Marilyn, To ease your mind, the folks of that era were very good at saving. Many had the "summer camp". I came from a poor neighberhood in Cambridge but knew several families who managed to buy a house, have a car and sometimes a summer place. Irene > From: New.Englander@verizon.net > To: mamiddle@rootsweb.com > Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 06:51:50 -0400 > Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] odd question . . . > > Kathy: > > Loved your story ...! > > Yep, as kids, we do have these "selective" memories! I remember my > grandmother, Julia Ann (DAVIES) ARNOLD b. RI, married in Stoneham, lived in > Reading where husband, my grandfather Willard Clark ARNOLD was a minister. > She told me great stories about her Scotish relatives, and how proud she was > of her heritage, but at 8, all I could remember was the beheadings, and the > head being carted off to Edinborough. All I could think of was the blood, > dripping off the back of this horse. Not our links to this incredible > "house" (ie castle) in Scotland! http://www.inneshouse.co.uk/ which dated > to the 1600s, land to the 1100s, where an ancestor practiced witchcraft in > this ancient Celtic circle of stones. (My cousin and I were there in 97 -- > an incredible place!) > > So, suggest you pursue the land records/property records and/or tax records > for all that you know. My grandparents, too were in this (Middlesex) county > in the Depression, but lived simply ... but also managed to have a car, > property on the coast in Maine ($600 for 200+ feet of ocean frontage > overlooking Mt. Desert Island and Acadia Nat'l Park!!!) (wouldn't we all > like to have THAT now !) and silverware (which I have inherited.) My > grandparents built their house in Reading, on a loan by their son, an MD. > Haven't followed the Mdlsx land records on that, but .... now that you > bring this up, I know that grandpa only made some $3K/year as a minister, so > where did he get the $600 to buy the land in Maine? Hmmm. Just rambling on > my fingers as I'm typing. > > Ever get this sudden moment of "knowledge"? A lighhtning bolt ...? Had > this about my grandfather, and now have to live with this horrible feeling > that as a minister he had his hands "in the till" of the parishinors. A > pretty awful realization, about your own grandfather, the "respected and > revered" Rev. ARNOLD. I've only told his son and children. Obviously, now > the list, although I suspect many would have not read this far and already > deleted the message. > > You have some good and specific questions. Suggest: Land records for > Billerica, MA; Judith Pt RI; and Scituate MA. All will give you some clues. > Start there, and keep us posted. Also, purse any "probate" records for your > grandparents. You suggest that your Mom doesn't know about a will, but it's > at least worth a search. (Probate, ie > will). I know that's pretty basic, > but so are "wax" apples. [Better go for the good old Macs!] > > Best wishes and luck, > > Marilyn > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Kathy Montgomery" <kathym@uvic.ca> > To: <mamiddle@rootsweb.com> > Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:56 PM > Subject: [MAMiddle] odd question . . . > > > > Hi all - I have done a fair bit of genealogy, and learned interesting > > stories and such about all sorts of ancestors and relatives. I have > > learned > > tons about my mom's family, and much less about my dad's. (And wouldn't > > you > > know it, my dad was curious about it all; my mom - "not so much.") > > > > However, my mom's sense of family mystery is less genealogy, and more > > financial. She is 80, and the only question she ever asks me about family > > history is in one area I see very little about. My mom's maternal > > grandparents (my maternal great grandparents)appear to have modest income > > partnered with very comfortable lifestyle. She has tried to think how > > they > > did that. It is the only family history mystery that keeps her in the > > conversation. > > > > Her grandparents lived in a rented Cambridge apartment, owned a house in > > Billerica, and a summer cabin at Point Judith RI. They had nice clothes, > > china, sterling cutlery, etc. They ate well during the depression. I > > found > > a newspaper article that said she bought shore front land in Scituate. > > But > > in contrast, he worked behing the meat counter in a small grocery shop; he > > did not own it. She did not work. My mom's question - where'd the money > > come from? Neither of them came from families where they would have > > inherited much. > > > > Her grandmother did not want her mother to marry - ever. So she eloped to > > NH at age 17. She would never accept money or anything of particular > > value > > from her parents, even while trying to raise 6 kids through the > > depression. > > Thus my mom sort of worries that maybe they did something bad; but there > > is > > no known evidence of that. If anything, they were pretty strict from the > > sound of it; much a part of the Victorian era. (As a 6 or 8 year old > > budding family historian, I made the mistake of asking my grandmother how > > old she was, and where she was born. trust me, I never did that again . . > > . > > I digress) > > > > My mom is the oldest of her generation still living; there is no one else > > to > > ask. > > > > so, my question - what clues are there