Yesterday we travelled to Salem to see what we could turn up about my family tree. When we arrived in Salem, we headed for the Peabody Essex Museum, which houses many of the original documents related to the Witch Trials of 1692. First, we made a stop next door to the Visitor’s Center, run by the National Parks Service. I wanted to know if they had some good suggestions for things to see, places to start in order to get a good historical picture of the times. I was amazed at their ignorance - they directed us to all sorts of amusement-type attractions, but mentioned that I might also try the Phillips Library and the Nurse Homestead in nearby Danvers.

We did in fact head over to the Phillips library which was closed to visitors that day. Phillips is a research library specializing in genealogy and local history. While we were standing in front of the building taking down times (so we could make plans to return another day), one of the curators spotted us and invited us in. He asked what our interest was, and I explained that I was doing genealogical research. He was kind enough to let all 7 of us have a snoop around at some of the exhibits, including 3 hand-written depositions from the Witch Trials and some personal artifacts of principal players. We left with a handful of information and an invitation to return and an assurance that the research into my families was already done, and probably bound and ready to take on home!

We decided to have lunch and discuss where to look next. On the way to lunch, we took a slight detour to view the Witch Memorial. It was dedicated in 1992, the 300th anniversary of the Trials. The memorial was dedicated by Nobel Laureate Elie Weisel. Situated at the edge of the Old Burying Point Cemetary, it is a beautiful contemplative spot comprised of a stone wall with 19 granite slab benches, each bearing the name of a victim. Down the center of the small park is a grassy strip planted with trees. I was touched by the flowers that had been lain on some of the benches. As you enter the space, you will notice several stone blocks inscribed with the final words of some of the victims. Truly moving

After our visit to the Memorial, we headed to lunch at a wonderful pizza shop on the Museum Place Mall. The pizza was fantastic, as was the service and the prices were right on (a surprise considering it’s location and proximity to tourist attractions). We decided to visit the Witch Museum after luncheon, based upon the brochures we’d collected from the Visitors Center. It looked like we might get an accurate portrayal of the events and hopefully some background information on the victims. I was gravely disappointed. After dropping $24 to get in, we walked up a flight of very dark stairs and into what used to be the sanctuary of a church. There is no handicapped access, in case you’re wondering. We were instructed to sit in our seats and wait for the presentation to begin. There followed a light and sound show with life-sized vignettes and an audio narration of the events of 1692. It was very brief and, consequently, not terribly informative. When the presentation ended, a young man entered the room and ushered us on to the next portion of the presentation. We were rushed through an exhibit called “Witches: Evolving Perceptions”. The presenter spoke as fast as any country auctioneer, slapped a few buttons on the wall activating more audio presentations and then tipped us out into the gift shop.

I found the second portion of the Witch Museum an offense to the memory of the men and women who were killed the summer of 1692. We were treated (and I use the term loosly) to an introduction to hollywood witches, followed by some solid information about Pagan Midwives, back to Hollywood, then on to a historical timeline of Witchcraft and Christianity. We finished with an explanation of modern witches and modern witch hunts. It had nothing to do whatsoever with the citizens of Salem Village, their lives, the reasons for the accusations, or their legacies. I’m sure they’d have been appalled - these are people who had nothing whatever to do with witches - real or imagined - and didn’t want to be associated with them. The “Museum” is nothing more than an amusement for tourists. Don’t waste your money.

If you want to know what really happened and to truly honor the victims of the Witch Hysteria, visit the Phillips Library and the Rebecca Nurse Homestead. The Towne family descendents have an association which meets annually. Check the Towne Family Association.

I love genealogy. I’ve spent the last year or so researching both my family and my husband’s family. Last night I took a little trip down one of the branches. Charlton had a prominent family by the name of Towne. I knew that I was also decended from a family of Townes in the same general area and wanted to see if and how we were related. No connection is evident so far, but here is what I did find:

Many, many thanks to distant relations who did all the work and were willing to share!

