Individual Notes
Note for: Norman Chester Remington, 6 AUG 1918 - 21 MAY 2007 Index
Burial:
Date: 24 MAY 2007
Place: Woodland Cemetery, Washington & Knotty Oak Sts., Coventry, RI
Individual Note: I have two different copies of his birth certificate, one a card issued at Coventry, RI, and the other a paper from the RI Dept. of Health.
My dad Norman was born on the family farm off Knotty Oak Rd. in Coventry, RI. We have some pictures of the farm (see Remington section of the photo gallery, "Remington brothers together," at our web site). Tragically, the two-family farmhouse burned down when my dad was six years old. After this, his family moved into a shanty and stayed there for a while. Quoted below are some reminiscences from my dad Norman about his grandmother Angeretta (Whitford) Remington, about the big farmhouse, and about the fire there. They always believed the fire was set. The adjoining farm belonged to my dad's uncle, John Francis (we called him Uncle Fran), who kept cows there even when I was a child in the 1950s. We used to go blueberrying there, and I was afraid of being confronted face-to-face by a cow, which did actually happen once In very recent years that property has passed out of our family, and part of it is now a new plat. One of the streets is Remington Farm Drive.
"There were two front doors. The first one as one approached from the road led into a long hall way extending the width of the main section of the house. At the end was the door opening into the ell kitchen. Doors on the left were to my Grandmother's bedroom (used whenever she was with us) and to a downstairs bedroom. At a right angle to that was the door to the cellar stairs. The stairway to the upstairs rooms began near the door to the kitchen. From the right side of the hall were doors to the parlor (as it was called in those days) and the dining room.
"Grandma's bedroom windows were between the front doors. The second one was Aunt Velna's front door, which opened into a small entry, from which a door to the left led into her parlor.
"My grandmother [Angeretta] was a practical nurse, attending women about to give birth and for some time afterwards. Confinements lasted several days at that time. Between work opportunities she would be on the farm, sleeping in her room in our house, where the furnishings were hers. So my earliest memories are that she was with us from time to time. When she was there she was a great help to my mother. Later on she also worked as a housekeeper/cook. When I was in the second grade she kept house for a Mrs. Maynard (or Menard), who was legally blind. This was on Boston Street, Anthony, which is off the main street directly opposite the big mill.
"The fire destroyed the house December 27, 1924. It was discovered some time before daybreak, when my mother thought my father was arousing her. She always said she thought it was an angel. Anyway, she smelled smoke, and woke my father. Our collie dog, Major, usually was in the kitchen overnight (no doubt, during cold weather), and he pushed open the door to the hall, again no doubt because of flames and heat. All of us were out of the house, and in my father's truck, in the big meadow across the driveway from the house, while it was still dark."
Individual Notes
Note for: Chester Philip Remington, 10 FEB 1894 - 9 MAY 1948 Index
Occupation:
Date: 1930
Place: Herdsman at dairy farm
Burial:
Place: Woodland Cemetery, Washington & Knotty Oak Sts., Coventry, RI
Individual Note: I have a photocopy of his original birth entry at Coventry, Book of Births for 1894, p. 98. His gravestone has been photographed.
Apparently Chester & Laura and family were not listed in the 1920 Federal Census, nor were their Whitford cousins who lived with them in the duplex farmhouse on Knotty Oak Rd., Coventry, RI.
This family farm, located on what is now Old Hope Lane, was called the Linden Farm in the old days, because the driveway was lined with beautiful linden trees. My grandfather kept a herd of cows and had a milk route. Their two-family farmhouse burned to the ground during the night on 27 Dec 1924, when my dad was six years old. Because the insurance had lapsed, my grandfather was not able to rebuild, so the family lived in a shanty on the property for a couple of years before moving away. This property has changed somewhat since the 1920s, but much of it remains the same -- the old stone walls, the pastures, and the lay of the land. A new house has been built in one of the pastures, the old barn has been replaced by a smaller one, and a couple of additional houses have been built along the driveway leading into the farm. It is now called Old Hope Farm.
In the 1930 Federal Census, the family is living at 365 Jackson Ave., Johnston, RI.
Individual Notes
Note for: Laura Russel Chafee, 28 APR 1899 - 14 MAR 1975 Index
Burial:
Place: Woodland Cemetery, Washington & Knotty Oak Sts., Coventry, RI
Individual Note: I have very happy memories of my grandmother, which is one reason why I named my older daughter after her. We would often visit her on Heath Avenue in Warwick. Once I even got to spend the night with her. The next day we walked a couple of miles to the shopping center across from Aldrich Junior High. I wanted to buy some doll clothes, but she said, "I can make those for you, Dear." And she did -- beautiful ones, for our baby dolls and grown-up dolls. She did lovely embroidery, too, which she gave as gifts in the form of pillows, table and bed linens, and framed pictures. In later years, when she moved to Ashland, MA, we would usually ride up to see her on Sunday afternoons. After I learned to drive, one summer day I borrowed my dad's car and drove up there with my cousin Barbara, and we took her to the seashore for lunch. Another time I rolled her hair up for her. In the early 1970s, Rich and I would drop in on her, and get her talking about the old days. Once she got started, the stories followed one after another. She'd get out the photographs, laugh about this or that event, and often give her opinion in no uncertain terms. More than once she said she had married too young, on her 18th birthday. But I'm glad she did, because my dad was born a little over a year later, the first of six sons. What a life I'm sure her marriage, and her whole life, had its ups and downs. At one point their farmhouse burned down, and the family had to move into a little shanty for a while. My grandparents certainly set an example of hard work and determination for generations to follow. While I never met my grandfather, I know he was proud of his children and grandchildren. My grandmother was very much a part of our family, and I only wish she had lived to be a part of the lives of my children, too.
