Meaning of the Name (and word) Reverdy (Reverdie)
Posted: July 29, 2011, 10:07:16 am by jim
Reverd: French word, meaning "Greening" Reverdie: The reverdie is an old French poetic genre, which celebrates the arrival of spring. Literally, it means "re-greening". Often the poet will encounter Spring, symbolized by a beautiful woman. Originating in the troubadour ballads of the early Middle Ages, reverdies were very popular during the time of Chaucer. English examples from that era include Sumer is icumen in and Lenten ys come with love to toune. T. S. Eliot's The Waste Land and William Carlos Williams' Spring and All are both considered to be modern examples of the genre. The reverdie forms the basis of the Irish aisling, in which the speaker meets Ireland lamenting her woes. Reverie or Revery: a state of dreamy meditation or fanciful musing; a daydream; a fantastic, visionary, or impractical idea; an instrumental composition of a vague and dreamy character. reverdie, a kind of medieval French dancing song celebrating the arrival of spring. The term is sometimes extended to include any poem or poetic passage that welcomes spring's return. As a Name: Usage: French, Canadian, Scottish, Irish, English, American Frequency: Very Rare Pronounced: 'REV-er-dee / ˈrɛvərdi / ˈrɛvədi Other Forms: Revety, Revardy, Reberdy, Reverdin, Rebardy, Rebedy, Rebety, Reverdino, Reverdie, Revery Reverdy is a family name passed down from my Canadian (Quebec) born Great-Grandfather's family, the Cramer's. Our daughter is the fifth consecutive generation to be given the name, either as a first or middle name.
Tagged in: Reverdy and Grace
Announcing the Birth of Our Daughters
Posted: July 26, 2011, 16:07:29 pm by jim
Dear Friends and Family, Jen and I wanted to let you know that on July 17th Jen gave birth to two healthy baby girls. We've named them Reverdy (Revie) Pike Nourse and Grace Montgomery Nourse. Jen had a long labor at St Luke's hospital here in San Francisco, where the care was outstanding and Jen was able to have the birth experience she hoped for (a vaginal delivery without pain medication). We are especially grateful to our midwife, Maria Iorillo, and to our OB Dr. Laura Norrell. Jen is recovering quickly and our daughters are thriving. For the record, Jen gave birth at 39 weeks. Revie was born at 1:47am, weighed 6lbs 5 oz, measured 19 inches with an Apgar score of 9/9; Grace was born at 1:57am, weighed 6lbs 1oz, measured 18.5 inches with an Apgar score of 8/9. We've all been home a week now and are settling in. Attached are a few photos. Best wishes, Jim and Jen
Reverdy
Posted: March 22, 2011, 01:03:40 am by jim
by Jessamyn West I NEVER see asters without remembering her — never the haze of their pink and lavender blossoming as summer dies, but her name is in my heart: Reverdy, Reverdy. I never say her name — not to anyone. When people ask about her, as they do occasionally even now, I say "she" and "her." "She is still gone." "We do not hear from her." "Yes, she was very beautiful," I say. But not her name. Not Reverdy. That is buried deep, deep in my heart. Where the blood is warmest and thickest. . . . Where it has a sound to me like bells, or water running, or the doves whose voices in the evening wind are like smoke among the madronas and eucalypti. I have longed all these years to tell her how it was the night she left You may scarcely believe it, but it is worse to have a good thing that is not true believed about you, than a bad. To be thanked for an act you meant as harmful: Every year those words sharpen until at last they cut like knives. You musn't think she was like me. She wasn't in the least. Not inside nor out. She had dark hair like a cloud. Yes, really. It wasn't curly but it didn't hang straight. It billowed out. And her face — oh, you mustn't think it was anything like mine. She had hazel eyes and a pointed chin. And you've seen lots of people, haven't you, with very live, animated faces and dead eyes? It was just the other way with Reverdy. Her face was always quiet, but her eyes were so alive they glowed. Oh, she was the most beautiful, most alive, and most loving girl in the world, and she was my sister. I cannot bear for people to say we were alike; she was really good, and I was just a show-off. Mother — she was better later, and gentler, but then she was bad, cruel, and suspicious with Reverdy. Everybody loved Reverdy. Not just the boys. But Mother wouldn't see that. She always acted as if Reverdy were boy-crazy, as if Reverdy tried to entice the boys to her. But it wasn't true. Reverdy never