82nd Ingalls Family Reunion meeting minutes
The 82nd Ingalls Reunion was held on Saturday, October 16, 2010, at the United Methodist Church of Greenville and Norton Hill. Sixty-five members were in attendance. The temperature was 45 degrees at 7:30 a.m., and the day was "blustery," the tail end of a Nor’easter from the day before. It was very windy, with a mix of sun and clouds. The high was in the mid-50s.
The Walter Ingalls Family hosted, and the tables were decorated with witches' hats and other items related to Halloween and today's presentation about the Salem Witch Trials.
As in years past, the Historian, Krista Ingalls Haushalter, brought the autograph quilt she is making for the family in order to get more family signatures. It was suggested handprints for the children too young to sign be included on the quilt. She also had the old albums of family photographs for people to peruse and framed copies of old family deeds. Copies of the 2003 Genealogy and History of the Jacob Ingalls Familywere available for twelve dollars each.
At 12:00 noon, President Ramona Ellis Fawkes rang the cowbell from the Jacob Ingalls’ homestead, signaling everyone to gather for the group photograph. Walt then said grace, and all present enjoyed the delicious buffet.
After the meal, Ramona rang the cowbell again to call the meeting to order. She thanked Reverend Carney for the use of the church hall, Janet Lockwood for helping out in the kitchen for her thirty-second year, and the host family.
Those who traveled the farthest to attend the Reunion were Terry Goff, M.D., from Wheaton, Illinois, and Kevin and Debbie (McAneny) Reeth from Reno, Nevada. The four members of the Fawkes family traveled from Cape Cod, Massachusetts. The youngest person present was Alex Ingalls, ten months old, who, we hope, was attending the first of many Ingalls Reunions. He is the son of John and Jeanette Ingalls. The oldest member present was Shirley Spad, 87, with Marjorie Dedie a close second, at 86. Both have attended the Reunion every year for many, many years.
The Secretary, Paige Ingalls, read the minutes from last year’s Reunion, which were approved as written. She sent around the book for everyone to sign and a folder with “Ingallsiana,” while she read correspondence received during the past year.
Jerrene (Jeri) and Ron Carford wrote from Florida on a pretty homemade note card. Enclosed was a photograph of Jeri holding a four year old alligator, "Ruffy." The photo was taken at the Lowry Park Zoo in Tampa, where Jeri works.
Frances Partridge sent a letter from East Durham. It contained three wedding invitations, for Clarence and Alliene (Beers) Ingalls, T. Merritt and Ruth (Ingalls) Elliott, and Scott and Elgirtha (Ingalls) Ellis. The families of these individuals were grateful to receive these "heirlooms."
Carlton Simons wrote from Charleston, South Carolina, inquiring if the famous World War I pilot (naval aviator) David Sinton Ingalls is related to our branch of the family. Unfortunately, he is not. Paige noted that the David S. Ingalls Hockey Rink at Yale University is named in honor of him, an alumnus, and the rink was designed by the famous architect Eero Saarinen in 1956. Mr. Simons noted that his own father joined the Navy in World War I, received his commission, and served on sub chaser #296.
The Treasurer, Kevin Ingalls, gave his report:
There was $1,453.99 in the savings account prior to the Reunion.
Today’s Collection totaled $353.
Dispersals totaling $289 were made for--
Printing of the invitations ($73.00)
Postage for the invitations ($66.00)
*Janet Lockwood’s services ($75.00)
Rental of the church hall ($75.00)
That left a grand total of $1517.99 in the savings account at the end of the day.
The host family donated the cost of the food, supplies, and decorations.
*It was agreed to increase the amount paid to Janet Lockwood from $50.00 to $75.00, in recognition of her many years of service at the Reunion.
It was moved and seconded to accept the Treasurer’s report.
Ramona asked if there was any “old business” to be addressed? Krista noted that the Burleigh book contains information about the family's coat of arms. This turned into a discussion about the possibility of selling coasters, mouse pads, bookmarks, and/or tee shirts with the coat of arms as a future fundraiser.
Ramona next asked if there was any “new business?” The Turner Fawkes and Jack Ver Planck Families volunteered to host next year’s Reunion, to be held on Saturday, October 8, 2011, AND the Ruth and T. Merritt Elliott Family volunteered to host the 2012 Reunion, to be held on Saturday, October 13th.
The Officers elected for next year were:
President-- Curtis Ellis [Julie Fawkes to stand in, if he cannot attend]
Vice President-- Jack Ver Planck
Secretary-- Paige Ingalls
Treasurer-- Kevin Ingalls
Historian-- Krista Ingalls Haushalter
Paige noted that Gary and Eve Elliott were not present this year because they were participating in a march to raise money for ALS, which Gary's sister Carol Ann Elliott has.
