England Family Cemetery – Found!

Two burial sites (depressions) Notice white flag and rock at head of one
John England Family Cemetery, Stafford, VA

On April 4, 2014 I wrote about John England and his Seine Pocket Farm located between our Del Webb development and the Rappahannock River. One of our goals since then was to locate the England Family Cemetery. We acquired the deed that stated when the family sold the farm to the Fredericksburg Power Company, they reserved a 150 square grave site.

On this beautiful sunny 70+ degree day we met with three women from the Stafford County Cemetery Association who in 2011 located this cemetery. We walked with them on the trail to relocate it.  Easily done as the map she had drawn marked out the turn in the path, at which the burials were located. We could easily see many of the depressions.  My husband marked a few with flags.   Burials done at that time did not have cemetery stones as we know them, but just rocks placed at the head and foot of each plot, with head facing east.  

The cemetery is on high ground, overlooking the Rappahannock, though obviously placed on land not tillable.  We located a temporary marker, but it was rusted so contained no information.  We are excited to locate this cemetery, and have plans for cleaning it up and erecting a marker stating: John England Family Cemetery.  We might even put up corner fence to define the outer limits of the burial sites. 

Next on the list is to locate the farmhouse and to clear that site.  We want the England family descendants to know that although developers have come close to their property, we residents respect the history of the England family and Seine Pocket Farm, and won’t let them be forgotten. 

Merry Christmas

The magic of Christmas

Our family is many miles away, so this Christmas we are remain connected through email, videos, phone calls and FaceTime.  We know that our children are happy and are developing their own holiday traditions, and that is how it should be.

Christmas mid-1950s
Me and my brother
Taughannock Boulevard house

A quiet day here provides time for reflection on Christmases past, both of our childhood, and of all those magic moments for our children during their growing up years.

We remember when our daughter woke us in the middle of the night because she heard something on the roof, she was sure was reindeer…we advised her to return to her bed quickly before Santa saw her, and she did.

Our young son pronounced one Christmas morning, “Look, Mom, Santa shops at J.C. Penny, too!”  I had left his toy in the box in which it was shipped. 

As we watch the videos of our young grandsons, as they made cookies for Santa, and put out a plate of carrots for the reindeer, and then left the fireplace door open a crack, we are happy to see new family Christmas traditions starting.

Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year. 

Leon Tucker

Bernice, Don, Leon Tucker

I know this is not the most flattering photo of Leon, Bernice and Don Tucker, but at this point it is the only one I have – so Leon, Bernice and Don, please accept my apology. But don’t you wonder where they were when this photo was taken?  They certainly didn’t look very excited to be there.  It would be a great story if we could find out!

But I wanted to continue with documentation of the family of Bert and Ida Lanning Tucker.  Earlier I shared information on Neva Tucker and Ursula Tucker.  Bert and Ida’s youngest child was Leon born in 1895 in Enfield, New York.

On December 17, 1916 Leon married Bernice M. Conover (1898-1989).  Beatrice was the daughter of Elihu and Anna Conover of Ulysses.  Leon and Bernice had seven children: Charlotte, Doris, Evelyn, Juanita, Donald, Carol and Shirley.

Leon earned a living by farming, by hauling milk, renting out his truck for long distance hauling of hay, and then he worked for the Tompkins County Highway Department.  He and Bernice moved from Enfield, to Trumansburg, then back to the farm in Enfield, and then to Trumbulls Corners. They stayed active with gardening, in the Enfield Baptist church, Newfield Senior Citizens and the Enfield Valley Grange. 

Bernice died 6 March 1989 at the age of 91; Leon died 10 December 1990 at the age of 95.  They are buried in Lot 851 of Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg, New York.

Herbert F. Agard and the Jacksonville Community Church

Herbert F. Agard

Every writer knows that Murphy’s Law states that as soon as you publish, new information immediately comes to light.  It is somewhat comforting to know that my great grandmother, Jessie Agard, was not immune.

As I read through the Jacksonville Community Church history, towards the back is a page marked “Extra,” and dated March 1947.  The entry reads:

“The day after this church manuscript was finished and had already been handed in, a paper was found. It was a copy of the Last Will and Testament of the late Herbert F. Agard. The will was executed on the 5^th day of January 1926.

The third notation in this document concerns this church and will be quoted verbatim.

‘Third – After the death of my said wife, if any of my property should remain, I give, devise and bequeath, to the Methodist Church of Jacksonville, Tompkins County, State of New York, the sum of Two Hundred Dollars ($200) to belong to said church absolutely.’

Herbert F. Agard died Feb. 27, 1926 and his wife died July 18, 1926

John Agard was executor and settled the business.

A returned voucher from the First National Bank, Trumansburg, N. Y. dated Jan. 25, 1927, the amount ‘Two Hundred dollars’ estate of Herbert F. Agard was made out payable to Philo B. Smith, President of the Board of Trustees of the Jacksonville Methodist Church and signed by John W. Agard, executor.

