Rev. Dr. Robert Elwin Terwilliger - Uncle

Robert Elwin Terwilliger was born on August 28, 1917 in NY and died June 3, 1991 in Tarrant County, TX.

Robert married

Rev. Ivan Melville Terwilliger - Uncle

Reverend Melville Terwilliger - Grandfather

Melville Terwilliger was born on January 16, 1875 in Crawford, NY.  He was the son of Albert Crawford Terwilliger and Maria Catherine Evans.  He married Mary Elizabeth Crisler, daughter of John Crisler and Ruth Livermore.  She died on February 18, 1914 in Waterloo, NY.  They had 4 children:

1. Dorothy Ruth who died in infancy
2. Alma C also died in infancy
3. Ivan Melville born on  April 4, 1896 in NY
4. Eunice Elizabeth  born May 7, 1908 in Waterloo, NY

Melville also married Ella Mae Seamans (Weiler). She was born March 2, 1876 in Virgil, NY. She died in Canton, NY on March 14, 1939. They had one child:

1.  Robert Elwin Terwilliger born on  August 28, 1917 in New York.

Melville died on Monday, June 14, 1943 in Chateaugay, NY and is buried in Crown Point Cemetery in Utica, NY as confirmed by the following article which I found while perusing the archives at http://news.nnyln.net.


As can be readily seen by reading the article, there is much to be learned from it and, I have included parts of it in the family tree I am working on separate from this blog.

Time has run away from me and here it is April 1, 2012.  A surprise connection through this blog has given me a "kick" to move ahead with the family history.

I received an e-mail from a family member (cousin found) because of my postings here, giving me information regarding the Terwilliger's.  Talk about God moving in mysterious ways...I firmly believe I am meant to gather as much information as possible for myself, my siblings, and so on down through the family tree.

This is exciting research to say the least!!

Introduction

It was the early 50's when my siblings and I were placed in our Aunt and Uncle's care. Their house in East Killingly, CT became our home until each of us moved on to a new home and began our own life journeys. That is another story.

I am a third child, and whether because of that distinction or simply because of a need to know, as I neared my 30's I started researching family history. There was a lot of information already put together by distant relatives on the Richardson (father's) side of the family and handed to me by my brother, Joseph, who was doing some research of his own. However, the only thing we knew about our mother was her name, Eunice Terwilliger, so I decided to start there.

Research was hard at first, I couldn't find anyone who knew anything about Eunice or, at least, anyone who would tell me anything. I got discouraged and set it aside for a few years. Then, the research bug bit me again (about 15 years ago) and I have continued that research right up to the present.

My research has taken me on an incredibly exciting and interesting journey. During my travels to various parts of the country, I found valuable, factual information and have had the opportunity to meet some wonderful people. Now, I want to share it because family relationships are the most important relationships we have. Hopefully, family members from all over the United States will see this blog and be able to recognize the part they have played in the lives of their family.

Next: The Richardson history as far back as I know...

In Search of Terwilligers

In the beginning, I, like several other family members, had no idea how, where or when we  would find any information regarding Eunice Elizabeth Terwilliger, our biological mother.  Seemed like every time there was a possible lead, it was just a dead-end.  Finally, a friend said yes to traveling to upstate New York with me and that's what it took to finally find some answers.

1. Around 10:00 in the morning, we drove from Livingston Manor, New York (where I lived at the time) to Chateaugay, NY (my birthplace).  This trip (339 miles) took us a little more than 6 hours. We stopped for lunch at a quaint little diner with excellent food.  Upon our arrival in Chateaugay, the first stop was the town clerk's office.  I was told all the records had been placed on microfilm / microfiche and were in archives in Malone, NY (birthplace of Deb and Joseph - my older brother and sister).  Arriving in Malone, we went straight to the town clerk's office where I searched for information on Eunice and Leroy Richardson.  I did find a newspaper birth announcement:  "Malone Evening Telegram, Malone, NY," dated July 18, 1946 -  under Malone Briefs - Mr. and Mrs. LeRoy H. Richardson, Chateaugay, are parents of a girl born Wednesday at the Alice Hyde Hospital (this is Deborah Marie - my sister).

