Hello, We are not allowed to start up or continue a non-genealogy discussion on the Lists. So, I wrote to Darrell off-List with a few of my opinions. But, I would like to offer the definition of "harry" from the dictionary on my desk: ".. to make a destructive raid on; assault" ".. to force to move along by harassing.." ".. to torment as if by constant attack.." And, "harried" - "harassed" ("to annoy persistently"). And, as I mentioned to Darrell off-List, the wife in the town in Maine in the 1890's was being "harried." And, if she chose to "save her life" by going to a Courthouse and asking for a divorce, she did something. Some people (women or men or child) do not have a choice, and cannot "do something" about the situation they are in. More times than we want to think about the victim was "harried to death" or at the very least ended up with a "very seriouos mental-illness." And, I also want to remind researchers how "women were treated" throughout the 1600's, 1700's, and 1800's, even in the "Colonies." So, we are discussing - genealogy ! This is even discussed in another book I have on my desk: "Every Day Life in the Massachusetts Bay Colony." I wish I could think of a female ancestor of mine where I have read that she was somehow harassed, harried, or haunted by fear. But, that is not really something that we read about in "family histories." (On my extended family-tree, there were "divorces.")* (Except for the strong example of the "witch trials." But, I can mention the childhood of my grandmother. I don't remember if I've told that story on the VT List. But, she was taken in by an older couple when she was a baby, and she was adopted just after she turned 3. She lived in their home until she turned 10, and during that time she was told many "lies" about her birth-parents and who the older couple was. And, during those ~9 yrs., she was "hidden away" when important company came to call. And, she heard conversations where she found out that her Adoptive parents "knew" who her birth-parents were. And she went to her death in the 1960's never knowing who they were. "No one" in the family would tell her. ** That treatment of her stayed with her for the rest of her life. Betty (near Lowell, MA) * Oh, when trying to find out the history of divorce in the US, I remembered my other grandmother. And her story involves - Vermont. When she was 17, she eloped to VT with her boyfriend. It was 1916 and we can guess that she was pregnant. It was the week her boyfriend turned 18. They had 2 stillborns in a row and finally had 3 children. But, they fought badly for almost 20 years; finally divorcing in 1935. I don't know who was "at fault" in those ~20 yrs., but my father didn't like either one of his parents. So, I can "think" they were both "harried." (LEWIS / KIDDER couple from MA) ** To mention a few, more names, my grandmother was told her birth-name was Daisy WATROUS, but there is no proof of that. The adoptive couple in 1892 changed her name to Mary Anna Clark DEXTER after the maiden name of the adoptive-mother. My "educated guess" is that they were her maternal grandparents, and their married daughter in CT had a pregnancy outside of her marriage. That woman went to her death-bed proclaiming that she didn't even know her parents had adopted a little girl. But, her only son had spent summers in his grandparents' home in MA as a child and teen.

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald--Thur. Dec. 14, 1905. Page 6. RUTLAND, VT. LOCAL HAPPENINGS. Miss Elsie G. Robinson, formerly of Rutland, was married at Brattleboro Saturday to Nelson B. Ober of Bellows Falls. They will live at Bellows Falls. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald--Thur. Dec. 14, 1905.Page 6. RUTLAND, VT. LOCAL HAPPENINGS. Mrs. James Keenan is Dead. Mrs. James Keenan died at her home, No. 288 West street, at 10 o'clock yesterday morning of paralysis, at the age of 67 years. Besides her husband, she is survived by one son, G.H. Keenan of Bangor, Pa., and five daughters, Mrs. W. M. O'Brien of Hydeville, Mrs. J.R. McHugh of West Rutland, Mrs. James Murphy and Misses Margaret and Isabelle Keenan of Buffalo, N.Y. The funeral will probably be held Friday. The burial will be in Fair Haven. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald--Thur. Dec. 14, 1905. Page 6. RUTLAND, VT. LOCAL HAPPENINGS. Death of Thomas Cashman. Thomas Cashman, formerly well known in this city, died at his home in Brooklyn, N.Y., November 21, after a long illness of consumption. Five days before his death he had a hemorrhage of the lungs. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald-- Thur. Dec. 14, 1905. Page 6. RUTLAND, VT. LOCAL HAPPENINGS. Miss Jean Clifford is Dead. Miss Jean Clifford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W.H. Clifford, formerly of this city. died at her home in Saratoga, N.Y., at 2:30 o'clock Sunday afternoon at the age of 19 years. Besides her parents she is survived by one sister, Miss Bernice Clifford of Saratoga, N.Y. The body was brought to this city Tuesday and was taken to the home of Miss B.M. Clifford, No. 307 West street. The funeral was held at St. Peter's church Wednesday. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald--Thur. Dec. 14, 1905. SOUTH SHAFTSBURY. Isaac Smith, who has been ill for some time with paralysis, is very low. Miss Lottie Agan has returned to Cobleskill, N.Y., where she teaches. Merle Stockwell, who lost his hand in a corn husking machine two weeks ago, is very low at the Samaritan hospital in Troy. He was thought to be recovering, but on Thursday he became worse and lock jaw developed. His mother and brother are with him. Following are the newly elected officers of the Epworth league; President, H.S. Murfield ; vice presidents, C.S.Mattison, Mrs. E.N.Hawkins, Miss Alice Ball, Miss Edith Harris; secretary, Miss Laura Harris; treasurer, Arthur Millington. The engagement of Miss Margaret Lucy Ball, daughter of J.S. Ball of this village, to Harry Parkhurst Brown of Ilion, N.Y., has been announced. Henry Green, who moved his family to North Bennington two months ago,has returned to this village. T.H. Dunlap was in Albany Monday. Miss Margaret Graves of Sunderland, has been a guest at L.W. Cole's. Mrs. Fred Eddy has returned from a visit with relatives and friends in Pittsfield, Mass., Springfield and Rutland. Llewelyn Cole has returned from New York. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

