Someone was listening...

My cousin and I get together as often as we can in Boston - usually a couple of times a year - to do some hardcore research on our families and to visit with our children who just happen to live in the area. We usually work at the NEHGS library, do a little shopping on Newbury Street, and eat at some fabulous restaurants with our kids.  Last weekend we attended Ancestry Day at NEHGS in Boston.

 Just before I left, I posted the Veturia Platt story in hope that someone would come forth and identify her. It wasn't the focus of this trip, but I would have been happy to come home to some new information. Well, I still haven't heard from anyone from this blog posting, but in a way, I did hear from someone over the weekend.

I was busy in the microfilm department looking for John and Ellen Young (who also elude me) and when the day was nearly done, I was only able to delete people from my search. It is still progress, I suppose. I went up to the 7th floor to meet up with my cousin and had about fifteen minutes left to look for more information. I wanted to look at the Dikeman books recommended to me by my cousin, so I pulled them from the stacks. After perusing them, I decided it wasn't the same family, so I returned the books to the re-shelve rack and spied a book that looked promising to me - New England Planters in the Maritime Provinces of Canada 1759-1800. Hmmmm. I have relatives in Nova Scotia... I did find references to Samuel Mack, Ephraim Dean and others... I never thought of Samuel Mack as a Planter, but I guess he was. The listing showed 14 pages of letters. Jackpot! Unfortunately, it was something I would have to come back for another day's follow up.

Just as I had finished photographing the important details before returning the book, a volunteer came around to tell us the library was closing in five minutes. Already? I returned the book and glanced again at the pile of returned books and spied the Platt Genealogy on top. What? I have three minutes to see if this is the right Platt - and I believe it is - Richard Platt of Milford, Connecticut. Another day, Mr. Platt, we have a date.

Coincidence? I think not.

Ancestry Day is a day that NEHGS partners with Ancestry.com and offers presentations given by experts from both Ancestry.com and NEHGS. It was an early start, and a long day, but there was a lot of great information exchanged. I hope I can do better searches on Ancestry.com with the help of Crista Cowan's tips. I'll let you know.

Other talks were equally interesting and informative, and the wrap up Live Q&A Panel was lively and inspiring. If you get an opportunity to attend an Ancestry Day with NEHGS, go ahead and do it! It isn't a huge cost, in time or money, and everyone is so nice and helpful.

Favorite breakfast reading?

A REPORT of the Record Commissioners of the City of Boston containing the Selectmen's Minutes from 1754 through 1763 printed in Boston by Rockwell and Churchill, City Printers, No 39 Arch Street. 1887. 

Riveting. If you are into that sort of thing.

I have been reading the minutes because I am searching for information regarding my ancestors in Boston. I'm looking for Stoddards (haven't found any mention so far) and Deans (I have).

Excerpt from the minutes- 1761 page 163.

" Capt. James Dean of Schooner Endeavor belonging to Casco Bay was sent for, and Bonds demanded of him to indemnifie the Town from any Charge that may arise on Account of Margaret Hominia, brought by him into this Town from Hallifax."

I'm not sure what that is all about, but I think that is my relative. I do have a James Dean, brother to my known Ephraim Dean in my family tree...they were sons of Thomas and Lydia Dean. Ephraim was born in Barnstable, MA and James was born Scarborough, ME. Ephraim, James and their brother William were all Captains of ships, sailing between Boston and Nova Scotia or Newfoundland. I need to do some more sleuthing to fill in some rather large gaps, but I do think this is "my" James Dean. William Dean lived in Boston on Milk Street with his wife Mary (Snow). Wish I could find some more references to William...

Sometimes the quiet ones slip through the cracks of time. It's a quandry... do I wish my relatives were more famous - or infamous - that they would be mentioned more often? Every time I see their name in print I feel that they are reaching out to me in an enticing way ... follow this clue and find out who I am.

More from the City of Boston Selectmen's minutes next time.