And, finally, I found something that gave me information I was looking for -  Register of Births in the Town of Chateaugay, NY  for Martha Louise - this lists where Eunice was born:  Waterloo, NY- I was allowed to print it. After years of searching, I finally found a resource I could use to continue my research!  Was I excited!

We were also directed to a nearby business run by an elderly woman, who might be able to shed some light on the Terwilliger family as she had lived there most of her life. We discovered the shop, right around the corner.  It was called "Hug Bugs Gallery Gift Shop run by "Ruth Alden Jones Ryan ".  She was a petite little white-haired lady in at least her late 80's.  She claimed she knew our mother (Eunice) and that Eunice's father was a preacher.

Next morning, my friend suggested we take an alternate route home so we traversed Route 11 from Malone , NY to Route 81 S into Syracuse and west into Waterloo.  We stopped the car on the main street.  Excitedly, I raced across the street into the town hall and approached the desk.  I explained I had traveled some distance and was trying to locate information about my mother who was born in Waterloo in the early 1900's.  The gentleman at the desk, turned around and lifted a large book from a shelf and placed it on the counter in front of me,  it's title read   "Village of Waterloo Register of Births - 1900 to 1950". He handed it to me and, carefully, I turned the pages and here the exact wording from the register:  (I asked if I could have a copy of the page, however, clerk stated the book was not in great condition and because of its' age, they could not make a copy)

                 May 7, 1908, Eunice Elizabeth  - F Waterloo
                 Mother - Mary E Crisler (n) Age 40 B.P. New York (S)
                 Father -  Melville Terwilliger, Minister  Age 33 - B.P. NY
                 Medical Attendant - E.R. Zimmerman - Registered 6/6/1908

Waterloo is a charming village, great place to visit.  They have walking tours with maps, and an interesting fact:  Waterloo was the birthplace of Memorial Day and where the women's rights movement was conceived.

Coincidence or synchonicity or whatever you want to call it, I find this important enough to include here:

1. My brother Joseph (Joe) had moved to Rochester, NY several years previous when he married Sue, who was from there.  My family moved to NY from Connecticut because my husband had been recruited by a head hunter for a position with a company there.  Little did Joe or I know that we would be living in the same areas where our ancestors had been born, lived, gone to school, worked, and died.  Rochester is  56 miles from Waterloo and Sullivan County, NY where I was living and working (Livingston Manor, Greenfield Park, Woodridge and Monticello) is 161 miles from Waterloo.  Terwilliger ancestors and current family lived in and around New Paltz, NY which is 54 miles from Livingston Manor (where I lived prior to moving to Washington State) by way of Route 52.  Our grandfather, Melville Terwilliger was a Methodist/Episcopal Minister in the Northern New York Conference.

Rev. Joseph Richardson - Grandfather - What I know!

Joseph Richardson was my grandfather...I was born in October 1949 - he died in June 1953 - I don't remember ever meeting him - maybe I did!  I have pictures at different times in his life - given to me by other family members and have copies of the following US census records:

In the Providence, RI 1880 Census, I found:
 
      Gr. Grampa Joseph, age 55, Farm Laborer, born in Massachusetts
      Gr. Gramma Eunice, age 31, Wife, born in Massachusetts
      Joseph (Grampa) listed at 10 years of age, and his sister Martha, 9 years - both born in Minnesota, sister Alice, 3 years and brothers Samuel, age 7 and Elias, age 6 all born in Massachusetts,  and finally, baby sister, Elsie 1 month (listed as 1/12 of a year) born in Rhode Island
   

Moving on to the US Census of 1900, Addison, Vermont:

    Joseph (Grampa) age 30, occupation-clergyman with                                
    Adelaide, wife age 36 with children all born in Connecticut
        Edith, daughter, age 4
        George, son, age 3
        and the triplets, Lewelyn, 1 yr;  Leroy, 1 yr;  Lucretia, 1 yr.

Joseph and Adelaide and family Year - I'm not sure

 Next - 1920 - Killingly, CT

    Joseph - 50 yrs
    Adelaide - 55 yrs
    along with Edith, George, Lewellyn, Leroy, Lucretia,- born in CT;
    Jesse - born in NY, Edna born in NJ and Nelson - born in Massachusetts


1930 Town of Killingly, Windham County, CT

   Starts with Nelson F - Head - age 25
                    Elsie D -    Wife  - age 25
                    Joseph (Grampa)- age 60