FRENCH, Norma Imogene

Other Events and Attributes:

• Cemetery: Buxton, ME; Address:
  South Buxton Cemetery
• Ref#: 939
• SSN issued: RI
• Social Security Number: 036-18-3382
• _COLOR: 6
• Confirmation: 16 Feb 1936, Providence, RI
• Residence: 1940, Providence, RI
• Residence: Oct 1961, Lakeville, CT
• Residence: 1990, Torrington, CT

Notes:

In the 1930 Census she was listed as residing in the household of her aunt, Hazel Marie (Smith) Pinkham, in Hollis, ME. She went to live with them as her father and mother were not able to keep all their kids together during the Depression.

Norma moved from Alexandria VA to Lakeville, CT in Oct of 1961, after being separated from her husband of 19 years. Prior to that she lived in Providence, RI where she met her husband. She lived in Japan from 1957-1961 with her family.

She was employed for most of her life (30 years) as a printer for The Hotchkiss School, a private prep school in Lakeville, CT. She also had jobs as a secretary, bookeeper, and waitress. She was a recovering alcoholic.

She never remarried after her divorce and raised her children alone. She was eulogized as a tireless, hard working woman and loving mother who did her best during difficult times to support and raise 4 boys virtually on her own.

St. Thomas Episcopal Church

FindaGrave:
GRID=63078014

Confirmation:
St. Thomas Episcopal Church

Residence:
Meadowview St.

Died:
Charlotte Hungerford Hospital

Buried:
43.608949, -70.539350

Norma married CARANCI, John Charles on 19 Jun 1943 in Centerdale, RI, and was divorced on 21 Sep 1964 in Alexandria, VA. John (son of CARANCI, Giovanni Carmine and MARZUCCA, Georgianna Maria) was born on 7 Feb 1922 in Greenville, RI; died on 14 Jul 1970 in Centerdale, RI; was buried in Johnston, RI. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Divorced:
The legal grounds or cause of divorce was "Desertion". My mother and her children were told by my father to "get out", from what little information I got from her. She never told the whole story of their separation/divorce. He was the plaintiff in the divorce and it's hard to imagine that desertion was the cause, when he was the one to tell us all to get out.

1. CARANCI, John Charles was born on 21 Jan 1945 in Providence, RI; died on 16 May 2016 in Bellevue, NE; was buried on 20 May 2016 in Council Bluffs, IA.
2. Living
3. Living
4. Living

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ref#: 900
• _COLOR: 6
• Residence: 1900, Columbia, ME
• Residence: 1910, Columbia, ME; Address:
  Saco Road
• Residence: 1935, Providence, RI

Notes:

He is named after his biological father, Charles Kimball Worcester and was given his mother's maiden name.

According to the 1900 Federal Census he was living with his grandfather, Talbot and mother, Mary Pendlegras French, in Columbia, Maine.

According to the 1910 Federal Census he was living with his stepfather, Harvey Holly Smith and mother, Mary Pendlegras French Smith, in Columbia, Maine.

According to the 1930 census he was living on Branch Avenue in Providence, RI, with his wife, oldest son, and youngest son and daughter.

According to his WWI Draft Registration Card, 1917-1918, he was a laborer for the Northern Maine Packing Company, Corinna, ME.

Lived at 14 Winchester Street, Providence, RI in 1940s.

He was known as "Charlie K. Smith" as a boy as his step-father was a Smith (according to Charles Drisko, local Columbia, ME historian who knew him as young man).

In an interview with his daughter, Mary Edith French on July 18, 1999 she said "Grampa's mother and step-father were strict Baptists. They made him stay dressed on Sunday and walk around outside reading the Bible".

He worked at the Steere textile mill off Veazie Street in Providence, RI as a boilerman. He was burned on his arm, head and chest. He lost all his hair in the incident. He then went to the Wanscutt mill on Branch Ave, Providence, RI as a boilerman and watchman. He also worked at Brown University as a watchman. He became sick for several years and his wife had to go to work in the mills. He was an excellent housekeeper, cook, baker and he sewed. He was also an excellent carpenter and cabinet maker. He was strict with his children teaching them to share. The family considered themselves "poor". Two of their children (Norma and Carol) were sent to live with his half sister Hazel because of their poverty. The family lived in several "row" houses owned by the mills (Winchester Street) and he ultimately purchased the duplex house he lived in on Winchester Street when the mill closed.

