A Vacation With A Little Family Genealogy Or Here Are Some Pictures Of My Vacation

Have you ever watched the television show Who Do You Think You Are, and felt a little envious when they fly off to some distant part of the world? I know I have often said to myself, “if only I could do that.” Well, in a small way I did just that. My wife and I took a vacation trip to Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada, I am well aware that it is not the same as Rome, Italy or London, England but it will have to do. Digby is the place my loyalist 4th great grandparents went to when the American Revolution didn’t end as they had hoped.

On the way, we drove through Maine. Maine is a state that I will have to return to as it holds much family history. We stopped in Brunswick, Maine and visited the home of Joshua Chamberlin commander of the famed Civil War 20th Maine Regiment. I had a 2nd great uncle that served in the 20th Maine.

This is Chamberlin’s house. His church, family grave site and Bowdon College where he worked were all in a few blocks of this house. In fact the church and college were just across the street.

On the backside of Joshua Chamberlin’s wife grave stone he had the word unveiled put on. His wife was blind the last few years of their marriage and this was a reference that now she could see.

In all the Who Do You Think You Are episodes they have an expert show the person around when they arrive in that exotic far away place. I was no different. Daryl, a cousin more that filled that role for us.

I am on the left and our host Daryl on the right. I could not have asked for a better host. I learned so much in my short time there.

Going to where your ancestors lived is the best way to learn about how they lived and get the feel of the land. The local history comes alive. I was also able to get three books that I may never have known about, they have given me not only an insight on how they lived, but facts about them I would never have known.

This is Fort Ann. I was to learn much history on my visit.

The tides are the highest in the world. They rise up over 50 feet. The light house would be right behind the picture taker to warn ships away.

My wife on the left with the people who are restoring a old family farm house and church. This is at the bottom of a large hill from the Loyalist Burying Ground. They were great people who served us cold drinks and even let me ring the restored church bell. This was a much used church of my ancestors dating back to before 1850. Sadly it is no longer used.

The Loyalist Burying Ground. This place is off the beaten path, but well worth the effort. This small grave yard is on top of a hill that in order to get to you have to walk through fields. The dirt road gives way to a path then fields. But yet it is well maintained. They take pride in their history.

Most of these people are related to me. This is in the Loyalist Burying Ground.

This marker is placed near the spot the Loyalist landed to make a new start for themselves. I had a 4th great grandparents and a 3rd great grandfather in that landing.

Here I am in the genealogy room of the Admiral Digby Museum Genealogy Room. So much information and so little time. This is a great place with very helpful people.

On the way home, we stopped in Haverhill Ma. to visit the statue of Hannah Dustin. Hannah is my wife’s first cousin ten times removed. The short story of Hannah is that she had just given birth when Haverhill suffered an Indian raid. Her husband was able to save all the children except the new-born baby. Hannah was taken captive. A few days into her captivity she was able to kill all the Indians in her party while they slept with an axe. She was then able to make her escape. My wife’s family in that same time period had a 7th great grandfather killed by a tomahawk to the head and his son my wife’s 6th great uncle captured and tortured.

The Hannah Dustin statue. I do not think we will ever be able to understand the hardships our ancestors had to endure.

This is a side plaque showing Hannah’s husband protecting the children

It was not all genealogy. My wife managed to find no less than five quilt shops to visit and even a quilt show. We also spent a day at Old Orchard Beach in Maine. So this is my report of how I spent my summer vacation.

Some of the many great quilts at the quilt show in Digby, Nova Scotia, Canada. For a very small town they have many active quilters.

Old Orchard Beach in Maine. This was a real fun day.