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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
About Towne Volume XXXIII, No. 4 October-November-December
2013
In This Issue
Cover Story. . . . . . . . .2013 Reunion
88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .New Members
89 . . . . . . . . . . . . . President’s Letter
90 . . . . . . . . . . 2014 Reunion Notice
91 . . . . . . . . . . . . .Historian’s Corner
92 . . . . . . . . . . Genealogist’s Corner
95 . . . . . . . . . TFA Gifts Towne Book
97 . . . . . . . . . . Thanks from England
100 . . . . . . . . . . . .Collecting Spoons
101 . . . . .Joseph Towne Connection
106 . . . . . . . . . A Man About Towne
107 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Obituaries
109 . . . . . . . . . .TFA Annual Minutes
We could not have picked a better time of the year for our 33rd
annual TFA reunion in South Carolina. The weather was sunny and
mild, with low humidity and no rain -- perfect for exploring the
area. Over the course of three days, we became immersed in the
world of Laura Matilda Towne, who spent her life helping the newly
freed slaves abandoned by the plantation owners when the Union
troops captured Beaufort early in the Civil War. Through a variety
of presen-tations and activities, we learned about Laura Towne as
she became acclimated to the remnants of antebellum Beaufort, and
worked to better the lives of the Gullah-Geechee people whose
culture endures today in part due to the efforts she made.
Friday afternoon started out casually. After registering in the
hospital-ity room, many people found their way to the meeting room
on the first floor where they spent time getting acquainted and
renewing past friendships. Since a large percentage of the group
had also been on the England trip a year ago, there was a great
deal of reminiscing. Others, after a quick stop to say hello, made
their way out into Beau-fort where they took in the sights and
visited the numerous little shops in the old section of town.
Saturday morning, we loaded the bus at 7:45 to begin our Gullah
tour. Our tour guide, Evelene Stephenson, of The Spirit of Old
Beaufort Tours, kept us entertained throughout the ride with
stories about "ante-bellum" Beaufort, teaching us how to properly
speak "Southern." We visited an old slave burial ground where she
de-scribed many of the superstitions and practices that were
followed. Continued on page 93
Learning About Laura: 33rd Towne Family Reunion in Beaufort and
St. Helena Island, South Carolina
By Elizabeth Hanahan and Marilyn Towne Roy
If you missed the TFA Beaufort, SC Reunion in 2013, you missed a
great time! Plan to come to the 2014 reunion in Topsfield,
Massachusetts — see and learn about your roots, meet friendly
relatives and have a great time! See page 91 for details!
The Towne Family enjoying the evening at the Dockside in
Beaufort, SC
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
88
TOWNE FAMILY ASSOCIATION, INC.
Executive Office 3700 14th Ave SE Unit 43, Olympia, WA 98501
(360) 539-7768 [email protected]
For all new member applications, membership renewals & fees,
other membership questions
TFA Website: http://www.TowneFolk.com You can join or renew
online
and read the latest membership news
President and Historian: Virginia Towne 3700 14th Ave SE Unit
43, Olympia, WA 98501 (360) 539-7768 [email protected]
Executive Secretary: William Towne 506 Caswell Rd. Chapel Hill,
NC 27514-2704 (919) 929-2749 [email protected]
Vice-President: Karen Johnsen 3842 La Dona Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
94306-3152 E-mail: [email protected]
VP Publications: Ann Hager-Koshar 1056 Windermere Dr.,
Willoughby, OH 44094-7140 E-mail: [email protected] For
newsletter address changes
Genealogist: Gail P. Garda E-mail: [email protected] For
genealogical data & questions
Treasurer: Catherine Troeger Kauffman 5201 E. Mountain View Rd.,
Paradise Valley, AZ 85353-1627 E-mail: [email protected]
Recording Secretary, Parliamentarian and Sunshine Ambassador:
Barry Cass E-mail: [email protected] 20 Springfield Rd., Somers, CT
06071
Newsletter Editor: Rae Russell Johnson 57 Evergreen Drive,
Salem, WVA 26426 E-mail for newsletter submissions:
[email protected]
Newsletter Indexer: Ann Tuohy
About Towne is the official voice of the all-volunteer Towne
Family Association, incorporated in Delaware in 1989 and com-prised
of descendants of William and Joanna Blessing Towne and those
interested in their family’s history. William and Joanna emigrated
with their family from Great Yarmouth, England, to Salem, MA, about
1635. In 1692, two of their daughters—Rebecca Towne Nurse and Mary
Towne Estey—were hanged as witches during the Salem witchcraft
hysteria. A third daugh-ter—Sarah Towne Cloyse—was jailed for
witchcraft but escaped execution.
Unless otherwise specified by the source person or copyright
holder, all submissions become the property of the association for
purposes of publication and inclusion in historical files.
Published quarterly: March, June, September and December.
About Towne © 2013, Towne Family Association, Inc.
New Members! Judy A. Chisholm Winchester, MA Jacob
Patricia Kelly Chubb Aubrun, WA Mary
Gail Ann Pugh Cassadaga, NY Edmund & Jacob
Judith Towne & Jerry Gollihar Kennewick, WA Jacob
Marilyn Lum Mildrum Cave Creek, AZ Rebecca
Gary Neuhardt Arlington Heights, IL
Eileen E. Newman West Roxbury, MA Edmund
Eileen O’Grady Aascadero, CA Sarah
Virginia Rambow Nashua, NH Rebecca
Lucia Cauthen Richardson Ocala, FL Mary Barbara Templin
Charlotte, MI Edmund
Susan & Dan Thomasson Vero Beach, FL Jacob Richard Louis
Towne Kennewick, WA Jacob
Donald, Patricia, & Sharron Towns Zionsville, IN Joseph
Carl & Terry Wilson Gilbert, SC Edmund
Please note that many of the Officers and emails have changed.
The new email for submissions to the newsletter is now
[email protected]. — RRJ
Note from Gail Garda: “Regrettably, I realized early on that the
Exec. Secy. position requires a lot more time than I have
avail-able, so I’ve decided to just continue in my role as
genealogist.”
mailto:[email protected]
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
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President’s Letter
I am looking forward to being president of TFA for the next two
years. It is an
honor and a privilege to be able to serve all of you in this
position. As the leader
of a whole new slate of officers, I hope you will indulge all of
us as we become ac-
quainted with our new duties.
We were very fortunate as Elizabeth Hanahan in one of her last
acts as president reached out to make our
transition better than some of the previous handovers have been.
She has asked each of the outgoing offic-
ers to write up a list of their duties and how to perform them,
then send a copy to her to be posted on the
website. After this is completed, all members will be able to
access this information and see what the offic-
ers’ duties really entail. She also called a second board
meeting at the reunion for all the new officers so that
they could become acquainted and discuss the handover.
We owe much to Elizabeth in her time as president. She has done
much to make the organization successful.
Her hard work and dedication has paid off in a wonderful annual
reunion in South Carolina where we were
able to indulge in the local history and culture.
Several items were handled at the meeting; a couple of things
that you need to be aware of concern the
dues. First, dues are to be sent to Will Towne, the new
Executive Secretary. Dues need to be paid in De-
cember or January, as we have shortened the grace period for
dues from six months to only three months.
This is to limit the cost of sending out a second newsletter to
those who do not renew.
Another item you need to be aware of is that we will be
increasing our push to distribute the color edition of
the newsletter electronically. You will need to mark the space
on your dues application if you want to con-
tinue to receive the black and white edition of the newsletter
in the mail. Please read and fill out the dues
form carefully so that we will know how you want to receive your
newsletter.
I drove to the meeting this year and spent time on the way
looking at the wonders of the country where
most of our members live. I was able to have lunch with the
outgoing treasurer in Phoenix, and then while
passing through Texas, I stopped and had coffee with a man I had
taken camping and bodysurfing when he
was a boy. I stayed two nights with an old college friend in
Georgia. In between those visits I saw Bryce Can-
yon, Zion National Park and the north rim of the Grand Canyon. I
drove down the canyon and crossed the
Colorado River at the Navajo Bridge. I think the high point of
my trip was Jamestown, VA, as I was able to see
the archeology exhibit there. It is exciting to see how the
first English settlers in the new world had lived,
some of them even survived! A short drive away was Yorktown and
Williamsburg.
