Gazlay Family History
 

Family HistoryFamily History - Amelia M. ‘Amy’ Sisson


Key:1.“+” before a child’s name indicates the child has their own entry in the next generation.
 2.“born xxxx” indicates the child is under 18 years of age so the birth date is not shown.
This family history features Amelia M. ‘Amy’ Sisson and four of her descendants down to the third generation.


First Generation
1. Amelia M. ‘Amy’ Sisson,1 born 5 March 1874 in Groton, New London County, Connecticut, the daughter of Albert B. Sisson and Amelia Dunbar;1, 2, 3, 4, 5 died 15 February 1948 in East Lyme, New London County, Connecticut.6 Amy married, 28 December 1898 in East Lyme, New London County, Connecticut, Herbert Getchell3, 8 (born October 1874 in Maine, parents not determined;3, 4, 5 Herbert died 27 August 1927 in East Lyme, New London County, Connecticut7).

Child adopted by Amelia M. ‘Amy’ Sisson and Herbert Getchell:

+2i. Russell H. Getchell, born ca. 1903 in New York. Married Grace F. Beach.

  1. Connecticut Births and Christenings, 1649-1906, Amelia Sisson, born: 5 March 1874 in Groton, New London [County], Connecticut; father: Albert Sisson; mother: Amelia.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1880, Connecticut, New London County, Groton, Enumeration District 102, Page No. 12D, family of Albert Sisson (50, Connecticut, laborer); wife Amelia Sisson (42, Connecticut); daughter Julia Sisson (22, Connecticut); son George R. Sisson (19, Connecticut, work on farm); son Henry E. Sisson (11, Connecticut); daughter Amelia Sisson (6, Connecticut); son Albert Sisson (10/12, Connecticut).
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1900, Connecticut, New London County, East Lyme, Enumeration District 445, Sheet No. 14B, family of Albert E. Sisson, 65, Connecticut, July 1834, day laborer; wife of 44 years Amelia Sisson, 56, Connecticut, Dec. 1843 [sic, their years of marriage is probably correct, but her age and supposed birth month/year state here are probably incorrect, otherwise she would have been 13 years old when she married; other records place her birth year around 1837], 6 children, 5 living; son Betie D. Sisson [i.e., Herbert], 20, Connecticut, Aug. 1879, day laborer. Living next door is their married daughter Amelia (Amy): Herbert Getchel, 25, Connecticut, Oct. 1874, day laborer; wife of one year Amy M. Getchel, 25, Connecticut, Mar. 1875, no children.
  4. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Connecticut, New London County, Groton, E.D. 506, Sheet No. 20B, Herbert Getchell, 36, Maine, laborer, phosphate factory; wife of 10 years Amy Getchell, 35, Connecticut, 1 child, 1 living; son Russell N. Getchell, 7, Connecticut; mother-in-law Amelia Sisson, 68, Connecticut, widowed, 6 children, 5 living.
  5. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Connecticut, New London County, Waterford, E.D. 303, Sheet No. 5B, Herbert W. Getchel, 48, Maine, painter, automobile repair shop; wife Amy W. Getchel, 48, Connecticut; son Russell H. Getchel, 15, New York.
  6. Connecticut Vital Records - Index of Deaths, 1897-1969; available at https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/death-records/. Amelia Getchell, died: 15 February 1948 in East Lyme, Connecticut.
  7. Connecticut Vital Records - Index of Deaths, 1897-1969; available at https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/death-records/. Herbert Getchell, died: 27 August 1927 in East Lyme, Connecticut.
  8. Connecticut Vital Records - Index of Marriages, 1897-2001; available at https://www.ctatatelibrarydata.org/marriage-records/ Herbert Getschell [sic, Getchell] and Amelia Sissau [sic, Sisson], married on 28 December 1898 in East Lyme, Connecticut.
Second and Third Generations
2. Russell H. Getchell2 (Amelia ‘Amy’1), born ca. 1903 in New York.1, 2, 3 Russell married Grace F. Beach (born ca. 1899 in Connecticut, parents not determined;3 Grace died 20 April 1975 in New Milford, Litchfield County, Connecticut4). Russell was adopted by Herbert Getchell and Amelia M. ‘Amy’ Sisson.

An article in the Norwich Bulletin indicates that Russell was adopted by Herbert Getchell and his wife, and that Russell was apparently abused.5

LEFT HOME, BOY CLAIMS, BECAUSE HE WAS BEATEN

“I stole it because I wanted to be arrested and be put somewhere so they can’t touch me.” This statement was made Saturday morning in the Groton town court by Russell H. Getchell, 14, adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Getchell of Thames View, whose disappearance from home was reported Friday. Russell was arrested in Mystic on a charge of stealing from a store a clock valued at $3.75. The lad ran away from home Thursday, coming from the Quaker Hill school in New London, and, according to his testimony in court, walking to Mystic.

Peter Hammacker, proprietor of the store where the theft took place, had the boy arrested, and upon his presentation in court he was asked why he did the act. His reply was followed by testimony to the effect that his adopted parents had abused him severely, and that he could not stand it any longer. His parents denied this, but neighbors volunteered the information, following the hearing, that the boy had been abused, and had often showed cuts on his hands.

The court decided that probation officer Richard W. Mansfield was the best person to untangle the situation, and Russell was placed in his care for six months. Mr. Mansfield heard the stories of the boy and his foster parents and will send the boy to the Boy’s school in Cheshire.


Children of Russell H. Getchell and Grace F. Beach:

 3i. Rosemary E. Getchell, born 17 April 1937 in Connecticut.3, 6
 4ii. Allan R. Getchell, born 4 June 1939 in Connecticut.3, 6
 5iii. Kenneth M. Getchell, born 16 November 1941.6

  1. U.S. Federal Census, 1910, Connecticut, New London County, Groton, E.D. 506, Sheet No. 20B, Herbert Getchell, 36, Maine, laborer, phosphate factory; wife of 10 years Amy Getchell, 35, Connecticut, 1 child, 1 living; son Russell N. Getchell, 7, Connecticut; mother-in-law Amelia Sisson, 68, Connecticut, widowed, 6 children, 5 living.
  2. U.S. Federal Census, 1920, Connecticut, New London County, Waterford, E.D. 303, Sheet No. 5B, Herbert W. Getchel, 48, Maine, painter, automobile repair shop; wife Amy W. Getchel, 48, Connecticut; son Russell H. Getchel, 15, New York.
  3. U.S. Federal Census, 1940, Connecticut, Litchfield County, New Milford Town, E.D. 3-22, Sheet No. 2A, Russell H. Getchell, 36, New York, bottlewasher, retail milk farm; wife Grace F. Getchell, 41, Connecticut; daughter Rosemary Getchell, 2, Connecticut; son Allan Getchell, 9/12, Connecticut.
  4. Obituary, The Bridgeport Post, Bridgeport, Connecticut (available at newspapers.com, and newspaperarchive.com), 21 April 1975, Mrs. Grace Beach Getchell, 77, wife of Russell H. Getchell, died 20 April 1975 in New Milford. The article provides vital and biographical details and the names of her husband, children, siblings, and indicates she had six grandchildren.
  5. The Norwich Bulletin, Norwich, Connecticut, 17 January 1921, Left Home, Boy Claims, Because He Was Beaten. The article tells about Russell H. Getchell, 14, adopted son of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Getchell, and his running away from home and his arrest for stealing a clock.
  6. This is publicly viewable information found in various public information repositories, people finding websites, and/or social media.