This was removed from Mildly Interesting for not being an “original photo” - hopefully this is more than mildly interesting and can find a home here.
A little about this Amos - he was born in 1813 and died in 1898. As a schoolboy, he got to meet General Marquis Lafayette (America’s Favorite Fight’in Frenchman) during his 1824 tour of America. Amos was a conductor on the Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad, which ran from Lexington to Boston. In fact, he was the conductor on its maiden voyage. Finally, Amos was very proud of his country and the role his family played in creating it. According to a passage I found in records of the Lexington Historical Society, his house was decked out on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington. His yard was draped in “folds of bunting”, and a “handsome tree” was “made attractive” by a collection of old muskets. One was labeled “1861” and the other “April 19th, 1775.” The latter date was the day of the Battle of Lexington. 1861 was the year the American Civil War began, though I don’t yet know who’s gun it would have been. I haven’t found civil war records for any of his sons yet.
Locating and recovering a copy of this picture, courtesy of the Lexington Historical Society, was especially meaningful because of a certain grandfather clock sitting in the corner of my living room. It was passed down from my grandmother, who was named Frances Locke Marvin after her [correction: fathers cousin], Frances Spencer Locke. On the inside door of the clock is a small gold plaque that reads “To Frances Spencer Locke from Grandpa Locke - 1900.” Grandpa Locke is in fact the man here in this photo.
[Edit: To those asking about Amos dying in 1898 and the clock being gifted in 1900 - we had the same question. I did a lot of checking to confirm this is the right Grandpa Amos. It's possible that his death date is incorrect, but more likely it was gifted after his death. We know the clock was much older than 1900, so we're guessing it was willed to her and maybe her dad had the plaque made after the fact? It's a bit of a mystery.]
[Edit #2: Thank you everyone for your overwhelming response - it means a lot. If you'd like to see a closer shot of the musket, I found this photo in a book as well as this photo in another history book. If you'd like to see the clock and plaque, they're here and here.]
It always trips me out to think these people were once the babies everyone adored. Like to think of my grandpa being a kid and going to see his grandparents is a trip
anarchofundalist on October 30th, 2020 at 01:40 UTC »
This was removed from Mildly Interesting for not being an “original photo” - hopefully this is more than mildly interesting and can find a home here.
A little about this Amos - he was born in 1813 and died in 1898. As a schoolboy, he got to meet General Marquis Lafayette (America’s Favorite Fight’in Frenchman) during his 1824 tour of America. Amos was a conductor on the Lexington and West Cambridge Railroad, which ran from Lexington to Boston. In fact, he was the conductor on its maiden voyage. Finally, Amos was very proud of his country and the role his family played in creating it. According to a passage I found in records of the Lexington Historical Society, his house was decked out on the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington. His yard was draped in “folds of bunting”, and a “handsome tree” was “made attractive” by a collection of old muskets. One was labeled “1861” and the other “April 19th, 1775.” The latter date was the day of the Battle of Lexington. 1861 was the year the American Civil War began, though I don’t yet know who’s gun it would have been. I haven’t found civil war records for any of his sons yet.
Locating and recovering a copy of this picture, courtesy of the Lexington Historical Society, was especially meaningful because of a certain grandfather clock sitting in the corner of my living room. It was passed down from my grandmother, who was named Frances Locke Marvin after her [correction: fathers cousin], Frances Spencer Locke. On the inside door of the clock is a small gold plaque that reads “To Frances Spencer Locke from Grandpa Locke - 1900.” Grandpa Locke is in fact the man here in this photo.
[Edit: To those asking about Amos dying in 1898 and the clock being gifted in 1900 - we had the same question. I did a lot of checking to confirm this is the right Grandpa Amos. It's possible that his death date is incorrect, but more likely it was gifted after his death. We know the clock was much older than 1900, so we're guessing it was willed to her and maybe her dad had the plaque made after the fact? It's a bit of a mystery.]
[Edit #2: Thank you everyone for your overwhelming response - it means a lot. If you'd like to see a closer shot of the musket, I found this photo in a book as well as this photo in another history book. If you'd like to see the clock and plaque, they're here and here.]
loganlocke18 on October 30th, 2020 at 02:41 UTC »
Just searched my tree and I believe we may be related!
col3man17 on October 30th, 2020 at 02:42 UTC »
It always trips me out to think these people were once the babies everyone adored. Like to think of my grandpa being a kid and going to see his grandparents is a trip