JAMES, Annie (1913-1997)

My grandmother (my Nana, Nancy Monica SAMMON JAMES nee Annie JAMES) has been somewhat of a puzzle in my genealogical searches. I have discovered many interesting things but she presents what I figuratively call a black hole in my family tree.

One of the mysteries I have struggled with is why her mom (Catherine Ellen JAMES SAMMON nee HUGHES) brought her to the US (Boston) at the age of 4 and then seemed to disappear leaving a 4 year old to live with strangers. Yet I easily located Catherine with her family [husband (Edward John SAMMON) and daughter] 12 years later in Rhode Island, in the 1930 census records. My assumption had always been that Catherine had returned to England, since it was during WWI that they immigrated to the US.

I recently made a discovery that helped to solve this piece of the puzzle. I was doing an expanded census records search for my great-grandmother in Boston and found her; she was living in a different neighborhood. And, her last name had been misspelled as Samon. The census records also told me that Catherine was a lodger/home worker with a family that had no other lodgers. It looks like Catherine supported herself by working as help for this family while her daughter lived with another couple.

I began a search of Boston to try and determine how close or far apart these two were from each other. Catherine was in the Roxbury District and Annie lived in the Jamaica Plain area. I found two things during this specific search: the first is that the actual house Catherine lived in is still standing and that my grandmother, Annie, lived in a very nice part of town.

I did a search of the Library of Congress since they have a huge digital photo archive, and discovered three photos circa 1920 (which is when Annie was there) of the Jamaica Plain neighborhood in Boston.

These photos, the first two of the arborway near Forest Hills Station and Center Street show the park like setting near Annie's home. The third is of the Franklin Park Zoo that was also in the neighborhood. The people in this photo are looking at the bears and just help to give us a feel for the styles and the place in 1920.

The Franklin Park Zoo, founded in 1912 and opened in 1913, is located in a section of the city where Dorchester, Roxbury, and Jamaica Plain come together. So my search to find how far apart these two had lived was actually answered when I found some history on the zoo. Roxbury and Jamaica Plain are right next to each other. This meant the two of them were not to far from each other.

Now my job is to find out as much as I can about Annie and Catherine's lives in Boston.

IRVIN, Levi (c. 1807-1920)

Levi Irvin is the father of John A. Irvin, and was a well-respected farmer in the community. So this article was of interested and impacted the entire valley.

Transcribed from The Adams Sentinel and General Advertiser, Gettysburg, PA, March 14, 1842.

In the Matter Of the intended application of ISAAC HOKERSMITH for License to keep a Tavern, in Franklin township on the Turnpike road, between Gettysburg and Chambersburg, in the County of Adams, being an old and established Stand.

We, the subscribers, citizens of Franklin township, respectfully certify, that we are well acquainted with Isaac Hockersmith; that he is of good repute for honesty and temperance, and is well provided with house and stable-room, and every thing necessary for the accommodation of the public and the entertainment of strangers and travellers; and that a Tavern at is house is necessary, and could not be dispensed with without much inconvenience to the public generally.

William Walker, George Rambo, Isaac Bean, James Keim, Jr., David Newman, John Fiot, John Dillon, James Keim, Sen., Wm. Noel, E. D. Newman, Levi Irvin, Andrew McKinrick, and David Goodyear. March 14.

I love how the tavern license is for the good of the town generally. It sounds as though the establishment has been there for quite a while but is either just getting a license or renewing a license. That citizens (including my great (4x) grandfather) would stand up for the honesty and character of the individuals publicly is very cool. We wouldn't see something like this nowadays, I think.

IRVIN, John A (1847-1922)

Transcribed from the Adams County News, Adams County, PA, Saturday, January 16, 1909.

Orrtanna Route 2--John Irvin butchered Wednesday. The four porkers weighted 384, 369, 368, 341 pounds. It was stated in The Times at a recent date that Mr. Irvin had put up 12000 lbs of pork. Mr. Irvin wishes to correct that. Instead of 12000 it should be 4000. Mr. Irvin kindly remembered the carrier on butcher day.

George and John Irvin each sold a fine steer to Harvie Cluck, Mont Alto.

There were more tidbits relating to other neighbors but I only wrote about those pertaining to my family but for this week in history there were lots of visits out of town and visitors from out of town.

I love that the John made sure the carrier got his cut from the butchering work. It was probably a method of payment as well as a way of recognizing a job well done.

IRVIN, John A (1847-1922)

I have lots of newspaper clippings from my paternal grandfather's line. They lived in southern Pennsylvania and the newspapers have been available on-line for quite some time. The same is not true of the larger cities. Finding these articles originally helped me to understand how "chatty" newspapers were then and also allowed me to trace people as they traveled and moved.

This is transcribed from the Adams County News, published Saturday, January 30, 1909. The header on the top of the specific page of the paper is titled: Letters of Interesting News From Adams County Towns - Personals and Items of News Interest from Various Towns in the County. What the People in the Different Sections are Doing. Entertaining Visitors. Services in the County Churches.

Orrtanna Route 2 January 29--Mrs. Edward Cole visited Captain Backman's in Fayetteville recently.

Joseph Dillon caught a large gray fox last week.

Miss Esther Dillon receive a card shower on her birthday.

Albert Kimple received a shower of cards on this birthday.

Samuel Irvin, Henry Kimple, John A. Irvin and William Clapsaddle each sold a horse to a Chambersburg dealer this week. There are still some horses for sale in the Valley.

This paper comes out weekly on Saturdays, and literally illustrates everything going on with the people in the individual towns and communities. Wouldn't it be neat to be showered with cards on your birthday? Anyway, the Irvin's and Clapsaddles run through my grandfathers line and obviously the families were close. Isn't it interesting that there might have been a concern about horses still being available in the valley after four people sold their horses in a neighboring community.