FindaGrave:
GRID=63090891

Residence:
living with his mother and step-father

Charles married SMITH, Frances Alma on 7 Nov 1917 in Columbia, ME. Frances (daughter of SMITH, Bartlett Campbell II and DORR, Bessie Graham) was born on 24 Jan 1901 in Columbia, ME; was christened on 7 Dec 1930 in Providence, RI; died on 18 May 1979 in Canaan, CT; was buried in South Buxton, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

Frances's mother, Bessie G. Dorr, died shortly after her birth. She was raised by her grandmother Augusta "Gustie" (Small) and her 2nd husband, Nelson Wallace . She was born in the old Ed Puffer home (then lived in by Roberta Puffer), in the little corner room next to the road. "I remember so well when the Dr. came, he put his satchel bag in a chair and put his coat on it. Mama wanted Cliff and I to go to bed so she told us the doctor had a baby in that bag and put his coat on it to keep the little dear warm, that he was going to leave the baby with Bessie, and sure enough he did, for when we came down stairs the next morning there was a darling baby girl in bed with Bessie". by Elizabeth Roberta Puffer. The 1910 Federal Census shows Frances living with her grandmother and step-grandfather Augusta Small and Wallace Nelson. She is 9 yo.

Per letter from the directory to my mother, Norma I. Caranci date 14 May 1942.

FindaGrave:
GRID=63090930

Notes:

Married:
By a Justice of the Peace

Residence:
He was a laborer at the Northern Maine Packing Co. Corrinna, ME

Residence:
Worked in the Wanskuck Mill on Branch Avenue

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

(Ed. Note) This is the biological father of Charles Kimball Worcester French. He raped Mamie French then refused to acknowledge the child. As payback, Mamie named him after his father so everyone would know whose son he was.

FindaGrave:
GRID=57748112

Charles married FRENCH, Mary Pendlegras. Mary (daughter of FRENCH, Talbot Smith and PUFFER, Taphenes N.) was born on 6 Oct 1871 in Columbia, ME; died on 16 Nov 1931 in Buxton, ME; was buried in Columbia Falls, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ref#: 540
• _COLOR: 6
• Residence: 1900, Columbia, ME

Notes:

Mamie (as she was known) was raped by her third cousin (Charles Kimball Worcester) and as a result gave birth to Charles Kimball Worcester French. She named him thus because the father would not claim him as his own and in her own way she made sure that everyone knew who the father was!

On Sept 4, 1931 she quit-claimed the homestead farm of her father to her husband for $1. (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

FindaGrave:
GRID=26040203

Residence:
Living with her father and son, Charles

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6
• Residence: 1920, Gardner, MA; Address:
  Gardner State Colony

Notes:

According to his daughter Lurline B. Smith, B. C. Smith was a womanizer and philanderer. After his first wife Bessie died, he married Lucy Thompson (Lurline's mother). After Lucy left him, he moved to Massachusetts (ca 1920) and was employed as a boilerman at the state asylum/hospital in Gardner, MA. There he met and married Edith Over? daughter of Ebenezer?

According to his daughter, Lurline, Bartie, as he was called, was hooked on morphine due to an injury he received while a lumberman. Under the influence of it, he was abusive to his first wife Bessie and threw her medicine out the window (hastening her death?). Dr. Fred Chandler, the family doctor, knew of this and offered to testify in divorce proceedings.

According to Roberta Puffer, Bart and Gramma Bessie lived in a little house across the road from the Alden Worcester house, so called. On the night of Frances' birth Bart and Bessie were at the home of Roberta Puffer (then Ed Puffer's house). Later they lived in the Will Grant house, so called, about half-way down Saco Hill on the right. Bessie died there.

FindaGrave:
GRID=25573077

Bartlett married DORR, Bessie Graham on 18 Oct 1899 in Columbia, ME. Bessie (daughter of DORR, Andrew Jackson and GRANT, Frances E.) was born on 4 Jan 1882 in Columbia, ME; died on 13 Apr 1901 in Columbia, ME; was buried in Columbia, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

"Bessie was average height, slim, light complexion, a very nice person, liked by all who knew her." She died in the Will Grant house (so called) about half way down Saco Hill on the right according to a letter to Hazel Bradeen from "Bertha" (Roberta Puffer).

