The Mystery of Martha Bowlby

Here is a portrait of Martha Barker Bowlby.  She is the Wife of Thomas Bowlby.  He was the first Bowlby ancestor to come over to America.  He was born in 1665 in Mansfield, Woodhouse, Nottingham England.  At the age of 62 Thomas and three of his sons sailed to America, leaving his wife and other children in England.

The Bowlby Family website is very proud of Martha for letting her husband leave England and come to America.  But I always have wondered about this.  I'm not to sure that Martha and her husband were on good terms.  I think it is because of the papers that I have read concerning this event.  The New Jersey Historical society has papers about this time and to me it seems as if Thomas was on the "BAD LIST" of Martha's family.  The land that ended up being Thomas Bowlby's was not his to begin with.  It all was really Martha's fathers land.  It was supposed to go to his name sake Samuel Bowlby.  But Samuel died before his grandfather.  The land was then supposed to be willed to Mary Ladlam, Samuel Barkers (Martha's Father) niece.   Thomas was only to receive no more than 5 shillings from is father- in- law.  I would think that says something about the relationship. 
There are letters that Mary Ladlam writes to the estate managers in America.   In the letters written by Mary Ladlam to Samuel Barkers administrators we find that Mary did not have a high opinion of Thomas Bowlby.  She writes of dealing with many years of Bowlby's "Wicked practices" and that Thomas owed Samuel Barker money.  She also writes that Samuel Barker took care of Bowlby's wife and children for many years.  That Bowlby had a bad reputation where she lived and that she wasn't surprised that he was in the Burlington common gaol (jail), as he lay in Nottingham gaol a long time and was bankrupt and her uncle Baker ransomed him out of it and was never repaid. 
So in reading these letters it leads one to believe that Thomas Bowlby was escaping a bad life in England and taking advantage of the situation of his Father in- laws death and the inability of a woman at the time to do much business.  Because no one seemed to listen to Mary Ladlam.  Her husband had passed away and she did not have much power to stop Bowlby from taking what was to be hers because she was a woman.
Martha Bowlby never went to America.  I think she may have been glad to not have to deal with her husband, perhaps she even helped just to get him far away from her.  I do remember reading somewhere that she forbade her portrait to ever be brought to America.  Anyways it's an interesting story.  I would love to find out what the truth is.  I like the idea though of them having some secrete issue. 
Here are some websites you can look at to find out more about these people.
http://filioagnostic.blogspot.com/2010/05/samuel-barker-gent-of-barlborough-co.html
This is a blog site that I found today.  I have to go back and read it myself because it has information on the Bowlby Family and Martha's family that I don't have.  What a great find!

http://www.jerseyhistory.org/findingaid.php?aid=0410 This is the link to the New Jersey Historical Society and the papers that they have on the Bowlby Family.  They also have Samuel Barkers will.  I've always wanted to order copies but never have.  It is so interesting to read these old papers.

http://www.barlboroughrc.btck.co.uk/InterestingFacts
Here is another website I found today.  I find it interesting because it shows photo's of where Martha's parents lived.  And about the area they came from.  I have not read a lot of it yet, so another website I have to read when I get the chance. 
I hope that these will we inspire you to search out your own ancestors and the places they lived you may be surprised by what you find.  I know I've enjoyed reading about their past and wondering.

News of our family.  We are doing well.  Busy.  We have a possible buyer for our house but before we can move forward it seems we have to upgrade our electric supply to the house.  I'm not sure how much this is going to cost and it is causing me some stress.  We live on such a tight budget with paying mortgage, rent, health insurance.  it's a paycheck to paycheck situation and I'm trying hard to make all work out.  My new goal is to not buy groceries for the next three weeks.  I've stocked up on all that we eat over the past few months and now I'm going to go three weeks with only buying bread, milk, eggs and fresh fruits and veggies.  Wish me luck.  I'm also into month two of not using credit cards, and not drinking soda and buying from the vending machine at work.  Every penny I can save is going to help as we move forward.  I'll be so glad when this house sells and I can breath and not worry so much about money.  I just take it one day at a time and not complain.
Hope you enjoyed this post.
G.G.

I feel like a detective when I do family history research

One of the reasons I love to do family history work is because I often feel like I am being a detective. I am uncovering the mysteries of those who went before me.  I'm finding out who I am related to and what their lives were like.  I find out about the world that they lived in, and the problems they faced.

I just finished a book that spans from England before the first world war all the way to our time.  The narrator of the book starts out as a maid for a wealthy family in her town at the age of 14 and lives to be in her 90's.  You get to learn about what life was like for people during the two world wars.  I believe this young man served in the 2nd world war.  I know my grandfather did too.  He lied about his age to go to war.  These men who fought for freedom were changed.  They came back having experienced horrors that one would hope we could keep from coming again.  But it seems our society does not learn well when it comes to wars.