I have copies of Laura's birth, marriage, and death certificates, plus a copy of the page from the 1900 Census at Bristol which shows her family when Laura was one year old. Also, her gravestone has been photographed.
The birth record at Bristol says she is the second child born to Frank & Mary Chafee.
Individual Notes
Note for: Mary Elizabeth Andrews, 13 NOV 1870 - 20 MAR 1959 Index
Burial:
Date: 23 MAR 1959
Place: Mt. Hope Cemetery, 3751 Market St., San Diego, CA
Individual Note: She was "Mamie" to Great-grandpa Chafee.
Mary was born in Lymansville, North Providence, which is now part of Pawtucket. Her original birth record is at the Pawtucket City Hall.
Her address at the time of her death was 9645 Green Verdugo Rd., Sunland, CA. According to a notation on the funeral memorial, Mary's grave is in Section 1, Div. 8, Lot 116.
My dad, Norman, saved many of the letters she wrote to my family when she lived in California in the mid-1950s. In one of them she writes: "Everything seems queer to me here in the West. It's lovely up here in these mountains though -- I only wish Grandpa could have lived long enough for the Lord to heal him -- and he take a little comfort in his old age. I am quite alone here in this house -- Frankie's trailer is quite near (and they look after me and do all my errands) so I don't have to leave the place. I am lonely at times -- and wish things could have been different. But God's spirit is here and in me. Bless his name. I am trying to be contented. It's the best all around -- for not any of my children could take the burden of me like Frankie."
She tells how Frank took her with him to Arizona for a fishing trip on the Colorado River. She writes: "It was some trip (but part of it was rough) and some of it was lovely -- would like to have had all my people here to enjoy it with me. Love to you all and God's blessings on you, Grandma Chafee" [this was a couple of months after her husband died]
In another letter, she says: "Laura writes -- she must have looked like Lois when she was a little girl. (Not quite) She was very light -- with hair very sunny and fine." In another letter she says something similar: "Laura thinks she must have looked like Lois (when she was little) (not quite) she had a look like her dad (even then) where the blue eyes come from (is away back -- so Grandma Chafee says -- in the Chafee family) as Grandma Chafee was a Monrow, with brown eyes -- and Grandpa Chafee's eyes were a dark grey, like Aunt Lena's. Well that's all I can remember about it. The blue eyes didn't come from the Andrews either (my father's were a light grey -- not blue -- so it will remain a mystery I guess). Love to all of you -- God's blessings on you all. Grandma Chafee"
Individual Notes
Note for: William Andrews, 22 FEB 1833 - 14 AUG 1900 Index
Occupation:
Date: 1880
Place: Works in cotton mill
Occupation:
Date: 1860
Place: Weaver
Individual Note: William probably came to America with his father and sister Mary c1847 (see notes for John Andrews).
In the 1860 Federal Census, William & Eliza J. Edwards, ages 27 & 23, are living at North Providence, RI. He is a weaver. They have two children: William H., 3, and Carrie J., 1 month.
The family was listed in the 1880 census for Providence / Graniteville; also known as District 1 Johnston:
William Andrews 47 born England
Eliza J Andrews 42 born England
Clara J. 20
James E. 15
Joseph C. 11
Mary E. 8
John F. 6
Estella M. 4
William H. 22
According to Mary's letter, her father William was in the Civil War, and also became an overseer at a mill in Centredale.
His death record at Bristol, RI, identifies him as s/o John & Catherine. According to the record, he died at age 66.
Individual Notes
Note for: John Andrews, BET 27 APR 1797 AND 1803 - 2 NOV 1868 Index
Individual Note: In the microfilm of naturalization records at the National Archives and Records Administration, I found a naturalization record dated Dec. 1853 from the Court of Common Pleas, Providence, for a John Andrew. This is very likely our ancestor. His address is given as Smithfield, RI, and date of birth as 27 April 1803. Although the year differs from the information we had from Great-Grandma Chafee, the day and month are the same. It says he came from Lancashire County, England, and arrived in New York City on 9 Sept 1847. Witnesses in Court were John Miller and John Scott of Smithfield.
Is he the John Andrews, age 54 b England, a dresser tender, living at Warwick, RI, in the household of Samuel Mathews, listed in the 1860 Federal Census? It looks as if there is a woman there also -- Unknown Andrews -- age 42 or 49, birthplace unknown. I don't know if this is our John Andrews, but it may be.
According to the 1900 Federal Census, John's daughter Mary immigrated in 1847. This seems to confirm the above date.
