Resources and work

Yesterday, we wrote of an example from findagrave (Elizabeth A. (Blake) Lunt) where the parents were changed but it wasn't clear why. We had done earlier research and wondered what had been missed, if anything. There are lots of conflicting information mismatches on the web. It is not uncommon for different positions to be about equal in support. What to do?

Well, research further. This lady had a brother with an unusual first name, Alpheus. The  1850 U.S. Census had her and him in the household of their parents. But, that year did not have relationships detailed, so we get the cabbage patch child syndrome (see Flyover country for some bit of mischief that will be further detailed in the future - like a kid just appeared?). Anyway, there also was a Jeremiah, uncommon but not so much. We have already seen his bio written since he was an early developer out in Sonoma County, California (post Gold Rush time).

So, Alpheus stood out as the key item. Solve him, and things would fall into place. Or not (at which point, we would have further work). Well, turns out that Alpheus did the trick. He has a findagrave record with the same erroneous father and no mother. So, Elizabeth is seen as sibling, however, the other names are wrong.

But, in 2011, people in the town of South Daytona FL which had renamed themselves from Blake FL, were wondering, whence the name? We have seen this before as we have chased down the same thing for places noted as Gardner/Gardiner (need to summarize this work). In one case, the work is ongoing with a slew of information awaiting analysis so as to help foot-draggers make a decision. In this case, there are differing eye-witness accounts (for more information, see The Gardiner that was), however the records seem to support one view more than the others. So, that is a continuing bit of excitement.

In a sense, this last exercise was good; we always want to have more information that supports a position. Or, we want to find things that might suggest that we're off beam.

In any case, the next step is to get findagrave updated. As we did with Margaret using WikiTree, we are using  WikiTree to collect the material for public consumption. There is one fact. As time goes along, digital records increase. As they come to fore, we can see how new stuff applies to what has been done so far. You know, DNA has caused a few wrinkles here and there.

In this case, a decade ago, there was not as much information for this family. Now, there is a whole lot more. The following list points to WikiTree where images were put up to use to write up the biographies. Given new insights by obituaries and such, we can extend the look for information on members of collateral families.

Oh yes, one bit of future work would be watching on-line postings of information. Too, there would be reviews of references to on-line postings. Meaning, anything that a group owns will not just sit there; it'll need active management; too, that'll suggest costs.

• WikiTree for Alpheus P. Blake. Each of those references have pointers to related material that we need to look at. Oh yes, the obit mentions his sister and remaining brothers. 
• WikiTree for Elizabeth A. (Blake) Lunt. Her son, a lawyer, was quite explicit about what he knew of his ancestors. One of the images is the bio of Jeremiah Ladd Blake. He notes his ancestors as well as provided details about his life with his parents. Noted in Alpheus' obituary. 
• WikiTree for John Blake. Right now, the images show the Census record as well as the marriage of John's marriage to Ruth S(anborn) Ladd. There is one wrinkle. John had an older brother of the same name who died at the age of 8/9. 

Alpheus has railroad connections that bear further study. Too, he was a founder of Hyde Park, a suburb of Boston. Per usual, the progeny of this family are scattered all over the place. We'll look into that, too.

Remarks: Modified: 05/23/2019

05/18/2019 -- There are several references to Alpheus at this site related to Winthrop, MA. This blurb mentions lots of activities that we need to look at further.

(Google: Street View, Map) Triton Ave. was given its Greek mythological name (messenger of the sea) by Alpheus P. Blake as part of development of land he purchased on Point Shirley in 1884. Alpheus Blake was born in Orange, New Hampshire in 1832. He later moved to Pittsfield, NH, then Boston, and eventually Winthrop. He his known as the founder of Hyde Park (Wikipedia). Described as a shrewd land speculator and railroad developer, his accomplishments included founding the Boston Land Company, chartering two railroads, "The Boston, Revere Beach and Lynn Railroad" and the "Eastern Junction, Broad Sound Pier & Point Shirley Railroad", and was also at one time president of New England Brick Company. Point Shirley's was orginally part of what was called the Deane Winthrop Farm. In 1753 it was purchased from Thomas Pratt (see Pratt St.) for a fishing station, and them named Point Shirley. In 1808 it was purchased by Russel Sturgis to become a salt works. In 1844 it became the home of the Revere Copper Works. In 1884 the land was purchased for development by Alpheus Blake, with financial backing from former New Hampshire governor, Samuel W. Hale, and former Maine governor Joseph R. Bodwell. Blake was also involved in filling and development of Orient Heights and Beachmont. Mr. Blake had a winter home in Florida where he was connected with the company that built the Jacksonville St Augustine & Indian River Railroad. The town of Blake (now South Daytona) was named in his honor.

05/19/2019 -- Some reading material: Memorial Sketch of Hyde Park, Mass., for the First Twenty Years ..., Founding of Hyde Park, Hyde Park, ...

05/23/2019 -- Having spent about four days looking at the Blakes, it's time to write a post. Go to WikiTree (John Blake and find profiles of some of his children and a biography in progress). Alpheus had a sister Caroline whose husband became a veteran of the Civil War. We have linked his grave record to the record of his wife (which points to WikiTree as the focus for continuing work).