Presence and such

The internet has changed things tremendously, as we see with this last holiday season where bricks and mortar continued to suffer at the hands of the ease (and such) of the virtual shopping experience. Then, we see how the internet has adapted to the facility of mobility. The Economist, recently, looked at how the internet's offerings have changed how we get news; and, there is a wide gap twixt what the older folk do to, and how those younger, get their information.

Many societies are in the midst of trying to figure out how to obtain a balance in regard to presenting their information or to finding what they need, in a manner that allows generational peace and harmony. We are considering our options and will venture along a few paths this year. First, though, let's review what we have now.

• Main site - This is our main collective of information, having started in 2010. It has gone through several iterations that parallel the changes in the general mode. Except, we are hosted on a server rather than using the cloud. There is a lot to discuss about the requirements for this type of presentation. 
• Context blog - This started early, jointly with the main site. It serves several purposes including providing a timeline. One huge aspect of computing derives from its ability to handle time and coordinate between disparate groups with ease. Somewhat, one might add (next bullet), more problematic than we would like to think about. Currently hosted via Google, we are considering bringing this under the umbrella of our server (however it may be configured in the future).  
• Technology blog - The internet is a mess. We have tried to present the discussions over the period at each major decision point. This blog helped. Too, it's based upon one of the most-used internet resources, however we've kept a minimal presence for several reasons which the blog itself will be used to discuss. Though using WordPress, it's based on our own server (as an aside, shared server - and, somewhat virtual).   
• Portal (to truth) - As mentioned in this blog post (Gardner's Gate), the internet has accumulated lots and lots of stuff about 'all things Gardner' for quite a while. Before the www, we have the various communication schemes going on that allowed people to have access and to do things.  
• Facebook - We are using this, mostly, for notices. Many times, links to blog posts are pushed up. As well, lots of groups have established themselves on FB. So, we can do a lot more and do it better. Time and energy are two major constraints. Actually, the most prevalent ones. 
• WikiTree - The Thomas Gardner page is being edited with our help. We have established Thomas and Margaret as husband and wife and parents. We used Dr. Frank to have threads from then to now. Lots have added their ancestors' information, however there are many holes. We need to do, at least, five generations. 
• PInterest - We just added another pin. Mostly, this was experimental. There are other options. So, the discussion will be ongoing. 

Need to add in GitHub. One thing that the Thomas Gardner Society, Inc. will not do is buy into some service without consideration of pros and cons. Too, these will be documented. This might cause a bit of delay, but the future, to be secure, demands this. And, we are trying to provide interesting technical work for those who might be available or who want to learn about the ins and outs. GitHub is one of the facilities where developers hang out. Whatever processes we come up with for work management by a group will use GitHub, or something comparable.

Future alternatives would include other types of media than what we have addressed so far. However, let's look at a picture. In our post on Houses being Homes, we suggested that one could use Salem for some very good experiments. Given that many pieces of property were in the same family for year, we could follow that thread. Also, we could do modeling (next) of sorts that would provide more information that one can get now. It turns out that the Gardner family has lots of examples. We can branch to other areas, such as Nantucket, Maine, and even west.

Let's take Salem, though. We already mentioned with regard to Thomas' grave. It is missing. We could model with with the facilities of virtual-reality tools. At the same time, augmentation would allow us to present historical information in interesting ways.

All of this would take work. However, the cloud and other computing facilities are there. Some of the technology being developed for gaming would be apropos. Some of this has been on the table for discussion for some time. Of late, discussions about the Downing-Gardner-Bradstreet house bring the topic to fore. I am referring to Ann's house. It was featured in the Streets of Salem blog: First-Period Fantasy. This would make a very interesting case for a historical deep dive. So too would the 1st house put at Cape Ann by Thomas' crew.

BTW, part of the technical focus would be to get the younger set involved. With respect to learning, we have an endless set of things to do. Some are harder than others. But, there is nothing that would prevent anyone with the motivation to contribute their effort.

Remarks: Modified: 01/16/2020

01/16/2020 --

Gardner's gate

Ever since we started the work that led to Gardner Research, we have noticed that there was lots of information about things related to Thomas and Margaret (Fryer) Gardner and collateral families that did not match up. From the start we have focused on Dr. Franks' 1907 book. Of late, we have started to reference the 1933 book. As well, efforts, such as that of the teams using WikiTree, try to establish sources that are credible and have provenance.

However, though we see an explosion of material due to the web, there has been much written over the centuries. We have expressed our thankfulness for Rev. Hubbard's mention of Thomas Gardner and John Tylly. The good Rev was of the time and knew the principals. But, there have been very good researchers over the years, which we'll name. Two that stand out are Felt (with his History) and Sidney Perley who was unequaled.

Well, all along, we were newbies. Having now 10 years (also, yesterday's post) under the belt, we can start to think about what we read in terms of some standard, not yet set. To do this type of comparison, we are proposing to use Gardner's Gate which would be accessible through our portal (https://tgsoc.org). Too, we might have an initial focus of Thomas and Margaret, but we would deal with 'All things Gardner' as well.

Just today, there were two instances which are exemplary of the issue. To now, we have not really attempted analysis. Rather we were gathering. Though, we created the FAQ to express what we knew, especially with regard to origins (see our FAQ). We will be more active in keeping this up to date, however we will take some time to work the issues of format and such.

We can use the corresponding posts to discuss the related issues and the long-term efforts. It is interesting that these two posts are from the same month.

• Mary (Gardner) Coffin (Dec 2011) -- this post is from a real early time. We had been looking Nantucket families and were happy to find this portrait by Pollard Limner. The question would refer to the person who was subject: John's daughter or Mary (Coffin) Starbuck. 
• Gardner-Pingree House (and murder) (Dec 2011) -- again, this is early. We got onto this theme due to the Smithsonian article that mentioned the murder. So, we had to follow up on the family which was a descendant of George. It seems that the two Anns are conflated but will look at this, again. Like the stories, though. BTW, we mentioned that this property is one that would be interesting from the across the decades and centuries views. 

On the internet, one finds all sorts of views about subjects, including various interpretations related to the state of scientific knowledge. It's a  losing proposition to consider that the web will ever clean itself. What we can do is present sourced, well-founded information and make it known. 

We have used the concept of 'portal to truth' with regard to Gardner's gate's focus. We will continue to have our own portal. Lots to discuss there with regard to busyness and technical issues. Truth? It's used in the sense of truth engineering, a major theme for continuing discussion (again, technical, in terms of advanced computing which includes all aspects of AI).

If there is any change now that is obvious to before, it would be that we have, over a decade, built enough of a knowledge base so as to assess the veracity and support our own stuff as well as look at the work of others plus bring in comparative notions in a mode that is very much pertinent to what computing hath wrought. 

Remarks: Modified: 01/11/2020

01/11/2020 -- Added image for our index. 

Houses and homes - Note to Salem

For a decade now, we've used our skills to wander (some of the times without any guidance and at other of the times with some purpose) and collect (like hunting and gathering). When we started, the current 'www' was a young buck. Static modes were still predominate. Those modes that were more clever still left a lot to be desired. And, needless to say, what we have now is a huge mess.

Anyway, we've blogged our findings over the years and have built a framework from which to attempt structure and actual knowledge. In a sense, what we did on the internet, Sidney did with his walkabouts and recordings for which Salem needs to show some gratitude. One mode would be to extend his stuff. This post is a suggestion. There are many possible ways to go in terms of mood and mode, however people will have to pay attention and contribute their time and energies.

We could talk, for instance, of taking one property and looking back (step wise) to the 17th century. One could look at who was there. One could consider conditions of their life, say cooking, even. One could build a database with several threads that can be launching points to deeper knowledge. One could, yes, build a 3D model that is dynamic, sufficient that virtual reality enthusiasts would be impressed. And, we would have the dynamism relate to time and its influences. Say, at some piece of property, go backward, as well as, stop at some year and explore the information which would include simulation.

Yes, this is for Salem and its inane witch focus (written from the viewpoint of a family with everyone involved and two 'hung' - being politically incorrect, by design, hung by the neck until dead). BTW, this post is merely a start on the brainstorming that can be done.

So, back to the theme. Earlier, we saw an NEHGS article on an Elizabeth Clapp. That got our interest, as there might be Clapp links that come in a time or two into the family tree. So, on looking at Dr. Frank's index, we also saw another Elizabeth (Gardner who married Blanchard). That led to a few other Elizabeths that we looked at briefly. And, the thought came up that taking a name and picking a few from the index might help us hone in on collateral families.

Early on, there were a lot of Hannahs. What about Margaret? Or Catherine? Remember, the focus is home and life across time for this exercise.

Sometime, or other, we ran into this notice of a wedding. Several things caught the attention: Peabody and Gardner, California (in particular, Ojai - ah, CCR), and Theosophist. So, just a little bit ago, we got Google fired up again and found these pointers to further research, that are in bullet form as they are mainly meant to be reminders with (hint, hint) notes to Salem (whoever that might be).

