Introduction

INTRODUCTION

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

This project began unexpectedly during some "housecleaning" back in 1989 which resulted in the discovery of some yellowed correspondance dated 24 August 1924. It was a letter to a Clarence Belcher of Hartford, CT from an unidentified author from Wollaston, MA. Included in the letter were several pages of family history of the Belcher family of Braintree, MA extending back to the early 1500's.

These papers, browned and brittle with age and long forgotten, being a part of my maternal grandmother, Ethel (Belcher) Smith's personal papers, had been stored away for many years since coming into my possession. Their discovery awakened within me a desire to search further for my family roots. Like author Alex Haley I had visions of adventure in uncovering the mystery of my ancestors. In the course of this research I've discovered that I have many more relatives than I ever thought possible.

Don Porter, Webmaster

DOCUMENTATION & SOURCES

Sources used in this work have come from a wide variety of areas & include:

Private Records: records & various information gleaned from family members; i.e. recollections, family records, Bible entries, etc.

Published Records: Other published family genealogies and historical records of various family lines which have married at some point into the PORTER family line. These include county & town histories & vital records.

The first eight generations of this PORTER family line were discovered in a privately published genealogy of "RICHARD PORTER OF WEYMOUTH" by Joseph W. Porter of Maine, published in 1878. This book revealed this Porter Family line from Richard Porter (1611-1688) to Calvin Porter's birth date in 1832.

Unpublished Records: These include vast quantities of information found in county courthouses, townhalls, federal & state archives; also church records, gravestones & cemetery records & historical records of all types. During the past several years access to the internet has provided much information from the IGS (Int'l Genealogical Service) of the Church of Latter Day Saints & Ancestry.com

THE HELPERS

I wish to thank the many family members who have contributed information to this effort. Their interest is most appreciated.

A special thanks to Carol (Tucker) Seward for providing much information on the PORTER, TUCKER & WEST family lines.

Among others who have contributed to various family lines include:

BELCHER FAMILY: Shirley (Belcher) Curtin of Shepardstown, West VA; Harry Belcher (deceased) of Braintree,MA.

WENTZELL FAMILY: Millie (Baker) Wentzell (deceased); Mildred (Eisnor) Wentzell, Viola (Feindel) Wentzell (deceased), Pearl (Wentzell) Simpson, Barbara (Wentzell) Redman, Elaine (Wentzell) Wright, Lulu (Wentzell) Oickle.

FEINDEL FAMILY: Mabel (Feindel) Duva, Roxy (Feindel) Crandall (deceased), Lillian (Feindel) McGarry (deceased), Dorethea (Feindel) Bergstrom.

PORTER FAMILY HISTORY

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	INTRODUCTION HOW IT ALL BEGAN This project began unexpectedly during some "housecleaning" back in 1989 which resulted in the discovery of some yellowed correspondance dated 24 August 1924. It was a letter to a Clarence Belcher of Hartford, CT from an unidentified author from Wollaston, MA. Included in the letter were several pages of family history of the Belcher family of Braintree, MA extending back to the early 1500's. These papers, browned and brittle with age and long forgotten, being a part of my maternal grandmother, Ethel (Belcher) Smith's personal papers, had been stored away for many years since coming into my possession. Their discovery awakened within me a desire to search further for my family roots. Like author Alex Haley I had visions of adventure in uncovering the mystery of my ancestors. In the course of this research I've discovered that I have many more relatives than I ever thought possible. Don Porter, Webmaster DOCUMENTATION & SOURCES Sources used in this work have come from a wide variety of areas & include: Private Records: records & various information gleaned from family members; i.e. recollections, family records, Bible entries, etc. Published Records: Other published family genealogies and historical records of various family lines which have married at some point into the PORTER family line. These include county & town histories & vital records. The first eight generations of this PORTER family line were discovered in a privately published genealogy of "RICHARD PORTER OF WEYMOUTH" by Joseph W. Porter of Maine, published in 1878. This book revealed this Porter Family line from Richard Porter (1611-1688) to Calvin Porter's birth date in 1832. Unpublished Records: These include vast quantities of information found in county courthouses, townhalls, federal & state archives; also church records, gravestones & cemetery records & historical records of all types. During the past several years access to the internet has provided much information from the IGS (Int'l Genealogical Service) of the Church of Latter Day Saints & Ancestry.com THE HELPERS I wish to thank the many family members who have contributed information to this effort. Their interest is most appreciated. A special thanks to Carol (Tucker) Seward for providing much information on the PORTER, TUCKER & WEST family lines. Among others who have contributed to various family lines include: BELCHER FAMILY: Shirley (Belcher) Curtin of Shepardstown, West VA; Harry Belcher (deceased) of Braintree,MA. WENTZELL FAMILY: Millie (Baker) Wentzell (deceased); Mildred (Eisnor) Wentzell, Viola (Feindel) Wentzell (deceased), Pearl (Wentzell) Simpson, Barbara (Wentzell) Redman, Elaine (Wentzell) Wright, Lulu (Wentzell) Oickle. FEINDEL FAMILY: Mabel (Feindel) Duva, Roxy (Feindel) Crandall (deceased), Lillian (Feindel) McGarry (deceased), Dorethea (Feindel) Bergstrom. PORTER FAMILY HISTORY Back To Home Page