William Lawrence Peterson

1900 Ludlow, Massachusetts – 1982 Tucson, Arizona

 

 

Continuation of tree (1st child of William Peat (Peterson)/Flora E. Bottom); all known surname descendants:

                  10        William Pete (aka William Lawrence Peterson/Peat/Donovan)  b: 16 August 1900  Ludlow, Hampden, MA; d: 14 November 1982  Dragoon, Cochise, AZ

                                     +Isabelle Seymour  b: 5 January 1901  Winooski, Chittenden, VT; m: 14 June 1920  Easthampton, Hampshire, MA [George/Elma St. Andre]; d: 15 March 1989  Grafton, Worcester, MA

                       11                 Loretta F. Peterson  b: 4 October 1920  Windsor, Hartford, CT; d: 1 July 1987  Wakefield, South Kingstown, RI

                                              +William E. Kimmel  b: 28 August 1917  Missouri; m: Abt. 1944; d: 12 February 2013

                       11                 William George Peterson  b: 9 January 1922  Easthampton, Hampshire, MA; d: 3 December 1998  Burlington, Hartford, CT

                                               +June Elizabeth Lofgren  b: 1922  CT; m: 13 April 1945  Southington, Hartford, CT [Simon/---]; d: Aft. December 1998

                       11                 Arthur Joseph Peterson  b: 23 December 1922  Windsor, Hartford, CT; d: 31 August 2006  Gardner, Worcester, MA

                                               +Katherine Sfakianos  b: 13 September 1925  Grafton, Worcester, MA; m: Abt. 1944 [Alek/Ellen Collarena]; d: 1 May 2008  MA

                       11                 Andrew Lawrence Peterson  b: 14 May 1924  Granby, Hartford, CT; d: 15 June 1998  Gilroy, Santa Clara, CA

                                               +Jane L. Malone  b: 1922; m: Abt. 1945 [Wilson Thomas/Ida Celia Bright] (divorced January 1972  Santa Clara, CA); d:   Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, CA

                       11                 Henry Adam Peterson  b: 25 November 1925  Granby, Hartford, CT; d: d: Aft. March 1989  Whitinsville, Worcester, MA

                       11                 Donald Robert Peterson  b: 9 August 1927  East Granby, Hartford, CT; d: d: Aft. March 1989  Santa Clara, CA

                       11                 Ruth Genevieve 'Dot' Peterson  b: 4 January 1929  Hartford, Hartford, CT; d: 26 January 2010  Auburn, Worcester, MA

                                              +--- Langlois

                                            *2nd Husband of Ruth Genevieve 'Dot' Peterson:

                                              +Francis Bertram Farrell  b: 18 February 1924  Grafton, Worcester, MA; m: 22 November 1968  Nashua, Hillsborough, NH [Michael J./Laura Virginie Boucher]; d: 6 June 1990  Grafton, Worcester, MA

                       11                 Barbara M. Peterson  b: 30 December 1929  Hartford, Hartford, CT; d: d: Aft. March 1989  Port Richie, FL

                                              +--- Noel

                       11                 James B. Peterson  b: 16 December 1931  Rainbow Lake, NY; d: Aft. March 1989  NY

                       11                 Jane M. Peterson  b: Abt. 1933  Connecticut; d: d: Aft. March 1989  Palm Bay, FL

                                              +--- Cronin

                       11                 Raymond Randall Peterson  b: 9 November 1934  Grafton, Worcester, MA; d: 8 March 1998  Hartford Co., CT

        

                              *2nd (Wife) of William Pete (aka William Lawrence Peterson/Peat/Donovan) :

                                     +Vera Caroline Nowak  b: 27 February 1910  Lowell, Middlesex, MA; m: 13 October 1934  Lowell, Middlesex, MA [Jan/Kathrina Nostek]; d: 9 May 2007  Stratford, Fairfield, CT

