Hand Written Notes Gamlin History
Transcription
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Gamlin Records
Our great grandfather was born a Gamelin, in Normandy France (as was his wife in the same state). I do not know their given names They came to Canada prior to 1819. and settled in the Province of Quebec.
Our grandfather, Thomas J. Gamelin was born in Canada in 1819. and married Matilde Du Plaze, a French Canadian in about 1845. They had four children. Israel, Born Oct 12 1846; Thomas; born July 21 1849. Selina Born in 1850 died when 7 years of age William: Born Dec 15th, 1852 They were all born in Canada Thomas was born near St. Francis, near Big Lake Quebec under the name of Gamelin. about 1855 or 56. the family moved to Vermont, living near Morristown or Brattleboro.
Israel and Thomas entere
they could not talk English
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and the teacher could not speak French, They pronounced their name, and she spelled it Gamlin. It has so remained in our branch sinch that time.
(Facts as sent me from the civil war service records)
The civil war came along. Grandpa 43 and son Israel 17 enrolled the same day July 13 1863, at Morristown Vermont, and mustered into service Oct 7, 1863. at Brattleboro Vermont, as privates in the 1st Vermont Heavy artillery. They fought side by side in the Battle of the Wilderness were honorably discharged Aug. 25, 1865. at Washington D.C. Both are listed as born in Canada, and as farmer They were listed as Gamlins, other document listed Gamel
Thomas wanted to go but was too young to be drafted, and was persuaded to stay at home and help his mother take care of the farm.
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Israel came to Kingston California in 1868, and on up into Sierra Nevada mountains to work in lumber mills. Thomas came in 1869, on the first through continental train from New York to Sacramento. From there he came by stage coach to Kingston to join Israel. Finding his brother up in the mountain he helped build the Spangler house and helped the Geisler in their Kingston Hotel until a lumber freight wagon came out from the Wagy mill. On the return trip he was given a ride up to join his brother. They both spoke English well, for schools and the war had taken all the French accent out of their English speech.
In 1872 the brothers went to work in the Thomas mill.
T. D.
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place is now under the Sequoia Lake, a man made body of water. During their stay at this mill, Uncle filed a timber claim on the land on which stands the General Grant and the California Giant sequoias. many others closely riveling in size and heighth stand near by.
They began hewing out fir logs – Canadian style – to build a cabin.
In Dec 1872 Thomas married Turenne Pursell, They lived the first year on what is now the great Lucerne Vineyard, near Hanford
In 1873 William David was born and died within a month. The rest of us came along two years apart, all thir
Thomas went to the moun
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ains at some time most every summer & helped uncle hero build till 1878, when in you were born and we went to Oregon for a year.
Now about Grandpa Gamlin and his second family.
Our Grandma was converted at a revival, after they came to Vermont as I remember the story she was baptized in an icy river, when it was necessary to break the ice before dunking them converts A Catholic priest appeared and waded in to wrest grandma from the preacher, hoping to prevent the baptism. Grandpa waded in to help to oust the priest, Quite a water scene took place, but grandma was baptized. The Gamlin boys witnessed the scene, and became strong anti Catholics. (Remember how pa was in his younger days? Grandma died very soon after & he came west. I believe
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by the time he went to the mountains, where uncle Israel was. Grandpa went to massachussetts, and married. Joseph was born in Belchertown Mass. in 1872. Probably Joshua was born there also. Their mother was probably French. They went under the Hamlin spelling, and lived in Suncook N.H. then to Berkshire Vt. and on to Frelighsburg Que. where grandfather died in 1885. Grandpa had been sick and Papa sent him money to come to California on, when the money got there Grandpa died. The money was used for his burial. The boys, Joseph & they wrote about it and asked if Papa could send them some more money. He couldn’t. But we did hear from the family for awhile. Joseph was born in 1872. the year Papa & Mama were married. He lives now in
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He nor Ina know where Joshua went, or if he is dead or alive, completely lost track of him, I guess. He may have changed his name to Jacques. I had never heard that grandpa flew the coop because of grandma’s conversion. It seems there was time for grandpas remarriage and Joseph’s birth in 1872 between grandmas death in late 1869 or early 1870 and Joseph’s appearance.
When I was searching for records for Ellas birth certificate I gathered a lot of facts. The war records I have on file. Ina sent me some information and Joseph the rest, his age, grandpas death etc. So I am accepting these as facts. Uncle Willie gave me the 4 children, and when they were born, when I was up there with Herb. I believe these records I am sending are as near correct as one could get. Of course our own
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Family records are familiar to us all
This is a mixed up story about every few lines I have to leave my desk to hunt for something, tend the water. plant something etc, you can dig out the facts for yourself! I am working too hard, I know, but do so want a flower garden. I have to a shovel full, shake the dirt out of the sod of bermuda, sow clover and such, then fertilize wet down re spade and plant & sprinkle etc, some job, but the ground had gotten so fouled, w. roots, I had to do it. am getting about finished. Then too I have a quilt in the frames, to fill in th spare time. haw! Before Easter Nora was down with Elizabeth for three weeks. E. and the boys had mumps. bad. When Nora got home she had them too, She had them when a child, p
… about taking the
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Our church had a lovely Easter sunrise service Trumpet call at an out door cross, followed by “Christ arose” by four trumpeters, with the audience singing one verse. It was raining so we went indoors, where I had decorated for just such an emergency. A lovely white cross set in a sea of wild flowers. A sweet little angel in a snow white robe and silver wings sat near. The children put on an Easter service for we oldersters. The preacher gave a sermon. Several hymnal numbers by the trumpet quartette was most sacred. The rain let up and we ate the best breakfast ever. Hot cakes, ham (baked sliced and reheated in an electric roaster.) eggs. both boiled and scrambled, jelly jam, butter, buns, coffee and donuts, on four large tables
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outdoor furnaces. After breakfast an Easter egg hunt was immensely enjoyed by the primary and junior children. The minister & wife and the visiting musician said it was the most marvelous Easter service they had ever attended. It was lots of work, but worth while. 113 present.
Yes, it seems Nettie is very happy at last. Harold takes such an interest in the home and yard. Betty says it looks so nice and they raise so much to eat. I am so happy for her.
I am pretty tired, but this hard work will soon be done then I can do something lighter.
Well it’s time for another interruption so by by.
Lots of Love
Sister Lizzie
I think it quite likely that Arthur is of our branch of the tree, since we are the only ones who have dropped the “S”. When Joseph and
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