'A lot of Wolcott history': Marblehead welcomes Lighthouse keeper's relatives at reunion

MARBLEHEAD — Ottawa County is proud of its nautical history, which includes the Marblehead Lighthouse and the Keeper’s House, where Benajah Wolcott, the first lightkeeper, lived after the structure was built in 1822. On Aug. 5, dozens of people from around the country visited the Keeper’s House because they, too, are proud of its history.

Seventy-four members of the Wolcott Family Society toured the Marblehead Lighthouse and Keeper’s House as part of the 119th Wolcott family reunion. They traveled from states including Connecticut, Tennessee and New York, and as far away as Canada.

Each was a descendent of either Henry Wolcott, who arrived in Massachusetts in 1630, or other Wolcotts who arrived soon after. To be approved for membership in the Wolcott Family Society, potential members must prove lineage to a Wolcott who arrived in America before 1700.

Wolcott family members travel from Canada

“My lineage is through John Wolcott, Henry’s cousin, who arrived in 1634,” said Barry George, who traveled with his family from his home in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, for the reunion.

George said there are about six lines in the Wolcott genealogy that qualify for membership.

“We have done a major DNA project over the years,” he said. “There were not enough records, so DNA proved the lines.”

Judge Paul Moon is among the descendants

Among the Wolcott descendants was retired Ottawa County Judge Paul Moon, who hosted the Keeper’s House tours. The family had lunch on the grounds catered by the Marblehead Galley, then took tours of the house, visited the nearby Wolcott cemetery and shopped at the museum and gift shop.

Benajah Wolcott was Moon’s fourth great-grandfather. William Kelly, who built the Keeper’s House, was Moon’s third great-grandfather.

“At one point, the homebuilder’s son married the lighthouse keeper’s granddaughter,” Moon said.

Ottawa County Historical Society President Patrick Lawrence O’Keeffe shared a bit of Benajah’s background with the family.

“Your cousin was an amazing guy. He was a veteran, saddle maker, fiddler, surveyor and the first lighthouse keeper,” O’Keeffe said.

Rozak welcomed the group and shared points of interest

Danbury Township Trustee Dianne Rozak welcomed the group and talked about other points of historical interest in the area.

“You guys are awfully important to us, as is the Keeper’s House,” she told the family.

Donna Wolcott of Kent, Ohio, has attended every Wolcott reunion since 1965. She has attended reunions in many places, including Connecticut, New Orleans and Canada. She was happy to be back in Marblehead again.

“This location has a lot of Wolcott history,” she said.

George said the family held a virtual reunion in 2020, but the rest of the 119 reunions were held in person.

“We move around like a convention,” George said. “We’ve had more reunions in Ohio than any other state because there is lots of Wolcott history here.”

George said Henry Wolcott traveled on the Mary and Jane, a sister ship to the Mayflower, when he arrived in America in 1630. He served as the first governor of Massachusetts.

One Wolcott signed the Declaration of Independence

“One of his offspring, Oliver Wolcott, was a signer of the Declaration of Independence,” George said.

Clara Wolcott Driscoll, who was born in Tallmadge, Ohio, in 1861, was a glass designer for Tiffany Studios.

“My wife and I visited the Toledo Museum of Art and were surprised to find a Tiffany Lamp there that she designed,” George said.

The Wolcott family has a unique heritage that allows them to discover family connections all over the country.

“What makes the reunions really fun is we go to places that have Wolcott history,” George said. “I’m really excited to see the lighthouse and the Keeper’s House.”

As they learn about their ancestors like Henry, Oliver, Clara and Benajah, the Wolcotts can know they have a significant heritage in American history.

“We Wolcotts are very proud of our past and how we’ve helped build this country,” Donna said.

Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.

This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Wolcott family members visit Marblehead Lighthouse Keeper's House