Visiting Valley Forge gave me a greater appreciation for the
work of Washington, and a visit to Harper’s
Ferry explained much that I had heard. I would encourage all of
us to explore the history around us; it gives
us a better understanding of our ancestors and the lives they
lived.
Virginia Towne
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
91
Historian’s Corner
Uneasy Times
By Virginia Towne
One of the things that I have been trying to get to in this
series of articles is the vast uneasiness of the times William and
Joanna lived. Imagine raising children in a new colony after being
more or less driven from
their home in England by religious tensions that could have seen
them imprisoned. After seeing others im-
prisoned or fined for lack of religious conformity, they packed
up their family and sailed, at great expense, to
a land with no history and rumors of Indian attacks and deaths
from starvation but with a promise of the
“correct” religious conformity.
It is true that the threat of being ill housed through the
winter with little to eat was largely dissipated by the
time the Towne family arrived in the new world. However, other
threats took the place of the privation
suffered by the first arrivals. Indian attacks, wild animals,
pirates, and a whole host of unknown threats sur-
rounded them. How would they live and find things to eat in the
new colony?
Acceptance probably never entered their minds in England, after
all they were reformers like everyone else,
but once in New England it became more of a problem. In New
England one must be correct in the right way
or not be allowed to join the church. Others were forced out of
the colony for being out of conformity with
the strongest theologians’ beliefs.
By the mid-1630s, people were moving quickly to other areas from
the Plymouth and Boston Bay Colonies
into outlying areas. The Dutch and the Separatists in Plymouth
both had land deeds from the Pequot peo-
ples in Connecticut giving them the rights to the same land. The
English and Dutch were for the most part
friendly, but centuries of competition in the wool business had
not eased all the differences. The Dutch were
also in New Amsterdam, close to the disputed land.
Land ownership was not understood in the same way by the people
of the old and new worlds. Among the
Native Americans, a land deed might be given with the
understanding that the person receiving it would be
the one using it, but that he would share the usage like Native
Americans did. Land among the Native Ameri-
cans was held communally with certain families given areas to
farm, hunt or gather food for their whole fam-
ily or group. Alternatively, the whole tribe might use the area
together, everyone working together.
The whites took the land and built a house and barn and cleared
fields as big as they could work. Soon num-
bers of people were taking up large sections of land. Then trees
were cut down, the wild animals chased
away and the native plants removed so the farmers could grow
things like peas and grains. This left the Na-
tive Americans pushed aside out of their normal areas. Add to
that competition for game animals and furs or
someone slighting someone else during a trade, and the
relationship between colonial and native tended to
break down.
By the time the Townes landed, competition was on to fill up the
disputed land in Connecticut. With the
Dutch and English competing for the same land, people could
become quite irritated. Add to that the native
people who were being forced off the best land and the area
became ripe for serious problems.
As a result of the land rush into Connecticut, in 1637 the
Pequot War started. John Oldham was the first cas-
ualty, killed in 1636 by allies of the Pequot. This started
raids followed by retaliatory raids, finally leaving 300
Native Americans and 30 English dead. Although the Massachusetts
and Plymouth Colonies were not direct-
ly involved, there were friends rushing off to settle into the
new colony and news was certainly coming back
to the settlers in Massachusetts as fast as the boats or horses
could bring it. Continued on bottom of page 92
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
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GENEALOGIST'S CORNER
Voices from The Old Burying Ground...Do you dare to be led
amongst the tombstones, summon-ing the ghosts of Framingham’s
past
to tell their legendary tales? By
Gail Garda
It was Saturday, October 26th, a sunny and chilly Fall day in
Framingham, MA. TFA members and friends, Eliza-
beth Hanahan, Noreen Farrar, Gail Garda, Kristin Litzen-
berg (my granddaughter), Jean and Arthur Towne, took a
stroll back in time, listening to the "Voices from The Old
Burying
Ground"...one of the voices was our dearly departed ancestor,
Sarah
(Towne) Bridges-Clayes. Portraying Sarah, was Janice Thompson
(a
good friend of TFA and organizer of the Peter Clayes House
Preser-
vation Project). Local historians have speculated that the
oldest
stone in this graveyard is that of Salem refugee, Sarah Clayes,
who
died on September 25, 1704, the date marked on the stone.
The
Production was arranged by the Framingham History Center and
the
Plymouth Church, with 18 cast members, all dressed in period
cos-
tumes, portraying lo-
cal historical figures,
whose final resting
place was in the Old Burying Ground. Our tour guide, was
Kev-
in A. Swope, a historian and genealogist at the Framingham
Historical Society and Museum. A good time was had by all
and the friendly spirits welcomed us with open arms, in
hopes
that someday we would visit them again! Lots of photos were
taken, which we will share in another newsletter. Janice
Thompson, "Sarah", has also tentatively agreed to visit with
us
and tell her story at our 2014 annual reunion being held in
Topsfield, Massachusetts.∞
Sarah Towne Bridges-Clayes’ tombstone
Kevin A. Swope and Janice Thompson (Sarah)
Note: To get updates on the Sarah and Peter Clayes house
project, go to www.sarahclayeshouse.org. — Gail Garda
Uneasy Times — Continued from page 91
Problems between the Native Americans and European settlers were
not infrequent. In the 1620s, Miles
Standish led two early raids from Plymouth against its
neighbors. Problems in the Virginia Colony would also
been reported to the New England colonies. A major massacre of
English settlers in Virginia happened in
1622 following other such incidents and was widely known among
everyone in the colonies. It was uneasy
times for the colonists. ∞
First Row (L to R) Kristin Litzenberg, Jean and Arthur
Towne;
2nd Row (L to R) Elizabeth Hanahan, Janice Thompson, Gail
Garda: 3rd Row: Noreen Farrar
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
93
Reunion — Continued from cover page
To highlight this, she had us walk backwards out of the gate so
that a spirit would not ride along on our backs! We stopped at a
praise house, where we all squeezed into a small building which had
actually been used for Sunday worship by the slaves. There, Evelene
had us clapping and sing-ing along as she described the history of
the praise houses and Laura Towne's reaction to her first visit to
one.
The highlight of the tour was a visit to Frogmore
Plantation/Manor on St. Helena Island, the home of Laura when she
lived in Beaufort. This planta-tion is still a private home. It is
not open for public tours, but when the owners, Bill and Car-oline
Hatcher, learned we were going to be in the area, they invited us
to visit. The house has been in Caroline
Hatcher's family since they bought it directly from Laura, so
this was a wonderful opportunity for us. The Hatchers were
wonder-ful hosts, allowing us to roam freely throughout the house
and grounds, and answering all of our questions. It was easy to
pic-ture Laura sitting on the large porch gazing over the marsh,
and many of us could have happily stayed there indefinitely!
Shortly after 11am, the bus dropped us off at Penn Center, where
Victoria A. Smalls, Director of History and Culture, greeted us and
gave a presentation on the history of Penn Center which had been
started as Penn School by Laura Towne and Ellen Murray. We
presented her with a four volume bound set of thirty-two years of
About Towne, as well as a genealogy of Laura Towne which was
compiled by Gail Garda. We were then free to explore the museum and
grounds before returning to Frissell Hall for a delightful light
lunch prepared by Penn Center.
Our afternoon activities began with a brief presentation by
Reverend Nan White of the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of
Beaufort, who de-scribed how Laura's Unitarian background had
influenced her decision to leave Philadelphia to come to St. Helena
Island, and how Laura has now become a nationally respected
humanitarian role model for the Unitari-ans. Karen Johnsen then
gave a slide presentation of highlights of our trip to England
followed by Paul Towne who gave an update on new discover-ies in
our DNA project and described the directions which this research
will be taking. He encouraged as many people as possible to get
involved since the larger the pool of samples we have, the more
detailed the analy-sis can be. The afternoon ended with a
performance by Aunt Pearlie Sue (Anita Singleton) whose nationally
known talents were in full evidence as she taught us about the
Gullah culture through participatory songs and role plays.
After returning to the hotel, we gathered at 6:30 for our social
hour and banquet. Evelene returned in anoth-er period dress to
provide more entertainment after dinner. This time she focused more
on antebellum sto-ries and songs, then taught some of the ladies
traditional "fan language." By the end of the evening, she had us
up dancing traditional dances such as the Patty-cake Polka. Our
very long day ended with our raffle. Continued on page 96
Frogmore Manor
Evelene
Aunt Pearlie Sue
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
94
TFA Banquet at the Hilton Garden Inn in Beaufort, SC October 12,
2013
(L to R) Barry Cass, Ann Koshar, Susan Gould, Her-bert Gould ,
Linda Towne, Paul Towne, Marilyn Towne Roy.
