Somehow, much of my grandmother's hand written and (badly) typed notes and research wound up in my possession. Traveling from Chicago to Los Angeles and back to Chicago again. It sat, in the dark of my mother's closet, until my dad passed and my mom decided to begin her great purge. Knowing I had picked up the torch, the next generation to pursue the Greatest Hobby on Earth, the papers came to live with me. Unsure for many years on just what to do with them, I have decided to bring them out and share them with you - transcribed, of course - no one can read my grandmother's handwriting! But in her own words; mistakes, rambling sentences, and all. I think she will be pleased her work and her writing are once again out in the light!
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the Twining papers |
The Twinings held a special fascination for my Grandmother. Her middle name was Twining. Her mother was a Twining. She drank Twining's tea, as did the rest of our family. I'm unclear as to the link between our family and the Twining's Tea Company, however. Our Twining ancestor came to the 'New World' c.1640 and has been recorded in the small book Genealogy of the Twining family : descendants of William Twining, Sr, who came from Wales or England.
Of all the research I inherited, the Twining collection is by far the most expansive. My grandmother wrote 'stories' and typed up other little sketches on them. I will present them to you here, as written by her.
Twining Story, cont.
Elijah Twining, son of William IV, was born in 1741 in Eastham, Mass. He married Louis Rogers, daughter of Judah Rogers in 1763.
"In the spring of 1783 Elijah came to Granville, Mass., rolled up a log hut and began to clear the land. In the fall he returned for his family. He went down and back three times on foot. On one of these 'tramps' it is said he took 6,000 in specie and on the way called on a tavern where he thrust his moneybag in a corner. A darkey in sweeping the floor had occasion to move the money but to his credit it is said he only looked up and smiled. Such confidence and recklessness. Dinner cost 12 1/2.
Wolves and bears were plenty and could be heard paddling in the brook just at the foot of the hill on which the log house stood. They drove the stacks of grain full of 'spikes' to keep the wolves out. At the Cape the hay was poled upon the uplands and there left to have the rains wash the salt out of it. Cattle was small of stature because of the salt in excess. Usually four pair of cattle were attached to the plow and they would go around the piece of land seven times so large was the piece to be plowed.
Besides property in Eastham, Elijah owned 2000 acres in Granville. Elijah was one time constable of Eastham and the Collector. A very accurate and systematic businessman, judgement was good and word was law.
He was a member of the Congregational church (Orleans) before 1773. It was said that he gave more than any other to his church. He deeded his property to his children in 1800, there were ten."
GENEALOGY
Elijah Twining b. 11/4/1741
d. 10/2/1802
m. 9/17/1763 to Louis Rogers
daughter of Judah Rogers and Lois Young
b. 4/1744
d. 4/30/1815
Children:
William Sr b. 11/13/1763 d. 11/12/1846
Eleazer b. 5/29/1765 d. 5/30/1829 m. 1/29/1795 to Mercy Smith
Ruth b. 12/2/1766 d. 11/13/1828
Joseph b. 9/28/1768 d. 1773
Judah b. 1774 d. 8/27/1854 m. to Catherine Fowler
Abigail b. 1775 d. 1775
Lewis Sr b. 4/11/1777 d. 7/18/1821 m. 4/25/1800 to Jeannette Smith
Timothy b. 2/16/1782 d. 9/22/1824 m. 10/26/1809 to Betsey Hall
Susanna b. 4/28/1787 d. 3/18/1812 m. 12/13/1808 to Edward Wolcott
Lois b. 10/8/1790 d. 2/14/1810
[note: Elijah Twining is now a recognized DAR Patriot #A119525]
.............to be continued...............
***editor's note: this is a transcript of research completed in 1982 based on information available at that time. I have not yet researched this family further, but suspect there is more information/clarification available to us today. I will follow up at a future date with fresh data. ***
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