Just wanted to send a note to say a big thank you for all the folks that answered my query about the above funeral home. I found it was on East Housatonic St. and one of the directors was Robert Dwyer who now owns the Dwyer Funeral Home. I am going to contact the funeral home and see if they still have the records back to 1966. We also learned where the First Methodist Church was located and hopefully the next time we go to Pittsfield we can stop in and see the Church. My husband never met his grandfather, long story, his name was Charles Melin and he lived for many years on Linden St., in Pittsfield. After he retired from GE he moved first to Stockbridge and then to Fairfield, CT where he died at the age of 93. Mr. Melin was born in Sweden and I am trying to just find out if he ever became a citizen of the US so that I can check his naturalization papers. He was not a citizen in the 1920 Census. His obituary also stated that he was a member of the Sons & Daughter of the North and the Mystic Lodge AM & FM of Pittsfield. Has anyone ever heard of the organization called the Sons & Daughter of the North. I would imagine that is a Scandinavian organization. I know it has nothing to do with the Civil War as Mr. Melin did not come to the US until 1894. Once again thank you each and everyone this is a great listing with great folks. Joanne Borden

Apparently the high school students are researching family names and publishing short stories ..under the Tracing Faces section .. >>This is a writing project about people in the history of southwestern New Hampshire. The authors are honors-level American Studies juniors at Keene High School. For more about this project, please click here.<< For those who may have had family that settled in the areas around Keene, NH so many years ago .. Here's the link for today's ... http://www1.keenesentinel.com/specialreports/tracingfaces/nallett2.htm and here's the main link for the newspaper itself ... http://www1.keenesentinel.com/

--WebTV-Mail-17777-4502 Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit Today, someone asked me about old maps of Massachusetts and Berkshire Co. I had forgotten I had this in my fav's and hope it may help some of you. I am not affiliated with this place of business and I have no further knowledge about them. Good Luck! Margaret in NV --WebTV-Mail-17777-4502 X-URL-Title: Old Maps of Massachusetts Towns, Villages and Cities from Historical Ink Content-Disposition: Inline Content-Type: Text/Plain; Charset=US-ASCII Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7Bit http://www.oldmapsne.com/old-massachusetts-maps.html --WebTV-Mail-17777-4502--

The Newton and Barnfather Funeral Home has been out of business for over 20 years. The Dwyer Funeral Home in Pittsfield (413-442-5094) may have its records. I believe a Dwyer was a Newton and Barnfather partner. If you find out whether or not they have the records, I'd like to know. Ralph Haywood ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joanne Borden" <jborden1@beld.net> To: <MABERKSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, 28 April, 2002 07:24 Subject: Newton Barnfather Funeral Home > Dear Listers, > > I wonder if anyone could help me identify the Newton Barnfather Funeral > Home in Pittsfield, Ma. My husband's grandfather was buried from there in > 1966. His obituary states that the Rev. Paul N. Whiteberry, associate > pastor of the First Methodist Church officiated. > My husband was raised in Pittsfield but he has no recollection of this > funeral home. I checked the yellow pages and I don't find it today. Does > anyone know if it was bought by another funeral home? Is the First > Methodist Church still in existence today? Any help would be greatly > appreciated. > > > Joanne Borden > > ______________________________

MABERKSH-L-request@rootsweb this correct but are you typing the word unsubscribe in the BODY of email? M. Taylor

I have tried to write MABERKSH-L-request@rootsweb, attn. List Owner and nothing happens. Several times. I am subbed to the list with two address's and continue to receive two pieces of mail no matter what I do. Can someone tell me how to contact the list owner or how to unsub the address I am not using but receive anyway. Thanks for any help. Lorri

Hi All, Newton & Barnfather used to be located on East Housatonic Street in Pittsfield Ma. It is no longer in business. After the mortician (Gus) retired it was sold and shut down. Sorry to say Gus is no longer with us and I have no idea how to find any of thier records. Roger

Hello All! I meant to reply to the entire list to be sure to include Joanne. I grew up in the Berkshires and as a teenager was an avid reader of the obituaries (still am today). There IS a funeral home in Pittsfield named the Dwyer Funeral Home. Perhaps this Robert E. Dwyer took over the business of Newton & Barnfeather and changed the name. Joanne, send me a direct e-mail at bunny.best@verizon.net and I will have my mother look up the phone number for you. Sincerely, Bunny Best Researching the surnames: Best, Whitaker, Wheeler, Langenback, Harrington, Battcock, Yeo, McLaughlin, Chassot von Florencourt -----Original Message----- From: MARGAREt DAVIS [mailto:SAGEMOM@webtv.net] Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 5:55 PM To: MABERKSH-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: Funeral Home Hello Joanne, I have a 1973 Pittsfield telephone book which lists the following: Newton & Barnfeather Funeral Home, Inc Raymond S. Webster Robert E. Dwyer 17 E. Housatonic Pittsfield ph. 422-3355 Of course, I have no idea they are still in business or not but it's worth a try. Margaret in NV ============================== To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237

