Local Histories Genealogy Records Medfield, Massachusetts proceedings at the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 6, 1901 Resources for tracing your Family Tree and Ancestry Medfield, Massachusetts proceedings at the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 6, 1901 Medfield, Massachusetts : proceedings at the celebration of the two hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the incorporation of the town, June 6, 1901. CLICK HERE FOR THIS RESOURCE Category: Places: Cost: Free Find it on Archive.org Find it on OpenLibrary.org Find it on FamilySearch.org Find it on GoogleBooks Find it on HeritageQuest* *HeritageQuest is free but you must be logged in to access the material. Click here for more information . BACK TO GENEALOGY DASHBOARD

The Roman numeral "MMDCCCLXXII" converts to the standard number... What number is MMDCCCLXXII in Roman Numerals? The Roman numeral 'MMDCCCLXXII' is the Standard number 2872. Click here to convert a series of Roman numerals to Standard numbers

Historical Books Genealogy Records Graveyard inscriptions of Callicoon Centre Cemetery, Callicoon Centre, Rock Ridge Cemetery, Thompson, Old Youngsville Cemetery, Youngsville, all located in Sullivan County, New York Resources for tracing your Family Tree and Ancestry Graveyard inscriptions of Callicoon Centre Cemetery, Callicoon Centre, Rock Ridge Cemetery, Thompson, Old Youngsville Cemetery, Youngsville, all located in Sullivan County, New York Graveyard inscriptions of Callicoon Centre Cemetery, Callicoon Centre, Rock Ridge Cemetery, Thompson, Old Youngsville Cemetery, Youngsville, all located in Sullivan County, New York, by Barber, Gertrude A. CLICK HERE FOR THIS RESOURCE Category: Places: Cost: Free Find it on Archive.org Find it on OpenLibrary.org Find it on FamilySearch.org Find it on GoogleBooks Find it on HeritageQuest* *HeritageQuest is free but you must be logged in to access the material. Click here for more information . BACK TO GENEALOGY DASHBOARD

Before I began my genealogy quest, all I knew about my family was that they had lived in central New York for as long as anyone could remember. Whereas most of my friends knew when and where their ancestors had emigrated from - France, Germany, Italy, etc., it seemed my roots sprang up out of the ground in upstate New York and I knew nothing about them. Until fairly recently, the region of Central New York was mostly comprised of small towns and villages nestled between massive farms, fields, and forests. Even today, in many of these towns, little has changed in the past century. It seemed such an insignificant place. How did my ancestors end up here? And where did they come from? It wasn't until I began researching that I learned about the Military Tract, also called the Central New York Military Tract and the New Military Tract. Soldiers who enlisted to fight in the American Revolution were promised a minimum of 100 acres of land for their service. However, this wasn't tempting enough for some and because by 1781 they had only enlisted about half the quota set by Congress, the payment was increased to 600-5,500 acres, depending on rank. (Update: Read below map for more details). To my surprise, at least ten of my ancestors fought in the American Revolution. This explains how they ended up in Central New York, primarily in Cortland, Tompkins and Cayuga Counties! The Military Tract encompassed all of Cortland County, Cayuga County, Onondaga County, Seneca County, as well as parts of Tompkins County, Oswego County, Schuyler County and Wayne County. Lots were drawn in 1791 and they were required to settle the land by 1799. Most of the soldiers were from eastern New York, Massachusetts and the rest of New England and many sold their lots instead of relocating. Of course there were disputes, mostly caused by swindlers "selling" land that did not belong to them. Some buyers arrived and found out they had been duped when others proved ownership of the land. The townships which were created from the Military Tract were surveyed and named after classical Greek and Roman names, as well as famous authors, as shown here. These