lifted a finger to a boy, though they were about her all the time from the day she was ten. Bringing her May baskets, or Valentines, or their ponies to ride. And the big, tough boys liked her, too. When she was twelve and thirteen, big eighteen-year-olds would come over and sit on the steps and smoke and talk to Reverdy. They never said anything out of the way. I know because most of the time I was with them. Reverdy didn't care. She never wanted to be alone with them. Reverdy would listen to them until she got tired ; then she'd say, "Good-bye for now." She'd always say, "Good-bye for now," — and then she'd go out and play, maybe run, sheep, run, with the little kids my age. And the little kids would all shout when Reverdy came out to play with them, and if the game had been about to die, it would come to life again. If some of the kids had gone home they'd yell "Hey, Johnnie," or "Hey, Mary," or whoever it was, "Reverdy's going to play," and then everyone would come back, and in a minute or two the game would be better than ever. I used to be awfully proud of being her sister. I don't know what I would have done without her. I was a terribly plain little frump: I wore glasses and had freckles, and if I hadn't been Reverdy's sister I'd have had to sit and play jacks by myself until Joe came along. But boys would try to get Reverdy's attention by doing things for me. They'd say to her, "Does your sister want to ride on my handle bars?" And Reverdy would say, all glowing, happier than if she'd been asked, "Do you, Sister?" Of course I did, and then when the boy came back she'd ride with him just to thank him. I don't know why people — why the boys liked her so. Of course, she was beautiful, but I think it was more that she was so much — well, whatever she was at the moment, she never pretended. She talked with people when she wanted to, and when she got tired of them, she didn't stay on pretending, but said, "Good-bye for now," and left. But Mother would never believe she wasn't boy-crazy and I would hear her talking to Reverdy about girls who got in trouble, and how she was talking about, but it would make my face burn and scalp tingle just to hear her. She wouldn't talk sorrowfully or lovingly to Reverdy, but with hate. It wasn't Reverdy she hated, but you couldn't tell that, looking at her. She would bend over Reverdy and shake her ringer and there would be long ugly lines from her nose to her mouth, and her eyebrows would be drawn down until you could see the bony ridges they were supposed to cover, all bare and hard. It used to make me tremble to see her. Then Reverdy would get mad. I don't think she knew half the time what Mother was talking about either — only that Mother was full of hate and suspicion. She'd wait until Mother had finished; then she'd go to the foothills for a walk — even if it was dark — and stay for a long time. And then Mother would think she was out with some boy again. I remember one time my mother came to me and said, "Clare, I want you to tiptoe out to the arbor and see what's going on there. Reverdy 's out there with Sam Foss and I haven't heard a sound out of them for an hour or more." The arbor was a kind of little bower covered with honeysuckle. There was only a tiny little door, and the honeysuckle strands hung so thick over it the arbor was a kind of dark, sweet-smelling cave. Reverdy and I used to play house there. I knew I ought to say I wouldn't go spying on Reverdy, but I wanted to please Mother; so I went creeping out toward the arbor, holding my breath, walking on my toes. I didn't know then — but I've found out since — you can't do a thing without becoming that thing. When I started out to look for Reverdy I was her little sister, loving her. But creeping that way, holding my breath, spying, I became a spy. My hands got heavy and hot and my mouth dry, and I wanted to see her doing — whatever it was — Mother was fearful of. And then when I got to the arbor and peeped in, I saw that Chum- mie, our ten-year-old brother, was there with them, and they were all practicing sign language. Deaf-and-dumb language was the rage with kids that summer, and there was that big Sam Foss sitting cross-legged, practicing sign language so hard he was sweating. They had oranges rolled until they were soft, and straws stuck in them to suck the juice out. That's all they were doing. Practicing deaf-and-dumb language, and sucking oranges that way, playing they were bottles of pop. I guess they'd taken a vow not to talk, because nobody said a word. Even when Reverdy saw me peeping in