                       11                 John Lawrence Donovan  b: 7 November 1937  Lowell, Middlesex, MA; d: Aft. May 2007  Washington

                       11                 Patricia Carole Donovan  b: 11 July 1939  Oakland, CA; d: Aft. May 2007

                                              +Robert Lawrence Anderson  b: Abt. 1937  Bridgeport, CT; m: 7 November 1960  Arlington, VA [Clarence Eugene/Ann Yamnicky]

                                            *2nd Husband of Patricia Carole Donovan:

                                              +--- Mann

     

                             *3rd (Wife) of William Pete (aka William Lawrence Peterson/Peat/Donovan):

                                     +Agnes Hael (Southworth)  b: 4 December 1905  Sweden; m: 1955 [Julius/Alma Beeman]; d: 29 October 1985  Deerfield Beach, Broward, FL

                   

                             *4th (Wife) of William Pete (aka William Lawrence Peterson/Peat/Donovan):

                                     +Marjorie Hecht  b: 2 May 1908  New York City, NY; m: 16 May 1966  Virginia Beach, VA [Charles Henry Clay/Natalie Bertha Happ]; d: 3 September 2000  Stamford, Fairfield, CT

 

 

Notes for William Lawrence Peterson:

Misc:  Birth record - William Pete, b. 16 August 1900  Ludlow, MA, s/o William Pete (NY) laborer & Mary Lafond (Can)

- No record of divorce before 2nd marriage.

- Marriage record - Lowell, MA, 13 October 1934, Holy Trinity Church, William L. Donovan (res. Lowell) 33, machinist (Salt Lake City, UT), par: William & Flora E. Butten & Vera Caroline Nowak (res. Dracut) 24, operative (Lowell), par: John & Catherine Nostek; 1st marriage for both.

- Marriage record - Virginia Beach, VA, 16 May 1966: William Patrick Donovan, 65, divorced (1 previous marriage), engineer, res. 99 Bow St., Portsmouth, NH; b. Ludlow, MA; par: William Patrick Donovan & Mary Edna Bottom; and Marjorie Hecht, 58, single, engineer, res. 1014 Trout Brook Dr., West Hartford, CT; b. New York City, NY; par: Charles Henry Clay Hecht & Natalie Bertha Happ;

- 1938 Worcester, MA City Directory:  Peterson Wm L (Isabelle S) mach h Maple av

- 1962 Worcester, MA City Directory:  Peterson Isabel S (wid Wm) h15 1/2 Orchard (SG)

- Soc. Sec Index:  William Donovan, 021-05-2160, b. 16 Aug 1900, d. Nov 1982; last residence Dragoon, Cochise, AZ

- Death Notice:  Tucson Citizen (Tucson, AZ), Tuesday, 16 November 1982:  Deaths - Donovan, William, 82, Dragoon, Nov. 14, Valley.

 

Census

- 1930 Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut:  William L. Petterson 29 (truck driver), wife of 9 years Isabel S. 29, Lorretta 9, William 8, Arthur 7, Lawrence 5, Henry 4, Donald 2, Dorothy 1, Barbara 2 months.

 

- 1940 Westford, Middlesex, MA:  William Donovan 39 machinist/machine shop, wife Vera 30, John 2, Patricia 10 months.  [Graniteville, Fourth Street]

- 1940 Grafton, Worcester, MA:  Isabelle Peterson 39 winder/cotton tex, William 18 new worker, Dorothy 11, James 9, Jane 6, Raymond 5.  [27 Railroad Court]

- 1940 Southington, Hartford, Connecticut:  Donald Peterson 12 lodger.

- 1940 East Windsor, Hartford, CT:  Laurence Peterson 15.  [Hartford County Temporary Home for Children]

 

- 1950 Grafton, Worcester, MA:  Isabelle S. Peterson 48 (sep) laborer/textile mill, Henry A. 24 weaver/textile mill, Jane M. 16, Raymond R. 15.

- 1950 Plantsville, Hartford, CT:  Simon Lofgren 64 (Sweden) (mar) foreman-polishing/mfg. tools machines; son in-law William G. Peterson 28 pattern making/mfg. tools machines, wife June E. 27, Susan A. 1.