My great- great-grandfather Edmund Towne b. 1860 in Ware, MA was married to Arabelle Fostena (my Nana’s namesake) going backwards from there on the Towne side:

- John T. Towne b.1816 in Dana, MA - m. 1. Susan (deceased), 2. Eunice (mother of Edmund)

- Reuben Towne b. 1771 in Dana, MA - m. Mary Polly Thayer b. 25 April, 1779 in Dana , MA

- Samuel Towne b. 1717 in Topsfield, MA - m. Eunice Emmons b. 1733 in Brookfield, MA

- John Towne b. 1678 in Topsfield, MA - m. Abigail Stanley b. 1688 in Topsfield

- Jacob Towne b. 1669 in Topsfield, MA - m. Phebe Smith b. 1661 in Boxford, MA

- Jacob Towne b. 1632 in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England m. Catherine Symmonds b. 1630 in Gt. yarmouth (Brian and I lived within 30 minutes of Great Yarmouth) Immigrated with his parents and siblings to America in 1637 - they fled persecution from the COE because they were Puritans

- William Towne b. 1599 Gt. Yarmouth - m. Joanna (Jone) Blessing (also spelled Blyssynge) b. 1595 in Gt Yarmouth. Joanna Blessing Towne and three of her daughters, Rebecca, Mary and Sarah were accused of witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Rebecca (Nurse), and Mary (Estey) were hanged… Joanna was never brought to trial. Sarah sued for the wrongful death of her sisters and the movie Three Sovereigns for Sarah is about her. http://www.angelfire.com/mi4/polcrt/SalemTrials.html

- John Towne b. 1575 in Gt. Yarmouth - m. Elizabeth Clarke b. 1578 in Blundeston Suffolk (also quite close to where we lived!)

- Leonard Towne b. 1540 in Haydor, Lincolnshire - m. Ellen Greene b. 1544 in Haydor, Lincolnshire

Beyond that, it looks like the family’s name was changed from “Thomas” which is a Welsh name.

Be careful shaking the family tree - you never know what kind of nuts will fall out!

We had a wonderful time celebrating Sophie’s First Birthday. Everything was beautiful - ven after it started bucketing with rain, forcing us into the world’s least tidy kitchen for the remainder of the party. We had a lovely time and Sophie received wonderful gifts from people who love her - and was helped by her godsister Kay and older sis Catherine. She needed a little help blowing out the candle too. She still isn’t quite sure what that’s all about! However, Sophie enjoyed eating her bright pink strawberry cake - encouraged by her godmother Tina.

Above are photos of the buffet table before the rain began to fall, the cake, and the birthday girl with Kay - wearing the beautiful crocheted headband that Catherine made her.

We had a good laugh at the weather, ate heartily, and went back outside when the sun returned. Now all that’s left is a pile of dishes and lots of lovely memories!

Sophie turns one year old tomorrow. This is our busy time of year with birthdays from April through July. Then we’ll get a break until October when our family starts all over again!

We put up our lovely big screened tent yesterday, which will be decorated with pink and green tulle and sparkly butterflies. The kids are all busy making her gifts:

Jack made a beautiful pink crystal bracelet with a butterfly charm.

Catherine is working on a pale blue headband crocheted in a granny square pattern.

Caroline is making a kerchief with pink butterflies and a sparkly “S”.

William and I will be painting a wooden picture frame with a cut-out butterfly later on. This will hold a photo of Sophie and the kids.

Brian is picking up the high chair that I will paint later on with a garden scene on the tray.

The cake is in the oven and cookies will be mixed and baked. A pillowcase dress and antique hankie kerchief are waiting to be finished.

Tomorrow afternoon we’ll welcome godparents and grandparents to have a picnic to celebrate. Let’s pray for good weather! I can’t believe my baby is already a year old. It has flown!

I love how family-centered living offers opportunities like this. We can really take the time to just focus on doing something really special for someone else. We can work together to help get the job done and really truly celebrate life’s little wonders!

Jack received his Boy Scout Religious Award today at St. Paul’s Cathedral in Worcester. The ceremony was lovely - complete with incense (how I love the smell!). The cantor and choir were amazing and the HUGE pipe organ was very impressive both in size and sound! In all 13 boys from our church were awarded religious medals. Unfortunately the Bishop could not be present, but sent his deep regrets. Father Reidy, the diocesan youth co-ordinator stood in and did a beautiful job. In addition to the boys and girls, three adult received awards including our friend, Bill Shea.