Trustees book shows no record of such bequest.

And therein lies a mystery. Did the money get put into the church treasury, was it turned back over to the bank to relieve some of their debt, or just missed in during the next meeting discussion? 

On May 23, 2013 I wrote a blog on Herbert and Emma Susan Baker Agard.  In that blog I wished for a photo of Herbert.  During this recent search, I found an early photo of Herbert, so another Christmas wish has been granted.

Happy Holidays everyone!

Ursula Tucker

Ursula Tucker (1891-1922) was the second child of Bert and Ida Lanning Tucker, and named for her maternal grandmother.  According to the genealogy section of the Pioneer Clevelands, Ursula never married.  This brief death notice appeared in the 31 March 1922 Interlaken Review:

“Miss Ursula Tucker, 31, died at her home on Whig Street [Trumansburg] having been ill for several days with pneumonia. She is survived by her mother, sister and brother. Funeral is Friday afternoon at the Baptist Church.”

At the time of her death she was living with her mother, Ida. Neither had an occupation listed in the 1920 census.  In 1915 Ursula’s occupation was listed as “housework.” 

Jacksonville Community Church – A History

Christmas came early for me this year. Yesterday UPS delivered a copy of the handwritten manuscript pages of the Jacksonville Community Church history written by my great-grandmother, Jessie Tucker Agard.

On January 20 of this year I wrote a blog about my search for the history.  I talked with a number of folks in the church, including the pastor, and none of them knew about it, nor could find it.  My cousin talked with the former Jacksonville historian, and she walked across the street to the church and put her hands on the history.  It has taken a few months to get the sections together and copied, but good things come to those who wait.

The history begins in 1790 when Methodist Samuel Weyburn and family settled at what was later called Goodwin’s Point, and now known as Taughannock. Four years later Richard and Benjamin Goodwin, also Methodists settled at the same place.  In 1795, three Methodist preachers, Rev. Valentine Cook, Thornton and Fleming preached in the territory.

The history details the beginnings of the Jacksonville Church, and then includes minutes of the trustee meetings through 1946. 

Members of the “Jacksonville Station” and classes are listed, with some notations on who was “removed” or “expelled.”

An interesting note in the Quarterly Conference meeting held in Jacksonville on 22 August 1846 was this resolution:

“In the T-burg and Jacksonville Quarterly Conference held at Jacksonville the following, “Preamble and Resolution” was adopted as expressive of the wishes of each charge.

Viz:

From personal observation we are satisfied that a membership with secret societies tends to estrange men from the means of grace and promotes spiritual declension.

Therefore Resolved – That we do most respectfully represent to the ensuing annual conference that a Preacher, who is a member and holding fellowship with any ‘Odd Fellows Society,’ ‘Masonic Lodge’ or the ‘Sons of Temperance’ would not be acceptable on either of these charges.”     Signed: Peter Farrington R.S.”

Neva Tucker and George Laue

Albert “Bert” and Ida Lanning Tucker had three children: Neva A. b: 1889, Ursula L. b: 1891, and Leon H b: 1895.

In 1911 Neva Tucker married George Laue (b: abt 1870).  Often Laue is indexed as “Lane.” Even their wedding announcement in the Ithaca Daily News reads as such: Miss Neva Tucker and George Lane were married at the Methodist Episcopal parsonage by Rev. Mr. Winkworth Tuesday evening.”

Neva and George continued to live in Enfield, New York where he earned a living as a farmer.  Neva and George had two boys: Harold A. Laue b: abt 1917, and Ernest G Laue b: 1920. 

The Laue tombstone is located next to the Tucker family stone (Grove Cemetery Lot 1172, Trumansburg, NY) and listed there are: Ernest d: 27 Dec 1994, George W. d: 15 February 1943, and Neva A. d: 6 April 1964. 

Albert “Bert” and Ida Estelle Lanning Tucker

When we visited the Ithaca area in September for my husband’s high school reunion, we spent some time in Trumansburg, and I grabbed that opportunity to take photos of some family tombstones.  Am just now getting them off my phone!  We shall start with the stone of Bert Tucker and Ida Lanning Tucker.

Albert “Bert” Tucker (b: 1864) was the son of Albert R. Tucker (1842-1864) and Sally Lavina Hausner (1841-1906).  Bert’s father passed away the same year Bert was born. Bert’s mother, Sally Lavina, then married Charles Hubbell, but that's a story for another day.

Bert Tucker married Ida Estelle Lanning in 1883. Ida was the daughter of Horace and Ursula Lanning of Enfield, NY.  Bert and Ida had three children: Neva A. (b: 1889), Ursula L. (b: 1891), and Leon H. (b: 1895).

Bert Tucker died 10 September 1916 at the age of 51. He is buried in Lot 1172, Grove Cemetery, Trumansburg, New York. Ida Estelle Tucker died 17 February 1936 and is buried alongside her husband.

Let us not forget ...