towns for very large and were eventually divided and subdivided. Choose a town for details and possible resources for finding more information about the place and the people who lived there: From Onondaga's Centennial Gleanings 1. Aurelius (#8) 2. Brutus (#4) 3. Camillus (#5) 4. Cato (#33) 5. Cicero (#6) 6. Cincinnatus (#25) 7. Dryden (#23) 8. Fabius (#15) 9. Galen (#27) 10. Hannibal (#2) 11. Hector (#21) 12. Homer (#19) 13. Junius (#26) 14. Locke (#18) 15. Lysander (#1) 16. Manlius (#7) 17. Marcellus (#9) 18. Milton (#17) 19. Ovid (#16) 20. Pompey (#10) 21. Romulus (#11) 22. Scipio (#12) 23. Sempronius (#13) 24. Solon (#20) 25. Sterling (#28) 26. Tully (#14) 27. Ulysses (#22) 28. Virgil (#24) The map shown below was printed in History of Tioga, Chemung, Tompkins, and Schuyler Counties, New York with illustrations and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers. Check the resource for your ancestors if they lived in these places! Click here to see more useful genealogy tips and resources including military records! #newyork #upstate #centralnewyork #cny #militarytract #americanrevolution #revolutionaryland #bountyland #veterans #american

Recently, I was browsing Fultonhistory.com for news articles about one of my ancestors when this headline grabbed my attention. Having just celebrated Father's Day, it was particularly intriguing. Transcription from The Geneva Daily Times, Thursday, June 16, 1927: Prior to reading this, I had never given any thought to the history of Father's Day or Mother's Day, but after doing a little digging, I learned that the earliest record of both was actually in 1908. The first widely recognized Mother’s Day service in America was held on May 10, 1908, at Andrews Methodist Episcopal Church in Grafton, West Virginia, organized by Anna Jarvis in honor of her mother, Ann Reeves Jarvis. Father’s Day was first observed in America on July 5, 1908, at Williams Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church in Fairmont, West Virginia, at a church service honoring fathers, especially those killed in the Monongah mining disaster. The more commonly cited “first Father’s Day celebration” was June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, promoted by Sonora Smart Dodd. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the second Sunday in May as Mother’s Day in 1914, and apparently the nation has been unofficially celebrating Father's Day since 1923, but it didn't become an official U.S. national holiday until 1972, when President Richard Nixon signed it into law. Father’s Day is observed on the third Sunday in June. Children’s Day in America is usually traced to 1856 or 1857 in Chelsea, Massachusetts, when Rev. Dr. Charles Leonard of the Universalist Church of the Redeemer held a special service for children. Some sources give 1856, while others say it began on the second Sunday of June 1857. It was first called Rose Day, later Flower Sunday, and finally Children’s Day. Although Children's Day never achieved "federal holiday" status, it is observed in some states, cities, churches and organizations. Notice, Mother's Day, Father's Day, and Children's Day all began in Christian churches, the core of early American communities and of America itself. In an earlier blog, I shared the story of Thanksgiving, so if that interests you, click here to check it out. More fun facts! #FathersDay #MothersDay #ChildrensDay #America #holidays

Charles Russell Leonard died on Monday, Nov. 23, 1908. Notice of his funeral was printed in The Journal (Groton, New York) on November 25, 1908, and a "card" of thanks was published on December 2, 1908, by Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells and Mrs. Chas. Leonard. It took a long time to find this obituary, simply because Charles' name was abbreviated as "Chas." and it doesn't offer much information. A more interesting notice was published the following week. "A Card...to thank neighbors and friends for their kindness and sympathy during the illness and death of Charles Leonard". It was signed "Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells" and "Mrs. Chas. Leonard". It