The Suffield Historical Society prides itself on helping people discover their Suffield roots, no matter where they live now. Here’s the story of Dennis Kent from Lykens, PA, who came to town a year ago to learn about his ancestors. He knew little more than that one of his ancestors was Sidney Albert Kent, who founded Kent Memorial Library (KML) in 1897, and that his relatives arrived in the Suffield area from England in 1643.
Dennis and his wife, Bonnie, eagerly reached out to the Suffield Historical Society and the library for information. They were welcomed in the classic small-town manner, a gesture that made them feel instantly at home. While they waited for responses, the Kents entertained themselves by exploring other leads about their family connections. First, they headed out to explore an old family farm in Kent, Conn. Then they embarked on a self-guided tour of Suffield, driving by the historic home of Henry Phelps Kent on South Main Street and the Kent farm on Halladay Avenue. They visited the Kent Legare Library on the Suffield Academy campus, the Old Center Cemetery (searching for family gravestones), and the Town Hall (seeking land records). Meanwhile, the small-town connections worked to help them learn about their ancestors.
Wendy Taylor, children’s librarian and genealogist extraordinaire, was not working when the Kents stopped by the library. Still, her colleagues met the curious out-of-state visitors and told Wendy about their interest. Wendy then reached out to me for assistance. I called Bonnie, introduced myself as a member of the Historical Society and KML archive room monitor, and offered to meet them the next day. Collaboration between the library team and Society members is key to connecting visitors with resources, records, and residents who may share a family history. In response to their question about possible relatives in town, I immediately thought of James Kent, an active member of the Historical Society. James and his wife ultimately invited Dennis and Bonnie to the Kent Farm, which they had driven by previously.
The following day, Dennis and Bonnie spent several hours in the archive room at the KML learning about their ancestors. Bonnie asked if there was somewhere she could purchase a memento of their visit to Suffield made by a local artist. I immediately thought of the late Peggy McKinnon, whose watercolors are available for purchase through The Suffield Observer. A quick call to Beth Chafetz, the paper’s editor, connected me with someone who opened the office to help Bonnie purchase a picture. Their visit was complete.
In just three short days, they uncovered more about his ancestry than they had ever thought possible. Several days after their return to Pennsylvania, Wendy shared her discovery that Dennis and James are ninth cousins!
The Suffield Historical Society welcomes requests for help finding ancestors. Art Sikes, Society Vice President, genealogist, and old house expert, is a valuable resource, as is Anne Borg, the Society archivist. Contact us at suffieldhistoricalsociety@gmail.com with your questions about your ancestors or house.