I’ve always been the “Family Historian.”
My interest in family history began in the middle of the night of December 8, 1959. As I was being admitted to the local hospital for appendicitis, my father was asked, “What does his middle initial stand for?” As an eight-year-old, I had no doubt that he knew that the “M” stood for “Michael.” However, his quick response was “Melville.” I was in too much pain to correct him, but not enough to stop from wondering, “Who the heck is “Melville?”
Subsequently, my father told me that “Melville” Wadlin, his great grandfather, was from Maine and had fought briefly in the Civil War. I corrected him about my middle name, but I was hooked on learning more about my family’s history. My father and Melville are pictured here.
As an adult I began to feel the need to pass along what I knew when I realized that my great great grandmother had two brothers, John F., and Charles W. Cole, who were killed in the Civil War. Standing at their graves in Boxford, MA, I wondered when the last time anyone had thought of my “uncles” who were young, unmarried men who had given their lives for their country. My thoughts soon turned to my Uncle John McGurn who was killed in World War II. While Uncle John is remembered today by his nieces and nephews, how soon will his memory fade away completely like that of the Cole Brothers?
I believe that we should study, preserve, and share “Our Family History” and have some fun in the process. For example, if you’re wondering why the Pacific Mills is the logo of this blog, then you should enjoy reading things posted here. The Pacific Mills was once one of the largest woolen mills in the world. It is where my grandparents, John McGurn and Jessie Milton first met. Without them working and meeting at the Pacific Mills, there would be no “Brain Family History” to pass along!
Enjoy.
Chuck Brain
