Author Archives: Janice Brown

New Hampshire and Portsmouth’s First Woman Mayor: Mary Ellen (Carey) Dondero (1894-1960)

Posted on 18 May, 2016 by Janice Brown

Residents of Portsmouth, New Hampshire are familiar with the Dondero name. A beloved former mayor, Eileen Dondero Foley, just passed away in February of this year (2016). Less known these days, but historically important, was Eileen’s mother, Mary Ellen (Carey) … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, History, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Faces of the Benjamin G. Brooks Family of New Hampshire and Massachusetts

Posted on 14 May, 2016 by Janice Brown

The faces of Benjamin Gove Brooks, his wife Frances Eliza (Downer) Brooks, and their son B. Ferdinand Brooks, look out at you from pale CDV photographs. Benjamin and his wife Frances were both born and raised in New Hampshire. Benjamin … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, History | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

New Hampshire EVENT: Marilla Ricker Portrait Unveiling May 16, 2016 at 3:30 PM

Posted on 11 May, 2016 by Janice Brown

Back in 2014 I first wrote about Marilla Marks (Young) Ricker, the first woman in New Hampshire to attempt to cast her vote during elections (1870), and the first to run for governor (1910). She failed in both attempts [details … Continue reading →

Posted in Current Events, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A New Hampshire Governor, Ghosts, and a Second Wife: Anthony & Eliza A. (Messinger) Colby

Posted on 10 May, 2016 by Janice Brown

It is said that the ghost of former New Hampshire governor Anthony Colby haunts Colgate Hall at Colby-Sawyer College. That hall was built many years after his death on the spot where the former brick academy building sat. The original … Continue reading →

Posted in Genealogy, Haunted New Hampshire, New Hampshire Men, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

New Hampshire Tidbits: Famed Baseball Player Ted Williams liked Cow Hampshire

Posted on 6 May, 2016 by Janice Brown

Perhaps the title of this story is slightly misleading. I am not sure whether Ted Williams LIKED the term ‘Cow Hampshire’ but he did seem to enjoy using it.  Apparently to Ted Williams ‘Cow Hampshire’ was a place where hicks … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Humor, New Hampshire Sports, NH Tidbits | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments