Individual Details

3 Jun 1917 World War I Draft Registration
Richard Henry Vanderburg of Arlington, VT was age 25, b. 1 Feb 1892 in Bennington, VT. He was not employed - disabled by rheumatism. Had wife and child to support. Negro race. Claimed exemption because of rheumatism. Medium height & build, brown eyes, black, hair, has rheumatism in both legs.

Vermont Vital Records
Rachel May Vanderburgh (Black - mixed race), born 20 Jul 1918, Arlington, Bennington, VT to Richard H. Vanderburg, Black (Negro) and Caroline Wheedon - Race, White (seen as Carrie Phillips in other records - Phillips is her maiden name). Caroline was 20; Richard was 26. Rachel was their 2nd child.

1920 Census. Arlington, Bennington, VT, Hh 178
Richard Vanderburg, Black (earlier censuses confirm race - both parents also "Black"), 27, b. VT, Painter, Refrigerator shop
Caroline, wife, 20, White, b. VT
Richard Jr., son, 3 years, 6 months, mulatto
Rachael, dau, 1 year, 6 months, mulatto

1930 Census. Peru, Bennington, VT, Hh 12
Richard H. Vanderburgh, 38, b. VT
Carrie M., wife, 30
Richard H., Jr, son, 13
Rachael M., dau, 11
Ruth M., dau, 7, b. NY
Robert H., son,

3 Dec 1934. Rachel Vanderburgh to Robert Will. Her residence was Arlington, VT; she was Black, age 16. Her father, Richard Vanderburgh, b. Bennington, VT - her mother, Caroline Phillips, b. Shaftsbury, VT. George R. Brush, Episcopal, of Arlington, officiated.
His record shows his residence as Arlings, He was Black, age 31, 2nd marriage, Widowed. Born Virginia. Parents were Jackson Will and Victoria Mark, both born Virginia.

1940 Census. Readsboro, Bennington, VT, Hh 53
Lived in same place, 1935 (race crossed out and "2" penciled in)
Richard Vanderburg, 48, b. VT, Negro, Laborer, Road Construction
Carrie, wife, 40, White, b. VT
Richard, son, 24, Negro, b. VT, Laborer, Road Consgtruction
Effie, dau-in-law, 24, White, b. MA
Rachel Wells, daughter, 22, Negro, widowed, b. VT
Ruth Vanderburg, dau, Negro, 17, b. VT
Robert, son, Negro, 15, b. VT
Raymond, son, Negro, 14, b. VT
Rollin, son, Negro, 8, b. VT
Helen, dau, Negro, 6, b. VT
Caroline, dau, Negro, 1, b. VT
Richard Wells, grandson, Negro, 4, b. VT
Beatrice, granddaughter, Negro, 1, b. VT

Apparently married first to Robert Wills, 3 Dec 1934, Arlington, VT. Son Richard Henry Wills, b. 29 Jun 1935, Bennington Co, VT.
Beatrice is somewhat of a mystery - Wills was dead - he has a death certificate, Montpelier, VT with date of death as 6 Jan 1936. The obituary of Richard Wills lists Beatrice Alexander as a sister. At least one descendant claims Beatrice was a child of Thayer, not Wills, but Rachel was not married to Thayer when she was born according to this 1940 census. I have an autosomal match to this descendant and could only be kin through Verne Thayer.

Vermont Death, Bennington, VT.
Robert Wills, born 4 Jan 1899 in Virginia, a laborer & Cook. His father listed as unknown; his mother as Victoria Nurick, b. VA. Taken from Hospital Records. Died 6 Jan 1936 of aneurysm of aorta and chronic nephritis.
He is listed as the father on the birth record of Richard Henry Wills.

North Adams Transcript (MA) - Monday, June 13, 2005
Richard H. "Dickie" Wills, 69, of Hartford, Vt., died June 11, 2005, at his home.
Born June 29, 1935, in Bennington, Vt., he was the son of Robert and Rachel (Vanderburg) Wills. He was raised in North Adams, Mass., where he attended school.
Following his passion for cooking, he traveled to work as a chef in Los Angeles, Calif., Boston, Pittsfield and Hartford, where he last worked at the Mountain Creamery in Woodstock until he had to retire due to medical issues.
He loved to hunt, fish, play a friendly hand of poker, and cook for family and friends.
He leaves his companion of 33 years, Valroy M. Erno; four sons, Kim Chase of Springfield, James Chase of Hershey, Pa., Guy Wills of Manchester, N.H., and Greg Chadwell of Pittsfield; four daughters, Lisa Wills of North Adams, Rachel Wills of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Etta Wills of Pittsfield and Melissa Howe of Canaan, N.H.; and a sister, Beatrice Alexander of Schenectady, N.Y.
FUNERAL SERVICES -- A memorial service for Richard Wills will be held Friday, June 17, 2 p.m., at the Knight Funeral Home, White River Junction, Vt., with the Rev. Janice Chilek of the Greater Hartford United Church of Christ officiating.
Calling hours are Thursday, 6-8 p.m., at the funeral home.
Burial will follow at Hartford Cemetery

Rutland Herald (VT) - Monday, June 13, 2005
HARTFORD - Richard "Dickie" H. Wills, 69, died June 11, 2005, at his home.
He was born June 29, 1935, in Bennington, the son of Robert and Rachel (Vanderburg) Wills.
He attended school in North Adams, Mass.
Mr. Wills worked as a chef in Los Angeles, Boston, Pittsfield, Mass., and Hartford, where he last worked at Mountain Creamery in Woodstock until he retired due to medical reasons.
He enjoyed hunting, fishing, playing poker and cooking.
Survivors include his companion of 33 years, Valroy Erno; four sons, Kim Chase of Springfield, Mass., James Chase of Hershey, Pa., Guy Wills of Manchester, N.H., and Greg Chadwell of Pittsfield, Mass.; four daughters, Lisa Wills of North Adams, Mass., Rachel Wills of Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Etta Wills of Pittsfield and Melissa Howe of Canaan, N.H.; and a sister, Beatrice Alexander of Schenectady, N.Y.
Calling hours are from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Knight Funeral Home in White River Junction.
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Friday at the funeral home conducted by the Rev. Janice Chilek of Greater Hartford United Church of Christ.
Interment will follow in Hartford Cemetery.

Birth	20 Jul 1918	Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont
Marriage	3 Dec 1934	Arlington, Bennington County, Vermont - Robert Wills
Death	4 Feb 1991	Brockton, Plymouth County, Massachusetts
Marriage		Verne Siegal Thayer

Spouse	Verne Siegal Thayer (1880 - 1954)
Child	Living

Spouse

Robert Wills (1898 - 1936)