This is a picture of my Ma Heselton taken circa 1946. Ma had met my grandfather Ralph Heselton when she moved to Reading, Mass. from Merrimac, Mass. where she was born. Her dad was Charles Carter and her mother was Anna Fellows. Anna Fellows and Charles Carter's genealogy can be traced back to William Fellows and Thomas Carter who were fellow passengers on the ship "Planter" from England, circa 1638.
My grandfather Ralph Heselton's parents were Lizzie Wakefield and Richmond Heselton. I have traced their lines back to Robert and John Haseltine, two brothers who settled in Rowley, circa 1638, then Bradford, Mass. The Wakefield line is descended from John Wakefield who settled in Boston, Mass. circa 1640.
My Heselton grandparents were called Ma and Pa. They owned a large farm which had apple orchards. Pa allowed his grown children to have their gardens on his land. Sadly, this farm was seized by "eminent domain" to build a new highschool. Pa fought this for years and took the town to court. He won more money than the town wanted to give him originally for his property and had a house built in North Reading.
Ma and Pa had twelve children...of which two daughters Harriet and Esther, died young. Also a son Harold died young. The other nine children who lived were Nellie, Ralph, Frederick (my dad), Richard, Herbert, Albert, Lillian, Stephen and Barbara. Ma and Pa were famous for giving their children nicknames.
Ralph (Rippy)
I have memories of the Second World War. Three of my uncles joined the Army and served overseas. My uncle Ralph pictured above served in India and Japan and was a chef. My uncle Albert rode on the Red Cross wagon and picked up the wounded and dead. My uncle Steve served in Germany.
Albert (Albo)
Steve
Aunt Dot and Uncle Dick
My dad Fred (Teddy Bear) and two uncles Richard (Dick) and Herbert were considered 4-F as they had three children.
Aunt Barbara
My aunt Lillian's husband Paul Frotten served in the Navy. Lillian and her two sons moved back into the Heselton farm until Paul was released from the service. My aunt Barbara was the only one living at home with her parents. She enjoyed having her sister back home again during the war.
Albo, Dad holding my youngest sister Brenda and Rippy.
Finally, the war was over and Ma welcomed her three sons back home. Steve was married and moved to Ohio. Albert lived at home until he married his sister-in-law's sister Verna. Ralph never married.
Steve and Herbert.
I had enjoyed my grandparent's farm since I was a little girl. Mom and Dad went there every weekend to care for their garden. My aunt Nellie and her husband Harry White had built a home on a piece of land given to them
by my grandparents. I enjoyed visiting and playing with my White cousins. We did not leave our grandparents' farm until dusk time to go home.
Fred and Nancy in the garden.
Every Memorial Day Mom and Dad and we six children went to watch the parade in Reading, then went to Ma's and Pa's. I marched in the parade when I was in the Brownie, Girl Scouts and Reading High School Band. My brother Fred marched in the parade as a Boy Scout.
Dad and five angels on Memorial Day.
Here is a picture of the three sisters Nellie, Barbara and Lillian with the two remaining brothers Albert and Richard circa 1968.
As of this year,2003, only Uncle Albo remains alive. Thank you for sharing my precious memories of the Heselton family of Reading.
Albo, Nellie Barbara, Lillian and Dick.
