Annual Grants Preserve Family’s History

Alice Botsford of Hamden was 92 when she passed away. Not much is known about her, except that she worked as an office manager for the men's clothing store, J. Press Co., of New Haven and was the descendant of an early-American settler who became a free planter in Milford, CT.

Still, Alice's life will be remembered in perpetuity through a fund at The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven established by her brother Richard's bequest in 1982. The Fund bears her name and distributes grants annually to the Botsford Family Historical Association (of Milford). Should the Historical Association cease to exist, distributions from the fund will be made to Christ Episcopal Church of Stratford, per Richard's wishes.

The Botsford Family Historical Association follows the lineage of Henry and Elizabeth Botsford, who made the journey to America from England in 1639 to escape the political, intellectual and religious unrest in England. More than 200 years later, Charles Woolley, a descendant living in Buffalo, New York, began to hold annual gatherings of Botsford family members at his home. The group organized under the name, "Band of Botsford," and adopted the coat of arms of a branch of the family, bearing the motto "Digna Sequens" or "seeking the things that are worthwhile." Family reunions were held in New York until Mr. Woolley's death, when they were moved to Milford, CT. Reunions continue today at a Botsford Homestead, which has been owned by Botsford descendants since the 17th century. For more information about this early-American family or to schedule a free tour of the Homestead, visit the Botsford Family Historical Association's website.

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