Afraid to Look

In the heart of downtown Boston, on State Street, close to the iconic Old State House, there’s a plaque on the wall of an office building marking the former location of the celebrated Bunch of Grapes Tavern. That tavern, which was in operation for most of the 18th century, was full of history, including my

Presidential Connections

President Millard Fillmore (1800-1874) and I are related. It’s true. Really. The 13th US President’s great-grandfather, Captain John Fillmore II (1701-1777), who lived in this house in Norwich, Connecticut, is also my great-great-great-great-great-great grandfather. It’s that simple. Captain John II was the son of an English immigrant, John Fillmore, who came from Manchester, England and

Beach Bothered

Perhaps I was trespassing when I visited and drew by Bass Rocks, overlooking Gloucester’s Little Good Harbor Beach on a beautiful evening in June. Nearby was a sign telling me that visitors were not welcome. However, I felt a little entitled to be there, actually. You see, nine generations ago, my ancestor John Rowe, an

North of Plymouth Rock

It’s about 78 miles from Plymouth Rock to this other rock in Gloucester, Massachusetts, by car—but shorter by sea. I’ve read that Anthony Day, my great-great-great-great-great-great-great-great-grandfather probably sailed from one rock to the other around 1642. He was one of the earliest white settlers of the area, and not surprisingly, he was from Gloucester, England.

Ipswich Immigrant

Edward Colborne was an immigrant from Cornwall, England and probably walked these fields in Ipswich, Massachusetts. He was a farmer for the wealthy Saltonstall family in the early years of his new life in America in the 1640’s. Edward did not come by himself – his brother Robert emigrated on the same ship, landing in

Wrong House, Right Place

Perhaps my earliest ancestor in North America was Edward Colborne who sailed to the New World from England with his brother Robert on the ship Defense in 1635. He landed in Boston and settled in Ipswich, Massachusetts, taking a job as a farmer for the wealthy Saltonstall family. I was excited to find that this