Person Page - 1

     George Bezanson was born on 16 May 1781 at Lunenburg.¹ He was baptized on 24 May 1781 at Lunenburg.¹ He married Mary Millet, daughter of George Millet and Mary Annabelle Houghton, on 10 June 1804 at Chester, Nova Scotia. He was 23. She was 28.^2,3,4,5 George Bezanson died after 8 June 1821 at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.⁶ (Reference: Bezansons from Nova Scotia ID #005).⁷ He was a good piano player.

     Mary Millet was born on 20 December 1775 at Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.^1,2,3 She was christened on 16 September 1776 at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Chester, Nova Scotia.⁴ She married James Jackson Vaughan, son of Anthony Vaughan and Anne Armstrong, on 5 May 1796. She was 20. He was 19.^5,6 Mary Millet became a widow at age 28 upon the death of her husband James Jackson Vaughan in January 1804.⁷ Mary Millet married George Bezanson, son of Jean Jacques Jacob Bezanson and Anna Maria Ley, on 10 June 1804 at Chester, Nova Scotia. She was 28. He was 23.^7,8,5,9 Mary Millet died in 1844.¹⁰

     James Jackson Vaughan was born on 26 January 1777 at Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.¹ He married Mary Millet, daughter of George Millet and Mary Annabelle Houghton, on 5 May 1796. He was 19. She was 20.^2,3 James Jackson Vaughan drowned in January 1804.⁴

      Jean George Bezanson was also known as Jean George Besancon. He was born circa 1708 at Etobon, Montbeliard.¹ He married Jeanne (?) before 1733 at Montbeliard.¹ Jean George Bezanson and Jeanne (?) immigrated on 16 May 1752 to St. George's Island, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the Speedwell.² On the passenger list, he is described as 44 years old, from Montbeliard, and a farmer.² Jean George Bezanson became a widower when Jeanne died either as the Speedwell neared Halifax Harbor or soon thereafter on St. George's Island for she was buried in Halifax.³ Jean George Bezanson was on the victual list in Halifax, Nova Scotia, between 30 October 1752 and 24 December 1752.⁴ He moved to Lot #36, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, in 1753; George Besanson is listed as the owner of North West Range lot A-36 in Christopher Young's copy of Registry of 30 Acre Lots, 12 Jun 1760.^3,5 He married Catherine Boutilier, daughter of Jean George Boutilier and Sarah Grange, on 20 May 1753 at St John's Anglican Church, Lunenburg, Nova Scotia. She was 29.^6,7,8,9 Jean George Bezanson died in 1755 at Lunenburg, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.³ Another source says that Jean George Bezanson died in 1756 at Lunenburg, Nova Scotia.⁹
     From Bezansons of Nova Scotia by Dorothy Evans: Jean George died in 1755. His daughter Susannah Catherine was born after his death. His widow married Etienne Mariette, a widower with sons, on 1 Jan 1756, and subsequently had several children by her second husband.³
     From Elaine Hoare: Jean George Bezanson was among the Foreign Protestant settlers who were recruited in Europe to populate the province of Nova Scotia in the 1750's. His first wife died on the journey as the small ship Speedwell neared Halifax Harbour or immediately following the docking for she was buried in Halifax. For almost a year these settlers were held on George's Island before being settled in Lunenburg. Jean George wrote a lengthy petition to the Governor begging him to "get us off this God-forsaken island." Jean George was first granted land in what is now the town of Lunenburg but traded this lot for one further down the coast where he died in 1755. There is an unproven history which says that he was scalped by Indians in his own door yard in view of his wife who held a babe in arms.
     On July 10, 1988, Pierre Jodry of Audincourt, France (near the city of Montbeliard) unveiled a memorial dedicated to the 431 foreign protestants from the principality of Montbeliard who landed in Nova Scotia between 1749 and 1752. Many of these Montbeliardians were among the founding settlers of Lunenburg on June 8, 1753. Jean George and his family are considered founders of Lunenburg and the family name appears on the monument.
(Reference: Bezansons from Nova Scotia ID #001).¹

