smith b. 1899 (d. 1899)
Samuel Smith b. 1900 (d. 23 Apr 1957...see previous post)
Clara Smith b. 1902 (d. Aug 1946)
Mary Smith b. 1903 (d. 1903)
Eleanor Smith b. 1903 (d. 1903)
Richard Smith b. 1905 (d. after 1957)
Annie Smith b. 1907 (d. 1908)
Harry Smith b. 1908 (d. after 1957)

I could confirm all of the births at the Cheshire BMD site. So, I returned to the Tameside page to search burials and hit paydirt again. Clara Smith never married and Cheshire BMD has both a birth and death record for her. In addition, I was able to find her on the Tameside site. The big surprise is that she's buried with her mother, Agnes Eleanor (Anderson) Smith.

Agnes Eleanor (Anderson) Smith
b. Apr/May/Jun 1869 Ashton-Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
d. Feb 1922 Ashton-Under Lyne, Lancashire, England
buried 9 Feb 1922 Dukinfield Cemetery and Crematorium, Dukinfield, Cheshire, England

So for about $40 U.S., I've been able to flesh out lots more of the Smith family. I've continued poking around in Find My Past. It's easy to use; however, its holdings are not as extensive as Ancestry.com.

In addition to the many Smith children, I also found more Dodd children.

Albert Dodd + Mary Jane (unknown maiden name):
Sarah Jane Dodd (b. 1891)
Albert Dodd (b. 1893)
John William Dodd (b. 1895)
Alice Dodd (b. 1898)
Nellie Dodd (b. 1900)
Alfred Dodd (b. 1901)
Unknown Dodd (b. 1905)
Harry Dodd (b. 1908)

So the same $40 bought me lots more research leads...and I still have a few more credits that are good for one year. All in all, I would say that Find My Past was a good investment.

Samuel Smith, 1900-1957, Ashton-Under-Lyne, England - Monson, Hampden County, MA, USA

Samuel is the son of William Smith and Agnes Eleanor Anderson. He was born Apr-May-Jun 1900 (no certificate yet). At age 23, Samuel sails from Southampton to New York City aboard the Olympic. He arrives in NYC 5 Sep 1923. He is going to live with his uncles' families (Joseph Anderson and John James Anderson).

Initially, he went to his Anderson relatives in Biddeford, Maine, but eventually moves on to be near Anderson relatives in Springfield, Massachusetts. The 1930 census shows him living with his aunt (Anna (Doran) Anderson). He's working at the Assembler Auto Company. The following year a city directory shows him living on his own at 790 Liberty, Springfield, Massachusetts. He is working for Westinghouse.

In a stroke of luck, while searching for something else entirely, I found his obituary.

The Springfield Union, Springfield, Massachusetts, Wednesday, 24 Apr 1957, page 29

SAMUEL SMITH

Monson, April 23--Samuel Smith of Stebbins Rd. died this afternoon in the home of his nephew, Edward Anderson. He was born in England, son of William and Agnes (Anderson) Smith and had lived here many years. He was a veteran of World Wars I and II, serving with the British Army in the first war and with the United States in the second. He was a member of the Notre Dame Club in Springfield.

He leaves two brothers, Richard and Harry, and three sisters, Mrs. June Henshaw, Mrs. Dina Kay, and Mrs. Esther Bailey, all in England, and two nephews, including Edward, with whom he made his home. Funeral will be Friday at 9 with Rev. Johnathan Morrill, pastor of St. Mary's Episcopal Church, officiating at the parlors of Palmer Funeral Service. Burial will be Woodlawn Cemetery, Biddeford, Me. Calling hours at the funeral home will be Wednesday and Thursday from 2 to 5 and 7 to 10.

I have information on all three of his sisters; however, his brothers were a complete surprise. So it's back to Cheshire BMD or Lancashire BMD to see what I can find. And then there are the military records...so much to look for courtesies of one lucky newspaper search.

Anderson Obits

Finally, checked the Google News Archive to see what newspapers they had. Lo and behold they have the Biddeford Weekly Journal with dates that cover Anderson family events.

Biddeford Weekly Journal, Biddeford, Maine, 28 Apr 1911, page 3

Joseph Anderson

Joseph Anderson, a well known resident of this city who underwent an operation at the Trull hospital some 10 days ago for an affection of the brain died Monday at that institution, the efforts of the surgeons to prolong his life proving of no avail. The operation, which is known as trapanning and which is a very delicate one, was performed for the purpose of removing a tumor from the brain, a part of the skull being removed. It was performed by Dr. H. F. Twitchell of Portland, who was assisted by Dr. F. E. Small of this city.

For a time following the operation the patient seemed to improve, but more recently there was a change for the worse, when it was realized that nothing could be done for the unfortunate man.

Mr. Anderson was a slosher tender on the Pepperell and lived at 17 Middle Street, where the funeral will be held, notice of which will be given later. His age was about 47 years. He came to this country from England a number of years ago and had since that time resided in this city. He is survived by a wife and nine children.

Biddeford Weekly Journal, Biddeford, Maine, 17 May 1912, Page 8

William J. Anderson

Last Monday, following a long illness, occurred the death of William J. Anderson at the age of 14 years and nine months. He is survived by his mother, three brothers and five sisters and a grandmother, of whom live at 17 Middle Street.

The young man was a son of Mrs. Julia and the late Joseph Anderson and had many friends who will mourn his untimely death. He was a member of the Boy Scouts of Christ church.

Now that I've blitz my way to the two events I knew should be there, I need to stop and do a careful read to pick up any less obvious info. It's time to move off of my laptop and onto my desktop with the huge monitor...to save my poor old eyes.

Update to Agnes McKee + James Anderson

In my post yesterday, I noted my problems with deciphering the occupations for James and Agnes Dodd.

It turns out that what looked like "fs" in the occupation names turns out to be an old way of writing "ss." Peter, who is accustomed to looking at the English census and old English writing, was able to tell me that Agnes was a Dress maker. The best guess that Peter has for James is that he was a Glass maker. I've made notes in my database to remind me of this reading in case I happen upon another document that notes James' occupation.

Thank you Peter. I about went blind trying to "see" without understanding that I wasn't seeing at all.