Peter: Here is an all encompassing and very large Web Site for SPRAGUE & allied families: http://www.sprague-database.org/sp_lines.htm Relatively yours, Richard Leon Herrick President, Herrick Family Association, HFA List Administrator, RootsWeb HERRICK-L & -D lists RLH:mtf:20020428 ----- Original Message ----- From: "ph1003309@onemain.com" <Travels@jps.net> To: <MABERKSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 6:57 PM Subject: SHIPPEE/ROSS/SPRAGUE 1777-1800 before and beyond > My 5G Grandfather was Elijah SPRAGUE who lived and died in Adams, > Berkshire, MA from about 1777 up to 1800 when he died. Elijah was > married to Anna ???? after losing his wife Avis Mitchell/Mitshall during > childbirth of Avis Sprague in 1777 in Providence, RI. > His daughter (Zerviah) (mothered by Anna ???) married David Ross, (Whose > parents I cannot find) a land owner in Florida, Berkshire, MA. David was > a cooper and a school teacher according to history and he and Zerviah > were married in 1801 in Stamford, Bennington, VT shortly before their > first kid was born. > > The plot thickens: The witness to Elijah Sprague's estate was Silas > SHIPPEE who married Philadelphia ROSS, the daughter of Isaac Ross (I > understand) Silas Shippee's father was "Henry" Shippee and he married > "Zerviah" BROWN > > Interestingly enough, Elijah Sprague's three children were "Henry," > Zerviah" and George (There seems to be a great afinity between Sprague > and Shippee families here and marriages to Ross too) > > These families seem to have wandered from MA to RI/Providence to the > Berkshires about the same time. > > There was a Samuel Ross, Jr. 1756-about 1840 who married (get this) > "Freelove" Shippee, the daughter of Henry Shippee and Zerviah Brown (she > was also the sister of Silas Shippee. They had a son whom they named > Elijah > Ross who was born about 1785--- one year before Zerviah Sprague was born! > > The interconnections of coincidence here is too much to bear. I have no > documentation of a David Ross being born in this crown. My David Ross > was supposed to have been born in 1776 and Zerviah, his bride, Sprague, > born in 1786. > > The Spragues had been in Sackville Nova Scotia until about 1776 when the > Canadians kicked the colonial sympathizers out and they went briefly > back to Smithfield/Providence, RI before moving to Adams, Berkshire. > > If you aren't bored--- maybe you have knowledge that can knit this Ross > Sprague Shippee yarn into a sweater of completion. > > Thank you very much indeed. > > Peter > http://members.aol.com/ancestour/MASTHEAD.html > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Does it make sense that someone may have bought the business? Perhaps a call to a funeral home (or two or more - or whatever it takes :)) currently in business may turn up someone who knows or remembers Newton & Barnfather. Someone has to have the records - keep looking! J in NY ----- Original Message ----- From: "Edith Bailes" <edieb@hypernet.com> To: <MABERKSH-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 6:06 PM Subject: Newton & Barnfather > Joanne, My Berkshire County phone book, which is good through August 2000, > does not list Newton & Barnfather. Apparently they are no longer in > business. If I recall correctly, back in the 1940s when I lived in that > area, Newton & Barnfather put out the ugliest calendars of any business ever > knew. My family always had one, probably because they were free! And it is > Barnfather, not Barnfeather. Best wishes - Edie in Maine > > > ============================== > To join Ancestry.com and access our 1.2 billion online genealogy records, go to: > http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=571&sourceid=1237 > >

Joanne, My Berkshire County phone book, which is good through August 2000, does not list Newton & Barnfather. Apparently they are no longer in business. If I recall correctly, back in the 1940s when I lived in that area, Newton & Barnfather put out the ugliest calendars of any business ever knew. My family always had one, probably because they were free! And it is Barnfather, not Barnfeather. Best wishes - Edie in Maine

My 5G Grandfather was Elijah SPRAGUE who lived and died in Adams, Berkshire, MA from about 1777 up to 1800 when he died. Elijah was married to Anna ???? after losing his wife Avis Mitchell/Mitshall during childbirth of Avis Sprague in 1777 in Providence, RI. His daughter (Zerviah) (mothered by Anna ???) married David Ross, (Whose parents I cannot find) a land owner in Florida, Berkshire, MA. David was a cooper and a school teacher according to history and he and Zerviah were married in 1801 in Stamford, Bennington, VT shortly before their first kid was born. The plot thickens: The witness to Elijah Sprague's estate was Silas SHIPPEE who married Philadelphia ROSS, the daughter of Isaac Ross (I understand) Silas Shippee's father was "Henry" Shippee and he married "Zerviah" BROWN Interestingly enough, Elijah Sprague's three children were "Henry," Zerviah" and George (There seems to be a great afinity between Sprague and Shippee families here and marriages to Ross too) These families seem to have wandered from MA to RI/Providence to the Berkshires about the same time. There was a Samuel Ross, Jr. 1756-about 1840 who married (get this) "Freelove" Shippee, the daughter of Henry Shippee and Zerviah Brown (she was also the sister of Silas Shippee. They had a son whom they named Elijah Ross who was born about 1785--- one year before Zerviah Sprague was born! The interconnections of coincidence here is too much to bear. I have no documentation of a David Ross being born in this crown. My David Ross was supposed to have been born in 1776 and Zerviah, his bride, Sprague, born in 1786. The Spragues had been in Sackville Nova Scotia until about 1776 when the Canadians kicked the colonial sympathizers out and they went briefly back to Smithfield/Providence, RI before moving to Adams, Berkshire. If you aren't bored--- maybe you have knowledge that can knit this Ross Sprague Shippee yarn into a sweater of completion. Thank you very much indeed. Peter http://members.aol.com/ancestour/MASTHEAD.html