Individual Notes
Note for: John Holland Berry, 29 NOV 1859 - 11 JUN 1929 Index
Occupation:
Date: 1875
Place: Jeweler
Occupation:
Date: 1900
Place: Silversmith
Burial:
Place: North Burial Ground, Providence, RI
Individual Note: John was 52 when married in September of 1912, and 71 when he died. However, the marriage certificate gives his age as 59, and the gravestone appears to give his birth year as 1854. However, the official record for his second marriage in July 1884 gives his age as 24, more in agreement with the 1859 date as recorded at Fall River, MA.
In the 1870 Federal Census, census, he is age 10, and in 1875 he is 15. At the age of 15 he is listed as a jeweler on the census.
In 1900, John H. Berry and his third wife, Laura, are living at 222 Swan St. in Providence. With them is "Eliza Alison," John's widowed mother. John's occupation is given as "silversmith." According to census data, John & Laura have been married 3 years; and, at age 19, Laura has had three children, none of whom is still living.
In the 1910 Federal Census, John & Nellie are living at 10 Bowditch Place, Providence, with their two young daughters, Helen & Loretta. The census data states that they have been married four years, and that this is a second marriage for both. Grandma Allison, age 77, is in the home. John is a silversmith in a jewelry shop, and Nellie is a bench hand in a jewelry shop.
From my mom, Edna:
"Both my parents worked in making jewelry, and of course you know that until recently RI was the jewelry capital of the world. That bracelet I gave you once was made of yellow gold by my father as a gift for my mother. For graduation gifts for Helen and Loretta, he gave them watches with bands made by either himself or where he worked. He gave me a bracelet which I still have, though not for graduation, since he had died by then. He had made that also. Elsie had a pendant with a semi-precious stone."
I believe our John & Ellen had twins who died. A boy and a girl, twins, were born to John & Ellen Berry, 27 Oct 1923 in Providence. They both died two hours later. Although the middle initial H is missing from John's name, there is a strong likelihood that this father of the twins is our grandfather. However, there is a another couple named John & Ellen Berry in the 1930 census, living childless in Pawtucket; according to the census data they were married c 1924.
Individual Notes
Note for: John H. Berry, BET 1827 AND 1832 - BET AUG 1870 AND 1 JUN 1875 Index
Occupation:
Date: 1853
Place: Mariner; whaler
Individual Note: In Sarah's birth record at New Bedford, MA, John's birthplace is given as North Carolina.
In the Federal Census of 1860, John H. Berry is 29, his wife Eliza is 25, daughter Sarah M. M. is 2, and son John is 6 months. John H. Berry is a seaman, and his birthplace is given as South Carolina. The family is living in Ward 6, Fall River, Bristol Co., MA.
In the Federal Census on 5 Apr or Aug 1870, John H. Berry 38 and Eliza A. Berry 33 are living in Ward 5, Providence with their children Sarah 13, John H. 10, and Eliza V. 5. A young man, Charles Iakeray (?), is boarding with them. John's occupation is given as "whaler." Again, his birthplace is given as South Carolina, but his marriage certificate and ship's crew list both say he was born in Sandy Hill, MD. Perhaps his parents lived in both places at various times. The family is living near John W. & Mehitable Butts, ages 64 & 60. Could they be related to Eliza? (According to a genealogy at Rootsweb, this is John Wood Butts & Mehitable Wentworth.)
My mom, Edna, at one time thought her grandfather John was born in North Carolina. I haven't been able to positively determine where he was born. However, the birth record of my grandfather, John Holland Berry, says that his father John H. Berry was a seaman, born in South Carolina. This agrees with the census information.
John probably died at sea. This needs more research.
By 1875 Eliza Berry is a widow, still living in Providence, along with daughter Sarah 18, son John H. 15 (a jeweler), and granddaughter Ada (illegitimate). Eliza later remarries, to Leon Allison.
"I found a reference in an old book called 'Old Somerset on the Eastern Shore of Maryland,' by Torrence, which said Sandy Hill was 10 miles south of Snow Hill, MD . . . Snow Hill is at the head of navigation on the Pocomoke River, so a few hundred years ago when ship travel was the norm, folks could get from the Virginia Counties on the Eastern Shore up to Snow Hill fairly easy." (from M. K. Miles, compiler of Miles Files Version 7 on the Eastern Shore Public Library Web Site)
Horntown, VA, is on the VA Eastern Shore near Chincoteague Bay. Horntown Road leads there from Rt. 13.
Sandy Hill, MD, being about 10 miles south of Snow Hill, must be over the border from Horntown into MD, about adjacent to Purnell Bay or Parker Bay.
The property owned by John's grandfather James Berry was in Accomack County, VA, east of US Rt. 13 between Mappsville and Temperanceville.
Individual Notes
Note for: Ellen Coleman, 4 APR 1877 - 26 OCT 1953 Index
Burial:
Place: North Burial Ground, Providence, RI
Individual Note: Place of birth / family residence at time of birth: 61 Plantation Street, Mansfield, Nottingham, England. She came to America when she was 17, arriving on 24 Oct 1894, along with sister Eliza and brother William. Her name on the passenger list is "Nellie Coleman."