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From: "Betty" <>
Subject: [GENMASSACHUSETTS] "How" Did Families Travel between States ~1900
Date: Wed, 8 Apr 2009 07:21:12 -0400


Hello,

I've been thinking about my related KIDDER and WILKINS ancestors again this
morning. I've been researching both names for 15+ years. As I've
mentioned on some Lists, I spent over a week recently researching the
WILKINS families in Presque Isle, ME, from 1870's to 1950's.

As I've mentioned, I found out that a Joseph WILKINS moved his young family
from Lawrence, MA, to Whitefield, NH, which is north of the White Mountains
(and not far from the Prov. of Quebec). And, then his son, Edward, moved
his wife and very young daughter from Whitefield to - Presque Isle, ME.
That was ~1910. My imagination can't come up with "how" this young family
would have traveled that great distance.

And, my great-grandfather, "Sanford" KIDDER, in Princeton, ME (near Calais)
(south of Presque Isle), had 2 brothers who left Princeton and moved their
young families to Berlin, NH. And that is another town north of the White
Mountains, and actually not far from Whitefield. And that would have been
that 1900-1910 timeframe, also.

In fact, Clinton KIDDER had a major Stroke in Berlin, and his wife had to
move the family, including very young children and a sick husband - back to
Princeton. And she might have been pregnant at the time. She delivered
their first daughter in Princeton and Clinton died while the little girl was
still a baby. "How" did Mrs. KIDDER do that ?

And, for my KERR / HENDERSON ancestors in the Prov. of Quebec, my
great-grandfather left Compton Co., P.Q. ~1874 and came down to Boston.
"How" did he get here? His mother, Mrs. Elizabeth (HENDERSON) KERR,
had a sister, Mrs. Hannah ROBBINS, who left Argenteuil Co., P.Q., and moved
to North Hero, VT. Then the young couple moved again to the Worcester,
MA, area. "How" did this family get from northern VT to MA in the late
1800's?

I can't think of other examples of families traveling great distances during
the 1880 to 1910 timeframe at the moment. But, it makes me wonder
whether anyone has ever written a book about "how" men, women, and
families traveled great distances during those years.

In the case of Whitefield, NH, to Presque Isle, ME, there are long, wide,
tall, and great mountains between them ! And there were no major
waterways - between them ! I supposed they could have headed north to
the St. Lawrence River and made their way to the Ocean and made their way
down to Portsmouth or Boston. Or, they could have headed down the
Merrimack River to that area. Or, they could have headed down the St.
Croix River towards the Ocean to that area. But, these proposed "routes"
would have been way out of their way !

Is any researcher looking for a possible "topic" for a new history book?

I know that "train travel" existed in New England after 1850. But, most
tracks would have been "south to north" or vice versa, wouldn't they?
Not across mountains across northern New England?

Just "food for thought."

Betty (near Lowell, MA)



(on Lists for 8 years; now an Administrator for 8 Lists)

FYI:

The "Old Canada Road" has been discussed on the Quebec-Research List this
week. And, looking at an on-line history, that went from, in general, what
is now Quebec City to Skowhegan, ME, in the 1700's. But, it was just - a
road ! But it did allow stagecoaches to travel back and forth in the
1800's. But, Skowhegan is in the middle of the State (north of
Waterville and Augusta) and "not" near Presque Isle. Etc.




April and May
what a wonderful way
to spend your day ........

(me)


How will you spend "Patriot's Day" on the 20th?



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