seems safe to assume "Mrs. Chas. Leonard" is referring to Luella, his second wife, who he was living with in Groton in 1905, but who were Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Wells and how were they involved? A search for men named Charles Wells in the Groton area in 1908 produced two matches and another possible connection in Pompey: Charles E. Wells in Groton in 1900. He was married to Ina Legg, but he died in 1904, prior to this notice being published. Charles Hyde Wells who was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, New York, abt. 1839. He was counted on the census in Pompey until 1880. [FamilySearch] In 1865 there was a "Boarder" named John Leonard, age 26, living in the Wells home in Pompey. He was formerly in the Army. [FamilySearch] John married George & Charlotte Nearing's daughter, Elizabeth, before 1871. They lived in Pompey when the 1875 census was taken and had two children - Lee Leonard, age 3 yrs 9 mos, and Arthur Leonard, age 1 yr 5 mos. (Census date June 22, 1875). Both children were born in Onondaga County. [FamilySearch] On the 1892, 1900, 1905, 1910, and 1920 censuses Charles Wells was living in Cortland, where he died on June 30, 1922. His wife's name was Lydia L. Wells. Her obituary claims she was born in Pompey, Onondaga County, on Aug. 8, 1840. The closest matches in Pompey in 1850 were: Lydia L. Haskins (b. 1844), Lydia A. Marsh (b. 1836), and Lydia L. Rice (b. 1837). Charles & Lydia Wells had five children in their home: Amelia (Wells) Dunn, William H. Wells, John Wells, Eugene Charles Wells, and Nellie E. (Wells) Wood. I spent a few days sorting through the paper trails hoping to find a connection, to no avail. Following is a summary of what I found and shared on Charles Hyde Wells' Wikitree. Charles Leonard Wells, born 1842 in Pompey, Onondaga, New York. His parents were Russel Wells and Sophronia Adams. See his FamilySearch profile or Wikitree memorial for details. Timeline of Events: 1850 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch: Asa Wells (age 76?), born in CT Chloe Wells (age 72 or 77?), born in CT Levi Wells (age 43) - born in NY Jane Wells (24) - born in NY Mathew Wells (age 40) - born in NY, Laborer Elzada Wells (age 31) - born in NY (Elzada Nearing) Charles Wells (age 12) - born in NY, Farmer Asa Wells died Feb. 4. 1854, age 79 yrs 6 mos. He is buried in Pompey Hill Cemetery. Findagrave memorial for Asa Wells 1860 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch: Elzada N. Wells, Female, age 40, b. NY, Farm Laborer Charles Wells, age 22, b. NY, Farm Laborer Lydia Wells, age 18, b. NY Cloe Wells, age 82. b. CT Hamilton Squires, age 16, Farm Laborer, b. NY 1865 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch: Elzada Wells, (Female) age 46, b. NY (1 child, married once, widowed) Charles H. Wells, age 27 "Child", Farmer, (married once, married) Lydia Wells, age 25 "Wife", (2 children, married once, married) Lydia (Chloe?) Wells, age 86, "Mother", b. CT (8 children, married once, widowed) Amelia Wells, age 4, "Grandchild", b. Onondaga County William Wells, age 1, "Grandchild", b. Onondaga County John Leonard, age 26, "Boarder", Farmer, Single, formerly in Army (See below) From the Cortland Democrat, Sept. 17. 1868: "Sept. 11 - In the guardianship of John S., Eugene C., and Nellie E. Wells. Petition for appointment of guardian filed, guardians oath and bond filed and letters of guardianship issued to Lydia Wells, of Cortlandville." 1870 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch: Charles Wells, age 32, farmer $3500 real estate and $2625 personal estate Lydia Wells, age 29, wife b. England? Amelia Wells, age 10, b. NY Nellie Wells, age 8, b. NY John Wells, age 4, b. NY (lived in Los Angeles, CA in 1935) Charles Wells age 2 mos? b. NY Alzada Wells age 59, b. NY Chloe Wells, age 92, b. CT Chloe Wells died on Jan. 4, 1872, at the age of 93, and is buried in Pompey Hill Cemetery in Pompey. Findagrave memorial for Chloe Hyde Wells 1875 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch: Charles Wells, age 38, b. Onondaga, Married, Mail Carrier Liddia Wells, age 34, Wife