153rd Claflin Family Gathering 2007
The star event of the day was unquestionably the visit by our cousin Victoria Claflin Woodhull! No, it wasn't really "Cousin Vicky" (who lived between 1836 and 1927) but rather Sareah Longman Payne, scholar and accomplished actress, who portrayed Victoria in four vignettes of her life.
Sarah first became acquainted with Victoria while doing research for her doctorate in communications. Sarah's interest led her to visit Victoria's estate in Bredons Norton and to talk with people there who remembered her, to participate in a Readers Theatre production on Victoria, to seek out Victoria's relatives in Homer, Ohio, and to write and act in this one-woman, four scene play.
The range of the scenes was striking: "Lady of the Manor," "I Announce Myself a Candidate," "Yes, I Am a Free Lover," and "The Beecher-Tilton Affair." The range of Sarah's voice, expression, and gesture was also striking - at times alluring, determined, dramatic, expository, and enrolling. Who would argue now that women should have less than equal rights in a marriage? It was the high point of a very successful day. The subsequent question period was fast-moving and vigorous.
Fifty-four of us, including 10 children and young adults gathered at the Wenham Museum in Wenham, MA for a cheerful day. At the annual business meeting the group remembered those Family members of our knowledge who died last year, approved a budget for the present year, approved a bylaw amendment permitting the Association to pay the luncheon costs of Board members attending Board meetings, decided upon Lowell, MA as the location of the next reunion in 2008, and elected, or re-elected persons to the Executive Board.
Re-elected Officers are: William H. Claflin, President; Leslie Dolleman, Vice-President; Lisa Doucett, Secretary, and Judy Ludgate, Treasurer. Re-elected Board Members are Deborah Deptula, Susan Rich, and Marcia Wardwell. Newly elected Board Members are George Claflin and John Claflin. Continuing Board Members are Amy McGowan and John Pillis. We are always looking for persons interested in participating on the Board; if you wish to explore this possibility with Bill Claflin, please call him at 401-421-1855 or email him at whclaflin@cox.net.
This was the debut of "Claflin Family Favorites," a cookbook masterminded and put together by Debbie Deptula. Our grateful thanks to Debbie for originating and carrying this project through to completion. Our sincere thanks also to the Dolleman family for underwriting the cost of publication as a memorial to Beverly Dolleman, their mother and long time Secretary and President of the Association. The booklet contains 147 recipes from Claflins all over the U. S., plus information about the Family and some of our more notable members. This charming, wonderful booklet is available from Board Member Deborah Deptula, 22 Falcon Drive, Budd Lake, NJ 07828 or deptula@optonline.net for $10.00 plus $1.50 for shipping and handling. Checks should be made out to Friends of the Claflin Family Association, and proceeds will be used by that organization for charitable purposes.
One of the fun parts of a reunion is the opportunity to meet and talk with other Claflins, both far and near. We did that in the morning, at our lunch at the First Church in Wenham, UCC, across Route 1A from the Wenham Museum, and at tea following Sarah's presentation. Some of us also toured the Claflin-Richards House, built by our ancestor Robert MacLachlan, which is attached to the Museum. It was a wonderful day, and we look forward to a different but very interesting day in Lowell, MA in 2008. We'll see you there!