RENEW NOW! CUMMINGS CHRONICLES FOR THE DESCENDANTS OF ISAAC CUMMINGS (1601-1677)

This is “Ancient House” in Ipswich, Suffolk, England. The structure dates to the 1560s and possibly as early as the late 1400s. John Cummings, the father of Isaac Cummings is thought to have lived in Ipswich at the time of his death in the mid-1630s, shortly before Isaac took his family to . PHOTOGRAPHED BY W. DOWNES, COURTESY OF INTERNET ARCHIVE BOOK IMAGES VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS

In This Issue Where Did Isaac Cummings Live in England?...... 2 President’s Note...... 4 Y-DNA Project Update...... 5 Visiting Mistley Today...... 6 Congratulations to Laura Prescott...... 7 Hall-of-Famer Candy Cummings...... 8 National Reunion Update...... 10 Local Reunion Planned for June...... 10 Remembering Abbott Cummings..... 11

ISAAC CUMMINGS FAMILY ASSOCIATION | isaaccummingsfamily.org | VOLUME 13, SPRING ISSUE Where Did Isaac Cummings Live in England?

HADLEIGH CASTLE, ESSEX. BY CHRIS BEACH FROM LONDON (FLICKR) [CC BY 2.0, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS]

ost of the very early immigrants to New England came from Eastern England, of- The origins of Isaac Cummings in East- M ten from the counties of Suffolk and Essex. ern England have been researched over And those counties are where the families of Isaac the years by several members of the Cummings had lived for generations prior to his de- Isaac Cummings Family Association, parture for Massachusetts with his wife and children including John Plummer, David But- about 1635. ler Cummings, and Abbott Cummings. Isaac’s family, with the Cummings name spelled var- This summary of what we know about ious ways including Commyn and Commin, appears the geographical roots of Isaac and in the records of numerous Essex and Suffolk commu- some of his family members borrows nities during the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. extensively from their work, which can be found at ICFA’s website. Isaac appears to have been baptized April 5, 1601 at Easthorpe, Essex, England, the son of John and Amy (Green) Cummings. John, who was born in 1565, owned land in Copford, Essex in 1606, and fathered children born in both Easthorpe and Copford. The communities were less than two miles apart. John’s fa- ther (Isaac’s grandfather) may also have been named John and may have been baptized in Bocking, which is about ten miles east of Easthorpe. note: places in boldface are marked on the companion map A number of probable members of the family of at right. Isaac’s mother, Amy Greene, have also been found in Easthorpe, and Birch, which abuts Easthorpe and Copford on the south. HADLEIGH CASTLE, ESSEX.

BY CHRIS BEACH FROM LONDON (FLICKR) [CC BY 2.0, VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS] Tolleshunt D’Arcy, where Isaac’s uncle Robert Cum Doddinghurst Essex, in about 23 milessouth of Another possible family location the was of village will-related part familyas of business arrangements. their father to make payments to one another, perhaps where Isaac and brother his John were required by midway between Tolleshunt D’Arcy and Mistley, was in Isaac and Abraham penned their livestock together Abbott Cummings found research his in that 1630, in lived family. with his Easthorpe,south of where was Isaac’s brother John Ipswich. Woolverstone Abraham, who lived also family with his ahome in at at Land mings. which extensively was analyzed by David Butler Cum Several places the in region show up John’s in will, and Abraham. to Isaac and three other children named Ursula, John decade later. In dated will 1634there his are bequests to Easthorpe. About 1624or 1625, John may have moved wealthy properties his and most of were located near There areindications that Isaac’s father John was MAP OF ESSEX. London Ipswich Mistley Tolleshunt D’Arcy , Suffolk, where is he thought to havedied a . The town of in Suffolk, in about foursouthmiles of PUBLIC DOMAIN, COURTESY OF HTTPS://FROMOLDBOOKS.ORG/R/N/PAGES/UNEDITED-ESSEX-MAP/ Great Tey Great Colchester near Copford given was to in Essex, in about six miles in Essex, about in 3 6 - - 1 4 8 2 of land in of Watertown, . west just of already started building future his by obtaining agrant bors from and Essex Suffolk. By 1836 he had July of whomsome number were of probably former neigh tled among a growing other group English of settlers, wifewith his Anne and three children where they set 1635 and by mid-1636 reappeared Massachusetts in thatis Isaac disappeared from the Mistley records in Bay Colony in August that year. of What known is Great Hope ofIpswich that Isaac may have left June in 1635 on the ship of long after father’s his death. John Plummer suggests Isaac thought is to have left Mistley and England not sachusetts. and the used to funds help finance his move to Mas death and the waiver this debt he sold of the property property Mistley, in and perhaps following father’s his ther’s will. Perhaps Isaac borrowed the money to buy for 44pounds, an amount that forgiven was fa his in In 1633records show Isaac debt in was to father his family. father’s (his mings brother) may have lived with his NOTE: AN ARTICLE ENTITLED “WHERE DID ISAAC CUM MINGS LIVE IN MASSACHUSETTS?” WILL APPEAR IN THE NEXT ISSUE OF 9 , arriving the in Massachusetts 7 5 CHRONICLES 10. Colchester 9. Mistley 8. TolleshuntD’Arcy 7. Woolverstone Great Tey6. 5. Ipswich 4. Birch 3. Bocking 2. Copford 1. Easthorpe . Ø - - - - - 3 3 cummings chronicles spring 2018 PRESIDENT’S NOTE Hello Cummings Cousins, and welcome to the exciting Spring Issue of Cummings Chronicles. This is my first edi- By DAVID ROLAND tion as President of ICFA and I’m delighted to bring you such an interesting mix of stories and updates. Most of us do genealogy for fun and come to it later rath- er than earlier in life. We enjoy the challenge of research and the thrill of discovering (and sharing) our ancestors’ stories. For some of us family history also becomes a kind of truth seeking, an exercise in learning more about how we came to be, well, ourselves.