Amelia Wells, age 13, Daughter Willie Wells, age 11, Son John Wells, age 8, Son Eugena Wells, age 5, Son Elzada Wells, age 56, "Mother" Also in Pompey, Onondaga, New York 1875 FamilySearch: George Nearing, age 65 (Elzada Wells' brother) Charlotte Nearing, age 63, wife John Leonard, age 36, son-in-law (See below) Elizabeth Leonard, age 34, daughter Lee Leonard, son (grandson), age 3 yrs 9 mos Arthur Leonard, son (grandson), age 1 yr 5 mos 1880 Census Pompey, Onondaga, New York FamilySearch: Charles Wells, age 41, Farmer, Married Lydia Wells, age 38, Keeping House William Wells, age 16, Son John Wells, age 13, Son Eugene Wells, age 10, Son Nellie Wells, age 3, "Son" (Daughter?) Elzada Wells, age 63, Mother Elzada Wells died March 23, 1891, in Cortland, at the home of her son, Charles. From the Syracuse Standard, Tues., Mar. 24, 1891, p. 3: "Mrs. Elzada Wells died yesterday morning of consumption at the age of 72 years. The funeral will be held at the residence of her son, Charles Wells, to-morrow morning. The remains will be taken to Pompey." From the Cortland Democrat, Fri., Mar. 27, 1891: "DIED...WELLS- In Cortland, N.Y., March 23, 1891, Mrs. Elzada Wells, age 72 years." 1892 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: Charles H Wells, age 55, "Teamster" Lydia M. Wells, age 52 Nellie E. Wells, age 16 From the Cortland Standard, Wed., Sept. 7, 1898: "Invitations are out for the wedding of Mr. Frank Steward Wood and Miss Nellie Elzada Wells which will take place at the home of the bride's parents, Mr. and Mrs. C. H. Wells, 167 Railroad Street in Cortland on Wednesday evening, Sept. 14, at 8 o'clock." "WOOD-WELLS. Two Cortland Young People United in the Bonds of Matrimony. A merry gathering of friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Wells of 167 Railroad-st. last evening witnessed the marriage of their daughter, Miss Nellie B. Wells, and Mr. Frank S. Wood of Cortland. The ceremony was performed by Rev. W. H. Pound, pastor of the Congregational church, in the presence of a few invited guests. The rooms were neatly trimmed for the occasion, and the ceremony took place under an arch of evergreens. A fine wedding supper was served, and then Mr. and Mrs. Wood left on the late train for New York, from which place they will go to New Haven, Ct., for a visit with relatives, and on their return will reside at 107 Railroad-st." From The Syracuse Weekly Express, Thurs., Sept. 25, 1890: "HOMER, Sept. 18 .- Eugene Wells of Cortland and Miss Belle Lawson of this village were married on Tuesday at the Methodist parsonage by the Rev. A. N. Damon." 1900 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: (167 Railroad Street, Cortland) Charles Wells, born Jan. 1838, age 62, married 42 years, "Night Watch" Lydia Wells, born Aug. 1840 in NY, age 59, married 42 years, five children all still living in 1900 Nellie E. Wood, "Daughter", born Dec 1876, age 23, married 2 years, no children, parents born in England. Frank S. Wood, "Son-in-law", born Apr. 1873, age 27, married 2 years 1905 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: (167 Railroad Street, Cortland) Chas. H Wells, age 68 (est. 1837) "Night Watch", b. NY, parents born in NY Lydia M. Wells, age 65, 1910 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: (167 Railroad Street, Cortland) Chas. H. Wells, age 72, married 51 years, Night Watchman at Lumber Yard Lydia Wells, wife, age 62, married 51 years, 5 children, all still living in 1910. From The Cortland Standard, Mon. Aug 28, 1916: "Mrs. Clarence Dunn of Pompey and Mrs. Charles Wells of Cortland visited at the home of their brother and son, Eugene Wells in Wall-st., on Saturday." 1920 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: (South Ave) Frank S. Wood, age 47, "Com. Traveler; Groceries" Nellie F. Wood, age 43 "Wife" Chas. H. Wells, age 82 "Father-in-law" Lydia Wells, age 79 "Mother-in-law" Charles H. Wells died on June 30, 1922, in Cortland, New York. From the Cortland Democrat, Fri., July 7, 1922, p. 5: "DIED...WELLS - In Cortland, June 30, Charles H. Wells, aged 84 years, and 6 months." From the Binghamton Press, Wed., July 5, 1922: "Charles H. Wells died Saturday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank S. Wood at 130 South Main Street. Mr. Wells was born in Pompey 84 years ago. He is survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. Clarence Dunn of Pompey and Mrs. Wood of Cortland, and three sons, Eugene Wells of Homer, William H. Wells of Groton, and John B. Wells of Denver, Col. The funeral was held Monday." 