NALF - Genealogist's Report

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Genealogist's Report

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Genealogist's Report

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Hi all. I was elected NALF Genealogist TWO years ago, and re-elected in Turner. Time sure flies. If you are on Facebook, please friend 'National Association of Leavitt Families'. We are making lots of new contacts through that page.

We had a wonderful time at the Turner Reunion. I admire Turner for its attention to historical details over the years, publishing three Turner town histories (which I now have copies of), having a wonderful historical society which we visited, with research materials and museum artifacts, a historical website, and cemeteries with records of who is buried there. Leavitts were founders of the town and continue helping to run the show there.

I really enjoyed meeting you all. I always intend to make a point of speaking to everyone there, but never do find time to meet up with everyone. Had some really good first conversations with many people though. Ed & Pat Leslie invited me to visit and copy anything off their computer. Pat may have a new addition to our 1600's Leavitts that requires some checking into. I also met with Ben Conant. If you have the 1997 Israel book, check his background there. He practically IS an historical society with his knowledge and collections, and is the historian in South Paris. He shared much of it with us in his talk, old 1800's photos, artifacts, clippings, etc, much of which is simply "you had to be there". He also donated to us some clippings and articles. They included a military certificate from Robert P Dunlap Governor of Maine conferring the election of Lee Leavitt of Turner [1812-1896] to Captain of the G Company of Infantry, 3rd Reg, 1st Brigade, 6th Division, on 26 June 1837 (time of the special war between Maine and Great Britain over the boundary between Maine & New Brunswick). One of our correspondents is also founder of the organization commemorating that war. And a deed from Isaiah [1809-1885] & Nancy Leavitt to Lee Leavitt in 1862. Also copies of a couple Lewiston Journal Illustrated Magazine Sections from 1904. Also an old 1920s newspaper write-up "The Pioneer of the Leavitt Family in Maine" telling about Joseph Leavitt coming to Turner at age 18 with tons of family history. Another was a 1936 article on the Leavitt family farm in Turner settled in 1777 and still in the family. The first white child born in Turner was a Leavitt. Town Manager and speaker Eva Leavitt donated some Turner Annual reports for our collection and a list of veterans in Turner cemeteries. We also ended up with two Framingham MA church photo directories with Leavitts that I assume were donated.

I have begun a Lineage list, alphabetical, of all our members. Updates periodically are posted on my website rolandrhoades.com at the Leavitts page. If you are not getting my Leavitt Updates email newsletter (3 in May-June), email me and make sure I'm on your accepted mailers list; I heard of some people with obviously over-active spam filters who weren't getting it.

Ray Thomas is a good example of what we'd like to see from more people. He found a website with New Brunswick obituaries from Jan 2002 to present, and forwarded that to us, which is now on my Leavitt member-benefits page. 216 obits of Leavitts or with Leavitts mentioned. NB is mostly Israel and Thomas lines, with others scattered in. Someone else told us about PANB (NB Archives) now being online with their VR. If you find something useful like that, please pass it on.

Computerizing the Israel books is more complicated than originally tho ught.I found one research note saying Lincoln Leavitt of Richmond Maine from the Thomas book really belonged in the Israel book as a son of Samuel Leavitt & Lucinda Coombs, but when I started that family, I discovered that the next son Israel was not a son; his death certificate gave totally different parents that DO belong in the Thomas line. I just penciled a note in the book ERROR and moved on until later, when I have time to wrap my head around it. And all the books seem to have some families like this. That is why it is taking so much time preparing new books. There is no sense publishing new editions before we have checked and found all these errors

September will be busy. I'll be spending two days in Bangor at the Maine Genealogical Society annual conference, and 4 days in Plymouth MA for part of the Mayflower Congress. We are getting some volunteers to help in our research and can always use more help.

We received some correspondence about the Reunion:

David Nash Leavitt, Israel line in FL emailed, I wish we could come, but I don’t travel much anymore. Two heart by-pass operations over the years, and 82 years has slowed me down a bit. I really wanted to attend the reunion in Hingham, but couldn’t do that either. I think you are doing a wonderful job with NALF and getting all of this information together to update the line books has to be daunting.

My first cousin Carole Guentert in CO emailed, Sorry I won't be making it to the reunion. I guess Peggy and John will be filling in for me [they did]. Have a good one. Maybe next time.

Carol Leavitt Altieri in CT emailed, I am so very sorry that I can't attend this year as my adult children are giving a graduation party for their daughter. I hope and wish you have a great time!!!

Dolores Pomerleau of the Wellington ME Historical Society says, Hi Roland. Sounds like a nice time, but we have a Wedding to attend (Leavitt/York side). We will also be celebrating our 50th anniversary on the 24th.

Barb Beedy had sent in her registration and then discovered her Class Reunion was the same day, but her cousin Jean Morris attended.

Virginia James in CT says, "I wish you and all my unknown relatives at the Leavittt Reunion a great weekend. Lest I be thought to stay home because I am somehow disinterested...NO WAY! We have this news: My husband's book was just published and his web site established. As he is 100 years old, this is quite a feat! Six years in writing and a lifetime of living, observing, researching, making connections, and understanding more and more about this country's monetary and related problems. Book title: The Monetarists and The Evolving Crisis - Wake Up Americans, We Are Losing Our Great Nation by William H. James, Ph.D. I am in the Moses Leavitt line, and hope someday to attend a reunion, but assisting in the writing & publishing, and now 'selling it', is quite demanding. Also I'm Chaplain for local DAR and President of an educators' honorary group, the only one who now drives, shops, cooks, etc....well, I can't find spare time to attend a Leavitt Reunion! Someday I hope. If anyone wants to know about this book on our 'Evolving Crisis', check the web site: www.buildusanow.com Anyhow, have a great reunion & write it up later for us who could not attend." I checked out the website and it sounds like a very informative book to wake us up.

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You know how we sometimes have 150th or 250th celebrations of our old hometowns? Well, Margaret Gray of Rye NH, Thomas Life member, wrote: "Seeing we are all interested in genealogy, I have to share this with you. In July I am flying to Germany to celebrate the 1050th anniversary of the little town of Breitungen in the Harz Mountains where my Grandfather, Great Grandfather and Great Great Grandfather were all born and the house is still there. It is a week long celebration. Then I am going to Pomerania where my Grandmother was born and the church where she was christened. I am so excited about this."

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As Genealogist, before everybody gave their introductions of who they were and where from, I started off with a moment of silence for our members who have passed away this past year, most of whom were already in our newsletter. Summarized:

Bill Hadley from Methuen Mass was Moses line, and had even sent in their Reunion registration for this year. George Haney from Calais Maine. Edward Hodsdon Leavitt from Morton IL was Josiah line. Evelyn Marguerite Ramsdell of Haverhill MA was Thomas line, daughter of Lena Leavitt Fahlow, who was a foundation of our society 50-60 years ago. Gloria Jean Leavitt Horridge from Bath Maine was Nehemiah line. Thomas Leavitt Jr of Newton Mass was both Thomas and Samuel lines. Natalie Hutchins Brown Johnson of Kennebunk Maine was Moses line, our Association President 1988-1991 and Genealogist 1993-1995. They will be missed.

Roland Rhoades, NALF Genealogist

& Nehemiah & Israel Leavitt Descendant

207-892-0923