During his travels Henry Ford found Benjamin B. Lovett and his wife Charlotte who had been teaching "New England social dancing" in Massachusetts for several years. Ford invited the Lovetts to Dearborn, Michigan to help organize dances for the Fords--for his executives and for the Village school students. They did so for twenty years.
Benjamin Lovett wrote a book that was published in 1926 called "After A Sleep of Twenty-five Years, Old-fashioned Dancing is Being Revived by Mr. and Mrs. Henry Ford."
Lovett Hall in the Henry Ford Museum complex, is named after the Lovetts. Contra dances were held in this hall up until 2005. Shame on them for stopping these dances!
Looks like some folks want the dances to continue.
Janice
**Additional Reading**
-Nelson New Hampshire's Moment in the Guinness World Record Book-
-Funny Genealogy: My Family Can-Can-
-Some Square Dancing History-
-Revival of Country Dancing (Ford Influence)-
-Lovett House in Dearborn, Michigan-
-Photograph Mr. & Mrs. Benjamin Lovett dancing c1925-
-Photograph Henry Ford and Benjamin Lovett (foreign site)-
*LOVETT FAMILY GENEALOGY*
John & Mary (Grant) Lovett
John & Bethiah (Roots) Lovett
John & Mary (Pride) Lovett
Josiah & Rebecca (Woodbury) Lovett
Josiah & Anna (Woodbury) Lovett Jr.
Jonathan Lovett Jr., son of Josiah & Anna (Woodberry) Lovett, b. 17 May 1766 in Beverly, Essex Co MA and d. 10 May 1796 in Beverly MA. He married 10 March 1790 in Beverly MA to Joanna Ober, dau of Richard & Joanna Ober. She b. 10 Dec 1769 in Beverly MA.
Children of Jonathan & Joanna (Ober) Lovett:
1. +Josiah Lovett, b. 29 Nov 1791 in Beverly MA
2. Harriet Lovett, b. 12 Aug 1793 in Beverly MA; m. Ezra Foster
Josiah Lovett, son of Jonathan & Joanna (Ober) Lovett was b. 29 Nov 1791 in Beverly MA and d. 1854 in Beverly MA. He m1) 3 Sep 1812 in Beverly MA to Hannah Standley. She b. abt 1791 in Beverly MA, and d. 24 June 1821 in Beverly MA. Josiah m2d) 10 Aug 1823 in Beverly MA to Dolly Whitney, dau of Elisha & Eunice Whitney. She b. abt 1789 and d. 27 Oct 1828 in Beverly MA. Josiah m3rd) 29 Nov 1832 in Beverly MA to Christiana Lincoln, dau of Hawkes & Mary (Howe) Lincoln Sr. She b. in Boston MA.
Children of Josiah & Hannah (Standley) Lovett:
1. Joanna Elizabeth Lovett, b. 17 March 1813 in Beverly, Essex Co MA
2. Hannah Emmeline Lovett, b. 20 Nov 1814 in Beverly MA; m. 31 July 1837 to Charles J. Lovett
3. Mary Fiske Lovett, b. 13 July 1816 in Beverly MA; d. 9 July 1840 in Beverly MA; m. 13 Nov 1838 in Beverly MA to Lawson Walker. He b. 16 July 1816. He m2d) 27 Oct 1841 Ellen Maria his first wife's sister. He m3rd) 21 Nov 1849 Elizabeth Gage, dau of John and Sally (Hull) Masury of Beverly MA. 5 children, all by 2nd wife.