I love to look at photo's and ask "Who are you?" "What was your life like?"  I wish that their spirits could speak back to me.  This is my Great Great Great Grandfather on my mothers fathers side.  His name is Samuel Kimball.  He lived in New Hampshire and Vermont.  I can't find who his parents are.  It frustrates me.  The odd thing about being here in Utah is there are famous Kimball's out here.  It's a common name.  I see it everywhere.  I often wonder if I could find more information if I'd find I'm related to some of them, if you went far enough back.

Here is his granddaughter Bessie Kimball Eastman.  Looks like I got my love of horses from her. She was my mothers grandmother.  My mother never got to meet her because she died of diabetes.  The book that I just finished is called " The House At Riverton." By Kate Morton.  She also wrote " The Forgotten Garden."  The book was really good, and made me think of family history and detective work.  In fact it has made me want to read a detective book next.  I've never read Sherlock Holmes or Agatha Christie.  These were mentioned in the book.  The great thing about owning a nook is that I can get these books for free.

What do you think?  Is this a little girl or a little boy?  Was the family well off or poor.  You will be surprised to know this is a little boy.  I don't know why but they used to dress them up like girls for photo's.  I'll have to look into that.  I think most boys this day and age would die if their parents had a photo of them dressed as a little girl.  I wonder if this was taken out side or if it was in a studio.  One other thing I liked about the book I recently read was it talked of the changes in the generations, and moral decline.  I wonder what our ancestors would say about the world today?  Would they be shocked that women wear jeans and pants and not frilly dresses?  Would they be appalled that women work and vote?  I would love to know what they would think of all the technology.  I love looking at the old photo's and wondering about these people who came before me.
I have a gift for finding family names.  This past week I found over 20 new family members. I have found over 317 names since moving here.  I have been enjoying looking at their census records and learning about them.  Sometime I feel so happy for these people, and other times I feel their pain, and realize the hard lives some of them lived.  The loss of their children to sickness and wars.  They cause me to pause and be thankful for the ease of my life.  I wish I could speak to them, to hear their stories.  Perhaps in the eternities I'll have that chance.  Good luck on your search.
G.G.

Learning to be better from Nephi

The snow covered mountains are so beautiful here in Utah.  This past week I have been reflecting on the past few years.  In January of 2010 I learned that I was to lose my beloved library job.  I was heart broken.  I couldn't foresee what the Lord had in store for my family.  By July of 2010 not only had I lost my job, but my husband had lost his as well.  We were about to face some storms in our life.  I feel that we were pretty prepared for these storms.  I had always saved money for a stormy day, though I think now you should save for a stormy season.  I'm not sure we were prepared for the storm to last so long.  Both my husband and I found new jobs.  My husbands job though was very tough and paid very little.  It was a struggle to make ends meet, even with our savings and food storage.  By January 2011 things were looking bleak for us.  My husband was very beat up by his job, he was to me going through an emotional crisis.  We were running out of savings, we were seeking help where help could be given.  My husband was looking for a new job, but was not having good luck.  It's hard to look for a new job when you are working 50 hours a week.  And to top that at 50 hours a week he was still barely making any money. I had faith though that the Lord was there blessing us.  That we would eventually be through the trial and on to a better out look on life.
Little did I know what changes the Lord had planned.  I had felt since October of 2011 that my family might move.  It seemed that is what the Lord kept telling me.  But I had no clue as to where or when.

I love to look at the mountains with the clouds about them.  I am in love with these mountains.  My daughter says it's because it reminds me of Vermont.  I'm not sure if that is the truth but perhaps she is right.  Any ways  in February my husband was offered a chance to apply for a job in Utah.  And I told him to go.  He needed to get away.  And now here we are.  Right now we are in the process of negotiating a sale price with a buyer on our house.  I hope it all works out.  Pray for us please.  But to the topic.  Learning to be better from Nephi.  If you haven't figured it out.  I'm a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints aka " A Mormon".  And this year we are to read the book of Mormon.  We have been challenged to read it as a family and on our own.  I'm typically not home for family reading as I work nights.  But I've been trying to read every day.  Its odd I've read this book multiple times.  But with each change in my life I learn new things from it.  I'm only in the first chapters but Nephi has already taught me some new things.
 1 Nephi 17: 3 " And thus we see that the commandment's of God must be fulfilled.   And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them; wherefore, he did provide means for us while we did sojourn in the wilderness."   Our last two years seem like a sojourn in the wilderness to me.  And as I look back I see the Hand of God in our lives.  He was there to provide for us both spiritually and physically.  Through our trials he nourished us and strengthened us.  I'm so grateful for that.

