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Hello,
I've told my grandmother's story before. It's a long, complicated story
which you can find in the archives of several MA and CT Lists. So, I'll
just mention one question.
But, first, a little background summary. My grandmother was born in Feb.
1889 "somewhere." Her Adoptive, older couple told her many "lies" during
the time she lived with them (Age 1 or 2 to Age 10). The Adoptive mother
died in 1899, and her Adoptive father took her to an orphanage in Downtown
Boston, and then he died in 1905. At around that time, she went to live at
"The Temporary Home" in Downtown Boston where she remained until she was
almost 20.
My "educated guess" is that the Adoptive couple were her maternal
grandparents. They had moved to MA from CT ~1885, and their married
daughter continued to live there. I think the married daughter had a
pregnancy - outside of her marriage - in the summer of 1888. And I think
the family told many lies to the little girl. One was that the nurses at
the hospital at birth gave her the name, Daisy WATROUS. The Adoptive
couple changed it to Mary Anna Clark DEXTER. They were John DEXTER and
Mrs. Mary Anna (CLARK) DEXTER.
(Mother) Mary's parents were James CLARK and Mrs. Rhoda (MANCHESTER)
(LAVARE) CLARK of Westport, MA. James is one of my "concrete-block
walls" and no one knows when or where he was born. It would have been
someone where in the1790 to 1800 timeframe. He "appears" in RI in ~1827,
marries in MA in 1829, fathers a child in ~1836, and "disappears" in 1844.
(We do not know if he had relatives in New England, but I have a "hunch"
that he did.)
Coming up to the question. My grandmother, Mary DEXTER, was very lucky
to find a man who loved her. On Christmas Eve, 1911, they walked 5 miles
to a minister's home and asked to be married. On the "wedding record,"
she stated that her Birth father was William CLARK. My family has "no"
idea who this William is. But, she must have known him between 1900 and
1911, and it would have been in Greater Boston. So, I'd like to ask if
anyone knows who this William CLARK might have been.
Betty (near Lowell, MA)
FYI:
A "total guess" is that James CLARK was a "travelin' man." He "might"
have been the James who was on a ship in the St. Lawrence River (Canada) in
1825. He was the James in RI in ~1827; he was the James marrying in
1829, and fathering a daughter in ~1836, and he "might" have been the James
who got on a ship in New Bedford, MA, in 1844. The ship was on its way to
the Indian Ocean, but this James "deserted" in Australia in 1845. Since
we don't know which country James was born in, we don't know if he had
relatives in New England. But, if my grandmother put that man's name
down in 1911, she must have known some CLARK's. And at the orphanage in
1899, it seems her name was written down as Mary CLARK, instead of Mary
DEXTER.
I've "rescued" two old photographs belonging to the SHERWOOD Family of Hood
River, Oregon. The first is a photograph of Mr. & Mrs. W. R. SHERWOOD which
was taken at the W. D. Rogers Studio in Hood River. The photograph is dated
Dec 1905 and notes that they are 27 and 22 years old at the time the
photograph was taken. It may well be their wedding photograph. In addition
to their names, the date, and their ages, someone has written "With best
wishes to Maria, George & family" on the back of the photograph as if this
is to whom the photograph was gifted.
The second photograph is one of Mary Frances SHERWOOD and Leslie Clark
SHERWOOD. This photograph was taken at the Deitz Studio in Hood River and
is dated 1910. Mary Frances is noted as 28 months old and Leslie as 7
months old at the time the photograph was taken. In addition to the names
and date, someone has written "To George & Maria" on the back of the
photograph.
Based on limited research I was able to gather the following information
regarding this family:
Walter Rosco "Ross" SHERWOOD was b. 8 Oct 1878 in Kahoka, MO to parents
Charles Bradley SHERWOOD (b. 2 May 1848 in Fairfield, CT) and Mary E. CLARK
(b. 1844 in MA). The couple had at least 5 children, Eva May; Charles M.;
Walter Rosco "Ross"; Frank Levi; and Elmer Bradley SHERWOOD all born in
Kahoka, MO between 1873 and 1882. Walter married Mabel Mellissa CHAPMAN (b.
17 Jan 1883 in Persia, IA) and together they had three children including,
Mary Frances; Leslie Clark; and Charles Roscoe SHERWOOD all born in Hood
River, OR between 1907 and 1911. Walter died in Hood River, OR on 17 May
1969 and Mabel died 30 Sept 1973 in Hood River, OR.
Leslie or Les SHERWOOD was b. 31 July 1909 in Hood River, Oregon and died
July 1985 in Hood River, Oregon. Census records provide the following
information:
1880 census of Madison, MO:
Charles B. SHERWOOD, age 32, a Farmer, born CT, parents born CT
Mary E. SHERWOOD, wife, age 36, Keeping House, born MA, parents born NY/CT
Eva May SHERWOOD, dau, age 7, born MO
Charles M. SHERWOOD, son, age 5, born MO
Walter R. SHERWOOD, son, age 1, born MO
Mary E. CLARK, mother-in-law, age 74, born CT, parents born CT
1910 census of Hood River, OR:
Walter R. SHERWOOD, age 31, married 6 years, born MO, parents born NY, a
Laundry Foreman
Mable M. SHERWOOD, wife, age 27, married 6 years, 3 children/2 living, born
IA, parents born England/IN
Mary F. SHERWOOD, dau, age 2 years + 5 months, born OR
Leslie C. SHERWOOD, son, age 9 months, born OR
1920 census of Hood River, OR:
Rosco W. SHERWOOD, age 41, born MO, parents born England/IN, a Laundry Truck
Laborer
Mabel M. SHERWOOD, wife, age 37, born IA, parents born England/IN
Mary F. SHERWOOD, dau, age 12, born OR
Leslie C. SHERWOOD, son, age 10, born OR
Charles R. SHERWOOD, son, age 8, born OR
I am hoping to locate someone from the family so that these wonderful old
photographs can be returned to their rightful place with family. If you are
a member of this family, or you know someone who might be, please contact
me.
Thanks,
Shelley