(L to R) Judy Towne Jennings, Jean Towne, Arthur Towne, Judith
Towne Magnussen, Mark Magnus-sen, Susan Towne Thomasson, Dan
Thomasson.
(L to R) Carol Towne Seaton, Terri Lambing, Trudie Hovarter,
Barbara Cole, Angel Moran, Dianne Mo-ran, Lynn Bolte, David
Bolte
(L to R) Evelene Stevenson, Susan Yatsinko, Virginia Towne,
Natalie Wilson
(L to R) Noreen Farrar, Karen Johnsen, Stan Johnsen, Virginia
Peterson, Charles Peterson, Robert Hana-han, Elizabeth Hanahan,
Gail Garda
(L to R) Evelyn Hancock, Lewis Hancock, Thomas Johnson, Rae
Russell Johnson, William Towne, Jessica Towne
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
95
Towne Family Association Gifts New Towne Family Book to Salem
Public Library by John Goff For Salem Gazette 4-19-13
Mrs. Elizabeth Hanahan (left) stands with Mrs. Lois Payne
Hoo-ver (right) who holds awards received for her new book (photo
courtesy Katie Rose Joyner of Rocklin, CA)
Recently, I learned a fascinating bit of news. The Towne Family
Association (TFA) gifted an award-winning book to
our Salem Public Library---a very unique and special book.
The new volume is a Towne family history reference with
ties to and illuminations of earliest Salem. Commonly called
“The Towne Book,” it was compiled and edited by Mrs. Lois
Payne Hoover, a resident of California.
Hoover once resided in our Boston North Shore area. She
explained: “I was born and raised in Ohio. Before I knew
anything of my ancestry, my late husband Robert
Hoover and I lived in Manchester-By-The-Sea and Lynnfield from
1960 to 1964. Bob flew for American Air-
lines out of Logan Airport during that time, and our son was
born in Beverly Hospital. I had no idea I was
walking where my ancestors had walked in the 1600s.”
As she commenced working on her family’s own genealogy, Hoover’s
interests in historic research intensi-
fied, and she discovered she had early roots in Salem and Essex
County. Mrs. Hoover is a direct descendant,
through their youngest daughter Sarah, of William and Joanna
Towne who first settled in Salem in the 1630's.
The heroine of the 1986 movie “Three Sovereigns for Sarah,”
Sarah Towne was a sister to Rebecca Towne
Nurse (Nourse) and Mary Towne Esty (Easty) who were tragically
hanged as witches here in Salem in 1692.
Over the long course of her life, Sarah had two husbands and
raised many children. Lois explained: “I de-
scend from Sarah's first marriage to Edmund Bridges. She was
married second to Peter Clayse and was re-
ferred to as Goody Clayse (a shortened form of title for
“Goodwife Clayse”).”
Mrs. Hoover began to meet other Towne cousins and kin through
the Towne Family Association. She ex-
plained: “I served as Executive Secretary of TFA at one time and
was the head genealogist from Sept. 2001 to
Oct. 2007. Acquainted with and loving the North Shore, I
volunteered to chair the 2007 TFA annual reunion
and received wonderful help from members who lived locally.”
The culmination of many years of research on Hoover’s part, the
Towne book is a valuable resource for any-
one interested in early Towne family history in this country.
Carrying a full title of Towne Family: William
Towne and Joanna Blessing, Salem, Massachusetts, 1635: Five
Generations of Descendants, it is a weighty
and impressive volume-- over 500 pages long!
Soon after Hoover’s new book was published in 2010, Lois was
awarded two prestigious prizes for its produc-
tion: the 2011 Award for Excellence at the National Genealogical
Society Conference in Charleston, SC, and
Grand Prize Winner of the 2011 Literary Awards Contest in
Genealogy by The Connecticut Society of Geneal-
ogists, Inc.
Elizabeth Hanahan, President of the Towne Family Association,
explained what the TFA is, and why the TFA
chose now to make this special gift: Continued on next page
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
96
Towne Book Gift—Continued from previous page
“The Towne Family Association is a global association of
individuals and families who have interest and kin-
ship with the English Townes who first settled Salem beginning
circa 1635. Related families live all across the
continental United States as well as in Canada, Australia and
the United Kingdom. Periodically we hold TFA
annual reunions in Massachusetts, and in 2014, we plan to hold
our annual reunion in Topsfield, MA where
many Townes resided after gaining first American footholds in
Salem. We are pleased to be gifting one of
Mrs. Lois Payne Hoover’s exceptional books to the Salem Public
Library, because Mrs. Hoover has provided
superb service to many generations of Townes, and the family
maintains strong and unique ties to this
place.”
Nancy Tracy, Director of the Salem Public Library, expressed
pleasure regarding the gift:
“The…TOWNE FAMILY IN AMERICA…will be a welcome addition to our
special "Salem Collection" dedicated
to the people, places and events of Salem. Thank you so much for
thinking of us with this generous gift. It will
be a wonderful resource for our staff and patrons!”
For more on the TFA, see this 2011 column co-authored by Goff
and Hanahan:
http://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/newsnow/x1852609612/COLUMN-Salem-s-Townes-and-the-Towne-
Family-Association
For more on Sarah Towne Bridges Cloyse / Cloyce / Clayse /
Clayes and her life and endangered 1693 Fram-
ingham house, see
http://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/news/lifestyle/columnists/x933294824/John-Goff-A-
blessing-for-the-Townes
For a family that was once treated so poorly by Salem’s leaders
in the 1690’s, it is indeed wonderful for the
Townes to now be gifting such an exceptional new history of
their family’s lives and early struggles---to the
present and future generations of Salemites.
Thanks in abundance to all the Townes! ∞
Editor’s note: This was reprinted with the permission of John
Goff. There are still a few of Lois Hoover’s
books left — fewer than twenty! If you are interested in
purchasing a book, either for yourself, a Christ-
mas gift, or to donate to a library, please contact Lois Hoover
at [email protected]
*******************************************************************
Reunion — Continued from cover page
Sunday was a free day until the annual meeting at 2:00. After
the meeting we went to Dockside, a popular seafood res-taurant,
where we took our group photos and then shared a last group meal
togeth-er as the sun very cooperatively set over the water behind
us.
We had been hoping to have a reunion in Beaufort for many years,
and have thor-oughly enjoyed planning this one. We have enjoyed
sharing this special place with those who attended and hope that
those of you who were unable to come this time will make a visit
here in the fu-ture.∞ Sunset view from the Dockside
http://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/newsnow/x1852609612/COLUMN-Salem-s-Townes-and-the-Towne-Family-Associationhttp://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/newsnow/x1852609612/COLUMN-Salem-s-Townes-and-the-Towne-Family-Associationhttp://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/news/lifestyle/columnists/x933294824/John-Goff-A-blessing-for-the-Towneshttp://www.wickedlocal.com/salem/news/lifestyle/columnists/x933294824/John-Goff-A-blessing-for-the-Townes
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
97
Thank You from St. Peter’s Church, Freston in Suffolk, UK By
Karen Johnsen
1. Jeffrey Estey of Hintlesham had a son
named Christopher who married in
Freston.
2. Christopher Eastie married An Arnold on 5
May 1586 at St. Peter’s Church in Freston.
(Note that May 5th is correct, not May 1st)
Christopher Eastie died 7 Nov 1621 in
Freston. Will dated 7 Nov 1621 and proved
by his widow Ann at Ipswich England, 20
Feb 1620/21. New York Genealogical Bio-
graphical Society Record Vol. 49 page 90-91.
3. An Arnold was baptized on 30 April 1564 at St. Peter’s Church
in Freston. She was the daughter of
George Arnold and his wife Grace. George and Grace married at
Stonham Aspall Church 13 May
1563. Grace was the daughter of John Felgate of Stonham Aspall
according to the Marriage entry,
and this is confirmed by the Will of John Felgate made in 1566.
Unfortunately the Parish Register
does not start early enough to give her Baptism. The same also
goes for George Arnold at Freston.
The Arnold family was established at Freston for at least two
generations before George, for we have the Wills of both Roger
Arnold his father (1553) and Thomas Arnold his grandfather (1544),
as well as his grand-
mother Avyse (1545). There are even earlier Arnolds in the
area.