Christine Kenneally’s splendid book The Invisible His- tory of The Human Race: How DNA and History Shape Our Identities and Our Futures, argues that “the effect of a family may be so powerful that it can be replicated down through many generations, over and over through hun- dreds of years. It’s no wonder that so many people choose to study the distant histories of their families to under- stand how they work today.” Today’s genealogists are fortunate. A quarter century ago, WELCOME TO OUR about the time ICFA was being organized, our digging NEW MEMBERS often started with a few scraps of information from older relatives and moved on to laborious searching through Janine Balistreri, Everett MA paper records and hand-cranked rolls of microfilm. The Andrew Cummings, Middletown RI Internet was more a promise than a solution. My but Will Ross Cummings, Kent WA things have changed. Building a five generation tree and Gary Cummins, Traverse City MI Lawrence Davies, Apopka FL finding scores of new “cousins” today is sometimes only a Clinton Exley, Woodstock GA click (or a DNA test) away. Timothy & Karen Farrell, Shaker Heights OH Kathryn & Paul Faulkner, Hillsborough, NB, Canada Which brings me back to Christine Kenneally, who ad- Jo Ann Ford, Newnan GA vises genealogists to take advantage of “all the modern Robert Shervin, Jackson WY tools we can use.” ICFA has done just that. In this issue Deborah King, Casper WY you will find updates on our “modern” tools – the suc- Daniel Kreter, Albany CA cessful Y-chromosome DNA Project and our unique John McNamee Jr., Fairfield CT digital database (which includes more than 34,000 in- Roger & Jeanne McNitt, LaJolla CA Susan Parisi, Fairport NY dividuals and 12,000 families) – as well as reporting on Sharlot Prokop, Tucson AZ the English origins of Isaac Cummings and his families. William Rand, Sagamore Hills OH Also featured are a story about great Candy Thomas & Kelly Redlin, Oak Creek WI Cummings, reminders of new and departed friends, and Dr. Jerry Stubben, Pueblo West CO family reunions where we can meet kin and learn even Roger & Connie Tuttle, Harpersfield OH more about our shared ancestral history. Patty Wheet, Holcomb KS We hope you will find this edition enjoyable and useful. ICFA’s primary focus is on collecting and sharing the sto- ries of people who lived as far back as four centuries ago. That’s a lot of stories. We’re here to help you find and tell yours. Let me hear from you at [email protected].

