719. Vera Bertha¹⁰ Blackwood (Joseph Wesley⁹, Emily Olive⁸ Wentworth, Thomas⁷, Martha (Patty)⁶ Calef, Dr John⁵, Robert⁴, Mary³ Ayer, Cornet Peter², Capt John¹ Ayers) (#45) was born in Marion, Washington, ME 20 Jun 1897.⁽¹⁷⁰¹⁾ age unk in 1900 USC East Machias, Washington, ME; age 12y in 1910 USC Machiasport, Washington, ME; age 22y in 1920 USC Vera died 21 Sep 1980 in Hollywood, Broward, FL, at 83 years of age. age 83y

Her body was interred 23 Sep 1980 in Hollywood, Broward, FL. Cremated - ashes in vault at Hunter Funeral Home; Hollywood, Broward, FL

She married twice. She married Edward (Eddie) B. Brown Sr in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, 25 Dec 1915.⁽¹⁷⁰²⁾ (Edward (Eddie) B. Brown Sr is #44.) Edward was born 12 Jun 1866/8 in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME.⁽¹⁷⁰³⁾ age 6y in 1870 USC Bath, Sagadahoc, ME; age 15y (enumerated as Edwin) in 1880 USC Bath, Sagadahoc, ME; age 34y in 1900 USC; age 44y in 1910 USC; age 52y in 1920 USC

NOTE: mentioned in his mother's will (but no bequest made to him; he was specifically written out of any inheritance); tombstone says June 12, 1868 - July 31, 1955; death record ME State Archives says age 47y at marriage in 1915; Bath Iron Works records gave date of birth as 12 Jun 1868.

Edward was the son of Benjamin F(ranklin) Brown and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Downing.

Edward died 31 Jul 1955 in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, at 88 years of age.⁽¹⁷⁰⁴⁾ His body was interred 4 Aug 1955 in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, Oak Grove Cemetery.⁽¹⁷⁰⁵⁾ Occupation: carny man; truant ofcr.⁽¹⁷⁰⁶⁾ He resided in Gouldsborough, Hancock, ME 1914.⁽¹⁷⁰⁷⁾ He resided in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME 1915-1955.⁽¹⁷⁰⁸⁾ Edward was listed as the head of a family on the 1920 Census in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME.⁽¹⁷⁰⁹⁾ Edward was divorced from Vera Bertha Blackwood in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, 16 Oct 1952. He made a will in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, 3 Jan 1953. Edward's will was probated in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, 10 Oct 1955.⁽¹⁷¹⁰⁾ City Directories of Bath, ME show that Edward was employed at Brown & Hodgkins Shipbuilder, Reed's Wharf in Bath, ME in 1878 - need to verify.

Certificate of Marriage between Edward Brown and Vera Bertha Blackwood (No. 2175) City of Bath, ME marriage records (Intention filed: 20 Dec 1915 (Book 2, p 293); marriage 25 Dec 1915 (Book 2, p 64) by the Rev. S. A. Evans shows Edward was 47y and Vera was 18y at the time of the marriage and she was born in Marion, Maine, the daughter of Wesley and Carrie Skillings Blackwood; both were residents of Bath, ME at the time of the marriage. Edward and Vera were divorced 16 October 1952; however, no documentation has yet been obtained.

Edward was living in Bath, ME in 1919.

The 1920 census records for Bath, Sagadahoc, ME (Vol. 25, ED 134, Sheet 20, Line 24) shows Edward Brown (age 52), wife Vera B. (age 22), and son Edward Jr. (age 1) residing at 28 Lemont Street, Bath, ME.

The will of Edward's father, Benjamin, states that Edward also resided in Gouldsborough in 1914 - need to verify. At the time of his death, Edward resided at 28 Lemont Street, Bath, ME.

Transcript of Will of Edward Brown, dtd 3 Jan 1953:

"To All Whom It May Concern, Be It Known: That I, Edward Brown, of Bath in the County of Sagadahoc and State of Maine, hereby make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, and after the payment of my just debts and funeral charges, herein dispose of all my remaining estate in the following manner:

I give, devise and bequeath all of my said remaining estate, real, personal and mixed, wherever situated and however and whenever acquired to my son Walter Brown absolutely.

In making this disposition of my property I do not overlook my sons Edward Jr. and Earl W. Brown, but intentionally omit them.

I name the said Walter Brown to be sole executor of this my last will and testament, and request that no bond be required of him.

/s/ Edward Brown

Signed, published and declared by the said Edward Brown to be his last will and testament in the presence of us, who at his request, in his presence and in the presence of one another have subscribed our names as witnesses thereto this eighth day of January, A.D., 1953.

Witnesses: Madelyn C. Dunton; Agnes Gaudet; Arthur J. Dunton"

NOTE: were Madelyn and Arthur any relation to Florence Dunton, Edward's first wife????

Edward's will (No. 999) was dated January 3, 1953, recorded in the Sagadahoc County Probate Court (Vol 6, pg 270), petition for probate of will (Vol 8, pg 350), appointment of agent (Walter to Attorney John P. Carey) (Vol 8, pg 166), administrator's petition (Vol 8, pg 166), letter of administration (3 August 1955, Vol 11, pg 468) named son Walter, RFD, Goffstown, NH, warrant and inventory (Vol 17, pg 464).