Following the ceremony, Father took time with each child who was having a picture with him to remind them of their responsibilities now that they had achieved their medals. It was wonderful to see how important our diocese views the efforts of kids to earn their faith.

Not mine… Don’t get me wrong I adore baseball. I am an enthusiastic convert to baseball fanaticism. HOWEVER, this year we have three children playing ball, Brian is not only coaching, but assisting one team AND is the league director of T-Ball and Pony Leagues. Saturday mornings start early with a check of the weather, and perhaps a trip to the field to check conditions. I have it on good authority that some dads make midnight trips to the ballfield for condition checks. Then if all is a go, it’s egg breakfast for all (protein helps a lot on game day!), get 5 kids, mom and dad dressed and out the door by 8:30 for a day of games. Often we have two or three games starting within an hour of each other on different fields miles apart. That was the case today. Add to that ‘Picture Day’ where hundreds of children are herded to the largest field (which also has the least parking - go figure) 15 minutes before their cross-town game to have their pictures made, first individually (to give the other teammates time to find a space to park) and then as a team. If you have more than one child playing, it’s a delicate logistical co-ordination. You’ve got to take the first one to the photographer (and pose with the team since you’re coaching), meanwhile mom has the other two players, drops off the second child for pictures (you quickly change your cap for this child’s team photo, hoping you got it right), waits for child#2 to be dropped off at the car while dad dashes like made to the game he’s nearly 30 minutes late for. Mom takes child #2 and child #3 to child #2’s game, where she finds the field under 6″ of water after a week’s worth of rain. Since there’s no place to park the other three children (not currently playing a game) safely out of the wet, mom finds a place on high ground where she and said kids find themselves in the teeth of a cold spring wind. Two hours of this??? Mom decides to go get the bus, pull it closer and watch the game.

Halfway through, you must leave to bring child #3 to her game on another field. When mom gets there, she is relieved (Deo Gratias!) to find the field under several inches of water and is told the game is cancelled because of safety concerns. Driving back to the original spot of child #2’s game, the family watches as two dozen 5 year olds lose interest in playing and begin dancing alone, drawing their names in the sand or acting out scenes from Heaven knows what they’ve been watching.

Finally child #2’s game ends and mom runs to the field where child #1 is playing (and dad has been coaching) only to find that child #1’s team is getting completely creamed (22-8!). OK so they’re going to be grumpy but at least the games are going to finish an hour earlier than planned, you might get some gardening done this afternoon, perhaps finished clearing up the scrap lumber. But WAIT! It’s lunchtime…

An hour later, everyone is outside and ready to go. And it starts to rain… Another day bites the dust. If Life begins when the season starts, I’d rather be in Heaven - its so much more appealing!

*** We actually got a respectable amount of work done despite the utter chaos ***

Those of you who know me even a little bit know that I am all about homemade Christmas (and other gifting ocassions). I just found a place where I can get bulk craft supplies at wholesale prices. You can get one-off pieces for a pretty good price too. Factory Direct Craft has just about everything under the sun - or at least just about everything I could ever want for my projects. It’s early yet, but I’m determined not to leave every bit until Advent this year - with a new baby due in October!

Happy creating!

We welcomed Andrew John into the world. I can’t believe he’s nearly a teenager. He’s been such a joy to us - he has a gentle spirit, despite his recent penchant for teasing his sisters. He’s beginning to mature to the point that he’s a real help to his father - and a friend. He’s so tender with his baby sister that I wonder what a good father he will be, if that is God’s plan for him. If he’s destined for religious life, he will certainly be a most beloved uncle.

He’s been a blessing and I’m proud to be his Mama.

Holding a baby in your lap while knitting a pair of tiny socks. It’s about as close to heaven as I can imagine. I started a pair of icelandic lace socks for Sophie today. They’re made from a gorgeous shade of pink cashmerino that fairly makes your teeth ache it’s so sweet. The pattern is on page 28 of “Socks, socks, socks” by Elaine Rowley.

Bliss…