4. Ellen Maria Lovett, b. 18 July 1819 in Beverly MA; d. 23 Apr 1849 Beverly MA; m. 27 Oct 1841 to Lawson Walker, her sister's widow
5. +Josiah Wells Lovett, b. 3 June 1821 in Beverly MA
Child of Josiah & Dolly (Whitney) Lovett:
6. Horace Farley Lovett, b. 23 Aug 1828 in Beverly MA, d. 23 Apr 1837 Beverly MA
Children of Josiah & Christiana (Lincoln) Lovett:
7. George Lincoln Lovett, b. 28 Sep 1833 in Beverly MA; m. Caroline A. Pierce
8. Francis Stanton Lovett, b. 16 May 1835 in Beverly MA; m. Maria B. Thompson and had 5 children: Francis Stanton, Christiana, Annie Thompson, Marie Bessie, and Harriet Burley
9. Edward Burley Lovett, b. 16 May 1835 in Beverly MA
Josiah Wells Lovett, son of Josiah & Hannah (Stanley) Lovett, was b. 3 June 1821 in Beverly, Essex Co MA, and d. 2 Jan 1895 in Beverly MA; he m. Emily G. Simonds, dau of John & Sarah Simon/Simonds. She b. abt 1828 and d. 3 Aug 1855 of cholera in Salem MA [Salem recs]. Josiah W. Lovett m2nd) 6 June 1859 to Adelaide McShaw, of Salem MA, dau of Jonathan and Sarah. She was b. abt 1840, and she either died or they divorced by 1880 when he is living alone in Beverly MA, a huckster. His occupation was fisherman or mariner. He was a private in the Union Army during the Civil War, 40th Regiment, Company K, Massachusetts Infantry, enlisting 11 Aug 1862 at the age of 41. He was mustered out 16 June 1865 at Richmond VA.
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NEHGS Database
6 June 1859 Josiah W. Lovett of Beverly, age 31, son of Joseph & ? b. Beverly MA
married Adelaide McShaw of Salem MA she 19, b. Salem dau of Jonathan & Sarah; 2nd marriage for him, 1st for Adelaide.
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U.S. Census > 1860 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Charlestown
Josiah W. Lovett 38 M Potters Journeyman b. Mass
Adaline M. Lovett 20 F Mass
Joseph A. Lovett 1 M Mass
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Child of Josiah W. & Adelaide (McShaw) Lovett:
1. +Joseph Lovett, b. 7 Oct 1858 in Salem MA
Joseph Lovett, son of Josiah & Emily G. (Simonds) Lovett, was b. 7 Oct 1858 [census says Sep 1850] in Salem MA, and died between 1910 and 1920 (when his wife is shown a widow). He married abt April 1873 to Frances L. "Fannie" McConlogue/McConlough. She b. March 1854 in Woburn MA. His occupation was currier/tanner. They resided for a time in Swanzey NH and shortly after the birth of their son Benjamin in 1876 they removed to Ayer MA. In 1900 they were living in Hudson MA. The 1910 census of Hudson MA indicates that Frances had 9 children and that by 1910 they were all living. In 1920 Frances is a widow living in Hudson MA, "a perfume canvasser," with sons Clarence and George both single living with her.
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U.S. Census > 1900 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Hudson > District 766
Lovett, Joseph L. Sr. Head W M Sept 1850 49 married 27 yrs MA MA MA currier, tannery
Lovett, Frances Louise wife W F March 1854 46 married 27 yrs 9 ch 9 living MA Ire Ire
Lovett, Benjamin B. son W M Feb 1876 24 single NH MA MA
Lovett, None G. dau W F Aug 1880 19 single MA MA MA
Lovett, Grace W. dau W F Apr 1882 18 single MA MA MA
Lovett, Frances Louise dau W F Apr 1884 16 single MA MA MA
Lovett, Phillip Henry son W M June 1886 13 single MA MA MA
Lovett, George W. son W M Feb 1888 12 single MA MA MA
Lovett, Clarence C. son W M June 1895 4 single MA MA MA
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U.S. Census > 1880 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Ayer > District 354
Lovett, Joseph W M 29 Currier Mas Mass Mass
Lovett, Fannie E. W F 26 wife Keeping House Mass Ire Ire
Lovett, Joseph B. W M 5 son NH Mass Mass
Lovett, Benjamin W M 4 son NH Mass Mass
Lovett, Maryetta W F 2 dau Mass Mass Mass
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NEHGS DATABASE
--Lovett, Phillip Henry, b. 6 June, 1886 in Ayer MA, son of Joseph Lewis Lovett and
Fannie L. McCoulogue. Father born Salem, mother born Woburn.