1925 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: Lydia M. Wells, age 84 "Mother-in-law" 1930 Census Cortland, Cortland, New York FamilySearch: Frank S. Wood, age 56 Nellie E. Wood, age 53 Lydia Wells, age 89 "Mother-in-law" From The Syracuse Journal, Sat., Jan. 12, 1935: "Mrs. Amelia H. Dunn - Mrs. Amelia H. Dunn, 74, died here Friday. Surviving are three brothers, William Wells of Groton, John Wells of Los Angeles, Calif., and Eugene Wells of Homer; a sister, Mrs. Frank Wood of Cortland; a granddaughter, Mrs. Leora M. Wright of Georgetown; a grandson, Clarence B. Van Brocklin of Manlius; a great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews. Services will be conducted at 2 o'clock Monday afternoon in the rooms of C. G. Hall, funeral director, in Lafayette. Interment will be in Pompey." John Leonard Regarding John Leonard, see FamilySearch G4WN-QK6 or FamilySearch G97T-6L1 or Wikitree). He married Elizabeth Charlotte Nearing, daughter of Elzada's brother George A. Nearing and and Charlotte Horton. Elzada was the mother of Charles Wells, so John Leonard married a first cousin of Charles Wells. On the 1900 census, for his father's birthplace, Massachusetts was given, and for his mother, New York. However, according to his profile on FamilySearch, he was born abt. 1843 and was a son of Henry J. Leonard & Phebe ___. Henry was born in Albany County, New York, in 1816, and died in West Monroe, Oswego, New York, in 1816. Henry's father was Johannes Leonard & Rachel Albright. They were married in Bethlehem, Albany, New York, in 1802. Johannes's father was a German immigrant, born abt. 1739, who died in Bethlehem, Albany, New York, between 1805 and 1809. (FamilySearch KZR7-SMK). More research must be done to determine his true lineage. Regarding the question of whether or not John could have possibly been a brother of Charles Leonard, the answer is no IF Charles' father, Russel Leonard, truly disappeared in 1833. John wasn't born until 1839. They may have been cousins, though. Other Sources Walworth, Reuben Hyde, Hyde genealogy, or, The descendants, in the female as well as in the male lines, from William Hyde, of Norwich (Albany, 1864), Vol. 1, p. 412-413 Other possible connections: From The Dryden Herald, Wed., Apr. 13, 1904: "Mrs. Charles Wells was called to Cortland on Saturday by the severe illness of her daughter, Maude, who is suffering from an attack of the measles. The condition of the patient was reported on Monday to be slightly improved. Charles Wells went to Cortland on Tuesday to see his daughter." From Dryden Rural News, March 30, 1938: "Extracted from a letter written by Mrs. Charles Wells in Anchorage, Alaska, to her brother Egbert McMasters of Brooktondale..." (regarding her trip to Alaska). From The Syracuse Weekly Express, Thurs., Oct. 9, 1890: Montezuma - "Mrs. Charles Wells and her children of Auburn and her mother, Mrs. Josephine Rogers of Rose Valley, were visiting friends in town last week". If anyone knows the connection between Mr. and Mrs. Charles Wells and Charles Leonard, please share! See the Leonard page for more. Research Notes: Before finding these, I searched the following newspapers for Charles Leonard's obituary: Moravia NY Republican Register 1908 - 1912 Auburn NY Democrat Argus 1908 - 1909 (Mentions: Herman Leonard's estate and heirs: Susan Leonard, widow, George H. Leonard, son, and David E. Wallace, stepson. (April, 1908). Also, Patrick Leonard, father of Mrs. Michael Coleman.) Union Springs NY Advertiser 1908-1911 - (Mentions: Charles Leonard of Farmer) Interlakin NY Interlaken Review 1908-1910 (searched as given, sic) Newspaper Auburn NY Weekly Auburnian 1885 - 1888 #Leonard #leonard #charlesrussellleonard #obituary #death