Christopher Eastie and Ann Arnold had several children: Jeffery
b. 1586-87, Ann b. 1589, Edmond b. 1591,
Christopher b. 1592, George B. 1594, Edmond b. 1597 and Thomas
b. 1605. Thomas died in 1624. Our Estey
line follows their son Jeffery Eastie.
Jeffery Estie and Mary Salmon married on the 1 Sept 1624 in the
Parish of Old Newton. Jeffery called his first
child Mary as we know, and this fits nicely with the name of his
wife. They moved to Freston prior to their
children being born. It is believed that Jeffrey Estey was born
about 1586-87 in Freston or Hintlesham. Other
spellings of Estey include Esty, Este, Estye, Eastey and
Eastwick. He died 4 Jan 1658 in Huntington, Suffolk,
New York, USA. Continued on next page
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
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Thank you —Continued from previous page
There is a will from Jeffrey Estey that names his son Isaac
Estey and daughter Catherine.
The children of Jeffrey and Mary Estie are Isaac, Catherine and
Mary.
1. Isaac Eastie was baptized at St. Peter’s Church in Freston.
The parish records record the baptism:
”1627 Nov. 17, Isaac, son of Jeffery Eastie baptized." He was
only a young boy when his family arrived
in New England.
2. Catherine was baptized in Freston about 1629.
3. Mary Eastie was baptized 16 Feb. 1625 in Freston.
Our line follows Isaac Eastie the son of Jeffrey and Mary Estey.
The following comes from the “About Towne
Newsletter” Vol. XXV No. 1 March 2005 Page 4: "The Esty family
ranks among the first families of New Eng-
land. Jeffrey Esty was granted twenty acres of land in Salem,
Essex Co., Massachusetts, in 1636. His son,
Isaac, baptized on 17 Nov. 1627 at St. Peter's Church at
Freston, England, was only a young boy when his fam-
ily arrived in New England. The baptism record reads: 1627 Nov.
17, Isaac, son of Jeffery Eastie baptized."
From the book: "Isaac Esty of Topsfield and some of his
Descendants" by Gay Esty Bangs, Historical Collec-tion of the Essex
Institute, Vol 36 page 1: “Isaac Esty, the son of Jeffrey, was born
probably, in England, previ-
ous to the year 1630, and was quite young at the time of his
father's settlement in Salem. He was a cooper by
trade, and the following is the first reference to him that we
have: "2-5-1653, Job Hilliard of Salem, fisher-
man, hath sold to Isake Esty of Salem, cooper, one house and
land adjoining, being nearly half an acre for 20
li. to be paid as follows..."
Isaac married Mary Towne about 1655 most likely in Topsfield and
he died in Topsfield, Essex, Massachusetts
before 11 June 1712 when his will was probated. ∞
**********************************************************
More pictures of the reunion — Everyone enjoying the Praise
House
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
99
Family Groups At the Dockside —
←Jacob Line: Front Row (L to R) Susan
Gould, Elizabeth Hanahan, Terri Lamb-
ing, Judy Magnussen; Second Row (L to
R) Herbert Gould, Virginia Towne, Jessi-
ca Towne, William Towne, Bob Hana-
han, Carol Seaton. Third Row (L to R)
Dianne Moran, Susan Thomasson;
Fourth Row (L to R) Mark Magnussen,
Dan Thomasson.
Edmund Line: ←
Karen Johnsen, Barry Cass, Barbara Cole, Trudie Hovarter,
Virginia Perterson, Arthur Towne
←Joseph Line: First Row (L to R) Barry Cass, Karen John-
sen, Barbara Cole, Trudie Hovarter, Marilyn Roy, Linda
Towne; Second Row (L to R) Lynn Bolte, Paul Towne.
Mary Line: Front Row (L to R) Terri Lambing, Elizabeth
Hanahan, Karen Johnsen; Second Row (L to R) Rae
Johnson, Bob Hanahan.
Rebecca Line: (L to R) Virginia Hancock, Rae Johnson
-
ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
100
Collecting Commemorative Spoons By: Emma Towne Mosher
“In The Beginning”
In 1964 my husband Carroll and I purchased land in Plainfield,
N.H. where we built the house I still reside in. While clearing the
land, we discovered an area where someone over the years had thrown
unwanted household trash – most no longer of any use, but one day I
uncovered an infant’s silver spoon. After a lot of polishing and
finding no significant markings, I stored it in my jewelry box with
a few other treasures.
Many years later, we motored across the United States to
California to visit our oldest daughter, Gladys. Be-cause I
couldn’t collect anything of size for lack of space in our vehicle,
I opted to start collecting state souve-nir spoons, eventually
buying a cabinet to display them. Over the years as we vacationed
in many different places my collection grew.
In 1982 at the Towne Family Association meeting in Amesbury, MA,
hosted by then President Deena Towne, I was presented with a silver
spoon lapel pin which I added to my growing collection. That same
year to help the project along, my daughter, Gladys, placed an
article in About Towne letting members know they could help my
“collection” by gifting me spoons from their home state. The spoons
kept coming – necessitating a bigger cabinet and a list of what
state spoons were missing. During one of our winters in Florida,
our grand-daughter, Karen, drove from California to visit and along
the way filled in many of the missing links.
I now have nearly every state! The cabinet has a permanent home
in my dining room, a reminder of the many people who have
contributed to my collection.
This past summer while researching some silver pieces for an
estate sale, my daughter, Linda, found an amazing story regarding
the first commemorative spoons minted in the United States.
Collecting com-memorative spoons originated in Europe, coming to
the United States in the early 1800’s after wealthy Americans
bought them as souvenirs of the landmarks they had visited. Well
traveled silversmiths had found a niche and in 1889, M.W. Galt
& Bro.& Co. of Washington, D.C. pro-duced the first spoon
featuring a profile of George Washington marking the 100th
anniversary of his presidency, followed shortly by “The Mar-tha
Washington” spoon.
The obsession with collecting these spoons started a year or so
lat-er. Seth F. Low (son of Daniel Low) had visited Germany and
after see-ing the unusual spoons, he returned and designed the
“Salem Witch Spoon” for his father’s company and was manufactured
by William B. Durgin Co. Soon the Daniel Low Co. began advertising
the spoon with full page ads in papers all across the United
States. It became so popu-lar that 15 other pieces of flatware were
added. At some point a sec-ond design was produced making two
designs to choose from, Pattern 1 or 2. Both are a collector’s
dream. By the early 1900’s silversmith com-panies had started
producing spoons for all occasions and the craze of “collecting”
continues today. ∞
Emma’s descent: William, Edmund, Joseph, Nathan, Aaron Town,
James, Elmer, Emma Rose Towne Shepard Mosher
The vertical spoon has a witch on top, “1692” in the
middle, and a black cat wrapped around the
bottom of handle. The other spoon has “Salem”
written on the handle. Both spoons are part of
Wayne Bednersh’s virtual museum collection.
Editor’s Note: Permission was granted by Mr. Wayne Bednersh to
use any of his written material and photographs in this article.
Check out his virtual muse-
um on his website spoonplanet.com if you are interested in
seeing more collectible spoons. There are two websites that you can
click on, to see only the Salem
Spoons, click on the “ In the Beginning — The Salem Witch
spoon.”
— Emma’s spoon collection was mentioned in the tribute that Jean
Towne wrote about in her tribute to Emma in the September issue of
About Towne.—RRJ
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
101
The Joseph Towne Connection: the Deacon, Gould and Perkins
Families
The Deacon Family of Hertfordshire Conclusion
By Charles Farrow, Consulting Genealogist, Towne Family
Association
Following the death of Thomas Deacon, it would seem that his
eldest surviving son Elisha carried on the Tan-
ning business unperturbed by the problems surrounding his
father’s personal estate, and the seeming
shortfall of cash. How the creditors got on is a mystery, and
one in which it would seem Elisha was not con-
cerned.