--Lovett, Grace Winnifed, b. 18 Apr 1882 Ayer MA
--Lovett, Nora Gertrude b 8 Aug 1880 Ayer MA
--Lovett, Francis Louise b 19 Apr 1884 Ayer MA
--Lovett, George Washington b 1886 Ayer MA [no image avail]
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U.S. Census > 1910 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Hudson > District 826
Lovett/Lovitt, Benj. B. Head M W 34 married 4 yrs NH MA MA Teacher, Dancing
Lovett, Charlotte L. wife F W 30 Married 4 yrs 0 ch 0 living NH NH NH
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U.S. Census > 1920 United States Federal Census > Massachusetts > Middlesex > Hudson > District 168
Lovett, Benjamin B. Head W MF 43 married NH MA MA Teacher, Dancing
Lovett, Charlotte C. wife F W 39 M NH NH NH
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U.S. Census > 1930 United States Federal Census > Michigan > Wayne > Dearborn > District 903
Lovett, Benjamin B. Head 7500 M W 54 married at age 29 NH MA MA
Lovett, Charlotte C. wife F W 50 married at age 25 NH NH NH
Mason, Mildred, Lodger F W 35 single MA MA MA
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NEHGS Database
----Joseph L. Lovett, b. Sep 1850 in MA; he married in 1873 Salem MA to Frances L. "Fannie" McConlogue (marriage intentions filed in Woburn MA 4 Apr 1873). She was born March 1854 in MA.
----7 Oct 1858 Joseph Lovett, son of Josiah & Adeline, res. Salem MA; fa
occupation: fisherman. Father b. Beverly MA
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Clarence Caryle Lovett, b. 10 June 1895 Hudson MA; res. Marlborough, Middlesex Co MA, Teamster, Single, WWI Draft Card, 1917-1918 // World War II Registration: Clarence Carlyle Lovett, 83 Central Ave, Newtonville MA; 46 yrs old, b. 10 June 1895 Hudson MA; nok Mrs. Wilbur Turner 94 Myrtle St. Waltham; employed Dell Restaurant Washington St., Newtonville MA
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23 July 1910 - Joseph Ernest Calvert, age 28, Hudson MA, Wool Sorter, b. England, father Joseph, mother Annie Noddings
to Francis Louise Lovett, age 26, Hudson MA, rubber operative; father Joseph L., mother Frances L. McConologue, 1st marriage for both.
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June 23, 1906 -- Hudson MA -- MARRIAGE
Arthur L. Libby 30 Hudson Painter b. Portland ME son of Luther S. Libby & Mary A. Ladd married to
Norine Gertrude Lovett 26 of Hudson, musician, b. Ayer MA, dau of Joseph L. Lovett & Frances L. McConlogue, 1st marriage for both
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Children of Joseph Lewis & Frances L. (McConlogue) Lovett:
1. Joseph B. Lovett, b. abt 1875 in West Swanzey NH; In 1930 living in Hudson MA with wife Nettie C. (age 56, b. VT), and children, Joseph Louis (age 27 b MA), Walter B. (age 24, b. MA), Barbara (age 19 b. MA).
2. *Benjamin Basil Lovett, b. Feb 1876 in West Swanzey NH, d. 1952; m.5 Aug 1905 to Charlotte Luthera Cooke, dau of Charles and Adella E. (Lewis) Cooke of Alstead NH. She b. 18 Feb 1880 in NH, and d. 14 Apr 1956 at age seventy-six. They had no children.
[see Cooke genealogy]
3. Maryetta, b. 1878 in Ayer MA
4. Nora "Norine" Gertrude Lovett, b 8 Aug 1880 Ayer MA; m. 23 June 1906 to Arthur L. Libby, son of Luther S. & Mary A. (Ladd) Libby. Their marriage record shows Arthur was a painter, and Nora a musician.
5. Grace Winnifed Lovett, b. 18 Apr 1882 Ayer MA; in 1910 living with parents in Hudson MA.
6. Francis Louise Lovett, b 19 Apr 1884 Ayer MA; m. 23 July 1910 to Joseph Ernest Calvert, son of Joseph & Annie (Noddings) Calvert. He was born in England abt 1884.
They resided in Hudson MA.
7. Phillip Henry Lovett, b. 6 June, 1886 in Ayer MA; in 1910 living with parents in Hudson MA; in 1920 living in Hudson MA with wife Mildred H., a car salesman. No children in household.
8. George Washington Lovett, b Feb 1888 Ayer MA; in 1920 living with mother in Hudson MA, a real estate agent
9. Clarence Carlyle Lovett, b. 10 June 1895 Hudson MA; abt 1917 was residing in Marlborough MA, single, a teamster; in 1920 living in Hudson MA with his mother, a driver for a rubber company; In 1940 he was single and employed at Dell Restaurant in Newtonville MA.
