This blog tells “the storied past” (and present) of areas in Stonington, Mystic, North Stonington and Groton through old family pictures and papers that have been passed to me from my many ancestors: Denisons, Averys, Randalls, Wheelers, Noyes, Stantons, Minors, Gates, etc. just to name a few.
Instead of scrolling down, as most blogs do, this has a static home page. You need to click on the “post” or article on the right column to read any post that interests you.
Since many old local area houses, barns, school houses and grave yards are deteriorating or are in the process of being torn down, I want to tell “their stories” before they are gone!
hey, good for you. good luck
Jeannie, This is WONDERFUL!! Keep it coming. I may be the first to respond, but I think there will be many more. I am going to forward to Cub.
Jeanie!
What a wonderful undertaking! I have many fond memoris of that home. Note home not house… I even have vague recollections of being in that home when your Aunt Grace D. Wheeler lived there. I have her books Old Homes of Stonington, signed by Ms. Dennison, and the History of Stonington. My Grandmother gave them to me with ld black & white photo of their home. My Grandparents, Frank & Grace Barlow spoke of her frequently.
I am looking forward to more information as you publish it but send it to me via email. I think of you and Dwight frequently and hope all is well with all of you and your famlies.
With great fondness,
Cubby
Hi, A famous Wheeler: George Brinton McClellan, 1864 Democratic nominee for President, lost to Abraham Lincoln; Union Civil War General, and Governor of New Jersey. I am a Wheeler: Mary Wheeler (Charles Miner) Thomas Miner, Daraccepted ancestor, (Mary Page)Rev./Elder Asher Miner (Lucy Spalding) Asa Spalding Miner (Abby Palmer)
Erastus D. Miner, Company G., 8Th Connecticut Volunteers,Civil War (Harriet Davis Potter) Flora Dean Miner (Abram Eugene Congdon) Harriet Elizabeth Congdon (James Bard Bill) Ruth Carolyn Bill (Robert Scott Hirst)Scott Bill Hirst
Good Luck! Relatively yours,Scott
Thanks for the nostalgia and history. My line is the Babcock line. I checked the Babcock genealogy and there about 40 Wheelers listed in the index.
Laurien Babcock
This information is very interesting to me. My Lovejoy line came from Mass, to Ct, to Vt, to NY, and then to Canada and then back to N. Y.
I have seen the Wheeler line connected to the Lovejoys many time.
If anyone sees a connection, I would appreciate your contacting me Thank you. Patsy
Very interesting! Nice work!
Nancy
What a great beginning to your family’s stories, Jean. Sounds as if you have some very interesting relatives to write about..can’t wait to read their stories. DO hope to get to visit soon, Love,
Dottie
That is quite the renovation story. Are you planning to live here once it is finished? I love Grace Denison Wheeler’s book on the Homes of Our Ancestors.
Midge
What a delightful start you have made. I will be looking forward to a lot more that you have to offer. I didn’t know you lived in Granby, Ct. We lived 15 years in Enfield! Another lovely section of the country.
I am just learning about all of you and look forward to meeting you at Denison Day!What a wonderful undertaking .I love old home’s,
and I am going to see about finding Grace Denison Wheeler’s book.
I forgot to tell you, I am also in the wheeler line, Martha,Isaac, and Ephraim Wheeler through Prudence Denison. I have only known about this info, for a few month’s, and I am very excited to learn all I can.
I’m interested in tracing the Denison family crest back to knighthood. Does anyone have information about this?
Lorena
Do you know if any Denison Male , with a proven pedigree, that has had their DNA, y chromosome , tested so I could compare my DNA to see if there is a match in the past. I have come to a deah in my own family research. My name is Dale Dennison , dennison1216@yahoo.com Thankyou in advance for any help.
Hi, Jean, i remember the old Wheeler Farmhouse well. I visited during the day several different times and even used the outhouse you talked about. Your father told some funny stories about that outhouse, but I forget the stories! You probably remember. I loved the stone walls and open pasture and fields. Inside I remember the old feeling…the feeling of another time. I loved the old porch and am sorry to see it come down. The whole house come down?! That will never happen in my memory. I remember one ovenight in the farmhouse with my husband Al. We slept in the bed at the top of the stairs and to the right. When we tried to sleep in the bed we were on top of each other practically because of the mattress or whatever. I remember clingling to my side of the bed so I would not deisturb Al’s sleep! Thank yourfor the memoroies! Maren
Hello Jean. I have just started on a genealogical quest and it has become a fast obsession. I am descended from the Newburys, Barracloughs, and Flemings of Mystic and Stonington. This is all very exciting and informative. Keep it up!
Thank you for this website. My sister and I were just in Stonington in June tracing our family history. We are descendants of John Randall. We toured the John Randall farm in North Stonington with Terry Bishop. We couldn’t get into the home but were able to walk around the property. I wrote a story for the North Stonington Historical society regarding our visit. I can send you a copy once it’s published. It’s really a fascinating story about our ancestors reaching out to us. We toured the Denison home, Julie was our tour guide.
Hi Jean, I have recently been researching my family tree and it seems we may be distant relatives!
My ancestors ( Randall) moved from England – where I live ,over to Conetticut and I believe John Randall is a distant grand father ( would have to work how many back! Lol).
I read with great interest your posts on Randall’s Ordinary In ‘
Keep up the good work! 🙂
I am fascinated and still checking this out,but recently discovered my Denison connection through my great-great grandmother,Jane Denison Smith.Wife of former Selectman Orrin Chapman.Both buried in Union Cemetery.Enjoying the blog.Steve Chapman,Cape Coral,Fl.
I’m descended both from Randall and Wheeler. Anyone know anything about Rebecca Wheeler from the late 1600s?
Have you looked at denisonhomestead.org. we are related! Jean