Volunteering in New England - Townsend Lions Club - Canoe Race2015

Many people volunteer in many different ways and for many different reasons. Overtime I have given time to physically working retail and inventory management in HFH as well as online doing transcription for the Smithsonian Institute. Additionally, for the last 20 years I have been volunteering in my local community as a Lion. It is one of the most rewarding activities I have ever engaged in. I have my late husband to thank for this as I started volunteering with him long before I became a member.
Everyone has their own skills and can contribute in their own way. My skills are often related to online activities. Having worked at DEC, Compaq and HP for 35 years before retiring helped build those skills and reinforce the ability in that area.
However, Regardless of skill being a Lion exposes you to many different types of activities, some of which you adapt to or are comfortable with and others not as much. You learn a lot about managing activities and events and working with local vendors and businesses, promoting events and managing volunteers.
One of the main charitable events of your year has just concluded on April 18th the club hosted it's 32nd Annual Canoe/Kayak race on the Squanacook River in Townsend MA. It is a challenging course and no matter your age you should not underestimate the task. This year the race was in memory of a man from Townsend who was a loyal participant and a fearless competitor, Andrew Gustafson. He opened up our race by years ago asking us to add a Kayak class so that he did not have to compete with 2 man canoes in his 1 man kayak. We obliged and the class grew. Later as time went on and he was well over 50 he asked us to add a class for Over 50 as we had years before for canoes. We obliged and that class grew. He passed away in May 2014, right after the race had been held and then we realized why we had not seen him in the last couple races. Being able to acknowledge his contribution to his family was a highlight of this years event. It was done along side the awarding of the trophies.
For many years we have gotten support from a local radio club (a MARA chapter ) who volunteers their time to "spot" along the river to insure we have a safe event. We are a small club and without them we would have great difficulty pulling off the day.
Recently in the last couple of years we have had the great luck of a local photographer taking and interest and documenting the event in a way that we have never had before.
With this long horrible winter we had, if you have an interest in canoeing, Lions, beautiful days along the river this is a site for sore eyes.
Mindy Randall Photography

Central and Western Mass libraries provide Audio and e-books "Borrowing" online

A vast library (no pun intended) of audio and e-Book titles are available to library members across the state of Massachusetts. You log on with your library card number. Then you "Borrow" via download to your PC and transfer to a reader or read on PC. You can even "Rent" via Amazon through a direct connect in Kindle format, which like any other Kindle purchase is sent directly to your Kindle device of choice.



C/W Mars Online Library Sharing Central and Western MASS

Lost Nation Theater | The Poe Spooktacular

Here is something unique for Halloween. You actually miss Halloween by a day but it is worth the wait to be different with this Poe Themed night. Costume contest , Big Band Jazz and dancing, death defying acts and more on  Sat, November 01 2014 @ 8:00 PM at Lost Nation Theater | City Hall Auditorium Arts Center39 Main Street | Montpelier, Vermont 05602 | 802-229-0492 © 2014 Lost Nation Theater

Lost Nation Theater | The Poe Spooktacular

Top Ghost Tours in Massachusetts | Salem Ghost Tours

Just read this and thought,  WOW, if you are looking for a great New England experience for #Halloween but are not into the #JuMpOuTaTYou experience this could  be a bit less intense and still a lot of fun.



Top Ghost Tours in Massachusetts | Salem Ghost Tours

From England to New England - On my Maternal Grandmother's side

In the last post I outlined how my family comes from England on my maternal Grandfather's side the Kendall's. This time we will trace the roots back on my maternal Grandmother's side, Nutting. 

John Nutton was born on about 1575, in Edwardstone Suffolk, England. In the 1600 the family emigrated (were removed ) to and had settled Woburn Mass. John Nutting was born in 1620.

From "Surname Nutting" in Diggin History:

"Some believe that John Nutting was born sometime between 1620 and 1625 to parents John and Elizabeth Rawlings Nutting.  There is, however, a theory that he may have been a child in 1618 since a copyhold deed found among (John) Winthrop papers read: “John Nutton (Nutting) a lifelong tenant of one moiety of the lands of Groton Manor”.  The grantee named was John Nutton, Senior.  This would imply that there was a John Nutton (Nutting), Jr., and therefore that he had been born prior to 1618.

