Visit the Claflin-Richards House and Museum

Saturday, May 18, 2024, 10:00 a.m. Wenham, MA

Our homestead is calling us! We will tour the Claflin-Richards House, placed on the National Register for Historic Places over 50 years ago, and the adjacent museum, at 132 Main Street in Wenham. The house was originally inhabited by Robert MacClaflin and his family and was constructed circa 1690. The house portrays the history of how people lived over three centuries, and the museum includes additional exhibits and model trains. These are properties of the Wenham Museum and we will arrive at 10:00 am to enjoy the exhibits, then head into Salem, MA for lunch.

Past Events!

Lexington Patriots Day Celebration

Saturday April 13, 2024, 12:30 p.m. meet up time. Look for the Scottish Flag.

LOCATION UPDATE: We will meet at 12:30 at the Minuteman Visitors Center. Look for the McLaughlin Family tartan or the Scottish Lion, then walk over to the battlefield at around 12:45 (~5 min walk).

Our cousin from 1775, John Claflin, responded to the call to arms and his Hopkinton, MA Minute Men militia gathered for the original event so let’s revisit this historic moment in US history. We will watch as the Minute Men reenact the second call to arms for Captain John Parker on the afternoon of April 19, 1775 and the skirmish that followed. See the Lexington town website for an up-to-date schedule of Patriot’s Day events. Weather permitting, we will meet at 12:30 pm at the Lexington Battle Green Minuteman Visitors Center.

https://www.lexingtonma.gov/2011/2024-Patriots-Day-Schedule-of-Event

Genealogy Workshop with Jeff Scheibe

Thursday, April 4, 2024 7:30 pm, Zoom.

Come join us for a Genealogy workshop! Jeff Scheibe will be presenting interesting family insights found in our genealogy, some tools and ideas for how to get started, and insights. We have current copies of the public-facing Claflin Family genealogy – add your branch of the family and send it back! We do not publicly publish any branches of the family which contain living members. The Zoom link will be available on the Facebook event and the website.

Saturday, July 31, 2021

At the Patton Homestead, 650 Asbury Street, Hamilton, MA

(2.5 miles from Claflin-Richards House, Wenham, MA)

Join members of the Claflin Family for this in-person event (Zoom meeting option available below)

Reunion Day Schedule:

10:00-10:15:           Meet and greet

10:15-11:30:           Activities:

                                      Tours of the Patton Home & archives

                                       Highland and lawn games

                                       General socializing

11:30-12:30:           Lunch

12:00-1:00:             General Meeting – For Zoom link, please email claflinfamilyassociation@gmail.com

1:00-3:00:               Socializing and games

We will observe all local Covid19 requirements in force at the time of the reunion.

Directions from points South and West:

From I-95N, Take exit 70 for US-1 N/Newbury St. /Newburyport Turnpike, Continue on US-1N for 3.8 miles. Turn right, onto Ipswich Rd, continue for 1.3 miles. Turn right onto Asbury St., continue for 1.7 miles. The Patton Homestead will be on your right.

Directions from points North: From I-95 S, Take exit 76A to merge onto MA-97 S/Killam Hill Rd toward Topsfield. Continue on MA-97 for 3.0 miles. Turn left onto Ipswich Rd., continue for 2.1 miles Turn right onto Asbury St., continue for 1.7 miles The Patton Homestead will be on your right.

All Claflin family members are welcome to attend the 164th annual reunion at the First Congregational Church of Shrewsbury in Shrewsbury, MA.  This year shares the story of Claflin Civil War service.

Schedule:  Coffee and Conversation at 9:00 a.m.

Business meeting, election of officers at 10:00 a.m.

Lunch at Noon

“One Man’s Civil War” narration and songs presented by Judy Cook at 1:00 p.m.  Judy’s great-great-grandfather, Gilbert Claflin wrote letters about his service in the Union Army and Judy shares both the actual correspondence and renditions of stories and songs popular during the 1860’s.

Scottish Tea following.

Tours of the Shrewsbury Historical Society available.

The First Congregational Church is located at 19 Church Road in Shrewsbury, MA

Claflins from as far away as Texas and California gathered to discuss ancestry and to visit the Wenham Historical Association and the Claflin-Richards House on July 29, 2017.  Family members were treated to music and a primer on the bagpipes by Stephen Thomford from the North Shore Pipe Band of Massachusetts.  A catered lunch was provided to all attendees and plans are underway for the 164th reunion on July 28, 2018.  Mark your calendars now!

Join your extended family at the Wenham Museum featuring the Claflin-Richards House on July 29, 2017.  Coffee and Conversation starts at 9:00 a.m. and then at 10:00 a.m. the Claflin Family Association’s business meeting will begin.  Elections and by-law amendments are on the agenda, so please attend.  Lunch will be served at noon and tours of the homestead will be available.

The Wenham Historical Association is located at 132 Main Street, Wenham, MA 01984.  A fun exhibit, “Shake, Rattle & Roll!,” is all about mechanical toys and how they work! Explore one of the most fun collections at the museum and you’ll find toys that walk, spin, bounce, and move in all sorts of unexpected ways.  Bring the family for a great day with your Claflin cousins.

Invitations were sent to our mailing list.  Did not receive one?  Email Claflinfamilyassociation@gmail.com for more info.

Hope you are planning to attend the 162nd Claflin Family Reunion in Warwick, RI.  Invitations were sent last month and we are ready for a great day near the beautiful beaches of Rhode Island.  We have a wonderful location, the Old Buttonwoods Casino (see previous post) .   For more details, email claflinfamilyassociation@gmail.com.  See you there!

Claflin family members and friends! Plan on a day at the beach for our 2016 Reunion in Warwick, Rhode Island.  We will gather at the Buttonwoods beach community center.  The center is surrounded by tennis courts, a playground and playing fields for badminton, horseshoes and croquet.  A nature walk beckons nearby.  Claflin family members who live in this area invite us to go to the beach after our lunch and social time. More details will be posted soon.

Photo:  Buttonwoods beach community center

The Claflin Family Reunion 2015 was held at Sturbridge Village, Sturbridge, MA on July 25, 2015.  Cousins from all over the U.S. visited and had lunch together before taking walking and carriage tours of the historic village.  A musket demonstration was provided for our enjoyment. A beautiful day to meander the dirt roads and paths of this recreation of an 1830’s colonial town in America with authentic artifacts and educational displays.