Sure look it: Joseph and Anne hitched up in Tipperary!

Hey everyone! Long time no see! That isn't an Irish expression, (it's an English one) ha, but it's true. My last post here was over six months ago, on May 11, 2020, about Dora and tuberculosis. I may try to add some new posts here in the future. We'll see. Anyway, let me begin! There's…

Wasting away in Massachusetts: Dora Mills and the scourge of tuberculosis

In the past I've written about my great-great grandmother Dora Mills, one of the key ancestors I have focused on as part of this blog, part of the general family story. As a refresher, she was born in Glens Falls, a small town in upstate New York on June 1, 1849, a date derived from…

The story Tom Packard told and the reality

I know the above image is a bit blurry, but the message summarizes the family story about Joseph: that he was murdered, he worked for the railroad, had collected his pay and was talking down the railroad track, on his way home when an assailant hit him over the head, knocking him unconscious. He laid…

Uncle Rob and the hotel business

In September 1970, Tom Packard of Plainfield, MA told Bob Mills about Robert “Uncle Rob” Byron Mills I, the foster father of RBM II (Bert), noting that Rob was "in Heath with Charles Packard before he died, even coming to Plainfield to stay with Tom and his family." But more can be said about Rob,…

Hattie and Uncle Rob’s house? — A photographic mystery

When looking through my family history records, I stumbled across this photo. I asked my mom  what it was and we determined, based on thee story of Bert and Miriam putting up the photo of Hattie (and Uncle Rob?) when they came to visit, then taking it down  and putting it in the closet when…