to finances? Ideas I have had: > > > > 1) man from the above couple died in 1959 (before I was old enough to do > > something so naughty as to ask how old he was!). But there doesn't seem > > to > > have been a will; or not that my mom ever heard. > > > > 2) I don't have any experience in using land records. maybe that would > > help - any suggestions on land ownership in Cambridge and Billerica say > > 1900 - 1960 as a timeframe? > > > > any suggestions? > > > > oh, and I can't resist adding - I do remember this great grand dad; he is > > among my earliest memories. I was quite young, maybe just 4. We were > > visiting him at the Cambridge apartment. They had a huge dining room > > table > > with one of those crocheted tablecloths. On it was a small bowl with the > > most incredible looking apples I had ever seen; and I knew my apples let > > me > > tell you; my favorites for sure. So I asked him if I could eat one. He > > said no, they were wax. I said that was okay, I liked all kinds. He said > > no, you can't eat it, it is wax. Well wax was fine with me if that was > > apples . . . I couldn't understand, I had never met an adult that would > > not > > let me eat an apple. We had to be rescued from the conversation by the > > intervening generations! what a way to be remembered - all the things he > > did in his life - and the only thing I remember about him is that he would > > not let me have an apple! > > > > > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject > > and the body of the email with no additional text. > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > > MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > > No virus found in this incoming message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.14.3/2413 - Release Date: 10/04/09 > 06:20:00 > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject and the body of the email with no additional text. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/

Irene: Thanks! Yes, I remember the "cookie jars" and have one of them! (Although we called it the brownie jar.) The lingering question of $ from the church till haunts me, as there were oriental rugs, fine English china, silverware, expensive trips to England, Europe, etc. This was long after the purchase of the cottage. I just somehow think .... the worst, because the $ and cents just do not add up. Thx, Marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Irene Landenberger" <landen2@msn.com> To: "MAMIDDLE" <mamiddle@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 05, 2009 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] odd question . . . > > Marilyn, To ease your mind, the folks of that era were very good at > saving. Many had the "summer camp". I came from a poor neighberhood in > Cambridge but knew several families who managed to buy a house, have a car > and sometimes a summer place. Irene > >> From: New.Englander@verizon.net >> To: mamiddle@rootsweb.com >> Date: Mon, 5 Oct 2009 06:51:50 -0400 >> Subject: Re: [MAMiddle] odd question . . . >> >> Kathy: >> >> Loved your story ...! >> >> Yep, as kids, we do have these "selective" memories! I remember my >> grandmother, Julia Ann (DAVIES) ARNOLD b. RI, married in Stoneham, lived >> in >> Reading where husband, my grandfather Willard Clark ARNOLD was a >> minister. >> She told me great stories about her Scotish relatives, and how proud she >> was >> of her heritage, but at 8, all I could remember was the beheadings, and >> the >> head being carted off to Edinborough. All I could think of was the blood, >> dripping off the back of this horse. Not our links to this incredible >> "house" (ie castle) in Scotland! http://www.inneshouse.co.uk/ which dated >> to the 1600s, land to the 1100s, where an ancestor practiced witchcraft >> in >> this ancient Celtic circle of stones. (My cousin and I were there in >> 97 -- >> an incredible place!) >> >> So, suggest you pursue the land records/property records and/or tax >> records >> for all that you know. My grandparents, too were in this (Middlesex) >> county >> in the Depression, but lived simply ... but also managed to have a car, >> property on the coast in Maine ($600 for 200+ feet of ocean frontage >> overlooking Mt. Desert Island and Acadia Nat'l Park!!!) (wouldn't we all >> like to have THAT now !) and silverware (which I have inherited.) My >> grandparents built their house in Reading, on a loan by their son, an MD. >> Haven't followed the Mdlsx land records on that, but .... now that you >> bring this up, I know that grandpa only made some $3K/year as a minister, >> so >> where did he get the $600 to buy the land in Maine? Hmmm. Just rambling >> on >> my fingers as I'm typing. >> >> Ever get this sudden moment of "knowledge"? A lighhtning bolt ...? Had >> this about my grandfather, and now have to live with this horrible >> feeling >> that as a minister he had his hands "in the till" of the parishinors. A >> pretty awful realization, about your own grandfather, the "respected and >> revered" Rev. ARNOLD. I've only told his son and children. Obviously, now >> the list, although I suspect many would have not read this far and >> already >> deleted the message. >> >> You have some good and specific questions. Suggest: Land records for >> Billerica, MA; Judith Pt RI; and Scituate MA. All will give you some >> clues. >> Start there, and keep us posted. Also, purse any "probate" records for >> your >> grandparents. You suggest that your Mom doesn't know about a will, but >> it's >> at least worth a search. (Probate, ie > will). I know that's pretty >> basic, >> but so are "wax" apples. [Better go for the good old Macs!] >> >> Best wishes and luck, >> >> Marilyn >> >> >> ----- Original Message ----- >> From: "Kathy Montgomery" <kathym@uvic.ca> >> To: <mamiddle@rootsweb.com> >> Sent: Sunday, October 04, 2009 12:56 PM >> Subject: [MAMiddle] odd question . . . >> >> >> > Hi all - I have done a fair bit of genealogy, and learned interesting >> > stories and such about all sorts of ancestors and relatives. I have >> > learned >> > tons about my mom's family, and much less about my dad's. (And wouldn't >> > you >> > know it, my dad was curious about it all; my mom - "not so much.") >> > >> > However, my mom's sense of family mystery is less genealogy, and more >> > financial. She is 80, and the only question she ever asks me about >> > family >> > history is in one area I see very little about. My mom's maternal >> > grandparents (my maternal great grandparents)appear to have modest >> > income >> > partnered with very comfortable lifestyle. She has tried to think how >> > they >> > did that. It is the only family history mystery that keeps her in the >> > conversation. >> > >> > Her grandparents lived in a rented Cambridge apartment, owned a house >> > in >> > Billerica, and a summer cabin at Point Judith RI. They had nice >> > clothes, >> > china, sterling cutlery, etc. They ate well during the depression. I >> > found >> > a newspaper article that said she bought shore front land in Scituate. >> > But >> > in contrast, he worked behing the meat counter in a small grocery shop; >> > he >> > did not own it. She did not work. My mom's question - where'd the money >> > come from? Neither of them came from families where they would have >> > inherited much. >> > >> > Her grandmother did not want her mother to marry - ever. So she eloped >> > to >> > NH at age 17. She would never accept money or anything of particular >> > value >> > from her parents, even while trying to raise 6 kids through the >> > depression. >> > Thus my mom sort of worries that maybe they did something bad; but >> > there >> > is >> > no known evidence of that. If anything, they were pretty strict from >> > the >> > sound of it; much a part of the Victorian era. (As a 6 or 8 year old >> > budding family historian, I made the mistake of asking my grandmother >> > how >> > old she was, and where she was born. trust me, I never did that again . >> > . >> > . >> > I digress) >> > >> > My mom is the oldest of her generation still living; there is no one >> > else >> > to >> > ask. >> > >> > so, my question - what clues are there to finances? Ideas I have had: >> > >> > 1) man from the above couple died in 1959 (before I was old enough to >> > do >> > something so naughty as to ask how old he was!). But there doesn't seem >> > to >> > have been a will; or not that my mom ever heard. >> > >> > 2) I don't have any experience in using land records. maybe that would >> > help - any suggestions on land ownership in Cambridge and Billerica say >> > 1900 - 1960 as a timeframe? >> > >> > any suggestions? >> > >> > oh, and I can't resist adding - I do remember this great grand dad; he >> > is >> > among my earliest memories. I was quite young, maybe just 4. We were >> > visiting him at the Cambridge apartment. They had a huge dining room >> > table >> > with one of those crocheted tablecloths. On it was a small bowl with >> > the >> > most incredible looking apples I had ever seen; and I knew my apples >> > let >> > me >> > tell you; my favorites for sure. So I asked him if I could eat one. He >> > said no, they were wax. I said that was okay, I liked all kinds. He >> > said >> > no, you can't eat it, it is wax. Well wax was fine with me if that was >> > apples . . . I couldn't understand, I had never met an adult that would >> > not >> > let me eat an apple. We had to be rescued from the conversation by the >> > intervening generations! what a way to be remembered - all the things >> > he >> > did in his life - and the only thing I remember about him is that he >> > would >> > not let me have an apple! >> > >> > >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" in the >> > subject >> > and the body of the email with no additional text. >> > ------------------------------- >> > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> > MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- >> >> >> >> No virus found in this incoming message. >> Checked by AVG - www.avg.com >> Version: 8.5.409 / Virus Database: 270.14.3/2413 - Release Date: 10/04/09 >> 06:20:00 >> >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject >> and the body of the email with no additional text. >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > _________________________________________________________________ > Hotmail: Powerful Free email with security by Microsoft. > http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/171222986/direct/01/ > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject > and the body of the email with no additional text. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > MAMIDDLE-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.420 / Virus Database: 270.14.3/2415 - Release Date: 10/05/09 06:19:00