She died as a result of childbirth a few months earlier.

FindaGrave:
GRID=25573100

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

A farmer.

FindaGrave:
GRID=20104440

Alfred married CONLEY, Irene Worcester on 10 May 1866 in Columbia, ME. Irene (daughter of CONLEY, Benjamin D. and QUINLAN, Nancy A.) was born on 8 Nov 1847 in Columbia, ME; died on 13 Mar 1911 in Columbia, ME; was buried in Columbia, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

FindaGrave:
GRID=20104444

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6
• Residence: 1900, Columbia, ME
• Residence: 1910, Columbia, ME; Address:
  Saco Road

Notes:

According to the 1860 Census he was a day laborer in Columbia, ME.

Local historian Charles Drisko puts the marraige on July 30, 1859.

On April 15, 1870 he bought about 10.56 square feet of land for $100 from Frank C. I. Law. (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

On July 31, 1879 he bought 4.25 acres for $100 from Elliot A. Foster. ( David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

On Nov 7, 1879 he sold land for $97.20 to James A. Milliken. (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

On Oct 26, 1891 he sold a 1/2 interest of his homestead farm in Columbia, ME for $1 to his wife.

On Dec 31, 1900 he sold rights to build and repair a dam on Little River for $1. (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

On Jul 1, 1902 he leased property to Harvey H. Smith (his son-in-law)

According to the 1880 Federal Census he was a farmer.

On June 13th, 1873 his father-in-law, John Puffer, mortgaged his property of approximately 125 acres to his son-in-laws, Elliot A. Foster and Talbot S. French, for $1500 so that he and his wife Catherine could be kept in their old-age. (DMC has the original deed).

His Death Certificate lists his occupation as millman and farmer.

FindaGrave:
GRID=24288929

Talbot married PUFFER, Taphenes N. on 22 May 1860 in Columbia, ME. Taphenes (daughter of PUFFER, John Sr. and STANWOOD, Catherine Redman) was born on 12 Sep 1836 in Columbia, ME; was christened on 29 Sep 1858 in Columbia, ME; died on 19 Aug 1897 in Columbia, ME; was buried in Columbia, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Ref#: 486
• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

A teacher at Columbia, ME. "Taphenus and Bell (Ed. note: Bellonia, her sister) lived across the river in 2 houses across the road from each other." Hazel Smith Bradeen.

On Nov 14th, 1863 she bought 34 acres+- of land for $425 from Levi W. Ingnersoll. (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

On Nov 16th, 1863 she sold 34 acres+- of land for $275 to Levi W. Inger soll. (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

On Jan 30, 1875 she bought 34 acres of land from Bassom Grant for $289. 78 (David M. Caranci has the original deed.)

She was one of the first officers of the Womans Society of Christian Service in Columbia, ME. This society was organized on April 17, 1879 as t he Ladies' Methodist Society, later changed to Ladies' Aid.

FindaGrave:
GRID=24288936

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Orland married SMALL, Augusta A. on 15 Aug 1872. Augusta (daughter of SMALL, Joseph Hazzard Root and WORCESTER, Louisa S.) was born on 7 Apr 1853 in Columbia, ME; died on 10 Apr 1914; was buried in Columbia Falls, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6
• Residence: 1870, Columbia, ME

Notes:

FindaGrave:
GRID=79230528

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6
• Occupation: Between 1870 and 1900, Columbia, ME; Laborer, Farmer, Teamster
• Residence: 1900, Columbia, ME
• Residence: 1910, Columbia, ME; Address:
  Saco Road

Notes:

FindaGrave:
GRID=221143172

Andrew married GRANT, Frances E. in Jan 1870 in Columbia, ME. Frances (daughter of GRANT, Bassom Dorr and DORR, Lovee) was born on 3 Mar 1848 in Columbia, ME; died in CA 1891 in Columbia, ME; was buried in Columbia, ME. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• _COLOR: 6

Notes:

FindaGrave:
GRID=221143247

Notes:

Residence:
He and his wife Fannie are living with and taking care of his grandfather, Benjamin.