Since Elisha Deacon was Phebe Deacon’s younger brother, and the
one who carried on the business, it is in-
teresting to spend a few moments looking at him. He had two
wives, both named Mary, but his first mar-
riage took place outside Hemel Hempstead since there is no
record of it there. Indeed, we only know of his
first wife from her Burial at St Mary’s Church on 24th August
1631. He wasted no time, and married Mary
Hull at St Mary’s Church in Hemel Hempstead on 20th November
1632. They had a large family of at least 13
children, of whom 10 survived, but only two were baptised:-
29th February 1639 [1640 New Style] Phebye daughter of Elisha
& Marie Deacon
28th June 1650 Ann daughter of Elisha Deacon
In the Burials is the sad record of 3 unbaptised infants born
and died the same day:-
17th July 1633 Borne & Buried the daugh[ter] of Elisha
Deacon
24th March 1634 [1635 New Style] Borne & buried Two sonnes
of Elisha Deacon [Hertfordshire Archives &
Local Studies (hereafter HALS): D/P/47/1/1]
Elisha died in 1658 and was buried at St Mary’s Church on 23rd
October 1658 as Captain Elisha Deacon [HALS:
D/P/47/1/2]. He must have been involved in the Civil War to have
acquired the title Captain, although noth-
ing is known about his service. Probably it was only local
Militia. It is instructive to look at his Will and Inven-
tory, to compare with that of his father Thomas, and get an
indication of how successful he had been. The
Will was proved in Huntingdon Archdeaconry Court Hitchin
Division [HALS: 32 HW 110]:-
“In the name of God &c The Sixteenth day of October in the
yeare of our Lord God one Thousand and Six hundred Fiftie and
Eight I Elisha Deacon of the parish of Hemel hemsted in the
Countie of Hertf[ord] Tanner beinge mindfull of my mortalitie
and
desirous in all Christian duties to prepaire my selfe for the
expectation of death doe make and declare this to be my last will
and
Testament in manner and forme Followinge utterly revokeinge and
desanullinge all former willes by me made.
I doe most humbly Comend and Comitt my Soule into the handes of
Almightie God my maker and Creatore by whose mercie
Through the mirrittes and precious bloud shedinge of his only
and dearely beloved Sonn Jesus Christ my only Saviour and re-
deemer I hope Assuredly for pardon and remission of all my sinns
and [sic] everlasting life and that he will receive my soule
into
his glory and place it in the Company of his holy and electe
Angelles and blessed Saintes in his Eternall Kingdome And my body
I
Comend and Comitt to the earth from whence it was to be decently
buried by the descritcion of my Executrix here under named
and apointed and all my worldly goodes I give and despose of
them in manner Followinge
First of all I give unto my eldest Daughter Mary the wife of
John Bunn of Eastbroke the great Chest Standinge under the
window
in the Chamber over the Kitchins.
Alsoe I give unto my Daughter Sarah the wife of Daniell Shipton
the Bedsted over the hall wherein they dwell and the Drawinge
Table in the best Chamber. Continued on next page
-
ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
102
Joseph Towne — Continued from previous page
Alsoe I give unto my Daughter Phebe Deacon Fiftie poundes of
lawfull English money to be payd unto hire when she shall ac-
complish the age of one and Twentie yeares or att hir day of
Marriage which shall first happen And I give unto hir the Court
Cub-
berd standinge in the Chamber over the Kitchine.
Alsoe I give unto my Daughter Martha Deacon Fiftie poundes of
lawfull English money to be payd unto hir when she shall ac-
complish the age of one and Twentie yeares or att hir day of
Marriage which of them shall first happen And I give unto hir
the
Bedsted standinge in the Chamber over the Kitchine, but if my
Sonn Elisha Deacon pay hir Fiftie shillinges in steed of it att
hir
day of Marriage then my will is that he shall have it.
Alsoe I give unto my Two Daughters Elizabeth Deacon and Jone
Deacon the Bedsteed standinge in the best Chamber that Daniell
Shipton holdeth equally between them.
Alsoe I give unto the sayd Elizabeth my Daughter the Tapestrey
Coverled lyned with linnen.
Alsoe I give unto my Daughter Ann Deacon the best Chest
standinge in the rome last named.
Alsoe I give unto my Daughter Judeth Deacon the Chest standinge
by the Court Cubberd in the Chamber over the Kitchine.
Alsoe I give unto my Eldest Sonn Elisha Deacon The Table the
Frame and the Joyned Stooles in the hall where Daniel Shipton
liveth And the Table the Frame and the Joyned Stooles in the
other hall And the Table the Frame and Forme in the Kitchine
And
the Table and Frame and the presse standinge in the Chamber and
the hall last named.
Alsoe I give unto my youngest Sonn Thomas Deacon The Bookes of
Marters in Three volumes.
Alsoe all the rest of my goodes and Chatteles whatsoever my
debtes being truely payd and my Funerall descharged I give unto
my well beloved wife Mary Deacon and make hir my executrix And I
doe apoint my Two sonnes in law John Bunn and Daniell
Shipton my overseers of this my last will and Testament and I
give unto them for there paines and Care Twentie shillings a
peece.
And I give unto all my Grand Children Five shillings a
peece.
In witnes whereof I have hereunto set my hand and Seale the day
and yeare first above written.
Sealed Subscribed and declared to be the last Will and } Elisha
Deacon his marke
Testament of the sayd Elisha Deacon in the presence of } and
Seale
Edward Turney Seth Field
Approved at Hemel Hempstead 21st February 1660/1 and
administration of the goods granted to Mary Deacon the
Executrix”
“A true Inventory of all the goodes and Chattelles of Elisha
Deacon of the parishe of Hemel hemsted in the Countie of
Hertf[ord]
Tanner made the 5th day of November 1659 by Richard Sawell
Richard Shippard Thomas Salter and John Bunn
In the Chamber over the Kitchine £ s d
First of All his wearinge aparrill and money in his purse 10 0
0
Alsoe one Bedstead and bedinge upon it 10 0 0
Alsoe one Court Cuberd Two Chestes Eight Joyned stooles one
Lether Cheare one bench standing by the Bed side 5 0 0
Alsoe Twentie paire of Sheets 4 dussen of Napkines 4 Table
clothes Five paire of Pillow beares with other linnen 12 12
0
Alsoe nine Cushions 1 19 0
Alsoe Plate 4 0 0
Alsoe goodes in the Studey by the same Chamber 2 0 0 Continued
on next page
-
ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
103
Joseph Towne—Continued from previous page
Alsoe Pewter 4 15 0
In the Chamber over the enterey
one boarded Bed with bedinge 1 10 0
In the Chamber over the hall
Two Tables and Frames Six Joyned Stooles Two little Chestes
Two
Boxes one Bedsted with some beddinge with other small things in
it
and in the little roome by it and in the Garratt over it 4 5
0
In the Further Chamber over the Kitchine
One standinge Bedsted with Bedinge upon it and a Truckle bed
Two Chestes one Drawinge Table 7 6 8
In the next Chamber
One Bedsted with A Truckle bed and Two little Chestes 1 6 8
In the longe Hall
One Table and Frame Eight Joyned Stooles 1 8 0
Alsoe one paire of Virginalles 5 0 0
In the Further Kitchin
one Chest and A Bowderinge Tubb 0 5 0
Sum is 71 7 4
[2nd page]
In the little Hall
One Table and Frame Six Joyned Stooles one Cheare Two small
Stooles and A Barrdoore 1 15 0
In the Buterey
one Powderinge Trough one Meale huch and other lumber 1 0 0
In the Seller
Brewinge vessell 1 6 8
In the Kitchine
One Table and Frame and A forme Two Screenes 1 0 0
Alsoe one Clocke and A Jacke 2 10 0
Alsoe Five Brasse Pottage pottes Four Kettles Two Skillettes
one
Brasse pann and other small peeces 5 5 0
Alsoe Five Speetes one dripinge pann with Irons aboute the
Fires
within the House 1 10 0
Alsoe Two Fouleinge peeces 1 6 8
Continued on next page
-
ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
104
Joseph Towne—Continued on next page
In the Tanyard 148 [hole in page affecting one word] hides 163 0
0
Alsoe 281 upper lether hides 196 0 0
Alsoe 17 dusson [dozen] of Calf Skines 17 0 0
Alsoe Barke in the barnes 80 0 0
Alsoe one Millstone Two beames shootes and other Implements
about the Tanyard 4 0 0
Alsoe wheat in the barne 45 0 0
Alsoe Oates 10 0 0
Alsoe Hay 5 0 0
Alsoe one Cow 2 0 0
Alsoe one Horse with Harnisse 5 0 0
Alsoe Cartes plowes and harrowes 12 10 0
Alsoe one Hogge 0 12 0
Alsoe Tann Firewood and other Emplementes and lumber about the
yard 2 0 0
Alsoe A quearne and A Flower Mill 1 10 0
Sum is 559 5 4
Sum total is 629 12 8
[They could not add up, as it should be £630 12 8]
Richard Sawell his marke Richard Shipord his marke Thomas Salter
John Bunn”
Elisha was obviously a successful Tanner, not dogged by debt as
his father had been. A succession of Elisha
Deacons followed him, and from the Will of Thomas Elisha Deacon
made in 1854, it is clear that the Tannery
at Corner Hall was still owned by the family, and being run by
his son Thomas Elisha Deacon. [TNA: PROB
11/2198/368]
As a footnote, it should be remembered that the Field family of
Hemel Hempstead produced a somewhat fa-
mous son, Richard Field, born 1561, who after education at
Berkhamsted Free School and Magdalen College,
Oxford, where he graduated as first BA, then BD and finally DD,
eventually became a Canon of St George’s
Chapel Windsor and Dean of Gloucester, and was successively
Chaplain to Queen Elizabeth and King James I.
