Tombstone Tuesday–Almeda Robinson Terry

Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry died of Apoplexy (Stroke) on 15 October 1925 and was pronounced by Dr. F. Peterson of Cutchogue at 2:30 in the morning. 

She was buried in Mattituck, New York at the New Bethany Cemetery on 17 October 1925.

Almeda Robinson Terry

April 21, 1838

Oct. 15, 1925

To learn more about Almeda see previous posts Celebrating the Life of Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry and Sunday Obituary- Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Sunday Obituary - Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry

There were two different obituaries and a death notice in the local newspapers for my paternal great-great grandmother Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry. (See previous post Celebrating the Life of Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry for information about her life.)

 

23 October 1925, page 3:

Died

Cutchogue, Oct 15, Almeda, widow of Gilbert V. Terry, aged 87 years.

23 October 1925, page 2:

Cutchogue

Mrs. Almeda Terry, widow of Gilbert Terry, died last Thursday at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Geo. T. Billard, aged 87 years. She was a woman quiet and retiring and made many friends and will be greatly missed in the village. Her husband was the miller at the old Inlet Mill, Peconic. The mill is gone, but the old residence still remains. Mrs. Terry’s funeral was held at Mrs. Billard’s residence last Saturday. Rev. P. H. Dodd officiating, and the burial was at Mattituck. Besides Mrs. Billard, Mrs. Terry leaves one son, Forrest, who lives at Riverhead with his family.

22 October 1925 page 12:

Mrs. Gilbert Terry

Cutchogue-The death last week of Mrs. Terry removed one of the best known residents of this section. The deceased who was born 87 years ago, had resided in Southold town all her life. She was the widow of Gilbert Terry, who conducted a mill at the inlet. The mill has gone, but the home where Mr. and Mrs. Terry lived still stands. She was a good woman and led a quiet and peaceful life and will be missed by her many friends. She is survived by a son, Forrest Terry, of Riverhead, and a daughter, Mrs. George [Ella] Billard. Mrs. Terry resided with her daughter for some time and her funeral was conducted from the Billard residence on Saturday afternoon, Rev. P. H. Dodd, pastor of the local M. E. church, officiating, and the internment was at Mattituck.

While the two obituaries are basically the same they do tell me a little more about Almeda the ‘woman’ then the facts of her life can tell me. It was an honor to know she was a “good woman”, well known in the area with many friends that would miss her. I also learned the name of the clergy that officiated at her funeral. I wonder if the church would have any additional information about her? More research to do.


If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Celebrating the Life of Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry

Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry

My paternal great-great Grandmother Almeda Vincent Robinson Terry was born 182 years ago today 21 April 1838. Almeda was the fourth of nine children, and the first daughter born to Stephen and Caroline F. (Overton) Robinson probably in Riverhead, Suffolk County, New York. Almeda’s father was a farmer, based on census records.

Almeda would marry Gilbert Terry 21 October 1857 when she was 19 years old and Gilbert was 24 years old. Almeda would give birth to 5 children: Carrie (my great-grandmother), an unnamed infant daughter, Ella, Forrest and Millard.

The US Federal Census of 1860 on 30 July would show Almeda as 22 years old, born in New York, Gilbert as 27 years old, an 18 year old farm laborer John Young and Gilbert’s sister 19 year old Josephine V. Terry as living with the young couple in Mattituck, Southold town, Suffolk County, New York. Gilbert and Josephine’s mother Eliza died a year before and their father had remarried. Could this be why she is living with her brother? Josephine would later marry Charles A. Aldrich.

In 1870 Almeda and Gilbert had a daughter who lived only 19 days.

The US Federal Census of 1870 on 2 June shows Almeda as 32 and Keeping House as her occupation, Gilbert as 37 with Miller as his occupation, Carrie as 7 years old living in Southold, Suffolk County, New York. I wonder what is was like to be a Miller’s wife in Peconic in 1870?

The US Federal Census of 1880 on 21 of J shows Almeda as 42 years old, Keeping House, Gilbert as 47 years old and a Miller, Ella as 7 years old, Forrest as 3 years old and Millard as 5 months old living in Peconic, Suffolk County, New York. My great-grandmother Carrie (18 years old) was attending the Normal School for Teacher training in Newark, New Jersey at the time.

Youngest son Millard E. died at the age of 11 in Peconic, New York on 8 August 1891 of cerebral apoplexy. Millard was buried in Greenport. Cerebral apoplexy usually refers to stroke symptoms, with a sudden onset, due to bleeding into the brain. Searching local newspapers doesn’t yield any results or even a mention of Millard’s death. Was there an accident? Did he fall and hit his head and that caused his death? There is a gap in Carrie’s Letters from July 1891 until December 1891. Millard is never mentioned again in her letters.