• Back-bay houses - okay, learned something. There was a history of the house and the occupants. Note to Salem: Sidney did this with properties in Essex County. He also drew maps. We need to make this 3D and operative (interactive mode of knowledge processing). So much more. Notice. Catherine owned this property, at one time. 
• Her father - Catherine is mentioned. 
• Who are they? - We thank the researchers who gave us this. Nice format. But, too, it shows what we can call a chunk which starts with John Lowell. Who is he? Well, his ancestor went over (notice the perspective) to Boston (like Winthrop for whom Salem was too back water). However, the family has other relatives in Salem. There are many stories. 

Of course, that last bullet shows lots of collateral families. So, we can see all sorts of ways to go. Some work (actually a lot) has already been done. We'll try to pull links to these into an orderly order (stated by design - oh, our order is better?). 

Salem has responsibilities. Let's hope that it assumes those. The Thomas Gardner Society, Inc. has been working to this end for decade. It's time to step it up a notch and prepare for the 400th.

Again, houses were homes. BTW, Thomas' crew brought one with them: Great house, Cape Ann. Roger came along and took it from Thomas (and Margaret) who went back to a wigwam. Then, John had it moved to Salem, so that Higginson could tell the folks back home what glories there were in the new world (small, by design). But, Ann Bradstreet told us her reaction to the squalor of early Salem. We need to tell the whole of the tale. 

Remarks: Modified: 01/11/2020

01/06/2020 -- Streets of Salem comment. 

01/11/2020 -- Made this a 'featured post' (portal to truth).

Margaret's family

We have written a lot about Margaret. This research continues.

On WikiTree, we have snips from images of Sherborne records. There is one for the marriage of Walter Friar and Grace Mullins. Then, there is one for Margaret Friar. Then, there is a will of Walter who died in 1610. Then, there is a marriage of Thomas Gardner and Margaret Friar.  Finally, boys were born in the order and by name of the Cape Ann/Salem couple.

Margaret's WikiTree Profile. This is being edited. However, we wanted to point to this, again.

In a discussion today, someone mentioned that Savage had noted that Thomas Frier was probably the sister of Margaret. This image is from his book.

Savage's Fryer/Friar notes 

We have written about Savage a lot, too. Here is his note on the Gardners. As we look to complete the First Five, we will be looking back, too.

Remarks: Modified: 01/04/2020

01/04/2020 --

First five

1st 5 (or so), we might add. In the latest Gardner's Beacon (Vol. IX, No. 3), we mentioned that we want to have a focus, for as long as needed, to get the first five generations filled in for the children of Thomas and Margaret. This has been discussed before (About generations) in the context of the story of Thomas and Margaret. We would include the collateral families. One example is our look at the Elizabeths () which will be expanded by other names.

A question might come up about format. In the initial stages, there are not many restrictions. Let us see what you have. Too, for your ancestor who is a descendant, please find the latest entry that you can on WikiTree. And, let us know this.

Examples to discuss:

• Richard on WikiTree: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gardner-127
• Dr. Frank, ahnentafels (grandparents):
•                 Benjamin Brown Gardner and Lucy Foster Wilson 
• Correct to The Essex Genealogist: Graves Family of Ipswich 

There are other formats. We're looking for articles for the next two issues of The Gardner Annals (to be completed by February). After that, we'll reformat and print as a book. So, right now, the material can be rough.

The key thing is to have sources, as much as possible. 

Remarks: Modified: 01/11/2020

01/04/2020 -- As we do this work, we will still be looking at origins: Margaret's family. 

Posts 2018, 2017, 2016

Post lists: 2018,17,16 ;   2015,14,13 ;   2012,11,10 

This is the third image of this type. Note, the order is descending with the year then the months and the posts. That is, it's a push-down list where we go from now backward in time. That allows us to see how we got to where we are in terms of what these posts cover. Most posts relate to research.

Remarks: Modified: 12/31/2019

12/31/2019 --

Posts 2015, 2014, 2013

Post lists: 2018,17,16 ;   2015,14,13 ;   2012,11,10

This is the second image of this type. Note, the order is descending with the year then the months and the posts. That is, it's a push-down list where we go from now backward in time. That allows us to see how we got to where we are in terms of what these posts cover. Most posts relate to research.

Remarks: Modified: 12/31/2019

12/31/2019 --