     Jeanne (?) was born at France. She married Jean George Bezanson before 1733 at Montbeliard.¹ Jeanne (?) was having trouble with dates in 1740/41. She and Jean George Bezanson immigrated on 16 May 1752 to St. George's Island, Halifax, Nova Scotia, aboard the Speedwell.² Jeanne (?) died either as the Speedwell neared Halifax Harbor or soon thereafter on St. George's Island for she was buried in Halifax.³

     Sarah Ann Bezanson was born on 7 June 1821 at Chester, Lunenburg County, Nova Scotia.^1,2 She married Isaac N. Graham, son of Jonathan Graham and Mary Young, on 16 December 1841 at Horton, Nova Scotia. She was 20. He was 29.³ Sarah Ann Bezanson became a widow at age 47 upon the death of her husband Isaac N. Graham on 22 July 1868 at Gaspereaux, Nova Scotia, Canada.^4,5 Sarah Ann Bezanson appeared on the census of 1881 in the household of Solomon H. Lawrence and Mary Sophia Graham at Lower Horton, Kings County, Nova Scotia.⁶ Sarah Ann Bezanson died on 28 February 1887 at Washington, D.C., at age 65.⁴

     Isaac N. Graham was born on 5 May 1812 at Horton, Nova Scotia, Canada.² He married Sarah Ann Bezanson, daughter of George Bezanson and Mary Millet, on 16 December 1841 at Horton, Nova Scotia. He was 29. She was 20.³ Isaac N. Graham was a farmer in 1868.⁴ He died on 22 July 1868 at Gaspereaux, Nova Scotia, Canada, at age 56.^2,5

     Captain Nathan Albert Lockhart was born on 13 May 1819.¹ He married Ann Elizabeth Bezanson, daughter of John Johannes Bezanson and Ann Brimmer Anderson, on 12 January 1849 at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Nova Scotia. He was 29. She was 29.^2,3

     The Speedwell sailed from England to Nova Scotia on 18 May 1751 (arriving 21 July 1751) with Master Joseph Wilson and 73 families. Two hundred and twelve persons came ashore with seventeen having died enroute. Selected passengers.¹
          Joseph Ley.¹
     The Speedwell sailed from Rotterdam to England and then to Halifax, Nova Scotia on 16 May 1752 (arriving 14 July 1752) with Master Joseph Wilson and 59 families. Two hundred and three persons came ashore with thirteen having died enroute from Rotterdam. Selected passengers.²
          Jean George Bezanson and Jeanne (?).²
          Etienne Sarty.²

     The Sally sailed from Rotterdam to Nova Scotia on 30 May 1752 with Master John Robinson and 119 families. Selected passengers.¹
          Jean George Boutilier.¹
          David Langille.¹

     The Saint-André sailed from France to Montréal in 1659 . Selected passengers.¹
          Simon Cardinal and Michelle Garnier.^2,3,4

