It was a chance encounter with the Silver family. If you research genealogy you are familiar with how it happens. I was researching an entirely different family, gleaning tidbits from old newspapers. And then this story leaped out from the page.
Awful Casualty.–We learn from Briggs’ Bulletin that on the evening of the 24th instant while a Mrs. Silver was sitting on the hearth in her house, near Concord, N.H., teaching three of her 
children to read, the whole chimney, from some defect in the foundation, suddenly gave way, and was precipitated into the cellar, carrying with it Mrs. S. and her children. One of the children, a boy about six years of age, was killed; another, a girl, was burnt by the hot bricks and bruised in so shocking a manner, that though alive on Saturday morning, it is very doubtful whether she recovers. Mrs. S. and the eldest boy, it is believed will do well, though badly bruised.”–Boston Cour., as printed 2 May 1835 in the Alexandra Gazette (Alexandria VA), page 2 Continue reading