Next 1 Nephi 18: 3 " And I, Nephi did go into the mount oft, and I did pray oft unto the Lord; wherefore the Lord showed me great things."
As I attend the temple each week, I realize that I'm going to the mount of the Lord.  I have such peaceful experiences.  What I love is one room is painted as if you are actually up in a mountain.  I feel as if I'm up in the mountains of Vermont.  I have had such great inspiration come to me.  I desire continually to go more and more often.  So I'm now bribing my family to help clean so I have more days to attend.  I understand this passage so much more.

And the last 1 Nephi 18: 16 " Nevertheless, I did look unto my God, and I did praise him all the day long; and I did not murmur against the Lord because of mine afflictions." Nephi is telling this because he has been bound hands and feet for many days on a boat by his brothers who want to kill him.  Yet he does not complain.  He praises the Lord and waits for him to help him.
This is what I've learned from our trials, just move forward, don't complain.  Continue to be faithful, continue to go to the Lord with your heart open and ready.  He will care for you. 
I'm so thankful for the blessings of my trials for they have made me strong.  I have also been moved to a place where I can become closer to God.  I have never felt so at peace.  We have trials still but I know that God is blessing us. 
Sorry to be so preachy to day but I can't contain this Joy I feel.
G.G.

Stuck in 1866....

So I'm still contemplating my penny.  I told my husband if it didn't have a hole in it, it might be worth $35.00.  But it has a hole in it, so it's probably worth .01 Cent.  But it is funny that I found it this past week.  The family line I am working on has a child born in 1866.  So I wonder what was life like for her?  Did her parents tell her about the Civil war when she got older?  Did she have grandparents who fought in the war.  What were the foods they ate, did they own horses and buggy's or oxen and carts?  This family also has a child born on the same day as I was born.  And one of their children marries a girl who immigrated from Ireland. 

After my last post I went to Amazon.com and looked up the "Irish Potato famine."  I found the name of the book I read.  It was " Journey to America: Fiona McGilrays story."  I am going to either order it to read again or see if I can find it at the Library.  I also want to read the book " Wildflower Girl."  By Marita Conlon-Mckenna.  It is also about the Irish Potato famine.
I'll let you know how I like the books.  Right now I'm reading the book " The House At Riverton."  It is another historical mystery book, with family secrets at the turn of every page.  Or at the turn of most pages.  I really am enjoying it.

I don't have much more to share.  If you are wondering how my family is doing, we are all doing well and are very busy.  My daughter is taking karate twice a week, and basketball one night a week.  My son is in chess club, and he also does boy scouts.  It seems every night of the week they need to be somewhere.  I continue to work about 30 hours a week.  My husband is very busy with his job.  He has nights where he works late, and then this morning he had to be in at 6 am.  My husband still misses the East and wishes we still lived there.  I think he is the odd man out.  The rest of us really love it here in the west.  I can only hope the house sells soon so we can look for a little house out here to call our own.  I am learning much about getting rid of things and not keeping things in such a small apartment.  Though I find it to be nice and cozy until about bed time when the kids start fighting.  They say love grows stronger in small houses.  So perhaps our family will end up very strong after living here awhile longer.  I'm also starting to learn about couponing.  Lots to learn on that front.  I need to save as much as possible if I want to get to Vermont this summer.  I am also trying very hard again this year not to use Credit cards.  The move did us in on the credit card front.  I refuse to use them any longer.  It is hard, but I guess at some point you have to learn to only buy what you can afford to pay for in cash.  I hope for a large tax return and my house to sell, and then this credit card struggle will be gone.  Until then life is a little on the scrimp and get by stage of life.  But we are better off than others so I can't complain.
G.G.

Finding an 1866 penny causes me to think of people from that time in my family tree.

Here is a photo of John Dineen.  He is Lewis Dineen's uncle.  He was also a railroad worker.  I believe he was a railroad engineer.  I hope to find my family history book for this family as I believe there are some good railroad stories that go with John.  Any ways John was born in 1862.  His parents were John Dineen and Margaret Donovan.  They came from Cork County Ireland.  Many of the Irish immigrants were coming to America due to the potato famine.  I remember a few years ago reading a children's book about the journey from Ireland to America during this time.  The boats were called "Coffin boats" because  more people died on them than survived.  The link attaches you to a write up about this time.
But I'm writing today because of a penny I found at work this weekend.  It was an Indian head penny dated 1866.  Someone at one point used it as a necklace as it has a hole in the top of it.  But I thought it was cool.  So I traded a regular penny for it.  It made me think about my ancestors.  Who was alive at this time and what were they doing?  One of them could have walked around with some of these pennies.  I tried to take a photo of the penny, but it didn't come out that great. 
What I found was that many of my husbands ancestors were arriving just a few years before this date, and that it is a few years after the civil war ended.  I'm not a great history person.  I learned a new word "Antebellum."  Which means before a war specifically the Civil war.  These people lived in a post bellum world.  I wonder what life was like for them and if their parents came to America on the "Coffin Boats."  I'll have to see if I can find the book I read and read it again.

Another ancestor whose family came to America during this time is John Brutcher.  His parents were John Brutcher and Mary Ann O'Hare.  A German father and Irish mother.  His family lived in Raritan, New Jersey.  They lived near the Raritan Woolen mills.  Until a few years ago the woolen mills were still around, but now they have been torn down and luxury apartments have taken their place.  Many people came to America for a better life, I'm not sure working in the woolen mills could be considered a better life.  But I'm sure it was better than starving.  As it seems that is what was happening to the Irish immigrants. Any ways the penny I found led me to thinking about who might have been alive when it was brand new, and just think about how many people may have held this penny over the years.  Some may have held onto it for years and then some how it ended up in my store.  Now I can hold onto it.  Have you ever found an old penny and thought about someone from your family line?
G.G.

In Search of Peter Bowlby... How the wrong name lead to finding information.

Here is a photo of Lewis Bowlby on a trolley that used to go from Bound Brook New Jersey to Raritan New Jersey.  Lewis worked on the railroads.  His father was Peter Bowlby.  

Peter was a Carpenter. He lived most of his life in Hampton, Hunterdon New Jersey.  He was the last person on the pedigree chart given to me by my mother-in-law.  One thing that we knew about the Bowlby family is that the first Bowlby Ancestor came to New Jersey from England.  So if you are looking for a Bowlby you can start in New Jersey.  But the problem begins when you can't find how to connect to that first Bowlby.  People way back had lots of children who had lots of children.  I know that they liked having lots of children, but I sometimes feel very sorry for those women.  Two children in modern times is enough for me, I can't imagine all the work 7 to 9 children would be back in the days without all the technology we have.
I would try and try to figure out how to connect Peter to the other Bowlby's but always had a hard time.
When we went to visit the cemetery we thought he might be buried at we had no luck.  But one tomb stone got my attention.

I liked the name Ebenezer.  Perhaps it's because my mom had a favorite Easter bunny decoration named Ebenezer.  So I thought perhaps they were related.  I went home and began searching for Ebenezer Bowlby's.  Although I was totally on the wrong track, by doing a Google search for Ebenezer Bowlby I found a Bowlby family website.  I found out that Peter's father had a brother named Ebenezer.  And by finding that I found Peter's family, and connected him to all the other Bowlby's who lived in the New Jersey area.  The frustrating thing is I still have yet to find where Peter is buried. 

Here is a photo of Peter's Brother William Bowlby.  So when you are looking for an ancestor, sometimes you need to look at other people with the same last name to see if you can find a connection.  Sometimes it works.  Everyday people add new information and photo's.  I just found some interesting photo's of one of Peter Bowlby's Children's husband and children.  It seems that some of his children unfortunately died young.  Peter lived to be 91 years old.
Here is a Bowlby website if you are searching for a Bowlby in your family line.  http://www.bowlbyfamily.org/  Good luck in your family search.  I continue to be busy!
I'm also waiting for snow. It is very warm out here lately. 
G.G.

I went starving and left filled....

Part of Family history work for me is taking the names of my Ancestors to my churches Temple and doing work for them.  Yesterday as I was about half way to the temple I realized that I had forgotten to eat breakfast.  Not an unusual thing for me, but usually once I realize it I'm at home and can get something to eat.  I could have turned around and gone home but I felt the need to go to the Temple.  So I went in with a growling stomach and the worry that it would continue to growl while I was doing my Temple work. 
The first wonderful thing was there was a waiting line of 45 minutes for the work I wanted to do.  So I spent this time reading in the Bible.  I opened to where there was a marker and read Psalms 147.  "Praise ye the Lord: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely."  I  really enjoyed this moment of quiet and reading the beautiful Psalms.  I really like this qoute because I love to sing hymns of praise at church and at home.  One of my goals this year is to find more uplifting music to play while I'm at home to bring the spirit in to my house.
Then as I was doing my work, I pondered on the names of those I was doing work for.  The thought came to me that these people are such distant relatives that should I really even be worrying about doing this.  And such a sweet answer came to me.  I learned that these people although distantly related were ones who had no one else looking for them and it was good that I did this work.
As I left the Temple I felt so filled with the Spirit. The thought came to me that I had entered the Temple starving and yet I left filled.  Not physically filled but spiritually filled.  I can't wait to go back tomorrow.  I'm so thankful for the Lords work and his Temples. Good luck in your search.
G.G.