     Russell Walter Cardinal was born on 17 February 1928 at Brighton, Massachusetts.^2,3 He was photographed with members of his family in the spring of 1928 at Hanover, Massachusetts.⁴ He appeared on the census of 1930 in the household of Walter Francis Cardinal and Alta Florence Wood at 16 Ottawa Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.⁵ Drafting/drawing tools that originally belonged to George Herbert Cardinal were handed down to his nephew Russell Walter Cardinal.³ He lived on 24 May 1943 at 34 Ridgemont Street, Allston, Massachusetts.¹ When Russell Walter Cardinal applied for his Social Security Number on 24 May 1943, Russell was employed by the Mohican Market at Harvard Avenue, Allston, Massachusetts.^1,2 He and Mary Cardinal attended Mary's Senior Prom together. She graduated young, and her father Louis would not allow her to date, so she went with her cousin instead. Russell Walter Cardinal married Mary Margaret Cloherty, daughter of Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby, on 23 August 1945 at St. Anthony's Church, Boston, Massachusetts. He was 17. She was 17.³ Russell Walter Cardinal was struck by a falling beam at a construction site and suffered multiple injuries, including the loss of his right foot on 4 November 1952.⁶ He was the Godfather of Debra Joanne Cardinal who was born on 24 December 1957 at Boston, Massachusetts.⁷ Russell Walter Cardinal was a mechanical engineer.³ He had a heart attack on 30 December 1964.⁸ He was hospitalized from 30 December 1964 to 14 February 1965 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts. He had a second heart attack on 10 January 1965 while in the hospital.⁸ He and Mary Margaret Cloherty moved to 98 Barnard Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts, on 22 November 1968. Russell Walter Cardinal died on 14 December 1977 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 49.^2,3,8 He was buried on 17 December 1977 in Ridgelawn Cemetary, Watertown, Massachusetts.^8,9
     From Mary (Cloherty) Cardinal: "I met Russ in school. He was in school with me until 9th grade, when he went to Boston Technical High School and I went to Brighton High. He was our paper boy. My mother loved him. He was what you would call today a nerd--he always did his homework, always stood up straight. Alta didn't like my religion, and she tried to send Dad to Graceland College in Missouri to get him away from me. Alta had a nice Protestant girl picked out for him."⁶
     Alta evidently didn't see the similarities between how her father treated her when she married Walter, and how she treated Mary when she married her Russ.¹⁰
     Russell Cardinal was the author's father. The complications from his accident in 1952 led to a series of heart attacks in 1964, and eventually, to his death in 1977.¹⁰

     Mary Margaret Cloherty was born on 16 December 1927 at Brighton, Massachusetts.³ She appeared on the census of 1930 in the household of Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.⁴ Mary Margaret Cloherty graduated from William H. Taft Junior High School in Brighton, Massachusetts, in June 1942. She graduated from Brighton High School in Brighton, Massachusetts, in June 1945. She married Russell Walter Cardinal, son of Walter Francis Cardinal and Alta Florence Wood, on 23 August 1945 at St. Anthony's Church, Boston, Massachusetts. She was 17. He was 17.⁵ Mary Margaret Cloherty was the Matron of Honor at the marriage of Mario Joseph Labadini and Ann Winifred Cloherty on 21 April 1951.⁵ Mary Margaret Cloherty was two months pregnant with her fourth child when Russell Walter Cardinal was struck by a falling beam at a construction site and suffered multiple injuries, including the loss of his right foot on 4 November 1952.⁶ Mary Margaret Cloherty was the Godmother of Brian Charles Cloherty who was born on 24 May 1956.⁵ Mary Margaret Cloherty was the Godmother of Marie Louise Cloherty who was born on 10 July 1962.⁵ Mary Margaret Cloherty helped her husband Russell Walter Cardinal survive the heart attacks he suffered on 30 December 1964.⁷ Mary Margaret Cloherty was a market researcher.⁶ She and Russell Walter Cardinal moved to 98 Barnard Avenue, Watertown, Massachusetts, on 22 November 1968. Mary Margaret Cloherty became a widow at age 49 upon the death of her husband Russell Walter Cardinal on 14 December 1977 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts.^8,5,7 Mary Margaret Cloherty was the Assistant Auditor for the Town of Watertown, Massachusetts.⁶ Mary Margaret Cloherty visited Mark Cloherty in Ireland.^6,9 Mary Margaret Cloherty moved to 107 Church Street, Watertown, Massachusetts, on 28 February 1989.¹⁰ She moved to 103 Church Street, Watertown, Massachusetts, in July 1989.¹⁰ She moved to 21 Springfield Street, Watertown, Massachusetts, before 1991. She attended the Brighton High School 50th Anniversary Reunion on 15 October 1994 at Holiday Inn, Dedham, Massachusetts.¹¹ She died on 25 February 2001 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 73.¹² She was buried on 28 February 2001 in Ridgelawn Cemetery, Watertown, Massachusetts.^13,7 Her obituary appeared in The Watertown Tab and Press, Watertown, Massachusetts, on 28 February 2001.¹³