- 1950 Grafton, Worcester, MA:  Arthur J. Peterson 27 weaving/textile mill, wife Katherine 24 bench hand/radio parts mfg., Robert D. 3, Linda A. 2.

- 1950 Dracut, Middlesex, MA:  John Nowak 67, wife Catherine 69, son Edward F. 41, wife Anna M. 37, nephew John L. Donavan 12.

 

Notes for Isabelle Seymour:

Obituary:  Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA), Thursday, 16 March 1989:  Mrs Isabelle S Peterson, 88.  Grafton - Isabelle S. (Seymour) Peterson, 88, of 3 Railroad Court, South Grafton, died yesterday in Worcester Memorial Hospital.  Mrs. Peterson was a member of St. James Church in South Grafton.  She leaves seven sons, William G. Peterson of Burlington, Conn., Arthur J. Peterson of Holland, Andrew L. Peterson of Morgan Hills, Calif., Henry A. Peterson of Whitinsville, Robert D. Peterson of Santa Clara, Calif., James B. Peterson of New York City and Raymond R. Peterson of Westboro; three daughters, Dorothy R. Farrell of South Grafton, Barbara M. Noel of Port Richie, Fla., and Jane M. Cronin of Palm Bay, Fla.; a brother, Leonard Seymour of East Hampton; 35 grandchildren; 50 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.  A daughter, Loretta F. Kimmel, died in 1987.  She was born in Winooski, Vt., daughter of George and Elma (St. Andre) Seymour, and had lived in South Grafton 55 years.  The funeral will be held tomorrow from Turgeon Funeral Home, 64 Main St., Millbury, with a Mass at 11 a.m. in St. James Church, Main Street, South Grafton.  Burial will be in Notre Dame Cemetery, Worcester.  There are no calling hours.  The family requests that flowers be omitted.  Memorial contributions may be made instead to the Mustard Seed, 93 Piedmont St., Worcester.

 

Notes for Vera Nowak:

Obituary:  Connecticut Post (Bridgeport, CT), Sunday, 13 May 2007:  McAuley - Vera C. McAuley, age 97 of Stratford, died on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 at Lord Chamberlain Convalescent and Rehabilitation Center.  She was the widow of Norman McAuley.  She was born in Lowell, Mass. to the late John and Katrina Nowak.  Mrs. McAuley retired from Sikorsky Aircraft where she had been employed for more than 30 years in the blueprint department.  She is survived by three beloved children, Patricia Mann of Oxford, Gail DelFranco of Stratford and John Donovan of Washington; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.  Friends may call on Monday from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Pistey Funeral Home, Stratford.  Interment and funeral services will be private in Lowell, Mass.

 

Notes for Agnes Hael :

Obituary:  South Florida Sun Sentinal (Fort Lauderdale, FL), Thursday, 31 October 1985:  Donovan - Agnes H., 79, of Deerfield Beach, died Tuesday.  She had resided here the past 24 years and was formerly from Granby, CT.  She is survived by a son, Robert Southworth, Tavernier, FL; daughter, Alberta Denton, Lantana, FL; mother, Alma Larson, Deerfield Beach; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.  Friends may call at the Kraeer Deerfield Beach Funeral Home, from 5 to 7 PM, Friday.  The funeral service will be 6 PM, Friday at the funeral home.  Interment will be in Rocky Hill, CT.

Tombstone Inscription, Rose Hill Memorial Park, Rocky Hill, CT:  Agnes H. Donovan / 1905 - 1985

 

Obituaries for the children:

Loretta F. Peterson:  Providence Journal (RI), Thursday, 2 July 1987:  Loretta F. Kimmel, 66, of 23 Old Post Rd. died yesterday at South County Hospital.  She was the wife of William E. Kimmel.  Born in Windsor, Conn., a daughter of Isabelle (Seymour) Peterson of Grafton, Mass., and the late William Peterson, she lived in South County for nine years.  Besides her husband and mother she leaves two sons, William E. Kimmel Jr. of Westerly and Steven F. Kimmel of Houston, Tex.; a daughter, Lynn Kimmel-Anderson of South Kingstown; seven brothers, William G. Peterson of Burlington, Conn., Lawrence Peterson of San Jose, Calif., Donald Peterson of Sunnyvale, Calif., Arthur Peterson of Southbridge, Mass., Henry Peterson of Whitinsville, Mass., Raymond Peterson of Worcester and James Peterson of Grafton; three sisters, Barbara Noel of Easthampton, Mass., Dorothy Farrell of Grafton, Jane Cronin of Melbourne, Fla., and six grandchildren.  A Mass of Christian Burial will be held tomorrow at 10 a.m. at St. Francis Church, High Street, South Kingstown.  Burial will be in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery, Exeter.

 

William George Peterson:  Hartford Courant (Hartford, CT), Sunday, 6 December 1998:  William George Peterson, 76, of Burlington, died Thursday (Dec. 3, 1998) at home after a long illness.  He is survived by his wife of 53 years, June (Lofgren) Elizabeth Peterson; four children, Susan, William, Jan and Keith and nine grandchildren.  Born Jan. 9, 1922, in Easthampton, MA, he was the son of Isabelle and William Peterson and brother to Loretta, Arthur, Lawrence, Donald, Henry, James, Raymond Dorothy, Barbara and Jane.  He was a World War II veteran who served aboard the USS Princeton in the Phillipines during the battle of Leyte Gulf.  He worked as a wood pattern maker for Terry Steam and Turbine for over 20 years.  A memorial service will be celebrated Monday, Dec. 7, 3 p.m., at the Burlington Congregational Church, Route 4, Burlington.

Tombstone Inscription, Burlington Center Cemetery, Burlington, CT:  PETERSON / 1922  William G. 1998 / 1922  June E.  (blank)

 

Arthur Joseph Peterson:  Worcester Telegram & Gazette (MA), Tuesday, 5 September 2006:  Gardner, MA.  Peterson, Arthur J., 83.  There are no calling hours; funeral service 11 a.m. Thursday, September 07, 2006, the Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon.  Died Thursday, August 31, 2006.  Funeral Home: The John H. Mack Funeral Home, 91 Vernon Street, Gardner, MA.

Tombstone Inscription, Massachusetts Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Winchendon, MA:  Arthur J. / Peterson / PVT / US Army / World War II / Dec. 23, 1922 / Aug. 31, 2006 / Silver Star

 

Ruth 'Dorothy' Peterson:  Ruth G. (Peterson, Langlois) Farrell, also known as Dot, was the daughter of William and Isabelle (Seymour) Peterson.  Her husband, Francis B. Farrell passed in 1990.  She was predeceased by one son, James F. Farrell, one step-daughter, Diane Rozell, one step-son, Michael Farrell, one sister, Loretta Kimell, five brothers, Arthur, James, William, Raymond and Lawrence Peterson.  She was born and grew up in Hartford Ct.  Ruth was an avid fiction reader, played the organ, and made and dressed dolls as hobbies.  She was a great hostess and cook and loved the holidays. Ruth and Francis owned a home in South Grafton, Ma. where they lived throughout their marriage.  After Francis died Dot moved to Worcester, Ma. where she spent her final days.

Tombstone Inscription, Fairview Cemetery, Grafton, MA:  Farrell / (reverse) Francis B. Farrell / 1924 - 1990 / his wife / R. Dorothy Peterson / 1929 - 2010 / beloved son / James F. Farrell / 1969 - 2005

 

Raymond Randall Peterson:  Tombstone Inscription, National Memorial Cemetery of Arizona, Phoenix, AZ:  Raymond R. Peterson / SK3  US Navy / Korea / Nov. 9, 1934 - Mar. 8, 1998

 

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Items in RED have been verified against parish register entries. 

- New York birth/marriage/death items in RED have come from newspaper obituaries, some marriage announcements, and occasional birth announcements. 

 

Last updated:  19 October 2022.