Intersecting Lives in Greenfield's Black Community

In 1860 the census recorded 0.7% of the Massachusetts population as "Black." We can do the math, but I would expect an even smaller number in rural western Massachusetts. While researching Smead family descendants for another project, I found a record of two young girls noted as black in the household of Solomon Smead and Desire Wheeler in Greenfield, Franklin County, one in 1855 and one in 1860. That is the kind of information that can send me down a rabbit hole, wanting to know more. This post can serve as a place-holder to remind me to look a little farther, while I share what is easily accessible regarding these individuals.

State censuses, where available, help us bridge the gap between the decennial federal census. Massachusetts took a census in 1855. Solomon Wheeler's household that year consisted of himself at age 38, giving his occupation as a mechanic, his wife Desire, 40, Anna (elsewhere Louisa), age 9, and Hannah Taylor, 14. The "B" is prominent in the column listing color for Hannah.

Paging through the 41 sheets of names recorded in Greenfield there are other members of Hannah's family listed, but very few other people of color. John Putnam's family includes his wife and seven children. He is listed as a barber, as are John and William Dorsey who are the only individuals marked with an "M" for mulatto. H. Green was a grocer. One more family unit, the family of James White, appears to have one daughter living at home and one with a Caucasian family. This totals 22 individuals of color among the approximately 3,300 residents of Greenfield in 1855.

Birth records of Hannah and her siblings are listed in the Greenfield vital records. Her parents were Charles and Sarah Frances (Wells) Taylor. Hannah was the first born 22 April 1841. Her sister Mary Jinsey was born 21 November 1842, followed by another girl, Sarah Frances named after her mother on 14 July 1844. The next was a boy was named after their father: Charles Henry born 25 January 1846. Joseph Willard was the last born on 18 November 1848. The family lost its mother soon after on 22 February 1849. Charles was left with five children under eight.

In 1850 the Taylor family was enumerated in Deerfield as paupers. Charles said he was a laborer. Neither his wife nor daughter Sarah were listed, so the death record found could be either one of them. Another woman was living with them, possibly helping with the children, Louisa Jackson, age 55.

In 1855, when Hannah was living with the Wheelers, Mary (12) lived with the family of Clarissa Williams, and Charles (10) lived with Elizabeth Alvord. Charles died in a fire at the Alvord house on 10 January 1856. A news article said that he was initially thought to be safe, but may have gone back into the building. He is buried in the Federal Street cemetery.

Charles and Mary Jinsey's graves are worn and hard to read

Hannah died of consumption at 16, as did her sister, Mary, in 1866. Records of the Federal Street cemetery in Greenfield have young Charles and Mary, but not Hannah.

Charles Taylor had remarried by 1860 to Jane who had been born in Virginia. In 1870 Joseph was still living with them at 21. Joseph Willard Taylor married in Halifax, Vermont 17 November 1874 to Julia Wells Church. It was his first marriage at 26, but her second. Joseph's next move is unknown. Charles was still living in Greenfield in 1880. At 65 he said he was a basket maker. A Charles Taylor received $91.59 from the pauper account in Greenfield, as listed in the 1880 Annual Town Report.

Abbie Todd lived with the Wheeler family in 1860. Both she and their daughter, Louisa, were reported to be 14. A year later, Mary Abbie Todd was married to Samuel Sugland, jr. when she stated that she was 18 and had been born in Williamstown. Their race on the Greenfield marriage register was marked "A" for African? Samuel was a cook, born in Westhampton. In 1865 Massachusetts again took a census. At that time, Abbie and Samuel were living in his mother, Lucy's, household with their two daughters, Eliza and Lucy. Abbie was recorded as 20, indicating she may have exaggerated her age at marriage. By 1870, they had two sons, Lorenzo and William. Samuel was a farm laborer, and in both 1865 and 1870 he was listed as a voter. In 1880 they were in Deerfield and had a third son, Lewis.

As I stated above, I'm posting this to get a few facts in sentences and hope to follow up in the future.

A Story in Every Cemetery

I spend time in cemeteries when I travel. Who doesn't?

This past August I walked in the unassuming churchyard pictured below. It is the former Church of Ireland parish in Belmullet in northwestern Mayo, Ireland. The church is closed because "there are no more protestants." The small number of marked burials contrasts to the large catholic cemeteries around the coast of the Mullet peninsula.