NEWSLETTER DESIGN AND LAYOUT BY JILLISON PARKS AT SANS SHERIFF STUDIO · HTTP://SANSSHERIFF.NET mings. ic family, which can confidently be linked to Isaac Cum Cummings haplotype, and are so one members genet of profile descentfrom of Isaac have a theform of Isaac theA: testedAll of men with agenealogical (historical) ciation beshownto bedescendedfrom Isaac? Q: Cansome/most/all of the tester members of the Asso members.ect testers have no other close matches other than the proj It noticeable is that at the 37-and 67-marker levels our that very likely is to have Isaac’s been identified. been has A: A distinctive 67-marker haplotype signature) (genetic be identified? Q: Canadistinctive genetic signature for IsaacCummings questions. initial of the projectPhase 1of hoped to answers gain to anumber lineage. the of branches known resentative spread across the of all ters were selected to ensure arep markers. The member family tes have recently progressed to 111 invited to participate. men A few with different surnames, were also other previously-tested men, some ers at Family Tree DNA. Several short tandem repeat mark (STR) vited Association members on 67 thefirst project of phase testedin males carry Y chromosomes). The descenta male-line lineage (only or surname a spread the of study Y-DNA particularly is to useful grandsons, and other males subsequent in generations. Isaac’s American descendants from two his sons, four still live England in today. But ICFA’s project on focuses Suffolk, England, meaning collateral descendants could family his remainedof the in home and Essex in villages the lineage theof Association commemorates. Members colonial North America the in 1630sand the is founder As members all know, will Isaac Cummings emigrated to Y-DNA Project Update BY JOHNCLEARY AND TIMCUMMINGS - - - - initial phasesoftheproject. the from findings main presenting series a in first the is report Their guest administrators andadvisors. and recently joined the program as testing and analysis ence in DNA Cummings have extensive experi and ber families. John Cleary Tim nearly 40 men, mostfrommem project its Three years ago ICFA launched Y-chromosome surname DNA . The effort now includes . The effort - - - - have matchesbeen also to people a small number with of Isaac relatives or his who remained England. in There lotype. are They without doubt descended eitherfrom the bers of Association but who do match the Isaac hap matching testers named Cummings who are not mem A: In principle, yes it can. The project identified has some scendants ofIsaac? Can thisbeusedtoQ: testers as de other DNA identify some directions for future research. genealogicalwith data fit each other andproposewill we report look we more in will at detail how the genetic and ers seemto questioned be by the same data. In our next branches have confirmedbeen by genetic data while oth impressionOur thatthe is testers’ some of genealogical take from the the Phase 1of Association’s DNA study. This lookedreport has at the general conclusions we can CONCLUSION research.logical genetic branchestions of that appear to confirm genea forject Part the report, 2 of but there are some indica A: Research on thisongoing, is form and it will the sub through genealogicalresearch upto the present? described branches the confirm and with identified, agree be they do can lineage the of branches genetic If Q: - - Q: Candistinctive genetic markers family.mings are descendants also this Cum of verylikelihood high is that they haplotype’s distinctive nature, the different surnames. the Because of grandsons. branchesticular Isaac’s of or sons shared genetic markers for the par noting yet has managed to identify pened, but the test first of phase A: To some extent hap this has sons andgrandsons? ofIsaac’ssuch asdescendants Cummings lineage, the Isaac es of branch different for identified be Ø ------5 cummings chronicles spring 2018 LEFT: THE MISTLEY TOWERS AND WAR MEMORIAL THAT BELONGED TO ST. MARY THE VIR- GIN CHURCH UNTIL IT WAS DEMOLISHED IN 1870. PAUL FARMER CCBY-SA 2.0 VIA WIKI COMMONS.

RIGHT: WELCOME TO MISTLEY. KEITH EVANS, GEOGRAPH.ORG.UK VIA WIKI COMMONS

Visiting Mistley Today

Mistley is charming with centuries-old stone buildings, a town square, a hotel, a museum, restaurants and miles of nearby fields and farmland. It is a wonderful, picturesque place to visit..” “ - linc cummings

