Snow, Snow, Snow, What Do You Do With It

Have the times changed?  Maybe or maybe not depending on what you are referencing.  This morning while talking to my parents on Eastern Long Island in New York I heard the latest winter weather update…snow yet again tomorrow.  Afterwards I came across a letter that my great-grandmother, Carrie (Terry) Warner had written on January 15, 1893 to her brother Forrest Terry [17 years old] and thought of all the wintery weather happening across the United States. 

• Carrie was living in Baiting Hollow, Suffolk County, New York with her husband John B. Warner and 2 young sons.  Ella [20 years old] is her sister. Carrie’s parents and siblings lived in Peconic.  Today the temperature in Baiting Hollow will have a high of 36 degrees, a low of 23 degrees and is overcast.  While snow is not predicted for today it is predicted again for Thursday and Friday.

 

Here are two excerpts from Carrie’s letter in 1893:

“Snow, snow, snow, what do you do with it.  I guess Father [Gilbert Terry] has got the old sleigh down this winter has he not.  Ella I suppose is sleigh riding.  There is entertainment in the sleigh now instead of the buggy.  Cannot indulge very much however unless it stops snowing.  In that case, a little ride might be taken before it comes on again.  Perhaps it is too cold.  I have been out of the house but twice since I came from “P”[econic],once to church and the next day after my return, over to mother’s [mother-in-law Eleanor Warner] for a few minutes.  I would make a poor thermometer, staying by the stove all the time.”

• My paternal great-grandparents, Carrie and John B. Warner had two sons at this time.  Terry was almost 5 years old and Wesley was about 2 1/2 years old.

“Terry has fine times with his sled.  His father [John] gets on the horse’s back and takes hold of a string fast to the sled and away they go.  Took Wesley out riding so one morning.  The children go out every day and have not taken cold yet.  Wesley can not stand it but a short time, this cold weather.”

The following is a paragraph from the Orient section in The Long Island Traveler, January 20, 1893 on page 3:

“Snow storms have been so many we have lost count.  Cloudy weather it snows, and when the sun shines it snows some more.  Then the clouds obscure old Sol and the flakes flutter softly down upon us some more.  Really, some of us  (younger children) never, never saw the like before or since.”

Despite the dreariness of this never ending winter season many kids and adults are still managing to have fun just like they did 128 years ago.  Others are just done with the cold and snow.  I hope you are all managing through this crazy weather we are having and staying safe.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

For additional posts about Carrie’s Letters click on the second tab at the top of the page entitled Carrie’s Letters.

Celebrating the Life of Stephen Robinson

Stephen Robinson

Stephen is my paternal 3^rd great grandfather and in honor of the 216^th anniversary of his birthday I set out to see what I could learn about him.

Stephen was born 14 February 1805 to Moses and Susan Gould Robinson in Southold, Suffolk County, New York. I believe Stephen was the 3^rd of 7 children born to Moses and Susan.

• The town of Southold, Suffolk County, New York is located on the north eastern end of Long Island, about 95 miles east of New York City. Southold proclaims to be the oldest English town in the State of New York and was originally settled by Puritans from New Haven, Connecticut in 1640. This land was originally purchased from the Corchaug Indians. From what I can tell Stephen was in the first generation to be born in Southold. The War of 1812 occurred with little effect on the town of Southold as Stephen was growing up.

Stephen (20 years old) married Caroline F. Overton (14 years old) on 24 January 1825. They had 10 children: Barnabas, George W., Perry S., Almeda V. (my 2^nd great grandmother), Dolisca, Alonzo M., William S., Arthur M., Huldah J., Carrie E. (Wolf)

1830 US Federal Census shows Stephen is living in Riverhead. Stephen appears to be living with his wife. Living nearby is Gideon Robinson. A cousin perhaps?

1840 US Federal Census shows Stephen is living in Riverhead. Stephen appears to be living with his wife, 1 male under the age of 5, 2 males aged 5-9, 2 females under age 5, and another male aged 30-39. Living next to David Robinson, near Hiram Robinson and Richard Robinson. Cousins perhaps?

1850 US Federal Census on 16^th of September shows Stephen living in Riverhead. He is 45 years old, Occupation Farmer in Industry Agriculture, Value of Real Estate $3000 living in Riverhead, New York with wife Caroline and children Barnabas, George, Terry, Almeda (my 2^nd great-grandmother), Dolisca, Alonzo, William and Huldah.

See blog post US Federal Non-Population Census-Agricultural for information on the crops, animals, value of the land, etc. for Stephen in the town of Riverhead for 1850 and 1860. See blog post Caroline Overton Robinson for a photo of Stephen and Caroline outside their farmhouse.

1860 US Federal Census on eight of July shows Stephen living in Riverhead. He is 53 years old, Occupation Farmer, Value of Real Estate $2000 living in Riverhead, New York with wife Caroline and children: Perry, Alonzo, William and Huldah, Arthur and Caroline E.

1865 New York State Census shows Stephen is 59 years old, Occupation: Farmer living with his wife Caroline and children: Alonso, William, Arthur and Carrie E. (Caroline). All born in Suffolk County, New York. Married once and currently married. Owner of land and Voter-Native. Bowker and Jemima Robinson live next door. I wonder what he thought of the Civil War?

I have been unable to locate Stephen in the 1870 US Federal Census.

Stephen died 11 June 1871 in Manorville, Suffolk County, New York.

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby

Tombstone Tuesday–Catherine “Katie” Hein Hamman

My maternal 2x great-grandmother Catherine “Katie” Hein Hamman was born in Luxembourg and died in Remsen, Iowa.  Last summer I was able to visit her gravesite and see her tombstone in person.

Katie is buried next to her husband Jacob in St. Mary’s (Roman Catholic) Cemetery in Remsen, Plymouth County, Iowa.

Transcription:  

 Katie Hamman

Died

June 21, 1908

Aged

63 Yrs

For information about Kate’s obituary and Will see post What’s the Correct Information? and  Amanuensis Monday-A Will but…Whose Signature is That?

If you have any corrections or additions or stories to share I look forward to hearing them.

Enjoy the journey,
Debby