Among the scattered monuments are a group of standard military stones from the World War II era. Closer observation shows that the majority are inscribed with dates of death on either 2 July or 7 August 1940. Those designated 2 July are:

Private Donald E.V. Domican, the Welch Regiment, age 21
Trooper Frank Sidney Carter, the Royal Dragoons, age 27
Private William Fredrick George Chick of the Dorsetshire Regiment, age 19
Gunner Wallace Goodwin, 153rd (Leicestershire) Regiment, age 22

Their story becomes clear in an article in History Ireland. Ireland had coastwatchers, scanning the horizon for an invasion force during WWII. They did not enter the war and maintained their neutrality, but they could not ignore what was going on around them. On 6 August 1940, a body washed ashore on Annagh Head, east of Belmullet. The man was identified as Donald Domican, determined to have drowned, and buried the next day. Frank Carter was found on the 7th and also identified by his personal effects. Reports confirmed that bodies had been appearing along the coast to the north for ten days. The men had all been on the Arandora Star which left Liverpool on the first of July.

American internment of those with Japanese heritage during WWII is a stain on our history. Citizens and immigrants of all ages were rounded up due to their heritage, which was deemed to be a threat during the war. Germans and Italians were also held at camps around our country. In England there was less room to warehouse these people. The Andora Star was a luxury liner designed for 500 passengers, but was filled with 1,300 German and Italian internees enclosed in barbed wire, and their military guards, when she was torpedoed by a U-boat on 2 July 1940. The ship sank within an hour, and 805 on board were drowned. An unidentified man, believed to be one of the internees, and found in this period, was buried in an unmarked grave at Termoncarragh near Belmullet.

The Andora Star tragedy marked the end of the overseas deportations by the British. Internment policy was relaxed after an inquiry. Some of the internees had escaped the Nazis, only to be whitewashed with anyone of German descent.

Those buried with the August 7th date were likely on board a troop ship, the SS Mohamed Ali El-Kebir, which also left from Bristol on the 5th of August 1940. The ship was torpedoed 250 miles west of Malin Head, County Donegal, on 7 August 1940. Many men were saved by its escort ship, HMS Griffin, but others were later found dead along the coast. 

Those buried in Belmullet are:

Driver Sydney George Betts, Royal Engineers, age 24
Private William Hulme, Pioneer Corps, age 27
Sapper James Jaffray, Royal Engineers, age 27
Sapper William Ewen Morrison, Royal Engineers, age 24
Private John Halliwell Warham, Pioneer Corps, age 25

Sydney G. Betts could be the man recorded born in the spring of 1916 in Barrow upon Soar, Leicestershire, married in the second quarter of 1937 to Annie Wass, who were recorded in 1939 in Leicester with a child, George, born that August. His wife personalized his grave stone and gave us his first name.

John Warham's stone contains family data: Husband of Alice; Daddy of Jeanne; and son of J.H. and M. Warham.

Chief Engineer Officer, Clifford Major Mackrow, age 48 (8 August) has his ship listed on the stone.

The MV Upway Grange was a cargo vessel, built in 1925. It was enroute from Buenos Aires, Argentina, with a cargo of frozen meat when it was torpedoed by U-37, approximately 150 miles west of Erris Head, near Belmullet. 36 of the 86 man crew were reported missing.

More men were found individually the following year. Lieutenant Thomas Elvin Mitchell, Carleton and York Regiment of the Canadian infantry, died 30 April 1941, age 20. He was aboard the SS Narissa bringing troops from New Brunswick.

Wing Commander Archibald Graham Weir, age 55, was not shot down out of the sky. He was also on the Narissa when it was sunk by the Germans on 30 April 1941. He had reportedly served in the Duke of Cornwell, Light Infantry Regiment during WWI.

Leading Seaman Jack Springett Johnson served on the SS Mashona and died 28 May 1841, age 37. The previous day the Mashona was involved in the sinking of the German Bismark. The Luftwaffe sunk her off the coast of Galway with a loss of 48 of 218 on board.