she didn't say anything, but just spelled out, "Hello, Sister." But my hands felt so hot and swollen I couldn't spell a thing, and I just stood there and stared until I heard Mother call me to her, where she was standing strained and waiting on the back steps. "They're playing sign-language with Chummie," I told her. "Is Chummie with them?" she asked and her face relaxed and had a sort of shamed look on it, I thought. I went in the house and put on the old dress I went swimming in, and floated around in the irrigation canal until supper was over and so I wouldn't have to sit and look across the table at Reverdy. Things like that were always happening. I loved Reverdy more than anybody, and I hated Mother sometimes for spying and suspecting and lecturing. But I wanted people to love me. And especially you want your mother to love you — isn't that true? And no one loved me — the way Reverdy was loved. I wasn't beautiful and spontaneous; I had to work hard and do good deeds to be loved. I couldn't be free the way Reverdy was. I was always thinking of the effect I was mak- ing. I couldn't say, "Good-bye for now," and let people go to hell if they didn't like me. I was afraid they'd never come back . . . and I'd be left . . . alone. But Reverdy didn't care. She liked being alone, and that's the reason people loved her, I guess. One evening in October, when it was almost dark, I was coming home from the library, coasting across lots in the hot dry Santa Ana that had been blowing all day. Cool weather had already come, and then three days of this hot wind. Dust everywhere. Under your eye- lids, between your fingers, in your mouth. When we went to school in the morning the first thing we'd do would be to write our names in the dust on our desks. I had on a skirt full of pleats that evening, and I pulled the pleats out wide so the skirt made a sort of sail and the wind almost pushed me along. I watched the tumbleweeds blow- ing, and listened to the wind in the clump of eucalypti by the barn, and felt miserable and gritty. Then I saw Reverdy walking up and down the driveway by the house and I felt suddenly glad. Reverdy loved the wind, even Santa Anas, and she was always out walking or running when the wind blew, if she didn't have any work to do. She liked to carry a scarf in her hand and hold it up in the wind so she could feel it tug and snap. When I saw Reverdy I forgot how dusty and hot the wind was and remembered only how alive it was and how Reverdy loved it. I ran toward her, but she didn't wave or say a word, and when she reached the end of the driveway she turned her back on me and started walking toward the barn. Before I had a chance to say a word to her, Mother came to the door and called to me to come in and not talk to Reverdy. As soon as I heard her voice before I could see her face, I knew there was some trouble — some trouble with Reverdy — and I knew what kind of trouble, too. I went in the house and shut the door. The sound of Reverdy's footsteps on the pepper leaves in the driveway outside stopped and Mother put her head out of the window and said, "You're to keep walk- ing, Reverdy, and not stop. Understand? I want to hear footsteps and I want them to be brisk." Then she closed the window, though it was hard to do against the wind. I stood with my face to the window and looked out into the dusty, windy dark where I could just see Reverdy in her white dress walking up and down, never stopping, her head bent, not paying any attention to the wind she loved. It made me feel sick to see her walking up and down there in the dusty dark like a homeless dog, while we were snug inside. But Mother came over to the window and took the curtain out of my hand and put it back over the glass. Then she put her arm around my shoulders and pressed me close to her and said, "Mother's own dear girl who has never given her a moment's trouble." That wasn't true. Mother had plenty of fault to find with me usually, but it was sweet to have her speak lovingly to me, to be cher- ished and appreciated. Maybe you can't understand that, maybe your family was always loving, maybe you were always dear little daughter, or maybe, a big golden wonder-boy. But not me and not my mother. So try to understand how it was with me, then, and how happy it made me to have Mother put her arms about me. Yes, I thought, I'm Mother's comfort. And I forgot I couldn't make a boy look at me if I wanted to and blamed Reverdy for not being able to steer clear of them the way I did. She just hasn't any consideration for any of us, I decided. Oh, I