Is there any lister who lives in Washington Co RI and would do some paid research? I need a couple of lookups in Charlestown - a land record and a will. Please respond off list to Carol Church cchurch@voyager.net Thank you.

Greetings list members. I have been a list member for the past few months, watching the passing conversations and looking for connections to my research. I now want to jump in! My Reed family came from Cornwall England and bounced around between Westerly, RI, New Haven, CT, and Concord, NH. The first photo of my g-grandfather, William Henry Reed, which was taken here in the US was taken in Westerly, RI. In addition, I think I found his sister Bestey (or Bessie) Reed boarding with a Roe family in Westerly in the 1881 census. My Reed ancestors were stone masons, so suspect there was some stone work taking place there in the later 1800's. I have three specific questions, which I am hoping one or more listers can help me with. 1) What were the reasons for my stone mason ancestors to be in Westerly? Were there quarries there? Are there many large stone buildings that perhaps they helped construct? Thoughts? 2) Knowing my Reed's bounced between the three locations noted above, I have found annual City Directories to be very helpful in seeing who was there when. I know they do not contain everyone (as I think it cost 50 cents to be listed), but nonetheless, I have filled in some gaps using this information. Can someone tell me if there are City Directories available for the Westerly area? Where could I find them? Does someone have ready access to Directories from the mid/late 1800's to early 1900's that they could copy Reed listings for me (I'll gladly pay expenses!)? 3) What other local Westerly resources should I try to help fill in the blanks of my ancestors in the mid/late 1800's to early 1900's? Any and all answers, and help greatly appreciated! Regards, Ron Reed

I am told, but certainly not sure of this story about my gm, Cathalene Mabel Higgins who ran away with a man named Reed (first name unknown). At the time she was "underage", whatever that meant, and her mother Gertrude Higgins had the marriage "annulled." She (my gm) must have had a son by that man. The child was named Donald, and in later years he became Donald Reed Higgins. Does anyone have any thought about this man Reed? In the 1900 Census the Larkums (my ggm) and my gm (Higgins) and mother were all living in Westerly. In the 1920 Census my ggm, Gertrude Larkum was living in Cleveland, Cuyahoga, OH with her brother Charles E. Sharp and her son Henry B. Larkum. What a mess trying to track these people. I hope someone can shed some light on me. Thanks, robert leonard

Dear Ron (Reed), ...It's a long shot...but....your people moved from Westerly RI to New Haven CT....around the Wallingford/New Haven area were mica mines, mined by Cornishmen, if I recall correctly....try Genforum.com for New Haven list...try doing a keyword search. Good luck! Barry Hale Browning