- Walter Sr. died on October 23, 1959 at the age of 71. His widow Anna received a hand-written note from the Office of the Majority Leader, House of Representatives, Congressman John McCormack expressing his family's sympathy for her loss.
- Walter's wife Anna Astle died on July 22, 1974 at the age of 87.
- Walter's son, Thomas F. Astle, died at the age of 80 on 22 December 1994 leaving wife Susan (Humphrey) Astle and son Thomas R. Astle.
- Alice Astle was widowed from James N. Kirby when she died on April 21, 2000 at the age of 84 leaving a son, James N. Kirby.
- Walter Astle, Jr. died on March 27, 1960 at the age of 41 of a massive heart attack. He left his wife, Marianne (Collins) Astle and three young sons, John, Robert and Thomas Astle.
FEBRUARY BIRTHDAYS
Date unknown: Richard E. Burns, John R. Coughlin, Gertrude Kelley, Arthur Humphrey
2 Elizabeth Eddy (born 1678)
4 Michael Sweeney, Eric Pugh, Manly Shonio, Marion (Pierce) DesLauriers
6 Michael Pugh
7 Richard E. Humphrey, Bernadette Gervais
8 Horace Humphrey
9 Patricia Riley
10 Edwin Shonio, Earl W. Davis
11 Hugh Humphrey
13 Patricia Kerr, Opal Grace Mansfield, Mary E. Burns
14 Allen Weatherford, Donald St. Hilaire, Sr., Donald K. Kenneson
15 Anne Humphrey, Walter J. Astle, Jr., Arlene Alice langley
16 Tricia Keville, John Eddy (in 1636)
17 Jacob Rager, Marianne (Collins) Astle
20 Raemon Kirby
22 Paul J. DesLauriers, Sr., Walter J. Astle, Sr., Thomas Astle (b:1888)
25 Lisa Call, Norman W. Kenneson
28 Sophronia Whittemore
SMELLS, TASTES AND FAMILY MEMORIES
What is this you ask? This is about the memories that are brought back when you smell or taste something in particular.
For instance, the smell of a leather baseball glove reminds me of days of warm sun, fresh mowed grass, and baseball in the field behind our house. I had young legs a wicked throwing arm and life was good.
The smell of Old Spice reminds me of my dad.
Baby powder reminds me of my sister, my son, and my grandchildren.
The smell of roses brings back memories of my grandpa Alfred's house with the roses at the doors. Deep red velvet in the front and pink at the back.
Chocolate fudge will always remind me of my mom. Peanut butter cookies, cornbread, chicken and dumplings and orange pineapple ice cream of my Grandma Ada. Apple pie and pork roast of my Nana Esther.
Blackjack gum, Moxie, Old Producto cigar smoke, fresh cucumbers and Bay Rum remind me of my grandpa Alfred. Spruce gum also reminds me of grandpa. It tasted like pine sap and nearly pulled your fillings right out of your teeth.
NEWEST LEAVES ON THE FAMILY TREE
Alexis Gorham, new daughter of Jonathan Gorham and Stacy (St. Hilaire) Gorham.
Judah Keltner, new son of Nathan Keltner and Anna (DesLauriers) Keltner
Madison Humphrey, new daughter of Charles R. Humphrey, Jr. and Terri (Regos) Humphrey
OTHER RECENT FAMILY TREE DISCOVERIES
I thought that Thomas Astle (brother of Walter Sr.) and his wife Gertrude (Higgins) Astle never had any children. I recently discovered that they had two, a boy and a girl. Both children died right after birth.
I found Thomas Astle (father of Walter Sr.) in the U.S. Naturalization Record Indexes. They show he was born on December 14, 1866 in the Province of Quebec, Canada. His date of naturalization is June 26, 1899. My next step is to find the actual naturalization record.
The Lowell Sun of November 2, 1945 shows that Prosper DesLauriers (father of Paul DesLauriers)ran for the Lowell, Massachusetts, School Committee.
The Lowell Sun of June 1, 1942 shows that Paul J. DesLauriers, Sr. (my husband) was one of 109 children to receive their First Holy Communion at St. Michael's church on Saturday, May 30.
The Lowell Sun of January 26, 1966 lists my brother,Robert Humphrey, as a band member of Chelmsford Junior High School which entertained the PTA. Our neighbors Tommy Gill and John Wholey are also listed.
The Lowell Sun of May 8, 1945 mentions that Howard E. Humphrey (son of Alfred Humphrey), aviation machinist's mate, first class, has returned home on leave from a tour of duty in the Pacific with the famous Navy Group 80. He is a maintenance man with the unit.
By using old maps and the 1913 Cambridge City Directory, I have been able to locate the place where Thomas F. Walsh had his shoe repair shop at 32 Brattle St. in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
Ruth W. Knight married great, great, uncle Horace Humphrey of Waterbury, Vermont. Her father, John Knight, was born in Dedham, Massachusetts, May 22, 1757. John was one of the many the settlers from Dedham, who in 1780 began to fell the oaks and to build homes for themselves. John held the office of high sheriff of the county. He was also a tollkeeper and his house was beside the turnpike.
I guess that's it for this blog update. If you have information about the family that you would like to share or questions about a particular relative, send me an email at sastle@comcast.net.
Cousin Richard Evirs and I always appreciate any comments or questions.