Forebears and Bears

“Two Indians, one named Sarah and the other the widow of Deacon Nauhaund were lost in separate incidence, not far from home.    They may have been turned out, or were possibly out gathering food.    They were of usual health but weak due to lack of necessities and ultimately got caught in brush and perished.    One corpse was too decomposed to be removed - that of Sarah - and she was buried in a hole where she was found.    The other woman was Widow Nauhaund."  Sarah’s Swamp is an area in Yarmouth, Massachusetts well known to locals.   Many citizens past and present, have childhood recollections of adventures in the woods and skating on the shallow water that make up Sarah’s Swamp.   Lore tells us that Sarah was an indigenous woman who died in the swampy area across from Long Pond where it was said her father, Deacon Elisha Nauhaught, made his home. Elisha Nauhaught was a preacher and member of the local tribe at Yarmouth. Long Pond...

In March 1861, William Nelson of Barnstable, MA posts a Notice in the local newspaper announcing he will not be responsible for any debts charged on behalf of his wife Olive and son Charles W. as they have left home without consent. Charles W. Nelson Charles W. Nelson of Cummaquid died 24 June 1926.  He was a veteran of the Civil War, serving in the 20th Maine.  His obituary is interesting in that his service in the war sounds very illustrious, and also mentions that he was not wounded.  The obituary also informs that he enlisted in Portland, Maine and removed to Massachusetts once his enlistment had ended.  I have acquired a copy of his service record and pension files which, despite being very large, do not confirm much other than he did claim a debilitating disability due to his service.  Most of the file contains depositions from fellow regiment soldiers who either do not remember him, or cannot recall if his wounds were battle related.  In all probabil...