On 2/27/2011 8:09 AM, Ruth Barton wrote: > My Dad used to say of men whose wives were known the be rather unpleasant > to live with, "He died in self-defence." Ruth Ha! Darrell

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald--Thur. Dec. 14,1905. RIPTON . E. Damon, who has been sick for several weeks, became worse Saturday night. John Houstin of Middlebury, was in town the first of the week. H. J. Spoor is in Middlebury. School closed in district No. 1 last Friday. Miss Katherine Atwood was teacher. Robert Atwood was neither absent or tardy during the term. Those who averaged above 95 per cent were Ada Whittemore and Oliata Fletcher; those above 90 percent were Robinson Atwood, Llewelyn Ray, Maud Boynton, Charles and Ralph Kirby, Edna Manning and Stella Stetson,. Oliata Fletcher showed the most rapid progress during the term. Miss McNeil will be unable to take charge of the winter term, owing to sickness. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

On 2/27/2011 8:40 PM, [email protected] wrote: > H. T. Murdock and family went to Uxbridge, Mass. (sic) to enjoy > Thanksgiving with relatives. Hi: Is "sic" in the original? There is certainly a town named Uxbridge in Massachusetts, first settled in 1662, incorporated in 1727. It's about halfway between Worcester and Providence, R.I. <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uxbridge,_Massachusetts> Darrell

Source, Rutland Weekly Herald--Thur. Dec.14, 1905. PROCTORSVILLE. Park H. Pollard is in Shrewsbury looking after his interest in a lumber job. W.J. Harrington, assisted by Miss Augusta Bigelow, conducted a singing school each evening this week with about 20 scholars. Mr. Harrington and Miss Bigelow sang in the Methodist church last Sunday. William Skinner of East Cambridge,Mass., is staying at Valemont. George H. Clark of Hillsboro Bridge, N.H., who spent Thanksgiving with his father, Henry Clark, returned home Tuesday. H. T. Murdock and family went to Uxbridge, Mass. (sic) to enjoy Thanksgiving with relatives. Allen M. Fletcher,jr., was home from Williamstown, Mass., for Thanksgiving day. Talmage McKenzie has returned to Syracuse, N.Y., after a few days' stay with his parents. Mr.and Mrs. A.M.Fletcher left Wednesday for a two weeks' stay in New York. Miss Mary Edson has returned from Barton, where she has been for several weeks. Transcribed by, Joan H. Bixby