Krista showed the group a school book given to Walt by Robert Mangold. It initially belonged to Helen Hartt Ingalls and then to Bob's mother, Mildred Tunison (Mangold). Mention also was made to Henry R. Ingalls' address to the 2nd Ingalls Reunion on June 26, 1926, which contained information about the family's roots. Henry was father to Helen Hartt Ingalls, Edmund Henry Ingalls, and Alonzo Norton Ingalls.
Krista then led the Roll Call of Families, followed by the report of births, deaths, and marriages. The following numbers indicate how many people from each branch were present at the Reunion:
Enoch Ingalls Branch 0
Henry Ingalls Branch 0
John Ingalls Branch 2
Lucinda Ingalls Hunt Branch 11
Eleanor Ingalls Winegard Branch 3
Diantha Ingalls Smith Branch 0
Joseph Truman Ingalls Branch 17
Ransom Benjamin Ingalls Branch 36
(some of the children who were present may not have been represented in this count)
William Henry Harrison Ingalls Branch 2
Thaddeus Warsaw Ingalls Branch 0
Cyrus Ingalls (Westerlo) Branch 0
This year's “entertainment” was a presentation titled "The Salem Witch Trials--The Ingalls Connection." It was researched and presented by James Marcello, the husband of Eleanor (McAneny) Marcello.
Edmund Ingalls (born in England in 1598) came to Salem, Massachusetts in 1628. Edmund, his brother Francis, and four others began the settlement at Lynn, Massachusetts in 1629. The Ingalls present at today's Reunion are descendants of Edmund, and more information about this can be found on pages five and six of the 2003 edition of the Ingalls Genealogy.
Edmund had ten children, four of whom were sons: Robert, John, Henry, and Samuel. John is the ancestor of our branch of the family, the Jacob Ingalls branch.
Edmund's granddaughter Martha Allen Carrier was accused of being a witch on August 2, 1692, in Salem. Martha was the daughter of Edmund's daughter Faith, one of John's sisters. Martha vigorously maintained her innocence, but the "Salem girls" who were the accusers were thought to have visionary powers and provided "spectral evidence" to the magistrates of the court, who believed them. Martha was convicted and, on August 19, 1692, she was hung from the gallows at age 49. She continued to proclaim her innocence by stating, "I would rather die than confess a falsehood so filthy."
Another granddaughter of Edmund, Abigail Dane Faulkner, the daughter of his daughter Elizabeth (and another of John's sisters), also was tried and convicted of being a witch at the Salem Witch Trials of 1692. However, she escaped hanging because she was pregnant, and, by the time she had given birth, the accusers had recanted their testimony and the witch hunt was over. Elizabeth was married to the Rev. Francis Dane, also accused of witchcraft.
A petition related to the Witch Trials was signed by many individuals, including "Henry Ingolls, sen[ior]." Historically, our surname had many spellings, and on some documents only the person's "mark" was recorded. This particular petition called for the release of five individuals whom the petitioners knew were innocent of the charges made against them.
According to James' research, over two hundred people were accused of practicing witchcraft in the Salem area. One-third of those accused were related to the Rev. Dane, and eighteen of those accused were related to the Ingalls. If an individual confessed, he/she was not executed. Instead, the case was dismissed, and the individual pardoned. Children were tortured as a way to persuade them to testify against their parents and to get the parents to confess. Martha's seven year old daughter was persuaded to testify against her mother, who told the magistrates her mother made her a witch. In Salem, the individuals who were hung, tortured, or died in jail were the ones who maintained their innocence.
The Salem Witch Trials took place against the backdrop of the French and Indian Wars, and they represented opposing political positions. For example, if a person were convicted, his/her property went up for sale, which was to the benefit of those who could make such purchases. It was ruled that twenty-nine individuals should be hung. In the end, fourteen women and five men were hung, one man was crushed to death, and at least five others who were accused died in prison.
Later, Chief Justice William Stoughton wrote warrants for the execution of more individuals. However, when Governor Phips of Massachusetts returned from the Wars in May of 1693, he revoked all of the death sentences and ordered the release of those still being held.
James recommended a children's book about the Salem Witch Trials as a good reference: The Sacrifice, by Kathleen Benner Duble. The original hardcover edition was published in 2005.
As an aside, James noted that U.S. President James A. Garfield was born to a female Ingalls descendant. Because genealogies follow male lines, it is more difficult to trace female lines.
At the end of the presentation, James entertained questions.
Ramona thanked James for his interesting and informative presentation and closed the meeting. She invited all present to return next year, for the 83rd Ingalls Reunion.