The Clark and Perkins Families of Londonderry, New Hampshire

Posted on 21 April, 2015 by Janice Brown
Elizabeth (Perkins) Clark, wife of Reed P. Clark of Londonderry NH

Elizabeth (Perkins) Clark, wife of Reed P. Clark of Londonderry NH

I hold in my hand several beautiful tintype photographs identified as being of the Clark family, that I purchased on ebay.  The first was described as: “This is a great gem sized tintype of an older woman identified as Mrs. Reed Clark. She was born Elizabeth Perkins in Ipswich, Essex County, Massachusetts on Mary 2, 1808 and the family moved to Londonderry, Rockingham County, New Hampshire. She married Reed Paige Clark (1807-1882) and had at least 3 children but one died in infancy. We will also be offering similar tintypes of her son, William, and daughter, Sallie, on ebay as well as other members of the Clark and Perkins families so check out our other auctions. Mrs. Clark died July 4, 1880 in Londonderry and is buried there–I think the cemetery is called Glenwood Cemetery. The photo dates to the 1870’s and the image is very clear. See scan.”

And yes I also purchased similar tintypes of her son William and daughter Sallie as described above.  Those photographs are shown below.

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Posted in Genealogy, History, New Hampshire Men, New Hampshire Women | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

“Recollections of Long Ago,” by Hannah Eayrs Barron–Dunstable (Nashua) and Merrimack New Hampshire

Posted on 18 April, 2015 by Janice Brown
Mrs. Hannah Eayrs Barron, poet and writer, born Merrimack, Hillsborough Co. New Hampshire on 24 November 1809. Photograph from her book of poetry.

Mrs. Hannah Eayrs Barron, poet and writer, born Merrimack, Hillsborough Co. New Hampshire on 24 November 1809. Photograph from her book of poetry.

In April of 2014 I wrote about Merrimack New Hampshire Poet, Hannah Eayrs Barron. She was born in Merrimack, Hillsborough County, New Hampshire in 1809, daughter of Williams & Hannah (Foster) Eayrs. While researching her life I came across an April 17, 1948 Nashua Telegraph newspaper article about “Recollection of Long Ago,” a paper written by Hannah E. Barron on life in Nashua in the early 1800s that had been read at the afternoon meeting of the Matthew Thornton chapter DAR by Miss Abbie Laton.

At that time I contacted that DAR Chapter, and several local historical societies including Nashua, Merrimack and Hudson. Neither Nashua nor Merrimack knew of this document. A few days ago, I received an email from Ruth Parker of the Hudson Historical Society. I owe her a great debt of gratitude for following up on my  very old email She had discovered a typewritten copy of Hannah E. Barron’s document in their museum archives, and was do kind as to scan and forward it to me. Continue reading →

Posted in History, New Hampshire Women, Really Old News | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Concord New Hampshire’s Connection to Abraham Lincoln’s Assassination

Posted on 14 April, 2015 by Janice Brown
Abraham Lincoln, The Man, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens; Purchase, Tyson Family Gift, in memory of Edouard and Ellen Muller; The Beatrice G. Warren and Leila W. Redstone, and Maria DeWitt Jesup Funds; Dorothy and Imre Cholnoky, David Schwartz Foundation Inc., Joanne and Warren Josephy, Annette de la Renta, Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation, and Felicia Fund Inc. Gifts, 2012; from the Digital Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Abraham Lincoln, The Man, by Augustus Saint-Gaudens; Purchase, Tyson Family Gift, in memory of Edouard and Ellen Muller; The Beatrice G. Warren and Leila W. Redstone, and Maria DeWitt Jesup Funds; Dorothy and Imre Cholnoky, David Schwartz Foundation Inc., Joanne and Warren Josephy, Annette de la Renta, Thomas H. and Diane DeMell Jacobsen Ph.D. Foundation, and Felicia Fund Inc. Gifts, 2012; from the Digital Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art

Much has been written about Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, his death, and the ensuing search for his killers.  That horrible event happened 150 years ago today [April 14, 2015], with Lincoln dying at 7:22 a.m. the next morning. It was a confusing and emotionally charged time for everyone involved, and so it is not unusual that there should be some conflicting stories.  However, what is known is that Ezra Walker Abbott of Concord New Hampshire was one of the physicians who was with the dying president.

Yes, I know–I always end up being related to the people I write about.  This time is no different.  Really, Ezra Walker Abbott was my fifth cousin 3 times removed.  I found at least one place where his personal information was posted incorrectly, so this is a good time to set the record straight.

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Posted in Genealogy, History, Military of New Hampshire, New Hampshire Men | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The Darker Side of Manchester NH’s Pine Island Park

Posted on 12 April, 2015 by Janice Brown
Pine Island Park Gate, circa 1953, photograph by Peter Caikauskas. Manchester Historical Association Photoprint Collection. Used with permission.

Pine Island Park Gate, circa 1953, photograph by Peter Caikauskas. Manchester Historical Association Photoprint Collection. Used with permission.

There are people alive today who have fond, happy memories of Pine Island Park. This amusement area was located in Manchester, New Hampshire, in the vicinity of the current Pine Island Park.

During the 61 years of its existence, at varying times it hosted recreations including swimming, dancing (with live bands), skating (ice and roller), boating, bowling, a restaurant, amusements and rides, summer theater plays, a drive-in theater, and a giant Moxie bottle.  Often there were evening fireworks displays. Continue reading →

Posted in Haunted New Hampshire, History, Oddities, Accidents and Crazy Weather | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 29 Comments

Missing Places: Lucy Hastings Hospital of Manchester, New Hampshire

Posted on 8 April, 2015 by Janice Brown

Hospital Lucy Hastings postcard2 watermarkedThe Lucy Hastings Hospital was a small general hospital located at 1038 Union Street in Manchester, New Hampshire.  The building still exists, now being used as a private home.  The hospital was founded in on 25 February 1925 by George Sanford Foster, M.D., who named it after his great-grandmother, Lucy Hastings, and it closed in 1945.

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Posted in Genealogy, History, N.H. Missing Places, New Hampshire Men, New Hampshire Women, Structures | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments