David H. and Mary F. Tewksbury Family Association

The Tewksbury House.

The purpose of the Association shall be to perpetuate the memory of David H. and Mary F. Tewksbury by forming a closer bond of friendship and cooperation among the descendants and their spouses and to maintain the homestead known as Windhaven.

Membership in the Association is open to any direct descendant of David H. and Mary F. Tewksbury, their spouses and children, whether natural, adopted or stepchildren.

 

If you are interested in joining the association or learning more please contact Terrill Covey, chair of the membership committee at tmjcovey@gmail.com or Facebook Messenger or phone (603) 988-1322.

Association Membership Drive

    In response to our recent family survey, the association is offering a 50% discount on dues for the first year for any new members.   If we want to keep Windhaven, we need to increase the numbers!

     You can find the links to PayPal and Venmo on the Dues and Donation page of the website or open the Google dues form (https://forms.gle/UyTpDuxgmLpiBiTQ6) .  Remember you can use a payment plan if you don’t want to pay all at one time.  Only $10.00 per month to become a new member!

Reunion 2024

The weather cooperated and although the turnout was small a good time was had by all.  If you didn’t come you missed:

  • Extreme croquet
  • Fishing
  • Berry picking
  • Cribbage
  • S’mores
  • Canoeing
  • Swimming
  • Kayaking
  • Thrifting
  • Yard Sales
  • Consignment shopping
  • Fireworks
  • Blueberry Pancakes
  • Dan’s venison
  • Catching up with family

Timothy’s introduction to picking blueberries at Windhaven

Start planning now and mark your calendar to come home to Windhaven next year for Reunion the weekend of July 19 and 20!

Thanksgiving in October 2024

     The threat of rain did not deter the small family group who gathered at the homestead on October 13 to celebrate Thanksgiving at Windhaven.  We all appreciated the work of the Program Committee to plan and sponsor the lunch.

Happy Birthday to the chef!

Recent Donations to the Association

Jim Bogenrief in memory of Bertha Turner

Brandon Covey

Michael Covey

Michelle Covey

Lea & Tim Davis

Danina DiBattista & Preston Turner

Marla Edson in memory of Russell Edson

Jess & Nate Gidding support the website

Gidding Family in memory of Patrick Luneau

Anne & Henry Jedraszczak

Judy Luneau

Jess Robertson

Amy Rodger

Bob & Laura Tewksbury

Ian Tewksbury

Martin Tewksbury

John H. Turner

Nicole Giordano Williams

Peter Worrell in loving memory of Loraine Tewksbury Worrell (Daughter of Kenneth, granddaughter of Carl)

2024 Maintenance Projects

  • Finish the barn
    • Complete exterior trim on the end wall next to the house.

To read the Building Audit click to download.

Bond, Terrill and Mike installed the support posts on August 3.

August 17

The hornets objected to work being done near their nest.  Despite spraying Bond was bitten five times and he and Terrill decided to call it a day.  

Terrill hopes to find a weekend in September to install the trim, soffit and apply another coat of stain.

Association Calendar

EventDate

Winter Board Meeting

February 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Spring Board Meeting

April 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM

Spring Cleanup at Windhaven

May 17 & 18, 2025

Spring Fling at Windhaven

TBA

Summer Board Meeting

June 29, 2025 at 7:00 PM

2025 Remote Annual Meeting

Sunday, July 13, 2025 at 4 PM Eastern

Family Reunion 2025

July 20, 2025

Potluck Lunch at 12:30 PM

Mary Frances and David Henry Tewksbury

Portrait of Mary Frances Langley

Mary Frances Langley

Mary was born July 18, 1846 to Andrew “Blacksmith” Langley and Lois Sanborn in N. Wilmot, NH. They lived on the Piper Pond Road. Mary’s occupation was listed as a school teacher when she was married to David Henry Tewksbury on July 18, 1866 by his stepfather Rev John M. L. Babcock in Springfield, NH.

To raise extra money Mary would knit toes and heels into socks from the Sulloway Hosiery Mill in Franklin, NH for $0.20 per dozen pair. Once the mill found a way to knit on the toes and heels in two parts, Mary would sew the parts together with a darning needle with a designated stitch with yarn furnished by the mill. For this she was paid $0.10 a dozen pairs.

Sheep were raised on the farm and some wool was sold and some was cleaned, carded at the mill and shaped into balls. Mary would spin the wool into yarn and knit mittens and socks. Mary was a consummate reciter of poetry from memory. She had great musical ability and a splendid alto voice. She liked to go berry picking barefoot for any kind of berries. She would make pies and gems for breakfast and berries and milk for supper.

Tradition tells us that Mary would mark her pies with TM. For the mince pies, it meant “tis mince” and for the other pies it meant “taint  mince.” Some of her descendants continue this tradition at Thanksgiving.

Seldon said the children referred to Mary as Marm.  Mary died January 5, 1929 in Manchester, NH. She is buried in the Tewksbury Cemetery in N. Wilmot, NH.

Portrait of David Henry Tewksbury

David Henry Tewksbury

David was born to Miriam Tewksbury and Israel Perrin on January 26, 1844.  His parents were married February 26, 1842. It was discovered that Israel was already married and they separated. David was adopted by his grandfather, Henry Tewksbury, Jr. His mother married Reverend John Martin Luther Babcock, a Free Will Baptist minister and a widower with a child, Martha Anna Babcock on April 5, 1849. He had four half siblings, Lilla Babcock, Sophia Babcock, Charles S. Babcock and Milton Babcock.

David served in the 4th Regiment NH Volunteer during the Civil War. The rheumatism he suffered later in life was thought to be related to sleeping on the ground during the war. In the 1860’s and 1870’s he worked as a section hand on the railroad. On the farm, David kept a few sheep and used oxen to work the land. David planted potatoes, corn and beans for the family to use and some to sell or swap for groceries. They also grew watermelons and muskmelons.

Blanche remembered her father as a hard working man, really talented in some respects having had few educational advantages. He had a fine talent for dramatic lines and was very generous. Buy a bushel of potatoes from him and he would throw in a peck for good measure. Blanche says he had a musical ear but couldn’t carry a tune. Some of her older siblings spoke of him as being a bit severe in discipline but to Blanche he was always gentle and jovial. David liked to dress up and play Santa Claus at Christmas.

David married Mary Frances Langley on July 18, 1866. He worked as a farmer most of his life. He died April 13, 1897 and is buried in the Tewksbury Cemetery in N. Wilmot, NH.

Maude, Mary, Gertrude, Blanche and Bertha at the old schoolhouse
Mary's grandchildren in 1916
Seldon, Gertrude, Blanche, Mary, Bertha, Carl and Harry in 1916

Please direct any corrections or ideas for additional content to Cheryl Davis at cluisedavis@gmail.com.