Category: Genealogy

Genealogy and Immigration

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

I have written previously of the ethnic diversity of my friends during my growing up years in Belmont Massachusetts, a close suburb of Boston. We lived about 7 miles from downtown Boston. From my home it was only a trolley ride to Harvard Square and then a subway ride to Tremont Street in downtown Boston.

Belmont residents represented a map of Europe. In many cases it was the parents or grandparents who had emigrated to the United States in the 1880’s or early 1900’s. Some residents could trace their ancestors back to the earliest settlers. (My family for example.)

I wrote recently of the passing of one particular classmate in junior and senior high school. He was Marvin Zonis. I wasn’t aware of his religion but I now read that he was Jewish and his parents had immigrated from Russia in the 1920’s. A fascinating background compared with my white Anglo-Saxon heritage going back to England and the Mayflower.

I remember that he and another Belmont High School student, Ella Swartz, were very keen on each other. After graduating from Belmont High in 1954, Marvin went off to Yale and Ella to Wellesley. In the February 9 1957 edition of the Boston Globe their engagement was announced. I now read that they did marry but subsequently divorced.

Part of my family tree (constructed by my grandson Kyle)

Was It Written In The Stars?

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

If my genealogy research is correct, my maternal grandmother and my husband Ian’s maternal grandmother were born in the same year – 1863. My maternal grandmother was born in Crown Point New York. Ian’s maternal grandmother was born in Coleraine Northern Ireland. Ian and I married in 1968 in Nairobi Kenya.

All Aboard – Chicago Bound

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

This is a snippet of a memory – I wonder if it’s true. My sister Ruth once told me that when our brother Bob was 12 years old, our father put him on a train going to Chicago and asked the porter to look after him and be sure he returned. I’m not clear whether this was in Boston or New York. I wonder………. July 20 would have been Bob’s 96th birthday, sadly he died at age 67 in June 1992. He is buried in the grounds of the Episcopal Church in Rutland Vermont, where he and his wife Lillian were married in 1953. Lillian is buried there also along with her sister Dottie and her parents. Rest in Peace Bob, Lil, Dottie, John and Cecilia

Born On The 4th Of July

~ Janet McKee ~ 1 Comment

My grandfather born July 4, 1874

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Alfred William Friend  born July 4, 1874  died August 4, 1957

The baby pictured above is my mother, born April 7, 1912.   holding her is her father Alfred William Friend.  He was age 38 and already the father of twin daughters born 1907, a year after he married May Belle Willis   They married twice in October 1906, a marriage in Boston and a marriage in Minneapolis.  Red tape when you move and get married at the same time.

More Family Photos

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

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A young dad – my grandfather Alfred W. Friend with his 3rd daughter Dorothy, a newborn in April 1912

 

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3 daughters, Elizabeth, Alice, and Dorothy.    With their father in Omaha.  1920 approx.

 

 

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Dorothy and Elizabeth taking photos on tour in England, summer 1932

 

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My mother Dorothy, Auntie,, Aunt Libby, hunt Alice

Me Janet, Kitty, Betsy, Bill, Bobby

 

 

  Grandma Friend as a young mother in Minneapolis Minnesota.  She is holding me as a newborn and one of the twins is standing beside us.   1912

 

 

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My grandfather and his sister (Auntie) outside our house in Belmont Mass   1951

Auntie died in 1952 at age 78    Grandpa died in 1957, at age 83

Scene of Horror

~ Janet McKee ~ 4 Comments

In searching for more information about my ancestors,I find that one of them, a female, was burned at the stake.  She, Lady Margaret Oswald, was my  13th  Great Grandmother.  She followed the Lollard faith, which was considered heretical in the 15th century.  She was born in 1448, died on December 12th 1476 in Cambridge England.  Death at the stake was not a new form of execution.  But it was persistently used in the 15th and 16th centuries. Many many men and women suffered and were executed for their faith in this horrific manner in earlier times

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Joan of Arc  (credit to Wikipedia)

My Grandfather as a Young Man

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

 

2019_06_06_15_39_54.pdf000  I found this photo recently in my mother’s archive,  My grandfather is with his 3 daughters in 1923,  At that time the family was living in Omaha Nebraska.  My mother is the 11 year o;d on the right.

I have titled this to indicate my grandfather was young but that’s a relative term.  Actually he was almost 50 in 1923,  But my image of him has always been of him as an older man in his 70’s and early 80’s – when I knew him,

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IMG_6336a bit blurred but this is a photo of my grandfather in 1912 when he was in his mid-30’s.

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Notable Ancestors

~ Janet McKee ~ Leave a comment

This is the first of a planned series of blog posts about specific ancestors.  The first ancestor I have chosen is Sir Henry Norris, c. 1482-17 May 1536.  The cause of death was Decapitation – he was beheaded on Tower Hill, London.  He was among those accused of treason and adultery with Anne Boleyn.  Most historical authorities argue that the accusations were untrue and part of a plot to get rid of Anne.  Henry Norris’ occupation was listed as Groom of the Stool to Henry VIII.  He lived and died in turbulent times.  He was my 12th Great Grandfather.

Sir Henry Norris Sir Henry Norris   (google image)