THIS 1772 PAINTING OF MISTLEY SHOWS THE STILL INTACT ST. MARY THE VIRGIN CHURCH ON THE FAR SIDE OF THE RIVER STOUR. ENGLISH LANDSCAPE FROM MISTLEY HALL, ESSEX (ELIAS MARTIN) - NATIONALMUSEUM STOCKHOLM public domain via wikimedia commons I his familyhis to Massachusetts. Isaac’sin time and reasons his that for one was taking of trade andof business activity. Perhaps the same true was The centuriesseem to have passed Mistley as a by focus Mistley and its environs. an interest Cummings in family history to plan to avisit Colchester, he encourages anyone visiting the area with communities such neighbor as Manningtree and nearby such an event. But with access to rail and service larger accommodations and other amenities would prevent ity, but disappointed was to realize that hotel alack of alocationbe for afuture ICFA reunion or travel activ Linc noted that he had hoped that might Mistley itself signed by famous architect Robert Adam 1776. in Church St. of Mary the Virgin at Mistley de Essex in Towers, neoclassical towers twin the now of demolished Perhaps the best-known tourist highlight the is Mistley tion takes about an hour. lined Riverwalk. A train ride to London’s Liverpool Sta the smallest town England, in are connected by atree- tley and Manningtree, which both lay of claim to being offering shops, of restaurants and accommodations. Mis more than double the Mistley population and of alarger It contiguous is to the Village Manningtree of which has wharehouse indicative is commercial alack of of activity. about apopulationhas 2,700. of A large but vacant wharf Mistley once was a thriving port community that now Located on the south shore the River of Stour Estuary, emigrateto America.” livedmings and became the first known Cummings to northeastin on Essex the River Stour where Isaac Cum 1635. Linc described Mistley as “a quaint coastal village lived prior to departure his for Massachusetts about children that included astop Mistley, in where Isaac portunity to spend aday with Deborah and their grand tifitchet. The geographical proximity gave them the op Cummings Harris, who lives nearby in Stansted Moun Linc and Marti were visiting Linc’s daughter, Deborah al generations the in 16th and 17th centuries. forbears are thought to have lived there for at least sever aboutgion is 60miles northeast London and Isaac’s of wifehis and children to Colonial Massachusetts. The re Cummings and extended his family lived before he took and visited areas of Essex and Essex and Suffolk visited areas of where Isaac andmings wife his Marti were Eastern in England 2015,n the of fall former ICFA President Linc Cum Ø ------award. LauraAPG Presidenta past is andlongtime, presented LauraFogarty withanengraved crystal ington,D.C., wherePresident Association BillieStone APG’sProfessional Management Conference Wash in at September past this announced was The honor to best. holdherownandwewishthevery stage 4cancer.battling continuing she is us Shetells ofLaura’sAs most ICFA friendsknow,she hasbeen Congratulations, Laura! Award forExemplaryService. of theLauraation G. Prescott (APG) nealogists with thecre Professionalof sociation Ge recently honored by theAs ident Laura Prescottwas Immediate PastICFA Pres from Dartmouth College. from Dartmouth zine Ancestors have appeared in Her articles the NewEnglandHistoric GenealogicalSociety. writer, andspeaker formanyyears and has worked for logical topics.She hasbeenaprofessional researcher, offersa wide varietyvideos on instructional ofgenea emy,ancestry.comof unit website educational an that Laurathe recently is retired directorAcad Ancestry of Genealogy. Prescott Award to forExemplary Service Professional al genealogy.hereinafter Itwill be namedtheLaura G. profession of field the to service dedicated and ties, improving theircareer circumstancesand opportuni a careerdevoted tofellow uplifting genealogistsand professionalacknowledges with those genealogists. It fessionalismencouragementand continuing to other The award was created in recognition ofexemplary pro president. APG the recipient,” said first the be she award be named inher that honor and the that fitting only is it that genealogy professional of field the to and nization “Laura hasmeant so muchto the orga toognize service thefieldofprofessional genealogy. active member. The award willbegiven yearly to rec , and , LAURA PRESCOTTLAURA Digital Genealogist Digital , Genealogical Computing Genealogical CONGRATULATIONS TO . SheholdsaB.A.History in - - - - Ancestry , NGS NewsMaga , New England ------7 cummings chronicles spring 2018 Baseball pioneer. Inventor of the . Hall-of-Famer. Candy Cummings was all of these. A star in the latter half of the 1800s, he played on several top base- ball teams of the time.

By Stephen Robert Katz

LEFT: THE PARENTS OF CANDY CUMMINGS RIGHT: CANDY CUMMINGS’ PLAQUE IN THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME GALLERY. COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY, COOPERSTOWN, NY.

HALL-OF-FAMER Candy Cummings Candy—officially, William Arthur Cummings—was born in 1848 in the cen- tral Massachusetts town of Ware, then a village of farmers, small-scale manufac- turers, and a burgeoning textile mill industry. His parents were William Brack- enridge Cummings, a producer of straw goods, and Mary Parker (neé Clarke). Candy had a distinguished lineage. His paternal ancestry can be traced back to Isaac Cummings, who was among the earliest migrants from the British Isles to the Massachusetts Bay Colony, arriving about 1635. Isaac’s descendants even- tually made their way to Ware, becoming prominent members of the commu- nity. Jacob Cummings—Candy’s great-great-great grandfather—was one of the town’s founding fathers and a leading local political figure. His paternal grand- father, Joseph Cummings, a deacon in the local church, represented Ware in the colonial and state legislatures. On Candy’s mother’s side, his grandfather, Avery Clarke, a local bonnet maker, was also a Massachusetts legislator. CANDY CUMMINGS. COURTESY OF THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME LIBRARY, COOPERSTOWN, NY. In 1852, when Candy was a lad of around four years old, his parents moved the family to , New York. Referred to as the “crucible of baseball,” Brook-