Inventory of Real - Personal- Estate:

Real Estate (28 Lemont Street, Bath, ME) $ 975.00 Goods and Chattels $ 75.00 Cash on Hand $ 5.22 Total $1055.22

Real Estate description can be found in Sagadahoc Registry of Deeds, Book 132, Page 194, and Book 271, Page 526.

Edward died July 31, 1955 in Bath, ME of Coronory Thrombosis; arteriosclerosis (death certificate No. 104). The inventory of Edward shows Quit-Claim deed from Vera to Edward of the property at 28 Lemont Streeet, Bath, ME dated October 22, 1954, Sagadahoc Registry of Deeds, Book 271, Page 526.

Obit for Edward Brown Bath Times (August 1959:

"Edward Brown Is Found Dead in His Lemont St. Home

Bath police, investigating a call from anxious neighbors, found the body of Edward Brown, about 90, in an upstairs bedroom at his home, 28 Lemont street, Tuesday evening. Medical Examiner, Joseph I. Smith, said that the world's Indian club twirling champion died from natural causes. He estimated that Brown had been dead since early Sunday. Neighbors phoned police after noting a light burning in the house for more than 24 hours. Police Sgt. Edward E. Newell and Patrolman Robert Stailing found Brown's body when they entered the house to investigate his whereabouts. The body was removed to the Arthur F. Mayo and Son Funeral Residence where funeral arrangements were completed.

Brown was born in Bath, son of Benjamin F. and Elizabeth Brown and had always made his home here. He had led a colorful and varied life, was a former semi-professional baseball player of note, and had operated a taxi service in Bath for many years. In addition, he at one time operated his own road show and for many years followed the carnival circuit and fair during the Summer and Fall months. A former truant officer, Brown also served for a long period as sealer of weights and measures in this city. He is survivied by three sons, Walter of Richmond, Va., and Earl and Edward, Jr., both of Miami, Fla. Committal services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at the family lot in Oak Grove. Friends are asked to omit flowers."

This is documented by another newspaper clipping from the Bath Independent, April 9, 1910, page 4 - "Bath Has a Circus Man." A former truant officer, Brown also served for a long period as sealer of weights and measures in Bath.

One obit stated that son, Walter, resided at 366 Devon Road, Mt. Holly, NJ and in Somerville, MA on 11 Dec 1923. Census records showed that Walter was also in the Army on 5 Jan 1920 - Need to verify both clues.

Edward was buried Aug 4, 1955 at Oak Grove Cemetery (Lot 40, 6 South) (copies of cemetery records in possession). He was 87 years old.

Some information regarding my Brown Family ancestry was compiled from information and sources found on a research trip to Maine in 1991 in "Bath Families" by Holt, six-volume notebooks, 929.2, a handwritten chronology of 15 family studies beginning with the 1983 composition of the Fisher Family of Bath, ME, privately printed in 1984, the original handwritten copy of which is located at the Patten Free Library, in Bath, ME. The purpose of the entire collection was to establish these families in Bath in the 19th Century. The 15 families were selected because there was evidence of significant property holdings in Bath.

On the page listed as BROWN-7, I found the information for my Brown family beginning with Ellison (Allison) Brown and continuing down only as far as my grandfather, Edward B. Brown (Sr). This find was to me the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Not only did it give me three generations, but it cited sources. I have tried to follow up on these clues and sources to ascertain preceeding generations. My results have led me to one Michael Brown(e) (b circa 1595) from Holbeton, Devonshire, England. Future research will produce documentation to support this claim.

She married Edward Eschbacker in Hollywood, Broward, FL, after 1953. (Edward Eschbacker is #387.) Edward was born 6 Oct 1900 in OH. Edward died May 1968 in Machias, Washington, ME, at 67 years of age. 1976???

His body was interred 1968 in Hollywood, Broward, FL. cremated??? - Hunter Funeral Home, Hollywood, FL

She resided in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME 1915.⁽¹⁷¹¹⁾ Vera was divorced from Edward (Eddie) B. Brown Sr in Bath, Sagadahoc, ME, 16 Oct 1952. The 1900 census for East Machias Town, Washington, ME (Vol 21 ED 205, Sheet 10, Line 19) shows Vera B. listed as a daugher of Wesley J. and Carrie E. Blackwood, but does not list date of birth or age at the time of census.

A copy of the birth record shows (ME VRs) shows Vera B. Blackwood was born 20 Jun 1897 in Marion, Washington, ME to Wesley J. and Carrie Skillin Blackwood. This birth was reported by attending physician, Dr. A. R. Harman of Dennysville, ME.

Fred Hunter Funeral Home Memorial Card: "Vera B. Eschbacher, born June 20, 1897, died September 21, 1980; Funeral Service: Tuesday, September 23, 1980, 8:30 p.m. at the funeral home; Officiating: Rev. Ronald Brady, First Presbyterian Church of Miramar; Cremation by Fred Hunter Crematory."

Vera Bertha Blackwood and Edward (Eddie) B. Brown Sr had the following children:

+ 812 i. Edward¹¹ Brown Jr was born 29 Jun 1918.

+ 813 ii. Earle Wesley Brown (still alive).

Send email to preparer: [email protected]

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