Trip to National Archives - Waltham

Had a great visit at the National Archives on Tuesday, what a beautiful place! I hadn't been there in over 10 years, so wasn't sure what to expect, but it is very clean and modern and quiet. The staff were very helpful and I got quite a bit of good research done.

I first looked up Thomas Peters in the census for 1880, 1900, 1910,1920 and 1930. Unfortunately, the 1890 census was destroyed by fire many years ago and there was no backup copy. I checked the censuses for "occupation or trade" and the old writing was VERY difficult to read, so here is my best guess of what they said:

1880 - resided in Framingham, occupation "works in woolen mill"

1900 - resided in Cambridge, occupation Fireman Factory

1910 - resided in Cambridge, occupation [fireman, foreman, fariman?] factory, stationary (?)

1920 - resided in Cambridge, occupation [foreman or fireman?] Rubber shop

1930 - resided in Cambridge, occupation blank, he would have been retired by this point

I then searched for his Naturalization papers, since it showed in the 1900 census that he was naturalized and year of immigration (1862), I went to the Soundex file, found him and with the information on his index card (on microfilm) I requested to see the record. I was a little disappointed to see it was very brief, two half sheets of paper, but I felt like I was entering Fort Knox getting into the room to see it. I had to apply for a "researcher's card" with ID, leave absolutely everything on their counter, and go into the next room where the paper was on the table like the Magna Carta next to a magnifying glass (handy!) and a pencil and a piece of scrap paper in case I wanted to take notes. I read the papers and requested a photo copy ($.75 a page, good deal). The papers, dated October 26, 1887, didn't give much information, though, only his birth date of 15 December 1853, arrival in New York March 25, 1868 and was born in County Tipperary, Ireland.

Well, I didn't know about the County Tipperary part, so that was cool. Also, I had searched the Boston Passenger Lists for him and found one Thomas Peters whose information was close, but not quite the same as ours, now I realize I will have to search New York Passenger Lists, if they are on Ancestry.com at the library ::::fingers crossed::::::

Not sure what the next step will be, I have to process this information first and then decide.

More on Thomas Peters

Well, I actually found some notes from 1995 (!) and the family story is that Thomas went to MIT. A quick search of MIT's website shows they have been in existence since the mid 1800's. First, I want to get the details from the 1900, 1910, 1920 and 1930 censuses that I could not see at the library. I was planning to plant my veggie garden today, but it's raining and I have no other pressing business, so I might take a drive down to Waltham. I want to see what the censuses say about his occupation, that will be a clue to how feasible this whole going to college story is. I like to find out what my ancestors occupations were because I feel like the Irish immigrants working in the mills were a part of the Industrial Revolution and for better or worse, that is something that changed the world.

A Harvard Man?

Well, even though I have been doing genealogy since 1978, my mother JUST recently told me that her great grandfather, Thomas Peters, went to Harvard. I have no idea why this never came up before, but her family was difficult to research, so maybe I just didn't ask her the right questions. On the surface, this story seems farfetched. I know the family lived in Cambridge, but as far as I knew they weren't wealthy, but I do remember my grandmother, Thomas' granddaughter Margaret, telling me the reason she never learned to cook (she was the worst cook I have ever known, to be frank) was that her mother always had servants to cook for her until her father lost the money (maybe gambling? the memory is vague here). So, it's possible, now what? I went online and did some research and discovered that Harvard has a library that is open to the public and I can go there and look up past students.

What do I know about Thomas Peters? He was born in Ireland in 1852. According to 1880 census, age 29, birth year 1851, Ireland, occupation "works in woolen mill". According to the 1920 census, he emigrated to the US in 1860. Boston Passenger Lists, arrival date 22 September 1860, est year of birth 1849, port of departure Liverpool England, port of arrival Boston, Massachusetts.

What I will research: Check out that Harvard library, will be cool even if we don't find anything. Go to National Archives, Waltham, and get more details from census records that were not available on the library's Ancestry.com subscription, in particular the 1920 and 1930 censuses about occupation. Find 1900 and 1910 census info. Also, search for marriage and death records. Thomas' daughter Margaret was born in Framingham, so that is one place to consider. I believe Thomas and Mary Anne died in Cambridge, but not sure where they are buried, ask Mom. We are planning a trip to Mount Auburn in Cambridge, just because it is a beautiful garden style cemetery, but if they are buried there that would be a bonus. However, I seem to remember visiting their graves in a smaller cemetery closer to the Arlington line????