Yes, History and genealogy do go hand-in-hand.
Ferdinand Clinton Gammons, my 2nd cousin 4x removed was born September 29, 1845 in Middleboro, Massachusetts. He moved to Bridgewater at the age of 21. Here is where he met his future wife, Abbie Lawrence. He belonged to the Masons, May Flower Lodge.
Abbie had begun the work of knocking on doors to raise money to pay for a pastor. She raised $400 and three months later the first service for the Methodist faithful was held in the Swedenborgian Church.
A stained glass window "The Good Shepard was given to the church by Abbie in memory of her mother. It was dedicated by Abbie and Ferdinand on June 6, 1914.
I grew up in this church, first as a young student, then as a teen, I belonged to the Youth Group. I sang in the Junior Choir, then later in the adult choir. I became a Sunday School teacher. I was baptized at this church. I met my husband here, and we married here.
We ended up moving to New Hampshire for a few years. Eventually we returned home to Bridgewater. Things were not the same as I remembered, my church home was not as it once was. When the church disappointed me in a personal way, I never returned.
The other sad connotation here is that the name Gammons has been erased. It is now known as the Bridgewater United Methodist Church. I feel a sense of loss, in my genealogical way. How could they delete the Gammons name from which this church was founded.
Once their motto was " The House of Helpfulness", now it is Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors, yet I now feel neither.
Ferdinand died on Feb 23, 1929 and with a Mason Ritual Funeral Service he was buried in Mount Prospect Cemetery in Bridgewater.
Abbie, in honor of her husbands passing,, purchased the parsonage on Bedford Street in 1930 giving it to the church in his memory. Even that was sold. Abbie passed away in 1932.
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