Caroline the Koimetrophile

11/17/2024

Ammi Burnham Stiles

Ammi was born in Milford, NH on July 13, 1815 to Joshua and Elizabeth (Tuck) Stiles, the youngest of their five children. Joshua was a teacher, and especially gifted in mathematics, and assisted Nathaniel Bowditch in the calculations in his book “Navigator”. Around 1825 the family moved to Waltham, MA.

On New Year’s Day in 1839 Ammi married Hannah Annie of Saugus, MA. He made his living as a house and sign painter. The couple had no children.

Ammi died of pneumonia on February 17, 1877. Hannah passed almost 30 years later on June 29, 1904.

From his obituary:
“The young Ammi learned the painter’s trade from his brother Joshua, and was a very skillful workman. Mr. Stiles was the only sign painter in town for many years. He was, besides, a very ingenious man, and a perfect master of tools. He conducted his business systematically and accumulated property.
He was very fond of music; understood the theory perfectly, and played well on the organ, piano and violin.
He was an earnest Episcopalian, and a constant attendant upon the services of the church.
A zealous friend of temperance, an ardent anti-slavery, man, he let his principles be known on every suitable occasion. He was very fond of the study of astronomy, and owned a large telescope with which he took frequent observations.”

Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, MA

11/17/2024

Cemetery Saturday

Over the summer I ventured to Holden, MA to find family in the Old Burying Ground. Just down the street is the Park Avenue Cemetery, so I visited it as well. Park Avenue is almost a century newer, and most of the gravestones there date from the early to mid 1800s. It’s a lovely place for those interested in marble slab gravestones—it has quite a nice selection of them!

11/16/2024

Footstone Friday

Mrs. Mehitable Marston

11/15/2024

11/14/2024

11/13/2024

The beauty of autumn during peak a few weeks back.

11/11/2024

Memorial Monday

This beautifully ornate tree stump gravestone marks the final resting place of Boatswain George R. Willis, Congressional Medal of Honor Recipient.

George was born in Bangor, ME around 1840. His birth was recorded in Boston, MA on December 20, 1840. All of his military records indicate Maine as his birthplace. I have been unable to find any information about his early life.

Shortly after the US Civil War George enlisted in the US Navy. He was described as being 5’10” with blue eyes, light brown hair, and a fair complexion. He served on several ships, serving the longest aboard the USS Wachusett.

In the summer and early fall of 1873 Boatswain Wliis served aboard the chartered USS Tigress, which was searching for a missing research vessel named Polaris. In the night of September 22, 1873 the Tigress was in danger of sinking during a gale off the coast of Greenland. He single-handedly furled a loose topgallant sail, and saved the ship. For this service he was awarded the Medal of Honor.

Boatswain Willis served for almost another decade before being granted a medical discharge. He had a stroke on August 27, 1881 after suffering from exposure off the coast of Alaska in the course of his service. While he recovered most of his physical abilities, he suffered bouts of dizziness, confusion, and general paralysis and was discharged in 1883.

He died at the Lunatic Hospital in Worcester, MA on December 7, 1884 from paralysis.

George is buried in the Newcomb lot, which leads me to believe that the Adeline M. Newcomb (1838-1909) interred there is his sister. Her husband is buried in the GAR lot nearby.

Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, MA

11/10/2024

Lieutenant Abel Nichols

Abel was born in Middleton, MA on April 4, 1743 to John and Elizabeth Nichols. He was their second child and only son. His other sibling was a sister named Mary who was born two years earlier in 1741.

On December 5/6, 1766 he published his intentions to marry Elisabeth Preston. Both of them were residents of Danvers, MA. I can’t find any record of them having children.

During the American Revolution Abel served as a Sergeant in Captain Samuel Flint’s Company of Minutemen and marched on the Lexington Alarm from Danvers. Later he served as a First Lieutenant in Captain William Towne’s Company in the 8th Essex County Regiment.

I’m not sure why he was in Dedham, MA at the time of his passing on September 13, 1778, nor how he passed. It was likely related to his service—perhaps an illness contracted in camp?

Old Village Cemetery, Dedham, MA

11/10/2024

Cemetery Saturday

A few months ago a friend and I took a stroll through the Old Village Cemetery in Dedham, MA. The burying ground was established along with the town in the late 1630s. My own ancestors (Fairbanks, Chickering, Metcalf, and others) are among those who call this their final resting place, but there are no gravestones for them.

11/09/2024

Footstone Friday

Mary Bright (1783-1788) and Anne Bright (1786-1788), daughters of John and Elizabeth (Brown) Bright.

Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, MA

11/08/2024

At first glance this appears to be the gravestone of a child. It’s actually quite the opposite!

Sarah Boyce (Rich) Lively was 86 and widowed at the time of her passing.

More research is needed before I can post her story.

11/07/2024

Walter Henry Young

Walter was born on March 3, 1909 to William H and Grace K. (Williams) Young in Enfield, MA. He was their youngest child, his older sister Alice M. having been born shortly after their parents’ marriage in 1907.

He passed away in Enfield on March 10, 1910, just a few days after his first birthday, of toxemia caused by gastrointestinal indigestion. Originally little Walter was buried in Woodlawn Cemetery in Enfield, but was moved to Quabbin Park in the 1930s to make way for the reservoir being built.

Quabbin Park Cemetery, Ware, MA

11/05/2024

Stopped by Hope Cemetery to say thank you to Abby.

11/04/2024

Memorial Monday

This stone and bronze tablet honors the men from Waltham, MA who served during the American Revolution. It was placed by the Dorothy Brewer Chapter (since disbanded) in 1934.

Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, MA

11/03/2024

The Brown Children

These three wee babes are the oldest children of Isaac and Mary (Balch) Brown: Mary, Isaac, and Mary. They were all born and died in Waltham, MA.

Mary was born on March 17, 1739 and passed on November 18, 1740. Her brother Isaac was born on April 14, 1740 and passed two days before his sister on November 16, 1740. Their sister Mary was born on August 21, 1741 and passed on October 7, 1742.

Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, MA

11/02/2024

Cemetery Saturday

I popped over to Sutton Center Cemetery after the DAR meeting earlier today to meet up with friends looking for a Patriot ancestor. Found the father but not the son—the search will continue.

I took these photos last spring when I last visited. The town and the Sutton Historical Society have done an amazing job in researching, documenting, and cleaning the gravestones of those who came before.

11/01/2024

Footstone Friday

Samuel Bigelow (1653-1731/2)

Grove Hill Cemetery, Waltham, MA