I was surprised today to read an article in the Concord Monitor web site that mentioned someone in my family tree. No, Ebenezer Eastman is not a direct ancestor but he is in the outer branches someplace in my family tree: a distant cousin many-times-removed.
The article states:
The “granite monument that was erected in East Concord as a tribute to Ebenezer Eastman, the first colonial settler of Concord. This beautiful monument is quite practical too because it is graced with four clocks to provide the time to all who care to glance. It has been said this Eastman monument is the first American monument that offers beauty and usefulness without distracting from the value of art.
“The Eastman Monument dates back to a festive event in the year 1924 where many attended this monument dedication. It was the Eastman Family Memorial Association that erected this monument, stating that Ebenezer was the first settler. There were in fact other settlers in our town prior to Ebenezer, people such as Henry Rolfe and Richard Urann that arrived the year prior to Ebenezer Eastman to work their land and settle. The Eastman family provided this monument as a tribute to their ancestors and invested in great quality to ensure the monument would survive the cruel New England winters of the future. The monument was designed by a known gentleman named A. Fehmer of the New England Granite Works of Westerly, Rhode Island. The material used was derived locally from the Granite State Quarry on Rattlesnake Hill and shipped to Westerly where it was carved and engraved under the watchful eye of designer Fehmer. The monument is seven feet square at the base and nineteen feet high. The brass clockworks are encased at the base to allow for easy access when servicing the clock. Our ancestors felt the clock was the center of consultation in their day, for those that passed by would certainly look at the monument to confirm the time of day or synchronize their own gold pocket watches.”
The Eastman Family Memorial Association that erected this monument apparently has since faded away but the monument, made of granite, still remains.
You can read the full article by James Spain published in the Concord Monitor at: https://www.concordmonitor.com/Vintage-Views-50686212.