Special thanks to Stephen Katz for sharing his extensive knowledge of Candy Cummings and his family, which descends from Isaac (1601-1677) through his son John (1630-1700). Portraits of William Brackenridge Cummings and Mary Parker (Clarke) Cummings, 1870. Artist: John Bernard Whit- taker (1836-1926). Photos of the portraits are by Suzanne Durand Photography, Gilbertville, Massachusetts. The portraits are the property of the Young Men’s Library Association, Ware, Massachusetts, and were photographed with their kind permission. given to someone who the was best at what he did. Oh, and nickname his “Candy”? In day, his the moniker was to the Fame Baseball Hall of Cooperstown, in New York. era. Fifteen years after death—in his 1939—he elected was gory for , the Candy onebest hurlers was of his of at or nearRanking the top nearly in statistical every cate ic Aspen Grove Cemetery. for burial the in Cummings family plot the in town’s histor He died there 1924. in His remains were returned to Ware Athol for several years, and then moved to Toledo, Ohio. a painting and wallpapering business. He remained in and then moved to Athol, Massachusetts, where he opened When playing his days were over, Candy returned to Ware, first president baseball’s of first minor league. Lynn, Massachusetts—the Live Oaks—he elected was the cinnati. In 1877, while Candy affiliated was with a team in clubsleague Baltimore, in Philadelphia, Hartford, and Cin league. After stint his with the Mutuals, he played for big- fessional league, which regarded also is the as first major York City, the onefounding of clubs baseball’s of first pro In 1872, Candy joined the Mutual New Ball Base Club of becomeball has apotent weapon any in pitcher’s arsenal. the Harvard College nine, 1867. in Since then, the curve game crackbetween his Brooklyn club, the Excelsiors, and duced the to curveball an unsuspecting baseball world a in unleash his “secret weapon” actual in competition. He intro experimenting turned into years before Candy ready was to he could make the in abaseball curve same way. Months of watched them swerve left and right, he wondered whether he and friends his were throwing clam shells, he and as when he still ayouth. was According to own account, his trying to makeThe ideacurve came a of baseball him to baseball. nized country, and itthere was that Candy got start orga his in baseball world. It the boasted best someteams the of in lyn—then an independent city—wasafocal the point of [email protected] one who has stories ormemorabilia relating to him: I wouldlovestephenrkatz.com. to hearfrom any isavailableing information on mywebsite,www. from One Small Central Massachusetts Town The Stories ofSevenPlayersLeague Baseball Major and careerbook, my in There’s muchmore about CandyCummings’s life © 2018 Stephen Robert Katz.AllRightsReserved. © 2018StephenRobert WARE’S BOYS OF SUMMER: . ; order Ø - -

