A peek at the past

An excerpt from our family history, this month again featuring John Leigh (1600–1671), the eighth-great-grandfather of my siblings and me

Last month, as we summarized John Leigh’s life in early Massachusetts, we reported that in 1641 “John Lee of Ipswich, was accused of stealing the widow Haffield’s bible; was tried, found guilty, and sentenced to pay the wid­ow 15s. for her bible, and 10s. for lying about it.”[i]

And now for some more of the story: “This last disgraceful record against John cannot pass unnoticed. He might speak disrespectfully of those in authority over him, or even play the part of the gay seducer, and yet, with our knowledge of the laws of the Puritans, have his sins con­doned; but to steal and lie requires some further explanation.

“He lied because he stole—a thief would have no scruples on that score, but why did he steal? As an ordinary thief only for the money value of the bible? The punishment was slight for such an offence, in those times and in such a community, and we find no further record of thieving propen­sities. He could not sell the bible in Ipswich with­out every prospect of being found out; according to writers there were not two hundred persons (not families) in Ipswich at the time.

“No, it was done out of spite, the widow Haffield was his next neighbor, her land joined his. He had been corrected by the Courts two or three times for his rebellious spirit, and with his freedom with the maids about him, and the widow undertook the charge of his spiritual welfare.

“She waylaid him and quoted scripture to him, until goaded to desperation, he resolved to get her bible away from her and so put a stop to her interference. That would seem to be the only way by which we can account for this circum­stance. If the theft had no extenuating circum­stances, it is not likely that the fine would have been so light; the thief would not have been allowed to remain in the community.

“We should have liked to pass this over in silence, but it is a matter of printed record, and others might bring it up at any time.”[ii]

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[i] William Lee (comp.), John Leigh of Agawam (Ipswich) Massa­chusetts and His Descendants of the Name of Lee (Albany, New York: 1888), 69 (online at http://www.archive.org/ details/johnleighofagawa00leew).

[ii] Ibid., 69–70; paragraphing added.

Our family 50 years ago

A look at what was going on in the family in October 1966 as recorded in Dorothy’s diary

Ivard and Dorothy went on October 5 to a meet­ing of doctors and nurses discussing Ivard’s case. His trouble, they said, was hardening of the arteries, which is what caused his clot and stroke back in July. On October 14 he went to the doctor. On the insurance form where it asked when he will be able to return to work, the doctor wrote “Never.” He told him to get another 90-day leave of absence from the railroad, and he’d see then.

She mentioned the first frost occurred on Octo­ber 7. The first snow in the mountains occurred on the 13th.

She continued her fall canning with 11 quarts of spaghetti sauce on the 4th, 13 pints of Indian relish and 22 “little pots of pepper in freezer” on the 8th, 8 packages of cauliflower for the freezer on the 9th, and 12 pints mustard pickles on the 10th. On the 22nd she mentioned they bought 8 cases of food and on the 29th they went out to where Gene was working and picked 3 sacks of potatoes.

Gene spoke on the 23rd in the Sixth Ward sac­rament meeting, and they went to hear his talk.

She reported that Kay called the afternoon of October 28 to say Claudia had their baby early, about six months along, and he lived only two and a half hours. Kay named and blessed him before he died. The next evening Ivard, Dorothy, and Ray took the train to Utah. The funeral was held in Bountiful on the 31st, which was also Jackie’s 10th birthday.

Jackie had had a birthday party two days earlier with 10 girls attending. Dorothy wrote, “Dale took charge of the games and all.”

Bits and tidbits

Recent news from family members

Kira (Dale and LeAnn’s family) posted on Labor Day: “Last night Scarlett shocked herself trying to plug in a nightlight, which was super sad and scary. I think the electricity must have done something to her because she has been a perfect angel all day and decided to potty train herself. No accidents all day. She just woke up this morn­ing and magically knew how to use the potty.”

Chuck McAllister’s mother, Margaret Ellen Linford McAllister, died September 7, due to complications of pneumonia. She was 71 years old. Chuck is Kay’s son-in-law, married to Andrea. According to the obituary, she was “survived by her husband of 50 years, Karl W. McAllister, six children: Karl David, Benjamin L., Charles Mark, Adam James, Paul Samuel and Heather, also 25 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Born November 25, 1944 in SLC to Duane H. Linford and Mary Ellen McDonald, Margaret was the oldest of five living children. A graduate of Granite High, she excelled in the arts, and music, and became a ‘Sterling Honor’ of Home Eco­nom­ics. After earning her Bachelors and Masters degrees, she taught ‘Special Ed.’ for 30 years, and was beloved by all her students.

“Love of family and motherhood were her most cherished and honored achievements. She excelled in every cooking and sewing skill, but especially enjoyed creating many unique heir­looms quilts and artful embroideries.”

The funeral was held on September 12 in Lehi.

For Claudia’s and my family this is “the year of the move.” Five months ago we had children spread across all of the time zones in the conti­nental United States: Becca and Cade in Fall­brook, California (Pacific time zone); Rachael and Robert in Harris­burg, Illinois (Central time zone); Eliza and Paul in Cumming, Georgia (Eastern time zone); and the other five in Utah (Mountain time zone).

In June Becca and Cade moved from southern California to St. George. Cade’s contract work for the military can be done largely from home, and they are in St. George (either permanently or tem­porarily; they’ll know in January) helping to care for Cade’s mom and grandma.

The same month Rachael and Robert moved from southern Illinois to Kaysville. Robert, a medical doctor, is now working for Inter­moun­tain Health Care, working at InstaCares in Weber and Davis counties.

And this coming week Eliza and Paul are moving from Georgia to somewhere in Utah (initially staying with us here in Bountiful until their house in Georgia sells and they decide where they want to buy a home here along the Wasatch Front). Paul, a pharmacist, will become a manager for a new pharmacy probably to be located some­where in the north end of Utah County.

And two of our Utah children moved: Anna and Pete to a new home in the Yalecrest area (also known as the Harvard-Yale area) of Salt Lake City and Mary and Vince from our basement into Anna and Pete’s former house in the Sugar House area of Salt Lake.

A final word

Fall has to be one of the most exquisite times of the year. And for those of us in the northerly climes, October showcases the beauty of the season unlike any of the other autumn months.

The poet Robert Frost captured the gentle longing that wishes this magical season not pass by too quickly.

O hushed October morning mild,

Thy leaves have ripened to the fall;

Tomorrow’s wind, if it be wild,

Should waste them all.

The crows above the forest call;

Tomorrow they may form and go.

O hushed October morning mild,

Begin the hours of this day slow.

Make the day seem to us less brief.

Hearts not averse to being beguiled,

Beguile us in the way you know.

Release one leaf at break of day;

At noon release another leaf;

One from our trees, one far away.

Retard the sun with gentle mist;

Enchant the land with amethyst.

Slow, slow!

For the grapes’ sake, if they were all,

Whose leaves already are burnt with frost,

Whose clustered fruit must else be lost—

For the grapes’ sake along the wall.[i]

Don’t we—especially those of us who are in or who are approaching the autumn of our lives—wish those days would rush by a little more slowly? that this magical season not pass by too quickly?

I resonate with this sentiment from Anne of Green Gables when Anne observes: “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.”[ii]

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[i] Robert Frost, “October,” in A Boy’s Will (New York: Henry Holt, 1915).

[ii] L. M. Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables (Canada: L. C. Page, 1908)