Notes:
1. See more at the History Ireland blog.
2. Photos of the graves were uploaded to Find a Grave.
3. Information was taken from the listing of the war dead at Grangegorman memorial in Cabra, county Dublin.
4. Betts records found on-line at Find My Past.
5. Wikipedia has good details on SS Mohamed Ali El-Kabir.

Deerfield Academy WWII Memorial, Deerfield, MA

These photos were taken as part of the Honor Roll Project. Click here to see other transcriptions by other volunteers.

The base of the flag pole reads, "In Memory of the Deerfield Boys who were lost in World War II 1941-1945."

The names are listed alphabetically around the octagonal granite base.

Richard T. Angell, Lawrence G. Bagg, Richard T. Bagg, Edward P. Barrows, Stephen H. Barton, John R. Baumann, Jr., John G. Brackett, Jr., Thomas D. Brophy, Jr., James S. Campbell II.

William J. Carroll, Neman B. Chase, Guy G. Clark, Jr., Arthur W. Clothier, William G. Conant, Nelson C. Dale, Jr., Bayard Dodge, Jr., John H. Dudley.

Edward McF. Eagan, Jonathan B. Edwards, Steven G. Everett, Richard M. Farnsworth, Joseph C. Ford III, Albert C. Griffin, Jr., James A. Gunn, Jr., Robert K. Haas, Jr., Morgan L. Hobart.

Paul H. Hyde, Jr., Allan J. Johnson, Thomas W. Johnson, Ward T. Kane, Richard M. Kimball, Jr., Arthur B. Koontz, Jr., George A. Ladd, Peter G. Lehman, George P. McNeal 3rd.

Wilson P. Novle, Donald W. Phillips, William S Pydych, William G. Ricker, Jr., Willard W. Roberts, Frank D. Rugg, Jr., John B. Bugg, George S. Cyr, A. Holton Sayce.

David A. Scott, H. Donald Seller, Howard C. Sheperd, Jr., Wilfrid L. Simmons, Mas Solomon, Alan W. Steadman, Henry B. Stimson, Jr.

Anderson Storey

George R. Strobridge, Edward E. Vanzile, Jr., Prentice C. Weathers, Joseph H. Webber, Morgan Wesson, Woodrow W. White, Benjamin Wilcox, Jr., Clarence C. Ziegler, Jr.

Heath, Massachusetts Veterans' Memorials

This post is part of the Honor Roll Project. Please visit here to see other transcriptions by volunteers in honor of our nation's veterans. The memorials for Heath's veterans are arranged on the common in the center of town. These photos were taken in November of 2018.

The central stone carries a 2017 dedication to veterans of all wars.

The plate affixed to a rough stone has the names of those who served in the early wars.

Revolutionary War

Charlemont Hill/South Heath

1775-1783

John Brown              Perley Hunt                    Solomon Temple    

William Brown         Benjamin Maxwell        Jonathan Thayer             

Francis Buck             Hugh Maxwell               Silas Thayer        

John Buck                 Reuben Rugg                  Silas Thompson  

William Buck            Edward Skinner             Josiah Warfield      

James Butler             Ashel Thayer                  Asaph White

Nathaniel Corbett    Dependence Thayer      Benjamin White

Joel Davidson           Jonah Thayer                 Luke White

Josiah Davidson       Salmon Temple

Valentine Harris       Seth Temple 

War of 1812

1812-1815

Amos Brooks                             David Snow                       

Abijah Gleason                          Benjamin Temple
Eli Gould                                     John Temple
Clement Porter                          Solomon Temple

Civil War

18161-1865

Henry D Barber               Charles Hamilton            Henry Rushmmore
Lemuel Bolton                 Thomas F. Harrington    William N. Sessions
William H. Bolton           Timothy M. Harrington  Elmer W. Spencer
Martin O. Brown             John L. Harris                  Herman A. Spooner         
Frederick N. Burton       Arthur W. Hall                  Edwin Sumner
Aaron Cady                       Almon Hawkes                Abraham Tanner
Nathan Chaffin                Wesley Hawkes                Amos Temple 
Patrick Connelly              John L. Hawks                 Henry H. Temple       
Lysander D. Estee           Henry B. Kinsman          William H. Temple
Edwin Fairbanks             Moses Lancaster              Aaron Trask
Luzern Fairbanks            Algernon Mandell           Horace A. Tyrerell
Adoniram J. Gleason      John Palmer                    John H. Underwood
Edward H. Gleason         Elisha Porter                    Sanford Underwood
Samuel K. Gleason          Charles F. Powers           Flavil Woodward
Thomas S. Gleason         Richard Powers
Samuel S. Gould              Charles H. Robbins

