Category: Bradford County PA

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Gr. Gr. Gr. Grandma Emily Morse Packard’s Rocking Chair

Cousin Bob Seelye had been a treasure trove of information for the Brown side of the family. I could depend on him to remember people from long ago and explain their connection. Over time he has given me photos, letters and Gr. Gr. Gr. Grandma Emily Morse Packard’s Rocking Chair.

Bob had talked about the chair on a number of occasions, that he wanted me to have it, but passed away before we could get together. Some months ago his daughter Brooke, met me in Horseheads, NY to give me the chair. The rockers had been removed as well as the reed seat, but it is an adorable chair with an interesting history and worth saving.

I found a wonderful person, Brian Kilmer at Next Generation Funiture Refinishers who restored the chair to it’s original beauty. He matched the rockers with old wood and replaced the reed seat as it would have been.

The story goes that the chair belonged to Emily Morse Packard. “During the 1820’s , around 1825 or 26, perhaps, Ziba Morse and family including the four or five year old daughter Emily, emigrated from Connecticut to Bradford County, Pennsylvania. Several other families also made the journey overland and Emily sat in the chair, placed in a wheelbarrow and was wheeled thru New York City on her way to Bradford County.”1

“It is my understanding that the settler brot (brought) cattle, horses and what household possessions and farm implements they were able to carry as well as seed for planting.”2

“Great grandmother, Emily Morse never forgot this wheelbarrow trip thru New York City and often mentioned it during her later years. She married Jerome Bonaparte Packard who passed away in 1896. Emily Morse Packard died in 1902”3

Reference:

  1. Letter written May 11, 1967, probably by Ruth Brown Seelye, mother of Bob Seeyle
  2. Ibid
  3. Ibid
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Winding Down My Term and Moving On

Well, the three years as South Central District Director for the Pennsylvania State Society, DAR is winding down.  I’ve had a busy 3 years, but very rewarding.  I have visited each of the DAR Chapters in the South Central and joined in on many other celebrations.  It is so much fun and you get to meet the most interesting people.

I will now be concentrating more on Lineage Society applications.  I’m taking on the Sons of the American Colonists.  I guess I should try doing my papers for Daughters of the American Colonists.  It is one more way to document my ancestors and their struggles to start in a new world.  I also will be working on those few elusive ancestors who moved from the New England states to Pennsylvania.  Joel Packard where are your parents?

I’ve submitted another ancestor for Daughters of the Union Veterans of  Civil War.  Great grandfather, Joseph S. Shoemaker, certainly lead an interesting life.  He and great grandfather John Wesley Duart fought in the same 7th PA Cavalry.  As I’m learning more about both of them, I hope to write an article to let others know just how brave they were to go to war.

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Class of ’69 says goodbye to another classmate

Classmate and fellow genealogist, Audrey Isbell Allen passed away this month.  Audrey doesn’t know how much she helped me early on in my search for family and I never told her.  How sad that it is now too late to do so.  Point being – always take that second or two to tell the folks around you, how much they mean to you.

Earlier in the year we lost classmate, Gail Braund Walrath.  I will always remember her and Audrey with a smile on their face and nice to be around.

We will miss you at our next reunion, but I’m sure you will be there in spirit.