Recently I went to VT for a few reasons, all pertaining to genealogy. I met my 3rd cousin twice removed, Don Haslam, about 1 1/2 years ago. Last fall I met him for the first time by traveling to Lyndonville, Caledonia County, VT where he lives. He took me to the cemeteries of our shared ancestors, the Knapps and the Hartshorns.
Don's great grandfather, Nathan Knapp had an older sister, Nancy Maria Knapp. Their parents, and our common ancestors were Peter and Zeruiah Hartshorn Knapp. Nancy Maria was my great-great-great grandmother married to my great-great-great grandfather, Cyrus Camp. Cyrus and Nancy had 4 children with Lewis being the youngest. Lewis and Ella Aseltine Camp, my great-great grandparents, had my great grandmother Jessie (an only child). Jessie married my great grandfather Ernest Gladden and they had 10 children including my grandmother, Grace Gladden (their 4th child). Grace married my grandfather, John Bellanger. They had my father, Donald Bellanger, the 3rd of 6. He married my mother, Joan Dixon and they had me and my 3 sisters. (Are you still with me?).We also visited many places throughout Caledonia County and got to know one another. It was a great visit. The last day of my visit with Don we went to the VT state archives to look at records of those family members that had once lived in various areas of Vermont. It was exciting to see and even be able to copy birth, death and marriage records of some of my ancestors. Time flew by and I knew I would have to go back as there was so much more that I wanted to look at.
Nathan Knapp married Betsey Magoon - they had Ila Belle and Sarah Jane. Ila Belle married Gordon Ellsworth Haslam. They had 3 children, with Gordon Raymond Haslam as their youngest. He married Ruth Harrington. Gordon and Ruth had6 children. Don was the youngest with 16 years between him and his oldest sibling. (Whew! That's a much shorter story!)
Two years ago, my sister Brenda and I went to Swanton, VT. My grandmother, Grace Gladden Bellanger was born and raised in Swanton. We visited 3 different cemeteries we knew family members were buried in. It was an unforgettable experience. Seeing their graves and headstones made them more real to us. Since we went on a weekend we weren't able to check out the library or the Swanton Town Hall for more records.
This time when I went, I combined several things that I wanted to accomplish. I first attended Don Haslam's annual family reunion. His family (my family!) was great! Everyone made me feel so welcome. I felt very comfortable around them and I hope to spend more time with them in the future! Don and I went to the Grove Cemetery where Peter and Zeruiah Hartshorn Knapp were buried. We attempted to go last year, but the gates to the roadway were already locked up for the winter (I went in November). It was great to finally see their headstones in person. I took some pictures, we visited a bit more back at his house (his sister Gail, great lady, and her one daughter and her family were still in town) and then finally left about 5:30pm to head on up to Swanton. Swanton seems to be a quite and laid back type of town. I went to the Riverside Cemetery where Lewis & Ella Aseltine Camp, Ernest & Jessie Camp Gladden, Seldon & May (Mary) Smith Gladden and Fred & Minnie Aseltine Coyles are buried (this time I couldn't find Fred & Minnie's headstone - the others are in the front of the cemetery).
More at another time.
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