                        Spanish American War 1898

Alonzo Caswell       Fred Peon       Michael Smith       Walter Tole

The next carries the names of veterans from the two World Wars:

World War I 1917-1918

Louis Lively                     George W. Newton

Henry Lively                    Andreas E. Royer

World War II 1941-1945

David P. Beighley                       Emile T. Giard               Cleon J. Peters

Frank S. Brown                          Joseph L. Giard              Ernest H. Royer

Alton W. Churchill                    James J. Halfpenny       Louis E. Rundo

Harlow W. Churchill                 Patrick J. Halfpenny     Frederick A. Smith

Harold R. Churchill                   Henry M. Jenkins          Marshall E. Smith

Robert F. Coates                         Austin A. Leise               Richard H. Tanner  

Kenneth W. Crowningshield    John J. Leise                  Richard E.Thompson

Leonard J. Decota                      Armand M. Lively          Victor Vreeland

David J. Giard                             Bernard R. Lively           Frank D. Winters

David A. Giard                            Douglas M. Packard

The last plaque updates the WWII names and adds others who have served in more recent conflicts, including women, for the first time.

World War II (additional)

Harlow Churchill                  William Greene                  Alton Dewitt Ryan

Beatrice Nada Corey             Ada Mae Landstrom 

Korean War 1950-1953

Paul Begley                                  Russell Hillman               Thomas Sheridan

Craig Chattin                               Francis Jarrabeck            George A. Stetson

Donald H. Crowningshield       Edwin Lively                    Herbert S. Stetson

Richard Crowningshield           Maurice J. Lively             Gilbert Wilson

David J. Giard                             John MacDonald 

James R. Giard                            Bruce Patterson

John Giard                                   Frederick Russell

Vietnam War 1964-1973

Wendell T. Brown                      Alvin M. Hillman            Raymond F. Rice

Ralph E. Churchill                     Francis R. Kinsman        David F. Richardson

Arthur W. Crowningshield      Hormidas A. Lively         Leland Sherman

William E. Crowningshield     Michael T. Lively             Peter G. Smith

Richard E. Cutter                      Kris Matyas                       Roy C. Smith

Edwin H. Decker                       Fred H. Pazmino              Charles Stetson

Raymond J. Galipo                   Michael W. Rainville       Neil Stetson

                                                                                                   Robert Tanner

Veterans of Conflicts Since Vietnam

Panama 1989-1990 * Desert Storm 1991 * Bosnia 1992-1996 * Afghanistan 2001-2014

Daniel Borke            Sean P. Rabbitt                  Michael Smith

Ian Gallup                 Andrew Saunders             Joseph E. Thane

Fred Law                   Keith Sherman                  Lara R. Thane

Corey Lopes              Eli M. Smith

Veterans Serving Between Conflicts

Earle Crowningshield                 Raymond Giard            Felix Lively

Francis W. Crowningshield       Richard Giard               Levi Lively

Donald Giard                                Alexander Lively          Malvin Lively

Nicaragua 1988, part 2

The Witness for Peace travelers began to see a little of the city of Managua on their first day on the ground. I found that a group of Benedictine Monks also chronicled a similar trip in 1988. A photo on this site, unidentified for location, looks like the "violent murals" that my mother refers to in her notes. This is what she said about that Sunday:

Sunday a.m.
Up early and no water. A man brought me a can full and a plastic bowl, my shower for today.

General orientation with Don:

•        Buddy system, I am paired with Kate Adams
•        Clayton and I to do daily health checks
•        Ask to take pictures of people
•        Shake hands, hello and good by
•        Water is ok in Managua
•        Water is off here on Monday and Thursday about 5 a.m. to 9 p.m. from two tanks, may get some
•        Carry passport and yellow paper visa at all times

Breakfast of rice, two fried eggs, hot bread, and mango juice. Off to the Cardinal’s church. Bad streets, houses have open doors but barred windows, loud music, abject poverty to our eyes.