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 Felchville 2/12/1886 Chas. R. KENDALL is visiting his parents in this place. B. F. STEARNS is spending a fortnight or more in Everett, Mass. Mrs. H. J. AMSDEN is visiting her daughter, Mrs. Dana N. COY, at Windsor. Mr. and Mrs. Calvin CARPENTER spent a day with their uncle (Edwin N. CARPENTER) and family, this week. Lumbermen are improving the sledding, and drawing their logs in large quantities to the mills. Wood is also coming in with a rush. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 West Windsor 2/12/1886 Allen SANDERS, from the West, is visiting his aunt, Mrs. Ella M. QUIMBY. "Mr. HUGGINS," take good care of "David, Jr.," and don't let those small(?) ears freeze. Charles SANDERS has sent home from California 100 pounds of raisins of his own packing and curing. They are very nice. Saturday night, Feb. 6th, a few of the many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Frank C. KEITH met at their home, to remind them of the anniversary of their marriage. Among the presents brought were 12 silver knives and forks, a watch and chain, a sum of money, towels, collars, aprons, etc. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 Springfield 2/12/1886 Thursday, Feb. 4th, 10 degrees below zero. Dr. CRAIN was in town, Monday and Tuesday. Frank JOHNSON is home from Gardner, Mass. Henry ROBINSON was in town over Sunday. He left Monday for Trenton, N. J. C. D. BRINK returned to Kearney, Neb. , the 3d inst., where he is in business. Charlie GRIMSHAW fell down a flight of stairs at the cotton mill, Tuesday, and was badly hurt. Dr. F. G. WHEATLEY has been in town, the past week attending his mother, who died Sunday morning. Will FLETCHER died Saturday morning, after a short illness. He leaves a young widow to mourn his loss, and she has the sympathy of her many friends and neighbors. Funeral services were held at the Congregational church, Sunday. The fire department, of which he was a member, accompanied the remains to the grave. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 Gassetts 2/12/1886 It is thought it was the edge of the axe, instead of the head, that hit Jewett BOYNTON. We hear that Mrs. C. C. BLAKE killed and sold a turkey, to H. S. PIERCE & Co., Cavendish, that dressed 28 1/2 pounds. J. C. SCRIBNER received news, Wednesday of last week, that his father, J. A., on the 1st inst., had a severe stroke of paralysis. Being on the other side of 80 years, it will go hard with him. Laura WALKER of Orange, Mass., who had been here taking care of her mother, Mrs. Acsah BEMIS, in her last sickness, left for her home, Wednesday of this week, accompanied by her brother George, who intends to be gone about a week. Perhaps some of the friends of Lewis HILL will be glad to learn that he is now at Rutland, and in his usual health, having recovered from an attack of snow blindness which came upon him about three weeks ago. He intends to come home in about three weeks. On the evening of Feb. 3d, about 60 of the relatives and friends of J. C. GLYNN gave him a surprise party (it being their 20th marriage anniversary), taking possession of his house and useing it for their best enjoyment. Frank BRAGG of Proctorsville played the organ, while those wishing to sing joined in. About $15 in money, besides nearly $25 in presents, were presented to the happy couple, and after wishing them another 20 years of life's blessings, the guests began to disperse in the small hours. Names of scholars having no absent-marks during the winter term, which closed Jan. 28th--Eloise DUNBAR, Della JOHNSON, Daisy MARSHAL, Hattie SMITH, Bertha WHITAKER, Anna WHITAKER, Geo. BEMIS, Willie BEMIS, John BROOKS, Ernest CARLISLE; absent only one half day--Irving BOYNTON, George BOYNTON, Bertie CARLISLE, Albert MOORE; absent one day--Carl BEMIS, Leon JOHNSON, Frank MOORE, Eugene PUTNAM, Owen JOHNSON; not absent for three terms--Bertha WHITAKER, John BROOKS; absent only one day for three terms--Daisy MARSHAL, Della JOHNSON, Hattie SMITH. Daisy MARSHAL missed the fewest words is spelling. Whole number of scholars for the year, thirty-one. Mellie M. JENKINS, teacher. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

If he was murdered I would presume there would have been a trial, the transcripts of that trial should be interesting and shed some light on exactly how he died. My Dad used to say of men whose wives were known the be rather unpleasant to live with, "He died in self-defence." Ruth On 2/25/2011 7:32 AM, MK wrote: > I found a death record for a man who died at Craftsbury, VT. This record >states > his cause of death was murder, "harried to death by his wife". Does this >mean > she physically harmed him, or just nagged him to death? > > I believe I have read the handwriting correctly and the word is harried. > > Thanks.... -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

On 2/27/2011 8:15 AM, Ms Betty Fredericks wrote: > Hello, > > I don't want to make light of "spousal abuse" as I was a victim of it with my first marriage (mostly emotional / verbal). And, my mother was a victim of "emotional / verbal abuse" for the whole 50 yrs. of my parents' marriage. * [snip] Betty: There are without question forms of abuse which do not involve physical attacks upon the person of the victim. Some are reprehensible in the extreme, in some cases doing more lasting damage than a blow with a fist. To say this, excuses neither kind of abuse. However, let us look back at the actual question that was asked. We need to do this in the light of this being, after all, a genealogical forum. There was a statement in a formal legal document, by a doctor, that used the word "murder" regarding a man's death. This leaves us with only two possibilities. Either the doctor who wrote it was irresponsible; or, someone took actions which in the doctor's medical opinion led to the deceased person's death. Calling verbal and/or psychological abuse grounds for divorce, even calling it a criminal act, is one thing (and in my opinion, if serious enough, is justified); calling it murder is another. Genealogically, I think it is enough to state the facts as they appear in the record, and let them speak for themselves. Darrell

