The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-07-21
The Gale Reunion.

A notable family reunion occurred on
Saturday, July 18th, on the Gale farm
in barre Town, where Josiah Gale, Jr.,
who came from Warwick, Mass, in 1900
made a stand and where his descendants
have lived ever since. Upward OF fifty
OF bis posterity were gathered by the
present occupant, Mrs. Nellie ID. Blan-
chard. for picnic. These are OF the
eighth, ninth, tenth and eleventh gene
rations Of Richard Gale, who in 1910
owned six acres Of land in Middlesex
county, Mass, now part OF Mt. Auburn
cemetery, and who is believed TO be the
first OF the name TO settle in America.
John Gale, only child of Josiah, came
with him and was the father OF twelve
children, four OF his sons being promi
nent citizens OF the town. viz, Lyman,
Hiram, Josiah and Ira, and seven hav-
ing descendants, six Of which families
were represented at the picnic by eight
OF the eighth generation. including the
present eldest Of the family, Mrs Eliza
Strickland OF llardwick, Rev. S. +. Gale
and wife Of Florida, Miss Ann Eliza Pen.
niman OF Williamstown, daughter of
Fred Pcnniman, late of South Main
street, Mrs. Phebe Gale of Elm street.
or the ninth generation twenty-five
were present, four with husbands or
wives; nine Of the tenth, one with wife
and two children, who made the elev-
enth generation, Mrs. T., G. Spencer, who
resides with her daughter, Mrs. Free.
man Venio, on Hill street, was present
with son and wife, grandson and wife
and two great grandchildren, the latter
families reside in 81. Johnsbury.
To close the estate OF the late Josiah
Gale, the farm was sold recently, and
so passes out OF the family that for
over a century have owned and occupied
it. As an interesting feature Of the oc.
casion, Mrs. Blanchard read a copy of
the inventory Of the estate of Josiah
Gale, grandfather OF the late owner,
made at his death in 1920, and including
all the farm tools and household utcn-
sils as well as the real estate. Some
of the prices look singulaTly out Of pro-
portion at this date; an iron crowbar
was valued at 81, while the farm which
lately sold at auction for $4,000 was
listed at 5000
The day was pleasantly spent in re-
newing old acquaintance and making
new ones among the younger genera
tions. as the last reunion was held at
the same place in 1900, the centennial
of its settlement, and was not as num-
erously attended as this. The lunch
baskets were an attractive feature and
ample justice was done to their con
tents. Music, games, a swing, and the
numerous collection OF papers and relics
that run back for over a century served
TO make the time pass all too quickly.
Many of the family were detained by
sickness and distance from attending;
Tor besides being in different places in
their native state, they live in New
York, Massachusetts, Wisconsin, Flori-
da and California, in numbers equalling
ii NOS exceeding those present But
they were not forgotten as souvenirs
of the day each was presented with a
teasel adorned with a ribbon bearing
the date and the motto, God be with |
you till we meet again. and each fam
lily with cushion filled with pine and |
inscribed. "A dream OF the old |
farm
Future reunions at the old farm may |
be impossible, but the memory of this
one will linger long in the minds of all |
who attended and has done much to
solidify the friendship of large family. |