The cathedral was destroyed in the earthquake of ’72. This church is used by the Cardinal (Abano). He did not say this Mass. Church was nearly filled, all doors wide open. The music was surprisingly up-beat, a structured liturgy with communion on the tongue. The sermon was on the Gospel, but somewhat political with applause at the end, anti-government (so say those who understood.) It was a medium sized church, not at all ornate.

Lunch at a restaurant, then a city tour. No real sense of “city,” very spread out, many shells from the earthquake, grassy spots then normal looking buildings. None are very tall, only two hotels and a bank are.Videotaped by a TV crew on us TV added to push to get rid of Samoza. Huge statue of a peasant/soldier, gun in one hand and ? in other. Children’s park, a memorial for 12 year old boy martyr. Many families in the park, food vendors, rides. We walked through to the Grand Plaza. National on one side, Cathedral, memorials, graves of ?, eternal flame. Also a Buddhist monk from Japan on a 40 day fast in solidarity with the Nicaraguan people and in memory of Hiroshima/Nagasaki, begun on August 6^th. When it began to rain he covered his shrine and continued to sit there.

Then we went to a new church for the 5:30 Mass. Music was quieter than I expected. Church is almost round, with violent murals, people coming and going, crowded. Again the homily was on the reading and the priest was applauded but his reflection was different, then two women and a man spoke. At the offertory the congregation went to the altar with their contributions. We sang “We Shall Overcome” and the “Battle Hymn of the Republic.” Back to the hotel after for supper of chicken, rice, and beans with yucca, tomato, coleslaw salad and a fruit drink.

Reflection turned into a wrangle over the man we took from the cathedral to Mass and sent home in a taxi.

Last night was punctuated by a thunder storm, then the roosters. Another long day.

Nicaragua, An Experience Like No Other

This is more introspective than most of my posts that deal with the more distant past. I grew up in a small town where my parents associated with like-minded people and supported anti-war causes during the Vietnam War. Dad ran for U.S. Congress in 1970 against a long time “hawk” in a conservative, rural district and was defeated soundly. We followed the Watergate hearings on our small, black and white TV during the summer of 1973 and cheered when Nixon resigned. 

My mother enjoyed being socially conscious. She demonstrated for peace at a nearby air base. A letter to the New York Times that was printed in the Sunday Magazine was one of her greatest achievements. When she traveled to Nicaragua with Witness for Peace from August 20^th to 29^th, 1988 she was 64. She wrote a diary that I read now with my own 60-year-old eyes. We are in strange times these 30 years later. How will I, how will each of us, make a difference?

Brief background: Daniel Ortega was President of Nicaragua in 1988, leader of the Sandinista National Liberation Front which had successfully overthrow the dictatorial Somoza government. While supplying economic aid to Ortega’s government, the U.S. under Regan continued to back the opposition right-wing Contras in the continuing civil war. Daniel Ortega was reelected in 2006 and rules today. The more things change, the more they stay the same. The Level 3 advisory issued 6 July 2018 by the U.S. State Department lists crime, civil unrest and limited health care availability as significant deterrents to travel. Non-emergency U.S. government personnel have been brought home. My son wisely decided against crossing into Nicaragua this summer as he toured nearby countries.

These are the words of Betty Simmons as she entered this war zone as a Witness for Peace:

This was an experience like no other. I answered a notice in the Sun in May. Went to a planning meeting in June where I met many of my fellow travelers. It seemed like a real mixed group: two Syracuse University students, a language teacher, a photographer, a Maryknoll priest and a nun, a social service worker, two retired men, a Witness for Peace young man; one or two who plan to go were not able to attend. We hope for 16.

Joe is supportive; Hugh thinks I am insane; representative of reactions. Solidarity from true friends. 

July and August, time for preparation: shots, ordering medications, thinking of what to pack and what not to pack. Collected antibiotics, soap, pens, etc. to leave there. Many well wishes, calls, just before time to leave.

Final meeting at Larry Tetler’s in Fayetteville on Friday night. Joe took me. Proud to have two carry-on sized bags and my small backpack. We talked of money – I am to carry ¼ of our funds for Nicaragua. We labeled a number of cartons: dental, medical, and school supplies.

