When Mary Frances died in 1929 she left no will and shares in Windhaven were thought to be divided between her seven surviving children, Seldon, Gertrude, Carl, Roy, Harry, Blanche and Bertha. Over the next 20 years Seldon shouldered the upkeep of the property paying the taxes, small repairs, maintaining the road and mowing the lawn. Seldon acquired the shares of Gertrude in 1936, Roy in 1943 and Harry in return for financial assistance.
In 1950, since Seldon had been the primary caretaker of the property and owned 4 shares, he decided it made more sense to have a single owner and offered to buy out Blanche, Bertha and Carl’s descendants. If the owners of the remaining three shares refused to sell or buy Seldon’s shares he planned to obtain a court order to sell the property at public auction. When Blanche offered to buy Seldon’s shares, even though she did not have the means to do it, Seldon rescinded the offer.
This controversy prompted discussion between Blanche and Bertha as to what would become of their ancestral home. At the time it was in disrepair and some action needed to be taken. Seldon wrote that the house is falling down very rapidly and there will be nothing to repair very soon. Blanche proposed the formation of a family association to maintain the property as a memorial to their forebears. Blanche was concerned that an individual owner would result in a separation of family ties instead of drawing the family together in a closer bond. With Bertha’s approval, Blanche started a letter writing campaign to try to enlist support. She wrote to Mary Fullam to determine the best way to approach Seldon. She hoped Seldon, Carl’s heirs and Bertha would join her in donating their shares in the property and some deal could be worked out with Seldon to compensate him for the remaining three shares.
The association would own the property and pay for the upkeep. It was noted that intermittent logging might help offset some of the expense. The money from logging would only be used for repairs on the homestead. The hope was to have a place where all descendants could go for rest, for pleasure and to pay respects to the memories of those who loved the spot. Blanche wanted the older ones to carry the younger ones to Windhaven and arrange for them to have an especially good time so that there would be a desire to go on and on down through the ages. But she also wanted each individual descendant to share the burden of the upkeep of the property.
At family reunion on July 15, 1951, those gathered unanimously agreed to form a Tewksbury Family Association. Officers and a board were selected and charged with drawing up a constitution and bylaws to be presented at the 1952 reunion. Blanche was the first president. The officers and board were asked to meet at Old Home Day on August 19, 1951.
In 1952, the family reunion was held on July 20. The constitution was adopted and new officers were elected. Jack Turner offered to consult an attorney about obtaining the deed to the property. Seldon, Carl’s heirs, Bertha and Blanche agreed to donate their initial shares. The Turner family agreed to purchase and donate Gertrude’s share from Seldon. Evelyn Giordano agreed to purchase and donate Roy’s share from Seldon. Blanche agreed to purchase and donate Harry’s share from Seldon.
The David H. and Mary F. Tewksbury Association was formed as a non-profit corporation in the state of New Hampshire on July 21, 1953. When the property deed was transferred to the association it was discovered that David had also died without a will. According to New Hampshire law, real estate passes to the children and the widow has dower interest in the property only. It took another three years for the association to obtain all the required signatures to have ownership of the property.
David H & Mary F Tewksbury Family Association Board
Office | Name | Email Contact |
---|---|---|
President 2 year term | Anne Jedraszczak Term expires July 2026 | |
Vice President 2 year term | Thea Gaudette Term expires July 2026 | |
Secretary 1 year term | Cheryl Davis Term expires July 2025 | |
Treasurer 1 year term | Bond Davis Term expires July 2025 | |
Director 2 year term | Pearle Butler Term expires July 2026 | |
Director 2 year term | Marla Edson Term expires July 2025 | |
Director 2 year term | Ian Tewksbury Term expires July 2026 |
Tewksbury Family Association Members
2024-2025 Members
Jim Bogenrief (Bertha)
Alicia Boswell (Seldon)
Dan Butler (Seldon)
Pearle Butler (Seldon)
Jane Clee (Bertha)
Robert Clee (Bertha)
Damon Collins (Seldon)
Brandon Covey (Seldon)
Danielle Covey (Seldon)
James Covey (Seldon)
Michael Covey (Seldon)
Michelle Covey (Seldon)
Terrill Covey (Seldon)
Bond Davis III (Seldon)
Cheryl Davis (Seldon)
E. Seldon Davis (Seldon)
Lea Davis (Seldon)
Tim Davis (Seldon)
Danina DiBattista (Bertha)
Marla Edson (Harry)
Barbara Erickson (Seldon)
Thea Gaudette (Seldon)
Aaron Gidding (Seldon)
Jessica Gidding (Seldon)
Nathan Gidding (Seldon)
Sam Gidding (Seldon)
Jordyn Holt (Seldon)
Krystin Holt (Seldon)
Anne Jedraszczak (Seldon)
Henry Jedraszczak (Seldon)
Sara Luneau (Harry)
Emma Robertson (Seldon)
Jess Robertson (Seldon)
Skip Robertson (Seldon)
Amy Rodger (Seldon)
Bob Tewksbury (Seldon)
Dwight Tewksbury (Seldon)
Elsie Tewksbury (Seldon)
Ian Tewksbury (Harry)
Jessica Tewksbury Totten (Roy)
John S. Tewksbury (Seldon)
Laura Tewksbury (Seldon)
Lee Tewksbury III (Seldon)
Lisa Tewksbury (Seldon)
Erin Tewksbury (Seldon)
Sarah Tewksbury (Seldon)
Martin Tewksbury (Harry)
Daphne Turner (Bertha)
Harrison Turner (Bertha)
Heather Turner (Bertha)
John H. Turner (Bertha)
Kae Turner (Bertha)
Preston Turner (Bertha)
Timothy Turner (Bertha)
Jacob Williams (Roy)
Nicole Giordano Williams (Roy)
2023-2024 Members
Jim Bogenrief (Bertha)
Alicia Boswell (Seldon)
Dan Butler (Seldon)
Pearle Butler (Seldon)
Damon Collins (Seldon)
James Covey (Seldon)
Terrill Covey (Seldon)
Bond Davis III (Seldon)
Cheryl Davis (Seldon)
Danina DiBattista (Bertha)
Marla Edson (Harry)
Barbara Erickson (Seldon)
H. Irene Fullam (Seldon)
Thea Gaudette (Seldon)
Aaron Gidding (Seldon)
Bernard Gidding (Seldon)
Jessica Gidding (Seldon)
Nathan Gidding (Seldon)
Sam Gidding (Seldon)
Anne Jedraszczak (Seldon)
Henry Jedraszczak (Seldon)
Emma Robertson (Seldon)
Amy Rodger (Seldon)
Dwight Tewksbury (Seldon)
Elsie Tewksbury (Seldon)
Ian Tewksbury (Harry)
Lee Tewksbury (Seldon)
Lisa Tewksbury (Seldon)
Erin Tewksbury (Seldon)
Martin Tewksbury (Harry)
Sarah Tewksbury (Seldon)
Laura Tewksbury (Seldon)
Robert Tewksbury (Seldon)
Daphne Turner (Bertha)
David Turner (Bertha)
Heather Turner (Bertha)
Harrison Turner (Bertha)
John H. Turner (Bertha)
Kae Turner (Bertha)
Preston Turner (Bertha)
Timothy Turner (Bertha)