------cess orresearch use. [email protected] at Milham Please contactour Database ChairSherry cific individuals. tos andHeadstonesare sectionswhich linked to spe totion connected them.Anddon’t overlook the Pho foryourlook on and log ancestorsthe informa and haven’t visitedtheICFA databaseyeta while, orfor We urgeyour of you research. to use it aspart youIf als, 12,151Families, and4,662UniqueSurnames. century.quarter ItcurrentlyIndividu 34,358 contains bers have providedto during the past the Association lection represents the best treesfamily that mem col This benefits. member your of one is of tabase Remember, passwordtoaccess the private ICFA Da An application/renewal formisprovided onpage13. cations fornewmembersshould besentto: Paymentsfor current and appli andpastmembers, til membershipisrenewed. become delinquentare placed on theinactiveun list operatingwho Members of theAssociation. costs about the ICFAhelp defray Reunion.Contributions information including er membercommunications receive the password accessto the ICFA Genealogy Database, 1andduringtheperiodmemberare January granted calendar yeara full for run Memberships beginning age of18years. wife, husband, which includes andchildrenthe under areships $20 foranindividual,and$25a family, interestedwho is member Annual activities. our in and anyone(1601-1677) of IsaacCummings else Remember,open tois membership alldescendants andleaders. tify ournextgeneration ofparticipants bers are especially welcome as we recruitand iden who haveYoungermembers. beenlongtime mem of currently andfromThe association part families ICFAactively is from seekingmembers familiesnot shares your interest inCummingsFamily genealogy. yourof a member for membership gift who family youhave already renewed,a buying please consider Don’t forget to renew yourIf 2018. for membership RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP ICFA DATABASE REMINDER 98 BeeHoleRoad,Loudon NH03307 Cummings Chronicles Darla Jarvis if you have questions about ac newsletterand oth ------9 cummings chronicles spring 2018 NATIONAL REUNION UPDATE IN MEMORIAM BY DARLA JARVIS • The Association sponsors bi-annual reunions to con- duct business and provide social opportunities where RECENT ICFA MEMBER DEATHS members may exchange information and form family friendships with other members. March 18, 2015 Orman F. Cummings, Jr., age 75, in Falmouth, . Became a member in 2004. As many of you know, starting in 1997 we began holding a biennial ICFA Reunion in odd numbered November 22, 2015 Rev. Roswell Sherrard Cum- years. Of the ten reunions held, two were in Salt Lake mings, age 89, in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Be- City, Utah, and the rest were in the east, mostly in came a member in 2002. New England. Our most recent reunion was in the Washington DC area in July 2015. March 11, 2016 Leon Arthur Cummings, age 93, in Southborough, Massachusetts. Became a member In October 2015 I sent out a survey to all members in 2007. seeking guidance on where and when to have the 2017 reunion. The “where” results were to hold it in August 12, 2016 Doris M. Sandell, age 88, in Ray- the western U.S. with Washington State barely edg- mond, Maine. Became a member in 1997 and served ing out California. The “when” results were to convene as ICFA Membership Chair 2009-2011. after Labor Day when airfare was less costly. Accord- May 9 2017 Marjorie Cummings Byrnes, age 104, in ingly, after an exhaustive (and exhausting) search of Sag Harbor, New York. Became a member in 2006. 19 Seattle hotels I was able to arrange a very good deal at a very nice hotel for ICFA members. However, May 29, 2017 Abbott Lowell Cummings, age 94, in the lower hotel rates required us to financially guar- Hadley, Massachusetts. Became a member in 2004 antee a minimum level of attendees and room nights and was named an Honorary Lifetime Member in six months prior to the event. Unfortunately, we did 2007. not have enough firm reservations from members to make this commitment and postponed the 2017 April 21, 2018 Alan Ward Cummings, age 65, in Las reunion. The Executive Committee agreed that we Vegas, Nevada. Became a member in 2005. should next look at opportunities for 2019.

As we think about “where and when” for 2019, I would like to avoid some of the issues that arose in the LOCAL WISCONSIN REUNION 2017 attempt, starting with the cost of lodging. One PLANNED FOR JUNE interesting approach to holding down expenses is to schedule our reunion at a college or university during ICFA Member Tom Redlin has announced a Cummings the summer when most students are gone. Many Family Reunion in Menomonie, Wisconsin, on Saturday schools are willing to host such an event, providing June 9, 2018 honoring Phebe Louise Cummings Witt, her a dorm room, meals and meeting rooms at much re- husband August Ferdinand “Fred” Witt, and Ann Eliza- duced rates than commercial hotels. For example, I beth Hillman Wold, the wife of their son Freddie Witt. The was recently quoted $64 per night for a deluxe single event is planned for descendants of all three honorees and $54 for a double by one Massachusetts college. “and those important to them,” reports Tom. The reunion The deluxe package included linens, soap, shampoo, will be held from 12-7 p.m. in the Farm Bureau Shelter at towels and a private attached bath. Meals were $8, Pine Ave and Wakanda Park Road, 900 Pine Avenue East, $9 and $11 for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Menomonie WI 54751.

