Mary Maria (Matten) Waite -- Part II

In the previous post, I summarized some of the known facts about my maternal great grandmother, Mary Maria Matten Waite. I also published a photo of her. As it turns out, that photo was a cropped version of a larger photo that shows her next to her first husband, Lowell Sylvester, as shown below.

The photo above was generously provided by a cousin, Clara R. in Utah. Thanks, Clara! She also provided some additional background on Mary Maria. Here are some excerpts from Clara's letter re: Mary and Lowell:

They lived in Hubbardston, Mass., and it was getting near to the end of the year [in the weeks before his untimely death that turned Mary into a young widow]. She was expecting a baby soon. He went out hunting to get food in the woods for the fall and winter seasons. He didn't get back and some folks went looking for him. I don't know how long they searched but when he was found they knew what had happened. He had climbed a rock fence and I guess the rocks must have slipped and he fell and his gun went off and he was killed.... She had her baby and was alone, and needed help. The baby's name is Etta Alice Sylvester. [Mary] knew Aaron Waite, and his wife who had died. He had children who needed care. So she tended his children, and later they were married. I remember Etta who would pick me up so I could see the mother robin feed her babies in the nest outside the window.

Mary Maria (Matten) Waite

Mary Maria Matten Waite, my maternal great grandmother, died relatively young, was married twice, and reportedly had a child before marrying my maternal great grandfather, Aaron Waite. One question that arises from this history: What become of the child in her first marriage (before marrying Aaron) and any descendants?

In theory, there may be a separate line of blood relatives out there that descends from Mary Maria. That's quite intriguing. If anyone has any information on the topic, please get in touch.

Meanwhile, here's the standard photo of Mary Maria (see below) that's been circulating. Born in 1851 (or 1850?) in Woburn, Mass., her first husband was Lowell Sylvester, who died in 1876 (although one account reports that he died in 1871, apparently from a hunting accident). They had one child.

Mary Maria remarried soon after -- anyone know the date of their marriage? With her second husband, Aaron Waite, she had three children, including my maternal grandfather, Sidney Clarendon Waite. When Mary Maria passed, she left three young children behind. That must have been quite burdensome for Aaron. I don't think he remarried, but perhaps someone knows otherwise.

Meanwhile, Mary Maria died in Hubbardston, Mass., at a relatively young age of roughly 40 years old. I'm guessing that she's 35 in the photo below, which equates with the year 1885. It appears to be a formal photo -- perhaps taken at a studio in Gardner or Worcester? In any case, her dress strikes me as a Sunday-best outfit that's typical for the late-19th century. One thing we know for sure: she was keen on buttons!