Hello Joanne, I have a 1973 Pittsfield telephone book which lists the following: Newton & Barnfeather Funeral Home, Inc Raymond S. Webster Robert E. Dwyer 17 E. Housatonic Pittsfield ph. 422-3355 Of course, I have no idea they are still in business or not but it's worth a try. Margaret in NV

Dear Listers, I wonder if anyone could help me identify the Newton Barnfather Funeral Home in Pittsfield, Ma. My husband's grandfather was buried from there in 1966. His obituary states that the Rev. Paul N. Whiteberry, associate pastor of the First Methodist Church officiated. My husband was raised in Pittsfield but he has no recollection of this funeral home. I checked the yellow pages and I don't find it today. Does anyone know if it was bought by another funeral home? Is the First Methodist Church still in existence today? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Joanne Borden

Just go to: http://www.rootsweb.com/~maberksh/towns/hancock/hancockgovt.html And you will find all the town clerks address as well as other addresses for the town. Ray TArgento@aol.com wrote: > > Can anyone tell me where I can locate birth records for Hancock from > 1750-1800? I am at a dead end in my search for the Wylie family from Hancock. > Thank you > Toni Argento > -- CT AHGP http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctahgp/ Litchfield County CT AHGP website http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctlitch2/ Ray Brown's Place for New England Genealogy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rbrown/ New England History http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyne/neh/ US History Web page http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyne/us-history/ US History by Hawthorne http://freepages.books.rootsweb.com/~rbrown/us/ CT Photo Gallery http://www.state.ct.us/scripts/photo.asp

Can anyone tell me where I can locate birth records for Hancock from 1750-1800? I am at a dead end in my search for the Wylie family from Hancock. Thank you Toni Argento

Hi! Can anyone tell me if I would be able to find death records and/or cemetery records at the Berkshire Athenaeum for Lee, Ma, time frame 1850-1900? I'd like to find out when some people died and/or where they are buried and I'm wondering if the cemetery records would be there, or if I would basically have to search specific cemeteries. I have looked at films of Lee Vital Records from the FHC and need to find further info. Thanks for your help. Pat

I just added vital records for Hinsdale as follows: Births 1894 - 1903 Marriags 1883 - 1903 Deaths 1883 - 1903 There are a few missing records, but I will be writting to the town to try and recieve them to post. I also have some others from 1904 to 1908 but there are to many missing years, will try and get the missing years to finnish this. This looks like only a few years, but there are over 350 marriages in that part. Only about 1/2 of the peolpe married were from Hinsdale, the others were from all over the county and some from VT, NY and CT. Hope that this is of help to some of you. For a list of all added in April of 2002 just click on what's new from the main page. http://www.rootsweb.com/~maberksh/ Ray -- CT AHGP http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctahgp/ Litchfield County CT AHGP website http://www.rootsweb.com/~ctlitch2/ Ray Brown's Place for New England Genealogy http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~rbrown/ New England History http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyne/neh/ US History Web page http://www.rootsweb.com/~nyne/us-history/ US History by Hawthorne http://freepages.books.rootsweb.com/~rbrown/us/ CT Photo Gallery http://www.state.ct.us/scripts/photo.asp

This is my direct paternal line. Rebecca's father is Festus READ and mother Rebecca BLACKMAN. I have the info on all their children but cannot find Rebecca as married or died. She was born in Windsor, MA in 1825 but that is all I can tell about her. Her older brother was Charles Allen READ and her next younger brother was Franklin Festus READ my gggrandfather. Is there anyone out there researching this line!?! This is my first query and if I do it right there will be more posted. I have most of this line in MA.

When I first learned my ggrandfather, Hugh Howard MacDonald, was born in Nova Scotia and moved to MA I thought it wouldn't be too tough to track him down. Then I posted my query and was repeatedly told "there are thousands of those across NS". With the LDS 1881 census I was able to find in NS: 276 Hugh MacDonalds, of which 95 were in Antigonish county, 56 Inverness, 51 Pictou, and 25 Cape Breton. That's a bit more managable. Since I'm looking for Hugh son of Hugh that narrows it down (though Hugh Sr. may have died by then). I still haven't determined which one of the 31 Hughs born 1868 to 1872 would be my ggrandfather. One clue is I'm told he left NS c1887 due to a Halloween prank gone awry resulting in a farmer's death. He came to East Boston for a while, then settled in Pittsfield. Always glad to hear from anyone with Hugh MacDonald ancestors. Thanks. Raymond MacDonald