battened on Reverdy's downfall all right. Then Father and Chummie came in and Mother took Father away to the kitchen and talked to him there in a fast, breathless voice. I couldn't hear what she was saying, but I knew what she was talking about, of course. Chummie and I sat there in the dark. He whirled first one way and then another on the piano stool. "What's Reverdy doing walking up and down outside there?" he asked. "She's done something bad again," I told him. Mother's voice got higher and higher, and Chummie said he'd have to go feed his rabbits, and I was left alone in the dark listening to her, and to Reverdy's footsteps on the pepper leaves. I decided to light the lights, but when I did — we had acetylene lights — the blue-white glare was so terrible I couldn't stand it. Not to sit alone in all that light and look at the dusty room and listen to the dry sound of the wind in the palms outside, and see Reverdy's books on the library table where she'd put them when she got home from school, with a big bunch of wilted asters laid across them. Reverdy always kept her room filled with flowers, and if she couldn't get flowers she'd have leaves or grasses. No, I couldn't stand that; so I turned out the lights and sat in the dark and listened to Reverdy's steps, not fast or light now, but heavy and slow. . . . And I sat there and thought I was Mother's comforter, not causing her trouble like Reverdy. Pretty soon I heard Mother and Father go outside, and then their voices beneath the window. Father was good, and he was for reason, but with Mother he lost his reason. He was just like me, I guess. He wanted Mother to love him, and because he did he would go out and say to Reverdy the things Mother wanted him to say. Chummie came back from feeding his rabbits and sat with me in the dark room. Then I got the idea of a way to show Mother how much I was her comfort and mainstay, her darling younger daughter, dutiful and harmonious as hell. Mother wanted me and Chummie to be musical; she'd given up with Reverdy, but Chummie and I had taken lessons for years. Usually we kicked and howled at having to play; so, I thought, if we play now it will show Mother how thoughtful and reliable we are. It will cheer her up while she's out there in the wind talking to that bad Reverdy. Yes, she will think, I have one fine, de- pendable daughter, anyway. So I said to Chummie, "Let's play something for Mother." So he got out his violin, and we played that piece I've ever afterwards hated. Over and over again, just as sweet as we could make it. Oh, I felt smug as hell as I played. I sat there on the piano stool with feet just so, and my hands just so, and played carefully, every note saying, "Mother's comfort. Mother's comfort. Played by her good, fine, re- liable daughter." We could hear Mother's high voice outside the window and Rev- erdy's low murmur now and then. Chummie finally got tired of play- ing — the music wasn't saying anything to him — and went out to the kitchen to get something to eat. I went too, but the minute I took a bite I knew I wasn't hungry, and Chummie and I went to bed. I lay in bed a long time waiting to hear Mother and Reverdy come in, but there wasn't any sound but the wind. I was asleep when Reverdy did come in. She sat down on the side of my bed, and it was just her sitting there that finally awakened me. Then, when I was awake she picked up my hand and began to press my finger tips one by one, and spoke in the sweetest, kindest voice. You'd never have thought to hear her that she had just spent four or five hours the way she did. She said, "I'll never forget your playing for me, Sister. Never. Never. It was kind and beautiful of you. Just when I thought I was all alone I heard you telling me not to be sad." Then she leaned over and kissed me and said, "Good night, now. I've put some asters in water for you. They're a little wilted but I think they'll be all right by morning. Go to sleep, now. I'll never forget, Clare." If I could only have told her— if I could only have told her then. If I could have said to her, "I was playing for Mother, Reverdy. I guess I was jealous of your always having the limelight. I wanted to be first for once." If I could only have said, "I love you more than anything, Reverdy, but I have a mean soul," she would have put her cheek to mine and said, "Oh, Clare, what a thing to say." But I couldn't do it and next morning she was gone. And there on the table by my bed were the asters she had left for me, grown fresh over night.
Tagged in: parallax
Everyone is broken.