     Sarah Marie Clasby was born on 10 September 1896 at Oranmore/Tuom, Co. Galway, Ireland.^1,2 She moved to Boston, Massachusetts, circa 1915. She married Peter Patrick Cloherty, son of Mark Cloherty and Bridget Joyce, on 18 June 1919 at St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts. She was 22. He was 25.^2,3 Sarah Marie Clasby and Peter Patrick Cloherty moved to Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, Ireland, circa 1921 with Joseph Edward Cloherty. Sarah Marie Clasby and Joseph Edward Cloherty immigrated on 12 May 1922 to Ellis Island, New York, New York, aboard the Carmania.⁴ Sarah Marie Clasby witnessed the death of her daughter Margaret Cloherty on 26 November 1928.² Sarah Marie Clasby and Peter Patrick Cloherty appeared on the census of 1930 at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with Mary Margaret Cloherty, Joseph Edward Cloherty, Peter Joseph Cloherty, Sally Cloherty, Ann Winifred Cloherty and Michael Clougherty.⁵ Sarah Marie Clasby became a widow at age 47 upon the death of her husband Peter Patrick Cloherty on 8 October 1943 at Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.^2,6,7,8 Sarah Marie Clasby was a dietician at William Howard Taft Elementary School, Brighton, Massachusetts.²
     From Mary (Cloherty) Cardinal: "[BRACKET:]Joseph J. Cloherty[:BRACKET] lived on Morse Street in Watertown. I took my mother to his funeral. When I was about to receive Communion, the priest said 'Body of Christ--is that Mrs. Cloherty?!?', referring to my mother [BRACKET:]Sarah Marie Clasby[:BRACKET] who was behind me. The priest had gone to the William Howard Taft School in Brighton, MA, and remembered her from when she worked there years before."⁹ She witnessed the death of her daughter Ann Winifred Cloherty on 1 February 1976 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts.^2,10 Sarah Marie Clasby witnessed the death of her son Joseph Edward Cloherty on 20 December 1976 at Brighton, Massachusetts.² Sarah Marie Clasby witnessed the death of her son Peter Joseph Cloherty on 5 January 1977 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts.^1,2,11,12 Sarah Marie Clasby died on 11 November 1977 at Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 81.^2,1 She was buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.¹³
     Sarah was a very warm and loving woman. She had a favorite Gaelic expression which I would spell phonetically as "bock-lish-a-nish". Whenever we (her grandchildren) asked her what it meant, she would reply "Children should be seen and not heard", but always with a laugh in her voice. Peter Patrick Cloherty, his wife, Sarah Marie Clasby, and Sarah's sister Margaret Josephine Clasby share a headstone in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.¹⁰

     Peter Patrick Cloherty was born on 27 August 1893 at Loughconeera, District of Roundstone, Clifden, Co. Galway, Ireland.^2,1 He immigrated on 21 June 1915 to Ellis Island, New York, New York, aboard the New York.³ Peter Patrick Cloherty was a railway employee at Boston, Massachusetts, on 1 March 1918.⁴ He married Sarah Marie Clasby, daughter of Michael Clasby and Una Cannon, on 18 June 1919 at St. Peter's Church, Cambridge, Massachusetts. He was 25. She was 22.^2,5 Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby moved to Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, Ireland, circa 1921 with Joseph Edward Cloherty. Peter Patrick Cloherty wrote to Mark Cloherty on 9 March 1921 and asked him to confirm elements of his will. Peter Patrick Cloherty purchased real estate from Martin Conneely on 13 December 1921 at Loughconeera, County Galway, Ireland.⁶ Peter Patrick Cloherty immigrated on 10 April 1922 to Ellis Island, New York, New York, aboard the Baltic.⁷ Peter Patrick Cloherty was naturalized on 2 October 1922 at Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.⁸ He was a police officer at Boston, Massachusetts, in 1926.^2,9 He witnessed the death of his daughter Margaret Cloherty on 26 November 1928.² Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby appeared on the census of 1930 at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts, with Mary Margaret Cloherty, Joseph Edward Cloherty, Peter Joseph Cloherty, Sally Cloherty, Ann Winifred Cloherty and Michael Clougherty.¹⁰ Peter Patrick Cloherty died on 8 October 1943 at Boston City Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, at age 50.^2,11,12,13 He was buried on 11 October 1943 in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.^14,12 Obituaries and death notices appeared in several papers.⁹
     From Mary (Cloherty) Cardinal: "Peter made a few trips to this country, finally staying for good in 1922. On one of his first trips, he lived at the home of his brother at 311 Arsenal Street [Watertown, MA]. That home is gone, probably removed to make way for the expansion of the US Arsenal located there now. He was a WW I Veteran, inducted 20 Oct 1917. He is included on the Veteran's Honor Roll in Watertown, MA, Town Hall. He was a Private, 301st Field Artillery, US Army. While on duty as a Boston Police Officer, he was hit by an MTA trolley. His injuries were missed or misdiagnosed, and he died shortly thereafter."¹⁵ Peter Patrick Cloherty, his wife, Sarah Marie Clasby, and Sarah's sister Margaret Josephine Clasby share a headstone in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.¹⁶