Hello, I don't want to make light of "spousal abuse" as I was a victim of it with my first marriage (mostly emotional / verbal). And, my mother was a victim of "emotional / verbal abuse" for the whole 50 yrs. of my parents' marriage. * But, in 2007, I was looking for an old newspaper article about my great-grandfather in a newspaper for Stoneham, MA. And, I found an article about "spousal abuse" which was somewhat amusing to read but not amusing to think about. I posted it on the MA List at the time: http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/genmassachusetts/2007-10/1192101108 1890 newspaper article: "Divided by a Skunk -- 17 Charges Specified in a Suit for Divorce" Sara E. GOULD of Leeds, Maine, divorcing Chessman D. GOULD specifies 17 charges among which is that, to annoy her, her husband placed a dead skunk in her clothes closet. Other charges are that he threw a spittoon at her; that he seized the dishes upon the table and violently broke them, that he turned the flour barrel bottom side up in the pantry and the flour upon the floor, that he angrily broke the sewing machine; that he shoveled the dirt on the floor she was washing, that at times he instead of buying sugar for the family he bought it for himself and kept it locked up and brought it to the table for his own use, that while the family were without the soap, he kept soap for himself locked up in his own room, that he told her it would be the happiest day in his life when he could dance on her grave, that he habitually kept his room locked up so she could not enter it. " FYI: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spousal_abuse Betty (near Lowell, MA) * My father was a Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde, or, when he was good, he was very good, but, when he was bad, he was horrid. My "EX" was just an unpleasant person - from day one, but, when children arrived, he became horrid. Being a single-parent for 20 yrs., with my children having an abusive and non-participating father - "I could write a book." And, then, as a single-parent, I started dating a man who started stalking me when I stopped dating him. Very fortunately, I met the man who would later become my current husband.

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 Chester 2/12/1886 NORTH STREET Willard McINTYRE was home over Sunday. Mrs. Charles BLACK has been for several days, and still is, quite sick with rheumatic fever. Mrs. HARRINGTON of Claremont, N. H., is spending a few days with her daughter, Mrs. R. D. GOWING. Mr. and Mrs. O. W. FLETCHER were called, Sunday, to attend the funeral of his nephew, Willie FLETCHER, at Springfield. Miss M. H. ADAMS has rented her house to Roamine HOLDEN, for the coming year; and the air is full of contemplated changes among our citizens. C. T. WHITMORE was in town, last Saturday, to attend the sitting of the probate court, in the interest of the will of the late Mrs. Maria R. SHERWIN. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 Chester 2/12/1886 SOUTH STREET Bert MORSE and Bert HALL went to Windsor, Wednesday. The sleighing is played out, and lumbermen are not happy. Oren HUBBARD wants to find the owner of a sum of money found by him. W. H. H. MURRAY will give his famous lecture, "John NORTON and how he ate his Christmas Dinner," next Wednesday evening. A crowded house attended the lecture at the Baptist church, Wednesday evening, by Hon. George Parsons GILMAN, and his description of the beauties and awful grandeur of the Swiss country was intently listened to for an hour and a half. The stereopticon views were very fine. The schools under Misses BOOMHOWER and BARTON closed last Friday afternoon. Miss BOOMHOWER will spend her vacation in town, and it will not be the fault of a large majority of the district if she doesn't teach our school another year. Both she and Miss BARTON have won many friends during their year's work among us, and the district will do no better to change teachers in either department. Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT

The Vermont Tribune, Ludlow, Friday, February 12, 1886 North Springfield 2/12/1886 L. D. HAYWOOD offers his farm for sale. Rev. D. P. PERKINS of Mendon preached at the advent church, last Sabbath. There was a donation at Rev. D. W. DAVIS', Tuesday, Feb. 9th. P. P. HAYWOOD and wife went to Boston, to attend the funeral of Mrs. HAYWOOD's mother, last week. Some of the large boys of this school became so unruly that the committee was recently called in, who at once expelled them from school. Herbert MILLER and Eugene LOCKWOOD, both workmen in the box-shop, had the misfortune to clip their fingers while at work with a circular saw, last week. Mrs. Sarah MOREY, who has been the asylum at Brattleboro for the past year and a half, arrived home, Tuesday last, in company with her daughter, Mrs. R. C. ALLEN Transcribed by Ruth Barton -- Ruth Barton [email protected] Dummerston, VT