Posted: February 13, 2011, 20:02:59 pm by jim
Planet Telex You can force it but it will not come You can taste it but it will not form You can crush it but it's always here You can crush it but it's always near Chasing you home saying Everything is broken Everyone is broken You can force it but it will stay stung You can crush it as dry as a bone You can walk it home straight from school You can kiss it, you can break all the rules But still Everything is broken Everyone is broken Everyone is, everyone is broken Everyone is, everything is broken Why can't you forget? Why can't you forget? Why can't you forget? -- Radiohead
Tagged in: marginal musings
SOS
Posted: February 12, 2011, 11:02:57 am by jim
Colonel Michael Nourse, 1778-1860
Posted: January 30, 2011, 11:01:43 am by jim
My Great-great-great-great-great Grandfather
Born September 1, 1778 in Frederick Co., VA Died December 6, 1860 in Washington, DC
From his obit
In early youth he gave his heart to God, and devoted himself to His service. For fifty-three years he was a ruling elder in the Presbyterian church. The father of a large family, he had the pleasure of hearing three of his sons preach the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. A man of the strictest integrity, truthful and upright in all his dealings, he commanded in the highest degree the respect and confidence of all who knew him. For fifty-seven years he was connected with the Treasury Department of the United States. Into all the relations of life he carried the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit; but his crowning glory was his faith in Christ and devotedness to his cause. His closing hours were radiant with a light from heaven. Preparation to die had been the prayerful work of his life, and when the pins of the earthly tabernacle began to be removed, and the structure seemed just ready to fall, his soul was kept in perfect peace. His last words were: “Do come, dear Lord Jesus, and take They redeemed servant home.”
MARRIED:
Mary Rittenhouse, born September 2, 1779 Married on June 21, 1800 in Washington, DC
CHILDREN:
Elizabeth, born January 5, 1802 near Washington, DC John Rittenhouse, born September 1, 1803 near Washington, DC James Nourse, born April 30, 1805 near Washington, DC Benjamin Franklin, born April 15, 1807 near Washington, DC Mary Phillips, born April 12, 1809 near Washington, DC Sarah Harriet, born January 20, 1811, near Washington, DC William, born October 23, 1812 near Washington, DC Anna Josepha, born October 21, 1814 near Washington, DC Charles Howard, born December 1, 1816 near Washington, DC Joseph Everett, born April 17, 1819 near Washington, DC David Boyd, born October 29, 1820 near Washington, DC Henry Michael, born September 25, 1824 near Washington, DC NOTE: Michael and Mary had three other children who died unnamed
PARENTS:
James Nourse, born July 19, 1731 Sarah Fouace, born 1735
Tagged in: nourse genealogy
James Nourse, 1805-1854
Posted: January 30, 2011, 11:01:32 am by jim
My Great-great-great Grandfather
James Nourse born April 30, 1805 near Washington, DC died July 5, 1854 in Salem, IA
Was an A.B. Jefferson College, 1823; A.M. same college; for further instruction he attended Dickerson College one year, and while there united with the church under the care of Rev. Dr. Duffield; and at once determined to enter the ministry.
James studied theology at Princeton, New Jersey; was licensed by the presbytery of the District of Columbia, of which his uncle, Joseph Nourse, was then a member, who in writing to his sister Elizabeth (Nourse) Chapline, July 1827, said: “I was gratified more than I can tell you at his trial; he was unanimously accepted.”
The history of James Nourse is that of an accurate and laborious scholar, an humble and devoted Christian and faithful preacher of the Gospel. After nearly twenty years’ service as pastor of the Presbyterian church at Milroy, Pennsylvania, he resigned on account of a serious bronchial infection, and returned to Washington, DC in 1849.
James edited with great care and labor ‘The Paragraph Bible’ (the first edition of a Paragraph Bible published in the United States); prepared for the press a critical commentary on the ‘Epistle to the Galatians;’ and an abridgment of Lowth’s lectures on Hebrew poetry. He also wrote several tracts, one of which, entitled ‘messiah and His Family,’ was received by scholars with universal approbation. ‘Uncle Hugh; or, Twenty Years Ago,’ a temperance story, was from the pen of Rev. James Nourse, whose talents and influence were used with success for the promotion of temperance reform. He believed in total abstinence to the extent of not even taking stimulants when ill. He became principal of Central Academy, a school for boys, combined with a book store, on the northeast corner of Tenth and E streets, Washington, DC, in 1850, and was assisted by his son, Joseph Harvey Nourse. In 1854 he visited Iowa, with a view to a settlement as pastor, and his sudden death at Salem from cholera filled many hearts with grief.