     Joseph Edward Cloherty was born on 8 July 1920.¹ He was christened on 19 July 1920.² He moved with Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby to Kilcolgan, Co. Galway, Ireland, circa 1921. Joseph Edward Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby immigrated on 12 May 1922 to Ellis Island, New York, New York, aboard the Carmania.³ Joseph Edward Cloherty appeared on the census of 1930 in the household of Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.⁴ Joseph Edward Cloherty was confirmed on 11 May 1935 at St. Joseph's Church, Allston, Massachusetts.⁵ He married Margaret Celeste circa June 1945.⁶ Joseph Edward Cloherty was a postal worker. He and Margaret Celeste were divorced. Joseph Edward Cloherty married Evelyn P. O'Neil. Joseph Edward Cloherty died on 20 December 1976 at Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 56.¹ His death notice appeared in The Boston Globe.⁷ He was buried on 23 December 1976 in Evergreen Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts.^7,8 The graves of brothers Joseph and Peter are right behind each other.⁸

     Peter Joseph Cloherty was born on 19 February 1923.¹ He appeared on the census of 1930 in the household of Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.² Peter Joseph Cloherty married Marie Virginia Ryan on 30 April 1955. He was 32. She was 31.¹ Peter Joseph Cloherty was always involved in politics and held the office of Representative in the Massachusetts House from 1959 to 1962.³ He died on 5 January 1977 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 53.^4,1,5,3 His obituary appeared in The Boston Herald American and The Boston Globe on 6 January 1977.^3,5 He was buried on 8 January 1977 in Evergreen Cemetery, Boston, Massachusetts.⁶ The graves of brothers Joseph and Peter are right behind each other.⁶

     Sally Cloherty was born on 6 October 1924.² Her full given name was Sarah Ann.² She appeared on the census of 1930 in the household of Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.³ Sally Cloherty married Eugene F. DeCroteau on 1 January 1947. She was 22. He was 27.² Sally Cloherty was a real estate agent, and owned and operated several businesses.² She was the godmother of Barbara E. Cloherty.² Sally Cloherty died on 10 December 1990 at Melrose, Massachusetts, at age 66.^2,4 She was buried in Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose, Massachusetts.⁴ Her obituary appeared in The Boston Globe.⁵

     Margaret Cloherty was born on 26 March 1926.¹ She died on 26 November 1928 at age 2.¹ The cause of death was Scarlet Fever.² She was buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery, West Roxbury, Massachusetts.^2,3

     Ann Winifred Cloherty was born on 17 October 1929.¹ She appeared on the census of 1930 in the household of Peter Patrick Cloherty and Sarah Marie Clasby at 24 Allston Street, Boston, Suffolk County, Massachusetts.² Ann Winifred Cloherty was the Godmother of Jeanne DeCroteau who was born on 17 January 1948.¹ Ann Winifred Cloherty married Mario Joseph Labadini, son of Giulio Labadini and Mary Previti, on 21 April 1951. She was 21. He was 27. The Matron of Honor was Mary Margaret Cloherty.¹ Ann Winifred Cloherty died on 1 February 1976 at St. Elizabeth's Hospital, Brighton, Massachusetts, at age 46.^1,3 The cause of death was lung cancer.¹ She was buried in Oak Grove Cemetery, Medford, Massachusetts.⁴