The US Federal Census of 1900 on 6 June shows Almeda as 62 years old, 42 years married, 5 children with 3 children still living. Almeda was able to read, write and speak English. Gilbert was 67 years old Farm Laborer, and son Forest was 23 years old, Farm Laborer. Their home was Rented and they just had a house. Gilbert’s sister Josephine Petty is next on the census and must have been living next door at the time. Josephine’s first husband Charles died in 1872 and she married David Petty. David died in 1897. Josephine was listed as a Farmer by occupation. She owned her home mortgage free and had a farm. I wonder if Gilbert and Forest worked for her?

On 27 April 1907 Almeda’s husband Gilbert died at the age of 74. Gilbert’s death occurred just six months shy of their 50^th Wedding Anniversary.

The US Federal Census of 1910 in May I am unable to find a listing for Almeda. I am able to find the record for children Carrie, Ella and Forrest but Almeda is not listed with any of them. I wonder if she was with family and they forgot to list her?

In the New York State Census of 1 June 1915 Almeda Terry is 77 years old and living with her daughter and family in the Village of Cutchogue, Southold Town, New York.

The US Federal Census of 1920 on 20 January shows Widow Almeda is 81 years old and living in Southold, New York with her daughter Ella (46 years old), son-in-law George Billard (49 year old Farmer), and their sons Irving (17 years old) and Ellis (15 years old).
Almeda passed away 15 October 1925 in Cutchogue, New York at the home of her daughter Ella Terry Billard. Almeda died from Apoplexy (stroke) at the age of 87 and is buried next to her husband Gilbert and their infant daughter.

I wonder about ‘Vincent’ as Almeda’s middle name. Where did that come from? Was it a typical name for a girl to have in 1838 or is she named for someone I haven’t found yet?

I am very fortunate to have the above picture of Almeda. Maybe from the 1890s?  I wonder how old she was in the picture? When I enlarge the photo (click on photo to enlarge) and look at her I see a woman who had many trials in her life, including burying 3 children and her husband, but still looks very beautiful.

Happy Birthday Almeda!

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Easter Memories

Olin Sr, and Agnes King Warner

(click on images to enlarge)

For the past month I have not felt very inspired to blog or to do genealogy. With all that is going on in our world, genealogy just didn’t seem as important. Today, while video conferencing with family I was reminded of the many family Easter celebrations of my childhood. As genealogist we'll hear presenters telling us not to forget to tell the stories of our own lives. I felt a strong pull today to recount some of my favorite Easter memories. Right now we can’t physically be with those we love but we can still video conference or call and …we still have our memories.

Growing up Easter always meant a time of family get togethers and celebration. My paternal Grandmother Agnes King Warner insisted on our family getting together and going out for Easter so no one needed to cook. My cousins, my brothers and I would get new Spring outfits. This meant new patent leather shoes, a fancy new Easter dress (sometimes with Crinoline), a new Spring coat, a fancy hat and a small purse for the girls and sometimes even white gloves. My brothers had special new Easter clothes as well which meant new pants, shirt, a jacket or vest and usually a new bow tie or later a tie as well. Sometimes even a hat.

My brothers and I and my cousins would start the day with Easter surprises and breakfast at our homes before attending Easter Celebrations at our churches. For my family it was Grace Episcopal Church in Riverhead, New York and for my cousins it was All Saints Episcopal Church in Great Neck, New York. After church we would stop and buy a plant for my Grandmother and drop it off at her house.

Then we would all meet at a restaurant my Grandparent's chose. I remember frequently going to one called The Wagon Wheel. My Grandmother had a rule that was enforced when we got to the restaurant. That rule was that all the kids were to sit at one end of the table and the adults were to sit at the other end. Grandma told the adults not to care what the kids ate or didn’t eat because this was a celebration for them as well as for the adults. We sure felt grown up in our new clothes and out at a restaurant.  Frequently, we finished all the rolls and bread sticks in the little packages with loads of butter before dinner even came. I also remember a Shirley Temple or two as well. Grandma also strongly believed that if children weren’t taken to restaurants then they wouldn’t learn how to behave and we all needed to learn the proper way to behave in restaurants.

                     (even our dog Duke needed to be in the photo with my brother David)
After dinner there was always a time for pictures. There must be family photos to mark the occasion. Oh, thank goodness for the photos of those special times while we were growing up! What great memories these are to have.

So, at this very strange, unique time in our lives when we can’t celebrate the Holidays like we used to…what new tradition did you create today? Mine was a time of connecting using video conference. While we couldn’t be together in person, we could see each other and talk and that was our way of celebrating Easter 2020. What was yours?

And, of course, I forgot to take a screen shot of all of us today on the video conference call uniting NY, Nevada, Colorado, Florida and California.  Guess we'll just have to remember this one.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.
Enjoy the journey,
Debby