He died in 1616 and was buried in St George’s Chapel at Windsor.
He had a prodiguous memory and was
highly regarded by King James and by his contemporaries in the
Church. What relationship he had to Martha
Field, Thomas Deacon’s wife is unknown, as no research has been
conducted into the Field family. Perhaps
his successful career in the Church inspired Thomas & Martha
to exploit son Thomas’s potential. ∞
Note: All figures in Roman Numerals in original documents have
been converted and placed in Italics. Likewise, all editoria l
matter is placed within square brackets and in Italics. —
Charles Farrow
Editor’s note: This is the last of four articles that contain
ancestral information on the Deacon, Gould and Perkins
Families.
Phebe Perkins, daughter of Thomas Perkins and his wife Phebe
Gould, was married to Joseph Towne, son of William Towne and
Joanna Blessing.
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
105
New Home In Winlock, WA
By Fred Towne
Our house was splendid. We had a bathroom with an inside,
flush
toilet — a first for us! There was a
fireplace in the living room and a
built-in buffet in the dining room.
In the kitchen beside the cookstove
was a wood lift, sometimes called a
dumb waiter, which elevated wood
from the basement. What a won-
derful place for little brother Jack
and me to play! But on the first attempt to put him in the
box
and crank him up to the first floor, Mother stopped us.
Shucks!
Mothers are always worrying about something.
Christmas in that house was fabulous! Coming as we had from
South Idaho, we were not accustomed to living next to a forest
of fragrant evergreen firs. We were familiar with winter
snow,
however. There is a mysterious stillness in the air after a
snowfall
covers an area with its white quietness. We broke the
silence
with our excitement as we set out on our search for our
Christ-
mas tree. With Ruth in the lead, we kids tromped out through
the newly fallen snow to find ”the perfect tree”. Above us
tow-
ered the lofty Douglas firs, perhaps two hundred feet tall,
that
didn’t look like Christmas trees at all. Suddenly the silence
was
shattered by a shout of glee. “Here’s one! Come look at this
one!” Sure enough, that turned out to be the one that we
were
looking for. In a small clearing, there were dozens of
younger
trees that had started a life of their own, sheltered by the
huge
mother trees around them. Our tree seemed to us to be so
per-
fect and fresh that it could have been painted. I can
remember
the snow showering down upon us as we hacked and chopped at
the trunk of our chosen tree. What a prize we had found!
What an exciting experience! Can you imagine the delight of
this
little troupe of Towne kids trudging homeward through the
snow, giggling and babbling as we went? At home our magnifi-
cent tree was so tall that it brushed the ceiling with its
freshly
grown tip. That glorious tree sent its branches out into the
room
and filled the house with its spicy evergreen fragrance.
Then
came the fun of decorating the tree. Few experiences are as
de-
lightful to a child as decorating a Christmas tree. Continued on
next page
A Man About Towne
Grandma’s Birthday
A blanket of snow had fallen
On a cold and silent night
In the little village of Jenkins.
The colorful aura
And excitement
Of Christmas
Was in the air.
The villagers all knew
That Rufe and Becky
Were expecting their second child.
Daughter Florence was already two
Would the next one be a boy, or a girl?
Any time now, they would know.
It is written in the Holy Book,
"There is a time for everything
Under the sun;
a time to be born, and a time to die,
He has made everything
Beautiful in its time."
On December 22, 1889,
Nearly the shortest day of the year;
The day of the Winter Solstice,
When the sun was farthest south
And began its
Warming return northward,
The tiny baby was born
To Becky and Rufus.
She joined Florence, her older sister.
They named her Flaudia Dell
Seven others would follow.
Later, I would follow.
And later yet, you would follow.
And that's the way it is.
FLT 22 Dec 2006
A story of the birth of Fred’s mother
-
ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
106
New Home—Continued from previous page
Grandma and Grandpa Towne came up from Chico, California, for
Christmas. They brought with them oranges and nuts in a big wicker
basket. We popped popcorn over the open fire in a new popcorn
shaker -- the kind made with a screen top and a long handle. What
fun! In the middle of all the activity, Dad said, “Fred, go down
and get some more fireplace wood.”
Why me? I would have to go outside and down the front steps-- in
the dark! I re-member stepping out of that door. There were high
fir trees next to our house. They created a huge wall of
frightening darkness that seemed to grab me and swallow me. I can
still feel the overwhelming fear that hit me as I actually felt the
darkness those trees created. I bounced back into the room claiming
that I had heard a noise that
had scared me. Well, I had to have some excuse. I didn’t want to
be a coward. But I was only seven.
Dad took me by the hand and went out with me. The night was
still dark but not so scary now. As we came to the pile of
firewood, Dad struck a match for light. Behold! A shiny new red
wagon was there on top of the wood pile! . . . And a scooter for
Jack. Oh, that’s why he wanted me to get more wood. What fun Jack
and I had with those Christmas gifts for a long, long time after.
It would also be a long time before we would again live in a house
as nice as that one in Winlock. We didn’t have an inside bathroom
again, nor a fireplace as long as I lived at home.
Snow did not fall every winter in Winlock or Western Washington,
but that year there was snow. It was hard to negotiate the hills,
but the snow was beautiful on the surrounding fir trees. In the
summer, the air was heavy with the spicy scent of burning fir.
Logging companies in those days burned the limbs and scrap logs.
That meant that smoke was usually drifting about in the air, and
the air was frequently hazy. This all made quite an impression on
me after living in South Idaho with very few trees. The smell of
cedar was espe-cially pleasant. For years the smell of cedar took
me back to our home in Winlock and to the “playhouse” we kids in
the neighborhood had under the boughs of cedar trees. Pleasant
memories! ∞
********************************************************
Obituary
Charles Goodselle Johnson, Jr., 80, of Gainesville, Florida,
died Monday, June 03, 2013, in the E.T. York Hos-
pice Care Center, following a long illness. Charles was born on
August 13, 1932 in Frederick, Maryland to the
late Charles Goodselle, Sr., and Pauline Virginia Ranneberger
Johnson, and as a child moved to Penney Farms,
Florida. He graduated from Clay High School, in Green Cove
Springs, Class of 1950, and then joined the U.S.
Air Force. After the Air Force, Mr. Johnson attended the
University of Florida, graduating in 1959, and then
beginning his career in accounting with the J. Hillis Miller
Health Center, (now Shands Hospital), spending
over 17 years before retiring. He then started a career with
Campus Credit Union, retiring in 1998 as the ex-
ecutive Vice-President. Mr. Johnson was a member of the
Gainesville Kiwanis Club, serving for 45 years as
club Treasurer, and was a member of Trinity United Methodist
Church.
He is survived by his wife of 59 years, Dorothy (Dot) Myrick
Johnson; one daughter, Debra Johnson; one son,
Glenn Johnson; three grandchildren, Cody Johnson, Hayden Land
and Dylan Land, all of Gainesville.
Funeral services were conducted Tuesday, June 11, 2013. in the
Chapel of WILLIAMS-THOMAS FUNERAL
HOME DOWNTOWN, 404 North Main Street, with Dr. Dan Johnson
officiating. Interment followed in Penney
Farms Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to Haven Hospice
of North Central Florida, 4200 NW
90th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606.
