Wide-Awakes for Abraham Lincoln!

My 3rd great-grandfather, Abiram Spencer (1812-1871) has been the subject of several of these posts. One area that I had not previously touched on was his involvement in politics. In the spring of 1860, Abiram was elected to serve on the Hartford City Council. (Left: Hartford Courant, April 9, 1860, p. 1)

Wherever the fight is hottest, there is their post of duty, and there the Wide Awakes are found.”

On March 5, 1860, presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln stopped in Hartford to give a speech denouncing the spread of slavery in the western territories and advocating for the right of workers to go on strikes. A handful of store clerks who had just organized a local pro-Republican political group attended the speech and volunteered to escort Lincoln back to his hotel room by torchlight, sparking the birth of a new political movement called the Wide Awakes. July 26: The “Wide Awakes” Rally for Abraham Lincoln in Hartford (Today in Ct. History)

It is amazing to think that Abiram Spencer was present at this speech by presidential candidate Abraham Lincoln. Perhaps as a Republican candidate for the City Council, he even had the honor to meet and shake the hand of the future president!

Later that same month (March 27), the Hartford Courant announced “A Grand Display of Torch-lights – The Hartford Wide-Awakes – Fireworks.” and listed Abiram Spencer as an appointed Marshal for the event. The featured speaker was former Ohio Governor and Senator Tom Corwin. After Lincoln was elected, he appointed Corwin as Minister to Mexico, a post that he held from 1861 to 1864.

What was the impact of the the Hartford Wide-Awakes and the Wide Awakes movement?

“It is clear, however, that the Wide Awakes fundamentally altered the tone of the campaign. They took a muddled political environment and turned it into one of the most excited elections in American history. Through marches, speeches, editorials, advertisements, cartoons, jokes, and brawls, the Wide Awakes triggered massive popular enthusiasm in the summer and fall of 1860.”Wide Awake In 1860 America: In Search of Young Men For Voting and Fighting .

Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.

Tragic Death of Mary Ellen (Courtney) Grace

My maternal great-grandmother, Mary Ellen (Courtney) Grace, was born in March 1863 in Meriden, Connecticut. She married William Grace in 1887 and had four children (Raymond Sr., Edward, Kittie and Joseph). Mary died on October 2, 1923, in Rockfall (South Farms), Connecticut, at the age of 60.

I recently discovered her cause of death. On the afternoon of October 2, 1923, the Hartford Courant reported that Mary was killed on the street directly in front of her home after being struck by a car after she had “alighted” from a trolley car.

Below are newspaper clippings covering her death and subsequent wrongful death suit filed by her son, Raymond. The case was later dismissed by the State’s Attorney.

Hartford Driver Fatal Injuries Middletown Woman
Sues for $10,000 for Woman’s Death
Has Case Continued
Hartford Man has Case Nolled

End Note: Raymond (1899-1962), my grandfather, suffered the loss of his father (William) when he was 17 in 1916, his brother James died in WWI in 1918 and then his mother in 1923. The deaths of his parents and older brother all before he was 25.

Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.

(246th Anniversary) The Shot Heard Round Buckman Tavern

The header for my blog features a painting by American academic realist painter Don Troiani and is titled “Lexington Common.” The painting captures the emotions of the local militia as they prepared to meet the British in Lexington, Massachusetts on the 19th of April 1775. (Mr. Troiani kindly gave me permission to feature his amazing work).

I choose the painting to honor my 5th great grandfathers Joseph Simonds and Joel Viles, two of the seventy-seven men of Captain John Parker’s Company of Lexington Militia who stood bravely before the vanguard of 800 advancing British regulars.

As the British advance guard assembled on the Lexington Common, Captain Parker, vastly outnumbered, ordered his company to disperse. A shot was fired (historians debate who fired the shot) and the British then fired several quick volleys killing 8 and injuring 10 militia. This brief skirmish is regarded as the first exchange of gunfire in the Revolutionary War.

Battle of Lexington by Hammatt Billings
Boston: Smith & Knight, 1861, Scottish Rite Masonic Museum, Lexington, MA

Buckman Tavern – In this later print of the Battle of Lexington (above), Buckman’s Tavern can be seen in the background (left-middle) on the edge of Lexington Green. The initial construction of the tavern was started between 1709-13 by my 7th great-grandparents John Muzzy and wife Elizabeth Bradshaw on land conveyed to him by his father Benjamin. Following is a brief history of Buckman Tavern, which is still standing and a furnished historic site with audio tour and exhibit space managed by the Lexington Historical Society.

The Buckman Tavern is most renowned for its role in the events of April 19, 1775. However, the site is important in other ways. It has been a notable presence in Lexington since it became a tavern in 1713, shortly after it was built. As a “Public House of Entertainment,” the Tavern was faithfully tended by John Muzzy from 1713 to about 1755, *Samuel Stone from 1764 or earlier to 1768, John Buckman from 1768 to 1784, **Joseph Simonds from 1784 to 1794, and Rufus Meriam from 1794 to about 1815 when the building ceased to be used as a tavern. (Source: Historic Structure Report – Buckman Tavern, Lexington Historical Society)

*Samuel Stone, my 6th great-grandfather, married to Jane Muzzy, the daughter of John.

**Joseph Simonds, my 5th great grandfather who fought in the Battle of Lexington, married to Elizabeth Stone, the daughter of Jane and Samuel Stone.

Side Note: After Samuel Stones death, his wife Jane sold the tavern to John Buckman (hence Buckman Tavern) who was the husband of Ruth Stone (who I am guessing was her sister-in-law?)

Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.

A Look Back

When I started this family history blog, my stated goal was “to tell short stories to open a window on the history of the United States and Canada through the migration of these families.” To date, stories have explored the lives of those who fought in the Pequot War, King Phillip’s War, Revolutionary War, Spanish-American War and Civil War. Tales of those who were the founders of New Amsterdam, Hartford and New Hampshire to those who delivered babies in Nova Scotia or donated lands that became known as Harvard Yard.

Below are a few select stories were the research led to wonderful discoveries. The first section feature short stories and the second section on longer posts that required deeper research.

Short Posts

Dear John from Oliver Cromwell (A letter from 1651)

Memorial Day 2019 – Thanks Pop (A beautiful photograph)

Death-Capture-Ransom (Kidnapped in Maine and held captive in Quebec)

A Hooker Moves William Kelsey (Hartford Founder 1632)

New England Gravestones

Longer Posts

Pvt. George B. French – WW1 (One-in-a-million find in a library in England)

Into the Breach-Promises, Promises (My great grandmother was the talk of Boston)

Walter’s in the House (A single thread that led to the U.S. House of Representatives and a man named Walter)

Anything, Anytime, Anywhere, Bar Nothing (AAA-O) (A great uncle dies in WWI)

Jesse de Forest (A life full of adventure and a quest for religious and economic freedom.)

A great joy is being able to help others develop their family genealogical history and uncover interesting personal stories. Such was the case with my wife’s Irish, Czech and German roots with great stories (with even better titles!) about Czechs and Yeggs and A Sinner, a Hamburger and a Tsarina.

Comments, corrections and and suggestions appreciated.