Who Was Mariah Benson?

She was my 6th great grand mother. I think her name is both beautiful and fascinating.
Unfortunately I can not find much information about her.
I know that she married Edward Bumpus on Nov. 24, 1748 and that two sons were born Edward (my 5th great )grandfather and James and that she passed away before 1758. My 6th great grandfather then married a woman by the name of Sussana Dean and they had more children.
I will continue to research Mariah Menson- she is my new challenge!

Wild Turkeys in My Yard!

About on half hour ago I looked out my kitchen windo and saw the head of what appearred to be a wild turkey- I ran out the door and there was a flock of 6-8 of them in my yard. I ran back in to get the camera but I startled them and they went down behind the barn and flew off. I did find this pic on the net so you can see what I saw! Never had them around here before!

First the foxes and now wild turkeys! I hope these turkeys are nit the foxes dinner tonight!

Earth Sweet Earth!

The earth has been so kind to us here in the Midwest! These photos were taken about 3 weeks ago and since that time the plants have gotten much bigger!

So far we have enjoyed several pots of green beans with potatoes, several zuchini and cucumbers, but today was the frosting on the cake! The first ripe tomato! There is nothing better! Hubby and I split it. There should be more in a few days! In fact the plants are so heavy with tomatoes I may buy the food dehydrator I have been wanting or so long!

Who was Hannah Bompasse of Plimoth Plantation?

She was my 10th great grandmother but her parentage is uncertain- back then record keeping was hiy and miss at best. She is many times just listed as Hannah.
Many believe she was Hannah Anable- but there are records( at least some say) that Hannah Anable married some on other than my 10th great Grand fatehr Eduoad Bompasse.
Some believe that she was a Native American woman and that Eduoad chnaged her name to Hannah.
I am not sure this debate will ever be solved because of the record keeping or lack there of. It has been proven that they did have 13 children together and that they died 9 days apart in 1693. Their names are listed on the memorial at Winslow Cemetery in Mrashfiled MA alonf with several more famous Pilgrims.

Rudbekia & Torelina

I bought some new plants today- I had heard of the Rudbekia but not the hanging pot- Torelinia- it looks similar to Violas which I can not grow! I think it is beautiful!

Happy Independance Day

Artist: John Trumbull
Oil on canvas, 12' x 18'


Commissioned 1817; purchased 1819; placed 1826 in the Rotunda
There were 56 signers of the Declaration of Independance.
Thank you for Our Freedom.

Lillies in Bloom

These are some of the lillies in my yard- Grandma would be proud!

My Echinacea too!

Oh So Wonderful! Oh So Prim!

I really like the look of these! 34.99 whis is a little too pricey for me- if not for you thry can be found at www.lehmans.com

The Women of Plimoth

The women of Plimoth did not have a radio, tv,computer or cell phone- so their life was a much simpler time. But that does not mean they had an easy life- far from it! They were responsible for cooking, cleaning, nursing the sick,working in the gardens. and sometimes tending the animals and working in the fields.
If the colony thought they had committed a wrong the were put in the stocks just like the men.
Above are some photos of Plimoth women at their work in there traditional dress.

What a Great Giveaway!

If you like jewelry yo must enter this giveaway! Isn't this beautiful?

Go here to enter:

http://bannerhaus.blogspot.com link is on the right sidebar

Nature's Beauty

My aunt gave me some iris bulbs last Fall- I was not sure what color they were- I was thrilled when I saw this big blossomed beauty this summer!

Happy Memorial Day!

and blessings to all who have served!

Am I A Pilgrim Gardener?

I am learning that I am not so much a Pilgrim gardener! My 10th great grandparents lived at Plimoth Plantation in the 1620's and I have to admit I don't know how they survived- I most certainly would have starved to death or have been put in the stocks for poor gardening skills!
Today I used a cultivating tool to weed a small section of the garden and promptly got blisters on both thumbs! I carried 6 gallon jugs of water and poured them in a sprinkling can to water the garden as I have no outside faucet. I then proceeded to plant radishes and sunflowers- during this process I felt a stinging sensation on the inside of my left knee-looked down and had about 30 tiny red aunts biting me- didn't take me long to knock them off!
I had sweat running into my eyes and dripping off of my nose- definitely not glamorous!
The good news is the tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers and zucchini plants all look good- and I have two green bean plants coming through plus chives, thyme, basil, and garlic chives are starting to come up after 3 weeks- didn't think they were going to!
So possibly after all of this agony I will have something to harvest but I will admit making candles and tarts for http://oldesaltboxscents.blogspot.com/ , and yes tutus for http://fairiesflowersandfireflys.blogspot.com/ is much easier than gardening- but then you can't eat a candle or a tutu!

From Plimoth to Duxbury, MA

Many of the Pilgrims left Plimoth Palntation to develope land 35 miles north of Plimoth-among them were many famous Pilgrim families: Alden, Bradford, Brewster. amd my 10th great grandparents Edward & Hannah Bumpus.
Duxbury was founded by migrants from the town of Plymouth, Massachusetts in 1632. Duxbury's importance in Mayflower genealogy is irrefutable, and it is underscored by the simple fact that the town was named for Duxbury Hall, the seat of Miles Standish's ancestral home in England. Justin Winsor's venerable history of Duxbury commences with chapters on the settlement and incorporation of the town; boundaries, roads and landmarks; first settlers; schools and education; and early contact with the Indian population. Subsequent chapters are concerned with lists of 17th-century town officers, Duxbury in the colonial wars, the American Revolution and the War of 1812, and the history of the Congregational Church in Duxbury. Of greatest interest to researchers, over one-third of the volume is devoted to genealogical notes and sketches of more than 200 early families of Duxbury, including the ones that follow: Alden, Arnold, Baker, Barker, Bartlett, Bisbee, Bishop, Bonney, Bosworth, Bourn, Bradford, Brewster, Briggs, Brown, Bryant, Bumpus, Burgess, Carver, Chandler, Chapman, Church, Clark, Cole, Cullifer, Curtis, Cushing, Cushman, Dawes, Delano, Dingley, Drew, Dwelley, Eaton, Ford, Frazar, Freeman, Glass, Hall, Harlow, Hathaway, Holmes, House, Howard, Howland, Hudson, Hunt, Kein, Lambert, Lazell, Leonard, Loring, Louden, Mitchell, Mullins, Nash, Oldham, Pabodie, Partridge, Peirce, Peterson, Phillips, Prince, Prior, Ripley, Rogers, Sampson, Seabury, Shaw, Simmons, Soule, Southworth, Sprague, Standish, Starr, Sylvester, Thomas, Wadsworth, Weston, Winsor, and Wormall.

The top photo shows the town of Duxbury today- looks like a charming little seaside village!

Spring Flowers- Nature's Paint Brush

It seems like my flowers are always a little behind everyone elses. I was working in the beds today and I do have some thiungs blooming- the wood poppies ( yellow flowers ) are really doing well- and the forget me knots came up this year for the first time- I have planted them every year for the past 5 and they usually die out during the winter- so I am very happy!!

This is the first year for these irises- they are way ahead of my other ones so I am very happy about that!!