One source believes that John Nutting (Junior) immigrated in 1639, although it seems unclear as to when exactly he made the voyage across the Atlantic.  Nevertheless, the first solid reference to his presence in the Massachusetts Colony was the record of his marriage to Sarah Eggleton on August 28, 1650 in the town of Woburn.  Before their fifth wedding anniversary, three children were born"

Perhaps surprisingly, the Nuttings and two other families who were considering the move to Groton were met with opposition from the Church.  Nutting family historian Reverend John Keep Nutting wrote:

To us it would seem strange for a member about to remove from one town to another, to be expected to ask leave from the church.  In those days it was quite different.  Each new settlement was in reality, so far as all local interests were concerned, a small nation by itself.  Its voting citizens were the members of the church – none others.  And upon these the town rested for defence and for up-building.  Solemn vows bound these to mutual defence and helpfulness.  When therefore three leading families proposed to leave Chelmsford, it was no small matter.

Following a vote on December 23, 1661, there are no more mentions of the three families until they are granted letters allowing them to join the Groton church.  So, perhaps the removal took place either in late 1661 or early 1662.  John Nutting had proposed that his move to Groton would allow him to settle near the meetinghouse there.  On September 21, 1663 a vote was recorded wherein John Nutting was appointed the janitor of the meetinghouse"

From  John Nutton to John G Nutting (both born in England) to John G II 1651 Woburn to John III 1678 Groton to Isaac 1714 Groton to Isaac  JR 1739 Groton to Seth 1779 Groton to Seth 1806 Groton to Henry 1827 Dunstanble to Fannie H 1862 Groton (who married Ernest Kendall) to Mildred Kendall (see Kendall historical line) to me. England to Townsend MA USA.

The Tracks We Leave...England to NEW ENGLAND!

The Tracks We Leave...



My family comes from England. Francis Kendall, born about 1620, in Norfolk, England and his brother Thomas were the first of this Kendall line to sail to the New Colony. Josiah was the first of this Kendall line to settle in Sterling (then Lancaster) in the 1730's.  The exact date of his removal from Woburn to Sterling is unknown.  (following from the "Memorial of Josiah Kendall" published in 1864)"Our biography of Josiah Kendall commences with his removal from Woburn to Lancaster. I am unable to give the date of this removal but it was probably soon after 1736, the year of his marriage."

From Francis to Thomas 1648 to Samuel 1682 to Josiah 1712 to Herman 1740 to Herman JR 1783 to Josephus 1808 to Edward 1860 to Ernest 1884 to Mildred in 1926 to me in 1948. This  is my line from Norfolk, England to Townsend MA USA.

"Kendall Family from "Colonial Families of the United States of America", Vol VI, pages 327 and 328, by George MacKenzie

"Francis, b. in England 1620 [incorrect birthdate] came to America and was living in Charlestown, Mass in 1640; he emigrated under the name of Miles to conceal his intentions from his family. At Charlestown he signed the town order for the new town of Woburn and was one of its first and most prominent inhabitants, serving for 18 years on the Board of Selectmen and on various town committees. He owned and operated a mill on one of the streams of Woburn and is described by Sewall as "a gentleman of great respectability and influence in the place of his residence." In a strict Puritan community he had the courage to differ slightly in faith from the majority for which he was duly fined."

Thirteen citizens of Woburn were prosecuted before the Middlesex Co Court in December 1671 for publicly manifesting contempt for the ordinance of infant baptism and attending the assemblies of Ana-Baptists which were then not allowed by law. One of the thirteen was Francis Kendall.

"In 1657, Francis Kendall is released from all 'Ordinary Traynings.' Middlesex County Court records, Vol. 1, p 143. There is a well authenticated tradition in the Kendall family that Francis Kendall was stolen from a Ralph Miles in England and brought to this country." Woburn VR 14

New England Senator is RIGHT. Fight back against the Oligarchs