Susan Nourse Peterson transcribed the following newspaper article that was included with a scrapbook of Nourse letters collected by Reverand James Nourse.
RESPECT TO A DECEASED PASTOR.---It will no doubt be interesting to many readers of the Organ, to learn that the remains of Rev. Jas. Nourse, who left this city last July, on a visit to the southern part of Iowa, and there died of the cholera, after an illness of two hours, have been exhumed by two delegates from the congregation of the Presbyterian Church, Milroy, Mifflin county, Pennsylvania.
There are many interesting circumstances connected with the exhumation of the remains. The committee appointed by the Church consisted of but two. On arriving at Salem, the place of his death, one of them was taken sick. The other still persevered. The citizens of the place were terror stricken at the thought of raising the body, and could not be induced to lend their aid for love or money. So this gentleman alone, with tools that he bought for the purpose, (for he could borrow none,) the second night after his arrival, dug down to the coffin. The next day, by paying an exorbitant price, he obtained the necessary help to raise the coffin, and place it in a zinc case prepared for it; but then no one could be found in the place, who would solder the top. At last a man was sent for from a distant town, who fastened on the top and encased all in a wooden box. Then the citizens hastened to pay the deceased every respect in their power. On the boat coming down the Mississippi, in a fearful gale, the coffin came near to being swept from the boat, but one of the delegation threw himself on it, and held it down till it could be secured.
He now rests in the burying ground which surrounds that church. This act was voluntary on the part of his congregation, and the expenses amounting to $170, were cheerfully contributed by them. He had been their pastor up to the time he removed to Washington, in 1849, for nearly twenty years. In this city he was known as a faithful instructor of the young--and the present prosperity of the Central Academy is due to his exertions. It is seldom that we meet with such a tribute of respect to one after death, as that paid to Mr. Nourse by his former charge. Truly this people loved him, who, after an absence of five years, was still considered as belonging to them--as theirs--although he expected to settle in Iowa, where he fell a victim to the cholera and build up a new congregation.
Sarah North Harvey on October 1, 1829 in Germantown, PA
Joseph Harvey, born July 7, 1830 in Washington, DC Elizabeth Rooker, born June 8, 1832 Milroy, PA Mary Anna, born December 25, 1833 in Milroy, PA (died at age 11 on September 5, 1844) Margaret McClay, born December 11, 1835 in Milroy, PA Sarah Harriet Nourse, born October 23, 1837 in Milroy, PA Eva Maria, born November 28, 1840 in Milroy, PA James Michael, born May 14, 1840 in Milroy, PA John Thomas, born February 24, 1845 in Milroy, PA Mary Rittenhouse, born September 29, 1847 in Milroy, PA Ann Caroline, born June 9, 1854 in Washington, DC
Michael Nourse, born September 1, 1778 Mary Rittenhouse, born September 2, 1779
a few links
Posted: August 18, 2010, 07:08:56 am by jim
Eva Murray's Personal website Matinicus Historical Society
Tagged in: island
Rail Coming to Brunswick
Posted: July 13, 2010, 15:07:43 pm by jim
Psyched to see that the Amtrak Downeaster is expanding to Brunswick. Boston-Maine rail line grant work approved
Maine was awarded $35 million in federal stimulus money in January to the Northern New England Passenger Rail Authority, which manages the Downeaster. The train runs from Portland to Boston, with stops in New Hampshire.
Mildred D. Nourse Obit
Posted: July 11, 2010, 02:07:13 am by jim
My grandmother...
July 08, 1990 The Morning Call Mrs. Mildred D. Nourse, 86, of 114 E. Wayne Ave., Easton, and Pine Run Community, Doylestown, died Saturday in Easton Hospital. She was the wife of Robert S. Nourse, who died in 1982. Born in Woodmere, Delaware County, she was a daughter of the late Hugh G. and Pearl (Hobson) Dickinson. Survivors: Son, Robert H., with whom she resided; daughter, Joan V., wife of Robert Martin of Bow, Wash., six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.
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