"Ever Widening Circle"
Quest for my Native American Roots
In the book Legend of Barkhamsted Lighthouse and Satan’s Kingdom by Lewis Spragues
So Wilson taught his wife to read,
Then he joined the Yankee Army,
And fought to have his country freed,
Freed from England and her taxes.
Polly Chaugham married Wilson,
William Wilson, Bible Scholar,
Read the Bible and wrote sermons,
Daily prayed to Great Jehovah,
William Wilson, strong and hardy,
Loved the maid, sweet Polly Chaugham;
Love his wife, dear Polly Chaugham,
They had built a pleasant cabin,
As this legend has related,
In the year of sev’nteen sev’nty,
Log house built of mighty timbers
On the side of Ragged Mountain,
Pg: 110: In the little Light House Village,
In the town of fair Barkhamsted;
Built a fire-place strong and ample –
Wood was plenty for the cutting
William Wilson was not lazy,
So he kept the home-fire burning.
Often ’till the midnight hour,
William Wilson worked with Polly;
Taught her how to read the Bible,
How to spell and write a letter.
While they studied thus together,
Dancing fire-place light was shining,
Out between the cabin timbers,
So the cabin seemed a light house,
Flashing signals for the trav’ler,
On the roadway by the Tunxis.
Then across the lonely hill-side,
Came the cry of “War and Battles,
War at Lexington and Concord.
People shot and killed in Boston.”
William Wilson hated fighting,
But he felt he would be needed,
So he planned to join the army.
With fond farewell, William Wilson
Left his mountain home and Polly,
Left the people of the village;
Joined the Continental Army,
In historical fight for freedom.
Lonely Polly wrote him letters,
Wrote to Wilson in the army,
And her letters eased his hardships.
Chaugham brought her wood for burning,
Molly brought her fish and squirrels,
And some yellow corn-meal puddings.
William Wilson, Freedom Soldier,
Wounded in the fray at Monmouth
(Note from Coni – dated of fight June 28, 1778)
Fighting in the Revolution.
Lying wounded neath the cannon;
Molly Pitcher gave him water,
Dressed his wounded side and ankle,
Knowing not his lighthouse story,
Saw him only as a soldier,
Bravely fighting for his country.
For her deeds that day in battle,
Molly Pitcher’s name was honored, –
Soldiers called her “Major Molly.”
Congress made her “Sargent Molly.”
When the weary war was over,
With a Continental Victory,
Pg: 112: Then came Wilson limping homeward,
To his mountain home and Polly,
Waiting in the lonely cabin.
Joyous was the glad reunion;
All the people gave him welcome,
With a party in the village,
Where brave Molly, Honest Chaugham,
Led the cheers for William Wilson,
Hero of the village people.
As the years went rolling onward,
William Wilson worked with Chaugham,
Often preaching to the people,
By the Boulder on the hill-side,
Sacred Boulder on the hill-side,
Held in high esteem was Wilson,
By the people of the Village,
But they loved the voice of Chaugham,
And his kindly words of wisdom.
Slowly onward rolled the seasons,
O’er the side of Ragged Mountain,
And the little Light House Village.
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Coni’s Travels
Kevin McBride, Ken Feder & Coni Dubois looking at the map of area
Taken by Abby Tabor of the Daily Comet
Coni DuBois of Louisiana, who worked 10 years to coordinate the reunion, was made honorary marshal of the July 4 Lions Club parade and other descendants marched in the traditional event.
Drew Shuptar Rayvis & I
Drew Shuptar-Rayvis of Brookfield, a descendant of the Accomac/Pokomoke people of Virginia, dressed in the fashion of an Algonkian man during a reunion of Barkhamsted Lighthouse descendants Friday.
