Bess (Halfyard) Hutchins
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Susanna Elizabeth (Halfyard) Hutchins (1883 - 1966)

Susanna Elizabeth (Bess) Hutchins formerly Halfyard
Born in Ochre Pit Cove, Conception Bay, Newfoundlandmap
Ancestors ancestors
Wife of — married 3 Apr 1909 in Dover, Strafford, New Hampshire, United Statesmap
Died at age 83 in Biddeford, York, Maine, United Statesmap
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Profile last modified | Created 7 Jan 2013
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Biography

Susanna Halfyard was born in Newfoundland in 1883.[1]

She passed away in 1966. [2]

The information following is copied from pages 29/30 of "The Halfyard Family Register" 1994 compiled and edited by Robert R. Halfyard. All titles (Aunt, Uncle etc.) are due to this being his immediate family.

Known as "Susie" in Newfoundland, but as "Bess" in the United States, she was a remarkable woman. Before she left for the United States, she used to accompany her father to Labrador regularly to cook on his fishing boat. Sometime after her arrival in the United States, she married Lutell HUTCHINS of Kennebunkport, a member of a family which had been long settled in that community. The couple lived on Lutell's farm, known as Sunset Farm, which boasted a beautiful big, colonial house. As long as Aunt Bess' health permitted, she held homey gatherings of family and friends. I (Robert R. Halfyard) have seen numerous pictures of such groups taken there.

Aunt Bess was an excellent cook, and samples of her handiwork could be seen at the stand. I well remember that one customer was most disappointed when 'Mrs. Hutchins" was not at the stand to serve her ! When my wife and I visited there on our honeymoon, Aunt Bess made my wife an apron. She also gave us a pointing of their barn, which hangs proudly in our living room. My sister Audrey is proud to have a quilt by Aunt Bess on her spare room bed.

For many years the Hutchins rented land to the Arundel Golf Club, but recently, Bishop sold that property to the Club. When George Bush was President, he played golf on that club, just behind the former Hutchins Farm.

Aunt Bess attended the beautiful South congregational Church in Kennebunkport, of which she was very proud. RRH.

FIFTY YEARS AGO AT SUNSET FARM, KENNEBUNKPORT, MAINE - Written by Shirly Mizer Secor, in the Halfyard Register.

"Aunt" Bess Hutchings and her son, Bishop, owned and operated Sunset farm, which at one time was the largest producer of potatoes in York County, Maine. It was quite and exciting and different place for Betty, Pearl and me (three city girls) to visit weekly each summer for many years, about 1935 to 1955.

The main house was big and beautifully situated up on a knoll. From the back stoop, a large stone polished smooth with wear and supporting a boot scraper, one could look across the dirt driveway, lawn, large and beautiful flower gardens, and filed to the river and Arundel Golf Club, which leased the land for three holes from the Hutchins. it was a magnificent view especially at sunset which was when the folks liked to go out and play those three hoes (sic). Bishop would supply the balls which had errantly arrived in his potato fields.

There was a large red barn, hen house and pig sty but best of all was the blue trailer which Bishop took hunting. It was situated by the old gnarled apple tree and seemed like a doll house to us. It was a fabulous place to go and read while all the HALFYARDS visited. It was also fun to ogle Bishop's big Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

On any weekend you might find Jack and Agnes HALFYARD, aunt (sic) Margaret and Uncle Jim (HALFYARD), "Aunt" Jennie Hooper, Rose and Harold Pennell, and all the aunts. Sometimes it was difficult for me to understand what they were saying because, when they were together, their Newfoundland accents returned.

Other people at Goose Rocks Beach, where we stayed and which was about seven miles from 'the stand', were Hedley HALFYARD and his children Faith and Bob.

I remember Aunt Bess (We called all female cousins, friends, or relatives, old enough to be our aunts, "aunt"). She was always working. Her hands had character, callused and stained from working in the garden and scrubbing vegetable for the stand. She had strong feelings about many things and was an ardent Republican.

The kettle was always hot on the big stove in the kitchen. Sometimes we would walk through the rooms on the first floor and even them (sic) we could appreciate all the antiques, prickly horse hair furniture and wonderful dishes.

Bishop still lives at Sunset Farm, but in a smaller house and plants a couple of acres each year.

Sources

  1. "Newfoundland Vital Statistics, 1753-1893," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QK9T-GD4M : 8 May 2015), Susanna Elizabeth Halfyard, 12 Jan 1882; citing Birth, Ochre Pit Cove, Bay de Verde, Newfoundland, Provincial Archives, St. John's.
  2. Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/103811152/susanna-elizabeth-hutchins : accessed 06 October 2021), memorial page for Susanna Elizabeth “Bess” Halfyard Hutchins (12 Jan 1883–25 Nov 1966), Find a Grave Memorial ID 103811152, citing Arundel Cemetery, Kennebunkport, York County, Maine, USA ; Maintained by Joseph Fitzgerald (contributor 47542503) .
  • First-hand knowledge of Joe Fitzgerald.
  • "The Halfyard Family Register" 1994, compiled and edited by Robert R. Halfyard




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DNA Connections
It may be possible to confirm family relationships with Bess by comparing test results with other carriers of her mitochondrial DNA. However, there are no known mtDNA test-takers in her direct maternal line. It is likely that these autosomal DNA test-takers will share some percentage of DNA with Bess:

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