The participants:

Sharon Souva

Sr. Chris Slomiliski

Barb deFrancqueville

Bonnie Windfield

Kate Adams

Mary Sopchak

Sophie Oldfield

Dennis Nett

Rev. Ted Sizing

George Burton

Ben Tupper

Clayton Koontz

Peter Wirth

Larry Tetler

Sim Doherty

Jack Pelletier

and me!

August 20

Overnight with Clayton. Fitful sleep. Good hot shower. Coffee and fresh peaches for breakfast. His wife drove us to the airport where (all but Sophie) met. Boxes checked through. Off at 7:00 with a stop in Cleveland and long wait in Miami. On to Honduras. Two stops for fuel. Then at Tegucigalpa to change planes. Can see many U.S. helicopters and planes and many armed soldiers at the airport, a duty-free shop, a woman selling drinks from a make-shift bar and sitting on a carton. In less than an hour aboard our second TAM-Sasa flight for about ½ hour flight to Managua. Too dark to see much of anything. Took quite a while to change our money ($60 each, 380 c. to $1) and get our yellow visa. We all adopted a woman and her baby (months old) coming from Miami to visit her family in Managua. No soldiers here!

We were met by Michelle, a long-term Witness for Peace, and Don Reasoner, Center for International Dialogue. Our bus is far from new. The owner and a driver go with it. Off to our hotel Colibri. Bonnie, Mary, Sophie and I volunteer to sleep next door. Introduction to the third world: dim light, people at a table near the entry, clothing drying, shower and latrine, stationary tubs. Down the hall to our room: four cots, no window, very warm (like Hong Kong). It was a long, long day. Paper thin walls: two young men talking over their evening.

Transcription, Handwriting and a Queen

Compiling the list of the Galveston 1900 Storm dead by GTHC has been a herculean task that continues to this day. It is understandable that inconsistencies persist. Several individuals with the surname Terrell are found on the on-line list: "Mrs. M.E.," "Queen age 33," and "Mrs. Q.V." with four children, all African American.

The entry for this family in the 1900 census in Galveston has been indexed incorrectly, but close reading of the names reveals their identities. The Terrells are indexed at Ancestry as Manny and Susan Terrall. At first look, it could be "Maurice."

Cross-referencing with the 1899 City Directory, we see that Manny is Morris E. Terrell, pastor of St. Luke's Missionary Baptist church at 1510 15th Street. This corresponds with the location of the family shown on the census. 

St. Luke's Missionary Baptist Church is still active in Galveston. The "history" portion of their web site at www.slmbc-gi.org reveals that this church was established in 1894 by 36 members of the Union Baptist church located at 11th and K. They name Rev. E.M. Terrell as their second pastor. The early church is described: These faithful members saved nickels, pennies and dimes to purchase property where they could assemble together for worship. Over a period of time, a lot and two buildings were purchased at 15th Avenue and Avenue N. One building served as the house of worship; the other was used as the parsonage. In 1900, a storm destroyed both buildings. 

The marriage of M.E. Terrell and Queen Alexander took place in 1890 in Waller, Texas, northwest of Houston. This corresponds with the births of the children listed in the 1900 census, born between 1892 and 1898. If the pattern of births every two years continued, Queen may have been pregnant when the storm hit.

Although "Susan" may be a more common name and the transcriber can be forgiven for the error in identifying Queen, the origin of her name can be better understood by reviewing the 1870 census.

Philip and Harriet Alexander, living in Hempstead, Texas, named their daughter Queen Victoria during the reign of Victoria in Great Britain. Queen named her oldest daughter Beatrice, the name of Victoria's youngest child and companion after the death of Prince Albert. In 1880 the Alexander family was enumerated about 10 miles away in Waller. The name of Philip's second daughter, Proserpine, also had royal origins, being  a daughter of Zeus and Demeter in classic mythology. In 1880 she was enumerated simply as "P."

Morris E. Terrell can be found in Galveston's tax records in 1894 as paying his poll tax. No records in Morris' name are found after 1900, leading to the conclusion that it is not Mrs. but Mr. M.E. Terrell who should be in the list of storm dead, and that his wife was counted twice as Mrs. Q.V. and as Queen, age 33.