Merry Christmas from Horace and Elizabeth

This is the outside photograph of a Christmas card from my grandparents, Horace and Elizabeth (Sheldon Dow) Rockwell.

They lived on Scarborough Street in Hartford, CT. The homes were still there when I used to visit my mother in Connecticut and they were still grand homes. Grandfather Rockwell was a patent attorney in Hartford.

It seems that there is one small child outside the door of the house - and if we're going by this as a recording of their life at the time, one could guess that this would be their first child, Connie. Unfortunately the photo is taken from way back and the child is very small.

I'm going to check the genealogy book and see when the Rockwell children were born and then maybe also check with the one remaining sibling to see if she has any knowledge of this card.

In the meantime, Merry Christmas wishes to you ... in October!

A Few Family Photos

This is my grandfather, Horace Lewis Rockwell.  He was a patent attorney in Hartford, Conn. He was married to my grandmother, Elizabeth Sheldon Dow Rockwell. They had five children: Connie, Betty, Ricky, Rock and Henry (though not necessarily in that order.

My father, Richard Rockwell is sitting on this cute little pony. At left, in the had, is Uncle Rock (Horace) and Aunt Connie (Constance). Uncle Henry is behind the horse's head. Missing is Aunt Bet. 

The girls were all educated at Oxford School in West Hartford.

The boys all attended Kingswood School in West Hartford.

More on that to follow!

The Sunday Star, Washington - December 16, 1906

Mrs. Gainford Dead.

The significance of this article was lost on me because "Gainford" isn't a family name that I'd heard of ... however, upon reading the article, it became more interesting!

It seems that Mrs. Gainford (nee, Phebe Rockwell) was the daughter of Jabez Rockwell and Elizabeth Mulford. Jabez was born on October 3, 1761 and at the ripe old age of 15, he enlisted in the 7th Regiment, recruited in Connecticut under the supervision of Gen. Benedict Arnold, under whose command he fought and was wounded at the battle of Saratoga in 1777. He was later transferred to a division of the army under Gen. Putnam and went under the direction of Gen. George Washington with whom he passed the memorable winter of  1777-1778 in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania.

Jabez was in the boat with General Washington on December 25th, 1777 when he crossed the Delaware river at Trenton.

Pretty cool to have as a part of our family history, I'd say!

Phebe was the third child of seven children born to Jabez and his second wife, Elizabeth, who were married in September 1799 in Milford, Pennsylvania. His first wife, Sarah Rundell had died on May 24, 1798. They had been married in 1784 and had seven children who were left with Mr. Rockwell.

Phebe Rockwell Gainford had been married once before as well. Her first husband, Mr. John L. Kimble died about two years after their marriage.

I'll look for Jabez in the Rockwell book when I return to Florida but for now, let's all assume this is a legitimate ancestor! Cool beans!