Please let me know what you think of this novel ap- Tom is a maternal line Cummings via his mother Virgin- proach to help offset travel costs and result in more ia and Phebe, whose parents were Sanford (1831-1887) attendees. If you have a favorite college in your town and Martha Brown Cummings. Sanford’s line descends or an alma mater that you regularly visit and are will- from Isaac Cummings through his son, John Cummings ing to check with them about such an arrangement, (1630-1700). Festivities include a mini bass tournament, feel free to take the initiative. In any case, we will be food and craft competitions, games, a water park and the asking you soon about your thoughts on a 2019 loca- Dunn County Historical Society and Heritage Museum. tion, so by all means let me know your location pref- For more information visit wittcummingsreunion.com or erences ([email protected]). Thank you. write Tom at [email protected]. O an answer, trusting me to find the resources and docu Utah. He would give me aproblem for which he wanted bott at the Family History Library Salt in City, Lake Later, conducting Ibegan genealogical research for Ab the paper upon which itwritten. was events,tion of people, and other things not was worth that research with incomplete or inaccurate documenta the importance documentation. of He made it quite clear tor, proper educating research, of me aspects all in and union at Cape Ann, Massachusetts. He became my men I believe Ifirst met Abbott during the 1999 ICFA re didn’t even misplace much so acomma. as said that after he had spoken for nearly two hours, he asuperbknown as writer and lecturer. One interviewer preservationist, antiquarian, genealogist and nationally architectural historian (PhD in Architectural History), Familymings Association. During career, his he an was ciety (NEHGS), and aLife Member the Isaac of Cum Member the New of England Historic Genealogical So Lowell (Green). He was Trustee Emeritus and aLife Albans, Vermont the the Rev. son of Stanley &Louise Remembering AbbottCummings DANVERS MASSACHUSETTS, WHEN SHE PRESENTED HIS HONORARY LIFETIME MEMBER AWARD. INSET: ABBOTT CUMMINGS AND SHERRY MILHAM ARE SHOWN TOGETHER AT THE 2007 ICFA REUNION IN BY SHERRY MILHAM 94. He born was March 14, 1923, Saint in May 29, 2017, Hadley, in Massachusetts, aged friend good ur Abbott Lowell Cummings died ------cordingly. Thank you, Abbott. Abbott. you, Thank cordingly. tie and often brought ahat and wanted to us dress ac When Abbott went out to dinner, he dressed coat in and treating favorite to his us adinner at one of restaurants. Abbott had suggested we bring skirts because he was never forget to our visits will New one of England when and generous gentleman he was. My daughter Kim and I friendship. And for being the interesting, multi-talented always grateful be to I’ll Abbott for generosity his and organized, by Abbott, prior to death. his fantastic collection, each item carefully was labeled and an article regarding this event. As with everything this in Ancestors” Vol. 18, No. 3, Fall 2017, pgs. 20-21, contains a research classic. The NEHGS publication “American Windham and County, ford, Massachusetts (ca. 1668-1751)and wife his Mary, ofWoburn and Ox many boxes. His book, and heirlooms, including four large file cabinets and genealogical researchlection of papers, family documents In July 2017, received NEHGS Abbott’s expansive col path. pated, thus sending (and him me) excitedly onto another whenwas I discovered something that he hadn’t antici ment the discoveries Ihad counseled. been as My reward The DescendantsThe of CominsJohn Ø , is , is - - - - 11 cummings chronicles spring 2018 CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP Election of ICFA’s officers, committee chairs and other members HELP WANTED of the Board of Directors traditionally occurs at our biennial re- ICFA is seeking qualified members to fill two important leadership unions. However, since we are not holding another Reunion until roles – Board Secretary and Social Media Coordinator. As noted 2019, the Board recently took action involving several members in the previous item, current Secretary Darla Jarvis will be adding of the leadership team consistent with the requirements of the the responsibilities of Membership Chair to her role as Reunion Association’s Bylaws. Chair and is ready to hand over the Secretarial role to another vol- The following changes have been approved: Membership Chair unteer. The Social Media role is new. Tamara Larson will relieve longtime Treasurer Sandra Wilcoxon The organization’s ByLaws describe the Secretary’s role as hav- and they are currently working on the transition requirements and ing charge of the records of the Association, participating in and schedule. Secretary Darla Jarvis has assumed the role of Mem- preparing minutes of the Executive Committee, and seeing that bership Chair from Tamara and the search for a new secretary meeting notices are timely mailed to Board. has begun (see announcement at right). We are very grateful to Sandra for her many years of strong and reliable service to the or- It is not a time-consuming role, as Darla will confirm, but requires ganization. Likewise to Tamara for her years overseeing our mem- attention to detail and is perfect for anyone with administrative bership function and willingness to assume the Treasurer’s role experience and the time to participate in 30-60 minute conference (she is a former CPA, by the way, so it is a great fit), and to Darla call meetings roughly every quarter. for her continued stalwart support of our needs (she is also our former President and newsletter editor and remains our Reunion The Social Media role is perfect for anyone who has experience Chair, as many of you know). Thank you all. with online services as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat and other social platforms that most of our older members have heard about but generally don’t participate in.