William Towne, Rebecca Towne Nurse, Samuel Nurse, Ebenezer
Nurse, Ebenezer Nurse, Hannah Nurse Newhall, Betsey Newhall Abbott,
Carrie Abbott Johnson, Charles G. Johnson, Sr., Charles G. Johnson,
Jr.
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
107
Jerry Allen Van Drew, son of Dorothy Esty Van Drew and
Harvey Le Roy Van Drew of Des Moines, Iowa, born on De-
cember 2, 1936 in Des Moines, Iowa, died August 12, 2013 in
Jackson, TN. He was buried in the National Veterans Ceme-
tery in Memphis, TN.
Jerry was a graduate of Iowa State University, with a Major
in
Chemistry, and minors in Mathematics and Physics. He was a
twenty-year veteran of the U.S. Army. He served in the
Chemical Corps and taught Nuclear Preparedness at Kirkland
Air Force Base, Albuquerque, N.M. He served in Army re-
cruiting command at Fort Baker, Sausalito, CA, and was a
recruiter in the Los Angeles,
CA area. He served two tours in Vietnam.
After retirement, he worked as a reporter and photographer for
the local newspaper in
Dresden, TN, and on personal projects.
He is survived by his wife, Janet Van Drew of Jackson, TN, a
daughter: Marianne Van
Drew Mukai of Delhi, New York, a son: Timothy VanDrew of
McKenzie, TN, a sister: Ma-
rie Van Drew Haase of Ely, Iowa, and a niece: Terri J. VanDrew
Buckley Lambing of Madison, AL. He was pre-
ceded in death by a brother: Woodrow LeRoy Van Drew of San Luis
Obispo, CA.
William Towne, Mary Towne Eastie, Joseph Estey, Edward Estie,
Solomon Esty, John Dean Esty, Elijah B. Esty, Hiram Spaulding
Esty, Deck Emety Esty, Floyd Emery Esty, Dorothy Esty Van Drew,
Jerry Van Drew
********************************************************************
TFA Life member, Rita J. Towne Gray, 94, died Friday, Sept. 27,
2013, at her
home in Bradenton, FL. She was born in Berlin, VT, on June 16,
1919, the daugh-
ter of James and Mary (Stewart) Towne.
After graduating from high school, Rita was awarded an academic
scholarship to
attend Trinity College in Burlington, VT, where she earned a
Bachelor of Science
degree in mathematics and science.
She married Donald Gray on Aug. 2, 1948. Their roots were in New
England, but
most of their married lives were spent in New York, having lived
in Plattsburgh,
Moores, Perrys Mills, Buffalo, and finally settling their family
in Staten Island. In
retirement, they enjoyed wintering together in Florida for over
seventeen years.
Her husband of almost fifty-five years predeceased her on June
3, 2003.
Rita had been closely connected to nature all of her life. She
grew up on a fifty-
acre family farm, she drove the tractor, planted and tended
crops, fed and cared for livestock. She learned at
an early age how to live “green,” way before it was fashionable
to do so, as well as how to be a good steward
of our planet.
Rita had worked many jobs throughout her life. To help pay for
her education, she sold bristle brushes,
worked in elder care, as a waitress and as a housekeeper. After
graduating from college, she was a research
assistant for Hoopers Radio Research, a lab assistant at
Dartmouth eye clinic, Continued on next page
-
ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
108
Obituaries—Continued from previous page
in banking at Shawmut Securities, and was a medical
transcriptionist for Dr. Pedley of Northfield. She enjoyed
being by the water and wanted a job that would allow her to have
summers off, and that was the driving
force that began a teaching career. She secured a teaching job
in Moores, NY, where she met the man of her
life, Donald. Years later she began a career in nuclear medicine
at Staten Island Hospital, and continued
working in that capacity until her retirement.
She enjoyed camping, tending her gardens at 15 Crescent and 86
Central Street, horseback riding, skiing mu-
sic and dancing.
She was a member of St John The Evangelist Church in Northfield,
St. Peter’s Church on Staten Island, NY,
and St. Joseph’s Church in Bradenton, FL.
Rita was passionate about music, and it was a constant in her
life. She was a piano accompanist in college,
played the organ at parish churches, and also taught piano for a
short while. She was a member of Staten
Island Richmond Choral for forty years, and The Saint Cecilia
for about fifteen years. She was accomplished
on the piano, organ, spinet, recorder as well as the viola
d’gamba. The household was always full of musical
friends and inspiration. Music gave her a connection wherever
she went. For the seventeen years they trav-
eled to Florida to winter, she was part of an early music group
for recorder and viola d’gamba sessions. Her
love of music was a great way to become involved in her
retirement home at The Woodlands Village. Soon
after arrival, she began playing for afternoon sing-alongs in
the main lounge, and that expanded to include
musical accompaniment at the chapel services for various
denominations on Sundays.
Survivors include her four children: Donita Aruny of Guilford,
CT, Martin Gray
of Staten Island, NY, Mary Gray of NYC,
and Gary Gray of Red Bank, NJ; nine
grandchildren: Jonathan, Amanda, An-
drew and Evan Aruny, Ian and Fiona
Gray, and Megan, Carissa and Matthew
Gray. She is also survived by son-in-law
Dr. John Aruny, daughters-in-law Marilyn
and Wendy Gray, and many nieces,
nephews, grand-nieces and –nephews,
many of whom reside in Vermont.
She is predeceased by five siblings: Mon-
signor Charles Towne, Sister Mary Cephas, Norbert Towne, John
Towne and Dora Towne.
Visitation was held at the Kingston Funeral Home, Slate Avenue,
Northfield, VT. A Mass of Christian burial
was celebrated on Saturday, October 12th, at St. John The
Evangelist Church on Vine Street in Northfield, fol-
lowed by burial in Calvary Cemetery.
Donations may be made in her memory to Tidewell Hospice and
Palliative Care, Bradenton, FL, Kingston Fu-
neral Home in Northfield handled the arrangements.∞
**********************************************************
William Towne, Jacob, John, Samuel, James, James, Samuel, Hiram,
Charles Augustus, James Hiram, Rita Joan Towne Gray
The Gray Family
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
109
Towne Family Association, Inc. 33rd Annual Meeting
Hilton Garden Inn, Beaufort, South Carolina October 13, 2013
Call to order was done by President Elizabeth Hanahan at 2 PM.
Roll Call of the executive board by Recording Secretary Barry
Cass
Present; President – Elizabeth Hanahan, VP Programs - Lynn
Bolte, VP Publications – A. Ann Hagar –Koshar, Executive Secretary
– Virginia Towne, Recording Secretary – Barry Cass, Genealogist –
Gail Gar-da, Newsletter Editor – Rae Russell Johnson Absent; 1st
VP—Barbara Towne Patterson, Treasurer—Linda Bixby Fulmer
Determination of Quorum (15 voting members) -- We had a quorum.
Minutes of 2012 Annual Meeting, Norfolk, England - Moved by Arthur
Towne/ Seconded by Judy Towne Magnussen
Minutes accepted. Names of those who have passed in the past
year, -- p. 11 of the report on the TFA website * A moment of
silence was observed for a few of our older members who have
passed. * A note was read from Virginia Damm’s family that stated
thanks for the thoughts. Communication for this meeting * A thank
you from the Salem public Library for Lois Hoover’s book, Towne
Family. * A thank you from The Penn Center for the 150th
Anniversary brick that was bought. * Sending regards were Emma
Mosher and Barbara Holden, Lois Hoover and Jim Roome. Tally of
meeting attendees: *The oldest person attending -- Marilyn Roy *The
youngest person attending -- Ann Hager- Koshar *First timers – Will
Towne, Susan (Towne) and Dan Thomasson, and Susan and Herbert Gould
*New Members – Susan (Towne) and Dan Thomasson *Travelled furthest
to get here – Virginia Towne *Travelled the least – lives closest –
Marilyn Roy Officer/Committee Reports: Available on TFA website Not
much has changed – the membership is about the same – Newsletter
numbers, etc. about the same. A. Financial-Treasurer -- Linda Bixby
Fulmer
Spent about $2100 more than we took in – p. 18 We have been
spending down our cash reserves on English research B. Auditor --
Linda Stone, p. 23 Has approved the financial records
C. Executive Secretary -- Virginia Towne, p. 27 D. Vice
President of Programs -- Lynn Bolte, p. 24 E. Vice President of
Publications -- Ann Koshar, p. 26 F. DNA Project -- Margaret Press,
p. 30
Lots of movement – Margaret and Paul have worked very hard. They
are looking for more volunteers from the male lines to be tested.
