I am working on a full story about old pictures and records but this is a priority as someone is looking to return an old photograph to any descendants of the subject. Please read through and help out if you can.
UPDATE MAY 2020 THIS PICTURE HAS BEEN RETURNED TO FAMILY. ENJOY THE STORY, I'LL TRY TO UPDATE THE FAMILY LISTINGS WHEN I CAN GET MORE.
We are looking to return a family photograph to any
descendants. The photo is of Dwight Tufts, born in 1851 probably in
Massachusetts. His parents were Albert Smith Tufts and Elizabeth (Chase)
Bartlett (Betsey, widow of Ebenezer Bartlett).
Dwight Tufts circa 1875
Records of Dwight are difficult to decipher. We do know this family
came from the family of Gershom Tufts who went to Dartmouth, Nova Scotia in
1760 and left a large legacy. The story of Gershom’s descendants are told in Chapter 4 of Nova Scotia Tufts families. Gershom was a fifth-generation
descendant of Peter Tufts of Charlestown, Massachusetts, the Tufts immigrant
ancestor. Some of Gershom’s descendants returned to America. The subject of the photo’s grandfather
Benjamin was the one who returned in his line. He was a soldier in the war of
1812 from Springfield, Massachusetts and had 10 children in Fishkill, NY and
Hadley, MA.His male line:
Gershom Tufts
James B Tufts
Benjamin S
Tufts
Albert S
Tufts
Dwight Tufts
1851-?
Albert and
his wife Betsey are listed as having only 1 child in the records I could find.
He is listed as Dwight F Tufts at birth and in the first 2 census records. In
his later marriage records he is recorded as Charles Dexter Tufts. I have yet
to find the answer to that mystery. I did not see any records of children from
Charles marriage so it may be unlikely there are any descendants. There would
be cousins though. Dwight (or Charles) had 2 half-brothers; Albert D Tufts and
Henry N Tufts. Albert S Tufts was also had 9 siblings so the Tufts family of
Hamden and Hampshire counties in Massachusetts could enjoy this picture of
their old uncle.
There is also
a picture on ebay for sale right now (February 2020). It is three women of the
Barri family, one named Tufts. ebay link
It would be
nice to return these to some family members. It is possible there are none but
there could be cousin, nieces and nephews. Please contact ttuftsy@comcast.net if you have any
information on the descendants of these families.