ICFA recognizes that social media will be an important part of our future communications strategy and is prepared to begin partic- ipating (we already have a Facebook page) with the guidance of an interested member (or two, or three) who can begin to build our networks.

Please contact President David Roland at [email protected] to express interest (or nominations and ideas) in these openings.

DARLA JARVIS TAMARA LARSON PUBLICATIONS ICFA LEADERSHIP ICFA publishes the Cummings Chronicles newsletter to provide a forum for historical discussion and inquiry to OFFICERS support its “network” of Isaac Cummings descendants and David Roland - President researchers. Members are encouraged to submit articles Darla Jarvis – Secretary (Temporary) and information of interest to Rosemary Byrnes Doyle at Tamara Larson - Treasurer 63295 Johnson Ranch Rd., Bend, OR 97701 or rosemary@ doylearabians.com. COMMITTEE CHAIRS Rosemary Byrnes Doyle - Newsletter Darla Jarvis – Membership and Reunion Sherry Milham - Database GENEALOGICAL INQUIRIES Beth D. Rosenquist - Historian ICFA has developed a master Isaac Cummings descen- TRUSTEES dants database utilizing genealogies and family trees Sheila Arestad largely provided by its members. Lincoln Cummings Barry Moravek Members may forward queries about the database by contacting Administrator Sherry Milham at 82181 Berg- PAST PRESIDENTS man Drive, Indio, CA 92201 or [email protected] and Laura Prescott (2015-17) are encouraged to forward their lineages as they are up- Lincoln Cummings (2011-15) dated and corrected when members learn and verify more Leigh E. Cummings, Jr., (2009-11) about their line of descent. David L. Cummings, (2001-03 and 2007-09) Sherry Milham (2005-07) Darla Jarvis (2003-05) Be sure to visit us online at Barry C. K. Moravek (1997-2001) http://isaaccummingsfamily.org Here’s an idea! of anyactionsand obligations. Itrustthehonestintent oftheAssociation’sFurthermore, mation. volunteer boardleaders andholdthemharmless membersandother that understand I ICFA. operating membership is in from January 1st to December 31st involved of each calendar year. expenses I acknowledge that ICFA defray may help have access to my contact may infor contribution my and organization 501(c)3 nonprofit a is ICFA Email: ______Phone:______City: ______State:______Zip:______Address: ______Name (s):______who donotpay 1becomedelinquentandare duesby placedontheinactive January list. arefunds period. Membership the membership during communications usedto defray theAssociation’soperating Members costs. tomembers the private access ICFA Genealogy Database, receive the and childrenspouse $25 forafamilyincluding 1and entitles for a full calendar yearruns under18.Membership beginningJanuary and anyone1677, in interested whois Isaac’s in descendantfamiliesandtheICFA.are Annual memberships an individualand for $20 Membership is open to descendants of Isaac Cummings who was born in Essex, England in 1601 and died in Topsfield, Massachusetts family historians. and otheritemsofinterest and promotespioneers, tofamilies asearlyMassachusetts the search Isaac’s forartifacts descendantsand ican descendants. researchThe organization into alsosupports of Isaac the and English origins his ancestors,Isaac and his honors groupdescendants toof IsaacCummings develop, preserve, andshare andgenealogy the history about of Isaac’s information Amer FamilyThe Isaac Cummings Inc. (ICFA) Association, is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization thatwas established in 1996by a small to usethedatabasefor research purposes,please contactAdministrator Milhamat Sherry into theAssociation’sextensive private genealogy database. Formore how toon information how on and also doso Isaac from tree lineage/family family’s your enter can you that is ICFA membership of benefit important An NOTE: Check one: Note: Your emailaddress willbeusedonlyforICFA newsletterandothercommunicationspurposes.

 NewMember If you have achild,grandchild orrelative whocanhelp us,give them asurprisegiftofanICFA membership andgetthem Darla Jarvis Isaac CummingsFamily Associationandsendbothformcheckto: Please make your checkormoney order payable to For more information,pleaseemailat: Loudon NH03307 98 BeeHoleRoad involved asanactive memberoftheICFA family. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION /RENEWAL  Renewal ICFA STATEMENT OFPURPOSE MEMBERSHIP Type ofMembership: Cummings Chronicles [email protected]

 Individual$20.00

newsletter,and other information Reunion [email protected]

Family $25.00

. - - 13 cummings chronicles spring 2018