Providence, RI question for Marilyn

Post by **marilyn morning** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:33 am

Hi Carol,

Too bad you're away and won't be able to read this until Monday.
What a surprise to find a picture of George's gravestone included
with his record of burial from Pocasset Cemetery. I think Toni may have
detected the panic in my voice, once she had finished giving me directions
to his final resting place. I couldn't write the directions down that
fast and gave up.

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1368

http://talkingscot.com/gallery/displayi ... ?pos=-1365

The top of the stone has the name GEORGE in raised letters, the front of the
stone has the inscription February 22, 1915, Age 9 mos 4 days. As described
by Toni.

I'll be posting these to you by snail mail.

Here's some good news about the RI Archives that I didn't want to mention, until I received
confirmation from the Secretary of State's office. Which I received this afternoon.

Due to cuts in the budget, the State of Rhode Island closed its weekend hours. They used to be
open one Saturday a month, a few years back when I needed to do my research. But since
then I run into the same problem every time I want to help someone doing research in RI.
Their hours are the same as my working hours and I need to take off my lunch to run over
there or wait a month for the record by snail mail.

A few weeks ago I placed a phone call to the Secretary of State, Ralph Mollis's office and spoke
with his assistant, Paul. We had a pleasant chat and then I began to state my business.

First I told him as a taxpayer, I should have access to the records that belong to the
citizens of Rhode Island. Then I suggested that he pass my comments and concerns to Mr. Mollis at their next
meeting. My suggestion was, that the Archives open one Saturday per month from 9-2 and close
an hour earlier each day M-F. Therefore, it wouldn't cost the State any $$$$

So two weeks have passed and this afternoon I received a phone call from Paul. Mr. Mollis has
approved my suggestion and he requests a short note from me, to be included in the Press Release
once they make the official announcement. I'm so excited that anyone researching in the State of Rhode Island
will now have the opportunity to get to the Archives on the weekend.

Regards
Marilyn

Post by **emanday** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 9:59 am

Way to go Marilyn =D> =D> =D>

Nothing can beat the voice of the people!

LesleyB · Post by **LesleyB** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 10:47 am

Hey, well done Marilyn! $\:D/$ =D>
Best wishes
Lesley

Post by **Ina** » Sat Sep 15, 2007 2:24 pm

Good for you Marilyn......way to go!!!

Ina

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:02 am

Wow!

Double Wow!!!

I just got back from our trip and was checking my email. I'm amazed! You got a state official to do something!

More important, you got the gravestone picture! Sorry to be selfish, but I thought I was going to have to wait a while on that one! I checked both items out on the gallery--the picture and the grave site location. Can't wait to get the ones you're sending by snail mail!

And anyone trying to so research in Rhode Island ought to be grateful too!

A million thanks, Marilyn! $\:D/$

Carol

Post by **marilyn morning** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 1:31 am

Carol wrote

A million thanks, Marilyn!

Hi Carol,

I was happy to help out. A million welcomes......

Somtime this week, I'll get back to the archives (long lunch

) for Baby Clerihew's DC. I'll send all the documents at the same time, so it may be another week before ya have the hard copies.

Regards
Marilyn

Post by **marilyn morning** » Mon Sep 17, 2007 11:12 pm

Hi Carol,

Took that long lunch today to get baby Clerihew's DC. It was just where Ken said it would be, at the end of the month of his passing. So sad to see 25 infants listed and some of the information will break your heart

One baby boy is listed as "unknown" and he was found naked on the ground "found 18 Bridgham" two days before Christmas.

He and all the other babies were given a proper burial, except one and it lists "otherwise disposed of." Sad to read this, but I suppose the parents just didn't have the money to bury him.

Your baby Clerihew passed on Dec 13, 1912
Age: 0yrs 0mths 0 mins
Address: R83 Willow
Parents: James & Isabella
Place of burial: Grace Cemetery

I placed a call to Grace Church and spoke with a gent, who offered to meet me at the cemetery and show me the grave. Carol I don't want to make any promises that I can't keep, but I'm not comfortable with this section of Providence, so I'll have to think his offer over.

Besides, Grace Church doesn't have the Records of Burial before 1939. They donated them to the University of Rhode Island. So naturally I called URI and someone is checking and will get back to me. Without the Record, we don't have a lot number and it would be next to impossible to find the stone. Its a hugh cemetery.......

Regards
Marilyn

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 12:24 am

One thing you learn very quickly when you start researching a family tree is how little some of your ancestors had available when it came to dealing with everyday life. Something as simple as aspirin or clean drinking water or just a basic education. One of the more shocking deaths I've come across so far was a baby who died from "toothing". God knows what really happened. Or one of my own relatives from the mid 1800's, a woman who died a "pauper lunatic" in an asylum. What if it was just menopause? Another of my female relatives by marriage spent about four years rocking in her rocking chair before her body adjusted and she rejoined us. This was in the 1950's, but I can see where a hundred years earlier she might have been commited.

At least we know that Baby Clerihew was buried and in a cemetery! As for going there, please don't if you don't feel that it is safe. It's just a gravestone picture. We didn't even know this baby existed until this year!

Do you know what denomination Grace Church is? Now I'm wondering why one baby was buried in Providence and the other out in Cranston.

The more answers I get, the more questions I think of!

Thanks again, Marilyn!

Carol

Post by **marilyn morning** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 1:13 am

Do you know what denomination Grace Church is? Now I'm wondering why one baby was buried in Providence and the other out in Cranston.

The more answers I get, the more questions I think of!

Hi Carol,

Grace Church's denomination is Episcopal. Its a beautiful church located in the heart of the city.

http://www.city-data.com/picfilesv/picv20405.php

Some pics of Providence

http://www.city-data.com/city/Providenc ... sland.html

Notice the picture in the 2nd row right side, its of the river that I mentioned earlier (about 3 pages back

) that was moved near South Main Street.

The cities of Providence & Cranston border one another and these two cemeteries are very close in proximity to each other.

Regards
Marilyn

speleobat2 · Post by **speleobat2** » Tue Sep 18, 2007 2:13 am

You're right, the church is beautiful especially in the spring with the flowering trees.

I keep forgetting how small Rhode Island is. On the map, Cranston looks separate, but of course, being cities in that area they run right up to each other. I grew up 30 miles north of Detroit and it seemed like the city just kept moving our way until the whole area was developed, but Michigan still has a lot of rural area. The first time I was on the east coast, it amazed me that you could drive for miles and miles going from one city to the next town without ever seeing a field. Now, in Alabama, we live inside the "city limits" but across the road from a thirty acre pasture with a resident herd of beef cattle, several of which pop out and come to visit our yard every now and then!

Carol