We do not pay for the twelve marker tests, but will negotiate
paying for further tests. SNP Test –Paul Towne stated that not all
Towne men need to be tested because the results for all would be
the same, however, they have decided to ask one additional person
to do the SNP test – TFA will pay for this test. This will show the
movement of ancestors across Eu-rope in pre-historical times.
G. Genealogist -- Gail Garda, p. 28 H. Newsletter -- Rae Russell
Johnson, p. 25 I. Archives Report -- Arthur J. Towne, p. 31
Continued on next page
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
110
J. Web Site Report -- Margaret Press p. 32 * There will be a
major upgrade later this fall to the website, so watch for it.
* In the data base – we are trying to get at least one photo of
every person listed. Send it to Margaret or Elizabeth. * There is
concern about having a virus in our email – the About Towne email
is compromised We may have to put up another email address so that
we can re-secure it. Possibly this change would be made for the
December newsletter – then everything would be fresh. This is not
an unusual problem for a distribution list like ours, so there is
no need for un due alarm.
CERTIFICATES Elizabeth stated that she has had a terrific Board
and everyone is worthy of praise for a job well done. She presented
the following certificates to recognize special help and
dedication: Marilyn Roy – the Co-Chair of this meeting -- for the
work she did to pull things together. Paul Towne – DNA enthusiast –
our Expert in this area, he has put in many hours to keep us up to
date.
Rae Johnson – We needed someone to take over the newsletter and
she stepped up – well done – and Rae continues to keep the
newsletter an important part of the Towne Family Association.
Barry Cass – for helping to keep things going and offering
advice and support when needed.
MEMBER OF THE YEAR – Gail Garda, who put together bound copies
of About Towne and an exten-sive genealogy of the Towne family for
the Penn Center, as well as the genealogy of Laura Towne.
A Plaque was presented to Elizabeth Hanahan by the Executive
Board for the magnificent job she has done as President of TFA; her
term as been marked by many changes in leadership and the
reorgani-zation of the By-laws for the twenty-first century. She
received a standing ovation and the gratitude of the entire
group.
7. Old Business:
A. Nurse Homestead — Positive things are happening here. The new
Director, Candace Clemenzi, is excellent. She was married there in
September, and has shown a real dedication and commitment to making
the Homestead the best it can possibly be.
B. Clayes House — The Foundation is moving closer to owning the
property. The bank that presently owns the house will not pay the
back taxes. The city of Framingham may seize the house for back
taxes and then turn it over to the Foundation, that is, if the
Foundation can guarantee that it can come up with the money needed
to renovate and secure the house, stopping the deterioration. The
Foundation is working with the Framingham Building Inspector to
understand exactly what needs to be done.
8. New Business:
A. Bylaws revision -- Barbara Cole moved and Evelyn Hancock
seconded to accept the bylaws as print ed in the newsletter. It
passed unanimously! This has been in the works since 1999.
B. Procedures manual -- The Executive board has been working on
this at this reunion. We made a start which includes pulling things
out of the old bylaws. The procedure manual is "how we do things"
and can be modified as appropriate.
C. New guidelines for nominating committee and appointment of
standing committee for 2013-15
D. The past President, Elizabeth Hanahan will be chair – This
year’s nominating committee did a great job. All three current
members will continue to be on the committee.
E. The TWO YEAR BUDGET was passed out – it is balanced.
* No funds for English genealogy research – waiting for Charles
Farrow to catch up with past work. He has not requested any
funds.
* About Towne to be disseminated mostly by email rather than by
USPS. This will reduce cost. Continued on the next page
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
111
Minutes — Continued from previous page
Moved by Paul Towne/ Second by Judy Jennings -- Budget accepted
as presented. QUESTION – the revenue has gone down, why? We have
lost some members, but the membership
number has stayed rather stable. The number of members is
projected, but the list is fluid. The end of our fiscal year is
June 30th.
* Senior Members pay no membership fee. A Senior Member is
someone who is ninety years of age, or older, and has been a member
of TFA for at least two years.
* We have fifty to sixty Life Members who pay no annual
membership fee, but on 6/30 each year $20 is moved into the general
fund for each.
* Membership – We need a review of how membership payments are
received. People some-times do not pay until late in the year. It
was suggested we look at how we handle late mem-berships. Currently
members who join after September 1st are members for the Fall and
are carried over for the next full year. Gail Garda will look into
the whole membership question — pattern. If needed, a committee may
be formed.”
* It was suggested that we look into accepting payment of dues
through PayPal. This might be useful in the future, but was tabled
for the present time.
Hoover book donations and Judy Towne Jennings’ new book
* Lois Hoover used the TFA database as the core of her book.
Once she met her publication cost all remaining book money comes to
TFA. We can have Lois continue to sell them or de cide to donate
some additional copies. Anyone with suggestions for donated copies,
please let Virginia know. The list will be posted. We’ve donated
thirty-seven already.
* Judy Towne Jennings wrote the book Living with Lewy Body
Dementia as a caregiver - it is a manual.
NEW BUSINESS FROM THE FLOOR
* Arthur Towne suggested we might need a committee to look at
and stay on top of any com- puter and internet related issues. It
was decided that we can deal with these as they happen.
We all need to be careful and responsible as we use our
computers.
J. Upcoming meetings: * 2014 - Topsfield, MA Tammy Davis and
Gail Garda
* 2015 - Vancouver, WA John Russell and Virginia Towne * 2016 –
Looking for hosts and place
9. Recommendations to membership:
A. Donations:
* 2013-2015 proposed donations Breakdown: $1000 St. Nicholas
Church ($500 per year)
$1000 Rebecca Nurse Homestead ($500 per year) $ 400 Topsfield
Main Street Project, bench and path upkeep ($200 per
year) Moved by Karen Johnsen/Seconded by Gail Garda –Approved *
A suggestion that we provide a sign for the Southside Cemetery in
Topsfield, Mass. – A letter
will be sent to the chair of the cemetery and parks commission
in Topsfield for guidance. The site currently has no sign. Every
grave in the cemetery is related to the Towne family. Not sure yet
what the cost of the sign will be.
Moved by Evelyn Hancock/Seconded by Will Towne to spend up to
$250 for a sign for the Southside Cemetery in Topsfield MA. * Any
remaining funds not allocated at this meeting may be disseminated
over the next two years by majority vote of the Executive
Board.
Derek Salmon, English genealogist, has completed his work on his
Salmon family book and he will be providing us with important
information on that soon. Continued on next page
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ABOUT TOWNE VOL. XXXIII. No. 4
112
Minnutes — Continued from previous page
REGIONAL MEETINGS – there have been several informal meetings
around the country. – We encourage them to happen and the Executive
Board will provide assistance as they can.
The NOMINATING COMMITTEE presented the following nominations for
officers: * President – Virginia Towne * Vice President – Karen
Johnson * Executive Secretary – Gail Garda * Treasurer — Catherine
Kauffman Moved by Barbara Cole / Second by Susan Thomasson — Passed
UNANIMOUSLY! 10. President’s Remarks Certificates for Outgoing
Officers * Treasurer — Linda Fulmer * VP — Barbara Town Paterson *
VP Program — Lynn Bolte Elizabeth Hanahan thanked everyone for
working together and making her term as president enjoyable.
11. Adjourned at 4 P.M.
Budget Actual Actual Proposed 2011-2012 2012-2013 2 Year Total
2-yr Budget
Revenue from Membership $9,601 $7,540 $17,141
Other Income $1,283 $3,451 $4,734
Total $10,884 $10,991 $21,875 ̀
Actual Expenses
Contributions 2369 1200 $3,569 $4,000
Corp/Audit Fees 650 100 $750 $200
Genealogy
Genealogy-General 449 633 $1,082 $1,500
Genealogy-DNA 108 536 $644 $2,000
Genealogy-English 2500 4348 $6,848 TBD
Total 3057 5517 $8,574
Newsletter 3539 4595 $8,134 $8,000
Office / Postage 490 761 $1,251 $1,200
Annual Meeting ($6,458) $129 ($6,329) $1,000
TOTAL $17,900
Membership Revenue Projection:
Current Members 365
Less Senior Members -16
Total Paying Members 349
Dues $25
Total Projected Annual Revenue $8,725