I was able to meet with Lucianne Lavin & have my book signed – was a wonderful meeting~ More on Lucianne: http://anthropology.as.nyu.edu/o…/anthroalumni.luciannelavin
Barber Rd
5/13/13 @ Barber Homestead Pauline (Polly) Goodwin, Lenny Barber, Coni Dubois & Beulah Barber (just turned 96) – Both Beulah & Lenny still live at Homestead – Photo taken by Jim Goodwin
L2R: Coni Dubois, Ken Feder, Tonia Allen Gould (Coni’s Sister) & Butch Robinson
I appear on Senior Chat Hour on ctv13/Winsted CT show will appear on 10/22/13 at: www.ctv13.net/ L2R: JoAnn Schmitt & Lorraine Hart (Hosts) Coni Dubois (not sure next gentleman will get his name) and on the end is Christopher Valli (Public Access Coordinator & one that put it all together for us) Keith Brown of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot & Veronica Hawkins also appeared on the show with me – We had an Awesome TIME with this crew and I can’t thank them enough for
5/13/13 Hill Township Cemetery – most of the bodies were removed to Oak Grove Cemetery – L2R – Polly Goodwin, Coni Dubois, Terry & Ron Allen
Photo taken by Sheryl Robinson – My 1st time at the site and Indian Cemetery
L2R: Keith Brown, Coni Dubois & Chief “Sun Rise” Byron Brown
Also on the front with President Obama
10/19/13 L2R: Chief Hawk Storm, Tall Oak (Everett Weeden) & Keith Brown at The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center for Conference – photo taken by Veronica Hawkins
8/14/14 2nd appearance on tv show – The Senior Chat Hour L2R: Jo-Ann Schmitt & Lorraine Hart (Hosts) Veronica Hawkins, Greg Fisher & Coni Dubois —ctv13 at Charter Communications in Winsted CT
Author/Researcher Jean Bell – I received a signed copy of her book: Hale & Up the Tracks (bought for me by Ron & Terry Allen) Photo taken by Rona Sullivan
L2R: Coni Dubois, Kevin McBride, Ken Feder & Veronica Hawkins
5/14/13 at my presentation in Hale Michigan for Plainfield Historical Commission (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin) – Polly Goodwin & Sister Sharon & Husband Chuck Fisher
10/19/13 L2R: Dr. Craig Miller (Dept Head of Science, Humanities and Visual Communications at Pennsylvania College of Technology) Dave Naumec (Research Consultant of The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center) in the research lab (off limits to public – was given a special tour arranged by Kevin McBride (Archeologist & head of the Research Center) – photo taken by Veronica Hawkins
5/14/13 – L2R Wendy Dishaw, Coni Dubois, Lynn Barber, Kathy Woods – Donate by Kathy Woods
I appear on Senior Chat Hour on ctv13/Winsted CT show will appear on 10/22/13 at: www.ctv13.net/ L2R Back: JoAnn Schmitt, Lorraine Hart, Allan Lawson (Hosts) (not sure next gentleman will get his name) and on the end is Christopher Valli (Public Access Coordinator & one that put it all together for us) Bottom: Coni Dubois, Keith Brown of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot & Veronica Hawkins We had an Awesome TIME with this crew and I can’t thank them enough for inviting me!
Jason Mancini – Sr. Researcher @ Mashantucket Peqout Museum & Research Center & Coni Dubois
My cousin’s Melissa Renyolds (left) Veronica Hawkins, Polly Goodwin, Me & Laurie Lamarrie with Jim Goodwin at the Institute for American Indian Studies Museum & Research Center
10/19/13 Author John A Strong signing my book – The Montaukett Indians of Eastern Long Island – He signed: For Coni, Keep up the good work on the Montaukett heritage – John A Strong Oct 19, 2013 and along with that he has granted me permission to use any of his work in my research (has several books out) was a honor to finally meet him (I have most of his books) Photo taken by Veronica Hawkins
5/13/13 Me at Chief Sodney’s tombstone at Esmond Evergreen Cemetery (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
Anthropologist Kenneth Feder, a professor at Central Connecticut State University, discusses archaeological work done at the Lighthouse Village Friday during a tour of Lighthouse descendants.
And those I met along the way~
Byron Brown, Chief Sun Rise of the Wiquapaug Eastern Pequot tribe and a descendent of Lighthouse founder James Graughham, walks in the Barkhamsted Lions Parade Saturday
Tantaquidgeon Descendants – Photo taken by Naomi Carolyn — at Tantaquidgeon Indian Museum located @ 1819 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT 06382 More info: http://connecticuthistory.org/gladys-tantaquidgeon-preserves-the-states-native-past/
Coni Dubois & Allan Madhabee
5/13/13 @ Hewitt Home – Rona Sullivan (Barber Descendant) & Mary Hewitt discussing Chief Sodney (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
L2R: Veronica Hawkins, Jessica Vandebogart & her Mother Betty (Ellis) Vandebogart, Donna Ellis (Photo taken by Keith Brown)
4/11/10 Barkhamsted Lighthouse Baskets made around 1817 – Photo taken by Coni Dubois
5/13/13 Research talk hosted at Hewitt Home in Hale Michigan R2L starting with me, Rona Sullivan, Diane Allen, Ron Allen, Terry Allen, Jerry Hewitt, Polly Goodwin & my Husband Jay Dubois – beside me is Mary Hewitt (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
5/13/13 Cookout in Hale Michigan – Hosted by Jerry & Mary Hewitt – Prayer given by Jerry Hewitt – L2R Me, My husband Jay Dubois, Terry Allen his wife Diane Allen, Mary & Jerry Hewitt – Rona Sullivan, Polly Goodwin & Ron Allen (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin husband of Polly)
SInger/Songwriter Glenda Lucks CD – Manissee
Coni Dubois & Timothy Ives
Barkhamsted Historical Society vice president Paul Hart, Drew Shuptar-Rayvis of Brookfield, a descendant of the Accomac/Pokomoke people of Virginia, Coni Dubois of Louisiana, who organized a reunion of Barkhamsted Lighthouse descendants, and anthropologist Kenneth Feder pose before a tour of the Lighthouse Village Friday.
Coni Dubois stands next to a banner welcoming everyone to the Barkhamsted Lighthouse Reunion.
Manissean Villiage Stone
10/10/13 St. Matthew’s Episcopal School
5/13/13 Polly Goodwin & I discussing genealogy (Photo taken by Jim Goodwin)
John Gilbert IV
Coni Dubois
awesome ty for sharing
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