Stephanie and I have enjoyed a wonderful visit with my wife’s mother here in Boston. Old New England families have attics full of family treasures which link us to a family’s history. As we were packing old Staffordshire, ivory, fans, etc. yesterday, we were given a large genealogical fan showing the history of this family in New England. Two family members of this old family came to Massachusetts on the Mayflower including John and Priscilla Alden, and another line goes back to John Smith of Jamestown Colony fame. These old New England families are very proud of their heritage and history and pass down from one generation to another jewelry, diaries, pieces of furniture, ivory, letters, and paintings of family members. Stephanie’s family has lived in Massachusetts and Maine for four hundred years, and they are typical of these early Americans in every way. They have lived in Boston, Marblehead, Reading, Newton, and Lynnfield, and a few early families settled in Maine. I find it all very fascinating. My wife’s mother gave Stephanie three pieces of family jewelry which belonged to the Swett family since the early 1800′s: an exquisite enamel and gold Swiss lady’s watch, a broach which was worn by my wife’s third great grandmother, and a miniature of Captain Benjamin Swett, my wife’s fifth great grandfather. She also gave her a “spa glass” which one of her 19th century ancestors brought back from later trips to Europe. What an incredible trip this has been; spending time talking about family histories which go back so many years to the 1600′s when this family came from England. They have been in North American a very long time and were loyal Patriots while keeping ties with England. Perhaps you would like to see some of these items which have come to my wife during this trip. The Swett rocking chair has to be my favorite.
Thomas Moore email: TMooreSr@me.com Telephone: 801.791.9918
