Barb's GeNealogy Life

Bowker Vital Records from Massachusetts Archives

This is an edited version of a previous post from April 20, 2010.  I deleted 2 paragraphs of self-conscious newbie-blogger musings.  On to business.  Surnames mentioned:  Bowker, Potter, Rankin, Stickney, Watts.  Place names:  Brookline, MA; Boston, MA; Taunton, MA; Machias, ME; Prince Edward Island, Canada; Fredrickton, NB

I recently sent off for certified copies of various vital records at the Massachusetts Archives, using my maternal grandmother, Barbara Bowker, as a starting point.  Certified copies are $3, and are transcriptions of original records in standardized format with a pretty gold seal affixed.  Photo images  and digital scans of original copies are available, but cost more.

Last night I received the first batch of 4 records on Bowkers from the Vital Records (1841-1910) collection – link:

http://www.sec.state.ma.us/arc/arcsrch/VitalRecordsSearchContents.html

I’m not sure what is the best way to display what I have – that’s one of the blog-newbie things I need to figure out, but until I learn all the tools here, I’m going to just list all the data.  Here goes:

Document 1:  Barbara Bowker Birth Certificate

The kind folks at the Massachusetts Archives sent a note that the original was at the Town of Brookline along with contact info.  They also included an image of the register listing where part of the page was torn, so here’s that info -nothing that we didn’t already know:

• Date of Birth: February 7, 1900  Registered: 1901
• Name and Surname: Barbara Bowker
• Sex: F
• Place of Birth: Boston
• Parents: Samuel W & Amy Rankin
• Residence of parents: Brookline
• Occupation of Father: Broker
• Birthplace of Father: Machias, Me
• Birthplace of Mother: Taunton

Document 2: Marriage Record of Samuel W Bowker and Amy L Rankin

• Year: 1893, Vol: 434, Page: 440, No. 128
• Date of Marriage: October 16, 1893
• Place of Marriage: Brookline
• GROOM: Samuel W Bowker
• Age 25   Color: White  Residence: Brookline
• Number of Marriage: First
• Occupation: Clerk
• Birthplace: Machias, Me
• Name of Father: William C Bowker
• Mother’s Maiden Name: Ruth H Watts
• BRIDE: Amy L Rankin
• Age 25  Color: White  Residence: Brookline
• Number of Marriage: First
• Occupation: At Home
• Birthplace: Taunton, Mass
• Name of Father: W.H. (sic) Rankin
• Mother’s Maiden Name: Susan A Potter
• Name and official station of person by whom married: L.P. Frost, Clergyman
• Date of Record: 1893
• — Note: Amy’s father was James W Rankin.  I’m looking into why he would be listed here as W. H.  There are several W.H.’s on the Potter side.  Perhaps someone misunderstood the question?
• — Note: The Rev Mr Frost was from the Episcopal Methodist Church.

Document 3:  Birth Record of Amy L Rankin

• Year: 1867, Vol: 196, Page: 150, No. 351
• Place of Birth: Taunton
• Date of Birth: Oct 17, 1867
• Sex: F  Color: White
• FATHER:  James W Rankin
• Residence: Taunton
• Birthplace: Prince Edward Is.
• Occupation: Britannia Worker (see Note)
• MOTHER: Susan A. —
• Residence: Taunton
• Birthplace: Taunton
• Occupation: —
• Date of Original Record: 1867
• Note:  Britannia is a particular mix of pewter (tin and lead) that is often plated with a more precious metal.  Taunton is home to the first Britannia manufacturer in the U.S.

Document 4: Death Record of William Clark Bowker

• Year: 1896, Vol: 464,  Page: 489, No: 130
• Name: William Clark Bowker
• Date of Death: July 10, 1896
• Place of Death: 107 Harvard St., Brookline
• Residence at time of Death: 107 Harvard St., Brookline
• Sex: M  Color: White  Marital Status: M
• Husband or Wife of: —
• If Veteran, specify War: —
• Age: 65 years, 10 Months, 22 Days
• Occupation: Builder
• Birthplace: Machias, Me
• Immediate cause of death:  Acute Bronchitis, Hypertrophy of Heart, dialation and congestion of Kidneys
• Undertaker: —
• Place of Burial: Machias, Me
• Informant: —
• Date of Record: 1896
• Father: Watts Bowker
• Father’s Birthplace: Machias, Me
• Mother: Lydia L. Stickney
• Mother’s Birthplace: Fredrickton, NB

I hope you found this information on Bowker genealogy useful.  I will endeavor to add more on a semi-regular basis.

Regards,

-Barb

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