What Were They Thinking?

Burpee Hallett Saulsman Circa 1920

Fannie had a Burpee and Burpee had a Tootie! Oh, my! What were they thinking? I have always loved the stories that my grandparents would tell of days gone by. I would sit for hours , while my Grandmother would tell of growing up in Rochester, New York. She told of how her mother would take out life insurance policies on each of their nine children. She would pay the premiums each month and then, when they had financial difficulties, she would pick whichever one had the most cash value and cash it in. Then she would promptly purchase a new one to replace the one that she just cashed in. She told of how it did not matter how poor they were, that if a stranger knocked upon their door, she would invite them in and give them food at their kitchen table.  I have always had a very strong connection to my family. It was only natural that I discovered that I love researching our family tree.

My Grandfather's Dad and Grandparents came to the United States from Nova Scotia, Canada. On this line, my Great-Great Grandparents were named Rueben and Fannie Saulsman. They named their only son, Burpee Hallett Saulsman. I would love to find out where they got his first and middle name. Were they family names? Were they names of friends?  Can you imagine the teasing that he would get if he were around today?

Well, Burpee married Edith Marion Mason and they had a daughter named Eleanor that they called "Tootie". They also, had my Grandfather and named him John Hallett Saulsman. Anyway, this is how "Fannie" had a "Burpee" , who had a "Tootie" happened!

Do you have any crazy names in your family tree? I would love to hear about them!

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